Chapter 198: Nonsense

Tan Jinqi was sure that his sister would completely forget the fact that she had read the whole script.

The only reason he gave her the script was so that she wouldn’t get bored.

Tan Mo took the script and said, “Okay. Why don’t you go on? I’m here to watch you work so that mom and dad can stop worrying about you, not give you troubles.”

“Alright,” Tan Jinqi smiled.

As the oldest brother, the fact that his 15-year-old sister was worried about him made him touched but also sad at the same time as he had failed as her brother. That was why he promised in his head that he would be better at what he did so that she wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore.

Since Tan Mo had nothing to do, she decided to read the script. However, just a few pages into it, she couldn’t bring herself to read it any longer as the plot was too cringy.

Tan Mo then snuck out of the room and hid in a corner where she could watch her oldest brother work.

Minutes after that, from what she could see, Director Liu was very focused on producing a good drama.

Even the makeup and costumes were top of the line.

Some might say that these weren’t historically accurate, but Tan Mo could tell they did their best trying to preserve the historical features while making sure the costumes and makeup would appeal to the modern viewers.

After watching from the side for a while, Tan Mo got bored again and returned to the dressing room that was prepared for her.

Tan Jinqi returned when it was noon with lunch for Tan Mo.

Since the brother was worried that Tan Mo might not like the lunchbox that the crew had prepared, he decided to order food delivery for her instead.

“Did you read the script? How was it?” Tan Jinqi asked. He wanted to hear his sister’s opinion as she was now part of Professor Tang’s history research team, meaning that she would have a very good understanding of their own country’s history.

Tan Mo shrugged as she responded, “I can’t really tell… All I can say is that the plot is all over the place. At first glance, it looks like it’s talking about taking over the throne, but it’s different as the plot continues. Since the plot is taking place during the Northern and Southern Dynasty, the first impression it gives is the talents that the dynasty produce and the famous Seven Sages of the Bamboo Groove. But the deeper the plot goes, the less it’s about taking over the throne but more about the elegant talents and romance. All in all, it has nothing to do with history.”

After a short pause, Tan Mo suddenly asked, “You did say that this is a historical drama, right? Are you sure?”

“I am,” Tan Jinqi nodded. “Director Liu even hired a specialist to discuss the script with the scriptwriter. Now that you’ve mentioned it, I think the specialist is a history PhD student from Beijing University.”

“What?” Tan Mo was surprised by it for a second before regaining her composure as she was only acquainted with a few of the history major students from Professor Tang’s research team.

“Well, I don’t really think it’s a good idea to advertise it as a historical drama with accurate historical context…” Tan Mo shook her head.

Tan Jinqi believed his sister without a single doubt as she was one of the highly praised students by Professor Tang.

However, there was nothing he could do to change the script as it had approval from Director Liu. Not only that, the set was already built, and the drama was already heavily invested.

It was too late to change anything.

The only thing Tan Jinqi could do was remind Director Liu about the problem.

Although it wasn’t his problem to worry, but seeing that he was introduced to Director Liu by Director Hou, he could tell that the two directors were close friends.

It was one thing if Director Liu would listen to him or not, but at the very least, he had to tell the director the problem they might be facing.

Tan Jinqi even regretted not showing Tan Mo the script earlier.

Judging from her brother’s expression, Tan Mo could tell what he was thinking and asked, “Big brother, are you hesitating to bring this up to Director Liu?”

Tan Jinqi let out a deep sigh. “Yes. Even if I tell him now, it’s too late to change anything. It’ll take weeks to alter the script, and judging from what you had just said, and we might have to rewrite the whole thing. There’s too much to lose if we have the whole crew wait for that long, and the actors might not have the time to reschedule.”

The brother then pondered before continuing with a frown, “But, if I don’t tell him and he proceeds with promoting the film as a historical drama, I’m worried that it might affect his credibility as a film director.”

“Do you want my opinion? Just do what you think is right,” Tan Mo said. “Sometimes, it’s important to follow where your heart takes you.”

Tan Jinqi smiled but still could not come to a decision.

He wasn’t an indecisive person, but he didn’t want to drag Tan Mo into it.

The only thing he was really worried about was how it would affect Tan Mo.

If he were to bring it up with Director Liu, the director would ask why he did not bring the problem up when he got the script a few months prior to that and waited until they were about to start filming.

He needed an explanation that could convince Director Liu without dragging Tan Mo into it.

And Tan Mo knew exactly what his brother was thinking and a.s.sured him that he should do what he thought was right and did not have to worry about her.

Despite not voicing each other’s opinions out, the siblings could immediately tell what each other was thinking.

That was why Tan Jinqi only smiled at her as he would never do anything that would risk his sister being part of it.

Unless he was sure that Tan Mo would not be dragged into it, he would never bring it up.

The oldest brother would always choose to side with his sister instead of Director Liu. He didn’t even have to think about it.

Suddenly, the door flung wide opened, and the siblings turned with a surprised expression. Outside the door stood a woman in her late twenties with a pair of gold-plated round gla.s.ses.

She charged into the room and scolded Tan Jinqi, “a.s.sitant Director Tan, I can understand your sister being young and immature, but how can an adult like you be so immature as well? Are you going to let your sister spout nonsense like this?”

Tan Jinqi stood up angrily. He knew that working in the entertainment business would mean a certain amount of humiliation. Thus, he was prepared for it.

He could withstand anything, except when people were dragging Tan Mo into it.

“Like you are any better,” Tan Jinqi scoffed. “Tell me, how long have you been eavesdropping on us?”

By chance, Yuan Qishan walked past the dressing room when the siblings were discussing the script.

It wasn’t as if the soundproofing of the room was bad, but Yuan Qishan was extremely sensitive whenever someone talked about the script.

Thinking that the people inside the room might be talking about just that, she quickly stuck her ears to the door and listened to what they were talking about.

The first thing she heard was Tan Mo’s comment on how bad the plot was.

Even though Tan Mo did not specifically say that the scriptwriter was bad, but the implication of saying that the script wasn’t intended for a historical drama meant just that.

It was also an insult that the scriptwriter did not know her own country’s history, nor was she well educated.

From the conversation Yuan Qishan overheard, she believed that Tan Jinqi would bring it up with Director Liu.