Chapter 143

At this moment, seeing the plate of cleanly peeled shrimp in front of him, Ye Xuan didn't notice Editor-in-Chief Hua's eyes that were crazy with envy, and accepted it calmly.

"Thanks."

This meant he wasn't refusing.

They were clearly just two ordinary words, yet to Gao Yuanyuan, they sounded incredibly pleasant.

Although she hadn't had much contact with Ye Xuan before, from their brief meeting, she could sense a feeling of aloofness and coldness about him.

This time, having come to visit so suddenly, she had initially been terrified of incurring Ye Xuan’s displeasure!

If Ye Xuan knew her thoughts, he might even have laughed.

What aloofness and coldness?!

He simply didn't want to have any entanglements with the entertainment industry.

At this moment, seeing Ye Xuan pick up the shrimp she had passed him, Gao Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes and brows filled with smiles.

"There's no need for thanks. Being able to do something for you is exactly what I’ve been hoping for."

Her soft, gentle voice was like a spring rain, refreshing and soothing.

But falling into Editor-in-Chief Hua’s ears, he only felt even more sour inside.

With his mind occupied by one lemon after another, Editor-in-Chief Hua unconsciously picked up a lemon slice used as a garnish for the boiled fish with pickled cabbage.

Without thinking, he shoved it into his mouth, and the next instant, he immediately put on a mask of agony and spat it out.

"Hiss!"

It soured old Hua to death!

Hearing the commotion from Editor-in-Chief Hua, Ye Xuan, while chewing the incredibly delicious shrimp in his mouth, asked subconsciously.

"Editor-in-Chief Hua, what’s wrong with you?"

He saw Editor-in-Chief Hua’s entire face crinkle into a ball as he pointed to the lemon on the plate.

"Nothing, just got hit by the sourness."

Nothing?!

Nothing my foot!

He currently felt as if he were swimming back and forth in a sea of lemons.

At this moment, Editor-in-Chief Hua’s expression was also taken in by Ye Xuan.

Editor-in-Chief Hua was truly a tough guy.

To be so afraid of sourness yet still eat lemons—what a unique hobby!

Just as Ye Xuan was marveling, he saw an incredibly fair, plain hand place another plate of peeled mantis shrimp in front of him.

At the same time, Gao Yuanyuan’s refreshing voice rang out.

"Mr. Ye, please continue eating; I’ll peel some crab for you."

Hearing this, Editor-in-Chief Hua couldn't help but pick up another lemon slice and shove it into his mouth.

Ah!

So sour and refreshing!

It’s so bracingly sour!

Not noticing Editor-in-Chief Hua’s deepening love for lemons, Ye Xuan had already buried his head in finishing the bowl of shrimp and the plate of mantis shrimp before him.

Not long after, seeing another plate of peeled crab pushed over, Ye Xuan asked slowly about Gao Yuanyuan’s purpose for coming.

"Miss Gao, what brings you to Jincheng this time?!"

As soon as the question was asked, Gao Yuanyuan still wore an incredibly gentle smile, but her expression had become vaguely more serious.

"Mr. Ye, I’ve come for *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*."

Seeing the importance Gao Yuanyuan placed on it, a hint of confusion appeared in Ye Xuan’s eyes, and he signaled with his gaze for her to continue.

The next instant, Gao Yuanyuan’s apricot eyes brightened, her voice soft yet carrying a note of determination.

"Mr. Ye, I am your loyal fan.

I’ve read each book of the *Condor Trilogy* over ten times, and among them, I like *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* the most.

I don’t know why, but the moment I saw the character Zhou Zhiruo, I felt she had walked into my heart.

Every time, I rejoice with her joy, rage with her anger, grieve with her sorrow, and delight with her happiness.

Clearly a person who reflects like a flower by the water, yet she is conflicted from beginning to end.

Wandering between the choices of love and career from start to finish, never finding a good outcome on either side..."

As Gao Yuanyuan spoke of her understanding of the character Zhou Zhiruo, Ye Xuan nodded from time to time to show his approval whenever she hit the mark.

After all, in another world, Gao Yuanyuan had once played the most unforgettable version of Zhou Zhiruo.

At that time, the director had searched the length and breadth of the country to find the actress for the role of Zhou Zhiruo.

She needed to be clear, gentle, and moving, yet also capable of becoming demonic for love, full of hatred and unfulfilled longing.

Until Gao Yuanyuan appeared.

However, by comparison, the current Gao Yuanyuan’s understanding of the character Zhou Zhiruo was still slightly immature.

With a slight movement in his eyes, Ye Xuan couldn't help but put down his chopsticks and casually began to explain to Gao Yuanyuan.

"Zhou Zhiruo was originally a boatman’s daughter by the Han River. If she hadn’t met Zhang Wuji in this life, and hadn’t encountered that tragedy, she would have just been an empty-valley orchid born by the river and buried in the wilderness, her lonely beauty unappreciated by anyone.

Unfortunately, an empty-valley orchid was transplanted to the Golden Summit of Emei, growing the sharp thorns of the love-flower and the toxicity of crane-top red..."

At this moment, following Ye Xuan’s explanation, Gao Yuanyuan seemed to see the life of Zhou Zhiruo.

Listening and listening, she became completely entranced.

She had originally thought she had already grasped the essence of *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*.

After all, she could recount the progression of the plot no matter where she opened the book.

But she hadn't expected that she had only seen the surface beneath Zhou Zhiruo’s gentle appearance.

So this was the real Zhou Zhiruo!

Now, listening to Ye Xuan’s words, flashes of realization appeared in Gao Yuanyuan’s eyes one after another.

When Ye Xuan mentioned details in *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* that she had never noticed, Gao Yuanyuan couldn't help but exclaim in wonder.

"How did I never notice that?!"

"So that’s what Mr. Ye was thinking from the start."

"It seems I only understood the surface."

With every sentence that fell, the look she gave Ye Xuan added a few more layers of admiration.

*The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* was a world created by Mr. Ye Xuan, who sat before her.

Every time she understood a little more of *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, was she also understanding Mr. Ye Xuan a little more?!

Once this thought emerged, Gao Yuanyuan couldn't control her earlobes from heating up.

By the time Ye Xuan finished speaking, Gao Yuanyuan had completely transformed into a little fan girl meeting her idol, unwilling to shift her gaze from Ye Xuan for even a second.

Even Editor-in-Chief Hua, who had been so sour just moments ago, was listening in fascination.

This was the commentary of Ye Xuan, a Nobel Prize winner in Literature!

To be able to hear it was a blessing of three lifetimes!

Not until Ye Xuan seemed to feel thirsty and picked up his cup, making a crisp sound, did Gao Yuanyuan come back to her senses.

Noticing Ye Xuan’s movement, she hurriedly stood up and waved to call the waiter.

When the waiter brought the freshly brewed tea, Gao Yuanyuan immediately picked up the teapot and began pouring tea into Ye Xuan’s cup.

The steaming hot tea fell into the fine white porcelain cup, misting into a faint layer of fog.

By the time she handed the teacup back to Ye Xuan, Gao Yuanyuan’s tone still carried a hint of joy.

"Mr. Ye, thank you so much for today.

I had originally thought of asking you to help me with a recommendation.

But now, having heard your analysis, I’ll just go to the audition for the production, and you can wait for my good news then..."

The implication was clear: she was confident in her ability to land the role of Zhou Zhiruo.

Meeting the gentle smile on Gao Yuanyuan’s face, Ye Xuan sipped his tea and nodded slightly.

"Then, I’ll wait for your good news."