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Shang Yechu did not discuss taking on the role in "Anna Doriya" with Ji Juntao, but she still needed to inform her.
As Qingping Entertainment grew larger, Ji Juntao could no longer handle all of Shang Yechu's affairs. He had no choice but to assign Shang Yechu a management team consisting of two men and two women, who were privately nicknamed the "Four Heavenly Kings" by the company's employees.
Accompanying Shang Yechu to Taiwan this time was Lu Ji, one of the four agents. Shang Yechu always mistakenly remembered her name as "Lu Ji" (meaning "braised chicken"). Lu Ji was an honest and kind person, and her greatest advantage was that she wouldn't complain to Ji Juntao. Unlike the other three, who wished they could be Ji Juntao's second pair of eyes and ears.
Because Lu Ji hadn't informed them, Ji Juntao was temporarily unaware of the matter concerning "Anna Doriya." Shang Yechu planned to wait until he had dinner with Yang Huanyi and Luo Yao, and finalized the matter before telling Ji Juntao, thus acting first and informing him later.
The meeting place arranged by Luo Yao was a famous Western restaurant in Taiwan. Shang Yechu arrived ten minutes early, but was still the last to arrive. Luo Yao and Yang Huanyi were already waiting there.
Upon seeing Yang Huanyi, Shang Yechu was taken aback. In just two years, Yang Huanyi looked much older than when they filmed "Tianji Tower"!
Back then, Yang Huanyi was a beautiful and robust woman, full of vigor and dashing. Now, for some reason, she looks weak and listless, with an indescribable weariness.
Yang Huanyi was wearing a conventional formal dress, with her legs and arms exposed.
Shang Yechu looked down and saw that Yang Huanyi's once elastic and powerful legs had become much softer and weaker. It seemed that poking them would leave a shallow dent that wouldn't bounce back for a long time.
As the leaves first swept upwards, Yang Huanyi's once wheat-colored arms had turned a pale white, as if they hadn't been exposed to the sun in a long time. Soft, muscular flesh had replaced the once beautiful, firm lines, like two slabs of fat pork hanging on a butcher's stall.
Looking upwards, Shang Yechu finally met Yang Huanyi's eyes. Those eyes were weary, and fine lines had appeared at the corners. Seeing Shang Yechu looking at her, she gave a weak smile.
A sense of dread gripped Shang Yechu's heart. How she had envied Yang Huanyi two years ago! Back then, she was thirty-five, in the prime of her life, full of vigor and ambition. But just two years later, at thirty-seven, she already looked like a middle-aged woman.
There's a saying in the entertainment industry: fame makes you more attractive. Conversely, once an actor's career declines, they age rapidly and never regain their former radiance. Yang Huanyi is a typical example of someone whose fame faded.
Given Yang Huanyi's haggard appearance, can she really muster the energy to perform well in the script?
Acting, especially filmmaking, is a job that requires passion and determination. Does Yang Huanyi still possess that passion?
Startled and horrified, Shang Yechu almost lost his composure. Yang Huanyi called out to him two or three times before he came to his senses.
"I'm sorry." Shang Yechu went up to Yang Huanyi and gave her a polite hug, smiling warmly, "Sister Yi, it's been a long time."
With the exaggerated politeness typical of the entertainment industry, Yang Huanyi hugged Shang Yechu and said, "Wow, Yechu, you're getting more and more beautiful."
These words brought back some of the feeling from the past for Shang Yechu. Shang Yechu breathed a sigh of relief.
After exchanging pleasantries and settling down, and after several rounds of drinks and dishes, it was time to get down to business.
Luo Yao had been eager to try since the beginning, and now that he could finally command Shang Yechu and Yang Huanyi, he was very excited.
"Let's do a rehearsal first!" Luo Yao said. "Oh, right, I forgot to ask, Ye Chu, how's your English?"
Spurred by initial shame, Shang Ye worked tirelessly, hiring numerous tutors and making rapid progress in English. However, her spoken English still carried a Chinglish accent, which she couldn't seem to shake off.
Shang Yechu honestly replied, "I have no problem reciting the lines, but I have an accent."
“That’s alright!” Luo Yao’s eyes lit up. “We need accents! You and Sister Lin can start with the most classic part of the script—the part where Lin Fengyu first teaches Zhao Lele to read poetry.”
This scene is the most ambiguous in the script and a crucial turning point in the relationship between Zhao Lele and Lin Fengyu. Its simple plot makes it perfect for a rehearsal in a restaurant.
“This part is good,” Yang Huanyi said with a smile. “This part is the one I know best.”
Without a word, Shang Yechu started clearing the table, pushing the cups, plates, and bowls to the corners to make room for herself and Yang Huanyi. Luo Yao stood to the side, choosing the best viewing spot, his eyes sparkling as he watched the two of them.
He spread the script on the table like a poetry collection and sat down. Yang Huanyi walked behind Shang Yechu, about to strike a pose, when Shang Yechu suddenly remembered something.
"etc."
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