Chapter 29: Have you ever watched the Legend of Jiang Yuyan?

Others mock me for being easily fooled, yet I laugh at them for failing to see the truth.

This was Ruby Lin’s innermost thought. She wouldn't claim to be a genius, but she was certainly no fool. The issues the previous actor had raised were valid, in her opinion. However, those were merely minor flaws that did not detract from the drama as a whole; they could be changed or left as is. The real offense was that the actor had dared to openly challenge her authority as both the producer and the female lead.

Now, though, Zhang Yang had approached the subject of changing the script with such finesse, framing everything from her perspective. If she were to refuse him now, outsiders might think she was just a lovestruck fool who couldn't keep her head straight around a handsome face, which would be damaging to her reputation. In truth, she just needed a proper attitude and a graceful way to step down; whether the plot was changed depended entirely on whether the actor could satisfy her.

Clearly, Zhang Yang’s approach had hit the mark.

"Sister Ziwei, you’ve asked the right person. I have indeed thought about how to modify the plot." Zhang Yang beckoned to Nazha, took his backpack, and pulled out a few pages of paper. He handed them to Ruby Lin with a shy expression. "Having the opportunity to land a role in such a high-quality project as *The Glamorous Imperial Concubine*, I even consulted my mentor at the Shanghai Theatre Academy and made some improvements under her guidance."

"Before I came, I was afraid that my voice would be too insignificant and that no one would listen to my suggestions."

"Now I realize that was just my lack of understanding toward seniors like you."

...

Flattery is a universal language, and Zhang Yang took the opportunity to compliment everyone present.

Beside him, Nazha felt her brain struggling to keep up. The content on those pages was clearly something she had watched Zhang Yang scribble down casually while they were in the car. Back then, she had even remarked on how beautiful his handwriting was, a reflection of his character. How had it suddenly become something written under the guidance of a professor?

"Which teacher from the Shanghai Theatre Academy are you referring to?" Yan Yikuan asked with a faint smile, setting down his script and standing up.

"Hello, Senior. The teachers I consulted for help were Professor Jiang Mei and Professor Wang Luoyong," Zhang Yang replied immediately, completely unfazed. He never fought a battle he wasn't prepared for. He had conceived the script last night and polished it on the road today. He had also called Professor Wang and Professor Jiang to pay his respects and chat about *The Glamorous Imperial Concubine*. Unless someone was bored enough to specifically ask them, "Did Zhang Yang ask you to revise a script?", he had no fear of being exposed.

"Ah, Professor Wang and Professor Jiang. They hadn't been teaching for long when I was in school, and they taught me a few classes," Yan Yikuan smiled. "They must be department heads by now, right?"

"Yes, Professor Wang is a professor in the Acting Department and a primary instructor, and Professor Jiang is the head of the department," Zhang Yang answered calmly.

The way the people around him looked at him changed instantly.

This was the power of the "Academy faction"—connections were inherent. Especially for students who maintained good relationships with their teachers, the advantages in navigating the industry were particularly obvious.

"I see." Yan Yikuan didn't dwell on it further and gave a slight nod. "If you run into anything you don't understand on set, feel free to ask me, Junior."

"Thank you, Senior." Zhang Yang thanked him immediately, his gaze flickering toward Wallace Huo, only to find the man watching him. Their eyes met for a fleeting second before they looked away with a tacit understanding, exchanging nothing more.

By this time, Ruby Lin and director Liang Xinquan had scanned through the revised script.

"As expected from someone coached by teachers at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. This portion truly highlights the characters' personalities and designs better," Liang Xinquan affirmed. This was his way of feeding a line to Ruby Lin, who was in a good mood and nodded in agreement. "It is indeed better. Let’s film it this way."

Regardless, one had to give face to the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and the content was objectively superior.

Zhang Yang’s mind raced as he said, "The screenwriters are responsible for the overall story and the subplots of every character. I only managed to make these changes with my teachers' guidance, so I hope I haven't caused any trouble."

With those words, the looks directed at him softened even more.

"Then let's give it a try," Liang Xinquan said, clapping his hands and picking up the megaphone.

Zhang Yang didn't try to hog the spotlight any further and went over to Nazha. "I’m going to act now. Watch closely, or you can record it on your phone. I’ll teach you about positioning techniques tonight."

Nazha nodded, indicating she understood.

"Attention, everyone."

Liang Xinquan sat before the monitor, using the megaphone to direct the lighting adjustments.

"Scene X, Take X."

"Action!"

As the clapperboard snapped, the camera began to roll, focusing on Ruby Lin. She stood by the railing of the high pavilion, looking down with silent tears, as if remembering something heartbreaking.

Zhang Yang, dressed in fine silk robes, appeared from around the corner, took his mark, and stared silently at the side of Ruby Lin's face.

Liang Xinquan’s eyes lit up. He shifted his posture and said into the intercom, "Pull the camera back, look for the blind spot to the left. Good, that’s it. Stop. Record both of their expressions."

Liang Xinquan thought to himself that he had struck gold. Generally, people who looked good in real life weren't always photogenic, while those who were less attractive often benefited from makeup. Some people who looked beautiful or handsome on screen might be so stunning in person that they'd make you forget to breathe. Zhang Yang had a fantastic look, and while Liang had expected him not to be photogenic, the reality was that he had a perfect, standard movie-star face.

*If his acting is also good, I can arrange a role for him in Painted Skin 2.*

The thought flashed through Liang Xinquan’s mind, and he watched even more intently.

On screen, the look in Zhang Yang’s eyes began to shift, filled with sorrow. Combined with the scene, one could imagine he was feeling heartache for "Ma Fuya." After a brief moment of pain, a flash of madness appeared in his eyes, followed by a look of resolve.

He strode toward "Ma Fuya," and the cameraman, prompted by the director, followed his rhythm to capture the shot.

Reaching behind "Ma Fuya," Zhang Yang reached out as if to embrace her. A crew member signaled Ruby Lin at the right moment, and she immediately turned around with a look of realization, meeting Zhang Yang’s gaze. "Younger Brother Xiao Kuang."

As she spoke, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

The words "Younger Brother Xiao Kuang" seemed to hold some sort of curse, causing Zhang Yang to pull back his hand and step back half a pace without a trace, his expression returning to clarity. "Sister, don't be sad. You still have me to rely on."

The original script had called for Zhao Kuangyin to embrace Ma Fuya and offer all sorts of comfort, ending with a lingering close-up on their faces to construct a "beautiful" aesthetic.

Zhang Yang’s assessment of that plot was: garbage.

Song Zu could be emotional, could have a 'white moonlight' crush, and even possess a crazy, possessive streak, but he could never be a "puppy-dog" or a sycophant. Even a Mary Sue drama shouldn't insult the audience's intelligence.

The love that fits Zhao Kuangyin’s character could exist, and it could also elevate Ma Fuya’s image as a heartthrob and a "white lotus" even further.

Thus, his eyes were filled with restrained affection. The dialogue that followed wasn't greasy, but rather replaced with normal words of comfort, yet every word revealed a sense of dominance. Translated, it meant: "You can trust me; I can handle this for you."

Ma Fuya, however, only sighed with a smile, neither refusing nor accepting, her attitude toward Zhao Kuangyin seemingly forever that of a sister toward a younger brother.

"Cut!"

Liang Xinquan picked up the megaphone. "Very good, that’s a wrap."

It was indeed shot well, especially Zhang Yang’s acting, which had pleasantly surprised him. Ruby Lin was the big star, but in this scene, his attention had been entirely on Zhang Yang. The eye acting, the micro-expressions during the close-ups, and the emotional resonance of the lines were all excellent. There was no need for a retake; that would only highlight the fact that Ruby Lin was outperformed by Zhang Yang, which would only cause trouble.

Since there were no more scenes for him on this set for now, Zhang Yang was happy to watch the others.

Seeing that no one was around, Nazha asked Zhang Yang, "Brother Yang, is it worth putting so much effort into such a small supporting role?"

Zhang Yang turned to look at her, the corner of his mouth curling up. "Nazha, have you ever seen *The Legend of Jiang Yuyan*?"