Life is not lacking in beauty; it lacks eyes that discover beauty.
Jiang Ling recommended Jiang Yulei because she recalled working with her on a play years ago and accidentally saw him in a neighboring crew, trying on a set of ancient costumes.
He looked so handsome in that white attire, even from just a side profile, that she couldn't forget it to this day.
If he could play Xiao Ting in that same costume, with a slight adjustment to his hairstyle, he would be so handsome that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him.
Seeing Jiang Ling speak so confidently, Guan Suying thought that since they couldn't find anyone else, it was worth a shot. They might as well try Jiang Yulei, and perhaps he would bring a pleasant surprise.
With that in mind, Guan Suying said, "Alright, since you're more familiar with his sister, I'll trouble you to contact him."
Guan Suying knew that Jiang Ling recommending Jiang Yulei was not only to solve the immediate problem but also to compensate for what happened back then.
If Jiang Ling contacted Jiang Yulei and this drama became a hit, with Jiang Yulei making a comeback, he would surely be grateful for this recommendation.
Guan Suying was also a person who knew how to play the game. Seeing Jiang Ling's intention, she was happy to oblige.
Jiang Ling smiled and said, "Got it!"
Not having Jiang Yulei's contact information, she called Jiang Yu Shuang and explained the situation.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu Shuang immediately replied, "Leave it to me, I'll arrange for him to meet you."
"So quick, aren't you afraid I'll trick your brother again?" Jiang Ling teased.
"What's there to be afraid of? My brother's popularity is practically in the basement; it's like a barefoot person isn't afraid of someone with shoes."
Jiang Ling: "..."
Jiang Yu Shuang added, "Guan Suying's drama is so unlucky, it's like fighting poison with poison. It might just break his bad luck from the past few years!"
As arranged by Jiang Yu Shuang, Jiang Ling met Jiang Yulei at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Unlike the current entertainment industry's trend of male artists being overly effeminate, Jiang Yulei's features were more rugged. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, a high nose bridge, and a slightly square jaw, embodying the appearance of a traditional handsome man.
He had a gentle demeanor, and when he smiled, his eyes would curve into crescents. Standing there, he was like a landscape painting.
Upon closer inspection, one could see the artistic temperament, bone structure, and compositional beauty of traditional Chinese painting in him. This was the unique charm of a handsome man from Long Country.
However, this charm, much like the Chinese people themselves, was low-key, humble, and introverted, not something everyone knew how to appreciate.
The mainstream aesthetic in the current entertainment industry still favored the styles of Japan and Korea, where small faces and fair skin were sought after, pursuing a delicate look.
The kind of handsomeness Jiang Yulei possessed naturally appeared out of place in this current environment.
Another point was that Jiang Yulei lived quite roughly.
While male and female artists in the industry paid great attention to grooming and skincare, he was too lazy to bother. He appeared disheveled, making it difficult to associate him with the word 'handsome.'
Because of this, even after winning a Best Actor award, Jiang Yulei was still limited by his appearance. After his major setback with Jiang Ling, he had yet to recover.
Time slipped away, and three years passed.
What had happened before was still vivid in their memories, yet the two individuals had undergone a complete transformation.
One had evolved from a heavily criticized "traffic" female celebrity into a top-tier powerhouse.
The other, once a promising Best Actor, had fallen from grace, his popularity steadily declining, turning him into a minor figure in the industry.
Jiang Ling studied Jiang Yulei intently for a while before saying, "I thought you would have hated me after what happened back then, but I didn't expect you to still be willing to meet me."
After that film was released three years ago, the audience had heaped criticism upon it, and the box office results were disastrous.