Lin Muchen could only sigh.
If it were easy to perform.
She wouldn't be so troubled.
A script that could move Zhao Lan was undoubtedly challenging.
In her previous small worlds, as a fast-traveler, she had played many roles.
But this new character, Meng Dongqing, was not someone who could be easily portrayed.
"The character I play was born in the countryside. Timid and fearful since childhood, with mediocre studies. Because she was a girl, she was virtually invisible in the village. The woman next door was abducted and became half-mad after giving birth to a son for a wealthy family in the village, eventually being persecuted to death by the villagers."
"Despite being a timid and fearful girl, she made an extremely bold decision."
"She took the child and fled to the big city, working odd jobs, teaching herself, and earning certifications to become a tutor. For years, she tried to exonerate the abducted girl from the village, only to find herself helpless and hitting a wall everywhere. In the end, she paid with her own life to bring attention to the case."
"To put it simply, the story is quite straightforward."
"But to convey the darkness and oppression is extremely difficult."
The desperate woman, Meng Dongqing.
This girl was not inherently strong.
She was, in fact, a struggling weakling.
Yet, even a woman as weak as her was willing to give her all for the sake of justice.
But even the child she raised couldn't understand her.
Thinking it was unnecessary.
Even reporting her for kidnapping him.
Wanting her to go to jail.
The wealthy family in the village possessed immense wealth from gold and mines.
The villagers, forming clans, protected each other.
The villagers all considered her a traitor who betrayed the village.
She was like a tiny candle in a fierce wind; even burning herself out could only produce a small flicker of flame.
This kind of oppressive feeling was the hardest to portray!
Especially the loneliness of being misunderstood by everyone, not understood by the child she raised, and being almost at odds with the world – the thought alone sent chills down one's spine.
Ling Qianhe's expression gradually turned a little cold as he said,
"It's truly a very bleak story."
"But it's very realistic. Many people in the world are indeed like this – loyal to whoever feeds them. Justice, in their hearts, is something that can be trampled upon at will. What is it worth, then?"
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly seemed to realize something.
"You said before that if I were to act in this movie, I would only have villain roles to choose from. Where are the villain roles in this film?"
"It couldn't be that child, could it? That child is only ten years old."
Lin Muchen coughed.
"It's the village chief's simple-minded son. He grew up with the female lead. To keep the female lead in the village and maintain their secret, the villagers arranged for them to marry. On their wedding day, they tied her up and forced the boy to… do things to her."
"This boy can't really be called a villain, can he? He was just forced to go along with the villagers. He wanted to release her, but because he was simple-minded, he did more harm than good. He inadvertently ruined her plan, allowing the villagers to find her again—"
"Every time he tried to help her, he only pushed her further into a more desperate abyss."
"She hated him. In the end, she died."
"He was in great pain, set fire to the village, killing those who persecuted her, and then foolishly reported himself to the authorities, spending thirty years in prison—finally committing suicide in prison."
"Hmm, it's both tragic and abusive."
"You want to act?"
"Wouldn't your face be wasted playing a simpleton?"
Ling Qianhe let out a soft hmph.
"Why would playing a simpleton be a waste? A face like mine—even as a simpleton, it could still make the female lead fall for me, couldn't it?"
"Did the female lead have feelings for him?"
Lin Muchen, still playfully scolding Ling Qianhe for his confidence, was taken aback by his words. She blinked a couple of times.
"Feelings…?"
She thought for a moment.
"It's not written in the script. But based on my understanding of the character, there might have been a little bit of a crush."
She took a deep breath and then nodded.
"Yes."
"She definitely would have had feelings for him."
"It's just that she didn't feel she had the right to like him. And he was simple-minded—what could he possibly understand about liking someone?"
Ling Qianhe narrowed his eyes, then took out his phone.
He immediately called his agent, Chen Fei.
"I want to act in Xiao Ci's new movie, 'Desperate Woman'."
"In the plot, Xiao Ci plays the female lead, Meng Dongqing, who was married to the village chief's simple-minded son. I want to play that village chief's simple-minded son."
Ling Qianhe stated this decisively, and the woman on the other end of the phone was astonished.
"This one?"
"Wait… I'll go and ask."
Ling Qianhe hung up and waited leisurely. After a while, his agent called back, her tone tinged with a bitter smile.
"That role isn't too significant… And Qianhe, this role is a genuine simpleton, not pretending to be simple, but truly having the intelligence of a seven or eight-year-old child. Do you really want to play it?"
"I've also asked the producer, He Yunru, and she said this role isn't particularly likable…"
"The screen time is limited, and the character isn't likable. Even for Lin Muchen's sake, you should consider it."
She tried to persuade him earnestly, but Ling Qianhe was not one to be easily dissuaded. He smiled and replied with absolute certainty, without the slightest hesitation.
"No need to consider."
"I know. But I just like this role."
"I must play it."
The agent on the phone sighed and could only resignedly go to arrange it. Since Ling Qianhe wanted to act, they had to make arrangements. Fortunately, the role was still being cast, and there wasn't a suitable candidate yet.
After Ling Qianhe coordinated with them.
The other party was quite surprised and also very pleased.
"Qianhe, you really want to come?"
"But our filming base will be in a remote rural area, and it will be very challenging…"
"And if you come, this movie has already cast Lin Muchen as the lead. Do you need to contend for a special guest appearance?"
In the entertainment industry.
The hierarchy of roles was strictly observed.
Ling Qianhe's current standing in the circle was such that few could overshadow him—he had always been the lead.
But upon hearing the mention of billing order.
He smiled again.
"What, you think I'll care about that? Being overshadowed by my wife is not shameful."
"I don't need to vie for a special appearance."
Ling Qianhe said calmly.
"If Xiao Ci's billing order surpasses mine, I won't get angry. It's only right for my wife to be above me."
He hung up the phone, looked at the still stunned Lin Muchen, and successfully made her blush with a sentence.
"As long as I'm on top in bed."
Lin Muchen almost choked, her face flushed red.
"You, you, you… talking nonsense! Shameless!"
His smile widened, and he leaned closer to Lin Muchen, whispering in her ear.
"Still saying, Xiao Ci wants to be on top of me?"
"That's fine too."
"I like that too."
Lin Muchen stared at him, her cheeks burning red. Ling Qianhe's smile grew wider. He reached out and put his arm around her waist. Lin Muchen heard Ling Qianhe say.
"Let's try next time, Xiao Ci, you have to work hard."
Lin Muchen's cheeks were still red.
This scoundrel—what was he thinking!