"Why did you leave last night?" Li Yufei questioned, her tone slightly angry and eyes accusing.
"My house was on fire," I said casually.
Her eyes went wide. "Oh my God! Are you serious? Is everything okay? Did anyone get hurt?"
"Everything's fine. Nobody got hurt," I replied with a calm smile, watching her carefully. After all, she was there last night. What if she was the one that woman hired? The one who slipped something into my drink?
Starting with Li Yufei was the perfect way to find out the truth regarding that woman's identity.
"Thankfully, the producers weren't angry after you left," she said with a dramatic sigh, flipping her hair. "I and the other girls handled the situation perfectly." She winked.
I smiled faintly.
"But you're lucky, you know?" she continued, leaning closer. "Producer Tang took quite a liking to you. He even asked me to introduce you to him." Her voice turned teasing. "Want me to hook you up?"
Hook me up with an old man? No, thank you!
I shook my head immediately. "No, I think I'll stick to hard work for now."
Li Yufei sighed like a disappointed aunt. "Tang Xiyu, you know how this industry works. It's cruel. You either have connections or you get eaten alive. Talent alone won't help you in the long run."
I just smiled and changed the topic. "Are you here for an audition?"
"Yes," she nodded proudly. "For the third female role." Then she leaned in, lowering her voice. "Though honestly, it's just a formality. I've already bagged the role."
"Congratulations," I said, polite as ever.
"Thank you," she said, preening like a peacock.
Just then, the door to the audition room opened. A woman walked out, tall and stunning, dressed head-to-toe in designer labels. Even her assistant looked expensive, holding an umbrella over her head as if the sun dared not touch her.
My eyes narrowed. An Yuwei?
In my past life, she was just a nobody, an extra scraping by in low-budget web dramas. But three years later, she became one of the most talked-about actresses in the industry.
What was she doing here?
Was she auditioning, too?
Before I could think further, Li Yufei grabbed my arm and whispered excitedly, "Do you know who that is? That's An Yuwei—the female lead of this drama!"
My eyes widened. "The female lead?"
As far as I remembered, the lead role originally went to a famous actress, not her. How did this happen?
Seeing my stunned expression, Li Yufei smirked knowingly. "Want to know how she got the role?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes."
"She was seen with Mo Yuzhen last night," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with gossip. "Rumor has it, she's his new girlfriend, and he helped her get the role."
The name hit me like a punch.
Mo Yuzhen.
Just hearing it again made my stomach twist. The air around me suddenly felt heavy, the noise of the studio fading into the background.
Mo Yuzhen... the scumbag husband...
My chest burned with anger. The betrayal. The pain. The way he smiled while destroying me. His cruel world all came back in flashes as I almost crushed the corner of the script in my hand. Even hearing his name felt like reopening an old wound.
I forced myself to take a deep breath. Calm down, Tang Xiyu. That's all in the past.
This life was different. Our ways were different.
"Xiyu?"
"Xiyu!"
Li Yufei's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked, forcing a small smile. "Sorry, what did you say?"
She pouted. "You totally zoned out! What were you thinking?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. Then I looked at her, deciding to test the waters. "Li Yufei, can I ask you something?"
She tilted her head. "What is it?"
"Last night… those drinks we had—"
Before I could finish, she grabbed my wrist and whispered, "Yes. Something was added, but it's harmless. Just to help everyone loosen up. Don't make a fuss about it, okay? What happens at those clubs stays there."
I nodded. "Got it. Just one last thing—who puts it in?"
She shrugged casually. "No idea. Probably the club."
Her reaction was too calm, too natural. This could only mean she wasn't lying. I sighed, feeling slightly disappointed. I had hope that she would become my clue in finding that woman, but it looks like this would not be an easy task.
Right at this moment, Yun Si returned so I dropped the topic. Even Li Yufei after wishig me good luck for the role, smiled and left.
As soon as she disapperead, Yun Si gave me that I saw everything look. "What did she say?"
I grinned. "She said Producer Tang took a liking to me and wants to meet me. Do you think I should give it a try?"
Her eyes widened instantly. "Tang Xiyu!" she hissed, "If you even think about taking that route, I'll kick you in the butt. Do you hear me?"
I laughed, patting her arm. "Relax, I'm just kidding!"
"Don't joke about things like that," she scolded. "You'll give me a heart attack one day."
"Aye aye, Captain!" I saluted.
She rolled her eyes. "Just focus on the script and give it your best shot, okay?"
I nodded obediently and went back to rehearsing. Three long hours later, it was finally my turn. My palms were slightly sweaty, but my confidence was steady.
The moment I walked into the audition room, a few people actually gasped. I couldn't blame them—I knew I had the kind of face people remembered. Natural pink lips, big doe eyes, and cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass.
I looked exactly like Jiang Xue, the villain in the script. That was the reason, why I got the part in my last life. But this time, more than my face, I wanted them to notice my acting skills.
I bowed politely to the directors and the other poeple present in the room.
"What role are you auditioning for?" the assistant asked.
"Jiang Xue, the villain," I said with a smile.
The assistant director flipped through a list, then looked up. "Oh… sorry, that role has already been cast."
I froze.
"...What?"
All my preparation, my confidence was gone in an instant. This wasn't how it happened before. In my last life, this role was mine. So why was everything changing now?
Was this… the legendary butterfly effect?