Chapter 71: Accepting the Offer

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xu Chang scratched his head a few times and then changed the subject to filmmaking. “Hey Wen Nian, I’ve got a great idea for a movie and I really want you to be a part of it! Take a look at my script and you’ll see what I mean. The theme is super important – school bullying is such a big problem, not just here but all over the world.”

“In addition to wanting to draw attention to the issue among schools and parents, I’m making this movie to give hope to those who are being bullied. Victims of bullying typically face three choices. The first option is that the victim becomes the perpetrator, bullying their weaker classmates in turn as a way to cope with their own victimization.”

“The second choice is to suffer in silence until graduation, then move on to a new place only to become a fresh target for bullies again. Alternatively, one might choose to suppress their feelings and try to appear “normal” on the surface, all while carrying the trauma of their school experience with them for the rest of their life. This can lead to long-term negative effects that persist well into the future.”

“The third option is to fight back and kill those people, ruining their life.”

“Wen Nian had seen Xu Chang’s movie in her previous life and witnessed its significant impact on society. The film’s success was evident from the fact that it won the Best Director Award overseas.

It was impossible for Wen Nian to resist the temptation. The movie was simply too good.

Xu Chang’s future achievements were unparalleled among domestic directors. His extensive network and top-tier resources were second to none.

Wen Nian did not immediately refuse; instead, she remained silent. This gave Xu Chang a sense of encouragement.

After a moment of thought, Xu Chang said, “Wen Nian, you might not realize how difficult it is for a director to find a female lead who meets their specific requirements. The truth is, I found a female university student two months ago who came closest to matching the role in the past year, but still fell just short. If 10 points is the perfect score, she scored a 9. However, the moment I saw you, I knew you were the full 10 points.”

Wen Nian was a little surprised and stopped in her tracks to look at Xu Chang. “Would you be willing to reveal the surname of the other candidate?” she asked.

Xu Chang found it a little strange, but he still answered, “She has a two-character surname and it is Sikong.”

Wen Nian’s eyes flickered with recognition. Even among people with two-character surnames, this surname was rare. So, she was certain that this was the same amateur actor who had played the role in her previous life.

When the film was first released, everyone saw that the lead actor was just a nobody, and the director was not well-known. Consequently, not many people went to watch it.

Initially, the film’s box office performance was mediocre. However, everything changed when a popular movie blogger wrote a review online, which caught the attention of many viewers. Word of mouth spread, and eventually, the film successfully counterattacked and became a dark horse at the quarterly box office. The lead actor, who was just a nobody, was also the audience’s top choice for the role.

Wen Nian was surprised to learn that the actor who received such high acclaim was only Xu Chang’s second choice. Furthermore, she didn’t expect Xu Chang to be interested in her for the role.

Wen Nian couldn’t resist her curiosity and asked Xu Chang, “Director Xu, may I ask why you believe I am a perfect fit for the role?”

Xu Chang smiled and replied, “Would you believe me if I said it was just a gut feeling? I can’t quite put it into words myself.”

Xu Chang retrieved his phone and showed Wen Nian a scene that Bai Zheng had filmed. “To be honest, it’s hard to explain why I feel you scored 10 points. Maybe it’s just a gut feeling. But if I had to give a reason, it’s because I see a vibrant energy in you that I want to convey to the audience, especially those who arc being bullied. It’s a challenging emotion to portray on screen, and only actors with a certain level of experience can pull it off. But with you, I see a potential that can translate into a compelling performance, which is why I gave you that extra point.”

Wen Nian felt a conflict within herself. She realized that getting to know the current Xu Chang was both a stroke of fate and an opportunity for her.

Even without her, Xu Chang could still rely on the actress to become famous, while she would have to climb the ladder of success step by step, which might take five or ten years.

Wen Nian didn’t want to wait that long. She knew that in life, one may only meet one or two benefactors, and her rebirth gave her the opportunity to know Xu Chang’s fate in advance.

Wen Nian decided to take a risk, knowing that it would only postpone her university plans by two months. If she failed to get accepted, she could always repeat her third year of high school.

Wen Nian looked at Xu Chang firmly this time. “I accept the offer.”

Xu Chang’s expression went from disbelief to ecstasy. Xu Chang had even planned to wait for Wen Nian at the school gate tomorrow, at a specific time, in case she had not accepted the offer.

Xu Chang was so excited that he quickly replied, “Alright, alright, alright! I’ll draft the contract immediately and then head back to the capital to start preparing.. We’ll aim to start filming in January and try our best to finish it during the winter break so that your studies won’t be disrupted too much!”

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