Chapter 116 Killing Two Birds at Once

The two sides greeted each other briefly and friendly. Under the complicated gazes, Ren Limeng tried hard to keep a calm expression. Her mother Wu Murong stood in front of her on the left. Xu Kai asked the three troupe leaders to stay, and the other actors left the square in an orderly manner and walked towards the Huangmei Opera Hall.

Ren Limeng was about to speak. She had to casually state her relationship with the Qianfang Troupe. The mother-daughter relationship was well-known in the Huangmei Opera circle of Mei City. Even if she and everyone else could tacitly hide it at the moment, it would inevitably be dug out by marketing accounts when the show was broadcast.

Ren Limeng had to act preemptively and give a reasonable explanation for this "coincidence" during the recording. Although she felt a little embarrassed to suddenly bring up these things, a calm and composed "big heart" is the basic quality of a host.

"Li Meng, I heard you say before that your parents were from the Qianfang Troupe. So you and Captain Li should know each other?"

The sudden interruption of the question interrupted Ren Limeng's expected monologue. Ren Limeng turned her gaze to Shen Xingzhi, who had a calm face, wondering whether his words at this moment were intentional or not.

"I've heard my parents mention Captain Li, but I haven't been home much these days, so Captain Li might not recognize me. I didn't expect to see so many people I know here today, even my mom was in the group just now. My schedule was busy this time, so I haven't been home. My mom also said she was busy with work during Huang Meizhou, so we haven't communicated much these days. I didn't expect us to meet here!"

Suppressing all the thoughts in her heart, the smile on Ren Limeng's face deepened. In any case, Shen Xingzhi's question was very timely, and she just took advantage of the opportunity to achieve her goal.

Since the program team and Meixiang Theater knew about her parents and had expressed their intention not to give up this line through actions, Ren Limeng could only frankly brush it off and explain the current encounter as a coincidence. As for the rest, she would continue to deal with it as it came.

"Oh? What a coincidence!"

Xu Kai looked at Ren Limeng with a smile, and Captain Li also looked over thoughtfully. A hint of surprise flashed in her gentle eyes, and she subconsciously looked at Xu Kai.

"Mr. Xu, how are today's groups arranged? It's already nine o'clock, we have to hurry."

Ren Limeng smiled without saying a word. Chen Xingzhi curled his lips slightly, interrupting Xu Kai's greetings and questions. Xu Kai looked at Chen Xingzhi with a smile, and took the initiative to assume the roles of Li Chuyue and Han Tai, hosting the recording process.

"Director Liu from the Fanhua Theater will be here soon. I saw him. He's already here. He had something to do this morning, so you didn't see him when you were touring the guild hall just now."

As Xu Kai explained, Captain Liu came over with steady steps. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a slightly hunched figure, wearing an old Zhongshan suit that was washed out. He looked around at the cameras somewhat stiffly and greeted everyone.

Ren Limeng noticed that when Captain Liu raised his hand, the skin on his palm was very dark and rough, and it was obvious that he often worked in the fields.

"Chu Yue and Han Tai should have already introduced today's arrangements to everyone. Please discuss among yourselves and choose a troupe leader. Go directly with the troupe leader to prepare for the performance and gain an in-depth understanding of the daily work of Huangmei Opera. At 11 o'clock, we will gather again in the square and have dinner together. I heard that the production team has arranged a live broadcast of your quiz."

Following Xu Kai's voice, Ren Limeng lowered her eyes and looked away. Today's arrangements were pretty much what she expected. If she had a choice of troupe, she would have liked to go to the Fanhua Troupe.

The relatively unfamiliar troupe was less likely to be disturbed by other things, and she was more likely to immerse herself in the recording. Besides, Ren Limeng had heard of the Fanhua Troupe a long time ago.

I heard that most of the actors in the Fanhua Troupe are not professionals, but come from villages and towns in Fan County. They sing in their spare time and farm in their busy time. Their inheritance with a strong rural flavor is very different from the "academic" performances like the Meixiang Theater.

"Li Meng, since you are so familiar with the Qianfang Troupe, why don't you join the Qianfang Troupe? It will be a good opportunity for mother and daughter to reunite."

Chen Xi stood beside Ren Limeng with a smile on his face, his face full of kindness as if he was thinking about Ren Limeng. As if on a sudden inspiration, he gently pushed the silent Ren Limeng towards Captain Li.

"Thank you, Sister Chen Xi. Mei City is my home turf, and I have familiar friends in various theater troupes. I'll choose last, so it's fairer this way."

Ren Limeng held Chen Xi with both hands and remained standing. She had a faint smile on her face and spoke sincerely, hinting at the trap left by Chen Xi's words. Her frank expression was a little embarrassed.

Putting aside her problems with her mother, if she had really gone to the Qianfang Troupe where there were more acquaintances like Yan Fangshu, she would have seemed to be able to thrive today, and it would definitely have caused a lot of discussion when Today was broadcast next week.

Although the quiz was a team battle, the second half of the live broadcast had its own window, and she couldn't leave any room for criticism here.

"Li Meng, don't think too much. Mei City is your hometown, that's indisputable. What's unfair about that? You and Li Chuyue are friends, so no one will mind. You don't have to be too sensitive!"

Chen Xi comforted her hypocritically, and her calm tone even carried some hints. She blinked her eyes worriedly, and with a smile on her face, she took Ren Limeng's hand, showing harmony and not giving in at all.

"Don't waste time. Li Meng will choose last. Chen Xi, ladies first, you choose first!"

Shen Xingzhi interrupted the silent confrontation between Chen Xi and Ren Limeng. After he calmly made his decision, he looked at Guan He who was standing beside him. "Then it's Guan He. We are all in the same team. There is no need to be polite. Don't waste time. It's decided."

Guan He wanted to refuse, but he felt the impatience in Shen Xingzhi's tone, so he just smiled and nodded.

Chen Xi directly chose Director Chen of the Yunsheng Troupe, and Guan He chose Director Fu of the Chuanhua Troupe after a little hesitation. Ren Limeng noticed that Guan He looked towards Dong Zhu from the program team before he made his choice. Her gaze followed Dong Zhu's thoughtful look and looked at Director Li of the Qianfang Troupe. She couldn't help but feel a tightness in her heart.

Qianfang Troupe...could it be that this is the choice specially reserved for her by the program team?

Just ask around at the Meixiang Theater and you'll find out that her past relationship with her mother was no secret. Neither the "Mountains and Seas" program nor the Meixiang Theater would want to make such a hot topic about a mother and daughter, not to mention the changes to college entrance exam choices and careers...

Her past itself is also very interesting.

As if noticing Ren Limeng's gaze, Dong Zhu looked back and smiled slightly. Ren Limeng inexplicably tasted a hint of encouragement from Dong Zhu's quiet eyes. With some faint expectation, Dong Zhu turned his gaze to Shen Xingzhi.

"Then I choose Qianfang, Li Meng, and you go with Captain Liu."

As if he didn't notice the program crew's gaze, Shen Xingzhi made the decision very quickly, stretched out his long legs, and walked directly towards Captain Li. It was obvious that they were disbanding on the spot and leaving on their own.

"Xingzhi, since Li Meng's mother is in Qianfang, you should think twice and stop stealing someone else's love. Li Meng is so shameless, how can you be so unromantic!"

Chen Xi suggested again as if jokingly, and signaled Shen Xingzhi to look at Dong Zhu. Since the program team had this plan, why should Shen Xingzhi get involved?

Maybe Ren Limeng is willing in her heart, and it is not entirely a bad thing for her to go to Qianfang Troupe. Even for the sake of Meixiang Theater, the program team will edit the story of Ren Limeng and her mother well.

Killing two birds with one stone, why couldn't Shen Xingzhi think of this?

Ren Limeng couldn't help but look at Chen Xingzhi, whose eyes were calm, and pursed her lips slightly. Today, Chen Xingzhi hardly looked at her specifically. In front of the camera, he called her "Limeng" in a seemingly friendly way, but there was no emotion at all, as if she was just a strange colleague in the recording.

Even though she had gotten what she wanted, at such an important moment, Ren Limeng found herself unable to help but be distracted.

This isn't the first time today.

Last night, Ren Limeng tossed and turned, not knowing whether it was because she suddenly learned that her mother was coming, or because she was shocked by Chen Xingzhi's past. Even during the break in recording today, Ren Limeng could not control her thoughts, especially when Chen Xingzhi spoke or was named by other guests, Ren Limeng would always take the opportunity to take a few more glances at him.

"Chen Xi, you talk too much today."

Shen Xingzhi spoke in a light tone, his thin lips parted slightly, his icy eyes swept towards Chen Xi, without a trace of warmth, his voice calm but with an unquestionable composure.

Chen Xi looked at Shen Xingzhi, and pulled the corner of her mouth unwillingly. She wanted to continue to argue, but she noticed the warning implied in Shen Xingzhi's tone. In the end, Chen Xi just frowned, with some resentment in her eyes, and looked back at the program crew behind the camera.

"Actually, Li Meng is overthinking it. Even if Li Meng chooses our Qianfang Troupe, it will not affect the fairness of the program recording. I heard that Li Meng rarely comes back, and her mother misses her very much. How about... Teacher Shen, can you help her?"

Xu Kai, who had been listening quietly to Shen Xingzhi's words, had a flash of anxiety in his eyes. Realizing that Chen Xi was about to keep silent, he finally couldn't help but smile and speak. His eyes fell on Ren Limeng, who was silent beside him, as if hoping that she would take the initiative to express the same wish.

What a great opportunity!

The mother-daughter relationship between Ren Limeng and Wu Murong perfectly connects the "Mountains and Seas" program and Meixiang Theater. It is simply a topic tailor-made by God. He finally persuaded Captain Li to trick Wu Murong over, so how could he fail here?

The program team clearly said that Ren Limeng is ambitious and wants to be famous. I heard that she had the courage to rely on her relationship with Shen Xingzhi before, which really made Shen Xingzhi look at her sideways. Why didn't she seize this opportunity that was delivered to her door?

He was worried about Ren Limeng!

"Mr. Xu, thank you for your kindness. I'm fine now."

It's not that she didn't see Xu Kai's almost explicit look, nor did she fail to notice Dong Zhu's gaze behind the camera, but Ren Limeng just smiled faintly, and before Shen Xingzhi spoke, she took the lead in expressing her own thoughts, which was completely opposite to the attitude of others.

"Li Meng..."

Xu Kai looked behind the camera. Dong Zhu frowned and was about to stand up and walk over, but before she could signal to pause the recording, Shen Xingzhi had already looked towards the camera coldly, his deep and firm eyes.

"That's it, don't waste time."