Jiayi knocked on the door of the study and walked in.

A tall figure was standing in front of the French window.

Huo Zhenyang, with his hands clasped behind his back, turned to look at her as she entered.

"Did you call me here for something?" Her voice was flat and indifferent.

Hah, she had been angry for two days and was still angry—a little bullfrog, all puffed up, almost suffocating herself with her own anger.

But she did have some skill, even having managed to win the old man’s favor.

Huo Zhenyang curled his lips into a smile, "Still want to participate in Ye Yongning’s new movie?"

Sure enough, this man had called her here to give her a lecture.

She curled her lip, acting as the Boss in the company wasn’t enough; back at home, he still had to throw his weight around. She answered lazily and carelessly, "Don’t want to anymore."

"Oh, really? Fine, then I won’t need to tell you about the audition time Ye Yongning’s assistant called to inform you about."

What did he mean? Jiayi was taken aback. Did his words imply that he agreed to let her audition?

Happiness came too fast. She couldn’t believe it.

He opened his thin lips slightly and continued, "However, you can’t play the leading role."

Jiayi was stunned, she couldn’t play the leading role?

She came to her senses, "Why not?"

He spoke indifferently, "I took a look at the script of ’Demon-slaying Chronicle,’ and you’re not suitable for the role of the protagonist. I’ve already picked a role for you." Picking up a white 4A-sized notebook from the desk, he handed it to Jiayi, simply and succinctly, without beating around the bush, "This is your role, take a look if you want, and go to the audition in a week’s time."

This was his bottom line.

Jiayi opened the script and quickly scanned a few lines.

The role she was to play was marked with a highlighter—a supporting female character.

So, this man won’t let her play the lead but wanted her to play a supporting role?

Anyway, it was good enough to appear in a Ye Yongning movie.

It’s said that Ye Yongning’s movies have made a number of supporting actresses famous.

She compromised, took the script, and went back to her room.

——*——

Having spent an evening reading the script, Jiayi finally understood why the man hadn’t let her play the leading role.

The protagonist of ’Demon-slaying Chronicle’ was a thousand-year-old Hua Yao, a flower demon who, after becoming a spirit, frequently interacted with mortal men to absorb their yang essence, involving many intimate and ambiguous scenes.

And when the flower demon encountered the male protagonist, a scholar, it was like a thunderbolt igniting an inferno, scene after scene of intense passion.

Ye Yongning was a strict director who insisted on realism, and for ambiguous and passionate scenes, stand-ins weren’t allowed—many required actual contact.

No wonder—

No wonder Huo Zhenyang didn’t want her to play the lead.

The role he had arranged for her was a supporting female character, not even second-tier, with not much screen time—a little Taoist nun.

The little Taoist nun was a small disciple beside an old Taoist in the movie, always at odds with the Hua Yao, only fifteen years old, naive and cute, constantly carrying a Peach Wood Sword beside her master.

The most frequent line of the little Taoist nun was: "Master! There is demon qi here!"

Most importantly, the role of the little Taoist nun had no CP; in other words, she had absolutely no romantic scenes.

And throughout the movie, the little Taoist nun was the most modestly dressed, the most tightly wrapped, wearing one big Taoist robe from beginning to end!

Come on.

This was his purpose for arranging this role for her, wasn’t it?

Jiayi finished reading the script and was barely able to hold back a stream of profanity.

Although she wasn’t acting in "Demon-slaying Chronicle" for fame or to become a superstar, her ultimate goal was still to "become famous", because only by becoming well-known and drawing attention could she possibly be recognized by acquaintances.

But could such a minor role as a Taoist nun, barely noticeable among a group of glamorous, alluring demons and beauties, really make her stand out?

Sigh, forget it, it was already good enough that man allowed her to act in this play.

She couldn’t demand any more.

What if she kept nagging and angered that man, and then she wasn’t even allowed to play this supporting role?

The Taoist nun didn’t have many scenes, and her lines were just the same few repeated over and over. In a matter of days, Jiayi had memorized them thoroughly.

In the evening at Huo Garden, after dinner.

Huo Zhenyang passed by Huo Tianpei’s room on his way upstairs and happened to walk past the room of that little girl next door.

The youngster had been unusually quiet these past few days, keeping to herself in the neighboring nursing room except for attending to the old master.

His eyelids suddenly twitched; his palm slid over the doorknob, turned it, and pushed the door open.

He heard a whoosh beside his ear, something cutting through the air, the sound of the wind approaching!

He frowned, then saw Jiayi dressed in a set of pink sports velvet top, her long hair all bundled up into a valiant Taoist nun’s bun on top of her head, secured with a chopstick, and in her hand was a brown—

What the hell?

Huo Zhenyang saw clearly, it was a Peach Wood Sword!

The room was too small; her movements were too big. Jiayi couldn’t stop her sword in time and almost hit the man who suddenly entered.

F*ck!

She really treated Huo Garden as her rehearsal space.

He caught the sword coming at him with a backhanded lift, snatched it out of the air, held it firmly, and with a strong pull, he wrapped her sword and the person with it together!

With a "clang," the Peach Wood Sword fell to the floor!

Jiayi let out a small "ah" as she was pulled by a force and crashed into the man’s chest; the softness of her forehead collided with his hard chest, causing her to rub the ache vigorously.

Huo Zhenyang coldly watched her, dressed up like a little Taoist nun: "You’re really into your role, huh? Even bringing props home."

Glancing at the pitiful Peach Wood Sword on the ground: "Where did you get that from?"

Her face was flushed, and she had a glistening sweat from exercising, making her delicate face look as sweet and juicy as an apple, and her ample bosom rose and fell with her breathing, very seductive to the heart.

Although he was somewhat annoyed with her dancing and playing with weapons at home like a little monkey, seeing the little creature before him, he couldn’t help the dryness in his throat, feeling a desire to swallow her whole to quench his thirst.

He started to regret it, seriously regret it.

As a man, he had a sharp and clear premonition.

The little girl in front of him, once she appeared on the big screen, even as an inconspicuous minor character, would certainly cause a sensation.

There was an enticing charm about her, which, before being discovered, might have been just a piece of uncut jade covered in dirt.

But once uncovered, she would shine like a diamond, dazzling and overwhelming.

His gaze became deep and intense as he leaned in closer, trapping the little one in the corner with the thick displeasure emanating from his body, letting Jiayi distinctly smell it.

Jiayi saw his expression suddenly change and felt somewhat terrified.

Was this man suddenly very unhappy?

Was he annoyed with her for rehearsing at home? Or was it because she had almost hurt him just now?

He was being incredibly petty; it was not a big deal at all.

She didn’t feel she had done anything wrong and pouted her lips: "I had the Butler buy the Peach Wood Sword for me. The blade isn’t sharp; it can’t hurt anyone... My character has many fight scenes slaying demons, so I wanted to practice a bit in advance."