Chapter 156 Did Shen Xingzhi look for you privately?
Until she finished her role on stage in the afternoon, Yan Fangshu returned to the backstage and what lingered in her mind was still Shen Xingzhi's words. Li Chuyue and Ren Limeng's past dirty deeds attracted Yan Fangshu's attention more than the ongoing ring match.
She used her mobile phone to enter Ren Limeng's live broadcast room. The performance of "The Female Prime Minister" on the screen seemed to have traveled through time. Ren Limeng's superb interpretation unconsciously brought Yan Fangshu back to her teenage years, the drama school practice room, and every day they spent together.
For a moment, Yan Fangshu even felt in a trance that Ren Limeng had not changed her career. The performance at this moment was like the future she dreamed of when she was young. Even if they were on different stages, even if they had main and supporting roles, they would always be in Huangmei Opera.
Yan Fangshu couldn't hold back her thoughts any longer, and finally stood up and walked towards the actors from the same drama school backstage, chatting with them happily. With the help of Ren Limeng's performance, she could easily bring the topic back to the past, allowing everyone to recall everything that had happened.
"I never thought that after all these years of hard work, Chu Yue would be outshined by Li Meng on just one stage. Li Meng is still the same Li Meng!"
Classmates casually sighed that the best performer in this year's drama school has always been Li Chuyue, the ace actress of Meixiang Theater, who has left the others far behind. The rest of them are still playing supporting roles in various plays, and classmates like Ren Limeng who changed careers have quietly disappeared from everyone's sight over the years.
No one expected that Ren Limeng would return with the "Mountains and Seas" program in such glory, and even play the leading role in the Meishi Huangmei Week Competition to compete with national-level actors from the three major theater troupes. How can one not sigh.
"Are you guys talking about Ren Limeng? There's a TV in the dressing room showing Ren Limeng's live stream. You can go check it out. By the way, are you guys Ren Limeng's classmates at the drama school? Was Ren Limeng really that great back then? Didn't they say she had no successors and just faded into obscurity?"
Other actors from the Qianfang Troupe who passed by talked casually, with curiosity flashing in their eyes. "Ren Limeng" has now become a hot topic of discussion among everyone in Meixiang Theater and the three major troupes. Even the entire Meixiang opera community cannot ignore this shining "dark horse".
"Broadcast Mengmeng's live broadcast? When did our troupe bring a TV?"
There was a strange look in Yan Fangshu's eyes. She had just watched Ren Limeng's live broadcast secretly on her mobile phone with headphones plugged in. Ren Limeng was fighting for the Fanhua Troupe, an obvious competitor of her own troupe. How could she broadcast it openly in front of everyone?
Although, she was very interested in this matter and really wanted to give a thumbs up to this wise decision!
“Yes, I heard that it was arranged by Shen Xingzhi’s assistant. Knowing yourself and your enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger.”
Actors passing by gossiped and winked, "Shen Xingzhi's assistant secretly arranged this. I didn't expect that even the top stars would be so concerned about gains and losses and care about this kind of competition. The entertainment industry is indeed the entertainment industry."
Whether the entertainment industry is the entertainment industry or not, Yan Fangshu has only a vague idea, but she believes that Chen Xingzhi's arrangement is definitely not just because of "small-minded" competition. A hint of complexity flashed in her eyes. After a few more hurried chats with the people next to her, Yan Fangshu went to the dressing room curiously.
As soon as she entered the room, she immediately discovered that the TV was facing the dressing table of Ren Limeng's mother, Wu Murong. Listening to almost everyone in the dressing room praising and discussing Ren Limeng, Yan Fangshu had some guesses in her mind.
When the live broadcast of "Mountains and Seas" was about to end, Yan Fangshu went to greet Ren Limeng as planned as if nothing had happened, but she was still worried about this matter. After asking her colleagues in the troupe who were on good terms with her, Yan Fangshu confirmed that the TV in the dressing room was still playing Ren Limeng's "The Female Prime Minister" from the beginning, forcing Wu Murong, who had just finished the ring match and was removing her makeup, to watch Ren Limeng's performance.
The reason why Chen Xingzhi put up a TV is about to be revealed. Even Yan Fangshu, who opposes it, has to sigh at Chen Xingzhi's good intentions. This is a "coincidence" she discovered. Yan Fangshu couldn't help but wonder, are there more arrangements that have not been noticed?
Just like when Shen Xingzhi suddenly appeared in the museum during the day today and followed closely throughout the whole process, just like... at this moment, Shen Xingzhi and his entire team were watching "Couple Watching Lanterns" by Ren Limeng's mother Wu Murong.
"Why don't we all go backstage and learn some lessons? It's a good opportunity to chat with...Teacher Wu."
Han Tai's sudden suggestion broke the suffocating atmosphere of the silent confrontation between Shen Xingzhi and Chen Xi. He spoke cautiously, feeling more and more that his sudden ice-breaking idea was very clever and directly solved the guests' urgent needs.
"Of course we have no problem, but... Li Meng, will it be too much trouble for Auntie? Brother Xingzhi's concerns are also reasonable. I thought that Li Meng and I hit it off right away, so I took it for granted."
Chen Xi finally revealed a faint smile. She glanced at Han Tai and took over the conversation with a smile. She cleverly explained the selfishness implied in Chen Xingzhi's words as the casualness of her friendship with Ren Limeng. Her tone was slightly aggrieved, as if Ren Limeng and Chen Xingzhi had deliberately misunderstood her.
"Sister Chen Xi, I only saw my mother once during the recording session in Fan County these days. I don't know what her current plans are."
Before Chen Xingzhi spoke, Ren Limeng had already sighed with a wry smile, as if she was regretful and helpless that she couldn't return home. She also expressed her dedication to recording and implied that she couldn't make decisions for her mother, which contrasted with Chen Xi's casual use of the mother-daughter relationship in her words.
"Teacher Wu should be removing her makeup right now. Li Meng's father, Teacher Ren, is my master. Normally, I just call Teacher Wu Master and Madam. We're very familiar with each other, so there shouldn't be any problem."
Han Tai's firm tone made everyone around quiet down. Even though the camera was nearby, the guests all looked at Ren Limeng at the same time. They didn't expect that Han Tai would be so careless in bringing up something that even his own daughter couldn't guarantee.
Although he can show a close relationship with Ren Limeng's family, doesn't this mean he doesn't take Ren Limeng seriously?
Yan Fangshu frowned slightly and completely eliminated Han Tai in her heart. What's more, Han Tai and Ren Limeng's family were not very close.
Uncle Ren and Aunt Wu have taught too many students and apprentices over the years, and they even have grandchildren and younger disciples. Her family and Ren Limeng's family are close friends, but she would not directly say such a guarantee. Doesn't Han Tai want to show off too much in front of the camera?
"Aunt Wu is taking her makeup off at this hour. Did your production team arrange this in advance? It's inappropriate to interrupt her private time, even if she's Mengmeng's mother, isn't it?"
Yan Fangshu frowned slightly and interrupted as if she was a little confused. Han Tai looked at Yan Fangshu with a slightly stiff smile. He heard the dissatisfaction in Yan Fangshu's words. Han Tai subconsciously looked at Ren Limeng.
"It's my oversight. It's really not right to disturb you so late. Everyone go back and get some rest."
Shen Xingzhi's cold voice rang in everyone's ears. He didn't give Han Tai, who was hesitant to speak, a chance to continue explaining, and directly ended the recording of today's event.
"Li Meng, are you going to look for your parents, or are you going back with us?"
Before leaving the Anxiang Hall, Shen Xingzhi looked at Ren Limeng. The sudden inquiry brought the opportunity to contact his parents privately to Ren Limeng's lips. Ren Limeng thought of her mother's attitude yesterday and felt a little hesitant in her heart.
While she was thinking, Yan Fangshu beside her rushed to answer for her, "Thank you, Brother Xingzhi. It's a rare opportunity. Mengmeng and I will go visit Aunt Wu and Uncle Ren. I will take Mengmeng back to the B&B when the time comes!"
"Okay, thank you for your trouble."
Shen Xingzhi nodded, as if he was just fulfilling his captain's duties, and his indifferent eyes showed no deliberateness.
"Fangfang, Li Meng, let me go with you to see Teacher Wu."
Li Chuyue glanced at the camera that was still recording and interrupted with a smile. Taking Ren Limeng's warning into consideration, she became the background board among the guests again today. She really didn't want to do anything at this moment.
She was just trying to create an impression of sisterly love, and she believed Ren Limeng wouldn't take her words to heart.
"No need. You've been busy recording all day. Go back and rest early."
Yan Fangshu's decisive words made Li Chuyue stunned, and Ren Limeng couldn't help but look sideways. Looking at Yan Fangshu who was talking with a smile, Ren Limeng didn't think about it anymore. There were too many things to think about in her mind.
“Fangfang, did Shen Xingzhi come to you privately?”
After leaving the recording site and walking to the backstage dressing room, Ren Limeng finally couldn't help but ask Yan Fangshu. Her affirmative tone didn't sound like a question, but more of curiosity.
"Mengmeng, you're so smart. He came to see me yesterday."
Yan Fangshu smiled and took Ren Limeng's arm. Compared to the mess yesterday, after a sleepless night, today she could at least bury all her worries deep in her heart while participating in the recording.
In the morning, she talked to the old actors in the theater and learned more details about the selection competition of Ren Limeng and Li Chuyue that year, which she didn't know. Putting aside the perspective of their friends and thinking rationally, things gradually became clear.
Yan Fangshu had no evidence to prove what happened back then, but the vested interests were too obvious. If she hadn't always treated Li Chuyue as a good sister, she wouldn't have been kept in the dark for so many years, and it wouldn't even take an outsider like Shen Xingzhi to point it out. Thinking of this, Yan Fangshu grabbed Ren Limeng's arm with even more heartache.
Today, by constantly teasing Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi, Yan Fangshu believed that Ren Limeng should not be able to notice her other abnormalities.
Yan Fangshu didn't want Ren Limeng to know that she had discovered something that Ren Limeng didn't want her to know. She understood Ren Limeng's good intentions in hiding it from her, and was willing to continue pretending to be confused.
However, although she appeared to be laughing, she knew everything in her heart. After all, they were not little girls of sixteen or seventeen years old anymore.
"It's not that I'm smart, it's that you're too obvious. You were trying to match me and Han Tai a few days ago, but today you suddenly turned to Shen Xingzhi. I think it's hard not to be suspicious. Tell me, what benefits did Shen Xingzhi promise you? Did he really buy you a set of skin care products?"
Ren Limeng smiled and shook hands with Yan Fangshu, her words full of joking, but... even if she was just chatting and mentioned Chen Xingzhi, Ren Limeng couldn't help but have too many thoughts in her mind, which she suppressed under her reason.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
