Since Li Yiru has joined, even if she doesn't demand much in terms of remuneration or high待遇, and doesn't insist on screen time, she'll definitely want input on her character. If you try to placate her with a random second female lead role, she certainly won't agree.
Bo Yan naturally anticipated this.
Her role in the play is Grandma Gu Eight, not heavily featured, but if performed well, it can be quite dazzling on stage. In the original book, Grandma Gu used money to maintain the "romantic" connection with Hu Si. She has a line: "Love is being willing to spend money and let him spend it as he pleases without feeling heartache—that's love!" In modern terms: I'll willingly spend money to keep a toy boy!
