Chapter 502

A girl changes eighteen times, becoming more beautiful with each change.

Actually, Li Ye had seen classmate Zhong Zhong Haohao on television in his previous life.

At that time, the role of Qu Xia she played in *The Righteous Path in the Human World* left a very deep impression on Li Ye.

But by then, Zhong Zhong Haohao was already over eighteen, her face shape and physique had fully changed, and she was no longer called Zhong Zhong Haohao, but Ke Lan, which is why Li Ye hadn't recognized her just now.

At that time, many people were saying that Ke Lan's family background was extraordinary, making her one of the most powerful among mainland actresses.

Li Ye didn't quite understand it back then; since she had such a good family background, why enter the entertainment industry? And she even stated bluntly that she entered the industry for high income and vanity.

This didn't seem to fit the "wealthy family" image in his mind at all.

But now Li Ye believed it.

Because since coming into contact with Wen Wen Leyu, Li Ye had known many "upright" big shots whose children were just ordinary workers.

Moreover, large families emphasize "concentrating forces to accomplish big things," investing resources in a few heirs; those who are neither loved by their grandmothers nor their uncles definitely wouldn't get much resource support.

Director Xiao led Li Ye out enthusiastically while asking, "By the way, you said the day before yesterday that a young actor was coming for an audition. Where is she?"

So Ke Lan went to Canada at fourteen to wash dishes, and at sixteen went to Hong Kong to develop. If one sets aside some of her later political stances, she truly deserves to be called a self-reliant woman.

Li Ye certainly wouldn't flatter Zhong Zhong Haohao. In this world, apart from a few close people like Wen Wen Leyu, Teacher Ke, and his mother Fu Fu Guiru, he couldn't be bothered to flatter anyone.

Li Ye entered the office building, asking as he walked, and finally found Director Xiao, who was responsible for liaison and coordination.

For a child like Zhong Zhong Haohao, whose parents were divorced and who was treated like a ball, she either had to "find a job" or struggle on her own.

"Oh, is your name Zhong Zhong Haohao? A nice name. Watch the Little Fu Hongying in the story carefully; perhaps you can find some resonance."

The group arrived at the small auditorium, where many people were already seated, vaguely divided into two groups.

"Oh, is that so?"

Li Ye pointed to Zhong Zhong Haohao, who was reading a novel at the corner of the stairs outside, and said, "There, that's her. The age is right, the image is right."

"Classmate Li Ye, you've come just in time. Everyone has already gathered at the small auditorium. I'll take you over right now."

So Director Xiao still valued the "connected person" Li Ye brought, but since you're still... anyway, it's the director's business; he just needed to bring her over.

She wanted to see what kind of character could resonate with her, or if this writer, who looked quite decent, was just flattering her because of a request from his elders.

Zhong Zhong Haohao looked at Li Ye, always feeling that the way the other person looked at her had an inexplicable penetrating power, as if he had seen through a thread of her thoughts.

Because in the process of submitting the script earlier, Li Ye had already met most of the crew members, so he knew at a glance that one group was the crew and the other was the actors auditioning.

Is this cramming at the last minute? That's unreliable!

Zhong Zhong Haohao said silently, subconsciously picking up the book and starting to read.

Director Xiao generally knew the story behind *Beacon Deserter*, so he didn't treat Li Ye as an ordinary editor.

"Resonance, you say?"

Director Xiao glanced at Zhong Zhong Haohao, unable to suppress his doubts.

A woman in her forties in the front row saw Li Ye enter and immediately said with a smile, "You little fellow-townsman are really slow! It's been several days, why only now? What's the matter, did you take the money and wash your hands of it? You need to put your heart into it."

This woman was Wang Wang Haowei, an important figure among the fourth-generation directors in the mainland and the director of this *Beacon Deserter*. She had already met Li Ye twice.

Because she was from Weixian, Dongshan, and was a fellow-townsman of Li Ye, they weren't that distant when speaking to each other.

Li Ye had received a writing fee after submitting the script, so she teased him like this.

Li Ye smiled: "Director Wang, you've wronged me. I'm not washing my hands of it; I have absolute trust in your vision, which is why I was a little lazy. Please bear with me."

Li Ye did indeed believe in Wang Wang Haowei's vision. At this time, directors and film studios were still very focused on matching the script during casting and would absolutely not create a funny version of the "Bloody Handed Butcher" Ning Ning Liheng like in later generations.

"Alright, alright, I know you're busy with final exams. I was just joking with you."

Wang Wang Haowei smiled and then asked, "Where is that young actor you mentioned? It wouldn't be that one over there, would it?"

Li Ye looked back and said helplessly, "Yes, that's her. Her personality and temperament are very consistent with Little Fu Hongying. You can audition other roles first and put her last. If it works, it works; if not, there's nothing I can do."

Wang Wang Haowei's smile slowly faded, and she said faintly, "Alright, if her temperament is as suitable as you say, giving her two more days is fine."

Although Wang Wang Haowei was only in her forties, because the four most famous directors of the Beijing Film Studio had passed away one after another in recent years, she was already considered a big director at Beijing Film, so she naturally wouldn't tolerate any flaws.

You're here for an audition today, and you're only just reading the script? Are you kidding me?

"Come, let's audition the scenes for the male lead Hu Yi and the supporting role Li Youcai first. Zhang Zhang Fengyi, Chen Chen Peisi..."

Li Ye watched a tall, long-faced man and Chen Chen Peisi, who was famous for "eating noodles," walk out from the pile of actors. After a simple self-introduction at the front of the small auditorium, they began their segment performance according to the requirements.

They were performing a scene where the male lead Hu Yi meets the deputy captain of the detective team, Li Youcai, in the county town.

Chen Chen Peisi was walking on the road when he suddenly saw Zhang Zhang Fengyi. He was shocked and stunned for a few seconds before saying resentfully, "Officer, why are you still in the county town! The military police are looking for you everywhere..."

Zhang Zhang Fengyi said coldly, "We can't get out. You have to help us leave the city."

"Why am I so unlucky? Helping you leave the city is fine, but you have to do me a favor too... Hey, hey, let's talk this over, let's talk this over, don't let it go off..."

"Hahahaha!"

One has to say, Chen Chen Peisi's comedic talent is truly formidable. With just a few lines, he brought the slippery, oily secret agent to life.

And the coldness and ferocity displayed by Zhang Zhang Fengyi were also very similar to the killer Hu Yi in the novel, but his face shape always made Li Ye feel something was missing...

A male lead, after all, should be tough and handsome. Although Zhang Zhang Fengyi was a relatively tough actor in the eighties, he was a bit lacking in the "handsome" department.

Li Ye scanned the actors waiting for their auditions and saw another backup.

"Next group, Zhou Zhou Lijing."

Zhou Zhou Lijing was undoubtedly very handsome, and he later starred in many tough-guy police and gangster films, so his performance also had a lot of flavor.

The outstanding performances of both men made Li Ye feel it was hard to choose. Clearly, they had both prepared a lot and put in a great deal of effort for this play.

Li Ye looked back and found that Zhong Zhong Haohao was still clutching the script and studying hard, unable to help but sigh helplessly.

Who would have thought that *Beacon Deserter* had been published for so long, and she hadn't even read the novel?

"..."

Li Ye was stunned for a moment and looked up at the stage.

He thought he had heard wrong.

Let Liu Liu Xiaoqing play Little Fu Hongying? Do you think you're playing the sixteen-year-old Wu Zetian? Are you kidding me?

Although Liu Liu Xiaoqing was only in her twenties now, how old is Little Fu Hongying?

The novel clearly states that when Little Fu Hongying makes her entrance, her period hasn't even started yet!

But Liu Liu Xiaoqing really did play it, portraying the image of a young girl with every move.

For the first time, Li Ye doubted the "serious attitude" of directors in the eighties.

After Liu Liu Xiaoqing finished, she even won applause from many people; only Li Ye had a face full of black lines.

As the soul of *Beacon Deserter*, if Little Fu Hongying were played by Liu Liu Xiaoqing, Li Ye would just as soon flip the table.

But shortly after, Li Ye understood why.

Because two thirteen or fourteen-year-old actors went up one after another to play Little Fu Hongying, and the results were unbearable to watch.

Their stiff acting skills and stereotypical, dogmatic performance methods were not even as effective as Liu Liu Xiaoqing's!

"Sigh."

Li Ye couldn't help but sigh.

Among thirteen-year-old children, how many can act?

Asking a thirteen or fourteen-year-old child to play an "old soldier" who grew up in the flames of war and then drive the plot forward was too hard for them.

"Second group, Jiang Shan."

The last group to go on stage was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, who was also relatively the best one.

But in Li Ye's eyes, she was still unqualified.

Although Li Ye had a deep memory of her and Wang Wang Zhiwen's brilliant performances in *Getting Through the Addiction*, she was already eighteen, a grown woman. How could she portray the temperament of the "big bully" of the Independent Regiment?

A thirteen or fourteen-year-old Little Fu Hongying can run wild in the Independent Regiment, bullying this one and that one, but an eighteen-year-old Little Fu Hongying—do you dare to ignore discipline?

They wouldn't hesitate to execute you.

"Tsk."

A sound of disdain came from behind Li Ye; he didn't even need to turn around to know it was Zhong Zhong Haohao.

"..., you're next! Whether it's a mule or a horse, let's take it out for a walk!"

"I'll say it again, I am Zhong Zhong Haohao, not a child, and not a mule or a horse."

"Who's that? You come and try!"

Zhong Zhong Haohao stood up, hands on her small waist, and walked onto the stage with a swaggering gait.

And as she walked, she braided her two iconic little pigtails.

Director Wang Wang Haowei's eyes suddenly lit up.