I stood frozen for a moment, my fingers tightening around the edges of my script.
So… that was it?
The role was already taken. I had failed even before I began. For a second, disappointment washed over me. I took a quiet breath, bowed politely to the panel, and turned to leave.
But just as I reached the door, a calm, steady voice stopped me.
"Wait."
I paused and turned back. The director, who had been silent all this time, was now watching me intently. His expression was unreadable as he picked up a different script from the table.
"Try this one," he said, pointing toward a page.
I blinked in surprise and stepped forward to take the script. My eyes widened the moment I glanced at the cover page. This was the second female lead role—one of the most important characters in the entire story.
"Can I have five minutes to go through the lines?" I asked politely.
The director nodded.
I quickly flipped through the pages, though a small smile tugged at my lips. I didn't need much time. In my past life, this had been my favorite character—the one I had admired but never dreamed of playing.
Back then, it had felt impossible.
But now… now I had been given the chance. And I wasn't going to waste it. After five minutes, I closed the script and looked up. "I'm ready."
The director gestured for me to begin.
I took a deep breath, letting the lines flow naturally. My posture shifted, my tone softened, my expression changed entirely—I became the graceful, tragic second lead who loved silently and lost quietly.
By the time I finished, the air in the room felt still. I bowed politely. "Thank you for the opportunity."
I stared at the expressions carefully, hoping to see whether they liked my performance or not. However, the panel's faces gave nothing away. The director scribbled something on a paper while the assistant nodded faintly.
"We'll notify you," the assistant said with a professional smile.
I nodded, thanked them again, and stepped out of the room. The moment I did, I saw Yun Si waiting outside for me. "How was it?" she asked immediately, eyes bright with hope.
I exhaled, my shoulders drooping slightly. "The role was already taken."
Yun Si blinked in shock. "Huh? The role was taken away? That's… unfortunate!" But just as quickly, she composed herself and smiled encouragingly. "Hey, don't take it too hard, okay? Rejections are pretty common in our line of work. You're talented, Xiyu. You'll definitely get another role soon."
I smiled faintly. "Actually… the director asked me to audition for another character."
Yun Si's eyes widened. "Really? Which one?"
"The second female lead," I said softly.
She froze. "Wait. The second female lead? The one with all the emotional depth and that huge character arc?"
I nodded.
For a moment, she just stared—and then grinned from ear to ear. "Tang Xiyu, if you get that role, I'm treating you to hotpot for a week!"
I laughed. "A week? Make it two!"
"Fine," she said dramatically, pretending to sigh. "But if you don't get it, you treat me."
"Deal!"
She smiled and patted my arm. "Seriously though, even if you don't get it, don't lose hope. You're improving fast, and people will notice. I believe in your abilities."
I felt something warm spread through my chest, and without thinking, I suddenly pulled Yun Si into a hug. "Sisi, why are you so cute?! If you were a boy, I'd definitely fall in love with you!"
Yun Si wrinkled her nose, pretending to gag. "Ugh, no thanks. I'm very straight, thank you."
I burst out laughing. "Hey! I said if you were a boy!"
"Still," Yun Si said, her lips twitching, "better safe than sorry."
I couldn't stop laughing.
That night, after giving a few more auditions, I was so tired I felt I could drop right there in the hallway. My entire body ached, my legs felt like jelly, and my eyes were begging me to shut down.
By the time Yun Si dropped me off, even my soul felt exhausted. "Go rest," she said, rolling down the window. "Don't stay up watching dramas again."
"I won't," I promised weakly.
I dragged myself upstairs, yawning so wide I nearly tripped on the last step. I fumbled with my keys for a few seconds, finally managing to unlock the door.
But the moment I pushed it open, a mouthwatering aroma hit my nose. The smell of sizzling garlic, soy sauce, and something rich—like stir-fried beef—filled the air.
My stomach growled loudly in response, betraying my exhaustion. I blinked, sniffing the air like a hungry cat. "That smells amazing."
Then I froze.
Wait. Why did my apartment smell like food?
I lived alone.
My eyes widened as I stiffened, every nerve on high alert. "Don't tell me a burglar broke in?" I whispered, my heart pounding with fear.
But I had nothing valuable in my apartment. Why would a burglar come to rob me? Also, why would he cook? Maybe he got so hungry in the middle of stealing that he decided to whip up dinner?
My mind ran through every possible scenario. Acting purely on instinct, I grabbed the nearest object—a ceramic vase from the shelf—and gripped it tightly.
My heart pounded in my chest as I tiptoed toward the kitchen. The sizzling sound grew louder.
And then I saw him.
A tall, half-naked man stood in my kitchen, wearing nothing but loose grey sweatpants and—God help me—a pink rabbit apron. He was humming and singing softly, flipping something in a frying pan as if this were his home.
And he was singing. Not just singing, but performing. Like a lunatic with a mic.
"I stir, I move, I sizzle, and I cook,
One look at me, and the ladies shook!
I chop, I flip, I season just right,
So damn handsome it's a crime tonight!"
He spun the pan, winked at the frying beef, and kept going, louder this time.
"Don't touch me, girls, don't even try,
I belong to my wife till the day I die!
She eats my food, she kisses me sweet,
Her lips are the dessert I love to eat!"
My jaw dropped.
Who was this man? And why was he singing a full-on, operatic, ridiculous love song about dinner in my apartment?
"The oil pops, my abs do too,
Chef Suye's here to cook for you!
Apron on, shirt long gone,
Cooking sexy all night long!"
"......."
I blinked once. Then twice. I rubbed my eyes, convinced exhaustion was playing tricks on me. But nope, he was still there. He was still twirling, still singing, and flipping vegetables like a circus performer.
I slowly lowered the vase and exclaimed, "What the hell!"
At the sound of my voice, the man turned around. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest. Standing there, with that infuriatingly calm smile, was none other than him.
The "madman" I had the misfortune of sleeping with.
My voice cracked as I pointed the vase at him. "You! What are you doing in my house?!"