Chu Yao shook her head, eager to change the subject. "Dad," she said lightly, "how's your health been? Don't wear yourself out. Yaoyao can earn money now."
On the other end of the line, Chu Zhen Dong's throat felt suddenly dry. He quickly covered the mouthpiece, coughed sharply twice, and swallowed to wet his throat before speaking. "I'm good, very good. Dad's doing great, so Yaoyao doesn't need to worry."
The father and daughter didn't talk for long. Chu Zhen Dong was the first to hang up, but his gaze lingered on the still-lit screen of his phone.
After a long moment, he heaved a deep sigh.
The aroma of food drifted from the kitchen, and on the TV, a shampoo commercial starring Chu Yao was playing.
A look of heartache was plain on Chu Zhen Dong's weathered face.
After the Chu Family's fall from grace, he had moved out of the Imperial City to live in this small town. There were two reasons: the cost of living was low and it wasn't too far from the city, but more importantly, he didn't want to face the people and events from his past.
To put it plainly, after you've known glory, it's hard to move on from the fall. Even if you accept your new reality, there's a mental block you can't quite overcome.
"Mr. Chu, your meal is ready."
The housekeeper emerged from the kitchen with the food, interrupting Chu Zhen Dong's train of thought.
Chu Yao had insisted on hiring her to cook his lunch and dinner.
Chu Zhen Dong rose slowly, his body trembling slightly. He took a moment to steady himself before making his way to the dining table.
Looking at the meal on the table—one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a soup—Chu Zhen Dong sighed again. They were all Chu Yao's favorite foods.
'I wonder if Yaoyao is eating well.'
Back with Chu Yao, her mood had lightened after the call with her father. Once she finished reading the script, she got up and went to the mirror. Clearing her throat, she began practicing her lines with her reflection.
Chu Yao practiced her lines over and over, only stopping when Shan Wei arrived and rang the doorbell.
At two o'clock, Shan Wei brought Chu Yao back to the audition. Perhaps because Mi Feifei had been there, the two A-list actresses from the morning were gone. In fact, not only were they gone, but so were many of the recognizable second and third-tier actresses.
Among the actresses still present, Chu Yao was arguably one of the most well-known.
Shan Wei and Chu Yao exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them.
"Next, Chu Yao. Please get ready."
Chu Yao took a deep breath and rose with a smile. She turned to Shan Wei, gave her a playful wink, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "My dear patron, if I get cut, you can't hit me. I'm fragile, you know."
Shan Wei shot her an exasperated look. 'Still joking around at a time like this!'
Chu Yao strode into the room. Director Gu's auditions were famously spartan. He never provided a set to help build atmosphere—it was just a simple room, much like one for a university arts entrance exam.
As Chu Yao entered, another actress was just finishing her audition. It hadn't seemed to go well. Chu Yao cast a discreet glance and saw Director Gu, seated in the center of the panel, his brow knitted into a deep frown. The actress wasn't crying, but her face was a mask of dejection.
Chu Yao pressed her lips together, stepped forward, and gave a slight bow. "Hello, everyone. My name is Chu Yao, and I'm here to audition for the role of Zhong Xi."
Zhong Xi was the fourth female lead in the script—the main character's ride-or-die best friend.
Chu Yao finished her poised introduction, but Director Gu simply gave an impatient wave, clearly in a terrible mood. Chu Yao felt a flutter of anxiety but kept her expression calm. She took another deep breath and raised her hands, preparing to start, just as the door to the room was suddenly thrown open.