After hearing Pan Li’s words, Professor Fang felt utterly deflated!
It wasn’t that Professor Fang disliked Li Mengjiao. Even though Li Mengjiao hadn’t chosen her as a producer, that was just her personal choice. Li Mengjiao was a high school student, and Professor Fang wouldn’t hold it against her.
What Professor Fang couldn’t stand was Yuan Fenghui!
Li Mengjiao’s success meant Yuan Fenghui’s success.
That a woman with a tarnished reputation could succeed time and again challenged Professor Fang’s worldview, especially since she herself had always adhered to her principles!
“What do we do now?” Pan Li asked.
In situations like this, Pan Li, as usual, had no ideas and relied entirely on Professor Fang to decide.
Professor Fang had repeatedly urged Pan Li to think independently, but despite agreeing, Pan Li never changed. Professor Fang was at a loss with her.
Sigh, being expelled from school had truly broken Pan Li’s spirit. As her teacher, Professor Fang had to put in extra effort to help Pan Li become self-reliant.
Deep down, Professor Fang enjoyed this feeling of being trusted and relied upon, so she helped Pan Li time and again.
When Professor Fang joined Mr. Guan’s company, she took over Yuan Fenghui’s old position.
Yuan Fenghui’s job was to create stars, and Professor Fang was no different.
Since Professor Fang couldn’t be at the company every day, Pan Li acted as her representative, handling the execution while Professor Fang made the plans.
Right now, Xu Mei was the brightest “star” at Mr. Guan’s company. Even though Xu Mei lost such an important endorsement, the company couldn’t find anyone to replace her for now.
But that might not hold true in the future.
Until this year’s talent show ended, Mr. Guan still had to prop up Xu Mei.
For Pan Li to secure her place in the company, she needed to show results, so as not to embarrass Professor Fang.
Thinking of this, Professor Fang shook her head heavily, “If there’s a scheduling conflict, there’s nothing we can do. It’ll come down to whose drama gets better ratings.”
What kind of drama was Yuan Fenghui preparing for Li Mengjiao?
Given Yuan Fenghui’s background, it was probably another Taiwan-style idol drama.
Was Li Mengjiao’s age suitable for a Taiwan idol drama?
A few years ago, *Meteor Garden* was a massive hit, but it got banned for its harmful values.
How Taiwan shot its dramas or cast its actors was generally their business—called respect.
But when Taiwan dramas aired on mainland TV, they had to pass review, and anything problematic was cut.
Minors like Li Mengjiao acting in romances on screen could negatively influence young viewers!
At this thought, Professor Fang suddenly felt less anxious.
She wasn’t targeting Li Mengjiao; she just didn’t want Yuan Fenghui to have it too easy!
Of course, she was also considering the negative impact on audiences, taking a selfless stance for the sake of young viewers… Professor Fang’s logic settled her mind:
“Alright, let’s not worry about others’ affairs. Just focus on our own. Keep Xu Mei’s drama in mind. If you want to establish yourself in this industry, follow Xu Mei’s drama from post-production and gain experience!”
Seeing Pan Li still didn’t get it, Professor Fang stressed, “Know yourself and your enemy to win every battle. How can you compete if you don’t even know what drama they’re shooting?”
Her words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
Pan Li quietly asked, “Do you think there’ll be issues with Li Mengjiao’s drama?”
Professor Fang didn’t answer directly, but Pan Li was almost certain of her guess.
What issues could Li Mengjiao’s drama have?
Quality, or something else?
Pan Li knew she couldn’t get answers from Wen Ying or Yuan Fenghui, so her gaze locked onto Director Fan, who was talking with Wen Ying.
No good—she couldn’t talk to Director Fan either.
After hitting a wall with Mr. Cao, Pan Li doubted her charm and wasn’t sure she could handle Director Fan.
Only Liang Dan was qualified to speak with Director Fan!
That was the logic, but seeing Director Fan lower himself to talk with Wen Ying, Pan Li was both jealous and annoyed.
—Just a little assistant, what was wrong with Director Fan!
…
Director Fan didn’t know what was wrong with himself either.
At first, he just wanted to say a few words and leave.
But with Yuan Fenghui and Wen Ying playing off each other, Director Fan’s curiosity about Wen Ying’s screenwriting was piqued, so he stayed to listen.
That’s when he fell into the trap Yuan Fenghui had set.
With Wen Ying’s harmless high schooler appearance as cover, it was hard to be wary, and people fell into the trap unknowingly, only realising they were in deep when it was too late.
The scariest part was, even after falling in, people still thought Wen Ying was harmless!
Mr. Liu was one example, and now it was Director Fan’s turn.
Listening to Wen Ying was enjoyable—she made dull topics interesting. Director Fan laughed several times as she outlined the plot.
While discussing Tianjiao’s drama, Wen Ying also critiqued common drama flaws from an audience perspective.
Like domineering CEOs who don’t work, spending 24 hours a day—minus eating and sleeping—on romance.
“Won’t their companies go bankrupt?”
Director Fan burst out laughing.
He knew these plots were absurd, but high ratings kept them alive. Hearing Wen Ying’s critique, he found it funny that such plots couldn’t even fool a high school girl. Writers needed to try harder!
The “CEOs” Director Fan had met were mostly pot-bellied. Mr. Liu was already a rare gem among them. As for tall, handsome, domineering CEOs, Director Fan had never seen one in real life.
Of course, he didn’t rule out their existence, but he knew reality better than Wen Ying—a rich, handsome CEO would never fall for an ordinary Cinderella.
After laughing, Director Fan teased, “Don’t criticise others’ dramas. What about yours? Are you allowed to make things up, but others can’t?”
Wen Ying smiled sheepishly, “My drama has a CEO too, but I didn’t write it like that. Besides, Mengjiao’s so young—how could she do a romance?”
Director Fan grew serious, “She shouldn’t.”
It’d have a bad influence.
Li Mengjiao, not yet eighteen, was set to be the ambassador for a talent show and a dairy endorsement—two roles tied to one important project for both the dairy group and Hunan TV!
“Once your drama’s done, I’ll be the first to watch.”
Director Fan needed to confirm if Li Mengjiao’s debut drama was as “plain” as Wen Ying claimed.
Even if Hunan TV didn’t buy the first broadcast rights, a drama with Li Mengjiao as the lead in a romance couldn’t air on other channels either! She could ruin her own future, but not Hunan TV’s flagship programme.
Seeing Director Fan’s expression, Wen Ying knew the plan had worked:
Director Fan had fallen deep into the trap, happily becoming pit-mates with Mr. Liu!
