Chapter 52: Chapter Fifty‑Eight: Freud? The Western Lu Xun!

In the blink of an eye it was already late June, and the temperature in Jingcheng rose day by day.

Da Mi Mi, while packing a few clothes in her room, could get herself drenched in sweat from the heat.

After two or three weeks of rushed work, her scenes in the drama "Smiling Through Life" were already about seventy to eighty percent done.

This time she mainly needed to participate in the school's end-of-semester professional course presentation; although she still couldn't rest, it was far easier than nonstop shooting on set.

Moreover, this time returning, she finally could see Chen Ci.

After being apart for so long, Da Mi Mi had also once felt uneasy.

However, she learned from her roommate Xiao Fei that Chen Ci had never come looking for Yuan Shanshan after that, which put her mind more at ease.

At this very moment, Da Mi Mi faced a more pressing issue: what to wear when they met.

She had already secretly decided earlier that being a bit more proactive was no big deal, so of course wearing less would be simpler.

But when the moment arrived, she still hesitated……

"Mi Mi, I just received the notice……"

Suddenly, Ceng Jia pushed the door open from outside and entered.

Seeing the scene in the room at that moment, Ceng Jia, who had been speaking halfway, suddenly fell silent.

After a brief silence, Da Mi Mi hastily tossed away the blue square little box in her hand, which still bore an English word starting with d printed on it.

"Jie Jia, this is provided by the hotel; I just found it while tidying up……"

Ceng Jia tried hard not to laugh, but as she wasn't a professional actor, a slip was inevitable.

She silently averted her gaze: "It's fine, hotels have these; it's quite normal."

Da Mi Mi also dared not meet Ceng Jia's eyes, silently averting her gaze, at a loss as she continued folding clothes.

In a low voice she tried to change the subject: "Jie Jia, what notice did you just mention……"

"Oh."

Ceng Jia instantly switched back to work mode, seriously saying: "The script has changed; your role needs to be replaced."

"What script?"

Da Mi Mi first heard it and felt a bit dazed, but immediately a faint tension and unease rose from her heart.

At this critical juncture, the only possible change could be in "Mei Lanfang"……

"What else could it be? In 'Mei Lanfang,' director Kai Ge has made a major script overhaul; the role previously mentioned must be swapped out."

As expected, Ceng Jia's answer made Da Mi Mi even more nervous.

"Then I……"

Ceng Jia knew what she wanted to say and directly replied: "Mi Mi, put school matters aside for now; this is crucial for you……"

Da Mi Mi, however, grew more confused and bewildered the more she listened, anxiously interrupting Ceng Jia: "What on earth is happening?"

"Mi Mi, you need to get mentally prepared……"

Actually, it's not a big deal; changing scripts during filming is normal, let alone before shooting has even started.

However, with this change, the senior sister role that Da Mi Mi had originally agreed to disappeared outright.

One could not say it was gone; rather, it was replaced by the original wife of Mei Lanfang.

This role is personally played by Gu Ma.

Naturally, as a biographical film, "Mei Lanfang" spans a long period of time.

The protagonist Mei Lanfang is also portrayed by two actors separately depicting his youth and middle age.

Correspondingly, Mei's wife will also be played by two actors of different age groups, each portraying her.

Thus, it is only natural that Da Mi Mi's role should be considered an upgrade.

From a nameless extra, she has become the third female lead?

Of course, it won't be that simple; going from a supporting role to a lead isn't just a name change—everything must change, including a new audition.

"Mi Mi……Mi Mi?"

"Huh?"

"Did you understand?"

"Clear……"

Da Mi Mi looked somewhat dazed and lost, and Ceng Jia did not continue to urge her.

For her first encounter with such a large-scale production, feeling pressure is quite normal.

Although she's only the third female lead, she still needs to see who the first two are—Gu Ma needs no introduction, and the other female lead is none other than Guoji Zhang!

Before today, to Da Mi Mi these were names she could only hope for, illusory and out of reach.

And just thinking that her name would soon appear alongside theirs gave her an unreal feeling.

After a lengthy silence, Ceng Jia finally broke the quiet.

"Mi Mi, what do you think?"

"What else can I think? I'll give it my all—do I have any other choice?"

Da Mi Mi seemed far calmer than Ceng Jia had imagined.

Yeah, for a budding actor, this is practically a heaven‑sent opportunity; if she didn't strive for it, what kind of actor would she be?

"Giving it your all is necessary; I'm asking how you plan to go all out to compete."

Having fully accepted reality, Da Mi Mi took a deep breath, exhaled, and then continued packing her luggage leisurely.

"Adjust my condition, study the role, strive to audition in the best state……"

Before she could finish, Ceng Jia shook her head: "What you said is all correct, and everyone does that; do you think your advantage is significant?"

Da Mi Mi lifted her eyes blankly, saying nothing; she knew Ceng Jia definitely had more to say.

"Your advantage lies off‑camera."

Da Mi Mi suddenly smiled, she understood: "Ceng Jia, you want me to go find Chen Ci again, right?"

"Not to find; this time I might have to beg."

"I beg him?"

Da Mi Mi's smile vanished abruptly, her gaze sharpened.

Ceng Jia chuckled: "What, you still can't let go of your pride?"

Da Mi Mi frowned slightly: "No, we haven't seen each other in so long; bringing this up the moment we meet isn't right."

"Are you afraid he'll reject you, or worried he'll think you're too utilitarian?"

Da Mi Mi didn't answer; Ceng Jia knew she had hit the mark.

She gave a faint smile: "After all, you still lack confidence, afraid he doesn't love you enough…"

"Who said that!"

Da Mi Mi immediately retorted: "Although we've been apart for so long, Chen Ci has never once come to visit my class, and lately even his phone calls have dwindled…"

No! These are all things I asked for myself; Chen Ci obediently complies, clearly showing he cares about her!

That must be it, certainly… bastard, you told me not to come, and you really never came once!

Who made you so obedient, with no opinion at all—what kind of man is that…

Watching Da Mi Mi sink into deep thought and turmoil, Ceng Jia smiled, shook her head, and sat down beside her.

She spoke softly: "Mi Mi, do you know what's most important to win a man's heart?"

Da Mi Mi turned her head blankly: "Capture his stomach?"

"'Ha…' Ceng Jia couldn't help laughing out loud; after laughing, she let out a long sigh."

Da Mi Mi kept her brows tightly furrowed the whole time, silent, because she truly didn't know what to say.

Just then, Ceng Jia suddenly bent down, picking up the small blue square box that Da Mi Mi had tossed aside.

After picking it up and playing with it in her hand, she then took Da Mi Mi's hand, returning the item to its rightful owner.

"'Men are creatures whose buttocks decide their brains, thinking with their lower half. Freud said, all their actions are for sex…'"