Chapter 24: The Plan

In recent years, CCTV has released several Gu Long-based dramas annually!

*The Legend of Chu Liuxiang*, *The Great Banner Hero*, *Big Shot*, *Lotus Lantern*...

*The Great Banner Hero*, in particular, completely overshadowed the contemporary *Sword Stained with Royal Blood* and *Heroic Legend*.

*Big Shot* and *Lotus Lantern* served as Nicholas Tse’s transition into television dramas.

As for *The Legend of Chu Liuxiang*... well, the version with Ken Chu... let’s not even go there.

With CCTV interested in the wuxia genre, various film and television production companies naturally followed suit. *Meteor, Butterfly, and Sword* was a project put together by Zhao Yifang of Huace Media. Zhao had previously served as the Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Dongyang Radio and Television Bureau, so she was well-versed in policy. With CCTV’s backing, Huace held significant sway over the casting. The director was Li Huimin, and the screenwriter was Xiao Ping—a standard Hong Kong-Taiwan production team. In the original timeline, the cast included Ti Lung, Wang Yan, Baron Chen, Ivy Chen, and Huang Weide. Oh, and Xiao Ping was the screenwriter for *The Pawnshop No. 8*, a very talented writer. Li Huimin, as everyone knows, directed *New Dragon Gate Inn* and *Swordsman II*.

Wang Jinghua and Zhao Yifang were old acquaintances, so Wang called her up directly: "I’ve just signed a new actor... he’s perfect for period dramas! Since you’re doing a Gu Long wuxia project..."

"But I’ve basically handed the casting power over to the director..."

Wang Jinghua replied, "That’s fine. If it’s a fair audition, I believe he’ll win them over!"

Zhao Yifang became interested. "Is he really that well-suited for period roles?"

"I’ll bring him to the audition next month, and you’ll see for yourself!"

After contacting Zhao, Wang Jinghua thought for a moment and reached out to several other production companies. How should one put it? Cast a wide net, catch plenty of fish, and choose the best of the bunch. Ever since Huayi Brothers went public, many production companies have added talent agency divisions, primarily casting their own artists. While Wang Jinghua’s reputation preceded her, fame alone wasn't enough. These days, companies inevitably prioritize their own people first.

Naturally, Shen Yan was unaware that Wang Jinghua was busy scouting roles for him; he was busy chatting with his uncle.

"Wang Jinghua is planning to sign you?"

"Yes," Shen Yan said with a touch of humble-bragging. "Do you think I should sign?"

On the other end of the line, his uncle began to think seriously, weighing the options. "I don't know this Wang Jinghua personally. If you sign with her, I can't guarantee she’ll actually promote you. Besides, the Beijing entertainment scene is quite messy. Why don't you just come back to Changsha? At least you know plenty of people here..."

Shen Yan was speechless. "Uncle, I’m just a newcomer. Whether it’s messy or not, what does that have to do with me?"

"That’s true... well, do your best then."

"Right," Shen Yan changed the subject. "I'm coming home next week. Do you need me to bring anything?"

"Don't worry about me... I was just back there last month."

"Okay."

After chatting about some mundane family matters, Shen Yan hung up. He silently calculated his current savings, which were approaching 40,000 yuan. He had received 5,200 yuan for his work as a background actor last week, and 20,000 yuan for his work with Wen Zhang. The royalties for *Lotus House* wouldn't arrive until the end of the month. Furthermore, the *National Anthem* production would wrap in about half a month, which should net him another 4,000 yuan, and he expected another 10,000 from Wen Zhang’s side. Oh right, *The Supreme of a Generation* was about to be officially released on the platform. This meant that by the time he went home next, he would have several tens of thousands of yuan in his pocket. He had finally escaped his state of extreme poverty.

He would definitely continue writing *The Supreme of a Generation*. Acting was notoriously unstable, and Shen Yan hadn't originally intended to be an actor, but the opportunity had just happened to arise. He had to keep writing web novels!

By the way, Li Yuqiu had asked about his next book. It was understandable—*Canghai* hadn't met expectations, and Xiao Duan’s *Opening the Tang* had plenty of talent but lacked heart. Shen Yan had read most of Xiao Duan’s works and had been stunned by *Cup of Snow* (*Legend of the Chaotic Era*), followed by *Legend of the Green Silk Well*, *Bow and Flute*, *Chang'an Ancient Intent*, *Luoyang Daughter's Walk*, *Luo Yi*, *Demon Pupil*, *Opening the Tang*, and *Splitting the Nation*. To be honest, after *Luoyang*, while Xiao Duan’s talent remained, his inspiration seemed to have vanished. *Chang'an Ancient Intent: Yu Guolao* was a piece to read for its sheer heroic spirit, but *Opening the Tang*... after over a million words, it suddenly saw a massive decline. Xiao Duan himself had become somewhat detached, retreating into the mountains. The protagonists he wrote struggled to resonate with people in this era. Shi Weihan was busy writing *Mountains and Rivers*... well, the truth was that many writers were no longer willing to write wuxia. After all, the pay for *Wuxia Edition* was just average, while magazines like *Jiuzhou Zhi* and *Xuanwu Men* were more willing to spend money. Even within the wuxia genre, there was still *New Wuxia*!

*Lotus House* had been serialized for two issues with good results, and sales were actually picking up. Naturally, Li Yuqiu had asked about a new book. Shen Yan... had no plans for a new book. He had only submitted to *Wuxia Edition* to earn money and solve his immediate financial crisis.

Besides... Shen Yan hadn't actually read that many wuxia novels. *Legend of Fei*, *The Blood of Youth*... and that was it! Oh well, he was already plagiarizing *Lotus House*, he might as well copy *Legend of Fei* too. He had to thank Zhao Liying’s fans for constantly boasting about how faithful *Legend of Fei* was to the original work, which had piqued his curiosity enough to go read it himself. After finishing it, he felt a sense of melancholy; although the protagonists were talented, the story felt like a sunset—a desolate, fading grandeur. Those figures he once looked up to would eventually fall one by one. When you reached the other side and looked back, all that remained were ruins. As for the drama adaptation... let’s not talk about that!

He opened his laptop and started typing:

"Seventeenth year of the Jianyuan era, Later Zhao. Willows sprouted catkins, and begonias were just beginning to bloom. In the Forty-Eight Strongholds of Mount Shu, two youths were sparring."

...

"What are your plans? Going home, or continuing to work as an extra?"

As he was writing, Zhang Wuchou walked in, brought a basin of water, and started washing his feet while chatting with Shen Yan.

Shen Yan turned his head. "Are you talking about after we finish *National Anthem*?"

"Yes!"

Zhang Wuchou didn't yet know that Shen Yan was about to sign with Wang Jinghua. But truthfully, Shen Yan had only managed to get signed by Wang Jinghua because of Wen Zhang. And how had he connected with Wen Zhang in the first place? It was through Zhang Wuchou’s introduction!

So, Shen Yan didn't hide it from him. "Uncle Zhang, I met Sister Hua last week—Wang Jinghua. She’s planning to sign me!"

Zhang Wuchou was shocked. "Who? Wang Jinghua?"

"Yes..."

Shen Yan explained how he had gone to a bar with Wen Zhang a while back and caught Wang Jinghua’s eye, adding, "But I haven't signed the contract yet; I figure I'll wait until the *National Anthem* production wraps up."

"...Tsk, tsk, you really are something..."

Zhang Wuchou didn't know what to say. He knew exactly who Wang Jinghua was—the premier talent agent in the mainland! Shen Yan had actually managed to connect with her!

"Uncle Zhang... what are your plans after *National Anthem*?"

"Me? I’ll keep working with the production teams. Don't you worry about me. Whether it's the extras or the crew leads here in Beijing, who doesn't know Zhang Wuchou?"