The Aurora Entertainment training building stood tall in the center of the city.
Glass walls reflected the pale morning sunlight, making the building look almost like a shining tower among the surrounding offices.
For many actors, this place was a dream.
For Jin Taoran, it was the beginning of a test.
He stood outside the entrance for a moment, looking up at the towering structure.
Just a few days ago, he had been lying in a hospital bed, his career destroyed and his future uncertain.
Now he was standing in front of the most powerful agency in the entertainment industry.
Life had changed quickly.
But one thing had not changed.
He still had to prove himself.
Jin Taoran stepped inside.
The lobby was enormous, filled with bright lights and large digital posters displaying Aurora's most famous actors.
Award-winning performers.
Global celebrities.
Every face on the walls represented someone who had already conquered the industry.
Jin Taoran felt a quiet determination rise inside him.
One day, he would stand there too.
"Mr. Jin?"
He turned.
Lu Cheng's assistant walked toward him, smiling politely.
"You arrived early."
Jin Taoran nodded.
"I didn't want to be late."
The assistant glanced at the clock.
The audition was scheduled for ten.
It was only eight thirty.
"President Lu is already upstairs," the assistant said. "He asked me to bring you to the rehearsal room."
Jin Taoran blinked.
"He's watching the audition?"
The assistant chuckled lightly.
"President Lu rarely watches auditions."
He paused slightly.
"But he made an exception today."
Jin Taoran didn't know whether to feel nervous or honored.
Maybe both.
---
The rehearsal room was large but simple.
Mirrors lined one wall.
A few cameras were set up in the corners.
The assistant handed Jin Taoran a printed copy of the script.
"The director requested a rehearsal before the official audition."
Jin Taoran nodded.
He had already memorized Liang Wei's lines, but reading them again helped him settle his thoughts.
"Take your time," the assistant said before leaving the room.
Now Jin Taoran was alone.
Or at least… he thought he was.
After a few minutes, the door quietly opened again.
Footsteps echoed softly.
Jin Taoran looked up.
Lu Cheng walked in.
He wasn't wearing formal clothes today.
Just a black sweater and dark pants.
Simple.
But somehow he still looked like someone who belonged under stage lights.
Lu Cheng leaned against the wall near the mirror.
"Continue."
Jin Taoran blinked.
"You're watching?"
Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a problem?"
Jin Taoran shook his head.
"No."
He took a slow breath.
Then he stepped to the center of the room.
If Lu Cheng wanted to watch, then he would show him everything.
Jin Taoran closed his eyes.
The system interface appeared immediately.
---
Character Memory Simulation Available
Target: Liang Wei
Activate?
---
Jin Taoran activated it.
The world shifted again.
The battlefield returned.
Dust filled the air.
The cries of soldiers echoed through the chaos.
But this time, Jin Taoran didn't simply watch the memory.
He became part of it.
He felt Liang Wei's body moving.
The weight of the armor.
The exhaustion after hours of fighting.
The determination to protect the prince behind him.
Jin Taoran opened his eyes.
But the battlefield emotion remained.
His shoulders straightened slightly.
His breathing changed.
Even his gaze became sharper.
Lu Cheng's eyes narrowed.
He felt it again.
That strange emotional shift.
It was subtle, but undeniable.
Jin Taoran began the scene.
---
"Your Highness!"
His voice carried urgency.
Not exaggerated.
Not theatrical.
Just the natural panic of a soldier trying to protect his lord.
He took two unsteady steps forward.
As if injured.
As if arrows had already struck the battlefield around him.
Then he froze.
His body trembled slightly.
An invisible arrow had struck his chest.
Jin Taoran slowly looked down.
His hand moved to the imaginary wound.
His breathing became uneven.
Lu Cheng watched silently.
Most actors would perform this moment dramatically.
Falling to their knees.
Shouting.
Crying.
But Jin Taoran didn't.
Instead, he forced himself to stand.
Just like Liang Wei had in the memory.
Because the prince was still watching.
Jin Taoran lifted his head slowly.
His eyes softened.
A faint smile appeared.
A smile filled with exhaustion and loyalty.
"Your Highness…"
His voice was quieter now.
Weaker.
But still determined.
"Please… live."
His body swayed.
One knee hit the ground.
But he forced himself to speak one more time.
"Restore… our home…"
The last word barely left his lips.
Then he collapsed.
Silence filled the rehearsal room.
The scene was over.
Jin Taoran remained on the floor for a moment, letting the emotion slowly fade.
When he finally stood up, he noticed something surprising.
Lu Cheng had not moved.
He was still leaning against the wall.
But his eyes looked different now.
More focused.
More interesting.
"Again," Lu Cheng said.
Jin Taoran blinked.
"Again?"
Lu Cheng nodded once.
"The death scene was convincing."
Then he added calmly,
"But the beginning lacked tension."
Jin Taoran frowned slightly.
"The beginning?"
Lu Cheng walked toward him.
"You entered the scene already emotional."
He stopped a few steps away.
"But soldiers don't start battles thinking about death."
He pointed at the script.
"Try again."
Jin Taoran thought about those words.
Then he understood.
Liang Wei wasn't supposed to begin the scene already prepared to die.
He was supposed to be fighting to survive.
Only after being wounded would he accept his fate.
Jin Taoran nodded slowly.
"You're right."
Lu Cheng stepped back again.
"Start."
Jin Taoran closed his eyes once more.
The battlefield returned.
But this time, he focused on a different emotion.
Not tragedy.
Determination.
The will to fight.
When he opened his eyes again, his entire posture had changed.
His stance was stronger.
His gaze sharper.
Now he looked like a soldier ready for battle.
Lu Cheng watched carefully.
Jin Taoran shouted again.
"Your Highness!"
But this time, the voice was powerful.
Protective.
Then the invisible arrow struck.
Pain flashed across his expression.
His confidence cracked.
But he still tried to stand.
Only when he realized he could no longer fight…
Did the quiet acceptance appear?
The final line came softer this time.
More fragile.
"Restore… our home…"
When he collapsed again, the room felt strangely heavy.
Lu Cheng remained silent for several seconds.
Then he said quietly,
"Better."
Jin Taoran sat up, slightly breathless.
"Thank you."
Lu Cheng studied him for a moment.
Then he asked a question.
"How long have you been acting?"
"Five years."
Lu Cheng nodded slowly.
"Then why were you still working as an extra?"
Jin Taoran smiled faintly.
"I guess no one noticed."
Lu Cheng didn't reply immediately.
But his thoughts were different.
No one noticed?
No.
More likely—
No one had looked carefully enough.
The door suddenly opened.
The assistant stepped inside.
"The director has arrived."
Lu Cheng straightened.
"Good."
He glanced at Jin Taoran.
"The real audition begins now."
Jin Taoran stood up.
His heart began beating faster.
Because this was the moment that would decide everything.
Outside the rehearsal room, several actors were already waiting.
All of them were more experienced.
More famous.
Some had even appeared in popular dramas before.
One of them looked at Jin Taoran and frowned.
"You're new."
Another actor scoffed.
"A rookie from Aurora?"
Someone else whispered quietly.
"I heard he's the guy involved in that assault rumor."
Jin Taoran heard every word.
But he didn't respond.
Because he had already learned something important.
Actors didn't prove themselves with arguments.
They proved themselves on stage.
The assistant called out,
"Next actor—Jin Taoran."
The waiting actors looked surprised.
The rookie was going first.
Jin Taoran stepped toward the audition room door.
Before he entered, he heard Lu Cheng's calm voice behind him.
"Remember something."
Jin Taoran looked back.
Lu Cheng met his gaze.
"Don't act."
He paused slightly.
"Live the role."
Then the door opened.
The audition had begun.