Chapter 98
After that whole incident, Yu Jinzhe finally settled down.
Instead, trouble came from Xie Lian’s side. In the family group chat, Li Meiyan was complaining that he had been mysteriously beaten up at school and was now lying in the hospital.
Xie Mi turned her head toward Yu Jinzhe, who was sitting on the sofa nearby, and raised her brows slightly.
She more or less guessed what had happened.
“Attention, guests.”
Director Niu stood directly in front of the living room sofa and addressed the eight gathered people, “Three days from now is the annual Drama Festival. Our show has been invited, and at that time, the eight of you will need to perform a stage play.”
Xie Mi’s eyes lit up.
The Drama Festival—this was one of the high-energy plot points in the original novel where the male and female leads’ feelings began to heat up.
Xiao Jingxi and Xu Shuangrong would play the male and female leads of the play. During rehearsals, their feelings grew, and on the official performance day, Xiao Jingxi, as if possessed, turned a staged kiss into a real kiss.
Weibo exploded, CP fans across the internet went insane, and Xiao Jingxi himself even posted: Yes, I like her.
From then on, the passionate “male chasing female” storyline began. Under Xiao Jingxi’s high-profile pursuit, Xu Shuangrong step by step climbed to the peak of the entertainment industry.
*
Now that the plot was changing in so many ways, how would this scene play out?
Xie Mi was beyond excited to see.
*
After announcing the rules, Director Niu left. The eight of them sat on the sofas in the living room, looking at one another in silence.
In just three days they would have to rehearse a complete stage play and then perform it.
Aside from providing them with a script, the program crew wouldn’t give any additional help.
[Are they really going to the Drama Festival? If they are, I’m definitely buying a ticket.]
[While you were saying that, the tickets were already sold out.]
[Aaaahhh really?! I was just one step too slow! Why are these damn netizens’ hands so fast?!]
[Am I the only one worried about how they’re supposed to rehearse a whole play in three days? Five of them are outsiders, right?]
[Obviously it has to be Film Emperor Xiao Jingxi as the director! He’s the film emperor after all!]
[My Brother Jing can finally shine again!]
Xiao Jingxi’s fans were the first to celebrate wildly, convinced that this segment was tailor-made for their idol.
And Xiao Jingxi clearly thought the same.
But instead of stating it outright, he deliberately asked, “A play needs a director. Who do you all think is most suitable?”
In his mind, no one here was more suitable than himself.
Among them, the only ones with acting experience were him, Xie Mi, and Xu Shuangrong.
Xie Mi had never played a lead role since her debut; Xu Shuangrong, though a popular young actress, was still green. As the film emperor, it was obvious he should take on the role of director.
The others surely understood this logic.
They would definitely nominate him…
“I’ll do it.”
Confident Qiu Chengye never lacked self-confidence. He immediately raised his hand, “What’s so hard about directing a play?”
Xiao Jingxi: “?”
“Why should it be you? I think I can do it too.”
Lai Bingxuan refused to back down, raising her hand as well, “It’s just guiding people to act, right? You just follow the script and that’s it.”
Xiao Jingxi: “??”
Xie Mi also joined in to stir the pot, “I’ll do it, I’ll do it! We don’t even need the script. The eight of us can just perform Calabash Brothers. You seven play the heroes, and I’ll play the grandpa.”
Xiao Jingxi: “???”
How could these people have no sense of self-awareness at all!!
Finally, Xu Shuangrong stepped in to end the farce in time, “Let Jingxi do it. He’s the film emperor, the most experienced among us, and he’s worked with the most outstanding directors.”
Only then did Xiao Jingxi’s expression soften a little.
“As the one here with the most acting experience, I should indeed shoulder this responsibility. Since Shuangrong said so, I’ll do it.”
And so, just like in the original story, the director was decided—it would be Xiao Jingxi.
Next came the casting.
The play had eight characters: Crown Prince, Heroine, Scholar’s Page, Maid, Wealthy Merchant, General’s Daughter, Emperor, and Empress.
It was a story of the Crown Prince and the heroine developing feelings for each other, opposed by society, yet through dangers and misunderstandings, step by step finding love.
Very cliché, but people still loved it.
After reading the script, Xu Shuangrong’s eyes were already red.
“A love not blessed by the world is truly despairing… Fortunately, they end up together in the end. Xiao Yang must be very happy too.”
“Xiao Yang” was the heroine’s name.
Liu Woxing handed her a tissue.
Xu Shuangrong then seemed to realize her loss of composure. She quickly turned away to wipe her tears, “Sorry, I’m always like this. As soon as I read a script, I empathize with the characters too deeply, and before I know it…”
[My Shuangshuang’s skills are top-notch. Just one glance at the script and she’s instantly in character. Who else can do that?]
[Acting isn’t just about skill, you need the right understanding of the role. In my view, Shuangshuang is the best candidate for the heroine, no doubt.]
[No way, no way, is someone actually going to fight her for the heroine role?]
Xiao Jingxi was the only male actor present, so the male lead was his by default.
But there were two actresses, so the female lead would inevitably be contested.
Shuang fans hurried to back up their idol, listing countless examples of Xu Shuangrong’s acting ability—while dragging Xie Mi down in the process.
But Xie Mi, who was very self-aware of her acting skills, had no interest in the female lead role. Instead, she was most interested in the maid, who had the fewest lines.
Fewer lines, less work, meant she could slack off while still getting paid.
Anyone who tried to take this role from her would become her mortal enemy!
But before Xie Mi could say anything, that idiot Xiao Jingxi spoke up first.
“I think the female lead role should still go to someone with experience.”
As he said this, his gaze fell on Xu Shuangrong.
Her eyes were still tinged red, but the corners of her lips lifted in a faint smile.
Then Xiao Jingxi’s eyes moved past her—onto Xie Mi.
Xu Shuangrong’s smile stiffened.
“There are two actresses here. Shuangrong has experience playing female leads, but Xie Mi’s appearance fits the heroine more. So I think the two of them should compete for the role.”
Xie Mi: “?”
“I agree.”
A clear, unwavering female voice rang out.
Xu Shuangrong’s slender figure looked surprisingly resilient. On her delicate face was a trace of stubbornness, “Even though I know the odds aren’t in my favor, I’ll still give it my all—just like I always do when fighting for a role.”
“Good luck.”
Xiao Jingxi looked at her appreciatively, then turned to Xie Mi, “You too, good luck. I believe you can do it.”
His eyes glimmered with amusement, as if savoring this moment— Or rather, savoring the feeling of two girls competing over him.
Xie Mi really couldn’t hold back anymore.
“You’re playing the male lead, right?”
Xiao Jingxi didn’t deny it, “The male lead has a lot of scenes and carries the play. I’m willing to shoulder that responsibility.”
“Then why do I have to compete for the female lead?”
Xiao Jingxi: “?”
Xie Mi said with utter seriousness, “Isn’t that just humiliating?”
