Chapter 23: Must Win

To be honest, Lin Yike wasn't a big fan of fairy tales. In her understanding, sacrificing oneself for love was the most foolish thing a woman could do. So when Zuo Ye betrayed her, she cried and suffered, but never once thought of giving up on herself, which wasn't worth it.

And as for the prince in fairy tales, even women could love the wrong person. He wasn't just a "jerk", he was simply stupid. The two of them were foolish enough to be together, and it was a miracle if there was a good outcome.

What's even more pathetic is that he never realized he had loved the wrong person until the end. His lover died, but he married a woman with a scheming mind and spent his life with her.

Although Lin Yike had some criticisms of the script and the story, she had to study them thoroughly. This role was a must-have for her.

She stayed up late and read a lot of information about mermaids, as well as information about Director Chen's past works. She even read the original version of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid".

Later, she had Milan specially pick out a mermaid costume from a prop shop.

On the day of the audition, Lin Yike rare didn't sleep in.

Wu Hui brought breakfast to her room and was somewhat surprised to see her sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair. "Miss, good morning."

"Good morning, Wu Ma." Lin Yike smiled in response.

"You're up so early today." Wu Ma handed her the breakfast.

"I have an audition today and I'm a little nervous, so I couldn't sleep." Lin Yike took a sip of porridge and playfully stuck out her tongue. She had been afraid of exams since she was young. If she didn't get a perfect score, she would be scolded by her mother.

"You're so beautiful, and the director isn't blind. If he doesn't choose you, who will he choose?" Wu Hui laughed. After all, selecting actors wasn't the same as a beauty pageant. Moreover, even if it was a beauty pageant, there were plenty of people more beautiful than her.

Lin Yike had a simple breakfast, didn't put on makeup, and went out. She didn't think playing a fish required heavy makeup.

As it was an internal recommendation, there were only five or six actresses who came to audition. Lin Yike was scheduled to be the last one.

She kept her composure and waited quietly in her seat until it was her turn. Watching the actresses who went in before her, some came out after a few minutes with a despondent look on their faces. One of them chatted for nearly an hour before coming out, looking pleased with herself, as if she was already the perfect candidate for the leading role.

Lin Yike waited at the door for more than three hours before hearing the assistant director call her name.

After responding, she quickly took out the mermaid prop from her bag and put it on. The assistant director looked at her with a bewildered expression. Lin Yike, however, remained unfazed. She never cared about other people's gaze.

As a mermaid, Lin Yike couldn't walk with legs, so she had to jump into the room with a fish tail. In the room, there were the director, assistant director, screenwriter, producer, and others. When they saw Lin Yike jumping in, they all burst into laughter.

Director Chen sat in the middle, looking like a very easy-going old man. He smiled and asked Lin Yike, "Little girl, with a golden tail like that, is this fish species a goldfish?"

After Chen finished speaking, several people sitting next to him burst into laughter.

There was a not-too-small stage in the room, and Lin Yike jumped to the center of the stage, and replied seriously to Director Chen, "I am a mermaid."

Director Chen nodded with a smile and picked up the relevant information about her.

"Lin Yike?"

"Yes." Lin Yike nodded and smiled sweetly at the gods below the stage.

Director Chen had a feeling of brightness before his eyes. The nineteen-year-old girl was innocent and pure, and her age and appearance were very consistent with the character of the mermaid princess Yiduo in the play.

"You may begin." Director Chen waved his hand.

Normally, female actors in auditions would choose a scene from the script to perform. However, Lin Yike only roughly looked at the script and had not memorized any lines.

In fact, Lin Yike had no intention of performing. She knew nothing about acting and would not expose her shortcomings.

She stood calmly in front of the stage, picked up the microphone, cleared her throat lightly, and unexpectedly sang a song called "North Star" in the Eskimo language.

Lin Yike's voice was good, and it was light and pleasant to listen to. Moreover, she had studied voice for several years, and her singing could be said to be quite good.

After she finished singing, several people in the room clapped and laughed.

"The little girl sings well, but unfortunately, we are looking for actors today, not singers," the producer spoke first.

Lin Yike looked at him and respectfully called him "teacher" since she didn't know his identity. "Teacher, I'm performing the first scene from the script."

"Oh? The first scene?" The screenwriter, who wrote the script, spoke up. She didn't remember there was a singing scene in it.

The screenwriter lowered her head, opened the script, and carefully read the first page again before smiling helplessly.

The opening scene of the whole drama is set against the vast ocean, where a serene little mermaid sits on a protruding rock, leisurely swaying her tail.

In ancient legends, mermaids are considered a curse for sailors. They use their beautiful voices to lure sailors, and the consequences for those who follow the sound are always the same - a burial at sea.

When the song ends, the little mermaid leaps into the deep sea, quickly disappearing without a trace.

Lin Yike unexpectedly chose to perform this scene as a plot point, and there is indeed an element of opportunism. However, it must be said that the young girl is very clever.

At least she knows how to hide her weaknesses.

"Lin Yike, I have read your information. You are a current student of the A University Radio and Television Department, and have never learned acting, let alone basic posture," the producer said.

Lin Yike felt that the producer had been targeting her all along, but she still responded respectfully and honestly, "That's true, but I can learn."

Director Chen had said in an interview that he was open to casting new actors for the role of the Mermaid Princess, so Lin Yike's lack of acting experience should not be a fatal flaw.

"The shooting schedule for this production is very tight. It's not for you to practice on," the producer spoke again, but was interrupted by Director Chen.

"The young girl's performance was quite good. Go home and wait for our decision," Director Chen said.

Since the director had spoken, the producer did not dare to say anything else. Lin Yike bowed to the audience with respect and dragged her fish tail out of the room.

Laughter erupted again in the room.

"Is that all for the auditions today?" Director Chen asked, closing the file and getting up. He clearly intended to leave.

The producer immediately stepped forward, smiling and saying, "Director Chen, there's one more candidate named Lu Yutong. She has been filming abroad for the past few months, but she rushed back for your audition. Her flight may be delayed..."

"Producer Dong, you know I hate lateness for any reason," Director Chen said, holding the file and heading out. Screenwriter Ye Xuan followed him, chatting as they walked.

"That little girl named Lin Yike is quite interesting. Apart from not having learned acting, she fits the character of the Mermaid Princess, Yi Duo, in all other aspects, especially her clean and clear temperament, like a real little mermaid," Ye Xuan said.

She rarely wastes so much breath praising someone.

"Okay," Director Chen nodded in agreement.