Fortunately, computers had become fairly common in Los Angeles by 2001. The manager's office at Hollywood Star had one that could connect to the internet. Fortunately too, Jenny Jane had always been reliable—never late, never early. So even though Johnny looked a bit sour, he opened the office computer and let her send the email. "This is a one-time thing. Don't tell anyone."
"Thanks, Johnny," Jenny said with a smile. "You keep it under wraps too."
Johnny snorted. "If you're talking about Jessica, don't worry. I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot."
It wasn't that Jessica couldn't handle the pressure, but from Johnny's perspective, he naturally wanted both top hostesses to stay at the restaurant as long as possible. Jenny's progress would undoubtedly be a stimulus for Jessica, potentially accelerating her departure from Hollywood Star. Jenny was very familiar with this competitive mindset, and it seemed Johnny was no stranger to it either.
After confirming Dave had received the message, Jenny didn't ask too many questions and continued working. She waited until her shift ended before calling Dave.
"It's CSI," Dave said as soon as he picked up, sounding excited. "They need a criminal with specific looks and acting skills. They originally booked Kirsten Dunst, but for whatever reason, she can't make it now. They need a replacement immediately. It's the first episode of season two—no room for error. So they're holding another audition. A friend of mine is on the crew; I just talked to him about it—and I recommended you."
A CSI cameo? This was a great opportunity. Jenny perked up. "Dave, I don't even know what to say."
"Don't mention it. It's just an opportunity. Whether your resume makes it through the initial screening is still up to luck." Dave chuckled on the other end of the line. "Too bad I'll be in New York on the audition day and can't make it. Wish you the best of luck."
They chatted idly for a few more minutes before Jenny hung up. She stared thoughtfully at her phone for a moment before tucking it back into her pocket.
She truly hadn't expected Dave's connection to yield results so soon. Based on her calculations, once the new season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer began filming, there would be minor, non-essential roles to cast before each episode started—what people called "one-episode extras." Auditions for those roles typically began before the season started, as most were for supporting parts with some weight. The bulk of the extras were cast after the scripts were finalized. Once filming commenced, each episode would mean numerous opportunities for extras. If Dave hadn't been transferred and remained the assistant director for actors, he'd naturally come to Los Angeles to coordinate work. At that point, she could secure one or two guest appearances, marking Jenny Jane's official entry into the industry. After that, she could try seeking supporting roles in independent films, explore joining the Screen Actors Guild, and find herself an agent.
Unexpectedly, before Buffy even began filming, Dave secured her an audition for CSI: Special Crimes. Though he mentioned her resume would determine whether she got an interview, based on Chen Zhen's understanding of the entertainment industry, having Dave's recommendation as an assistant director guaranteed her at least one interview opportunity. Such favors and backdoors existed throughout history and across cultures. If Dave's friend truly considered him a friend, how could he refuse such a small request?
Dave himself didn't know the role's specifics, and while Jenny had heard of CSI's fame, she hadn't watched the series in her past life—not being fond of gory scenes—and it wasn't stored in her memory space either. So she could only keep honing her acting skills while waiting for further updates.
About three days later, she received a call for an audition. They gave her the time and location, and outlined the requirements for the role. Even Jenny felt a twinge of nervousness now. Though she understood the industry's unwritten rules, she'd married straight out of college in her previous life and had barely attended auditions. The few times she had gone were during university with classmates—more for fun than anything else. This was her first time pinning all her hopes on a single audition.
No wonder mental health issues ran high among those in the entertainment industry. If you went through this cycle of arriving at auditions full of hope only to be rejected multiple times, it was no wonder people lost their balance. —No wonder Jessica disliked discussing her audition experiences. Despite her popularity at Hollywood Stars, where she often received more tips than Jenny, each failed audition felt like rejection—a blow to her self-esteem. With such stark contrast, it was no surprise she avoided the topic.
She'd scheduled a day off for the audition, going to bed extra early the night before. Timing it perfectly, she arrived at CBS's casting department right on schedule. After providing her name and contact number, the receptionist verified her credentials and handed her a pass. Armed with this credential, Jenny Jane entered the bustling audition hall.
The office building was large and spacious. Many people hurried past her without paying her any particular attention, even though she was a rare beauty—beautiful women were a common sight at CBS, especially in the audition department. When Jenny reached Audition Room 3, she paused in surprise: at least a dozen or so blonde girls sat inside, all strikingly beautiful and in the prime of their youth.
The audition office resembled a hospital, with a spacious waiting area outside. Jenny thought to herself that it looked like the waiting room for a twisted plastic surgeon's follow-up appointments. She was then startled by the sheer number of people: just for a single episode's special role, there were over ten competitors, and most of them were quite attractive. The competition in Hollywood was indeed several times fiercer than in China's entertainment industry.
She approached the office door, registered her name with a secretary, then took the audition script and sat down to flip through it. She had no interest in chatting with the other auditionees—every girl here was her competitor. They were all unknowns desperate for fame, not aspiring stars who'd already carved out a niche in Hollywood. Socializing with them would be a waste of energy.
She already knew she was cast as a cunning, ruthless actress with a dark past—a premeditated murderer who cleverly covered her tracks and outmaneuvered the CSI team. This explained why the production specifically sought an experienced actress for the role; such a character was too complex for a typical extra to pull off convincingly. Jenny surmised that if filming hadn't been imminent and they hadn't struggled to find a suitable guest star, such a demanding role wouldn't have been open to lower-tier actors in the first place.
From the script she'd received, this scene offered considerable room for interpretation. Though brief and sparse on dialogue, it was charged with tension and required a certain level of acting skill.
[In the Dressing Room]
Nick pulls out an evidence bag containing the victim's gloves, stained with blood.
Nick: You know what this is.
Wanita, dressed in elegant attire, was touching up her makeup. She glanced at Nick through the mirror, her tone cold and bored.
Wanita: These are Judy's gloves. What are you trying to imply? Over a hundred people recognized them. Judy was wearing them when she died. We all saw it.
Nick: Yes, these are Judy's gloves. She wore them when she died, in the costume room a hundred yards away. She suffered a fatal stab wound and frantically covered the wound with them, soaking them in her own blood. But we couldn't locate the primary crime scene. The bloodstain pattern in the costume room was too small, with no spatter evidence. The killer dragged her from the primary scene to the costume room. Then they scrubbed the blood clean. It was done professionally. We found almost no evidence.
Vanita made a bored expression.
Nick: We searched your dressing room. No blood reaction.
Vanita: You're wasting my time, Officer. I have a very important interview right now. Vogue. You know? V-O-G-U-E.
Nick: However, Ms. Vanita, I'm here today to share some good news. Judy left more than just her blood at the first crime scene. We've deduced this was a crime committed by someone familiar to her. It happened suddenly. After being stabbed, Judy fought back fiercely against the killer and likely left some injuries on them.
Vanita and Nick both looked at a wound on Vanita's shoulder.
Nick: These are cashmere gloves. The fingertips and palms show signs of tearing. After rapid blood loss, Judy quickly lost the strength to resist. As she fell to her knees, she tried to find something to brace herself against but ultimately failed. Yet this struggle left us a crucial, invaluable clue—wool fibers. At the crime scene, she left behind incriminating evidence: blood-stained wool fibers.
Vanita's expression shifted slightly as her gaze involuntarily drifted toward a textured accent wall.
Nick darted to the wall, shining his flashlight over its surface. He examined it meticulously but found nothing—the wall was immaculate, devoid of any marks.
Nick looked at Vanita. Their eyes met in the mirror, and Vanita flashed a smug, subtle, and sly smile.
Vanita rose, gliding toward Nick. She reached for the evidence bag, but Nick tucked it behind his back. She continued her motion, gently caressing his cheek before stepping closer, her lips nearly brushing his.
Vanita: I told you, I have a very important interview. You have my search warrant, Officer. Go ahead.
Nick clenched his jaw. Vanita flashed an enigmatic smile and slowly walked away.
From the script, it's clear there's sexual tension between Vanita and Nick. She's utterly confident in her criminal actions, unconvinced Nick can find sufficient evidence. Nick, too, knows he's been toyed with by Vanita. Within just a dozen lines of dialogue, the power dynamics and momentum between them constantly shift—a highly charged exchange. Its placement near the episode's conclusion is perfectly timed. The challenge in portraying Vanita lies in her formidable confidence and exceptional acting chops. In other words, this star must deliver a performance that radiates star power.
In her mind, CSI was CBS's flagship series. After researching it these past few days, she confirmed that the show's first season consistently ranked first or second in national ratings, drawing over twenty million viewers. As the season premiere, the audience numbers would likely see a small spike. In such an episode, playing a stunning superstar with intense sexual chemistry and ambiguous morality—even for an actress who'd already tackled substantial supporting roles—was no small matter. Jenny scanned the room and spotted one or two vaguely familiar faces.
"Sorry to have you come all this way for nothing," she silently apologized. "This role is mine."
Yes, for this role that seemed tailor-made for her, Chen Zhen was already determined and brimming with confidence.