4 Grand and Lofty

When Chu Lian was dragged by the beau inside the room, what welcomed her were the daggers shot at her by the people inside. The air was tons heavy in contrast with the bright atmosphere at Studio 10.

Almost everyone let out an exasperated sigh. She didn't know who started it but the quiet room was suddenly filled with rage and it was directed at her.

"You actually dared to be late for 3 hours?" one person scowled at her. "And she claims to be an actress!" another one butted in. "Hmph, just what does Miss Red see with this woman? All she have is a slightly pretty face," a woman gritted her teeth as she looked at Chu Lian with contempt.

"What pretty face? Look how she dress, she doesn't even look presentable. How infuriating!" they talked and insulted Chu Lian as if they were afraid she wouldn't be able hear them. "Husssh, look, even the director has clouds all over his face. We already wasted so much time and it is all her fault." A person whispered and pointed at the beau who dragged Chu Lian into the room.

Chu Lian is a self-proclaimed timid girl; and with these joint attacks, she couldn't even defend herself. She felt like a practice dummy with a bunch of practitioners all striking her at the same time.

And this is the fifth time. The fifth time that Chu Lian was infuriated by the people at this goddamned place. She felt that she has already reached her limit and was going to explode.

Her face flushed red from anger and retaliated, "Excuse me, you—" but before she could even finish, the beau interrupted her in a chilling androgynous voice, "Save your excuses for later. We already wasted too much time for a single scene."

His voice was low but it was also very cold. Chu Lian rarely got scared and it is one of those rare moments. She didn't know why but the air this beau gives her is grand and lofty. Like he has this kind of authority one would not dare disobey, especially in this kind of setting.

She once again swallowed her grievance when the beau threw a stack of papers to her. "Second act, scene 4. You must have at least memorized the script." He coldly said to her as he strut away from her and sat on a chair in front of a mini stage with a 'living room of a luxurious house' setting on it.

Chu Lian's mind was still all over the place when she subconsciously opened the script. Written on the front page was the title of the play they were rehearsing, "The Poor Belle and the Heirs".

She quickly read the short synopsis of the theatrical piece and found out that it is a story about fighting for the inheritance.

Basically it is about how a beautiful orphan, named Jiang Yue, who suddenly appeared and disrupted the balance of power in the Ying family. She was an illegitimate child, however, she also had the right to fight for the inheritance.

The Ying family had three legitimate children namely Ying Fan, Ying Fen and Ying Fu. Ying Fan was the eldest but she had no interest in being the heiress as she already had a successful career. Ying Fen is spoiled but admires her older sister, she is also considered the heiress as the youngest Ying Fu is still very young.

The siblings were orphaned and their other relatives kept scheming against them in order to get the inheritance from them, and this resulted to the discovery of the illegitimate child, Jiang Yue.

Chu Lian got immersed in reading that she forgot about the events earlier. She was about to continue reading when a roar snapped her out. "What are you still dilly-dallying for?!" it was the beau from earlier. Chu Lian just realized that he must be the director of the play.

She looked blankly at him, not knowing what to do. She wanted to get mad as well but her courage is not enough. If it was other people, perhaps she might. But this beau is like a great god in here.

The director noticing the stupid look of Chu Lian said with contempt, "Really, what did Miss Red see in you to play as Ying Fan when you are this stupid."

What Chu Lian hated the most is when other people question her intelligence. In fact, she is very clever. She can remember everything she reads, sees and hears very fast and easily. She does not have a photographic memory; she is just that smart.

Chu Lian frowned and read the character description for Ying Fan. She is the eldest miss of the Ying family.

She is proud and arrogant. She does not even put her siblings in her sight. She is not interested in the Ying family inheritance matters as she sees it very petty; however that doesn't mean she wants the other heirs to have it easy either.

Chu Lian quickly scanned the script to get into act 2, scene 4. She read the scene as quickly as she can and it was a scene where Ying Fan abused and gave the other people a hard time.

"If you don't want to act, just leave now or else I couldn't guarantee you'd still be able to get out of here alive." The director threatened through gritted teeth. He has been fuming mad at the woman in white shirt but he couldn't do anything to her as she was recommended by Miss Red.

It wasn't Chu Lian's nature to just swallow grievances and not spit it out. She has been wronged a lot of times today already, and now she found her chance to vent.

"Huh, so you want me to act the bad guy? Then I'd be the bad guy." Chu Lian mumbled to herself with fiery and determined eyes as she walked towards the stage.