Jiang Xiyu slammed the script onto the coffee table.
Jiang Yuting came over holding two cups of coffee and frowned at the sight, "What are you doing? Just because you’re upset doesn’t mean you should take it out on the script, right?"
Jiang Xiyu took the coffee and sipped it, quickly turning her head to spit it out from being scalded.
She frowned even more, "Something’s been off with you lately!"
Not just off, Jiang Xiyu felt like she was on the verge of losing her mind with frustration recently.
Ever since the Survival livestream ended, other guests had capitalized on the heat built up during the stream, either landing endorsements and commercials or announcing new shows. At worst, they’d post a few candid photos occasionally to keep themselves in the public eye. But on Jiang Lingxi’s end, who knows what she’s up to; since the show ended, she hasn’t appeared in public at all, leaving the task entrusted to her by her aunt at a standstill.
And that was just one of the things frustrating her, not to mention the few pages of that lousy script she just flipped through.
She couldn’t bring up the former with Jiang Yuting, so she settled on discussing the latter.
After quickly rinsing her mouth with some ice water that Xiaotao handed her, Jiang Xiyu pointed to the script on the coffee table, "Did you read this script before giving it to me?"
"Of course I did," Jiang Yuting found her question baffling, "It’s a youth-oriented campus idol drama, and your role is the female lead. This genre is quite popular right now, and you have experience in it."
Jiang Xiyu was so angry that she laughed, "You just said it’s an idol drama, but I want to transition. I aim to be a serious actress, not forever typecast in the same role. And yet, you’re still giving me this kind of script. Are you doing this on purpose?"
Jiang Yuting wanted to defend herself; whether it’s for idols or serious roles, as long as one can earn a high fee, what’s the difference?
Who wouldn’t want to make money?
But seeing Jiang Xiyu on the verge of exploding, she silently swallowed those words.
"I know you’re still brooding over Director Wei’s new drama, aren’t you? And then there’s Jiang Lingxi; Tong Yue managed to speak with Director Wei. They might also be preparing for Director Wei’s new drama."
Jiang Xiyu clenched her teeth and kept her face stiff, her voice cold, "That makes sense, no wonder she can stay so calm."
What endorsement or commercial can match the prospects of joining Wei Xiao’s production team?
Even a fool would know what to choose!
"No way, I must join Director Wei’s production team no matter what!"
Jiang Yuting listened to her grit her teeth as she said this, wearing a pained expression.
"Are you really set on going against Jiang Lingxi?"
Jiang Xiyu looked at the puzzled and worried Jiang Yuting and suddenly felt a bit envious.
Her cousin probably didn’t even know that from the day she decided to enter the entertainment industry, she was already on a collision course with Jiang Lingxi.
Of course, this unbreakable bond was one of rivalry, not friendship.
Even though her aunt didn’t explicitly say it, she could sense it.
And after her last meeting with her aunt, she discovered something new.
It seemed like her aunt also had an unusual interest in Jiang Lingxi.
But she didn’t dare ask and instead pretended she’d noticed nothing.
"Isn’t there any other way to get into Director Wei’s production team?"
Jiang Yuting, seeing Jiang Xiyu’s persistence, was genuinely afraid she’d do something drastic out of obsession and set her coffee aside to get up, "Let me go ask again."
After making a phone call in her room for over ten minutes, Jiang Yuting came out just in time to meet Jiang Xiyu’s intense gaze.
She felt that if she shook her head, the other might just throw her coffee cup at her.
"I asked, and if you really want to get into Director Wei’s production team, there’s only one option left."
Jiang Xiyu impatiently inquired, "What option?"
Jiang Yuting hesitated but finally told her, "Audition for a character actor in Director Wei’s new drama. These types of roles aren’t that important and are usually decided by the assistant director. But doing this would mean lowering your status."
Character actor roles are typically pursued by extras and supporting actors in film cities, even C-list actors disdain to compete for such roles. If Jiang Xiyu were to audition for this kind of role, it wouldn’t just be lowering her status; if word got out, people might think she was being sidelined and had to vie with extras for opportunities.
But Jiang Xiyu hesitated for less than a minute before resolutely deciding, "I’ll do it!"
Jiang Yuting saw darkness before her eyes.
"Have you thought about the consequences of auditioning for such a role?"
Jiang Xiyu had, of course, thought about it, but now there was something even more terrifying than lowering her status standing before her.
She looked at Jiang Yuting, as if comforting herself too, "Every disadvantage has its advantage. Sure, I’m lowering my status, but it could also show how much I want to join Director Wei’s team, willing to play a minor role if necessary. Maybe Director Wei will see my dedication and give me a bigger part."
Jiang Yuting: "... Well, if you think about it that way, sure."
"By the way, there should be some time before the audition, right? Help me hire an acting coach, preferably someone well-known in the industry."
This proposition Jiang Yuting could agree with; thinking it over, "As for costume drama acting, Cheng Wan is the most famous, and then there’s...."
Jiang Xiyu immediately interrupted her, "Then hire Cheng Wan. If the company doesn’t cover it, I’ll pay myself."
Jiang Yuting could only take out her phone again, "I’ll ask if Cheng Wan has any availability."
She called Cheng Wan’s assistant, but the reply was not what they had hoped for, "I’m sorry, our teacher Cheng Wan’s schedule is full, and we can’t take any more students."
"Even with extra pay, it’s not possible, sorry."
Just as the other party was about to hang up, Jiang Xiyu quickly asked, "In that case, may I ask who Cheng Wan is currently teaching?"
If she couldn’t work around Cheng Wan’s schedule, she’d throw money at whoever was currently getting lessons to withdraw.
Finding this out wouldn’t take long, since Cheng Wan was a well-known acting coach with many waiting in line for lessons. The assistant didn’t hide it either, "Jiang Lingxi."
After hanging up, Jiang Yuting looked at Jiang Xiyu’s face, which was predictably clouded over.
"How about we find another coach? There’s no need to insist on Cheng Wan. Her fame might be a bit inflated; maybe she just got lucky coaching a few successful actresses."
At this point, Jiang Xiyu didn’t even hear her suggestion, instead mulling over with a stern face, "To recruit Cheng Wan even, it seems Jiang Lingxi is dead set on joining Wei Xiao’s production team too."
"So, should we still hire Cheng Wan?"
Jiang Xiyu glanced at Jiang Yuting, who was completely out of sync with her thoughts, and wearily motioned, "Forget it, leave me alone for a while."
Did they really think she was going to learn acting from scratch? Is her acting that lacking?
It’s just a way to show certain people her determination to take part in Wei Xiao’s new drama.
She wanted to see what Jiang Lingxi, sharpening her skills last minute over just a few days, could actually achieve in the end!