Fang Yan realized: “If Lin Xiaoman can perform the mute character well, it will prove she truly understands the role and is suitable. This way, I can also explain to the investors, right?”
He thought his idea was brilliant. How could an ordinary person understand sign language? Even if she learned for the role, she would only learn the basics in a few days, and he could find a reason to reject her.
★ Chapter Fifty: Heart-to-Heart Talk
“No,” Qian Yuan immediately objected, “There’s never been such a requirement. If actors auditioning for action films had to study at Wudang or Shaolin for a year and a half, wouldn’t that be ridiculous?”
“Although there’s no such requirement, for me to acknowledge Lin Xiaoman as the most suitable female lead, she needs to reach this level,” Fang Yan was shameless. He knew if he couldn’t remove Lin Xiaoman from the lead role, the consequences would be worse than losing face. “What, can’t you handle this? How can you be worthy of being the female lead that Director Qian chose at first glance?”
“I have the final say here!” Qian Yuan was certain Fang Yan was deliberately making things difficult for Lin Xiaoman, not wanting her to be the lead, and unwilling to compromise. “No objections accepted.”
“Director Qian,” Lin Xiaoman knew how important this project was to Qian Yuan. Although she didn’t like Fang Yan, she didn’t want to offend the people behind him. She slightly lowered her head, “I think Teacher Fang is right. If I can’t prove I’m the most suitable for this role, everyone won’t be convinced.”
“At least you’re sensible,” Fang Yan seized the opportunity.
If you can’t do it, it’s not that you can’t be the lead, but we’ll see the performances of other actresses first.”
“So, only if I perform the mute character well can Teacher Fang acknowledge that I’m suitable for this role?” Lin Xiaoman’s voice was soft and gentle, her bright eyes looking uncertain, appearing worried.
Dialect said with satisfaction: “Of course. If you can play a deaf-mute person well, it means you are the most suitable for this role, and I will naturally be responsible for explaining to the investors.”
“Please make sure Teacher Fang keeps his word,” Lin Xiaoman curved her lips, her previously gloomy expression vanishing instantly, becoming radiant.
In her previous life, she had acted in a movie about deaf-mute people. To play that role well, she had spent a long time learning and even lived with deaf-mute people for half a year, so sign language was a piece of cake for her.
A few simple movements, when done by her, looked like a delightful performance. Qian Yuan’s originally worried and elegant face also brightened.
He had specially studied sign language when writing characters, so he began communicating with Lin Xiaoman through hand movements.
Lin Xiaoman blinked and gave a playful smile.
“Good, very good, your sign language passes!”
Edited Content:
“Qian Yuan said.
“How is it considered passing?” Dialect couldn’t understand and thought they were deceiving him. “Don’t think that randomly waving your hands means knowing sign language.”
“She really does know,” Yuan Feiming, who had previously filmed a documentary about deaf-mute people, understood Lin Xiaoman’s gestures. Moreover, he could tell she wasn’t someone who just knew a few simple gestures – with her proficiency, she could communicate with deaf-mute people.
Originally, he had proposed Lin Xiaoman play a deaf-mute role just to mediate the conflict between Qian Yuan and Dialect. As long as Lin Xiaoman couldn’t perform well, they could postpone the proposal of her being the female lead.
But unexpectedly, a girl in her early twenties not only had superb acting skills but also was proficient in sign language – a niche skill she actually possessed!
Yuan Feiming felt that the female lead role in this drama must be hers!
“I also think she is the most suitable person for this drama,” Yuan Feiming said.
Such a capable actress should not be buried by dirty tactics.
“Please ensure Teacher Fang keeps his word.”
Dialect’s expression turned ugly as he slumped into a chair. He hadn’t expected to fall into his own trap.
“No, wait,” Dialect came to his senses, “It’s you, you tricked me, you tricked me into believing you couldn’t do it!”
“I never said that,” Lin Xiaoman looked at him quietly, her beautiful and clear eyes exerting immense pressure.
When Dialect met her gaze, he suddenly became timid, completely different from the girl he had seen before.
After leaving the hall, Lin Xiaoman didn’t see Huang Yinyin. She looked around the crowd of interviewees but couldn’t find her. Logically, it was almost Huang Yinyin’s turn, and she shouldn’t have gone far. Moreover, Lin Xiaoman had asked her to wait outside, and she wasn’t the type to leave without a word.
Lin Xiaoman felt a bit worried and called Huang Yinyin, but no one answered.
She searched again and finally heard soft sobbing in the restroom.
“Yinyin?” she called softly.
The crying became louder, with intermittent sobs that seemed hard to control.
It was indeed her. Lin Xiaoman breathed a sigh of relief; finding her was the important thing.
She spoke calmly: “What happened? Open the door and tell me.”
The person inside continued crying.
“If something’s wrong, tell me, and I’ll help you. So, can you open the door?” Lin Xiaoman lowered her voice and softly comforted, “Trust me, I can help you.”
The lock clicked, and the door opened.
Huang Yinyin crouched in the corner, crying profusely, her makeup smeared, looking utterly miserable.
Lin Xiaoman locked the door behind her and crouched down to comfort her: “Stop crying. You’re about to audition, and swollen eyes won’t look good. Come on, tell me what happened.”
“I… I can’t audition anymore!”
Huang Yinyin wailed, crying even more pitifully.
Under Lin Xiaoman’s guidance, she explained what had happened to her.
When Jian Ni saw Lin Xiaoman auditioning, she called Huang Yinyin over to pour her a cup of tea. But when Huang Yinyin brought the tea, she was tripped by someone nearby and spilled the tea all over herself.
“I know they did it on purpose,” Huang Yinyin sobbed, “She has always disliked me and keeps bullying me, but I have no support in the company. Xiaoman, what should I do?”
“Xiaoman, I really want to leave the company and give up on being a star. Tell me, why does she always bully me? I haven’t done anything wrong. How can she treat me like this? Why?”
At her most emotional point, she choked up and couldn’t speak, taking a while to calm down before continuing: “I know I’m too weak. I should have fought back. But I don’t know how to fight back. I don’t want to argue with her. Why can’t everyone just get along? Why do they always have to bully people?…”
“Because she’s afraid,” Lin Xiaoman gently stroked her soft hair and comforted her, “Because she’s afraid of you, silly child.”
Look, does she bully other people? She only bullies those who make her feel pressured. She’s afraid you’ll take her position, so she bullies you with others.
“But I’ve never thought about competing with her at all. I just want to do my own thing and become a star that everyone likes. I really haven’t thought about competing with her.”
“But the entertainment industry is like this. Even if you don’t want to compete, resources are limited. When you become popular, you’ll inevitably compete with her for resources, which is why she keeps trying to suppress you.” Lin Xiaoman gently looked at the naive and kind girl in front of her, who had a first-love face that would make people like her just by standing there.
