Chapter 99: Still Betting?

Chapter 99: Still Betting?

"Is everyone here?"

"Yes, everyone is here, Director Zhong."

"Director Lu, shall we begin then?"

"Yes."

Lu Pin pointed at the list, calling over a few actors he had his eye on to come and audition first.

The selected actors couldn't hide their excitement as they confidently strode toward the large cleared area ahead.

Lu provided them with a brief scene and instructed them to perform together.

It didn’t take long for them to assign roles among themselves. One of them grabbed a chair and sat down, starting their performance with a serious demeanor.

Lu Pin watched their performances intently and seriously.

As the saying goes, insiders observe the craft while outsiders just watch the spectacle—this perfectly described Fu Yining.

She watched the performances with great interest, occasionally pulling out her phone to text Zhong Qi.

Fu: [Sister, isn't this guy overacting? I can see the bulging veins on his forehead. It’s too much!]

Zhong: [Indeed, if I were the director, I wouldn’t choose him.]

Fu: [This one is too bland. His lover got into a car accident, and he doesn’t seem worried at all.]

Zhong: [Maybe he’s playing the role of a player?]

Fu: [In that case, the performance is spot on.]

"Zhou Tu, I told you Yan Xiu would be selected, didn’t I? Given my relationship with Director Lu, he was bound to give me this favor."

Across the meeting room, He Tang laughed smugly, but Zhou Tu silently disagreed.

Had Director Lu really chosen Yan Xiu? Wasn’t he just called in for an audition?

After giving a few polite replies, Zhou Tu turned to look at Tang Yunqiu, who had been looking dejected since earlier.

He tried to comfort him quietly, "Don’t worry. We’re not fighting for the second male lead role. We still have other opportunities!"

Tang Yunqiu didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on a certain direction.

Zhou Tu frowned, curious, and followed Tang Yunqiu's gaze, only to find that he seemed to be looking at the "Young Madam of the Yu family."

Was it love at first sight?

Zhou Tu wasn’t some inexperienced romantic. He could see the deep affection in Tang Yunqiu’s eyes, and it wasn’t shallow.

This wouldn’t do at all!

Alarmed, he immediately grabbed Tang Yunqiu by the head and turned him around.

"Yunqiu? Yunqiu? What are you looking at?"

"Brother Tu, I…" Tang Yunqiu looked confused.

Zhou Tu immediately advised, "Yunqiu, you're still young, don't be confused. Love is just a stumbling block on your road to success. Don’t get involved, no matter what!"

"Why fall for someone who's already married? And not just any married woman, but the young mistress of the Qigui Group!"

Regardless of what Tang Yunqiu had been like before, now that he was an artist under his management, Zhou Tu wouldn't allow him to get involved with someone he shouldn't.

Especially when it involved a terrifying entity like the Qigui Group, which could easily crush them if they so much as stamped their foot.

Seeing Zhou Tu’s concern, Tang Yunqiu really wanted to say: He just wanted to see her, nothing more.

And besides, Qingyu Sister was already married, what could he possibly do?

"Anyway, focus on your acting."

"I know, Brother Zhou."

Tang Yunqiu thought, I'll take one more look at her, just one more look, and then I'll focus on my career.

However, that one lingering glance, filled with deep affection, was seen by Song Qingyu, who happened to glance in their direction.

She paused, her eyes lighting up with surprise.

"Mom, look!"

"What is it?"

"It's Yunqiu, Tang Yunqiu!"

"Um, do you know him?"

Song Qingyu then remembered that Fu Yining had never been to Jingzhou, so she wouldn't know Tang Yunqiu.

Thus, she explained to Fu Yining, "Mom, that boy is Tang Yunqiu. He's the youngest son of Uncle Tang, who lives next door to Grandpa Yu and Grandma Yu."

With this explanation, Fu Yining understood.

So he's from that family!

Not long ago, Fu Yining had heard Yu ZhiLi mention that his parents were getting older and were far away in Jingzhou, so he found an honest and sincere family next door to help look after them.

That family was surnamed Tang.

Since Song Qingyu grew up in Jingzhou, it wasn't strange that she knew the Tang family.

Since she had spotted a familiar face, it would be rude not to say hello.

Song Qingyu asked, "Mom, can I go over for a moment?"

"Go ahead."

"I'll be back in a bit."

Song Qingyu moved quietly to avoid disturbing those absorbed in the performance.

Zhou Tu was lecturing Tang Yunqiu when he noticed someone approaching from the corner of his eye. He quickly closed his mouth and put on a polite smile.

He Tang saw Song Qingyu a second before Zhou Tu did. Just as he was about to speak to her, Song Qingyu walked right past him and headed towards Zhou Tu and the others.

"Yunqiu?"

"Qingyu, sister."

"Yunqiu, it really is you! I thought I had recognized the wrong person!"

Since going to college, Song Qingyu had rarely seen him. Now, the once skinny boy was even taller than her.

And now that he's grown up, Tang Yunqiu has turned out to be quite handsome.

"Yunqiu, you've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you!"

Tang Yunqiu smiled shyly. "Sister Qingyu, you have too. You're even more beautiful than before."

"No way, I haven't gotten uglier—that's good enough!" Song Qingyu laughed, touching her face.

Tang Yunqiu nodded vigorously. "It's true, Sister Qingyu, you're very beautiful!" Even more beautiful than he remembered.

Zhou Tu watched them chatting happily, opening his mouth but unsure of what to say.

How did they actually know each other?

And they seemed to be on good terms too.

Zhou Tu thought to himself that Tang Yunqiu had been so low-key. If he had mentioned this connection earlier, they could have asked Mrs. Yu for help with the role they lost.

At that moment, He Tang's sarcastic voice came from behind him. "The boy you brought, he's not an ordinary person!"

"Not at all, how could he compare to the person Brother Tang brought? He's about to be selected for Director Lu's second male lead!" Zhou Tu, feeling more confident, shot back just as sharply.

He Tang snorted coldly but didn't bother to argue, not wanting to offend Mrs. Yu.

This was the first time Zhou Tu had gotten the better of He Tang, and he felt like he was on top of the world.

His dear Yunqiu must really step up and secure a role in Director Lu's movie!

He didn't dare to dream of the male lead, but a supporting role would be great!

"Who is this boy?" Zhong Qi nudged the person next to her, Fu.

Fu replied, "A family acquaintance from Yu Zhili's hometown."

"Oh, that explains why I've never seen him before."

Zhong Qi stared at the harmonious scene between the boy and girl for a while before confidently declaring, "I bet this boy has a crush on your Qingyu, or I'll eat my own bag right now!"

Fu Yining: "...?"

"Why would I eat my bag?"

Zhong Qi: "...?"

"Because I didn't bring a bag!"

"..."

What an unrefutable reason!