272: Performance

The young director, wearing a baseball cap and a full beard, saw that everyone was ready, then sat down in his chair and gestured for them to begin.

This audition required an unscripted, non-physical performance in front of the camera, where the lights would clearly reveal who was gold and who was stone.

The young director, Gu Wei, stroked his chin, watching the auditioners perform one after another. The expression on his face changed from initial anticipation to a gradually deepening frown.

“Indeed, trying to unearth highly malleable and charismatic potential talents from these extras is still quite unrealistic.”

Although he was filming a web drama, it differed from the low-budget web dramas commonly perceived by the public.

As a talented director who was just beginning to make his mark in the film industry, Gu Wei always believed that the success of a work was not determined by its traffic, but rather by public Word of mouth (word-of-mouth), which was its lifeline.

With this philosophy, he abandoned his plan to heavily invest in inviting big-name celebrities and instead hoped to cast some unproven but talented young actors.

These young actors lived in the cheapest rental apartments, ate the cheapest fast food, and because they yearned for success, they honed their acting skills day after day.

Their eyes were always filled with fervent passion, and their smiles always carried enthusiasm and drive.

Young actors with these qualities, once recognized by the public, would easily gain their affection, which in turn could boost the work, elevating its influence to another level.

However… imagination was rich, but reality was harsh.

Gu Wei watched the people auditioning, some with exaggerated expressions, others with bland reactions, and his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Indeed, environment can both make and break a person.

These extras who came for the audition had long since lost their edges, gradually becoming accustomed to the role of a “background prop.” Once faced with a challenge, they would become flustered and at a loss, some even performing worse than a three-year-old child.

For example, one woman with downturned brows and a face full of meanness, grimaced and made exaggerated gestures as if eating a large meal in front of the camera, appearing both over-the-top and fake.

If even he, the director, couldn’t stand it, how could it possibly captivate an audience?

Gu Wei waved his hand directly: “Next!”

The woman’s expression immediately changed, and she grumbled softly as she walked to the side. As she passed Ren Xiaozhen, her steps paused, and she whispered a few mocking remarks.

Ren Xiaozhen initially didn’t want to bother with her, but the other person’s words were truly too unpleasant. She couldn’t help but show a wronged and displeased expression, and was about to turn back to argue when—

“Next.”

Hearing Gu Wei’s renewed urging, she suddenly realized it was her turn.

Seeing the director and other staff members waiting for her to perform, she quickly jogged to the designated spot and then took a few deep breaths.

However, looking at the bright lights around her and the pairs of eyes fixed on her, Ren Xiaozhen’s heart couldn’t help but quicken, and her thoughts began to scatter.

She couldn’t help but think of so, so many things.

The disappointment of being rejected repeatedly during the day, the physical exhaustion, the mockery from others, the fear of an uncertain future… all these emotions surged into her heart at once.

Gu Wei looked at Ren Xiaozhen, who didn’t immediately start performing but instead stood still, and a hint of confusion appeared on his face.

His assistant beside him saw Gu Wei frowning, thinking he was impatient, and immediately moved to urge Ren Xiaozhen to perform quickly.

“Hey, wait.”

Gu Wei raised his hand to stop him, then looked at Ren Xiaozhen and said:

“Don’t rush, take your time.”

He saw the rawness on Ren Xiaozhen’s face and was willing to give newcomers more opportunities, so he offered a gentle word of comfort.

However, his words were like a ray of light, cutting through the chaos in Ren Xiaozhen’s mind.

These words sounded so familiar; it seemed that the stall owner had also said something similar… The scenes from when she passed Lu Chuan’s stall not long ago flashed quickly through Ren Xiaozhen’s mind.

Lu Chuan’s gentle comfort, and the delicious and soul-soothing bento box… “...the feeling of being completely healed and rekindling hope by a bowl of accidentally eaten delicious food when one is utterly exhausted and disheartened to the extreme...”

The casting assistant’s words seemed to echo in her ears.

When Ren Xiaozhen opened her eyes again, the genuine darkness and numbness in her gaze surprised Gu Wei, and he couldn’t help but sit up a little straighter.

She slowly, mechanically, as if dragging feet weighing a thousand pounds, sat down on the wooden chair.

Then, facing the air, she picked up non-existent chopsticks and a bowl.

At first, her movements were numb, her eyes incredibly vacant, as if she had lost interest in everything.

Then, she listened intently for a while, as if someone had said something to her, before reluctantly taking a “bite.”

Suddenly, her movements froze.

As if something had truly melted in her mouth, her eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

That ultimate umami deliciousness seemed to pierce through time and space through memory.

It was the taste of Lu Chuan’s bento, that warm power that could soothe all fatigue and grievances.

Her chewing slowly became more earnest, once, twice... The darkness in her eyes faded little by little, gradually replaced by surprise, enjoyment, and then an inexpressible emotion of gratitude and solace.

She ate faster and faster, yet without any hint of rudeness, instead filled with an appreciation for the food.

The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, and tears began to glimmer in her eyes, but they were not tears of sadness, but tears of being moved by something beautiful and rediscovering hope in life.

She “ate” and smiled, tears slowly sliding down, dampening the front of her clothes.

The scene became extremely quiet; there was only the faint sound of her chewing “food.”

After an unknown amount of time.

It seemed the “bento box” was finished, and Ren Xiaozhen finally stopped chewing.

She placed the “bento box” on her lap, then gratefully said to the invisible person in front of her:

“Thank you.”

The surroundings were silent; everyone was watching Ren Xiaozhen’s performance.

Gu Wei’s eyes flickered, his face showing an unspeakable excitement and joy, but he didn’t dare to breathe, just watched.

It wasn't until Ren Xiaozhen finished her performance that she first looked around blankly at the open-mouthed crowd, then somewhat at a loss, stood up from the chair.

“Cut!”

Gu Wei suddenly shouted, stood up excitedly, pointed at Ren Xiaozhen, and said:

“That’s the feeling! Exactly! It’s you! Assistant Director, quick, take her to change clothes and do her makeup, immediately prepare several more shots for her! Also, get her lines ready.”

Ren Xiaozhen was stunned, first blinking blankly, until the assistant director came to lead her, and she finally understood what had happened.

Then, immense surprise overwhelmed her.

She seemed to have succeeded?

She had gained the director’s appreciation, transforming from a background character with no lines into a “special guest” actor with individual shots, dialogue, and emotional expression.

Ren Xiaozhen scanned the group of extras who had come to audition with her and saw that the woman who had mocked her earlier now had an extremely ugly expression, jealousy and resentment almost twisting her face, before she scurried away into the crowd.

Ren Xiaozhen vaguely followed the assistant director, took a couple of steps, then suddenly turned back, looking in the general direction outside the film studio, an unspeakable gratitude welling up in her heart.

Thank you, nameless stall owner.