Chapter 78: A Complete Misunderstanding—It Was All Just a Misunderstanding!

With a simple, bare face and a hat atop her head, Bai Ling stepped out. As for sunglasses and masks, she decided against them. In a city overflowing with extras and ordinary actors, such conspicuousness would only make her stand out. It was far safer to dress plainly and blend into the crowd.

Her instincts proved right. After leaving the hotel, she was surrounded by groups of people—some exhausted from performing, others so hungry they only wanted to eat. Few paid any attention to Bai Ling, who appeared utterly unremarkable.

Guided by the ubiquitous aroma of cumin wafting from the street, Bai Ling walked cheerfully toward a small food stall. She ordered a few items, scrolling on her phone as she waited for her meal to be packed.

But as she prepared to head back, passing a street corner, she overheard the voices of several men and a woman.

"Brother, can I go home?"

"Really, brother, I don't want to do this anymore, I..."

"I just want to act, I never meant..."

The girl’s voice trembled with tears.

Bai Ling froze instantly, her mind flooded with images: a young woman pursuing her dreams, being threatened, about to walk the path of no return.

It struck a chord with Bai Ling. If the girl had willingly abandoned herself, Bai Ling would have stayed out of it. But now, it seemed she was being coerced.

"No, I have to get involved," Bai Ling thought, pulling out her phone and dialing.

This was a moment for justice to be served! She hid in a corner, explained the situation concisely and clearly to the police officers, then waited nearby.

There was no way she would charge in herself. Though Bai Ling had shown courage once when stopping a runaway pig, that had been out of necessity. Now, with other options available, she would always prioritize her own safety.

The conversation between the girl and the men continued in the alley, the girl's sobs growing more severe, even strange. Bai Ling grew increasingly anxious, fearing the girl might truly fall into misfortune.

At last, the police arrived. Bai Ling quickly pointed them toward the alley.

"I'm the one who made the report. They're all inside," she said.

The officers immediately sprang into action, approaching from both sides and rushing inside. Their speed far surpassed that of Zhuge Ming climbing a mountain—like heaven and earth.

Soon, anguished cries echoed from the dark alley, accompanied by shouts of "It's a misunderstanding! All a misunderstanding!"

Bai Ling thought to herself, "How cliché—they really only know how to cry 'misunderstanding.'"

But now that the authorities were here and her plan had succeeded, she could slip away.

Do good deeds and leave no name—call me Bai Feng!

Just as she turned to leave, an officer placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Miss, don’t be in such a hurry. Please come with us for a statement."

Bai Ling sighed in resignation. Had she not been so concerned for the girl's safety, she might have left earlier. What a pity.

She glanced at the group being escorted out—a few young men and the girl. They all looked quite youthful, younger than Bai Ling herself.

"So young, and already getting involved in these things?" Bai Ling couldn't help but lament the decline in morals. Such waywardness must not be encouraged!

...

"Exactly, such waywardness must not be encouraged, but couldn't you have stepped a bit closer to listen?" the officer at his computer grumbled, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.

A misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding.

Bai Ling was dumbfounded. She had thought herself a hero, rescuing the girl. But in fact, the four were recent graduates from the Academy of Drama, working as extras.

What she overheard was a rehearsal for a scene they were to perform the next day: a group of extras playing thugs harassing a woman, then the male lead swooping in to save her.

Of course, the lead actor wouldn't rehearse with them, but the young men and the girl, all full of dreams, practiced diligently. They wanted to excel, hoping their efforts might catch a director's eye and earn them a better role, maybe even become real actors if they were lucky.

They had rehearsed the scene several times already.

If Bai Ling had only stepped closer, she would have heard them discussing the details of the performance. That was why the girl's crying sounded increasingly dramatic—it was genuine emotional investment.

Bai Ling now understood why their cries of "misunderstanding" had been so heartfelt when the police arrived—it was sincere emotion beyond the bounds of drama.

But what use was this understanding now?

Propping her chin on her hand, Bai Ling wore a helpless expression. "I can't deny I was wrong, but I acted out of good intentions."

"Officer, please give me a chance, I'll apologize right now."

"I’ll strive for their forgiveness!"

The policeman taking her statement looked at Bai Ling with a dark expression.

"Your words are nice, and I agree, but look at my face."

"Guess how old I am?"

Bai Ling hesitated, "About twenty?"

"Correct! Twenty-four! Is it appropriate for you to call me 'uncle'? Is it suitable?"

Bai Ling nodded immediately, "Sorry, I was wrong, I won’t do it again, uncle. Next time I’ll correct myself, uncle."

"So can I go apologize to them now?"

She had a ceremony to attend tomorrow, couldn’t afford delays, needed a good night's sleep.

The twenty-four-year-old officer was on the verge of collapse.

"Fine, fine, go."

What’s it like to be called "uncle" by a female star older than yourself? Perhaps it was his only takeaway tonight.

Bai Ling approached the young extras. They were a bit frustrated, but upon seeing her, they became excited.

If it were anyone else, fists would have been their greeting. But Bai Ling wasn’t just an artist, she was also strikingly beautiful.

Beauty inspires reason.

At least for now, they reflected, "Bai Ling was only trying to protect the girl, that's why she called the police."

When Bai Ling sincerely apologized, they graciously accepted it.

Still, Bai Ling knew she owed them more; a simple apology wasn’t enough.

"If you want to act, you can come to me. My production team happens to be looking for actors."

Bai Ling gave them Miaomiao’s contact information.