CHAPTER 201: CHAPTER 201: DISSECTING THE INNERMOST THOUGHTS OF LADY CONSORT NING

The second group to perform was the Qingyue Group, and their chosen scenario was a music stage.

Qingyue originally debuted as part of an idol group. To secure advancement, he safely chose to portray the role of an idol.

Since it was essentially a performance based on his real-life persona, there were hardly any mistakes to pick out. In this round, Qingyue successfully advanced.

The third group to perform was the Chu Xi Group. Their chosen scenario was a mansion belonging to a wealthy family.

Two actors decided to play the roles of an affluent couple. They created a temporary backstory involving a pampered daughter of twenty-plus years suddenly becoming infatuated and manipulated by a smooth-talking swindler. Moreover, she wanted to sever ties with her parents for this man.

"Get out! If you insist on being with that thug, then don’t consider me your father anymore!"

The male actor, portraying the father, erupted in anger toward an imaginary daughter. The actress playing the mother quickly rushed to hold him back. Though deeply disappointed in their daughter’s actions, she still softened and couldn’t bear to hear such harsh words from her husband.

"Darling, anger is one thing, but this is the daughter we painstakingly raised for twenty years. How can you let her leave just like that?"

The other actors hadn’t yet immersed themselves in their roles when Chu Xi reacted first, rushing forward and collapsing to the ground, playing the infatuated daughter.

Chu Xi pretended as though she had just been slapped by the enraged father. Covering her face, she looked up, and within just a few seconds of building up her emotions, her eyes glistened with tears.

Her eyes were red and filled with grievance as she questioned her parents: "I genuinely love him. Why can’t you understand me? Why must you control me?"

The three of them had already settled into their roles. The other three, who were still grappling with their characters, eventually settled into roles of a housekeeper and domestic staff, stepping forward to try to mediate with Chu Xi.

"Miss, why are you doing this? The master and madam are only thinking about what’s best for you. Which loving parents would ever harm their child?"

The housekeeper’s scene of pulling her back was awkward, as though mechanically reciting lines without any emotion.

The mentors were not particularly impressed by this performance either. Their feedback pointed out that a father already enraged to the brink by his daughter’s behavior would typically yell "Get out!" instead. The actor portraying the father had restrained his emotions too much.

In contrast, Chu Xi’s performance received commendation from the mentors. With her usual penchant for acting pitiful and fragile, she delivered a genuine portrayal this time.

Unsurprisingly, Chu Xi’s group successfully advanced in this round.

The fourth group to perform was Shen Yi’s Group. Their scenario was a hospital.

This setting offered considerable room to explore. Some played family members enduring moments of life and death; others took on roles of doctors, nurses, and one played the troublesome patient causing chaos.

But Shen Yi did something different—he lay on the ground.

His eyes widened, staring at the ceiling, his body twitching intensely as if trying to break free from something. His painful expressions conveyed a desperate struggle.

Considering it was a hospital scene, it naturally suggested he was struggling to free himself from various medical instruments attached to his body.

His breathing grew progressively labored, and his gaze began to blur. It gradually became apparent that he was portraying a critically ill patient fighting desperately for survival under the doctor’s rescue efforts.

Ultimately, the rescue failed. His gaze turned hollow, his hands limply dropped as if no longer resisting.

A moment later, his eyes slowly shut. After a gentle tremble of his eyelids, his entire body became still.

The room erupted in thunderous applause. Shen Yi’s performance was undoubtedly a huge surprise to everyone.

Prior to this, his only acting credit was in a modern romance drama, where the male lead’s exceptional character and Shen Yi’s popularity caused the show to gain traction for a time.

Yet Shen Yi’s stiff and unnatural acting had always been criticized online. Today, he shed his idol image entirely and became fully immersed in the role. It was hardly surprising that Shen Yi advanced in this multi-character showdown.

The fifth group to perform was Qin Kai’s Group. Their scenario was a hostage rescue scene.

Having starred in numerous crime and cop dramas, this was less of Qin Kai’s comfort zone and more of his dominion.

He chose to play the villainous kidnapper, transforming instantly as the scene began, demonstrating what the term "transformative acting" truly means.

Qin Kai’s honest and dependable appearance naturally inspires trust. But the moment he stepped into character and lifted his gaze, the ruthlessness and venom in his eyes made him seem like an entirely different person, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

Even knowing it was all acting, his fellow participants were still startled out of their wits.

This round, Qin Kai’s nearly overpowering performance guaranteed his advancement with ease.

Even with the fact that Qin Jiaxiang is his father, everyone was still left in awe by his acting skills and felt utterly defeated.

Some people don’t just have strong backgrounds—they’re also exceptionally talented. Isn’t that just infuriating?

The last group to perform was Sang Ning’s Group. Nobody had high hopes for this group.

After all, Sang Ning was unanimously considered to have the weakest acting skills. For those scrambling to qualify for advancement, they practically fought to be on her team.

Their philosophy was simple: among mediocrity, they would still shine a little brighter compared to Sang Ning.

Sang Ning’s group’s scenario was the Noble Consort’s private chamber.

At first glance, the setting automatically brings palace intrigue to mind.

A young actress seized the initiative and chose the safe option of playing a palace maid. She pretended to rush into the private chamber frantically from outside, dropped to her knees before the Noble Consort, and reported with a panicked expression: "Lady Consort Ning, terrible news! The little prince accidentally fell into the lake and has passed away!"

The actress deliberately chose to act opposite Sang Ning, knowing full well that crying scenes were her Achilles’ heel.

Upon hearing the news of her son’s death, the inevitable reaction would be overwhelming grief and sorrowful tears.

If Sang Ning couldn’t deliver, the actress’s chance of advancing would significantly increase.

Sang Ning was well aware of the actress’s intentions. The unfortunate part was—she truly couldn’t cry. She glanced at the mentors on stage out of the corner of her eye, finding their expressions predictably unfavorable.

If she couldn’t rely on emotions, her only choice was to rely on technique.

Sang Ning quickly brainstormed, crafting a temporary backstory for the scene within just a dozen seconds.

Before his death, her son had been happily playing with her in the Noble Consort’s chamber. She sent him off to study with the tutor, only to return to the chamber shortly after receiving the shocking news.

As an observer of the situation, Sang Ning spent a few seconds analyzing Lady Consort Ning’s psychological state at that moment.

Her first reaction would undoubtedly involve being so struck by the devastating news that her legs would weaken, leaving her entire body powerless.

With this thought, Sang Ning stumbled backward, feigning the effort of suppressing her grief while staring blankly, unable to accept the reality of what had just happened.