Chapter 18: Money? I Have It, Indeed
A warning from the senior students in the acting department flashed through her mind instantly.
“The people in the directing department aren’t very skilled at acting, but they sure know how to play the power game!”
Who would have thought? This freshman, who looked so innocent and refined, picked up bad habits quickly—truly a fine tradition of the directing department!
Meng Ziyi glanced discreetly at the young man before her.
His nose was straight and prominent, his eyes deep and captivating, and his jawline was even sharper than her life plans…
If it came down to the power game, she wouldn’t lose out…
????
“Being handsome isn’t an excuse!” she mentally slapped herself hard. “Meng Ziyi, get a grip!”
“Um…” Jiang Ye noticed her unpredictable expression and didn’t know what was wrong with her. “I meant the creative center downstairs in the dormitory building!”
“Let’s find a quiet place and try out the scene.”
“O-okay!” Meng Ziyi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly.
But for some reason, a faint trace of disappointment stirred in her heart.
This guy is actually quite handsome!
…
Ten minutes later, the two arrived at the student creative center of the directing department.
Jiang Ye took a bound script from his backpack—the title “The Rise of the Princess Consort” glittering in gold on the cover under the lights.
“This character,” he flipped to the character description, his voice suddenly full of allure, “will be the most groundbreaking female role this year.”
Meng Ziyi unconsciously leaned forward.
“A modern playboy named Zhang Peng suddenly transmigrates into the ancient princess consort Zhang Pengpeng.”
?????
What’s this about?
Meng Ziyi was stunned. She had seen plenty of transmigration dramas, but a male-to-female transmigration was a first.
Still, it sounded quite interesting…
“At first, she retains her male mindset,” Jiang Ye continued, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, “whistling at pretty palace maids, even disguising herself as a man to visit brothels…”
Likes beautiful women?
Meng Ziyi’s heart skipped a beat.
Isn’t that just like her?
Every time she saw a pretty junior at the practice room, she couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances, always teased by her girlfriends as being hopelessly obsessed with looks.
“But…” Jiang Ye suddenly shifted tone, “the role demands an extremely high level of acting.”
His long fingers tapped lightly on the script. “You need to convey the princess consort’s later-stage nobility. Ideally, only a real lady from a wealthy family can truly embody such grace…”
Meng Ziyi’s breath caught.
---
As the daughter of a Changchun conglomerate’s heiress, raised in an elite private school, elegance was the one thing she never lacked.
“The most important thing is personality,” Jiang Ye looked directly into her eyes, “straightforward, intelligent, loyal…”
Meng Ziyi clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
Isn’t this…
Isn’t this…
Isn’t this a role tailor-made for her?!
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest, an unprecedented hunger burning deep inside.
This role…
She was going to play it!
Jiang Ye closed the script, offering her a gentle smile. “Senior Meng, how about a quick try? Just the scene where the princess consort looks into the mirror for the first time.”
Meng Ziyi stood up immediately, clearing her throat.
She took a deep breath, her gaze suddenly sharp and focused.
“Damn it?!” she mimed looking into a mirror, her voice rising dramatically, “How did I turn into a woman?!”
Then she frantically touched her chest. “This… this feels pretty… no, no, that’s wrong!”
Jiang Ye: “...”
How to put it… Sister Meng’s acting is real to the core!
That too is quite something…
“Absolutely brilliant!” Jiang Ye suddenly clapped, his face alight with delight. “Senior Meng’s acting is so infectious! This role is definitely yours!”
Meng Ziyi’s eyes sparkled. “Really? So it’s settled then…”
Just at that moment, Jiang Ye’s phone suddenly rang.
He turned away and quietly silenced a pre-set alarm before pretending to answer a call. “Hello?”
He deliberately moved a little away from Meng Ziyi, lowering his voice just enough to let her hear, while seeming to try to keep it quiet.
“What? Senior Xu from junior year three?… No need, I already have a suitable candidate here.”
He glanced back at Meng Ziyi.
She, who was trying hard to eavesdrop, caught his eye and shyly smiled at him.
Jiang Ye continued the act: “Bringing investment into the production?!”
He suddenly raised his voice, then hurriedly lowered it in panic. “No way! Although our budget is tight… that’s still unacceptable!”
“Artistic integrity cannot be compromised!… But…”
“Alright, we’ll talk later!”
He angrily hung up, turning back with a troubled look. “Senior Meng, I still need to discuss this role with the team… How about we add each other on WeChat? I’ll notify you as soon as there’s news.”
Meng Ziyi’s smile froze; the joy just moments ago turned into nervous uncertainty.
---
She mechanically scanned the QR code to add him on WeChat, leaving with an anxious and uncertain silhouette.
Jiang Ye watched her figure disappear down the corridor and gently curled his lips.
Come on, Sister Meng, show some grit—you’re signing the contract tomorrow!
…
At 10:30 p.m., the light in Room 412 of Dormitory Building 6 at Beijing Film Academy was still on.
In the four-person room, Meng Ziyi’s bed was the neatest.
On the pale gray sheets lay several branded plush toys, a poster of *Farewell My Concubine* adorned the headboard, a full set of SK-II skincare products sat on the desk, and an expensive Bose speaker stood in the corner.
Wang Yifei sat cross-legged on her bed, applying glittery nail polish to her toenails.
Meng Ziyi hugged her knees, sitting opposite, her phone screen frozen on the WeChat chat with Jiang Ye.
The last message she sent read, “Okay, I’ll wait for your notice,” to which he only replied with a polite smiling emoji.
“Feifei,” Meng Ziyi suddenly threw down her phone, “what if a director likes an actor, but someone else brings investment to the production… would the first actor be replaced?”
Wang Yifei didn’t even look up. “Is that even a question?”
She blew on her nails. “Last year, my cousin was shooting a film. The third female lead had been on set for half a month, but then the investors pushed someone else in and she was told to pack up and leave.”
Meng Ziyi unconsciously tugged at the bedsheet. “But… what if the actor is really good and has the director’s approval?”
“Sleeping?”
“No, not yet…”
“Poor girl,” Wang Yifei finally looked up, “do you know how many productions replace actors at the last minute before shooting? You know Senior Yang Zi, right? I chatted with her recently—she had a film about to start shooting, contracts signed!”
“But a few days before, she was told to change roles! And she was a child star to begin with. What chance do we stand?”
Meng Ziyi’s expression darkened.
“If you ask me,” Wang Yifei shrugged, “if you had money, you might as well invest yourself…”
Before she finished, Meng Ziyi suddenly jumped up, her eyes gleaming fiercely.
Money?
She had plenty!
She hurriedly grabbed her phone.
“Director Jiang, I’m very interested in this project. Is there any chance to participate as an actor-investor?”
“I hope you can give me a chance!”
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