This woman, I had seen her on television before; she was the renowned actress Gan Xiaorui from Fuming City. I never expected to meet such a star. The other man was that pretty boy, likely the historical drama male lead she personally promoted, He Qiming.
But I was a bit puzzled; why a historical drama? I thought my works would be better suited for modern settings, as many stories unfolded in contemporary times.
As soon as I sat down, Yan Zhanpeng said, "Detective He, the situation is as follows: I know you are a decisive person, so I won't beat around the bush. We actually want to use your writing talent to create a script for a historical detective drama, and then have Mr. He bring it to life on screen. Oh, and you two share the same surname, so with kinship in mind, I believe this collaboration will be very pleasant!"
Unlike other celebrities who might show disdain, He Qiming politely stood up and shook my hand. "Detective He, I've heard you are the most famous police officer in Fuming City. I recall you used to be a forensic investigator!"
"You flatter me. In truth, I've only solved a few cases by chance. Qiming, I've seen your works; they are quite good. It's commendable for a historical drama today to evoke such emotional depth!"
"Thank you, Detective He. Receiving your praise gives me even more confidence in my future acting career!"
"Mmm, I heard you and Miss Gan are dating?"
"Yes, Detective He. I owe my current success entirely to Xiaorui's support!"
Speaking of herself, Gan Xiaorui merely glanced at me. The girl seemed rather aloof, not one to engage much with strangers. She lightly tapped her cup with her finger, her gaze returning to a plate of steak.
"Detective He, regarding my proposal, can you fulfill it?" Yan Zhanpeng handed me a document. I took it and saw they intended to produce a historical detective drama set in the Song Dynasty. Coincidentally, I had investigated cases from that era before. I nodded and said, "I have some time for now, but it's unpredictable; if a new case comes up, I might become unavailable. Can you accept that?"
"That... I suppose. But please write it as soon as possible, ideally starting today!"
"No problem. Alright! Let's eat first!"
As we ate, I recalled the Song Dynasty serial murder case. I directly adapted it into an ancient setting. Yan Zhanpeng approved, but advised me to pay close attention to the historical background and customs of the period.
I made some additions on the spot, and by the time we finished the meal, a script was complete.
Yan Zhanpeng was both surprised and impressed. "Excellent! I'll take this back to discuss with the crew. If it's feasible, they'll notify you immediately. I hope that if you have time, you can visit more often to observe how the actors film and offer some suggestions!"
"Mmm, I understand. It won't take much of my time," I replied and left. The next day, back at the police station, after organizing some files, Yan Zhanpeng called to inform me that my script had already begun filming. "Alright, I'll come by after work this evening," I said.
"Mmm, we'll be waiting," Yan Zhanpeng said and hung up.
I kept my word. After work, I drove to Yan Zhanpeng's Starry Romance Company. As I entered the studio, several staff members greeted me and led me to Yan Zhanpeng.
"Detective He, you've finally arrived. These are the actors I've cast. Apart from Xiaorui and Qiming, whom you already know, the rest are playing supporting roles in your new work, 'The Grand Judge of the Southern Song Dynasty.' Let me explain in detail: Xiaorui will play Xiao Cai, the wife of Song Qirong. Song Qirong is a fictional character, and of course, his role is played by our Mr. He Qiming..."
I nodded continuously, listening to the director's detailed explanation. I felt quite satisfied, though I still perceived one area needing improvement. I called He Qiming over and explained the characteristics of a fourth-rank Song Dynasty official's attire. After some modifications with a few crew members, they began rehearsal.
This was the first episode of my new work. The story depicted Song Qirong as the grandson of Song Ci, a Song Dynasty judicial official. However, Song Qirong was a transmigrator, transported from modern society to the turbulent Southern Song era rife with crime.
In the first episode, Song Qirong is besieged by despicable bandits. Wielding an ancestral broadsword, he fights them. During filming, a burly man practiced with Song Qirong. Song Qirong swung a "Kasaya Slash" and the burly man instantly dropped to the ground as if dead.
However, upon seeing the man fall, Song Qirong frowned with displeasure. "Too fake. Xiao Guang, let me show you how it's done! A person who's been stabbed should fall like this!"
Saying so, Song Qirong pretended to be a man stabbed in the back. He trembled in pain, took a few steps, and then slowly collapsed. The entire action was as if he had genuinely been wounded, his expression incredibly lifelike. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have imagined a person's acting could be so good.
At this moment, Yan Zhanpeng walked over. "Detective He, Qirong was once an actor in the Great Studio. The Great Studio refers to a massive collective for Chinese historical dramas. In recent years, due to the decline of historical dramas, many distributors have become hesitant to invest. People today prefer excitement and a comfortable life; few are drawn to the ancient way of living. This is why historical dramas are gradually losing their market."
"Not necessarily. I recall there were quite a few excellent historical dramas in recent years!"
"Of course, just fewer than before. We've been persevering. You must have heard of a man named Yan Boyi, right? He was a superstar of historical dramas."
"Oh? You mean Mr. Yan who starred in 'Martial Heroes'? I suddenly realized he disappeared from the entertainment industry a few years ago."
"Ah, he died of stomach cancer. Didn't you know? That news should have been quite sensational."
"I apologize. I was entangled in a troublesome case at the time."
"Haha, Great Detective He, you truly have a convenient memory."
"You flatter me. Are there no other decent historical drama actors after Mr. Yan?" I asked curiously.
Yan Zhanpeng wore a look of deep sadness, but then a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in his eyes. He didn't answer directly but shifted his attention to He Qiming, who was still practicing nearby.
Even without him saying it, I understood. It seemed He Qiming had inherited Mr. Yan's legacy. I said, "Mr. Yan has a successor. Is He Qiming very similar to him in many aspects? I'm curious, there was no one like He Qiming before. How was he promoted?"