Reborn in the Hong Kong entertainment industry in the 1980s

Charlie disagreed with Hu Xiaoxiao changing roles. He was willing to offer such good resources in exchange, so of course he wanted to maximize the benefits. Playing Fang Jiao'er, partnering with Chang Wanming, and recreating the myth of on-screen couples was the fastest way to launch a rising star.

Hu Xiaoxiao has known Charlie for so many years, she knows best how to persuade him.

“Charlie, do you remember why you were willing to promote me in the first place? It was because Yuna, who was originally slated to be cast, withdrew, and you couldn't find anyone else, so you had to put me in. Do you remember how I advised you back then? I'll advise you the same way today. Charlie, it's better to rely on yourself than to ask others for help. It's better to have your own resources than to rely on others.” Hu Xiaoxiao said very sincerely, “Mingxu is gone, and I will leave the TV station sooner or later. Who will you find to pair with your male lead then? Are you going to ask Sister Linda again? Do you want to lower yourself to Sister Linda?”

Charlie was naturally unwilling. After dealing with Linda for so many years and being her adversary for so long, he was the last person in the entire company who wanted to ask Linda for help. "So, that's why I'm here to ask you for your help."

"But I have my own career plans. I've worked hard to get to where I am today. Put yourself in my shoes, would you be willing to be a supporting character for a newcomer and lower your status? What resources do you have that could attract me and make me willing to play a supporting role?" Hu Xiaoxiao continued:

"You can train another actress who's presentable by then. You signed another Miss Hong Kong this year. With so many people under you, you can choose one to partner with Chang Wanming and create a brand new on-screen couple, a fresh face. Chang Wanming and I are just not a good match. As soon as the audience sees me paired with Chang Wanming, they'll start comparing us. How do you think Chang Wanming can compare to Mingxu? Rather than being inferior and having your judgment criticized, it's better to create a new couple."

Seeing that Charlie's expression was softening, Hu Xiaoxiao suggested, "Guan Yinghua, whom you signed before, is good-looking, hardworking, and has improved her acting skills. It's time to promote her. Otherwise, you'll be wasting another promising talent."

“You make it sound so easy for you to say.” Charlie wasn’t so easily fooled. He said bluntly, “I’m afraid if I promote her again, she’ll become another you, and once she’s grown up, she’ll come back to annoy me.”

Who would have thought that Hu Xiaoxiao used to be the one asking him for roles, but now the tables have turned and it's his turn to beg Hu Xiaoxiao to mentor newcomers.

Alas, fortunes change every thirty years.

Hu Xiaoxiao said confidently, "You're overthinking it. I'm different, completely different from everyone else. Not everyone can become like me. In all your years at the company, have you ever seen anyone as sharp as me? So go ahead and promote me, you can't make anyone as famous as me."

Charlie got angry again. "If I can't make anyone famous, what's the point of me promoting them?"

"If we can't make someone as famous as me, we can make someone moderately famous," Hu Xiaoxiao said.

Charlie was caught between being angry and laughing, so he pointed at Hu Xiaoxiao and said, "I've never seen anyone as overly confident as you."

Hu Xiaoxiao said matter-of-factly, "My confidence is based on my strength. I am much more capable than others, so why can't I be much more confident than them? Besides, the reason you chose me in the first place was because I am confident."

"Alright, alright, I can't argue with you." Charlie glanced at his watch; it was almost time to leave work. Getting back to the point, "I know what I'm doing with promoting new talent, and I have a plan. You don't need to worry about that. You can play Fang Jiao'er for now, and I'll find Guan Yinghua and Chang Wanming to act with you in the next film."

"Why wait for the next drama? Let them work together in this one. I can mentor Guan Yinghua and give her some experience. Charlie, it's not that I don't want to play the female lead, but Chang Wanming and I are really not compatible at all, and we have no chemistry. I feel uncomfortable acting with him."

"Aren't you two getting along really well? The paparazzi have caught you two having private dealings a few times. I just heard that you and Chang Wanming caused a scene at the program department. You're getting along so well, aren't you a good match?" Charlie was obviously unaware of the specific news from the program department.

Hu Xiaoxiao chuckled and said, "Believe it or not, the day I fall on hard times, Chang Wanming will be the first person to come and kick me a couple of times and spit on me."

Charlie was taken aback. He had known Hu Xiaoxiao for so long and had never seen her so resistant to any other actress. In the end, he argued with Hu Xiaoxiao for a long time about the role before finally giving in, but he only agreed to the arrangement in exchange for two more dramas.

Similarly, Hu Xiaoxiao can agree to bring a drama series, but she has to choose the roles herself.

In "A Smile in the Jianghu," Hu Xiaoxiao chose a character named Qu Xiaoman. Qu Xiaoman is the daughter of an elder of the Demonic Sect, with a personality that is both righteous and wicked, capable of both love and hate. In her eyes, there is no such thing as righteousness or evil, only the righteousness or evil of people's hearts.

When Qu Xiaoman was traveling the martial arts world in disguise, she met Wu Siyuan, a member of a prestigious and righteous sect, and they became acquainted through a fight, but eventually fell in love.

After they got married, they had a son named Wu Yuzheng, who is the male lead in "A Laugh in the Jianghu" and the character played by Chang Wanming.

In other words, Hu Xiaoxiao plays Chang Wanming's mother.

After Qu Xiaoman's identity as a member of the Demonic Sect was exposed, Wu Siyuan could not accept that his wife was a member of the Demonic Sect and wanted to sever all ties with her. Qu Xiaoman believed that she had never done anything to betray the righteous sects and had a clear conscience. Seeing that her husband was stubborn and unyielding, she angrily took the young Wu Yuzheng back to the Demonic Sect.

The Demonic Sect was embroiled in endless internal strife, during which Qu Xiaoman was murdered. Before her death, she instructed her trusted confidant to send Wu Yuzheng to be raised by Wu Siyuan, who had become the sect leader. However, the confidant was hunted down and died tragically. From then on, the young Wu Yuzheng wandered the martial world alone, experiencing various hardships as he grew up, and learned martial arts skills from extraordinary figures in the martial world.

Hu Xiaoxiao really likes Qu Xiaoman's bold and decisive personality. She loves without hesitation and leaves decisively when she doesn't love, never being indecisive. Her personality is also swift and efficient, never dragging things out. It will be very enjoyable to act in her role.

Of course, Qu Xiaoman's role wouldn't be in many episodes. To show sincerity and to make Charlie feel that the resources were worthwhile, Hu Xiaoxiao agreed to help Charlie train the actors, especially the female actors. She had produced two very successful Mu Guiying productions, and Charlie was very envious of her production experience. Therefore, Charlie asked Hu Xiaoxiao to participate in the production as well.

Hu Xiaoxiao agreed. It's not right to let her get all the benefits. Besides, she's only involved in the production and doing some giving instructions, unlike "Mu Guiying Takes Command," where she did everything herself and worked so hard.

The production team for "A Smile in the Jianghu" is all set, and filming will begin immediately after the roles are selected.

Charlie, following Hu Xiaoxiao's advice, cast Guan Yinghua as the female lead, Fang Jiao'er. However, the role was slightly modified, with some action scenes added for Fang Jiao'er.