Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 137: Chapter 130: Quarrel

In the classroom, Yang Xiao and others found several practice books and each took one to look at. The questions in them were all very simple.

Soon, the actresses had changed into school uniforms, and the four of them sat apart in a row.

"You, give them a demonstration first!"

Chosen first by Director Ding, as a newcomer, Luo Zhaoqing was somewhat stunned, but still picked up the book and hesitantly walked up to the podium, "Hello everyone, I am your teacher, I..."

"Stop!" Director Ding gestured with his hand, walking over angrily, "What are you doing? This character isn’t new here; he has been teaching for a while and is very familiar with the students. Think about your own teachers, would they talk like you did just now?"

"So...sorry."

"Again!"

This time, Luo Zhaoqing picked up the chalk and copied the questions from the practice book onto the blackboard, then started explaining on his own.

"Stop!" Director Ding grew impatient, "Have you even studied the role? Interaction, you must interact, don’t just stare at the blackboard, interact with the students below! I really doubt if you have ever been to an acting class."

Luo Zhaoqing was already nervous, and Director Ding’s complaints only made him more so, his hands shaking as he held the book, unable to speak clearly in his nervousness.

Having lost all patience, Director Ding decisively switched to someone else, "Lu Ji, your name is Lu Ji, right? You’re up!"

This time it was Lu Ji’s turn, but before he could even start, Director Ding interrupted him, "What is this outfit you’re wearing, with a skull on it? Would a teacher going to the countryside 20 years ago dress like this? Don’t mess around!"

"Brother Lu, wear my coat," Song Yan offered, taking off his grey jacket and handing it to Lu Ji, resolving the urgent situation.

Lu Ji’s acting was somewhat better than the wooden Luo Zhaoqing, but it was still obviously rigid and lacked a true air of life; it certainly would not pass Director Ding’s scrutiny.

He was also sent down, and Director Ding, still not appeased, followed him and continued to berate him for several sentences, suggesting that he and Luo Zhaoqing go back to the film academy and start over, even questioning whether their degrees were bought with money.

These two set a bad precedent, and Director Ding looked at Yang Xiao and Song Yan with skepticism. It was Yang Xiao’s turn next; he went up, erased the previous writing on the board, and then fluidly and naturally wrote down a new question, his handwriting sprawling and pleasing to the eye.

"Turn to page 28 of the workbook." As he turned around, Yang Xiao looked down at the students, and Yu Mi, sitting at the far left, was subconsciously touching her braids.

Feeling Yang Xiao staring at her, Yu Mi suddenly became nervous.

The next moment, Yang Xiao put down the book and rested his hand on the podium, "Yu Mi, were you grinding your grandmother’s patience to braid your hair again? The braid looks nice, but your grandmother has to work in the fields during the day, which is very hard."

Yu Mi was stunned for a moment, her mouth slightly agape, not knowing what to say.

"Stop!"

Director Ding hurried over and stood next to Yu Mi, his chest heaving with anger, "React in the scene! Why are you freezing up?"

"I...I’m sorry!" Yu Mi didn’t know how to explain.

After critiquing Yu Mi, Director Ding turned to look at Yang Xiao, his expression becoming gentler, "Your name is Chu Xi, right? Your acting is not bad, and you have a good grasp of the character. The era these students come from is a rural setting from 20 years ago; basically, they are all left-behind children, with their parents working away from home and the kids left to their grandparents."

Director Ding clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention, "Listen up, everyone, the students in the audience must pay attention to the teacher’s gaze and body language, and be ready to interact at any moment."

With Director Ding’s support, Yang Xiao smoothly completed this debut performance. A scene of about two minutes, it all went seamlessly, except the female actors below were a bit awkward in their responses. Even so, Director Ding was satisfied.

"Chu Xi is fine; the main issue is with you all," Director Ding stood on the podium, critiquing the female actors one by one, "Don’t think that just because you have less screen time, you can neglect it. Tang Cui, can you pull up your collar? Your tattoo is showing; don’t you know how strict the censorship is now? A middle school student with a tattoo on her neck, can this film still be broadcast?"

"Yu Mi, cut down on the small movements; stop touching your braid, stop touching your nose. What, are you trying to steal the scene?"

"Xiang Xiaolin, make your expressions more natural. This isn’t an idol drama; you don’t need a model’s face. Also, remove your makeup tomorrow. You’re playing a rural left-behind child, not a runaway wealthy miss. Have you watched too many nonsensical dramas?"

"And you, Pei Qiuyu! Out of everyone, you’re the best fit, and you have the best qualities—the darkest skin, a strong frame, distinct facial features, and you’ll undoubtedly look good on camera. But you’re too slow to react; when the male actor finishes his lines, you need to respond quickly. And don’t just stare at Chu Xi’s face; relax, understand? Be more natural."

Although Director Ding had a foul temper, his judgment was sharp; he quickly identified the biggest issue with each actor and provided correction.

The last was Song Yan, whose appearance was quite appealing and demeanor refined. Although his acting wasn’t as good as Yang Xiao’s, in terms of fitting the character, he was the best choice.

"Chu Xi and Song Yan both passed, Luo Zhaoqing, Lu Ji, you keep practicing, and you four girls, correct yourselves regarding the problems I just pointed out." Director Ding brought some books, stood on the podium, and personally demonstrated for them.

"Director Ding, there is... there is no more chalk." Luo Zhaoqing, who had just been scolded by Director Ding, now spoke softly.

"Chu Xi, you go downstairs and find Principal Wu, ask for some chalk, it would be best to borrow an old piece of clothing as well," Director Ding arranged.

"I’ll accompany you downstairs," Song Yan, who was sitting in the back row of the classroom, also stood up.

The two left the room and went to find Principal Wu. On the way, Song Yan stopped at the corner of the corridor where several pieces of white paper were posted side by side. They bore a slogan written with a thick brush: "Having a daughter is great, she’s a treasure when you’re old."

Similar slogans could be found in over a dozen places in the hallway.

"What’s the matter?" Yang Xiao asked.

Song Yan stared intently at the slogan, "Nothing, it just feels strange, take a good look, the slogans in this building all seem new."

Yang Xiao looked curious, touched the paper, nodded, "You’re right, they do seem like they’ve just been put up. But what would the school be posting these new slogans for?"

"Judging by the timing, it seems like they were prepared for us," Song Yan glanced around, noting the absence of surveillance cameras, and took the opportunity to peel back a sheet of paper while no one was nearby.

Behind the paper was just a bare wall, nothing on it.

"You suspect they posted these slogans to cover up something behind them?" Yang Xiao asked knowingly, feigning sudden realization.

Without responding, Song Yan continued to peel off several more pieces of slogan paper, from different spots. Yang Xiao helped, careful not to tear them. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

However, after checking several spots, they found nothing but empty wall behind the slogans, and the walls were very old, with their white paint flaking off.

Yang Xiao initially thought the same as Song Yan, suspecting the slogans were hiding the real clues, but now it appeared not to be the case.

Withdrawing his fingers from the wall, Song Yan reattached the piece of slogan paper he was holding and let out a breath, "There’s nothing wrong with the wall, no signs of recent repainting. It seems the real issue lies with the slogans themselves."

Not wanting to delay too long, the two walked downstairs. Before they even approached the classroom, they could hear arguing inside.

The arguing sounds came from a firmly closed classroom door. Song Yan made a gesture, and they approached quietly, with light steps.

Standing outside, the arguing became clear. A familiar male voice inside was Principal Wu’s, "If you’re not going to come, then just don’t come at all. What about the class you’re in charge of? It’s irresponsible to the students! This is outrageous!"

"Principal, don’t be angry, we’ve also called Teacher Xu, but she’s just not answering. We’ve advised her before, but you know what Teacher Xu is like," the middle-aged woman tried to calm him.

"Yes, Principal, Teacher Xu said before that if they came to film, she would resign. You know how much she objects to this," a male teacher’s voice, old and filled with helplessness.

This remark seemed to touch a sore spot for Principal Wu, who raised his voice, "What kind of attitude is that? Is she the only one against it? I don’t want them here either, but you all know how that person is. What can I do?"

"Yes, yes, we understand the difficulties you face, Principal, but... what to do now? They’ve already come," the middle-aged woman sighed involuntarily.

"Just go along with them for now, try to send these people away as quickly as possible. Anyway, I said beforehand, we absolutely cannot use the name of our school this time. I can’t afford to lose face like that."

"Also, assign a few teachers to keep an eye on Teacher Xu. Don’t let her cause any trouble. That incident affected her too deeply. Ah, why... why does everything have to happen all at once?" Principal Wu’s voice relayed his anger and helplessness.

When the noise inside subsided a bit, Yang Xiao and the others exchanged glances, retreated slowly, and then deliberately made their footsteps louder as they approached the classroom.

Before they could even touch the door, it opened on its own, and Principal Wu greeted them with a smile, "Does Director Ding have any instructions?"

Yang Xiao glanced inside the classroom. Besides Principal Wu, there were two middle-aged teachers, a man and a woman, both looking rather distressed at the moment.

"We need a box of chalk for the play and an old piece of clothing if possible, for the set," Song Yan revealed deliberately, "One of our characters is a male teacher who went down to the countryside. It’s better if the clothes are a bit old but clean; that fits the character’s identity better."

At those words, Principal Wu’s smile instantly froze, but only for a moment, and then he regained his amiable expression, "Okay, okay, we have chalk here, but no old clothes. It’s hard to find suitable old clothes now that conditions have improved."

The middle-aged female teacher took a box of chalk from the desk drawer, walked up, and handed it to Song Yan. But before she could speak, there was a loud "thud" overhead, as if something had fallen from above.