C3 I Was Waiting for Someone

Gu Yuan knew the director was giving him an easy out, so he didn't refuse. He took the script, flipped through it casually, and indicated he was ready.

Director: "Begin your performance!"

Gu Yuan wasn't an actor; his movements were awkward and stiff. Apart from reciting the lines perfectly, everything else was a complete mess.

"I'm done with my performance."

The director was at a loss for words, once again regretting his moment of weakness.

As Gu Yuan left the audition room, he met Qiao Xi's eager eyes.

"How did it go? The director must have thought you were amazing, right?" Qiao Xi said proudly, whispering in Gu Yuan's ear.

Gu Yuan brought him back to reality with a dose of cold truth, "Do you really believe that?"

Qiao Xi deflated like a balloon, lamenting, "I should have known better than to get my hopes up."

Gu Yuan, hands in his pockets, smirked without a care. "The role was already decided. The audition was just for show, so don't overthink it."

Hearing this, Qiao Xi's expression shifted instantly, a bright smile spreading across his face. "I knew it wasn't your fault."

Gu Yuan walked to the last seat in the hallway, stretched out his long legs, and leaned back comfortably in the chair. He closed his eyes, his mind a jumble of past life images and fragmented memories that didn't belong to him.

No one knew that the real Gu Yuan had died, and she was living on in Gu Yuan's body.

"Gu Yuan, Gu Yuan, are you feeling okay?" Qiao Xi noticed her face suddenly turn pale and quickly reached out to check her forehead.

"No fever!" Qiao Xi muttered, puzzled, his face full of concern. "Please don't scare me like that."

He was about to pick her up and take her to the hospital when he saw Gu Yuan frown, take a deep breath, and slowly come back to herself.

Qiao Xi now looked at Gu Yuan as if she were a fragile porcelain doll, worried she might break at any moment. "You really scared me just now."

"I'm fine, just remembered some unpleasant things," Gu Yuan explained softly, rubbing her aching temple.

Qiao Xi thought she was recalling the aunt who had driven her to despair and couldn't help but sigh. His Gu Yuan was such a good person.

Seeing Gu Yuan's color gradually return to normal, Qiao Xi finally relaxed. They sat quietly on the bench for a few minutes until he realized something was off. "Didn't you finish your audition? Why are we still sitting here?"

Gu Yuan lowered her hand and turned her gaze toward the interview room door. Just then, Yuu Jin walked out. She rubbed her slightly itchy fingers, feeling quite pleased. "Waiting for someone."

Qiao Xi wrinkled her nose in confusion, looking puzzled. "How come I didn't know you had connections..."

Before Qiao Xi could finish, Gu Yuan quickly fished a black business card from the bag in Qiao Xi's hand and slipped it into his own pocket.

"He's here."

As the man was about to walk past them, Gu Yuan stood up and boldly blocked his path with an outstretched hand.

Qiao Xi watched in shock as her artist brazenly approached the man, even daring to wink at him. "Hey there, handsome. Have you given any thought to what I just said?"

The man scowled, about to respond with a dismissive "Not really," when suddenly he felt dizzy, his chest tightening as if pricked by a thousand tiny needles. The pain was so intense he could barely speak. The world spun around him, and he collapsed against Gu Yuan, completely unconscious.