nycdaug Chapter 122 Famous Actors Hard to Invite, New Plays Difficult
Chapter 122 Famous Actors Hard to Invite, New Plays Difficult
It's difficult to invite famous actors to new plays.
Young Master Xiao's hesitant words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Su Yunlan's head, and her heart sank.
Zhao Mingjiao, the most famous actress in the area, was sought after by many opera troupes, but she refused their invitations and insisted that she personally invite her.
Su Yunlan took a deep breath to calm herself down.
"Fifteenth Young Master, thank you for your hard work, I understand."
Unwilling to give up easily, Su Yunlan began to make careful preparations.
Knowing that Zhao Mingjiao loved tea, she sought out his treasured pre-rain Longjing tea; and having heard that he liked antiques and calligraphy, she specially asked someone to purchase a genuine work by a famous artist.
Xiao Yuhan watched her busy figure, his sword-like eyebrows furrowing slightly.
“Lan’er, this famous actor Zhao is so arrogant, why waste time on him? If he really doesn’t want to come, we can find other famous actors.”
Su Yunlan carefully placed the tea leaves into a sandalwood box and gently shook her head.
“Husband, Zhao Ming’er’s reputation is not just for show. With him, our troupe’s reputation will quickly spread. The troupe’s reforms are showing initial results, and I don’t want to ruin everything because of one actor.” She understood that Xiao Yuhan was worried about her and afraid that she would be wronged, but since she had decided to do this well, she would not give up easily.
Upon arriving at Zhao Mingjiao's residence once again, Su Yunlan presented him with a carefully prepared gift.
Zhao Mingjiao accepted the gift, glanced at it casually, but showed no joy on his face.
“I am deeply grateful for the kindness of the Fourth Young Mistress. However…” He paused, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance, “the conditions of this opera troupe are truly unsatisfactory to me.”
Zhao Mingjiao put forward many harsh conditions, demanding not only separate accommodation but also high remuneration, and even his daily meals had to be prepared according to his preferences.
Su Yunlan frowned as she listened to these demands.
These conditions practically handed over all of the opera troupe's profits.
“Mr. Zhao, I’m sorry, I can’t agree to your request.” Su Yunlan’s tone was calm, but carried an undeniable firmness.
She might make some concessions for the opera troupe, but she would never compromise without limits.
Zhao Mingjiao chuckled lightly, "Fourth Young Madam, you should think this through. In this whole area, besides me, who else can support your opera troupe?"
Su Yunlan didn't speak, she just stared at him quietly.
The atmosphere became tense for a moment, just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by Young Master Xiao's slightly panicked voice, "Fourth Young Mistress, something bad has happened..."
Young Master Xiao rushed in, panting, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. He didn't even have time to catch his breath before he said urgently, "Fourth Young Mistress, I...I just heard that this famous actor Zhao...he...he's not as aloof as he seems. He...he has a lover in...in the Rouge Lane in the west of the city!"
Su Yunlan's heart stirred, but she remained expressionless. She waved for Young Master Xiao to leave, then turned to look at Zhao Mingjiao, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
"Mr. Zhao, I heard that you've been lingering in Rouge Lane in the west of the city lately?"
Zhao Mingjiao's arrogant expression froze instantly, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly.
"You...you're talking nonsense!" Zhao Mingjiao shouted, his voice trembling with fear, but his confidence was clearly lacking.
Seeing his strong reaction, Su Yunlan became even more certain. She chuckled, her tone playful, "Mr. Zhao, nothing stays hidden forever. If you don't want your secret to be known by more people, why don't we sit down and have a proper talk?" She deliberately emphasized the word "secret," making Zhao Mingjiao's heart skip a beat.
Ultimately, under Su Yunlan's combined pressure and persuasion, Zhao Mingjiao had no choice but to compromise. He reluctantly agreed to Su Yunlan's conditions, not only reducing his payment by half but also giving up many of his demanding requests, all in the hope that Su Yunlan would keep quiet.
"Mr. Zhao, rest assured, I am not a gossip." Su Yunlan's tone was gentle, but a victorious smile appeared on her lips.
After seeing Zhao Mingjiao off, Su Yunlan finally felt a wave of exhaustion.
As soon as she stepped out of the Zhao residence, she saw Xiao Yuhan standing at the door waiting for her, the setting sun casting a warm glow on him.
Xiao Yuhan walked to Su Yunlan's side and saw the weariness in her eyes. He felt sorry for her and reached out to gently massage her shoulders.
"Lan'er, are you tired?" His warm fingertips touched her skin, bringing a sense of comfort.
Su Yunlan enjoyed his gentle massage, and most of the fatigue in her heart dissipated.
She nestled into his arms, feeling his familiar scent, and whispered, "My husband, it's so good to have you here."
Xiao Yuhan held her tightly and whispered in her ear, "No matter what you do, I will always support you." He knew she had sacrificed a lot for the opera troupe, and all he could do was silently protect her.
Su Yunlan gently nuzzled against his chest, feeling his warm embrace, and a relieved smile appeared on her lips. Just as she was about to say something, Xiao Yuhan suddenly said, "Lan'er, I feel like you're a little different today."
Upon hearing this, Su Yunlan stiffened slightly, looked up at Xiao Yuhan, and found his eyes full of doubt.
Screenwriter Qian was deep in thought, his forehead already covered in fine beads of sweat, and the pen in his hand felt as heavy as if it were filled with lead.
He flipped through the old script on the table, which had been read many times, and then glanced at the reference story Su Yunlan had given him. His brows furrowed, as if he were being suffocated by two mountains.
Those novel plot points and character settings seemed to him like aliens, impossible to fathom.
He was used to the same old lyrics and plots, and asking him to step out of that comfort zone was harder than climbing to heaven.
Time ticked by, but his inspiration flowed slowly, like a trickle.
Seeing the screenwriter Qian's worried expression, Su Yunlan felt extremely anxious.
She knew that the progress of the new play's creation was directly related to the future of the opera troupe, and the playwright Qian's conservative attitude made her feel powerless.
She took a deep breath, her eyes sharpened, and she took out several modern drama scripts from her spatial storage, gently placing them on the table.
"Mr. Qian, why don't you try these?" Her voice carried a hint of encouragement.
Screenwriter Qian picked up the script with a puzzled look, quickly flipped through a few pages, and his gaze gradually became serious.
The story structure and character development impressed him; the boundless imagination and novel expression seemed to open a window in his closed mind.
He read voraciously, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise, like a lost traveler who had found his way.
"This...this is absolutely wonderful!" He put down the script, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Fourth Young Mistress, did you write all of this?"
Su Yunlan smiled slightly, "I'm just providing some references; the actual creation still depends on you."
Screenwriter Qian picked up his pen again, and inspiration flowed like a spring, unstoppable.
He immersed himself in his creation, his pen flying across the paper, making a rustling sound, as if playing an exciting melody.
He would occasionally look up and discuss the details with Su Yunlan. The problems that had once puzzled him were now easily solved.
The other members of the troupe were also inspired by Qian's creative passion and joined the discussion.
Young Master Xiao Fifteen excitedly shared his opinions, while Zhou Qinshi began trying out new melodies.
The entire troupe was filled with an unprecedented energy, and everyone was full of anticipation for the new play that was about to be born.
Time flies, and the script for the new play is finally completed. Every character is vivid and full of life, every line of lyrics is captivating, and every plot is full of ups and downs.
Although Master Li was still somewhat hesitant, he showed a shocked expression when he saw the script.
As the new play was about to be completed, Su Yunlan stood in the center of the stage, her eyes firm and full of hope. She looked around and saw that everyone in the troupe had an expectant look on their faces. A feeling of tension and excitement spread through her heart.
"Let's start rehearsals tomorrow," she said softly.