Guan Suying's standards for filming were exceptionally high, focusing solely on the final output and disregarding ratings or economic benefits.
Consequently, her pickiness with actors bordered on hypercritical.
Among the artists in the industry, very few possessed acting skills that truly satisfied her; these were generally veteran actors with decades of experience.
Jiang Ling was the first among the younger generation to whom she could find no fault.
As the old saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.
People tend to associate with those who share similar circles.
Guan Suying was an outstanding director of the middle generation, and Jiang Ling was a top-tier acting talent among the younger artists.
As two women excelling in their respective fields, they naturally found much to discuss and hit it off exceptionally well, quickly becoming friends despite the age difference.
During the subsequent filming, Jiang Ling's performance delivered further pleasant surprises to Guan Suying.
Guan Suying repeatedly expressed, "If there's another good script in the future, I'll definitely cast you as the female lead."
Jiang Ling smiled and replied, "Good scripts also require luck to be found. If there truly is a good one, you won't have to ask; I'll shamelessly come to you for a role."
"Hahaha, then it's settled. If you don't come then, I'll tie you up and drag you here."
Le Zheng Yu, standing nearby, chimed in playfully, "I'm the best at tying people up. Count me in."
Jiang Ling gave him a playful glare, "You lawless rogue, don't get yourself into trouble."
Amidst this cheerful yet intense atmosphere, Jiang Ling completed the reshoots for Li Shengnan's scenes in just half a month.
The speed and efficiency were astonishing.
This swift completion was not only due to Jiang Ling's solid acting, with her scenes being completed in a single take, but also thanks to the crew's seamless cooperation and relentless effort, working day and night.
The reshoot work for this drama was also completed in less than a month.
Thus, this ill-fated "Cloud Sea Jade Bow Covenant," which had faced continuous setbacks, was successfully revamped and once again obtained its broadcast license.
Jiang Ling knew Guan Suying was a woman of action. With her efficiency and connections in both business and political circles, the film would be released before long.
Whether she could return to her peak depended on this drama.
Jiang Ling was full of anticipation and confidence.
However, An Qiuyan was furious about missing out on the role of Li Shengnan and harbored a deep resentment towards Jiang Ling.
In her view, if Jiang Ling hadn't intervened and disrupted things, this role would have been hers.
"You want to snatch my role, and you want to snatch my man too.
You damned slut, have you no shame?"
Shen Mingjue was 'exiled' by his grandfather to an out-of-town business trip, only able to see An Qiuyan via video chat.
"Yan Yan, what's wrong? You look so upset."
Shen Mingjue noticed An Qiuyan's red-rimmed eyes, clearly indicating she had been crying.
"Nothing!" An Qiuyan feigned composure.
"Did someone bully you? Who has grown the courage to bully my Shen Mingjue's woman?"
"Really, there's no—"
An Qiuyan's evasiveness, like a performer behind a pipa, made Shen Mingjue's heart ache. He became even more convinced she had been severely wronged, otherwise she wouldn't be like this.
Under Shen Mingjue's persistent questioning, An Qiuyan recounted the story of Jiang Ling snatching her role, embellishing it with exaggeration.
And so, Jiang Ling became the villainous supporting character who bullied others with her influence, while she was portrayed as the pitiable, helpless damsel in distress, utterly abandoned.