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"You're so unkind and dishonest!" As soon as Lu Chen answered the phone, Chen Jianhao's angry voice roared through the speaker.
Lu Chen: "Uh…"
He hadn't even had breakfast yet and was completely caught off guard by the outburst. He asked in surprise, "Brother Jianhao, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? You're asking me what's wrong?" Chen Jianhao huffed, "You brought Chen Fei'er to Daylily last night and didn't even notify me! Are you kind and honest or not?"
Last night, when Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er arrived at the bar, Chen Jianhao wasn't there. By the time he got the news and rushed over, not only had Chen Fei'er left, but even Lu Chen was gone. He had missed everything!
The boss was extremely frustrated, especially after hearing from regular customers how amazing and beautiful Chen Fei'er's new song was. It felt like a pack of wild cats were scratching at his heart, leaving him utterly dissatisfied.
Chen Jianhao was a fan of Chen Fei'er, not a die-hard or obsessive fan, but a genuine one. In his room's drawer, he kept all of Chen Fei'er's CD albums. Missing such an opportunity truly made him want to beat his chest in regret!
He had called Lu Chen immediately, but Lu Chen's phone was off, so he called again this morning. Lu Chen laughed, "Brother Jianhao, you're really wronging me. Last night, Sister Fei decided to go to Daylily on a whim. Even if I had called you then, you wouldn't have made it in time."
"If there's a chance in the future, I'll invite Sister Fei over again."
Chen Jianhao wasn't actually angry; he just wanted Lu Chen's promise. He immediately smiled, "You're really making a name for yourself now, even Chen Heavenly Queen treats you differently. You two, cough cough!"
He wanted to ask if they were really involved but felt it was too forward and swallowed his words.
Lu Chen smiled wryly, "We're just friends, like siblings."
Chen Jianhao said, "Siblings are best, otherwise I'd be jealous. Remember what you said!"
Lu Chen was speechless and ended the call with Chen Jianhao. Just then, a man in a fitted T-shirt and short hair approached, asking, "Lu Chen, let's spar a few rounds!"
This 30-something, lean man was named Wan Yong, the combat coach at Bory Club.
Bory Club was owned by Li Mubai's family. Lu Chen's first visit was with Li Mushi, who later gave him a high-level VIP card, allowing him free access to all the gym equipment.
The club had a combat gym, which was exclusive to members and not open to the public. The coaches and some members were ex-military, also working part-time at the Li Family's security company.
This place served as their small training base. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Lu Chen moved his daily workouts to Bory Club, where he could easily find sparring partners.
The people in the combat gym, including Wan Yong, respected Lu Chen's skills.
Many sought his advice and guidance. Lu Chen also brought some changes to the gym, like the wooden dummy for practicing Wing Chun, which he paid for himself and made available to everyone.
Lu Chen had his own plans. He had become quite close to Wan Yong, and their relationship was good. Hearing Wan Yong's challenge, Lu Chen didn't waste words and gave an "OK" gesture.
Wan Yong grinned, grabbed the ropes of the ring, and flipped in effortlessly. He was a straightforward ex-soldier with exceptional combat skills, honed in the military, and loved sparring with others. Unfortunately, at Bory Club, there was no one who could match him.
Li Mushi was quite skilled, but Wan Yong never took her seriously, always holding back for the young lady. Wan Yong was actually quite frustrated. Until Lu Chen appeared, giving him a real challenge and allowing him to go all out. Thus, their morning sparring sessions became a regular routine.
Just as Lu Chen was about to step into the ring, his phone rang again. This was the third call he had received that morning.
Lu Chen shook his head, feeling a bit of the helplessness that celebrities often experience.
The call was from his sister, Lu Xi.
Lu Xi had good news: "Ultron Film and Television just called, inviting you to audition for a role in the TV drama 'Urban Love' tomorrow. They said the role suits you well!"
"TV drama?" Lu Chen's spirits lifted. "What role?"
"A supporting male role, playing a police officer," Lu Xi explained, "It's about five episodes, with potential for more if it's well-received."
Lu Chen decisively said, "No problem, I'll go to the audition!"
So far, Lu Chen's acting experience has been limited to a commercial and a music video. Although Director Zhang Wentian had promised him a role in his upcoming blockbuster, that project had yet to officially start, and there could be unforeseen changes.
There were too many people eyeing Zhang Wentian's blockbuster! Lu Chen aimed to develop his career in film and television, planning to pursue a path that combined acting and singing, but he had not found the right opportunity until now. With someone actively inviting him to audition, he couldn't let it slip by, especially since the role was a police officer, which he found appealing!
Lu Xi said, "I've already agreed for you. They sent over the script, so you should prepare quickly. The ratings for this TV drama are decent, and there will definitely be competition."
Lu Chen replied, "I'll be right back."
He apologized to Wan Yong and drove back to his workshop.
The script from Ultron Film and Television had already been printed; it was just two thin A4 pages. The character's name was Chen Yaoyang, a young police officer who had just graduated from the police academy. He was kind-hearted, brave, and had good skills, with a clear character profile.
In the script, Chen Yaoyang caught a thief who stole from the heroine, leading to their acquaintance, and he became attracted to her, initiating a passionate pursuit.
The heroine also had feelings for Chen Yaoyang, but she was still hung up on her recently broken-up boyfriend, leading to a somewhat awkward story where Chen Yaoyang ultimately didn't end up with her.
Lu Chen read through it carefully and felt that the role wasn't too difficult. However, he still made thorough preparations.
From what he understood, "Urban Love" was currently airing on Capital City TV's city channel, with a national rating of 0.35% and a rating of 1.09% in the Beijing-Tianjin area, which was quite decent. The first season of "Urban Love" was nearing its end, and the role Lu Chen was auditioning for would appear in the first episode of the second season.
Thus, it was an important supporting role. The production company, Ultron Film and Television, had a good reputation in the industry, and Director Yan Chengyi was well-regarded, definitely not a fly-by-night operation.
In summary, this was a rare opportunity! In Capital City, not only were there prestigious schools like Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, and Beijing University of Technology, but there were also numerous actors and artists.
Even an ordinary TV drama was highly sought after, and just a hint of a role could attract a crowd of eager candidates.
Lu Chen knew he wasn't the only one auditioning, but he didn't expect the competition to be so fierce! The next morning at 9 AM, when Lu Chen arrived early at Ultron Film and Television, there were already five or six competitors sitting in the small waiting room outside the audition room.
They all shared the common trait of being young, good-looking, and exuding confidence. As Lu Chen entered, all eyes turned to him. Someone clearly recognized him and frowned.
However, no one spoke up until Lu Chen found a seat, and the atmosphere in the room became quite tense. Including Lu Chen, there were a total of seven people auditioning!
Interestingly, Ultron Film and Television provided costumes for all the auditionees.
They had police uniforms available in various sizes. Lu Chen requested a fitted one and changed in the company's dressing room.
When he emerged, the young girl in charge of costume management at Ultron couldn't help but light up.
He looked really handsome!
Among all the auditionees, Lu Chen was the tallest, with a well-proportioned physique that made him a natural fit for the uniform.
At 9:30 AM, the audition officially began. Lu Chen was fourth in line.
The first person went in and came out in just five minutes, looking dejected and defeated. His audition had clearly failed, and he was immediately rejected.
The second person went in and stayed for seven minutes before also emerging with a grim expression.
The third person followed suit.
The young people still waiting in the room began to show signs of nervousness; some looked down in silence, while others stared intently at their scripts, causing Lu Chen to feel a bit anxious as well.
However, one young man with peach blossom eyes appeared relaxed, leaning back in his chair with a smirk, as if he was confident of success.
Lu Chen couldn't help but glance at him. This young man had a somewhat effeminate appearance, fitting the current trend of young idols, with fair skin and a hint of softness.
Noticing Lu Chen's gaze, he turned his head, a mocking smile playing at the corner of his mouth, as if to say— "With me here, don't even think about it!"
Unfortunately, Lu Chen couldn't recall who he was; there were many similar-looking faces in the industry.
"Lu Chen."
The third person exited even faster, having been in there for just a few minutes, looking as defeated as a wilted eggplant.
Now it was Lu Chen's turn, as he heard his name called. He immediately stood up, adjusted his uniform, and walked into the audition room.
At that moment, his mood became surprisingly calm.
(End of Chapter)