Only a fool doesn’t make money.
Zhang Guangzhen hadn’t finished a cigarette before deciding to take the job from Hunan.
A 1 million pound fee? Forget adding scenes for the second female lead, Zhang Guangzhen would play the drama queen himself!
The news reached Yuan Fenghui through Zhang Guangzhen.
Xu Mei had such luck, did she?
Yuan Fenghui didn’t sabotage. She urged Zhang Guangzhen to write well. A screenwriter shouldn’t let money slip or ruin their reputation. A shoddy script would kill future gigs.
Xu Mei and Cao Shao were fooling the coal tycoon. If the drama’s ratings soared, fine. If they flopped, the industry has no secrets. Cao Shao’s tactics were taboo, harming his own reputation.
What did that have to do with Yuan Fenghui? Not sabotaging was noble enough. Should she warn Cao Shao and Xu Mei?
Even if she did, they might not care.
Yuan Fenghui guessed Cao Shao hired Zhang Guangzhen because The Princess’s New Clothes was airing, and its 70 million pound copyright fee made him envy Zhang’s skills.
, The drama’s foundation was Zhang Guangzhen’s. Wen Ying’s revisions transformed it.
Yuan Fenghui advised Zhang, “Sign the contract early. Get it in writing, half the deposit upfront!”
Once The Princess’s New Clothes aired, Cao Shao would see two screenwriters, Wen Ying included.
Cao Shao didn’t know Wen Ying’s contribution, a variable. Better Zhang secure the 1 million pounds first!
Whoever earned it, it was earned. 1 million pounds was huge, and Zhang’s idol drama scripts were quality, not cheating the tycoon.
With Yuan’s reminder, Zhang rushed to Hunan.
He didn’t mention signing. He said he needed to see Xu Mei.
“Without seeing the actor, no inspiration. Some actors, however pretty, if there’s no vibe, I can’t create!”
Cao Shao found this professional.
A master screenwriter!
Zhang made an excuse, but Xu Mei gave him a headache.
She wasn’t unattractive but unfit for an idol drama lead. She suited urban dramas, a scheming white-collar type. Too harsh to say, so Zhang said, “You want the role to impress, no other demands, right?”
Cao Shao and Xu Mei nodded.
Zhang knew he’d earn the 1 million pounds!
Teacher Zhang rushed back to Taiwan to write. Cao Shao signed the contract fast. Both were thrilled.
Cao Shao told Xu Mei privately, “I’m relieved we signed. I was worried Yuan Fenghui would hear.”
Xu Mei smiled, her eyes cold, “Teacher Yuan’s busy. She’s not focused on us.”
…
Yuan Fenghui was busy, checking Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen’s variety show edits.
It was the same show, recorded before The Princess’s New Clothes aired, broadcast mid-run to promote the drama and engage viewers.
Li Mengjiao was reluctant, recalling last year’s show. Post-selection, she and Xu Mei, top three contestants, appeared on it. They performed naturally, but the edit was awful, leading to bad reviews for Li. Mr. Guan delayed her album, tanking her popularity!
Without landing a dairy brand endorsement and becoming this year’s talent show ambassador, Li Mengjiao wouldn’t have recovered.
She was wary of the show!
Yuan Fenghui reassured her, “Things are different now. You and Yun Chen record freely. I’ll handle the rest. No one’s sabotaging.”
It was to promote The Princess’s New Clothes, bought by Hunan TV for 70 million pounds. Who’d dare ruin it?
Mr. Guan, Liang Dan, and Cao Shao couldn’t misbehave under Director Fan’s watch. If the drama flopped, Fan would lose face!
Yuan didn’t fully trust others. She’d monitor the recording and editing.
Li Mengjiao was initially unwilling. Yuan encouraged her to be herself, no pretence. Li asked for a free pass, “Teacher Yuan, I can do anything?”
“Yes, say or do what you want. If a host’s question bothers you, skip it. Those shots can be cut!”
That sounded good.
Li Mengjiao got an idea.
Yun Chen saw she was up to mischief.
If he noticed, Teacher Yuan surely did. Since Yuan said nothing, Yun Chen wouldn’t snitch.
Yuan said not to be too stiff on variety shows. Yun Chen was still gauging the balance.
During recording, Li Mengjiao caused a stir.
A segment revealed what Li did off-set to build her diligent image. The host would open her bag, showing textbooks and papers.
Li played along until the host, per the script, opened her bag. No textbooks or papers, just a novel!
“Young Idol?”
The host read the title, “You read novels when not filming?”
“Not often, I mostly do papers, but this book’s so good, I carry it.”
Li casually took the book, subtly angling it for the camera to catch the Young Idol cover.
Her actions would be filmed, Yuan assured her, as a rising star deserved.
The host adapted fast. It wasn’t scripted, but whether cut or not, they continued, asking Yun Chen, “Mengjiao reads novels to relax. What about you?”
Yun Chen glanced at Li, flashing a perfect smile.
“I read too, borrow books from Mengjiao. She’s got great taste.”
“…”
Something felt off.
You both read the same book?
You’re here to promote The Princess’s New Clothes, not forget the theme!
The host suspected Li and Yun Chen were paid to advertise the novel. No matter, those shots could be cut!
In the studio, Yuan Fenghui chuckled.
So this was Li’s plan.
She thought Li had a bigger scheme, but this?
Li held back just to advertise Wen Ying’s book.
It was the most natural way, better than pulling out Young Idol mid-interview or performance, or doing something crazy like a split while holding it. That would give Yuan a real headache!
Post-recording, Yuan oversaw editing. When the novel segment came up, the team suggested cutting it and reshooting. Yuan, arms crossed, smiled, “Keep it.”
, Something was off with today’s leads and their manager!
—
“Mr. Guan, isn’t this role a bit unsuitable for me?”
Xu Mei wasn’t against acting. If she didn’t take roles, she’d have nothing else to do. A new album was nowhere in sight, and even for commercial gigs, she’d only be a sidekick to this year’s popular contestants.
Last year, Xu Mei was the “champion.” This year, she’s a prop for popular contestants, booked only if bundled with others!
Acting was good, at least it paid. Emerald Forest’s success gave Xu Mei a taste of fame. For boosting popularity, acting was the better deal.
Her first album had no hit songs. As a singer, beyond her talent show crown, no one remembered her music.
Emerald Forest was different. Audiences remembered her face!
That was real progress.
Xu Mei looked thin and haggard in person, but on camera, her slimness was an advantage. The lens adding ten pounds was no joke.
Acting it was, then. As long as she had popularity, she could still release albums. Xu Mei had accepted her reality, no choice otherwise. From talent show to now—breaking up, dropping out, leaning on Cao Shao—her hand got worse with each step. No turning back, even if a cliff lay ahead, she had to press on.
She understood the logic, but Mr. Guan’s choice of roles was careless, and it infuriated her.
A drama’s success relied on luck but also three essentials: the writer, the director, the actors!
Famous writer, famous director, skilled actors.
All three together? High chance of blockbuster ratings!
Even one of the three ensured decent ratings.
Emerald Forest was like that. Just a Taiwan idol drama with a short production cycle, but its team was stellar. With so many prince-and-Cinderella stories, only the truly skilled hit the audience’s heart.
Were there dramas with none of these that still exploded?
Sure.
But rare, like winning the lottery!
The new drama Mr. Guan picked for Xu Mei was a total amateur setup.
Unknown director.
Unknown lead.
Unknown writer.
They were generous with the pay, though. Mr. Guan was clearly swayed by the money!
No surprise there. A good drama wouldn’t cast a half-baked actress like Xu Mei, even with her Emerald Forest fame, and offer decent pay.
For good dramas, Xu Mei would have to beg and even pay to act.
She’d be willing, but she had no money.
Mr. Guan wouldn’t agree either. The company took the lion’s share of her earnings. If she didn’t take this role, where would Mr. Guan make his money?
When Xu Mei said the role wasn’t right, Mr. Guan got displeased, saying earnestly, “Now’s not the time to be picky. Entertainment’s survival of the fittest. If you don’t take new roles, your popularity fades. You’re not thinking of pulling a Zhang Yangning, are you?”
His tone carried a warning.
Zhang Yangning’s self-funded contract termination to jump to Tianjiao was a slap in Mr. Guan’s face!
The loss wasn’t huge, but the insult was.
Mr. Guan still couldn’t fathom how Yuan Fenghui persuaded Yangning. That fool thought Tianjiao had great resources? She’d only get Li Mengjiao’s scraps!
Thinking of Li Mengjiao, Mr. Guan recalled The Princess’s New Clothes was premiering soon, souring his mood further.
Xu Mei smiled bitterly. She’d love to follow Zhang Yangning, but Zhang could jump to Tianjiao; she couldn’t.
She couldn’t afford the penalty, nor could she bear the shame. Plus, her gut told her Tianjiao wouldn’t want her!
“Mr. Guan, I was wrong. You’re looking out for me with this role.”
Leaving his office, Xu Mei called Cao Shao.
As his girlfriend, shouldn’t he be embarrassed by Mr. Guan giving her such lousy resources?
“I can play supporting roles, but being a prop for nobodies? Isn’t Mr. Guan going too far?”
Xu Mei was fishing for benefits from Cao Shao.
She was a good girl from a decent family, clean and devoted to him. He called her his girlfriend, but his enthusiasm had waned.
Had he taken advantage and now wanted to shirk responsibility?
A second female lead in a hit like Emerald Forest showed sincerity. A supporting role in an amateur production was insulting!
Cao Shao had new interests but couldn’t act on them, so he kept Xu Mei around. She was now tasteless but too pity to discard.
Her words stirred him, though.
She’d been with him, and he was generous with ex-girlfriends. No reason to shortchange Xu Mei.
“I’ll look into it.”
Cao Shao got to work and soon uncovered the production’s background.
A coal tycoon backed the crew. These days, coal tycoons were synonymous with rich and gullible. Everyone wanted a piece.
Someone pitched the tycoon for investment, and he stuffed his mistress in as the female lead—hence her lack of fame or works. A newer newbie than Xu Mei!
Was the tycoon foolish?
Not at all.
He wanted to please his mistress but also test the film industry’s waters.
He had money to burn but needed industry insiders to guide him. Cao Shao approached, and they hit it off.
Cao Shao wasn’t as rich, but he knew the industry’s ins and outs!
His first move was to replace the original shady crew with a reliable team, keeping only the tycoon’s mistress as the lead. The project got a full overhaul!
Cao Shao’s one condition: hire someone to rewrite the script, boosting Xu Mei’s role.
“You’re still the second female lead, but it’s really a dual lead. Unlike Emerald Forest, it’s a true dual lead. I’ll get someone to write it. The tycoon’s pick is a pure newbie—you outshine her in experience and popularity!”
Using the tycoon’s money to boost Xu Mei, Cao Shao was shadier than the original crew, who at least focused on the tycoon’s “lead” as per his wishes.
Cao Shao planned to pull a switch!
Xu Mei was intrigued.
She asked who he’d hire to write.
Cao Shao smiled, “The The Princess’s New Clothes writer. Teacher Yuan made Li Mengjiao a star and sold the drama’s rights for a fortune. It’s not just Li’s popularity.”
Li Mengjiao, like Xu Mei, was a newbie singer-turned-actor with mediocre acting.
True, Li’s popularity outstripped Xu Mei’s.
But popularity alone couldn’t fetch such a high copyright fee!
The drama’s quality sold it!
A good writer crafts stories. One who tailors a story for an actor? God-tier writer, Cao Shao’s logic was sound!
Problem was, Cao Shao, Xu Mei, and others thought Zhang Guangzhen was the god-tier writer behind The Princess’s New Clothes’s massive copyright fee.
With the drama’s premiere nearing, Zhang Guangzhen, far in Taiwan, got a job offer from Hunan:
“1 million pounds for a script?”
Zhang lit a cigarette.
Was mainland film funding this generous?
, Should he follow Yuan Fenghui and settle there long-term?
