Chapter 66: The Legendary Unspoken Rules

Although Ling Xiaoli was brimming with confidence, whenever other people asked whether she had succeeded, she still humbly replied,

“I don’t know yet. I’m just waiting for the notice. Director Zhang said he’ll give me an answer in two days.”

It wasn’t until Luo Zhaoyin finished filming her scenes for the day and came over to ask Ling Xiaoli that Ling Xiaoli finally allowed herself to look a little smug.

“Although they didn’t decide today, Director Zhang said my appearance is very much in line with what he’s looking for!”

Luo Zhaoyin looked delighted.

“Really? That’s wonderful!”

Beside them, Feng Weiyuan had just shivering his way into a military-style overcoat when he overheard their conversation.

“Huh? Then, Sister-in-law Xiao Li—uh… Sister Xiao Li, congratulations!”

Hearing Feng Weiyuan congratulate her, Ling Xiaoli smiled and waved her hand.

“Don’t congratulate me just yet. It’s still not certain!”

Feng Weiyuan clicked his tongue.

“Director Zhang already said that, so it’s practically a sure thing!

“Besides, I know what those actresses in the entertainment industry are like nowadays. I’ll stake my reputation on it! Not a single one of them is more suitable than Sister Xiao Li!

“If you don’t get the role, I’ll perform with a broadsword while standing on my head!”

………

That night, Ling Xiaoli received a call from an unfamiliar number.

Ling Xiaoli was humming a song happily while taking a shower when she suddenly heard—

【I Really Want to Live for Another Five Hundred Years……】

Her phone continued ringing. With no choice, she reluctantly wrapped herself in a bath towel and went out to answer it.

“Hello, is this Ling Xiaoli?”

It was a very gentle middle-aged male voice. It sounded somewhat familiar.

“Yes. May I ask who this is?”

“Oh, I’m Yan Liye. Do you remember me? We just met this morning.”

At that, Ling Xiaoli remembered.

Yan Liye was one of the assistant directors beside Director Zhang.

Her heart leaped.

Was Assistant Director Yan calling to tell her that she had passed the audition?

“Yes, yes, I remember. Assistant Director Yan, please go ahead.”

“Don’t be nervous. I just wanted to talk to you about today’s role.”

Sure enough!

“Mm-hmm, please go ahead.”

“This production is one of the major flagship dramas of the year, and there are quite a lot of people who want this role. You know that, right?”

Ling Xiaoli frowned when she heard this, sensing that something was wrong. Still, she replied,

“I know that. You can just tell me directly.”

“But I happen to have a little authority here. The actress who poses the biggest competition to you happens to be someone on my side. If you come over tonight……

“Heh heh, then the role is yours. Do you understand?”

Ling Xiaoli glanced outside.

It was already completely dark.

For a moment, she almost wanted to say, So it really is dark outside. I must be dreaming already.

“I’m sorry, Assistant Director Yan. If I’m not selected, then I simply wasn’t fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with you. There’s no need for you to spend any favors on my behalf.”

The moment she said this, Ling Xiaoli heard the tone on the other end change instantly.

If he had sounded gentle before, he was stern now.

“Ling Xiaoli, I don’t think you understand. This is a major production strongly promoted by the higher-ups. As long as you play Su Daji, you’ll shoot straight to the top!”

“Yes, I know. I’m sorry, Assistant Director Yan.”

After hearing Ling Xiaoli’s final answer, the other end of the phone fell silent for two seconds.

Then—

“You’re so ungrateful!”

The call ended.

Ling Xiaoli stared at her phone, feeling sick to her stomach.

Yan Liye was already forty-five or forty-six, wasn’t he? He had a wife and children, yet he was still doing this?

She really wanted to report him directly.

But Ling Xiaoli only thought about it.

For Yan Liye to dare play these kinds of games on a major production of this scale, it at least proved that he had considerable influence.

Who was on the other side?

A famous director.

And who was she?

A minor internet celebrity barely known in the entertainment industry.

If they wanted to blacklist her, they wouldn’t even need to do it personally. All they had to do was let a little word get out, and she could basically say goodbye to the entertainment industry.

Ling Xiaoli laughed at herself.

She had never imagined that before she had even done anything, she would already run into the legendary unspoken rules of the entertainment industry.