Chapter 69: Yan Danchen

After waiting in Modu for three days, Wang Wenjie finally called.

The role is set—Lu Jiaju!

When he got the news, Cheng Chen thought he had misheard.

Lu Jiaju? That's clearly the second male lead!

What kind of image does Lu Jiaju have in *The Great Dyeing Workshop*?

He's a thoroughbred young master—wealthy family background, handsome looks, returned from studying abroad full of pride. Under his old man's matchmaking, he partnered with the protagonist Chen Shouting to run a dyeing factory.

At first, this young master who had tasted foreign ink looked down on the mud-legged Chen Shouting, and they often bickered. In the end, after witnessing Chen Shouting's abilities, he conceded defeat willingly and was glad to play the supporting green leaf by his side.

But in Cheng Chen's view, this young master Lu Jiaju was truly a man of insight who had carried "governing by non-interference" to its utmost.

Lu Jiaju had studied abroad, but he had only learned dyeing and printing—he had no idea how to operate machines or manage workers.

For the factory to make money, it had to rely on his partner Chen Shouting.

And what kind of person was Chen Shouting? He was someone who knew to repay kindness.

The kind of person who, if you trust him, will fight for you to the death.

Lu Jiaju understood this well, so he was willing to hand his entire fortune and life over to Chen Shouting.

Chen Shouting did not let him down. Over a dozen years later, he turned Lu Jiaju's original investment of 6,000 silver dollars into seventy or eighty thousand, plus a ten-percent share.

Lu Jiaju's career flourished, and in life he took two concubines.

Unlike the protagonist Chen Shouting, who was busy every day striving and struggling, he lived freely and happily, taking things as they came, with boundless joy in life!

After a brief review of Lu Jiaju's character, Cheng Chen already had a rough idea in mind.

However, what puzzled him was that the role of Lu Jiaju had long been set for Teacher Luo Gang, who was on good personal terms with Wang Wenjie.

Now the casting had suddenly changed—what on earth had happened?

What Cheng Chen didn't know was that Luo Gang's taking the role of Lu Jiaju was actually at the invitation of his good friend Wang Wenjie.

Earlier, he had already received an invitation for the 20-episode TV series *Homecoming Like a Rainbow*, co-produced by the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department and CCTV.

The series was the first to fully recreate the entire journey of the Hong Kong garrison, and it was specifically scheduled for a grand premiere on CCTV-1 during the following National Day.

On top of that, he was also carrying the TV drama *True Heart, True Feelings*, which portrayed economic law-enforcement defenders in the new era.

He had a heavy role in these two dramas, and adding *The Great Dyeing Workshop* on top of them really left him short on energy.

But Wang Wenjie most wanted him to play Lu Jiaju, and guaranteed that his scenes would be shot first and scheduled around the other two dramas' filming periods.

Unable to resist his good friend's insistent invitation, Teacher Luo Gang finally had to agree.

But somehow word got out that Wang Wenjie had auditioned an actor with decent skills.

And the image fit the role of Lu Jiaju quite well, so Luo Gang went to inquire.

After getting confirmation from Wang Wenjie, Luo Gang took the excuse of insufficient time affecting *The Great Dyeing Workshop*'s filming schedule and voluntarily resigned.

Wang Wenjie knew his old friend's temperament, so he reluctantly agreed and finally called to inform Cheng Chen.

……

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Chen buried himself in the hotel studying the script.

The *The Great Dyeing Workshop* script wasn't long—a mere 25-episode TV series. Compared with later TV dramas that routinely ran forty or fifty episodes, it was simply a dwarf standing before a giant.

Just as he was poring over the script day and night, he suddenly got a call from Chen Shasha.

"I heard from Yuanyuan that you're in Modu? I'm just passing through—let's grab a meal!"

Chen Shasha, always quick and direct, hung up without giving Cheng Chen any chance to refuse.

Cheng Chen had no choice. After tidying himself up, he headed to the address Chen Shasha had texted.

The moment he opened the private-room door,

Chen Shasha warmly beckoned him to sit down.

"Long time no see—you're even wearing sunglasses out now. So, how does it feel being a big star?"

Chen Shasha said with a grin.

"Don't tease me, Sister Shasha. In front of a veteran actress like you, I wouldn't dare call myself a star."

Cheng Chen said with a smile.

"Pfft, you're on fire now—releasing albums, appearing on TV, crazy popular! The media all call you Cheng Heavenly King! Once *Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre* airs, you'll be even hotter!"

Chen Shasha said, shooting him a look.

"Cheng Heavenly King? What kind of talk is that! That nickname is bad luck!"

Cheng Chen refused.

"Pfft—!"

The moment Cheng Chen's words landed, he suddenly heard a burst of laughter.

It turned out there was another person sitting quietly in the corner of the private room, drinking tea.

She sat there quietly, like the morning rosy clouds—cool yet warm.

Her fresh aura and understated makeup gave her an ethereal, fairy-like quality, full of charm.

She looks a bit familiar!

Who is this?

"Oh dear, I was so busy chatting with you rascal. Come, let me introduce you to a friend of mine—our Beijing Film Academy class beauty, Yan Danchen.

Chenchen, this is the Cheng Chen I told you about—the one whose songwriting and acting are both amazing—Cheng Heavenly King!"

Chen Shasha introduced from the side, enunciating the three words "Cheng Heavenly King" with extra clarity.

This girl did it on purpose!

Hearing Chen Shasha's introduction, Cheng Chen finally caught on—wasn't this Sister Chang'e?

Speaking of Yan Danchen, Cheng Chen thought of her playing Chang'e in *Lotus Lantern*.

Unlike the Chang'e in other TV dramas, Yan Danchen's Chang'e carries a faint, tragic beauty and a quiet sorrow.

Combined with her fresh temperament and understated makeup, she truly is an unforgettable, elegant fairy.

And the reason she gives off such an ethereal air is that Yan Danchen herself looks very peaceful and pure.

Cheng Chen once believed that her Chang'e was Chang'e herself! Truly worthy of the title "Most Beautiful Chang'e."

Besides that, she also played the lovesick Su Nv in the large-scale costume mythological drama "Jingwei Fills the Sea," which made Cheng Chen at the time feel as though he'd met a heavenly being.

She also once appeared in Zhang Dahu's "Journey to the West" as Bai Hua Xiu.

Although Zhang's version of "Journey to the West" has plenty of moments worth mocking, the role of Bai Hua Xiu made the audience shout with delight!

It is said that back then she was also invited by the "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" crew to audition for the role of Wang Yuyan. The audience's calls for her were very high, and many felt Yan Danchen was the only choice to play Wang Yuyan.

In the end, Yan Danchen herself felt she wasn't suited for it and took the initiative to give up; the role ultimately went to Liu Tianxian.

This person has never really had any scandals in the industry. She's acted in many productions, but never really caught fire. Even past forty, she still takes good care of herself, looking just like a young girl.

What's even more captivating is her sensationally stunning figure — curvy in all the right places, exceptionally alluring.

Though she's no longer young, Yan Danchen still looks like a woman in her twenties, sexy and charming, making people let their imaginations run wild.

She also once appeared in "FHM," and in the photo spread, Yan Danchen looked all dewy, bright, and fair — extremely sexy and voluptuous.

Such boldly provocative bathtub shots absolutely seized everyone's attention.

……