Although Tian Shan Tong Lao cursed Wu Yazi for being heartless, lamenting his secret affair with Li Qiushui behind her back, her inner pain far surpassed her resentment.
If this point wasn't highlighted, the performance would be considered mediocre at best, merely passing.
After watching her performance, the bearded director’s brow furrowed so deeply it could trap a fly, yet he still nodded politely, signaling An Qiuyan to step down.
Seeing this, An Qiuyan mistook the director's nod as approval of her acting. She smiled, turning away from the camera, her gaze flicking towards Jiang Ling.
Her eyes seemed to say, "See this? This is acting. You trash!"
Jiang Ling ignored her and slowly stepped forward.
The bearded director waved his hand. "Begin!"
Jiang Ling first lowered her head and took a deep breath.
When she looked up again, her eyes had become profound and weathered.
The bearded director’s breath hitched.
As a renowned director in the industry, though not an actor himself, he deeply understood the art of acting.
He knew that a good actor didn't need to perform any specific actions or recite lines; a mere shift in their gaze could immediately immerse them in the role.
However, achieving this instant immersion required not only talent but also years of dedicated training and refinement of one's acting skills.
Jiang Ling was so young, how could she possess such advanced acting prowess?
He watched Jiang Ling intently, his eyes filled with curiosity, surprise, disbelief, and a subtle, unidentifiable anticipation.
An Qiuyan, still new to the industry, hadn't fully grasped the essence of being an 'actor' and couldn't comprehend the significance of instant immersion.
She mockingly watched Jiang Ling on stage, waiting for her to embarrass herself.
However, what happened next was almost unbelievable.
Jiang Ling let out a cry of pain, her hands clenched as she furiously pounded a dummy made to resemble Xu Zhu, shouting, "You heartless little thief... You must have done unspeakable things with that slut. You’ve been hiding it from me all this time, how much longer were you going to lie? How could you do this to me?"
The same lines, spoken by An Qiuyan, conveyed a direct, unadulterated hatred.
But when Jiang Ling uttered them, they were laced with a complex blend of love and hate, overflowing with endless sorrow and indignation.
Hearing these lines, the bearded director felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his chest.
He instinctively pinched his hand, and the pain made him realize he wasn’t dreaming.
Without an assistant nearby to deliver Xu Zhu’s lines, Jiang Ling faced an even greater challenge, yet she performed with effortless grace.
Her face flushed with anger, tears streaming down like pearls as she raged at Wu Yazi for his affair with Li Qiushui.
This segment of dialogue was identical to An Qiuyan's performance, but the emotional depth and impact were worlds apart.
At this moment, a young man nearby, unable to bear it any longer, picked up a script and began reciting Xu Zhu's lines, advising, "Senior, life is impermanent, impermanence is suffering. All troubles arise from greed, hatred, and delusion. Senior, you only need to cast aside these three poisons, cease thinking of the esteemed Mr. Wu Yazi, and stop resenting your junior sister. Then your heart will be free from troubles."
Jiang Ling retorted furiously, "I will think of your heartless master, and I will resent that shameless slut!"
The word "slut" was spat out with extreme venom, her teeth grinding, as if she wanted to tear Li Qiushui to shreds.
Her eyes were bloodshot, a tumultuous mix of grief, resentment, affection, and obsession simultaneously visible.