Pei Mingxuan quickly stepped forward and grabbed Yu Rouyin's hand, saying, "It's difficult to find someone to fill in for your stage performance. The director and producer said if you can't find anyone, they'll cancel your group's play. Why not come perform with us instead? There's no rule saying you can't ask your PK opponent to help out."
Pei Mingxuan continued thoughtfully, "Besides, the fact that you're willing to find a last-minute replacement shows you're confident in your ability to adapt. So you should be able to handle performing in our play on short notice too, right?"
As Pei Mingxuan spoke, she seemed to become more convinced of her own reasoning. Suddenly, she cast a suspicious glance at Ji Fei.
How strange, what a coincidence?
Ji Fei avoided her gaze, looking guilty, and said with a smile, "Sister Pei's analysis is spot on. Teacher Yu, are you up for it? This is your chance to prove yourself!"
Yu Rouyin had been in a daze, but upon hearing "chance to prove yourself," her eyes suddenly lit up.
Wasn't this exactly what she had been desperately seeking when begging everyone for help - an opportunity to prove herself?
Zong Chun had destroyed her chance, but now another opportunity had fallen from the sky.
What was so scary about an impromptu performance? The real fear was not being able to perform at all!
Although this proposal was utterly absurd, as Yu Rouyin looked at the top-tier group that had created so many impossible miracles tonight, she felt an irrepressible surge of excitement.
Ambition swelled in her heart, her eyes growing brighter. She turned to Ji Fei and asked, "Really? I can really perform in your place? You're willing to give me this chance?"
"You just need to answer if you can do it or not," Pei Mingxuan said with a smile.
Yu Rouyin nodded quickly, as if afraid she'd miss the opportunity if she hesitated. She was someone who seized any chance that came her way.
Without another word, Pei Mingxuan handed Yu Rouyin the script for the final five scenes. The remaining time was just enough for Yu Rouyin to go through it once.
All the bystanders backstage looked at this group as if they were insane.
It was a nerve-wracking scene of throwing someone into the deep end.
At this moment, Qin Zhao finally couldn't hold back anymore. "Hey," he called out.
Everyone looked at Qin Zhao.
Qin Zhao wore a constipated expression, about to speak.
"I believe in you!" Ji Fei said firmly. "If it goes badly, blame me!"
"Teacher Qin is a professional!" Pei Mingxuan had only just remembered there was another lead actor. "Just adapt as you go. The first part was already brilliant, so it doesn't matter if the latter part doesn't go well."
The Qin family members looked around, seemingly more interested in seeing how this would play out. They were curious about how netizens would react to such juicy gossip, which they got to witness firsthand. As for Qin Zhao's feelings...
"Good luck!"
Qin Zhao: ...Damn it!
Meanwhile, Yu Rouyin, who had received the script, paid no attention to her surroundings. She stood rooted to the spot, completely focused on reading the script. It was Pei Mingxuan who pulled her to the makeup table and ordered their makeup artists to quickly make some adjustments.
Yu Rouyin was like a puppet, allowing others to fuss over her while her eyes remained glued to the script.
She didn't even ask if Pei Mingxuan was planning to sign her, instead throwing herself into the intense script analysis. Her complete lack of reaction surprised the top-tier group.
After all, those final five scenes were loosely based on the various accusations against Yu Rouyin provided by the Ladies' Club that day.
Yu Rouyin seemed to have no mental capacity left to realize this fact, as if the entire world had shrunk down to just her and the script.
She couldn't let others down; this was her response to desperately seizing an opportunity.
Ten minutes flew by quickly.
Zong Siqi, who had been wandering backstage, got wind of the news and immediately rushed to inform Zong Chun.
Zong Chun had been leisurely sipping tea, waiting for Yu Rouyin's final surrender. Upon hearing this news, he was shocked. He immediately rushed to find the director and producer, insisting that such an absurd thing couldn't possibly be allowed.
By this point, the director and producer had reached a state of enlightenment.
After all, what storms hadn't they weathered before!
Switching performers? Having an opponent help out? No big deal!
This no longer fazed them.
They had already mentally prepared themselves to move on to other shows after this, so they were fine with any shenanigans for what would be their swan song.
However, looking at the person about to take the stage...
They nervously watched the stage, knowing from Yu Rouyin's earlier demeanor that she was going on completely unprepared.
This meant Yu Rouyin would have to improvise based on the brief plot summary she'd been given and the dialogue cues provided by her scene partner, Qin Zhao.
And all this during a live broadcast...
"If she can't pull it off, the entire performance will fall apart here. Everyone will blame her, and she'll bear the brunt of criticism she doesn't deserve. No sane person should accept such a risky invitation," the director said.
The producer added, "But if she can pull it off... she'll create a performance miracle in the entertainment industry. No one will be able to deny her professional abilities anymore or just focus on her beauty. Since Zong Chun clearly wasn't going to let her complete her own performance, this is her only lifeline. No matter how difficult..."
As they were speaking, they noticed Zong Chun approaching.
The two exchanged a glance, not inclined to be pleasant to someone who had caused trouble for their show. They simply said, "Teacher Zong, if you still can't perform later, we're planning to arrange other content to fill the time and delete your stage performance."
"She..." Zong Chun wanted to say more, but saw that the director had already started arranging all the staff.
"Everyone, let's work together and give our absolute best support, to ensure this 'all-or-nothing gamble' has no regrets."
Zong Chun's expression changed several times. Understanding their meaning, he could only slink away to the side of the stage, intending to stop Yu Rouyin. After all, this was a competition - how could she help her opponent? Had she gone mad?
But when he arrived, he saw Yu Rouyin and Qin Zhao already standing on the steps, ready to go on stage at any moment.
"In a moment, you perform according to the script, and I'll do my best to support you!" Yu Rouyin said nervously.
Qin Zhao glanced at her before finally speaking, "This is a collaborative performance. The pressure won't be on you alone, don't worry."
Yu Rouyin was stunned, her eyes suddenly glistening. Since entering the industry, she had rarely received such respect and trust as an actress.
"Thank you, I definitely won't let you down!"
After speaking, Yu Rouyin's gaze swept across the room, landing on those who wanted to drag her to hell.
She flashed them her most contemptuous smile. As if silently saying: You won't destroy me!
Zong Chun and Zong Siqi stared at her in shock.
Just then, the host began the introduction.
As the announcement was made in the livestream, the comment section went blank for several seconds. Then it was flooded with an overwhelming army of comments, causing the stream to lag.
"What?! What did I just hear? Yu Rouyin is going to perform in place of Sister Fei?"
"Yu Rouyin is going on? So the change in performance order wasn't because she was afraid to go on stage, it really was because Teacher Zong's side had a problem?"
"Hey hey hey, aren't they competitors? Of all people, why did the entertainment industry's judge ask her to help with the performance?"
"What kind of bizarre operation is this? I've been in the mortal realm for years and never seen anything like it."
"Could they be using the plot to humiliate her? Maybe it's the entertainment industry judge's way of punishing bad people."
"Right, right, we'll definitely see Yu Rouyin make a fool of herself. They'll probably make her act out how she seduces others, haha!"
"Professional haters get out of the livestream! Please, if you've seriously watched the previous stage performances, how can you still firmly believe Yu Rouyin is a bad person? Everything is still up for debate!"
"Exactly, looking at those actresses who came to help out, haven't you all figured out the top-tier group's intentions?"
"Folks, this early bird has already gone digging in past gossip fields! I have a feeling that the top-tier group dares to pull this move because they know the truth behind certain scandals!"
"Wait, am I the only one worried about how the entire play will turn out? Sister Fei's injury was an accident, and Yu Rouyin is a last-minute replacement. She hasn't even read the script, how can she perform?"
"How will she perform? By improvising, of course. After all, Top Star Qin knows all the plot points and dialogue."
"If they'd found some super-skilled veteran actor, there might be a chance. But picking an actress who mainly relies on her looks... I can't deny she has some acting skills, but she's not classically trained. She's only done TV dramas, this kind of situation... I can't even imagine what the performance will be like."
"No, you should think about it this way! If Yu Rouyin can handle even this... Wouldn't that prove even more that all those past scandals were absolute nonsense?"