Because she had studied the script thoroughly the previous night, Yu Youqing already had a clear idea of how to perform this scene. Crying on cue wasn't a problem for someone with professional training, but the emotions needed to be built up beforehand.
Gao Wencang blinked in surprise. He had expected several NGs here, but the emotional tension—
Of course, no drama could be shot in a single flawless take. Jing Yu and Yu Youqing still broke character occasionally, or didn't quite hit the mark on some odd-angle shots.
But when it came to the key dramatic beats, the two of them nailed it every time.
Still, it was obvious—even to someone as untrained in acting as Gao Wencang—that Yu Youqing's performance slightly outshone Jing Yu's. She was a professionally trained actress, after all. Jing Yu, despite having a background in performance studies in his previous life, simply couldn't compare.
But that worked out well. After all, this story placed more narrative weight on the female lead, Shou Aimei. She was at the heart of the mystery, the emotional turning points, and the rhythm of the plot. If her performance lagged behind the male lead's, that would've been a bigger issue.
That was also why the female lead's pay was higher than the male lead's. Liu Neng, as the producer and budget manager, had made that call after reading the script.
The script went from the leads' first encounter on the train to a zoo outing the next day, and that night, the male lead—encouraged by his friend—invited Shou Aimei to watch a movie together.
To be honest, as far as romance drama male leads go, Gaoshan was a role model. Love at first sight? He confessed right away. Met the girl on day one? Asked her out on day two.
Gao Wencang evaluated himself as also being from the "Gao" family, but if he had Gaoshan's courage, maybe he wouldn't still be single.
He looked at Jing Yu's face.
If he were even half that handsome, his courage would be double Gaoshan's.
Although the shoot was going smoothly, it was already 10 p.m., and this part of the script wasn't fully done.
But since the entire story centered on the male and female leads, and the two actors had great chemistry, filming was proceeding faster than expected.
Seeing this, Gao Wencang finally called it a wrap for the day. If they were going to push themselves, they'd do it tomorrow.
Because of how rushed everything was, no one in the crew had had time for a welcome meal or group dinner. So Jing Yu and Liu Neng had arranged for everyone to eat together that night at a nearby restaurant.
Even though the budget was tight, there was still enough for a decent meal for the few dozen people on staff. Even Jinhui TV wasn't that good.
Jing Yu didn't know many of the crew personally, but with Liu Neng helping to break the ice, he got a decent understanding of who was who over the course of the meal.
He was still concerned about the soundtrack, but the music team reassured him: Da Zhou's music scene had plenty of good material, and the TV station had rights to a wide selection of songs. They'd pick according to Jing Yu's specifications.
Since filming would resume the next day, the general rule was to drink in moderation. The alcohol the restaurant served was limited in quantity, so no one ended up blackout drunk.
By the time the dinner was wrapped, it was already late. Some people stayed at hotels the production had booked nearby, while others—like Yu Youqing—lived in Lan City and went home.
It was almost 1 a.m. A lone girl going home that late, even in a taxi, still felt unsafe. With Gao Wencang subtly suggesting it and Jing Yu himself feeling uneasy, he ended up escorting her home.
Yu Youqing hadn't had any alcohol, and apart from a couple of drinks early on, Jing Yu had focused on eating, so he was completely sober too.
The two of them sat in the backseat of the taxi. During the day on set, there hadn't been any awkwardness, but now… the atmosphere felt oddly tense.
If the silence dragged on, it'd only get more awkward. Yu Youqing took the initiative to speak.
"Teacher Jing Yu, do you remember a few days ago?"
"A few days ago? What happened a few days ago?" Jing Yu was caught off guard.
"A few days ago, you went on a blind date with my best friend, Zhao Xin." Yu Youqing looked at him, eyes twinkling.
"You left halfway through the date. She was livid."
She brought it up just to lighten the mood.
"Something urgent came up. Sorry. If you see her, please pass on my apologies," Jing Yu replied with an awkward smile.
"It's not a big deal. But… after joining the crew today, I did hear some interesting rumors about you," Yu Youqing said, resting her chin on her hand as she studied him.
"You just broke up with your ex, right? And then signed up for a matchmaking agency so soon after? That's pretty fast."
"I registered a long time ago," Jing Yu explained. "I haven't updated my info or paid the fees, so I honestly forgot about it. It just so happened—"
He abruptly stopped himself.
It just so happened the agency called that day, and he was broke and starving after time-traveling, so he went on the date out of desperation.
"But if not for that, I wouldn't have found someone as beautiful and perfect for Shou Aimei as you," he pivoted quickly.
Ah...
Yu Youqing had heard that kind of flattery since she was a child. But hearing it from the writer of My 'Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' still made her heart flutter a little.
It was affirmation—from the person who created the role she was playing.
That meant something.
"But you," Jing Yu asked, now that they'd talked this much, "were so determined to reject the role yesterday. What made you change your mind?"
"Nothing much… women are fickle, you know. Morning thoughts and midnight thoughts are never the same," Yu Youqing replied casually, skimming over the truth.
No way she could tell him she loved the script so much she'd obsessed over it all night, flipped coins to make a decision (three times in a row), and ended up so anxious that she called him at 1 a.m. just to make sure she didn't miss her chance.
"Well, either way… thank you," Jing Yu said after a pause.
"Just from today's shoot alone, you're by far the best fit for the role of Shou Aimei. And actually… you're the only one who said yes."
Yu Youqing froze.
"What? But this script is good. Finding someone to play the lead shouldn't have been—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her mind flashed to her own two years of acting experience. Was she the problem? In terms of looks and talent, she was better than 95% of the so-called female leads in Lansheng TV dramas.
And yet, she was still a complete unknown.
In this industry, talent wasn't everything. Not even close.
"Because they have no taste. They don't know a gem when they see one," Jing Yu said calmly.
Most of them hadn't even read the script before rejecting him. That alone showed their lack of judgment.
Yu Youqing's hand trembled slightly.
That line… hit deep.
Sure, Jing Yu was technically talking about himself, but she felt like it applied to her too.
"So what you're saying is… I have good taste?" Yu Youqing asked, smiling playfully.
"Of course. What I told you yesterday still stands. Even if this show only airs two episodes, its ratings won't be lower than White Lovers," Jing Yu said with a smile.
Of course, no one could guarantee the future. But 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' had been a critically acclaimed, box office hit in his past life's Japan.
It might not have been a timeless classic there, but everything was relative. A person with ten million yuan in assets might be considered middle-class in Shanghai, but in a fifth-tier city, they'd be a bona fide millionaire.
So, putting this script—one that was a success in his previous life's Japan—into the current Da Zhou Federation's entertainment landscape? It was bound to stand out.
After all, even though both cultures loved dramas, the filmmaking standards in his past life's Japan were clearly a level above Da Zhou's.
Take White Lovers, for instance. If it were rated on Douban in his past life, it wouldn't score more than 4 out of 10. Cliché plot, stale tropes. Jing Yu could barely watch it without cringing. And yet, here? People called it touching and tear-jerking.
"Sir, Miss, we've arrived," said the driver.
The taxi stopped in front of Yu Youqing's family flower shop.
Their conversation ended.
Yu Youqing took a deep breath and got out of the car. Jing Yu waved goodbye.
"Don't forget—7:30 a.m. tomorrow," he reminded her.
"Got it," Yu Youqing replied. Under the glow of the streetlamp, she took a few steps toward her door, then turned back.
"Teacher Jing Yu."
Jing Yu looked at her through the car window.
"You're not the only one with good taste. I have it too."
Yu Youqing held her purse, her skirt fluttering slightly, her face lit with a confident smile.
"I've met so many screenwriters, directors, and producers… but only you seem to have eyes that actually work. Don't worry, Teacher Jing Yu—with me playing Shou Aimei, 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' will absolutely surpass White Lovers in ratings."
Even if she didn't fully believe it herself.
Would audiences love the story as much as she did?
But until the results came in, she couldn't sell herself short.
"Flattering me won't get you a raise," Jing Yu chuckled, "but I'll allow you to sleep in ten extra minutes tomorrow. Just be at the set by 7:40."
He smiled and sat back in the taxi as it pulled away.