“We’re almost there.” Emily Thompson looked out the car window; the hotel for the audition was just up ahead. “Get yourself ready.”

According to the original storyline, next would be entering the hotel, starting the audition, failing the audition, and then joining the crew due to pressure from the investors.

“0901,” Brian Foster asked the system again, “can I actively change the story plot?”

“You are the original author, and also the system host, of course you can, as long as you can bear the consequences of the changes.”

Brian Foster looked at his own reflection in the car window, thought for a moment, then spoke.

“Wait a second.”

“What’s wrong?”

Brian Foster turned to Emily Thompson and pointed at her assistant Little Martinez beside her.

“I want to wear that white T-shirt he’s wearing.”

Emily Thompson was stunned for a moment.

“And also,” Brian Foster started taking off his clothes, “help me remove all my makeup.”

Little Martinez: “But… I’m much fatter than you, and this shirt is just a cheap street stall one…”

Brian Foster was already unbuttoning, “It’s fine, just take it off, let me borrow it for one night.”

Little Martinez looked at Sister 芸, Emily Thompson curled her lips and nodded her chin, “If he tells you to take it off, just do it. Little Bolton, help Ethan remove the makeup.”

Brian Foster took the white T-shirt that Little Martinez handed over hesitantly and quickly pulled it over his head. Next to him, Little Bolton pulled out some makeup remover wipes and got to work.

Brian Foster scratched at the obediently drooping bangs on his forehead and muttered softly, “Good thing I just showered and didn’t style my hair.”

Emily Thompson looked with interest at the well-behaved boy in front of her. Stripped of the glamorous stage costume and makeup, he still looked like the cleanest seventeen- or eighteen-year-old.

“You do have some brains after all.”

Brian Foster felt that this Emily Thompson was even harsher than he’d written her. He smiled at the woman without saying anything, spotted a black baseball cap by the seat, and casually put it on.

Once everything was ready, Emily Thompson led Brian Foster into the hotel. The audition was in a large suite. As soon as they got in the elevator, they saw several staff members in black suits. Emily Thompson seemed to know one of them and immediately put on a warm smile. “Oh, Brother Hall, long time no see! Are you in charge of the audition reception today?”

The man called Brother Hall also smiled and put his arm around Emily Thompson’s shoulder. “Yeah, it’s the toughest job. You bringing someone to try out too?”

“Ethan, come here.”

This name wasn’t unfamiliar to Brian Foster, but it was always hard to associate it with himself. Brian Foster softly responded and followed Emily Thompson.

Brother Hall’s eyes lit up. “Hey, isn’t this your company’s superstar idol? Hello, hello, my little sister is a big fan of yours.” Brian Foster smiled and shook his hand, thanking him a few times.

But clearly, Brother Hall hadn’t expected Emily Thompson to bring Ethan Carter. He lowered his voice and said, “We’re all old friends, so let me give you a heads-up. Today’s audition isn’t like the others. Those folks inside are picky. You’d better be ready for a long day.”

“How so?”

“Besides Director Brooks and Editor King sitting inside, there’s someone else.”

Emily Thompson immediately caught on. “Adam Bennett?”

Brother Hall clapped his hands. “That’s right. I’ll just tell you straight: Editor King wrote this script with the male lead based on Adam Bennett as the prototype.”

Prototype—hearing this word, Brian Foster felt a bit helpless, but also wanted to laugh.

“He was chosen from the start. Adam Bennett wants to pick the actor himself, which is understandable.”

Emily Thompson felt a bit uneasy. She hadn’t interacted much with Adam Bennett, but her acquaintances all spoke well of him, saying he wasn’t arrogant. There was just one thing: he disliked traffic idols who relied on their looks.

That could be a problem.

Brian Foster, however, looked completely unconcerned, making Emily Thompson sigh.

“Enough chatting, I’ll take you to fill out the forms. After that, Ethan, you wait in the lounge for a bit, okay? There are just too many people today, it’s packed.”

Brian Foster nodded and let them lead him around. After a flurry of activity, Emily Thompson went out to make arrangements, leaving him in the lounge to read the script.

The movie was called “The Southern Bough.” When Brian Foster first wrote the story, he struggled a lot—he wanted it to be literary, but not pretentious, which was really hard. He came up with several titles before finally choosing the original one.

The Southern Bough was the name of Adam Bennett’s character in the film.

The core of the script’s story was actually very simple.

It began with the reunion of two young people.

Time shifted, interweaving memories from five years ago when the two leads were abroad, focusing on the confusion, complexity, and sensitivity of youth, as well as the growth and acceptance that came with the passage of time—friendship and love, future and past.

The whole film was filled with long stretches of inner monologue, which really tested the actors’ line delivery.

Brian Foster was reading with his head down when someone gently tapped his shoulder. He looked up to see a young man with dimples, looking to be in his twenties, his voice full of surprise.

“It really is you! I thought I was seeing things just now!”

Brian Foster quickly recalled the character settings from the novel. The dimples were a distinctive trait. He responded with a smile: “David Parker, you’re here too.”