Chapter 125: How do you think I measure up?

“Ms. Jiang, are you sure you want this role?” Director Lin asked again.

Jiang Sui smiled. “Of course.”

Director Lin nodded with satisfaction. “All right. But this character has a martial background and quite a few action scenes. We can use a stunt double for most of it, though some close-ups will still need you personally. If that’s too much, we can just cut those scenes.”

“No need,” Jiang Sui said.

“No need for what?” Director Lin said. “No need for action scenes? That works too.”

After all, there were hardly any actresses these days who could really do those sword-and-spear roles, and audiences were used to it.

Jiang Sui said lightly, “No need for a stunt double. I’ll do it myself.”

Besides, the female third lead did not have many scenes to begin with. If they cut any more, there would barely be any shots left.

Shi Heng frowned. Why did Jiang Sui want to do it herself?

With skin so fair and delicate, if she got hurt, that would be no good.

The smile on Director Lin’s face faded, and his tone turned stern. “Jiang Sui, I have a responsibility to the production. Have you thought about the effect of doing it yourself? We don’t have the time to wait around for one person.”

Jiang Sui lifted a brow and walked over to the weapons rack beside them.

Shi Heng instantly understood the meaning of that expression: move aside, I’m about to show off.

And Xiao Miao, standing nearby, was still lost in that earlier scene.

She glared at Qin Ze with resentment.

That awful scumbag! Bad man!

Qin Ze had been looking at Jiang Sui the whole time. Suddenly, he felt a gaze full of intense grievance fixed on him, and only then did he look over at the petite, adorable little girl beside them.

She seemed to be with Jiang Sui.

Oh?

That look.

Was she trying to murder him or what?

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Miao a few more times.

This little girl...

By then, Jiang Sui had already reached the weapons rack.

With a flick of her ankle, a long spear flew straight into her hand!

That effortless, graceful movement—

Director Lin was stunned.

Everyone on set stared wide-eyed.

Shi Heng: Damn!

Jiang Sui had this kind of skill and never told him?!

Then, before everyone’s eyes, Jiang Sui performed a complete spear routine!

Even the leaps and spins were full of beauty.

Every motion flowed like water, swift, cool, and clean.

Director Lin was already imagining the shots and the slow-motion edits on the spot.

With a turn of her body, Jiang Sui tossed the spear straight back to its original place and landed it perfectly.

Everyone on set erupted with excitement, goosebumps rising over their whole bodies.

It felt like the place had suddenly lit up from the inside.

“This is more hype than any over-the-top shonen battle scene!” the script supervisor blurted out.

Tina, Han Shuang, and several auditioning actors who had not yet left were all dumbfounded.

Damn, are new actors these days really this competitive?

Even martial arts now?

Who wouldn’t have to admit that was insane?

Jiang Sui walked back over. “If Director Lin needs it, I can even fill in as martial arts choreographer.”

Director Lin: “...”

In his entire life, he had never met an actor this worry-free and cost-effective.

After Jiang Sui finished that scene, the director made his decision on the female third lead on the spot.

Shi Heng had originally wanted the female first lead, but after seeing Jiang Sui play the female third lead, he understood why she had chosen that role.

If she played it well, it could be more striking than the heroine’s part.

Once the role was settled, the director looked at Qin Ze gratefully. “Thank you for coming all this way.”

Qin Ze smiled generously. “No trouble at all. Especially that scene just now—it makes me feel honored.”

As he spoke, he looked toward Jiang Sui, a hint of bold brilliance shining in his eyes.

That boldness was like warm sunlight: bright, dazzling, impossible to ignore.

Jiang Sui felt that Qin Ze had to be a little strange.

The way he looked at her made it seem as though he knew her.

But she did not remember ever meeting someone like him.

What puzzled her even more was that her spiritual power told her this boy was no ordinary person.

When they finished the audition and were preparing to leave, Tina suddenly called out to her.

“Jiang Sui!”

A few strands of hair on Xiao Miao’s head even seemed to stand on end as she frowned at the woman approaching them.

“When did you learn all that?” Tina asked with a smile that was anything but friendly. “I didn’t even know. So you’ve learned this too.”

Shi Heng was protective by nature; how could he stand by and let someone bully his artist?

He was just about to speak when Jiang Sui stopped him.

Jiang Sui said coolly, “Do you live in the Pacific Ocean? Why are you sticking your nose into everything? Do I need to file a report with you every time I learn something? Ms. Tina, if you can’t stand seeing me do well, the world is so big—surely there’s at least one restroom somewhere that can accommodate your tears. Do you really need to come stand in front of me and babble like this? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Tina’s face turned red, and she bit down hard in shame and anger.

Jiang Sui suddenly curved her lips into a faint smile. “As a manager, you should do what you’re supposed to do. Manage your current artist properly, and don’t let her end up like I once was. Some things, if done too often, can shorten your life.”

She especially emphasized the last few words.

Tina shuddered almost instinctively.

By the time she came to herself, Jiang Sui and the others had already left.

Han Shuang walked over, displeased. “Why do you keep paying attention to her? At least you’re my manager. What, seeing how popular she is now, you want to go back to her or something?”

Making such a fuss—did she think no one knew Jiang Sui used to be her artist?

Tina immediately forced a smile and explained, “No, that’s not it. Shuangshuang, you’ve misunderstood...”

Qin Ze watched in the direction Jiang Sui had left, and the smile on his lips deepened.

“Director Lin, have you decided on the young emperor yet?”

“The young emperor?” Director Lin repeated.

Qin Ze smiled. “Yes. I read your script, and there seems to be a segment where Chen Wanwan recalls a scene from her youth with the emperor.”

Director Lin nodded. “There is indeed such a scene. For now, we’re planning to have the same actor play both roles.”

“How about me?” Qin Ze asked, looking at him.

Director Lin froze for a moment.

Qin Ze actually wanted to act in his production?

He remembered that this newly explosive young star was a rare talent when it came to acting.

The short films he had made were the sort even industry directors praised again and again.

So plenty of directors had invited him to act.

After all, with a face that beautiful, plus the massive fan base behind him, he would be explosive promotion for any production.

But he had turned down every director who approached him.

Even the famous ones were no exception.

And now he was主动 requesting a cameo in a role with less than ten minutes of screen time?