Against the Light - Chapter 25
Chapter 25: A Hug
Throughout the afternoon, the trainees in each group practiced hard. That evening, Lu Qing checked on them again. This time, their overall performance was countless times better than it had been in the morning, giving her a glimmer of hope.
Gu Xinran's consistent performance surprised her once more. Acting was heavily dependent on an actor's state of mind, but anyone who could instantly get into character the moment a scene began definitely had a profound foundation.
She was too embarrassed to say much about the two of them, so she simply reminded them to focus on the competition. Her words went right over their heads, leaving them completely bewildered.
That night, Gu Xinran had a dream. She dreamed she was having a fierce argument with Yilan over Yang Xue, finally throwing out the words, "Then let's get a divorce."
Yilan slapped her hard across the face and left in tears.
She crouched on the floor, hugging herself and sobbing uncontrollably, apologizing to Yilan over and over, saying, "I didn't, I didn't..."
Gu Xinran woke with a jolt, taking a long moment to realize where she was.
Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she caught sight of someone sitting on the adjacent bed. She turned her head and jumped in fright.
"Why are you awake so late? What are you doing?" Lin Guo, from the next bed, was sitting up and staring at her while hugging her blanket. Wasn't that just too creepy!
Lin Guo turned on the bedside lamp, looked at her, and bit her lip, seeming to hesitate.
"What's wrong?"
"I..."
"I really know who you are now," Lin Guo said with unusual certainty.
Gu Xinran frowned and closed her eyes for a second. "Was I talking in my sleep?"
"Yeah." Lin Guo nodded. She had been woken up by her sleep-talking...
Gu Xinran sat up, pressing a hand to her forehead. Of all the things she had planned for, she'd never expected to talk in her sleep. She glanced up at the camera in the corner. Its indicator light was off. Thankfully, the show granted them a little privacy, turning off the cameras after filming ended for the night. That meant, besides Lin Guo, no one else should know her identity yet.
At that thought, Gu Xinran turned her head to look at Lin Guo.
Lin Guo felt her hair stand on end under that gaze. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself. "You... you're not thinking of... silencing me, are you??"
Gu Xinran couldn't help but laugh. "Can you keep it a secret for me?"
"Of course, no problem! My lips are sealed!" Lin Guo puffed out her chest, making a guarantee.
"Thank you."
"Hey, but I'm still really curious. You seem... different... from the rumors online. No, not just different, it's like the difference between the clouds and the mud. Why? Why did they trash you so badly online?"
Gu Xinran was silent for a long while, not knowing how to explain it to her.
"Don't ask. Let's get some sleep. We have rehearsal tomorrow."
"Oh, okay. Good night! Trust me, I definitely won't say a word."
"Mm."
Three days passed in a flash. Tomorrow was the day they would all step onto the stage for the first time. Even experienced performers like Lin Guo were feeling nervous and anxious, to say nothing of the rookies with no acting experience at all.
Gu Xinran was also worried, afraid she wouldn't perform well. After all, this was her only chance to turn her life around.
That night, after everyone else had gone back to rest, she was still sitting by the pond, distractedly tossing fish food into the water.
"You seem nervous."
A voice suddenly came from behind her. Gu Xinran flinched, spilling most of the fish food in her hand. She was all too familiar with that voice!
"T-Teacher Bai? Why are you still up so late?" She scrambled to her feet, instinctively looking left and right.
Bai Yilan walked to her side and bent down to pick up the scattered fish food. "The performance is tomorrow. Why aren't you resting?"
Gu Xinran didn't answer, just stared at her fixedly.
"Is something troubling you?"
Gu Xinran was silent for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile. "Not anymore." After seeing you, all my worries are gone.
"Teacher Bai, I'm going to rest now. You should get to bed early too. Staying up late all the time is bad for your health."
Their eyes met. Gu Xinran's eyes curved into a smile, and she turned to leave.
Bai Yilan watched her retreating figure, her mind filled with the image of those smiling, curved eyes. Her eyes could truly speak. They smiled so happily, and there was a light in them, as if a little star had taken up residence, twinkling brightly.
Gu Xinran returned to her room and looked down from the window, just in time to see Yilan's departing back. She propped her chin on her hands, a foolish, infatuated smile on her face as she watched Yilan return to her villa.
"Are you... peeping?"
A sudden voice next to her ear made her jump. She whipped her head around. It was Lin Guo.
She clutched her chest. "Are you trying to scare me to death to eliminate a competitor?"
"Huh? Why didn't I think of that tactic?" Lin Guo's eyes lit up. She then peered out the window as well. "What are you looking at so intently? Your eyes are smiling so much they're almost slits~ Eh? Isn't that Teacher Bai's villa? Oh, I get it, you were looking at..."
"No, I wasn't looking at anything. Let's sleep."
The next day, at eight o'clock in the evening, the recording officially began.
All the actors were gathered backstage, making their final preparations.
The mentors were already seated at their table, and the nine veteran actors were at the judges' panel. The audience seats were packed, filled with support signs. Some people even wore hair clips that read 'Little Fairy.' The atmosphere was electric.
The host came on stage, interviewed the three mentors, and then asked the veteran actors for their impressions of the newcomers. Afterward, he grandly announced that the competition had officially begun!
First to perform were the trainees from Bai Yilan's group. Since they were all rookies who knew next to nothing on the first day, everyone was eagerly anticipating their performance, wondering if Teacher Bai could work miracles in just a few short days.
The one to watch in this group was Luo Bing. After all, her wide-eyed 'skill' had left a deep impression on the audience.
They began their performance, gradually getting into character. Complemented by the stage lighting, background, and sound effects, they delivered what could be called a perfect performance. While it hadn't reached the level of mastery, it was at least not awkward. Luo Bing didn't resort to staring, and her emotional expression was so natural it was as if she'd unlocked a cheat code, greatly surprising the audience.
Half an hour later, the three groups had finished their performances. The audience erupted in thunderous applause, the atmosphere reaching a fever pitch.
【Holy crap, Teacher Bai is awesome! Luo Bing could only do that wide-eyed acting before, but now she can actually convey the right emotions. Awesome!】
【This is the fastest I've ever seen someone work a miracle. It's only been a few days, but it feels like these people have been completely reborn!!】
【Ahhhh, Teacher Bai smiled, she smiled!!!】
【Teacher Bai is the best!! Ahhh— (voice crack)】
【Are you guys praising the wrong person? It was clearly Luo Luo who was amazing, okay?】
【To be fair, Teacher Bai is truly professional. To train these rookies to this level is really impressive.】
【Teacher Bai has been the most dedicated these past few days, coaching everyone's acting until late every night. This result is worthy of her effort.】
"Let me say a few words first. These are all newcomers, and it's truly not easy to make such great progress in just a few days. I'm already breaking a sweat for my own team members," Lu Qing said first.
"Luo Bing's improvement is huge, as everyone can see. Her performance was relatively natural, without being overly deliberate. She has a lot of potential," Lu Qing praised with a smile. On stage, Luo Bing immediately bowed to her and said thank you.
"Tsk, Director Bai truly lives up to her reputation as a gold-medal director. This group's overall acting has improved by more than just one level. Um, Director Bai, are you casting for your next film?" Yan Xi clicked her tongue in amazement, looking at Bai Yilan and even starting to promote herself.
Everyone laughed.
The veteran actors also expressed their approval and wrote down their favored names on their ballots.
Next up was the second group, Yan Xi's trainees.
More than half of her trainees were actors with some experience, and they all performed at their best. When their act concluded, they also won a round of applause, but Yan Xi wasn't quite satisfied.
Logically, her group had a high chance of winning, but they failed to dazzle the audience, which shouldn't have happened.
The last group was Lu Qing's. The moment the host finished speaking, the audience started chanting, "Little Fairy—Little Fairy—"
Everyone backstage was startled and turned in unison to look at their fellow contestant, Little Fairy.
It took Gu Xinran a moment to realize. Are they calling for me?
"Not bad, Little Fairy. You've already got people cheering for you~~ Let me ride your coattails~" Lin Guo nudged her with an elbow and raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, stop it." Gu Xinran shook her head helplessly, waiting to go on stage.
Soon, it was Gu Xinran's group's turn. The members exchanged glances, gave each other a boost of encouragement, and gracefully walked onto the stage.
The stage lights dimmed, and the audience quieted down, focusing their attention on the stage.
They took their positions, and the stage lights slowly came up.
As they appeared, an earth-shattering cheer erupted from the audience.
It turned out they were all in costume. Little Fairy wore a white, fringed dress that trailed on the floor. Her straight black hair was gathered in a bun at the crown of her head, cascading down like a waterfall. Just her slender back alone gave off an ethereal aura, making everyone incredibly eager to see her face.
"M-Miss Fu, please accept the decree. His Majesty has been unable to sleep at night because of your matter. Please don't..."
As the eunuch stepped forward, the performance officially began.
Compared to before, the actors' performances were more natural, easily drawing the audience into the story. The viewers were completely captivated.
"Ling'er." The King of Zhao placed his hands on her shoulders.
Fu Lingyue took a deep breath, a slight tremor in her voice. She looked at the King of Zhao, pulled her arm back, and shook off her hand.
"Has Your Majesty ever considered how the world will view this act—exchanging a woman for peace between two nations?"
"The world? Naturally, they will praise Your Majesty as a good ruler who serves the country and its people, one who holds righteousness in her heart and is not led astray by beauty." Consort Lian smiled as she walked to the monarch's side, gently tugging her sleeve with a resentful look in her eyes.
"Has Your Majesty considered how the Hu people will treat me..." Fu Lingyue murmured softly.
"Ling'er, rest assured. The envoy from the Hu nation has promised to treat you with courtesy! Trust me. I will not abandon you!"
Fu Lingyue looked into her eyes, her body swaying slightly. She shook her head and slowly backed away. "I am a daughter of the Fu family. I can be killed, but not humiliated!"
She retreated a few steps, stopped, and slowly turned around, her eyes brimming with tears.
The stage lights suddenly began to dim. The sound of neighing warhorses filled the air, as if a thousand troops were thundering toward them, sending a chill down the spine.
The lights slowly came up again. The audience gasped in unison. There, in the center of the stage, Fu Lingyue, who had been wearing the white fringed dress, had somehow changed into a long red gown in the mere ten-odd seconds the lights were down!
Her gaze was empty, devoid of spirit or charm. She stared blankly ahead. There were no more tears in her eyes, but the tear tracks on her face glistened under the lights. Her expression was indifferent; you couldn't feel a single trace of life in it!
She held her hands before her, maintaining her usual elegance and dignity, and walked step by determined step into the boundless darkness, calmly meeting her death.
"Little Fairy—Little Fairy—Little Fairy—"
The stage lights gradually faded as the audience chanted in unison. The performers dropped their poses, returned to the center of the stage, and bowed for their curtain call.
"Little Fairy—show us your real face!!!"
"Yeah, show us your face, ahhhh!!"
The performers on stage looked at each other and smiled.
Gu Xinran instinctively looked toward Yilan in the audience. Yilan was also looking at her, the corners of her lips lifting unconsciously as she gave her a slight nod.
Gu Xinran's eyes curved into a smile, feeling greatly encouraged!!
"Here, let me ask on everyone's behalf: how did you manage that instant costume change? Were you wearing another layer underneath?" the host asked.
"Yes. It worked because I only showed my back for the first half, and the lights dimmed right after I turned around. If you looked closely, you could probably spot the trick," Gu Xinran nodded calmly.
"Tsk, it's clear you put a lot of thought into it. The main thing is, even though you changed clothes in the middle, the emotional continuity between the two parts was excellent. That was truly amazing."
Gu Xinran smiled.
"Let's hear Sister Qiuyan's comments first. After all, you were in the original."
Qi Qiuyan adjusted her earpiece. "To be honest, it was stunning. I was thinking, if she had competed with me for this role back then, I probably wouldn't have gotten it. I'm really, really curious who she is now. Can you take off your mask and let everyone see you?"
"Take it off—take it off—"
Gu Xinran looked at the crowd and gave a helpless smile. "When the time is right, I will tell you who I am."
"Aww—" the audience protested in unison.
Gu Xinran gave a deep bow, which managed to quiet the crowd.
"Eliminate her!!!" someone shouted, drawing a wave of laughter.
Gu Xinran's face darkened, and she inadvertently rolled her eyes.
【Ahhhh, Little Fairy rolling her eyes is so cute!!!】
【Ahhhh, Mom, I'm in love!! I'm gonna be her fan, her fan!!】
【She acted so well. That costume change really stunned me.】
【This person's acting is very polished. She must be a well-known actor. Could it be some has-been artist trying to make a comeback?】
【^Seconded. Very possible, but an actor with such good skills has no reason to be a has-been, right??】
"How about our mentors give their comments?"
Lu Qing and Yan Xi exchanged a look. "I can't even comment on this. I seriously suspect she's some experienced veteran actress," Yan Xi said.
"+1," Lu Qing said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Actually, even during rehearsals, I felt she was incredibly experienced. She can get into character anytime, anywhere. You can't do that without sufficient experience. And most importantly, she can also help others get into their roles quickly, which is very rare. I seriously suspect the production team is messing with me. Tossing me a king-tier player to mentor, aren't they just setting me up to embarrass myself?"
The host gave an awkward laugh. To be honest, he had no idea who this powerhouse was either.
"I won't comment on this master. I couldn't bear to eliminate her anyway; I want to see what other surprises she can bring me. As for Lin Guo and Qin Qiong, their performances were beyond my expectations. I feel like the title of 'villainess specialist' should change hands. I also hope you two can try different types of roles in the future."
After the mentors finished their comments, all the actors came on stage for the final voting segment.
Each mentor had one spot to directly advance a contestant, while the other two spots would be decided by votes from the audience and judges.
Bai Yilan hesitated for a long time before giving her advancement spot to Luo Bing.
As for Lu Qing, she didn't even have to think before giving her spot directly to Little Fairy.
Soon, the tense voting segment ended. The three people from Lu Qing's group who advanced were Little Fairy, Lin Guo, and Qin Qiong. Lin Guo was thrilled. She was about to hug Little Fairy when her movement suddenly froze. She glanced at Bai Yilan in the audience and sheepishly withdrew her hands.
The nine winners stood on stage, accepting their flowers and applause. Before they could even celebrate, the veteran actors came on stage.
The host announced the rules for the next round. The nine newcomers would form three groups of three, and the veteran actors would also form three groups of three, creating six groups from A to F. There would be a total of three scenes. The six groups would draw lots, and the two groups that drew the same scene would compete against each other. The winner would be decided by audience and mentor votes, and all three members of the losing group would be eliminated.
As soon as the rules were announced, the newcomers let out a collective wail, lamenting that they were about to be wiped out by the veteran actors!
【Wow, this is so unfair. Making rookies perform the same scene as veteran actors is clearly putting the rookies at a disadvantage.】
【I don't think so. I feel like Little Fairy's group is a strong dark horse. All three of them are good actors. They won't necessarily be at a disadvantage against the veterans.】
【While it seems like the veterans have the advantage, even if they win, people will think it's expected, nothing to brag about. On the other hand, if the rookies win, it'll be a huge upset. So actually, the veterans are under more pressure.】
【^Seconded. I also think the veterans have more pressure. If the rookies lose, they lose. But the veterans can't afford to lose. Even if their acting is good, their mental state is also a crucial factor in a stage performance. You can't generalize.】
Soon, the host brought out a box for drawing cards, and each group sent a representative up to draw.
Gu Xinran was pushed forward by Lin Guo. She took a card from the box, glanced at it, and was about to put it away when she froze. She looked at it again, repeatedly confirming the words on the card.
"What's wrong?"
"What is it?" Qin Qiong and Lin Guo crowded around. Seeing the words on the card, Lin Guo's eyes widened. "Holy cow... isn't this..." Lin Guo paused, then turned to look at Bai Yilan in the audience.
"What scene did Little Fairy's group draw?" the host asked.
Gu Xinran took a deep breath, held up the card, and looked at Bai Yilan, who also seemed slightly surprised.
"It's Director Bai's representative work, Life Like Summer Flowers!"
"Hey? When we rehearse this play, can we ask Director Bai for advice?" Lin Guo asked.
"You'll have to ask Director Bai about that."
"You little brat, do you think I can't teach you anymore?" Lu Qing retorted at the perfect moment.
"Haha~~" Lin Guo gave a sheepish laugh and took a step back to hide behind Gu Xinran.
"Is this a guaranteed win now?" Lin Guo asked in a low voice.
After all, in their group, one was the director's wife, and another had been an extra in the original film. Their chances of winning seemed huge no matter how you looked at it!
"I was just a minor extra..." Qin Qiong said with a wry smile.
"This film... I... haven't seen it yet," Gu Xinran admitted, also a bit embarrassed.
"!? You've got to be kidding. Your wif—ahem, Teacher Bai's film, and you haven't seen it??"
Gu Xinran fell silent. "I'll watch it as soon as I get back."
Lin Guo was so exasperated she rolled her eyes. She had thought they were a sure thing with these two, but now... hah.
Soon, the drawing was over, and everyone stopped their discussions.
Gu Xinran paid special attention to the scene Yang Xue's group drew. It turned out to be the same one as Luo Bing's group. She secretly calculated that the probability of Yang Xue's group crushing Luo Bing's group was over ninety percent. Only then did she feel relieved. If Yang Xue's group were to be eliminated by newcomers in this round, it would be a huge disappointment for her.
"Time is very tight for this round—only three days. The elimination battle will officially take place in three days! Let's wait and see!"
Everyone returned to the villa, some happy, some sad. The eliminated newcomers packed their luggage, and Lin Guo and the others helped them.
"Guozi, you guys have to keep fighting. Try to make it to the finals!"
"Little Fairy, you're amazing. I was wrong to dislike you before. I apologize. You've been quietly helping us these past few days, and we all saw it. Thank you."
"Yeah, we'll keep watching the competition and cheering for you!"
Although they had only spent a few days together, a sense of mutual appreciation had grown among them. A faint melancholy of parting settled over the villa.
It wasn't until late at night that the eliminated newcomers boarded the bus home. The three returned to the villa, thinking about how just yesterday the house had been bustling with a group of people laughing and talking, but today it was empty. It was a little hard to accept.
"Sigh." Lin Guo heaved a heavy sigh. Just as she was about to speak, she heard footsteps. She turned to see the three veteran actors who had drawn the same scene as them.
"Eh? Sister Wei, why are you guys here?"
"Ah, the production team said we'll be living together temporarily for the next few days to save them from having to rent another villa," Qi Yuwei said.
"??? Are they for real?"
"Hey, hey, hey, there was no need to add that last part," another veteran actress chimed in.
"It's the truth."
The three of them entered the house with their luggage. "Are there any rooms?"
"There happen to be two empty three-person rooms. You can... take your pick?"
"Great. Oh, right, has the single room been cleared out?"
"Huh? That's Teacher Lu's room."
"Exactly. Didn't you know the mentor has been switched?"
"Switched mentors? Who is it?" Lin Guo looked completely baffled. She hadn't heard anything.
"There." The three looked behind them and tacitly stepped aside to clear a path.
The girls immediately craned their necks to look. When they saw who it was, all three of them widened their eyes in astonishment.
"I say, can you guys have a little more composure?" Qi Yuwei shot them a disdainful glance, then looked over herself. She saw Bai Yilan dressed in a camel-colored trench coat, hands in her pockets, looking impossibly cool.
"D-Director Bai!!!" Lin Guo, in her excitement, leaped up, let out a cry, and rushed over to give her a big bear hug!
Bai Yilan hadn't even processed it yet. When she came to her senses, she patted her back with a helpless expression.
"Qin Qiong, come give her a hug!" Lin Guo turned and frantically signaled to Qin Qiong with her eyes.
Qin Qiong didn't know what was happening, but she instinctively ran over, smiled at Bai Yilan, and said, "Director Bai, hey~" before giving her a quick hug as well.
Lin Guo was very satisfied. She then looked at Gu Xinran. "Little Fairy, it's your turn! Come on, give Director Bai a big hug to show her how much we welcome her!!"
"..." Gu Xinran stood frozen, not knowing what to do.
"Hurry up!!" Lin Guo winked and gestured wildly at her, then simply ran over and dragged her forward.
"Quick!"
Gu Xinran stood before Yilan, not quite daring to look at her. "Um, T-Teacher Bai, w-welcome..." She was so nervous her tongue was tied in knots.
"Mm."
Gu Xinran took a deep breath, mustered all her courage, gave her a deep look, and slowly drew closer. She opened her arms and gently embraced her, unconsciously closing her eyes to savor the soft, warm hug she had longed for for so long.
Bai Yilan's body stiffened. It took her a moment to recover before she lightly patted her on the shoulder.
Suddenly, the sound of a soft sob was heard. Everyone started and turned to look. Lin Guo was sniffling, watching the two of them embrace, so moved she was on the verge of tears.
"Hey, what's wrong with you??"
"Wuwuwu, I'm so touched... No, I mean, I'm so excited that Teacher Bai is here to guide me!!!"
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