Chapter 259 - Insecurity

Elizabeth was still in a daze from what she just witnessed. She suddenly felt a strange tight feeling in her chest which she can't explain.

"Sis Li Zi?"

"Sis Li Zi?"

Elizabeth snaps back to her senses after hearing Liying calling her name a couple of times.

"Sis Li Zi, are you alright?" Liying worriedly asked, noticing the girl's expression was different from her usual expression. It was the first time she saw so much sorrow in her eyes.

"I'm fine, I just didn't expect Lady Zhao to be that amazing."

Liying not knowing how Elizabeth's truly felt expressed her opinion. "I know right, she was really amazing. I can now understand why all her movies always win an award…"

Whilst Liying continued to explain and praised Lady Zhao's achievement, leaving Elizabeth's mind to wander off again.

'That's right, mother films always won an award, this just means this movie would win an award no matter what, even if it means I don't do well.'

For some reason, Elizabeth felt unsure of herself and was feeling dejected. The feeling of insecurity was driving her nuts. She can't explain why her heart felt so unclear about the movie, a strange feeling of failure struck her.

"Sis Li Zi, you're up," Liying said, snapping her back to her senses again.

"Wh-What?" 

"The director said it's your turn." Liying concernedly responded, detecting something strange about the girl.

Elizabeth hastily ran to the set with such heavy burdens on her shoulder,  that she didn't even realize that the director has started filming already, yet she was completely in a missed. Everyone watched as Li Zi stood frozen in the middle clueless of what to do.

"Li Zi?" 

"Li Zi..."

Elizabeth turned around to face everyone with such pale complexion. When she realized everyone was calling for her name, she snaps back to her senses, "Director I'm sorry."

"It's fine, are you alright?" 

Since the director knew what happened last time, they worried that she might not be mentally prepared to work. 

"I'm fine."

When they started filming, for some reason everyone felt something was different from the way Li Zi performed. As if the special magic she brings to the movie was no longer there...

"Is Li Zi alright?"

"For some reason, Li Zi doesn't look too well."

From a distance, the woman watched as her daughter played her role which such distress expression. Despite people didn't notice it since she kept her expression well and acted professionally in the end. It disappointed her to see how the girl was doing. 

In the end, Li Zi was able to complete her part perfectly, but for Elder Director Mo and his son, it seems something was not right. They just keep it to themselves and avoiding worrying everyone.

Everyone was still on break since they all just finished lunch.

"Li Zi, Lady Zhao is looking for you," said Lady Zhao's manager. 

Of course, Lady Zhao team knew that Li Zi was her daughter, but since people didn't know that, they need to play their role and address her that way. 

"What does she want?" 

"She didn't say anything to why she wishes to speak with you." 

Elizabeth sighed heavily, realizing what's about to happen

Seeing it was only them, the manager expression soften, "Young Princess, please don't worry. I'm sure Weiwei just wishes to speak with you."

"I know..." she sighed heavily again.

By the stream stood a single tree, there the woman was gazing at the marvelous gingko tree. 

"Lady Zhao." 

"Darling, you're here," Lady Zhao smiled whilst continuously gazing at the tree

"Is something wrong?"

"It's I who should be asking you that?" Lady Zhao returned the question to her daughter.

Elizabeth became confused as she looked bewilderedly at her mother. "What do you mean?"

"I'm your mother and you can't deceive me." Lady Zhao responded with the same calm tone.

"Why would I even deceive you…" she continued to respond but was cut off when her mother's tone suddenly turned grim and cold.

"Elizabeth Knightley, enough…"

To her surprise, the girl has been already in tears as Lady Zhao turned around to face her, "Oh~ Darling, I'm sorry."

Lady Zhao was blown to see her daughter all in tears all of a sudden, she didn't expect that her child would cry just because she raised her voice.

"Baby, mommy is sorry."

"No, mother I'm sorry."

Lady Zhao felt so guilty when the child started addressing her as "mother". For she normally addresses her in such a manner if she felt sorry or guilty for what she'd done. "Darling, what's wrong?"

"Mother, I don't know if I can do this?" Elizabeth panicky shook her head.

"What do you mean…" 

"Mother, I feel like a big disappointment."

"Baby, please explain it clearer." 

As she calmed the girl down and the two of them sat down by the gingko tree. Elizabeth explained everything to her…

"Mother, after seeing you act earlier, I felt... like, I'm not right for the role. This was Granny Mo and your dream, yet I feel like I'm about to disappoint you both. You played the role of the mother so well and if you were to play the role of the daughter back then. I... I'm sure you've been amazing at it. I just don't know how I should act as your daughter…"

Lady Zhao pinched her daughter's cheeks, finding her last words ridiculous. "I've always thought you were smart, but you really are silly something, Lizzy. Why would you ask such a silly question? You are my one and only daughter. Yet you dare ask how you should act as my daughter." 

Elizabeth felt like she was struck by lightning, she realizes her mother's words and felt like digging herself a hole to bury herself. 

"I'm sorry…"

"My dearest Lizzy, as your mother, I'll support you in anything you choose in life. I'll support you and will always be here for you. How you play your part as my daughter in life and in the movie is up to you. I'll always love you no matter what role you act." 

"Ma..." 

Elizabeth buried herself in her mother's chest as she wrapped her arms around her tightly. 

"Thank you." 

After a long break, everyone returns to their places as they prepared to shoot for the remaining of the day. 

Seeing Elizabeth walking back with Lady Zhao pleased both the director since the dark clouds surrounding the girl earlier were all washed away. 

"Alright everyone places." 

...

*The next scene*

Sun Lin was by the window of the shack watching her mother does the household chores. Seeing her mother works so hard, she got the Zitter out and started playing it grabbing her mother attended. 

Lu Lin watched as the girl played the zither by the window. She gazed at the girl with such a soft expression on her face. No words can explain how delighted Lu Lin was seeing her daughter play the instrument with such passion and emotion. 

There were no dialogues at all but both mother and daughter's heart were in sync, as the daughter expresses her gratitude and love towards her mother. 

"Cut!"

Lady Zhao and Elizabeth continued to gaze at each other and gave each other such a cheerful smile. 

Everyone continued to stare at the duo on the set, the more they looked at them, the more they notice the resemblance between them as if they really looked like a mother and daughter. 

"Is it just me or does Li Zi really looked like Lady Zhao?"

"For some reason, the aura between them are so similar as well."

"Could Li Zi be like Lady Zhao's long-lost daughter or something?"