Chapter 67: The Female Lead of "Under the Hawthorn Tree"

While walking downstairs, Su Wanyu suddenly asked with great curiosity, "Son, what was the name of that long-haired girl just now?"

Chen Jin glanced at her quizzically and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just asking!" Su Wanyu replied. "She has a wonderful poise and figure. She looks quieter than Di, and she's taller too..."

"Mom, what on earth are you trying to say?" Chen Jin felt that Su Wanyu was overthinking things, letting her imagination run wild just from seeing a single female classmate.

Your son isn't great enough to make young women throw themselves into his arms with a mere wave of his hand.

"I just happen to prefer quiet, well-read girls like that!"

Chen Jin: "..."

Mom, you're too honest. Ask you a question and you really spill your thoughts.

"So you want me to find someone of that style to be your daughter-in-law?"

Before Chen Jin could fully guess Su Wanyu's intentions, she smiled and said, "Right, as long as you know!"

"Then go up and talk to her yourself. I don't object!" Chen Jin chuckled, earning himself a ruthless ear-twist from Su Wanyu.

"I think that girl was quite taken with you..."

They had just exchanged contact information earlier, but Chen Jin waved his hand dismissively. "Mom, don't overthink it. The day I get a girlfriend, I'll definitely tell you first!"

"As if! Once you have a girlfriend, you probably won't even remember where your mother is."

Knowing Chen Jin all too well, Su Wanyu rolled her eyes. Chen Jin shrugged, only to catch sight of Fu Lulu busy at work.

She was back at the Central Academy of Drama today for casting.

The girls who had been in the same examination room as Chen Jin were now standing in line while Fu Lulu took their photos. Dilraba and Zhu Yanmanzi hadn't come down yet.

The two of them were standing right behind Chen Jin.

"Little bro, come help out!"

Fu Lulu's shout once again caused the same sensational stir as yesterday.

Chen Jin was already immune to it, though the aspiring actresses queuing up were rather curious about his identity.

Many whispered among themselves. Those who shared a group chat with Chen Jin obviously knew about his audition for *Under the Hawthorn Tree*, so the secret didn't keep for long.

There are simply no secrets in this circle; otherwise, why would the actors eliminated from various auditions always end up exposed?

It's because information passes from person to person until it finally reaches the media.

Fu Lulu had her sign clearly erected, and the casting director for *Under the Hawthorn Tree* was sitting right beside it—otherwise, the Academy wouldn't have let her in.

Therefore, the weight of that shouted address was naturally heavy.

"See anyone you like? I'll spend a bit more time taking their pictures and create some opportunities for you!"

Fu Lulu whispered to Chen Jin with a wink.

By now, Chen Jin had completely figured out what kind of person Fu Lulu was.

What a considerate, thoughtful good older sister!

Better than a real sister.

"I like all the pretty ones!"

Chen Jin chuckled, prompting Fu Lulu to give him a light kick. "You little rascal, you really aren't well-behaved..."

"Haha!"

Chen Jin laughed and walked toward the girls standing in line, collecting their application profiles just like yesterday.

"Chen Jin, wanna add each other on WeChat?"

"Can I get your contact info?"

"..."

Taking advantage of their parents' inattention, a few daring girls whispered to him.

They hadn't treated him like this yesterday.

Still, Chen Jin didn't add them. Doing things all stealthily felt wrong; if they were going to add each other, it should be done openly.

"You... what is this?"

Walking down the stairs, Dilraba happened to witness this scene. She pointed at Chen Jin, who was collecting profiles from the queue, and then noticed the roll-up banner set up nearby.

*Under the Hawthorn Tree*?

Dilraba knew about this film—it was Director Zhang Yimou's new project. Chen Jin seemed to have auditioned for it.

Yang Zi had mentioned it in the group chat.

"I'm just playing coolie for my older sister. Want to give it a try?"

Chen Jin had already finished collecting the documents; there weren't many people anyway, just a little over ten.

"Can I?"

Dilraba blinked her large, expressive eyes, clearly eager to try.

After finishing a set of photos and videos, Fu Lulu happened to spot the two chatting.

"Acquaintances?"

"What a pity!"

Fu Lulu looked Dilraba up and down, then shook her head. "You're an ethnic minority, aren't you, little sister?"

"Yes, Uyghur!"

"Ah, then you don't quite fit this character. Sorry about that!"

Fu Lulu added, "With looks like yours, though, you certainly won't lack opportunities in the future!"

Fu Lulu saved herself a roll of film. Dilraba instantly wilted like a defeated rooster, drooping entirely and missing the second half of the sentence completely.

The destructive power of the first sentence was already maxed out.

Double kill!

She had been wounded by Chen Jin during the art exams, and now this.

At least the other girls got to queue up; she didn't even qualify for the line.

"You brat, you've got quite a picky eye!"

Fu Lulu's voice drifted softly into Chen Jin's ear.

Chen Jin naturally understood what she meant. Among these aspiring art students, Dilraba was indeed the most striking.

Although all the candidates were pretty, Dilraba's exotic features were a major bonus.

There was a good reason why their ancestors had been so determined to conquer the Western Regions back in the day.

"Chen Jin, Di, bye!"

At that moment, Zhu Yanmanzi and her mother walked over as well.

Though she was rather curious about what Chen Jin and Dilraba were doing and what the queue of people was for, she glanced at them once and looked away.

She had seen the casting notice for *Under the Hawthorn Tree*.

It was the new film by the prominent director Zhang Yimou.

Yet ever since she was a child, her luck had always been poor. She had never even won a consolation prize, let alone a fifth-place prize—it was always just "Thank you for playing."

She never expected to be chosen for an audition like this.

Although Zhu Yanmanzi had never spoken up when the group chat discussed Chen Jin's audition, she had always been lurking.

She read every single chat log without missing a word, even though she never sent a single message.

Her style was pure lurker-plus-spectator mode.

"Yeah, bye!"

Chen Jin and Dilraba both waved at Zhu Yanmanzi.

Meanwhile, Fu Lulu raised her head. In the instant her hair fluttered, through a gap in her strands, she inadvertently caught sight of a profile as someone turned away with long hair swaying. That cool, pure, and innocent temperament was just like the sunny smile Chen Jin had given her when they first met.

"Hey, wait!"

Fu Lulu hurriedly called out to Zhu Yanmanzi. Chen Jin immediately reacted, shouting, "Zhu Yanmanzi!"

"Huh?"

Zhu Yanmanzi turned around, her fair and delicate face full of puzzlement.

"Would you mind joining the queue? I'll take a few sets of photos and videos of you in a moment. I have a feeling you're a really good fit!"

Whoosh—

Fu Lulu's words instantly caused the expressions of the candidates and parents waiting in line to shift.

"Me?"

Clearly unable to believe it, Zhu Yanmanzi even pointed at herself.

Standing beside her, her mother instinctively glanced at the poster next to Fu Lulu.

Upon seeing that it was a new film by Zhang Yimou, she looked deeply skeptical.

Does a movie by the renowned Director Zhang Yimou still lack actors?!

"..."

Dilraba was obviously stunned as well. She instinctively wanted to say something, but swallowed the words back in the end.

Zhu Yanmanzi was also an ethnic minority—she was Mongolian.

Why was she allowed?

Why not her?

Countless thoughts swirled in her mind, but she also knew that auditions often came down to a mutual spark, and being pretty didn't mean you could do whatever you wanted—unless someone was trying to proposition you.

Otherwise, character suitability was the most important thing.

Of course, a higher-level unspoken rule was when several suitable candidates were found.

Meaning if multiple actresses could play this specific role, it came down to who offered more.

Clearly, that wasn't the case here.

Looking a bit timid, Zhu Yanmanzi walked over and took her place at the end of the line. Several of the waiting art students were visibly disgruntled, casting hostile glances her way.

As for Chen Jin, acting as if nothing unusual had happened, he stepped up to her and said, "Hand over your portfolio!"