Reborn in the Hong Kong entertainment industry in the 1980s

Having received Charlie's approval, Hu Xiaoxiao didn't wait for the show to start. Instead, she took the initiative again and approached screenwriter Yao Wenlong to discuss the new series.

Yao Wenlong was utterly astonished when he learned that Hu Xiaoxiao had been accepted to direct a major female-lead drama. Under Charlie's management, Hu Xiaoxiao was the first person to be able to independently direct a major female-lead drama.

Everyone in the company knows that Charlie is the leading man and Linda is the leading woman; they each have their strengths, compete with each other, yet remain distinct. Meanwhile, most of the best male actors are under Charlie's supervision, while most of the best female actors are under Linda's.

Hu Xiaoxiao actually broke this harmony.

Yao Wenlong was filled with admiration, and he was even more moved when he learned that Hu Xiaoxiao had recommended him to Charlie as the head screenwriter.

Yao Wenlong pushed up his glasses, then pushed them up again, took a deep breath, and said, "I'll try my best."

He has never written a drama with a strong female lead, but he is willing to take on the challenge.

A scholar dies for a confidant.

Hu Xiaoxiao offered some suggestions: "Most martial arts dramas focus on personal grudges. I hope the new drama will add some new elements. We can't wait until the audience gets tired of it before making changes; we have to make changes before the audience gets tired of it. Only in this way can we retain the audience."

Yao Wenlong was surprised by Hu Xiaoxiao's forward-thinking words. He listened attentively and nodded in agreement. "We can add elements of family and country to make the narrative more grand and the characters more charismatic."

“National and familial elements? That’s a good idea!” Hu Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly.

The fighting and killing, for life and death, are no longer just about love and personal grudges, but for the country and the people, which makes the audience feel more connected.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Aaron," Hu Xiaoxiao said. "After the script is finished, I'll treat you to chicken. Do you prefer poached chicken or roast goose? I know a restaurant that makes really good poached chicken and a restaurant that makes really good roast goose."

"I like them all." Yao Wenlong touched his pounding heart, suppressing his excitement, and said, "Let me finish writing the script first. I'm not going to talk to you anymore. I'm going to find some materials now."

A new drama with added elements is sure to be a huge hit again. If the script he wrote can become a hit, then he will truly gain widespread recognition.

Perhaps, he could also become a renowned top screenwriter in the industry!

Yao Wenlong's ambition was ignited, and upon returning to his seat, he immediately began flipping through books.

Not only did he spend his workday flipping through books and searching for materials, he also decided to stay up all night reading history and martial arts novels, creating a script specifically for Hu Xiaoxiao that was most suitable for her.

This is to repay Hu Xiaoxiao's kindness in recognizing his talent, and also for his grand ideal of becoming a top screenwriter.

After talking with Yao Wenlong, Hu Xiaoxiao left in the elevator, just as Linda was also in the elevator.

"Linda, it's been a long time." Hu Xiaoxiao greeted Linda with a warm smile as she stepped into the elevator.

"Long time no see." Linda nodded, looking Hu Xiaoxiao up and down.

Hu Xiaoxiao noticed that Linda's gaze was different from usual. She met Linda's scrutinizing gaze, her enthusiasm unchanged, and asked, "Sister Linda, is there something you want to say to me?"

Linda hadn't originally intended to say it, but since Hu Xiaoxiao had brought it up so bluntly, and since she quite liked straightforward people, she said, "I heard Charlie specially commissioned a drama with a strong female lead just for you?"

"Yes, Linda knows about this too?"

"Such a big thing, almost everyone in the company knows about it." Linda looked at Hu Xiaoxiao with a hint of admiration. "You're amazing. You managed to get the resources for a leading role from Charlie, that idiot. You managed to change his opinion of you. You did something that many people couldn't do."

Charlie has signed quite a few female artists, many of whom are both beautiful and talented, but so far only Hu Xiaoxiao has convinced him to give her a leading role.

Everything else became decorative objects in Charlie's play.

“Because I’m capable, I’m worth Charlie’s investment.” Hu Xiaoxiao didn’t miss any opportunity to secure resources for herself. She said to Linda, “If you have a suitable drama for me but can’t find the right person to act in it, you can let me try. I’m worth investing in. You can consider it, Linda.”

"You're quite adept at taking advantage of others. Too bad, you're Charlie's man. You'd better not let Charlie hear you say that." The elevator doors opened, and Linda stepped out.

Hu Xiaoxiao is starting a new drama, and Mingxu, her partner, quickly finds out. He gives up his vacation and comes to find Hu Xiaoxiao, asking to join the cast as well.

Hu Xiaoxiao asked in surprise, "Didn't you say that you filmed two dramas in a row and your back couldn't take it anymore, that you were overworked and needed to rest for a year? Why are you joining another production?"

Mingxu chewed on his homemade beef jerky, and also brought a bag for Hu Xiaoxiao, saying, "You've always been my supporting character, but now you're going to be the female lead in your own drama. We're friends, so how about I play your supporting role this time?"

"Are you willing to play a supporting role?"

"Why not? Supporting roles have fewer scenes and less work, which suits me perfectly."

Aren't you afraid of lowering your status?

Mingxu laughed and said, "We are a recognized on-screen couple. The audience might even enjoy watching us as partners. How can it be considered lowering your status? You and I are on the same level."

Mingxu's words pleased Hu Xiaoxiao. "Okay, I'll talk to Aaron and have you added."

“I’ll go and talk to him. I’ll ask him to give me less action scenes. Ideally, the role should be a weak scholar who can’t even kill a chicken. He’ll just recite his lines and won’t have to run around or fly around.”

God knows how tired he's been of being suspended by wires these past few years. I really hope he'll film a scene someday where he plays a scholar, gentle and frail, walking slowly, preferably taking three steps and then resting.

I can't imagine how much fun he must have had acting in such a scene.

Mingxu went to the scriptwriting department to talk to Yao Wenlong about the role.

The news quickly reached Charlie's ears. Charlie called Mingxu over, frowned as he looked at him, and said, "You're going to play a supporting role? You just won Best Actor last year, and I've signed you up again this year. You're very likely to win again. How can you play a supporting role?"

Charlie had always wanted to make Mingxu the top male anchor at the TV station, which would be a very rewarding achievement for him. It would also be his most dazzling accomplishment.

“Charlie, that’s not how it works.” Mingxu knew how to persuade Charlie. “It’s Xiaoxiao’s first time leading a drama series, so there are bound to be some risks. With me joining, and with the golden brand of our on-screen couple, the company can reduce investment risks. Don’t you want to make another hit drama? Don’t you want to deliver another outstanding performance to the board of directors next year? Don’t you want a raise?”

Charlie found the idea reasonable, thought it over carefully, nodded in agreement, and added, "You must remember to lose weight, or you'll get fat again."

Mingxu covered his ears and ran away, pretending not to hear. He suddenly had an idea: he wanted Yao Wenlong to write his character as a fat man, a puffy fat man who lay around all day, preferably someone who loved to eat and was always lying down eating in every scene.