Chapter 149: Improvisation? No! A Ruthless Trap!

Since Su Chaolin had his reservations, Bai Ling naturally could not afford to be overly hasty.

Although Bai Ling had managed to gain a firm footing in the music industry and was currently one of the more popular singers, her status in the film and television circles was far from impressive. Even though her previous performance in *Moonlight Waltz* was outstanding, it was not enough to cement her position. Did she honestly believe she had the charisma to convince someone like Su Chaolin to abandon his agency and follow her into the unknown? She knew she didn't have that kind of influence. Even if Su Chaolin’s agency didn't pay much attention to him, it was still safer than taking a reckless risk by leaving. Under these circumstances, Bai Ling could only invite Su Chaolin to participate in the filming of *Sweet Honey* and leave other matters for another day.

After rehearsing several times and confirming with Lin Yubai and the others that everything was in order, they patiently awaited the live performance. However, Bai Ling noticed that while Wen Yan seemed perfectly normal during rehearsals—even performing better than usual—the way she looked at her was always somewhat peculiar. This puzzled Bai Ling. "Could this girl be plotting something again?"

Come to think of it, Bai Ling hadn't paid much attention to Wen Yan lately, as she had been busy managing her own affairs. Moreover, since the recent controversy involving *The Crown Princess*, Bai Ling had shed some of her former lethargy. She had been working hard, appearing on variety shows, and actively building her professional brand, finally gaining some solid footing. To put it more aptly, her wings had grown stronger.

As for Wen Yan, despite having a wealthy father backing her, she had only participated in this one variety show recently. She hadn't made any waves, and even now, she remained a minor celebrity with only a few hundred thousand followers. Bai Ling truly had no need to worry about her too much. But then again, Wen Yan was the "destined heroine" of the story, and they had long since crossed paths. It was impossible for Bai Ling to let her guard down completely.

During rehearsals, Bai Ling noticed the way Wen Yan looked at her. Especially during their scenes, when Wen Yan’s character, Bi Xiaoxiao, was supposed to hate Bai Ling’s character, Hou Feifei, her performance… it didn't look like acting at all. It felt like a genuine outpouring of emotion. Perhaps calling it "explosive acting" was an exaggeration, but it certainly carried a layer of personal sentiment. Bai Ling even suspected that if not for those private feelings, Wen Yan might not have performed so well. Still, Bai Ling understood the girl’s mindset—having personal feelings involved was only natural. Thus, though she found it strange, she said nothing. Little did she know, Wen Yan had already made her plans.

As it turned out, ever since Bai Ling demanded a script change and got her way, Wen Yan had been seething with frustration. Even though the final script turned out well and she hadn't suffered for it, she was still unhappy. If Bai Ling could suggest changes, why couldn't she? So, she spent a great deal of effort trying to study the plot and the characters. In the end, she couldn't come up with a single decent idea. It was then she realized that screenwriting wasn't something just anyone could do—at least, she wasn't cut out for it.

But so what? She was beautiful, a gifted actress and singer. It didn't matter if she couldn't write a script; she could just have her agent help. What could Ou Qianqin do? Once the "little princess" gave the order, she had no choice but to follow through. She used her connections to hire a few competent screenwriters to help adapt the scene. While the overall presentation might not be as brilliant as Bai Ling’s version, it significantly increased the screen time for the character Bi Xiaoxiao. Furthermore, it would make the acting much more difficult for Bai Ling, who had to play opposite her.

Just as Ou Qianqin thought Wen Yan would take this version to discuss with Lin Yubai and Su Chaolin, she felt a twinge of worry. Even if the script was rewritten, would Bai Ling agree? It would certainly increase her burden.

However, Wen Yan just chuckled. "Why would I tell them?" she asked. "Can't I just improvise on set?"

Improvisation is much more common than pre-planned script changes. Most actors struggle to grasp the rhythm of the entire plot, but if they fully understand their own character, they can improvise to bring out the character's charm and personality. Thus, directors often favor improvisation. However, this often puts the other actors in a difficult spot. If the partner is strong enough, they can handle the improvisation and make the scene work; if not, the improvisation is likely to fail.

What Wen Yan intended to do was catch Bai Ling off guard. Bai Ling had been sailing through the past few episodes too smoothly; it was time she tasted some bitterness.

Upon hearing this, Ou Qianqin grew excited and even praised Wen Yan as a genius. "This is a brilliant move!"

Watching Lin Yubai, Bai Ling, and the others walk away, a cold smirk played on Wen Yan's lips. "Of course, I'm a genius! Bai Ling, let's see how you handle this tomorrow!"

The next day, it was time for the show’s recording. Many actors were already on set early, busy with makeup and costumes, maintaining their focus. Every competing guest was doing their best to prepare. The live broadcast began right on schedule, and a massive number of viewers flooded into the stream. Although it was slightly short of its peak, the popularity was still staggering. With almost ten million viewers at the start, the results were already quite impressive. As for whether it could soar even higher, that would depend on the performance quality of the recent episodes. At the very least, seeing Bai Ling and Wen Yan in the same group showed that the production team was putting in significant effort.

Soon, everyone took their places on stage one by one. Bai Ling’s position had fluctuated through several rounds, and she had successfully moved from A to B. Bai Ling had expected her group might run into trouble, but she clearly underestimated the situation. As soon as the first performance began, the frustrations started.

This particular act featured a few veteran actors. While they weren't quite masters of the craft, they were certainly skilled. Acting alongside them was a newcomer who had just debuted—not to mention having no fame, he lacked both looks and physical presence. As for acting ability, that was a luxury he couldn't afford. He radiated a single aura: failure. The veteran actors were putting in all their effort, while he maintained a poker face throughout the entire performance, single-handedly dragging down the quality of the whole act.