Chapter 225 – Papa’s Name
“Yang Yi, come here quickly, there’s news about you!”
Yang Yi was packing the clothes, hats, cosmetics, and other miscellaneous items that Mo Fei brought into the suitcase in the bedroom. Mo Fei, who was watching TV in the living room, suddenly started shouting and screaming.
Last time, Niu Meiling requested Mo Fei to renew her contract, but Mo Fei, who sought Yang Yi’s advice, resisted the other party’s sweet words. Instead, she sent Mo Xiaojuan to negotiate with the company.
Mo Fei really couldn’t play tricks with others, but Mo Xiaojuan was self-taught, and perfected the technique of Tai Chi Push Hands.1Tai Chi Push Hands here is being used metaphorically. In the martial art of Tai Chi, “推手” (tuī shǒu) refers to a technique where practitioners use a series of gentle, flowing movements to deflect and redirect their opponent’s force, rather than directly opposing it.
Similarly, in social situations, some people are very adept at deflecting others’ forceful personalities or agendas, and redirecting the conversation or situation in a way that benefits them. This metaphor will be used again later in the chapter.
The bottom line was to delay.2Their objective was to delay.
No matter what the reason was, just delay and don’t renew too early.
Niu Meiling was furious, but there was nothing she could do about Mo Xiaojuan. She couldn’t help but find an opportunity to bypass her and persuade Mo Fei. However, at this moment, Mo Fei was also arranged by Mo Xiaojuan, who had noticed it in advance, to take a sick leave and go home. All communication devices were temporarily taken over by Mo Xiaojuan.
Now, the “sick” Mo Fei was lively watching TV in the living room. She has hidden on Yang Yi’s side and planned to stay temporarily for a few days.
Of course, Mo Fei herself didn’t want to see such a situation happen.
She wanted to record her songs well, and she has been hoping to release this album that held so much hope earlier. However, the process has been delayed due to the turmoil, which naturally made her feel uncomfortable!
Fortunately, she knew that both Yang Yi and Mo Xiaojuan3TN: I think there was a typo here in the raw, it says Mo Fei instead of Mo Xiaojuan. were doing it for her own good, and did not act stubbornly and foolishly at this time. And on Yang Yi’s side, Mo Fei was happily chatting with the little girl who hadn’t seen her mother in a long time, and her mood gradually improved.
“What news? How could I be in the news?” Yang Yi walked out of the bedroom, feeling a bit confused.
He was such a low-key person, how could he be in the news?
“Papa, come sit here with me!” Xixi snuggled up to her mother to watch TV. Seeing her father come out, she happily patted the spot next to her. She really liked the feeling of being sandwiched between her parents, which made her feel very secure!
When Yang Yi sat down, Mo Fei pointed to the TV and smiled, “Director Chen is coming to Jiangnan to shoot a TV drama, ‘Soldiers Assault.’ Isn’t that your book?”
On TV, Chen Fengchen and several others were talking confidently on stage in front of a group of reporters. However, the background behind them was actually from another costume drama.
Mo Fei said with some regret, “You came too late. Just now, when Director Chen was answering a question from a reporter, he mentioned you and your book, saying that he will be preparing for a new production team in Jiangnan next month.”
“I also heard Papa’s name,” Xixi raised her small hand and testified for her mother.
Yang Yi smiled and rubbed Xixi’s small head, and said to Mo Fei, “It’s okay. The copyright has been sold, and the rest is up to Director Chen. I don’t have the right to interfere, I can only hope that Director Chen lives up to his reputation and can shoot it well.”
When it comes to his work being adapted into a film or TV series, Yang Yi didn’t ignore it like before. He still hoped that the adapted TV drama can be made into the level of the original in his previous life, and not ruin the classic.
But there was no way, Chen Fengchen, this director, has always been dominant and didn’t allow anyone to interfere with his TV dramas, even the original author like Yang Yi had no say. All the adaptations and shooting were handled by him or someone he trusted.
If it weren’t for his past works being really good, Yang Yi really wouldn’t want to hand over these two works to Chen Fengchen.
Now, Yang Yi was also studying script writing on his own. He was thinking that if he ever sold the film and television rights to his novel again in the future, he would just sell the finished script.
If it was shoot according to his script, at least it wouldn’t deviate too much from the original plot, right?
But Yang Yi has never read a single film or TV drama script. He didn’t know that he would cross over to another world, so what’s the point of reading a script? Therefore, it was quite difficult for him to learn to write scripts from scratch.
At this moment, a reporter on TV asked Chen Fengchen, “Director Chen, may I ask if the leading actors of “Soldiers Assault” have been determined? We are curious about who will play the role of Xu Sanduo and Cheng Cai?”
It wasn’t just a best-selling book that had already gained popularity among all reporters. Now, the reason why reporters could easily mention the names “Xu Sanduo” and “Cheng Cai” was mainly because Chen Fengchen has long been rumored to be selecting people for the new drama, and the ubiquitous4 Present, appearing, or found everywhere.reporters have naturally did their homework.
“‘Soldiers Assault’ is a very excellent story. It not only tells the growth process of an ordinary soldier from a rural background, but also shapes many vivid characters. So, I don’t think that in this drama that I am directing, there are only Xu Sanduo and Cheng Cai as the main actors. Other characters such as Captain Yuan Lang, Sergeant Shi Jin, Wu Liuyi, Gao Cheng, and so on, can be said to be also the main characters of this drama, and even the main actors!”
Chen Fengchen’s Tai Chi Push Hands was also good, perfectly resolving the question thrown by reporters eager to know which actors he would collaborate with in his new drama.
Now was not the time to publicly disclose this information, and this experienced director naturally knew the benefits of teasing the public’s curiosity just enough.
However, the reporters still refused to let him go. A reporter who was called on immediately followed up with a question, “Director Chen, we all know that you are famous for cultivating new actors. So, for this upcoming drama “Soldier Assault”, will you also be selecting actors from some third or fourth-tier stars or even non-professional actors?”
“Who said that? I also like to cultivate actors who have already become famous! Look, isn’t Xie Yuchen sitting next to me?” Chen Fengchen pointed to the male actor who came with him to the wrap-up press conference.
Xie Yuchen could be considered a quasi A-list actor, but he still felt a little nervous sitting next to the old man and could only laugh it off when teased.
“Alright, this is the wrap-up event for “The Great Chu Palace”. Please ask more related questions. Regarding the situation of “Soldier Assault”, let me say one more thing. I won’t answer any more questions about it!”
“At present, the candidate for Xu Sanduo has not been determined yet. I have had many actors audition these days, but the result did not satisfy me. So, I cannot rule out the possibility of selecting new actors. If anyone wants to try out for this role, you can send a video of your audition to Assistant Ruan’s email…”
Chen Fengchen’s words immediately caused a stir among the reporters, and they all wanted to ask, “Is this an open audition for the lead role? Does Director Chen have any specific requirements? Why don’t other actors fit the role?”
However, Chen Fengchen did what he said, he just sat there with a smile and remained silent.
After a brief commotion, the reporters had no choice but to switch to other questions.
“Director Chen is pretty good. He wants to choose the best actors for your book.” Now that the news interview was no longer about Yang Yi’s book, Mo Fei smiled and said to Yang Yi.
“Well, it’s not easy to find someone to play Xu Sanduo. I don’t think any actor without any rural experience can pull it off. I would rather agree with Director Chen using new actors. Many of the young people who play minor roles nowadays come from rural areas,” Yang Yi nodded.
“You’re not listening to me!” Xixi was unhappy. She was sitting in the middle and felt like her presence was very low.
“What did you say, Xixi?” Mo Fei quickly answered.
“I said they’re not saying Yang Yi anymore!”5Xixi was just waiting for anyone in the TV to say “Yang Yi”. She wasn’t really interested in what they are talking about in the TV. Xixi pouted her small mouth and said, “I can’t hear Papa’s name.”
Yang Yi and Mo Fei were taken aback, and couldn’t help but laugh.
This little girl was really listening attentively!
TN: If you like my translations support me in ko-fi: Here.
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