Chapter 66

Li Xue's call to report good news did not elicit much of a reaction from Mai Xiaoyu.

At the time, he had helped Li Xue out of desperation, taking a gamble. Since he had won the bet, he naturally didn't need to worry anymore and continued to focus his energy on Liu Tao.

Liu Tao was going to audition for the "Return of the Pearl 3" production team today!

After responding to Li Xue's call with a few polite words, promising to send the drafts for the next two days as soon as possible, and offering some lukewarm encouragement and congratulations, Mai Xiaoyu drove to the Hu Tu Hotel.

There are many film and television production teams in Yanjing, and during the preparation period, these teams often stay in specific hotels. Places like the Yingqiao Reception Center, Wukesong Film and Television Home Hotel, Bayi Plantation Fuhua Reception Center, Hongyun Hotel, and Taiyang Palace Hotel are all popular choices for production teams.

The Hu Tu Hotel is one of them.

Mai Xiaoyu parked his car in the hotel parking lot and walked into the lobby, where he immediately saw Yang Xiaoxing sitting in the rest area, dozing off out of boredom.

Mai Xiaoyu walked over: "Whose money dropped?"

"My money! Where is it, where is it..." Yang Xiaoxing woke up instantly, "Boss? Didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Around 10 PM last night, Yang Xiaoxing received a call from the "Return of the Pearl 3" production team, informing him that Liu Tao was scheduled to audition at the Hu Tu Hotel at 3 PM today. Yang Xiaoxing was so excited that he didn't fall asleep until late at night and was very tired today.

During the discussion of the audition details in the morning, he had suggested that Mai Xiaoyu accompany them, but Mai Xiaoyu refused.

"I said I wouldn't come to avoid putting pressure on her."

The one who was most excited about the audition notification was not Yang Xiaoxing, but Liu Tao.

Besides excitement, there was also nervousness. She didn't feel sleepy until around 3 AM and secretly sent a text message to Mai Xiaoyu, asking if he was asleep.

At that time, Mai Xiaoyu was copying the script.

In the past two days, due to the complications with Li Xue, he had to copy both the script and the novel every night after picking up Liu Tao, which was very urgent and increased his workload, forcing him to stay up late.

Seeing the text message, he guessed that Liu Tao was too excited to sleep, so he knocked on her door and... knocked her out for the second time.

In the morning, he refused to accompany Liu Tao to the audition, saying that it didn't matter whether she succeeded or not, and that Yang Xiaoxing, her temporary agent, was enough. Even if the "Return of the Pearl 3" audition failed, the "倚天屠龙记" (The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber) starring Su Youpeng would definitely work out.

He said this to ease the pressure on Liu Tao, but in fact, he was also very eager for the opportunity with "Return of the Pearl 3."

The popularity of the first two parts of "Return of the Pearl" by Auntie Qiong Yao made the audience look forward to "Return of the Pearl 3."

Even if, in reality and in his dream, "Return of the Pearl 3" received mixed reviews after its broadcast, if Liu Tao could make her television debut through this drama, it would be a high starting point. Moreover, in his dream, Liu Tao's role as Princess Musa received good reviews and even made her a minor star.

Therefore, after a brief conversation at noon, he left the company to Deng Chao and arrived at the Hu Tu Hotel at the right time.

"Wow, Boss, you really care about her."

"Don't joke around, where is she?"

"Upstairs auditioning."

"How long has she been up there?"

Yang Xiaoxing looked at his watch: "My God, it's been over half an hour, nothing bad happened, right!"

"Let's go up and check."

The two walked to the elevator, and Yang Xiaoxing kept muttering.

Today's audition seemed off.

The second round of formal auditions for "Return of the Pearl 3" was scheduled to start tomorrow morning, but Liu Tao's audition was set for this afternoon, half a day earlier!

He learned this information from a production team staff member after accompanying Liu Tao to the Hu Tu Hotel. At the time, he didn't think much of it, assuming it was arranged due to Su Youpeng's recommendation.

But now, after half an hour, Liu Tao still hadn't come down, and he finally realized something was wrong.

Mai Xiaoyu was even more anxious. Watching the elevator stop and start, he couldn't get down, and Liu Tao's phone remained unanswered. He was about to run up to the 15th floor via the stairs.

Just as he was about to dash to the stairwell, he suddenly heard Yang Xiaoxing mutter again.

"It shouldn't be a problem, Auntie Qiong Yao is here."

"What did you say?" Mai Xiaoyu asked.

"Huh? I said it shouldn't be a problem..."

"No, the last part."

"Auntie Qiong Yao is here."

"Did you see Auntie Qiong Yao? When did she come? What for? Has she left?" Mai Xiaoyu fired off a series of questions.

Yang Xiaoxing hadn't seen Auntie Qiong Yao; he had heard it from the staff member, who said she came to the production team after lunch.

The staff member also found it strange.

Logically, Auntie Qiong Yao was very busy and rarely came to the production team. Even for actor auditions, she didn't always show up. She only appeared for important roles, personally selecting her favorite actors.

The staff member who took Liu Tao to the audition had a series of question marks in his head.

He didn't understand why Liu Tao's audition was scheduled half a day earlier and only for one person, nor why Auntie Qiong Yao came to the production team today. Therefore, he privately chatted with Yang Xiaoxing, revealing a lot of information.

After listening to Yang Xiaoxing, Mai Xiaoyu was no longer anxious.

If he guessed correctly, Auntie Qiong Yao came for Liu Tao!

The elevator arrived, and the two took it to the 15th floor. Out of the elevator, Yang Xiaoxing found the staff member, who informed him that Liu Tao was still auditioning and Auntie Qiong Yao was inside.

The staff member, being talkative, pulled Yang Xiaoxing and Mai Xiaoyu to the stairwell and asked curiously, "Hey, do you have any connections?"

Yang Xiaoxing handed him a cigarette and lit it for him: "We're just a small company, what connections could we have?"

"Cut it out." The staff member took a puff, looking like an experienced hand, "I've been in the production team for many days, and no one has ever received this treatment except for the main role auditions. A newcomer getting Auntie Qiong Yao to personally audition for so long, you must have some background, right?"

Hehe, Old Su is indeed a good friend.

Yang Xiaoxing laughed foolishly, and the staff member pursued, "Which role are you aiming for this time? Zhiwei? Xiaoyan?"

Mai Xiaoyu took over the conversation, countering with a question: "Have the roles for Zhiwei and Xiaoyan been decided? Who are they?"

"I'm just a helper, how could I know such high-level information?" The staff member looked at him warily and shook his head in denial.

To survive in the entertainment industry, you must keep your mouth shut. No one wants to work with a big mouth, even a low-level staff member. Otherwise, you'll be out of a job.

About ten minutes later, the door to the audition room opened, and Liu Tao smiled as she thanked the people and left the room, looking quite happy.

She gently closed the door, turned around, and saw Mai Xiaoyu first, immediately doubling her happiness.

"Boss Mai? Why are you here!"

"He's been here for a while, waiting for your audition results."

Yang Xiaoxing explained, but Liu Tao ignored him.

Liu Tao grabbed Mai Xiaoyu's arm and said excitedly, "Boss Mai, I met Auntie Qiong Yao, she asked me many questions and even praised my ancient costume photos as very spirited..."

"Let's talk later."

This wasn't the place to talk, so Mai Xiaoyu pulled Liu Tao's hand toward the elevator.

Yang Xiaoxing "Uh"ed, this... holding hands?

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