In showbiz, if one’s reputation was tarnished, they could usually lie low for the time being and appear again because netizens tended to forget the past incidents over time. However, if that happened in academia, it would be no different from getting blacklisted. They would never be able to start afresh.

  When Zhao Xinran heard what her grandfather said about Gu Mang sitting back and reaping the rewards, her lips curled into a smirk as she poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks.

  Zhao Jin’s mood, on the other hand, improved considerably after receiving comfort from her parents.

  Nobody continued talking about Gu Mang’s matter as it didn’t really concern the Zhao family.

  Zhao Huai turned to Zhao Xinran. “The preparation for ‘The Black Sea’ is almost done. The official announcement will be made in a few days. Prepare yourself to start filming in a week.”


  Zhao Xinran nodded. “Dad, help me prepare the promotional article well on that day.”


  “Don’t worry,” said Zhao Huai. “Once you’re on set, remember not to act like a diva and lose your temper so often. I had a hard time convincing Nie Changting to cast you. Be humble and listen to whatever he says.”


  Nie Changting was the top director in the industry, and he only produced one piece of work every few years. Although he valued ‘The Black Sea’ a lot, he had no choice but to acquiesce and cast Zhao Xinran as the main lead Jiang Zhao because his company’s chairman had stepped forward to exert pressure on him and gave him his word that Zhao Xinran would do her best with the filming. Had it not been for this, he definitely wouldn’t have cast her as her image was too different from the said character.

  That said, Zhao Xinran wasn’t bothered by what attitude Nie Changting had toward her. She perfunctorily responded, “Will do.”


  …


  Being in a highly respected position in the medical profession, Fei Luo was quite well-informed. It didn’t take him long to find out that Capital University was planning to open a TCM experimental class.

  As an industry expert, he naturally knew how capable Gu Mang was, how promising this class would be, and how much benefits it would bring to the medical team in the future.

  “Gu Mang, the other chief professors of Capital University’s four other experimental classes have all been interviewed by the major magazines. Would you consider giving God Hand a chance?” He had been wanting to do an exclusive interview with Gu Mang, but he had always unfortunately been rejected by her.

  Now that Gu Mang had agreed to Principal Ren’s plan of opening the TCM experimental class, there were certain things she couldn’t avoid—this interview was one of them, and it was necessary.

  Nestled in the sofa chair, she twirled the pen in her hand and said, “Sure, when?”


  “How about this Saturday? I’ll make a trip to the capital to interview you myself,” said Fei Luo excitedly.

  “Alright.” After ending the call, Gu Mang looked down at the tablet in her hand. She hadn’t decided the elements to use in the movie poster of ‘The Black Sea’.

  Her phone suddenly vibrated at that moment. As she inclined her head, she picked her phone up and realized that she had a new message from the Eastern Brilliance staff responsible for liaising with her with regards to the movie poster.

  [God D, the movie’s main lead is now Jiang Zhao, so you might have to make some adjustments to the poster to make the female lead stand out.]

  That was just putting it mildly. What the message really meant was that Gu Mang had to make the character Jiang Zhao in the center position.

  Gu Mang had always drawn her own posters for her own movies and dramas, and she didn’t have the habit of using the cast’s real photos. If the staff wanted to change any position, they had to inform her first. In fact, she had also made her own corresponding adjustments according to any changes in the script in the past, but that was entirely her own decision. The filmmakers wouldn’t interfere with it as nobody knew the characters better than the author themselves.

  ?Gu Mang wondered as she replied, [Email me the new script.]

  The other party replied, [There’s no change to the script. It’s just that we’ve decided that Jiang Zhao will be the main lead.]

  Gu Mang knew how important the current showbiz industry viewed the main leads. However, it was the first time that they were bringing this up to her.

  A good movie could only be produced with the cooperation of all the characters, not just the main leads. Thus, Gu Mang typed three words in her reply. [Follow the script.]

  When the staff saw this message, she turned to Zhao Xinran and said, “Sis Xinran, Dark wants us to follow the script.”


  The manager frowned. If we follow the script, then the character Jiang Zhao can only be a co-lead at most. However, if we make some slight changes to the poster and put Jiang Zhao in the center position, everyone would think that Jiang Zhao is the main character.

  Zhao Xinran said impatiently, “Tell him that this is a request and an order by the filmmakers. We’re not asking him for his consent. Tell him to stop putting on airs and just do as we say.”