Chapter 9: The Audition.

My alarm went off at exactly 7:30 a.m. I groggily sat up and reached out for my mobile phone.

I opened my email, hoping to get a response about the audition I had applied for a few months ago at Lin's Studio. "Good morning, Miss Qiao Mei. This message is to notify you that you have been qualified to audition for the second female lead role. Please arrive at the studio before 10:30 a.m.

I rubbed my eyes to ensure I wasn't dreaming. "Yes, I got the audition!"

I exclaimed happily standing up and staring at my phone. Then I realized the time was 7:45 a.m.

"Jeez, I'm already running late"

I quickly headed to the bathroom to take a bath.

I ran down the stairs quickly heading for the dining room.

Su Yesi heard the sound of the door and raised his head to see Qiao Mei dressed in a white dress, making her skin look paler than usual. Her long black hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, revealing her slender neck. Su Yesi's gaze lingered on her for a moment before quickly shifting away as she approached him.

"Good morning, Mr. Su".

Su Yesi got a closer view of Qiao Mei and noticed she had no makeup on. Her porcelain-like skin had a natural glow.

"So, she can look this cultured." he thought. Remembering how he met her yesterday, he resisted the urge to smile.

He watched as Qiao Mei munched on her food,

"Can't you eat slower? " the disgust was evident in his tone.

"I have a place to go to, and I'm running late already", she said and continued eating quickly.

After she rounded up, she stood up quickly and ran towards the front door. She stopped abruptly.

" Mr Su, do you mind lending me two dollars for transport fare"

"The Su family is not poor enough to let Miss Qiao use public transportation. Ask the driver to take you to your destination. You can use any car you wish."

"Thank you very much" With that Qiao Mei dashed out of the Su mansion, with Su Yesi's dark gaze following her.

"Can't she act like a lady for once?"

…

Lin's Studio is known for being exceptionally disciplined; I arrived just as security was about to close the door.

"Wait for me!"

I dashed into the building, greeted and thanked the security, and walked into Lin's Studio trying to find my way to the audition section.

"Aiyo, isn't that Qiao Mei, she thinks she can audition for the female lead role? " a mocking voice sneered.

I turned to see Qiao Rou and her friend.

I sneered " I got the audition by merits. Who knows how many rounds you went to be able to attend this audition?"

Rong Yue's face reddened,

"You…"

" Qiao Mei, I don't care how you got this audition, but don't you dare insult my friend", Qiao Rou said angrily.

I glanced at my cousin,

" You know I haven't settled scores with you and your family yet, and you still dare show your face and cause trouble?" Qiao Mei coldly.

"Ha settle scores? We'll see what you can do," Qiao Rou mocked Qiao Mei and immediately took her partner out of the scene.

Qiao Mei followed them steadily from behind hoping to find her way. Once I got there, I immediately went to the script section and began looking for the script I had been practising for a long time. I couldn't find it, so I asked the staff there,

"What, it's been taken?"

"Aya, someone didn't prepare two scripts"

I turned and saw Qiao Rou with the script I planned to use for the audition.

"Miss Qiao Mei please come in"

I heard the director mention my name through the hall speaker. My heartbeat quickened. My gaze met Qiao Rou's mocking one. I quickly took the script nearest to me and went Into the room without an iota of confidence. I met the director's lazy gaze on me, and the other crew members brightly staring at me.

"Good morning, director I am Qiao Mei"

The director being a no-nonsense person said,

" Please get to the point"

The part I was most afraid of presenting the script for the first time without any practice. It was about a lady standing alone on the highest building in a slave establishment reminiscing about her life on her birthday… ..

I felt I could communicate with the character in the script hence, I adjusted my emotions and began…

Smiles sadly,

"Today I was born, It should have been a happy day for my parents, but I wish I was never born. I had everything snatched away from me and now I'm sold to a slave establishment. I'm being raped and beaten almost every day. I was once the daughter of a rich man, but today, who am I? …. I wonder where we go after death. If there's an afterlife, I wish to be able to confront everyone that took away my happiness"

Her eyes filled with tears," Mom and Dad can you see me? I'm coming…"

Tears streamed down from Qiao Mei's face as she gave a melancholy smile. The character jumped from the high building and died. Qiao Mei lay on the ground, pretending to be dead for a few seconds before standing up. She met the teary eyes of the crew members. My gaze went back to the director who studied me intently. I wasn't able to guess what he was thinking as I stared at him.

"Thank you, Miss Qiao Mei. We'll get back to you," a crew member said, smiling at me.

" Thank you," I said with a smile leaving the audition room,

"I've done my best," I whispered to myself.

I came out to see Qiao Rou.

"Ow, look at her face. It's obvious it didn't go well," she said smiling and tapping her friend.

I looked at them, completely uninterested in bickering with them, so I walked out.

"Yueyue, Did she just ignore me?" Qiao Rou asked her friend.

"Ha, how dare she? The audition probably didn't go well, so she's feeling depressed" Rong Yue stated.

"But how did you manage to know she chose that script?" Rong Yue asked.

"I happen to know someone inside. I spent a lot of money to get my name put before Qiao Mei. I have to make sure that she never gets an opportunity in the industry" Qiao Rou said viciously.

Rong Yue smiled" Very good, I hate that Qiao Mei".

The Hall speaker spoke again,

" Miss Qiao Rou please come in".....