Chapter 292: The Highly Sought-After Lu Yan He (16,000-character update)

Chen Ziyan's assertiveness was something Hu Siwei had experienced firsthand, as had many people at the Beijing Station.

But this time, Hu Siwei felt that Chen Ziyan's judgment must have been flawed. This wasn't a matter of haggling; it was a matter of principle.

The Beijing Station had never once offered a revenue share to any actor.

For any drama, the Beijing Station could offer an actor compensation exceeding market rates, but they had never given a share of the profits.

These were two different concepts.

The concept of a one-off transaction versus long-term profit sharing.

However, if he wanted this drama to be made, Hu Siwei still had to bite the bullet and report Chen Ziyan's demands to his superiors.

Hu Siwei's superior was not Jiang Lan; the person pushing for this drama was Xu Bin.

Hu Siwei was able to become the producer of *Seventeen Layers* because Xu Bin had exerted influence behind the scenes, allowing the Beijing Station to maintain a delicate "balance" of power within the production.

When Hu Siwei handed the first episode's script written by Lu Yan He and Chen Ziyan's demands to Xu Bin, he expected Xu Bin to immediately curse, "Let her dream on!"

This was Xu Bin's catchphrase. Whenever someone made an unreasonable demand, he would curse exactly like that.

But this time, Hu Siwei did not hear those words.

He saw Xu Bin's expression sink into silence and contemplation.

Hu Siwei was stunned.

Could it be that Xu Bin was actually considering the possibility of this?

For real?

Hu Siwei looked at Xu Bin in disbelief, completely bewildered by his unusual reaction.

Lu Yan He didn't know how Chen Ziyan had negotiated with the Beijing Station, but three days later, Hu Siwei, with an expression of utter disbelief, told him that the Beijing Station had offered unprecedented terms.

"An 8% revenue share?" Lu Yan He looked at Hu Siwei in surprise.

Hu Siwei asked, "Are you not satisfied?"

"No, this revenue share... how did this happen?" Lu Yan He asked.

Hu Siwei was even more shocked and asked, "You don't know how it happened?"

Lu Yan He shook his head.

Hu Siwei took a deep breath and said, "It was Chen Ziyan's demand. A scriptwriting fee of 2 million yuan per episode, a 10% revenue share, and they finally reached an agreement at 8%."

Lu Yan He looked at Hu Siwei in shock.

Chen Ziyan had actually managed to negotiate such terms for him?

Seeing that the surprise on Lu Yan He's face didn't seem feigned, Hu Siwei asked, "Did your agent not tell you?"

Lu Yan He shook his head. "Sister Ziyan doesn't specifically tell me about these things. She handles the negotiations, and only tells me when it's time to sign the contract."

Hu Siwei's expression was somewhat complex. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "You have a good agent."

Regarding this drama, Lu Yan He had thought for a long time about what name would be better for *Under the Eaves*.

Use *Friends*? But this story didn't come entirely from *Friends*. Aside from using the opening of *Friends*, the character relationships and the story that followed were completely different.

Moreover, these six people weren't old friends, so using that name would be a bit off-topic.

*The Big Bang Theory* was even less appropriate. That name came from the main characters in the show—except for Howard, they were all physicists—taken from the Big Bang.

A good name is very important for a series that one wants to turn into a classic.

It needs to be simple and have its own characteristics.

On the way to the Beijing Station for a meeting with the two written scripts, Lu Yan He looked at the towering skyscrapers outside, Yuming's prosperity reflected in his eyes.

*Prosperous Life*?

This name flashed through Lu Yan He's mind.

No.

He immediately denied it.

Although this was a story set in a bustling metropolis, the story itself was not "prosperous" at all.

*Heavy Traffic*?

Too literary, sounds like a period drama.

Lu Yan He looked silently out the window, feeling the difficulty of coming up with a good name.

This meeting at the Beijing Station was mainly about the content.

As the screenwriter and core actor, Lu Yan He had gained a say in a production for the first time—not because others listened to his opinion because he was famous or the lead, but because his opinion was needed from the very beginning.

Lu Yan He had been to the Beijing Station several times already.

However, he had rarely been to the administrative area.

This time, the Linghe Film and Television Production Company, established by Lu Yan He and Chen Ziyan, would participate in the production of this drama as a co-producer.

Lu Yan He's acting fee and scriptwriting fee were signed separately; the former had to be split with the Star Entertainment agency, while the latter did not.

Lu Yan He had only signed an acting contract with Star Entertainment.

The 8% share was also agreed upon as a screenwriter, clearly written in the contract.

Vice President Ma learned of this and had some complaints, but no one said anything in front of Chen Ziyan.

After all, the acting fee part of the contract Lu Yan He signed was at the market rate; they hadn't deliberately lowered the price to shift it to the scriptwriting fee.

And the revenue share... this had never happened to a television actor before.

It was just that this matter had spread within Star Entertainment.

Lu Yan He wrote a script for the Beijing Station and received an incredible deal.

And for this to spread within Star Entertainment meant that it would soon spread throughout the entertainment industry.

Lu Yan He had not yet received inquiries from others.

He was at the Beijing Station today to discuss the lineup of the creative team.

However, he didn't expect to be intercepted by Jiang Lan before he even reached the conference room.

"Station Chief Jiang."

"Little Lu, why didn't you tell me when you came to the Beijing Station today?" Jiang Lan smiled broadly and placed a hand on Lu Yan He's shoulder to show their close relationship, with other people from the Beijing Station watching nearby. "Your meeting is still a while away, right? Come have a cup of coffee at Sister Lan's place first."

Lu Yan He had indeed arrived early.

He didn't expect Jiang Lan to intercept him halfway.

Lu Yan He wanted to say that this wasn't very appropriate, but Chen Ziyan's words popped into his mind: "Don't act too cooperative. Those people at the Beijing Station are just like that. The more arrogant you are, the more they think you have ability; the more humble you are, the more they think you're trash."

So, Lu Yan He nodded and followed Jiang Lan.

When Hu Siwei in the conference room heard that Lu Yan He had been intercepted by Jiang Lan, he was furious.

"What is Jiang Lan trying to do?!"

He rushed to find Xu Bin.

Jiang Lan brewed a cup of coffee for Lu Yan He and placed it in front of him.

"We haven't seen each other since *Seventeen Layers* wrapped up," Jiang Lan said. "I was going to go to your birthday party last time, but something came up that day, so I couldn't make it. It's such a pity. But I saw your speech online, and it moved me. You truly are the most promising young male actor right now. It's just great."

Lu Yan He said thank you.

"Station Chief Jiang, is there something you wanted to see me about?"

Jiang Lan smiled and said, "What could there be? I just knew you were coming over, so I specially invited you for a cup of coffee. How is it?"

Lu Yan He took a sip and nodded. "It's very fragrant."

. ttkд

Jiang Lan: "I only found out in the last two days that you could write scripts."

Lu Yan He smiled and said, "I just write casually."

"To be able to write a script that can get an 8% revenue share just by writing casually—you are a genius," Jiang Lan praised. "No wonder you wouldn't agree to sign that long-term cooperation agreement before. People with ability and talent never worry about not having opportunities."

"I just don't want to be tied down."

"Understood," Jiang Lan said. "It was my miscalculation. I hope that in the future, if you have a good script, you can bring it to me. We had a very pleasant start with *Seventeen Layers*, and we can continue this pleasant cooperation, right?"

Lu Yan He nodded and said, "As long as everything is suitable, of course."

Jiang Lan said, "I heard from Lian Bei that you have another script on hand that is also a battle royale theme?"

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised and shook his head. "It's just an idea, I mentioned it to the director, but I haven't written it yet."

Jiang Lan asked, "Can you tell me what kind of story it is?"

"I haven't thought it through yet, it's just a very basic concept," Lu Yan He said.

Jiang Lan: "Then when your script is finished, you must come to me first, okay?"

Lu Yan He blinked and said with a smile, "I'll work hard on writing the script first."

"Knock, knock!"

The door to Jiang Lan's office was suddenly knocked.

Jiang Lan turned to look.

Xu Bin had already opened the door and walked in, followed by Hu Siwei.

"Station Chief Jiang, how could you kidnap our Teacher Lu halfway?" Xu Bin said to Jiang Lan with a joking smile.

"Oh my, I was just pulling Yan He over to chat about *Seventeen Layers*. Look at how nervous you are." Jiang Lan stood up and gave Lu Yan He a charming smile. "Alright, alright, I won't keep you. Yan He, otherwise Station Chief Xu will lose his temper with me."

Lu Yan He stood up. "Then let's talk next time."

As soon as they came out of Jiang Lan's office, Xu Bin said to Lu Yan He with a chuckle, "Little Lu, I've read the script you wrote. As expected of a student from the Zhenhua University School of Literature, you wrote it so well for your first time."

Lu Yan He said, "Thank you for the compliment, Station Chief Xu."

Xu Bin said, "Siwei has always told me that you are a very talented creator. This time, we are doing this drama together, and I will fully support you. If you have any ideas or requirements, feel free to bring them up."

Lu Yan He nodded and said okay.

Xu Bin did not participate in the subsequent meeting.

As a deputy station chief, he wouldn't attend meetings on specific matters.

Today, Lu Yan He came to the Beijing Station, and two deputy station chiefs came forward to personally win him over, which was already a rare phenomenon.

Conference room.

Director Bai Jingnian, Producer Hu Siwei, screenwriter and actor Lu Yan He, and director's assistant Jiang Xun.

Several people sat together.

Today was to discuss the cast.

"The background of this drama is a group of young people who have just graduated from university. I will play Jiang Kele," Lu Yan He said, stating his thoughts first. "I want to find Yan Liang to play Hu Fan, and Wen Minglan for Chen Wanqiu."

Yan Liang was Lu Yan He's good friend, and Wen Minglan was an actress managed by Chen Ziyan.

Lu Yan He didn't care at all that mentioning these two names would make them think he was bringing in connections.

When he wrote the script, he specifically leaned towards the images of these two people.

"Their acting fees—" Hu Siwei frowned immediately, because neither of these two were unknown actors; to be precise, they were both a bit famous, and their acting fees wouldn't be low.

Lu Yan He said, "Regarding the acting fees, I will go talk to them. It won't exceed the budget you set, don't worry."

Hu Siwei was stunned.

He looked at Lu Yan He with some doubt.

Based on his understanding of actors' fees, even if these two people's fees were low, they couldn't be as low as 50,000 yuan per episode. Could Lu Yan He handle it?

"I have no opinion on the other roles. Director, Producer Hu, do you have any thoughts?" Lu Yan He asked.

Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian looked at each other and said, "We plan to hold an audition."

Lu Yan He nodded. "That's also quite good, then let's audition. When do we expect to start filming this drama?"

Hu Siwei said, "We are thinking of starting filming before the end of this year at the latest. We want to broadcast it during the winter break. The main audience for this drama is definitely young people, especially students."

"Start filming at the end of the year, and broadcast during the winter break?" Lu Yan He was a bit surprised. "Will there be enough time for post-production?"

Hu Siwei said, "This is different from a regular drama. The post-production of a sitcom is done very quickly, and we even plan to film while broadcasting."

"Ah?" Lu Yan He was stunned.

Hu Siwei said, "Only in this way can we catch up with the winter break schedule."

A total of eight episodes, one episode per week, for a total of two months.

Lu Yan He said, "I don't understand scheduling and production matters, so I can only listen to you completely. I am only responsible for writing the script well and acting well."

Lu Yan He's words made Bai Jingnian and Hu Siwei breathe a sigh of relief. To be honest, Lu Yan He's strong attitude towards the script earlier made them think that Lu Yan He would always be in a very strong position in this drama. With his status as screenwriter and lead actor, they really couldn't suppress him.

In fact, Lu Yan He didn't want to be strong—those who knew him knew what his personality was like. But the script given to him earlier was too bad, so bad that he regretted promising to act in this drama without seeing the script, and for a while, he felt he had done a stupid thing. So, after he wrote the script himself, he couldn't help but become strong, the main reason being that he didn't want this script to be questioned.

Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian were not the type of strong personalities, otherwise, they might have clashed long ago.

Bai Jingnian was an old director at the Beijing Station, having filmed many dramas, but basically, they were all mediocre dramas used to fill the schedule. It must be admitted that most domestic dramas were not that refined, and were meant to fool people for money from the start of the project. Bai Jingnian was an old employee of the Beijing Station, unlike directors from outside film and television companies who had to rely on KPIs to eat. If his drama flopped, it wouldn't affect his income.

But even such a director, now in middle age, calculated with his old friend Hu Siwei and felt that he still wanted to seriously make a masterpiece, rather than just fooling around for a lifetime. So, Bai Jingnian wrote the outline of the story he had wanted to film for a long time and gave it to Hu Siwei.

Hu Siwei, as Bai Jingnian's old friend, knew his ability and also wanted to help Bai Jingnian realize such a wish. It just so happened that Xu Bin also always wanted to build his own brand. The dramas Bai Jingnian filmed in the past didn't have good reviews, mainly because there were too many restrictions—themes, scripts, broadcast methods, schedules... none of these were decided by him. Bai Jingnian was just a tool person who executed according to the station's opinions. He had already done his best within his ability.

This time, Bai Jingnian proposed to film a sitcom, and Hu Siwei felt that this type had been blank in the country for a long time, which was a good opportunity. So, Hu Siwei took this project to find Xu Bin. Xu Bin also experienced the era when sitcoms were popular. Anyway, it was a short drama, and he felt it was worth a try, and the cost was not high, so he agreed.

Later, it was slowly finalized that it could be made into a weekly broadcast format, and because the cost was low, in order to boost ratings, it could not be broadcast on video platforms during the first broadcast. Then, Hu Siwei collaborated with Lu Yan He on *Seventeen Layers*, and Hu Siwei had a sudden inspiration that he could bring Lu Yan He to act in this drama.

A drama went through such a long process, and many things were different from what was planned at the beginning.

Just like at the beginning, Bai Jingnian also said he would write the script himself.

But a drama is like this; it will always change its final appearance with the changes in the process.

Now, Lu Yan He had become the absolute core creator of this drama, which Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian had not thought of at the beginning.

After finalizing this matter, Lu Yan He went to find Chen Ziyan and Zhou Ping'an.

"Sister Ziyan, Minglan will play this role. The acting fee will be much lower than her market price, but she won't have to spend much time, only eight episodes. And I have confidence that it will become a very popular drama," Lu Yan He said to Chen Ziyan. "Minglan will become very popular through this drama."

Chen Ziyan smiled at Lu Yan He and said, "Why are you saying this to me? Even if you said you wanted Minglan to appear for zero acting fee, she would agree."

"Hmm?" Lu Yan He was surprised.

Chen Ziyan said, "After I read the script you wrote, I told her that there was a role in it that was very suitable for her. Even if you didn't say it, I would help her fight for it."

Lu Yan He asked, "Sister Ziyan, which role did you pick?"

"Chen Wanqiu," Chen Ziyan said. "Beautiful and generous, gentle personality but with a bit of obsession. This personality feels like it was written based on her."

Lu Yan He laughed and said, "You are right. When I was writing this role, I really substituted Wen Minglan's image and personality into it."

Chen Ziyan asked, "Do you think this drama will be very popular?"

"Either very popular, or a total flop," Lu Yan He said, stating his judgment. "However, I think it will be popular. Our country hasn't had a drama about young people's lives for a long time. Now it's all workplace dramas, romance dramas, and xianxia dramas. Everyone must be tired of it, right?"

Chen Ziyan: "Although they are tired of watching it, these themes still produce a few hits every year, which means there is an audience, and it is evergreen."

Lu Yan He nodded. "But I think this drama will meet the needs of many viewers."

"You are right," Chen Ziyan nodded. "I also saw this point. I haven't seen a drama specifically about young people's lives and emotional relationships for a long time. When you were recording the variety show *Young Days*, what moved me the most was the concept proposed by Li Zhenzhen. In fact, she was also very right. There are many young people who hope to see such themes and types."

Compared to Chen Ziyan's support, Zhou Ping'an was full of critical eyes.

"Although Yan Liang is not as popular as you and Li Zhibai, he wouldn't fall to an acting fee of 50,000 yuan per episode. He is an idol after all," Zhou Ping'an said. "Besides, he is currently filming."

Lu Yan He: "I know he is filming, but I also know that his drama will wrap up in November. Brother Ping'an, you should know that Yan Liang is my best friend, and I won't cheat him."

Zhou Ping'an: "It's just an eight-episode sitcom. How popular can it get? Besides, in the past, domestic sitcoms that were popular were mostly family ethics ones. Yours, which talks about young people's lives, dreams, and friendships, and doesn't even have a main plot, looks like a flop no matter how you look at it."

Lu Yan He looked at Zhou Ping'an seriously and said, "Brother Ping'an, do you know? This is a script that allowed me to get an 8% revenue share for the whole drama from the Beijing Station. Do you think this is a treatment that a script that looks like a flop can get?"

Zhou Ping'an's mouth twitched instantly, shocked by this news, and he showed an expression of disbelief.

"If you read the script seriously, you will know that this script is very good," Lu Yan He said. "If you don't believe my vision, you should believe Sister Ziyan's vision. Would Sister Ziyan let me be the lead actor in a drama that looks like a flop?"

Lu Yan He looked at Zhou Ping'an with firm eyes. "Although many unpleasant things have happened between you and me, I know you are a very capable agent. If it weren't for Vice President Ma's instructions to you, perhaps we could have worked together very happily. Why don't you put aside your prejudice against me, read the script seriously, see if what I said is right, and then make a decision."

Zhou Ping'an: "Even if your script is good, I absolutely cannot agree to an acting fee of 50,000 per episode."

"What if I say that after this drama finishes airing, Yan Liang's acting fee can rise to 500,000 per episode?" Lu Yan He looked at him seriously.

Zhou Ping'an was stunned.

Lu Yan He said, "I can even say that this drama will definitely have a second season, and Yan Liang's acting fee in the second season can rise to 500,000 per episode."

Zhou Ping'an laughed.

"Do you know what you are saying?" Zhou Ping'an said. "Your acting fee is also 500,000 per episode now, right?"

Lu Yan He nodded and said, "I am just saying that if Yan Liang acts in this drama, he will become popular."

Zhou Ping'an: "Do you think you are a prophet? I believe whatever you say?"

Lu Yan He: "I am not a prophet, but I am the only one who will hand a script to Yan Liang and invite him to play the lead role, because he is my friend."

Zhou Ping'an was silent.

Lu Yan He said, "Brother Ping'an, read the script first. I'll leave today. Besides, I am also writing a movie script with Yan Liang and Li Zhibai as the leads. Maybe you think I am a newcomer and the script I wrote is terrible, but maybe you don't know that Jia Long and Chen Bige have already decided to star in the movie script I wrote, and Huang Kai has just booked a script with me with him as the lead. Now do you still think the script I wrote is not worthy of Yan Liang?"

"I finally understand what it means to pull a tiger's skin and raise a flag."

Lu Yan He's tone on the phone became excited, not at all showing the confidence, strength, and unquestionable attitude he had just shown in front of Zhou Ping'an.

"When I mentioned the names of Jia Long, Chen Bige, and Huang Kai, Zhou Ping'an's face changed immediately," Lu Yan He said.

Chen Siqi also laughed. "Not bad, self-taught. But you aren't pulling a tiger's skin or raising a flag. You aren't lying. Sometimes, in order to get someone, you even have to tell lies."

"Hmm?" Lu Yan He asked. "You?"

"Yes, but it's not lying. It's just playing both sides. In the end, the matter is done, so it's not lying," Chen Siqi said. "This is a strategy."

Lu Yan He asked, "How is the winter special issue going?"

Chen Siqi said, "We are busy selecting manuscripts. Teacher Shi Xia finally agreed to give us an essay."

"Hmm?" Lu Yan He showed a surprised expression.

Chen Siqi: "It really wasn't easy. After working so hard for so long, Teacher Shi Xia suddenly asked me two days ago if I wanted a small article he wrote. I said of course I want it, how could I not want it? I even let out a surprised scream on the phone, which startled him."

Lu Yan He knew how much energy and effort Chen Siqi had put into getting Teacher Shi Xia. It had been almost a year, and just visiting Teacher Shi Xia's house was no less than three times, and she usually sent gifts during holidays.

"The all-star author lineup for our *Jump Up* winter special issue can finally add Teacher Shi Xia's name."

"Congratulations," Lu Yan He said with a smile. "By the way, I have to tell you something in advance. I plan to write about this drama in the column of this special issue. They plan to broadcast it during the winter break, and I want to promote it in *Jump Up*."

Chen Siqi: "That's no problem at all."

Chen Siqi added: "All our *Jump Up* media accounts can cooperate with the promotion."

Lu Yan He: "I've been telling people these past few days that this drama will definitely explode and become popular, saying it with certainty and confidence, but in fact, I have no certainty at all."

Chen Siqi: "This shows that you have finally leveled up again."

"Leveled up?"

"Yes, there is no truly talented creator who is not full of confidence in themselves. It's just a difference between showing it and not showing it," Chen Siqi said. "And you are in the entertainment industry, which is a place where everyone is desperately exaggerating themselves. If you are not certain, others will look down on you first. In the past, you had Sister Ziyan, and she helped you handle these things. Now you are the creator of a drama yourself, and in this crew, you can only rely on yourself. Looking at it now, the results are quite good, aren't they?"

Lu Yan He said "Hmm."

Chen Siqi said, "And I also believe that this drama will be popular. You are right. If it were just your blind confidence, why would Jia Long and Chen Bige choose your script? Why would Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian, two seniors with such deep qualifications, invite you to be a screenwriter? Why would the Beijing Station agree to give you an 8% revenue share? These actually all show that you wrote it well. Only when you write it well will these things happen."

"You are really good at encouraging people. I have been encouraged by you," Lu Yan He said with a smile.

As a result, Li Zhibai came over aggressively.

"You asked Yan Liang to act with you, why didn't you ask me?" he questioned.

Li Zhibai drove his car and parked it directly at the school gate, calling him out.

Lu Yan He suddenly received his call, saying he was waiting for him at the school gate and telling him to hurry over. He thought something urgent had happened, so he rushed over, only to find it was because Lu Yan He didn't ask him for this drama.

Lu Yan He was between laughter and tears, saying, "We are just a low-budget drama, we can't afford you for the time being, okay? How could Zhou Ping'an agree to let you and Yan Liang both lower your acting fees to act in this drama?"

Li Zhibai chuckled and said, "You said before you would write a movie script for me and Yan Liang, but now I don't see a shadow of the movie script, and instead, you wrote a script that left me aside."

"It just so happened that the Beijing Station came to me for cooperation, it wasn't intentional," Lu Yan He said. "Besides, I already pushed *Nineteen Years of Crime Records* to you and Yan Liang. Did they contact you?"

Li Zhibai nodded. "They did contact me, and asked me to audition, but there is no news yet. I guess they didn't like me."

After he finished speaking, his eyes widened again. "Don't change the subject, you didn't do this right."

"What can I do if that role is more suitable for Yan Liang?" Lu Yan He said. "Do you want to play a gentle and sunny person? I can't imagine you like that."

Li Zhibai: "..."

Lu Yan He said, "I can imagine you playing a grumpy, emotional person."

"I came to hold you accountable, not to listen to you complain about me."

Lu Yan He said with a smile, "I am explaining to you why I didn't ask you to act. Of course, the main thing is the acting fee. You are too expensive, and it's not me paying, it's the Beijing Station paying. They are not willing to pay, do you want them to take advantage of you?"

Li Zhibai pouted.

"Besides, in the script I wrote, there is another role I want you to play."

"Hmm?"

Lu Yan He said, "*Squid Game*, a theme very close to *Seventeen Layers*."

Li Zhibai looked at him in disbelief. "You wrote another script?"

Lu Yan He nodded.

Li Zhibai: "Lu Yan He, how many stories are in your head? Damn, how did you come up with all this?"

Lu Yan He thought to himself, this wasn't something he came up with; he was just a small porter.

In *Squid Game*, there is a young male police officer role, who is also one of the leads. He didn't participate in the death game, but suspected that this game was related to his missing brother, so he infiltrated the organization to investigate this secret. It was another subplot. At that time, the actor who played this role became popular overnight because of this drama.

Lu Yan He said to Li Zhibai, "The script hasn't been written yet, but the character is already thought out. I'll show it to you after the script is written."

Li Zhibai nodded immediately, and the attitude of holding Lu Yan He accountable was gone.

"That's fine, I'll count your attitude as good."

Lu Yan He said, "In this drama, you won't be the first lead."

Li Zhibai: "What's the first lead worth? I don't have the habit of not acting if it's not the lead. After you won the Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Tripod Awards, Zhou Ping'an has been muttering about getting me a supporting role that can win an award."

Lu Yan He: "As long as you don't mind."

Li Zhibai squinted. "Then the acting fee for this drama won't be low, right?"

"Big production, how could it be low." Lu Yan He believed that after *Seventeen Layers* aired, *Squid Game* couldn't be a small production, and it wouldn't be short of Li Zhibai's acting fee.

In this drama, there are two middle-aged roles. The first lead is of course the one played by Lee Jung-jae. Lu Yan He thought of asking Jiang Jun to play it. Just as Lian Bei said, because Jiang Jun's popularity and appeal are there, other leads must be big stars who can carry the drama and make investors and broadcast platforms nod. So, Lu Yan He thought at the time that the young male police officer role should be played by Li Zhibai, and the young girl role in the lead group should be played by Jiang Yuqian—if Sister Yuqian is willing to act.

With the two of them sitting in the lead group, it wouldn't drag down the cast.

Lu Yan He: "Since you are here, let's have a meal together. I'm hungry."

"What do you want to eat? Brother Bai will treat you."

"How about we go to our school cafeteria?" Lu Yan He asked. "Our school cafeteria is quite rich, with a lot of delicious food."

"Then let's go," Li Zhibai said. "No, I still have to find a place to park first. This is just a temporary parking space and I can't park for too long."

Li Zhibai wore sunglasses and followed Lu Yan He into the Zhenhua campus. The combination of the two attracted countless eyes.

Although Zhenhua students were relatively restrained and wouldn't be the type to scream excitedly, there were quite a few who took out their phones to take pictures of them.

Li Zhibai waved and greeted many girls with a bright smile.

Lu Yan He looked at his peacock-like flamboyant appearance and couldn't help but shake his head.

This guy Li Zhibai was just like this.

As a result, because Li Zhibai didn't have a Zhenhua campus card, Lu Yan He ended up treating Li Zhibai to the meal.

"The food in your school cafeteria is indeed good," Li Zhibai gave his evaluation.

"That's right, I told you it was delicious," Lu Yan He said. "Everyone doesn't really go out to eat."

Li Zhibai: "I feel like you are really enjoying your campus life. It's hard for me to go a few times a semester."

"If you don't go to school, what will you do about graduation?" Lu Yan He asked.

Li Zhibai said, "My trash school doesn't care about you usually, just go take the exam. And to be honest, it doesn't matter if I get the diploma from that school or not, unlike you and Yan Liang, one at Zhenhua, one at Jingyi, those are famous schools. If I had these academic qualifications, my dad would have banqueted everyone long ago."

He ate with Lu Yan He and asked, "Are you going back to Ziyuanqiao tonight, or staying in the dorm?"

"Back to Ziyuanqiao, tomorrow is Saturday, no class," Lu Yan He said. "But I have to go to the dorm to get my computer. You called me temporarily just now, and I ran out in a hurry, thinking something urgent happened."

Li Zhibai: "Then who's to blame? As soon as I heard you only asked Yan Liang to act and didn't ask me, I exploded immediately."

Lu Yan He: "Then I can't put all three of us in one drama forever."

Li Zhibai: "That's your business."

Lu Yan He: "..."

The news that Lu Yan He was going to collaborate with the Beijing Station on a sitcom soon spread in the entertainment industry.

Everyone's first reaction to this news was that Lu Yan He was going to collaborate with the Beijing Station on a new drama, and they sighed that after Lu Yan He won the Golden Tripod Award, his resources immediately caught up, and it was still about winning awards.

When they heard the details of the cooperation, what? Screenwriter? What?! 8% revenue share?!

This news was nothing short of explosive, almost blowing people away.

And Zhou Ping'an finally let go and agreed to let Yan Liang act in this drama.

Lu Yan He was right. This was the only TV drama currently that would agree to let Yan Liang play the lead, and it was a TV drama produced and broadcast by a traditional big station like the Beijing Station.

This had an extraordinary significance for Yan Liang.

Zhou Ping'an was an agent who was good at calculating. He could calculate the acting fee figures on the surface, and he could also calculate the invisible income that a lead drama brought to Yan Liang at the current stage.

But Zhou Ping'an still didn't accept it readily. When he told Yan Liang about this, he didn't forget to put eye drops on Yan Liang.

"Look at your good friend, saying he is sending you a lead role to play, but to put it bluntly, it's still to take advantage of you. He takes a fee of 2 million yuan per episode and also takes an 8% revenue share, while you can only take an acting fee of 50,000 yuan per episode," Zhou Ping'an clicked his tongue twice. "This abacus is really calculating."

Yan Liang listened silently without saying a word.

Zhou Ping'an said, "At this time, he knew not to ask Li Zhibai. He knew that if it were Li Zhibai, I would never agree."

Yan Liang still listened silently.

After Zhou Ping'an finished speaking, Yan Liang walked away silently.

An acting fee of 50,000 per episode was very low, especially compared to Lu Yan He's remuneration, it looked pitiful.

However—

Yan Liang took a deep breath.

If it weren't for Lu Yan He, which TV station would be willing to let him play the male lead in a drama broadcast during prime time?

Li Zhibai's words yesterday were still ringing in his ears: "Old Lu is too much. He asked you to play this role and didn't ask me, and even humiliated me by saying I couldn't act it out. He clearly wrote the character based on you, and even blamed me for not being able to act it out. Why didn't he write this character based on my personality?"

Li Zhibai clicked his tongue. "He is true love for you. From the script, you are the real male lead of this drama, and he is just a supporting role."

Yan Liang looked up at the clear blue sky, and the blue of the sky was reflected in his silent eyes.

Clean, cold.

When Lu Yan He started recording the second season of *Young Days*, others joked and asked if there were roles suitable for them.

Lu Yan He said with a smile, "The budget is too low, I can't afford you all, but you are welcome to come and make a cameo, please."

Lu Yan He planned to find one or two roles in each episode and invite his celebrity friends to make a cameo.

For example, Li Zhibai who volunteered.

There was more and more news about this drama.

For example, Lu Yan He was actually the screenwriter of this drama, and as a key creator of this drama, he would participate in the casting of this drama.

These news were invisibly rendered into a legendary color by everyone in an incredible tone.

"He is only twenty years old." This was the most critical point, and also the place that caused the biggest discussion.

For actors of the level of Chen Bige and Shang Yongzhou, it was normal to be able to influence the creative direction and casting of a drama, and it had already been accepted by the industry, so it wouldn't make people feel strange.

But Lu Yan He was not them. Why did he have such great power?

It was precisely this unusual phenomenon that pushed Lu Yan He and the Beijing Station to the forefront.

And the news also began to spread from the industry to the whole network.

When Lu Yan He was recording the second season of *Young Days* with everyone, he didn't look at his phone, so he didn't know much about the situation on the internet. After he finished recording the show and got his phone, he went online and found that he had been discussed by the whole network for several days.

Some people questioned his ability to write scripts, some questioned his ability to carry a drama, and of course, many people supported him and looked forward to his work, all kinds of voices.

However, this time, those who remained skeptical were in the majority.

Because Lu Yan He was too young, only twenty years old, and hadn't been acting for two years, yet he started writing scripts.

Everyone judged this matter according to conventional experience, and felt that no matter how genius Lu Yan He was, he didn't have the ability to write a script independently.

—The domestic entertainment industry is really going to be finished. An idol actor who has only aired one drama so far and appeared for less than three episodes, cheated a Golden Tripod Award for Best Supporting Actor, and now actually became an independent screenwriter and core lead of a big Beijing Station drama. Is this world more magical, or can I not tolerate sand in my eyes? What kind of backing does this Lu Yan He have to get such exaggerated resources? Even Huang Kai wouldn't get such resources, right?

Someone said so.

Then, Lu Yan He's eternal black fan leader Yu Jiang arrived late but arrived, forwarded this Weibo, and said: "Everyone finally sees Lu Yan He's true face, right? Before, when I exposed his small ambition, you all said I couldn't tolerate a young person. Now can you understand my mood?"

Then, Yu Jiang's biggest black fan leader Chen Siqi appeared, threw out a promotional picture of the cumulative sales of the paper and electronic versions of *Jump Up* exceeding 1.5 million copies, and said: "I have always understood your mood of envy and jealousy."

Yu Jiang fought back: "You rely on the power of Lu Yan He's popularity and fans paying for it to make *Jump Up* and support these 1.5 million copies in sales. Do you think such a deceptive game can be replicated in a TV drama?"

Chen Siqi forwarded and officially announced: "Since Teacher Yu Jiang asked sincerely, I will be merciful and announce it in advance. Whether such achievements can be replicated in Yan He's new drama, let's wait and see. But such achievements finally allowed our *Jump Up* to successfully move Teacher Shi Xia, and we will publish Teacher Shi Xia's new work in the winter special issue of *Jump Up*. Please look forward to it!"

Yu Jiang subconsciously wanted to fight back, and then his eyes fell on the two words Shi Xia, and his mouth twitched.

Shi Xia?!

Chen Siqi: "I understand many people's doubts about Yan He, because he is very young, and because he has never shown his ability as a screenwriter in front of everyone. At this time, it is useless for me to say more, so I won't say more. Everyone will have their own judgment after seeing this drama aired later. But for some teachers who hold past grudges and make some targeted and guiding remarks, I am sorry I cannot sit idly by."

Chen Siqi also said: "There are always people criticizing us, two high school graduates who want to make a magazine, thinking this is playing house? Thinking that by relying on Lu Yan He's fans, they can make a magazine? Now, this magazine has entered a period of healthy development. It has successfully reached its first anniversary, and a total of eleven issues have been published, with cumulative sales of paper and electronic versions exceeding 1.5 million copies. And in the past year, many senior writers have been encouraging us, letting us work hard. Even many serious literature writers have expressed their encouragement to us through various aspects. This is something we never thought of when we decided to make a commercial literary magazine. Not to mention, we are now very proud to announce that Teacher Shi Xia has handed his new work to us, which will be premiered in the winter special issue of *Jump Up*."

Chen Siqi posted a third Weibo: "Young means no experience, young means everything you do will be questioned and challenged, but young also means infinite possibilities. Let the work speak for itself."

Chen Siqi's three Weibo posts won the likes of a large number of young fans with a clear-cut attitude.

And Yu Jiang was sprayed by people again under Chen Siqi's three Weibo posts.

It can be said that the various doubts Lu Yan He received were eliminated by Chen Siqi's powerful response.

Mainly because the sales of *Jump Up* were too solid, which was the achievement made by two young people, Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi, which no one could erase.

Since Lu Yan He could make a best-selling magazine against the trend at the age of nineteen, why couldn't Lu Yan He write a script for a popular drama at the age of twenty?

Chen Siqi's response brought everyone's thinking to this position.

Clear up the doubts and questions subconsciously felt based on life experience, choose to give Lu Yan He a basic trust, and then maintain expectations for this drama.

Chen Ziyan said to Lu Yan He: "Siqi is really suitable for doing PR for you. Every time you are attacked by public opinion, her response can help you turn the tide at the right time. She is very powerful."

Lu Yan He: "If she hadn't helped me respond to Yu Jiang, I really wouldn't know what to say."

"Of course you can't open your mouth for this kind of thing," Chen Ziyan said. "Remember, no matter what happens, you can't go head-to-head with people yourself, understand?"

Lu Yan He nodded.

Chen Ziyan: "But thanks to this, your drama is popular before it airs, and it won't lack attention and heat. I guess many people will want to know what this new drama, where you are the screenwriter and lead actor, will be like."

Lu Yan He lowered his head and chuckled, saying: "Now they don't know that this drama is going to be exclusively broadcast on the Beijing Station, and it's not even broadcast online. If they knew this, I guess the opinions would be even bigger."

Chen Ziyan: "This is a very risky approach. After all, very few people watch TV now."

"But there are still many people who have TVs at home," Lu Yan He said. "I understand what Hu Siwei and the others want to do. They decided from the beginning to make a sitcom, and it's a low-cost sitcom, controlling the cost of one episode within 5 million, just to do this."

"They want to pull up the ratings."

"Hmm," Lu Yan He nodded. "After the first round of exclusive broadcast on the TV drama is completed, it will be sold to video websites for broadcast."

Chen Ziyan said: "But it is also possible that the ratings cannot be pulled up. This really depends on the appeal of this drama. Of course, if this drama really pulls up the ratings, let alone pulling it to 2%, even if it can be pulled to 1%, it will be a huge good result."

The average ratings of the Beijing Station's prime time are now between 0.3-0.6%.

If the ratings can break 1%, it is basically the drama king of the year.

In the internet age, the ratings of traditional TV stations are just so miserable.

Except for the national station, other TV stations are like this.

At that time, it will be a battle of ratings.

The actor audition was scheduled for a weekend in October.

Lu Yan He was also one of the audition judges.

Because the matter of Lu Yan He serving as a screenwriter was making a lot of noise on the internet some time ago, many people were watching this drama, knowing that no matter what happened later, it was definitely a hot drama that was watched.

It wouldn't be an ineffective broadcast.

However, Hu Siwei also sent out the wind to various brokerage companies and agents early on. This drama currently only has three main roles, one male and two females, that have not been decided. This time it is mainly to select these three, but because the budget is limited, this time it will not be open to first-tier actors for auditions.

This made some first-tier actors who had thoughts back down.

And this did not affect the enthusiasm of various brokerage companies at all.

Which brokerage company hasn't signed some actors who are not famous, or even newcomers.

For this batch of actors, the first expectation of the brokerage company is not to make money, but to become popular.

Only by becoming popular can they make more money.

This drama is now popular, and it looks like a drama that is very watched. Everyone wants to get their own people on this drama.

Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian were sought after by various relationships, and Lu Yan He also became highly sought after because of this.

Some people even entrusted relationships to Huang Kai to say hello to Lu Yan He.

Huang Kai smiled and said: "This is too crazy, no way, Yan He, is a very good senior of mine, he came to me, I can only make this call to you."

Lu Yan He was also very helpless, saying: "Brother Huang, we are just a small crew, it's not that exaggerated."

Huang Kai said: "Do you know how highly sought after you are now? Many people are asking me about your drama."

Lu Yan He said: "This is because everyone hasn't seen the script, and doesn't know what kind of drama it is, and then because I was questioned and went on the hot search, making this drama suddenly watched. In fact, it is really just a low-cost drama, but others said it was a big drama, I don't know how to explain it."

Huang Kai: "The script was written by you, this is correct, right? It's not a rumor?"

"That's not," Lu Yan He smiled.

Huang Kai: "I said, I told you before, let you write a drama with us two as the leads, you promised me, don't forget."

"Can't forget, but, Brother Huang, my drama, why don't you come and make a cameo for me," Lu Yan He laughed and said.

Huang Kai: "Cameo? Okay, when are you filming, I will come when I have time."

He agreed directly.

"So refreshing, thank you Brother Huang."

"What are you polite for," Huang Kai said.

After hanging up Huang Kai's phone, Lu Yan He returned to the trouble of what this drama should be called.

These days, Lu Yan He has been worrying about this, but hasn't thought of a good answer.

Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian are also thinking.

However, every time everyone comes up with a name, they pass it, always feeling that it doesn't work, the strength is not enough, not appropriate enough, it's missing something.

⊙co

On the day of the weekend audition, Lu Yan He went out early and came to the Beijing Station.

The audition location was at the Beijing Station.

What Lu Yan He didn't expect was that when he arrived, there were already many people waiting.

Looking around, the waiting room was almost full. They were all young actors.

Lu Yan He's appearance also made the people in the waiting room look over in surprise.

"It's Lu Yan He!" someone said softly.

Lu Yan He nodded to them, waved and greeted, and walked into the audition room.

Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian were already there.

Coffee and snacks were placed on the table.

It was quite thoughtful.

"I'm not late, right?" Lu Yan He saw that everyone was here, and for a moment he was wondering if he was late.

"No, it starts in fifteen minutes," Hu Siwei said. "There has been a lot of discussion about our drama recently."

Bai Jingnian smiled and said: "It's mainly about Yan He."

Lu Yan He said: "I hope these discussions can bring some more viewers when this drama airs, so it won't be in vain that I was questioned by so many people."

"When they see the script you wrote and see the drama aired, they will know how wrong it was for them to underestimate you," Bai Jingnian said.

Lu Yan He shook his head. "As long as they don't throw bricks at me."

"Haha, how could that be."

The three of them chatted for a while.

Hu Siwei suddenly said: "Yan Liang and Wen Minglan are already going through the contract, and we are ready to start filming in December. Yan He, is your time okay?"

"No problem, as long as it avoids my class and exam time, especially my exam week in January," Lu Yan He said.

Because it is a peripheral drama that is filmed while broadcasting, this shooting method allows Lu Yan He not to have to spend many consecutive days in the crew like before.

For Lu Yan He, the time is much easier to coordinate.

Hu Siwei said: "We will definitely coordinate the shooting time."

Bai Jingnian said again: "*Phoenix Terrace* should be aired in November, and our station bought this drama."

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised and asked: "Aired on Beijing Station in November?"

"Yes, broadcast on TV and online at the same time," Bai Jingnian said. "This is also conducive to the ratings of our drama later."

Although Lu Yan He is not the lead in *Phoenix Terrace*, he is also a main character with a complete plot line.

This drama is aired on the Beijing Station, which will definitely bring some viewers to Lu Yan He, and this sitcom is aired after *Phoenix Terrace*. As long as *Phoenix Terrace* doesn't collapse, it can definitely eat the dividends.

After chatting for a while, the audition officially started.

Lu Yan He used to be the one who went to audition. This was the first time he sat in the interviewer's seat to look at the people who came to interview. This feeling was a bit wonderful, and a bit trance-like.

It turns out that interviewers look at auditioners with such a feeling.

From the moment people come in, they will subconsciously evaluate which role this person is suitable for, where is the bonus item, and where is the deduction item. Some people give you a good first impression, but the performance later is unsatisfactory. Some people give you a bad first impression, but when they act, their lines and performance are very natural, which is unexpected.

Although there is a camera recording on the scene, Lu Yan He is still taking notes with pen and paper.

In front of him are the resumes of all auditioners.

The situation of everyone coming in is different. Some will arouse the interest of Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian and be asked questions. Some will just try a segment and be asked to leave directly.

Lu Yan He rarely speaks. He knows that he is not yet capable of leading an audition, so he just sits silently on the side watching, taking his own notes, and recording his impressions of each auditioner.

During the break, Hu Siwei asked Lu Yan He if there were any impressive ones.

Lu Yan He said: "I haven't seen any yet."

Most of the actors who came to audition didn't have very good acting skills. In fact, the segments that needed to be auditioned didn't require much acting skills, and the requirements for actors' acting skills in this sitcom were not very high. Lu Yan He always thought that everyone would give a qualified performance, just like the young actors he met in the previous few dramas.

However, through this audition, Lu Yan He found that there were so many people's performances that couldn't even do basic naturalness and life-like, and some were even as stiff as a zombie.

Lu Yan He didn't want to say that his glasses fell off, but the actual situation was almost the same.

But looking at Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian again, both of them had a calm and composed reaction, without any surprise.

Lu Yan He knew that this was the norm for the audition scene.

No wonder Director Luo Yuzhong would praise their group's performance when he organized an audition at Star Entertainment.

Compared with the situation at the scene today, the performance given by the five of them at that time was at least remarkable.

Thinking about it again, Lu Yan He realized that his cognition of actors was established a bit higher than the average level from the beginning.

*Golden Age*, *Phoenix Terrace*, *Seventeen Layers*, and even the cameo *Three Mountains*, every opponent actor he worked with was actually selected after careful selection.

And this is the norm.

Lu Yan He said nothing, just silently digesting all this.

But in the end, during the audition process, there were still a few actors who made Lu Yan He's eyes shine and felt good.

It can't be said that the acting is good, but it just gives him a sincere feeling, and the personality seems to be very consistent with the character.

Lu Yan He specifically made a few marks.

This audition lasted from 9:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon, before all the actors who signed up for the audition were seen.

There is another one tomorrow.

Lu Yan He only felt that he had been sitting for a day, exhausted, too consuming people's spirit.

Hu Siwei sighed: "If it weren't for our budget, we should have found a professional casting team to help us find actors."

For big crews, few directors need to be responsible for the first few rounds of auditions.

Often, a professional casting team provides a list of actors for the director team to make the final decision, and they only need to look at it one or two more times.

Lu Yan He smiled and said: "Maybe when the second season starts, we won't be so embarrassed."

In the evening, after having dinner with Hu Siwei and Bai Jingnian, Lu Yan He returned to school.

Li Zhibai and Yan Liang were not in Ziyuanqiao, so he went back to the dorm to sleep.

Mao Jiayang was lifting dumbbells in the dorm, and his biceps were very developed.

Seeing Lu Yan He back, Mao Jiayang said: "Yan He, someone came to the dorm to find you just now, saying he is your classmate in the film history class, he said you borrowed notes from him, came to give them to you, but you were not there, so he put them on your desk."

Lu Yan He immediately looked at his desk and really saw a stack of copied notes.

He nodded.

"However, film history should be an elective course, right?" Mao Jiayang asked.

Lu Yan He nodded.

Mao Jiayang was a bit surprised and asked: "Are you so serious about other people's notes for elective courses? Aren't elective courses just enough to pass?"

Lu Yan He smiled and said: "I chose this course because I am interested in it. The score is secondary. The main thing is that I am interested in the content of this course. The teacher who teaches this course is also very knowledgeable. Every class is full of quotations, and I don't want to delay listening to the class because of taking notes, so I borrowed notes from others."

Mao Jiayang: "Cool."

In school, in fact, there are many rumors about Lu Yan He, such as that he appears in the library every few days just to create a persona of his own hard work, that his love of reading is a false appearance, and that he has not read many books, etc.

Even in public, Lu Yan He is almost the idol of every Zhenhua student.

But behind his back, there are still people chewing their tongues out of unnamed psychology.

Perhaps this is an encounter that every celebrity cannot avoid.

Only those who are truly around Lu Yan He know how much of his love for reading comes from his heart, and how much comes from the utilitarian purpose in the rumors.

This is also the reason why several people in the dorm sincerely appreciate and admire Lu Yan He.

Mao Jiayang once said to Li Xiao: "At least half of the people in our school are studying and working hard for very utilitarian purposes, or even brushing GPA, brushing comprehensive assessment. I haven't seen many students like Lu Yan He who are purely interested in knowledge and interested in the content of books. He doesn't look like an artist at all."

Li Xiao once joked: "I feel like you are Lu Yan He's fan now."

Mao Jiayang nodded. "That's not impossible to say."

Li Xiao: "Don't they all say that artists are stinky from a distance? People who really come into close contact with celebrity artists in life will break the filter and realize that he is also a person with many shortcomings."

Mao Jiayang: "Lu Yan He is different."

"Hmm?"

"The media hyped him into a genius, as if he is a person who doesn't work hard at anything, but you really know him and you will know that he really put 100% effort and focus into everything he does, so that he can do everything with ease," Mao Jiayang said. "Genius may be jealous, but no one in our dorm is jealous of him, and everyone feels that everything he has now is deserved."

Li Xiao was also surprised to hear Mao Jiayang describe Lu Yan He like this.

She didn't know much about Lu Yan He. If it weren't for Mao Jiayang being Lu Yan He's roommate, maybe she would be like others, just seeing Lu Yan He from a distance on campus, or brushing shoulders with him somewhere on campus, but there would be no real intersection.

That time she participated in Lu Yan He's birthday party with Mao Jiayang, she felt a bit out of place.

Later, I heard Mao Jiayang say that the birthday party actually originated from the couple activity he proposed. Li Xiao knew why the girls who were not familiar with Lu Yan He appeared in the inner field of Lu Yan He's private circle of friends at Lu Yan He's birthday party.

"Lu Yan He is very sincere, just treat him as a very nice classmate," Mao Jiayang said to Li Xiao more than once. ===== CHAPTER 293 =====