"Zhang's story has received a lot of coverage, and many of the most touching narratives are well-known to the public. As a scriptwriter, the challenge lay in striking a balance between staying true to reality, and coming up with an engaging and dramatic plot," she explains.

Yuan's initial apprehension dissipated swiftly following her first encounter with Zhang, who proved to be more talkative, humorous and open than the writer had anticipated.

During the crew's first visit to the school, Yuan clearly remembers being struck by the journey. Following a four-hour flight from Beijing to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, they embarked on a wearying six-hour car ride, arriving at the school almost at 10 pm.

The following morning, Yuan was surprised as she observed Zhang employ a distinctive method to aid a student grappling with concentration issues in class.

The principal asked the student to sweep up fallen leaves around the campus. This tranquil task gave the student the opportunity to contemplate life. Zhang then reassured the student that she could bring her medical bills to the school the next day, and that the institution would cover the expenses, alleviating the student's concerns.