Chapter 32: Escorting Jingniang to the Capital from a Thousand Miles Away

"Yang, you aren't teasing me, are you?" Nazha's beautiful eyes were as lively as a pool of spring water.

Having experienced two days on the set, she was like someone who had just learned to ride a bicycle—itching for a chance to test her skills. Lying in bed last night, she had been planning to ask Zhang Yang to help her arrange a background extra role after a few more days of observation, just to earn some pocket money while getting a taste of real acting.

She hadn't expected that before she could even bring it up, Zhang Yang would deliver such a massive surprise, securing her a "special guest" role directly. Special roles are divided into large, medium, and small categories; they are more than just background extras, featuring independent plot points and lines.

"I’m not that bored," Zhang Yang said, tapping his chin. "Barring any accidents, you'll have a small role to play."

Nazha suppressed her excitement, her lovely eyes fixed intently on his face. "What kind of role is it?"

This time, Zhang Yang didn't answer immediately. He sat back in his chair and patted his shoulder. Nazha understood; she walked behind him and began to knead his shoulders, her voice softening. "Brother Yang, is this pressure alright?"

"Mm, not bad," Zhang Yang said, squinting in contentment.

Nearby, several crew members and extras were breathless with envy. Nazha was naturally beautiful; her exotic features combined with skin that glowed with whiteness made it impossible not to notice her. She was more stunning than many famous actresses in the industry, yet she was merely Zhang Yang's personal assistant. They had been skeptical before, but seeing her massage him, they were fully convinced.

This man was truly infuriating!

Extra A: "The wind is quite boisterous today."
Extra B: "Suddenly, being an extra at Hengdian feels meaningless."
Extra C: "Yeah, I want to go back home and get married."
Extra Coordinator: "Not getting paid today, then?"
Extras: "..."

Nazha and Zhang Yang were oblivious to the drama unfolding among the extras. Curious, she asked, "Brother Yang, how did you manage it?"

Zhang Yang opened his eyes and said calmly, "Actually, I wasn't even sure if you would get the role."

"?" Nazha paused. Had she been tricked?

"It depended on whether Sister Ziwei agreed to add the scene. It went like this..." Zhang Yang turned to explain the situation, recounting how he had met Huo Jianhua the night before to pass on the script, and how Lin Ziwei had called him in for a detailed discussion just moments ago.

"So you were off doing big things last night instead of taking me with you," Nazha realized.

"Brother Yang, what exactly is the role I'm playing?" Nazha resumed kneading his shoulders.

Her enthusiastic attitude caught Zhang Yang off guard. "You were so confident that Sister Ziwei would agree to my proposal?"

"I believe in you," Nazha said, her beautiful eyes reflecting his face. "Even though we haven't known each other long, I've noticed that whatever you set your mind to, it seems to work out."

*Oh?* Nazha had that kind of observational skill? Zhang Yang felt a flicker of surprise and laughed, "I'll take your word for it." He added, "As for the role, I tailored it specifically for you: a character who loves me but cannot have me."

Nazha: ?
She was happy that he had designed a role for her, but why one that couldn't have him? Before she could ask, she saw Lin Ziwei and Liang Xinquan approaching with several others, and she wisely shut her mouth.

"Sister Ziwei, Director Liang, Director Lin," Zhang Yang stood up.

The drama *The Imperial Princess* had two directors. Besides Liang Xinquan, the other was Lin Feng, a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy who would later become the action director for *The Battle at Lake Changjin*. The production had been split into A and B units from the start, with Liang handling the dramatic scenes and Lin handling the action sequences. This was the first time Zhang Yang had met him.

"Ah Yang, you know Director Lin?" Liang Xinquan asked with a surprised smile.

"Of course," Zhang Yang replied. "I recall Director Lin was the action director for *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, *Tian Mi Mi*, *New Shanghai Bund*, and *Three Kingdoms*."

Lin Feng, usually a stern man, showed a hint of emotion. He had indeed participated in many well-known works, but as an action director, he rarely appeared in the spotlight. Few people who hadn't worked with him would know him, let alone a young man like Zhang Yang.

"Hello," Lin Feng said, offering his hand. Zhang Yang shook it immediately.

Lin Ziwei spoke up at the right moment. "Since Ah Yang knows Director Lin, your collaboration should go smoothly."

Hearing this, Zhang Yang feigned an appropriate level of surprise. "Sister Ziwei, you agreed?"

"That's right. After reading the script, we felt your idea was excellent. It was a unanimous decision," Liang Xinquan said with a smile. "We discussed it and decided to let Director Lin lead a unit to handle the filming."

*What is a surprise?* This, in fact, was a surprise. A talented, low-key director like Lin Feng was definitely worth cultivating a relationship with.

"Thank you all for the recognition. I will definitely do my best," Zhang Yang promised.

Just then, a young woman next to Director Liang spoke up. "Zhang Yang, did you reference any specific works for this scene? It feels familiar."

She was Shao Sihan, one of the two screenwriters for *The Imperial Princess*. After seeing what Zhang Yang had written, she felt she had encountered a part of it somewhere before.

"You really are knowledgeable, Screenwriter Shao. I actually had to look it up on Baidu for inspiration; I referenced the story of 'The Thousand-Mile Escort of Jingniang'," Zhang Yang said, skillfully flattering her.

Shao Sihan felt her face heat up. She had actually come to cause trouble for Zhang Yang. *You just add scenes as you please? Where does that leave us writers?* But looking at Zhang Yang's face, her anger dissipated. She had only asked because she feared plagiarism, but Zhang Yang had admitted it so readily.

"'The Thousand-Mile Escort of Jingniang'?" Shao Sihan frowned. She did seem to have heard of it. People like Lin Ziwei, however, were completely in the dark.

Zhang Yang didn't wait for them to ask. "It’s a widely circulated folk tale. It tells of the young Zhao Kuangyin, the founder of the Song Dynasty, who disguised himself to flee Bianjing. Passing through Taiyuan, he rescued Zhao Jingniang, a miserable woman imprisoned by bandits in a dark room. He escorted her for thousands of miles, treating her like a sister, maintaining his integrity despite the long journey."

"It’s a classic theme in Peking Opera, but also exists in Yue, Kunqu, Chao, and Sichuan operas."

Everyone understood now. Zhang Yang had drawn from "history"—or rather, widely spread historical folklore.

"This is good," Liang Xinquan praised. "Using history as a base adds depth and makes the audience feel more immersed, which will improve the reception of our drama."

Lin Ziwei heard this and couldn't help but shoot a secret glance at Zhang Yang. If he had mentioned it was based on that story earlier, she would have agreed immediately to highlight her own insight as a producer. Zhang Yang noticed her expression and chuckled to himself: *If you’re uncultured, don't blame me.*

"Then, the role of Zhao Jingniang cannot be given to just anyone," Lin Ziwei said.

Nazha’s heart leaped to her throat. Having heard all of this, she realized the role Zhang Yang had fought for was none other than Zhao Jingniang. If Lin Ziwei took a personal interest, her chances of playing the part were hanging by a thread.

Just then, she heard Zhang Yang say, "Sister Ziwei, do you think my little assistant here would be a good fit?"

Nazha: !?!
OMG! How could this man be so dashing!?