Chapter 210: Chapter 210: How Much Longer Do You Plan to Pretend to Be Dead?
Sang Ning smiled knowingly. "If that’s the case, then I can rest easy."
Wang Qiuhong didn’t understand what Sang Ning was planning. None of these scenes were in the script. Sang Ning had added them, and Wang Qiuhong simply followed along.
"Baobao." Sang Ning softly called out Xi Meina’s nickname.
Xi Meina grasped her hand. "Godfather, speak."
Qingyue couldn’t stay silent anymore and wanted to stop Sang Ning. How could she improvise like that?
He hadn’t taken a step forward before being stopped by Wen Jiu.
"Teacher Wen Jiu, Sang Ning—"
Before he could finish saying "cheating," Wen Jiu silenced him with a cold, cutting glance.
Qingyue was livid. Performing without following the script—what fairness was left in this?
"When someone else is acting, being able to refrain from interference is a basic courtesy for an actor, and also a basic courtesy for a human being."
To avoid distracting Sang Ning, Wen Jiu lowered his voice as much as possible while rebuking Qingyue, yet the rigidity and coldness in his words were evident.
Qingyue gritted his teeth, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Wen Jiu suppressed his anger and continued watching Sang Ning perform.
Sang Ning’s hand slowly slid up to Xi Meina’s neck, lightly gripping it.
Xi Meina shuddered, as if wrapped by a venomous snake, the hairs on the back of her neck standing straight.
She looked at Sang Ning, but his eyes were still full of doting affection, his smile even more gentle.
"Godfather—" Xi Meina couldn’t figure out what Sang Ning was planning nor how to continue the scene. She could only mutter his name hesitantly and in confusion.
"Baobao, do you know what your godfather has hated most in his life?" Sang Ning’s voice grew weaker as he spoke. He had to take several breaths just to finish one sentence.
Yet from Sang Ning’s tone, Xi Meina couldn’t help but sense a strong and inexplicable murderous intent.
Instinctively, she tried to shrink away, attempting to free herself from his grip.
But the moment she tried to move, Sang Ning’s hand abruptly tightened around her neck. Xi Meina’s heart sank, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Sister, seriously? We’re just acting here, and you’re taking it literally?!
Sang Ning locked her neck firmly, leaning close to her ear. Cold malice flickered in his eyes, and all traces of weakness vanished from his face.
Sang Ning’s pupils contracted as his grip tightened. His expression turned indifferent while he theatrically "snapped" Xi Meina’s neck.
Xi Meina didn’t even know what had happened—her body suddenly went limp and collapsed to the floor. Strangely though, she felt no pain, her mind was still clear, but she couldn’t control her body, forced to let herself fall.
Almost immediately as Xi Meina fell, Sang Ning gazed at her. There was still a hint of doting affection in his eyes, but it was overwhelmed by the resignation and heartbreak of someone punishing a disobedient child.
"Your godfather’s greatest hatred in life is betrayal!"
As Sang Ning’s ice-cold words descended, Xi Meina collapsed on the ground with eyes wide open, as though dying without closing them.
Inside, Xi Meina roared in frustration. Hey, what’s going on here?
Am I dead or not dead? Why can’t I move my body, and why can’t I even say a word?!
Xi Meina’s "death" had been so convincing that everyone else was startled. They couldn’t help but marvel at her exquisite acting.
Wang Qiuhong’s mouth hung slightly open, her gaze unwavering.
Even though she was confused, her stunned and dazed expression happened to align perfectly with how a mother would react to seeing her beloved daughter killed by the person she adored the most.
Sang Ning pulled out the "arrow" buried in her chest with force using her left hand. While Wang Qiuhong was frozen in bewilderment, Sang Ning’s right hand wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her fiercely into his embrace.
Burying his head in her shoulder, his lips curved into a desolate smile. His eyes were filled with a wildly complex mix of emotions—heartache, reluctance, mockery, and ultimately a resolute coldness. With his left hand gripping the "arrow," he thrust it deep into Wang Qiuhong’s chest.
He stabbed decisively, piercing into "his" chest as well.
Once the broken arrow connected "his" body and Wang Qiuhong’s together, Sang Ning’s gaze abruptly softened again.
With his remaining strength, he raised his hand to gently stroke Wang Qiuhong’s fluffy head, repeating the motion tirelessly as he murmured, "I can’t trust anyone else to take care of you. You’ll have to come with me."
When he finished speaking, his last shred of strength drained from his body. In the final moment of his life, Sang Ning’s eyes grew vacant, his lips curving gently, as though reminiscing final, happy memories of his past.
Soon after, "he" slowly closed his eyes, his head dropping along with the hands that had gone limp.
Thus ended the life of a powerful eunuch.
The rehearsal room fell silent in an instant. Everyone unconsciously found themselves swept into Sang Ning’s emotions, overcome with sadness.
Until Xi Meina finally felt her mouth regain control, she lay flat on the ground and called out in despair and exasperation, "Sister Sang, just saying... exactly how long are you planning to leave me ’dead’ here?"
Sang Ning gently pushed Wang Qiuhong aside, moved to Xi Meina’s side, and released her acupoints, apologizing sincerely, "Sorry, it was necessary for the scene."
Xi Meina rose slowly, resting her left hand on her neck as she twisted it side to side, amazed. "Sang Ning, what did you do to me just now? It was so bizarre. I didn’t feel a single hint of pain yet couldn’t move at all."
Sang Ning pursed her lips and smiled. "Nothing, you just got lost in your role."
"Really?" Xi Meina asked, puzzled. Since when was her acting so good that even her own body was deceived?
"Sang Ning, you’re incredible!" Wang Qiuhong exclaimed, her face lit up in admiration. "Next time anyone dares claim your acting skills aren’t up to par, I’ll be the first to oppose them!"
"Not incredible at all." Sang Ning lightly tapped the skin beneath her eyes with her fingers, joking to herself, "I couldn’t even get a single tear to fall—is this what you call acting?"
"No, I think that’s actually better." Wen Jiu spoke as he clapped sincerely, "A character as cruel and arrogant as this one wouldn’t shed tears so easily."
Sang Ning’s later performance had entirely diverged from the original script. Unable to resist his curiosity, the screenwriter asked, "Sang Ning, could you tell us what you based this impromptu scene on?"
"Character development." Sang Ning replied without hesitation. "The script defines Jiuqiansui as a crazed yet doting character, correct? I don’t see such a person tolerating his adoptive daughter’s betrayal. And I don’t believe that someone in his dying moments would calmly witness his loved one fall into his enemy’s hands. Rather than leaving his beloved to endure torment after his death, it would be more in character for him to take her with him."
After hearing her explanation, the screenwriter smiled earnestly and applauded. "Indeed, your interpretation handled it better than the script."
"Enough said. In this casting showdown, I vote for Sang Ning." Shen Yi was the first to announce his stance.
Lu Ye, wanting to spite both Shen Yi and Sang Ning, cast his vote for Qingyue—even if inwardly conceding Sang Ning had performed better. "I support Qingyue."
Only Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina were left to vote. Having shared such an exhilarating scene with Sang Ning, they didn’t hesitate.
Besides, they had no idea about Qingyue’s connections behind the scenes. Without any doubt, their votes went to Sang Ning.