Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Wen Jiu is nothing but a mediocre actor
Sang Ning won with a 3v1 advantage. Qingyue had a sour face the whole time, but there was no way to change the outcome.
To make this group scene more exciting and suited to each actor’s personality traits,
Wen Jiu discussed with the screenwriter and decided to let Sang Ning play Jiuqiansui. Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina would play Jiuqiansui’s beloved and adopted daughter, respectively.
Shen Yi, with his usual serious demeanor, was assigned the role of the Emperor.
Lu Ye would play the weak and ineffectual Crown Prince, while Qingyue would play the impulsive young General.
Losing the role to Sang Ning already made Qingyue unhappy, and on top of that, the only commanding role of the Emperor wasn’t given to him either.
Qingyue couldn’t focus on rehearsals anymore. He made up an excuse about not feeling well and left the practice room.
"Seriously, what’s Qingyue’s problem? It’s bad enough he’s not as good, but he’s also so petty." After Qingyue left, Wang Qiuhong pointed at the door in frustration, almost ready to curse.
Xi Meina, however, bowed to Shen Yi. "I’m sorry, Mr. Shen Yi. I wrongly judged you before I joined the industry. I followed the crowd and criticized you, saying you had a bad temper but got good resources, and that you were secretly part of the Royal Family in Roche. Now I see, those rumors weren’t true."
"Mm." Shen Yi didn’t want to elaborate and merely responded indifferently.
The past was a wound for him, one he was unwilling to revisit.
Lu Ye slammed the script to the ground angrily, venting his frustration. "Who does Qingyue think he is? I haven’t even started throwing tantrums, and yet he’s first in line? Now he’s gone, how are we supposed to continue today’s rehearsal?"
Sang Ning’s gaze glided over, lingering briefly on the script on the floor before shifting to Lu Ye, cold and devoid of any warmth.
Lu Ye curled his lips, staring back at Sang Ning. Only after picking up the script and seeing the slight softening in Sang Ning’s expression did he straighten up slowly.
"Missing Qingyue isn’t a big deal," Wen Jiu spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention. "You all just keep rehearsing; don’t get distracted so easily. I’ll step in for the scene."
"Oh my god, what did I do to deserve the queen herself stepping in to act with me!"
"Mom, I’m totally starstruck—I get to act alongside Goddess Wen Jiu!"
Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina hugged each other in excitement. Who could understand? This was the pinnacle of being a fangirl!
Sure enough, Wen Jiu lived up to her reputation as a queen. Acting with her made it easy to fall seamlessly into the scene, flowing with her emotions.
She even observed everyone’s acting styles carefully, offering constructive advice.
"Xiao Jiu, honestly, with you guiding like this, I feel like I could win an award right this moment," Sang Ning teased Wen Jiu.
"You do have what it takes to become a queen," Wen Jiu looked at Sang Ning, her gaze serious and gentle. "As long as you learn how to cry first."
Sang Ning smiled faintly. "Most of the time, crying comes from heartbreak, but I’ve never been heartbroken in my life. More often, I’m the one breaking others’ hearts."
Invincibility was just that lonely. No one’s fists could overpower hers.
And with her inner strength, no one could hurt her psychologically either.
With both her body and mind unshakable, how could she ever feel heartbreak?
Sometimes, even Sang Ning thought she was a female steel machine.
Wen Jiu was amused by Sang Ning’s confident demeanor and quipped, "Why don’t you try falling in love? Nothing cuts deeper than love."
Sang Ning found Wen Jiu’s suggestion absurd. "No, even if I haven’t been in love before, if I did fall in love, the one getting hurt would definitely be the other person."
"No, you’re still too young," Wen Jiu shot back without hesitation, "When a woman falls in love, she becomes easily neurotic, petty, calculating. You’ll understand once you’ve experienced it."
Sang Ning was dismissive. "That’s just having a love-obsessed brain. It’s a problem that needs fixing—"
Mid-sentence, as though realizing something, Sang Ning suddenly switched her tone. "Xiao Jiu, don’t tell me you—"
Wen Jiu put a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. "Alright, don’t overthink. Let’s get back to rehearsing."
She turned and walked away, leaving Sang Ning rubbing her chin in thought.
It didn’t make sense. Someone at Wen Jiu’s level, let alone romance, even just a hint of scandal would make instant headlines in the entertainment industry.
But since her debut, Wen Jiu had conducted herself impeccably, always maintaining a single status. She never stooped to creating buzz with male co-stars.
Even investigative reporters who dug into her pre-debut days found nothing but a spotless record of being single.
Yet, the words she said earlier sounded as if they came from someone who had been through emotional heartbreak. It was too strange.
Back in the rehearsal room, under Wen Jiu’s guidance, everyone continued with the scene.
Elsewhere, in a luxury car.
"Xiao Yue, what happened? Why are today’s rehearsals ending so early?"
Duan Wenhui leaned into Qingyue’s arms, slipping her hand under his shirt and gazing up at him with sultry eyes. Her roving hand wandered across his toned chest.
Qingyue kissed the top of Duan Wenhui’s head and reassured her gently, "It’s nothing, just a small issue. Not worth troubling you, Sister Wen Hui."
Duan Wenhui pinched Qingyue’s chest hard with her fingertips, scolding him, "What do you mean ’just a small issue’? If it’s your issue, it’s a big issue!"
Qingyue grunted in pain but stayed silent, the slight furrow in his brow stirring Duan Wenhui’s heartache.
"Xiao Yue, if there’s something wrong, just tell me. There’s nothing in this entertainment industry that I can’t handle," Duan Wenhui sat up straight in Qingyue’s lap, her expression serious.
Qingyue pouted, putting on the best aggrieved look he could muster before choking out, "It’s nothing much. It’s just that Teacher Wen Jiu favored some newcomer and didn’t let me have the role I wanted. On top of that, she bad-mouthed Sister Wen Hui, saying that with her current standing in the industry, even you couldn’t touch her. I couldn’t swallow it and talked back a little, and then she kicked me out of the rehearsal room."
"Well, well, isn’t she something!" Duan Wenhui’s teeth ground audibly as she spoke. "Wen Jiu, huh? No matter how big her standing is, she’s still just an actor. It seems she needs a lesson to remember her place, especially after stepping away from the spotlight for two years!"
Seeing his goal accomplished, a faint, cold smile curled at the corner of Qingyue’s lips as he pulled Duan Wenhui back into his arms. "Sister Wen Hui, I don’t mind being wronged, but don’t let someone like that anger you. Not worth it."
Duan Wenhui affectionately pinched Qingyue’s cheek. "You’re mine. If you’re wronged, it’s the same as me being wronged. Don’t worry; I’ll get even for this."
"Thank you, Sister," Qingyue kissed Duan Wenhui and softly called out to her in a sugary tone.
Duan Wenhui melted at that one word "Sister," her heart swooning.
"Honestly, Xiao Yue, you’re too much sometimes. If you want to act, why not let me bankroll a custom project for you instead of wasting time on some mediocre show?"