After the assistant director finished coordinating, Xiao He didn't stop his performance.
The person seated showed no strange expression—only folded his arms and leaned back, his gaze casually fixed on the slogan written on the wall beside him, as if studying it closely. His posture was relaxed and nonchalant; there was neither the smug smile of someone whose plot had succeeded nor the anxiety of someone about to be investigated.
No one knew what he was thinking.
No one could decipher what secrets lay hidden in those eyes as deep and cold as a pond.
Then, as if a seasoned monk entering meditation, he slowly closed his eyes, making it impossible for anyone to pry into his true nature—
When Xiao He opened his eyes again, he had already stepped out of that previous state.
"My performance is finished. Thank you, everyone."
Ning Jiaqi looked steadily at Xiao He, silent for a long moment. Zhuang Hongyi at his side smiled, and Shu Han stood and walked over to Xiao He, watching him with a complicated look that mixed a hint of admiration.
"You really surprised me," Ning Jiaqi said.
He pushed up his glasses and first addressed Shu Han. "Your acting has improved a lot. I remember your very first audition—your performance was still a bit raw. Now it's completely different."
Shu Han gave a wry smile. "It's been years. I had better improve, or the younger actors will push me aside."
"Ha ha—"
Ning Jiaqi laughed loudly. He didn't respond to Shu Han's self-deprecating remark, instead turning his attention back to Xiao He. "But the person who surprised me most was still Xiao He. Your agent bragged you up in front of me so much that, to be honest, I thought it was just another liar blowing smoke. I almost blacklisted both her and you."
Xiao He immediately replied with a laugh, "So I need to thank Director Ning for giving me a chance to show myself. Please, Director Ning, don't blacklist us—otherwise Sister Liu will drag me out to beg for forgiveness."
"Look at you—making it sound like I'm the one at fault—" Ning Jiaqi shook his head in mock helplessness, smiling. Then he suddenly asked, "You all must have some doubts about this script, right?"
Xiao He and Shu Han both nodded.
"Just say your interpretations," Ning Jiaqi said, raising a hand and motioning for Shu Han to speak first.
"I think Shu Yuxiu definitely killed his wife." Shu Han began to speak passionately, laying out his view.
Xiao He listened on the side, nodding occasionally.
In the end, Shu Han concluded, "So Shu Yuxiu is probably trying to clear his name to escape legal punishment."
Ning Jiaqi nodded, then looked at Xiao He. "What about you?"
"I think Shu Yuxiu has been lying the whole time, and he's very confident in his lie."
Xiao He thought for a moment, then said, "Although in the audition script the interrogation appears at the end of the story, I feel this interrogation actually happens at the beginning."
Everyone froze for a moment at Xiao He's words.
Even Ning Jiaqi hadn't expected Xiao He to see that; the smile on his face widened.
"The audition script has many timeline inconsistencies. On the surface Shu Yuxiu looks like a genius who learns everything quickly, but what's actually happening is a deliberate blurring of time—a montage linking events from different periods to create a false impression."
"That's why the Shu Yuxiu in the plot looks flawless, adored by all, overflowing with charm, a prodigy in everything—because in the story he tells, he's naturally the most perfect one and appears to be the most innocent in all events."
"So I think the real script's correct timeline should start with the investigation team investigating Shu Yuxiu, suspecting him of multiple murders. To escape legal consequences, Shu Yuxiu brazenly fabricates a lie to whitewash what he actually did, diverting police attention and even deliberately courting the investigators' sympathy."
No Bait? A hook without bait—those who want it will bite!
Shu Yuxiu is a complete fraud! All the beauty he talks about is an illusion; it's just a matter of whether you're willing to believe. Once you bite the hook he throws out, you'll discover the beauty hides a blade.
After listening to Xiao He's articulate analysis, the assistant director who had acted opposite him nodded repeatedly. Zhuang Hongyi showed a satisfied look, and even Shu Han couldn't help but give Xiao He a thumbs-up.
Ning Jiaqi also nodded in approval, but his questioning wasn't finished: "If that's the case, why did you choose a completely different acting approach from Shu Han for this scene?"
"Because of the arrangement of the narrative," Xiao He said with a grin. "I guessed this segment is at the start of the film, so my performance had to act as a smokescreen. I couldn't overtly show that Shu Yuxiu was problematic, nor could I completely mislead the story's direction. So I opted for a more neutral, restrained approach."
Plainly put, it's putting a suspenseful hook at the opening to keep the audience curious.
"And another point: if Shu Yuxiu can fabricate a fully coherent lie during the time he's detained—lying to the police or even the investigators—that shows he has extremely high psychological resilience. His true personality should be cold to the point of being heartless."
"In the lie, Shu Yuxiu is gentle and loyal; in reality, he's the opposite. His calm and composure are ingrained in his bones, which allows him to lie calmly even when questioned by the police."
"So the way Shu Yuxiu behaves at the story's beginning already hints at his true temperament, which differs from the Shu Yuxiu in his fabricated narrative. As audience members, most people probably won't notice that initial detail."
Xiao He's reasoning came from viewing the plot through a director's lens—just that insight alone was far beyond Shu Han's reach.
And most importantly, Xiao He thinks fast, reacts quickly, and can generalize from one example to another; people like that are rare in the entire entertainment circle, not just Shu Han.
Ning Jiaqi kept a composed face, but inwardly he was extremely satisfied with Xiao He.
And the audition result was obvious.
Ning Jiaqi looked at Shu Han, a hint of regret in his tone: "Shu Han, it seems Shu Yuxiu wasn't meant for you."
Those words signified Xiao He's victory and meant Shu Han had missed the role of Shu Yuxiu twice in a row.
It felt almost fated.
From a metaphysical angle, perhaps Shu Han truly had no affinity with the role Shu Yuxiu.
Shu Han blinked to hide the disappointment in his eyes, sighed, and didn't seem too surprised at the outcome. Looking at Xiao He, he grinned broadly in a magnanimous way: "Yeah, no arguing. Little He's analysis—I'm convinced."
Was he unwilling to fight for it? No, he just had no way left.
Young minds think fast—
Shu Han patted Xiao He's shoulder. "Work hard, okay? If you don't act it well, I'll find a way to snatch it back from you."
Xiao He, struck by this unexpected favor, only then leisurely came back to himself and seriously promised, "I'll do my best!"