Chapter 8: Mom Will Raise You

Chapter 8: Mom Will Raise You

In addition to the "Happiness Hotel," He Zhou also submitted Tang Fei's resume to two other production teams. One was for a popular IP drama produced by Nine O'clock Entertainment, where Tang Fei would play a supporting female lead. The team consisted of renowned industry professionals, including the original scriptwriter and director.

After studying the production company's previous works and their casting methods, as well as seeking insider information, He Zhou learned that the company had recently ventured into television dramas. Although they had a limited portfolio, their track record was impressive, with each production ranking high in ratings and receiving favorable reviews. Occasionally, their productions won awards, and their casting choices often produced unexpected stars, indicating minimal influence from external factors.

This particular drama had already started filming three days ago, but the lead female role was still uncast. He Zhou sensed some sort of competition or negotiation at play, and saw a potential opportunity for Tang Fei.

The other project was a youth romance film. Given Tang Fei's experience with "Youth High School" in her resume, he deemed it appropriate to submit her application there as well.

With bated breath, he marked today's date on the calendar. In the industry, if you didn't receive a response within three days, you were out of the running for the audition, unless, of course, you had a powerful backer to pull strings.

Every dozen minutes or so, he found himself compulsively checking his inbox, and it was during one such check that he saw a reply from the Happiness Hotel production team.

What an efficient crew! He mentally gave the Happiness Hotel team a thousand thumbs up for their promptness. Now, He Zhou could sleep soundly that night.

Lying in bed, He Zhou called Tang Fei and encouraged her to prepare well. He had sent her the script and character details via email. The next morning, as soon as he woke up and checked his phone, a new email notification caught his attention. His heart raced as he quickly opened it, only to find that Nine O'Clock Entertainment had also replied with an audition invitation.

After a week or two of searching fruitlessly, two opportunities had suddenly presented themselves. He was confident that with fairness on their side, his cousin would nail both auditions.

Waiting a bit more, Zhu Xiansheng's "Princess" drama should also begin airing. Choosing between these two projects would ensure Tang Fei's continuous popularity throughout next year.

"Hey sis, there's another offer for a role. It's an audition for the lead actress!" He Zhou excitedly called Tang Fei with the good news. "This is an adaptation of a very popular IP. You can check out the original novel on the web novel platform to understand the character better. Good luck, cousin!"

"Wow, my amazing cousin."

He Zhou was truly supportive. Adaptations of popular IPs usually came with built-in hype, and even some moderately successful third-tier celebrities struggled to secure an audition. Yet, he had managed to arrange one for her.

The drama was titled "Psychic Surge," identical to the name of the original novel. Set in ancient times, it revolves around the male lead, Su Yang, who accidentally retrieves a floating Spirit Energy Gathering Ring while fishing. This event triggers a transformation in the world, granting special abilities to animals, plants, and humans through the power of Spirit Energy.

Su Yang's Spirit Gathering Ring was crafted by a secretive organization that had precursor knowledge of spiritual energy. They based its creation on ancient legends but, after initial tests failed, they discarded it. Unbeknownst to them, the ring required a certain level of spiritual density to function. It found its way to Su Yang, and as the world's spiritual energy increased, the ring activated, propelling him, an untalented individual, into prodigious growth.

The world transformed. Crops rebelled, livestock turned rogue, leaving humanity without stable food sources. They reverted to hunting for survival, though this time, even plants became prey.

The narrative revolves around the emotional bond between the male protagonist and his teammates. Their hunting competitions with other squads, leading their hometown to expand their hunting grounds and territories, and venturing into perilous environments to eradicate super-spiritual creatures threatening human existence. The story emphasizes brotherhood, camaraderie, human resilience in crises, and the fantastical elements of this altered world, with wondrous abilities of various plants and animals.

She auditioned for the role of the female lead, despite her limited screen time. Her character traits, as gleaned from the role description, included beauty, frailty, gentleness, poor health, and a constant need for the protagonist to embark on adventurous quests to find magical plants or creatures to concoct remedies that would slow her inevitable decline.

Amidst the casting suggestions from fans of the novel, someone commented, "Xiuyun is probably the role that requires the least acting skills. With minimal dialogue, appearance is everything."

They also recommended actors who were acknowledged for their poor acting but good looks.

Many others chimed in with humor, "The female lead just needs to close her eyes and open them again, and the scene's done!"

Reading these comments, Tang Fei, who had diligently studied at home for over four months, expecting to put her newfound skills to use, felt hesitant.

She developed a slight prejudice against the role. Would playing such a character in a popular IP drama really benefit her?

Tang Fei's hesitation lasted about half a second. As someone on the brink of being financially ruined by a game, what was there for her to be picky about? She'd been idle at home for more than four months without any income; she needed to seize every opportunity with full effort.

She then revisited the introduction to "Happiness Hotel" that He Zhou had sent her the day before.

"Happiness Hotel" was a situational comedy that showcased an ensemble cast. The story unfolded within a beachside hotel bearing the same name, which specialized in honeymoon packages.

Ironically, all the hotel staff were single, and the newlywed couples visiting for their honeymoons would often end up separating right there in the Happiness Hotel, leading to all sorts of chaotic and comedic situations.

Each couple formed an individual storyline.

The enigma behind the "Single Curse of Happiness Hotel" remains an intriguing cliffhanger, unaddressed in the synopsis.

With a lower investment than the Psychic Frenzy and a rookie director whose works are yet to be discovered, the producer is none other than the industry giant Pan Boqiao.

He Zhou learned that the series features several veteran actors who have been absent from television for years. Her character is one of the hotel staff, a recurring lead role.

Acting alongside these seasoned veterans is a test of one's skills; any inadequacy will be glaringly apparent and could lead to severe criticism.

As a celebrity, mockery is tolerable compared to flopping. The more people mock you, the more buzz you generate.

Not a single reproach comes your way, only a handful of paid cheerleaders waving their flags and artificially inflating your ego with insincere flattery – that spells disaster.

Certainly, there are those who fare even worse, like her, without even the means to hire online trolls.

He Zhou even went the extra mile to gather background information on the other main characters, piecing together a rough outline of the story that helped her prepare for the audition.

The main fixed characters include the owner of the Happiness Hotel, the elegant and handsome Lan Yi, the owner's daughter who is a high school student, the mischievous and spirited Lan Xiaomei, the administrative manager, the professional career woman Guo Jing, the head chef, the taciturn Gong Changfu, the security guard, the shy and reserved An Qiu, the engineering department's water and electricity engineer, the unkempt Lu Zhihao, the front desk clerk who only flirts but doesn't fall in love, Xu Wan, and the housekeeping aunt, the sharp-tongued Ma Lijuan.

Among them, neither Xu Wan nor Lan Xiaomei had been chosen for roles, and it was the character Xu Wan that she was called to audition for.

Xu Wan, a captivating mixed-race beauty, inherited her wealth from her foreign mother. However, her parents, though financially affluent, lacked love for each other, engaging in secret affairs behind one another's back, leading separate lives.

Neither of her parents cared about Xu Wan's emotions. They brazenly brought their mistresses and lovers home, showing no discretion in front of her.

As she grew older, this unconventional family dynamic instilled a fear of marriage and love within her. Determined to break free from this abnormal relationship, Xu Wan left home.

Seeking to experience the joy of a happy marriage, she discovered that the Happiness Hotel was a renowned honeymoon resort. Driven by this, she applied for a position at the hotel's front desk.

When Xu Wan developed a slight interest in someone, she couldn't resist making the first move. But as soon as the person drew near, she would feel a wave of disgust, believing that easily-forged affections were mere illusions. Promptly, she would reject them.

Until she encountered the newly hired Lu Zhihao, who was nursing a heartache from a recent breakup. Xu Wan initially felt no romantic spark and interacted with him solely as a colleague. Over time, a subtle transformation emerged in their relationship.

In terms of character depth and complexity, Happiness Hotel excelled, whereas in terms of investment size, promotional efforts, and the heat generated by airing on national satellite channels, Soulwave Frenzy held the upper hand.

Tang Fei glanced at the audition schedules, one two days later and the other three. Her time was tight.

Xu Wan, a mixed-race heiress, had spent both her lifetimes in a moderately comfortable middle-class family, neither poverty-stricken nor excessively wealthy. Lacking real-life experience in such roles, she had few opportunities to observe such lifestyles firsthand. Her makeup cards allowed her to momentarily embody the opulence of ancient royalty as a discarded empress or a noble concubine, but it was a different sensation from modern-day wealth.

Tang Fei called He Zhou, saying, "I need to witness the life of the rich and famous. I lack experience in portraying a wealthy second-generation heir. A Zhou, do you know any affluent people?"

"Sis, if I wanted to know rich people, I'd cling to their legs. If someone introduced me to a wealthy woman, I could skip eighty years of struggle." He Zhou wished a domineering heiress would suddenly fall in love with him.

"Think of something for me."

"I'll consider it. You might encounter some at business conferences or economic forums. I know a host for such events and a hotel manager. Maybe they can sneak you in to observe."

"Alright, arrange for me to intern at the hotel reception for a day. Today, I'll read 'Psychic Frenzy' first." Tang Fei found the novel online, subscribed to it, and searched for chapters featuring Li Xiuyun.

"One thousand three hundred chapters... That's so long..." Tang Fei rubbed her ears, wondering if the story could ever be adapted into a film.

As He Zhou contacted people, he posted on his social media feed: a picture of a worn-out cardboard box with Tang Fei's photo inside, overlaid with the words "Seeking wealthy benefactress." The caption explained that, in preparation for playing a rich second-generation character, he urgently needed help from the wealthy ladies in his friends list.

The first like came from his aunt. The aunt, who secretly followed her daughter's updates, also commented, "Come home, darling. Mom will take care of you."

Startled, He Zhou immediately called to clarify the situation.