When Lin Ziwei said that, Nazha thought she had lost the role.
She hadn't expected Zhang Yang to speak up for her directly.
It would have been a lie to say she wasn't touched.
After all, it was a small supporting role in a major production, and many graduates of acting schools couldn't get an opportunity like this.
Even though she had already landed the third female lead in Xuanyuan Sword, she wouldn't look down on an opportunity like this.
"Your personal assistant?" Lin Ziwei looked Nazha up and down, instinctively resisting the idea.
Nazha was stunningly beautiful, with a striking, almost aggressive kind of beauty. She was the sort of person who took your breath away at first glance, and Lin Ziwei had noticed her the day before.
It would be a waste for a beauty like her to work as someone's personal assistant. Lin Ziwei had considered poaching her and grooming her into a star, but hadn't acted on it yet.
Now that Zhang Yang was trying to get Nazha the role, Lin Ziwei could understand why. Based on her looks alone, she had no objection.
But if someone with a figure and looks clearly better than hers played Zhao Jingniang, would she outshine Lin Ziwei?
"This is a fairly important role. Can your personal assistant handle it?" After a moment's thought, Lin Ziwei raised a reasonable concern.
Everyone could tell she was trying to turn him down tactfully.
Nazha sighed inwardly, thinking she had no chance. But from the corner of her eye, she noticed that Zhang Yang's expression hadn't changed at all. "Sister Ziwei, you don't need to worry. Nazha is my personal assistant in name, but she's actually a signed actress with Tangren. In May, she'll join the cast of our original xianxia drama as the third female lead."
"Oh, and Tang Yan is the female lead in that drama, while Sister Shishi is the second female lead. Nazha's role is similar to Zixuan's in Chinese Paladin 3."
"I'll be playing the second male lead. His role is similar to Xu Changqing's, the character Brother Hua played in Chinese Paladin 3. I'm confident I can do it well."
Everyone gasped.
Zhang Yang's words delighted Liang Xin Quan, Lin Ziwei, and the others.
Chinese Paladin 3 had been a phenomenal hit. Three of its five leads had already become first-tier stars, while the other two were on the verge of joining them and would likely make the jump this year.
Tangren was widely recognized in the industry for its expertise in producing xianxia dramas. The fact that Zhang Yang and Nazha had landed the second male lead and third female lead meant Cai Yinong had faith in them. They had a good chance of becoming popular in the future.
They could safely entrust Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Jingniang to them. They might even get Tangren to buy some promotional articles and raise the drama's profile.
And Nazha was still a complete newcomer, so signing her now wouldn't cost much. She was excellent value for money.
Only Lin Ziwei worried that she might be outshone.
Just then, Zhang Yang spoke again. "Zhao Jingniang is only a small role. Nazha can definitely handle it."
"The story of A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang shows that Zhao Kuangyin is chivalrous and uninterested in women."
"But in our drama, Zhao Kuangyin turns her down because his heart belongs to Ma Fuyua. He has a White Moonlight."
"There are countless beautiful women in the world, but he only loves Sister Yaya."
That made Lin Ziwei feel pretty good.
That was right. In the drama, Zhao Jingniang, played by Nazha, would fall for Zhao Kuangyin and offer herself to him.
But Zhao Kuangyin's heart belonged to Ma Fuyua. Even though he only admired her from afar, he still wouldn't accept Zhao Jingniang.
That showed Zhao Jingniang couldn't compare to Ma Fuyua, while Zhao Kuangyin's feelings highlighted Ma Fuyua's virtues.
Only a woman like Ma Fuyua could be the legend of Dugu!
"So that's how it is." A radiant smile appeared on Lin Ziwei's face. "A'Yang, why didn't you say so sooner? Honestly, I was even thinking of signing Nazha to my studio and grooming her. I had no idea she was with Tangren."
"Then it's settled. I'm comfortable letting Nazha play Zhao Jingniang. Director Lin can choose the other roles himself."
Lin Ziwei had agreed, and the others had no objections to such a minor matter.
"Director Lin will handle the rest of your scenes, too. Just stick with him," Liang Xin Quan told Zhang Yang, noticeably more warmly than before.
Most people in the entertainment industry were shrewd. When someone like Zhang Yang seemed likely to become famous, they were happy to build a relationship with him early, as long as it didn't hurt their own interests.
They might even use the production's money and resources to build their own connections!
Lin Ziwei and Liang Xin Quan chatted with Zhang Yang a little longer before leaving.
Lin Feng called Zhang Yang to his room to discuss the script and action choreography.
"You've trained in martial arts?" Lin Feng was pleasantly surprised.
Before filming officially began, he had wanted to test Zhang Yang's flexibility and ability to pick things up, so he could use them as a reference when designing the fight scenes. He hadn't expected Zhang Yang to show him a whole set of moves.
"I've had some training since childhood. Three or five ordinary people wouldn't be able to get close to me." Zhang Yang didn't hold back.
You had to show what you could do if you wanted better treatment.
"I'll talk to the fight choreographer, then. We'll design a set of sword and spear moves that are challenging but look good." Excited by the prospect, Lin Feng rubbed his hands together.
At last, the action director had a chance to put his skills to use and leave the production with some memorable scenes.
"Whatever works for me." Zhang Yang actually wanted to design them himself.
But there was a difference between real martial arts and fight choreography. He wanted to see what the production's fight choreographer was capable of before deciding.
Afterward, he discussed the script with Lin Feng and didn't leave until it was nearly time for dinner.
"Here's your script. Spend the next few days memorizing your lines." Zhang Yang handed Nazha a few sheets of paper.
The drama was called The Legend of Dugu, and even Zhao Kuangyin was only a supporting character, so Zhao Jingniang's role was even smaller.
Zhao Jingniang had very little screen time. In one scene, she was about to be assaulted by bandits at a Taoist temple when Zhao Kuangyin arrived to rescue her.
In another, after he escorted her all the way home, she confessed her feelings, only for Zhao Kuangyin to reject her sternly. He would then take out a "token" at just the right moment to think of his White Moonlight.
The final scene might not even be filmed. After Zhao Jingniang was taken home, her brother and sister-in-law would falsely accuse her. To prove her innocence and avoid getting married, she would choose to become a nun.
All together, it wouldn't even amount to half an episode. But if she acted well, she could still make a strong impression.
"Brother Yang, should we tell Sister K?" Nazha held the thin sheets of paper, unable to hide her excitement, but she hadn't forgotten what mattered.
"No need. It's just a minor role." Zhang Yang shook his head without hesitation. "If Sister K finds out, she might make things complicated. I negotiated a fee of three thousand as a special-contract extra for you. Keep it as pocket money."
Three thousand?
Nazha's heart gave a sudden leap.
Jiang Jinfu had been paid seventy thousand for the male lead, while her fee for the third female lead was only thirty thousand after taxes.
And now, after following Zhang Yang around for just a few days, she'd earned three thousand!?
A seed was planted deep in Nazha's heart. One day, it would take root.
When Zhang Yang saw her fall silent, a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes.
He left Nazha to study the script and found the accountant in charge, asking him to issue a different invoice.
"If you're not signing a contract, it doesn't meet the requirements. This puts me in a difficult position," the accountant said.
"The fee for this role is between three and five thousand. I only want three." Zhang Yang smiled.
The accountant understood at once and sighed. "Forget it. Signing a contract really would be a hassle. I'll list you as an assistant to the screenwriter and pay you five thousand for three days' work. The production will cover the taxes."
The accountant had someone draw up a simple labor contract for Zhang Yang, listing his total pay for three days as five thousand. Then he transferred three thousand five hundred to Zhang Yang. There was no need to explain where the remaining fifteen hundred went.
"Thanks, bro!" Zhang Yang left with an easy stride.
Over the next few days, the production assistants rearranged the filming schedule as instructed. Zhang Yang had one or two scenes with Lin Ziwei every day.
With the experience and talent of two lifetimes combined, his acting had reached the level of a Best Actor. Nearly every scene he filmed was done in a single take.
After they finished filming the scenes in the original script, Lin Feng brought over a small crew and prepared to shoot the added scenes.
"Get to bed early tonight. Don't mess up tomorrow."
Zhang Yang walked Nazha to her hotel room and reminded her from the doorway.
"I know, I know. I won't let you down." Nazha hurriedly shut the door.
After spending the past few days together, she had somehow grown a little nervous about being alone with Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang returned to his own room. After showering, he began writing the script.
When the time was right, he sent Nazha a message.
He waited a long time without getting a reply. Then he lay down on the bed and silently repeated, I want to enter the dream.
"The Legend of Dugu, Zhao Kuangyin!"
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