"Paul, you go first," Director Rob Cohen said.
Paul Walker nodded, his expression becoming serious.
He walked toward one of the cars, sat inside with practiced movements, adjusted the seat and mirrors, and buckled his seatbelt.
The roar of the engine starting echoed as the vehicle slowly drove out of the pit area and onto the track.
Landon, Tracy, and the three decision-makers stood together in the safety zone to watch.
Paul's driving was steady; his cornering was smooth, and his acceleration was decisive. It was clear he had a solid driving foundation and appeared confident in his control of the vehicle.
After three laps, his time wasn't breathtaking, but his execution was high, with no mistakes.
The car stopped back in its original spot. Paul got out with fine beads of sweat on his forehead but a relaxed smile on his face, having completed the challenge.
He walked toward the director and producer and answered a few simple questions.
Rob Cohen and Neal Moritz exchanged a look and nodded slightly.
Lynn Stell also showed a satisfied expression—Paul's performance met and even slightly exceeded expectations; he could indeed handle the driving scenes required for the role.
Then, everyone's gaze turned toward Landon.
Landon knew that nowadays, just being 'able to drive' or 'driving steadily' was far from enough.
Paul had set a high bar, but instead of deterring him, it ignited a long-dormant competitive fire within Landon.
It was time to show off his real skills.
He strode toward the modified Nissan Skyline, pulled open the door, and sat in the cockpit.
The moment he sat in the cockpit, Landon's aura changed.
The master who once navigated between movie cameras and dangerous stunts had returned.
The engine started, and a low growl erupted.
Landon stepped on the brake and revved the engine twice; the tachometer needle jumped violently.
He quickly scanned the gauges and the layout of the corners—with just one look, the track was branded into his mind like a map.
Then, he moved.
The car shot out of the pit area.
With the scream of tires against the pavement, he performed a small-angle tail flick, and the car body precisely cut into the outer line of the track.
With just that start, the expressions of the people on the sidelines changed instantly.
On the first lap, Landon tested the limits of the car and the track.
But even while testing, at every corner, his entry speed was faster and his braking point was later.
The car body remained in a controlled slide; every exit from a corner felt like being shot from a slingshot. The hiss of the tires became the only soundtrack of the moment.
The second lap was even faster.
Landon began to demonstrate more refined control techniques.
In the consecutive turns, the car's center of gravity shifted as fluidly as flowing water, his racing lines precise.
At a high-speed right-hand turn, he suddenly performed a Scandinavian Flick. The front of the car dipped and swung sharply, tearing through the apex in a near-suicidal fashion—a flashy skill one only dared to use on a rally circuit.
On the third lap, he held nothing back; it was showtime.
On the long straightaway, the Skyline turned into a silver arrow, the roar of the engine tearing through the air.
At the end of the straight, at the moment everyone held their breath—
He braked hard, downshifted, and jerked the steering wheel back and forth!
Under immense inertia, the rear of the car swung out violently, tracing a near-perfect arc to complete a 180-degree turnaround drift!
Faint blue smoke rose from the tires, and the smell of burning rubber was faintly perceptible.
The car stopped steadily, its front facing exactly where it had come from.
Then came the low, lingering pant of the engine.
Silence.
The smile on Paul Walker's face vanished, replaced by a complex expression—shock, disbelief, and a hint of gloom from seeing the gap between them.
His Agent also frowned.
Meanwhile, Director Rob Cohen's eyes were terrifyingly bright.
He slapped Neal Moritz on the shoulder and pointed excitedly at the car that had just come to a halt and was still vibrating slightly, saying something.
Although Neal Moritz controlled his expression better, intense interest and surprise erupted in his eyes.
What he needed was naturally not just an actor who could drive, but a lead who could make the audience believe on screen that he was a street racing master—someone who could make those racing scenes full of conviction and visual impact!
Landon's performance just now was practically a promotional trailer tailor-made for this role!
Lynn Stell let out a soft sigh of relief, a smile of both relief and pride appearing on her face.
Her instincts were right! This young man not only fit in appearance and temperament but also possessed such incredible driving talent!
This was simply an unexpected treasure!
However, when she looked at Paul, she had a regretful expression.
Landon let go of the steering wheel, and the sharp light in his eyes slowly receded.
The car door opened, and he stepped out without saying a word.
It was as if those thrilling maneuvers were just something he had done casually.
He walked up to the three decision-makers.
"Very... impressive, Landon," Director Rob Cohen spoke first, his admiration undisguised. "Those moves—did you specifically train for them?"
"I have some foundation," Landon replied modestly. "I'm quite interested in vehicle handling, so I've explored and learned some techniques on my own."
Neal Moritz looked him up and down and asked more practically, "If we need to complete driving shots of similar difficulty during filming, would you be willing to try them yourself? Provided safety is ensured, of course."
"If the crew and the stunt coordinator think it's feasible, I'm willing to cooperate," Landon answered.
Lynn Stell then asked a question more focused on acting: "Have you read the script fragments? What is your understanding of the character Brian OConner?"
Landon had already memorized the script fragments he received last night.
It was the scene where Brian first tries to integrate into Dominic Toretto's circle, requiring a balance between wariness and disguise.
He quickly entered the state, using a few short lines and subtle facial expressions to show his understanding of the undercover cop's internal conflict.
He had to act like a street kid pursuing speed and excitement while maintaining a policeman's observation and vigilance at all times.
His acting wasn't exactly breathtaking, but it was solid and natural enough, creating an interesting contrast with the sharp driver persona on the track just now, perfectly fitting the character's dual nature.
In the latter half of the audition, Paul Walker also completed his script reading.
His performance leaned more toward being sunny and sincere, giving the character a different kind of charm.
But after Landon's shocking driving demonstration, the tilting of the scales was visible to the naked eye.
When the audition ended, Neal Moritz did not announce the results on the spot.
He just shook hands with Landon and Paul respectively and said, "We will contact your Agents as soon as possible."
But on the way out of the racetrack, the smile on Tracy's face was almost uncontrollable.
Zoe even whispered excitedly, "Boss, you were so cool just now! That turnaround drift! I saw the director's eyes go wide!"
Landon sat in the passenger seat, looking at the scenery receding rapidly outside the window, yet his heart was exceptionally calm.
He knew he had done his best and demonstrated an irreplaceable advantage.
What remained was the game between the agencies—salary, schedule, and contract details.
Those were the battlegrounds for Tracy and WMA.
He believed that as long as Moritz and Cohen weren't fools, they knew who to choose.
A newcomer with top-tier driving skills, an outstanding appearance, and solid acting was of immeasurable value to a movie centered on racing.
Not only could this save a lot of costs on stunt doubles and reduce post-production difficulty, but it could also provide an unparalleled promotional point.
Paul Walker... that hint of apology rose in Landon's heart again, but it was quickly replaced by firm determination.
He had to take this role.
This wasn't just for his own stardom; perhaps, on some mysterious level, it was also changing Paul Walker's original destiny. Who knew?
As the car drove back into downtown Los Angeles, the sunset dyed the sky a magnificent purplish-red.
Landon's phone vibrated; it was a text from Elisha asking why he wasn't at the film set today.
He looked at the text, then at Tracy beside him, who was quickly jotting something down with a pen, fully immersed in the preparations for the upcoming negotiations.
Life continued to move forward on multiple parallel tracks, full of opportunities, competition, temptations, and choices.
He replied to Elisha: "I had things to do today. See you at the set tomorrow."
Then, he closed his eyes and let the roar of the engine, the scream of the tires, and that ultimate pleasure of controlling speed and machinery replay in his mind.
That feeling was addictive.