“Ah?!”
Wen Ying pretended to be surprised and repeatedly denied it. “Do not misunderstand. I absolutely did not mean to insinuate anything about you, nor was I cursing you. If it makes you uncomfortable, I will tell that friend not to write this segment.”
The female lead could detect no flaw in Wen Ying’s expression.
When Wen Ying was determined to deceive, few could see through her lies. Though the female lead had four more years in the entertainment industry than Luo Hao, she had been scouted young and was only 22 this year. How could she match Wen Ying?
Moreover, why would Wen Ying fabricate such a plot out of nowhere to upset her?
She had not schemed against Shui Mingyue like Luo Hao, nor offended Wen Ying… The female lead could only chalk it up to coincidence and quickly reassured Wen Ying. “Teacher Xiaoyu, I was just saying that casually. Please do not ask your friend to change the plot! Er, what I mean is we should respect creation. My reaction proves your friend’s plot can touch people.”
Close call. She had finally smoothed it over!
The female lead breathed a sigh of relief. A fleeting smile passed through Wen Ying’s eyes.
“Alright then. Thank you for understanding. Actually, I could not hold back from mentioning it earlier. One reason was to hear Mingyue’s thoughts. Her writing experience is richer than mine. The other was to hear your opinion. You are at the rising stage of your career in the entertainment industry. You are just one hit drama away from stardom. From your perspective, under what circumstances would someone retire and marry without waiting for the drama they played the female lead in to air? It was an opportunity earned after so much effort and waiting so long. Why not persist until airing?”
Wen Ying discussed this plot segment earnestly with the two.
Now, even Shui Mingyue fully believed Wen Ying’s fabricated story.
“Could it be set that this girl suddenly becomes disappointed with the entertainment industry? You know, it looks glamorous, but there are many dark sides, like unspoken rules. If your friend does not want to abuse the character too harshly, she can stop at an appropriate point when writing that part. Do not make it too cruel. Of course, best not to involve erotic elements. I worry some readers cannot accept it. Well, I personally do not like such plots. Ultimately, it depends on your friend’s own ideas.”
Shui Mingyue analysed it seriously.
Wanting fame is not bad. Making small mistakes along the way is fine. If committing major crimes touching the law, the author can have the character face legal consequences later. Such plot design is reasonable.
Shui Mingyue disliked a common trope where a female character does many wrong things, and the only retribution the author arranges is her being assaulted.
Stealing the female lead’s man, ends up assaulted.
Framing the female lead, ends up assaulted.
Committing murder and arson, doing all evils, still ends up assaulted.
As if the only retribution for female characters is assault.
Though Wen Ying was making up stories, Shui Mingyue’s creative principles appealed to her.
“I do not like such plot designs either.”
Wen Ying and Shui Mingyue were discussing when the female lead listened silently for a while, then interjected. “Setting the character disappointed with the industry and retiring without waiting for airing is unreasonable.”
Wen Ying and Shui Mingyue turned to her together. The female lead tugged the corners of her mouth in a smile. “Unspoken transactions for advancement happen before filming ends, not after. If the character made some deal for fame, she would have done it already. Otherwise, how could she get the female lead role? Retiring before airing after paying so much is too unreasonable, unless…”
Not only Wen Ying, but Shui Mingyue listened intently.
Shui Mingyue had been targeted by Luo Hao upon joining the crew. He approached actively, their relationship grew closer, naturally occupying much of her private time. Besides group script discussions, Shui Mingyue had little contact with the female lead. Her impression was simply of a girl who loved to smile.
Of course, after Luo Hao’s self-sabotage and failure, the female lead had seized the chance these days to build presence with Shui Mingyue.
In Shui Mingyue’s eyes, the female lead not only loved smiling but was smart, quick to comprehend, passionate about acting, and gave a very positive impression.
At this moment, Shui Mingyue suddenly realised that the ever-smiling female lead might have her own hardships. Not everyone had Luo Hao’s luck to play a lead right after debut.
“Unless what?”
Wen Ying pretended not to notice the change in the female lead’s mood, focusing on how to make the plot logical.
The female lead took a deep breath. “Unless this girl finally gets the female lead role, finishes filming, only to learn the drama will never air. The opportunity she suffered so much for, the effort she poured into it, thinking she would soar to fame, all turns to illusion… In that case, her emotional collapse leading to retirement and marriage would be more reasonable, right?”
Unspoken rules exist because accepting them yields desired gains, an equivalent exchange. Accept or endure honestly.
Paying the price for the role only for unsatisfactory results, that is truly despairing!
The female lead’s words silenced Wen Ying and Shui Mingyue.
Wen Ying seemed to discuss plot but was actually referring to past-life events.
In the previous life, this drama was delayed five years before airing, only getting the chance after Luo Hao became famous. Without his fame, it might never have aired.
There seemed hidden reasons behind Shui Mingyue’s retirement. Why delay a fine, non-violating drama five years?
“I will pass your analyses to that friend. Not sure if she will adopt them, but thank you anyway. It is getting late. I will head back to school. Come visit again when free.”
Wen Ying stood up. Shui Mingyue wanted to see her off, but the director waved from afar. “Teacher Mingyue, could you come over?”
“Teacher Mingyue, go busy. I will see Teacher Xiaoyu off for you.”
The female lead volunteered.
Seeing Wen Ying nod, Shui Mingyue relented. “Thank you, Xiao Pei.”
The female lead’s surname was Pei, only 22, younger than Shui Mingyue. Calling her Xiao Pei was normal.
Xiao Pei smiled brightly. “No trouble. It is my honour to see Teacher Xiaoyu off.”
Wen Ying and Xiao Pei walked out together. Tianjiao’s driver waited outside, spotting Wen Ying from afar and swiftly opening the door.
Pei did not expect Wen Ying’s travel to be so grand.
Both bestselling authors, yet Shui Mingyue was very approachable on set.
Perhaps Shui Mingyue’s approachability made Luo Hao think her easy to bully… Pei shook her head, regaining composure.
“Teacher Xiaoyu, goodbye.”
Wen Ying smiled. “I did not bring name cards. Note my phone number. Call if needed.”
Pei was surprised and delighted. “Teacher Xiaoyu…”
Perhaps her serious plot analysis impressed Teacher Xiaoyu?
Pei quickly took out her phone to note the number and called it on the spot.
Seeing Wen Ying truly intended to save hers, Pei happily introduced formally. “Teacher Xiaoyu, I am Pei Yiyi, the ‘yi’ from reluctant parting.”
“Mm, I remember. May I call you Yiyi in future?”
Pei Yiyi nodded smilingly. “Of course!”
Pei Yiyi saw Wen Ying to the car door. Wen Ying held the door, turned back. “Yiyi, what I said earlier was novel plot, but novels need logic. Real life often needs none. Things just happen inexplicably. I have visited this set twice. You left a good impression. Someone left a very bad one. I know getting the female lead was not easy for you. For Mingyue, adapting her work to screen was not easy either. In that sense, you are on the same side, right?”
Pei Yiyi nodded firmly. “You are absolutely right. I will not let anyone harm Teacher Mingyue.”
Wen Ying smiled. This Pei Yiyi was truly clever, catching her subtext.
She understood, yet not fully. Wen Ying nodded at her again. “Mingyue is very innocent and needs protection. It would be best if you keep an eye out… But Yiyi, you are a girl too. Protect yourself well. Call me if you need help.”
The ever-smiling and slick Pei Yiyi stood stunned for a long time.
Wen Ying’s car had driven far. Pei Yiyi still stood motionless.
Her assistant came looking, seeing her dazed, whispered. “Sister Yiyi, did Teacher Xiaoyu say something upsetting? Do not be angry. After this drama airs, we will not need to grovel to others.”
Pei Yiyi checked no one around, rolled her eyes quickly. “What nonsense are you spouting? How could Teacher Xiaoyu bully me? She is very kind and even gave me her contact!”
The assistant’s eyes lit with joy. “Teacher Xiaoyu gave you her contact? Herself? Oh, wonderful! Bah, my mouth. Speaking ill of her earlier. Deserves a slap! Sister Yiyi, why did she give it? Does she have a work to adapt, wanting you to star?”
“Not a work. Something else… Anyway, forget that. I must correct your thinking. What do you mean no need to please others after airing? Getting opportunities by pleasing a bit is already a huge advantage, okay? Not just now when I am not famous. Even if I become famous one day, we must be polite to others! Look at Teacher Mingyue and Teacher Xiaoyu. They are famous yet polite to everyone.”
Pei Yiyi nagged. The assistant nodded repeatedly.
Chatting, they walked back to the set. November in Modu brought chilly autumn winds, yet Pei Yiyi felt warm all over.
Four years in the industry, struggling.
Some called her scheming bitch, said she climbed unscrupulously while pretending innocent, a foul white lotus inside.
Many envied and disliked her.
Besides family caring, no one in this circle had said, “You are a girl. Protect yourself well. Call me if you need help.”
Of course, men leaving contacts were plenty, motives obvious.
Wen Ying was different.
Wen Ying would not take advantage, yet pitied her.
Pei Yiyi wanted to laugh and cry.
