Chapter 5 : Hell Consists Of Several Layers

Shen Jingwei leaned against the white wall and crossed his arms in front of his chest. His impassive face and piercing eyes suggested the image of a domineering beauty.

Those who wanted to approach him felt oddly inadequate while those who did not want to approach him kept sneaking glances at him.

One would think that Shen Jingwei, the person under the spotlight, would notice. But no, he didn't. He was too busy watching the auditionees who just exited the audition room.

First of all, most of them were women.

It was not strange for women to be recruited into shou roles.

Men, queer or not, were usually reluctant to step into the roles.

Which reminded Shen Jingwei of his infuriating circumstances.

Zhu Dongyi! He cursed his manager in his heart.

I hope you stub your little toe on a sharp corner today.

Second of all, all of them were peerless beauties.

Which didn't make sense at all, because how could so many peerless beauties gather at the same time, at the same place?

Besides, if there were so many of them, could they still be called peerless beauties?

And why was he fussing about the philosophical aspect of his observation?

He must be going out of his mind.

Third of all, they all looked very confident and satisfied with their performances.

Until of course, Lin Ruoye stepped into the scene and wiped the smile off everyone's face in a flash.

Lin Ruoye was a twenty-year-old rising star. After her graduation from an acting academy, she landed one great gig after another, propelling her up the steep, treacherous cliff known as an acting career.

For one, she signed with Yunhuan Entertainment, one of the best media and entertainment companies that had already cultivated one superstar after another.

Additionally, she also landed a top-tier, experienced manager to help her jumpstart her career.

Not to mention that she was the kind of petite, sweet beauty that made mortal men fall upon each other, wanting to hide this precious pearl in their palms and protect her forever.

This striking charm, coupled with an unwavering dedication to her craft and a perpetually positive demeanor, garnered widespread admiration within the industry.

By chance, Shen Jingwei and Lin Ruoye locked gazes.

Lin Ruoye gave him a polite nod and a smile.

Shen Jingwei responded with similar gestures, but his smile was reminiscent of the chill at the peak of the winter season. The kind that crept up poor wanderers' spines when they got lost in the middle of a snowstorm.

Ahhh...

Was there a point in joining this audition if the winner was clear from the very beginning?

"Mr. Shen Jingwei, please enter."

Shen Jingwei rose to his feet, straightened his posture, and walked stiffly into the audition room.

Truly, it couldn't get any worse.

Why sweat it?

All he had to do was give his best.

Let heaven decide the rest.

You are a pro!

You are a pro!

You are a...

His internal chanting stopped abruptly.

Beneath his feet was a plush red carpet with yellow flower patterns.

Shen Jingwei raised his eyes and met the panel of judges, who sat at a long table at the end of the room.

At the left side was Lu Shui, the author, who was grinning at him from ear to ear.

"..."

Why didn't he go out on a limb and buy her a box of chocolate from the vending machine?

Not that he wanted to bribe anyone.

Not that a box of chocolate would save him after he dared insulting the novel in front of the author.

Sigh.

Next came several important-looking men. The casting director, the movie director, the producer, representatives from the production company, and...

Shen Jingwei inadvertently held his breath when he came upon the last man sitting at the table.

The man was a towering figure, casually reclined in the plush armchair, one leg nonchalantly crossed over the other. His hands, long and elegant, rested composedly in his lap.

Broad shoulders hinted at underlying strength, yet his posture was effortlessly relaxed.

He boasted a head of thick, wavy, dark hair that framed a pair of deep-set eyes the color of stormy seas. A hint of stubble accentuated his strong, chiseled jawline, reminiscent of a Greek god.

A small, enigmatic smile curved his lips, suggesting a depth of character beneath the cool exterior.

That smile promptly vanished when he locked eyes with Shen Jingwei.

This man was Yan Renzhong.

Nicknamed "The Emperor", he was one of the very few actors who managed to make the A-list within two years of his debut in the film industry.

Compared to him, Lin Ruoye was just a toddler learning to walk.

Emperor Yan's face could be seen everywhere, starting from gossip magazine articles down to television commercials.

As a skilled pianist, singer, and self-defense expert to boot, he recently claimed the top spot on the list of the industry's most talented actors.

This famous man also happened to be Shen Jingwei's ex-boyfriend and nemesis, the one who benefited the most from Shen Jingwei's fall three years ago.

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Author's note :

Ta-da~!

Our protagonist finally meets our male lead!

Shen Jingwei : *vomits blood* I need medical intervention.

Author : Emperor Yan happens to be an accomplished doctor as well.

Shen Jingwei : Is he also a capable undertaker? Just bury me six feet under the ground already! (⁠╯⁠°⁠□⁠°⁠）⁠╯⁠︵⁠ ⁠┻⁠━⁠┻