Chapter 164 Picking Someone Up

Du Yuan stood in a stalemate for a moment, then left the audition room with a look of indignation.

Because two actors in a row had been unsatisfactory, the three directors present did not look very well.

Song Wan sat in the corner, wanting to say a few words, but considering she was just an observer, she restrained herself and remained silent.

Fortunately, the actors who came in for auditions next were somewhat sensible.

After all, among the three directors present, two were internationally renowned master directors, and the only one with a slightly weaker reputation, Zhou Qi, had also become a widely known television director due to the massive success of Immortal in the Clouds.

Unless they were extremely arrogant, ordinary actors would not dare to act recklessly in front of the three directors.

Cai Qi and the others relaxed their expressions and began carefully examining the actors' performances.

The entire audition process for the role of Zhou Ya lasted from one in the afternoon until ten in the evening, yet many actors still had not been auditioned.

To allow the actors to be in a more vibrant state and emotional condition—and because the several directors also needed rest—it was finally decided that the remaining actors who had not yet auditioned would go home tonight and continue tomorrow.

After discussing, the group decided to start earlier tomorrow morning, beginning auditions at six o'clock.

This was to avoid failing to finish auditioning all the actors competing for the role of Zhou Ya tomorrow—

Originally, a great many people were auditioning for the role of Zhou Ya. They had arranged them in order, scheduling one-third for this afternoon. But by the end of the auditions, the staff realized they hadn't even finished half of that one-third.

——They could only push back the roles scheduled for subsequent auditions.

——Furthermore, when scheduling the audition times in the future, they would have to reserve an extra day for buffer to prevent such an incident from happening again.

Once the notice was issued, the remaining actors, knowing it was getting late, left without too many complaints.

Although waiting in vain all day was exhausting, it was already so late, and they had been waiting here since early morning without dinner. If they were to audition now, they probably wouldn't be able to display their true strength.

Since everyone wanted to audition in their best condition, they could accept this arrangement by the crew.

Qian Fu and Zhou Qi looked exhausted. When they suddenly stood up, their bodies even swayed slightly.

Cai Qi sprang up with an excited expression, showing not a shred of fatigue.

Everyone present was somewhat bewildered.

However, thinking of his attitude toward films, they seemed to find a reason and could only sigh inwardly: doing what you love really gives you a completely different level of energy.

Then, they watched helplessly as Cai Qi trotted over to Song Wan: "Song Wan, has your work as an agent finished?"

"..." Song Wan was slightly dazed by Cai Qi's sudden movement, but fortunately reacted quickly. "Sister Gao's work should be finished. Is there something you need?"

Forgive her; after such a long session of auditions, Song Wan had long forgotten about the role-signing issue Cai Qi had mentioned earlier.

Yet Cai Qi hadn't forgotten!

His eyes widened instantly: "Contract signing! We agreed that once your agent's work was finished, we would sign the actor's contract."

Song Wan finally remembered.

However, the look she gave Cai Qi was truly strange—

Why did Director Cai's attitude make her feel like there must be a catch to this role?

Still, she knew such a problem was impossible, so she just coughed and explained helplessly, "Director Cai, although Sister Gao's work is finished, she might not have time right now."

"How can she not have time when her work is finished?" Cai Qi looked skeptical. "Are you kidding me?"

"..." Song Wan felt as if she had swallowed a mouthful of blood in her throat.

After a moment, she regained her composure and said, "Director Cai, although the work is over, Sister Gao has great work capability, so she will definitely stay behind to handle the aftermath. It's practically impossible for her to clock out and leave with us."

Song Wan paused and persuaded, "Director Cai, if you're really worried that I'll back out, why don't you bring the contract directly to the set tomorrow morning?" She tentatively suggested, "Sister Gao usually arrives at the crew earlier than the staff. We can show the contract to Sister Gao then, and if there are no issues, I'll sign it right away."

Although slightly dissatisfied, Cai Qi finally agreed to Song Wan's proposal.

Qian Fu and the other couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief, smiling apologetically at Song Wan.

This friend of theirs really had an indescribable personality...

-

By the time everything was wrapped up, the hour hand had passed the number eleven.

Song Wan rubbed her temples and walked toward the crew's main gate.

The actors who had come for the auditions had already left, and the set was deserted, with only a couple of staff members still busy. Anyone timid would probably be scared out of their wits.

Song Wan paid no mind, walking out of the set toward the car she had taken in the morning.

"Song Wan—"

Song Wan paused. Did she think she heard someone calling her?

She turned back and was astonished to see the familiar black Maybach parked at the entrance of the set.

Feeling a mix of surprise, she quickly trotted toward the Maybach.

"Why are you here?" Song Wan opened the back door unceremoniously and hopped right in.

And right beside her seat sat Jin Youqian.

He looked as indifferent as ever, but the gaze fixed on Song Wan carried a hint of tenderness that could make one intoxicated.

He spoke with an air of complete naturalness: "I heard your auditions would end very late tonight, and since I just finished work, I thought I'd drop by and pick you up on the way."

Heard? From Sister Gao, no doubt?

Song Wan couldn't help rolling her eyes, but when she looked back at Jin Youqian, her gaze was extremely gentle: "Is it really on the way?"

She blinked, her eyes full of teasing.

Jin Youqian looked slightly uncomfortable and turned his head to look out the window, not daring to meet her gaze.

Instead, the driver, who had been quietly driving all along, turned back with a smile and added a superfluous remark: "Young Madam, Young Master finished work at eight o'clock this afternoon. To wait for you to finish, he has been—"

"Shut up!" Jin Youqian snapped back to his senses and hastily cut him off.

Song Wan found it rather amusing, tilting her head to look at him with a humorous expression: "Is there anything wrong with saying that? Doing a good deed anonymously just lets people misunderstand your good intentions..." She raised an eyebrow. "President Jin, are you really a businessman?"

Jin Youqian opened his mouth, understanding Song Wan's implication, and after a moment, shut it in defeat.

Not teasing him further, Song Wan leaned over and kissed his cheek: "A reward for you."

Jin Youqian's face flushed slightly, his ear tips turning the color of ripe cherries.

Song Wan rolled her eyes playfully, her lips curving into a smile. "Keep up the good work!" Noticing Jin Youqian's gaze on her, Song Wan explained, "A husband picking up his wife from work is a wonderful virtue that all males worldwide should maintain. You did well."

Jin Youqian's ear tips turned violently red once more.

Watching him, Song Wan found him simply adorable.

However, although their relationship had eased somewhat, there was still a considerable barrier between them, and it was temporarily unwise to be too intimate.

She reined herself in and refrained from doing anything strange to Jin Youqian again.

——Sleeping together was fine, but such truly affectionate little gestures between lovers were better taken step by step.

Soon, they arrived at the villa's entrance.

The lights were still on.

Song Wan paused, and taking advantage of the driver parking the car, she turned back to ask Jin Youqian, "Uncle Feng hasn't gone to sleep yet?"

While filming previously, she had stayed on set, so she wasn't familiar with Uncle Feng's rest schedule.

And recently she had been coming back relatively early, so she hadn't found it strange that the villa blazed with light when she returned. But today it was past midnight; could Uncle Feng really be waiting up for them to return?

Jin Youqian was startled, seemingly not expecting Song Wan to ask such a question.

To him, this was entirely normal. In the past, no matter how late he returned to the villa, the lights were always on. He was used to it and never thought it deserved any special attention.

Yet prompted by Song Wan's question, he suddenly remembered that although Uncle Feng was capable, his age... was already past fifty.

He couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt. Therefore, when Housekeeper Feng hurried forward to greet them, he managed a rare smile—though it was quite stiff—and said to Uncle Feng, "Uncle Feng, Song Wan and I don't have a fixed off-work time. You should go rest when it's time. It's so late, there's no need to leave the lights on for us."

Housekeeper Feng's expression stiffened slightly, his smile gradually fading: "...Is the Young Master finding me a bother?"

He had been leaving the lights on for all these years, so why did the Young Master suddenly want him to stop?

Feng Yu thought for a moment and cast his gaze on Song Wan.

Song Wan hadn't expected Housekeeper Feng to react this way, so she had to explain personally, "Housekeeper Feng, Youqian didn't mean to find you a bother. It's just that it's so late, and you're still waiting up for us... we feel bad about it."

Previously, she hadn't known Housekeeper Feng waited up for them, so she felt nothing. Now that she knew, she felt guilty and uneasy...

Jin Youqian also chimed in, "Uncle Feng, I was too careless before and didn't realize you always waited up for me..." His eyes held a look of self-reproach. "It was only when Song Wan reminded me that I noticed. Thank you so much, Uncle Feng, but from now on, when it's time, please hurry and go rest. It's better for your health."

Hearing the whole story, Feng Yu's smile returned. "It's nothing, I've waited for so many years and I'm long used to it. If you didn't let me wait, I'd worry instead and wouldn't be able to sleep at all."

With that, he walked toward the house: "Young Master and Young Madam, hurry on inside. What does it look like standing at the door like this?"

Song Wan exchanged a glance with Jin Youqian, helplessly gave up trying to persuade Housekeeper Feng, and followed him inside.

Upon reaching the living room, Housekeeper Feng turned to them and said, "Young Master and Young Madam, wait a moment. Knowing you'd be back quite late tonight, I kept two bowls of white porridge warm in the kitchen. Fill your stomachs a bit before going to sleep."

She hadn't felt hungry until Housekeeper Feng mentioned it, but now Song Wan realized her stomach was so empty she couldn't even feel the hunger anymore.

She must have passed the point of hunger.

Song Wan sighed. She had only eaten a piece of bread for dinner to tide her over and had been hungry for a long time.

Although Jin Youqian had eaten dinner, it was so late now that his stomach was empty as well.

Both nodded and obediently sat down at the dining table.

Seeing this, Housekeeper Feng's eyes crinkled with a smile. "You wait here, I'll go fetch them right away."

At this hour, Aunt Zhang, who worked in the kitchen, had long since gone to sleep, leaving only Housekeeper Feng, so he had to tend to it himself.

Song Wan hurriedly stood up: "Housekeeper Feng, let me do it."