The Young Miss Refuse To Love-Chapter 122: Wen Renyue

"Hello, my name is Wen Renyue." Qi Jianyi raised her head to look at the actor standing before her.

Since they were separated by a one-way glass, the participants couldn’t see her and Song Chengfeng at all. This setup often caused the actors who entered earlier to fail at masking their true expressions. Many displayed visible disdain the moment they stepped into the room.

Qi Jianyi wasn’t bothered by their subtle expressions in the least. In fact, she felt grateful for it. Their unguarded reactions allowed her to dismiss them without having to agonize over their talents, making her job significantly easier.

Someone who looked down on others for no apparent reason was not the kind of person she wanted. After all, it wasn’t as though she had personally invited them. They had come to audition of their own accord. Why, then, did they act as if she was wasting their time? She had never forced anyone to be there in the first place.

The rules about the two times auditioning was never a sudden thing that came up. It was stated in the rules to audition which means everyone who came should already know they would have to act twice.

Watching some of the participants’ arrogant attitudes, Song Chengfeng wasted no time. He would promptly crumple their resumes and toss them into the bin, often before they even had a chance to audition.

Unbeknownst to the actors, they were being rejected by the author’s boyfriend before they could showcase their talents.

Back to the actor before them, Qi Jianyi was silently amazed at the man’s lack of expression. Although some participants looked disdainful, there were also those who appeared curious when they entered. They couldn’t resist glancing around the room, taking in their surroundings.

However, the actor in front of her remained calm and composed. He stood alone in the middle of the room, greeting them with a steady demeanor. There was no trace of surprise or curiosity in his posture or expression.

Qi Jianyi cast a brief glance at Song Chengfeng, who was seated beside her and pretending to look serious. The man nodded his head subtly, a clear indication that he found the actor to his liking.

"What are you nodding your head for?" Qi Jianyi asked, her tone tinged with amusement as she noticed his gesture.

Smiling faintly, Song Chengfeng turned to her and replied, "This man looks decent." His voice carried an air of seriousness that contrasted with the playful twinkle in his eyes.

Shaking her head at his comment, Qi Jianyi decided to let it go. She reached for the microphone on the table, switched it on, and addressed the actor directly.

"Hello, Mr. Wen. I am Miss Yi, the author of this drama," she said. Her words were short and concise, yet there was a touch of warmth in her tone. Since the actor had left a favorable impression, she felt it was only fair to extend a bit of courtesy.

The actor, Wen Renyue, appeared momentarily startled upon hearing her identity. However, he quickly composed himself, his calm demeanor returning as if nothing had happened.

"Your face is unfamiliar, and I thought you were a new actor. But in your resume, it looks like you have been in this acting career for eight years?" Qi Jianyi began her line of questioning. Before the audition started, she and Song Chengfeng had divided their responsibilities.

Qi Jianyi was in charge of communicating with the participants, while Song Chengfeng handled all the paperwork. The ex-soldier, who once wielded a gun with authority, now obediently held a stack of papers for his lover.

When Wen Renyue heard her first question, his fist subconsciously tightened. His face remained expressionless, but anyone paying close attention could notice that he was holding himself back.

"Yes, Miss Yi. I’ve been in this industry for eight years. I started when I was eighteen until now," he answered steadily. Although Wen Renyue tried his best to mask his nervousness, the two people behind the one-way glass caught on immediately.

Noticing his unease, Qi Jianyi turned to Song Chengfeng. "He’s around the same age as you," she whispered.

Song Chengfeng glanced at the actor opposite them, then turned back to Qi Jianyi. "But I’m more handsome," he stated proudly, earning a sharp eye roll from her.

"I see. It seems you’ve been acting as a side character for a long time. Have you ever acted as the main lead in any drama?" Qi Jianyi ignored the shameless man beside her and continued her questioning.

Taken aback by her sudden inquiry, Wen Renyue softly shook his head. For the first time, his stoic expression gave way to embarrassment. Perhaps because he was familiar with this kind of question, Wen Renyue began to feel that his chances of becoming the male lead were slipping away yet again.

After all, whenever he faced a barrage of questions before performing, it usually meant rejection. Some directors didn’t even bother watching his acting. They dismissed him simply because he lacked a large fanbase, reasoning that without strong public support, the drama would fail if he were cast as the male lead.

"Right now, are you currently involved in any ongoing drama?" Qi Jianyi’s voice was gentle, but there was an underlying curiosity in her tone.

She noticed the slight disappointment that flickered across Wen Renyue’s face, and without missing a beat, she continued asking questions. She understood the expression he wore all too well—he was likely disappointed by the lack of recent roles.

However, Qi Jianyi wasn’t the type of person who would choose the male lead based on mere popularity or fame alone. She valued talent, depth, and the right fit for the role.

"No, at the moment I’m not working on any drama," Wen Renyue responded, his voice trailing off with a hint of resignation.

The more questions she asked, the quieter his tone became. He couldn’t help but feel as though his fate had already been written, that perhaps he was destined to be overlooked yet again, losing out on another chance to play the coveted male lead.

Qi Jianyi nodded thoughtfully, her gaze softening as she considered him. It was clear that she had a genuine appreciation for this actor, though Wen Renyue, unable to see her expression, was left with the impression that she must dislike him. His heart sank further at the thought.

"Then, shall we begin?" Qi Jianyi said with a smile, though it was one he couldn’t see.

She flipped through the pages of the manuscript, searching for a particular scene she had in mind for him to act out. She knew exactly what she wanted to test him on, but she also wanted to gauge his ability to pick a scene that resonated with him personally.

"Do you have any particular scenes you’d like to act in? If not, I can assign you one," she offered, her voice calm yet inviting.

For the first time in the entire audition process, after meeting with nearly seventy participants, Qi Jianyi chose to give Wen Renyue the freedom to select a scene he felt most confident in.

Previously, she had always assigned participants the scenes that Song Chengfeng had chosen, without giving them the chance to express their preferences.

However, this time, something about Wen Renyue had caught her attention. She had a good impression of him—something about the quiet sincerity he carried with him—and decided to give him the opportunity to shine in a way that felt more personal to him.

She wanted to see what he could bring to the table when he was allowed to choose freely.

Wen Renyue’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope as he seized the opportunity. He quickly nodded, his expression transforming as he focused intently. Subconsciously, he stared at the one-way glass, as though he could see the people watching behind it.

His posture straightened, and his voice became more certain, the weight of his decision evident.

"I’d like to act in the scene where the male character is mourning his lover," he stated, his voice clear and full of conviction. The confidence in his words was palpable, and Qi Jianyi could sense his genuine belief in the power of the scene.

Qi Jianyi didn’t hesitate. She appreciated his choice and agreed without a second thought.

"Sure, let’s begin whenever you’re ready," she said warmly. There was something about Wen Renyue’s sincerity that resonated with her, and she was eager to see how he would approach the scene.

After receiving her answer, Wen Renyue took a deep breath and began to concentrate, preparing himself for the scene. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to mentally step into the role.

He imagined losing the person he loved—facing that unbearable pain—and in an instant, his eyes welled up with tears, his emotions flooding to the surface.

"Ling An..." His voice came out soft, almost a whisper, as he murmured the name of the female character.

Though the room was empty, his words hung in the air, and his sincerity seemed to fill the space. Even though no one else was physically present, Wen Renyue had the uncanny ability to make Qi Jianyi and Song Chengfeng feel as though there was another person standing beside him, a presence that wasn’t there but was nevertheless real in his performance.

His entire body trembled as he seemed to struggle with something far greater than acting. It was as if he were holding a real, lifeless body in his arms—not some imaginary character.

"Ling An, stay with me. Don’t leave me, please..." he begged, his voice breaking as he knelt down, lowering his body as though embracing the lifeless form of Ling An.

Tears began to shimmer in his eyes, and his words came from a place of desperation and loss.

"Why do you have to do this to me?" he asked, but of course, no one answered. The silence hung in the air, amplifying the weight of his words.

"Ling An, don’t you trust me? Do you really think that I can’t protect you?"

His performance was so raw and heartbreaking that Qi Jianyi found herself momentarily speechless. She stared at Wen Renyue, captivated by the depth of emotion he poured into the scene.

It made her wonder—who had this man offended in the past that had caused him to be overlooked for so long? With such talent, there was no reason for him not to have become popular by now.

After eight years in the acting industry, he should have had his moment to shine.

She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. Perhaps there was something or someone from his past holding him back, some unseen force that had kept him from the recognition he truly deserved. He must have made an enemy early in his career—someone who had kept him from reaching his potential.

"What do you think?" Qi Jianyi asked, glancing over at Song Chengfeng, who had been silently watching Wen Renyue’s performance, his gaze intense and focused.

Song Chengfeng took a moment before responding, clearly impressed by what he had witnessed.

"He’s good," he said simply, though his tone carried a weight of approval.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺