Chapter 17 She Should Act 4_1

Miya Bai's rise to fame was considered too abrupt, which is why, without a solid foundation for the audience to accept her, she was brutally attacked online.

When Miya Bai appeared on the second floor, she was accompanied by only one assistant, wearing sunglasses and a light blue dress, exuding a gentle and peaceful temperament. Online, there were claims that Miya Bai had become arrogant after gaining fame, but looking at her in person, it was hard to imagine such behavior from her.

"I'm sorry, Director Li, I'm late," she said.

As soon as Miya Bai reached the second floor, she apologized to Li Zhou, who nodded and said, "It's all right." It seemed that Li Zhou had a good impression of Miya Bai; otherwise, why would he have chosen her as the leading actress?

Miya Bai had no idea that the role of Qiao Muran had already been cast. After the director had finished speaking, she was ready to meet the others, as that was the basic courtesy.

But Li Zhou, pointing to a girl at the bar, said, "This is the Qiao Muran I've chosen. You'll practice a scene with her later."

Miya Bai was taken aback and reflexively looked over.

She knew all too well the difficulty of playing the role of Qiao Muran when she received the script, so when the director said the role was cast, her first thought was disbelief—not that he hadn't found someone, but that the person could not possibly convey the unique feeling of Qiao Muran.

But when she first looked over, she saw the girl sitting in front of the computer, not even turning her head their way, with the side of her face showing a gentle curve yet also a hint of sharpness, sitting quietly with her chin propped up, truly giving off a bit of the calmness of Qiao Muran.

Since Musheng had subdued his aura, that was all she could sense. But this calm appearance was something anyone could portray—was this enough to confirm she could play Qiao Muran?

Miya Bai didn't agree inside, but she wouldn't question Director Li. After sizing up Musheng, she withdrew her gaze and smiled, replying, "Okay."

Li Zhou was very pleased. Although Miya Bai's online reputation was not good, everyone in the entertainment industry knew she was of good quality and decent acting skill. After today, his favorable impression of her increased. He saw the skepticism in her eyes, but she didn't rashly say anything. She understood the importance of respecting him as the director, and that was enough.

He hadn't made a mistake when choosing her for the part.

Miya Bai went to change her clothes. The scene they had come to the internet cafe to shoot was between her and her brother in the show, "A Life Apart." The leading lady was named An Xiaoxia, and her brother was An Song. Unlike the obedient An Xiaoxia, An Song was somewhat clever and extremely rebellious. After defying a punishment from their father, he ran away from home and ended up in the unfamiliar Capital City, working in an internet cafe. It was his frightened sister who traveled thousands of miles to find him, and it was there she met the male lead and Qiao Muran.

On the surface, "A Life Apart" looks like a Cinderella story of a woman marrying into wealth, but in reality, it is close to reality, logical, and simply put, a story where love and plot coexist. Otherwise, how could a single character like Qiao Muran propel the book to the status of a classic? Both plot and literary style are indispensable.

Because she was going to act with Musheng, Miya Bai came out in her character's casual T-shirt, brimming with youthful vitality, to greet Musheng kindly after changing.

"Hello, my name is Miya Bai."

She said this with an easy grace, and Musheng slightly lifted her head, responding faintly, "Hmm, hello, I'm Musheng."

Compared to the lively Miya Bai, she seemed more withdrawn. Miya Bai laughed inwardly, wondering if she was already getting into character, but after their eyes met, she felt a shiver down her spine.

Her eyes were very clear, but this clarity was not mere cleanliness—it was a kind of indifference. The calm surface masked the coldness beneath, like a still pond untouched by ripples, giving off different illusions if you glanced at it wrong.

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"Do you not read the script?"

Ann suddenly took an interest in this girl and struck up a conversation with Miya. Musheng lifted her eyelids to look at her, "Finished it."

"…Oh." At a loss for words momentarily, Bai Miya didn't understand why she felt an inexplicable nervousness when facing Musheng. She'd been through all kinds of turmoil in the entertainment industry, yet now, facing just a young girl, she was experiencing uncontrollable emotions.

She subconsciously clenched the hem of her T-shirt, "You understand it all? How do you interpret the role of Qiao Muran?"

Musheng stretched lazily, an indescribable lethargy in her movement, then stood up. The words she spoke, however, were infuriating: "Just like that."

Just like that?

If Bai Miya were a fan of this book, she'd be hopping mad, but she wasn't. She thought the book was well-written but not to the extent that she would be a fan—perhaps because she normally didn't enjoy reading romance novels. Yet she knew that what Musheng said was inappropriate.

"You can't say that. If a journalist asks you that question, your response will attract criticism," she advised kindly. Musheng turned to look at her, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, her gaze no longer calm but filled with a vague… amusement. Bai Miya's heart suddenly raced and she thought her throat felt dry, unable to speak, until Musheng said, "It depends on whether I let them interview me. I'm just doing this film, not entering the entertainment industry, and even if I do, no one can hold me back."

Arrogant, very arrogant words.

But she said them so lightly, so naturally arrogant, leaving one at a loss for words.

That was Bai Miya for you. She was somewhat dumbfounded and couldn't find words to retort against Musheng. Just then, Li Zhou called out to them both: "Bai Miya, Musheng, the scene is set up, come over and run the lines."

Bai Miya snapped to attention, her spirit revived, and at the same time, she became immensely curious about Musheng's acting ability. Did this girl have any talent for acting?

The crew members of the internet cafe's second floor also gathered around to watch this exciting performance. Even Xiao Keke joined the crowd, making a bet with the person next to her, Zhao Junjie: "I bet she can't act."

She, of course, was referring to Musheng.

Zhao Junjie looked at her strangely, "What exactly do you have against Musheng?"

Defiantly, Xiao Keke responded, "Nothing personal, just don't like the look of her."

Zhao Junjie: "…"

But there was one thing Xiao Keke didn't say out loud. Her gaze focused, she watched Musheng enter the center of the scene with the same nonchalance, once again overlapping with someone from her memory.

Too alike, too much like that person.

It was because she resembled her that Xiao Keke found Musheng disagreeable, because no one had the right to resemble that person!

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