Lin Qiong: ...
Wang Cheng: ...
Wang Cheng stood beside Lin Qiong and patted his chest, saying, "Fortunately, we didn't pay for the photo retouching fee, otherwise they would have beautified you."
Lin Qiong looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, "Why didn't you pay?"
Wang Cheng replied, "I didn't have the money."
"..."
The producer held Lin Qiong's profile and motioned for him to sit down. Lin Qiong took a seat in the middle of the room. The producer pushed his glasses and said, "You're the first one among all these people to sit down. Do you know why?"
Lin Qiong calmly replied, "Because they're all standing."
"..."
Wang Cheng stood by the door, covering his face, but upon reflection, it seemed to make sense.
The assistant director spoke up, "The other pictures are all packaged for advertisements."
Lin Qiong asked, "Are the photos for reference only?"
"Correct," replied the producer. Then he cleared his throat and said, "And you match the photos."
Lin Qiong responded, "I'm honored."
In his previous life, he struggled to make a living, and job interviews were extremely difficult.
But now, he couldn't imagine that the reason he got a job opportunity was because he looked like himself.
The producer asked, "Others would usually retouch their photos or videos, why didn't you?"
Lin Qiong answered, "I didn't want to follow the crowd."
The producer nodded approvingly and cast admiring glances and the young man sitting gin the middle of the room. "And what else?"
Lin Qiong: "No money."
"..."
The producer exchanged a few words with the assistant director in a low voice. Wang Cheng also came over and advised, "Try to perform well and speak well."
Lin Qiong smiled confidently and said, "I'll give it my best."
Wang Cheng:... What I'm afraid of is you giving it your best.
"In a while, try to speak less and focus on showcasing your abilities," Wang Cheng said.
Lin Qiong silently agreed in his heart. Wang Cheng gave a lot of instructions, "Did you really listen? Say something."
Lin Qiong remembered the earlier advice and raised his hand to make a slight OK gesture.
Wang Cheng: ...
The producer pushed his glasses with his middle finger and asked, "According to your profile, you have some acting experience. Besides acting, do you have any other special skills? Can you play any musical instruments?"
Lin Qiong glanced at Wang Cheng not far away. He didn't really have any special skills. Just as Lin Qiong was about to be honest, he saw Wang Cheng desperately mouthing something at him from the doorway. Lin Qiong sighed and then forced himself, "I'm pretty good at playing the tambourine."
"..."
The producer stroked his chin. "We're very satisfied with your appearance. Can you perform a scene on the spot? Anything will do, and we can give you some time to prepare." They were looking for a newcomer for a supporting role in the movie, someone who hadn't undergone plastic surgery and didn't have excessive exposure, but their acting skills still had to be acceptable.
Upon hearing the request, Wang Cheng felt a pang of anxiety. Lin Qiong had no acting experience at all.
Lin Qiong: "I can start anytime."
Wang Cheng: !
The assistant director was somewhat surprised, "Oh, very well."
"Please begin your performance," the producer said.
Then, they saw the young man resting his elbow on his leg, with his chin supported by his intertwined slender fingers.
One second, two seconds...ten seconds passed, and the young man remained motionless.
The producer asked, "May I ask what you're performing?"
Lin Qiong replied, "The Contemplator."
"..."
After Lin Qiong finished his performance, Wang Cheng completely gave up hope and numbly rummaged through his pockets, searching for his car keys. Just when Wang Cheng thought they would be kicked out, the assistant director said, "Very good, you're hired. Come for makeup in five days."
Wang Cheng: ?
Then the assistant director told the assistant next to him, "Tell everyone outside to disperse. We'll go with him for the casting."
Wang Cheng couldn't believe his ears as he looked at the assistant director, then at Lin Qiong, who stood there with confidence.
Lin Qiong and Wang Cheng left, and the producer spoke up, "His eye acting is quite good."
The assistant director also nodded in agreement, "There's something there."
The two of them walked out and headed straight for the old van in the parking lot. Wang Cheng sat in the car, lost in thought. "Lin Qiong, you lucky bastard, you really got selected."
Wang Cheng didn't feel any sense of reality. Lin Qiong, on the other hand, remained calm. "It's true."
Wang Cheng looked at him excitedly and asked, "What impressed them?"
Lin Qiong smiled and said, "Exquisite acting."
Wang Cheng replied, "Don't say unrealistic things."
"..."
Lin Qiong asked, "Then what do you think it was?"
Wang Cheng thought seriously for a moment and said, "Smooth talk and shamelessness."
Lin Qiong asked, "Are those advantages?"
Wang Cheng responded, "It's undeniable when it comes to you."
Since Lin Qiong's role was selected, Wang Cheng planned to treat him to a meal. They first drove back to the city and then headed to a small tavern. Wang Cheng slapped the menu on the table boldly and said, "I'm treating today. Order whatever you want."
Lin Qiong ordered some dishes for the both of them, and then Wang Cheng raised his hand to call the waiter. "Five bottles of beer, please."
After ordering, he noticed Lin Qiong looking at him with a strange gaze. Wang Cheng was puzzled and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Lin Qiong replied, "Don't drink and drive, and don't drive if you drink."
Wang Cheng suddenly remembered that they still had the van parked outside and said, "You're right."
Lin Qiong asked, "No alcohol for you then?"
Wang Cheng replied, "No, you're drinking my portion too."
"..."
When they came out of the small tavern, it was already past nine in the evening. Wang Cheng struggled to support Lin Qiong. "Lin Qiong! How are you feeling? Do you feel like throwing up?"
Lin Qiong, with a flushed face, shook his head.
Wang Cheng helped him into the car. "You've had too much to drink."
"No, my mind is incredibly clear right now."
"Usually, people who are drunk don't admit that they're drunk."
"..."
Lin Qiong looked at Wang Cheng with confusion. Although he had a bit too much to drink, only his body was drunk, and his mind still had some awareness. Wang Cheng drove and took him to the villa area.
When they got out of the car, Wang Cheng tried to support him, but Lin Qiong refused, saying, "It's getting late, you should go back."
Wang Cheng was worried about his condition. "Can you make it inside by yourself?"
"Of course!"
Wang Cheng still insisted on accompanying him, but Lin Qiong rejected him again. "Don't come in. My partner at home is shy and doesn't like to be seen by others."
Wang Cheng: ... A perverted old man who is still so shy at his age.
Wang Cheng didn't want to cause any trouble or give the perverted old man the wrong idea. So Wang Cheng watched as Lin Qiong stumbled and walked into the villa area. Lin Qiong also knew that it wasn't safe for him to walk alone at night, so he took out his phone and called Fu Xingyun.
The phone rang a few times before it was answered. Lin Qiong spoke slowly, "Xingyun, I'm back. Can you come out and pick me up?"
The man on the other end of the line sensed the unnatural tone and without saying anything, hung up the phone.
Lin Qiong looked at the hung-up phone. Indeed, there isn't a single reliable scumbag.
He continued walking home, stumbling along the way. Just as he was halfway there, he saw a figure ahead, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be none other than Fu Xingyun.
Lin Qiong's small mouth formed an 'O' shape instantly, and he happily waved at the person. "Xingyun!"
As Fu Xingyun pushed the wheelchair closer, he immediately smelled the alcohol on Lin Qiong. "You've been drinking."
Lin Qiong nodded his fuzzy head.
Fu Xingyun asked, "How much did you drink?"
Lin Qiong smiled and said, "Not much, I'm not drunk."
Fu Xingyun glanced at his condition and said, "Walk in a straight line."
Just as Lin Qiong was about to take a step, he said to Fu Xingyun, "Help me down this road."
Fu Xingyun: ...
After about half an hour, the two of them arrived home. Fu Xingyun looked at Lin Qiong, who was lying on the sofa like a lazy fish. "Why did you drink?"
After a moment, Lin Qiong responded, "I went for a job interview today."
Fu Xingyun asked, "Were you celebrating that you got selected or drowning your sorrows because you didn't?"
Lin Qiong laughed foolishly, "Celebrating that I got selected."
Fu Xingyun observed that a person who is drunk is relatively defenseless and has the most vulnerabilities, making it the best time to make a move. Fu Xingyun looked at Lin Qiong's flushed cheeks and said, "Lin Qiong."
Lin Qiong narrowed his eyes like a leisurely cat and asked, "Hmm?"
Fu Xingyun spoke, "Whether you get selected or not, it doesn't matter. We have money."
Lin Qiong: ?
Although he was drunk, he wasn't foolish.
The other person's demeanor is different from usual; there must be something wrong.
Lin Qiong said, "I want to share the burden for our family."
Fu Xingyun stared at him, not missing the slightest hint of emotion on his face. Getting straight to the point, Fu Xingyun asked, "Why did you marry me in the first place?"
Lin Qiong replied, "Do you really want to know?"
The man simply nodded.
Lin Qiong spoke slowly, "Because I liked... " Before he could say the word "money," Fu Xingyun interrupted, "Is that true?"
Lin Qiong looked serious, "Of course it's true. Why else would I have married you?"
After hearing this, Fu Xingyun fell silent. He looked at the intoxicated person sitting on the sofa, unsure if what the person said was true or if they were just being overly cautious. Fu Xingyun tapped his fingers, alternating between light and heavy beats. "If you encounter any difficulties in your career, you can tell me, and I will help you."
Lin Qiong replied, "There are currently no difficulties, everything is going smoothly."
Fu Xingyun remained silent for a moment and then said, "Is that so? But if you need anything, you can tell me, and I will try my best to fulfill your wishes."
Lin Qiong smiled, his eyes curved. "Xingyun, you're really kind."
Who doesn't know how to make empty promises?
"In my next life, I'll be your wife."