msmithbooks Chapter 87 Chu Ran Breaks Free from Restraints
Chapter 87 Chu Ran Breaks Free from Restraints
In his bloodshot eyes, despair and pain gradually faded, replaced by an almost frantic determination.
She slowly stood up, dusted herself off, and then suddenly opened her arms wide.
Her back was ramrod straight, her shoulders relaxed, and the pain and madness that had gripped her face were gone, replaced by a sense of relief and resolve. Her voice was no longer hoarse, cold, or shrill; instead, it was clear, firm, and carried a power that pierced the heart.
"I don't want to be a caged ape! I don't want to be bound by labels!"
Her voice grew louder and more powerful, full of explosive force, echoing throughout the theater for a long time.
"I am Yu Wanyin, but I am not just Yu Wanyin! I am an actress, I am Wang Churan! I can play every role I love well, whether it is a rich lady or an ordinary person, whether it is gentle and virtuous or crazy and insane!"
"This cage was given to me by you, and it's also a self-imposed prison! Today, I will shatter it with my own hands! I will live my life my way! Even if the whole world only recognizes Yu Wanyin, even if the whole world doesn't believe in me, I will not give up! Because I know that my value is defined by myself!"
She opened her arms, tilted her head back, as if embracing the sunlight, or perhaps defying the entire world. The light shone on her, bathing her in a golden halo, making her seem to glow.
"I am who I am, unique and irreplaceable!"
After the last word was uttered, there was a two-second silence in the theater.
Then, thunderous applause erupted!
Someone suddenly stood up and applauded, which inspired more people. Soon, everyone in the theater was standing up, and the applause was so enthusiastic it seemed to lift the roof off. Cheers and shouts of approval rose and fell, drowning out everything else.
"Good! Well said!"
"That was amazing! Absolutely incredible!"
"I got goosebumps! It was so shocking!"
The girls who had been jealous of her before also stood up and applauded, their faces no longer showing sourness, but only full of admiration;
The boy wearing black-rimmed glasses clapped his hands vigorously until his palms turned red.
Tian Xiwei clapped while crying, her tears flowing even more fiercely, yet her smile was incredibly radiant.
The three judges stood up and applauded enthusiastically. Professor Zhang wore a rare smile, his eyes full of appreciation and approval. He drew a heavy circle on the record sheet and then added a large exclamation mark. Teacher Li and Teacher Liu also clapped vigorously, their faces filled with awe.
Looking at the enthusiastic applause from the audience and the approving gazes of the three teachers, a relieved smile appeared on her lips. She bowed deeply, then turned and slowly walked off the stage.
Back on the side stage, Tian Xiwei immediately rushed up and hugged her tightly: "Ranran! You're amazing! Your acting was fantastic! I was crying my eyes out!"
Chu Ran was a little breathless from Tian Xiwei's hug. She smiled and patted Tian Xiwei's back: "It's okay, it's okay, I'm fine."
Her voice was still a little hoarse, her forehead was covered in sweat, and her hair was soaked and stuck to her cheeks. But her eyes were full of satisfaction and joy.
"My goodness, when you yelled at Professor Zhang just now, I thought you were going crazy!" Tian Xi loosened her grip, wiped away her tears, and said excitedly, "And that last part was so powerful! I got goosebumps all over! Those people who were being sarcastic before are definitely convinced now!"
Chu Ran smiled and said, "I just want to express the feelings in my heart completely and truly."
The surrounding classmates also gathered around, chattering amongst themselves, their attitudes completely different from before.
"Chu Ran, you're amazing! Your acting was incredible!" The girl with the ponytail who had tried to build a relationship with her earlier squeezed to the front, a fawning smile on her face. "Your performance was so moving, I even cried. If you ever have the chance, could you mentor me? I'd like to play some challenging roles too."
"Chu Ran, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said you could only play naive and innocent characters." The girl in the pink coat also came over and said somewhat embarrassedly, "You acted so well, I'm impressed."
"How did you manage to switch between three roles so naturally? That's amazing!"
"I almost cried when I saw you squatting on the ground just now, I could really relate to you!"
The boy with black-rimmed glasses who had been mocking her earlier also came over, scratched his head, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Chu Ran, you really acted well. I shouldn't have made those comments before. Don't take it to heart. I also watched 'What Kind of Conduct'. Your portrayal of Yu Wanyin was indeed excellent. Now it seems that your acting skills are truly amazing, not just based on the script."
Chu Ran smiled and said, "It's alright, I know everyone is just curious. We can exchange acting tips sometime in the future."
Her gentle demeanor and lack of resentment stemming from previous discussions made her even more popular with her classmates. The discussion grew increasingly heated, with everyone's faces reflecting shock and excitement.
"I think this was the most exciting show of the day! Without a doubt!"
"They're sure to get a high score! Professor Zhang even stood up and applauded!"
"Last year, Senior Li's performance was a disaster, but this year, Chu Ran brought the show to life!"
"We need to get along well with Chu Ran from now on. She's so capable and easy to talk to; she might actually be able to help us out."
The three judges were also whispering among themselves.
"This child is talented, and even more courageous," Professor Zhang said with a smile, watching Chu Ran's retreating figure. "The play 'The Caged Ape' is extremely challenging, not only because one person plays multiple roles, but also because of how to externalize the characters' inner struggles. She not only dared to take on the challenge, but also made a very successful personalized adaptation, deeply integrating her own experiences with the character's fate, giving this ancient theme a brand-new and highly contemporary interpretation. Her performance is also impeccable. From despairing cowering to explosive screams, her emotions are clearly layered, her body language is precise and expressive, especially her voice control, from suppressed murmurs to penetrating roars, perfectly shaping the character's psychological trajectory from imprisonment to break free. This sense of tearing apart and explosive power is very rare among young actors."
Teacher Li nodded: "Yes, she has a very deep understanding of the script. Especially when switching between characters, the changes in her eyes are very subtle, from Yu Wanyin's gentleness, to the despair of 'the caged ape,' and then to the determination of 'Wang Churan,' the layers are clear and there is no sense of disjointedness. She is not playing three characters, but three aspects of a soul. This is a very high-level interpretation of the character."
Teacher Liu also said, "She portrayed the feeling of being trapped yet yearning to break free so realistically, especially the final moment when she spreads her arms wide. The silhouette under the lights is extremely symbolic, as if a real ape has finally broken free of its cage and embraced freedom. This is not only a victory for acting skills, but also a victory for artistic expression. This child has a limitless future."
Professor Zhang picked up his pen and wrote a line on the record sheet: "Extremely talented and courageous, the performance is highly infectious and explosive, the interpretation of the character is profound and full of personal style, one of the best performances of the year." Then, he wrote a big "98" in the score column.
The assessment continued, but no matter how hard the subsequent contestants tried, they could hardly surpass the impact of Chu Ran's performance. Everyone's thoughts were still on the fifteen-minute performance, their minds replaying her curled-up, struggling figure, her cold and rigid demeanor, her frantic mockery, and finally, her outstretched arms and shouts for freedom.
Around 5 PM, the assessment finally ended. Professor Zhang stood on the stage, gave a few concluding remarks, and then specifically mentioned Chu Ran.
"Today, one student's performance left a very deep impression on me," Professor Zhang said with a smile, glancing at Chu Ran on the side of the stage. "It was Chu Ran's performance of 'The Caged Ape.' This play is very difficult, and she not only succeeded in the challenge but also performed it brilliantly and movingly. She wasn't bound by the labels that come with fame; instead, she bravely challenged herself and used her performance to interpret what true passion and perseverance are. I hope everyone can learn from her, dare to break through their own limitations, and not be defined by the opinions of others."
Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Chu Ran stood up, smiled sheepishly, and bowed to everyone.
After the assessment, the students gathered around Chu Ran and continued to discuss her performance, with many taking the opportunity to build a relationship.
After saying goodbye to their classmates, Chu Ran and Tian Xiwei walked out of the small theater together. It was already getting dark outside, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the campus, gilding the leaves and teaching buildings with a layer of gold.
"Thank you so much for today, Xiwei." Chu Ran looked at Tian Xiwei and said earnestly, "You've been by my side all this time and still believe in me."
Tian Xi waved her hand slightly: "Why are you being so polite with me! We're best friends! Besides, you're already very capable, I'm just believing the facts. Those people are trying to curry favor with you now, don't agree to them easily, lest they take advantage of you."
Chu Ran smiled and said, "I know, I know what I'm doing."
The two chatted and laughed as they walked back to their dormitory. Along the way, classmates kept greeting Chu Ran, all very enthusiastic, and many praised her performance as wonderful. Chu Ran responded to each one with a smile, her heart filled with a sense of accomplishment and happiness.
Back in the dorm, her three other roommates, who had already heard about her performance, gathered around her.
"Ranran! You're amazing! We've all heard about it!"
"Tell us quickly, how did you come up with the idea to adapt 'The Caged Ape'? Was it because the pressure was too great after 'What Kind of Conduct' became a hit?"
"During the performance, were you truly immersed in the role? I heard that many people were moved to tears!"
Chu Ran sat in a chair, took a sip of water, and said with a smile, "It was just a sudden inspiration. I felt that this play could express some of my thoughts. When I was performing, I was completely immersed in it. My mind was only on the character, nothing else."
"That's amazing!" a girl exclaimed. "Everyone at school is talking about you now. They say you're not only beautiful, but also such a good actress. You're definitely going to be a big star!"
Another girl grabbed her arm, saying, "Our Chu Ran is already a big star, okay?"
Chu Ran smiled and said nothing more.
She picked up her phone to check the time, only to find the screen lit up with an unread message from Zeng Hao: "What time are you going to sleep?"
She glanced at the time; it was already 11:40 PM. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "Soon, right?"
After sending it, she waited for a while, but there was no reply.
Lately, the two of them have been chatting like this, with little to no interaction.
She put her phone next to her pillow, took off her clothes, and went to the bathroom to take a shower. The hot water washed away her fatigue and made her feel more relaxed.
Back in bed, she picked up the worn-out scriptbook, flipped through the annotations and markings inside. She gently closed the book, placed it on the bedside table, turned off the light, and lay down.
My three other roommates were already asleep, their breathing soft, even, and steady. A thin ray of light from the hallway lamp shone through the crack in the door, illuminating the outline of the beds—faint, yet warm.
She lay awake in the darkness, her mind replaying the afternoon's performance over and over again. The moment she roared at Professor Zhang, the desperate murmurs as she crouched on the ground, the relief of opening her arms and shouting for freedom, the enthusiastic applause from her classmates, the approving gazes from her teachers, Tian Xi's slightly excited tears... all of this played out in her mind like a movie.
That inner strength, emanating from her very bones, still burns in her blood. She knows she did it; she didn't let herself down, nor did she let down those who believed in her. She not only proved herself but also shattered the "Yu Wanyin" label others had attached to her.
She recalled the three words Zeng Hao had sent her: "What time do you go to sleep?", and a faint warmth welled up in her heart.
Her breathing gradually calmed down, a faint smile on her lips, and she drifted off to sleep.
Outside the window, a light shone on the Shanghai Theatre Academy's playground, illuminating a square patch of light in the night. A breeze rustled the leaves of the trees along the playground's edge, then fell silent again. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle, serene glow on Chu Ran's face.
Meanwhile, in Qianhu City at night, Zeng Hao placed his phone on the car mount after sending the message. His right hand gripped the steering wheel, his gaze returning to the road ahead.
In the city of Qianhu at night, there weren't many cars on the road, and the traffic lights divided the road into sections. He waited for forty seconds at the third intersection, the light turned green, he stepped on the gas, and continued driving forward.
He saw Chu Ran's reply, "Soon, I guess," and pondered it for a moment, a slight smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips. He could imagine that at this moment, she had just finished her work, perhaps a little tired, but her heart must be full and satisfied.
He knew she had her final exam today, and he also knew she had been under a lot of pressure after "What Kind of Conduct" aired, and wanted to prove herself through this exam. Although he wasn't there to watch, he could guess that she must have performed very well.