Huayu 2015, the Artist of Light and Shadow

……

Not long after finishing the phone call with Ji Rujing, a nanny van pulled up in front of Zhang Ruonan's house.

This car was Tang Yan's own nanny car. After receiving Ji Rujing's message, she had the driver drive it from Hengdian to Wenzhou.

Anyway, she's been filming in Hengdian all this time, so she doesn't need this van.

To be honest, Tang Yan herself was very curious about what kind of girl could be on a blind date with Lu Yunzhou.

This girl must be incredibly cute, right?

"Miss Ruonan, Mrs. Zhang, Sister Tangtang specially asked me to pick you up."

"Give me everything, I'll carry it."

It's almost September, but the weather is still very hot, with no sign of abating. However, the driver is dressed in a suit and tie, exuding a professional demeanor, and doesn't seem to mind the heat at all.

In addition, the driver was very perceptive and helped with the luggage without them having to ask, allowing Zhang Ruonan and her daughter to thoroughly enjoy the ride.

……

Shortly after boarding the bus.

Before the car even started, the driver received a video call from Tang Yan.

"Sister Tangtang."

The driver knew exactly what was going on. He turned on the camera and showed Tang Yan Zhang Ruonan's face: "I've picked her up. This is Miss Zhang."

So cute!

She looks like a pure and innocent little angel.

After glancing at Zhang Ruonan through the camera, Tang Yan, satisfied with her immense curiosity, greeted her warmly, "Hello Ruonan. Don't panic during the audition, just stay calm. I believe in you."

Lu Yunzhou held a public audition, and Tang Yan knew that, given his personality, he definitely wouldn't favor Zhang Ruonan.

But it didn't work.

Lu Yunzhou is not the only one with the right to vote.

There are at least three judges.

As a director, Lu Yunzhou has a vote.

As the producer, Ji Rujing definitely has a vote.

In addition, kiwifruit, as the platform provider, certainly has a vote.

Tang Yan, as the most popular and key figure in this drama, also has a huge voice.

As long as Zhang Ruonan doesn't behave too outrageously, Tang Yan will definitely give the vote to Zhang Ruonan.

Because Zhang Ruonan has a very good image and a wider range of roles than Chen Yuqi, Ji Rujing has already spoken with her, and they are preparing to sign Zhang Ruonan into their studio.

As a key candidate for training.

"Sister Tangtang, you are so beautiful."

This is the first time Zhang Ruonan has ever been in close contact with a big star since she was a child, and it is Tang Yan, the hottest top star this year.

It must be said that Tang Yan is a really nice person. She has a kind and approachable smile and speaks without any airs. She couldn't help but laugh after only a few words with Zhang Ruonan.

A girl who smiles a lot is bound to have a good personality.

"Thank you for the compliment. After all, my makeup artist is quite expensive."

Tang Yan replied humorously, "Ruonan, prepare well for the audition. I believe you can do it."

Tang Yan seemed very busy; the assistant director's voice came through the phone urging her on.

She winked at Zhang Ruonan quickly, left with a "See you later" and hung up the phone.

But this brief greeting already made Zhang Ruonan feel flattered... This was a top-tier celebrity, and the other party took the initiative to greet her.

What kind of treatment am I getting?

It's like a dream.

If she told her high school classmates what happened today, they would all think she was daydreaming.

"Sister Tangtang and Sister Ji treat me like a little princess, and it's definitely not because I'm cute. It's all because of Brother Yunzhou."

"If I mess up the audition, Brother Yunzhou will definitely be laughed at."

"No. Absolutely not!"

Tang Yan and Ji Rujing both knew about her relationship with Lu Yunzhou, but the more they knew, the more Zhang Ruonan knew she couldn't let her guard down and had to rely on her real abilities to win the role.

Sister Nan never gives up!

Only the strongest women can fight their way out of the dating battlefield and snatch up the best men!

"Xiao Nan, what are you thinking about? If you want to laugh, just laugh."

On the way to Shanghai, her mother saw Zhang Ruonan looking out the window, and a sweet, shy, and hopeful smile involuntarily appeared on Zhang Ruonan's lips.

She couldn't help but make a soft, joking remark.

A young girl's heart is always poetic.

Before even meeting her, her daughter was already filled with such happy and sweet anticipation. As a mother who was young once, I know how intoxicating this feeling is.

Knowing I would see you at 5 o'clock, I started feeling happy from 3 o'clock.

……

The open interview is next Monday.

However, Lu Yunzhou basically has his own choices for the truly core roles.

Lu Yunzhou certainly wouldn't let those veteran actors whose acting skills were recognized by the public and who had an excellent reputation in the industry audition.

Out of respect, he went directly to visit several veteran actors.

"Mr. Zhou Yiwei, this is the complete script for the entire series. I would like to invite you to play the biggest villain in this series."

"The eldest son of the Wang Group appears to be gentle, refined, and a successful entrepreneur, but he is inwardly devoid of empathy, cold-blooded, cruel, and possesses an antisocial personality."

"This character has extremely strong dramatic tension."

How would you describe it?

Lu Yunzhou spoke calmly, but drew a diagonal line in the air with his hand, as if a beam of light pierced through the dust.

"Let's imagine a beam of light shining through the only window into the cellar, illuminating the dust and mist... Inside the cellar, a man covered in blood is desperately pinning down a knife-wielding thug. In that moment, is he a saint or a demon?"

After Lu Yunzhou finished speaking, Zhou Yiwei did not immediately respond.

His pupils contracted slightly, and in his mind, he immediately saw the slanted light and the battle in the cellar, and he couldn't help but hold his breath.

Two or three seconds later, he suddenly jumped up from the sofa, grabbed Lu Yunzhou's arm, and said with shining eyes, "Director Lu, I want this role!"

"Don't go looking for anyone else."

"Promise me you won't date anyone else."

As a veteran actor, Zhou Yiwei is very clear about the current state of the television drama industry.

Even if the script is excellent, if the director's words don't carry enough weight, the entire plot can be completely altered after post-production.

However, if the director is an extremely self-centered person with high artistic aspirations, then the drama will present a situation where both the divine and the supernatural are present.

In Zhou Yiwei's view, Lu Yunzhou was the kind of director who, after just a few words with him, one could immediately realize that he was an artistic director with great ideas.

This drama will either become a legend or it will be a complete flop.

But based on what Lu Yunzhou told him about the duality of saints and demons under the light and shadow, he was willing to take the gamble.

Because this character is extreme enough.

He himself became famous overnight because of that extreme role in "Brotherhood of Blades".

He likes roles with dramatic tension.

"Master Zhou Yiwei, we look forward to your joining us."

Lu Yunzhou shook hands with Zhou Yiwei.

The actor has made a verbal commitment, but the specific remuneration still needs to be negotiated by the agent. However, under normal circumstances, the agent will not interfere.

For actors, good roles that match their image and temperament are actually few and far between.

"Director Lu, do you need me to lose weight? I feel that this is a hysterical character, and her mental state will not be very good. She will appear very excited, and I have gained a little weight recently, which may affect the character's emotional expression."

Zhou Yiwei even offered to lose weight in order to fit the character's mental state.

He's a really good actor.

Lu Yunzhou was increasingly satisfied and couldn't help but smile: "Teacher Zhou Yiwei, you've read the complete script, so make your own decision."

"Also, let me introduce you to a famous painter named Caravaggio. The duality of saint and demon that I just described comes from his theory of light and shadow."

For a moment, Zhou Yi was stunned, then his eyes lit up with excitement, and he nodded vigorously: "Thank you for the introduction, Director Lu. I will."

The new directors these days are incredibly talented.

This drama is absolutely a hit!

……

He won over the female lead.

The biggest villain has been dealt with.

Now, Lu Yunzhou only has one last question: who will play the Grim Reaper?

The nominal male lead.

After returning, Lu Yunzhou discussed it with Ji Rujing for a long time.

For the other roles, finding a substitute to meet 70-80% of the requirements is sufficient.

Although the male lead's role doesn't have many scenes, he is the source of emotional tension in the entire drama.

We can't settle for less.

"Yunzhou, according to your concept, the Grim Reaper should be an immortal being. He needs to be young enough and handsome and cold-blooded, which eliminates most veteran actors."

"In addition, the character of Death must possess an aloof and cold divinity, and a powerful aura that commands respect without anger."

"The most difficult part is that this Grim Reaper must hide a gentle and kind heart that guides the female lead beneath his seemingly cold and ruthless exterior. This must be revealed through his eyes."

"I've thought about it for a long time, and in the entire entertainment industry, there's probably only one person who can meet your requirements."

Ji Rujing truly lives up to her reputation as a top agent; she immediately came up with a suitable actor for such a difficult request.

Lu Yunzhou immediately looked up and asked curiously, "Who is it? This role may not have many scenes, but it's very important. We can offer them a high price."

Ji Rujing nodded slightly, stood up from the chair, looked Lu Yunzhou up and down, and even circled around him.

Lu Yunzhou frowned slightly: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Ji Rujing's expression suddenly turned serious, and she said earnestly, "I've been screening all the eligible male actors in the industry these past two days. Either their demeanor isn't cool enough, or their eyes aren't shifty or firm enough, or they lack that divine quality. I've thought about it over and over, and to portray that kind of aura is practically impossible!"

"In that case, why don't we try a different approach..."

At this point, Ji Rujing put down the list and stared intently at Lu Yunzhou.

"We don't need an actor."

"What we need is to find such a person in reality. He is naturally aloof, noble, and indifferent to the joys and sorrows of ordinary people."

Do such people exist?

Lu Yunzhou pondered for a moment, seemingly having never encountered such a person before.

Seeing that Lu Yunzhou was genuinely deep in thought, Ji Rujing smiled, circled him as if appraising a rare treasure: "Yunzhou, when you look in the mirror every day, don't you realize that the Grim Reaper character in this drama is a true reflection of yourself?"

"I?"

This was an angle Lu Yunzhou had never considered.

"That's right. It's you. Our Lord Death!"

Ji Rujing couldn't even imagine how many young girls would go crazy for Lu Yunzhou after he played the Grim Reaper!

This drama is guaranteed to be a hit!