The Vicious Female Supporting Character Goes Viral After Her Masks Drop During the Talent Show - Chapter 56

On the last working day before the Spring Festival, Zhong Yan met Yan Shi at the company.

The day before, she had sent him a message informing him about the upcoming production of her new adaptation and asking if he was interested in playing the male lead.

Yan Shi was her first choice. He had the perfect image, outstanding acting skills, and massive popularity. He could carry the depth of the role while ensuring the drama generated maximum traffic.

However, Zhong Yan knew his career trajectory was leaning toward “serious” dramas. After wrapping up his last crime procedural, he was scheduled to start a historical political drama after the New Year.

Zhong Yan’s new project, Out of the Silt but Unstained, was a “Gupu” (traditional idol drama) similar to Hating the Spring Breeze. One was grounded historical romance, the other was Xianxia, but both were essentially idol dramas. Not wanting to use her position as his boss to pressure him, she had phrased her request politely, suggesting he read the script over the holiday and take his time to decide.

Less than five minutes after sending the message, she received his reply: he was in.

In the conference room, Zhong Yan had barely started her conversation with Yan Shi when Xu You called.

“Hehe, Sister! I’ve brought you some good news!”

“Oh? What kind of news?”

Xu You didn’t answer directly. “Where are you now?”

“The office.”

“Perfect. I’m not far away. Give me ten minutes; I’ll tell you in person.”

After she hung up, Yan Shi asked, “It seems Producer Xu has agreed to the collaboration?”

Zhong Yan smiled, brimming with confidence. “He was always going to agree.”

Knowing Xu You, there was no way he could turn down a top-tier script handed to him on a silver platter—even if it meant navigating some corporate red tape.

During their previous phone call, Zhong Yan had told him bluntly: “Out of the Silt is being made, but the rights aren’t for sale to Yuandian Media.”

“Not selling to Yuandian?” Xu You had gasped. “Then who are you selling to?”

“Nobody. Out of the Silt will be fully invested and produced by Yanxing Entertainment.”

Xu You was stunned for a moment before slapping his forehead, realizing he had been slow. The profits of a hit drama are like a massive cake; selling the rights only gets the author a small slice. Even with a percentage of the backend, it’s still just crumbs compared to the producer’s share. If Zhong Yan acted as both the copyright holder and the producer, she could keep the entire cake for herself.

Furthermore, producing a hit would bring Yanxing Entertainment and Zhong Yan herself immeasurable prestige and long-term gains. Given her ambition, she wasn’t about to let such “fertile water flow into outsiders’ fields.”

Zhong Yan had added, “This is Yanxing’s first production. I need a producer I can trust to keep watch. And the person I trust most is you.”

Xu You had been delighted, but then his face fell. He understood her play: she was forcing him to choose between his contract with Yuandian and this new project. As a signed producer, he wasn’t as free as an independent one; he couldn’t just bypass his company to take on side jobs.

He had spent the last few days agonizing over it. He wanted the script, but he didn’t want to burn bridges with Yuandian, who had nurtured his career. He had to figure out a way to “have his fish and eat it too.”

Now, ten minutes later in the conference room, he had his answer.

“Sister! I’ll be the producer, and you don’t have to sell the rights to Yuandian!” Xu You rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Better yet, I can bring in investment for you!”

“Oh?”

Xu You began a whirlwind explanation. The core message was: Yuandian agreed to let Xu You work on her “side project,” but in exchange, Yuandian wanted to invest and hold a stake in the production of Out of the Silt.

Zhong Yan wasn’t surprised. While she had told Xu You the decision was his, she had actually made it for him in her mind. She knew his smooth, non-confrontational personality. This compromise was the only logical conclusion he would reach.

And for Zhong Yan, this was the ideal outcome. She also wanted the “fish and the bear’s paw.” She wanted Xu You’s expertise without offending a powerful platform like Yuandian. Their previous collaborations had been pleasant, and by letting them invest in a guaranteed hit, she was essentially doing them a favor and maintaining the relationship.

A major reason she loved working with Xu You was that they were on the same wavelength. Having him around saved her from countless headaches—like this one, where she threw a difficult problem at him simply because she was too lazy to negotiate with Yuandian herself.

“You make a lot of sense,” Zhong Yan nodded. “Let’s do it your way.”

Seeing her agree so readily, Xu You felt a flicker of suspicion. He studied her calm face. “Sister… why do I feel like you planned this all along?”

Zhong Yan gave a sheepish laugh. “How could that be? You’re overthinking.”

Xu You screwed up his face. He didn’t quite believe her. He was starting to feel like he had been played.

To keep him from thinking too much, Zhong Yan immediately changed the subject. “Oh, by the way, I’ve settled on the male lead. It’s Yan Shi.”

Xu You turned to Yan Shi, who had been sitting quietly. “That’s fantastic! Teacher Yan, we’re working together again! With you, the traffic is guaranteed! Haha!” He then turned back to Zhong Yan. “And with Teacher Zhong herself joining the cast? A ‘double top-tier’ lineup? Out of the Silt is destined to be a massive hit!”

Xu You’s cheerful voice filled the room. Yan Shi said nothing, his head lowered as he flipped through the draft script. The corners of his mouth drifted upward.

When Zhong Yan messaged him yesterday, she mentioned she would be acting in it. Yan Shi had been secretly happy all night; he had even stayed up late reading the draft she sent.

He had read the original novel before. The script followed the book closely: four main characters, two couples. One was the primary couple (Male Lead/Female Lead), and the other was the secondary couple (Second Male Lead/Second Female Lead).

Yan Shi was currently looking at a romantic scene between the leads. Compared to the novel, the script’s romance was more detailed and delicate to suit a television audience. As he read, his ears began to turn red.

Just then, he heard Zhong Yan say: “Now that the male lead is set, we just need to cast the female lead and the second male lead.”

Yan Shi froze. He looked up at her, dazed. “Teacher Zhong… aren’t you the female lead?”

“Hmm? Did I not tell you? I’m playing the second female lead.”

Yan Shi’s smile vanished. “…Why aren’t you playing the lead?”

“The female lead is a ‘sweet girl’ archetype. I don’t really fit that, do I?” Zhong Yan felt her look was more “cold and glamorous” than “sweet and bubbly”—after all, her original character in this world was meant to be a beautiful villainess.

Yan Shi stared at her, looking genuinely confused. “You don’t fit?” he whispered.

Zhong Yan blinked, thinking to herself that Yan Shi clearly had no eye for casting.

Yan Shi looked back down and flipped through the pages rapidly. “Cough… well, if it’s the second male lead, I could actually try that instead.”

Zhong Yan shook her head. “The second male lead is a ‘gentle senior brother’ type. You don’t fit that either.”

“…Am I not gentle?”

“What?” His voice was so low she didn’t catch it.

“Cough… nothing.”

Zhong Yan felt the second male lead needed a soft, scholarly look, whereas Yan Shi’s features were sharp and cool. When he suddenly suggested switching roles, she was puzzled. “Yan Shi, do you not like the male lead’s character?”

“No… it’s not that.”

Zhong Yan breathed a sigh of relief. “Then my advice is to stick with the male lead. It suits you better.” More importantly, she thought, if you play the second lead, what young actor would dare play the lead? I wouldn’t be able to find anyone.

“…Alright.”

Xu You, listening to the two of them, couldn’t help but snicker. “A chicken talking to a duck,” he muttered under his breath.

“What are you muttering about?” Zhong Yan turned to him. “I’ll handle the casting for the female lead and second male lead. I’ll leave the rest of the professional prep work to you.”

Xu You gave her an “OK” sign.

Because SHESONE had a busy schedule for the first half of the year—including a second album, a second season of their variety show, and a second tour—Zhong Yan wouldn’t have time to film until the summer. By then, their eighteen-month contract would be half over, leaving more time for individual development.

As they were wrapping up, a commotion broke out downstairs. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooking the first floor, Zhong Yan saw a stout, familiar figure shouting at the reception desk:

“I’m here to see my sister, Zhong Yan!”