Huayu: This top star doesn't play by the rules.

The afternoons in Hengdian in June are unbearably hot, and even the chirping of cicadas has become much less frequent.

In the meeting room that Zhang Ning had booked, Guo Fan sat at the head of the conference table, dressed in simple casual clothes and wearing black-rimmed glasses. He looked somewhat serious and not very talkative.

He repeatedly stroked the printed profile picture of Chen Chao in his hand, his eyes full of anticipation. He had also auditioned many new generation actors for the role of Liu Qi in "The Wandering Earth".

However, either their appearance and temperament did not match, or their acting skills were too immature to support the character's arc. After searching for more than half a year, he still could not find a candidate who met his requirements.

Until yesterday, when he saw the photos sent by Zhang Ning, he realized that the young man had a neat buzz cut, strong features, and eyes that showed both youthful arrogance and a mature composure. This perfectly matched all his imagination of Liu Qi.

"Old Guo, he should be arriving soon." Zhang Ning, sitting next to Guo Fan, couldn't help but smile and say after noticing his appearance.

"I chatted with this young man for a bit yesterday. He is quite calm and polite. I also found out that he is the second male lead in director Wu Jingyuan's 'Princess Agents.' His acting skills are highly regarded in the crew. He has a nickname, Chen Yitiao. He never makes any mistakes when filming his solo scenes."

"Oh? He actually has that kind of skill?" After hearing Zhang Ning's story, Guo Fan's interest in Chen Chao grew even stronger. "These days, there aren't many young actors who can get a scene right in one take. He seems to be someone with real talent."

"That's right. Talent is secondary. What's most valuable is his down-to-earth nature, his lack of impetuosity, and his willingness to take the time to hone his acting skills." Nodding in agreement, Zhang Ning had a very high opinion of Chen Chao after learning about his situation.

Just as the two finished their conversation, there was a gentle knock on the conference room door.

"Please come in."

As the door opened, Chen Chao walked in slowly. Today, he was wearing a black casual outfit, and his neat buzz cut made his features more defined. His eyebrows and eyes were gentle yet sharp. He walked with composure and calmness, without the slightest bit of the awkwardness or unease that a newcomer would have when facing a director.

The moment Guo Fan saw Chen Chao, his eyes lit up. He felt that Chen Chao was even more charismatic in person than in the photos, possessing both the naivety of a young man and the potential of a tough guy. His demeanor was relaxed and composed, yet he exuded a rebellious spirit that refused to admit defeat, almost exactly like the Liu Qi he had imagined.

"Director Guo, Producer Zhang." Chen Chao walked up to Guo Fan and Zhang Ning, politely nodding in greeting, his manners perfectly measured.

"Chen Chao, right? Please sit down." Guo Fan gestured for Chen Chao to sit down, his gaze fixed on him, scrutinizing him closely, becoming more and more satisfied with the look.

"Zhang Ning sent me your photo yesterday, but seeing you today, you are even more outstanding than in the photo."

Chen Chao calmly followed Guo Fan's directions and took a seat. When Guo Fan praised him, Chen Chao smiled and nodded, "Thank you for the praise, Director Guo."

Guo Fan, who is always quite pragmatic, didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point: "I won't beat around the bush either. 'The Wandering Earth' is our country's first hard science fiction film."

"We've been preparing for this for years, the script has been repeatedly polished, and we've even invited experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences to serve as scientific advisors. We've shown enough sincerity and investment in the production. The main reason I'm contacting you this time is to audition for the male lead, Liu Qi."

As he spoke, he pushed a pre-printed excerpt of the script in front of Chen Chao. "Take a look at this first. It's the scene where Liu Qi takes his sister to escape the underground city and argues with his grandfather. I'll give you ten minutes to familiarize yourself with it, and then you can start the audition directly."

Reaching out to take the script, Chen Chao lowered his head and began to read, his gaze sweeping over the lines and scene descriptions—plots he had never seen in movies in his previous life.

But for Chen Chao, it wasn't a problem. His memory was far beyond that of ordinary people. He could memorize the entire script after just one reading.

Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

"Are you ready?" As the alarm rang, Guo Fan sat up straight, his expression becoming serious, yet his eyes were full of anticipation.

"That's enough, Director Guo." Chen Chao let out a soft breath, nodded slightly, adjusted his own state, and his aura suddenly changed.

His original gentleness and composure vanished, replaced by Liu Qi's rebelliousness, irritability, and resistance to his grandfather's discipline.

He frowned slightly, his eyes filled with stubbornness and impatience, and his tone carried a deliberate defiance, "I'm going to take Duoduo upstairs to see!"

The lines came out instantly, and the tone, speed, and emotions perfectly matched the character.

Then, faced with his grandfather's persuasion and obstruction, the irritation in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a stubborn insistence. His voice was low, carrying a hint of grievance at being misunderstood, yet he still refused to back down an inch.

When talking about his father, Liu Peiqiang, a hint of estrangement and resentment flashed in his eyes. It was the boy's lingering resentment over his father's long-term absence and companionship. The emotions were distinct and progressively stronger.

Without any co-stars, Chen Chao single-handedly brought out the character's rebelliousness, stubbornness, grievances, and inner softness to the fullest.

The conference room fell silent. Guo Fan and Zhang Ning held their breath, their eyes glued to Chen Chao's performance, their surprise and admiration growing stronger.

As the last line of dialogue fell, Chen Chao slowly composed himself, instantly returning to his usual calm and peaceful demeanor, as if the rebellious and arrogant young man from before had never existed.

After a moment of silence, Guo Fan was the first to applaud, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy. "Great! Excellent! That's exactly the feeling! His demeanor, tone, and the spirit inherent in the character—it's exactly the Liu Qi I wanted!"

"His acting is really good. His emotional layers are so well done. He doesn't seem like a new actor at all. Instead, he seems like a veteran actor who has been working in the industry for many years." Zhang Ning couldn't help but praise him repeatedly, looking at Chen Chao with admiration in his eyes.

With a slight bow, Chen Chao smiled modestly, "Thank you for your recognition, Director Guo and Producer Zhang. I was just acting according to the character's true feelings."

Seeing his humble and polite demeanor, so different from Liu Qi's, Guo Fan and Zhang Ning felt even more favorably toward him.

After staring at Chen Chao for a while, Guo Fan suddenly had a thought and a bold idea popped into his mind: Chen Chao had a tall and straight figure, and his temperament could be both arrogant and calm.

He can portray Liu Qi's youthful rebellion, yet he also possesses a mature and composed demeanor befitting a seasoned man. Perhaps... he could try another crucial role.