Fei Qingqing looked at Fang Miaomiao with a complex expression, and after a long while, said, "Your abilities are indeed quite good now."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Fei Qingqing took a deep breath and bowed to Chen Tianming and the others, "I apologize, that was my mistake just now."
Guo Yuan smiled and shook her head, "No, you are a good actress. You dare to challenge yourself and dare to admit your mistakes. I like you very much."
Chen Tianming also nodded, "Your audition today is over. We will inform your agent once a decision is made."
"Okay."
Fei Qingqing politely nodded and left.
After she left, Chen Tianming gave Fang Miaomiao a thumbs-up, "Not bad, you've really been working hard on your acting skills during this period."
"Thank you for the director's praise."
"However, don't get too carried away. You acted well in this scene, but you need to keep it up. Otherwise, you'll be embarrassing me."
Fang Miaomiao smiled and made an OK gesture, "Don't worry, director. I'll try my best not to ruin your reputation."
With that, she sat down next to Zhou Jiaxin with a smile and looked at Zhou Jiaxin expectantly, "Senior?"
Zhou Jiaxin couldn't help but laugh and cry when she saw her like this, "Miaomiao, you acted well just now, but the director is right. You need to keep working hard, okay?"
"Mhm mhm." Fang Miaomiao nodded vigorously, indicating that she would definitely put in the effort.
"Alright, next," Chen Tianming said, looking at the audition resumes, his gaze drifting for a moment.
He remembered that this person wasn't in the resumes when he first looked at them.
Fang Miaomiao saw Chen Tianming's surprised expression and before she could ask what was wrong, she caught a glimpse of Fang Yan Huan walking in, dressed in a white gauze dress from a designer brand.
She now understood why Chen Tianming looked so conflicted.
"Hello Director Chen Tianming, Senior Zhou, everyone."
"Hello, hello," the producer said, looking at Fang Yan Huan's well-behaved demeanor with satisfaction. "I've seen your photos online. You are a beautiful girl."
"Thank you for the producer's compliment."
"Cough cough," Chen Tianming coughed a few times, "Fang Yan Huan, right? We'll start your audition now, Scene three of the first episode."
The first episode, scene three, was the scene where the protagonist Ruo Lan saves Chen Yao from a zombie's mouth.
Fang Yan Huan looked around and then said, "Don't you have a crossbow?"
Guo Yuan's interest was piqued at this point, "You know how to use a crossbow?"
Actors usually practiced with props after confirming their roles. Even Fei Qingqing, who had just auditioned, hadn't asked for a crossbow.
"I've practiced a bit," Fang Yan Huan replied, nodding.
"Excellent, props department, bring the crossbow," Guo Yuan said, energized, and instructed the props team to bring it over.
The crossbow was handed over.
Fang Yan Huan fumbled with it for a moment, picked it up, and pointed at a spot, "You, move aside."
As she spoke, Fang Yan Huan fired the crossbow.
She had the presence, but the bolt fell to the ground as soon as it was released.
For a moment, the conference room fell into an awkward silence.
After a while.
The producer finally came to his senses and coughed lightly, "Not bad, you know how to use a crossbow. Yan Huan, you still need to practice more after this."
"I am very sorry. This crossbow is different from the one I practiced with before. I was a bit unaccustomed to it and it slipped out of my hands."
Fang Yan Huan was about to ask for another try when she saw Chen Tianming raise his hand, "No need. Your audition is over. We will contact your agent for further notification."
"Okay," Fang Yan Huan nodded, straightened her chest and abdomen with pride, and left.
"Today's interviews are over," the producer announced.
Chen Tianming frowned, turned to Fang Miaomiao and Zhou Jiaxin, and said, "Thank you for your trouble today. You can go home early. I'll send you red envelopes later."
"Thank you, Director Chen. I don't need any red envelopes. Just make sure our next variety show is comfortable."
"Okay, we'll make sure Senior Zhou and the others have a good time on the next episode," Chen Tianming said with a smile.
"Hahaha."
"Director, you continue with your work. An'an and I are going out."
"Go ahead."
"Goodbye, Uncle Tianming."
As they left, the group of them made a tacit move to close the door, separating themselves from the commotion outside. The producer's face darkened, "Chen Tianming, what did you mean just now?"
"What did you mean?"
"What do you mean? You don't understand?" the producer gritted his teeth, each word clearly articulated.
"I don't understand," Chen Tianming said, looking at the resume in his hand. "We agreed that all lead roles would be confirmed only after I approved them. What are you trying to do now?"
The producer scoffed, leaned back in his chair, and idly twirled the pen in his hand, "You have to approve, but approval is conditional on our satisfaction. Back then, you signed Fang Miaomiao without my approval. Did you ask for our opinion?"
For this film, the higher-ups had already decided that Fang Yan Huan would play the female lead, Fei Qingqing the antagonist, and Wen Wenlan the male lead. They had even come up with a gimmick: "The Love Work of the Fang Family Heiress and Film Emperor Wen Lan." But Chen Tianming, to their surprise, had directly cast Fang Miaomiao as the villain.
It would have been fine if he had, as the gimmick would have been even bigger. But he hadn't expected Chen Tianming to not fancy Fang Yan Huan and want Fei Qingqing as the protagonist. This completely disrupted their plans.
"You!"
"Me, what about me?" The producer stood up from his seat and said with no room for negotiation, "Alright, I've decided. The female lead, Chen Yao, will be played by Fang Yan Huan. The villain is Fang Miaomiao. As for Fei Qingqing, I don't mind you giving her a supporting role."
With that, several producers and investors got up and left.
"Damn it," Chen Tianming muttered after a long pause. "Just because you have the copyright, you think you can do anything."
Guo Yuan patted Chen Tianming on the shoulder, "They not only have the copyright, but also your contract. If you quit, they'll sue you. Besides, can you really bear to abandon such a good film?"
Hearing this, Chen Tianming looked resentfully at Guo Yuan, "You sold the copyright too quickly. If you had been a step slower, I would have gotten Wen Shi to invest."
Guo Yuan smiled and shook her head, "Just accept it. Fang Yan Huan it is. At least the Fang Yan Huan they're pushing has some acting skills. You should just wait to start filming."
Chen Tianming sighed and slumped onto the table, no longer speaking.
...
"Miaomiao, it looks like you'll be facing Fang Yan Huan for quite some time."
"What's there to be afraid of?" Fang Miaomiao smiled and raised her eyebrows. "When troubles come, we'll deal with them. Besides, Fang Yan Huan needs to maintain her 'little fairy' persona, so she can't go too far."
"That's true. You see things more clearly than anyone."
"Hahaha, Senior Jiaxin, please don't praise me anymore. If you keep praising me, I'll be lost."
"Hahaha."