Chapter 1

"You only have her in your heart, why do you still provoke me? You just regard me as her stand-in, right? I——"

In the quiet room, Ming Ying was interrupted by Director Song before she finished reading her lines.

"Mingying, this passage doesnt say that. You have to carefully experience the protagonists feelings. She is very humble at this time. You understand the pain, despair, and the complex feelings of love and hate, right?"

Mingying: "..."

I dont understand.

If I could understand, I wouldnt have to audition again and again.

Mingying held the script and sighed slightly, "Director Song, Ill try to find the feeling again."

Director Song patted her shoulder and said earnestly, "You will join the crew in a few months. You cant do it in this state. You have to work harder."

Mingying nodded, "Yeah."

It was eleven oclock in the morning when we came out of the set.

The weather was already hot and humid as summer was about to begin. Mingying was about to find a place to eat when her best friend Jian Ning called.

"Where is it? Come and have lunch with me?"

Ming Ying was puzzled: "Didnt you go to D City?"

"I came back last night." Jian Ning said, "I booked a room at Zhouyi Hotel and just ordered food. Come and keep me company."

Thinking that it would be boring to eat alone, Ming Ying agreed to Jian Ning and took a taxi to the hotel.

Zhouyi Hotel is a famous five-star hotel brand under SG Hotel Group. This one in Beijing is the flagship store. It has brought luxury to the extreme. The guests staying here are either rich or noble.

It was the rush hour after get off work, and the driver took a full half an hour to drive to the hotel.

Originally, the doorman of an ordinary taxi didnt care, but when Ming Ying got out of the car, the doormans eyes lit up and looked straight at her.

The long curly light brown hair was casually tied into a loose high ponytail, the refreshing nine-point trendy T-shirt revealed a small waist, and the tight jeans perfectly pulled out the straight and slender legs.

Ming Yaos temperament is very clean and delicate, like a rose dotted with dew in the morning, and her whole body exudes a light and lazy sexiness.

The doorman stood up quickly, diligently closed the door in advance, and greeted Ming Yao politely: "Hello."

When she walked in, the two doormen standing on the left and right sides reached a consensus with their mouths and eyes-"So beautiful."

Ming Yao didnt notice the doormens strangeness and went straight to the elevator.

The four elevators were either running or just closed, and Ming Yao didnt catch any of them. She looked around and found that the innermost elevator happened to be parked on the first floor, and she walked over there without thinking.

But the waiter standing at the door stopped her:

"Sorry, Miss, please go over there to take the passenger elevator."

After hearing the waiters words, Qi Xu, who had just entered the elevator, raised his eyes slightly.

Ming Yao hadnt seen anyone in the elevator yet, so she asked the waiter in confusion, "Isnt this a passenger elevator? Why cant I take it?"

She was so hungry after being stuck in traffic for so long that she just wanted to find Jian Ning and eat her meal.

The waiter was about to explain, but Qi Xu lowered his eyes again and said lightly, "It doesnt matter."

The waiter paused, looked at him in surprise, and took a few seconds to understand the meaning of his three words. He nodded slightly to Ming Yao:

"Then, Miss, please come in."

Ming Yao then realized that there was already a man standing in the elevator.

The man was dressed in a black suit, neat and stylish, with his shirt sleeves showing three points very carefully, and a simple black watch exuding luxury and nobleness.

He leaned lightly against the wall of the elevator, his posture was very casual, one hand resting on the armrest next to him, the other holding a mobile phone, looking down at something.

According to Ming Yaos strict scoring standards for men, this man could almost get full marks.

His appearance, clothing, figure, and temperament are all top-notch.

Ming Yao walked into the elevator calmly and pressed the floor she wanted to go to.

Then she stood aside and quietly sent a WeChat message to Jian Ning to share information:

[I saw a handsome guy, very good. ]

After sending the message, the elevator was quiet.

Ming Yao thought about it and felt that it was necessary to thank this man. After all, if he hadnt asked, she might still be waiting for the elevator downstairs.

So Ming Yao cleared her throat and said sincerely: "Thank you just now."

However, there was no movement behind her.

The elevator was mirrored, and Ming Yao could see that the man was still looking at his phone without looking back, and he didnt respond to her thanks.

After being rejected, Ming Yao also shut up, thinking to herself-

It was impossible to get a full score. With this cold look, it would be difficult to pass.

At this time, Jian Ning suddenly called a video call.

Ming Yao had forgotten that he had just sent her a message, and she answered the call directly, "What?"

Jian Nings first sentence directly made Ming Yaos blood pressure soar.

"Wheres the handsome guy? Find an angle to secretly show me how handsome he is!"

Ming Yao: "..."

In the unusually quiet elevator, Jian Ning betrayed Ming Yao completely.

Although she didnt mention the names, the person in question was right behind her. Anyone with a little bit of thinking ability would know that the two women were discussing themselves.

Ming Yao was in a bad mood. She hurriedly hung up the video and calmly denied: "Not here."

The elevator returned to silence.

Ming Yao slowly came back to her senses, and regretted the answer just now. She had a sense of concealment.

She tilted her body slightly, and her peripheral vision pretended to glance behind her. She was about to secretly observe the mans reaction, but found that he had put away his phone at some point.

At this moment, she folded her hands across her chest and leaned lightly against the wall of the elevator.

When Ming Yaos eyes fell on him, he also greeted him nonchalantly.

They suddenly looked into each others eyes.

"..."

Ming Yaos heart skipped a beat, and she felt a kind of silent embarrassment quickly sweeping over her body and seeping into every pore.

She quickly retracted her gaze and looked ahead calmly as if nothing had happened.

Fortunately, the elevator quickly reached the 19th floor where she was going. The door opened, and Ming Yao walked out calmly.

She didnt look back, nor did she have the face to look back, until she heard the elevator door close, and then she relaxed her straight posture.

Ming Yao followed the door number and knocked on Jian Nings door.

Jian Ning hugged her exaggeratedly, and expressed his deep longing for her after not seeing her for a day, "Sister, I miss you so much!"

Ming Yao still remembered the person she had just lost, and pushed her away with disgust, "You dont miss me so much, you want me to die, right? You video chatted with me in the elevator, are you afraid that people dont know we are talking about him?"

"Im sorry, haha." Jian Ning smiled and pulled her in, "I didnt know he was in the elevator, but you can praise a handsome man, I also want to see what he looks like."

Ming Yaos vision is very high. The people who pursued her in four years of college could go around Beijing, but she didnt like any of them.

When they got to the room, Ming Yao put down her bag and sat on the sofa, "Why did you come to stay in the hotel."

Jian Ning sat opposite her and brought a bunch of food by the way: "Im here to wait for my brother."

"......?"

"I bought a few bags in D City, and my card was maxed out, so I can only ask my brother for some pocket money."

Ming Yao understood.

The last time Jian Ning maxed out her credit card, her father froze all the cards under her name. She went from being a big spender to a poor household that had to share a steamed bun into three portions. Later, she had to live with Ming Yao for two months before she didnt starve to death.

So this time Jian Ning learned her lesson. If she had no money, she would ask her brother for it.

"My brother came to Beijing to discuss business today. He always stays at Zhouyi Hotel when he comes, so Ill stay here first and give him a surprise later."

Ming Yao bit a piece of honeydew melon, "I feel sorry for your brother for three seconds."

"Dont talk about me." Jian Nings expression became serious, "Tell me about you, why did I hear that Chen Rong is also competing for the role of Lin Yunyun? Hasnt it been decided yet?"

Ming Yao and Jian Ning are both seniors in the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy. Chen Rong is in the same department as them. Some time ago, an urban love drama came to the department to select actors. Hundreds of people were interviewed and the competition was very fierce.

Ming Yao has a good appearance, which is also her biggest advantage. After several rounds of auditions, the second female role was locked between her and Chen Rong.

In the directors words, Ming Yings appearance and temperament are very consistent with the setting of the second female role, but Ming Ying lacks a sense of handling the role.

Chen Rong is just the opposite. He feels good, but his appearance is a bit forced.

Although the film crew has not yet decided who to use, the director privately prefers Ming Ying and has already decided to leave this role to her.

Director Song repeatedly told Ming Ying to spend time thinking about the character and improve her acting skills before starting filming.

But is Ming Ying lacking acting skills?

No.

What she lacks is experience!

Its okay to let someone who has never been in love to play a romantic idol drama, but the development of the emotional line is still quite complicated.

"You know what," Ming Yao complained to Jian Ning while eating honeydew melon, "Lin Yunyun was used as a substitute by the male lead from the beginning. The scumbag didnt love her at all. She was humble and desperate. In the end, she knew the truth and was reluctant to leave... I really cant understand it. What do you think she is thinking? Is she stupid?"

Ming Yao now reads scripts in the dormitory every day, trying to turn herself into Lin Yunyun and enter her inner world.

But a person who has been single for 20 years cant understand that kind of bitterness. Sometimes, she even feels irritated because she cant empathize and thinks the heroine is a fool.

"You have been single for too long. If you have a few more relationships, you wont be like this." Jian Ning said.

Ming Yao thinks Jian Ning is right.

Drama comes from life, and life experience will improve your understanding of the role. She just has too little experience in this area, so she cant get that kind of situation.

"You said, it would be nice if someone would let me practice and experience this deformed love."

"How to practice? Ask you to be a stand-in? Who would be willing to let our acting departments beauty be a stand-in? He must be blind!"

Ming Ying knew that she was daydreaming, but she just said it casually.

Jian Nings cell phone rang at this time. She looked at it and stood up immediately, rubbing her hands and said, "My brothers assistant said hes here! Im going!"

Ming Ying: "Wish you good luck."

"By the way." Jian Ning pointed to a paper bag on the table, "If I succeed in getting pocket money later, I will send you a text message and you can help me send this thing over."

Ming Ying glanced, "What is it?"

"If my brother still has a conscience and is willing to help me, I will give him the gift I bought in City D. If he has no conscience, there is no need to send the gift."

This brother-sister relationship is too plastic.

Ming Ying nodded, then hesitated: "But I have never met your brother. Would it be bad to go over there rashly?"

"Whats the big deal? We are friends. My brother is your brother. Dont treat yourself as an outsider!"

"..."

After Jian Ning left, Ming Yao continued to eat and drink alone in the room. After about ten minutes, Jian Ning sent her a WeChat message,

[Haha, my brother has become a man. Please help me bring the gift to honor my brother. Room 2808. ]

Ming Yao had to go out with the gift as planned. Jian Nings room was on the 19th floor. To go to 2808, she had to take the elevator first.

In less than half a minute, she arrived at the 28th floor.

The moment the door opened, Ming Yao quickly felt the obviously different atmosphere on this floor.

Every decoration she saw was more luxurious and exquisite, and even the carpet exuded a sense of "I am very expensive".

Ming Yao found 2808, stood at the door, and knocked.

Soon, the door opened.

Ming Yao thought it would be Jian Ning who would open the door, but when she saw the person standing in front of her, she was dumbfounded.

Isnt this the man she just met in the elevator?

So he is Jian Nings brother?

Is Jian Ning taking a shit? Why didnt he open the door for her? She knew that she didnt know her brother!

But her brother is already in his thirties, so he doesnt look that good.

How did he maintain his appearance?

...

This plot caught Ming Yao off guard. Ming Yao was totally unprepared. In just a few seconds, countless messy thoughts flashed through her mind.

When she came to her senses, she found that the man was also looking at her.

He stood there calmly, waiting for her to speak.

Ming Yao: "..."

After all, she was the one who knocked on the door. She couldnt just stand there awkwardly.

While organizing what words to say as an opening remark, Ming Yao suddenly thought of Jian Nings words [My brother is your brother, dont treat yourself as an outsider! ]

She suddenly had an idea and finally found a breakthrough point that was natural and polite.

Three seconds later.

Ming Yao swallowed her throat, and said three words carefully and sincerely-

"Hello, brother."

Qi Xu: "?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ming Yaos phone rang.

It was Jian Nings WeChat.

[Are you out? I just dialed the wrong number, not 2808, but 2708. Dont go the wrong way, love you. ]

Ming Yao: "..."