Chapter 38: Who Do You Love Most?

Zhang Yuan stepped into the Huanya Audio-Visual office building.

Unfamiliar with the place, he headed straight for the reception desk.

At that moment, a middle-aged man was inquiring about how to reach his destination.

The receptionist stood up politely, setting down the copy of *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone* she had been surreptitiously reading.

The film adaptation of this novel had just premiered in China earlier this year, causing quite a sensation and driving a surge in novel sales.

Young people of the future shouldn't listen to their parents or older elders bragging about how hard they worked in their youth; in reality, people in every era slack off—it is simply part of a worker's self-cultivation.

The young lady began gesturing as she spoke.

"Go all the way to the end on the right, take the third elevator to the 18th floor, office number two in the middle..."

That is how large companies work; many people, many offices.

The middle-aged man walked away slowly, muttering her words to himself, terrified of forgetting the complex route.

Just then, Zhang Yuan stepped forward and asked, "Hello, could you tell me how to get to the XXX conference room?"

The receptionist, who had just sat down to sneak a peek at her book, raised her head with a hint of impatience, but her expression shifted instantly upon seeing Zhang Yuan's face, replaced by a lovestruck smile.

"The XXX conference room is quite tricky to find. How about I take you there?"

"That would be a great help, thank you."

As the receptionist led Zhang Yuan forward at a brisk pace, the middle-aged man who had just been "reciting" the route saw them pass by, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossing his mind.

*Why is it that when we both ask for directions, I have to walk myself, but he gets a guide!*

The man rubbed his thinning scalp and cursed indignantly in his heart: "Girls these days are so double-standard. If I were thirty years younger... actually, I still wouldn't be as handsome as that kid."

Along the way, the beautifully dressed receptionist in her professional attire struck up conversation from time to time, asking everything from his height and weight to his hobbies, interests, income, and address—she might as well have asked to see his household registration.

Zhang Yuan wasn't particularly interested. On one hand, he had serious business to attend to and wasn't in the mood for banter. On the other hand, he had seen so many beauties in the *Golden Powder Era* crew that this woman couldn't compete even with someone like Liu Xixi or Shu Chang, let alone the supporting actresses.

Zhang Yuan recalled a line from Teacher Qiao Shan: *It's not that you aren't excellent enough, girl; it's just that my standards are a bit high.*

Upon reaching the conference room door, the receptionist gave him a flirtatious wink before waving goodbye and leaving.

Inside the conference room, Mr. Jiang, the project manager from Huanya, was sitting at the conference table, with directors Yang Tao and Lai Shuiqing seated on either side.

Yang Tao was on the right and Lai Shuiqing was on the left; even their seating followed the traditional rule of "Literature in the East, Martial Arts in the West."

"Director Yang, you mentioned yesterday that you wanted to add a small meeting. Now that the previous topic has concluded, you may share your thoughts on the film," Mr. Jiang said, always cheerful, looking like a harmless, smiling Maitreya Buddha.

Lai Shuiqing looked at Yang Tao very cautiously, prepared to counter whatever he might say.

On the surface, the two directors appeared harmonious, but behind the scenes, they had long been in a state of high tension.

*Knock, knock, knock...* Just then, Zhang Yuan knocked on the door and entered the room after receiving permission.

"Zhang Yuan, come sit here," Yang Tao greeted him, gesturing for him to sit beside him.

Lai Shuiqing had guessed that Yang Tao would bring in outside help, but seeing that the newcomer was a young man in his twenties, he was instantly filled with doubt.

He first looked at Mr. Jiang, and seeing that the man's expression remained unchanged, he assumed Jiang didn't know the kid.

He concluded that this young man was likely not a relative or protégé of some big shot, and a wave of disdain rose in his heart.

*Even an old hand like Yang Tao couldn't convince Mr. Jiang; what use could a green kid like you be?*

Lai Shuiqing felt much more at ease and relaxed.

"Mr. Jiang, regarding the story adaptation and narrative direction of the *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* project, I have some new insights."

"I would like to invite this Mr. Zhang Yuan to speak on my behalf."

"Hold on." Just as Zhang Yuan was about to speak, Lai Shuiqing intervened: "Sir, although you are young, since Director Yang has invited you to this meeting, you must be very familiar with *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, am I correct?"

Zhang Yuan nodded.

"Very well, I happen to have a question I'd like to pose," Lai Shuiqing said, intending to strike first without giving him a chance.

"Please, go ahead," Zhang Yuan replied with a smile. Beside him, Yang Tao's heart raced, fearing that Zhang Yuan would be stumped immediately and lose all leverage.

"There are so many women in the book. Who is it that Zhang Wuji loves most?"

This question was a massive trap!

In Old Jin's books, Zhang Wuji was considered a very "philanthropic" character.

Zhao Min, Zhou Zhiruo, Xiaozhao, Yin Li, and even Zhu Jiuzhen.

Every single one of them had an inextricable bond with Zhang Wuji. No matter which one you named, the opponent could use the text to refute you—after all, Lai Shuiqing had practically read *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* to death.

Zhang Yuan smiled and answered quickly, "It is, of course, Zhao Min."

Lai Shuiqing's eyes lit up; he had already prepared eight passages of original text to prove that Zhang Wuji loved Zhou Zhiruo more.

Similarly, if Zhang Yuan had said Zhou Zhiruo, he would have found evidence to prove he loved Zhao Min more.

Under the table, Yang Tao gave himself a nervous pinch, thinking, *Damn it, Zhang Yuan is too young; he's fallen into this old fox's trap.*

But Zhang Yuan remained completely unruffled and began to speak eloquently.

"My reason for saying he loves Zhao Min most comes from Mr. Jin himself."

He knew exactly what the other man was trying to do. *He wants to use the content of the book to defeat me? Then I simply won't mention the book!*

"Director Lai, are you familiar with the Oedipus complex?"

The Oedipus complex originates from Greek mythology; simply put, it involves a protagonist unintentionally killing his father and marrying his mother.

While such a concept would be considered sacrilegious in traditional Chinese values, it is very prevalent in Western culture and can be found in countless films and literary works.

As a professional director, Lai Shuiqing certainly understood the concept, but he had no idea what Zhang Yuan was getting at.

"When Mr. Jin was thirteen, his biological mother, Xu Lu, passed away from illness."

"His father remarried, taking Gu Xiuying, who was seventeen years his junior, as his wife."

"And Gu Xiuying had become a maid in the Cha family at the age of eleven, caring for the young Mr. Jin and staying by his side."

"To him, Gu Xiuying was not just a friend or a caregiver, but a gentle older sister—even his first fantasy of love. Yet, in an instant, she became his stepmother."

"You—don't talk nonsense! Do not slander the old master!" Lai Shuiqing grew agitated immediately. To suggest the old man had feelings for his stepmother was crossing a line.

"How am I slandering him? Mr. Jin naturally enjoys bringing the people around him into his stories. For example, in *The Book and the Sword*, Chen Jiaoluo's mother, Xu Chaosheng, was clearly designed after the old man's biological mother, Xu Lu—even their surnames are the same."

"And in *Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain*, Hu Fei's heart flutters when he meets the older Ma Chunhua during his youth; the old man described it in great detail."

"In *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, Yang Guo also falls in love with the much older Xiaolongnu."

"The cases of supporting characters falling for older women in his other works are countless. Can you call that a coincidence?"

"A work is an extension of the author's emotions!"

For a moment, Lai Shuiqing could not think of a rebuttal.

"Looking back at Zhao Min: among all the women who intersect with Zhang Wuji, she is the only one who most closely resembles Zhang Wuji's mother, Yin Susu!"

"Both are called 'demonesses,' and both appear initially as ruthless, clever, and unscrupulous, yet they possess their own moral bottom lines."

"And once they encounter true love, they can abandon everything without hesitation, devoting themselves entirely to the other, even sacrificing their lives."

Yin Susu and Zhao Min were both "love-brains," whereas Zhou Zhiruo was a "striver."

"They say men only look for two types of women: their mother's type or their sister's type."

"It is obvious that Zhao Min is the mother type, while Zhou Zhiruo is the sister type."

"By reverse-engineering based on Mr. Jin's life experiences, we can conclude that from the author's perspective, the one he loves most in his heart must be the one who most resembles the protagonist's mother—Zhao Min!"

Lai Shuiqing scratched his bald head.

For the first time, he felt that despite having read *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* thoroughly, he had no way to use it.

The young man had moved from discussing the author to other works, circling around *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* so effectively that he couldn't use the original text to argue back.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jiang, sitting in the head seat, lowered his head in thought.

Because Zhang Yuan's analysis had hit him right in the heart!

Mr. Jiang came from a humble background and had lost his mother at a young age. After struggling for half his life, he had encountered and played with countless "femme fatales," but the woman he ultimately married was a gentle, virtuous, and hardworking wife.

Thinking about it now, his wife did indeed bear a resemblance to his mother.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity toward Zhang Yuan.

He had attended countless meetings with the company's screenwriters and directors, but this was the first time he had seen someone analyze characters by stepping outside the story itself.

Mr. Jiang smiled and pressed his hand down. "Director Lai, your question has been answered. Now, let us hear what he thinks of our film."

With the investor speaking, Lai Shuiqing could only nod helplessly.

Beside Zhang Yuan, Yang Tao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

*That was freaking intense! This kid actually left Lai Shuiqing stunned!*

*He can even use the old man's own life experiences to reverse-engineer the characters in the story.*

*Because she resembles the mother most, she is loved most...*

Yang Tao couldn't help but admire him. He couldn't even conceive of such a thing, let alone voice it.

He looked at the composed Zhang Yuan, thinking that this young man was truly bold. He showed no fear in the face of the boss and a famous director. If he were at that age and in that situation, he probably wouldn't dare to open his mouth!

Yang Tao glanced at Lai Shuiqing again, feeling a secret sense of satisfaction.

*To think an old timer like you would have a day of being humbled—and by Zhang Yuan of all people!*

Zhang Yuan was also looking at the silent Lai Shuiqing.

*You've finished your attack; now it's my turn!*

"Mr. Jiang, Director Lai, Director Yang—after discussing the current script with me yesterday, I discovered a problem. A very big problem."

"Our new television series is missing one thing."

"What is it? Please, speak," Mr. Jiang said, his eyes bright, clearly impressed by the immense confidence of the young man before him.

Zhang Yuan held up three fingers.

"A sense of the big picture!"