Yang Qifei’s agent frowned disapprovingly. “President Xie isn’t someone we can afford to provoke, and since they all share the surname Xie, who knows if there’s some kind of nepotism involved.”
“What’s there to be afraid of? There are so many people on set. How could they possibly find out who leaked the information?”
Yang Qifei lay back on the sofa, feet casually propped up on the coffee table, a slender cigarette held between two fingers.
The agent’s dissatisfaction deepened as he looked at him like that. Yang Qifei had only been famous for a year. He had unexpectedly risen to fame playing the gentle male supporting role in a historical drama. Since then, to maintain his fanbase, he had carefully cultivated the image of a highly educated, good-looking, and gentle male idol.
But in reality, Yang Qifei came from a remote mountain village. He dropped out of high school and went out to work. Later, because of his decent looks, he was discovered and entered the entertainment industry.
Yang Qifei was somewhat cunning; he knew how to use his advantages to climb higher and had even hooked up with a wealthy patron who treated him well. Yet sometimes, he was stupid to the point of being speechless. His upbringing over the past twenty years had limited his vision. After his unexpected rise, he became increasingly arrogant. Practically no co-stars had a good impression of him. Even his closest collaborator — his own agent — was full of dissatisfaction toward him.
“You have to constantly remember your image. If this leaks out, do you know what the consequences will be?” The agent suppressed his anger, advising him earnestly.
“We’re in a hotel with no outsiders,” Yang Qifei replied indifferently. He exhaled a plume of smoke, eyes half-closed in pleasure, his tone disdainful: “Besides, those fans only care about my looks. No matter what I do, they’ll crawl to me and worship me.”
The agent had nothing to say.
He closed his eyes, finally unable to hold back his anger. If he couldn’t stop Yang Qifei from self-destructing, his only option was to jump ship midway.
“The stuff about President Xie isn’t something you can just leak at will.” Putting aside whether it was true or not, even if it were, so what? Feng Sheng Entertainment’s president — even if he really was keeping someone on the side — who would dare report it openly?
Yang Qifei’s expression darkened. Suddenly, he stood up and grabbed the glass cup on the coffee table, smashing it toward the agent. “Who the hell gave you the right to speak here? I say leak it, then leak it!”
The agent dodged. The glass shattered loudly against the marble floor of the hotel, the sharp sound especially grating. He looked at Yang Qifei coldly. “You better watch out for yourself.”
“Get lost.” Yang Qifei didn’t even look at him. He pulled out another cigarette from the exquisite pack and lit it, lost in a haze of smoke.
No one knew what happened inside the hotel, but the president’s secretary came once, then twice, then a third time.
Basically, he showed up every other day. Sometimes he brought snacks, sometimes he just came to check in. The cast had long gotten used to Xie Xiaobao sharing snacks. Even if one day President Xie himself came, no one would find it strange.
Yang Qifei still hadn’t appeared. It seemed he was determined to go head-to-head with Director Luo Qin.
Luo Qin, however, was unbothered. He kept filming happily. With Yang Qifei, the hindrance, absent, Xie Feifei’s scenes went smoothly. She was an actor who loved to study her craft and was willing to endure hardship during filming. Luo Director was very satisfied with the results, always smiling.
On the ninth day of Yang Qifei’s refusal to perform, a newcomer arrived on set.
Everyone recognized the newcomer — a regular in TV dramas, usually cast as the second male lead. His acting was decent, his popularity moderate, but he always seemed just shy of making it big.
The actor’s name was Lu Xiaoyue, also an artist under Feng Sheng. He had only brought one assistant and arrived exhausted. According to the assistant, he had just finished shooting his previous drama and was immediately called over to save the day.
That’s right — to save the day.
Yang Qifei, relying on his popularity and his patron, acted recklessly, unaware that in this industry, without absolute strength, no one was truly irreplaceable.
On the very night Yang Qifei left the crew, Luo Qin contacted Xie Yan directly.
This drama was just one of Feng Sheng’s many investments and far from requiring Xie Yan’s personal supervision. However, the crew’s producer had offended the people behind Yang Qifei and dared not speak out. So Luo Qin used his private connections — directly reaching out to Xie Yan.
“There’s either me or him,” Luo Qin told Xie Yan.
Luo Qin wasn’t the type to be petty. Regardless of the actor or how he got into the crew, as long as they could act well, he was fine with it. But Yang Qifei couldn’t see the situation clearly and kept stepping on Luo Qin’s biggest nerve. Even a saint couldn’t tolerate that.
Xie Yan had Secretary Li investigate the situation, only to be surprised that his own brother was also in the crew.
Luo Qin’s request was accepted. Since Yang Qifei arrived late and hadn’t filmed much, switching actors at the last minute wouldn’t cause too much loss. Lu Xiaoyue, who had just finished his previous drama, was brought over.
When Yang Qifei received the company’s notice, he was stunned. He had stayed in the hotel, waiting for Luo Qin to come begging him to return, but the crew had directly replaced him.
In anger, he smashed things around, then called his assistant. “Right now, immediately, get the news out! I want them to know what happens when they offend me!!”
His eyes were red, and his hands trembled slightly as he held his phone. The agent’s warnings from days before had made him hesitate to release the news immediately, but now he couldn’t wait another moment.
“No one’s going to have it easy if they don’t let me live in peace.” Yang Qifei gritted his teeth, lighting a cigarette with shaking hands, finally calming down a little.
After finishing the cigarette, his face flushed with an unhealthy red. He pulled out his phone again — he had to call his patron for an explanation.
The male lead of this drama had cost him a monthly payment to a Feng Sheng executive. The patron was pleased with his obedience and had gotten him this opportunity. They absolutely could not replace him!
The phone rang several times. Yang Qifei endured the growing anxiety until someone finally answered.
“Qifei,” came a greasy male voice.
Yang Qifei’s face twisted, but he quickly composed himself and softened his voice. “Brother Rui, I’m being bullied on set.”
There was a chuckle. “You mean the thing about the crew changing actors, right?”
Yang Qifei’s tone was full of grievance. “Yeah. This is a resource you worked hard to get me. They change the actor like it means nothing — they really don’t respect you.”
The other side laughed ambiguously twice, the tone a little cold. “Qifei, I always thought you were a smart guy.”
Yang Qifei’s heart sank as the voice continued, “But you’ve really disappointed me. This time, you’ve stirred up President Xie. Even I can’t protect you now.”
“…You better watch out for yourself.” @UnlimitedGoodReads, only on Jinjiang Literature City
The call was hung up. Yang Qifei stared at his phone for a long moment, unable to react.
In disbelief, he called back. The other side immediately hung up. Undeterred, he called two more times — but this time, the calls wouldn’t connect. He had been blacklisted.
Yang Qifei’s face contorted with rage, bloodshot eyes. “Not one of them is a good person! Backstabbing, sick freaks!” He kicked the coffee table aside and slumped onto the sofa, suddenly gripped by overwhelming panic.
***
Lu Xiaoyue, brought over at the last minute as a substitute, was unfamiliar with many things on set. While Xie Feifei was filming, he watched nearby, reading his script.
Xie Xiaobao sat not far off, keeping watch to prevent any trouble.
Lu Xiaoyue’s assistant was a young woman who kept sneaking glances at Xie Xiaobao. After a while, she couldn’t help herself and shyly approached him, blushing. “Um… Xiaobao, I’m your fan. Could you sign an autograph for me?”
The assistant looked about the same age as Xie Xiaobao, nervously clutching a small notebook.
“Huh?” Xie Xiaobao blinked in surprise, looking at her. “Me?”
She nodded vigorously, eyes fixed on his face, secretly thinking he was even cuter in person than on video.
Xie Xiaobao absentmindedly signed for her and returned the notebook, smiling sheepishly. “Here you go.”
“Thank you! I made this for you, following your tutorial.” The assistant pressed a small bag of candies into his hands, then hopped away like a rabbit.
Seeing her return, Lu Xiaoyue sighed, “How many times have I told you to be more composed?”
The assistant pouted. “Got it, cousin.”
Though the atmosphere inside the closed set was harmonious, outside, the situation had already exploded.
—
Late last night, an unknown Weibo account suddenly posted several photo sets, tagging several major entertainment accounts.
The images first showed photos and information about Feng Sheng’s president’s secretary, then candid shots taken on set — all of them showing the secretary meeting with Xie Xiaobao.
The Weibo post’s message was provocative: “Feng Sheng’s president’s secretary secretly visits a popular streamer on set, showing respect. Could the streamer be the president’s new favorite? After He’s Entertainment’s CEO protects his flower, now Feng Sheng’s CEO bends the knee. Insider risks their life to expose — stay tuned! /smile.”