Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Your Face Doesn’t Fit the Role
The expressions of the crowd subtly changed; everyone felt embarrassed on behalf of Sang Ning.
After all, everyone else received praise, while only Sang Ning was singled out for criticism.
If someone with a more fragile heart experienced this, they’d probably have red-rimmed eyes of grievance by now.
But Sang Ning acted composed—neither embarrassed nor aggrieved.
After all, acting wasn’t her strong suit; Ma Liheng was the professional here.
She wasn’t so conceited as to be unable to accept advice from a professional.
So, Sang Ning lowered her stance and humbly inquired, "Mr. Ma, could you point out specifically which part you found awkward? Could you elaborate?"
Ma Liheng froze for a moment; he hadn’t expected Sang Ning to have such strong psychological resilience.
No crying from grievance, no sharp rebuttals either.
In truth, if asked to clearly state which aspect of Sang Ning’s performance was awkward, he wouldn’t know how to explain.
"Ahem—"
Not wanting to make the situation unpleasant, Ma Liheng cleared his throat and softened his expression.
"You’re just too beautiful, with prominent feminine traits—there’s not a trace of a eunuch’s essence in you."
Ma Liheng’s explanation was strained.
Even Sang Ning nearly laughed aloud—so her beauty was a flaw now?
Currently they were merely walking through the scene, with no makeup or costume work done yet. If she could embody the essence of a eunuch based solely on her current appearance, she might as well bang her head against a wall.
"Ma Liheng, as a professional acting coach, don’t you think your feedback this time is rather uninspired?"
"Judging me from an acting perspective, shouldn’t your critique be rooted in performance specifics? Why drag my appearance into this?"
Sang Ning welcomed advice from professionals, but she also had every right to question them.
Ma Liheng’s comments genuinely rubbed her the wrong way, and she no longer bothered to address him with formal respect.
Sang Ning’s expression was serious, and her tone was far from polite.
Ma Liheng vaguely sensed that Sang Ning might be a difficult personality to handle, so he opted to avoid direct conflict with her.
Instead, he maintained a deceptively amicable smile, adopting the veneer of a patient, guiding mentor.
"Still, I believe appearance is a critical element in acting. Otherwise, why would idol dramas always cast handsome men and gorgeous women?
The success of a character often hinges on whether an actor’s appearance aligns with the role, doesn’t it?
At the very least, an actor must prevent the audience from being pulled out of the scene. Unfortunately for you, Sang Ning, your face is too distracting—it’s impossible to immerse anyone in the character of Jiuqiansui."
Sang Ning sighed inwardly—Ma Liheng was indeed a seasoned operator.
His remarks were nothing more than a subtle misdirection, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste in their wake.
Yet he always maintained an air of cheerful politeness, smiling as he spoke, forcing anyone who might want to punch him to think twice.
After all, everyone wanted to save face. And Sang Ning was no exception.
Since Ma Liheng had already put on such a tactful performance, it wouldn’t suit her to act brutish and openly clash with him.
"So, what you mean is..." Sang Ning trailed off intentionally.
"I think Qingyue is still the best fit for the role of Jiuqiansui.
Though his appearance leans toward the sunny side, his unsmiling demeanor carries a shadowy undertone, which matches Jiuqiansui’s traits exceptionally well."
Ma Liheng spared no effort in recommending Qingyue.
Sang Ning chuckled bitterly—so this had been his plan all along.
She tilted her head, casting a probing and scrutinizing look toward Qingyue.
But Qingyue deftly averted his gaze, avoiding eye contact with her.
Well played—this bastard actually looked guilty!
"Fine then, since Mr. Ma has made such a compelling case, let Qingyue have the role. I don’t mind."
Unwilling to engage in prolonged debates with Ma Liheng, Sang Ning agreed readily.
At this point, if she still couldn’t see that Qingyue had connections, she might as well gouge out her eyes.
This wasn’t about bowing to capital; it simply wasn’t worth the effort.
If she crumbled under this small grievance and quit the shoot, what would happen to the company?
She had already caused enough negative fallout for the company before. Now that she’d committed to working earnestly and making money, she needed to rein in her impulse to pummel anyone who annoyed her.
Her swift and decisive agreement left both Ma Liheng and Qingyue momentarily stunned.
"You’re not even going to fight for yourself?" Ma Liheng asked in surprise.
Even he, cornered as he was, felt a twinge of guilt at Sang Ning’s cooperation.
Sang Ning crossed her arms, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "If someone’s so eager to play the eunuch, who am I to rob them of the opportunity?"
Qingyue’s face darkened. "What’s that supposed to mean, Sang Ning?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." Sang Ning shrugged indifferently. "If you’re upset, why don’t you come fight me, huh?"
Qingyue remained silent; as long as his goal was achieved, there was no need to confront Sang Ning directly.
"Mr. Ma, with the role of Jiuqiansui going to Qingyue, what’s left for Sang Ning to play?"
Shen Yi, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke up, his tone sharp and displeased.
Without missing a beat, Ma Liheng answered, "Qingyue’s previous role is now vacant; it can go to Sang Ning."
For a moment, everyone fell silent. Their expressions reflected a mix of bemused resignation as they exchanged glances.
Shen Yi didn’t shy away from conflict. He snorted coldly, questioning Ma Liheng, "Mr. Ma, wasn’t it you just moments ago who argued Sang Ning’s pronounced feminine traits made her ill-suited for the role of Jiuqiansui? So now you’re saying she’s perfect to play a General?
How does that make sense?"
Ma Liheng’s ears reddened with embarrassment, Shen Yi’s words leaving him flustered and at a loss.
"That’s different! For the role of General, we can apply fake sideburns to create a masculine look. But a eunuch character—how could we stick a mustache on them?"
Even Ma Liheng found his own explanation barely passable.
To divert everyone’s attention, he decided to end the discussion expeditiously.
"Since both concerned parties have no objections, this decision is final. Time is tight, and the official performance is set for the day after tomorrow. Everyone must focus on rehearsing."
After enduring repeated challenges, Ma Liheng’s façade of a pleasant smile began to crumble, replaced by a growing impatience.
"Damn it, what a mess. Does his backing really outrank mine?" Lu Ye cursed under his breath, kicking at thin air in frustration. Qingyue happened to be standing right where his foot was aimed.
Idiot!
Ma Liheng silently berated Lu Ye—it’s fine to have connections, but why flaunt them so foolishly?
"Thank you, Mr. Ma. We’ll begin rehearsing right away." Qingyue thanked Ma Liheng while choosing to ignore Lu Ye’s irate mumblings.
A rabid dog like that wasn’t worth taking seriously.
The last-minute role swap didn’t just sour Sang Ning—it pissed off everyone else too.
With the change in lead actor, they had to recalibrate all the emotional dynamics and rhythms of their scenes with Qingyue. Meaning yesterday’s rehearsals were now entirely wasted.
Everyone dragged their feet through the walkthroughs, resentment simmering, leading to three failed runs without achieving any synergy.
Even Qingyue grew anxious; no matter how skilled he was, delivering a convincing performance required the cooperation of the entire cast.