My Fortune-Blessed Leading Lady
Chapter 229: Picking Up Bo Yan’s Habits

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Picking Up Bo Yan’s Habits

Bo Yan laughed, "No, it will be very happy."

Lin Zhan, old in years, but not in his perception of people, teased Bo Yan, "It is indeed quite rare to see you express your emotions so directly. It seems the young lady means more than usual to you."

Bo Yan nodded generously, not feeling that admitting it was any loss of face, quite frankly, "I like her, why shouldn’t I express it directly? Hiding and keeping it secret can easily lead to misunderstandings. I care about her, so I don’t want even a little misunderstanding to arise. I can’t stand to see her upset."

Lin Zhan, "If she’s upset, will you cry?"

Bo Yan looked at Director Lin with a smile that was not quite a smile, "My heart cries."

The little old man seemed to have been struck by something, shuddered all over, and hastily waved his hands, "Enough, enough, stop talking to an old man. If this conversation continues, I’m going to be choked by dog food. You’re even laying it on thick for a little old man like me, don’t you have a conscience?"

Bo Yan, "Director Lin, let’s be reasonable, you were the one who asked."

Lin Zhan: "..."

Bo Yan saw the little old man turn around and walk away, and he followed behind him, diligently, while Xie Cheng had been like an invisible person watching the two talk, especially when Bo Yan spoke, the corners of his mouth kept twitching.

Now, seeing Bo Yan following Director Lin away, his expression became even more unbearable. He had been wondering to what extent Bo Yan could be bottomless for Yuran, and now he had a rough idea—Bo Yan, when it comes to Yuran, simply had no bottom line at all.

What need for a bottom line when one is willing to lose face?

The great actor Bo Yan, in just one short month, had squandered all the face he had accumulated over the past twenty-odd years.

It truly was... an eye-opening experience.

On the way here, he had been incessantly urged to drive faster and faster. He gritted his teeth while driving and had to bear someone’s shameless urging.

"Can you even drive?"

"Pull over, I’ll drive myself."

"Can you hire a personal driver for me? One who drives fast?"

"What use are you for?"

"Mu Shang feels like a bicycle under your driving. How do you manage that?"

"Didn’t you see the people walking by, all moving faster than you?"

Just when he was about to explode, he finally drove to the Y International Hotel. The impeccably perfect actor Bo Yan finally closed his tireless, hurtful mouth, and Xie Cheng felt he needed to buy some quick-acting heart pills, lest he die without even realizing it.

Catching up, he only heard Bo Yan making another cheeky suggestion to Director Lin.

"Director Lin, I want to add two hundred million of my own money into this film. Can we adjust the timeline according to Yuran’s schedule? I don’t want shares, nor do I want to participate in any profits, how about that?"

Director Lin, a man who had lived past sixty years, was stunned by his words. He looked at him indifferently, and even paused in his steps, "You’re so selflessly dedicated without seeking acknowledgment, does the girl you like know about this?"

Bo Yan looked puzzled at Director Lin, "If I’m good to her, why must she know? Isn’t that a given?"

Lin Zhan, "Has your brain been eaten by a dog from being in love?"

"Director Lin, personal attacks are not nice. I have money, and it’s my own money to spend, should I still be scolded for it?"

Xie Cheng: "..."

He couldn’t bear to listen anymore.

...

Yuran knew nothing about what was happening over here; unlike the previous audition for Tang Wan, she had not met any competitors. After arriving, she didn’t wait long before being called into the great hall.

Apart from Director Lin Zhan, there were six or seven other interviewers present. She didn’t scrutinize them, her gaze swept past, but she did notice a person in the corner tightly wrapped up, even wearing a mask and a hat. The more she looked, the more familiar the figure seemed.

Yet, considering that this person had just seen her out, she shook her head slightly, dismissing those impractical thoughts.

How could Bo Yan possibly be here, so concealed?

It made no sense.

Lin Zhan watched the young girl step onto the stage, his clear eyes scrutinizing her with a trace of appraisal. Her poise was perfect, her height considerable, and her acting was decent enough when she auditioned for the role of Tang Wan.

He was quite looking forward to seeing what kind of Xie Qingcheng she could turn out to be.

Lin Zhan watched Yuran take her place on the stage and asked with a smile, "You’re Yuran, right?"

Yuran nodded, "Yes, Director Lin."

Lin Zhan, a director renowned both at home and abroad for his versatility, capable of writing, directing, and acting, brimming with talent, who effortlessly moved between commercial and art films, partnered with countless actors who coveted collaboration with him.

This was one of the reasons why Yuran longed to play Xie Qingcheng.

Lin Zhan observed that she wasn’t the least bit nervous, her psychological quality excellent, and he squinted with satisfaction, asking, "Which scene are you preparing to perform?"

"The siege..."

Gazing into Lin Zhan’s eyes, Yuran offered a slight smile, a smile that in the stage lights seemed like a warm ray of light, comforting to the soul. Bo Yan, tightly wrapped, hadn’t expected Yuran to audition with this particular scene.

Xie Qingcheng and Emperor Shun of Tang were childhood sweethearts, yet the Emperor’s heart belonged to another. Even knowing Xie Qingcheng’s devoted heart, he couldn’t muster even a hint of affection for her.

In the seventeenth year of the Great Shun Dynasty, Xie Qingcheng volunteered to lead three thousand cavalry to defend Tongguan. The Great Shun Dynasty was plagued with internal and external troubles. Emperor Shun of Tang, too preoccupied to attend to his own state, fell victim to treachery that intercepted the provisions destined for Tongguan.

In the eighteenth year of the Great Shun Dynasty, after a grueling 380-day defense, Xie Qingcheng, isolated and without aid, watched as Tongguan fell. The barbarian hordes swept southward, killing Xie Qingcheng and hanging her head above the city gate as a warning to the Great Shun Dynasty.

In the nineteenth year of the Great Shun Dynasty, Emperor Shun of Tang personally led his troops, taking Xie Qingcheng’s strategies for governance to their limits, breaching thirty-two cities of the barbarians and driving them to desolate ridges.

In the twentieth year of the Great Shun Dynasty, Emperor Shun of Tang erected the Qingcheng Pavilion to mourn the deceased Xie Qingcheng.

From then on, historical records show that Emperor Shun of Tang ruled for forty years; each day, he ascended the Qingcheng Pavilion, a solitary figure, until his death.

Xie Qingcheng, the only female general of the Great Shun Dynasty, whose strategies for governance enabled the empire to flourish for a hundred years.

The sentiments of Emperor Shun of Tang remained an enigma.

Therefore, the scene of the siege was extremely challenging to enact. The Xie Qingcheng defending the city then clearly understood that Emperor Shun of Tang did not love her, and she went to the defense prepared to die, afterwards composing the governance strategies.

Never straying from her consideration for Emperor Shun of Tang, as history testifies to the heartlessness of emperors.

With what sentiment did she draft those governance strategies?

Before her death, her emotions, the seductive pacing and moments – how should she interpret them without anyone to guide her?

Lin Zhan was extremely interested, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her, "The siege? Are you sure?"

Yuran nodded, "Certain."

Lin Zhan glanced unconsciously toward Bo Yan, tightly covered in the corner, and asked, "Why do you want to perform this part?"

Yuran smiled, a smile filled with supreme confidence, and without realizing it, she even picked up a few of Bo Yan’s habits, one of which was his determination to win, "Because to obtain this role, one must attempt what others cannot, otherwise there’s no personal competitive edge."

Lin Zhan’s interest in the young girl deepened, "You’ve got quite the attitude."

Yuran, "Director Lin, so, may we begin?"