Chapter 219: with translation of chapter title

There are many reasons for the explosive popularity of Great Feng Night Watchman, but the main reason its opening quickly grabs readers' attention is undoubtedly the perfect blend of detective, suspense plot and xianxia novel.

Such a plot placed at the start of a TV drama is also highly appealing to viewers.

Many people stayed by the TV, initially drawn by promotional hooks like "Producer Jiang Heng", "flashy special effects", and "all‑star cast", but after watching the first two episodes, many became immersed in the story and began looking forward to what comes next.

The reason, of course, is that it's just too enjoyable to watch!

After all, in 2005, genuine fast‑paced feel‑good novels hadn't emerged.

Great Feng Night Watchman, however, used just two episodes to cover the male lead's "being trapped", "solving the case file", "truth revealed", and "family released from prison" plot points.

The final scene freezes on Xu Xinnian, played by Chen Kun, hanging himself; after the socially recognized death he faints, and the line "Heaven never gave birth to me, Xu Xinnian; Da Feng would be an eternal night" swept the nation overnight.

All major forum film‑and‑TV sections are discussing the drama; the biggest impression is that no one has ever seen such a thrilling storyline. It turns out Director Jiang isn't just good at special‑effects scenes; the story design is also insanely strong!

At Zhao Liying's home, after watching the two episodes, Zhao Liying and Zhao Ru's cheeks were flushed, and they laughed with mouths wide open.

The first female character to appear in the drama is Caiwei, played by Zhao Liying.

In the drama she wears a yellow dress, her oval face looks utterly cute, her features are picture‑perfect, skin like solidified fat, her gaze shines, in short, she looks especially beautiful on screen.

Zhao Ru can't help but say, "Dear, your performance is just too good!"

Zhao Liying places both palms lightly against her cheeks, eyes bright, and laughs, "Really? It feels like the footage looks a bit unlike me; the makeup artist must be too good!"

"That's also because you have a good foundation! Being the first to appear, you should be the drama's female lead, right?"

Because the script the actors received isn't complete, the group of actresses don't know exactly how much screen time the others have, but they do have a sense of how much they've actually filmed.

Zhao Liying shakes her head slightly, "Probably not, but being able to appear in the first episode already makes me very happy!"

As she speaks, the phone beside her rings; Zhao Liying glances at it, excitedly saying, "My mom— they must have watched the TV drama I'm in!"

She then answers the call, laughing, "Mom, did you just finish watching Great Feng Night Watchman?"

"Yes, you looked way too beautiful on TV; my little girl is going to become a big star now!"

Zhao Liying places one hand on her face, shyly saying, "Ah, Mom, your praise makes me embarrassed! I'm just a small actress now, still far from being a big star!"

"Your uncle, aunt, and even your uncle called, saying they just finished the drama and that you're amazing, you even landed the female lead on CCTV! You'll definitely become a big star and make lots of money!"

Zhao Liying smiles and says, "Still… still…"

"Ah, the first to appear, shouldn't that be the female lead?"

Zhao Liying suddenly feels the room is a bit stifling and doesn't know how to explain.

She laughs and babbles a few more sentences before hanging up.

She doesn't want to say more to Zhao Ru, but another call comes in, surprisingly from a classmate she hasn't contacted in a long time.

After a warm round of congratulations, the call ends.

But the subsequent calls keep coming, and some people subtly probe, asking how much money Zhao Liying can earn after this drama, frightening the little girl a bit.

Zhao Ru decisively says, "Hang up the phone, otherwise tonight won't be quiet!"

"Will it?"

"CCTV Channel 8, all the viewers nationwide have seen the character you played, right? Those who don't know you just think this actress is pretty, but what will your former colleagues, classmates, and people from your hometown think?"

"Uh!" Zhao Liying, who is only eighteen now, doesn't know how to respond, but thinks Zhao Ru's point makes some sense.

"Then I should turn off my phone?"

"Turn it off!"

Just as she reaches for the phone, another call pops up, the caller ID reads "Huang Xiaoming".

"Brother Xiaoming?"

Zhao Liying is startled; although she has many opposing scenes with Huang Xiaoming in the drama, due to differences in status and star power, they have no private contact, and Huang Xiaoming is clearly closer to Liu Yifei and Yang Mi.

Even though puzzled, she answers immediately.

"Hello, Brother Xiaoming, hi!"

"Hello, Liying, congratulations! You've become known to the whole nation in an instant; I'm sure it won't be long before you're famous across the country!"

Zhao Liying quickly replies, "Thank you, Brother Xiaoming, I should be the one congratulating you. This drama is so good; you'll definitely become a huge star!"

Huang Xiaoming chuckles; he called not to talk about that, but to remind Zhao Liying.

"By the way, have you called Director Jiang yet?"

"Ah, call him?" Zhao Liying's mind instinctively only registers two words: "don't!"

"Exactly, you got the role because Director Jiang appreciated you; now that the drama's premiere has received great response, you should give him a token of thanks!"

Zhao Liying suddenly understands, gratefully saying, "Thank you, Brother Xiaoming, thank you, I'll call him right now!"

After hanging up, Zhao Liying can't help but remark, "Brother Xiaoming is really kind; if he hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have even thought of it!"

Zhao Ru nods, "I never thought of it either; Director Jiang's level is so high that even if you want to call to thank him, there's no contact info! I'd call…"

Zhao Liying timidly says, "Um, actually when I first arrived at the company, Director Jiang gave me his private mobile number!"

Now Zhao Ru is stunned; as an assistant she knows Zhao Liying has no private connection with Jiang Heng, and after finishing Great Feng Night Watchman she didn't receive any great resources, just being assigned to play supporting roles in some TV dramas.

It can be said that aside from the relatively good housing arrangement, she received no special treatment.

How could Zhao Ru never have imagined that Zhao Liying actually has Jiang Heng's private number?

"You didn't say anything at all!"

"You all didn't ask either!" Zhao Liying says plaintively.

"Call him, call him!" Zhao Ru becomes delighted again, looking like she finds this very interesting.

Zhao Liying dials Jiang Heng's number, hears the other side is already on a call, and, frightened, quickly hangs up.

"Oh no, it's over, Director Jiang is calling; he won't be angry, will he?"

Zhao Ru also feels a bit timid, "No, can he?"

The two girls instantly start worrying, but within two minutes Jiang Heng's call comes through.

"It's over, Director Jiang must be coming to reprimand us!" Zhao Liying covers her head with both hands, pleadingly.

Zhao Ru made a bitter face, "Answer quickly!"

"Oh!"

Zhao Liying first smiled sweetly, then answered the phone, "Hello, Director Jiang!"

The voice on the other end said, "Congratulations, Yingbao! Lots of people have called me asking where I found such a great actress—haha, I told them I bumped into her on the street, and they're all dying of envy!"

Zhao Liying instantly felt dazed, thinking, "He actually called me Yingbao!"

(End of chapter)