Chapter 48

Got it! Here’s the revised passage with the corrected names:

“What?” The people around were somewhat surprised, even the person who got the role couldn’t believe it.

Ye Yunshan even dissatisfiedly exclaimed, “Why? Clearly, Xie Ge (Brother Xie) performed better!”

Xie Fuyi remained silent. He hesitated for a moment, then regained his composure. Although there was some regret on his face, he reached out and stopped Ye Yunshan, who wanted to argue, with a gentle smile, shaking his head to reassure her.

Although Xie Fuyi also found it somewhat strange, this role of a womanizer was fought for by the cannon fodder himself because it wouldn’t pose a threat to the protagonist, who completely ignored him.

Why would they deliberately trip him up now?

His gaze shifted to Xiao Yuanxi, who was leisurely approaching—was it related to the protagonist? He hadn’t even started seducing yet!

On the other side, Mu Ziming breathed a sigh of relief without a trace—someone like him, with such a face, appearing in the play would undoubtedly overshadow him. Moreover, he had aroused Xiao Yuanxi’s interest.

Everyone thought it would be Xie Fuyi. Their puzzled expressions were quite obvious. Chen Shan waved his hand to explain, “He’s too outstanding and has stolen the limelight. The focus of this scene is the hero rescuing the beauty, so naturally, the spotlight should be on the hero. The more despicable and disgusting the cannon fodder acts, the more it highlights the hero.”

For a moment, even the person who had just received the role didn’t know whether to be happy or not. Everyone looked at each other, thinking, “Is being too good also not good?”

Only Ye Yunshan remained indignant. “What do you mean by stealing the limelight? Even if Xie ge performed better, he’s just cannon fodder. The protagonist should rely on his own abilities to reclaim the spotlight, rather than replacing an excellent actor who would overshadow him.”

She made a convincing argument, and people around nodded along. Wasn’t it a waste to have such a good actor?

Their gazes towards Mu Ziming also changed slightly, as if he were inferior in skill.

Mu Ziming’s eyes turned cold, he clenched his fists, and his smile almost couldn’t be maintained.

Xie Fuyi felt that something was off in the plot. Why did the protagonist seem to have gotten a script for a vicious supporting role? He quickly pulled Ye Yunshan, “Yunshan, let’s not say anything more.”

Ye Yunshan was somewhat unwilling, but Xie Fuyi, whose role had been taken away, was now gently comforting her, making her feel embarrassed to make a scene again.

Chen Shan had been observing Xie Fuyi all along. Even though he lost the role, he remained calm and indifferent, without a trace of resentment.

Chen Shan’s tense expression relaxed, and he smiled loudly, “It’s not that we won’t use him, but we think it’s beneath him.”

As his words fell, Ye Yunshan was surprised, while Mu Ziming felt a sudden pang of anxiety, clenching his fists nervously.

Everyone had different expressions. “What do you mean?”

Xie Fuyi was also somewhat surprised. Suppressing his nervousness, his starry eyes flickered, and he hesitated to speak as he looked at Chen Shan—could it be that he was being offered a bigger role?

Chen Shan looked at Xie Fuyi, who remained calm despite the sudden turn of events, and smiled satisfactorily, “You’re more suitable for another role, the senior brother of Xueyun Sect, Lanhua.”

He felt that a cannon fodder role like the womanizer was too unworthy of such a face. Fortunately, Xie Fuyi’s personality, figure, and appearance were very suitable for this refined senior brother role.

Although Senior Brother Lanhua didn’t have many scenes and died for the female lead when the male lead destroyed the sect in the first ten episodes, he was the female lead’s moonlight in the early stages. This role was worlds apart from the womanizer cannon fodder role.

After the initial surprise, everyone felt it was quite reasonable. The more they looked, the more they felt that Xie Fuyi suited the role.

Mu Ziming’s fingertips, which had been clenched tightly, almost dug into his flesh. He hadn’t expected that he would inadvertently help him?

Xie Fuyi also seemed pleasantly surprised by this sudden role—no, he didn’t need such a powerful role!

But before he could speak, a dissatisfied male voice came through— “Director Chen, what do you mean? Is he your relative? If you want to directly appoint him, you should have said it earlier. We wouldn’t have bothered to come here early in the morning and waste the whole morning here!” The dissatisfied and resentful person was none other than Yuan Yao, who had been scolded earlier.

He had clearly made an agreement with someone earlier that he was just going through the motions at the audition and that this role of Lanhua was his.

Never did he expect that Chen Shan would disdain his acting skills and ignore his background! Did he even let a mere supporting actor snatch his role?

With envy in his eyes, he spoke without restraint, “I was introduced here by Wang Shao. Are you not afraid that Wang Shao will withdraw his investment if you let a supporting actor take my role?”

Chen Shan’s face darkened. This was the first time he had been scolded so directly. He already disliked him, his acting wasn’t good, and now he dared to blatantly mention his connections?

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

At this moment, Xiao Yuanxian didn’t know when he had someone bring him a chair to sit closer, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He raised his eyebrows coldly and sneered, “Which Wang is it?”

Beside him, Luo Hong disdainfully remarked, “Xiao Ge, it’s the Wang Laosan who fetched your shoes at the last banquet.”

With just one sentence, Yuan Yao’s face flushed red, choking up, and unable to speak. He couldn’t afford to offend these two.

Xiao Yuanyan then turned to Chen Shan, raising his eyebrows. “Director Chen, isn’t the suitability of a role determined by who fits it best? Why bother about connections?”

The surrounding people were somewhat amazed. The reckless crown prince actually had such a reasonable moment?

Mu Ziming, on the side, smiled and spoke up, “Mr. Xie himself admitted he hasn’t played a serious role before. Although his lines are well-spoken, it might be different when facing the camera. Since that’s the case, for the sake of fairness, why not have both of them perform a scene together to judge who’s more suitable for this role?”

His proposal seemed fair. After a moment of contemplation, Chen Shan nodded in agreement.

Ye Yunshan pointed to Yuan Yao, who was fully dressed as his character in the play. “Since fairness is the concern, shouldn’t Mr. Xie also change his attire?”

It was then that everyone noticed Xie Fuyi was still covered in mud, his previous allure overshadowed by the opponent’s aura.

Chen Shan reacted quickly, waving for a makeup artist. “Take him to the dressing room and change him into Lan Hua’s attire.”

Xie Fuyi followed numbly into the dressing room, wondering when this subplot was added.

Mu Ziming, lurking in the shadows, eyes gleaming, thought to himself: Regardless, someone like him will inevitably pose a threat in the future.

…

Xie Fuyi could only comply and change his clothes under everyone’s gaze.

The makeup artist marveled at his beautifully sculpted face but said nothing, swiftly applying makeup.

Soon, she finished.

Xie Fuyi glanced at his reflection in the mirror, hesitating for a moment. He looked too handsome! He wasn’t satisfied!

Politely dismissing the makeup artist, he picked up the makeup tools himself.

Xie Fuyi discreetly applied eyeliner, smudging some red eyeshadow at the corners of his eyes and applying a slightly vibrant lipstick.

Finally satisfied, he looked at himself in the mirror again. Now, he truly embodied the insult Chen Shan had hurled at him earlier—far from being the gentle and refined senior brother, he now resembled a courtesan from the brothels.

With a sly smile, he left the dressing room.

As Xie Fuyi emerged, the surroundings fell silent.

Though everyone was initially stunned by his appearance, they soon furrowed their brows and murmured:

“It’s beautiful, but… he doesn’t seem to match the senior brother’s vibe.”

“Yeah, this is too seductive.”

Got it, thanks for the correction! Here’s the revised passage:

“Chen Shan even insulted Yuan Yao? With these two standing side by side, it’s clear that he’s the most seductive courtesan in the brothel, isn’t he?”

…

The surrounding noise continued unabated. Despite being very satisfied with his transformation, Xie Fuyi couldn’t show it.

Unnoticed by him, Xiao Yuanyan’s eyes lingered on him like a wolf, as if patrolling his own territory.