Chapter 10: Lead Role... Secured!
The whole room was still reeling from the performance, and no one dared make a sound.
Liu Xing Yu slowly felt herself return, but she was still on an emotional high. She truly hadn't expected to get so immersed, and acting out this scene had pulled out memories she had kept tucked away deep inside her.
Xing Yu couldn't help but see images of her mother flit through her mind while she had acted. Where her character was meant to remember her happy childhood with her Father, Xing Yu had remembered a time long past, where her mother had still been alive, and where they had been happy.
Although Xing Yu was a phenomenal actress, there were things that could only be expressed to the fullest only when one had experienced it. Xing Yu's acting today had truly reached new heights simply because of her own painful loss.
Wiping her tears away, Xing Yu felt like curling up into a ball and sobbing. She had locked her feelings away for so long, that now it felt like a dam had been lifted. She felt incredibly raw.
However, she started to come into herself even more and became aware of her surroundings. She pushed her emotions back, and allowed a cold feeling to sweep through her, until she was once again her usual calm self.
Looking around at everyone's shocked expressions, Xing Yu was slightly surprised. She was confident in her abilities, but weren't they a bit too... unresponsive?
Just as she thought that, a slow clap came from behind her. During the act before, she had walked past Mo Rui Han's character, leaving him behind. So now she had to turn around to face him again.
Mo Rui Han's heart ached when he saw Xing Yu's performance. Although her skills were undeniable, he had a feeling that some of her emotions were just a bit too real. When he saw the way she had looked even after the scene was over... he had wanted to take her into his arms and shield her from the world.
However, all Xing Yu saw was him gazing at her with a very tiny smile and seeming almost... proud of her.
Liu Xing Yu couldn't understand why he would feel that way, but she still felt her chest swell with pride.
As if his claps broke them out of their shock, some of the crew started applauding as well. They were way more sincere than before.
This also shook Xia Ting and Director Li out of their stunned silence. Both of their faces flushed red.
Wasn't she supposed to be bad at acting?!
Xia Ting was completely humiliated, but even still, she refused to admit defeat. Instead, what came out of her mouth was a flurry of excuses to discredit Liu Xing Yu.
"Hmph! So what? She only managed to do well because Mo Rui Han had acted with her! If he had done that seriously for me too then the winner would be clear!"
Once again, her following backed her up, but this time, their voices were smaller.
"..." Most of the other extras and crew were appalled at Xia Ting's blatant lies. They were neither for nor against Xia Ting or Liu Xing Yu. Rather, they went with the flow, like most people did. When they had heard that Liu Xing Yu was even worse at acting than Xia Ting, they had immediately disliked her.
Whatever underhanded means she used to get the role, some of them felt that if she was going to do it, she should at least make sure she could act well.
But now that they had seen her act... could that from before even be called an act? It was as if Huo Qiu Yue herself had come to life.
But since most of them held no power, they didn't dare blatantly go against Xia Ting and Director Li, who clearly disliked Liu Xing Yu.
However, Mo Rui Han was more powerful than everyone present combined. What didn't he dare do?
Xia Ting had continued making a fuss, demanding for another scene to be used to compete, one without any other actors so that Xing Yu couldn't "cheat". Director Li was trying to calm her down, because he was acutely aware of Mo Rui Han's hard stare. Eventually, she was shut up by Mo Rui Han.
"No matter how many scenes you retake the results will be clear. You are not as good as her."
Everyone was shocked by Mo Rui Han's fact bomb.
Too direct!
But what also surprised them was the fact that he had said anything at all. Mo Rui Han was notorious for being extremely aloof, and never took part in arguments on set. On one hand it made him easy to work with, since he never had any problems with others, but on the other hand, no one ever managed to get close to him because of how little he interacted!
Hearing him speak up like this was the sight of a century.
Xia Ting gaped in shock, the figurative slap having been far too hard and far too fast.
"M-Mr Mo...that was too much... What do you mean I'm not as good as her?" Mumbled Xia Ting unsurely. Although her words were arrogant, she seemed completely docile. "She was clearly lucky. If you have us compete again you'll—"
"No need." Stated Mo Rui Han. At his interjection, Xia Ting's words died in her throat. Even StarTime's darling artist was nothing to someone like him. She wouldn't dare offend him.
"You said she won because I acted seriously with her," he mused, his eyes cold. "But I will do that with anyone as long as they're serious too."
Xia Ting's cheeks burned red. She was completely humiliated! By saying that, Mo Rui Han was effectively telling everyone that her acting couldn't be taken seriously!
Seeing this, Liu Xing Yu felt extremely good about herself. She had been acknowledged by an actor she deeply respected!
The others who weren't brave enough to obviously support Xing Yu from before had a newfound courage. Even the powerful Mo Rui Han agreed with them!
"That's right! Liu Xing Yu Senior's acting was just too amazing!"
"I always believed the rumours that she had no talent, but who would've thought that she was hiding this kind of ability!"
"'No talent'? Pui*! How can anyone say that in good conscience!"
"That's right... it must be someone malicious who started it!"
Everyone remembered how Xia Ting had boasted about it earlier after their argument, and looked at her with dirty looks.
Xia Ting got even more embarrassed. All these losers! They had a lot of guts now because of Mo Rui Han!
She glared at Xing Yu intensely. She had purposely pretended to act weak before! This snake! She was actually hiding her skills!
When Xing Yu caught Xia Ting's accusing glare that was directed at her, she shrugged innocently.
What? You're the one who assumed I couldn't act. I never said with my own mouth that I couldn't.
"Sis Ting, Director Li," said Xing Yu sweetly. "Since everyone approved of me already, can you please support me like you promised?"
However, the eyes that she was looking at the two with clearly held a different tone.
Now that everyone approved, you wouldn't dare go back on your words right? Aren't those people 'the worst kind'?
Xia Ting has made it very obvious that she didn't like her, but Xing Yu was extremely perceptive and could tell that Director Li was not supportive of her being the main lead as well! It must be because she had offended him earlier. She had heard rumours that he was extremely petty, but this... this was truly next level! He even tried to humiliate her? How did he like it now?
Director Li and Xia Ting both caught the look she was giving them and fumed. But now that everyone had openly praised of her, they couldn't say anything.
Director Li also had to remember Mo Rui Han's request. Anyway, he just had to put up with her, and the funding would be way more than worth it. But Director Li still couldn't bring himself to like Xing Yu. He didn't like those that he couldn't handle. She wasn't willing to put out like most other women in this industry, she couldn't be lured by money or opportunities, and she disrespected him. The worst combination! Director Li would just accept her now but... he would use his own means later on to force her out for sure!
"Alright, Xing Yu," said Director Li, once again trying to seem fair. "Since we already said it, we won't go back on our words... Xia Ting, you'll be taking the second lead. Xing Yu... Congratulations on securing the lead role!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
maygunbun
maygunbun *Pui = Spitting Sound. Considered disrespectful, used to scorn people or indicate that something is ridiculous.
Hi guys! Here's another chapter! Apologies but updates might slow down for a bit because I'd like to catch up on writing! So far I've uploaded around twice a day but I'll try my best to write more and mass release so that you guys can enjoy the chapters without having to wait! Hopefully I'm able to save up a lot of chapters!
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