Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 316 - 297: Undercover Assassin

Tong Yan’s audition result should be good; she came out so excited that her eyes were shining with starlight, her moist pink lips perked up as she took her coat from the little assistant and put it on.

The little assistant was also happy for her: "Sister Yan Yan, was the director very satisfied with you?"

Tong Yan glanced at Shen Jianian, showing a hint of smugness, and hummed.

Next up was Shen Jianian. She clenched her fist in her pocket. Last time, she was chosen directly by Director Wu Heng without going through an audition, and to this day she doesn’t know what the audition process is like for actors. She could only comfort herself to act according to circumstances and see what happens.

Before leaving, Tong Yan said to Shen Jianian: "Good luck."

The tone was light, not like a sincere wish.

Shen Jianian curled her lips slightly, just for show.

The assistant calling the numbers called her name; she gathered her thoughts and walked in.

The audition room was a quaintly furnished reception room, not the suffocatingly serious interview atmosphere Shen Jianian had imagined. A group of interviewers sat behind a long desk, asking questions or making requests of the auditionees. The atmosphere was more relaxed, with several middle-aged men sitting drinking tea and chatting. As Shen Jianian entered, they were discussing the performance of the previous auditionee.

Tong Yan’s confidence was not unfounded; Shen Jianian heard one of the men express satisfaction with her.

Shen Jianian steadied herself and began to introduce herself: "Hello everyone, my name is Shen Jianian."

The man sitting at the head of the table raised his head, his hand holding a teacup paused mid-air for half a second, and his eyes behind the lenses were full of scrutiny towards Shen Jianian.

Shen Jianian couldn’t see the person’s eyes; he wore brown-tinted glasses and a black baseball cap, looking a bit like a movie villain, making his thoughts inscrutable.

The man lifted his hand slightly, and the assistant next to him handed Shen Jianian a sheet of printed paper, whispering to her: "These are the lines; familiarize yourself with them and feel free to improvise."

Shen Jianian had never had such an experience and immediately became nervous, her palms sweaty.

The lines on the paper amounted to only five sentences, with no background context, just a few sparse emotional action descriptions, leaving the rest to her own improvisation.

It really was improvisation.

At least she knew she was acting in a historical drama; these lines carried a bloodthirsty murderous intent and were likely for a swordsman or assassin role.

Female swordsman? Female assassin?

If Shen Jianian had known earlier that the role was this challenging, she wouldn’t have come.

However, at this moment, she was already standing at the audition site, and it was too late to regret. She couldn’t be a deserter in this situation; it would be laughable.

"Shall we begin?" Wang Kelun, sitting at the head of the table, asked.

He was fifty-eight this year, almost sixty, with a deep and courteous voice, adding a touch of friendliness to his "villain" face.

Others might not know, but Shen Jianian was very clear, at this moment, her mind was blank, thinking of nothing.

She swallowed and performed a scene entirely on instinct.

She didn’t even know how her performance turned out, only remembering that during the performance, she kept reminding herself that she was not Shen Jianian, but a ruthless female assassin.

After the performance, Shen Jianian’s molars were sore, a symptom of sudden relaxation following extreme tension.

Wang Kelun asked the man beside him: "How was it?"

The man, with his hands crossed under his chin, nodded: "I heard she was someone you specifically requested from Wu Heng? Interesting. There’s nothing staged about her performance, seemed very casual, which training did this?"

Wang Kelun laughed: "Isn’t it why we work so well together after so many years? When I first saw her in the film, I had this impression. She’s not a girl who knows how to act, yet the effect she presents is quite noteworthy. Such a person is risky to use, but can be a pleasant surprise."

"She probably has stronger empathetic ability than the average actor, relying on instinct rather than technique to perform." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"That’s exactly it."

Standing there, Shen Jianian only saw them huddling and whispering but couldn’t hear what they were saying, her ears buzzing, still nervous.

Wang Kelun took the lead and asked: "Do you know what role you were playing?"

Shen Jianian immediately perked up to respond, but wasn’t very confident in her answer: "A female assassin?"

"Half correct."

"An undercover female assassin." Wang Kelun hinted, "Aside from the ruthlessness an assassin should have, you also need to understand the word ’endure.’ Your emotions shouldn’t be too overt; they need to be restrained."

According to his words, Shen Jianian began to imagine. Could she be playing the kind of undercover assassin who eventually falls in love with the opposing side? That would be too cliché.

Wang Kelun knew she was thinking and didn’t interrupt. After a while, he waved his hand, saying: "Go back and wait for news; I need to think it over."

Shen Jianian clasped her hands in front of her and bowed before saying goodbye.

After leaving Long Garden, Shen Jianian sat in the car and messaged Fu Jichen: "I’m done."

Fu Jichen quickly replied: "How was it?"

Shen Jianian: "The director said he needs to think about it. I guess my performance wasn’t great, and the director didn’t want to say it outright, so he gave a gentle rejection."

Fu Jichen: "Maybe you’re overthinking it?"

Shen Jianian: "Do you know what role I played?"

Fu Jichen chatted back and forth with her: "What?"

Shen Jianian: "An undercover female assassin."

Fu Jichen didn’t reply as quickly this time. After a while, he sent a voice message.

Shen Jianian played the voice message; she didn’t use the speaker function, placing the phone’s sound outlet to her ear. The man’s deep voice came through the airwaves: "Not getting selected isn’t so bad."

Fu Jichen could already imagine the scene of Shen Jianian’s petite frame hanging on a wire, sword in hand, killing in mid-air. So he said not getting selected wasn’t so bad; he didn’t want her to endure such hardship.

Yet, things didn’t go as he wished. Before Jianian got home, she received a text from Wang Kelun’s assistant, informing her that she’d passed the audition and to find a time to go over the contract.

Shen Jianian’s feelings were mixed and complex; she didn’t even know if she hoped to pass or not.

*

When she got home, Shen Jianian received a call from Pei Che. He planned to take Zhou Ruo abroad the day after tomorrow, to New Zealand this time, and the visa was already processed.

Shen Jianian glanced at the calendar on the table; the day after tomorrow was Saturday.

She said, "Why don’t you bring Auntie to my place tomorrow? I had promised to cook for you both."

With her persistent efforts, she’s recently made significant progress in cooking. Last night, she made a whole braised fish, and Fu Jichen said it was delicious. Although it might have been just to please her, she tasted it herself and it indeed tasted good.

Pei Che didn’t refuse; he wanted to see her current home with his own eyes too.

On the following day, a little after five in the afternoon, Pei Che brought Zhou Ruo to Shen Jianian’s place.

The house was tidied up, cozy and comfortable, with fresh, full flowers in the vase, and she even had a cat. The cat was ugly; it was undoubtedly a stray cat that Shen Jianian had picked up.

Shen Jianian had cleaned the house in the morning, and the moment she saw Zhou Ruo, she remembered that she was allergic to cat and dog hair. She quickly picked up Jixiang, put her in the bedroom, and ran the lint roller over the sofa a few times: "I’m sorry, Auntie, I forgot you’re allergic to cat hair; I should have taken care of it earlier. Please, have a seat."

"It’s nothing, don’t be so polite with me." Zhou Ruo playfully scolded and held her hand, making her sit beside her.

Once Pei Che sat down, he immediately noticed the ashtray on the coffee table and quietly shifted his gaze.

Shen Jianian chatted with Zhou Ruo for a bit and then got up and said, "There’s soup simmering in the kitchen, I’ll go check on it. Make yourselves at home, don’t be too formal."

They had lived under the same roof for so long that they were already like family. Even if Pei Che and Shen Jianian couldn’t have a perfect ending, they wouldn’t be distant and polite. Zhou Ruo immediately rolled up her sleeves: "I’ll help you."

"Auntie, no need." Shen Jianian stopped her, "I invited you over today to let you taste my cooking; there’d be no room for me to showcase if you helped."

Zhou Ruo had nothing to say to that, glanced at Pei Che, and smiled helplessly.

Pei Che said, "You should listen to Little Nian."

"Alright then." Zhou Ruo sat back down.

Shen Jianian went to the kitchen to busy herself alone. Pei Che watched her back, not withdrawing his gaze for a long time.

Zhou Ruo peeled a mandarin, placing it in his hand. Feeling the coldness in his palm, Pei Che came back to his senses and looked at his mother. Zhou Ruo commented with a sigh: "Haven’t you moved on yet?"

This so-called overseas trip was ostensibly Pei Che accompanying her to relax, but in truth, she was accompanying Pei Che, away from the heart of the troubles.

Pei Che slightly lowered his head, a bitter smile curling at his lips.

What can’t be let go will eventually be let go. What can’t be forgiven will one day be forgiven.

Rather than believing in himself, he believed in time.

"Little Nian’s happiness is more important than anything else." Zhou Ruo had long since come to terms, "As you can see, although Little Nian hasn’t recalled that lost portion of her memories, she’s very happy and content now. When people are happy and satisfied, it shows on their face."

Pei Che ate a segment of the mandarin; it was very sweet: "I understand everything you said."

Zhou Ruo gently patted his back: "It’s good that you understand."

The door knocked twice, and Pei Che gave the remaining mandarin to Zhou Ruo to open the door. The person outside was Fu Jichen, dressed in a smart business suit under a black coat, his tie impeccably straight, looking as if he had just come from work.

Fu Jichen wasn’t surprised to see Pei Che there, nodded and said, "Mr. Pei."

Pei Che returned the nod, "Mr. Fu."