242: Are you in right state of health?

Are you in right state of health?

Similarly to the staff who was left speechless after seeing Xu Lei, the directors couldn't stop staring at Xu Lei.0

It wasn't just because she was standing in front of them as if she was a tycoon they couldn't ignore or offend. It was also because some of them didn't expect her appearance!

Why was Xu Lei here?

She wants the second lead role!

"You... you're really here to audition for the second lead role?" A producer asked.

Xu Lei looked at him straight in the eyes and nodded, "I am. Can I start the audition now?"

The directors looked at each other. Their disbelief and surprise could be seen from each other's eyes.

Who doesn't know Xu Lei? The only actress the directors has been battling to get to play a role in their production?

Two years ago, for as long as she mentioned the role she wanted, several directors would flock around her and reserve the role for her. Even if she didn't say anything nor contacted them, they would send the script over to her and even prayed for a miracle that she would pick their script and play in their production. Even just being part of the production team as a cameo was already considered being lucky.

However, the brightest star in the universe was stolen away, hidden from the masses, and could only be amongst the legends.

Now that she had come back, would they dare not want her?

The directors looked at each other and saw each other's reluctance. They wanted her to play the role, alright!

However...

Director Zhao narrowed his eyes and frowned when he saw the situation. He lowered his voice while saying: "Xu Lei... Didn't you already retire from being an actress? I heard that you had been crippled. Don't mind, but may I ask if your are in the right state of health to play the role?"

The directors who were lined up at the table sucked their breaths as they were too stunned to talk. They never thought that Director Zhao could be so direct towards Xu Lei.

The fact that Xu Lei went in hiding from the spotlight two years ago wasn't that hidden from anyone. Everybody even knew the reason behind it.

Director Lan stared at Director Zhao before turning to look at Xu Lei, who was standing in the middle of the stage in front of them.

As for right now, he didn't care about how many new and veteran actresses were to audition and stand there in front. He just wanted to see how would Xu Lei respond to what Director Zhao said.

Everyone was thinking the same thing. Even if Director Zhao were to insult Xu Lei in front of everyone else, she couldn't possibly try to talk back and go against Director Zhao, who was one of the main directors of the movie where she wanted to audition for a role. If she angered him, forget about getting a role in this movie, she might not even get a single role from the directors and producers that Director Zhao had some connections with.

Now... Miss Xu, what are you going to do?

"Director Zhao, you're wrong about two things from three points you just pointed out," Xu Lei smiled sweetly at everyone, seemingly not noticing how everyone's eyes were growing larger as they couldn't contain their shock.

Did...did she just correct Director Zhao?

Director Chi looked at his assistant and the latter swallowed hard from nervousness.

This was really bad... It's the end... Director Chi thought as he looked at his assistant who also looked as if he was devastated at the situation.

On the other hand, Director Lan kept watching her. Unlike others, he had this small inkling that this wasn't the end.

And just as he expected, Xu Lei continued speaking.

"What do you mean by that, Miss Xu?" Director Zhao's face turned darker as he almost couldn't contain his anger.

Xu Lei smiled even brighter as she replied, "First, I didn't retire. I never held a press conference for my retirement and never said that I want to leave the entertainment industry. Second, as you can see, I am not crippled. I am standing on both my legs in front of you. As for if I am in right state of health, you can see it if I get the chance to audition."

After Xu Lei spoke, the room was in an uproar.

They never thought that she would bravely talk back towards Director Zhao and even corrected every wrong points he said earlier to her.

Everyone thought that everything was over. OVER! Xu Lei's chance to get the role from the director's niece was slipping away as they were speaking right now. They all could only shake their heads in disappointment as they didn't expect her to go against the director.

Xu Lei used her eyes to glance around the room. She already knew that things wouldn't be so favorable for her after she corrected Director Zhao. However, she couldn't hold back anymore. Not now, not ever!

'Pa!'

As everyone was waiting for Director Zhao to burst out in anger and ask the guards to drag her outside, a round of claps could be heard like a thunder in a stormy night.

The whole room was silent as they ended up looking at those slender fingers that were clapping still.

It turned out that those hands belonged to Director Lan.

"Director Lan, what is the meaning of this?" Director Zhao was displeased by the sound of his clapping hands.

He and Director Lan weren't close to each other and the former was very antagonistic towards the latter. And now that Director Lan clapped his hand as if he was watching an award-winning play in front of him after seeing the other being humiliated like this, Director Zhao's dislike towards this young director intensified.

Director Lan shrugged and said, "Hm? I'm just too impressed. Just now, I think I'm falling in love with her..."

Everyone gasped once they heard what he had just said.

Even Xu Lei couldn't help herself but be surprised at him. However, it only took her a second to recover.

"...Isn't that right, Peng Qingling?"

Director Lan turned towards the woman who had been silent the whole day. She was sitting right beside Director Lan and wasn't listening to him at all until he called her name.

Peng Qingling bit her lower lip and stared at Xu Lei, almost ravenously. Her thoughts were many but unknown.

After being called out, Peng Qingling vigorously nodded her head in agreement. Then, before Director Zhao could stop her, she said while slapping her hand on the table, "That's right! Directors I think we can wrap today's audition for this role..."

"Peng Qingling, don't be too hasty! Besides, we already decided who will play the role of the second leading actress!" Director Zhao interrupted.

Peng Qingling squinted her eyes into a glare and she glared at him, "Director Zhao, I am not being hasty. And yes, you already decided on who to play the role... But did I, the author of the novel, agree to it? Or is it that you can pick but I can't?"

"Where is the fairness in there, hm?" Peng Qingling challenged.

Director Zhao's face contorted as soon as Peng Qingling opened her mouth.

Unfair?

Director Zhao choked, feeling helpless and resentful towards Peng Qingling. This woman was just the author of the novel they wanted to adapt in a movie they wanted to direct. How arrogant could she be for her to tell him this was unfair?

However, even if Director Zhao was feeling bitter at her words, he couldn't do anything to her. Peng Qingling might just be an author anyone could trample on if anyone wanted to. However, the person behind her was certainly not someone whom they could afford to offend.

"Miss Peng, you might be like this now, but... who was to know if your decision is still the same when the filming starts?" Director Zhao restrained his anger.

Another director butted in and nodded in agreement with Director Zhao's words. He said, "He's right. I know Xu Lei is a veteran actress and has a wide experience in acting different roles in the industry. However, it's been two years." He glanced at Xu Lei and asked her, "May I ask, but... during those two years, what have you been doing other than resting on bed?"

The other director's words were harsh and were meant to humiliate Xu Lei.

"That is why... I think Director Zhao's niece is more suited for the second female lead than Xu Lei," The director who said this didn't even look half apologetic as he stared down at Xu Lei.

However, Xu Lei didn't back down as she said before anyone could make a decision, "Directors, it is true that I have been away from the entertainment industry for a very long time. Two years is not something to joke about. I am also not the same Xu Lei in the past... And by that I mean.. I already went past my limits from two years ago." She didn't show any hatred on her face even after all this time.

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