Top Dupe CH 054 The Beauty Of Living Towards Death Part 1

After reviewing the ten or so candidates, the producer also felt their skills were fairly similar. None of them could match Gu Xiaowei’s performance, so it might be better to choose He Mu, who could also bring in box office benefits.

However, Xia Tan furrowed her brow. She knew best the kind of mental expectations Lu Pingfeng had for Wen Yuchi in the script she wrote. If the actor playing opposite Gu Xiaowei couldn't convey this feeling, this two-way tension would be ruined, and the audience wouldn't be able to empathize.

Sheng Yunlan calmly picked up a white porcelain cup, lightly scraping the lid on the rim of the cup. “This is only half of it. Don’t jump to conclusions before the end.”

The assistant director and producer nodded in agreement with Sheng Yunlan.

But Xia Tan sensed that Sheng Yunlan was likely very optimistic about one of the auditioners.

The door opened, and He Mu walked in. He introduced himself politely and then looked at Gu Xiaowei, who was standing by.

Gu Xiaowei was dressed in a black sweater and dark brown trousers. Despite the bright lights in the room, his gaze seemed to cast a shadow, drawing intense attention.

Director Sheng Yunlan spoke, “He Mu, are you ready?”

He Mu snapped back to attention. He had memorized the lines countless times and received special guidance on his facial expressions from his acting coach. He took a deep breath and nodded, “I’m ready.”

The assistant director and producer gave encouraging smiles, which bolstered his confidence.

In this audition scene, Wen Yuchi was lying on the sofa in an apartment, and Lu Pingfeng approached him during a power outage for a confrontation between the two.

Rather than a confrontation, it was more like Lu Pingfeng testing Wen Yuchi’s attitude towards him.

He Mu exhaled slightly and lay down on the sofa, one hand over his eyes and the other resting on the edge of the sofa. This was the action designed by his acting coach to help him avoid direct eye contact with Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei stood by the sofa, his figure casting a gloomy shadow like a ghost despite the bright lights.

He Mu was uncertain how Gu Xiaowei would perform next, and the silence in the room made him nervous.

Time seemed to drag on. He Mu almost couldn’t hold back from removing his hand from his eyes. A very soft laugh came from above, accompanied by a slight chest resonance. He Mu’s heart raced. He didn’t forget his acting coach’s instructions to reveal a look of surprise...

But just as his expression was about to form, he met Gu Xiaowei’s cold, emotionless eyes, sending a chill through his body. In the next moment, Gu Xiaowei’s hand tightened around his throat, and his knee pressed down.

For the first time, He Mu felt like he was... an inanimate object in someone else's eyes.

Not to mention the lines, he hadn’t even prepared his expressions, only genuine terror.

He instinctively shrank back, trying to find somewhere to escape, but there was no way out.

Lines... what were the lines again?

He Mu swallowed, feeling the pressure of Gu Xiaowei’s grip on his throat, his entire aura overwhelming He Mu to the point of blankness.

After a long moment, he finally said, “Lu... Mr. Lu, how did you get in?”

Gu Xiaowei’s voice was calm but devoid of human emotion, “You didn’t close the door properly.”

He Mu’s neck arched backward, trying to maintain a fearless expression, but his smile was forced and stiff.

“You... can you remove your hand? If there wasn’t a power outage, I could offer you some hot... instant coffee.”

Gu Xiaowei looked at He Mu with his head tilted, demeanor psychotic, “I’m here to kill you, just like I killed that girl.”

“I... I’m a forensic scientist. I talk to corpses and only believe in the facts they... tell me.” He Mu adjusted his breathing and recited the lines he had repeated countless times with a firm tone.

Gu Xiaowei’s expression remained unchanged, and his hand didn’t move from He Mu’s throat, as if he were a beast that wouldn’t let go until it had drawn blood.

“I’m an artist. I talk to death. I only believe in the certain beauty of death.”

He Mu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, his emotions still being pulled by Gu Xiaowei. It wasn’t until the assistant director spoke, “Okay. This scene is over.”

Gu Xiaowei stepped back, but the oppressive feeling didn’t fully dissipate. After a couple of seconds, He Mu managed to sit up from the sofa.

At this point, Screenwriter Xia Tan asked, “If you were Wen Yuchi, what would you say to Lu Pingfeng when you’re in danger and about to die?”

He Mu hesitated. His agent had reminded him that Sheng Yunlan’s auditions often included additional questions. He had expected a temporary performance but was surprised by a question from the screenwriter.

Is this a test of his understanding of the character?

He Mu took a deep breath, recalling online posts and industry estimates of the script. He said, “I think Wen Yuchi would firmly tell Lu Pingfeng, ‘Although there is a beast in your heart, I believe you will watch over it and confine it. Perhaps you will fight it your entire life, but I believe you will be the final victor.’”

The assistant director and producer nodded, and Sheng Yunlan gave a faint smile, “We have no more questions. The audition results will be announced in three days.”

“Thank you, everyone.” He Mu bowed respectfully to the four of them and then exited the audition room.

As he closed the door, he suddenly recalled Gu Xiaowei’s gaze and felt a bit weak in the legs.

But at least he hadn’t been completely unable to answer Xia Tan’s question.

The rest depends on Chairman Ou’s connections.

Sheng Yunlan said, “What do you think of He Mu’s performance? Let’s discuss.”

“Hmm, his reaction to being frightened seemed quite natural, and he has a clean and pure aura that contrasts sharply with Lu Pingfeng’s pathological nature. The audience should find it quite appealing,” said the producer.

The assistant director added, “Yes, yes. The contrast between strength and weakness is quite redemptive. Imagining Lu Pingfeng clawing his way up from hell for this faint glimmer of light is very fateful!”

Sheng Yunlan rested his chin on his hand, silent, glancing at Xia Tan.

Xia Tan frowned, exhaling deeply. Listening to the assistant director and producer’s comments made her feel uneasy.

“Xia Tan, this is your work. If you have any thoughts, feel free to express them. Otherwise, you might regret not speaking up later,” Sheng Yunlan said.

Xia Tan remained silent for two seconds and then said firmly, “I think He Mu can’t handle Gu Xiaowei’s scenes at all. The fear he displayed was not acted; he was genuinely intimidated by Gu Xiaowei. Everyone, this isn’t a scenario of a white rabbit redeeming a big bad wolf. We need someone who can understand Lu Pingfeng and see into his heart. This person should not be timid; they should be an equal opponent, testing and trusting each other. He Mu... is really…”

Xia Tan shook her head, not finishing her sentence, but everyone understood her point.

“But we’ve tried so many people, and none are satisfactory. He Mu at least has a good appearance and popularity. As long as he performs decently, our box office is secured,” the producer still felt that casting He Mu would be more reliable.

Sheng Yunlan looked at Gu Xiaowei, who was sipping hot water from a thermos, and asked, “Xiao Gu, what do you think? How was it acting with He Mu?”

Gu Xiaowei seemed still immersed in the role and replied calmly, “It felt like a one-man show.”

This evaluation was very clear.

The assistant director wanted to argue for He Mu but noticed Sheng Yunlan’s expression clearly showed dissatisfaction with He Mu's performance.

“We’ll put He Mu on hold for now. There are still a dozen more to see. In any case, we need to find someone who stands out among the rest…”

The assistant director’s words were cut short as Sheng Yunlan, with a cold expression, said, “If they’re all short, I will keep looking until I find someone who is tall enough.”

The implication was that Sheng Yunlan would not compromise on the role of Wen Yuchi.

“Director Sheng is still serious about his work. Let’s move on to the next candidate—Liang Shengqiu from Honghe Film and Television.”

The door was knocked lightly twice, and Liang Shengqiu pushed it open and walked in.

He first greeted the judges and then nodded to Gu Xiaowei. "Teacher Gu, thank you for your hard work in rehearsing with me."

Gu Xiaowei put the thermos cup back down and nodded.

Compared to He Mu, Liang Shengqiu had a more rugged demeanor, with a serious and persistent air about him.

The assistant director and producer exchanged a glance. At present, Liang Shengqiu's appearance might be the closest to the character Wen Yuchi in the script.

"Let's start your performance," Sheng Yunlan said, adjusting his glasses.

The others also focused their attention.

Liang Shengqiu adjusted his breathing and then lay down on the sofa. His posture was natural, lying on his side as if he had fallen asleep unconsciously.

Just like in the previous audition, Gu Xiaowei stood silently by the sofa, eyes lowered as he watched the person on the sofa.

Liang Shengqiu shivered slightly, portraying the feeling of lightning flashing across the windowsill on a stormy night. When he opened his eyes and met Gu Xiaowei's gaze, his eyes trembled with surprise and alertness. At that moment, Gu Xiaowei's hand tightened, gripping Liang Shengqiu's neck.

The sense of danger was overwhelming. Liang Shengqiu had never experienced such a palpable sense of killing intent in anyone's acting before.

It was as if he were a nightingale in a garden, about to lose the ability to sing.

Liang Shengqiu grabbed Gu Xiaowei's wrist, frowning and staring into Gu Xiaowei's deep, intimidating eyes.

"Mr. Lu... how did you get in here?"

It was like a silent duel. Liang Shengqiu restrained Gu Xiaowei's fingers until they slightly relaxed, though still holding him down.

"You didn't close the door properly," Gu Xiaowei replied calmly.

"You can take your hand off now. If there was no power outage, I could offer you some hot... instant coffee," Liang Shengqiu lifted his eyes, trying to match Gu Xiaowei's aura, but Gu Xiaowei's presence was hard to overshadow once it was in full force.

The confrontation became evident.

"I'm here to kill you, just like I killed that girl."

Gu Xiaowei's lines were calm, carrying an indifference to life.

"I am a forensic scientist. I speak with the dead, and I only trust the facts they tell me." At this moment, Liang Shengqiu could only rely on this line to maintain "equality" with Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei's tone remained unhurried, with a cool detachment as if observing the decay of all things. "I am an artist. I converse with death, and I only believe in the certain beauty of death."

After about three seconds of eye contact, applause erupted from the judging panel.

It was the producer and assistant director.

Sheng Yunlan did not look down at the materials but kept his arms crossed, looking at Liang Shengqiu.

"The audition performance is over. I have a question regarding your understanding of the character Wen Yuchi.”

Liang Shengqiu looked at Sheng Yunlan, responding politely, "Please ask, Director."

"What do you think the relationship is between Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi?"

Liang Shengqiu felt a bit nervous. This was the additional question for this audition, and he wondered how he should answer to hit the mark.

"Everyone has their own interpretation of Hamlet," Gu Xiaowei said softly from the side.

Liang Shengqiu suddenly realized that even if his understanding differed from the director's, if he could attract the attention of his opponent and the audience through his acting, it wouldn't be wrong.

"I believe... Wen Yuchi's rigorous approach to forensic work, his evidence-based attitude, and never judging the truth based on what he hears or sees... this viewpoint and method show Lu Pingfeng another understanding of death. It also gives Lu Pingfeng a chance to be understood fairly by Wen Yuchi, as Wen Yuchi would not be biased by fear or the psychologist's assessment to make a judgment on Lu Pingfeng. If Lu Pingfeng's understanding of death is emotional, then Wen Yuchi is rational. This contrast means Wen Yuchi is like a sentinel on the edge of a cliff, his very presence drawing Lu Pingfeng away from the precipice."

Liang Shengqiu looked at the judges. The assistant director and producer nodded repeatedly; the screenwriter Xia Tan seemed inspired, resting her chin on her hand and pondering deeply.

Director Sheng Yunlan adjusted his glasses, and his previously tight lip line appeared somewhat relaxed.

"We noticed the handkerchief on your pocket. Is it a decoration?" the producer asked with a smile.

Liang Shengqiu explained according to Luo Yu's suggestion, also admitting it was because the pocket had been stained by coffee.

This impromptu design made the judges nod in agreement.

At that moment, Liang Shengqiu was very grateful to have met Luo Yu. Even if he lost to him, he was sincerely impressed.

"Okay, Liang Shengqiu, the audition results will be announced in three days."

Liang Shengqiu bid farewell to the judges and, as he left, softly thanked Gu Xiaowei.

He took a deep breath, feeling that his performance had garnered a good impression.

At this time, the judges began discussing enthusiastically.