Li Jing glanced at Zhao Kuo and said with a sarcastic smile, "As expected of the king of gossip, you know even these trivial matters so clearly."
Zhao Kuo retorted irritably, "It's not a secret."
"Then what about the others? Why didn't they perform?" Wang Chuan was very confused. For them, the more they performed, the better, as it allowed them to see everyone's strength and potential. In previous years, all students performed, and there was never a situation where only fifteen people took the stage.
The performers from Class A on stage were preparing to take their bows. Jin Xue, as the instructor, naturally had to go on stage.
She stepped onto the stage wearing sky-high heels and a flashy gown.
After all, she was a big star. Even with the controversy surrounding her, it didn't stop the audience below from getting excited when they saw her. Instantly, screams and cheers erupted from the venue, and the reporters in the back also moved forward, their cameras clicking incessantly.
Jin Xue maintained a proud smile and waved to the audience.
Li Jing also showed a hint of pride. What did the public opinion matter? It couldn't change the fact that Jin Xue was popular. Judging by the current situation, if she kept a low profile from now on, she might be able to make a comeback in two to three months.
Wang Chuan chuckled, "As expected of someone you mentored, still having such popularity when facing a storm."
Li Jing, unable to miss the sarcasm in Wang Chuan's words, didn't care. "Great minds attract controversy."
Yan Chi walked out with a microphone and introduced everyone, "This is Jin Xue, the training instructor for Class A. She is fully responsible for this Class A performance. Thank you, Teacher Jin Xue, for your hard work this week."
Applause continued from the audience.
Yan Chi waited for a moment and then said, "Next, we invite representatives from each company to comment on this stage performance."
Li Jing was the first to pick up the microphone. "Thank you. You have shown us such a wonderful performance, worthy of students mentored by Teacher Jin Xue. Hamlet is already a difficult play to perform, but you accurately captured every expression, movement, and line. I am very pleased. You are the fresh blood of the entertainment industry, and Tianyu welcomes your joining."
After Li Jing put down the microphone, Wang Chuan picked his up and said, "I need to correct something that the Tianyu representative said. It's not 'we.' At least, I did not enjoy this performance. Your lines were mechanical, your expressions stiff, and even your demeanor was listless. Especially the performer of Hamlet, you are the protagonist, but throughout the entire performance, I did not see your desire for revenge, nor did I see your anger."
Gu Cheng's face stiffened, and he tried to maintain his expression, bowing, "Thank you, Teacher."
"And Ophelia, the female lead," Wang Chuan continued. "You should be sad, dejected, but I only saw an ambitious person who looked like she was about to usurp the throne. You were acting out a completely different story."
Tian Cheng had never been criticized so harshly for her acting. Her face immediately darkened, and she defended herself, "I didn't go to bed until two in the morning, and I had to get up at five..."
"I don't want to hear these excuses. It has nothing to do with whether you performed well or not," Wang Chuan interrupted.
Tian Cheng's eyes reddened with shame, and she lowered her head without speaking, clearly unconvinced.
Wang Chuan then pointed at Cui Min and continued his severe criticism. Cui Min couldn't take it anymore, tears streaming down her face, and she turned and ran off the stage.
Li Jing couldn't listen any longer and accused, "Teacher Wang, they are all students who haven't graduated yet. Aren't you being too harsh?"
Wang Chuan, however, was not appeased and maintained his stern expression. "I am only speaking the truth, unlike some people who speak nicely but are of no benefit to them. They are all graduating students. With this acting, how will they make a living in the future? If they are not awakened, their pride will soar to the heavens."
"Your standards are too high. If you were to judge like that, even an Oscar-winning actress would have problems," Li Jing scoffed.
Wang Chuan continued his critiques with the microphone. None of the fifteen students were spared criticism. For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire theater became heavy to the extreme. Even the audience members watching from the back dared not make a sound.
Jin Xue, as the instructor for Class A, looked extremely displeased. If it weren't for the many reporters and cameras present, she would have cursed Wang Chuan. Wang Chuan wasn't just critiquing the students; he was slapping her in the face.
Finally, when Wang Chuan finished his critiques, Jin Xue couldn't hold back any longer and questioned, "Tianhua has criticized these top students as worthless. I wonder if you will have anything to say when Class B performs later."
Wang Chuan replied, "That depends on what Class B's stage performance is like."
Zhao Kuo was overjoyed. Even though this performance was a disaster, this critique represented the company. With such harsh treatment of the students, who would be willing to sign with Tianhua? He picked up the microphone with a smile and said in a gentle tone, "Everyone has different opinions. I don't quite agree with Teacher Wang Chuan's critiques. They say that the kind of heart you have determines the kind of world you see. What I see are the strengths in all of you..." He spoke a lot of ambiguous words, which indeed made the students on stage happy.
After the three main figures had commented, the representatives from other companies also said a few words. However, considering that it was a class of top students, and those who would perform later might be even worse, their comments were very lenient, and they didn't hold back on praise.
Finally, it was Quan Jiu's turn. She simply smiled and said lightly, "Keep up the good work," and put down the microphone.
Jin Xue on stage saw Quan Jiu clearly, and her face instantly darkened. A management company? That bitch actually had a company? She noted down the company name, planning to discuss it with Li Jing properly after going off stage.
Yan Chi saw that everyone had finished speaking and was about to ask Class A and Jin Xue to leave the stage when Wang Chuan picked up the microphone again and asked, "I have one more question. Are there only these fifteen people in Class A? Or are there others who didn't perform?"
No one on stage spoke. Having been criticized, no one wanted to speak up first. Jin Xue, however, arrogantly stated, "This play only has fifteen roles. Those who were able to perform on stage were all carefully selected by me."
"In previous years, all students participated. Why is it that this year the right of others to perform is being denied?" Wang Chuan continued to question.
Jin Xue frowned. "This play only has fifteen people."
"There are many ensemble stage plays. As an instructor, haven't you considered them?"
"I only chose this scene." Jin Xue glared and ignored Wang Chuan further, stepping off the stage in her sky-high heels. The students also followed her off stage.
A murmur instantly spread through the audience.
"So it was her who didn't let others perform. That's too selfish."
"With that recording exposed a few days ago, I think this is more like something she would do."
"I didn't expect her to be this kind of person. Why hasn't she left the entertainment industry yet?"
"Dressed like she's attending a red carpet event at school. She's the most exaggerated one."
...
Li Jing heard the discussions behind her, and her forehead ached with anger. That idiot Jin Xue always dug holes for her from time to time. She was truly an unsupportable laggard.
Yan Chi quickly announced, "Next, please enjoy the stage play performed by Class B training class, 'Teahouse'."
The curtain closed again, and the lights went out. However, the venue was still noisy, clearly indicating that the first performance had worn out everyone's patience.
As the music and narration began, the curtain opened, and the lights came up. The actors took their positions and remained motionless.
When the curtain fully opened, a neat chorus with a Beijing accent, accompanied by the rhythm of a *kuaiban* (clapper talk), instantly transported the audience back to the year after the failure of the Hundred Days' Reform. The audience in the venue quieted down, their eyes fixed on the actors on stage.