David Parker nodded vigorously, full of energy. Brian Foster looked at him, feeling a bit intrigued by seeing a real person who matched the character setting. This was a supporting character in the novel, with a decent talent for acting, professionally trained, cheerful personality, and also a strong contender for this role. Previously, when the SOULMATE group appeared on a variety show, he was one of the guests as well, so they could be considered acquaintances.

"You’re here to audition for Yu Ning?" David Parker glanced at the script Brian Foster was reading.

Brian Foster didn’t hide it and nodded.

"Me too, but the character here is a melancholic pretty boy, which doesn’t fit me at all." His dimples were very deep.

Brian Foster: "It’s fine, the contrast is what makes it challenging."

The smile on David Parker’s face froze. Brian Foster felt a bit puzzled, wondering if he’d said something wrong.

David Parker suddenly grabbed Brian Foster’s shoulder: "You’re such a good person, so gentle. I want to be friends with you, can I add you on WeChat? We didn’t add each other last time. I really love your group’s songs, I was planning to go to your tour..."

Brian Foster: "..."

"Eh?" David Parker touched Brian Foster’s face, "Did you really come bare-faced? There’s not a bit of powder on your face."

Brian Foster nodded, "Did you put on makeup? I can’t tell."

"Come on, you’re really... ah, it’s so nice to be good-looking."

Maybe it was because someone was talking nearby, or maybe each actor’s audition time was just too short, but it felt like in no time at all, it was David Parker’s turn.

Brian Foster gave his shoulder a symbolic pat and said, "Good luck." The other left the lounge looking like he was heading to his doom.

Brian Foster lowered his head and continued reading the script. It felt like he hadn’t read much before David Parker was already back, his face full of misery. As soon as he saw Brian Foster, he started wailing, "Mengze~"

So outgoing, huh.

Brian Foster: "What’s wrong?"

"It was so hard. I was startled as soon as I went in—I didn’t expect Adam Bennett to be inside, I almost forgot my lines. Then Director Brooks asked me to perform the scene where Yu Ning gets drunk. I don’t even know if I did well or not, but anyway, I was stopped in less than ten minutes." David Parker dejectedly grabbed his hair.

"Director Brooks didn’t say anything else?"

David Parker shook his head, "Director Brooks was so cool, kept a straight face and didn’t say a word. But Adam Bennett did ask me one thing at the end."

"What?"

"'Do you think you can handle Yu Ning?'"

After mimicking Adam Bennett’s expression, David Parker looked like a deflated balloon and sighed.

"And then?"

"And then I just said I wanted to give it a try." David Parker sighed, "Even though his expression was pretty gentle, I got nervous as soon as I heard it."

Brian Foster patted his back but didn’t say anything comforting. He was never good at comforting others, nor had he been comforted much himself, so it was better to say less at times like this.

The drunk scene? After hearing this, Brian Foster felt a bit nervous too. Other than playing a minor role in a college play, he’d never acted before. Ji Mengze’s character was also supposed to be terrible at acting. What should he do? Did he really have to rely on the original plot’s "buying his way into the cast" to have any interaction with Adam Bennett?

"0901, can points be used to buy extra character settings? Like acting skills..."

That cold voice quickly responded: "That’s against the rules. Besides, Mr. Foster, your starting points are only five hundred."

"Oh. What can I buy with five hundred?"

"Whatever you need. A pen, two lighters, or five small cans of fruit hard candy, etc."

Brian Foster thought for a moment, "Then I’ll take a can of candy."

"Okay, Mr. Foster." Brian Foster heard a ding, and the left pocket of his jeans bulged. He reached in and, sure enough, found a can about the size of an egg.

"0901, your business is kind of a rip-off."

"Sorry, I reminded you before that it was a small can."

Since he’d already bought it, Brian Foster took out the candy can. "Want some?" He shook the can at David Parker.

David Parker shook his head, still looking dejected.

Brian Foster put the can away and saw Emily Thompson walk in. It was probably almost his turn. Brian Foster asked David Parker, "Do you know where the restroom is?"

"Um... I think it’s out the door, turn left, and go straight to the end."

Brian Foster got up, greeted Emily Thompson, and Emily Thompson instead asked him, "When did you get so close to David Parker?"

"Not really, we just happened to run into each other and chatted a bit."

Emily Thompson didn’t look too happy, as if she wanted to say something but held back. In the end, she just reminded him, "Go quickly, it’ll be your turn soon."

Brian Foster pressed down the brim of his hat, lowered his head, and squeezed with difficulty through the crowded doorway, heading straight to the restroom.

In the restroom, Brian Foster pondered Emily Thompson’s expression just now.

In Brian Foster’s memory, David Parker was a rather unimportant passing character, with a simple setting and not many appearances later on.

But if he changed the original plot, it would probably affect the development of the other characters’ stories as well.