There was a look of rapt attention on his face, but it was just a facade; he was not truly as focused as he was when listening to Francis.

Either way, Maria didn't care. She just looked up and down at Jay, who was dressed in Richard's costume.

"As you know, the first time Richard and Anne met was at his birthday banquet. Despite being incomparably dignified, he fell in love with Anne at first sight. So when he meets her again under the laurel tree, he shouldn't just look arrogant and aloof as usual. There should also be a hint of affection in his eyes."

Everyone was taken aback by Maria's perspective of the scene.

In the book, although the scene where Anne encountered Richard again under the Laurel tree was wonderful, it was never written in words that Richard fancied her.

With a frown, Jay said, “Miss Jenkins, I've read the book so many times that I could recite it word for word. But when Richard meets Anne again, there's not the slightest hint that he has any affection of her. I don't think your interpretation of the scene is quite right."

Hearing Jay's words, everyone nodded sagely.

They admired Jay for putting his foot down and speaking his mind. At the same time, they inwardly snickered at Maria, who didn't have any experience as a director, trying to instruct the winner of a Best Actor award.

“Ha-ha!"*

In the midst of the silence, Lyndsey couldn't help but let out a Laugh. Naturally, the cast and crew thought that she was openly laughing at Maria, which made them Look down on Maria even more.

Maria continued to stare at Jay, ignoring all their reactions.

She said unhurriedly, "Take a look at the book again. Just read the chapter where Richard and Anne meet again."

Upon hearing this, Jay's face darkened with displeasure.

After all, the implication of Maria's words were that he didn't understand the book even after reading it so many times.

But being a professional actor, he held back his anger. With everyone else watching, he asked his assistant to bring him a copy of the book and read that specific chapter again.

“Lyndsey, your understand of Anne's character also needs to be adjusted," Maria continued, turning to Lyndsey.

“What? Did I understand it wrong too?" Lyndsey asked in a daze.

“Tremendously," Maria replied simply, nodding.

The rest of the cast and crew really felt like they were watching a good show.

Despite having no experience, Maria was bold enough to tell both Jay and Lyndsey that their interpretations of the book were not accurate. What was more, the words she had said to Lyndsey were much more direct than the ones she had said to Jay.