Huayu: This top star doesn't play by the rules.

Time flew by and the scheduled audition time arrived. Although Chen Chao didn't actually need to audition, Ji Ran felt that the necessary procedures should still be followed for better promotional material later.

Around 9 a.m., Tian Xiwei arrived more than 20 minutes earlier than the agreed audition time.

Today she was wearing a white sweatshirt and jeans, with her hair tied in a high ponytail just like the last time we met. She had no makeup on and was carrying a canvas bag. She looked very clean and neat.

"Professor Chen Chao!" Tian Xiwei waved vigorously as Chen Chao walked in from outside the hall, a bright smile on her face. "Am I really not dreaming?"

"You're definitely not dreaming." Chen Chao, who had been talking to Ji Ran, looked up when he heard his name called. Seeing that it was Tian Xiwei, he smiled and walked over. "Was the journey tiring?"

"It's not hard work, it's not hard work! I was just too excited yesterday and didn't sleep well..." She spoke very quickly, making it a little hard for Chen Chao to hear her.

While she was talking, she stared at Chen Chao for a while with her eyes sparkling, until she suddenly realized that her gaze was a little too direct. She quickly looked away, her ears turning slightly red.

"Um... I'm not late, am I?"

"No, you arrived more than twenty minutes early."

"That's good." Hearing Chen Chao's reply, Tian Xiwei breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest gently, and then, as if remembering something, took out a gift bag from her canvas bag and handed it over with both hands.

"By the way, this is a gift I brought for you, Professor Chen Chao. It's a local specialty from Chongqing: Hechuan peach slices and Jiangjin rice candy. I hope you like them."

Seeing this, Chen Chao also reached out and accepted the gift bag. He glanced down at it and saw that a bow was carefully tied on the bag. "Thank you, but you actually brought me local specialties. Isn't that a bit too polite?"

"Hehe." Seeing that Chen Chao accepted the local specialty, Tian Xiwei's smile widened even more. "This gift is mainly to thank you for your autograph last time."

"You must have been exhausted after rushing to the press conference that day, but you still stopped to sign autographs and take photos with us. You even thoughtfully reminded us to go back early and be careful. When I got back, I told my roommates, and they were all incredibly envious."

Seeing her very enthusiastic appearance, Chen Chao smiled and shook his head gently. Just as he was about to say something more, another person walked in from outside the hall.

It was Zhang Ruonan, wearing a beige knitted cardigan, with long hair draped over her shoulders, and carrying an exquisite paper box. When she saw Chen Chao and Tian Xiwei talking, she couldn't help but be slightly taken aback, and then she showed a rather gentle smile.

"Hello, Professor Chen Chao. And Xiwei, it's been a long time." Her voice sounded soft and gentle, giving people a rather comfortable feeling. Like Tian Xiwei, she also used a more formal form of address this time.

"Hello, Ms. Zhang Ruonan." Chen Chao nodded to Zhang Ruonan and returned the smile.

Upon reaching Chen Chao, Zhang Ruonan handed him the cardboard box, saying, "This is Dingsheng Cake, a specialty of our Jiangzhe region. This cake symbolizes certain victory and good fortune. I wish Mr. Chen Chao's album great success."

Watching this scene unfold, Tian Xiwei couldn't help but open her mouth slightly, then muttered under her breath, "Oh no, the peach slices and rice candy I gave them don't seem to have any special meaning."

Upon hearing Tian Xiwei's words, Zhang Ruonan couldn't help but chuckle. "The peach slices are delicious. I had them when I visited Chongqing before."

"Really?" Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up immediately, and she instantly regained her energy. She moved closer to Zhang Ruonan and said, "Do you like sweet or savory peaches? I brought sweet ones this time, but I'll bring you some savory ones next time. Savory peach slices are especially delicious with tea."

Seeing the two girls chatting enthusiastically, Chen Chao's lips curled up slightly. He turned around and walked towards the reserved audition room. "Alright, stop chatting for now. I'll take you to meet the director."

Inside the audition room, Yi Laoshi had already set up a camera in advance, as requested by Ji Ran, to record the interview process for later use in publicity.

After seeing Chen Chao and Ji Ran walk in with two girls, Yi Laoshi's gaze lingered on Tian Xiwei and Zhang Ruonan's faces for a few seconds before he nodded thoughtfully.

"Both of these girls are quite attractive." After Chen Chao sat down next to him, Yi Laoshi leaned closer and whispered. Then, without waiting for Chen Chao's reply, she stood up, clapped her hands, and said, "Alright, ladies, today is not a formal shoot. We're just chatting and getting a feel for things. Who do you want to go first?"

"I'll go!" Tian Xiwei raised her hand without hesitation, then, as if remembering something, turned to Zhang Ruonan, "Is that okay?"

In response to Tian Xiwei's question, Zhang Ruonan simply smiled and made a "please" gesture.

Under Irao's arrangement, Tian Xiwei stood in front of the camera lens. She was not asked to perform any specific plot, but only to do a few simple actions, such as turning her head, raising her eyes, and smiling with her head down.

Although Tian Xiwei's performance is still quite raw, and it's clear she hasn't received much professional training, she exudes a naturalness and youthfulness. When she smiles at the camera, it's genuine, not an act; after all, she doesn't yet possess that level of acting skill.

"That's enough, let's move on to the next one." After exchanging a few words with Chen Chao and Ji Ran beside him in a professional manner, Yi Laoshi made a few more notes in his sketchbook.

After standing in front of the camera, Zhang Ruonan's entire demeanor was quite different from before. Although she just stood there quietly without making any movements, her eyes seemed to hold many stories.

After a moment of thought, Yi Laoshi asked her to try making an expression like "watching someone you like leave." Zhang Ruonan pondered for a while, then turned her head slightly, her eyes showing a restrained tenderness and bitterness, but a smile still lingered on her lips.

"Very good." Putting down his pen, Yi Laoshi turned to look at Chen Chao, his eyes filled with obvious satisfaction. "One is suitable for a campus romance, and the other is suitable for a tragic love story. You have a good eye for people."

Next, Yi Laoshi spontaneously asked the two girls to try a change of emotion. Although neither of them could quite do it, they listened very carefully to Chen Chao and Yi Laoshi's instructions and managed to do it with difficulty.