Chapter 173
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Chapter 173: A Once In A Lifetime Casting Couch Deal
There was still a glimmer of hope for the future in Jiang Shuyan’s eyes—though perhaps, at this point, she didn’t even know how to succeed anymore.
Zhou Xinyuan looked at the girl in front of her with a complex expression, silent for a long time.
What had brought her success today? Could she really say it was all due to her own hard work? That hard work alone had gotten her this far?
Zhou Xinyuan reflected for a moment. After a long silence, she finally made up her mind and said quietly, “I have. I accepted it once. The casting couch.”
“So you really didn’t—eh? Wait… wait a second! You did? Zhou Xinyuan, you too? You actually slept with some fat, stinky, disgusting guy?!”
What the hell had she gone through? Even if you were going to be subjected to hidden rules, couldn’t you at least find someone better?!
Zhou Xinyuan found herself unexpectedly developing a bit of respect for this unknown actress’s courage and pain.
But then again, considering the state of the entertainment industry nowadays, Zhou Xinyuan could sort of understand what she meant.
“Of course I didn’t go that far,” Zhou Xinyuan said with a somewhat helpless smile. Then, gently, she patted Jiang Shuyan’s hair.
In terms of both age and seniority, she really could treat this girl like a junior.
“I’ve only accepted the casting couch once in my life. That was with my current husband.”
“At the hardest point in my life—maybe I wasn’t in quite as bad a place as you are now, but I wasn’t much better either. I was stuck doing auditions, minor roles, background characters. I had never had a single lead. I was on the verge of giving up entirely on acting.”
Zhou Xinyuan’s face took on a trace of nostalgic emotion.
“So after one audition for a female lead role, that very night, I approached the man who is now my husband, with less than honorable intentions. I was the one who got him drunk. I brought him to my place.”
“That night, he didn’t turn me down. Afterward, he gave me the opportunity to play a lead role. But he told me, ‘Don’t do this again. If you must, do it with me—and only me.’”
A soft, tender smile appeared on Zhou Xinyuan’s face as she told this story—one she had never shared with anyone before.
“If there must be a turning point between being a nameless actress and becoming a well-known one, then that night was my turning point.”
“My husband was one of the most well-known directors at the time. Thanks to that role, I went from being a nobody who couldn’t even get a second glance, to a popular actress.”
“So, I won’t lie and say I’ve never experienced the casting couch. That chance—I did trade my body for it.” Zhou Xinyuan shook her head, pausing briefly.
“But, Miss No-Name Actress—if you truly can’t survive in this industry, and if you really must resort to a casting couch to keep going—”
“Then please… choose that person carefully. Treat him as your partner for life. A once-in-a-lifetime casting couch deal—”
“That’s enough.”
Zhou Xinyuan pursed her lips, her voice tinged with memories as she said those words.
Jiang Shuyan’s mind was still foggy, her vision hazy as she looked at Zhou Xinyuan.
Something about this story didn’t quite match her idea of what casting couch meant. Sure, there were similarities, but wasn’t this basically a love story?!
A once-in-a-lifetime casting couch… Wasn’t that just romance with extra steps?!
Seeing Jiang Shuyan’s confused expression, Zhou Xinyuan shook her head with a bitter smile.
“I’m just as big an idiot as you… Why did I tell all this to a drunk? Who knows how much you even took in?”
“Hic—”
Jiang Shuyan didn’t answer, only let out another drunken hiccup, eyes unfocused.
Zhou Xinyuan chuckled and scolded gently,
“You really are a little idiot. If no one’s coming to get you, then come to my place. My husband’s not home tonight. I have a daughter, but that should be fine.”
Before she could finish her sentence, a cute, hurried voice came from behind.
“Ah! I’m so sorry!”
A girl’s voice, breathless, as if she’d run all the way there.
“Excuse me, have you seen this girl?”
Zhou Xinyuan turned around in surprise and saw a short, childlike girl who looked like someone’s middle schooler.
Ye Xiao’s clothes were slightly disheveled, and in her hand she held a phone displaying a photo of her and Jiang Shuyan.
The two of them looked just like a pair of very close sisters.
“Ah, dummy.”
Right then, Jiang Shuyan, who’d been sitting on the ground all this time, showed a dopey smile and looked past Zhou Xinyuan, locking eyes with the anxious-looking Ye Xiao.
“You’re finally here. I waited a long time for you.”
Zhou Xinyuan also looked curiously at the sudden arrival.
“You two are sisters, huh? You’re both really pretty.”
Ye Xiao’s height looked about the same as Zhou Xinyuan’s own daughter, who had just entered middle school.
She instinctively assumed this girl was about the same age.
“Having a big sister like this must be tough. But as a little sister, you’ve already worked hard. She was just saying she wanted to bring you to my place—but now that you’re here, I guess that’s not needed anymore. Did you come alone?”
As Zhou Xinyuan spoke, she reached out to pat Ye Xiao’s soft hair.
Ye Xiao’s hair quality was beautiful—clearly not permed or dyed, but naturally golden and smooth.
“Lame Big Sis, don’t touch my head! I’m not a kid! Only lame old ladies treat everyone like a child!”
Ye Xiao frowned, dodging Zhou Xinyuan’s hand with a quick movement.
She didn’t know what kind of relationship this woman had with Jiang Shuyan, but both of them smelled heavily of alcohol.
Could it be that this was the kind of older woman that director liked?
That was way too creepy. The woman in front of her, while attractive, was clearly in her late 30’s or nearing 40. Mature, sure—but for someone like Bao Ye to be interested in her too? He really must be starving!
“This is my card. If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out. Who knows—I might be able to help you.”
Zhou Xinyuan smiled faintly at Ye Xiao’s reaction. But seeing that help was no longer needed, she knew it was time to go.
She handed Ye Xiao her business card, picked up her bag, and walked away from the small park.
“Zhou Xinyuan?” Ye Xiao looked down at the card in her hand in a daze.
That name… wasn’t she a pretty famous actress?
Even in the sparse memories left in Ye Xiao’s inherited consciousness, there were vague recollections of dramas Zhou Xinyuan had starred in.
