The final audition room was colder than expected.
Not because of temperature.
But because the moment Jiang Yue entered, she sensed it—that blend of money, power, and pre-decided opinions.
Four judges.
Three casting directors.
One executive producer.
And a woman in crimson sitting near the back with a wine-coloured folder and darker eyes.
"You're Jiang Yue?" the woman asked.
Her voice was low, refined. Older than the others.
Yet every man in the room deferred to her.
"Yes," Jiang Yue said.
"Interesting. You don't look like what your voice promised."
The words were barbed—but Jiang Yue didn't blink.
"Maybe your expectations are quieter than my voice."
A brief silence.
Then a short, slow laugh from the woman.
"I see why they're obsessed with you."
[System Alert: High-Risk Individual Detected]
Name: Yan Ruiqing
Occupation: Board Member – Global Talent Syndicate
Background Match: 93% Probability – Primary Conspirator in ML's Previous-Life Betrayal
Relation: Ex-fiancée of the man who stabbed ML in prior timeline
Danger Level: RED
Recommend: Immediate Discretion – ML Must Not Be Seen.
Meanwhile, outside the building, Zeyan sat in a black SUV, eyes glued to the nameplate on the screen.
Yan Ruiqing.
She hadn't changed much.
Still calculating. Still cold. Still wearing red as if blood was a brand.
His hand tightened around the steering wheel.
"System," he whispered. "Why now?"
[System Reply:
Time Loops Always Fold at Nodes of Trauma.
Her appearance marks the Midpoint Trigger.
Emotional Interference Likely.
Recommend: Remain Hidden.]
Inside the room, Jiang Yue stood ready for her final test scene.
The role: Lin Wan, a burned-out investigator who begins to hallucinate her dead sister's voice.
The line:
"Every time I close my eyes, I hear you.
But I don't know if that means you're haunting me—or I never let you go."
Jiang Yue said it once.
Soft.
Then again.
Grief curling at the edge of her lips.
And a third time, holding nothing back.
By the end, even the casting assistant had stopped taking notes.
Yan Ruiqing didn't clap.
But she didn't dismiss her either.
"Thank you," she said. "We'll inform your agent."
As Jiang Yue turned to leave, Ruiqing added softly:
"Who's backing you? Really?"
Jiang Yue paused.
"Me."
"Don't lie. You're not just luck."
Jiang Yue met her eyes.
"No. I'm skill. And I'm not for sale."
Outside, Zeyan's phone vibrated again.
[System Alert: Yan Ruiqing Accessing Industry Backchannel]
Attempting to Push Alternate Candidate (Su Cheng)
Reason: "Yue's too volatile for a PR-heavy release."
Counteraction Available:
– Expose Internal Conflict (Dangerous)
– Submit Secret Director's Cut Audition Clip (Safe, Cost: 1.1 BP)
Selected: Submit Clip
That night, the studio received a private file marked "For Producers Only."
It was Jiang Yue's bathtub confession again—but extended.
A director's cut.
One minute longer.
At the end of the reel, she broke down—not scripted.
Just raw.
"I didn't kill him because I hated him.
I killed him… because I wanted him to stay.
And he kept leaving."
The room full of producers fell silent.
Even Yan Ruiqing said nothing.
[System Update: Final Round Success – 95.3% Likelihood of Role Confirmation]
PP Gain: +0.02141273
Public Reveal Pending
ML's Visibility to Yan Ruiqing: Avoided
Emotional Interference Risk: Lowered Temporarily
Zeyan sat in his apartment, watching the city lights from his penthouse.
"I was betrayed. Beaten. Killed."
He closed his eyes.
"But this time, I'm not the one bleeding."
His phone chimed.
Jiang Yue had messaged:
"They tried to shake me. They used words this time.
Next time, they'll use something else.
Do I need to be scared?"
He typed back:
"No."
You just need to keep going. I'll handle the shadows.