Forced to Act out a Strange Script with a Rival - Chapter 7

In the small dressing room, a group of people had gathered.

Li Ting finished her makeup and sat on the rather ugly sofa, reading her script.

She didn’t make the first move, instead waiting for Si Xiaoxiao to take the lead.

It was now Si Xiaoxiao’s turn for makeup. Facing the director team’s request, she was quite direct: “For these two shows, either I go or Li Ting goes. We can only choose one and must be separated.”

“We can adjust your time slots. You don’t have to be a duo. Appearing on stage separately wouldn’t count as the same stage,” the director’s mind worked quickly, immediately coming up with a solution.

Li Ting, sitting on the side, let out a cold laugh and spoke: “My side’s only demand for the contract should be one thing. I believe your company is quite clear on it.”

Normally, two obscure celebrities wouldn’t have any say; they would just be arranged however the other party wanted. However, a past incident complicated things.

Back when Bronze Sparrow Without Peer had just finished filming, all the main creators became instantly popular. Invitations for Si Xiaoxiao and Li Ting to collaborate poured in.

The two initially had a honeymoon period of working together, and many shows benefited from their combined presence, giving rise to countless famous variety show moments.

However, the pair later fell out. At that time, they still had some popularity and the right to choose, and they firmly refused to work together or be exploited by the other.

But the director of one program played a trick, arranging a very awkward joint performance without informing either of them.

Both thought the other was trying to ride on their coattails, and they directly lost their composure and argued on the show.

It was clearly passive-aggressive and a sign of their falling out, yet the CP (couple) fans still shipped them, even initiating a crowdfunding campaign to create a self-produced variety show and invite them to participate.

Si Xiaoxiao, with her fiery temper, couldn’t stand it!

So, she immediately demanded that her management company include a clause in her contract stating that she would not collaborate with Li Ting.

She even childishly posted it on Weibo to spite Li Ting and those unscrupulous CP fans.

Li Ting was also quite young at the time and joined in Si Xiaoxiao’s childishness.

She responded equally fiercely, posting her commercial contract on Weibo with a special clause added: she would not cooperate with a certain artist with the surname Si in the future.

Until now, the two companies have remained in competition, and the contractual requirements for both regarding external collaborations have never changed.

That day was dubbed the “419 Incident” by fans, announcing the complete breaking up (be) of the official pairing. Fans gave up all fantasy, and the fan club directly disbanded on the spot, donating all previously collected funds to a remote mountain area.

Since then, the two have become increasingly obscure, each going their separate ways for a few years, declining in their respective fields.

Si Xiaoxiao and Li Ting were only brought up again recently.

In recent years, a wave of nostalgia has swept through the internet. A well-known blogger on Bilibili (B-station) compiled a list of past classic masterpieces.

Many people brought up Bronze Sparrow Without Peer.

It was the eternal “white moonlight” (an unforgettable perfect person/thing). Even now, people fall in love with it in batches every year, then ship the two young girls in the story, and then are forever stuck in the pit waiting for an official collaboration that will never come.

Although they ship the two characters in the drama, the marketing back then heavily tied the real people to the characters. In reality, wasn’t their story even better and more legendary?

The hearts of some loyal CP fans may have died, but their bodies hadn’t.

They became darkened, transforming into a Nirvana-edition Chaos Enthusiast type of outrageous netizens, constantly seeking attention under both of their Weibo accounts.

After all, hate lasts longer than love. Gradually, this group of people actually grew larger. Isn’t that strange?

Some even felt that Li Ting’s acting was inherently better than Si Xiaoxiao’s, and if she had pursued acting, she definitely wouldn’t have been ridiculed like Si Xiaoxiao.

But then others argued that Si Xiaoxiao was so beautiful and memorable, and her voice was excellent. She would definitely be more popular as a singer than the completely forgettable Li Ting.

The two factions fought fiercely, and the CP fans shipped them harder than ever.

It’s unknown if the two directors also heard these voices. When both Si Xiaoxiao and Li Ting rejected the proposal.

They were furious. They didn’t want this free popularity?

Were these two sick?

So, they also darkened, turning into netizens who loved watching the drama. Avoiding each other? Not sharing the stage?

“Fine! Then Miss Li Ting will participate in the acting variety show, and Miss Si Xiaoxiao will go on the singing variety show.”

After all, the variety show contracts were all signed with the same company, and they didn’t specify what type of program to participate in. Isn’t it up to the (client/producer) to decide on last-minute changes?

They were just two obscure celebrities!

So, just before the live broadcast began, singer Li Ting received an acting gig, and actress Si Xiaoxiao had to prepare a song.

It proves that the world is indeed a gigantic “makeshift team,” filled with schadenfreude (taking pictures when the house is on fire) enthusiasts.

If you’re obscure, you get bullied!

When Si Xiaoxiao called her manager to complain about Lemon TV changing the variety show content just before the live broadcast, swapping the agreed-upon acting show for a singing show, the manager only had one thing to say.

“Isn’t it fine as long as you have something to film? Xiao Zhuang here has something to do; you handle it yourself.”

Si Xiaoxiao was so angry that she got a little angry.

As she became increasingly obscure recently, the manager who had been flattering her when she debuted also became more perfunctory. Compared to a faded star like her, her red-hot junior sister was obviously more important right now.

“I’m trending on the hot search.”

Si Xiaoxiao immediately seized the opportunity before her manager, Yan Guan, impatiently hung up the phone.

“? You haven’t released any new work, have you? Is there another retrospective list criticizing your acting?” Yan Guan was clearly busy and hadn’t had time to check the hot search.

Si Xiaoxiao’s heart sank. If it wasn’t her own manager’s marketing, then the netizens were truly awful, still hung up on the former “Bronze Sparrow Double Flowers.”

The two directors standing beside Si Xiaoxiao, waiting for her to finish reporting, smiled and watched her, expecting her to accept the fate grudgingly, just like Li Ting.

Yes, after the director announced the program swap, Li Ting accepted it very calmly.

Si Xiaoxiao accused Li Ting of being a big traitor, then pulled out her phone and called her manager, trying to struggle.

“I’m tone-deaf! What singing variety show can I go on!!!” Si Xiaoxiao tried to convince her manager to stick up for her a little.

The manager, Yan Guan, was quite awful, very calmly stating: “Then it’s a good chance to get another hot search, overshadowing your terrible acting and reminding everyone that you are an actress.”

“?”

The manager’s words were a sharp knife: “Even if you sing badly, it’s still better than your acting.”

Those words were too much!

Si Xiaoxiao angrily hung up the phone and glared fiercely at Li Ting.

Li Ting: ? I was just reading my script obediently; why are you glaring at me?

The singing variety show director timely handed over a script, waved his hand, and called over a staff member who was following him: “Xiao Wang, explain the situation to them. Both of our broadcasts will start simultaneously in one hour.”

He then left, arm-in-arm, with the acting variety show director.

“Sister Xiaoxiao, which song will we sing later?” Xiao Wang, the program assistant, was young, his eyes darting back and forth between the two of them.

“I…”

Xiao Wang quickly pre-empted her, recommending: “How about ‘Wildfire Burns the Monument’? This song is a classic, right?”

“Wildfire Burns the Monument”?

Si Xiaoxiao’s expression froze. This was one of the few songs she knew how to sing.

Because this was—the theme song of Bronze Sparrow Without Intermission!

Back then, the crew hired a teacher to teach Li Ting the song, and Si Xiaoxiao had also learned it alongside her. They were inseparable then, and Si Xiaoxiao knew the song by heart.

What kind of dead memory is attacking me now!

As the original singer of “Wildfire Burns the Monument,” Li Ting frowned.

However, the song wasn’t very difficult; it was a good choice for a singing novice like Si Xiaoxiao.

“Can’t I sing something else?” Si Xiaoxiao tried to find another option.

Xiao Wang answered readily: “Of course, you can.”

She continued: “It’s also fine if you choose ‘Karmic Fire Without Intermission,’ ‘Heroes of the Twin Stars Don’t Cross Over,’ or ‘Seven Stars Falling on the Sparrow Terrace.'”

It seemed like there were many choices, but in fact, there were none. Weren’t these just the interlude, the CP song, and the fan-made song of Bronze Sparrow Without Intermission!

You shouldn’t exploit an IP like this!

In that case, she might as well sing “Wildfire Burns the Monument”!

At least she knew that one.

But Si Xiaoxiao still didn’t want to give up. She wanted to escape the damn Bronze Sparrow reincarnation, so she deliberately challenged: “Can’t I sing the national anthem?”

“We suggest you don’t,” Xiao Wang said with a look that implied Si Xiaoxiao was crazy, even adding seriously: “If the mentors collectively stand up to salute, no one will press the light for you.”

Of course, Si Xiaoxiao knew that singing the national anthem on a singing variety show was not allowed. She was just arguing; she wasn’t really stupid!

Don’t take the national anthem option seriously!!!

“I’ll think about it,” Si Xiaoxiao said.

It was definitely too late to learn a new song. Choosing to sing “Wildfire Burns the Monument” seemed like a genuinely good option.

Seeing that Si Xiaoxiao was only one step away from agreeing, Xiao Wang didn’t press further and turned to Li Ting.

“Teacher Li, do you have any questions?”

Li Ting, who usually had excellent composure, couldn’t help but ask Xiao Wang about the script in her hand: “Do the key character words absolutely have to be ‘Dual Female Leads,’ ‘Three Kingdoms Heroic Spirits,’ and ‘Exceptional Strategist’?”

Xiao Wang smiled slightly, very composedly: “They can also be ‘Mutual Love and Conflict,’ ‘Supernatural Battle,’ and ‘Bilateral Salvation.'”

Good heavens, this was the CP fan throwing it in their faces, not even bothering to hide it!

Weren’t these still the keywords for Bronze Sparrow Without Intermission?

“You really did a lot of homework to piggyback on this wave of popularity…” Li Ting rubbed the script in her hands, somewhat suspecting she had fallen into some kind of trap.

“Why don’t you consider it too, Teacher Li?” Xiao Wang waved her hand: “Don’t worry, the choices given to you are equal. I equally support both of you!”

This person…

Si Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but interject, asking the young girl in front of her, “You… you wouldn’t be a CP fan, would you?”

Xiao Wang immediately showed a starry-eyed expression, nodding wildly, and seized the opportunity to ask Si Xiaoxiao: “How is it, Sister Xiaoxiao? Have you thought it over? Have you decided to sing ‘Wildfire Burns the Monument’?”

There wasn’t anything else to sing, was there!

With the CP fan practically throwing it in her face, Si Xiaoxiao could only compromise: “Fine, then I’ll sing ‘Wildfire Burns the Monument.'”

Hmph, just wait and see Si Xiaoxiao’s version defeat Li Ting’s version miserably!

As a sworn enemy, Si Xiaoxiao naturally knew about Li Ting’s strange quality of having popular songs but not being popular herself, and actually boosting the popularity of cover versions.

Although she would inevitably be shipped again by those strange CP fans, being able to suppress her enemy’s arrogance was still worth it.

Seeing that even Si Xiaoxiao, who was naturally rebellious and loved to argue, agreed to the script’s arrangement, the program assistant, Xiao Wang, immediately looked at Li Ting with sparkling eyes.

Her expression seemed to say, Look, your nemesis has agreed. How can you fall behind! Hurry up and fight! Don’t lose!

Li Ting couldn’t handle the pressure and, clutching the script, compromised: “Fine, I’ll act, alright?”

Xiao Wang smiled reassuringly, deliberately asking the obvious: “Teacher Li, which character will you be playing? Which specific minute-long segment will it be? How do you need our sound and lighting technicians to coordinate?”

“I’ll play Xun Ye,” Li Ting said calmly.

She probably never thought she would actually say the name “Xun Ye” again.

“Only this role meets your requirements, right? It’s a complete square peg in a square hole.”

Xiao Wang’s eyes narrowed, wearing a knowing, shipper smile, and she suggested with ulterior motives: “How could that be? We still have a choice, Sister Li Ting. You could also try playing Cao Xueliao~”

Cao Xueliao, the role Si Xiaoxiao played back then.

What do you call it? Many years later, you will finally become me!

This guy really knows how to ship them.

Li Ting, of course, shook her head.

She wasn’t interested in playing the passionate blockhead, and she had no intention of adding difficulty for herself.

Subsequently, the two separately asked Xiao Wang about the rules of the two programs.

Because the two directors were as close as thieves, the teams for the two programs had a lot of overlap and frequently borrowed staff from each other.

This was also why the directors only left Xiao Wang alone to answer questions.

Seriously, this is practically just attending one show!

Time passed minute by minute, and Xiao Wang patiently explained the program flow to the two.

Si Xiaoxiao and Li Ting were genuinely awkward. They asked Xiao Wang questions one after the other, taking turns, but they had absolutely no interaction with each other the entire time.

Their respective assistants also completely ignored the other, maintaining very strict discipline.

But this also revealed a strange kind of tacit understanding.

“Sister Xiaoxiao, you are scheduled to appear fourth. You need to sing while masked. You have the length of one song. The mentors will turn on their lights for you if they are satisfied with your singing. Of course, audience votes in the live stream are also crucial for your advancement.”

“Sister Li Ting, you are scheduled to appear fourth. You need to perform a solo segment. You have the length of one scene. The mentors will turn on their lights for you if they are satisfied with your acting. Audience votes in the live stream are also crucial for your advancement.”

The rules and requirements for the two programs were basically the same, and Xiao Wang was essentially just repeating what she had said to the former.

However, because they were treating each other as if they were invisible, even with the same introduction, Si Xiaoxiao and Li Ting still silently expected Xiao Wang to repeat it.

Xiao Wang, as a CP fan, didn’t mind at all. She expressed: “This very awkwardness is what makes it so delicious!!”

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