Chapter 167 - Payback Time (3)

Lu Dao was extremely unhappy. He looked at Feng Xinying and said, "You have to understand that I had been looking for someone who fits your description well for the movie. Why are you getting into the challenge with her?" 

Feng Xinying looked at him and said, "Sometimes, you need to show people where they belong to." Then she turned to look Ru Shishi and said, "Ru Shishi, I have been the camera queen for five years right after I left my high school. So challenging me was not the right thing you did. Anyway, see you on the other side." Feng Xinying left from there with the script in her hand and went to sit in the corner to memorize the lines. If Ru Shishi thought that this needed to be fought fairly, then she would fight it fairly. 

Lu Dao was in a very bad mood. How did his film auditions turn into personal vendetta of two actresses who weren't even established? He had seen too many of such problems with established actresses. However, one thing he marveled about Feng Xinying. She could have easily taken the role and not fight for it, but she accepted Ru Shishi's challenge and wanted the role fairly. That was new and he liked people who wanted to get in this world with their abilities rather than using their connections. 

Ru Shishi, on the other hand was happy that she had the chance to put down Feng Xinying yet again. She would slowly snatch everything away from her… even Xie Yuansheng…

Fifteen minutes later, Feng Xinying was ready with her lines and so was Ru Shishi. Lu Dao called Feng Xinying first to face the camera and speak her lines. The movie was about a beautiful princess who finds herself in a modern world in a quest to find the treasure of her kingdom. In this modern world, she finds her prince charming and falls in love with him. However, she cannot remain there forever and so she has to go back. 

The lines that Feng Xinyin had to speak were about the time when they had to part. 

Feng Xinying came in front of the camera. She brought herself into the character and started saying her lines. She got so much carried away with her character that she improvised a little and spoke what her heart really felt if she were in the same situation. The moment she changed her lines, Lu Dao looked at her with surprise. 

Ru Shishi, on the other hand was ecstatic that Feng Xinying had forgotten her lines. That was all she wanted. 

The cameraman and another assistant of Lu Dao were annoyed at Feng Xinying. They said, "Stick to the lines. What are you even saying?" 

Lu Dao gave them a warning look and both of them became quiet. 

But the three girls who were waiting for their audition started to clap at her dialogue delivery. Ru Shishi looked at them with clenched teeth. But she was happy that some of the people around her were not happy with her dialogue delivery. She had actually sneakily given two hundred Yuan to the cameraman to only film half her face, which he did. But he went overboard and even scolded Feng Xinying. He smiled looking at Ru Shishi. She gave him a satisfied look. 

When her chance came, Ru Shishi stood boldly in front of the camera. She had memorized each and every line and even remembered the commas. Very confidently, she delivered her dialogues. Her lines were very clear, very robust. Proudly, she went and stood near Lu Dao and said, "Now you can look in the recording as to who performed better."

Lu Dao looked at her and replied with a professional tone, "I don't need to see the recordings Ru Shishi. Feng Xinying is hundred times better than you." 

"What? She forgot her lines!" Ru Shishi said angrily. "You better see the recordings. I had delivered the dialogues confidently and clearly." 

Lu Dao shook his head. "That's correct, you were confident and clear but that is not required for the situation. You just didn't feel the character and simply went out there to say the lines you had memorized. Feng Xinying got into the character's skin and spoke as if she was actually parting from him. On the other hand you spoke as though you just had to throw those lines confidently on the camera."

"This is ridiculous! I have done much better than her," shouted Ru Shishi. "You are favoring her."

Lu Dao smiled at her and said, "Yes, I would have committed the mistake of favoring her, but I am happy that she accepted your challenge and I actually got to see her audition. She is a gem." Then he faced Feng Xinying and said, "It is final Miss Xinying. I will soon sit with my team and send you the final dates, location etc. along with the contract." 

"Okay," replied Feng Xinying with a smile. She had improvised on purpose, because she knew that such kind of things always earned brownie points. She remembered all her dialogues but she felt that a line could be kicked out and instead adding another line that she had in mind was a better thing to do. Although it was a gamble she played, it was a calculated one and it settled well in the eyes of Lu Dao. 

Ru Shishi was very upset. "Feng Xinying, this is just the beginning. There is success waiting for me!" 

"Ru Shishi, go and join the acting classes first," advised Feng Xinying with a half-smile. 

As soon as she said that, the door of the audition room opened and Zhou Ah Ming walked in. everyone was surprised to see him. Just yesterday the police arrested him. How come he was here today? Ru Shishi's face became pale. Sweat beads lined her forehead. 

"What are you doing her?" she yelled at him. "You snake! Have you come to take revenge upon me?" she asked as her hand went to her waist where she had hidden a small pocket knife. 

"I am here as Miss Xinying's secretary," said Zhou Ah Ming looking at Lu Dao.