Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 67. English Stage Play (Part 2)

March 17, 1998, Tuesday.

After the recess exercise, Guan Xuchen was chatting with Gao Xinglang on the playground when Fang Jingwen walked over and asked with a smile, "English rep, I saw Ms. Jiang ask you and the monitor to the teachers' office after the morning reading. Have you decided on the roles of the stage play?"

"Not yet. Ms. Jiang just asked how our preparations were going..." Guan Xuchen paused, then ventured, "Is the princess the only role you want? Would you really not consider other roles?"

"Fang Jingwen, I think you'd make a great witch," Gao Xinglang, who was standing aside, chimed in with a grin.

"Gao Xinglang, why are you saying I look like a witch? You're the witch!" Fang Jingwen retorted irritably.

Gao Xinglang saw Guan Xuchen give him a look, so he smiled apologetically and said, "You misheard me. I didn't say you look like a witch. With your elegant temperament, how could you be a witch? You're more like a fairy."

"That's better," Fang Jingwen huffed, though her anger faded. But she quickly added sharply, "Then why did you say I'd make a great witch?"

Before Gao Xinglang could reply, Guan Xuchen interjected, "I think he meant you could try different roles. As you said, you've already played a princess before. So why not try something more challenging this time..."

"I guess that makes a little sense," Fang Jingwen pouted, looking aggrieved. "But you can't ask me to play such an ugly witch..."

"Just think about it again..." Guan Xuchen sounded less confident.

"Alright," Fang Jingwen said, turning to leave.

Remembering what Ms. Jiang had said that morning, Guan Xuchen suddenly had an idea. He called out to Fang Jingwen and smiled, "By the way, Fang Jingwen, you said you want to be an actress someday. Do you know Teresa Mo and Karen Mok?"

Fang Jingwen turned around, looking puzzled. "Of course I do! They're big stars in Hong Kong! Why?"

Guan Xuchen pressed on. "What do you think of their acting?"

Fang Jingwen answered without hesitation, "They're both amazing actresses. Why are you asking?"

Instead of replying directly, Guan Xuchen asked, "Do you think they're beautiful?"

"They're gorgeous. I'm not a boy. Why are you asking me that?" Fang Jingwen grew impatient and asked back angrily, "Wait, are you saying I'm not as pretty as them, so I have to play the witch?"

"No, no, no, that's not it!" Guan Xuchen rushed to explain. "I meant that even though they're naturally beautiful, they've both played ugly roles. Teresa Mo once played a fierce shrew, and Karen Mok played a buck-toothed girl. But those roles didn't hurt their original images. Instead, they showed off their versatility, and the audience loved them even more. You want to be an actress in future, right? A great actress should be like Teresa Mo and Karen Mok—willing to take on any role, no matter how different."

Seeing Fang Jingwen stay silent, Guan Xuchen added, "The witch starts off as wicked and ugly. But in the end, she reforms and becomes beautiful again. It's a role with real depth—you can really show your acting skills."

"Does she really become beautiful in the end?" Fang Jingwen seemed a little tempted.

"Absolutely—I can show you the script," Guan Xuchen offered.

"Come on, future star, why not challenge yourself?" Gao Xinglang chimed in with a grin.

Fang Jingwen shot Gao Xinglang a glare, then turned to Guan Xuchen and said, "Let me think about it some more."