Bab 18: Between Chen Xu and Ting Yu!

It was already evening by the time all the auditions were done. All the other actresses had already left, and only Director Zhang and his team remained. The four of them walked slowly towards the car park, holding onto papers that had information about the actresses who had just auditioned.

Screenwriter Liu was the first to speak. He was analyzing some papers in his hand, and he kept looking at one in particular. "I agree that Chen Xu was phenomenal today, but Ting Yu was also great. The way she embodies Cai Ying's character was remarkable."

Ting Yu was also a very popular actress.

In terms of popularity, she was even above Chen Xu.

She had worked on numerous high-profile projects and built an impressive career over the years. In one of her most acclaimed roles, she played the resilient warrior princess Li Mei in the historical epic Blades of Honor. Her portrayal of Li Mei, a character who balanced fierce combat skills with deep emotional turmoil, earned her critical acclaim and several awards.

In a completely different genre, Ting Yu starred in the romantic drama Eternal Blossoms, where she played the character of Lin Xiu, a young woman who falls in love with a terminally ill artist. Her delicate and heartfelt performance showcased her ability to convey deep emotions and complex relationships.

Ting Yu also ventured into fantasy, starring as the enigmatic sorceress in The Enchanted Realm. Her character navigated a world filled with magic and mythical creatures, displaying her versatility in handling special effects-heavy scenes and intricate lore.

With her vast experience in romance films, she could be an excellent Cai Ying!

Director Zhang nodded thoughtfully. "Chen Xu has this raw emotion that is hard to replicate. You could feel her pain and desperation."

Li Wei, who had helped the actresses with their auditions, added, "Chen Xu's portrayal was intense, but I felt Ting Yu brought a certain grace and subtlety to the role. Cai Ying needs to show a range of emotions across different lifetimes, and Ting Yu captured that versatility."

Producer Wang, who had been quiet until now, interjected, "But can Ting Yu handle the more intense scenes? Cai Ying's story is one of immense loss and yearning. We need someone who can break the audience's heart."

Screenwriter Liu glanced at his notes. "Ting Yu's emotional range is impressive. She conveyed Cai Ying's sorrow and hope in a very nuanced way. But Chen Xu's raw performance is hard to overlook."

Director Zhang sighed, "We need someone who can bring depth to Cai Ying's character across all nine lifetimes. Each life has its own set of challenges and emotions. Who do you think can handle that better?"

Li Wei looked at the others. "What about their chemistry with the male lead? We need someone who can create that unspoken connection, even if my character doesn't recognize her."

Producer Wang nodded. "True. That connection needs to be palpable. Chen Xu had a natural chemistry with you, Li Wei. But Ting Yu's interactions were also very compelling. It's a tough choice."

Screenwriter Liu suggested, "Maybe we should look at their previous works again. See how they've handled different roles and emotional arcs."

Director Zhang agreed, "Good idea. We need to make sure our choice can handle the complexity of Cai Ying's character. We can't afford to make..."

Before he could even say 'mistake' he suddenly heard some faint sounds coming from somewhere. He stopped dead in his tracks and asked the others, "Did you hear that?"

The others shook their heads, they had not heard a single thing!

Producer Wang thought this was some kind of joke and asked, "Is Director Zhang hearing his own things now? None of us heard anything!"

Director Zhang rolled his eyes. He listened keenly and heard the same sound again, it was like someone was clawing through something!

Her motioned for the others to keep quiet and when they did, they also heard the sounds!

There was nothing in front of them other than a supply closet. If they were right, the sounds must have been coming from this place.

As they stood there, the sounds became more urgent before they heard someone speak, "Is someone out there? Please open the door for me!"

The voice was faint. Acting coach Chen was the first to exclaim, "Oh my God! Someone has been locked inside here!"

There was a surprise on all of their faces. This was something none of them expected!

Director Zhang quickly rushed to the closet door and tried the handle, but it was locked. "We need to find the key!" he said urgently.

Li Wei's eyes darted around the corridor. "There's no desk or drawers nearby. I'll have to run to the janitor's office. Hold on!"

He sprinted down the dimly lit hallway, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound of his footsteps echoed, amplifying the urgency of the situation. As he reached the end of the corridor, he skidded to a halt and threw open the door to the stairwell, taking the steps two at a time.

Back at the closet, the muffled voice called out again, more desperate now, "Please, hurry!"

Producer Wang and Screenwriter Liu exchanged worried glances. "This is outrageous. Who would do such a thing?" Wang muttered.

The person inside must be an actress and someone must have locked her in there purposefully so that she would miss the audition!

This was a trick that most popular actresses used when they saw a threat. If they had not found out then the person inside would have probably been locked in there forever!

Director Zhang placed his ear against the door, trying to reassure the person inside. "Hang on! We're getting the key! You'll be out soon!"

Li Wei reached the janitor's office, breathless. He yanked the door open and searched frantically, tossing aside cleaning supplies and tools. Finally, he spotted a ring of keys hanging on a peg. Snatching them up, he dashed back to the supply closet, his legs burning from the exertion.

When he arrived, he fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking from the adrenaline. "Come on, come on," he muttered under his breath, trying key after key.