Chapter 121: Alone in Beauty Beneath the Moon

“The previous performance was pretty standard, I’d say.”
“The rest of them were average at best.”
“That Yang Zichao even made a mistake...”
“To be honest, this film is quite old now. The plot doesn’t really hold up these days; it lacks sharpness, especially the ending with her throwing herself into the sea. It just doesn’t feel satisfying!”
“Actually, that scene is really important. Back then, women’s status was so low—even those born into nobility were still considered inferior. So throwing herself into the sea was a fierce act of resistance, a cry against her fate.”
“If it took place today, there’d be better options. But the times were different, so that’s how it was handled. It makes sense.”
“The original actress in this film took off because of this role. Even now, though she’s older, she’s still a top international actress. You have to admire her.”
“I heard she’d already been in the industry for seven or eight years at the time, with plenty of experience. Do you think Bai Ling can replicate that?”
“I doubt it!”
“Honestly, Bai Ling’s performance just now was already decent. If she can maintain that level, it won’t be a total disaster for her.”
“She still deserves criticism. She’s too arrogant. Sure, the web dramas she’s done have been good, but that’s no reason to be so presumptuous and skip rehearsals.”
“She’s probably relying on a bit of talent and doesn’t want to put in the effort.”
“Exactly! Everyone says genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. She’s just too full of herself!”
“Uh, actually, there’s another half to that saying.”
“Of course I know, but honestly, does Bai Ling really have enough talent to overpower everyone else?”
“Right? Lin Yubai is a recognized talent too, but you don’t see him acting this arrogant.”
“Well, there’s nothing more to say—let’s just watch the performance. Bai Ling’s about to start!”

Bathed in the watery moonlight, Bai Ling stood atop the stage’s makeshift deck.
She gazed into the distance, as if looking out over the endless, deep sea—toward a road shrouded in darkness.
In just a fleeting moment, her expression changed.
The director, perceptive as ever, zoomed in, focusing the camera on Bai Ling’s eyes.
Her eyes, bright as the stars, shimmered with a myriad of emotions.
Disappointment in love, heartbreak within her family.
A defiance toward the world, mixed with deep self-reflection.
With a single glance, audience members gifted with empathy felt as if they were caught, unable to look away.
In an instant, many felt a gentle sorrow welling up in their hearts, a faint, aching melancholy.
The camera then pulled back, returning to a normal frame.
Bai Ling began to move.
She started to dance!

The classic moonlit waltz unfolded.
Her graceful figure, her enchanting movements!
Every gesture, every glance
seemed to give voice to Fiona’s soul.
She was a woman, a victim of her age, and yet, she was someone with a noble spirit and character.
She was independent and strong!
Her attire couldn’t match the splendor of her stepmother and stepsister, but under the moonlight, she was breathtaking, radiant beyond compare!
In that moment, she was the undisputed protagonist.
Not just the leading lady on the “I Am the Actor” stage, nor simply the heroine atop the deck in that old film—
she was the protagonist of her own life.
Even if no one on the deck admired her, even if no one in her long life cared for her,
at this moment, Fiona’s life shone brightly.
She was the moon itself, the endless moonlight streaming across the sea!

For a split second, everyone felt an illusion—Bai Ling was Fiona,
and Fiona had become Bai Ling!
The two fused almost perfectly, in harmony.
The dance ended, but the audience remained rooted in place, unable to recover.
In their eyes, nothing had ended.
Only when Bai Ling stepped to the edge of the deck, spread her arms to embrace the sea breeze and the moon,
her face bearing disappointment, release, and an indelible courage,
did people stir.
Many stood up, reaching out as if to stop Bai Ling—hoping to keep her from falling into the cold sea, from being lost in that frozen, bygone era.
But in the end, Bai Ling fell, delivering a crushing blow to everyone’s hearts.
It was as if a fist had seized their beating hearts.

In the next instant, the lights blazed on!
The spell was broken—everyone snapped out of the dream.
It was a performance; it had all been just a scene.

“What...”
“Just now...”
Many people stared at Bai Ling, who had already risen from the stage, their eyes suspiciously bright.
In truth, this old film had been a textbook for nearly every actor.
Yet each time they watched, the emotion it summoned never diminished.
Such is the power of true acting.

Now, Bai Ling had managed to make them relive that old movie’s magic.
Applause erupted through the theater.
Zhuge Tianguang was the first to rise, his face flushed with excitement.
“Excellent!”
“That was brilliant!”
“Bai Ling, Bai Ling, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!”

With his declaration, everyone else stood up as well.
Without question, this was the highlight of the night.
Bai Ling had proven herself to everyone—she could do it!

Meanwhile, the live broadcast chat exploded to life once again.
“Wow, what did I just watch?”
“That... was really Bai Ling?”
“Don’t trick me—are you playing the original film?”
“I swear, I saw so many emotions in Bai Ling’s expression. Was it just my imagination?”
“Guys, is it just my bias as a fan, or was this really on par with the original?”
“Nope, it’s not your imagination. That was genuinely amazing.”
“I honestly thought it would be jarring, since the film is so old and the plot twists are kind of awkward. If the emotions weren’t right, it’d be hard to get into it—but wow...”
“Was that leak even true? You can’t just improvise a performance like that, can you? No way!”
“Production team, explain yourselves! This doesn’t add up!”
“Seriously, I feel like the show is just playing with us.”
“I’m starting to wonder if the producers gave Bai Ling the script ahead of time—was this rehearsed two months ago?”
“Come on, after everything Bai Ling’s been through over the past two months, is that even possible?”
“Could it really be that one percent inspiration overwhelmed ninety-nine percent sweat?”
“Damn, is Bai Ling really a natural-born acting genius?”
“First there was the music prodigy, now an acting prodigy too? This is absurd!”
“Honestly, just based on tonight, I’m a new fan—she’s incredible!”
“Even Lin Yubai, an award-winning actor, couldn’t outshine Bai Ling tonight.”

(End of Chapter)