Chapter 66 Two-person interview: "Hmm... I think Teacher Qin is a lot like a fox, a silly fox."

After investigation, the police determined that Jiang Yan's actions constituted legitimate self-defense and the case was dismissed.

Liang Jin was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for crimes including violent detention. However, due to the severity of her injuries, she did not meet the requirements for imprisonment and was transferred to a police hospital for detention.

Jiang Yan's first real New Year after entering the entertainment industry was spent at the Qin family's house.

She sat in the car heading to Genting Highlands, flipping through the script Qin Lan had given her: "You mean we should team up as a trio?"

"Three times?" Qin Lan said subconsciously, then remembered: "Oh right, we worked together once during 'Watershed,' but I haven't seen you much since."

"After all, it was just a guest appearance back then, and I could only catch a glimpse of the big star from afar."

Jiang Yan lazily turned a page: "Didn't they say Director Xue was still raising penguins in Antarctica? How come he already has the script?"

"Insider information suggests that she will definitely return to China before the end of the year for an audition. High-quality scripts featuring two female leads are rare, especially since the director is Xue Wumi."

"Star Spy." Jiang Yan flipped to the cover and glanced at it again: "Is it an original screenplay?"

"No, it's adapted from the novel of the same name by Hua Chang on Jinjiang Literature City." Qin Lan handed over her phone.

“I really like this story.” Jiang Yan thought for a moment, “In that case, we’ll probably be working together for the third time. I bet you’d like to play the spy.”

Qin Lan: "Let me guess, you're going to try and take it from me, right?"

Jiang Yan smiled and said, "Teacher Qin, that's petty. I don't like Teacher Qin's things. I just like to snatch things that are related to Teacher Qin."

Qin Lan gritted her teeth and leaned closer: "Your fans are too easy to fool. Who knew you were so cunning in real life?"

Jiang Yan exclaimed, "When I was little, I would just grab things with my bare hands. Now people are much more civilized."

Once Lunar New Year's Eve was over, it was time to start exchanging New Year's greetings, and Genting Highlands became unusually lively. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Xingji rushed back, and the group planned to have a meal together.

Jiang Yan, a family member, was invited to attend.

Shortly after five o'clock, the doorbell at Qin Lan's house rang incessantly, and the other three people arrived one after another. At six o'clock sharp, everyone gathered at the dining table and raised their glasses.

Qin Lan: "Let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend, Jiang Yan."

Yu Jintang immediately stood up and shook hands with her, followed by Yang Xingji and Song Man, each of them saying a lot of auspicious words.

And the endless gossip about the two of them: "Hey Yanyan, didn't you two not get along before? How did it turn into a love story?"

Jiang Yan smiled shyly: "This is a story of love and hate, it begins six years ago..."

Everyone knew a little about this story, but Song Man listened intently, occasionally asking, "So back then, you deliberately lured Wei Mengli away so she wouldn't like Sister Qin anymore?"

"Mmm." Jiang Yan readily admitted, "And Wang Chenze, Zhang Lin, Guo Xiaolong, Fang Ruoheng, Pang Bo, Zhou Jin..."

"Wait, wait!" Song Man's mouth gaped wider and wider: "These are all acquaintances, I think they all chased after Sister Qin..."

Qin Lan looked around and asked, "Really? I don't remember. Did that happen?"

“Yes.” Jiang Yan stared at her: “You’ve had dinner with Guo Xiaolong, played basketball with Zhou Jin, raced cars with Wang Chenze, and…”

Qin Lan quickly stopped them: "Those are all friends, or rather, fair-weather friends. I don't even remember these people."

"So, while you were genuinely hating her, Sister Qin, all Jiang Yan could think about was how to pursue you!" Song Man glared at Qin Lan indignantly. "You idiot, she doesn't like those guys at all."

Qin Lan was speechless: "You've already switched sides? That was fast enough."

"Alright, let's raise a glass to celebrate." Yu Jintang started to joke, "I didn't expect that we could all get together again this year, with five people in total."

Jiang Yan glanced at Song Man's expression and started sending messages to Yun Chui.

Qin Lan: "I think two more would be fine too."

Yu Jintang: "Why are there two?"

Qin Lan: "Because if we include Xiahou, then only Yang Xingji doesn't have any family members."

Yang Xingji: "? I didn't offend anyone."

Song Man: "It's not that Yang'er and I are both single."

Qin Lan: "Oh, so you'll soon have a partner."

Song Man: "Why is it a CP?? Where did this CP come from???"

Qin Lan: "Your ex-wife."

Song Man's expression was as if she had just eaten something terrible. Just as she was about to explode, Yu Jintang spoke up: "Hey Lao Song, we're all friends here, so just enjoy it. Jiang Yan isn't an outsider either, and she's really close to Yun Chui."

Song Man's expression shifted, and finally she looked at Jiang Yan: "Then do you know where she is now?"

Jiang Yan said awkwardly, "I really don't know, I'll have to ask now..."

Song Man: "Then can you ask?"

So Jiang Yan sent Yun Chui a message in front of her: 【Where are you?】

A dozen seconds later, Yun Chui replied: 【Toronto.】

Song Man: "Oh."

"Thank you." She fell silent again.

"Hey, Lao Song, don't be like this." Yu Jintang came over and hugged her: "Eat some crayfish that I peeled for you. Maybe your ex-wife will come back in a while."

Song Man said dejectedly, "What reason did you use to make her obediently come back?"

Yu Jintang began to describe his ideal blueprint: "This is what I've been busy with lately. I plan to make a dating reality show. All of us will be on it. It will not only create opportunities for you and Yun Chui, but also help those who don't have partners to find one."

Yang Xingji: "It's not that I didn't offend anyone!!"

Yu Jintang glanced at her again: "But it seems like idols can't date, so you'll have to eat dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection)."

Yang Xingji: "Aren't you single yourself?"

Yu Jintang: "But I have someone I'm flirting with, and she'll be on variety shows too."

Yang Xingji: "Who is it??"

Yu Jintang: "Your former colleague, Xiahou Cheng."

Yang Xingji: "???"

She looked at Qin Lan: "A disease requiring two-way coordination?"

Qin Lan nodded sadly: "Your former colleague was more proactive; this one at the dinner table kept pretending to be reserved."

Yu Jintang: "It's not that I'm pretending or anything. I originally planned to never date in my life, but now I'm making an exception."

Qin Lan said "Oh," and then asked, "Why is it an exception for her?"

Yu Jintang stammered for two seconds: "Well, she seems alright, she has arms and legs, and she understands me quite well."

Yang Xingji: "Alright, Yu Jintang, shut up. You're lucky that Chengzi has taken a liking to you."

Song Man: "You guys are all on this variety show?"

Everyone nodded.

Yu Jintang puffed out her chest and raised her head: "This script was personally written by the director. It's your good fortune to be in it..."

"Why would Yun Chui be on the show?" Song Man questioned. "She didn't even come back for the New Year, how could she possibly be on a variety show?"

Jiang Yan took a sip of wine and said calmly, "I'll take care of this task."

Song Man's expression became even more suspicious: "You have a way??"

Jiang Yan immediately took Qin Lan's arm: "Don't get excited, my whole heart belongs to Teacher Qin."

"Eek—" Everyone else exclaimed excitedly, "No PDA allowed at the dinner table!"

"So what?" Qin Lan retorted, displeased. "If you're envious, go find someone yourself."

Yu Jintang: "I'm fine, but the other two might have a tougher time. After all, one's ex-wife went abroad, and the other has been single since birth. Before the transition, they couldn't even date."

Song Man: "I didn't provoke anything—"

Yang Xingji roared: "Anyone!!"

She gasped for breath for a while, then suddenly had a brilliant idea: "Why don't you two kiss? I've never seen a kiss before."

Song Man chimed in, "Which of you two is the top and who's the bottom? Who's on top?"

Yu Jintang: "I know that. Jiang Yan once pinned Lao Qin down!"

Jiang Yan: "? How did you know that?"

Yu Jintang chuckled: "Her legs were straight after she came out—"

"Shut up!" Qin Lan roared, "Yu Buxiao!!!"

"Okay, Teacher Qin, let's kiss." Jiang Yan tugged at her sleeve, her eyes alluring.

Yang Xingji immediately clutched her chest and collapsed into Song Man's arms, panting and screaming, "Ahhh, Yan Yan is so bewitching! Can I steal your wife?"

"You wish." Qin Lan snorted and kissed her. The two shared a passionate yet restrained kiss. When they separated, they turned their heads and saw three heads and six eyes staring at them with predatory gleam.

"I haven't watched the TV series." Qin Lan's face turned slightly red.

"Don't look at us like that." Jiang Yan also started to get nervous: "We can't relax when there are so many people around."

The other three yelled, "Damn it! What else do you two want? Should we give up the space?"

"Alright, let's eat." Jiang Yan pretended to be calm as she picked up some food. "The food's getting cold."

“I’ve come up with a hundred Truth or Dare scenarios for them to do.” Yu Jintang’s eyes lit up: “Bring me some wine bottles.”

The group didn't finish until after 2 a.m. Yang Xingji and Song Man were completely drunk and Qin Lan carried them to a guest room. Yu Jintang was also a little tipsy, sitting by the French windows with blurry eyes, waiting for Qin Lan to carry her.

Jiang Yan walked over and sat down next to her.

"What's wrong?" Yu Jintang smiled when she saw it was her.

Jiang Yan pulled up a cushion and leaned back against it: "When do we start recording?"

"Oh, that? Maybe in May?"

"Qin Lan and I will probably join the crew around May."

"I see. Then April?"

"I don't know if she'll be busy in April, but everyone gets busy after the New Year. If it's convenient, could we record it as soon as possible?"

"Record as soon as possible?" Yu Jintang thought for a moment: "When would be a convenient time for you?"

"The best time to start the year is right after the New Year."

“Sure, I’ve almost finished writing the plan anyway,” Yu Jintang said. “As long as you can persuade Yun Chui, we can start right away.”

Jiang Yan agreed, got up and picked up her phone, where the question mark from Yun Chui's reply was still hanging on the screen.

She typed a message: "Have you thought about what I told you last time?"

Yun Chui replied after a while: [I'm not available.]

Jiang Yan: [You can bring Anna; Teacher Yu said you can bring others.]

She'll overthink it.

This is not an excuse to evade responsibility.

Yun Chui replied after a long pause: 【Just consider this me avoiding the issue】

Jiang Yan: [We had dinner together today, she misses you a lot.]

Yun Chui: [We've kept this a secret for so long, why throw away all our previous efforts?]

You're not against seeing her now, unlike before when you never saw her. Are you going to keep it a secret from her even after you leave?

[Do you want her to spend the rest of her life in the agony of searching for you?]

She's already at her breaking point; she'll definitely come looking for you in two years.

Do you want her to search the whole world for you?

Yun Chui didn't reply to her all night.

The following evening, Jiang Yan finally received her message again: "I never expected her to back down. I thought she would be so proud that she would never see me again."

Jiang Yan immediately typed: [You underestimate your importance in her heart. Last time Teacher Yu was hospitalized, she rushed in looking panicked; she was probably thinking, "What if you were the one who got poisoned?"]

Yun Chui: [Would it be better if I died in front of her?]

Jiang Yan: [At least one day she will let go and accept your departure, instead of struggling in a truth she can never reach.]

Yun Chui: [Okay, I'll go back]

【when? 】

Within a week, please inform Yu of the situation for me. I'll have Anna send you the specific instructions.

Jiang Yan immediately sent a message to Yu Jintang: [Yun Chui has agreed. He'll be back within a week. Let's meet if you're free; I have something to tell you.]

Qin Lan was taken aback: "You actually managed to persuade Yun Chui?!"

Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow: "Would I dare take on this delicate task if I didn't have the skills?"

Qin Lan sat up abruptly: "How did you do that?"

Even if you kiss me, I won't tell you.

Qin Lan immediately moved closer and pressed her against the headboard: "What did you say?"

Jiang Yan calmly crossed her arms and looked at her: "Don't even think about it, my mouth is tighter than a dead man's."

Qin Lan tried for a long time but couldn't get a single word out of her, so he retreated in frustration.

"What's wrong with saying this? It's just a few green tea words, I just don't care to learn them."

Jiang Yan smiled. Qin Lan was completely puzzled, so she simply poked Yun Chui: [What did she say to you?]

Yun Chui: [Do you think I'd tell you something she didn't?]

Qin Lan was truly exasperated: "What secrets are you two keeping?! You're up to something behind my back, aren't you?!"

Jiang Yan propped herself up, her eyes alluring: "Don't worry, it's definitely not the kind of thing where I'll cheat on you."

Qin Lan felt a surge of desire and pushed her down, rubbing against her like a big dog, saying happily, "You rascal Jiang Yan, stop seducing Yin Ren..."

Jiang Yan said provocatively, "I've got you. Go ahead and kill me if you dare."

Qin Lan pulled off her underwear and gagged her.

＊

Yu Jintang and Jiang Yan arranged to meet in the evening.

When she arrived, Jiang Yan was already sitting in the coffee shop: "What would you like to drink?"

"Mandheling, thank you. Did you need something from me?"

"right."

Jiang Yan waited for her coffee to arrive before slowly speaking: "If we're going to be on a variety show, Yun Chui will need to bring people with him."

Yu Jintang paused for a moment, then asked, "Sure, who will you bring?"

Jiang Yan sent Anna's WeChat message: "Anna, where will we be staying during filming?"

Yu Jintang asked for a friend request with a puzzled look: "It's not decided yet, I guess we should rent a villa or something."

Jiang Yan: "Yun Chui needs to live with Anna, and it would be best if they lived on the first floor."

Yu Jintang: "?"

She was a little incredulous: "Who exactly is this Anna? Is she Yun Chui's new girlfriend? Then why is she back? What about Song Man?"

Jiang Yan felt she had laid enough groundwork, so she said, "Anna is Yun Chui's personal physician, and Yun Chui's current health condition is not optimistic. Returning to participate in the program carries certain risks. Therefore, you may need to revise some of the plans; there can be no strenuous or long-distance exercise..."

Yu Jintang was stunned.

＊

The TV series "The Era of Red Powder" is about to complete post-production, and its promotional efforts are intensifying.

The first thing released was the character posters, which were visually stunning and perfectly showcased the vitality, magnanimity, and elegance of the early Tang Dynasty.

Each character poster captures the moment when the character is at the pinnacle of power. The most eye-catching poster is that of Feng Manhong, which is being shared wildly even by passersby.

The picture shows Wu Zetian undergoing her enthronement ceremony. Dressed in the imperial robes, she exudes an aura that commands respect. Officials kneel and kowtow solemnly on both sides, adding to the glory of the empress.

The second most shared image was Qin Lan's poster. Her simple white dress stood out among the gorgeous outfits. Her spine resembled a bamboo stalk bent low by the wind and snow, and her resolute gaze and fragile appearance evoked pity from passersby.

Others were more or less distracted by the elaborate costumes, which made Qin Lan's eyes stand out as particularly expressive.

Qin fans raved about the actress's acting skills, while also taking a jab at Jiang Yan. Her poster ranked third in terms of reposts; Princess Taiping, the protector of the nation, was surrounded by a grand procession, resting her chin on her hand, her phoenix eyes lazily gazing ahead.

The princess's gorgeous clothes and entourage create a visually stunning effect, but like Feng Manhong's picture, they somewhat diminish the character's presence.

Yu Jintang sacrificed one to save one, after all, a major highlight of period dramas is their grandeur, and their poster designs really show the quality.

Because of the production quality, even passersby will come in to take a look.

After releasing the posters, the production team released a trailer. The short three-minute trailer showcased three independent yet tightly interwoven storylines: from Wu Zetian's determination to seize power to Shangguan Wan'er's family being banished to the inner palace due to Wu Zetian's ambition. Wan'er, raised in the inner palace, was favored by Empress Wu for her outstanding talent and promoted to a high-ranking official. Each scene was extremely short, with only one or two glimpses, but it already piqued the audience's curiosity.

The scene shifts to Wan'er saying softly to her mother, "I have not forgotten the family feud, but Her Majesty the Empress values ​​talent above all else, and her magnanimity is admirable."

He then met Taiping, and the two became childhood sweethearts, but soon broke up. More than ten years passed in the blink of an eye. When the Empress fell seriously ill, their relationship was repaired, and they began to join forces, which led to the Shenlong Coup.

With the passing of Empress Wu, Taiping and Shangguan, having amassed considerable power, began to make their mark on the imperial political arena. Countless bloody storms were stirred up by their momentary lapses in judgment, while countless conspiracies were thwarted by their combined efforts. The script does not portray them as meritorious officials who brought peace and stability to the country, but rather as two political women who crave power and seek a balance among various factions. Their political acumen is astonishing, and their courage is admirable. The biggest selling point arrives with the climax, with the line "Long live the Emperor, may his glory last a thousand years, may the sound of pepper blossoms echo!" sparking countless viral posts.

After the hype subsided slightly, the official team released another behind-the-scenes featurette, including actor interviews and director explanations.

The most talked-about segment was the interview between Qin Lan and Jiang Yan, during which the media subtly asked many leading questions.

The two answered very generously, but something was also very off. It felt like they had all sorts of relationships, but they didn't seem like sworn enemies who would never speak to each other again.

"Ms. Qin, what are the biggest similarities and differences between the character Wan'er and yourself?"

"Similarities?" Qin Lan gave a seemingly cold laugh and pointed to Jiang Yan beside her: "You don't resemble me at all, but you do resemble her quite a bit."

The live chat was filled with screams and cries of despair: "What are you doing, sister?! Don't mention that damn woman!!!"

[Sis, aren't you just letting her ride the wave of popularity? We can't be so lenient!]

Jiang Yan followed up on the conversation, looking at Qin Lan with a doting smile: "That's right, it seems that the roles that Teacher Qin and I are playing this time are more suitable for each other."

"Mmm." Qin Lan actually agreed with this incredibly manipulative tone, and continued earnestly, "There are too many differences. Wan'er is resilient, good at lying low, and plans carefully before acting. In daily life, I prefer to do whatever I want..."

When the media finished asking about the plot, the two answered perfectly, but when it came to the interactive part, they got a bit wild and unrestrained.

"If you had to describe Teacher Qin using an animal, how would Teacher Jiang describe her?"

Jiang Yan already had the answer, but she deliberately looked Qin Lan up and down for a long time before smiling with narrowed eyes.

The screen was flooded with comments saying "Not good".

"Hmm... I think Teacher Qin is a lot like a fox, a silly fox."

"Who's going to be stuck here?"

Qin Lan muttered something, the sound of which was clearly recorded.

"Then... what about you, Teacher Qin, for the same question?"