I am a Big Player
Chapter 565 - 559, The Final Drama (Third Update)_1

Chapter 565: 559, The Final Drama (Third Update)_1

Previously, Chen Da had worried that Ren He might not perform well because of identity issues, but now, seeing Ren He with makeup on and changed into beggar’s clothes, he realized he had been overly concerned.

At least now, it seemed that Ren He was still taking the competition seriously.

Indeed, Chen Da had been overly concerned. For Ren He, taking every task seriously was a must.

Even if today was the day he officially went to war with the CIA, he still had to perform this last play well.

Yes, the last play.

He had wanted to experience the life of acting in plays, and now, having the experience of competing abroad and bringing glory to his country was truly an unexpected bonus.

The experiences that he should have were mostly had, the addiction to drama had passed, and after returning, more important matters awaited—like getting "Crazy Stone" and "No Man’s Land" made. He was very much looking forward to the reactions these two quality films would elicit.

When he first saw "No Man’s Land," he deemed Ning Hao an extraordinary talent. In the Chinese market, crowded with lousy films, it was really not easy to find directors who continuously strive to make quality movies.

Moreover, his intention of collaborating with Zhang Ming was to be a producer with integrity.

It had nothing to do with how much profit was made, but purely about gaining a sense of satisfaction. Zhang Ming had partnered with him precisely for that reason.

Now, what gave Zhang Ming the most joy was that he seemed to be starting to be like Zhou Wumeng—it wasn’t necessary to consider the monetary market, just doing what he loved was enough.

Having understood life, they saw the world very clearly and knew that being able to do what they wanted was a form of happiness.

Zhou Wumeng was happy, though he was very tired. No amount of hardships or fatigue could hide his joyful smile.

Zhang Ming felt that happiness was not too far away for himself either.

What is happiness? Cats eat fish, dogs eat meat, Ultraman fights monsters. While these words seem rough around the edges, they ultimately aim to explain the true essence of happiness, isn’t it all about doing what you want to do?

During the final dress rehearsal on stage, Ren He was still lying earnestly on the stage, performing his role with dedication and a calm state of mind, his expressions composed.

But he still followed Chen Da’s advice—he only needed to keep his performance level down, there was no need to waste emotion.

In this play, the final eight minutes of Ren He’s performance were the most tension-filled, and Chen Da didn’t want Ren He to become stiff from too much rehearsal. However, he wouldn’t suggest acting to someone as talented as Ren He; Zhang Ming dared to make such suggestions, but he did not.

Today’s play was scheduled to start at 2 PM and end at 10 PM, with a total of six high-caliber drama troupes competing. A series of awards would be handed out tonight.

At noon, Chen Da organized a meal for everyone and then continued to review some of the oversights in their regular performances. At this moment, Chen Da was a professor at the Central Academy of Drama in all but name, his comments incisive.

However, as always, after going over a list of precautions, he still neglected Ren He.

They were the last show at 8 PM, so there was no need to rush. Ren He spent his time backstage with his arms crossed, looking outside the stage, just to see if any suspicious characters would come in.

The reason Master Level Investigative Skills required Advanced Level Investigative Psychology as a foundation was that this skill allowed one to observe an individual’s basic behavior and expressions to gauge their state of mind, providing an approximate judgment.

But this approximate judgment was sufficient because the difference between ordinary audience members and those with ulterior motives was quite clear.

However, to Ren He’s disappointment, by 7 PM, he had not spotted anyone suspicious entering; they were all ordinary spectators.

By 8 p.m., when it was nearly their turn to go on stage, just as the host was announcing the act, Ren He first saw Xia Yuting enter. The person behind Xia Yuting made Ren He’s pupils contract!

Mark Pen!

The man was dressed like an ordinary tourist, but Ren He could instantly tell from the unnatural bulge at the man’s waist that it was a firearm.

Ren He initially worried that Xia Yuting might have been taken hostage by the man, knowing that the CIA wasn’t as noble as people might think. However, after a couple of glances, he realized it was a coincidence, Mark Pen’s attention hadn’t lingered on Xia Yuting at all.

He was making eye contact with Ren He!

Peering through the gaps in the curtain, Mark Pen watched Ren He, who was also looking back at him. Ren He was dressed up like a real beggar, his face grimy.

Mark Pen burst out laughing, revealing his pearly white teeth, yet it seemed particularly sinister.

From his smile, Ren He sensed a deep intent to kill. He even felt that if given the chance, Mark Pen would not hesitate to kill him. Ren He laughed as well; tonight was indeed going to be interesting.

The two men were separated only by a curtain, peering at each other through a gap, unaware to everyone else what was about to unfold that night.

Just then, Ren He noticed two more individuals enter, casually taking seats by the emergency exits on both sides of the theater. Undoubtedly, they were also CIA agents.

So... there must be someone blocking the backstage door as well, right?

The theater was filled with several celebrities, and Ren He truly didn’t believe the CIA would make a move here. Causing a shooting incident would be no small diplomatic dispute.

Ren He sneered, it was all just a show of force.

"Next up, a performance from China, a troupe that won the drama championship at last year’s Berlin Film Festival in Germany. Let’s look forward to their performance this year!"

As the host’s voice faded, the curtain closed completely, and the stage darkened. Ren He calmly walked to the center of the stage, lay down securely, and waited for the stage to brighten again.

Tonight’s performance would certainly be marvelous. It was a shame that most people didn’t know where the real thrill lay. Ren He chuckled inwardly, even the playbill might need a change, starring Ren He and Mark Pen!

The performance began!

At that moment, Mark Pen was also slightly taken aback. The Ren He before his eyes had completely transformed into a beggar, immersed in his performance.

But what surprised him wasn’t Ren He’s acting skill, but the fact that Ren He knew he was surrounded by the CIA and yet could still perform so calmly and composedly.

Could he do the same if he were in that situation? What kind of mental fortitude did that require?

Of course, Mark Pen wouldn’t make his move here, just as Ren He had reasoned. This wasn’t the place for it. But the other party was only a 17-year-old, so why did he possess such tremendous psychological strength?

A drama actor, a billionaire, a 17-year-old sniper prodigy, from this moment on, Mark Pen began to reassess his opponent for the night!

However, once begun, a performance would not halt.

...

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