Page 17

After leaving Ye Group and starting anew as an actor to lay out his future career, Ye Mingzhao made this small strategic adjustment after learning of Chu Hengyi's rebirth and revenge plan, weighing the pros and cons.

This move was crucial. But that did not mean Ye Mingzhao was willing to waste his energy on trivial matters. That was why he had proactively proposed holding a design competition in the name of the production crew, then subtly shown off his skills during the competition. It allowed him to carry out his plans while letting most people recognize his capability and potential, avoiding many unnecessary conflicts and arguments.

Sure enough, any artist who had made it to a certain level in the entertainment industry was smart, or at least had a smart team operating behind them.

No one would make an enemy without cause, especially when tangible benefits were at stake. That was why Ye Mingzhao had never understood those so-called face-slapping scenes in idol dramas. In his view, aside from stirring up trouble and making enemies everywhere, they were not satisfying at all.

It was better to flex a little from the outset. Smart people would naturally weigh the pros and cons. As for idiots... they were not worth worrying about.

"Mingzhao, over here!"

At the bustling opening ceremony, Yu Mingze stood in the front row, looking around before waving toward Ye Mingzhao. He forcibly pressed him into the center position.

"When we offer incense later, you'll offer the first stick." Yu Mingze instructed him eagerly.

The opening ceremony was somewhat complicated. They had to choose an auspicious day and favorable time, worship at the incense table, pay respects to Guan Yu, and offer the three sacrificial animals. The main creative team stood facing north and south, offering incense in turn. Finally, the director personally stepped forward and removed the red cloth covering the camera.

In an instant, thunderous applause erupted, and the opening press conference for Beggar Prince officially began.

All the main creators were invited to the prepared venue. It was a massive temporary stage, with a wall-sized Beggar Prince poster behind it and a row of long tables covered in red tablecloths in front. When Ye Mingzhao took his seat according to the name cards, the crew members were standing before them, testing the microphones.

To his left sat Yu Mingze, the screenwriter and producer. With filming about to begin, the great screenwriter was still hopelessly engrossed in revising the script. Holding the newest version, he leaned close to Ye Mingzhao and whispered, "I changed another setting. What do you think about giving the second male villain the cheat ability of hyperthymesia?"

Otherwise, there was no way to explain how a poor college student from society's bottom rung could successfully replace the male lead, Gu Mingchao, within just a few years without being discovered by his colleagues or family.

Unless he possessed the cheat ability to remember everything at a glance, as well as formidable rapid-learning abilities.

—Hyperthymesia was exactly that sort of badass, trendy cheat ability.

Besides, Ye Mingzhao was playing the second male lead anyway. No matter how formidable Yu Mingze made the villain, there was no chance the villain would become so powerful that he overturned the protagonist's table. Since that was the case, Yu Mingze naturally wanted to go all out.

Yu Mingze vaguely felt that these two characters were probably the pinnacle of intelligence he could ever create. So he wanted to do everything in his power to complete his work.

What thrilled Yu Mingze even more was that this change had also drawn on Ye Mingzhao's own personality traits. Ye Mingzhao himself had hyperthymesia, though not many people knew about it.

"I heard people with hyperthymesia can remember every single thing that happens in their lives." Yu Mingze suddenly had a thought. "Can you remember everything that's happened since you were born?"

As he said this, Yu Mingze gave a startled shudder.

Probably not, right? If he could remember, wouldn't Ye Mingzhao also remember what the parents who abandoned him looked like?

Yu Mingze's question received no answer from Ye Mingzhao. The microphone being tested let out a piercing screech, neatly interrupting their conversation.

The host standing at the center of the stage enthusiastically announced that the press question-and-answer session for Beggar Prince had officially begun.

The media reporters, who had long been poised and ready, raised their hands to ask questions. Following the order, the host first called on several media outlets that had been arranged beforehand. Their questions were all conventional and proper, mainly intended to warm up the atmosphere.

To Ye Mingzhao's right sat Luo Lingling, who played the female lead. Watching the reporters below who were eager to make a move, Luo Lingling leaned toward Ye Mingzhao and kindly advised, "You're the male lead of this drama, and you're also a newcomer who has never acted before. The reporters will definitely ask you some tricky questions later. Like whether you feel pressured taking on such an important and challenging role for your first acting job, especially when you're playing two roles by yourself. Or whether it's because you have such a good relationship with the producer..."

Luo Lingling's name came from the ancient poem, "Upon the clear seven strings, I quietly hear the cold wind through the pines." Her voice matched her name—crisp and pleasant, ethereal and melodious. Paired with her sweet appearance and pure temperament, she had a tender, lingering air as she spoke gently and intimately.

This scene was successfully captured by the reporters present as well. For a time, camera flashes flickered constantly and shutters clicked away. Sure enough, during the free-question session, a reporter could not wait to direct a question at Ye Mingzhao.

Ye Mingzhao remained calm and composed, delivering steady answers according to the interview script the production crew had prepared in advance.

Until someone abruptly asked, "Screenwriter Yu Mingze of Beggar Prince has openly stated that he used you as the prototype for the male lead when creating this drama. Yet during the audition, you were more inclined to play the second male villain. What was your motivation for wanting to play a villain? Was it because your personal experiences resonated more with the villain's experiences?"

The reporter's question made everyone present change expression. The once somewhat noisy press conference gradually fell silent. Everyone's gaze instinctively gathered on Ye Mingzhao's face.

Ye Mingzhao's status as the Ye family's adopted son was no secret, and the news that the Ye family had found their biological son not long ago was known to everyone.

After the Ye family's true third young master returned to the wealthy family, outsiders naturally had no idea how Ye Mingzhao, the adopted son, would handle his position. But it was inevitably a topic people discussed with relish in their spare time. The news that Ye Mingzhao had resigned from Ye Group shortly after Chu Hengyi returned to the Ye family further seemed to confirm the rather dark suspicions people harbored.

It was simply rare for anyone to bring it up in front of Ye Mingzhao.

Yet now, at the opening press conference for Beggar Prince, a reporter had raised such a question before so many media outlets. Their malicious intent was obvious. Yu Mingze was the first to react, snatching the microphone from Ye Mingzhao's hand. "This is the press conference for Beggar Prince. I hope everyone will not ask questions unrelated to the press conference."

The reporter clearly did not care about Yu Mingze's objections. Hearing this, they continued to press aggressively. "I saw in the synopsis of Beggar Prince that the male lead, Gu Mingchao, and the second male lead, Fu Shen, are actually a contrasting pair. Compared to the male lead's upright goodness, the second male lead's characterization clearly leans more toward evil. In the drama, he envies the male lead's family background and privileged life, and schemes to replace his identity. Does this character's experience remind you of yourself? Would you, like the villain in the drama, envy those more outstanding than you and covet a life that does not belong to you?"

The reporters who heard this erupted in an uproar, and the order at the venue instantly descended into chaos.

Yu Mingze's face turned livid. He was just about to call for the staff to throw out the troublemaking reporter.

Ye Mingzhao leisurely took the microphone from Yu Mingze's hand. "What you mean to ask is whether I, as the actor playing both the male lead and the second male lead, am essentially playing myself?"

The reporter, already surrounded by security guards, froze for a moment before immediately responding, "That's right."

Ye Mingzhao smiled faintly and answered with effortless finesse, "That's a very good question. I believe the reporters here, as well as every viewer following Beggar Prince, will have the same question."

"We may as well keep looking forward to it with that question in mind. Once Beggar Prince airs, everyone is welcome to tune in at once and see whether my performance passes muster."