Gorgeous Female Tenants

Chapter 488 The Best Candidate for the Female Lead

Lu Yao’s fame and looks make her the best choice for the female lead in "Immortal Spirit Chronicles," but Director Feng feels Lu Yao lacks a certain spiritual qi.

On the other hand, Gu Xinyan exudes a unique light and ethereal aura, whether in front of the camera with her looks or her acting skills, making her a better fit for the female lead in "Immortal Spirit Chronicles."

The only thing that makes Director Feng indecisive is that the female lead in "Immortal Spirit Chronicles" is not a wheelchair-bound character. Even if stunt doubles are used for fight scenes, the actress has to stand to film her scenes, so he’s worried that Gu Xinyan might not be able to play this role.

But when Gu Xinyan walked into the celebration venue with an untainted smile, her pure gaze, and graceful posture, it solidified Director Feng’s decision to have Gu Xinyan play the female lead in "Immortal Spirit Chronicles."

Director Feng smiled lightly and said, "Ms. Lu Yao, ’Immortal Spirit Chronicles’ is a script adapted from a popular online novel, and it’s not fully adapted yet. It will take some time, so please be patient."

Lu Yao clutched Director Feng’s arm, "Thank you, Director Feng. I’m willing to clear my schedule for your ’Immortal Spirit Chronicles.’ I missed out on the last one, ’Swords and Rain: The Gallant Chronicles.’

Lu Yao is President Huang’s protégé, and Director Feng knows their relationship. It wouldn’t be wise to directly reject her by saying the female lead role for "Immortal Spirit Chronicles" is already taken.

Director Feng intends to delay as someone like Lu Yao, a top-tier star, can’t stay idle. Soon enough, someone will invite her to a new project, and at that time, he can use the excuse of scheduling conflicts to let Gu Xinyan take the lead role, making it easier to answer to President Huang.

However, he didn’t expect his conversation with Gu Xinyan to be overheard by someone through the wall. And the person who heard Director Feng inviting Gu Xinyan to play the female lead in "Immortal Spirit Chronicles" was none other than Sister Li, who used to be envious of Gu Xinyan for "Swords and Rain: The Gallant Chronicles."

Sister Li only played a minor role in "Swords and Rain: The Gallant Chronicles," and she was very unsatisfied. Hearing that Director Feng was letting Gu Xinyan play the female lead in "Immortal Spirit Chronicles" made her furious.

Sister Li approached Lu Yao with a sycophantic smile, "Lu Yao, congrats on your last film surpassing two billion at the box office. You truly are Qinghai Film and Television’s cash cow."

Glancing disdainfully at Sister Li, Lu Yao took out a mirror to touch up her makeup, "I heard you’ve always been playing the third female lead, how pathetic. For all your efforts, why doesn’t President Huang give you more roles?"

Lu Yao emphasized the word "efforts," subtly mocking Sister Li for getting into bed with Huang Qinghai, trying hard to flirt, but still not getting any good roles.

From Lu Yao’s look and tone, Sister Li could tell Lu Yao looked down on her, mocking her. She rolled her eyes in anger internally but continued with a sycophantic smile on her face.

"Lu Yao, you know your Sister Li has aged out, always just a B-list actor, and my skills don’t matter for any role. But you’re different, young, beautiful, and highly skilled. The last few movies you acted in were box office hits. With your skills, winning the Huaxia Film Award for Best Actress and becoming a film goddess is no problem. But unfortunately..."

Listening to Sister Li praise her, Lu Yao felt a bit arrogant, but hearing her implying something, her face changed, and she coldly asked, "Unfortunately what? Speak directly, don’t beat around the bush."

Sister Li cursed internally, calling her a cunning girl who would fall for her trap despite her success. She feigned a regretful look, "Unfortunately, it’s a world for the young now. Fearless cubs aren’t afraid of tigers, and against those young ones, even you, Lu Yao, have to step back a little. There’s even the danger of being replaced."

"Hmph, I’m the leading star at Qinghai Film and Television. Who can replace me? Even Huang Qinghai has to be courteous to me because I am his cash cow."

"But I heard Director Feng’s next movie, ’Immortal Spirit Chronicles,’ will have Gu Xinyan as the female lead."

Although she looked down on Sister Li, hearing her mention Gu Xinyan, Lu Yao felt a bit annoyed.

The female lead role in "Swords and Rain: The Gallant Chronicles" was one Lu Yao didn’t want, letting Gu Xinyan take it. It still made Lu Yao uncomfortable because, in her heart, even something she didn’t want wasn’t for others to touch.

Seeing Gu Xinyan on the posters for "Swords and Rain: The Gallant Chronicles," Lu Yao felt it was an eyesore, feeling as though Gu Xinyan had taken something from her after all.

She sneered, "Nonsense, the script isn’t even finished yet. How could they choose her as the lead? Where did you hear such gossip? You lack common sense, no wonder you can only play a B-list role."

Sister Li sycophantically changed her tune, "Just consider it nonsense then, Lu Yao, don’t be mad, think of it as my babbling."

Having seen through Sister Li’s tricks long ago, Lu Yao sneered, "We’re all actors here. Your acting isn’t bad; I almost believed you. But Director Feng promised me the role, and he won’t break his word. Sister Li, don’t you think using me to deal with Gu Xinyan is an overkill, wielding a sledgehammer just to crack a nut?"

Sister Li stood there holding a glass of wine and gave a flattering smile, "Lu Yao, you’re so clever, seeing through my intent immediately. You’re right; I wanted to use you against Gu Xinyan because she’s a disabled person who caught Director Feng’s eye, rising through the ranks, and I’m quite upset about it. But if Director Feng really gave her the lead in ’Immortal Spirit Chronicles,’ whether it goes to you or her is irrelevant to me. If it truly turns out my chatter was baseless, and the lead in ’Immortal Spirit Chronicles’ is yours, Lu Yao, I’d be delighted for you. But if it’s given to Gu Xinyan, sigh, I’d still be upset, it wouldn’t be worth it. Farewell, Lu Yao, Gu Xinyan isn’t my threat, I’m just a B-list actor and can’t compete with her, but one thing I can be sure of is that she’s a threat to you."

Watching Sister Li’s retreating figure and then glancing at Gu Xinyan in the distance, laughing and chatting with Director Feng, Lu Yao’s brows furrowed slightly.

Although Gu Xinyan is just starting out and can’t qualify as an enemy yet, seeing her surrounded by Director Feng and the others, smiling broadly, Lu Yao felt a deep surge of envy, like a bone stuck in her throat, making her very uncomfortable.

Coming to a realization, she quietly left the hall and called Director Feng’s assistant, Ah Li.

"Brother Li, it’s me, Ah Yao."

Brother Li was accompanying Director Feng, secretly wondering why Lu Yao, who was clearly at the celebration, would call him. He shifted his small eyes cleverly and walked to a corner.

Not seeing Lu Yao’s figure in the crowd, Ah Li questioned in confusion, "Ah Yao, weren’t you just at the hall? When did you leave?"

Lu Yao asked coyly, "Brother Li, we’re old friends, right? Tell me the truth, who did Director Feng give the female lead in ’Immortal Spirit Chronicles’ to?"

Sensing the strong jealousy in Lu Yao’s voice, Ah Li hesitated a little and said, "This... it’s not yet..."

Lu Yao snorted coldly, "Do you still want to work as an assistant director at Qinghai? If I tell the boss that you’re bullying me, you should know the consequences."