The Script for the New Drama

Despite some minor hiccups, the charity auction concluded successfully.

As the event wrapped up, the stars stayed behind to take photos. The businesspeople generally left promptly, but Qin Ran lingered since Yu Shuman was part of the photo session.

A group of well-dressed celebrities gathered on stage, politely jockeying for the center position. In the end, the industry's respected elder stood in the middle, with Yu Shuman taking a spot slightly off to the side.

This was unavoidable. The entertainment industry heavily values seniority, and the veteran deserved to be in the center.

Qin Ran didn't like this seniority-based arrangement. In her eyes, Yu Shuman should have been in the middle. After all, Qin Ran had spent so much money today—shouldn't her beloved stand in the spotlight? Qin Ran muttered to herself, then noticed Pei Qi.

His expression wasn't good. No wonder, considering he failed to win the painting, and after Ling Miaohan's impromptu intervention backfired, failing to curry favor with the female boss. In fact, she seemed to grow to dislike Ling Miaohan.

Pei Qi sensed Qin Ran's gaze and looked over, his eyes filled with wariness and caution.

By seniority, Ling Miaohan was even lower than Yu Shuman, who at least had one project under her belt. Ling's drama was still under review, especially with recent stricter regulations on idol dramas, particularly school-themed ones involving minors. Her drama had to re-edit scenes, changing high school to college settings, which meant reshoots.

As for why regulations suddenly tightened, that was thanks to a certain enthusiastic whistleblower.

But with her dual identity as the heiress of the Ling family and Pei's girlfriend, people were naturally courteous. After all, blood ties and romantic relationships carry weight, while Yu Shuman, in their eyes, was just the friend of the CEO of 99 Entertainment, which was several steps removed.

This infuriated Qin Ran. If only she could make their relationship public, she would announce to the world that "Yu Shuman is the wife of the CEO of 99 Entertainment" and see who dared to look down on her!

After the group photo, the stars dispersed.

The next few days were relatively peaceful. Yu Shuman was busy attending classes and preparing for an audition—the one Sister Li mentioned for a suspense drama. The director was an idealistic person who insisted on personally selecting the cast.

Although Sister Li arranged for investment from 99 Entertainment, Yu Shuman was only given an audition opportunity without any guaranteed advantage.

Qin Ran nearly cursed the director but Yu Shuman was unfazed, even comforting Qin Ran: "A director with passion is a good thing for me. It means he'll put his heart into making the drama. I'll work hard on the script and do my best to secure the role."

"Besides, Sister Li decided to invest in the show even before I was confirmed for the role because she thinks this drama will do well and bring returns for the company."

Qin Ran didn't care about profits; she was more concerned about Yu Shuman getting the role. But every time she got upset, Yu Shuman's soothing words calmed her down. Qin Ran wrapped her arms around Yu Shuman's waist and pouted, "You're too easygoing. If you don't get this role and make me lose money, I'll make that director regret it."

Yu Shuman chuckled at Qin Ran's antics, gently stroking her head as it rested in her lap. "Don't worry. And what if I get the role but still cause a loss?"

"That's fine. As long as you're happy."

"If you spoil me like this, I'll become spoiled."

Qin Ran, thoroughly enjoying the head pats, even closed her eyes in contentment. She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, "You can be as spoiled as you like because you're my Shuman."

After some playful banter, Yu Shuman returned to her script study. She was auditioning for the role of the third female lead—a character with limited screen time but significant presence. As the CEO, Qin Ran quickly obtained a copy of the script.

The suspense drama, stripped of its mystery, was a classic tale. The story is set in a building where one day, a security guard who had worked there for three years is murdered. Despite extensive searches, the perpetrator is never found. However, the male protagonist, the local police chief, senses something amiss.

As the layers of the mystery are peeled back, it's revealed that the truth is far more complex—there isn't just one culprit. All ten residents of the building are involved, each with blood on their hands.

Yu Shuman's character is one of them.

The story might not be novel, but the challenge lies in making an old story engaging. The plot reminded Qin Ran of a classic film from her original world—"Murder on the Orient Express," which had a similar setup. The challenge for the director was how to refresh this familiar narrative.

The motivation for the murder is key. The surface reason is that the security guard had dirt on the residents, forcing them to eliminate him. However, the real reason stems from a 15-year-old case of home invasion, rape, robbery, and murder committed by the guard, which led to his demise.

Yu Shuman's character was a student of the victim at the time. The victim, a young female university student, was hired as a tutor by the girl's parents. On the day of the incident, the student was supposed to be the target, but the victim hid her and faced the intruder alone, paying with her life.

The victim's sacrifice ensured the student's safety.

When the female protagonist finds the student, she doesn't hesitate to join the quest for revenge.

Over the years, other residents of the building, all connected to the victim in some way—friends, family, or people she helped—have also been haunted by the tragedy. The protagonist's arrival, and the guard's presence, bring them together in a plan to exact justice.

The male lead eventually uncovers the truth and confronts them: "Don't you want to reveal the truth to the world? To let everyone know what happened to that poor university student and to see the once-pitied guard despised by all?"

But the group still lowers their heads in silence. In the end, the protagonist decides to take the blame alone, but the others choose to stand with her, accepting their part in the crime.

It's a solid script, showcasing female strength. The protagonist's courage, cunning, obsession, and righteousness, alongside the strong bonds she forms with the other women, especially the second and third leads and the victim, emphasize the power of women.

No wonder Sister Li saw potential in it; even as an outsider, Qin Ran found the script compelling.

Qin Ran even suggested, "The lead role has a great character arc. Shuman, do you want to audition for it?"

Yu Shuman lightly tapped Qin Ran with the script, "No, the lead is supposed to be in her mid-thirties, and the scenes with the male lead require a lot of acting experience. I'll stick to playing a supporting role."

After the light reprimand, Qin Ran became more compliant, watching Yu Shuman study the script with renewed focus. Feeling mischievous, Qin Ran arranged a tea meeting with the director through Sister Li. To Qin Ran's surprise, the director was half an hour late.

Qin Ran double-checked the time and confirmed that the director was indeed late. She calmed herself: Well, this guy sure has ideals and personality, making the largest investor wait like this. When he finally arrived, Qin Ran didn't lose her temper but simply poured him a cup of tea.

The director was a disheveled middle-aged man with a messy mop of hair that looked worse than Qin Ran's after she woke up. His eyes, however, were bright and lively.

Great, full of energy.

The only thing Qin Ran didn't like was his first words: "I'm not going to play favorites. If Yu Shuman wants the role, she has to earn it through the audition."

Qin Ran forced a smile. "Fine, but I want to be on the judging panel during the casting."

The director's expression showed a hint of resentment, but he agreed. He had ambitions, but that didn't mean he wanted to reject all money. If he were truly uncompromising, he could just make indie films. There's no need to seek sponsorship and investors for a TV drama.

From this brief encounter, Qin Ran realized that the script's polish wasn't solely the director's doing—the screenwriter must have done most of the work. Qin Ran had a keen eye for people; this director, despite his rebellious appearance, wasn't someone who'd delve into the struggles of the underprivileged.

But the script heavily focused on such characters, including the protagonist, her tragic sister, the student she protected, and others. Qin Ran took a sip of tea, noticing the steam still rising from the director's untouched cup. She couldn't help but comment, "Such a waste of good tea."

She glanced at Sister Li, who also seemed displeased. Although Sister Li knew the director was a difficult person, she didn't expect him to be so rude to Qin Ran. As Sister Li opened her mouth to explain, Qin Ran interrupted, "Arrange a meeting with the screenwriter. I doubt they're as rude as the director."