19 The New Male Lead

Sun and Star Entertainment

A cold and mysterious aura emanated across the room as the deep male voice echoed all over the conference room. His strong presence brought buzz and whisper among the casts of the movie.

Xu Jia Li shivered involuntarily upon hearing that voice and turned her gaze towards the man who entered the room. He looked like a brilliant man with a sense of authority and power.

He was greeted by Director Han who immediately stood from his seat upon seeing his presence. Everyone gathered around to greet him as well.

'He looks more like a business tycoon because of his aura.' Xu Jia Li couldn't help studying his god-like features.

She noticed how tall he was – probably 6'2 in height, well-dressed and with a body enough to pass as a model. Those broad shoulders promised of comfort and security. His hair was jet black which was a bit longer and fixed suavely which gave him a more manly appeal.

His full brows were paired with expressive black eyes that were cold and distant. His nose was pointed; she suddenly had the urge to pinch them. She also admired his jaw line that was firm and clean shaven; she wanted to run her hands to it. His lips were as red as cherries even girls would be envious – that mouth curved in a sensuous way as he smiled.

She heard gasps as ladies inside the room swooned over him. She blushed instantly when their eyes met – a loud thumping sound almost made her ears hurt. She suddenly felt embarrassed that he caught her gawking at him. She immediately avoided his gaze and moved her head down – pretending she was reading something on her phone.

'Was it my heart?' she put her right hand on her chest while the other was still clutching the phone. She was so shocked to find her heart beating so fast.

Xu Jia Li slowly moved her head up to take a glimpse of him again and she was even more mortified when she saw that he was still looking at her.

He gave her butterflies on her stomach that she never experienced before. These were all new to her.

They held their gazes for a long time which made Xu Jia Li blushed beet red even more. There was something on those mesmerizing black eyes that took her breath away. She was being pulled to a place she long buried deep inside her heart. He was waking something inside her that made Xu Jia Li afraid.

'Those eyes... it feels like I've seen them before. It feels like I've known him before but where?' she raked her brain with answer as she pulled her gaze away and looked down.

The intense emotions he brought made her dizzy. She closed her eyes and placed her right hand on her forehead as she continued perusing through her phone. 'Oh! Those eyes....'

"CEO Si, this is one of our producers, Producer Zhang."

"Hmm.." Si Weimin responded as he took Producer Zhang's hand.

"Hmm, we will see."

Xu Jia Li was confounded as she heard Director Han's words, 'CEO Si? Isn't he Yue Shin? Is he not the male lead?' She questioned herself as she continued listening to them as she tilted her head to Manager Lan's side,

"Do you know this CEO Si? Isn't he Yue Shin?"

"My dear, Xu Jia Li, he is CEO Si of the prestigious Si International Corporation."

"Oh! So he isn't Yue Shin?"

"Of course not! Yue Shin is the rising star of Leading Light Studio; I also wonder why he isn't here until now. Even the secondary female and male lead is still not here."

"So, maybe he is one of the producers." Answered Xu Jia Li more to herself as she thought, 'That's why he has that powerful aura of being tough enough for the rough and tumble of the business world.'

"Yes. I think he is. Too bad he isn't the male lead. He is so handsome." Manager Lan couldn't help herself swoon over Si Weimin which Shen Linqin found annoying.

"Yun-ge is even more handsome, Manager Lan."

"Hah! Always Yun-ge, Yun-ge. You may be blind, Linqin."

"Pfft! Yun-ge is such a nice actor, Manager Lan. He fits the role perfectly."

"Aiyoo, okay! Go on with your dreams, Linqin." Lan Meixu teased Shen Linqin even more as she rolled her eyes.

After introducing Si Weimin to Producer Zhang, Director Han led him to where Xu Jia Li was seated and began his introduction.

Though, he was not sure about his reason for joining the film, he wasn't oblivious of how Si Weimin looked at Xu Jia Li. Somehow, he couldn't hide how his cold and wary gaze turned soft when it came to her.

"And here, CEO Si, is our Asia's Multi-Talented Queen, Xu Jia Li who will be the female lead in the movie."

Xu Jia Li was startled when she heard Director Han's voice. She awkwardly stood and bowed a little as she said, "It's nice meeting you, CEO Si."

"It's nice to meet you again, Miss Xu." Si Weimin offered his right hand which took a while before Xu Jia Li accepted.

'Again? Have we met before? Oh! Probably on one of my concerts but I would have remembered him if we did meet.'

She was lost in her own thoughts that she forgot he was still in front of her.

She was stunned and only realized that his hand had been hanging in mid-air when Manager Lan pushed her a little.

Embarrassed, her face turned beet red, she took his hand and said,

"Thank you for supporting the movie, CEO Si."

"It is my pleasure." answered Si Weimin still holding Xu Jia Li's hand. His gaze focused on her which made her more unease.

"Ahem, ah CEO Si, this is Lan Meixu, Xu Jia Li's manager and this one is Shen Linqin, Xu Jia Li's assistant." introduced Director Han.

"Hmm." Si Weimin nodded as he reluctantly let go of Xu Jia Li's hand to take Lan Meixu and Shen Linqin's hand.

"It is an honour to meet you personally, CEO Si." Lan Meixu answered as she bowed a little. Even Shen Linqin who was a die-hard fan of Li Yun, gasped and blushed as she realized how handsome Si Weimin was.

Xu Jia Li went back to her seat – her heart still fluttering from the touch of his hand. She could still feel how warm his hand was.

Director Han then asked Si Weimin to sit beside her which was supposedly assigned for Yue Shin. Then he stood and spoke,

"Everyone, listen. There is a major change in the film as our former male lead, Yue Shin, has another project at hand that is conflict with Sweet Memories."

Xu Jia Li's questions were even more haunting as she wondered who the new male lead will be.

There was a buzz inside the room as shocked registered to them. They questioned one another as they realized how it would affect the filming of the movie.

"Who will be the male lead now?"

"Will the movie stop because we still don't have a male lead?"

"How can we finish the film on the target date then, if we do not have a male lead?"

Director Han smiled and continued, "Though, Yue Shin will not be our male lead anymore, we have found the new male lead for Sweet Memories."

"New male lead? Who will be the new male lead?" Producer Zhang impatiently asked as he worried about the money he invested on the movie.

"Producer Zhang, everyone, our new male lead is no other than the CEO of Si International Corporation, Si Weimin."

Director Han beamed as he clapped his hand excitedly.

Everyone became silent upon hearing Director Han's words. They were somehow doubtful of his acting skills. He was handsome beyond compare but acting was a different issue thus far.

Murmurs could be heard but no one was brave enough to directly question Si Weimin's skill. Even Producer Zhang chose to swallow his doubts because Si Weimin was still the devil of the business world. All they could do was looked at Director Han with disbelief and questioned his choice in their heads. No one dared to utter a single word but their looks showed their disapproval.

Xu Jia Li turned her gaze at Si Weimin, concern written on her beautiful face. She was worried of his reaction about these people doubting his skills – only to find him looking at her.

"Something wrong?" Si Weimin asked with concern.

"N-nothing, CEO Si."

"But you look worried."

"I-ah, I w-well, am just worried about the film."

"Worried? Doubting my acting skill as well?"

Xu Jia Li could hear hurt from his voice but she decided to ignore it. She didn't want it to sound that she was more worried of the movie than him, but she was not good with words.

Instead of answering back, she decided to just focus on Director Han's words.

"We will do our best to make this film a success. This will be our entry for the Golden Phoenix Awards. Let us work hard and I'm expecting everyone's cooperation."

Xu Jia Li's intention of focusing on Director Han failed. She could still feel his intent gaze on her.

'Why is he looking at me like I'm a subject to scrutinize?'

Annoyed, she immediately turned her gaze at him – about to castigate him for making her uneasy. Mouth agaped, she was astounded when she saw that smirk on his face – those eyes glinted with naughtiness she knew and remembered too well.

Lo and behold, her eyes bulged with disbelief and shocked, she remembered those smirk! Oh! Those mischievous eyes!