He wanted to decide outright that Fang Ning would play the role.
But the producer thought otherwise.
"Old Zhang, it's not as if you don't know. President Chen gave us instructions, and he invested in this film, too. Are you sure you won't consider Xia Qing?"
The producer had known Director Zhang for a long time.
Of course he knew about Director Zhang's past. If it hadn't been for President Chen back then, Old Zhang probably wouldn't be where he was today.
Director Zhang valued his personal ties, but he was also a man with very firm principles of his own.
Director Zhang was indeed torn over this matter. He lit a cigarette and slowly smoked it, lightly tapping his lighter against the table. The tapping was erratic, without the slightest rhythm.
"It's not that I haven't considered it, but that young woman's acting has such a spark. I don't want to give her up." Director Zhang took a deep drag, the ember at the tip flickering in and out of view.
If he passed up an actress like Fang Ning, he could say with certainty right now that he would regret it later. If he hadn't seen her performance, he wouldn't have felt so terrible, but now...
It was like discovering a dazzling pearl yourself, having every chance to pick it up, only to have to abandon it and pick up the flawed pearl beside it instead.
That was simply worse than killing him.
As for Chairman Chen, he had made so many films for him over the years, and Chen had earned plenty from them. Whatever he owed, and even what he didn't, had already been repaid.
Director Zhang decisively stubbed out the cigarette in his hand. "I'll handle Chairman Chen. Go tell them the results."
The producer