"I was deeply moved. Zhang's kindness, generosity and distinctive teaching methods have left a deep impression on me," Yuan says.

"She is very protective of her students and advised us not to interview them directly to avoid disrupting their daily routine and focus on learning. However, she acknowledged our need for more stories for inspiration, and gave us a pamphlet containing interviews with around 100 girls whose fates have been altered by the school and education," Yuan adds.

For director Fei Zhenxiang, whose filmmaking career spans over 20 years, the new drama is his first foray into shooting a biography, making the creative process a cherished memory.

Fei says that the crew adopted a tactic to maximize conversations with Zhang, who maintains a morning routine of singing with the students, doing fitness exercises with them, and discussing the latest developments in their lives.