Chapter 163 – Survival Challenge 生存挑战

Tang Tian pulled up in a plain sedan and dropped Lin Yuan off. "We're here." She parked, tossed the keys, and showed him in.

The apartment wasn't big—three bedrooms and a living room, just enough for four people, though one would have to sleep in the living room. The rooms were simply furnished, with practical furniture and no fancy decorations. Clearly, it was a dormitory for up - and - coming actors.

"Your room is here." Tang Tian pushed open the door of a bedroom. "Since you're the new tenant, you'll have it to yourself for now."

Lin Yuan scanned the room. The room had enough space, with a single bed, a desk, and a small wardrobe placed nearby.

"So, what do you think? Not bad, right?" Tang Tian stood with her hands on her hips, acting like a landlord.

"It's livable." Lin Yuan replied casually. He put down his luggage, sat on the bed, and looked around.

"Good." Tang Tian took out a small script from her bag and handed it to him. "Here, this is the audition script for tomorrow. Take a look and get familiar with it."

Lin Yuan took the script and flipped through it. It was a training scene for a police academy student. The character was calm and didn't have many lines, but needed some emotional acting.

He casually asked, "By the way, what's your major in college?"

"Computer software." Tang Tian said proudly.

Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. "A computer science major becoming an assistant in the entertainment industry?"

"Hehe..." Tang Tian rubbed her hands and blinked. "Well, actually, I've always wanted to see good - looking guys in the entertainment industry, but I had no connections. So I asked my aunt for help."

"Your aunt...?" Lin Yuan felt a twinge of unease.

Tang Tian gave a mischievous smile. "She's Xue Ting!"

"..." Lin Yuan was silent for a moment, then the corner of his mouth twitched. "No wonder you became my assistant."

"Hehe, Sister Xue picked me 'cause she thinks I'm smart." Tang Tian thumped her chest proudly. "Don't sweat it, I've got you covered."

...

The audition was held in an office building at the film and television base. When Lin Yuan arrived, many new actors were already waiting.

"Lin Yuan, number 10." A staff member handed him a number tag.

He walked into the audition room, where the director, screenwriter, and producer were seated.

The director flipped through his resume, then looked up. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Lin Yuan nodded, adjusted his state, and started his performance.

The scene showed a police academy student being summoned by an instructor for a private chat after training. Though he appeared calm, his emotions roiled beneath the surface.

Lin Yuan adjusted his breathing, kept his eyes downcast, and a hint of sadness lingered in his eyes. He held back, not letting his emotions show too much. When the instructor said, "You should let go of the past," his eyes trembled slightly, and the corner of his mouth twitched, as if he wanted to smile but couldn't.

The director nodded slightly and exchanged glances with the screenwriter beside him.

After the audition, Lin Yuan walked out of the room, and Tang Tian immediately rushed over.

"How'd it go?" she asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

Lin Yuan shrugged. "Okay, I guess."

Just then, the director called out to him, "Lin Yuan, stay behind."

Lin Yuan stopped and turned to look at the director.

The director glanced at the resume again and nodded. "You're the one."

Lin Yuan was stunned. "That fast?"

The director smiled. "The character's younger self is supposed to have depression, and you fit the bill perfectly."

Lin Yuan didn't reply, just gave a twitch of his lips. Perhaps this unexpected "drawback" had its upsides.

Tang Tian drove Lin Yuan away from the audition site. On the way, she handed him a bank card, a new phone, and a bottle of medicine.

"Here, take your meds."

Lin Yuan looked at the bottle. It was labeled "Medication for Atypical Depression," to be taken three times a day. He casually unscrewed the cap, popped out a pill, swallowed it, and took a few gulps of water.

Tang Tian said while driving, "Go to ABC Café later. You'll get a task card there. Just wait for the regular guests. Whoever finds you first is your partner."

"Is that how variety shows work?" Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Yup. Don't be too nervous." Tang Tian waved with a smile. "Do your best later! I'll be watching you on the live stream."

Lin Yuan looked out the window and said calmly, "Thanks for the heads - up. Guess I should maintain my idol image then."

The moment Lin Yuan stepped into the café, he felt something was off. Not far away, several cameras were pointed at him. Cameramen positioned themselves in the corners, mutely readjusting their angles, while the production crew stood by, watching intently.

Lin Yuan sighed. "This is nerve-wracking!"

==================

唐甜开着一辆普通的小车,将林远送到了他的住处.

"到了." 她停好车,把钥匙一甩,领着林远进门.

公寓不算大,三房一厅,勉强能住四个人,其中一个人要睡客厅.房间里布置简单,家具以实用为主,没有什么奢华的摆设,显然是给新人演员准备的宿舍.

"你的房间在这里." 唐甜推开一间卧室的门,"你是新的住户,暂时一个人住."

林远扫了一眼房间,空间还算可以,一张单人床,一个书桌,旁边还有个小衣柜.

"怎么样,还行吧?" 唐甜双手叉腰,一副房东的样子.

"勉强能住." 林远随口道,放下行李,坐在床上打量四周.

"那就好." 唐甜从包里拿出一个小剧本递给他,"喏,这是你明天试镜要用的片段,你先看看,熟悉一下."

林远接过剧本翻了翻,发现是一个警校生的训练场景,角色个性比较沉稳,台词也不算多,但能看出需要一些情绪表达.

他随口问道:"对了,你大学是学什么的?"

"电脑软件." 唐甜一脸得意.

林远挑眉:"学计算机的跑来娱乐圈当助理?"

"嘿嘿..." 唐甜搓搓手,眨了眨眼睛, "其实呢,我一直想进娱乐圈看看帅哥,但是又没门路,所以只好求我姨帮忙."

"等等,你姨?" 林远突然有种不妙的预感.

"就是薛婷啊." 唐甜笑嘻嘻地说.

"..." 林远沉默了一下,嘴角抽了抽, "怪不得你能当我的助理."

"嘿嘿,薛姐看我机灵,就让我来啦." 唐甜得意洋洋地拍拍胸口,"放心,我会好好照顾你的."

...

试镜的场地在影视基地的一栋办公楼里,林远到的时候,已经有不少新人演员在候场.

"林远,10号." 工作人员递来号码牌.

他走进试镜房,里面坐着导演,编剧和制片人.

导演翻了翻他的资料,抬头道:"你准备好了吗?"

"嗯." 林远点头,调整了一下状态,开始表演.

片段是一个警校生在训练后,被教官单独叫去谈话,他表面上看起来平静,实则内心压抑着情绪.

林远调整呼吸,目光低垂,眼里透着一丝若有若无的悲伤.

他克制着自己,不让情绪外露太多,直到教官提到 "你应该放下过去",他眼神微微一颤,嘴角牵动了一下,仿佛想笑却笑不出来.

导演看得微微点头,和旁边的编剧交流了一下眼神.

试镜结束,林远走出房间,唐甜立刻迎了上去.

"怎么样,顺利吗?" 她好奇地问.

林远想了想:"不好不坏."

就在这时,导演叫住了他:"林远,你留下."

林远停下脚步,转头看向导演.

导演又翻了一眼资料,点了点头:"就你了."

林远愣了一下:"这么快?"

导演笑了笑:"你这个角色的年轻时期设定是有忧郁症,你很符合."

"..." 林远嘴角抽了一下,感觉这个额外buff也不完全是件坏事啊.

唐甜开车带林远离开试镜现场,途中把一个银行卡,一部新手机,还有一瓶药递给他.

"喏,吃药吧."

林远看了一眼瓶子,上面写着 "非典型忧郁症治疗药物",每天三次.

他随手拧开瓶盖,倒出一颗吞下,咕噜咕噜喝了几口水.

"你等会儿要去ABC咖啡厅." 唐甜一边开车一边说,"到了那里你会拿到一张任务卡,内容大概是,等固定嘉宾找到你,谁先找到你,谁就是你的搭档."

"综艺节目就是这样?" 林远挑眉.

"对呀,别太紧张." 唐甜笑着挥挥手,"等下加油哦,我会在直播频道看你的."

林远看着窗外,不紧不慢地说道:"谢谢你提醒,那我该保持好偶像包袱了."

当林远踏进咖啡厅的那一刻,他就感觉到了异样.

不远处,几台摄像机对准了他,几个摄像师大哥站在角落,默默调整着角度,而导演组的工作人员则站在旁边观察.

"..."

林远心里默默叹了口气, "压力大啊!"