Chapter 132: Something’s Off About Lin Ze…

This scene is hailed as an inimitable masterpiece. The murderer’s utter disregard for life, the casual, lighthearted way he speaks of the family of five he slaughtered, and the subtle, unreproducible micro-expressions he displays while recounting his crimes—all of this led the general public to suspect that the actor was a real murderer. Many even filed reports, demanding that the police conduct a thorough investigation into him.

Lin Ze watched this clip. Truth be told, he had no desire to attempt this particular segment. The difficulty was so immense that if he failed to surpass the original performance, he would undoubtedly be shredded by criticism. But now that the director had swapped the first two options for absolute garbage, he had no choice but to pick this one.

"This director is a real piece of work..." Lin Ze glanced at the camera lens nearby, locking eyes with the director through the screen and glaring at him fiercely. "I choose segment number three."

The director broke into a cold sweat upon seeing him pick that segment. "What is wrong with this Lin Ze? Weren't the first two prepared specifically for him? Why does he have to choose the third one?"

A nearby assistant whispered, "If you hand him the first two options, are you treating the other actors and the audience like complete fools?"

The director didn't react immediately. When he had helmed other shows, these things were always tacitly understood. There was nothing wrong with that, was there?

Many in the audience burst into laughter. "He really doesn't know his own limits. Is that a segment he can even attempt?"

"The director practically laid two paths out for you; you could have just stood there for two episodes and then bowed out. He had to go and pick this one—he’s going to lose all face and slink away in shame."

These remarks incensed Lin Ze’s fans. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? If Lin Ze had picked the first two, wouldn't you have trashed him anyway? Were the first two even options? He would have been criticized just for picking them, even without acting!"

"Did Brother Lin offend the director? Is that why the director is trying to..."

Lin Ze didn't have the time to dwell on such things now. After watching the clip a few more times and memorizing the lines, he sat down in the corner of the rehearsal room. He closed his eyes, replaying the scene over and over in his mind.

...

The judges' panel consisted of three veteran actors who had long since made their names in the industry.

On the far left sat Wang Wensheng, a master of the craft who excelled in military dramas and had starred in numerous acclaimed works in the genre. In the center was Song Mingchun, famous for her family dramas. She had also appeared in spy thrillers and period pieces, consistently maintaining a stellar reputation with the audience.

As for the judge on the far right, she was a figure of some controversy: Shen Lei. She was a professor at an arts academy, and many in the entertainment industry counted themselves as her former students. However, her own acting ability was highly contentious, as every character she played seemed to be just herself. She often played wealthy mothers or powerful career women in modern dramas, and even in historical dramas, she was always a powerful woman of antiquity.

"Teacher Song, what do you think of Lin Ze, who is joining us as a replacement today?" Wang Wensheng asked with a kindly smile.

Song Mingchun laughed. "Actually, I don't know much about Lin Ze, but this handsome young man has suddenly exploded in popularity in the music scene. I’ve heard a few of his songs, and I quite like 'I Only Care About You'."

"Actually, before he arrived, I called an old friend to ask about Lin Ze."

"An old friend?"

"Yes, Chen Weiguo," Wang Wensheng smiled. "He told me that this young man’s acting skills are quite impressive. They worked on a short film together previously, and in that film, Lin Ze nailed every scene in a single take."

"Is that so? To have gained the recognition of Teacher Chen Weiguo, that means this young man..."

"Heh." Shen Lei’s sudden chuckle interrupted them.

Teacher Song Mingchun’s expression turned cold instantly. "I wonder what your take is, Little Shen?"

"No, no, no. It’s just that Teacher Chen Weiguo and Lin Ze have a personal connection, so his words must be colored by personal sentiment, right?" Shen Lei looked at the two teachers with a dismissive smirk. "I believe everything should be judged by the performance itself. Good is good, and bad is bad; you can't prop someone up with just a few words."

Song Mingchun rolled her eyes without the slightest attempt to hide it, muttering a few words under her breath. She didn't speak loudly, just moved her lips, but Shen Lei caught it in her peripheral vision and knew it couldn't be anything kind.

"Talking behind someone's..."

"Alright, alright. Since Lin Ze has chosen the most difficult segment, let’s wait and see his performance in a little while."

The other rehearsal rooms had already begun their practices, and with Lin Ze still sitting there, the onlookers couldn't help but feel bored.

"What's going on? Is he just giving up? He could at least get up and put up a struggle."

"He wouldn't have fallen asleep, would he? Sleeping on a show—he’d be the first one to do that."

"He's checked out, he's done, he's going back to singing."

Rehearsal time passed quickly, and the other groups had each managed to run through their scenes at least a few times. Hearing the cue in his earpiece, Lin Ze stood up. Having sat for so long, his knees ached slightly. He stretched his joints, gave a long yawn, and headed for the door.

The moment he pushed the door open, he saw Tang Chuan and Zhang Ya standing right there.

"Hi~"

Lin Ze greeted them, gave them a casual look, and walked toward the stage.

Just as Lin Ze passed them, Zhang Ya couldn't help but shiver, letting out a sharp, ragged breath.

"What's wrong?" Tang Chuan looked at her, puzzled.

Zhang Ya pinched her hand hard, using the pain to force herself to calm down.

"I... I don't know. I just feel like he's different from how he was before the rehearsal..."

"Different how?" Tang Chuan asked, confused; he hadn't noticed anything.

"I can't put my finger on it. It’s just... when he looked at me, I felt incredibly terrified." Zhang Ya shook her head.

Tang Chuan glanced at her strangely but didn't press the matter.

Once they arrived at the stage, the contestants were to stay on a smaller stage to the side, waiting until it was their turn. The order was the same as the order in which they had selected their segments.

Tang Chuan and Zhang Ya were up first. When their names were called, Tang Chuan stood up, but Zhang Ya remained seated, looking dazed. Tang Chuan hurriedly pulled her up. As he grabbed her wrist, he noticed it was ice-cold.

"Huh?" Zhang Ya’s body jerked, and she suddenly snapped out of it.

Tang Chuan frowned. "What’s going on? Are you alright?"

"No! No problem! Absolutely no problem!"