Chapter 14

In fact, Muzi Pictures didn't plan to use its own actors to act in this web drama. After all, Muzi Pictures' actors have higher benefit standard. When Wang Jie saw this plan, she first thought of Li Zixi.

Wang jie herself is more optimistic about web dramas, although the production cost of this web drama is not high, it is not pricey compared to TV dramas, and for common web dramas, the cost is ten times higher.

She thinks this drama might become popular, and even if it won't become red, for Li Zixi who has no exposure, it is also a good choice.

After going back, Li Zixi first read the script of the web drama, since the script will be used to audition three days later. Li Zixi liked the script very much while in Wang jie's office earlier, reading it again now and can't stop.

The name of this web drama is《The Heroic Girl and the Tyrant》. The story takes place in the last years of the Yuan Dynasty. The heroine Cheng Qingyi is an orphan without a father and no mother, was abandoned by the parents when born. She was picked up by a *shifu who lived on the mountain. Shifu taught her to practice martial arts, *Shiniang taught her knowledge. After more than ten years of peace and stability, Shifu and Shiniang were killed by the enemies.

[*shifu – master, generally refers to teacher]

[*shiniang – refers to a shifu's wife]

Cheng Qingyi has since embarked on the road of revenge for the *sect. Due to living in the mountains since young, isolated from the world and rarely getting along with people, so she didn't know that people were living in dire straits. Seeing that people have no way of making a living, and famine everywhere, she decides to rob the rich and help the poor.

[*sect – an organization that practice martial arts, commonly encountered in wuxia genre (tho I'm not sure if this really trans to sect as google said it could also mean teacher)]

On a dark and windy night, Cheng Qingyi sneaked into landlord Wu's house and walked to the room of the landlord's son, Wu Qi. She held Wu Qi hostage and asked landlord Wu to open the granary to help the poor people.

After landlord Wu obeyed her request to open the granary, Cheng Qingyi released Wu Qi. As a result, Wu Qi fell in love with Cheng Qingyi at first sight, did not want to separate no matter what.

Next, a series of funny things happened between Cheng Qingyi and Wu Qi. Wu Qi clumsily followed Cheng Qingyi to learn martial arts and cooking with *rough hands and rough feet. Of the two people getting along, Cheng Qingyi is more like the bully, and Wu Qi is the little daughter-in-law who is being bullied.

[*rough hands and rough feet – clumsily]

When Cheng Qingyi fought with her enemy, Wu Qi bravely blocked a sword for her. After Cheng Qingyi killed her enemy, with Wu Qi, she returned to the mountains.

After spending a few hours reading the script, Li Zixi had a more profound understanding of Cheng Qingyi's character. This kind of heroic female role, she really suits her palate. She has to act on this script.

Web dramas right now are still in an awkward condition, basically no one knows the existence of this kind of thing. The shots are also shoddy with poor post-production, makes it incomprehensible for viewers.

It would be great if the script can be filmed, she believes, she will be able to take advantage of this web drama to soar into the sky.

In addition, there is Muzi Pictures' cooperation, thus, she thinks that this drama might really be as she expected, become the first web drama to be popular.

Although knowing that this role was basically *something in the bag, until on that moment, she doesn't know what would happen. Therefore, she still prepared for the audition seriously.

[*something in the bag/something in the pocket – something easy to obtain without much effort]

Three days later, Li Zixi came to the audition site. After entering, she frowned, wasn't it said that there will only be her? Why are there so many people auditioning? Time agreed on was ten o'clock, it's only half past eight, how come there are so many people? Could it be that Wang jie's information is wrong, couldn't it?

In order to leave a good impression on the director and to save time for makeup, she has been ahead of the schedule by an hour and a half, is she still late?

When the staff heard that it was Li Zixi of Muzi Pictures, she was immediately brought to the dressing room. On the way, Li Zixi asked, "Excuse me, did the audition begin? Am I late?"

The staff member smiled and said, "Not late. The director informed that you'll arrive around ten o'clock. Didn't expect you to come here so early. But the director also said, if you arrive early, go in early to audition."

After listening to the staff, Li Zixi felt a little relieved.

The staff walked into the dressing room and asked the makeup artist to do her make-up first. Chen Yan, who was putting on makeup, raised her head at this moment. She glanced at Li Zixi, smiled to the staff and asked: "Sorry, I will be in line soon, I want to know why put makeup on her first?" Then, she pointed at Li Zixi.

The staff frowned and said: "This is the director's arrangement; how do I know. Besides, can the protagonist be the same as the supporting actress?" Finished talking, they ignored her again and walked out of the dressing room.

Li Zixi shot a glance at Chen Yan, calmly sitting on the chair and letting the makeup artist do makeup. But murmuring in her heart: Met Chen Yan again, really don't know what evil fate the two people have from their previous lives, why she is everywhere.

Although this kind of person who *doesn't bite and hurt like a dog, she is like a fly, screaming and buzzing, a bother to people. If possible, she really wanted to take a fly swatter and slap her to death. It also saves her from turning around with her in front every day, adding to her obstacles!

[*doesn't bite and hurt like a dog – someone not to be afraid of]

Not only she thinks so, Li Zixi believes, if Chen Yan gains power one day, she will definitely deal with her. Therefore, it is better to take advantage of the enemy's weakness and kill her directly. Even if you can't get rid of her, have to widen the gap with her to save trouble.

Half an hour later, Li Zixi went to audition. Wang Chen had just heard that Li Zixi came very early. Seeing Li Zixi's appearance, he was already very satisfied.

Wang Chen knows that no one pays much attention to web dramas now, even actors with little popularity will not come to act on web dramas. However, he believes, web dramas will be popular. This time, he devoted a lot of his life savings to film this drama. Success or failure, it depends on hard work this time.

He has a very good impression of Li Zixi right now, as long as Li Zixi has little acting skills, he believes that the show will be fire.

Wang Chen looked at Li Zixi and asked, "Have you read the script?"

Li Zixi smiled and replied: "I have read it two or three times."

Wang Chen was a little surprised at Li Zixi's answer. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Then, you are very familiar with the script? If I ask you to try a scene from the script later, you can?"

Li Zixi nodded and replied confidently: "Yes, you say it."

Wang Chen's eyes showed a sense of scrutiny, he said: "Then let's try the scene where Wu Qi was stabbed by a sword, no actual performance, ten minutes of preparation time."

Li Zixi glanced at the director and said, "No need, I just read that scene this morning. One minute is enough."

The director, producer, and screenwriter sitting below looked at each other and didn't say anything.

A minute later, Cheng Qingyi supporting the person in front, slowly knelt down. With panic in her eyes, she touched Wu Qi's face and said longingly, "Wu Qi, Wu Qi, wake up, don't scare me." With that, she held her breath again, lifting her trembling hands to try Wu Qi's breathing. After feeling the faint breathing, Cheng Qingyi closed her eyes in relief, the body also relaxed, knelt on the ground, tears also streamed down.

At this moment, Wu Qi coughed, slowly opening his eyes, he said with a smile: "That's nice, I can see you shed tears for me in this lifetime. Even if I die, it is worth it."

Cheng Qingyi stroked his face and said, "I forbid you from saying those words, you said you want to accompany me until my head turns white, how can you leave without my consent?"

Wu Qi's lips pulled up into a smile. Holding Cheng Qingyi's hand tightly, he said: "You can give me a kiss, just one, maybe once you kiss me, I'll be fine."

Cheng Qingyi looked in front where the weak Wu Qi lays, and gently kissed his forehead.

Wu Qi smiled and said: "Qingyi, I'm talking about lips, not forehead."

Cheng Qingyi said while crying: "You want me to kiss your lips, but we have to wait until we get married."

There was a strange light in Wu Qi's eyes at this moment, then he asked: "Marriage, is what you said true? Qingyi, I heard it right?"

Cheng Qingyi forced to endure the heart's grief and said with a smile: "What I said is true, as long as you get better, we will get married."

After performing this scene, Li Zixi knelt on the ground, eyes closed and kept the tears for a while before finally stepping out of the performance.

Since there is no actual performance, Wu Qi does not exist and everything was performed by Li Zixi herself while imagining. Even so, Wang Yaqi shed tears quietly.

She is a young writer, taking up the role of screenwriter for the first time. Watching the girl in front perform what she thought of Cheng Qingyi in her heart, she was moved and satisfied. It turns out that her own novel can also move people and the feelings expressed can also be performed and acted by someone who can understand it.

Wang Yaqi was the first to break the silence, and she said in a hoarse voice: "Very good, you are the Cheng Qingyi in my heart. The acting is great."

Wang Chen also recovered from the performance and said excitedly: "I can guarantee, this drama will definitely become popular. Let's sign a contract now."

Li Zixi asked in surprise: "Go and sign now?"

Wang Chen said, "Yes, sign now, it must be signed now." No one wanted to play web dramas originally, thought that the newcomer sent by Muzi Films was an actor who didn't have much acting skills, just an actor needing exposure. What's more, didn't expect it to be someone with such a spiritual acting skill. It can be regarded as picking up a treasure this time, why wait more? What if this newcomer turns around and regrets it, where can he find an actor with such good acting skills and beautiful looks!

After being surprised, Li Zixi said, "I'm going to call my agent first, may I, director?"

Wang Chen nodded and said, "Yes." Anyway, it's just going through the formalities this time, they had already negotiated with Muzi Pictures.

After calling Wang jie, Li Zixi signed an agreement with Wang Chen. When coming out, Li Zixi saw Chen Yan who was waiting outside to audition. Chen Yan looked at Li Zixi with jealous eyes. Li Zixi glanced at her faintly, confirming the idea in her heart even more.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The author has something to say:

The female lead is not one to swallow a person, nor an absolutely kind person. After all, being in the entertainment industry for a long time... Sometimes the female lead will have to take the initiative to strike out, to kill potential enemies on the frame. Some people may not like this kind of female lead, thinking she is a bit bad, but she is such a person in this book =_=