Chapter 979 You're still laughing!

The day after the script reading, the screenwriter, who also serves as the text editor, will send the revised script to the main creators for confirmation.

Over the past few years of cooperation, everyone has developed a principle: they generally don't offer opinions casually.

Because even if your opinion is correct from your perspective, it might affect other characters and the entire drama.

Now, Friends is in its seventh season, and if you include the three seasons of Friends, this is the tenth season.

Long-running drama.

Lu Yanhe is still creating, and his creative passion seems undiminished.

Everyone, including Yan Liang, was shocked.

In fact, Friends wasn't originally written by just one writer; there were separate episode writers.

While ensuring it doesn't conflict with the main storyline, several screenwriters actually worked on the script.

Lu Yanhe was able to write this show to its tenth season (he himself wrote eight seasons), and there was still no sign of an ending. One reason is that the original version had more than twenty episodes per season, while this version only has a dozen or so episodes per season. Another reason is that once the characters and stories were established, Lu Yanhe himself would add some original content.

These original elements were unrelated to the main character development; they were simply his own attempts. After the broadcast, no viewers raised any objections to these original elements, so Lu Yanhe was relieved.

So far, Lu Yanhe has not made any plans on how many seasons he intends to write the series to.

According to the current storyline, this season of the show has only reached the content of the original seventh season.

Lu Yanhe was also pondering something: when would this drama finally be finished?

Will I really keep writing forever?

This kind of question comes to mind almost every year.

However, the ideas are different every year.

Just like last year when he felt there was nothing wrong with continuing to write, this year he suddenly felt that sometimes, putting a period at a certain point is a kind of fulfillment.

Lu Yanhe spoke privately with Yan Liang.

Yan Liang said, "At this stage, I really don't want it to end so soon. There were probably a few years in between when I felt that I had reserved my schedule for it every year at this time. Now I don't have that thought anymore. I enjoy having a familiar drama waiting for me to join the crew every year at this time."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"Actually, it's the same for me. As an actor, you're always going into one project and leaving another. You're always dealing with different projects. Only Friends is a once-in-a-year event at this time of year."

Yan Liang: "Aren't you getting a little tired of this?"

"No." Lu Yanhe smiled. "I guess I'm just repeating my old habit of thinking about meaning again."

“At least the audience isn’t tired of our story, so don’t think about its meaning yet,” Yan Liang said. “You don’t have to worry about it becoming a long and tedious saga, really.”

Lu Yanhe: "This time I'm not thinking about that. What I'm thinking about is, if a sitcom keeps going on and on, will people eventually lose their filter on the stories of these people because of the realism that has accumulated over a long period of time? Just like how we always end up getting married, going into the mundane world, and dealing with a lot of trivial things."

"Really?" Yan Liang shook his head. "Although the plot of Friends is always very melodramatic, it never makes people feel worldly. In fact, it is an emotional utopia for modern people, isn't it? Everyone yearns for the world in Friends."

Lu Yanhe: "You could say that. I don't deny that. It's just that people tend to lose their mystique about certain things as they get older. When you were young, you firmly believed that you would become a certain kind of person. But after ten or twenty years, you might firmly believe that such a person is just a foolish idealist."

Yan Liang: "If you decide not to do something because of these vague and uncertain things that might happen in the next ten or twenty years, I find it strange, even ridiculous."

Lu Yanhe: "Hmm?"

Yan Liang: "Nobody knows what the future holds. When Friends was in its fourth and fifth seasons, many people said the show was nearing its end because there had never been a TV series this long in China. But now, we've reached the tenth season, and the story has been going on for ten years. It's still the most popular TV series, without a doubt. For so many years, it has consistently ranked first in average viewership per episode. People haven't abandoned it now, so whether people will abandon or deny it ten years from now, who cares? Or are you particularly worried that a show that's been great so far will be criticized for a bad ending, which would ruin its good reputation?"

In fact, the reputation of Friends did not improve in the last two seasons because the overly melodramatic plot and character relationships drew a lot of criticism.

But it ultimately withstood the test of time and became a classic among classics.

What Lu Yanhe couldn't be honest with Yan Liang about was his deepest worry: if the show continued to be written and made into several more seasons without ending, he would really have to rely on his own original work.

Will this story be able to withstand the market's expectations and scrutiny at that time?

Before long, Li Zhibai became furious.

He angrily complained to Lu Yanhe, how come he had finally gotten more screen time in this show and was starting to become a regular cast member, but now he was already thinking about ending Friends?

Lu Yanhe was speechless.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with you."

Li Zhibai: "You say it's unrelated, but who knows if it's related or not?"

"Don't mess around, I'm already having a headache."

“What’s so difficult about it? Just keep writing,” Li Zhibai said. “So many stories happen in each of our lives and work, why can’t you write them down?”

"Are you crazy? If our story were written into Friends, it would cause an uproar."

“Mind your own business,” Li Zhibai said. “Anyway, these are all stories that happen in the plot and to the characters. Who would relate them to real people?”

“Those who know some of the truth will embellish it and say that these plots are based on so-and-so’s real experiences.”

“Just deny it,” Li Zhibai said. “The most important thing is that in this drama, every character has become one with you. Many viewers see the characters as you and you as the characters themselves. Of course, you and Yan Liang are relatively better off, but you have to admit that you are only relatively better off.”

Lu Yanhe said, "I'm fine. In people's eyes, I'm still not associated with that rough-around-the-edges, slow-reacting, and of course a bit silly person."

"Is it meaningful for you to deny it now? Don't you know that many of your fans think that's what you're like in private? What genius's real life is like that of an idiot?"

"I—" Lu Yanhe was speechless.

“The public doesn’t know what you’re like,” Li Zhibai said. “If you don’t even admit this, then I really have nothing more to say to you.”

Lu Yanhe: "I don't need to say anything to you."

“As a loyal fan of Friends, I strongly demand that you not end it.” Li Zhibai said righteously, “You must continue filming season after season. I’m not kidding, this is very important. Don’t deprive us loyal fans of our spiritual support every winter.”

Lu Yanhe: "..."

Li Zhibai: "This drama has accompanied our most loyal fans for ten years. How can we expect them to accept that this drama is about to end?"

Lu Yanhe: "I didn't say it would end right away. What did Yan Liang tell you?"

“It’s not about to end, but it’s almost over,” Li Zhibai said. “No, I won’t allow it.”

"I need your permission."

“Yes.” Li Zhibai’s tone was full of threat.

-

Not being able to co-star in "Friends" with Lu Yanhe and Yan Liang has always been a source of regret for Li Zhibai.

Although this worry isn't a big deal.

But for him, it's not insignificant.

Li Zhibai himself was too embarrassed to tell Lu Yanhe and Yan Liang about this.

How do I say it? How do I bring it up?

There's no way around it.

Jiang Yuqian knew a little.

She was actually quite envious.

Why can men have such a strong bond?

And you say women are prone to jealousy?

Isn't this also a form of jealousy? Because Lu Yanhe and Yan Liang filmed together, but he didn't.

Jiang Yuqian liked Li Zhibai largely because he was simple.

Jiang Yuqian originally didn't really want to date someone in the entertainment industry. Yes, let alone marriage, she didn't even want to date. Because it's complicated; few people in this industry, especially actors, are uncomplicated. It's not that being complicated is bad, or that complicated people aren't good people, but Jiang Yuqian's own work environment was already complicated enough; she didn't want someone around her who required constant consideration and whose thoughts needed to be deciphered and guessed.

Jiang Yuqian wasn't surprised that Li Zhibai would mind this matter.

Despite his seemingly loud and carefree demeanor, Li Zhibai is actually quite shrewd.

Especially with the people he cares about.

“If Yan He really doesn’t want to do Friends anymore, don’t force him.”

“He doesn’t really not want to do it anymore,” Li Zhibai said. “You don’t understand him. He just has a mental lapse every now and then. He’s a bit off. But if he really didn’t want to do something, he wouldn’t ask Yan Liang for his opinion. He’s completely unaware of it. He subconsciously wants us to pull him back.”

Jiang Yuqian: "...Really? Aren't you guys being too confident?"

“If that’s my opinion, maybe so, but Yan Liang thinks so too,” Li Zhibai said. “Don’t think Yan He is some kind of genius. He just has some talent. Apart from that talent, he’s just an ordinary person. Really, don’t think he’s really a master strategist who understands everything perfectly.”

Jiang Yuqian: "I just think that he should have a good idea of ​​how long a drama will take to film."

Li Zhibai: "No, he's not like that at all, really."

Jiang Yuqian: "You went to great lengths to bring your character back this season. What, are you planning to make him a permanent character from now on?"

“At least appear in each season,” Li Zhibai said. “Otherwise, it would be too boring if I just made a few cameo appearances in this show.”

When will Eom Ha make a cameo appearance in the drama "100 Yen Coffee Shop"?

“He said he’d film something when he visits the set next week,” Li Zhibai said. “I was just about to ask you, when are you going to film?”

"I'm going to the US next week to do some reshoots. I'll be back from the US soon. I don't need to join any productions at the end of the year, and aside from some ceremonies to attend, I'll have more free time," Jiang Yuqian said. "I heard that 'Fast & Furious' will start filming next year?"

“That’s what Yan He told me,” Li Zhibai shrugged. “There are quite a few films to shoot next year. Besides ‘Fast & Furious,’ we also have to shoot a movie.”

"The Liar from Longyan?"

“Yes,” Li Zhibai said. “Brother Su Yang got me the script.”

“The script for ‘The Swindler’ has also come to me,” Jiang Yuqian said. “Since you’ve accepted it, I’ll also consider whether I should take it.”

"It seems that there are no particularly significant female characters in this script."

This is a male-dominated drama.

Jiang Yuqian said, "The casino boss role doesn't have many scenes, but it's a very powerful and domineering female boss role, which I'm quite interested in. Longyan told me that as long as I could give him two weeks of my schedule, it would be fine. I didn't expect that the male lead would be you."

"..." Li Zhibai said somewhat annoyedly, "Longyan is contacting both sides, isn't it intentional? My character has a scene where you tease and flirt with him, and they specifically asked us to act it out. Isn't this just a publicity stunt?"

“They definitely have that in mind,” Jiang Yuqian asked. “Aren’t you happy for me to play this role?”

Li Zhi hesitated for a long time, unable to explain himself clearly.

Jiang Yuqian pressed for a while before she understood. It turned out that it was because of the characters in the movie. The male lead, played by Li Zhibai, was still a relatively inexperienced "virgin" when he met the casino boss, and he blushed when teased. Li Zhibai was unwilling to play such a relationship with Jiang Yuqian on screen.

"..." Jiang Yuqian was speechless for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Li Zhibai became even more enraged, his face hardening as he ignored Jiang Yuqian.

Jiang Yuqian laughed even harder.

Li Zhibai glanced at her, then glanced at her again, and finally couldn't stand it anymore. He raised his hand and covered Jiang Yuqian's mouth.

"Stop laughing."

Jiang Yuqian stopped smiling, blinked, and nodded.

Li Zhibai then released his grip.

As soon as she let go, Jiang Yuqian laughed again.

"You actually care about this!"

This time, Li Zhibai did more than just cover Jiang Yuqian's mouth.

Enraged, he moved his entire body over and pressed himself against Jiang Yuqian.

Jiang Yuqian lay down directly on the sofa.

Li Zhibai pressed his head against Jiang Yuqian's head, threatening, "You're still laughing!"

(End of this chapter)