Yi Tianzhao looked much older, his eyes bloodshot. "Xiao Ye, what have you been busy with lately?"
"Of course we're filming," Shang Yechu said with a smile. "The film studio will stay open during the Chinese New Year."
"Aren't they all supporting roles?"
"Of course." Shang Yechu blushed slightly. "I'm fine—"
Yi Tianzhao waved his hand decisively: "Cancel them all. The production team will pay your breach of contract penalty."
"Huh?" Shang Yechu looked surprised. "Director Yi?"
Tu Zi interrupted, "Old Yi! We agreed to test each other's strength first."
“I know her better than you do,” Yi Tianzhao said impatiently. “Fine, since you’re not comfortable with it, then give it a try.”
Zeng Tuzi's status was clearly much lower than Yi Tianzhao's, and he spoke in a humble tone: "Old Yi! I don't care how well she acts—the higher-ups are in a hurry! I also have to check her performance!"
Shang Yechu caught the key words and understood immediately. This was probably someone sent down by Yi Tianzhao's superiors to supervise the construction.
Yi Tianzhao rubbed his temples and asked Shang Yechu, "What are your feelings for Xiao Fengque?"
“Uh…” Shang Yechu seemed a little caught off guard, “I admire her…”
"Stop with the nonsense," Yi Tianzhao interrupted Shang Yechu again. "What are your thoughts on this character? Share your understanding of the role!"
This is utterly unreasonable. Xiao Fengque is not Shang Yechu's character, so what does she understand?
Yi Tianzhao has been caught in a pincer movement between online attacks and criticism from his superiors these days, and his temper has gotten much worse.
Shang Yechu paused, sat up straight, and said, "Xiao Fengque has many labels. Some say she is a strong person, some say she is a pioneer, and some say she is a hero. These labels are all reasonable, but in my opinion, she is first and foremost an idealist."
"An idealist?" This time it was Jiang Shang Nongchaosheng who spoke up. The old lady had been drinking tea and said very little.
Shang Yechu pursed her lips. Of course she understood Xiao Fengque, but she couldn't reveal her full understanding of the character at this moment, as that would expose her research and covetousness towards the role.
"Yes." Shang Yechu nodded. Seeing that Jiang Shang Nongchaosheng's teacup was empty, she stood up and poured the old lady another cup of tea.
"The most prominent characteristic of idealists is naiveté. In my opinion, Xiao Fengque is far too naive. Her essence is constant struggle and constant failure. It's a tragedy that such a person was born in the era depicted in the book..."
"The goddess constable Tian Rushui, who appears later in the story, is the complete opposite of her. She is a realist, and her underlying nature is to struggle and compromise between ideals and reality..."
Shang Yechu couldn't appear to have a deep understanding of Xiao Fengque, as that would be too suspicious; nor could he appear to know nothing, as that would be too deliberate.
Shang Yechu simply shifted the blame to another character in the book and started chattering away.
In order to convince Jiang Shang Nongchaosheng, Yi Tianzhao and others that the character they were so fond of was indeed Tian Rushui and not Xiao Fengque, Shang Yechu tried her best to act like a fanatical fan of Tian Rushui—this little thing was a piece of cake for her.
Shang Yechu continued, "Compared to Xiao Fengque, Tian Rushui is more like a 'worldly' person. Such a person may not be liked by most people, but she has her own charm. She is more like a mirror of Xiao Fengque—"
"Stop, stop, stop." Zeng the Bald had to stop Shang Yechu's fervent praise of Tian Rushui. "Old Yi, did you tell her why you called her here? What water is she talking about?"
Yi Tianzhao slapped his forehead. "I mentioned to her that I wanted her to play Tian Rushui, and this kid probably thought it was about that!"
"Don't say anything more, Xiao Ye." Yi Tianzhao pressed Shang Yechu down, looking exhausted. "I called you here today not to discuss Tian Rushui's matter. It's because I wanted to..."
Yi Tianzhao gritted his teeth and tossed a few sheets of paper from the table to Shang Yechu, "You have ten minutes to familiarize yourself with this part of the script, and then—"
Yi Tianzhao glanced at Li Yi, who was looking down at his nose and seemingly lost in thought: "Perform this scene with Li Yi on the spot."
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