Chapter 05

　　The audition was in a small, dilapidated building in the east of the city, which had been reconstructed according to the original design. The stairs were steep and narrow. Gloomy light came through the dirty and broken windows. It was dull and depressing.

　　David has read the screenplay for \"Ferry\" five or six times. He knew it by heart. He has not had a chance to perform such a big scene for a long time, and so he was a little nervous.

　　Sam Wen had gone home, but Michael still insisted on having rough sex with David every day.

　　Last night, David\'s legs trembled after Michael had his way with him. Today, this works well for him, since his mood matched that of the character he was playing. The protagonist of the novel was also living a desperate existence.

　　In order to maintain this mood, he didn\'t speak until the audition. However he didn\'t expect to see Michael Sheng and Sam Wen sitting next to director Warren Ji when he went in for the audition.

　　Michael was expressionless and didn\'t even look at him. Sam smiled at him, as though in provocation.

　　Even though David knew he was the most skilled actor here, he was pretty sure he had already lost the role. Still, he wouldn’t go down without putting up a good fight.

　　Although nervous, David\'s audition was the best. After his performance, Warren Ji stood up excitedly. But David was told to wait for further notice.

　　David knew that his performance had truly impressed Director Ji. But Michael’s presence indicated that Director Ji was not the decision-maker in this project. After all, in these circles, money really does make the world go round.

　　David\'s is a method actor, and after each performance, he is still immersed in his emotions. So when Sam Wen blocked him in the men\'s bathroom, he was a little irritable.

　　\"What\'s your problem?\"

　　\"Don’t get your hopes up, roomie. I mean, you did a great job out there, but this audition is just a formality. You know perfectly well that the role is mine.\"

　　Roomie. Sam really knew how to push his buttons. When he saw Sam and Warren Ji sitting together, it was pretty obvious what was going on. He was an industry veteran, it wasn’t like he needed to be told.

　　David lit a cigarette, took a deep breath, and blew some smoke rings.\"So?\"

　　\"I’m just reminding you, David, don\'t let what happened five years ago happen again!\"

　　\"Are you threatening me?\" David glared at him. At first, David had thought he was just being a wiseass.

　　\"Yes. I am threatening you.\" Sam paused, then continued in a low voice, \"David, your dirty little secret, it can get out real quick, you know? How do you deal with the aftermath, if people found out that you’re the son of two drug addicts? \"

　　\"Say that again!\" David threw his cigarette and stared him in the eye.

　　Sam laughed. \"I said, you are the son of drug addicts. Maybe you have heroin in your blood!\"

　　It\'s okay for others to humiliate him, but they can\'t pull his dead parents out from the grave and abuse them. Even if they weren’t perfect.

　　\"Well, your father sold his ass to others and your mother was sleeping around. Get off your high horse. You’re no royalty, you’re a piece of trash just like your parents.\"

　　Before Sam Wen could finish speaking, David held him by the collar and pressed him against the wall, and gripped him around the neck. \"Say that one more time!\"

　　\"The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I feel sorry for your grandmother!\"

　　\"Do you?\" David’s eyes were full of hatred.

　　Sam Wen\'s face turned blue, but the provocation in his eyes never retreated. He bit his teeth and said with a smile, \"Do you think Mike doesn\'t know? He’d known for a long time that your family\'s rubbish.\"

　　\"Maybe your slut of a mother had seduced Mr. Sheng...\"

　　David fingers squeezed hard on Sam Wen\'s neck.