Chapter 40: It Went to Li Yuan’er In The End

It was Friday afternoon. There was a post pinned on First Film Academy’s website.

[Tang Li is indeed an excellent schemer. She would do anything just to be famous. She went for cosmetic surgery, disrupted an audition, and bribed the water army* to support her. How shameful is she! The Oscars should really reward her with the best plotter of the year!] (1)

It was the same with the art college’s website.

[Tang Li! Get out of our college!]

[Tang Li humiliates our college!]

[How could our art college side with her? It’s infuriating!]

The website was filled with those kinds of posts in less than two hours.

Wu Xuehan was so angry that her fingers trembled when she read those posts. On the other hand, Tang Li acted like it did not bother her at all. It seemed like she was not the one being sneered at now.

“Ah Li, aren’t you afraid?” Wu Xuehan was worried.

Clearly, those posts were created by the water army.

They were large in number. The people would surely believe what they said even if they were fake news.

Tang Li returned the phone to Wu Xuehan after she read those posts.

Actually, it was not a matter of whether she was scared or not. It was a trick and rather a marketing method that was usually used in the entertainment industry.

Tang Li was about to snatch away Li Yuan’er’s role. It was impossible if Li Yuan’er did not do anything about it.

Furthermore, Ou Yangqian would not even try fair means before resorting to force.

It was eight o’clock at night when the official website of the film, ‘Original Sin’ posted an advertising poster on the nation’s largest website. On the poster, Li Yuan’er tilted her head to 45 degrees and looked up with her eyes close. Her face seemed beautiful from the side. There was an imaginary flower that bloomed behind her. Moreover, there was a caption at the left-hand side of the poster saying that Li Yuan’er would be taking up the role of Ying Xuan’er.

“Why is it Li Yuan’er?”

Wu Xuehan could not believe what she saw.

The director had chosen Ah Li, had he not?

Wu Xuehan looked up at Tang Li who was now hanging her clothes to dry at the balcony.

A lot of students who had read the original novel claimed that Ah Li had indeed portrayed Ying Xuan’er well. Two days ago, somebody on the internet even blurted out that Yuan Jiang had recommended Tang Li to the film company. Why had it become Li Yuan’er now?

Tang Li pushed open the sliding door of the balcony. She soon saw Wu Xuehan’s unhappy little face.

“What’s wrong?” Tang Li asked her.

Wu Xuehan was unsure whether she should tell Tang Li the truth.

But, Tang Li would read about the news later on even if Wu Xuehan chose not to tell her about it now.

That news would be all over the place the next day.

Wu Xuehan decided not to conceal the truth from Tang Li when she thought about that. She showed Tang Li her phone directly. “The film, ‘Original Sin’ has made its official announcement. Li Yuan’er will be acting as Ying Xuan’er.

Tang Li was slightly stunned when she heard that. But, she did not have much emotion.

By now, there were over ten thousand comments under that official post.

The comments were filled with excitement and congratulations for Li Yuan’er.

[Ah! As loyal readers of the original novel, we are absolutely satisfied with this decision! We have naturally pictured Yuan’er as Ying Xuan’er when we read the novels. Thank you, Ning Mang! Our sincerest gratitude to the crew!]

[This is the first time I’m so looking forward to a movie! Love you, Li Yuan’er! We’re looking forward to you as Ying Xuan’er!]

[We thank you very much as the loyal readers of the original novel! Thank you for giving us the best Ying Xuan’er!]

Tang Li did not read on anymore.

Wu Xuehan was hesitant but she still consoled Tang Li. “Actually, it’s just the role of a second heroine. It’s not that important. It’s quite normal even if you didn’t get it. I went for an audition for a maid in ‘Princess Wan Yue’. They rejected me as they claimed that I was too tanned. I might make the heroine appeared much darker by standing next to her.”

Tang Li smiled softly after she saw how clumsy Wu Xuehan was in consoling her. “You’re right. It’s normal if we failed in the audition. So, we don’t have to be unhappy about it.”

“Ah Li, are you really not bothered about it?” Wu Xuehan moved closer to Tang Li with her cute little face.

Translator’s Note: