Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 495 - 479 Shanghai Beach

The TVB script contest in Hong Kong is in full swing.

During this time, the screenwriters have been reading scripts until they’re dizzy and overwhelmed. The variety of scripts has made them marvel at the sheer abundance of national talent. The future belongs to the young generation, and everyone’s writing is truly commendable. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Since Li Yibai’s *Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes* became a sensation, he has been immensely popular in Hong Kong. His books sell especially well and are beloved by locals, sparking a wave of enthusiasm for martial arts.

Many people have followed the trend and started writing martial arts novels. These novels typically use historical dynasties as their backdrop, with the heroes showcasing not only their romantic relationships but also their sense of patriotism and loyalty to the nation.

Unsurprisingly, many of the scripts this time are focused on martial arts. Titles like *Heroic Tales of the Great Tang*, *Hero of the Northern Song*, *Gan Fourteen Lady*, and *Purge the Regents* abound. Besides, some scripts cater to popular trends of the era, ranging from absurd horror to intense gangster dramas and even provocative erotica.

The scripts are undeniably good, but something always feels missing—or to put it differently, while the scripts are decent, they lack memorable characters. Some characters are indeed well-rounded, but not vivid enough to evoke astonishment or hold the potential to become classics.

"Old Yao, have you found any good scripts yet?"

Screenwriter Yao sighed, "There are plenty of good ones, but they’re missing the truly exceptional ones."

The other screenwriters nodded in agreement—indeed, the scripts generally lacked a standout masterpiece. It was hard to argue that any one script was significantly better than the others, and none broke through to rise above the pack.

Just then, a script titled *Shanghai Beach* caught Yao’s eye.

Yao’s gaze deepened. His first impression was that this was a Republic-era script. These types of scripts weren’t unfamiliar; most focused on the major families of the Republic period, exploring their business rivalries, love entanglements, and the chaos of wartime that ultimately led to themes of patriotism and national enterprises.

However, upon reading the synopsis, he realized it was about gangs! Moreover, the script possessed an especially grand and compelling air!

Just from the opening, he was captivated! From then on, Screenwriter Yao could hardly catch his breath, flipping through the pages nonstop! By the halfway point, the character of Xu Wenqiang had left an indelible mark on his heart—he was completely mesmerized.

Xu Wenqiang was a top student at Yanjing University, but due to certain circumstances, he ended up in prison. After his release, Xu Wenqiang became disillusioned; his time behind bars made him realize he could no longer afford to be a good person—instead, he had to stop at nothing to achieve his goals, single-mindedly pursuing material pleasures. He refused to dwell on his naive and foolish past, which he considered to be dead and gone.

Xu Wenqiang arrived in Shanghai, and through the introduction of his old classmate Yanyun, he gradually rose to power. Even after achieving success, he didn’t forget to support Ding Li, the street vendor who had once helped him in times of need. Xu Wenqiang was decisive in his actions, intelligent, and unwilling to remain under someone else’s wing—he was determined to carve out his own path.

When he faced overtures from Shanghai’s influential figure Feng Jingyao, his initial response was rejection. Yet, he slowly found himself drawn to Feng Jingyao’s daughter, Feng Chengcheng. He loved Feng Chengcheng but also pushed her away. He believed that living in a world of violence meant death could come at any time. Love doesn’t always mean possession; sometimes, love is about letting go. However, despite the risks, Feng Chengcheng insisted on being with him—even if it meant becoming a widow. Under such circumstances, Xu Wenqiang finally confronted his inner feelings of love for Chengcheng.

Feng Jingyao planned for Xu Wenqiang to be his successor and discreetly probed him. When Xu Wenqiang learned of Feng Jingyao’s dealings with spies from Country R, he found himself caught in a moral dilemma... Ultimately, he chose patriotism; deep down, he remained a cultured intellectual. Consequently, he was hunted down, lost his former glory, and ended up drifting to another place, living temporarily in a different way...

Despite only having read half the script, the screenwriter could already sense Xu Wenqiang’s inner conflict—a conflict radiating a fatal allure. Moreover, this character was incredibly multi-dimensional, distinct from those found in martial arts novels, where characters were either completely good or entirely evil. In contrast, Xu Wenqiang resembled those morally ambiguous antiheroes—neither a clear-cut villain nor a traditional hero. If one were to call him a "warlord," he didn’t fit the mold either. Instead, he was a real person with whom audiences could empathize.

"Old Yao, let’s go. Everyone’s heading out for lunch."

"You all go ahead. I’ve found an excellent script."

"What?" A good script meant no one wanted to eat lunch! The screenwriters pounced like wolves and tigers. "Which script is it?" As it happens, this script was divided into two parts. Yao handed them the first half while he relished the second half.

As the others read the first half of the script, they exclaimed in astonishment, utterly engrossed.

The script was one copy shared among five or six people. One person sat with the script while the others eagerly crowded around from behind, their youthful impatience bursting through.

From time to time, voices could be heard:

"Hey, Old Liu, don’t block me!"

"Old Xu, move your head back a little."

"Old Deng, don’t put your hand on top of the page."

"..."

None of these voices registered with Yao, who was entirely deaf to the world around him, fully immersed in the script’s universe. Upon reaching the ending, he exhaled deeply and sighed, "This ending is brilliant. Xu Wenqiang’s personality was destined for tragedy. If the ending had Xu Wenqiang really escaping to France, finding Feng Chengcheng, and living happily ever after, it wouldn’t carry the same haunting impact as this ending."

Soon after, the office assistant walked in, carrying a stack of scripts in her hands. "These are the new submissions, Masters. I’ll leave them here," she said, quickly putting them down before leaving to grab lunch.

She patted her stomach but was startled by the quietness in the office.

One lost in thought, others utterly engrossed—not even the prospect of lunch could distract them. The assistant shook her head in resignation. A bunch of eccentrics indeed—they must be hooked on something truly exceptional... Well, then, this contest has meaning at last—there’s finally a masterpiece among the entries.

"Wow, this is an incredible script. I haven’t seen anything so soul-stirring in a long time!" One screenwriter finished reading and quickly asked, "Old Yao, what about the second half?"

Fortunately, Yao had already finished it. With a wave of his hand, the second half was snatched up by the group.

That lunch was eaten in the office. Afterward, they had reached a consensus: This *Shanghai Beach* script was by far the best, surpassing all others and firmly securing first place in the contest.

Though there were still other scripts left to review.