Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

"Su Wan, your understanding of 'A Yao' is even deeper than I imagined! You not only see the character's 'outward appearance', but also dig deep into her 'inner being'. That's truly rare! When Lin Weiwei discussed her role with me yesterday, she only said, 'I'll do my best to play it well.' When I asked her how she would specifically act, she was speechless. Compared to you, she's so far behind!" Su Wan smiled faintly and said a little embarrassedly, "Director Zhang, you're too kind. I just did my job. As an actor, understanding the character is the most basic requirement." Just then, the door to the lounge banged open, and Mr. Wang, the representative of the investor, walked in. Mr. Wang was in his fifties, dressed in a designer suit, with a slightly protruding belly and a hint of impatience on his face. When he saw Su Wan, his face darkened and he said to Director Zhang in a stiff tone: "Director Zhang, why are you still talking to her? Didn't I tell you? The second female lead has been decided on Lin Weiwei, and you are not allowed to change her! If you contact Su Wan again, the investment we agreed on before will be invalid!" Director Zhang stood up, the gentleness on his face disappeared, replaced by determination. He looked at President Wang and said in a serious tone, "President Wang, I know you have decided on Lin Weiwei, but Su Wan's understanding of the role and acting skills are much better than Lin Weiwei. This movie is my hard work, and I can't let an unsuitable actor ruin it! The audience is not stupid. If the movie only has popularity but no acting skills, it will only be scolded after its release. Not only will the reputation be bad, but the box office will not be high, which is not good for both of us!" "What do you mean by this?" President Wang sneered, put his hands on his hips, and said arrogantly, "What's wrong with Lin Weiwei? She is so popular now, and her Weibo fans are almost over 100 million. With her around, we don't have to worry about the promotion of the movie! How many brands want her to be their spokesperson, and how many crews want her to act, and you actually say she is not suitable? Although Su Wan is capable, she is not as popular as Lin Weiwei, and her box office appeal is far worse! If you insist on replacing her, then we investors can only withdraw our investment!" The word "withdrawal of investment" exploded in the lounge like a bomb. Director Zhang's face paled instantly. He knew that Xingyao Media had financed the film in large part. If they pulled their funding, filming would have to be halted, and his three years of hard work would be wasted. He looked at Su Wan, his eyes filled with resignation, as if to say, "I really have no other choice." Su Wan stood up and approached President Wang. Unlike Director Zhang, she wasn't as excited. Instead, she spoke calmly yet firmly, "President Wang, I know you prioritize box office and popularity, but acting and popularity aren't mutually exclusive. While I may not be as popular as Lin Weiwei, I can impress audiences with my acting and build a positive reputation for the film. You should know that a film's success depends on reputation and quality, not simply popularity—good reputations will naturally attract audiences to theaters, and box office returns will be strong. And I can assure you, I won't ask for a salary. I simply hope to get the role. This way, you can save on production costs, and the film's quality will be guaranteed. It's a win-win for both of us." President Wang was stunned, clearly not expecting Su Wan to refuse a salary. He had originally thought that Su Wan would, like other actors, cry and beg him for a chance, or offer a high price for a role, but he hadn't expected her to voluntarily forgo her salary. He looked at Su Wan, then at Director Zhang, and began to waver. He reasoned: If Su Wan didn't ask for a salary, they could save nearly 10 million in production costs, money that could be used for post-production special effects; and Director Zhang's insistence proved that Su Wan was indeed talented; if the film's reputation really suffered due to the casting change, not only would he lose face, but Xingyao Media's reputation would also be affected. "Are you serious? No salary?" Mr. Wang stared at Su Wan, his tone tinged with suspicion. "It's true," Su Wan nodded, her eyes determined. "I just want to play the role of 'A Yao' well. I don't care about anything else. The pay isn't as important to me as a good role." Mr. Wang was silent for a few seconds, then glanced at the character notes in his hand. Finally, he relented. "Okay! I can agree to let you play the second female lead, but there's one condition—you must cooperate with all the crew's promotional activities, including participating in press conferences, variety shows, and roadshows. You can't refuse. Also, if the box office doesn't meet expectations, you can't blame us, the investors." "No problem! I'll definitely cooperate!" Su Wan nodded quickly, a long-lost smile on her face. "Thank you, Mr. Wang! Thank you for giving me this opportunity!" Director Zhang also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile on his face. "Great! Su Wan, the role is finally yours! I knew you could convince Mr. Wang!" Outside the lounge door, Lin Weiwei was eavesdropping through the crack in the door. She heard every conversation clearly, especially when she heard Mr. Wang arrive at the filming location for "Dust in Fireworks." The filming base is located in a film and television city in the suburbs. A promotional poster for the movie is hung at the door. In the poster, Gu Yan is wearing a dark windbreaker with a melancholy look in his eyes. Next to him, there is a vacant position for the second female lead. It is obvious that the candidate has not been determined yet. Su Wan followed the assistant into the filming base. Just as she walked around a studio, she saw Lin Weiwei in costume, talking to Director Zhang. Lin Weiwei was wearing the costume of "A Yao" - a light blue cotton dress with small white flowers sewn on the hem. It should have looked pure and lively, but when worn by Lin Weiwei, it always felt less "broken" and more deliberately sweet. Lin Weiwei also saw Su Wan, and her face turned ugly in an instant, as if someone had poured cold water on her, but she quickly forced a smile and walked over with her skirt lifted. She deliberately slowed her pace, letting her skirt sweep the ground. With a touch of boastfulness, she said, "Hey, isn't that Sister Su Wan? Why are you here with us? Are you here to visit us? Or... did you hear I played 'A Yao' and come to learn from me?" Su Wan didn't bother to play along. She simply nodded calmly, saying, "Yes, I'm here to see Director Zhang and Teacher Gu." Lin Weiwei was about to say something else, like, "Don't be sad that you didn't get the role, Sister Su Wan," or "I'll do my best," but Director Zhang approached. Director Zhang, in his fifties, had some graying hair and wore black-framed glasses, looking gentle and refined. His eyes lit up at the sight of Su Wan, and he quickly said gently, "Su Wan, you're here! Gu Yan told me yesterday you'd be coming today. Come on, let's go to the break room and chat. I'd love to hear your good morning too! Brother Gu specifically told me to drive slowly on the way so as not to delay your meeting with Director Zhang." "Thank you for your help," Su Wan said with a smile, thanking him and getting into the car. The car was driving smoothly on the road. After about an hour,