Chapter 129: Television Drama

Entertainment Around You
Story setting: February 2007
Recommended song: Fan Fan — "Can We Not Be Brave"
Disclaimer: This story is purely fictional. Please do not project it onto real-life figures. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

Jiang Yihan currently has four scripts on hand, but he has yet to decide which one to accept. In this regard, Li Ran grants him absolute freedom, allowing him to make his initial selection before they reach a final decision together.

Nearly half a month has passed since the scripts arrived. After much deliberation, Jiang Yihan finally decided today to meet with the director and screenwriter of one of them.

It must be said that this is the privilege of a top-tier star; he has the right to choose and the right to make others wait. Even though it was unintentional on Jiang Yihan’s part—he was simply overwhelmed by his schedule—he had inadvertently become the kind of "big shot" that others often complain about.

Why say that? Beyond the fact that he kept others waiting, the project itself had no other major stars attached, and even the sponsorship was in a very precarious state.

"Tell me, what is wrong with me? Why does this happen every time? Hahaha," Jiang Yihan chuckled to himself. "My first film was back when I was a rookie. It was a rookie director, rookie actors, a tight budget, and sponsorships were barely scraped together. Fortunately, it turned out well. For my second film, although I wasn't a rookie anymore and had room to choose, the same situation arose, and everything felt just as strenuous. Hahaha. If you could say that the past situations were due to subjective and objective factors, this time I feel like I've been cursed. I chose this script, only to realize the screenwriter is a rookie, the director is a rookie, and the sponsorship is still struggling to get off the ground. I’m honestly curious why I chose this. Li Ran, why did you even think to pick this script and send it to me in the first place?"

"The reason is likely the same as yours: the director and the script," Li Ran clearly knew what Jiang Yihan was thinking. "The director is Xu Le, right? The one you worked with before, who directed your 'Puppet' music video. He’s been picking up a lot of MV work over the last two years and has had a few opportunities, but because his style leans toward the sentimental, it hasn't quite suited the current market, so he hasn't moved up. Actually, in terms of pure ability, he’s comparable to someone like Park Young-hoo. Furthermore, the script itself is a manga adaptation. The success of the manga is already proven, which guarantees the quality of the source material. Plus, there have been quite a few manga-adapted dramas in Korea these past two years. As long as the screenwriter handles it well, there’s a fifty-fifty chance of success."

"True, the odds of success or failure for a manga adaptation are about equal. If it's done well, it can easily achieve high ratings. But if it’s not shot well, or the casting isn't right, it will be despised by the fans. So, choosing this script is also a gamble," Jiang Yihan nodded. "Actually, most of the actors cast for this are rookies, including myself. I’m also a rookie in the drama world. Working with a group of newcomers makes it easier to have passion and to offer the audience something fresh. So, I want to meet the director and the screenwriter to discuss things first. What do you think?"

"Agreed, let's meet them first," Li Ran concurred. "Making a drama involves many moving parts. The most important thing is to confirm the actors, director, and screenwriter; only then can you grasp the direction of the production. Excellent dramas are built from this foundation. Let’s talk to them before making a decision."

The script Jiang Yihan and Li Ran are discussing is for a drama adapted from the Japanese manga *Itazura na Kiss*. This manga has achieved countless glorious milestones: the 1996 Japanese version starring Takashi Kashiwabara and Aiko Sato swept across Asia, and the 2006 Taiwanese version starring Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin was a massive success. However, this classic manga has yet to be remade in Korea. When the script came into Li Ran’s hands, he naturally checked the relevant details and felt it was feasible before presenting it to Jiang Yihan.

Now, what needs to be considered is the thoroughness of the implementation plan and the probability of success.

The meeting with the director and screenwriter took place in a tasteful café.

Seeing Jiang Yihan again, Xu Le felt the irony of time. Back then, Jiang was just a kid just starting out, and he was a small-time director shooting a few music videos. Now, he is still struggling to make a breakthrough, while the other has become a top-tier star popular across all of Asia. With only three albums and two films, he had achieved unprecedented success. Xu Le truly didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Jiang Yihan was not an overbearing person. Compared to two years ago, his smile was still youthful, and his attitude remained humble. Suddenly, Xu Le felt curious: is the entertainment industry really such a corrupting vat?

"Hello Li Ran, hello Jiang Yihan. I’m Xu Le," Xu Le initiated the greeting.

"Haha, Brother Xu, long time no see. Don't be so formal," Jiang Yihan quickly shook hands with him and smiled, appearing very easygoing.

"Hello Li Ran, hello Jiang Yihan. I’m Song Na-min," said the woman, who was the screenwriter for this adaptation.

"Hello, hello. I’m Jiang Yihan. I’ll be counting on you both for your guidance in the future," Jiang Yihan greeted them and gestured for everyone to sit before he took his own seat.

"We are here primarily to hear your plan. Screenwriter Song, the script you submitted only covers two episodes. What about the rest? Is it finished, or still in the planning stages?" Li Ran quickly got to the point.

"Hello, Manager Li," Song Na-min was still a rookie screenwriter, so she appeared very nervous. "Actually, I’ve only written three episodes because, as an adaptation, it requires discussion with the director and the actors to determine the direction before I can make specific revisions. If I write it all now, the chances of having to rewrite it are very high, which would only make the schedule even more unmanageable later."

Li Ran nodded, appearing satisfied with this answer. "And Director Xu? What are the investment, scheduling, and related plans from MBC for this drama?"

When asked these crucial questions, Xu Le became somewhat nervous. "Actually, the station hasn't given us a budget yet; they’ve only asked us to plan. The schedule should be the May Wednesday-Thursday drama slot. Everything else depends on the cast being finalized. However, if Jiang Yihan participates, the station's budget and sponsorships will definitely come together quickly. With Jiang Yihan’s current popularity, those won’t be issues at all."

"So you mean you’re putting all your hopes on Jiang Yihan? If he doesn't take this role, the show won't happen?" Li Ran asked directly, not pulling any punches.

This left Xu Le blushing. "No… it’s not like that. Actually… actually," Xu Le hesitated, but then spoke up. "Actually, this project was first pitched to MBC by the intern screenwriter Song Na-min. It was rejected immediately, with them saying the adapted script wasn't suitable for broadcast. In reality, it was mostly because Song Na-min is a rookie, and the choice of material was seen as too easy, so the station didn't see any potential in it. Later, Song Na-min gave the script to me. After I read it and looked up the original manga, I felt the adaptation was excellent and worth producing. So I went to the executives again."

"You also know that my current situation isn't very good; I can only be considered a second-tier director," Xu Le admitted, blushing but speaking the truth. "The station said that this kind of drama adaptation has a very high chance of failure, and since I’m an unknown director, they wouldn't give us a slot. They rejected it again."

"But then an accident happened that gave us another chance." Xu Le’s words brought them back to that brief memory.

The period costume epic originally scheduled for the May Wednesday-Thursday slot had been rejected by its lead actor because the appearance fees couldn't be negotiated. It was already late February; if they didn't start filming soon, they wouldn't make the May deadline. They only had two months. The leadership of the MBC drama division naturally had to find another way. After flipping through many scripts and checking the availability of directors, Xu Le and Song Na-min were among the final three choices. So, the executives gave them a chance: whoever could find their own team and grab the leadership’s attention could start filming. Meanwhile, the station continued to negotiate with the costume drama team, trying to get that project off the ground. That was how Xu Le got his chance again. Submitting the script to Jiang Yihan was an attempt to seek an opportunity, but he hadn't expected this opportunity to actually manifest.

"So, in other words, there are no promises, and it’s not even clear if we’ll get the slot, yet you come to talk to us about signing a contract. Don't you think that’s absurd?" Li Ran’s tone became sharp, and his displeasure was palpable.

"That is the situation," Xu Le mustered the courage to admit. Indeed, a project with nothing but a script coming to a big star like Jiang Yihan had a near-zero chance of success. Both Xu Le and Song Na-min were feeling disheartened.

Suddenly, Jiang Yihan spoke up. "If I take this role, tell me your plan."

Li Ran looked at Jiang Yihan and said nothing more, also waiting to hear what Xu Le had to say. Xu Le, as if grabbing onto a lifeline, quickly laid out his plan. "First, I will submit our lead actor list. If Jiang Yihan is confirmed, that lead actor alone is enough for the station to make a decision; after all, no one can underestimate Jiang Yihan’s popularity right now. Second, we will calculate Jiang Yihan’s appearance fee and other budgets to submit a report to MBC for approval. Finally, we will secure sponsorships and organize the production team."

Actually, what Xu Le described was something Li Ran and Jiang Yihan already knew—these were the necessary, step-by-step procedures. What remained to be decided was just how much weight Jiang Yihan carried in MBC's eyes, and whether that was enough to launch this project. How much weight did this show have to make Jiang Yihan carry the responsibility alone and join such an obscure crew? Jiang Yihan had succeeded in his first two low-budget, rookie-filled films, but could he succeed this time with a drama? Would he take this risk?

So, the next question naturally followed: "Screenwriter Song, I’ve only read the first two episodes. Can you tell me the framework of the whole story? How do you intend to guide this narrative?"

Yuan Xiangqin is a simple, cheerful high school girl who, since accidentally bumping into the school genius Jiang Zhishu at the opening ceremony and sharing an accidental kiss, has been unable to stop liking this "super genius" boy with an IQ of 200. After more than two years of hopeless unrequited love, she gathers the courage to confess to him at school, only to be ruthlessly rejected. Because of her clumsiness, she becomes the laughingstock of the school. To make matters worse, just after being rejected, her newly moved-into home burns down.

With Xiangqin and her father facing homelessness, her father’s high school friend, Zhenzhi, generously offers them a place to stay. But Xiangqin never imagined that the kind Aunt Zhenzhi is actually Zhishu’s mother. Thus, through this twist of fate, the two begin a brand-new life under the same roof.

Zhishu, the so-called number one genius, is capable of anything, with every situation under his control. However, Xiangqin’s appearance is like an uncontrollable tornado, turning his original life upside down. Yet, her reckless, forward-moving silliness makes him start to think about his own life and future, and Xiangqin’s feelings for him slowly seep into his heart without him realizing it.

In fact, the main thread of the story maintains the style of the original Japanese manga. This was also true for the two successful adaptations. The key is how to adapt it to fit Korean characteristics, and the choice of suitable actors is also essential. Only then can the drama succeed.

Jiang Yihan thought for a long time, exchanged glances with Li Ran, and then said, "Actually, I’ve tried these kinds of attempts several times before. I don’t think being a newcomer is a problem, and not having sponsorship isn't a huge issue either—I’ve experienced all of that. All I need is a good script, an excellent director, and a group of good partners. If we all work hard together, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome, right?"

"I liked the first two episodes of this script, which is why we’re having this discussion today. But I didn't expect your situation to be much more serious than I imagined," Jiang Yihan’s words made Xu Le and Song Na-min’s hearts race like a roller coaster. "However, I still want to give it a try. After all, it’s not easy to come across a script you truly like."

When Jiang Yihan said this, the genuine smiles on Xu Le and Song Na-min’s faces made him feel that he had made a good choice. For them, after nearly a month of hitting walls, they had almost given up hope, and now they had found their most important bargaining chip in Jiang Yihan. How could they not be happy?

"You two go back and discuss it with MBC. Li Ran will also be in contact with MBC today. You talk first, and then we’ll see the results. Of course, if we don't end up collaborating this time, I look forward to working together in the future," Jiang Yihan added, "Though it’s better if we collaborate this time, so we don't have to wonder when the next opportunity will be."

As soon as he said this, everyone laughed.

Television is a completely different system from music, film, and advertising. After finding success in those fields, Jiang Yihan is now beginning his journey in television.

*Itazura na Kiss*? *It Started with a Kiss*? *Mischievous Kiss*?

Whatever it ends up being called, what will the future of this drama hold?