“Because it's more appropriate.”
Jiang Yue looked at the script on his computer screen and stated his reason directly.
“《The Grand Game》 is a historical drama. If I suddenly pull out a smartphone or a canned drink, the audience will be completely pulled out of the moment.”
“But cold medicine is different. If we change the outer packaging to a paper wrap or a wooden box, it fits the historical setting much better and can naturally blend into the scene.”
Jiang Yue paused for a moment and continued, “More importantly, the initial draft of the script provided by this advertiser shows a lot of sincerity.”
“They requested that I wear Chu Yan's clothes and film it in character as Chu Yan. It doesn't disrupt the flow of the plot or ruin the character's tone, making it the most natural transition.”
Hearing this, Xu Pingqiu let out an understanding laugh on the other end of the line.
“Alright, you've got it all figured out, kid.”
“I had the production team and legal department go over all three of these brands. Their taxes are in order, and there are no major issues with product quality.”
“999 Cold Relief Powder is a decades-old household brand. Taking this endorsement will also be good for your public image.”
Xu Pingqiu gave him a few more reminders regarding the shoot.
“Mid-roll ads are different from the main drama. You don't need to understand complex advertising camera language, and you don't need to consciously look for the camera.”
“Just stick to your usual acting rhythm.”
Jiang Yue agreed.
After hanging up, he returned to his computer, copied the contact number from the email, opened WeChat, and sent a friend request.
Just after the verification message was sent, the request was accepted in less than a minute.
Immediately after, a voice call came through.
Jiang Yue pressed the answer button.
“Hello, Teacher Jiang! I'm Old Liu from Jiuhe's marketing department.”
The voice on the other end of the line was extremely warm and welcoming.
Old Liu had spent years navigating the business world, and he had always been a keen judge of character.
A few days ago, when Jiang Yue was being questioned for playing Chu Yan, Old Liu was still pondering which actor from 《The Grand Game》's crew to hire for this mid-roll ad.
To his surprise, the online tide completely turned in less than two hours.
Jiang Yue's academic credentials and the Donghai police's anti-fraud video went viral one after another.
Old Liu made the decision right then and there in his office.
They were going with Jiang Yue!
This young man possessed a rare kind of mass appeal, capable of turning internet-wide skepticism entirely into anticipation.
What advertisers cared about was never just how polished the fans' comment control was, but whether the general public was willing to pause and look at him.
If they were even a step too late, this wave of popularity would likely be snatched away by their competitors.
“Mr. Liu, you're too polite. Just call me Jiang Yue.”
Jiang Yue's attitude was calm and composed.
“I've just read the initial draft of the script. Do we have any strict requirements for the shooting schedule?”
“No, we will work around your schedule,” Old Liu replied quickly.
“Since you're so straightforward, I'll send the contract over shortly. The shooting is tentatively scheduled for two weeks from now, at the Hengcheng Film and Television Base.”
“You don't need to worry about costumes, makeup, or props. We've already coordinated with the crew of 《The Grand Game》. We'll use your original costumes and sets; we'll only bring our cameras and the product.”
“The contract, invoicing, and tax documents will all be processed in advance. As long as the shoot passes inspection on the day of filming, the final payment will be expedited immediately.”
Jiang Yue glanced at the calendar on the wall.
“Sounds good. See you in Hengcheng then.”
...
Two weeks later, at the Hengcheng Film and Television Base.
At nine o'clock in the morning.
Jiang Yue pushed open the door to the makeup room in the indoor studio.
The makeup artist, Xiao Li, was waiting on the side with a powder puff. The moment he entered, she immediately began working on his hair and makeup.
“Teacher Jiang, your skin is genuinely amazing. We can skip a whole layer of foundation.”
Half an hour later, Jiang Yue changed into a moon-white brocade robe with subtle patterns. A warm jade pendant hung from his waist, and his hair was half-tied behind his head.
He walked up to the full-length mirror, straightening his shoulders and back while slightly tucking his chin.
The person in the mirror was no longer Jiang Yue.
The door was pushed open.
Mr. Liu walked in, accompanied by the ad director, Director Wang.
Director Wang specialized in shooting comedic mid-roll ads. The moment he walked through the door, his gaze locked onto Jiang Yue for a couple of seconds.
When he saw the official character posters before, he had thought there was some level of photo editing involved.
But now that he saw the man in person, he finally understood why Xu Pingqiu had placed this character at the very forefront of the promotions.
This face could command the camera.
And this aura could perfectly carry the costume.
He pulled a single-page script from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Yue.
“This is the finalized script.”
“We're shooting a mid-roll ad, so we aren't going for the main drama's bitter, deeply resentful, world-scheming vibe.”
“The first half will play out like the main drama, and the last two lines will be a bit more down-to-earth. It'll be fun for the audience, and they'll remember the product.”
Jiang Yue took the script and quickly scanned through it.
The plot was very short, and the action prompts were clear.
It aligned perfectly with the direction of the initial draft he had received, without ruining Chu Yan's character design or adding any unnecessary fluff.
Fifteen minutes later, all camera positions in the studio were adjusted and set.
The set replicated Chu Yan's simple, modest study from when he was a hostage prince in the drama.
A dim oil lamp flickered on a coarse wooden desk, where an unfinished game of chess sat on the table.
“All departments, pay attention!”
Director Wang sat behind the monitor, raising his walkie-talkie to shout, “Three, two, one, Action!”
The clapper loader stepped forward and clapped the slate.
The camera advanced forward along the tracks.
Jiang Yue sat upright in front of the chessboard, holding a black chess piece between his fingers.
He looked down at the game, his brow slightly furrowed, and his fingers hesitated to place the piece.
With just a single profile shot, the calculating nature hidden beneath Chu Yan's refined appearance was instantly established.
Crash!
The wooden window frame was shattered.
Two stuntmen dressed in black night-suits burst through the window.
The two rolled as they hit the ground, sprang to their feet, and drew their swords.
Two steel blades flashed with a cold light, resting directly against Jiang Yue's neck.
“Chu Yan, your time has come.”
The masked assassin declared menacingly.
According to typical television logic, Chu Yan should have sneered at this moment, or prepared a hidden weapon in his sleeve to counterattack.
The camera cut to a close-up of Jiang Yue's face.
He slowly looked up, his gaze still carrying a frosty chill.
Just as he was about to speak, his nostrils twitched twice, and his brow furrowed.
“Achoo!”
He let out a loud sneeze.
The nearest assassin was forced to squeeze his eyes shut from the blast, and the sword resting on Jiang Yue's neck wobbled slightly.
The two swords remained frozen in place.
The two assassins exchanged glances, their lines completely stuck in their throats.
Jiang Yue sniffled, reached up to rub the tip of his nose, and let out a sigh. Then, from his wide sleeve, he pulled out a red paper packet that looked quite antique.
Printed on the packet in black characters was: 999 Cold Relief Powder.
He tore open the paper packet, poured the powder into the coarse porcelain teacup beside him, poured in some warm water, and swirled it gently.
He tilted his head back and drank it in one gulp.
After setting down the teacup, Jiang Yue looked up again at the two stunned assassins who had yet to react.
His expression tightened, instantly shifting back to Chu Yan's cold arrogance.
“Infiltrating in the dead of night, you've let the cold seep into your bodies. You might not even be able to hold your swords steady.”
Jiang Yue pressed the empty paper packet onto the wooden desk, delivering his lines with crisp, clear articulation.
“999 Cold Relief Powder, used to relieve discomfort caused by wind-cold type colds.”
“Keep your schemes uninterrupted; keep the cold at bay early.”
Having finished the ad copy, he raised an eyebrow at the assassin on his left.
“The night wind is strong, and I see your hand is shaking.”
“Take it according to the instructions. Should I get a packet for the two of you as well?”
The two assassins nodded hesitantly.
The camera froze.
“Great, cut!”
Director Wang stood up from behind the monitor and slapped the desk.
“Passed! Let's do a safety take in a bit.”
He had originally worried that Jiang Yue, being accustomed to acting in television dramas, wouldn't be able to let go of his image and deliver this kind of deliberately goofy, contrasting performance.
But Jiang Yue's sneeze had been so natural that even he almost believed the actor had a real cold.
With a bit of special effects added in post-production—making the assassin's sleeves flutter wildly from the force of the sneeze and creating a comedic effect with their lost expressions—the final cut would definitely be memorable.
Moreover, in his eyes during the final ad delivery, Jiang Yue perfectly balanced the character's scheming nature with a subtle, low-key pitchman vibe. The result was surprisingly brilliant.
The second take went just as smoothly as the first, without any hiccups, and they successfully wrapped up the entire shoot.
Once they finished, Old Liu stepped forward quickly and shook Jiang Yue's hand.
“This final cut is definitely going to grab people's attention.”
“The contract and tax documents have already been processed. Since there are no issues with today's shoot, I'll have accounting expedite the final payment right away.”
Jiang Yue nodded.
“Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”
He turned and headed to the dressing room to remove his makeup.
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