By the time thirty minutes had gone by, an uneasy tension filled the air.
Everyone waiting outside began to sense that something was off.
This was the first time a candidate had stayed inside for so long, and the atmosphere shifted.
Whispers rippled through the crowd, with many already assuming that this neer had secured the role.
A sense of dejection began to settle over those who had hoped for their own chance, their hopes dimming as they realized that Alice might soon take the lead.
"How could this be?! Sister Mei, you’re the most talented action star in the industry, and you’ve even worked with Director Nick on one of his films, which catapulted you to new heights because of your impressive martial arts skills and acting talent. We all thought this role was practically yours, and that this audition was just a formality, something to keep the gossip at bay. But how is it that this neer is still inside the audition room, longer than you?"
"Does this mean they’ve already made their decision and chosen her?"
"Do you think she’ll evene out of there, or are they already discussing the role’s details with her?"
Soon, one after another, the candidates approached Sister Mei, trying tofort her while voicing their frustrations.
They couldn’t ept the oue. If they had lost to a seasoned actress like her, they could have at least understood; after all, she had proven her abilities time and time again.
But to think they were losing to a neer felt like swallowing a fly—it was a bitter pill they couldn’t easily swallow, and their pride couldn’t bear it.
Yet, they had forgotten that this so-called "Sister Mei" had once been a neer too, just like them.
So, what really set them apart? What was the difference after all?
Hera remained seated, quietly reviewing her script, unfazed by the chatter andmotion around her.
No one dared to disturb her again, though it was clear she was being overlooked and even dismissed by the others.
Yet, she didn’t mind. She was focused solely on her task. Almost an hour passed before Alice finally emerged from the room, followed by the female crew members who hade out earlier.
Their faces were all smiles, clearly impressed and appreciative of Alice’s performance.
It was evident that Alice had been in a detailed discussion with the director and the crew.
They had asked her about her thoughts on the role and had conducted an impromptu interview, diving deeper into her understanding and interpretation of the character.
As Alice stepped out of the room, she couldn’t resist shooting Hera a subtle, smug look, a small grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
She could tell from the approving nces of the director, assistant director, and other staff that her acting had left a strong impression on them.
Alice felt a surge of pride; after all, her confidence came from the years of experience she’d umted in her past life, something Hera clearlycked.
In her mind, the role was already hers. If she hadn’t been worried about the first contender, Sister Mei, she certainly wasn’t about to be intimidated by Hera.
Alice couldn’t help but feel a twinge of satisfaction as she imagined how devastated Hera would be when she entered the room.
While, everyone seemed to still be talking about her, leaving Herapletely ignored.
In fact, Alice had almost been cast on the spot by Director Nick; she had embodied the role so well—about 80% of it, in fact—that she even outshone the well-established Sister Mei.
The director had already interviewed Alice and discussed the role and filming logistics, yet, just as he was about to finalize his decision, Xavier spoke up, suggesting they give the other candidates a chance before making a final call.
Out of respect for Xavier, Director Nick decided to continue with the auditions, though it was clear to everyone that Alice had set a high bar.
With only a few candidates left, they were all eager to wrap things up.
Unfortunately for the other candidates, no one performed better than Alice after her turn.
One of the key reasons Director Nick grew so fond of her was the fact that she was still a neer.
With her raw talent, he saw immense potential for her to grow into an even better actress.
The thought of guiding her through the process, helping her refine her craft, and potentially witnessing her breakthrough during filming excited him.
He could already envision Alice winning both the Best Neer and Best Actress awards in the future.
This made him more focused on Alice’s potential than the other candidates, and, as Alice had predicted, the attention remained on her.
The discussions shifted toparing her to the others, with many now specting on how she would perform in the role.
Alice had set the bar so high that the candidates who followed after her were left feeling disheartened.
As they performed in front of the stage, it was clear that no one was paying attention to them anymore.
When they exited the room after only a brief 10-minute session, they slumped back into their chairs, their expressions drained, as if their very souls had been sucked out.
Meanwhile, Alice couldn’t hide her growing glee. With each new person who came out looking defeated, her sense of triumph swelled, and anticipation buzzed in her chest.
The excitement of what was toe next only deepened her eagerness—now, all she could think about was Hera’s turn.
Since Hera was thest in line, it took a little longer for her turn toe, but it arrived quickly nheless.
No one had stayed inside for more than 10 minutes, and each candidate was promptly sent out after their scene.
"NEXT,st candidate, please!" The female crew emerged from the room, looking tired but stillposed.
When she noticed Hera standing up with a warm smile, she couldn’t help but return the gesture.
Her good impression of Hera made her treat the actress with extra kindness, so she gently guided Hera inside with a smile.
"Do your best," she whispered encouragingly before quietly settling into a corner of the room.