Replace her

There was a hint of pride in her voice as she spoke, "Yes, it was Ying Xuan. I actually based Marylene's character on Xuan. I had decided long ago upon my main leads before I even begun to write the play."

"That's good. Very good." Mr. Yang said, but his face seemed to say otherwise as he continued, "You're actually following the advice I gave in class. Try to observe people around you and draw from their characteristics and personalities. It will give your characters life."

Weiwei nodded but said nothing. She was getting the feeling that Mr. Yang, for some inexplicable reason, was not getting to the point. "I guess that is why your actors didn't look like they were acting."

Mr. Yang hadn't been looking at Weiwei's face until now. He raised his eyes to look at her for a minute now before dropping them again to her script. He studied her script for a minute before taking a huge breath and saying, "Miss Shi, I'm going to come out straight and say it. I've received a very particular order from the director."

Shi Weiwei tilted her face, what could the director want with her and her play? "The director has asked me to tell you to replace a certain actor in your play."

Weiwei furrowed her brows. "This better not be about what I think it is about." she thought as Mr. Yang continued, "You need to replace Miss Ying with her sister."

Shi Weiwei's face froze and it looked like it had been carved out of stone as Mr. Yang told her, "Miss Ying, Miss Ying Xi that is, came to see me a week ago. She asked, no, she demanded that she should replace her sister in your play, and be taken as the main lead in your play as Marylene. I of course refused her, saying that it was completely the decision of the director and she should talk to you. Miss Ying left, and I assumed it to be the end of it."

"But yesterday evening, the director sent for me. He told me that Miss Ying is a drama and an acting student, and as drama students need to be part of a play and acting students need to perform for their final semester exams, having Miss Ying Xi act in the play made the most sense. He also said that as a teacher, I shouldn't play favorites, and should do what is best for all the students." Mr. Yang seemed to be trying to compose himself by the time she finished.

"What if I don't want to replace Xuan with Ying Xi?" Shi Weiwei asked through her teeth.

"Then I will have to remove your play from end of semester ball and give the spot to someone else." Mr. Yang spoke in a dejected voice, "Though I must ask you not to refuse. There will be a lot of enthusiasts at the ball, and it will be a great opportunity for you to get yourself noticed."

'Please tell me you didn't refuse to replace me!!!' Weiwei's story was interrupted by Ying Xuan.

Shi Weiwei shrugged and Xuan signed with a pleading face, 'Please Weiwei. You can't let this opportunity go because of Ying Xi. Don't let all the work everyone put in go to waste.'