Yun Muxi said with a pretended lightness, “Hey, she’s just a kid. Maybe Niannian just likes his handsome face. You know she is a typical face obsessed.”
Yun Muxi took out bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen. She said softly, “Hurry up to wash your hands and have a meal. The food is getting cold.”
Mou Yichen lowered down and spoke to Niannian tenderly, “Niannian, let’s go to wash hands. We’re going to have a meal.”
Niannian nodded tamely and bounced to wash hands with Mou Yichen.
Seeing Mou Yichen treat Niannian gently, Yun Muxi sighed lightly, with a helpless expression. After washing hands, the three people sat at the dining table. They got along with each other in harmony like a family. Mou Yichen picked up food for Niannian and Yun Muxi. Yun Muxi responded with a warm smile while Niannian ate obediently, looking at them from time to time, with a bright smile.
The warm picture was interrupted by an explosion of cheerful ringtones. Yun Muxi walked to the tea table and picked up the phone.
“Hello!”
“Xiao Xi, I’m Zhao Yi. I’ve seen your modified screenplay. It’s basically Ok. But, I can’t determine the female lead. So, I want to hear your opinion. Are you free to see me tomorrow?”
“Oh, okay! Anytime is fine.”
“Please come to the coffee shop in Shengxin Hotel at 10 tomorrow morning.”
“Ok, I will be there on time.”
…
In a private room of the coffee shop in Shengxin Hotel, at 10 o’clock the next day.
When Yun Muxi opened the door punctually, Director Zhao was talking cheerfully and humorously with a middle-aged woman and Gong Yu sat beside in silence. Seeing Gong Yu, Yun Muxi was stupefied for a moment. Then, she greeted Director Zhao politely.
Yun Muxi said to Director Zhao with a smile, “Director Zhao, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“Xiao Xi, you’re just in time. Come and sit down. Let me introduce to you. This is Lady He Xin, our production manager. And you’ve seen Gong Yu.” Director Zhao greeted Yun Muxi enthusiastically.
“Ms. He, nice to meet you! I’m Yun Muxi.” Yun Muxi greeted He Xin politely and reached out her right hand to shake hands with He Xin lightly. Then, she greeted Gong Yu politely, “Mr. Gong, Hello!”
“Ah! Xiao Xi, I’ve been waiting to see you for a long time. You’re a rare talented woman.”
When she was out, Yun Muxi wore simple clothes with a big black framed glasses covering half of her face. In that case, her face could be easily hidden. People usually didn’t think Yun Muxi was a good-looking and delicate woman. She was striking only because of her excellent talent.
Yun Muxi smiled faintly and sat down in an empty seat. She said modestly, “Ms. He, I’m flattered.”
“Don’t call me Ms. He. We don’t need any formality between us. Just call me Sister He!” Then, she seemed to recall something and said to Director Zhao, “Old Zhao, Xiao Xi is extraordinary. I’m familiar with her tutor, Professor Wang. I have heard that Xiao Xi is his favorite student. She did well in school and got the best grades in the class. She is a well-known quick learner from childhood. She entered into University Z in City A as the top student in science in the whole city. However, she chose a specialty in liberal arts and learned mass media. Unexpectedly, Xiao Xi was surprisingly good in this specialty. She was an unmatched quick learner. What a rare talent she is!”
Gong Yu said nothing but listened to their conversation indifferently. He glanced at Yun Muxi significantly.
Hearing He Xin’s words, Zhao Yi looked at Yun Muxi surprisingly, with appreciation in his eyes. “Oh, my! Good lenses, bad frames. I thought you only had unusual literary talent. Beyond expectation, I underestimated you.”
Yun Muxi was a little embarrassed, so she diverted the subject with a smile. “Director Zhao, do you want to discuss the female lead with me this time? Do you have a suitable candidate?”
Speaking of this, Zhao Yi could not help knitting his eyebrows. He said with anxiety, “Actually, I can’t determine the female lead this time. She needs both beautiful appearance and superb acting. She needs to play the modern and ancient role freely. The hardest part is that the female lead needs to transform between the modern and ancient times, and switch between two different worlds because she experiences time travel several times. Therefore, few people are completely well-matched.”
He Xin backed her up, “Er, that’s true! However, this is the highlight of the play. Now, there are more and more time-travel dramas, but in most cases, the leading character lives in the place after time-travel or come back after death. However, this drama is off the beaten track. The female lead can experience time-travel between the ancient and modern times several times by taking advantages of drunkenness. It’s very interesting!”
Zhao Yi said seriously, “This is a good drama but it’s difficult to choose the female lead. Among those actresses who attended the audition, no one was satisfactory to us. Each candidate has their own merits and demerits. Thus, I asked you and Gong Yu to come here today to listen to your opinions.”
Yun Muxi looked up at Gong Yu while the latter was staring at her as well. Yun Muxi diverted attention to Director Zhao, “Director Zhao, who is your candidate now?”
Director Zhao paused for a while and said seriously. “I’ve chosen four candidates from the audition. Chen Xiaoxiao is well known for costume drama. She is the first choice for costume drama but she is bad at modern play. So, I’m worried that she can’t play well in the modern part. After all, the female lead is a modern woman. Although she is beautiful, she is featured by ancient beauty and lacks Zhen Ai’s fresh and refined temperament.
Xue Yanan is good at both modern play and costume play. But she is deficient in appearance and talent. She is homely. Besides, she is unable to sing and dance. We have to employ substitutes.
Xie Ning is good at modern play but she played no costume play. I fear that she will be weak in the costume drama. Her appearance is not bad but she is not talented.
Ding Sisi maybe the best candidate. She is excel in both costume play and modern play. And, she looks beautiful. Although she is a little inferior to the female lead, who is set as fresh and refined, she can play the role after make-up and dress-up. Meanwhile, she is skilled in singing and dancing. However, she has a bad reputation. Because she has powerful connections and enjoys some reputation, she acts in an arbitrary and reckless manner. She is high-hearted and domineering, as well as turbulent in her personal life. Thus, I don’t like to use her.”