WIIAD?### Chapter 37: Taking the Stage
Qi Lin, looking somewhat panicked, ran onto the 'rooftop', gripping a gun with both hands and aiming it at Shi Fang.
"Don't move! Police!"
Shi Fang reacted quickly, hiding behind Dou Yandong and using his body as a shield. He also noticed the camera position, ensuring he was in the center of the shot.
"Put down the gun! Let go of Officer Liu!"
Qi Lin, playing the role of Big B, appeared tense, which drew the attention of Liu Tianwang in the audience. Liu Tianwang, a good friend of Big B’s actor, was very familiar with his scenes and now saw his friend's shadow in Qi Lin!
"Your boss is Han Chen's undercover! The evidence is in my hands. Let's talk at the police station!"
Shi Fang explained while remaining vigilant. But Qi Lin seemed not to hear, staying in a state of alert.
"Put down the gun! Drop it immediately!"
"I called the police!"
"Why should I believe you?"
"You don't have to believe me."
Shi Fang pushed Dou Yandong, signaling him to move forward. Dou Yandong cooperated without resisting, making Qi Lin even more nervous, with cold sweat appearing on his forehead. This scene made Liu Tianwang exclaim, "Who's playing Big B? He's quite good."
Beside him, Jiang Dongsheng nodded in agreement, "He looks good too. Must be a newcomer, I don't recognize him."
Jiang Dongsheng glanced at Zhang Ziyi, who also shook her head, "I don't know him either. Probably a new talent from some company."
The performance on stage continued, with the three actors cautiously retreating to the 'elevator'. At the moment of entering the elevator, 'Chen Yongren' showed a flaw and was shot in the head by Big B! He collapsed powerlessly in the elevator!
Just the way he fell was something not everyone could pull off. During rehearsals, Shi Fang had the hardest time with this scene because a corpse doesn’t instinctively protect itself, so he had to fall straight back, defying his body's natural reflexes to protect itself and making it look realistic—something not easily learned.
Dou Yandong, looking at 'Chen Yongren' lying in the elevator, appeared completely bewildered.
"Don't worry, we're all brothers here."
At this moment, Qi Lin, who had been tense, changed to a calm demeanor, smiling as he unlocked Dou Yandong's handcuffs.
"Now that Brother Chen is dead, I'll be counting on you from now on."
He calmly entered the elevator, firing two more shots at 'Chen Yongren's corpse'. The gunshots jolted Dou Yandong back to reality, but he was speechless.
"I joined the police academy in '94, but unfortunately, I never got promoted. He didn't even look at me. I destroyed Han Chen's tapes, so don’t worry. I'm with you now."
Qi Lin meticulously cleaned the crime scene, chatting with 'Liu Jianming' as he worked. After tidying up, he wiped the fingerprints off the gun and handed it to Dou Yandong.
"The police are coming. Let's make it look real."
The elevator doors closed slowly.
"I'm quite capable, but Brother Chen didn't recognize my talent."
Next moment, gunshots rang out again! When the elevator opened once more, Dou Yandong stood with hands raised, his left hand holding his police badge. He glanced calmly around before speaking softly.
"I am the police!"
The scene fell silent, the performance ended. Suddenly, the audience erupted in applause! The three judges also applauded, smiling broadly. Qi Lin and Shi Fang quickly got up in the elevator, bowing with Dou Yandong to thank the audience. As the applause died down, Qi Lin prepared to leave, feeling that the stage belonged to Dou Yandong and Shi Fang.
Liu Tianwang, seeing his intention, quickly called out, "Hey, hey, Big B, don't leave yet!"
Qi Lin, halfway off the stage, froze. The lighting technician smartly focused the lights on him, making him the stage's focal point. The host quickly reacted, pulling Qi Lin back with a smile.
"Are the three teachers satisfied with this performance?"
The host skillfully brought the topic back, smiling at the three judges. Jiang Dongsheng, sitting on the left, usually spoke first.
"Yes, the performance was excellent. All three young actors grasped their roles well. Whether it was Liu Jianming's psychology or Chen Yongren's gunshot reaction, it's clear you rehearsed diligently."
"But what impressed me most was the actor playing Big B. His emotional transitions were so smooth that he doesn’t seem like a newcomer!"
Hearing Jiang Dongsheng's words, the three actors bowed quickly in thanks. After he finished, Zhang Ziyi spoke next. She had been watching Qi Lin, making him feel uneasy. In the backstage passage, Wang Xiaohua clenched her fists. She had Qi Lin participate in this program not just for exposure, but for the positive comments from these three renowned judges. Praise from famous veterans is valuable for newcomers!
One of the most reputable 'Returned Four Sons' made his name partly because he joined the right variety show, earning the admiration of several veteran artists who frequently praised him, helping him avoid many pitfalls. This is what Wang Xiaohua hoped for Qi Lin.
On stage, Zhang Ziyi looked at Qi Lin and smiled, "What's your name?"
"Hello, teacher. My name is Qi Lin."
"Your performance was excellent, very impressive! Of course, your partners were also good, but yours moved me the most!"
Qi Lin bowed quickly in thanks, feeling somewhat embarrassed, as the stage was supposed to belong to Dou Yandong and Shi Fang.
"You have a lot of talent as an actor. I believe you'll achieve great things in the future!"
Shi Fang and Dou Yandong were envious. This was high praise from Zhang Ziyi! Fortunately, she didn’t forget them, giving them compliments before the final judge, Liu Tianwang, spoke. Liu Tianwang also focused on Qi Lin, partly because of his acting, and partly because of his looks. Despite Qi Lin trying to downplay his appearance with makeup, he still stood out.
"Qi Lin, I've recently signed on for a movie. Interested in working together?"
Even Wang Xiaohua backstage was stunned. What was happening? An on-the-spot offer from Liu Tianwang?
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