From the moment the five women walked into the conference room, the interview had already begun.
Leo Vance sat behind the long mahogany table, his fingers steepled. He wasn't just looking at their faces; he was observing their souls through the subtle language of their movements. Beside him, Sydney sat with a notebook, her eyes darting between the A-list stars and her mentor, Leo.
Della Rose, despite being the biggest global superstar in the room, was surprisingly the most nervous. Leo's serious, focused gaze seemed to pierce through her usual red-carpet confidence. Her posture was stiff, and her hands, resting on her knees, trembled almost imperceptibly.
Then there was Sophie Vane.
She looked significantly younger than Leo had expected, her skin glowing with the kind of vitality that only perfect maintenance and good genes could provide. But it was her eyes that were the real "lethal weapon." When she caught Leo's gaze, her expression softened into something meltingly vulnerable, a gaze full of "rippling spring waves" that suggested a deep, hidden playfulness.
Leo felt a momentary flicker in his composure. The woman is a natural-born siren, he thought.
The casting requirement for The Outcast was unique. In the world of "Outcasts," physical presence was everything. Every female lead needed to possess a specific blend of athletic grace and magnetic appeal. Looking at the line-up, Leo mentally noted the "proportions" of the candidates. In terms of presence and figure, Sophie Vane was the undisputed leader, followed by Daisy, Tia, and then Della and Riley.
Tia, who had been a breakout star in recent teen dramas, looked lean and sweet, but she was vibrating with a visible anxiety. This was likely her first time in a room with this much "heavyweight" talent.
Next was Daisy. She was a different story altogether. While she had been a "Goddess" for the early internet generation, her performance had stagnated. When Leo used the System to scan her, a bright red [D-Grade] appeared over her head, the lowest in the room. Her acting was formulaic and lacked the "edge" required for a show that relied on grit.
Finally, there was Riley Evans.
To Leo's surprise, she was the most relaxed person in the room. While the others were lost in their own heads, Riley was occasionally whispering to Tia, seemingly trying to help the younger girl calm down. When she met Leo's eyes, she didn't look at him like he was the "Instructor Gojo" or the "Hollywood Hellraiser." She looked at him as Leo, the man who stole her oranges and held her hand for "art."
Leo conducted the interview in three phases.
First was the "Regional Dialect" test. The character of Jo possessed a thick, rustic accent (localized to a specific dry, mountain grit) that was essential to her "hollow" persona. It had to be standard yet soulful.
Second was the chemistry read. Leo stood up and played the role of the cunning, slightly cowardly Asher Reed, acting opposite each woman.
The third phase? That had already ended the moment they walked through the door.
After twenty minutes of deliberation, Leo made his choice. He turned to the group, a slight smile on his face.
"Riley Evans," Leo said. "The role of Jo is yours."
The room went silent. Sydney looked at Riley, then at Leo, her pen hovering over the page.
It had to be said, Riley had only acted in minor roles before, but under Leo's unofficial tutelage during Jujutsu Kaisen, her growth had been exponential. During the audition, she had captured that "clear yet foolish" gaze perfectly. When she delivered the line - "People say I'm slow, but I'm not slow at all. Most of the time, I'm actually incredibly resourceful", her eyes were vacant yet chillingly focused.
She was Jo.
"As for the rest of you," Leo continued, looking at the disappointed faces. "I have a few suggestions."
He turned to Sophie Vane. "Sophie, your energy is too 'alive' for Jo. But I want you to audition for the role of Scarlett (Xia He/Natsuka). She's a character who weaponizes her own allure. I think you could make it legendary."
Sophie's eyes lit up instantly. Director, I'll start researching tonight! I really want to... improve under your guidance."
Leo coughed, looking away from her intense gaze. "Right. Tia, I want you to try out for Luna (Lu Linglong/Riku Rinron). She's high-spirited, loyal, and has that 'youthful fire' you carry."
He then looked at Della Rose. Her disappointment was visible, her shoulders slumped. Leo sighed inwardly. It wasn't that she lacked talent, but her face was too recognizable, and her current schedule was packed with "Beauty" roles. The audience needed someone fresh for Jo.
"Della... stay on my WeChat. I don't have a role for you in The Outcast yet that fits your status, but when I find the right 'Universe' project for you, I'll tell you first."
"Thank you, Leo," Della said, perking up slightly. "I'm open to anything. I'll even do a cameo just to be on your set again."
The auditions continued into the afternoon. Leo interviewed several other familiar faces he remembered from his previous life, rising stars and established character actors.
Among them was Ava.
She was a former child star, elegant and technically skilled in her craft. She auditioned for the role of Luna, but Leo found himself hesitating.
"Ava, I'm sorry," Leo said seriously after her reading. "I don't think you're the right fit for Luna."
Ava's nose suddenly stung. She had stayed up for three nights researching the lore of The Outcast, desperate to join the project. To fail after so much effort made her forget her intention to ask for an autograph.
"Is my acting... not good enough?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Your acting is fine," Leo explained with a wry smile. "It's just the 'character setting.' Luna is described as having a very... athletic and well-developed presence. Yours is a bit too... petite. It wouldn't fit the visual profile of the character's techniques."
Ava's face flushed a deep crimson as she realized he was talking about her physique. However, she was a professional. She adjusted her emotions quickly, offering a charming, defiant smile. "I understand. If my skill were higher, I could make you forget about the 'setting'. I'll work harder. One day, I'll act opposite you, Leo Vance!"
Leo nodded, genuinely pleased with her spirit. He watched her turn to leave, then a lightbulb went off in his head.
"Actually, Ava," Leo called out, a smirk curling on his lips. "I do have a role in mind for you. A lead role."
Ava froze. Her sadness was replaced by a blinding surprise. "Is it for The Outcast?"
"No," Leo shook his head, thinking of a specific "Healing" masterpiece from his old world that would perfectly utilize her delicate, tragic beauty. "It's for a different project. A movie that will make the entire world cry. Are you interested?"