Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, I became a legend in the entertainment industry by avo

Chapter 145 First Time Taking on the Main Responsibility Alone

6:00 in the evening

The area outside the Capital Theatre was already packed with people.

This morning, the Beijing People's Art Theatre released a casting change announcement on its official website:

Due to actor He Bing's injury, the role originally scheduled for him was temporarily replaced.

Meanwhile, the official refund channel has been opened, providing refunds for those who came specifically to see He Bing.

The entire theater staff is mentally prepared.

The refund rate for this performance is likely to be quite high.

Although Zhang Qilin has a certain degree of fame, he has never played the lead role in a major drama.

Nobody can say for sure how much box office appeal he has.

After a morning, some audience members did indeed choose to get refunds.

But most people chose to keep their seats.

At the theater entrance, veteran theatergoers chatting with their companions while queuing to enter said, "It's really disappointing that Xiao He is injured and can't perform, but I want to see how this replacement actor performs. Maybe he can bring us a surprise."

His companion nodded in agreement: "Yes, a new actor must have some special qualities to be chosen. Let's just treat it as something new."

Besides veteran opera fans, there were also many young girls dressed in their finest attire among the crowd.

They held their tickets, their expressions filled with anticipation.

They gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves, occasionally letting out a light laugh.

Shen Ya was at the very end of the line, and seeing how happy the girls were, she felt very satisfied.

She's been busy with her boss lately selecting history experts.

It was already afternoon when I learned that Zhang Qilin would be taking on the lead role for the first time.

To allow more people to see their idol's first leading role.

She rushed to the Beijing People's Art Theatre Performance Center and bought up all the refunded and remaining tickets.

They even asked if they could sell standing tickets.

The performance center was stumped; they had never done this before.

But we can't turn away this lucky charm.

After all, the two parties had a pleasant working relationship some time ago, and she was already a valued customer of the performance center.

Moreover, this is Zhang Qilin's first time starring in a play, and a group of audience members are indeed needed to create the atmosphere.

After being reported through multiple levels, Vice President Wang finally made the decision to temporarily add some seats in the last row.

In this way, Shen Ya secured the opportunity for more fans to enter the venue.

At this time.

A black sedan entered the Beijing People's Art Theatre compound. The door opened, and Director Zhang Li stepped out first.

Then, Brother Long got out of the car from the other side.

Led by the relevant reception staff, the two first went to Dean Zhang's office.

In addition to the audience, there were also some media outlets organized by Weibo at the scene.

night.

7:00

Director Lin Zhaohua pushed open the door to dressing room number one.

Zhang Qilin had already finished his makeup and was sitting quietly in a chair.

At this moment, Zhang Qilin was wearing an old-fashioned short jacket and had gray hair.

The makeup on his face completely concealed his originally youthful features.

The years have left their mark on his eyes and brows.

He sat there quietly, as if he had already entered the role.

Lin Zhaohua looked at the young man.

He thought that Zhang Qilin would be somewhat nervous or excited, as it was his first time playing a lead role.

But Zhang Qilin's face showed no extra expression.

Lin Zhaohua asked softly, "Qi Lin, are you ready?"

"Ready?" Zhang Qilin nodded, even smiling slightly, the smile accentuating the wrinkles on his face.

"Okay," Lin Zhaohua patted Zhang Qilin on the shoulder, "Remember this feeling. Once you're on stage, you are Yuan Guozhong. Even if the sky falls, our entire crew will support you. Don't think about anything else."

"I understand, Director Lin," Zhang Qilin replied earnestly.

"Ten minutes left," Lin Zhaohua glanced at his watch.

"Yes," Zhang Qilin nodded again.

Lin Zhaohua said no more and turned to walk out the door.

"Five minutes left," the stage manager whispered, gently pushing open the door.

Zhang Qilin took one last look at his unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, then turned and opened the door to the dressing room.

The passageway leading to the side stage was dimly lit, and several teachers, including Song Dandan and Yang Lixin, were already waiting in the waiting area.

The others nodded to him.

There was no further communication.

Everyone listened intently to the sounds coming from the front desk.

As the second bell rang, Song Dandan walked onto the stage.

The props were used to put a pickled vegetable rack on Zhang Qilin's back.

At 7:30 p.m., "Wotou Guild Hall" started on time.

As the curtain slowly rose, a dilapidated old Beijing courtyard house appeared before the audience under the dim lights.

On stage, the sounds of Tian Cuilan and Jin Murong arguing shattered the tranquility of the courtyard.

A moment later, the stage manager gently patted Zhang Qilin on the shoulder: "It's time to go on stage."

Zhang Qilin walked onto the stage from the side of the stage, carrying a rack of pickled vegetables on his back.

Behind him, director Lin Zhaohua and several other key members of the production team nervously watched Zhang Qilin's back, praying that everything would go smoothly.

As Zhang Qilin walked onto the stage, he caught a glimpse of the densely packed audience seats below.

But he didn't pay attention and continued to approach the two people arguing on the stage.

In a daze, he felt as if he had really walked into that familiar courtyard.

He walked to the center of the stage and began, "Which crooked-mouthed chamber pot did this—if I can't have him, I'm not surnamed Yuan—"

His voice carried the carefree spirit of people from the old Beijing alleyways.

He cursed as he struggled to unload the pickled vegetable rack from his back, his movements clumsy yet genuine, much like a man of that age.

Song Dandan, who plays Tian Cuilan, immediately spat and cursed, "What a scoundrel!"

But his hands naturally reached out and lent a helping hand, taking the pickled vegetable rack down.

"What's all that chattering about? Do you know what the old neighbors at the alley entrance have been gossiping about with me? Oh my god, those two hens in your yard are laying eggs again—"

He berated the two arguing women, his eyes darting between Tian Cuilan and Jin Murong.

His complex expression—wanting to reconcile yet unable to resist stirring up trouble and watching the spectacle—was perfectly conveyed through a few glances and a subtle pursed lip.

Song Dandan stood on the side of the table, holding the basin, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She hadn't expected the child to be so steady on his first time taking on such a heavy responsibility.

Most importantly, his tone of voice and actions were exactly like those of the real Yuan Datou.

When Zhang Qilin took the stage, the audience initially showed some curiosity and scrutiny.

As Zhang Qilin and the other actors delivered their brilliant performances, they were gradually drawn into the courtyard, forgetting that he was just a young man temporarily filling in.

Zhang Qilin turned to Song Dandan: "Listen to your big brother, all of you. Leave the fighting to the males. The females can go back to their nests and lie down properly, right, Brother Yupu?"

Zhou Yuping nodded and bowed in agreement, "That's right, that's right."

Xu Fan rolled his eyes and said, "Hallelujah."

Song Dandan replied, "Amitabha."

"Lord Guan is wise," Zhang Qilin quickly bowed, then his expression changed, he rubbed his fingers together, and a fawning and mercenary smile appeared on his face, "Don't go, gentlemen, don't go, gentlemen, I have something important to say—today is a good day, today is the Beginning of Autumn, today is the day I, Yuan Guozhong, beg for food—"

He asked for rent, but said it was for food.

Greed and humility, scoundrelhood and bitterness were perfectly blended in that deeply wrinkled smiling face.

When he complained that his pickled vegetables had been taken by an acquaintance without payment, and he only received the words "try it" as a reward, he was deeply moved.

The sigh he uttered seemed to convey his helplessness in the face of life.

The actors worked together seamlessly on stage, just like real old neighbors who had been bickering in the courtyard for over a decade.

Backstage, director Lin Zhaohua stood in front of the monitor, arms crossed.

His brow slowly relaxed.

Zhang Qilin acted even better than he had imagined.

This child isn't acting; he seems to genuinely live in that tenement courtyard.

The veteran theatergoers in the audience nodded in agreement.

Zhang Qilin's walking posture resembled that of a lower-class citizen in the old society.

His desire for money, his calculations regarding his tenants, and his pathetic, cunning defense of his own situation.

All of this is conveyed through the lines and subtle facial expressions.

This made these veteran opera fans feel that it was just right.

Shen Ya sat in the back row of the extra seat, surrounded by Zhang Qilin's fans.

At first, the girls were a little uncomfortable seeing their idol like this and whispered among themselves.

But as Zhang Qilin's performance progressed, they gradually quieted down, their eyes wide open, completely drawn into the play.

When they heard the veteran fans in front of them praising Zhang Qilin, they unconsciously straightened their chests.

Watching their idols shine on stage and seeing the audience's approval filled them with immense joy.

The plot continues to unfold.

After Yuan Guozhong was shot, the secret gradually came to light as he confessed.

"Back then, Mr. Han entrusted me with that money and asked me to deliver it to No. 16 Nanheyan. But when I arrived, the place had already been ransacked. I waited under that tree for half a year, not daring to spend a single penny."

"When Master Gu sold his house, I—I was heartbroken and spent that money—"

The audience was deeply moved by this scene, and some of them had tears in their eyes.

They saw in this ordinary man the helplessness of ordinary people who had nowhere to go in that turbulent era.

In the VIP section, Director Zhang Li and Brother Long watched intently.

Zhang Li stared at Zhang Qilin on the stage, a gratified smile on her face.

"This young man's performance was really good; his grasp of emotions was very precise."

Upon hearing this, Brother Long subconsciously stared at Zhang Qilin and looked at him carefully.

Under the spotlight, there was Yuan Guozhong, wearing a worn-out short jacket, with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles and vicissitudes.

In particular, his grasp of the lines and emotions was very accurate, which is something a young person can do.

"You mean—" Brother Long lowered his voice, his expression filled with incredulous surprise, "that person on stage—is a young actor?"

"Yes, he's very young, and this is his first time taking on a leading role on the stage," Director Zhang Li said, his voice filled with undisguised admiration.

Upon hearing Zhang Li's words, Brother Long realized something.

Lin Juemin was also very young.

Could it be that...?

He looked at Zhang Qilin on stage once again.

To be honest, if Director Zhang hadn't told him, he would have thought he was an old actor.

His performance on stage was so natural that there was no trace of acting.

He knew this was the Beijing People's Art Theatre, one of the most prestigious theaters in China.

In his memory, the pillars of this place were all middle-aged actors.

When did young people become so amazing?

At this time.

The curtain slowly closed amidst the melodious and hopeful sound of a harmonica.

When the performance ended, the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause.

The audience rose to their feet, applauding and cheering enthusiastically for the actors' brilliant performance.

Shen Ya and her fans were even more excited, clapping and shouting Zhang Qilin's name.

Zhang Li and Brother Long also stood up and applauded.

The curtain was drawn back, and all the actors went on stage to take their final bow.

First, all the actors took a bow together.

Then, everyone took a few steps back.

Song Dandan and Yang Lixin, who were standing to Zhang Qilin's left and right, pushed him forward together.

Zhang Qilin, who had been pushed forward a few steps, paused for a moment, then realized what was happening and gave an embarrassed smile.

He bowed deeply to the audience.

When he straightened up, he saw a sea of ​​people standing in the audience, and the applause was thunderous and prolonged.

The girls in the back row clapped until their hands were red.

Their faces showed pride and excitement at being honored.

Zhang Qilin turned around and bowed deeply to his colleagues in the crew.

This bow was his way of expressing his gratitude to everyone, thanking them for their help that enabled him to successfully complete the performance.

Just then, a message appeared before his eyes: [Reward: Luck Value +5, Luck Value +350 for becoming the lead actor in an influential stage play for the first time, Qingyi Reincarnation Fragment +1]

Upon seeing this message, Zhang Qilin was so excited he almost jumped for joy.

at last!

The [Asking for Directions] feature is now unlocked!