"Ohh, that's good to hear," Sonia replied.
The audition was about to start. Each of them was given the same role to play—the heroine. That was the central part of the audition. If they found the right fit, the remaining characters would be assigned to the next 15 people, and there were quite a few of them. Flora stood, quietly watching the crowd. She prayed silently to win. She didn't forget to pray for her friend, too.
The back door suddenly opened, causing the crowd to part, and the security tightened. "Who the hell is coming in?" Flora thought. She recalled the last time she saw something like this—it was that handsome man she bumped into at the airport two months ago. Yueying stood there, watching the crowd.
---
Yueying was utterly bewildered. "Could it be Wu Lin?" she asked someone nearby.
"Nope, it's the boss," the person replied.
"The boss?" Flora repeated. "I heard he was going to watch us perform. He's one of the judges," the guy next to her explained. He was about 28 years old, tall, with black eyes—someone she thought she might have met before, perhaps at the airport.
"Never mind," she muttered to herself. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the boss, herself included. The place was packed.
Soon, the audition began. Flora watched the other actors perform and noted the flaws in some performances. It wasn't that she considered herself a pro, but the character they were portraying—aloof and cold—didn't seem to fit anyone perfectly. "Flora Mac Len, you must be Yueying, right?" someone called her name. It was her turn. She stepped forward confidently, all eyes on her. It was obvious she was eye-catching. She was acting the role of a princess named Hu Mie.
She cleared her throat and began. She was given a script to read, but she already knew the storyline by heart. She started by singing, moving her hands gracefully like a fairy. Hu Mie was known for having the most beautiful voice, and as Yueying sang, it was as though they were watching the legendary Hu Mie. The moment she began singing, everyone turned to look at her.
Her voice was as soft as a cherry blossom petal falling to the ground. Wu Lin was amazed by her performance. She acted with extreme emotion—her eyes full of youth and vitality. Everyone was captivated by her acting. There was one pair of eyes watching her every move. She noticed it, but when she turned to face him, he quickly turned his back.
He walked away without a glance, giving instructions to Wu Lin before leaving. After everything, Yueying was chosen for the role of the female protagonist. Sonia was cast as Hu Mie's jealous stepsister. Sonia was furious with the casting. "Will Yueying always get everything she wants?" she thought.
Yueying was sent to Wu Lin's office for further arrangements.
"Lin Lin, do you think this is right?" Wu Lin's secretary asked.
"I'm certain," Wu Lin smirked.
Yueying was perplexed when she arrived at the office Wu Lin had assigned her to meet in. The room wasn't what she expected—it was nice, but not like the kind of place Wu Lin would typically use. Suddenly, smoke filled the room, choking and thick.
"Who's there?" Yueying shouted repeatedly.
"Help, help!" she screamed, but no one answered.
"Open the door, please!" she yelled.
Wu Lin's voice came from behind her secretary. The door was pushed open by security. Yueying hurriedly walked out.
"What does Wu Lin gain from punishing me?" Flora wondered as she left the room.
"You seem to like her," Wu Lin's secretary said. Normally, Wu Lin would have gone to extreme lengths for someone she didn't like.
Wu Lin smiled and left.
"Why would Wu Lin stoop so low?" This question echoed in Flora's mind.
---
"Wu Lin, was that really necessary?" Lu Quing asked.
"Big brother!" Wu Lin pouted.
Lu Quing gazed at his sister. His little sister was really getting out of control. Yes, Wu Lin was his sister. Her full name was Lu Wu Lin.
"Go there and apologize right now," Lu Quing ordered.
Wu Lin was taken aback. "Me? Apologize to someone who doesn't deserve it?!" She was more shocked by her brother's outburst.
"Lin Lin, what I'm trying to say is that it wasn't right to play such a dangerous prank on her," Lu Quing said softly.
"I understand," Wu Lin replied. Nevertheless, she obeyed her brother's command. She walked up to Yueying as she was about to leave for home.
"Flora Mac Len, I'm sorry for what happened earlier," Wu Lin said.
OMG! Was her beauty goddess apologizing to her?
"I don't have any issues, Lin Lin. It's just that it was dangerous. Anything could have happened, especially if I had something like asthma," Yueying said, speaking kindly.
Wu Lin was taken aback for a moment. Yueying had called her Lin Lin—only family and close friends addressed her like that.
"But it doesn't matter," Wu Lin thought, secretly pleased that Yueying had addressed her so familiarly.
When Yueying returned home, she was surprised to find her luggage outside the door.
"What is up with Sonia?" she thought.
Sonia had left a note: "My relatives are coming to stay with me on short notice. There's no room for us. Hope you find a place soon. Congratulations on your big win today."
Yueying looked at Sonia's outfit—her lace nightgown was particularly... sexy.
"Is this what all of this is about? Because I get to play the heroine?" Flora wondered. Sonia had insisted on letting her stay without paying, and now she was kicking her out in the middle of the night. Flora was furious.
She knew Sonia wasn't happy with her, but she never expected to be punished like this. How would she find a place to stay at this time? She decided to call her boyfriend—he was a good person. But what she didn't expect was hearing the phone ring inside Sonia's house.
"Why the hell is that bitch calling me?" she heard her boyfriend say.
"Babe, come over. She's here," Sonia said, her eyes filled with malice.
"Ti Hoja, what's going on?" Yueying shouted angrily.
"Yueying, you don't let me kiss you, yet you claim we're in a relationship?" Ti Hoja said.
"I was waiting for the right time, Hoja," Yueying replied, tears stinging her eyes, though she refused to shed them. She wouldn't let her enemies see her tears.
"Enough. Sonia takes good care of my needs. She's a real woman," Ti Hoja said, his fingers circling Sonia's waist. Yueying looked at their intimacy, feeling disgusted.
She walked down the road with her heavy bags. The sound of thunder echoed. She was drenched in rain, and even nature seemed to be against her.
The sound of a car horn beeped from behind her.
"Sir, should I walk over to her?" his secretary asked.
"Hmm," he nodded.
Yueying didn't walk any further. Her eyes were fixed on the car parked at the roadside. She wasn't sure if she should approach the car and ask for help or run away—what if they were kidnappers?