Chapter 416 Feelings That Are Deceptive
Li Zhibai sneezed loudly.
While filming on the set of "Moonlight Symphony," he was basking in the sun when he suddenly sneezed, startling the actress standing opposite him.
The latter immediately took a step back.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Li Zhibai said immediately.
Actress Cheng Siran maintained a forced smile and said she was fine.
She took a tissue from her assistant and silently wiped her face.
Upon seeing this, the makeup artist quickly came forward to touch up the makeup.
Director Li Daoxing asked with a smile, "Zhibai, spring has only just arrived, it's still cold. Take care of yourself, why are you already sneezing?"
Li Zhibai said, "I don't know, maybe an insect got into my nose just now, and it's a little itchy?"
He was just joking.
However, this scene clearly reminded the female protagonist, Cheng Siran, of some images, causing her to show a disgusted expression.
The fantasy romance drama "Moonlight Symphony" is a TV series with only sixteen episodes.
Director Li Daoxing is a veteran in directing urban romance dramas, with many representative works.
However, previous dramas usually started with 30 or 40 episodes, and this was the first time he had filmed a high-quality drama series with 16 episodes and a production quality comparable to movies.
Because it stars Li Zhibai, the show is highly anticipated by all parties. Many actors who want to become breakout stars have voluntarily lowered their fees and are willing to play supporting roles in the show.
The current market situation has indeed changed a lot.
Li Daoxing has privately lamented to friends that in the past, it was rare to find so many actors willing to lower their fees just to join a drama starring big stars. Back then, the way television dramas were run was different. Previously, directors carried the entire production; now, it's gradually becoming the actors who carry the drama.
This reflects a shift in market trends. Only a few established directors like Luo Yuzhong have earned the reputation of being able to "carry a drama" in this industry. However, new directors are emerging, such as Lian Bei, the director of "The Seventeenth Floor." Despite his first and second "The Seventeenth Floor" series being huge hits, he should theoretically be a renowned director by now. Yet, in the public's mind, he is still not the core figure who can carry a drama.
In short, if he were to produce a series with an entirely unknown cast, almost no platform would be willing to invest in or purchase it. Of course, actors still recognize his talent, and his projects certainly won't lack A-list actors.
I'm just talking about the ecological issues.
However, if a drama has a bad director and a bad script, but has an actor of Lu Yanhe's caliber in the lead role, then unfortunately, the platform might even directly classify the drama as S-level.
This is an unhealthy film and television ecosystem, but it objectively exists.
As a highly popular idol, Li Zhibai has been famous for many years. After switching to acting, he has produced several representative works and successfully became an actor who can carry a drama in the eyes of investors. Therefore, his appearance in the drama "Moonlight Symphony" as the male lead means that the drama will definitely revolve around him.
Even a seasoned director like Li Daoxing didn't find this situation particularly difficult to accept. This was mainly because Li Zhibai focused solely on his own role, refraining from interfering in anything else or causing unnecessary trouble. For a director, it's already quite commendable for a top-tier star to act this way.
In fact, because of Li Zhibai's personality, Li Daoxing got along quite well with him.
In comparison, Cheng Siran, the female lead brought in by the investors, caused a bit more trouble. However, it wasn't a major issue; she was just a little pretentious and had a princess complex, but other than that, there weren't any major problems.
However, during the filming of this drama, Li Zhibai often found himself unable to control his expression and completely break down after delivering a line because he couldn't stand how cheesy and disgusting it was.
"Sorry, sorry, give me a break." Li Zhibai would often raise his right hand to apologize to everyone like this. "This line really killed me."
He would look at Cheng Siran with a sincere expression and ask, "Do you girls like it when men talk to you like this?"
Cheng Siran: "...It's in a specific situation. If he talked like that normally, I would want to punch him."
Lee Ji-baek stared at the line in the script, "If one day you really have to leave me, don't tell me, otherwise, I won't let go," with a twisted expression. He sighed, "I can understand that you girls like this kind of deep affection, domineering, and inexplicably strong personality. But if I were that guy, what do you mean by 'don't tell me'? Damn it, 'otherwise I won't let go'? Do you even like me or not? If you like me, why all this nonsense? Saying I can't let go no matter what?"
Cheng Siran listened to Li Zhibai's complaints, feeling both amused and exasperated, and her expression became complicated.
“This is a pure love story, so take it seriously,” Cheng Siran complained. “You keep taking me out of the story, which makes it impossible for me to get into it.”
Li Zhibai sighed, resignedly forcing himself to get into the zone.
Come on, come on.
Zhou Pingan definitely arranged this role for him to make things difficult for him on purpose!
-
Zhou Pingan handed the script to Ma Zhiyuan.
Ma Zhiyuan refused to accept it.
“I won’t play a supporting role.” Ma Zhiyuan said with a straight face. “It’s one thing for you to let me act, but you want me to play a supporting role? When did I ever have to be reduced to playing a supporting role for Liu Zefan? He’s not even as popular as me.”
“His popularity isn’t as high as yours because you’re an idol. His fans aren’t as enthusiastic about ranking and data manipulation as yours.” Zhou Ping’an glared at him. “His ‘Eternal Love’ is the most popular fantasy drama in the last five years. His fanbase is much larger than yours. This time, he even beat out several other top male actors to get the role in ‘Squid Game.’ You playing a supporting role for him is the most suitable choice right now.”
Ma Zhiyuan said, "I refuse to believe there aren't any leading roles available for actors."
“Yes, but they’re all trashy dramas. If you want to act in S+ level dramas, you can only start with supporting roles,” Zhou Ping’an said bluntly. “Are you willing to do that?”
Ma Zhiyuan pursed his lips.
Zhou Pingan also pursed his lips.
"Don't expect to get fat overnight."
Ma Zhiyuan said, "Li Zhibai is already playing leading roles now. Is he the lead in his new drama?"
Zhou Ping'an: "Don't forget, Li Zhibai's first role was also a supporting male role."
Ma Zhiyuan frowned.
Zhou Ping'an: "You should trust the role I chose for you."
Ma Zhiyuan: "I'm not a newcomer. I've made it this far. If you ask me to play a supporting role, I can't convince myself to do it."
He was very stubborn and refused to play this supporting role no matter what.
Zhou Ping'an was furious.
“I trust your eye for choosing roles for me, but I only play leading roles,” Ma Zhiyuan said firmly.
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"The second male lead in 'The Summit'?" Yan Liang asked, somewhat surprised. "Is this role suitable for me?"
“Perfect,” Zhou Ping’an said on the phone. “After filming ‘The Gold Rush’ is finished, you can take a two-month break and go straight to the set.”
Yan Liang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, since you think it suits me, Brother Ping An, then I'll play the role."
"Hmm." Zhou Ping'an smiled slightly. "Believe me, although this role is the second male lead, it's just as outstanding as the male lead. And since you're the lead actor, it's bound to be a hit."
"I'm just a little surprised that there's a web series about fraud; I've never seen one like it before."
“More and more themes are emerging now,” Zhou Ping’an said. “It’s a good sign. The quality of scripts is also getting higher and higher. Look at the scripts we’re getting now, many of them are short-form dramas with only about ten episodes. Compared to before, it’s much easier and the efficiency of filming is much higher.”
Yan Liang hummed in agreement.
How's the filming of "The Gold Rush" going?
This drama was filmed in Southeast Asia, not in China. Yan Liang was filming with the crew in a mountainous area, so it was very difficult to contact him.
"The conditions were quite harsh. We were always getting bitten by insects, and rashes would inexplicably appear on our bodies," Yan Liang said.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ping'an asked, "Did you get a doctor to prescribe medicine for you? This matter cannot be taken lightly; no one knows what kind of poisonous insects those are."
Yan Liang said, "I've checked. There's a doctor on the set, so it shouldn't be a big problem."
"You've always been able to endure hardship."
"Filming a treasure hunt drama like this naturally involves scenes of venturing deep into the mountains and forests, and I was mentally prepared for that," Yan Liang said.
Zhou Ping'an: "The subject matter of 'The Gold Rush' is indeed excellent and is quite rare in China. It should attract a lot of attention when it airs."
"Mm," Yan Liang replied.
Zhou Pingan hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief.
The role of the second male lead in "The Summit" was really good, but Ma Zhiyuan refused to play it no matter what, and Zhou Ping'an didn't want to waste it, so he gave it to Yan Liang instead.
Actually, since Yan Liang rose to fame with "Friends," he's received many offers for roles. However, few are lead roles; the better ones are usually supporting roles. It's not that Zhou Ping'an is unwilling to give Yan Liang supporting roles, but rather that Yan Liang's image isn't quite suitable for mainstream dramas.
He wasn't particularly talented at acting, lacking the "star aura" of actors like Li Zhibai and Ma Zhiyuan. He could act well, but not exceptionally. Therefore, when Zhou Ping'an was casting Yan Liang, he preferred roles with more complex characters and more compelling storylines, using the script and the character's qualities to make Yan Liang more appealing.
Both "The Gold Rush" and "The Mountain Top" belong to this category of plays.
The former has a unique subject matter and an inherently captivating story. Any character appearing in this story will be imbued with charm by the already somewhat legendary tale.
The latter is purely due to an outstanding character design, like the neurotic rich second-generation character played by Lee Ji-baek in "Take You to the End of the World".
Yan Liang's strength in acting is that he has solid basic skills, so no matter what role he plays, he won't be too bad or make people feel out of place. Therefore, Zhou Ping'an is willing to give him roles with extreme character settings.
-
Yan Liang and Li Zhi were both away from Yuming, so Lu Yanhe returned to Ziyuan Bridge less often.
He's not currently filming any productions, and he has few public appearances, so he doesn't have to work long hours.
This week, Lu Yanhe only had one public event: attending the Honghe Award ceremony.
Being nominated for "The Seventeenth Floor" was already a pleasant surprise; with no chance of winning an award, Lu Yanhe was quite relaxed.
At this year's Honghe Awards, the Best Actor award went to the accomplished actor Wen Ding, and the Best Actress award went to Lu Sui.
Lu Sui was so moved on stage that she burst into tears.
Lu Yanhe recalled that about two years ago, at the Honghe Awards, Xu Yiren won Best Actress. Lu Sui was also nominated that year, but was defeated. She didn't even have time to hide her ugly expression before the camera caught her on camera, and everyone saw it.
Now my wish has come true.
Lu Yanhe attended the awards ceremony with a relaxed attitude and returned to school.
He has fewer classes this semester than last semester, so he doesn't have to rush to catch up on classes, assignments, and papers every day.
Writing a thesis is actually quite physically demanding, as it requires researching a lot of literature and materials. Although Zhenhua University doesn't require its students to publish papers, the requirements for papers are strictly in accordance with publication guidelines.
In many university courses, assignments are simply completed, submitted, graded, and archived by the professors, then used as part of the overall grade for the course. However, at Zhenhua University, it's not as simple as just submitting and receiving a grade.
After reading your assignment, many teachers at Zhenhua University are very likely to email you and schedule a time to meet in their office to discuss it. They might even ask you to rewrite or revise it.
Lu Yanhe also frequently receives emails like this.
The teachers did not lower their standards for him because of his celebrity status.
Upon returning to school, he discovered an email from Professor Zhao Dezhong in his inbox.
Since the time he fainted at home and was found by Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi and taken to the hospital, Professor Zhao Dezhong has been recuperating and has asked the college for leave. No classes have been scheduled for him this semester.
Lu Yanhe visited Professor Zhao several times afterward, especially after he agreed to write a column for the supplement of "Jump Up". Chen Siqi also visited him frequently.
Lu Yanhe was still wondering why Professor Zhao Dezhong suddenly emailed him, since he didn't have any classes this semester.
Upon opening the email, Lu Yanhe was surprised to find that it was actually a book list sent by the sender.
Zhao Dezhong suddenly gave him a reading list, which left Lu Yanhe completely bewildered.
ha?
Zhao Dezhong said: Last time you told me that you didn't want to pursue a master's degree because of your practical work and that you didn't want to go down the academic path. You just like reading. Here is a reading list for you. You can take a look when you have time. They are all introductory books on our ancient literary works. Maybe you will be interested.
Lu Yanhe was flattered and replied with a "thank you".
Lu Yanhe couldn't figure out why Zhao Dezhong would do such a thing.
However, since it was a carefully curated book list for him, Lu Yanhe thought about it and immediately ordered all the books on the list online.
He thought for a moment, then opened the "Xueyou" APP, logged into his account, and posted a new update:
My teacher gave me a reading list of eight books. It's not a course assignment; it's just something I did out of interest. I've often seen people say they can't concentrate on reading, spending all their time scrolling through their phones, feeling like they're wasting their time. While I don't entirely agree with that, I believe people should live in ways that make them happy, even if others see it as a waste of time. But if you're interested, you can join my impromptu reading plan. We can read these eight books together, share our progress, take notes, and share our thoughts. It's just reading; there's no need to finish every book. Just find what you enjoy and read it.
The book list that Professor Zhao Dezhong gave him was attached at the end.
-
As the spokesperson for the "Xueyou" APP, Lu Yanhe has been recommending books he has read and movies he has watched on the APP from time to time over the past three years.
This is primarily an app that focuses on the concept of a "learning online community," mainly used by students, with a small portion of customers being young white-collar workers.
However, it's still rare to start a reading plan on an app like this, because Lu Yanhe isn't the type of person who likes to get others to read with him.
Not everyone enjoys reading. For some, it's a delightful experience, while for others it's tedious and tasteless. Aside from essential books and necessary knowledge, there's no need to force yourself to love reading.
But now, something good has happened to Lu Yanhe's idea. Reading is ultimately a good thing, and if it's a good thing, then whatever the method, being able to read more books is a good thing. Anyway, no one is locking him in a dark room to read, tying his hands and forcing him to read. If he really can't read, no one is really forcing him.
-
Lu Yanhe's announcement of this reading plan surprised even the person in charge of the "Xueyou" APP.
Lu Yanhe didn't inform them about this event beforehand, nor was it an event they planned. It only came to their attention after the event suddenly appeared and many users signed up.
"Lu Yanhe, the academic genius, is back again."
"How many people do you think will join this reading program he started?"
"It would be good if tens of thousands of people signed up. Of course, in the end, the number of people who can actually read all eight books with him is probably one in a hundred, or even one in a thousand."
"Why did Lu Yanhe suddenly come up with this reading plan?"
"It's probably related to their follow-up actions for 'Jump Up.' I saw that 'Jump Up' released a message saying that they will be including a supplementary booklet with the next six issues, featuring columns written by authoritative scholars from various fields in China."
What kind of supplementary booklet is this?
"I don't know about the others, but the special issue is called 'China in Culture,' and one of the columnists in the special issue is Professor Zhao Dezhong from Zhenhua University."
-
China in Culture?
Lu Yanhe was somewhat shocked, not expecting Chen Siqi to give this special booklet such a grand name.
Chen Siqi said, "To make this special issue known and heard by everyone, we have to make the name catchy. Our special issue itself covers literature, philosophy, history, economics, law... how can it not be about China's culture? It's all about our own culture."
Lu Yanhe clicked his tongue in amazement, "Amazing."
Chen Siqi: "On the contrary, you suddenly started some reading activities on the Xueyou APP, making everyone think that you were trying to promote our special edition."
"It's purely a coincidence," Lu Yanhe laughed.
Chen Siqi: "Whether it's a coincidence or not, people have already said that about us, so it doesn't matter. It has indeed created momentum for us. After all, you are the editor-in-chief of 'Jump Up,' so it's normal for you to create momentum."
Lu Yanhe curled the corners of his mouth.
“Siqi, I actually have another idea about your supplementary book.”
"What are your thoughts?" Chen Siqi asked.
Lu Yanhe said, "This special issue features six columns written by six experts and scholars on six different themes. Have you considered turning it into a video?"
"video?"
"It's actually a program, a cultural program," Lu Yanhe said. "Each episode's script is about three to four thousand words long, and when they appear on camera to talk about it, it's about twenty minutes long, not too long and not too short. Just like you said before, it's also convenient for commuters to watch an episode on the subway."
“The special issue is called ‘China in Culture,’ which is a grand name. But if we make it into a whole series, with each teacher recording six episodes on one theme, from astronomy and geography to literature, history and economics,” Lu Yanhe said. “We can produce this content in various formats, such as text, audio, and video, to quickly reach all the potential people who are interested in this content.”
Chen Siqi took a deep breath.
"Absolutely amazing."
"What's amazing?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
Chen Siqi said, "Sister Zixing called me just an hour ago, and said almost exactly the same thing as you. She also said that this program could be made into a video program."
Lu Yanhe looked surprised.
He hadn't expected that Xin Zixing would think of this first.
Lu Yanhe only came up with this idea after experiencing a series of cultural programs, from "Lecture Room" to paid knowledge platforms.
Xin Zixing, however, brought it up earlier than Lu Yanhe, thanks to her own keen insight.
-
"You mean, Lu Yanhe wants to make a cultural program?"
Zheng Huai-ren looked at Jiang Zi-xin with some surprise.
Jiang Zixin nodded and said, "To be precise, it was Chen Siqi and Xin Zixing who did it together, but coincidentally, Lu Yanhe also came up with the same idea."
"So you're going to use the content from their 'Jump Up' supplementary column?"
“Yes.” Jiang Zixin nodded again, “They asked us if we were interested.”
Zheng Huai-ren asked, "What do you think of their idea for this program?"
Jiang Zixin took a deep breath before saying, "To be honest, I can't judge. Judging from the content and format of this program alone, I think that inviting experts and scholars to talk about their professional fields won't attract a large audience. After all, CCTV has produced many similar programs, talking about popular science and humanities and history, but not many people watch them. However, this time their format seems different. From the topics they mentioned to me, I'm actually quite interested to see what they're talking about."
Zheng Huai-ren: "What's the topic?"
“For example, Professor Zhao Dezhong from Zhenhua University is preparing a presentation on the topic of ‘Unveiling the Past and Present Lives of the Five Masters and Disciples in Journey to the West.’ It’s a title that sounds like one of those marketing accounts that deliberately create sensationalism. Almost every Chinese person knows the story of Journey to the West, so seeing this title will more or less pique their interest,” Jiang Zixin said.
"Yes, that's true." Zheng Huai-ren nodded.
Seeing that Zheng Huai-ren's attitude was quite positive, Jiang Zixin continued, "Moreover, this program, like 'Confession from the High Platform,' has a relatively low production cost."
Zheng Huai-ren nodded. "Let's set a time for everyone to sit down and discuss this together."
-
“Each expert and scholar chooses a topic, prepares five to eight episodes of content, and records them in one to two days, with each episode lasting twenty minutes.”
Soon after, Xin Zixing sat in the conference room and shared her thoughts on the program with everyone.
“The filming team can be handled by us or by your own team at Aurora Video, but the recording site and the audience will be handled by our team,” Xin Zixing said. “We will collaborate with the Youth Association of Zhenhua University to create a lecture format, inviting students from various universities to the audience to create an academic lecture atmosphere, but it will definitely be more relaxed than a real academic lecture.”
“Our program doesn’t have high requirements or difficulties in other aspects. A basic filming team is enough to make it,” Xin Zixing said. “At the same time, the special edition of ‘Jump Up’ will also promote the program.”
Zheng Huai-ren said, "A program like this, without the participation of any celebrities, is unlikely to attract much attention."
Lu Yanhe said, "It's not that this program is hard to attract attention, but rather that our program production industry doesn't really know how to promote this type of program."
Chen Siqi smiled slightly at Zheng Huai Ren: "Mr. Zheng, when it comes to publicity and sales, our Jump Up team is now a professional."
Zheng Huai-ren really couldn't refute it.
After all, the people in front of him were people who had made things that others thought were impossible a reality.
“We can cooperate in two ways. First, we can produce the entire program ourselves, and you can be responsible for buying the copyright and broadcasting it exclusively on your platform. Second, we can work together and develop it jointly,” Xin Zixing said. “Actually, if our team weren’t so small and short-staffed, we could easily produce this kind of program ourselves. Yan He said he has a partnership with you, so we approached you first because of our current manpower shortage. If you’re not so optimistic about the program’s prospects, that’s okay too; we can talk to other platforms.”
Zheng Huai-ren immediately made a gesture to "stop".
What a joke! If you said this program had high production costs and great risks, he would hesitate. But with a program like this with such low production costs, he could take any risks. Why would he let Lu Yanhe talk to other platforms?
"I'm just wondering what kind of effect this show will have," Zheng Huai-ren said with a smile.
Lu Yanhe looked at Zheng Huai Ren and said, "It could be a huge hit, Mr. Zheng."
Zheng Huai-ren looked at Lu Yan-he with a puzzled expression, not quite understanding whether Lu Yan-he was joking or really thought so.
Whether this show can become a hit or not, Lu Yanhe doesn't know, but he does know that this show definitely has an audience.
So, Lu Yanhe thought, let's do it well. Let's give it a try. Xin Zixing and Chen Siqi are both very capable people who can get things done.
-
"If we want to record it as a program at the same time, then we will have to change the way we serialize the content in the supplement."
After talking with the people from Aurora Video, Chen Siqi said, "The original plan was for six teachers to write six columns at the same time, with one article published in each issue of the supplement. But now, our program definitely can't be updated as the first issue. We'll have to wait a month before updating the second issue. I need to discuss with the editorial team how to make the content of this supplement."
“Actually, you can do it according to your original plan,” Xin Zixing said. “This program will definitely take some time from recording to post-production and then to going online. It also needs to be submitted for review and advertising and business development have not been done yet. There’s no need to rush. If the program is made at a more leisurely pace, the quality will be higher.”
"Really?" Chen Siqi said. "I thought you guys would be able to finish this show next month or the month after."
Xin Zixing: "Of course we can be fast, but the teachers probably haven't finished writing their scripts yet. Even if we want to be fast, we still have to wait for the scripts to be ready before we can film."
Lu Yanhe said, "That's true."
Xin Zixing said, "In addition, the news that Sister Ziyan's company is preparing to customize a program for washed-up artists has already spread, and many people are inquiring about these things."
Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "Let's see what kind of clients come to sign contracts with us first, and then we'll discuss what kind of program to make."
“Hmm.” Xin Zixing looked at Lu Yanhe with envy.
"What? Sister Zixing, why are you looking at me like that?"
“I just want to know why you have so many ideas in your head,” Xin Zixing said. “And every single one of them is so interesting.”
"Actually, it's alright," Lu Yanhe said. "Didn't you also think of the program 'China in Culture'?"
“I thought we could make the best use of them. The experts you found are all very famous people in the industry, and they write columns in the style of magazines. This means that the content of the columns is something that most ordinary people can understand and find interesting. With such good content, wouldn’t it be great to turn it into a cultural program that would attract even more viewers?” Xin Zixing said.
Her tone was full of nonchalance, as if it were no big deal to think of these things.
Lu Yanhe smiled.
True geniuses seem unaware that they are geniuses.
But in the world of program production, nothing is more important than a keen mind.
Creativity is the most valuable thing. This doesn't mean you have to create something that no one has ever done before. If you have a keen eye for identifying market demand where there isn't a corresponding product yet, you can still create a creative program.
When it's on a university campus, it's a commonplace lecture. But when it appears on television, it becomes "Lecture Room," the first cultural program to take the plunge.
Same meaning.
-
"What? 'China in Culture'?"
After hearing about Lu Yanhe's recent activities from Hu Siwei, Xu Bin looked incredulous. "Why is he making shows again? Is he going to become a producer?"
Hu Siwei smiled and said, "Actually, he has already produced several programs. For example, Yemai.com's 'City Travelogue' was produced by him. Although he was not the producer in name, the program was inseparable from his efforts. Last summer, there was also a program called 'Confession on a High Platform' that was very popular. Later, Aurora Video also turned it into a program, which has been airing ever since."
Xu Bin said, "These are just ordinary programs, right? They're not particularly popular."
"It certainly can't compare to those S+ level hit variety shows, but their revenue even exceeds that of many hit variety shows," Hu Siwei said. "Moreover, this time, the theme of 'China in Culture' is very suitable for the positioning of Beijing and Taiwan. Didn't they hold a meeting with us not long ago to discuss creating programs around enhancing cultural influence?"
Xu Bin said, "What you just told me is that their program is basically just inviting a few university professors to the studio to give lectures. There's nothing new about it, and how many viewers would like to listen to this kind of content? Lu Yanhe himself is a university student, and he thinks that everyone likes to listen to this kind of thing. Go to the street and see how many people still read books these days?"
Hu Siwei was at a loss for words after hearing Xu Bin's words.
He hesitated for a moment and said, "Director Xu, I think this program definitely has an audience and can fulfill the station's mission. If we can buy it and broadcast it on the TV station, it might have unexpected results."
"Moreover, it can also ease our relationship with Lu Yanhe."
“How can we ease the tension? He’s already hooked up with Jiang Lan and refuses to come back to act in Friends.”
“But we can collaborate with him on new projects,” Hu Siwei said.
Xu Bin frowned, thought for a moment, and then waved his hand.
“What cooperation? We’ve tried to be nice to him and apologized several times, but he’s completely ignored us. Do we think we can’t live without him? Does the entertainment industry die without him?” Xu Bin said. “He has such a bad temper, who knows what kind of trouble he might cause later.”
Hu Siwei's heart felt as cold as if it had been blown by the winter wind.
The initial enthusiasm was extinguished.
He didn't expect that Xu Bin didn't want to cooperate with Lu Yanhe anymore.
Xu Bin suddenly remembered something, "He brought Tom White over before, and even asked you to have dinner with Tom White. Did he say something to you again? Does he want to return to Friends?"
“No, he said in front of the media that he would never come back, so why would he?” Hu Siwei sighed inwardly.
Xu Bin: "He poached Bai Jingnian with Northern Lights, and I haven't even settled accounts with him yet. Don't get involved with him again in the future, or I'll be the scapegoat again."
Hu Siwei remained silent.
His silence stemmed from his distress. Back when Lu Yanhe was working with him on the "Seventeen Floors" project, it was he who invited Lu Yanhe to join "Friends." This project could have been a celebrated example of their "discovery of talent," but now it had become something they couldn't mention and needed to avoid.
Hu Siwei sincerely hopes to reconcile with Lu Yanhe. Even if they can't continue working together on "Friends," they can still collaborate on other projects.
However, things didn't go as planned.
It seems that not everyone shares his thoughts.
-
That evening, at 8:30, Hu Siwei drove out of the Beijing-Taipei Expressway, avoiding the evening rush hour, and arrived at "White Sail Tavern" without any traffic jams.
Bai Jingnian was already waiting for him in the next room.
"Hey, you've finally arrived." Bai Jingnian stood up, hugged him, and patted him on the shoulder. "Why are you so late getting off work today? The show has already finished airing."
"I was discussing the script with the screenwriter, and the meeting didn't end until 8:20," Hu Siwei sighed. "You ran away, and now this whole mess is being dumped on me."
Bai Jingnian smiled and waved his hand.
"Looking back now, it was the right decision to leave." He shook his head listlessly. "As for the Red River Award incident, I only have two words to describe it: heartbroken."
Hu Siwei remained silent, because he really didn't know what to say.
In the matter of Bai Jingnian's departure and the Honghe Award, he was caught in the middle as Xu Bin's direct subordinate and Bai Jingnian's longtime friend, which was a difficult and painful situation for him.
Hu Siwei certainly tried to resolve the matter properly, but in the end, he couldn't find a solution.
Even if he knew that Bai Jingnian's ability and talent as a director were top-notch, the station's leaders just wouldn't acknowledge it, and nothing he said made a difference.
People often have a stubbornness about their own judgments that is as deeply ingrained as old customs and traditions.
"If he were truly capable, why would he only have a decent film after 'Friends'? Look at what kind of films he made before that."
Hu Siwei inwardly felt sorry for Bai Jingnian. What kind of show was this? Wasn't it all garbage that they forced on him? Everyone could boss him around, and any significant role was arranged by the higher-ups. Commercials could be forcibly inserted into the plot and dialogue. How could such a show not be bad? What could a director with no background or influence possibly do?
However, since Bai Jingnian himself didn't say these words, Hu Siwei certainly didn't have the courage to stand up for him. Bai Jingnian left resolutely, and Hu Siwei could only wish him well in her heart.
"The reason why Aurora Video was willing to sign me with such generous terms, besides the success of 'Friends,' is mainly because of the drama 'My Own Swordsman.' They needed to find a suitable director to direct it. Yan He told them that he had approached me, but was rejected by Beijing TV, so Aurora Video had the idea." Bai Jingnian smiled. "It's a good thing. After spending more than 20 years at Beijing TV, I can finally come out and see a new world and new scenery."
Hu Siwei: "I envy you."
Bai Jingnian smiled and said, "What's there to envy? Risks are also present."
"With your abilities, Lu Yanhe's script, and the significant investment from Aurora Studios, 'My Own Swordsman' won't be bad, unlike 'Friends,' damn it—" Hu Siwei was stunned after uttering this curse, and then laughed in anger.
"I heard they're going to give Zhang Lan a leading role in the third season?"
“Yes.” Hu Siwei nodded, and sighed as he did so. “I’m happy to see Zhang Lan replace Chen Ziliang as the lead in the third season. Chen Ziliang’s acting is really terrible, and the post-production editing was terrible. However, Zhang Lan is too self-centered. She has already given her opinions on the script twice and is still not satisfied. She refuses to sign the contract.”
"Why did you have to cast her?" Bai Jingnian asked. "Couldn't we just have Yan Liang and the other people who were in the first season continue the story?"
"What's there to ask? Why did they insist on adding a new character like Chen Ziliang in the first place? It's the same now."
"Haven't we learned our lesson from bringing Chen Ziliang over to act in the second season yet?"
“They ate it. They thought they had chosen the wrong person, so they chose Zhang Lan. They think Zhang Lan is the luckiest actress in recent years.” Hu Siwei shook his head. “Zhang Lan’s luck can bless the third season of Friends.”
Bai Jingnian was completely speechless.
"Fortune? Blessings?"
"Yes, you heard me right. They're even starting to care about these things now."
Hu Siwei was unaware that beneath his seemingly speechless expression lay a quiet disappointment that even he himself was unaware of.
Bai Jingnian laughed sarcastically, "That's fucking bullshit. Luckily I left."
-
"When 'My Own Swordsman' starts filming again in May, remember to reserve some time for me so you two can make a cameo appearance."
During a video call with Li Zhibai and Yan Liang, Lu Yanhe gave them instructions.
"Okay." Both of them gave an OK sign.
Li Zhibai: "It's rare that we're both filming outside, but you haven't joined the crew. You've been resting for two months now. I'm so envious."
"What do you mean you're taking a break? You've been busy the whole time," Lu Yanhe said speechlessly. "Very busy."
"Are you two both on set?" Lu Yanhe asked again.
Yan Liang shook his head: "I'm at the hotel. There's definitely no signal on the film set. It's rare for me to have a day off today, and I don't have any scenes to film."
Lu Yanhe asked, "How's filming going? When will it be finished?"
"There's still more than a month left, and it's estimated that it won't be finished until the end of April. If it's delayed any further, it might not be finished until May," Yan Liang said. "The director insists on shooting on location. When we're in a foreign country, we always encounter problems, and many of these problems can't be solved in a short time, which always wastes time."
“Be careful. I’ve heard it’s chaotic over there, and some people are even doing kidnappings,” Li Zhibai said.
"No, no, the production crew is reliable," Yan Liang said. "We always have bodyguards with us when we go out."
Lu Yanhe: "You need to be extra careful when filming in the mountains. In the deep forests, you can't get to the hospital immediately if there's an accident."
"Okay." Yan Liang nodded. "Don't worry, I'm fine."
"And what about you? Li Zhibai, you were filming 'Moonlight Echo,' but I haven't heard you mention anything about the crew?"
"There's not much to say. It's just filming normally, wrapping up, and occasionally having a meal and a drink with the other guys in the crew," Li Zhibai said. "But after changing agents, I feel much more at ease. At least no one is nagging me every now and then. He's obsessed with that idiot Ma Zhiyuan. I heard he wanted Ma Zhiyuan to act in a movie before, but Ma Zhiyuan refused because it was only the second male lead. Zhou Ping'an was furious."
"Huh?" Yan Liang was taken aback. "He recently got me a role in a drama, a supporting role. Could this be it?"
"What the hell?" Li Zhibai's eyes widened immediately. "He gave you a role that Ma Zhiyuan refused to play? That shameless bastard!"
Yan Liang: "It doesn't necessarily have to be the same show."
"Based on my understanding of Zhou Ping'an, it's highly likely to be the same act," Li Zhibai said. "What a shameless person."
Seeing that Yan Liang's expression was not good, Lu Yanhe immediately said, "Actually, if the role and the script are good, then it's Ma Zhiyuan's loss if he doesn't act in it. As long as Yan Liang acts well, Ma Zhiyuan will have plenty of opportunities to regret it later. Didn't you all say that Zhou Ping'an has a very sharp eye for choosing roles?"
Yan Liang's expression softened slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Old Lu is right. As long as the script and the role are good, it doesn't matter if Ma Zhiyuan doesn't want it. He's the one who's at a disadvantage."
Li Zhibai nodded, "Anyway, Yan Liang, you should always be careful and not let them trick you, especially Zhou Ping'an. His favoritism is in his genes, it's ingrained in his bones. You absolutely cannot let him give the opportunity that originally belonged to you to Ma Zhiyuan. If that really happens, just tell us, and we'll help you curse him to death."
Yan Liang smiled.
Lu Yanhe: "At worst, I'll just fire at him on Weibo. Anyway, neither Li Zhibai nor I owe him anything."
"Owe him? Owe him a fortune, we've done more than enough for him." Li Zhibai snorted.
“Sigh, neither of you have been in Yuming for the past two months. I’ve been staying at school most of the time and haven’t been back to Ziyuanqiao.”
"You won't be unable to sleep because you miss us so much after you can't see us, will you?" Li Zhibai chuckled.
"You're so disgusting," Lu Yanhe immediately said with disdain.
Li Zhibai: "Tsk tsk, so hypocritical."
(End of this chapter)
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