Half a month later, Ji Ruochu received the revised script, along with an audio message from Old Shang.
[Lass, this is the script, take a look and see what you think.
All the plot and character revisions were done with the participation of the original author, who also asked me to convey their thanks to your friend.]
After all, when the author wrote this drama years ago, they were just in their twenties, so it's understandable that the plot lacked some professional depth.
[Okay, I'll take a look now.] Ji Ruochu replied with a voice clip.
[Sure, sure, take your time. The production team is scheduled to start filming in about a month.]
The implication was clear - as long as she gave him a reply before filming began, that would be fine.
[Okay, Grandpa Shang.]
After sending the message, Ji Ruochu began flipping through the script.
As she read it, she couldn't help but be amazed. This script... how should she put it...
You could say it was heavily revised, but the main story framework remained unchanged. Yet, you couldn't say it wasn't revised much either.
To be honest, before this, Ji Ruochu had never expected Director Shang Chuan to be so easygoing, still able to remain so calm after she had turned him down twice.
In fact, even the few points raised by her and her student friends had been addressed and improved upon.
The most striking change was to the characterization of the female lead. Her every act of showing off and serving justice to scumbags now seemed more reasonable, and the villains were no longer just mindlessly evil.
Most impressively, these changes didn't feel out of place within the original plot; rather, they seemed entirely fitting.
Such a revision must have taken more than just half a month to complete. It was likely a version the production team had already prepared?
The more Ji Ruochu thought about it, the more she felt this must be the case. Perhaps they had initially given her that outrageous version out of caution.
In that light, her bold declaration that the script lacked logic now seemed like a case of being out of her depth.
It was only now that Ji Ruochu understood why Director Shang had been so insistent on filming this drama.
With a solid script, talented actors, and even the difficult-to-cast female lead already secured, it was only natural that he would be reluctant to abandon the project.
What she didn't know was that she had only guessed half the truth about the script.
Originally, there was indeed this version, but the production team hadn't chosen it from the start.
The reason? Well...
The previous version had some technical plot bugs that hadn't been ironed out, making the whole story seem dull and boring despite having a logical thread - it had a stodgy, academic dryness, lacking any zest.
It wasn't that the production couldn't afford to hire professional consultants for guidance. Initially... no one had thought of doing so, because it was just meant to be a melodramatic TV series. Hiring a bunch of experts would have been overkill.
But with Ji Ruochu and her friends joining the team, everything changed. These students might have lacked life experience, but they were professionally skilled.
The original bland plot was revised, and the writing team, including the original author, polished it further, greatly enhancing the script's rationality and watchability.
The catalyst for this change was primarily the conversation Ji Ruochu had with Old Shang.
Those words instantly awakened Old Shang, who had developed an obsession with this drama.
That's right - if it lacked meaning and the right values, no matter how well the drama was produced, it would be a failure. Shang Chuan didn't want his directorial career to stagnate, but he didn't want to disgrace himself either.
In hindsight, was this conclusion so difficult to reach?
Of course not. It was only because of Old Shang's high status, the ensemble of veteran actors involved, and the excellent scheduled broadcast channels that no one had anticipated any issues with the drama.
Given all these favorable conditions, even Shang Chuan didn't think there would be problems.
At most, he had thought that after the drama aired, netizens might mock him for still producing melodramatic shows at his age - but it would be harmless chatter.
However, all this complacency was shattered after meeting Ji Ruochu.
This young actress didn't lack money, connections, good scripts, or public appeal. Her decision to take a role depended solely on the script and production quality.
Even her wealthy relative was willing to invest in her projects unconditionally at critical moments.
So the obsessed and slightly deluded Old Shang was awakened by a 15-year-old idol actress burdened with expectations.
On the very day of their conversation, he made a sweeping decision:
Revise it! Completely revise it! Take out the previous version and revise it! Call in the author to participate and polish it!
Within half a month, the entire writing team worked at full speed, with the original author overseeing and polishing the script.
This was how Ji Ruochu ended up with the script she was now reading.
So, the question now was: should she take the role or not?
A solid script, meticulous production, renowned actors and lead roles, and a legendary director for a melodramatic drama -
Logically speaking, with such conditions, would it even be worth hesitating for a second?
Ji Ruochu took out her phone and sent a voice message:
[Director Shang, I'll only have time during the winter break. Would that conflict with the production team's schedule?]
On the other side...
"Director Shang?" Old Shang raised an eyebrow as he turned up the volume on his phone. "Why is she addressing me more and more distantly? Is she trying to find an excuse not to act?"
After all, the timing didn't really matter... As long as the girl was willing to join, even if it was the summer break, this old bone was willing to wait.
After a moment, unable to gauge the girl's intentions, the old man decided to seek temporary counsel.
But... from whom?
...
At a certain banquet, the elites were enjoying drinks and conversation.
"Director! Your phone is ringing!"
The assistant director rushed over to the man in the midst of socializing, whispering in his ear, "It's Old Shang."
Upon hearing this, the man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He didn't dawdle, immediately stepping out and answering the call as he walked.
"Well, well, old friend, what made you think to call me today? Don't tell me you want to sweet-talk me into being your assistant director again?"
Indeed, the counselor Old Shang sought was none other than Qiu Xuetong.
To be frank, in the entire directors' circle, only Qiu Xuetong dared to address the legendary Old Shang in such a manner. Though they had an age gap of over ten years, they had known each other for a long time.
Years ago, when the 25-year-old Qiu Xuetong was summoned by the already renowned director Shang Chuan to be his assistant director, he would follow Old Shang around every day, addressing him like a brother.
Even though that TV drama ultimately wasn't produced, the two never harbored any resentment towards each other. In fact, out of mutual respect for each other's talents, they often got together to discuss filming techniques, naturally becoming close friends.
It was only in the past two years that Old Shang had shown signs of retiring from the industry, so the two hadn't been in much contact, only occasionally meeting up when one of them needed advice.
Like now.
"Ha, as if you could even afford to hire me." Old Shang chuckled. "Let me ask you something about this girl, Ji Ruochu..."
Why ask this guy?
Well, who else? The only two films and TV shows Ji Ruochu had starred in were both directed by him.
Tsk, the girl's luck was really something.
The old man felt more and more sour the more he thought about it.
