Chapter 218

Speaking of 2005, the most anticipated TV series in Neidi was naturally none other than Great Feng Night Watchman.

Bright Sword became popular thanks to its careful production, but on the acting front it had little appeal to viewers.

The lead actor Li Youbin was not famous beforehand, and Zhang Guangbei, who played Chu Yunfei, had been obscure for many years after his role as Lü Bu.

Great Feng Night Watchman, however, was produced and scripted by Jiang Heng, who also handled the post‑production special effects.

In terms of cast, the male lead Xu Qian'an is played by the rising star Huang Xiaoming, his younger brother Xu Xinnian by another handsome man Chen Kun, and the series also features beauties Gao Yuanyuan, Tang Yan, Liu Yifei, Yang Mi, Wang Ou, Qin Lan, Jing Tian, Zhao Liying, plus over thirty veteran actors, making the lineup astonishingly strong.

It can be said that even before it aired, it was already the talk of the net.

When the Great Feng Night Watchman crew went to Happy Camp for promotion, many viewers started counting the days until the show aired.

July 16, a Saturday.

Zhao Liying went early to the market to buy pork ribs, beef, chicken and vegetables, and also bought some fruit to bring home.

Zhao Liying laughed delightedly, "Really? I think it's fine; you're always praising me!"

"It's really great; whoever marries you will be blessed!"

Zhao Liying was humming a tune while cooking in the kitchen, and by eleven o'clock the invited guests arrived one after another.

Gazing at the dishes laid out on the table, they lowered their head to sniff, then rushed to the kitchen and said, "Wow, honey, your dishes are too fragrant!"

As a signed artist of Outstanding Rising Film Company, the company provides housing, and the unit Zhao Liying lives in is a large two‑bedroom near Chaoyang Park.

Because today is the day of the broadcast of her first TV series, Great Feng Night Watchman, she felt it was highly commemorative and wanted to invite those who had helped her greatly to come to her home for a meal.

She inwardly scoffed, thinking that if she were the one hosting, it would definitely be Western food and red wine, and if it weren't for the so‑called commemorative significance, she wouldn't have come.

Normally a company's housing for unknown artists wouldn't be this large, but Outstanding Rising Film Company is not short of money; it has bought many properties, and the housing it provides for its executives and artists are its own real estate, so the size and decoration standards are comparatively high.

"Hey, young people should prioritize their careers; all I'm thinking about now is doing a good job filming, keep it up!"

Assistant Zhao Ru is a recent college graduate, a girl who loves to eat, and she is pleasantly plump.

Soon after, agent Su Ying arrived; she is a fashionable woman in her thirties with some means, and upon seeing the dishes laid out on the table she couldn't help but smile.

She wanted to invite the company supervisor Yu Yang, who had singled her out among the many girls, as well as to provide for her agent and assistant.

Zhao Liying brought the things home, tidied up the place, and then started cooking.

"With this drive of yours, you're sure to succeed!"

Company supervisor Yu Yang was the last to arrive; he is now fairly valued within the company, believes that Zhao Liying being valued by Jiang Heng means her future achievements will certainly not stop here, and he even cancelled a gathering to attend this event.

"Then, you guys eat some fruit first, watch TV, and there's still one more dish to come!"

Su Ying said, "Hey, why make so much? We can't eat that much!"

Zhao Liying gave a simple smile, "Making a bit more lets everyone pick what they want, it's no trouble; when I'm at home I always help my mother cook," and with that she rushed back to the kitchen.

The remaining three stayed in the living room to chat.

Soon after, the final dish was brought out, and Zhao Liying called everyone to the table to eat.

She then said, "Well, tonight is the premiere of the TV series I'm starring in, Great Feng Night Watchman. To be honest, before I worked in sales in my hometown, I never imagined I could become an actor—I hadn't studied it, and I didn't have the talent!

But I never expected that Elder Brother Yu came to my hometown for auditions, selected me and recommended me to the company, allowing me to participate in this big‑budget TV series, I also signed with the company, met Sister Su Ying and little sister Zhao Ru, during this time you all gave me selfless help, making me deeply moved; here I express my deepest thanks, and also thank the company's big boss, Director Jiang Heng, who not only signed me but also provided such a large house for me to live in—I am truly grateful!

When the house was mentioned, Zhao Ru, Su Ying, and Yu Yang's expressions all changed; Zhao Ru lives in the company‑provided dormitory where several people share one unit, and the living conditions are far inferior to this place.

Su Ying and Yu Yang are both married and live in their own homes, but those are remote and small, nowhere comparable to Zhao Liying's unit—needless to say, they're envious.

Su Ying smirked, "Director Jiang is really generous, providing such good housing!"

Yu Yang nodded, "Indeed, Director Jiang is truly a good person. I heard the company is preparing to buy land to build a residential complex, and then it will sell units to employees at a discount!"

Hearing this, Zhao Ru and Su Ying's eyes lit up, "Really? Is that certain?"

"Absolutely certain—I saw the project plan with Director Du not long ago—so as long as everyone works hard, we'll all have a bright future!"

Zhao Liying quickly interjected, "Yes, let's thank Director Jiang and the company; may they keep improving, and may Great Feng Night Watchman's ratings surge and go on forever!"

"Yes, keep improving, may the ratings flow like a long rainbow!"

The four of them raised their glasses together, drank, and then began eating while chatting.

They talked about the company, filming, and industry matters, and around two o'clock Yu Yang left first.

Zhao Liying invited Su Ying to stay for another meal that evening and then watch the premiere of Great Feng Night Watchman together, but Su Ying declined, saying she had something at home.

On the other hand, assistant Zhao Ru readily stayed and went downstairs to buy lots of snacks and drinks.

In the evening, after casually eating with Zhao Liying and gossiping about the company, they waited for CCTV‑8's Golden Theater to broadcast Great Feng Night Watchman.

The series' music was handled by Ma Zhenghong, whose earlier work on the soundtrack for Chinese Paladin was widely acclaimed, so the music for both Great Feng Night Watchman and Chinese Paladin III was entrusted to him.

After the opening theme, the drama officially began.

The first scene shows Huang Xiaoming's Xu Qian'an waking up in prison, analyzing his situation, followed by Chen Kun's Xu Xinnian visiting him.

Zhao Ru stared at the TV, where a white‑clad, peerlessly handsome Chen Kun exclaimed in excitement, "Ahhh, he's so handsome, really so handsome!"

Zhao Liying tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "He's quite handsome, but compared to that, I think Director Jiang is even more handsome!"

"Director Jiang is indeed handsome, but he's too rich; the first thing I notice about him is money, so I often overlook his looks! Chen Kun's role is different—it gives off a feeling of 'poor but handsome,' poor to the point that only handsomeness remains, especially pure!" Zhao Ru said with conviction.

Zhao Liying heard this, her expression a bit dazed, "Although what you say sounds absurd, it actually kind of makes sense!"

(End of chapter)