Chapter 431 The Persuader Arrives
Lu Yanhe was unaware that his gaze had already been misunderstood.
The main reason is that he has never been misunderstood in this way before, so he himself would not immediately think in that direction.
Furthermore, Lu Yanhe's attention was mainly focused on Zhang Ruozhi, and he didn't pay much attention to Liu Lingmeng's changing expression.
However, Chen Siqi noticed it.
"..." As a girl herself, Chen Siqi was naturally very aware of Liu Lingmeng's change in attitude.
It's obvious without even asking that Lu Yanhe's silly appearance was a clear sign of misunderstanding.
Chen Siqi felt that she still had an obligation to help clear up the misunderstanding.
She took the initiative to speak to Zhang Ruozhi, asking, "What grade are you in now?"
Zhang Ruozhi said, "I'm currently in my first year of high school, and I'll be in my second year next semester."
Chen Siqi nodded and asked, "Are you interested in becoming an actress?"
"Huh?" Zhang Ruozhi was taken aback.
Liu Lingmeng also looked at her in surprise.
Chen Siqi pointed at Lu Yanhe and said, "He is looking for a female lead for his new movie. You may have seen it in the news."
Liu Lingmeng asked, "Is it the movie where he confesses his love to you on Weibo late at night?"
Chen Siqi's cheeks suddenly flushed red.
“Yes,” Lu Yanhe said with a smile, “that’s the one.”
Liu Lingmeng breathed a sigh of relief. "I knew it. I thought you were lecherous, that you were eyeing something else while you were eating what you had."
Liu Lingmeng successfully embarrassed the other three people present with a single sentence.
Lu Yanhe himself blushed deeply.
He hurriedly explained to Zhang Ruozhi, "That's not what I meant."
Zhang Ruozhi also lowered her head, feeling embarrassed to look them in the eye, and whispered, "Yes, I know."
Liu Lingmeng suddenly burst into laughter, "Ruoruo, are you going to be a star? Huh? Then I'll be your assistant and your manager!"
Neither Lu Yanhe nor Chen Siqi expected that the person who was more excited now was not Zhang Ruozhi, but Liu Lingmeng.
Zhang Ruozhi bit her lip and tugged at Liu Lingmeng.
She said to Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi, "I... I'm still studying. I need to ask my mother."
Lu Yanhe nodded, "Of course. Could you please give us your mother's instructions? We'll make an appointment with her and then come to visit her formally."
Zhang Ruozhi nodded and took out her phone.
"Let's add each other as friends," Chen Siqi said, taking out her phone as well.
Liu Lingmeng immediately asked, "Can I add you guys? I promise, I will never bother you!"
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi exchanged a smile and did not refuse.
-
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi didn't bother them any longer. After exchanging contact information, they left first.
Liu Lingmeng took Zhang Ruozhi's arm and slowly walked home.
The extraordinary events that had just transpired had filled Liu Lingmeng with excitement.
"Ruoruo, this is amazing!" Liu Lingmeng exclaimed. "You can actually become a star!"
Zhang Ruozhi turned to look at Liu Lingmeng, hesitating to speak.
"What's wrong?" Liu Lingmeng asked.
Zhang Ruozhi said, "I... I don't think my mother would agree."
"Huh?" Liu Lingmeng asked, "Why?"
“My mother’s biggest dream was for me to get into a good university,” Zhang Ruozhi said. “Especially after my father passed away, her obsession with this became even stronger.”
Liu Lingmeng looked puzzled and asked, "What does being a celebrity have to do with your college entrance exam?"
Zhang Ruozhi: "I'll be a junior in high school next semester, and the college entrance exam won't be long."
"There are still more than two years left!" Liu Lingmeng exclaimed dramatically. "How can it not be long?"
Zhang Ruozhi glanced at her silently, then lowered her head again and walked forward in silence.
-
Chen Ziyan felt helpless.
"Weren't you on vacation in Jiangzhi? How come you suddenly ran into your dream girl again?"
"It was an accident, a complete accident, but it was a beautiful accident." Lu Yanhe said to Chen Ziyan on the phone, "Sister Ziyan, really, believe me, if you saw her, you would also think she was a good match."
Chen Ziyan said, "Yan He, I accept your reasoning that you want to find newcomers to act in this movie, and I think you are right. However, she is a proper high school student who has never studied acting. She may not be comfortable in front of the camera at all, and she may not even be able to speak in front of the camera."
Many people think that acting in front of the camera is a simple matter. For non-professional actors, the difference is obvious. Think about yourself or your friends who are not good at taking pictures.
Many people are vibrant and lively in their daily lives, but when they are in front of the camera, they become stiff and awkward, like puppets.
This is just the most basic thing: a sense of camera presence.
Other things, from positioning to acting, are things a complete newcomer simply doesn't understand.
Lu Yanhe said, "Sister Ziyan, I had never acted before before filming 'The Golden Era'."
Chen Ziyan said, "How can that be the same?"
"Sister Ziyan, come to Jiangzhi. You'll understand once you see her." Lu Yanhe was certain that Chen Ziyan would be just as interested in Zhang Ruozhi as he was.
Chen Ziyan sighed, "You."
“Really, Siqi also thinks she’s perfect for the role,” Lu Yanhe said. “Besides, if you don’t come, I’m not confident I can convince her family to agree to make this film.”
Chen Ziyan laughed in exasperation.
"So you want me to go and act as an intermediary?"
“You’re also the producer of this film, how can you stand aside?” Lu Yanhe said matter-of-factly.
Chen Ziyan: "I will withdraw my investment immediately."
“Then you’re still a shareholder of our production company,” Lu Yanhe immediately added.
Chen Ziyan: "..."
Lu Yanhe said, "Sister Ziyan, believe me, Zhang Ruozhi is really very suitable for the role of Huaijingshu."
-
Chen Ziyan certainly didn't doubt Lu Yanhe's judgment.
She hung up the phone, looked at Wen Minglan sitting across from her, and sighed with some regret.
"Minglan, you just heard it too, Lu Yanhe has already found the female lead."
Wen Minglan's face showed obvious regret and disappointment.
“Besides, you’re already famous, which doesn’t fit Yan He’s idea of the female lead for this movie. He wants to find someone the audience doesn’t know,” Chen Ziyan said. “I understand your desire to make this movie, but from a script perspective, it’s indeed not suitable.”
Wen Minglan nodded dejectedly.
"All right."
Chen Ziyan looked at the girl she had spotted at first glance and brought under her wing.
In recent years, Lu Yanhe has been so popular that he has often been overlooked, even though she has this actress under her wing. It wasn't until Wen Minglan became famous with "Friends" that she gained recognition.
Chen Ziyan didn't think she had neglected Wen Minglan because of Lu Yanhe. To be honest, with her connections in the industry, one phone call from her was probably more effective than ten visits from other agents. Not to mention, Chen Ziyan had Lu Yanhe as a trump card, which she could use to extract resources for Wen Minglan and Tu Song from their partners.
Furthermore, if it weren't for Lu Yanhe, Wen Minglan wouldn't have been able to star in "Friends" and get the opportunity that made her an overnight sensation.
Chen Ziyan asked Wen Minglan, "Have you finished reading the script I gave you last time?"
Wen Minglan said, "Sister Ziyan, I've finished watching it, and I don't really want to act in it."
"Why?" Chen Ziyan asked, somewhat surprised and taken aback.
Wen Minglan said, "That was just a symbolic, decorative role with no room for performance."
Chen Ziyan was taken aback.
“Minglan, although your role in that movie wasn’t the main character, it was the second most important role in such a big-budget production with an all-star cast.”
Wen Minglan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Do you think I should accept?"
“From a work perspective, I think you should take the job,” Chen Ziyan said bluntly. “Participating in this big-budget film will enhance your resume.”
Wen Minglan asked, "Can't we win the role of the female lead?"
"That role has already been cast with someone else."
"who?"
“A newcomer,” Chen Ziyan said. “We don’t know her.”
Wen Minglan bit her lip. "Why is it always a newcomer? Do they all like using newcomers so much?"
Chen Ziyan felt somewhat helpless.
"There always needs to be some fresh faces in a movie. If it's always the same few people acting, the audience will get tired of it."
Wen Minglan sighed.
"Okay, then I'll play a supporting role."
Wen Minglan still seemed somewhat unwilling.
Chen Ziyan looked at her silently without saying anything. After a few seconds, when Wen Minglan looked puzzled by Chen Ziyan's silence, Chen Ziyan finally said, "Minglan, you are indeed very popular now. If you want to play the female lead in a movie, you can find scripts. However, it is basically unrealistic to play the female lead in a top-tier film production. If you were an unknown newcomer, the chances would be much greater."
Wen Minglan was puzzled and asked, "Why?"
"Actually, there's no particular reason why. That's just how this industry is. Either you reach the top yourself, or you have to rely on someone else to get ahead. But directors always seem to prefer an actor who hasn't been discovered yet, especially when the director is male and the actor is female," Chen Ziyan said. "Let's not question why this is the environment. We're all in this environment, and we can only accept it."
Wen Minglan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "So, even Yan He is like this?"
“Yan He? No, you’re mistaken. The first day Yan He came to me with ‘Love Letter,’ he explained it very clearly to me why the female lead in the high school scenes should be played by a newcomer or someone the audience doesn’t recognize. He had a very clear vision for the film, and I think he’s right. Only a face that the audience doesn’t recognize or hasn’t seen much of can allow them to easily identify with the character. If you were to play the role, the audience’s first reaction would be that you’re Chen Wanqiu from ‘Friends,’ and their second reaction would be that you’re the actress Wen Minglan.” Chen Ziyan asked, “Do you understand what I mean?”
Wen Minglan nodded hesitantly.
"I see."
“It’s just that the movie ‘Love Letter’ needs a female lead like this, but not every movie needs a female lead who is like a blank sheet of paper.” Chen Ziyan said, “Minglan, to be honest, you’re famous now and you’ve reached this stage, so I can understand that you want to take it a step further. But you must learn something from Lu Yanhe.”
"What should I study?" Wen Minglan asked.
"I am unfazed by honor or disgrace," Chen Ziyan said. "I am never afraid that an artist will not become famous under my supervision, but I am very worried that once an artist becomes famous under my supervision, they will become arrogant and float away like a balloon. Perhaps if I am not careful, I will lose my grip on the string and they will float away. I have seen many such examples and have told you about them many times."
Wen Minglan hesitated for a moment and asked, "Sister Ziyan, is it too much to ask me to act in a movie and play the female lead?"
“No, no.” Chen Ziyan shook her head. “But because you never used to talk to me about these things, and there have been changes in you, I’m just reminding you out of concern. Actually, putting that aside, I’m very happy that you took the initiative to come to me to compete for the female lead role in ‘Love Letter.’ I’ve always told you to be more proactive. This is a good sign.”
She laughed, cupped Wen Minglan's face in her hands, and gently stroked it.
"You have exceptional natural talent. You have a sophisticated face that tells a story, and you possess an innate artistic flair, with the aura of a traditional, well-bred lady. This is your advantage over other actresses. I'm afraid you might be influenced by the prevailing get-rich-quick mentality around you, and lose your unique qualities. We don't need to rush into playing leading roles just because your starting point is different from others. If you ever feel anxious, just remember this: playing leading roles is something that will happen naturally for you; it's not something you should strive for. Your goal is to become a top-tier actress like Chen Bige."
Wen Minglan lowered her head with a shy smile.
"Okay, Sister Ziyan, I'll listen to you."
"Hmm." Chen Ziyan touched her face again. "Believe me, although this role is indeed a bit like a pretty face, as you said, it suits you very well. If you play it well, it will still become your representative work."
Wen Minglan nodded.
-
When Chen Ziyan saw the girl named Zhang Ruozhi, she immediately understood why Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi had chosen her.
In this day and age, to find a girl who seems to come from the end of the last century, with a pure and simple temperament, perhaps only Jiang Zhi could be found.
You won't see girls like this in a city like Yuming.
She wasn't wearing makeup; her face was bare, yet it was full of vitality. Whether it was her smile or her shy expression, it seemed to be imprinted on your heart.
Chen Ziyan took a deep breath.
Lu Yanhe turned to look at her, his face beaming with a smile that seemed to say, "See, I wasn't wrong."
Zhang Ruozhi was still a little nervous and uneasy, her hands gripping the cup tightly.
This is a coffee shop near the school.
It's noon now. Lu Yanhe specifically messaged Zhang Ruozhi, asking her to meet him here.
“She is Chen Ziyan, my agent, and one of the producers of our film. Don’t be nervous,” Lu Yanhe said to Zhang Ruozhi.
Zhang Ruozhi nodded, took a deep breath, and still looked a little nervous.
Chen Ziyan said, "I have learned a little about your situation. You have excellent grades and are usually a very serious girl."
Zhang Ruozhi looked at her with some surprise.
Chen Ziyan smiled and said, "Before I came to see you, I met with your homeroom teacher to find out about your situation at school. I was surprised to learn that you have such good grades and are ranked in the top ten in your grade."
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi both showed surprise.
They don't know about Zhang Ruozhi's situation yet.
Surprisingly, this girl is also a top student.
Chen Ziyan: "You definitely want to get into a good university, right?"
Zhang Ruozhi nodded.
Chen Ziyan said, "Ruozhi, based on your school's admission situation in previous years, your grades should be enough to get into a university of similar level, such as Jiangguang University. Siqi is in that school."
Zhang Ruozhi looked at Chen Siqi and nodded.
“Actually, since you were able to rank in the top ten of your grade at Jiangzhi Middle School, it shows that you must be a very hardworking student. If you had studied at a better middle school, you might have been able to get into a better university,” Chen Ziyan said. “I heard that you have some concerns about becoming an actress, mainly about university entrance exams. I know that for a high school student, the college entrance exam is the most important thing. But I want to say that we can try to consider acting from a broader perspective. Life is not just about these few years of high school, nor is it just about one university. As long as your grades are good, there is not much difference between getting into university this year and next year, but some opportunities may only come once in a lifetime.”
Lu Yanhe's heart skipped a beat; Chen Ziyan had actually started this already.
Zhang Ruozhi twisted the fingers of both hands together.
"I--"
"I know you mean your mother might not agree."
“Yes, I won’t agree—” Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out beside them.
Everyone paused for a moment, stunned.
Zhang Ruozhi looked the most surprised. She looked at the woman who suddenly appeared, wearing a long dress, and called out "Mom".
Everyone then realized that she was Zhang Ruozhi's mother.
Mrs. Zhang glanced at Lu Yanhe and the others, her eyes flickered, and she said with a stern face, "Ruozhi has already told me about your desire to cast her in the movie. I appreciate your interest in my daughter, but I would like to formally tell you here today that my daughter will not do anything outside of studying before taking the college entrance examination. Therefore, you should find someone else to act in this movie."
Zhang's mother's tone had an air of leaving no room for argument.
Lu Yanhe and the others looked at each other, and it took them a long time to come to their senses.
Zhang's mother said to Zhang Ruozhi, "Ruo Ruo, go back to school."
Zhang Ruozhi lowered her head and silently stood up.
Chen Siqi said, "Auntie, can we sit down and have a chat?"
“We have nothing to talk about,” said Zhang’s mother with a sullen face. “I’ve already said that I appreciate your kindness and that you’ve asked my daughter to act in a play. I know this is a rare opportunity, but my daughter is going to take the college entrance examination and go to university.”
Chen Siqi wanted to say something more, but Chen Ziyan stopped her.
Chen Ziyan stood up, smiled at Zhang's mother, and said, "Ruozhi really should go back to school. There's only such a short break at noon. I'm sorry to make you use your lunch break to meet us. Did you eat enough? Would you like them to prepare some snacks for you to take back to the classroom? You're at a crucial stage of your growth, and you have a lot of academic pressure every day. You can't go hungry."
As she spoke, she waved her hand.
"Hello--"
Someone is coming.
"Please pack two servings of egg yolk pastries and two mung bean cakes for us," Chen Ziyan said.
The person in the coffee shop responded and left.
Chen Ziyan smiled slightly at Zhang's mother and Zhang Ruozhi and said, "Please sit for a while. They will be ready soon. We really didn't want to delay Ruozhi's class, so we specially invited her out at noon. The meal was simple; we only ate two pieces of cake."
Upon hearing this, Zhang's mother's expression softened slightly.
She hesitated for a moment, but eventually sat down.
"I'll pay for these snacks later," she said.
"Oh, why are you being so polite with us? We were the ones who invited Ruozhi out," Chen Ziyan said with a smile. "Actually, I can really understand how you feel. When Yan He was preparing for the exam, I was also very nervous. I basically didn't let him take any work so that he could focus on his studies. When I found out that he got into Zhenhua University, I was so proud of him. I was so happy."
When Zhang's mother looked at Lu Yanhe, her eyes softened.
"He must have put in a lot of effort to get into Zhenhua."
“Indeed, he studies from dawn till dusk, almost every minute.” Chen Ziyan said frankly, “I always say that this kid is too self-disciplined. I even asked him why he would work so hard to take the college entrance examination when he could be an artist and didn’t need a high level of education, just to get into a good university. He said that everything is fake and will change, only what you hold in your own hands is real. After experiencing three years of low points, he knows that nothing is better than becoming stronger himself.”
Chen Ziyan's words made Lu Yanhe feel ashamed.
Mrs. Zhang said, "The fact that he was able to get into Zhenhua under those circumstances is incredibly motivating for us parents. I think you can understand how I feel, right?"
“Of course.” Chen Ziyan nodded. “Actually, even if you hadn’t come to us, we would have come to you anyway. Ruozhi is still a minor, and she can’t decide for herself whether to act. We wanted to find out what she thought before we formally visited you to discuss things with you. We didn’t expect you to come first.”
Mother Zhang nodded.
"Ruozhi told me yesterday that she ran into Lu Yanhe and this girl, and that you wanted her to act in a movie."
"You must think your daughter has been scammed, right?" Chen Ziyan covered her mouth and laughed. "These two are just kids, very impulsive, completely clueless about social etiquette. I'm sorry you had to see that."
Mother Zhang waved her hand, "These two young people are so outstanding, how could it be anything to laugh at? If Ruozhi can be half as outstanding as them in the future, I will be content."
Chen Ziyan smiled.
Just then, the snacks were packed up and delivered.
"They're here." Chen Ziyan took the packaged snacks and placed them in Zhang's mother's hands. "Please take Ruozhi to school first. We'll wait for you here."
"Wait for me?" Zhang's mother asked, puzzled.
Chen Ziyan said, "Didn't you just say that Ruozhi would absolutely not consider anything other than studying before the college entrance examination? Before, it was just the children talking about it on their own. I hope I can have a serious talk with you about Ruozhi's future plans. Just treat it as casual conversation, like when Yan He came to me. I never expected that this child would grow up to be like this today. Sometimes, life really is a matter of fate. What do you think?"
Chen Ziyan maintained a smile, exuding a calm and confident aura.
Zhang's mother glanced at Zhang Ruozhi and nodded hesitantly.
(End of this chapter)
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