Chapter 71 In the height of summer in June…
In the sweltering heat of June, during Shen Lixian's almost moldy days, Lu He'an brought news.
The drama "Princess's Splendor" has had a very bumpy road. The casting process began in the fall of the year before last, and almost all the agents brought their own artists to audition. The fourth male lead was still not decided. It wasn't until last summer that Gao Wei found a barely suitable candidate from among the recent graduates of the film academy, and they excitedly set the start of filming in June.
However, after only one month of filming, the crew was forced to stop production, and the reason lay with the actor playing the fourth male lead.
Gao Wei never imagined that such a fair-skinned, gentle-speaking, and seemingly harmless boy would actually be addicted to drugs.
God knows how shocked he was when he received the message from the assistant director, and learned that he had been caught red-handed getting high on drugs at a karaoke bar.
Gao Wei sat up abruptly, his dazed eyes instantly brightening. His voice was filled with confusion and disbelief: "Are you sure it's Zeng Shuo???"
The assistant director's voice was weary as he sighed, "Yes, the police have confirmed his identity."
Gao Wei's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising within him. He hesitated before asking, "Then... you contacted me..."
"He left that thing on the film set."
After a second of calm, Gao Wei burst into a tirade of curses.
"Damn it!! He's totally insane if he's doing drugs! What's he doing on set?!"
The production crew was forced to halt work and undergo an investigation. What they found was shocking: Gao Wei was devastated to discover there were two more, one of whom had been introduced to the production by Zeng Shuo.
After this whole ordeal, it was already October. The money and effort wasted in the meantime could not be made up for. The production team restarted the casting process, but Gao Wei was not satisfied with any of the dozens of actors he had seen. He was frowning and at a loss.
There happened to be a banquet around that time, and Gao Wei went there hoping to relax. By sheer coincidence, he ran into Lu He'an. Upon seeing Lu He'an, the thought that Gao Wei had been suppressing resurfaced. He walked through the crowd of people clinking glasses and went to Lu He'an's side.
Lu He'an: "Director Gao."
"Sigh." Gao Wei wasn't one to mince words; a barrage of pleasantries left the two of them both silent.
Lu He'an's lips twitched slightly: "Director Gao, please tell me what's wrong. I'll definitely help if I can."
"Hey! I'm relieved to hear that. You'll definitely be able to help." Gao Wei patted Lu He'an on the shoulder. "Um, is Shen Li free lately?"
Lu He'an: ...
You haven't given up yet?
Zeng Shuo's incident caused a huge uproar; almost everyone in the industry knows about it, and everyone knows that Gao Wei is currently fretting over who will be the fourth male lead.
Lu He'an shook his head: "He probably can't do it."
His brother had just said a few days ago that, based on the current review results, Shen Li could have surgery by the end of the year. For the past few months, Jiang Huaichuan had been watching Shen Li like she was his own eyeball. How could he possibly let her out to be mocked by you?
Gao Wei was exhausted from searching for someone, but now that he had someone perfectly suitable in mind, he decided to get to the bottom of it.
This was the first time Lu He'an had met such a talkative director. He ran a hand through his hair, crouched down, and whispered, "Hey, Director Gao, to be honest, it's not that I don't want to help you, but Shen Li isn't feeling well. He's currently recuperating in preparation for surgery."
After saying that, he lowered his voice again: "If I bring Shen Li out to you now, Jiang Huaichuan will skin me alive. He still brings up the time last year when I asked him to help me get on a variety show."
Gao Wei: ...
Gao Wei looked conflicted. Although his connections weren't nationwide, he did have the contact information for some company executives and could exchange a few words with them.
But the Jiang family member is not included in it.
Gao Wei had met Jiang Huaichuan a few times and greeted him, but the man seemed too aloof and arrogant. Sitting in the main seat, he looked calm and listless, as if he had no interest in anything.
If Gao Wei hadn't gone online to look it up after meeting Shen Li, he would have had a hard time connecting the person who was being fought over online with the President Jiang he remembered.
After the banquet, Gao Wei returned home and struggled with the decision all night. Finally, he clapped his hands and thought, "It's already October, and the original filming schedule has long since been disrupted. Waiting a few more months isn't a bad idea."
The wait lasted until the following spring. Gao Wei quietly asked Lu He'an again, and after learning that Shen Li's surgery was extremely dangerous, that her heart had stopped during the operation, that she had suffered a severe blow to her health, and that she was still hospitalized, Gao Wei fell silent.
Until a few days ago, photos of Shen Li giving a pre-exam lecture at K City No. 1 Middle School were leaked online. Gao Wei held his phone and carefully observed Shen Li's expression before starting to harass Lu He'an again.
[Gao Wei: Xiao Lu, did you ask for me?]
Lu He'an was in a real bind. If he had to say what he regretted most, it would definitely be becoming friends with Gao Wei.
After enduring it for four days in a row, Lu He'an's face turned green when he saw this message. He was about to brush it off when he suddenly remembered that Shen Li had told him yesterday that staying at home was too boring. Lu He'an's mind raced.
[Lu He'an: Are you sure this character won't have any big developments?]
[Gao Wei: Don't worry, don't worry, I guarantee it]
[Lu He'an: Okay, wait and see.]
——
Jiang Huaichuan never expected that he would fall for the same person twice in a row. When he got home and heard the news, his face turned black.
"No, I disagree."
Inside the study, Jiang Huaichuan wore an expression that said, "We can't discuss this further."
Shen Li stood in front of Jiang Huaichuan, her brownish-red eyes staring straight at him.
Jiang Huaichuan couldn't take it anymore, so he gritted his teeth and looked away.
Damn it! We lost!
Seeing this, Shen Li picked up the warm water that had just been placed on the table, poured it into her mouth, and turned to leave.
"No, don't be angry." Jiang Huaichuan quickly stood up. He walked briskly to Shen Li's side, lowered his head, and said in a humble voice, "There are many people on the set, and the weather is hot. You've only just recovered..."
"so what?"
Shen Li stopped in her tracks: "Am I just supposed to keep doing whatever you say...?"
Jiang Huaichuan froze, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Shen Li was a little agitated. He knew Jiang Huaichuan was worried about his health, but he just couldn't help himself.
Every day, he would get up, wander around the house for a bit, and then sit on the balcony for the whole day. His daily exercise was less than that of a frozen pear.
He didn't mention going back to work because he knew that given his current situation, it would be difficult for him to keep up with the department's pace, and going back now would cause trouble for his colleagues.
So when Lu He'an told him that Gao Wei was still waiting for him, Shen Li agreed.
He knows what he's doing; he's not someone who disregards his health. He also wants to grow old with Jiang Huaichuan, but he needs to find something to do.
Jiang Huaichuan froze on the spot, his fingers trembling slightly at his sides. Shen Li's gaze fell on his trembling fingertips. She opened her mouth, then looked away and whispered, "I'm sorry..."
"It's alright, no need to apologize." Jiang Huaichuan took Shen Li's hand, pulled him into his arms, and repeated, "No need to apologize."
“Chen Li, I was wrong. I thought I was doing it for your own good, but I never asked what you thought. You always indulged me, and I was spoiled by you.”
Jiang Huaichuan stroked Shen Li's soft hair: "Go, be careful."
Shen Li: "I'll only be gone for half a month."
"good."
Everything that followed was incredibly smooth, as if it had been fast-forwarded.
Filming is not like a regular person appearing on a variety show. It requires cooperating with the production team for publicity and other things. Shen Li's contract is under Xinghuan Entertainment, and he is managed by Lu He'an's agent.
When he received the news, his agent, Wang Fa, was so shocked that he dropped his phone.
Wang asked in a trembling voice, "I'll bring it??"
Star Fantasy Entertainment is a subsidiary of the Shen family business. Shen Li is the young master of the Shen family. Is he going to manage it?
"Didn't you bring Xiao Lu with you? You have experience."
I have absolutely no experience!
Wang Fa was furious. He and Lu He'an were basically in a hands-off relationship. He would notify Lu He'an of auditions, and Lu He'an would go on. He would contact Lu He'an about variety shows, and Lu He'an would continue to participate.
What experience do you have?
"Boss, should we reconsider?" Wang Fa rubbed his hands cautiously. If he ruined this guy, he'd be finished; he'd lose his job.
The manager of Xinghuan's talent agency finally realized what was going on. She patted Wang Fa on the shoulder and said, "Hey! Old Wang, I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, just treat Shen Li the same way you treated Xiao Lu before. When she came over, she specifically emphasized that it's just this one drama. Although the contract is under Xinghuan, it's a one-off deal."
Wang Fa was finally relieved.
Even though he was prepared, Wang Fa couldn't help but be stunned for a moment after meeting Shen Li. This face is one of the best in the entire industry. If he wants to develop in the industry, find a reliable agent, and doesn't cause trouble, he will become extremely famous in no time.
Wang Fa: "Hello Mr. Shen, I am Wang Fa, your agent."
Shen Li shook hands with Wang Fa. He had met Wang Fa before, when they were filming a variety show and in the hospital stairwell: "Hello, Brother Wang."
Wang Fa helped Shen Li sign a contract with the production team, and the costume fitting photos were taken that afternoon.
Gao Wei was energized after receiving the contract, and the entire crew resumed work a week later.
On the day filming began, besides the start of filming for "Princess's Splendor," another item also rose to the top of the trending searches—
#Letter from a distant friend#
In the photo, Shen Li is wearing a light blue long robe with a plain white fox fur coat over it. The white fur gently clings to her pale chin, and her smooth black hair falls over her shoulders. Her slender fingers are holding a peach blossom, her long eyelashes are half-closed, and her eyes are full of weariness.
Princess's Splendor - Chu Nanmu & Shen Li
[Camellia Falls: Holy crap! Who did I just see?!]
[Did my boss give me a raise today? Director Gao is awesome! Can it air tomorrow?]
[Blue and White Dumpling: Oh my~ A sickly handsome guy has come to the circle~]
[CP shipping: You're all praising the wife's beauty, but I'm just curious how Director Gao managed to poach her from President Jiang's hands, hahaha]
[Little Happiness: +1]
Shen Li doesn't have many scenes, mostly lying down or sitting, but the character Chu Nanmu runs through the entire series. His first encounter with the princess is in the peach blossom forest, and their parting is also in the peach blossom forest. He has countless schemes throughout his life, but he is trapped in the same place for his entire life.
When Su Ye met Shen Li, she had just finished filming on another set. The crew did not hold another script reading, but instead arranged for Shen Li and Su Ye to meet alone.
Shen Li's scenes are almost all related to Su Ye.
Su Ye took off his sunglasses: "It's nice to meet you again. It's been a pleasure working with you, Third Brother."
"It's a pleasure working together. The wind is picking up, Azheng."
Su Ye's red lips curved slightly as she looked deeply at Shen Li, revealing an extremely satisfied smile.
She was referring to lines from the play. Only those familiar with the script would know that she wasn't simply greeting someone. Zeng Shuo didn't catch on at the time.
Filming progressed steadily. Ning Yun arrived on the fifth day. After his makeup and costume were done, he stood next to Su Ye, holding the script, and began rehearsing his lines.
Shen Li discovered that Ning Yun didn't seem to like her very much.
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