Chapter 19: Of Course, I'll Choose the Strong Man

“What a coincidence, junior sister.” Zhang Yang sat down on the sofa opposite Nazha and smiled. “I thought I wouldn’t see you anytime soon.”

“Why would senior brother think that?” Nazha asked, puzzled.

“Don’t you have to go back to school to prepare for the cultural exams?” Zhang Yang countered.

Nazha was set to join the production of Xuanyuan Sword in May, which might leave her no time for school. But she still had to take the college entrance exam in June, as she wouldn’t be able to enroll at Beijing Film Academy until the second half of the year.

“I’m not worried about the cultural exams,” Nazha said confidently.

“So, you’re a top student?” Zhang Yang grew curious.

He recalled that someone had deliberately planted articles praising Nazha as a top scholar, building up her academic image, only to have people dig into her past and find she was just an ordinary girl apart from her looks.

With scandals already surrounding Nazha, this led to more criticism for a while.

“Far from being a top student,” Nazha immediately denied. “I missed the college entrance exam last year due to some issues, so I’m retaking it this year. I’m Uyghur, and I’m applying to an art school, so the cultural score requirement isn’t very high.”

At this, Zhang Yang’s eyes flickered.

Nazha and Reba were peers born in Wulumuqi; both had studied at the affiliated middle school of Xinjiang Arts Institute and had experience as dancers in the Xinjiang Song and Dance Troupe.

Rumors had long circulated that they were high school classmates, but Nazha had been delayed by some incident during the art exam year, so she entered university a year later than Reba.

Neither had ever confirmed or denied this story, so everyone treated it as mere gossip.

But now, it seemed there might be some truth to it.

Just as Zhang Yang was about to coax more out of Nazha, the sound of a door lock turning came from nearby.

“Click.”

Cai Yinong pushed open the door to the office lounge and stepped out.

Seeing Nazha and Zhang Yang chatting with smiles, a puzzled expression crossed her face. “You two know each other?”

Nazha immediately stood up and greeted, “Sister K.”

Seeing this, Zhang Yang also stood. “Good evening, Sister K. I met Nazha in the apartment elevator the night before last. We chatted briefly.”

“You live in the same building?” Cai Yinong frowned.

She had high hopes for Nazha’s future, which was why she had signed her already and immediately cast her as the third female lead in one of their major productions.

Under such circumstances, she would never arrange for Nazha and any male artists from the company to live in the same building. What if entertainment reporters or rival reporters caught wind of it and spread rumors?

“We not only live in the same building but on the same floor,” Zhang Yang added.

Cai Yinong frowned deeper, walked to her desk, and dialed a number on her phone, putting it on speaker. “Hello, it’s me. You were the one who arranged housing for Gulinazha, right? Didn’t I specifically tell you to place her in a building with no male artists?”

“Both buildings have male artists now? Since when?”

“Jiang Jinfu wanted to live on a higher floor, so he moved into Building 8. So now both buildings have male residents?”

“...”

Cai Yinong hung up, feeling somewhat frustrated.

She hadn’t explicitly said to separate the artists when assigning housing, but anyone familiar with the entertainment industry should be aware of this unspoken rule.

But now that it was done, she couldn’t just swap apartments between Jiang Jinfu and Nazha because of her preventive concerns.

“So you two are neighbors?” Cai Yinong looked at Zhang Yang and Nazha standing together, feeling an inexplicable irritation.

She had a sense that having these two live across from each other would lead to trouble.

Was she just being overly sensitive?

“Yes, Sister K. Senior brother even helped me out with a small favor,” Nazha quickly responded.

Cai Yinong gave Zhang Yang a long look and said, “Since you’re so eager to help, the task I’m going to assign you next, I’m sure you won’t refuse.”

Zhang Yang’s expression remained unchanged. “What task?”

Cai Yinong didn’t answer directly but asked, “Has Hu Ge told you about the roles in The Empress’s Heart?”

“Yes,” Zhang Yang replied.

“I have good relations with several investors of that drama. At dinner last night, they said the actor originally cast as Zhao Kuangyin wanted to change and add scenes, which caused conflicts with Lin Ziwei and got him fired from the script.”

“Now they urgently need a good-looking actor, preferably with acting skills. I immediately thought of you.”

“If it were anyone else, they’d be begging to get into such a production, but as a Tangren artist, you’re different.”

“...”

Cai Yinong began to perform the role of a boss.

Her point was to emphasize how great this project was.

How hard it was for her to secure it.

How carefully she had considered giving the role to Zhang Yang.

Most of what she said was about 70% true and 30% exaggeration, all intended to make Zhang Yang feel grateful.

Zhang Yang listened patiently and smiled. “Sister K, you have a great eye. I definitely won’t disappoint your trust.”

Cai Yinong: “...”

Well, that was a wasted performance.

“The role is yours, and I’ll have someone negotiate your fee. Since we’re stepping in to save the project, the price won’t be low,” she said, regaining her composure. “But I need you to do another thing: mentor some newcomers.”

“Mentor newcomers?” Zhang Yang glanced at Nazha.

Was there such a good deal?

Then Cai Yinong said, “Jiang Jinfu and Nazha—you’ll help them experience the life of a film crew. By the time Xuanyuan Sword starts shooting, they’ll need less time to adjust.”

Zhang Yang: “...”

There was another Jiang Jinfu?

“Sister K, you think too highly of me,” Zhang Yang’s mind raced with thoughts. “I haven’t acted in almost two years. My skills may have improved, but crew life is still a bit unfamiliar. Acting while guiding two newcomers—I’m afraid I won’t do well.”

“If I go to The Empress’s Heart crew, I represent Tangren. If I perform poorly, Tangren will be embarrassed.”

“If my acting is bad, Tangren loses face, and if Jiang Jinfu and Nazha learn nothing, what then?”

Nazha nodded earnestly beside him, clearly agreeing with his reasoning.

But Cai Yinong understood—Zhang Yang just didn’t want to mentor two people at the same time.

“Zhang Yang, you say you’re unfamiliar with crew life, but back when you filmed The Legend of Sword and Fairy, you adapted earlier than Hu Ge and became friends with the main creators.”

Still, Cai Yinong didn’t expose him and teasingly asked, “How about mentoring just one?”

“Well...” Zhang Yang pretended to think seriously before reluctantly nodding, “Alright, just one.”

“Then who will you choose?” Cai Yinong asked again.

“Is there even a choice?” Zhang Yang looked at Nazha without hesitation. “I’ll definitely choose Jiang Jinfu.”

Nazha: ?

Cai Yinong: ??