WBSGVS Chapter 235 V1

He Tianzhuo stared stiffly at the screen where the message had just been recalled. He’d already typed out a new message, but his finger hovered, unable to hit send.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

But damn it, the more he thought about it, the worse he felt!

Did the public think that, after working as a director for twenty years, he still couldn’t measure up to Su Qingli—someone directing for the first time?

He thought back to the conversation he’d overheard at the Civil Affairs Bureau, to the posts he’d read online, to what his assistant had told him. His lips trembled slightly from the frustration, and he muttered under his breath, “I refuse to believe I’d lose to her.”

He pulled out his laptop, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag to clear his head and stay sharp.

Seeing this, his assistant tried to persuade him. “You’ve been working nonstop. Maybe take a short break?”

He Tianzhuo shook his head without hesitation. “No breaks! I don’t have time!”

He knew his condition. His health had been deteriorating for a while, and all the recent stress had pushed him to his limits. Tasks that used to take him an hour now took three, sometimes even longer. There was no time to rest.

The assistant sighed. “But like this, the investors are going to worry. If they show up and see you in this state, it won’t go over well…”

“I know what I’m doing,” He Tianzhuo said coldly. “Just do your job.”

The assistant said nothing more.

After a while, He Tianzhuo reopened his phone. He hesitated for a long moment, then finally sent a message to a friend.

When he got a positive reply, a faint smile appeared on his face. He was still nervous, but he felt a little more at ease.

—

At the end of June, Feng Sha finished airing all its episodes. Three days later, all episodes except the first two required a VIP membership to view. On the first day alone, the number of new VIP signups skyrocketed.

In early July, Feng Sha was recut to remove the obvious time-travel elements and aired on a satellite TV channel. CCTV bought it at a high price, and its ratings visibly spiked on the day it aired.

By mid-July, Feng Sha had secured licensing deals in several countries. After splitting the profits among the investors, Su Qingli’s portion—just as she’d stated before—was donated to a national poverty alleviation fund.

At the same time, merchandise related to Feng Sha exploded in popularity, further boosting the show’s already massive influence.

By late July, Adult Affairs officially began filming.

There weren’t many investors—Su Qingli was the primary backer, ensuring she retained full creative control.

The male lead was Shen Shen, with a new actress cast as the female lead. The rest of the cast weren’t top-tier celebrities either, so Shen Shen was the only real box office draw.

This surprised Su Qingli. According to the original storyline, Shen Shen was Zhao Muyun’s official match.

But perhaps because Zhao Muyun ended up with Su Yan, the second male lead, his “red string” with Shen Shen had been cut. When Su Qingli tentatively sent the script to Shen Shen’s team, they responded the same day—he accepted the role without hesitation.

In the original plot, Shen Shen was a Grand Slam Best Actor. He’d only acted in three TV series—one supporting role and two leads—before moving full-time to the big screen, where he consistently brought in box office success. Investors lined up to throw money at him.

The fact that he was now working with her, Su Qingli, couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

“Director Su!” a clear voice called out.

Snapping back to attention, she saw the young man walking over and smiled. “Shen Yingdi, you’re here.”

Shen Shen scratched his nose sheepishly. “You don’t have to call me that. Just call me Shen Shen. Director Su, I had a question about the male lead…”

She immediately leaned in to look at his script.

After discussing the scene, both of them were very satisfied with the changes. Su Qingli said, “I didn’t expect you to analyze the script so thoroughly. I hadn’t even noticed that detail could be expanded.”

Shen Shen smiled, his eyes filled with genuine admiration. “I love your work. I was thrilled to finally get a chance to collaborate with you—I hope it’s not the last.”

“Huh?” Su Qingli was a little taken aback.

Shen Shen’s eyes sparkled. “Feng Sha was incredible. The themes, the detail, the direction—everything was flawless. When I watched it, I had the urge to do TV again. I wanted to act with that kind of intensity. I was looking for a way to reach out when your invitation came through. It’s truly an honor.”

Su Qingli beamed. “There’ll be more chances.”

Just then, the assistant came over to say the set was ready. They exchanged contact info and officially began filming.

Su Qingli didn’t believe in working late or burning out. She kept the crew on a strict eight-hour schedule. If any issues came up, they’d solve them within an hour. If not, they’d pick it up the next day.

This kept everyone in great spirits.

After half a month of shooting, the cast and crew had settled into a comfortable rhythm. One evening, after returning to the hotel, Su Qingli got a message:

[Director, I’m a little unsure about a scene. Could I come by to run lines with you?]

—From Shen Shen.

She often ran lines with actors on set, not just Shen Shen. Everyone appreciated her guidance since she knew every detail of the script and had a great handle on emotional beats. It wasn’t unusual, and it was only around dinnertime—not late at all.

But before she could respond, a head popped into view and muttered gloomily, “Running lines? You two that close? He’s an award-winning actor—he needs coaching more than I did? Why didn’t you run lines with me at night, huh?”

That pitiful tone made her scalp tingle. She immediately grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it. “Shut it! We’re not even close—I haven’t even replied yet!”

Ning Xi sighed like a wronged little wife. “So… are you going to say yes?”

“Don’t be so dramatic!” She shoved her phone at him. The screen clearly showed her reply: [Let’s go over it on set tomorrow. I’m eating right now.]

Ning Xi instantly lit up, grinning like a fool. Su Qingli had to look away from his goofy face, but her lips curled into a smile too.