Chapter 223: Chapter 223 This Scene is Very Embarrassing
Wen Jiu was afraid of waking up Shen Fang and instantly didn’t dare to move.
Holding a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other, she kept her hands raised until they nearly went numb.
Only after hearing faint breathing from the hospital room did Wen Jiu finally dare to gently place the bowl on the bedside table.
Then she got out of bed, took a thin blanket, and lightly covered Shen Fang with it.
After finishing everything, Wen Jiu crouched down and crawled back onto her bed, lying sideways facing Shen Fang.
Her eyes remained wide open, staring at him as though she could never get enough.
Until her eyes grew heavy, slowly closing, drifting into a deep sleep.
The next day.
After Wen Jiu and Shen Fang woke up, they both tacitly avoided mentioning what had happened the previous night.
Shen Fang accompanied Wen Jiu to the police station to make a statement. Based on Wen Jiu’s recollection before losing consciousness, the police had no choice but to temporarily classify the case as a crime of passion.
Wen Jiu said the jogging route she had tried last night was new to her, and the five individuals had no way of predicting it ahead of time.
Considering the strict security of the villa area where Wen Jiu lived, it was unlikely that they had tailed her from home.
The police also checked the accounts of the suspects and found no records of large transactions, ruling out the possibility of someone orchestrating the attack.
Due to lack of evidence and the fact that Wen Jiu hadn’t suffered substantial harm, the case could only end in a cursory manner.
The lingering effects of the sedative were still present. Just giving a statement at the police station left Wen Jiu feeling weak and on the verge of fainting.
To avoid affecting the program’s recording progress, Wen Jiu decided to take leave from the production team.
The tasks of guiding trainees would be rearranged by the program team with other mentors, and she would return for the official start of recording for the second episode.
**
Rehearsal room.
Before arriving at the rehearsal room, Sang Ning had already phoned Wen Jiu.
Upon learning that Wen Jiu was doing alright, she felt relieved.
However, Wen Jiu’s absence from mentoring during rehearsals over the next two days left her feeling somewhat regretful.
Still, she confidently assured Wen Jiu that she would take her rehearsals seriously.
When the second episode officially began recording, she promised to deliver a standout performance that would impress Wen Jiu.
In the rehearsal room, everyone except Qingyue had already gathered.
Qingyue had missed rehearsals yesterday as well, so everyone was already accustomed to his absence.
Rather than waiting for everyone to arrive, they began rehearsing and roleplaying the scenes.
About ten minutes later, the door to the rehearsal room was pushed open.
Everyone involved in the rehearsal looked up to see another mentor, Ma Liheng, enter the room.
Behind him was someone everyone recognized—Qingyue.
If Ma Liheng had come on his own, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But upon seeing Qingyue behind him, everyone’s expressions turned a little odd.
"Hello, trainees, Wen Jiu encountered some unexpected issues, so I’ll be taking over rehearsals for the official recording," Ma Liheng said warmly as he entered.
"Huh? Wen Jiu, the goddess, can’t make it!"
"I was hoping to show her all the progress I made today!"
Upon hearing that Wen Jiu wasn’t coming, everyone let out disappointed sighs.
Sang Ning, already informed of the situation, reacted calmly to Wen Jiu’s absence from rehearsal.
But when her gaze inadvertently landed on Qingyue, she found him inexplicably aggravating, feeling a sudden urge to give him a punch.
Perhaps it was the way he raised his brow in a subtle, provocative gesture that appeared both smug and sleazy.
"How was your rehearsal yesterday? Can someone run through the scene for me?" Ma Liheng briskly asked after exchanging greetings.
Wang Qiuhong glanced at Qingyue, about to inform Ma Liheng of Qingyue’s absence from yesterday’s rehearsal.
Before she could speak, Ma Liheng preempted her, as if predicting what everyone was about to mention, saying, "I know all about Qingyue requesting time off yesterday due to being unwell. Don’t worry about him; just focus on the scene."
Following the mentor’s instructions, the trainees said no more, taking their positions and beginning the reenactment.
After rehearsing all day yesterday, Sang Ning clearly felt an improved grasp on the emotional nuances of the character, making her performance more controlled and fluid.
Though this run-through was meant for Ma Liheng to evaluate, everyone gave their utmost effort.
When the ten-minute scene came to an end, everyone eagerly looked to Ma Liheng, hoping to receive professional feedback.
However, Ma Liheng’s expression suddenly turned sour, his face devoid of any trace of a smile.
The room felt tense, as though everyone held their breath. They had already delivered their best performance, one that, while imperfect, should still be commendable.
So why the bitter face from Ma Liheng?
Unease and apprehension spread among the trainees, fearing harsh criticism to come.
Unlike the others, Sang Ning straightened her posture confidently. After all, Wen Jiu had praised her yesterday, and her state today was even sharper than it had been then.
Surely, her performance wasn’t abysmal enough to invite verbal abuse from Ma Liheng?
With his hands behind his back, Ma Liheng stepped forward slowly, coming to Shen Yi first. He remarked, "Not bad. Young man, you’ve got potential. Just standing there, you really emanate a regal aura!"
As a professional acting coach, Ma Liheng’s compliment instantly relieved Shen Yi.
Determined to shed the "superficial idol" label, Ma Liheng’s validation was undoubtedly an excellent starting point.
After praising Shen Yi, Ma Liheng moved to Lu Ye’s side, similarly commending him: "Lu Ye’s portrayal is solid as well. The Crown Prince’s helpless and cowardly demeanor is almost vivid."
Lu Ye, rarely complimented for his acting skills, was over the moon, his spirits soaring. Confidently, he responded, "Mr. Ma truly has an eye for talent. My knack for acting is something that even you couldn’t overlook."
Ma Liheng’s lips twitched. His remark was no more than a fleeting courtesy, yet Lu Ye truly fell for it?
The guy clearly had no self-awareness about his inadequate abilities.
Avoiding further entanglement with Lu Ye, Ma Liheng briskly walked away.
Next, he moved to Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina, and, unsurprisingly, praised their natural and engaging performances.
Everyone sighed in collective relief. It turned out they had misjudged Ma Liheng.
They had assumed his stern expression meant their performances were unsatisfactory, but it seemed they were overly paranoid.
In reality, his expression might not have been sour but merely his way of being serious while observing the scenes.
Ma Liheng finally arrived in front of Sang Ning. With everyone before her earning praise, all eyes turned to Sang Ning, anticipating how Ma Liheng would commend her.
After all, everyone had seen her stellar improvements in handling her scenes over the past two days.
Her acting had grown solid, shedding much of her previously exaggerated style.
All eyes fixed on Sang Ning, waiting to hear Ma Liheng’s words of praise.
But what unfolded next surprised not just Sang Ning but everyone else as well. Instead of praise, Sang Ning was met with a brutally honest critique.
"Sang Ning, your performance in this scene made me downright uncomfortable!"