Chapter 65: Stunning Everyone
Ling Xiaoli did not meet the director right away. Instead, the staff immediately took her to have her styling done and had her draw a script for the audition.
The audition scene Ling Xiaoli drew was very simple: Su Daji’s first meeting with King Zhou.
There was only one line of dialogue.
“Your humble subject, Daji, wishes Your Majesty ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten-thousand years!”
But this scene was not simple at all.
The actress playing Su Daji had to completely display her charm through just a few movements and a single line of dialogue.
She had to conquer King Zhou—and all the viewers as well.
The stylist changed Ling Xiaoli into her costume. Her hair was given only a simple style, with a single dangling hair ornament inserted into it.
Even her makeup was done by Ling Xiaoli herself, with only a few minor touches added by the stylist.
And just like that, Su Daji was born.
The stylists in the makeup room stared at Ling Xiaoli, their eyes filled with admiration.
……
“Are you ready?”
At the entrance to the conference room, a staff member gestured to Ling Xiaoli. If she was ready, he would open the door.
Once she entered, the audition would begin. All communication and discussion would take place after the audition!
“Yes, I’m ready.”
Ling Xiaoli took a deep breath and had the staff member open the conference room door.
……
Dressed in simple, unadorned robes, she took delicate steps, bending her slender waist ever so slightly, her fair wrists revealed beneath the light gauze.
She walked to the table.
First, her eyes shifted gently, filled with shyness and coyness. Then she lowered her head and bent her knees in a graceful curtsy, her gaze dropping downward.
Finally, her cherry lips parted slightly, and her soft, sweet voice flowed out:
“Your humble subject, Daji, wishes Your Majesty ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten-thousand years!”
The entire room fell silent!
Not a single sound could be heard!
The gazes of more than a dozen people present were all fixed on the woman standing in the center. No one was willing to look away for even a moment.
Missing even a single second would be an enormous loss!
There was an old saying used to describe Su Daji:
She was no less beautiful than a celestial maiden descending from the Ninth Heaven and the moon goddess Chang’e leaving her palace in the moon.
Ling Xiaoli remained in her curtsy, waiting for a response that never came. She didn’t dare raise her eyes.
What’s going on? Is anyone there? Someone say something! Where’s the supporting actor? Someone give me a scene to play with!
After what seemed like an eternity, just as Ling Xiaoli’s waist was beginning to ache from waiting, a voice finally came from the front.
“That’s enough. You can get up.”
Ling Xiaoli immediately straightened and looked expectantly at the person in the center.
It was Zhang Ye, the chief director of The Investiture of the Gods.
Zhang Ye had a smile on his face, laugh lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. At just over forty, he was in the prime of his life, and taking on the position of chief director for The Investiture of the Gods was a testament to his abilities.
But the audition he had originally had little hope for today had actually given him a huge surprise.
He had never expected that the actress Hu Li had praised would have such an outstanding appearance!
When directors cast actors, they consider all kinds of factors. But when there is no outside influence, what do they pay attention to first?
Without a doubt—it was resemblance!
As long as an actor looked like the character, even if their acting skills were somewhat lacking, it was not a big problem.
However, just as he was about to speak, the assistant director beside him stopped him.
The two whispered to each other for a moment.
Zhang Ye sighed, then turned to Ling Xiaoli.
“I’ll be straightforward. Your appearance is very much in line with what I’m looking for. However, there are still other actresses auditioning over the next few days, so I’ll give you an answer in two days. Is that alright with you?”
Even at this point, several people in the room were still completely lost in the beauty of “Su Daji,” looking dazed and seemingly unaware of where they were.
………
On the way back, Ling Xiaoli was in an excellent mood.
Although the role had not been confirmed on the spot, Director Zhang had already said that he was impressed with her, so her chances of being selected should be very high!
She also understood why he couldn’t make the decision immediately.
Everyone auditioning had been recommended by different parties. It was impossible to simply give her the role without giving the others a chance to audition.
(End of Chapter)