Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 1087: Chapter 623: Enjoying the Show as a Spectator

People often say that in this era, traffic reigns, and the good traditions of respecting teachers are gone.

But Zhang Hongyu never believed in that nonsense.

People often say she is imperial, even somewhat overbearing.

She never takes it to heart.

No matter how the environment changes or what others say, it’s not important.

What’s important is what she thinks and plans.

Zhang Hongyu also thought about accepting market reality. From now on, she wouldn’t be approached by various roles as she was before, and she wouldn’t be the most eye-catching character in a play.

People do age, facing the transition from center stage to the sidelines.

She just hasn’t been able to immediately accept it. For years, she’s rarely acted.

Until Song Chi approached her.

Song Chi came to her with several scripts.

These scripts feature female protagonists around fifty years old, ranging from police officers to doctors, small shop owners to wealthy wives, covering stories from family ethics and affection to suspense and crime, workplace life to biographies.

Zhang Hongyu hasn’t been approached with so many scripts in years.

Song Chi said, ”Sister Hongyu, choose from these scripts. Whichever you pick, I’ll figure out how to get investment and make the film happen.”

Zhang Hongyu chose ”Mother,” and Song Chi indeed got the investment, set up the platform, and assembled the team to produce the film.

Now ”Mother” is finally about to air, and Zhang Hongyu saying she’s not nervous would be false.

But given her status today, she can’t tell others she’s very nervous and uneasy.

She can’t let go of her pride.

Zhang Hongyu has heard the negative voices in the industry. ”Mother” is certainly not a popular topic nowadays—a story about a policewoman and her children sounds uninteresting, doesn’t it? Yet why choose this script?

Because she saw the happiness of this family interacting, because she saw the richness and complexity of a mature woman in this mother, because the script’s dialogue was excellently written, matching her artistic taste.

But all these reasons have no value in the face of the market and viewership.

Why can traffic reign in this era?

Because traffic can be monetized, while art and so-called acting skills cannot.

Zhang Hongyu participated in a lot of promotions, including several major interviews and talk shows, which all coincidentally focused on her golden era, discussing mostly events from that time.

This left Zhang Hongyu feeling somewhat disoriented; is it that only the past is worth discussing now?

She answered their questions sincerely and graciously, but in her heart, she wondered if not many people really cared about the story she was telling in filming ”Mother.”

People are more interested in her glorious past, eager for more gossip and details from that time.

Zhang Hongyu is extremely confident, yet very sensitive to her dignity.

If she could only rely on past achievements to remain on the stage, she’d rather leave early.

She doesn’t want to linger on a stage that’s clearly no longer hers.

Almost no one believes in this drama.

But Song Chi wholeheartedly focused on the pre-broadcast publicity of this series, telling her, ”Sister Hongyu, we shouldn’t worry about what others say outside; let’s just make sure this drama is well-produced and present it to the audience. Whether it succeeds depends on fate.”

Song Chi seems completely unaffected by external voices, unwavering, and he continued to offer Zhang Hongyu another role.

Zhang Hongyu wants to act. Given her experience and standing, it’s not hard to find roles, but it’s challenging to land the lead female role in mainstream productions anymore as investors no longer recognize her.

The directors she worked with mostly have other actors they cooperate with now.

The film and TV market is primarily focused on young middle-aged stories.

But Song Chi, after ”Mother,” swiftly tailored another TV drama for her, which he picked for Zhang Hongyu.

”Sister Hongyu, as soon as I saw the script, I felt it suited you. Promise me you’ll read it thoroughly before deciding.” Song Chi said earnestly, ”Don’t reject it just because of the subject matter.”