I am a Big Player
Chapter 171 - 169. Alternative Uses of Tear Potion (First Update)_1

Chapter 171: 169. Alternative Uses of Tear Potion (First Update)_1

For the ordinary audience, to laugh in a happy scene and to cry in a sad one seems only natural. But what they don’t know is that these laughs and cries are a "choice," and there are a thousand ways to laugh and a thousand ways to cry. It’s the countless rehearsals that decide which one will finally be presented on stage. Many mistake natural facial expressions and genuine emotions for acting, but that’s just the basic skill of an actor. The real test of skill is in the choices different actors make under the same plot, and that’s the reason why Shakespeare’s and other classic plays never fade.

The reason Zhang Ming asked Xia Yuting about her familiarity with Kunlun was firstly to see if she had come prepared, which meant how much she valued this opportunity, and secondly, he wanted to assess Xia Yuting’s control over the emotions within Kunlun.

Xia Yuting spoke calmly, "To speak of Kunlun is to speak inevitably of its characters, for it’s the superb characters that support the whole story, yet these characters flutter in the winds of history."

She spoke eloquently, from Liu Yingying’s resigned departure to ensure Liang Xiao and Hua Xiaoshuang’s happiness, to Hua Xiaoshuang’s tumultuous life, her kind heart, strength within and gentle appearance, and the benevolence of a healer.

Even the various supporting characters like Xiao Qianjue and Gong Yangyu were discussed logically and coherently.

All present were connoisseurs, and with Xia Yuting’s opening remarks, they could tell how much prep work she had done—certain emotions and details she touched upon were even things they hadn’t fully grasped!

Zhang Ming asked curiously, "How many times have you read Kunlun?"

"I’m on my fourth reading, and I’ve been taking notes," Xia Yuting replied calmly.

But there was a tremble in her calm voice, for she had timed everyone’s entrance, and she was now sure that her time inside had been the longest.

Opportunities are always given to the dedicated. If she hadn’t prepared meticulously, she would never have gained this chance, and the fact that Zhang Ming posed these questions indicated her hope was great!

Zhang Ming, now curious about her notes, asked, "Did you bring your notes? Could we have a look?"

"Please wait," Xia Yuting said as she reached for her handbag and pulled out a delicate notebook, handing it to Zhang Ming. Upon opening it, he found it was filled with elegant handwriting and that the content was Xia Yuting’s understanding of the entire book.

Zhang Ming smiled, passed the notebook to Elder Zhou, and told Xia Yuting, "You’re really smart."

This "smart" didn’t refer to Xia Yuting’s thorough understanding of Kunlun, but to her prep work for this open audition. After all, opportunities like this are seized by the truly clever and held tight!

Xia Yuting’s clothing was covered in dust from the ground; even her face was smudged with a patch of grey. Ren He hadn’t expected the radiant Xia Yuting to go to such lengths for acting, and he admired her from the bottom of his heart.

Sometimes others may not see the efforts you put in, so they might think you are no different from the average person. However, when you stand on stage and the spotlight shines brighter on you than the lights themselves, people will understand the adage: "One minute on stage takes ten years of work offstage!"

Zhang Ming asked Ren He with a smile, "What do you think? Which character?"

It was up to Ren He now, meaning Zhang Ming’s options for Xia Yuting’s role were at the very least female lead Liu Yingying or the secondary lead Hua Xiaoshuang. After all, Zhang Ming had asked Ren He to come precisely to hear his opinion on the three most important characters.

Xia Yuting grew anxious; she didn’t know why Ren He was there or why Zhang Ming was asking him these questions—only that Ren He, who she once thought was nothing more than an ordinary junior high student, now held the fate of her role in this series!

There’s a significant difference between the leading and supporting female roles. Most of the time, the focus is solely on the leading female. Although from a plot perspective the supporting female character ends up with the protagonist, it’s the leading female Liu Yingying who has the most substantial part. Her life was entwined with complicated emotions towards Liang Xiao and she left in sorrow. Although she did not find fulfillment, she became the most brilliant female character in the entire tale of Kunlun!

Ren He smiled, "Hua Xiaoshuang is too naive, and Liu Yingying is too clever. Let’s go with Liu Yingying, she might just be playing herself." Ren He was quite clear about these matters; Liu Yingying had a better shot at becoming popular. Since the other party had gone to such lengths, as a friend, Ren He naturally wanted to support her. Besides, the second half of what he said was heartfelt; Xia Yuting was always enchanting and particularly attractive, and she handled things efficiently and decisively, making her an excellent fit for the role of Liu Yingying.

After hearing Ren He’s suggestion, Zhang Ming smiled and said, "You don’t need to go back and wait for the news; I’ll give you a response right here and now. You can play Liu Yingying. Are you still a college student?"

"Yes, I’m a college student, just started my freshman year," Liu Yingying said.

"Okay, ask your teachers for some time off; they’ll agree," Zhang Ming said in a clearly good mood. "Please call in the next person for me."

It was only then that Xia Yuting patted the dust off her clothes and bowed to everyone present: "Thank you to all the teachers!"

This was her first time landing a leading female role, and she couldn’t help but get excited. Xia Yuting had been struggling for over a year. If her aim wasn’t to be the leading actress, then what was it for?

She was finally just a step away from success, not just as the leading lady but as Zhang Ming’s leading lady, with the possibility of appearing in a prime-time CCTV slot!

She took a deep look at Ren He, as if she was seeing him in a new light. Ren He, however, acted as if nothing were amiss, as if he didn’t recognize her, to avoid suspicion. No one else knew that he knew Xia Yuting.

After Xia Yuting left, several hundred more people came in. Yet, nobody else seemed to captivate everyone as she had, until a little girl came in at around 7 p.m.

She seemed to be only about 16 years old, with light hair and a fair complexion. Everyone present could tell at a glance that she hadn’t put on any makeup—a rarity indeed. How many girls who came here didn’t wear makeup? At the very least, they would put on a light touch.

But there she stood, with her twin braids falling behind her, like a lotus flower just out of water.

No, like a slightly aggrieved lotus flower just out of water...

Ren He thought it was interesting; the girl seemed so calm and composed, yet with an undercurrent of grievance...

At that moment, Zhang Ming looked over at Ren He, and Ren He looked back at Zhang Ming. When their eyes met, they each realized they were thinking the same thing: the role of the second female lead, Hua Xiaoshuang!

The character Hua Xiaoshuang was just like that—innately kindhearted, always looking aggrieved while being bullied by Liu Yingying...

Then Zhang Ming suddenly said to her, "Cry."

Promptly realizing this was a test of her acting, she began to summon her emotions hurriedly. And it all seemed so natural. As she began to emote, it seemed as though she was about to cry, but... no tears came...

It was probably the nerves preventing her emotions from fully surfacing, and everyone watching grew anxious, feeling as though she was about to break into tears at any second yet she couldn’t...

Ren He felt that, as a member of the Red Scarf, it was his duty to help this girl achieve her dream. So, he threw the Tear Potion her way, and the girl across from him suddenly let out a cry, tears spraying out, leaving Zhang Ming and Zhou Wumeng stunned!

They felt that before they had seen this girl, they never quite grasped what ’tears streaming down the face’ really meant...