Huayu 93, I'm the ceiling of combat power from the moment I appear.

"Stories from the Editorial Department" is an episodic drama.

The main characters are several editors in the editorial department of a magazine called "Human Guide".

Each episode or two tells a story, reflecting the social conditions and current hot topics of the early 90s through the different people and events they encounter.

The main characters are six people, each with their own distinct characteristics, and the dialogue is full of Wang Shuo's Beijing-style humor. The stories are also very captivating and interesting.

Even thirty years from now, the plot is still very engaging.

However, if you search on Baidu now, you'll find that only five main characters remain in the cast list.

Because the female lead has disappeared completely; she's nowhere to be found.

There are bottom lines that you absolutely cannot cross.

The story of the editorial department became an instant hit in mainland China when it aired in 1992, with a first-run viewership rating of 35%.

The rebroadcast had higher ratings than the original broadcast.

It's definitely a phenomenal bestseller.

It's a pity it's a modern drama, not a period drama or mythological story like "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" or "Journey to the West".

Therefore, it is difficult for the mainland to expand beyond China. Not to mention Japan and South Korea, no one in Hong Kong and Taiwan watches it.

But He Xi, the fake Hong Kong Islander, was watching with great interest.

In his previous life, he was born in 90. After he could remember, television was dominated by Qing Dynasty dramas such as "Princess Pearl" and "Kangxi's Private Visits".

I missed the hype surrounding "Stories from the Editorial Department," having only heard snippets from my parents and online, and never actually watched the original series.

Now, returning to this era and being with the people of this time, I immediately understood it all.

"Uncle Ge, you've gone bald so early! But he's really good with his mouth, and his image has remained unchanged for decades!"

"This female lead... hey, she actually looks pretty good in this drama, and her fashion sense is also good, it's a pity she's an idiot."

"And this Hou Lao Er, his opportunistic, cunning, and treacherous nature is practically a natural fit! The director really knows how to cast actors!"

"Sister Mei, is this the girl you mentioned who's a student at the Central Academy of Drama?"

He Xi's eyes lit up.

He actually knew this girl.

The episode currently airing is called "I'm Not a Bad Girl".

The story begins with the male protagonist, Li Dongbao, running the "Big Sister's Heart-to-Heart" hotline. He receives a call from a college student named Liu Xiaohong, who says she is preparing to commit suicide.

She fell in love with her teacher, but he was married.

She wanted to confess her feelings, but was afraid of affecting the other person's family. She was so tormented that she decided to take her own life.

Well, He Xi originally thought that people in this era were very conservative in their thinking.

But after reading this story, and then thinking about Lou Ye's film "Summer Palace".

All I can say is that young people are very bold.

The old guys we think of were all young once too.

The actress who played the female college student is named Wang Lan.

She had a bit of baby fat on her face, and her face was somewhat round, not the kind of standard beauty that is popular in later generations, with a pointed chin, large double eyelids, and a transparent nose.

But it has a very distinctive beauty.

He Xi got to know Wang Lan not because of "Stories from the Editorial Department", but because of another movie she starred in, "Wu Kui".

With just one glance, the young mistress outshone the so-called beauties of the past four thousand years.

At the time, she was nicknamed "Mainland China's Joey Wong"!

(I couldn't find a suitable image, so please search for movie clips yourselves.)

Unfortunately, she missed out on the hit drama "Addiction" due to unforeseen circumstances, and her career plummeted. She also fell ill, and after treatment, she gained weight, ruining everything and turning into a round-faced middle-aged woman with a double chin, completely rewriting her life.

"That's right, it's her, Wang Lan."

She was the most beautiful girl in our school's class of '90.

"She filmed this drama during her sophomore year of college. I heard that director Zhao Baogang really liked her and wanted to cast her as the female lead in a TV series!"

Liu Hongmei said with a smile.

He Xi knew that the drama Zhao Baogang was talking about was the very same hit drama that Wang Lan had missed, "Addiction".

Jiang Shan, who replaced her in the role of "Addiction", quickly became a household name across the country, becoming an idol and dream girl for countless people.

Wang Lan's subsequent films failed to achieve great success, and she quickly faded into obscurity.

A wrong choice can often change a person's life.

Just like Huang Haibing, who missed out on the role of Er Kang in "My Fair Princess" because of the lackluster film "Sunset in the Forbidden City".

Of course, some people choose the wrong roles, thus letting the audience off the hook.

The fault lies with myself, but the merit lies with the present generation.

I won't say who it is.

Looking at Wang Lan on TV, He Xi suddenly had an idea.

Wang Zuxian from the mainland, a few years later she turned into a plump middle-aged woman, which is a bit of a waste of her talent.

If I have the ability and opportunity in the future, perhaps I can help her change her fate?

Well, He Xi was purely driven by the noble ideal of helping others when one is successful, and had absolutely no intention of coveting Wang Lan's beauty.

However, when it comes to changing one's fate, He Xi thought of "Princess Pearl" and the Qing Dynasty dramas that are about to become very popular.

He Xi had no prejudice against Dai Qing.

I simply don't like it.

Perhaps, in the future, they can spread their wings and change the situation where Qing Dynasty dramas dominate the Chinese-language TV drama market.

Of course, that's all in the future.

He Xi is currently just a minor supporting character in the second film that hasn't even finished filming yet, and he still has a long way to go.

However, he won't be a minor supporting character forever.

Some things can be planned in advance.

"By the way, Sister Mei, you must have quite a few classmates and friends at the Central Academy of Drama, right?"

"If you have time, why don't you invite your classmates and we get together?"

He Xi will definitely return to the mainland to develop her career in the future. Liu Hongmei's classmate will become the backbone of the mainland film and television industry.

Once you make friends with them, they will become your network and support system for the future.

Upon hearing his words, Liu Hongmei clenched her fist tightly.

"You... what are you doing...?"

Are they going to go public with their relationship?

Her mind suddenly became very confused.

Being with He Xi was simply because she was attracted to his body... she had no intention of getting any official status or recognition from him.

She didn't want to be ridiculed by her friends and students because of their relationship.

These days, gossip can be deadly; rumors can kill.

Of course, it's also because Liu Hongmei is soft-hearted and cares about her reputation.

Someone with a thicker skin would probably already be asking He Xi to help her with the procedures to go to Hong Kong Island.

"hiss!"

He Xi gasped sharply.

"Sister Mei, you've got some serious strength! If you break this thing, you'll be the one suffering!"

Liu Hongmei quickly let go, then lowered her head and coaxed and fussed, finally managing to calm He Xiaoxi down.

"Um, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just... didn't know how to introduce you to them."

"Just say we're colleagues and students. I've been taking classes with you at the Central Academy of Drama for several days now, so someone must have seen us. Just tell the truth."

To be honest, Liu Hongmei breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a little regretful, but she quickly suppressed it.

The next day, in the evening, He Xi and Liu Hongmei entered a private room at an old restaurant in Nanluoguxiang.

Inside the room, two men and one woman were already seated.

"Let me introduce you. This is He Xi, a Hong Kong actress I met on the set of 'Tai Chi Master'."

"These are my classmates: Hu Jun, He Bing, Xu Fan..."