Are You Really Not Dating?

Why did Zhang Yang urge Liu Shishi to play the second female lead?

First, it definitely wasn't because he wanted to take advantage of their characters' relationship while filming to do anything.

He was simply considering how close they were and wanted to give Liu Shishi a hand.

After Xuan Yuan Sword: Scar of Heaven aired, the second female lead's character setup and performance would draw more fans than the female lead's, while the female lead also had plenty of cringe-worthy flaws.

Second, Zhang Yang could give Liu Shishi a cheat code.

[Successfully helped Liu Shishi out of an awkward situation. Gained Liu Shishi's favor through the method of completion. Opportunity achieved. Received Opportunity Points x2!]

[Opportunity Points: After use, you can experience a character's entire life in a dream. There is a certain chance of bringing the actor playing the character's most important person into the dream, depending on the closeness of the relationship between both parties (as determined by the compatibility of their biological magnetic fields).]

[After the dream experience ends, depending on compatibility with the character, you can inherit some of the character's talents and abilities (these will be weakened due to differing world rules).]

Put simply, by completing Opportunities, Zhang Yang could not only gain the friendship—or leverage—of people in the entertainment industry, but also earn Opportunity Points. Those points would allow him to experience a character's entire life in a dream.

Depending on compatibility, he could inherit a certain percentage of the character's abilities. Perhaps that would give him extraordinary means?

That was why he suggested Liu Shishi play the second female lead. Given their relationship, there was a strong chance Liu Shishi would enter the dream with him.

Liu Shishi belonged to the Experiential School of acting. Entering the dream even once would be like activating a cheat code—she would become that character.

If it were Tang Yan instead, Zhang Yang felt it would be almost impossible to bring her into the dream.

But he could not tell Liu Shishi any of those reasons.

"You want to act opposite me, so I have to agree?"

Zhang Yang's gaze made Liu Shishi's heart skip a beat. She turned her head as if nothing had happened and said, "That's the difference between the second female lead and the female lead."

Hearing that, Zhang Yang said nothing more.

Too much was as bad as too little!

Besides, they had reached Cai Yinong's office.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Zhang Yang raised a hand and knocked.

"Come in," Cai Yinong's voice came from inside.

Zhang Yang opened the door and walked in, with Liu Shishi following behind him.

"Good afternoon, Sister K," Zhang Yang greeted her first.

He was no longer the impulsive fool he had been a few years ago.

Since he still had to make a living at Tangren for another three years and use Tangren as a stepping stone to become at least a second-tier, if not first-tier, star, there was nothing wrong with humoring his boss a little.

A true man knew when to bend and when to stand tall.

"I'm not doing well at all." Cai Yinong pretended to be displeased—though perhaps she truly was—and said, "Not one of the artists under me gives me any peace of mind."

"Sister K, are you talking about Old Hu, Brother Yuan Hong, or Lin Gou? It can't possibly be Jiang Jinfu, who was just signed." Zhang Yang looked indignant. "Just say the word, and I'll give them a good scolding for you."

Cai Yinong: "..."

They had not seen each other for only a few months. Why did Zhang Yang seem so much more shameless now?

Once a man lost his integrity, success might well follow.

"Stop being glib." Cai Yinong's expression turned serious. "I'll put the ugly words upfront. This is compensation for not giving you the role of Xu Changqing back then. If you still want to get roles from the company in the future, you'll need to renew your contract in advance."

"Of course, you can choose to take roles outside on your own, but the company will only provide assistance within the terms of your contract."

"I hope you'll think carefully about your choice during filming."

Zhang Yang's smile did not change as he said, "I'll definitely think it over carefully and seize the opportunity."

Tangren would soon self-destruct because of Love in the Wind. He had no interest whatsoever in that drama insulting a national hero, so it would be best if they did not cast him in it.

"Here's the role contract. Sign it." Cai Yinong did not say much more and handed the contract to Zhang Yang.

He picked it up and looked it over. He mainly checked the pay, breach-of-contract terms, and obligations he would have to fulfill.

Artists' pay had not yet skyrocketed, but it had begun to rise, and salaries were increasingly calculated per episode. After Palace aired, Da Mimi's publicly quoted rate was 400,000 per episode.

Zhang Yang could not compare to Da Mimi, and he was also Tangren's own artist. His pay was only 20,000 per episode. For thirty-six episodes, that came to 720,000. After splitting it sixty-forty with Tangren, he would not even get 500,000, and he still had to pay taxes.

But when he thought about Jiang Jinfu, the male lead, earning only 2,000 per episode for this drama, Zhang Yang felt much better.

Even if he argued with Cai Yinong now, he would only gain a few tens of thousands more, and it might even lead to complications.

As long as he was not losing out too badly, performing the role well and becoming famous as soon as possible were what mattered most right now.

"No problem. I'll sign."

After confirming there were no issues with the contract, Zhang Yang decisively signed his name.

Cai Yinong:?

She had not expected Zhang Yang to be so straightforward, and she regarded him in a new light.

"Shi Shi, you'll sign too?" Cai Yinong looked at Liu Shishi.

She truly did not understand what her own Top Sister was thinking.

"No problem." Liu Shishi nodded slightly. "Sister K, I've made up my mind. I'll sign on to play Dugu Ningke."

Playing the second female lead was not a spur-of-the-moment decision for Liu Shishi; it was something she had been conflicted over all along.

Cai Yinong had hoped she would play the female lead, but she also approved of her decision to play the second female lead. In Tangren's version of Xuan Yuan Sword: Scar of Heaven, the second male and female leads had no less screen time than the male and female leads.

And with the boost from The Three Daughters of the Xia Family, Tang Yan was currently more popular than Liu Shishi and better able to carry a show.

"Have you made up your mind?" Cai Yinong confirmed.

"I have." Liu Shishi reached out and took the pen Zhang Yang handed her.

"You're all getting more and more willful," Cai Yinong remarked, but she still pushed the contracts over.

She and her agent had already reviewed the contract terms. Other than the role she would be playing, all her other benefits were the same.

Status was the main factor determining pay. Jiang Jinfu, as the male lead, receiving less than a hundred thousand in total remuneration was proof enough.

"Swish—"

Liu Shishi gave it another cursory read, then signed her name.

Cai Yinong put away both copies of the contract and looked at Zhang Yang again. "I'll put in a word with the Shanghai Theatre Academy leadership and make sure you can get leave."

"The production team has already begun preparations. Filming will officially start sometime in May, and we'll notify you then. Spend this time getting familiar with the script. Don't embarrass yourself in front of your junior brother."

Embarrass himself in front of Jiang Jinfu? No way!

"Thank you for your concern, Sister K. I'll definitely set a good example," Zhang Yang replied smoothly.

His obedient manner left Cai Yinong with all the words she wanted to say stuck in her stomach.

"Go on, both of you. Get going." Cai Yinong waved them away impatiently.

Zhang Yang and Liu Shishi left together.

When they reached Hu Ge's private lounge, Zhang Yang suddenly said to Liu Shishi in a proper, formal tone, "Princess Dugu, please guide me well from now on."

Liu Shishi paused slightly, then broke into a smile. "A'Yang, I thought you would call me Ning Ke."

Zhang Yang blinked, then smiled as well. "Our relationship isn't at that level yet. Otherwise, I'd definitely make the same domineering declaration written in the script."

"What declaration?" Liu Shishi's beautiful eyes shifted.

Since she had not yet decided which role to play, she was not that familiar with the script's lines.

Zhang Yang's demeanor changed. He fixed his eyes on Liu Shishi and spoke with anger in his voice. "The two Great Immortals refuse to meet me, yet you hurt my Ning Ke here. Don't you think that's going too far?"

Liu Shishi's heart gave another violent leap.

This kid's command of dialogue was incredible.

Just as she was about to speak, the lounge door beside them suddenly opened a crack, revealing half of Hu Ge's face. "You two really aren't dating?"