Ding Yan’s face instantly turned deathly pale, and she fell even more silent.
“Ding Yan, from beginning to end, you were the one encouraging and sowing discord, and afterward you even went around bragging about how clever you were. Do you really think I didn’t know about any of this? I only didn’t confront you because you seemed so fragile. I simply distanced myself from you. I never expected you to remain completely unrepentant.”
Lin Yinyin’s face was filled with self-mockery and anger. “I was stupid too, for misjudging you. What’s worse is that you refuse to admit your mistakes. You were the one who framed Sister Wen first, yet you still called her a jinx. Let me tell you something! I know what kind of person she is far better than you do! All your bad luck is simply karma catching up with you. You brought it upon yourself.”
Lin Yinyin didn’t spare her another glance and turned back to Wen Yusui.
Su Qingyan, meanwhile, angrily rushed up to Ding Yan and slapped her hard across the face.
“This is all because you couldn’t stop spreading rumors! You got me on the wrong side of someone powerful and even cost me the female lead role, you bitch!”
The man in the suit had his people throw the two women out before turning to the director.
“The investment will be transferred soon.”
He then slowly walked over to Wen Yusui, reached out, took the jacket belonging to He Yanzhou that was draped over her, and tossed it back to him.
“Mr. He, take care of your own belongings! Miss Wen, the matter has been settled. Goodbye!”
The man in the suit gave Wen Yusui a respectful nod before turning around and leaving in a confident stride.
“Sister Wen! Who exactly are these people? Don’t tell me you’re secretly some heiress or something?” Lin Yinyin asked excitedly.
“You’re overthinking it.”
“Xiao Wen, then we’ll leave the female lead role to you!”
The director stepped forward and handed the script to Wen Yusui.
“…” Wen Yusui didn’t take it. Instead, she calmly explained, “I don’t know those people, so as for the female lead, Director, you can choose whoever you think is suitable. I’m fine with continuing to play the second female lead. I can audition for it now.”
The director simply tossed the script into her arms and said earnestly, “Do you really think I’m that kind of opportunistic director? To be honest, I’ve always felt that you were better suited for the female lead. We can just find anyone to play the second female lead.”
He glanced at Lin Yinyin.
“The person beside you is an actress too, right? Give her the second female lead.”
Lin Yinyin never expected to land such an incredible opportunity. She excitedly threw her arms around Wen Yusui.
“Director! The male lead is still mine, right? Those people never said anything about replacing the male lead.”
Luo Huai was afraid they had forgotten about him.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t going to do it anymore?” The assistant director promptly reminded him. “You said it yourself. Did you forget?”
Luo Huai suddenly dropped to one knee in front of Wen Yusui.
Wen Yusui was a little confused by his behavior, but she still respected his choice.
“Get lost.”
“Okay.”
Luo Huai turned to the director with a proud expression.
“How about it, Director? Didn’t our actions just now make us look like a perfect match?”
“Get lost.”
The director and assistant director both gave him the same answer.
He Yanzhou said to Wen Yusui, “Since that’s settled, leave the rest to me. Focus on studying the script. Once this drama is finished, you’ll officially make your debut.”
“Mm. But He Yanzhou, if I don’t act well, will it affect you?”
Even with Wen Yusui taking the female lead, she still felt a little nervous.
He Yanzhou gently patted her shoulder and smiled warmly.
“I remember that Wen Yusui was extremely confident back in college. How come you don’t believe in yourself now?”
That’s right.
Perhaps all of her confidence had been lost in that marriage where she’d been betrayed.
Wen Yusui and Lin Yinyin began memorizing their lines day and night, studying their characters’ personalities and behaviors. It was the first time either of them had been given a leading role, so both of them took it extremely seriously.
Once filming officially began, three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Almost every scene belonging to Wen Yusui was completed in a single take. There was practically no need to reshoot anything.
The only few mistakes happened during her intimate scenes with Luo Huai.
Every time Wen Yusui closed her eyes, Luo Huai would remember the respectful way those men in suits had treated her. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get intimate with her—he simply didn’t dare.
In the end, he asked the director to use camera angles to fake the intimate scenes.
Wen Yusui had no idea what Luo Huai was thinking, nor did she care. She certainly wasn’t going to force him. As long as the scene passed, that was all that mattered.
Throughout filming, He Yanzhou stayed by Wen Yusui’s side practically every moment, explaining which movements and expressions she had performed particularly well and which ones still needed improvement.
With He Yanzhou’s guidance, Wen Yusui’s acting became practically god-tier.
Those were the director’s exact words:
“Xiao Wen, with acting skills like yours, you really don’t look like a newcomer at all. The original female lead probably couldn’t have gotten a single scene right in fewer than ten takes! With you joining this production, we’re definitely going to take the top spot.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Director.”
Wen Yusui turned around and continued to He Yanzhou, “And thank you even more. I was only able to understand this character so well because of your guidance. No wonder you’re a top-tier agent!”
Then Wen Yusui suddenly looked curious.
“By the way, I heard you don’t take on newcomers. So why did you take me on back then?! Was it because we were college classmates? Or because you thought I had a lot of potential? You didn’t want to miss out on such a dazzling gem, did you?”
Wen Yusui joked.
He Yanzhou smiled.
His smile was filled with endless tenderness and affection. For the first time in a long while, he felt so relaxed.
He didn’t answer Wen Yusui’s question. He merely gave a slight nod.
“Yusui, once this drama finishes filming, you’ll officially become a somewhat well-known actress. From then on, I’ll be responsible for arranging your entire schedule.”
“Really? Then I’m actually looking forward to it.”
Wen Yusui hadn’t expected becoming a celebrity to be so easy.
Previously, whenever she saw people who had worked as extras for decades yet remained unknown, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for them.
She had originally thought she’d have to struggle for at least several years. She never expected to be so lucky. It seemed fate had favored her, allowing her to become a female lead so quickly.
“He Yanzhou, why are you accompanying me every day now?”
He had clearly been very busy before, only coming by once every few days. Now, however, he seemed to have suddenly become much more free.
He Yanzhou replied, “I’m your agent, so of course I have to accompany you. Besides, you know I’m only managing one artist right now—you. If I want to make you successful, I’m naturally going to have to put a lot of effort into you.”
“Then did you also put a lot of effort into cultivating Mu Chao?”
Wen Yusui had finally learned who Mu Chao was from Lin Yinyin later on.
The moment Mu Chao was mentioned, the smile disappeared from He Yanzhou’s face. A hint of indescribable gloom flashed through his eyes.
“I suppose you could say that.”
He Yanzhou raised his head. The darkness in his eyes vanished in an instant. His expression became serious, and his tone was solemn.
“Yusui, don’t worry. You’re different from him.”
Seeing how serious he was, Wen Yusui suddenly felt that the atmosphere had become strangely ambiguous.
She must have been overthinking it.
She quickly changed the subject.
“Shouldn’t we also see how the drama performs once it goes online?”
The director and assistant director, however, looked completely at ease.
Su Qingyan’s previous dramas had all flopped one after another, with both their ratings and reputations plummeting.
Now that they had a beautiful actress whose looks and acting skills were both top-notch, they were certain this production could break through and become a dark horse!
So, with sufficient funding, they rushed through all the post-production work.
The drama went online soon afterward.
Unexpectedly, the result far exceeded everyone’s expectations.