Chapter 169: Open Casting

On April 1, 1994, the moment the casting announcement for *Megashark* was released, the entire Chinese entertainment industry instantly erupted.

In the first-floor lobby of Feimin Entertainment, publicity director Li Xin was directing staff members as they put up posters.

"A little more to the left... yes, right there!"

On the three-meter-tall giant poster, a ferocious prehistoric monster shark burst out of the water, with gilded characters below reading:

"*Megashark* Global Open Casting — All Talents Welcome!"

The front-desk phone had been ringing nonstop since eight in the morning.

"Hello, Feimin Entertainment... yes, you can mail in your materials... no, we don't accept on-site registration..."

Eighteen-year-old intern Xiao Lin was scrambling to answer the calls, fine beads of sweat seeping out on her forehead.

A banquet hall at a hotel in Chaoyang District had been converted into a temporary casting center.

The corridor was packed with actors who had come to audition — some practicing expressions in mirrors, others reciting their lines over and over — and the air was thick with tension.

"Number 078! Is number 078 here?"

A girl with a ponytail shot to her feet: "Here! Here!"

Inside the audition room, Xiang Fei, Wang Jing, and Chen Kaige sat at the judges' panel.

"Please perform a scene where you're being chased by a shark," John said in clumsy Chinese.

The girl froze: "No... no lines?"

"None," Wang Jing pushed his glasses up. "It all depends on improvisation."

Five minutes later, the girl came running out red in the face, nearly colliding with Xu Zheng, who was waiting in line.

"How did it go?" Gao Hu asked quietly.

Yin Xiaotian made a slitting-his-throat gesture: "Died horribly."

In the VIP lounge, Jia Jingwen kept checking her watch.

"Don't be nervous," her manager soothed. "You're the locked-in female lead."

"Who said so?" Jia Jingwen frowned. "Director Xiang hates backdoor deals the most."

Just then, a staff member pushed the door open: "Young Lady Jia, it's your turn."

In the audition room, Xiang Fei looked at the file: "I heard you're afraid of water?"

Jia Jingwen nodded frankly: "Yes, but precisely because of that, I can understand the character's fear even better."

John suddenly said in English: "Jumpintothewaternow!" (Jump into the water right now!)

Before the translator could even open his mouth, Jia Jingwen had already dropped to her knees with a thud, slapping the floor frantically with both hands, the terror in her eyes utterly genuine.

"Cut!" John applauded. "Perfect!" (Perfect!)

On the third day of casting, an unexpected visitor shattered the calm.

"Director Xiang, there's a Mr. claiming to be an old acquaintance of yours who insists on seeing you."

Xiang Fei looked up to see Cheng Long standing at the doorway with a grin.

"Long-ge? How come you..."

"Heard you were casting, so I came to join the fun." Cheng Long waved the number slip in his hand. "Number 288, Cheng Long."

The whole room erupted.

Wang Jing hurriedly rose: "Long-ge, don't joke around..."

"Who's joking?" Cheng Long said solemnly. "I want to play that random passerby who gets eaten by the shark."

Xiang Fei pinched his brow: "Long-ge, the pay for this film..."

"One yuan." Cheng Long held up one finger. "Just consider it a friendly cameo."

When the final round of auditions ended, the conference room was thick with smoke.

"Jia Jingwen really is good," Wang Jing blew a smoke ring, "but her international fame isn't enough."

John pointed at Wang Qianyuan on the file: "This actor has real explosive power."

Xiang Fei was reviewing the audition footage when he suddenly paused on one shot.

In the shot, Wang Qianyuan was performing a scene of fighting a shark, every movement brimming with power.

"Him." Xiang Fei made the call. "Male lead — Wang Qianyuan."

On April 30, the starring cast of *Megashark* was officially announced:

Female lead: Jia Jingwen

Male lead: Wang Qianyuan

Special cameo: Cheng Long

The entertainment headlines were once again dominated by Feimin Entertainment.

And Jia Jingwen, at the center of it all, was at this very moment standing dazed at the Feimin Entertainment front desk.

"I... I really got picked?"

Front-desk Xiao Lin smiled and handed over the contract: "Congratulations, Young Lady Jia."