Nowadays, it's not uncommon for actors to bring coaches onto sets. In fact, it's even seen as a sign of dedication and professionalism.
But Zoe wasn't fond of this practice. She preferred taking acting classes or receiving one-on-one coaching during her downtime. On set, however, she wanted to immerse herself in the role with no external burdens—relying on her own understanding, discussions with the director, and practice with her co-actors to gradually connect with her character.
Zoe liked it that way.
She wasn't devoid of talent or intuition. In fact, it was precisely because she had some innate ability that she disliked being told what was right or wrong. She preferred discovering and interpreting things on her own, getting closer to her character through instinct and exploration.
However, her meeting with Liu Pinran didn't go smoothly.
Zoe had gone into the meeting with hopes of collaborating on a meaningful project. Yet, Liu began by suggesting the hottest trend at the moment: rom-com dramas. He proposed creating a modern romantic comedy tailored to Zoe, leveraging her current popularity. He even had several ready-to-go scripts, just waiting to form a production team. If Zoe accepted, Liu promised to greenlight the project, aiming to wrap filming and release it within two months.
His tone was casual, as if expecting Zoe to be grateful for such an opportunity.
Zoe didn't openly reject the idea of a rom-com. At this stage in her career, most of the roles offered to her were in this genre. Liu wasn't wrong: romantic comedies were indeed dominating the market. While only a handful ever gained widespread attention, these shows were low-cost, high-return ventures—a steady moneymaker. Adding Zoe, a rising star, to the cast would only boost profitability.
Lan, maintaining a pleasant smile, asked politely, "Liu, besides rom-coms, are there any other genres available?"
At that, Liu's expression darkened.
"What? Is Zoe too good for rom-coms?" He sneered. "Well, I get it. She's a big deal now, right? Too big for small-time shows like ours. Unfortunately, Yuehai Net's projects might not be grand enough for her. Maybe you'd have better luck somewhere else."
The sudden sarcasm left Lan momentarily speechless. It was normal for discussions about projects to involve back-and-forth, so she couldn't understand why Liu had turned hostile so quickly over such a simple question.
Zoe, however, remained calm. She looked at Liu and said evenly, "Mr. Liu, you think I'm just another fame-chasing rookie, not worthy of a good project. Offering me a rom-com is already generous, considering I'm only popular right now. Isn't that right?"
Liu simply stared at her, his smile faint and inscrutable.
Zoe continued, her tone steady, "You're right that my rise to fame was sudden. But my desire to become a serious actor is genuine. I'm not opposed to rom-coms, but let me be honest—many of them are formulaic, lacking innovation. Instead of playing another cookie-cutter lead, I'd rather take on an interesting supporting role. I hope you'll consider this."