Chapter 286: Arguing In Progress, Sheng Ning And Teacher Shi
Director Lu felt that recently… no, ever since Chi Ye became popular, he had been unlucky.
He felt that the key point of this “Weibo battle” was not that he couldn’t help but go crazy, but more importantly, Weibo was clearly siding with Chi Ye.
As the saying goes, one’s stance determines their position – perhaps anything I say is wrong.
Director Lu felt very wronged. He watched himself and 《 749 Bureau 》 being blacklisted by the entire internet, his heart aching. Finally, he made up his mind to unleash his “trump card” – Peng Chen.
Cough, cough… Old Yang had already set a precedent for him once. Wasn’t Yu Yan the best scapegoat for 《 Magic City Fortress 》?
If that’s the case, Peng Chen, don’t blame me. Blame your old captain for being too overbearing… I truly had no choice but to protect myself.
Thinking this, he opened the Weibo editing box, about to type a classic phrase: “I, Lu Chuan, miscast Peng Chen.”
The result—
@Lu Chuan, you have a new follower notification.
Director Lu saw the notification that his followed account had posted a new Weibo and clicked on it. Then he saw that Peng Chen had just posted a minute ago.
Title: 【 I Misacted in 《 749 Bureau 》. 】
Body: 【 As an actor, sometimes it’s really helpless, because you can’t act in whatever you want. You need to communicate with the behind-the-scenes team, and you need to discuss opinions with the main creative team. 《 749 Bureau 》 is a very good movie, at least when I received the script, it was a good story. 】
【 From joining the crew to filming, and then to wrap-up, I was always in an excited state. To be honest, it was hard to divert my energy to think about external matters. When I first saw the finished product, I also had doubts. Perhaps this was Director Lu’s different artistic pursuit and way of expression. 】
【 But no matter what, being able to participate in 《 749 Bureau 》 was my luck, and it will be a precious wealth for me my entire life. 】
【 Please also stop the abuse. If the movie is bad, blame me. Don’t scold Director Lu anymore. My acting skills still need improvement, and I truly have many shortcomings on my acting path. 】
【 — Peng Chen’s Confession. 】
……
Lao Peng is quite astute.
Not to mention Yu Yan’s tragic example, even without that, with his “sensitivity,” which was not only proven with Old Baby but also in his career, he wouldn’t be lacking.
Without Director Lu taking the blame, he had already pushed it away, all while maintaining an attitude of “I had no choice, but I am guilty, everyone, blame me instead of others.”
I don’t know how others felt after seeing this Weibo, but Lu Chuan’s eyes were red and his pupils were about to burst after seeing it.
“You f***ing impudent Peng, is this how you repay me, your Bole?!”
He gritted his teeth, feeling deeply insulted.
Yes, Chi Ye had been attacking him in various ways, even making his wife look like Chi Ye, but he could accept it… because Chi Ye had reached that level.
But Peng Chen… Who was Peng Chen?
Before, he had acted like a dog in front of him, submissive and obsequious, practically begging to get into the Beijing Circle, wishing he could come to pay his respects every morning.
And now, this ungrateful servant dares to bite his master?!
If this is unbearable, what is?
He was trembling with anger and actually started arguing with Peng Chen on Weibo: 【 @Peng Chen, have some shame! You acted like you didn’t know what heaven and earth were. Honestly, with your crappy acting skills, how dare you shift the blame? 】
Peng Chen: “???!”
He was extremely shocked by Director Lu’s bluntness and suddenly realized that Director Lu might have gone mad, spewing vulgarities at him on a public platform.
Then he…
He couldn’t be like Director Lu.
No matter how famous Director Lu was, he was a director behind the scenes and didn’t rely on exposure for a living. But he was different; he was an artist, a traffic magnet. Even casual diarrhea could damage his reputation, let alone public arguments.
Therefore, after his extreme anger, he didn’t dare to respond directly to Director Lu’s affectionate address. Instead, he called Old Baby.
“Sister, look at him, he’s scolding me!”
“Okay, okay, Chen Chen, don’t be angry. Sister will go and get justice for you.”
As it concerned Peng Chen’s career turning point, Old Baby naturally paid close attention. At this moment, she was also furious at Lu Chuan’s idea of shifting blame to the actor as soon as he saw things going south. After comforting her little husband, she immediately began using her connections to feude with Director Lu.
The twists and turns during this period were, of course, invisible to those outside the industry. However, the grand occasion of the director and male lead of 《 749 Bureau 》 blaming each other and then engaging in a Weibo confrontation still ignited the hot searches that night.
— Honestly, how long has it been since the domestic entertainment industry has seen such a situation? It can only be said that the world is becoming more and more abnormal. Being a flop can indeed drive people crazy.
……
“Chi Ge, we’ve arrived.”
The capital, Chi Ye Studio.
The driver stopped the car, and Keke called out softly.
Chi Ye held his phone, typing furiously, “Wait a moment, I’ll go at him first.”
Keke was startled, “Ah?”
Chi Ye looked up and explained, “Didn’t Peng Chen say to blame him for everything? I’ll go at him.”
Keke: “……”
“Brother, your star power is different now. Every word and action will be amplified by those who have ulterior motives. You can’t just rush in.”
Chi Ye grinned, “Don’t worry, I’ll curse him a couple of times in a private message to vent my anger. He wouldn’t dare to post it.”
Keke: “……”
“Let’s go, let’s go see the good ‘sister’.”
Chi Ye put down his phone and got out of the car. He had already seen a woman with a striking figure sitting inside.
Sheng Ning.
This Spring Festival, Sheng Ning hadn’t greeted Chi Ye. Perhaps knowing that Chi Ye was going to Jin Xia’s house for the holiday, she had been rather silent.
They only exchanged New Year greetings on the first day of Lunar New Year, and had no further contact afterward.
Sheng Ning’s visit to Chi Ye Studio this time was mainly for the overseas publicity and distribution of 《 Influenza 》.
Because 《 Influenza 》, unlike the movies she had previously acted in, was also a massive hit overseas. It was currently in full swing. Therefore, after the popularity of the domestic Spring Festival slot subsided, to achieve better results and to respond to the “subtle” call from above, the main creators of 《 Influenza 》 needed to engage in overseas publicity and distribution.
This was also to cooperate with the overseas distributors and jointly seek greater profits.
“Happy New Year.”
Chi Ye walked into the room, greeting them with a good mood.
Sheng Ning was on the phone. Seeing him enter, she said a few words and hung up, then nodded, “You’re doing well.”
Chi Ye paused, looked at her, and said nothing.
Keke and the others tactfully left the room.
“This overseas publicity is an opportunity to gain international recognition. You lead the team there.”
Chi Ye sat on the sofa, noticing several slender ladies’ cigarettes in the ashtray, and raised an eyebrow, “Are they really that good to smoke?”
Sheng Ning didn’t pay attention to that and instead asked, “Aren’t you going?”
“I have a film about to start, and my fame is already sufficient, so there’s no need for me to go.”
Chi Ye spoke the truth, but with a boastful tone, “But you’re different. You didn’t have much international fame before. This is a good opportunity.”
“……”
Sheng Ning’s phoenix eyes showed no discernible emotional fluctuation, but there was a strange awkwardness and discomfort in her heart— Since when could Chi Ye “speak” to her from such a perspective… It seemed he could have done so long ago.
The dominance of 《 Influenza 》 in the Spring Festival slot and overseas was a professional highlight for Chi Ye, but for Sheng Ning, wasn’t it also a “fish leaping over the dragon gate”?
Even as Chi Ye said, compared to his previous fame in international and Southeast Asian regions, Sheng Ning was far weaker in this regard.
Outside of China, probably very few people knew her.
And before this, her situation domestically was also “difficult to move forward” – she had been repeatedly rejected when trying to enter the film circle, and later was even soft-banned by the Beijing Circle.
Although she was reluctant to admit it, among the contemporary “little flowers,” Shang Youshu had long surpassed him in achievements and fame.
It was just that her team and fans were still stubbornly refusing to admit it, and external fans and bystanders liked to form impressions, so she could maintain the hype of being the “head of the Four Little Flowers.”
Well… 《 Girl 》 had a huge boost for Shang Youshu, almost completely lifting the “box office poison” label that Sister Shang had previously carried, and reigniting the popularity and buzz for someone who hadn’t had a major hit in recent years.
Although Sister Shang’s team was laid-back, they weren’t stupid. Riding this wave, various old concepts of the ancient white moonlight were re-popularized, and everyone dreamed back to the time of the fairy sister, with unmatched popularity among many little flowers.
Although… she herself was both pained and happy.
*Bzzzz.*
The sound of the coffee machine started, and Sheng Ning’s thoughts stopped. Staring at the man’s every move, ever since the Screaming Night, when she saw him again, it was as if he would never be flustered or timid.
He was completely different from the “younger brother” she remembered.
Yet, a certain feeling about him seemed very “familiar.”
For example… his favorite drink was always iced lemonade, and his preferred temperature was always a little over 24°C.
“Okay, I’ll go.”
She silently took the coffee and nodded in agreement.
Chi Ye sat back down opposite her. They stared at each other, as if they had no common language other than work.
“……”
“Mmm…”
Sheng Ning’s feeling of unease grew. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
Chi Ye suddenly asked, “Do you have any news of… ‘Mom and Dad’?”
Sheng Ning was startled, then her emotions were unusually exposed as she lowered her head, “No.”
“Are they dead?”
“……?”
Filial piety.
But it seemed like “filial piety” was indeed appropriate.
Chi Ye was currently considering the situation of going to the Empress Dowager’s house. If they were to discuss marriage, wouldn’t there need to be a relative?
He couldn’t really be an orphan, could he?
“This time going to… Jin Xia’s house, how did it feel?”
Perhaps because Chi Ye spoke first, Sheng Ning’s sense of awkwardness lessened, and she proactively asked.
It was the answer she had most wanted to hear since Chi Ye left.
“It was okay, everything was fine.”
Chi Ye nodded and said frankly, “It does feel a bit complicated. A family like that definitely wouldn’t look highly upon me.”
Sheng Ning: “…… They aren’t arrogant. I don’t know if you understand… among her generation, not many can hold their own. The most promising is her father, but at his age and current position… it’s hard for him to advance further.”
Chi Ye was silent, looking at Sheng Ning with surprise a few times, then asked curiously, “How do you know so much?”
Sheng Ning said expressionlessly, “I used to be her rival. Since I dared to target her, I wouldn’t be afraid of her.”
She paused and added, “Her family doesn’t interfere with the entertainment industry. Firstly, they are mindful of the impact, and secondly, if they interfere now, their future upward mobility will be even smaller. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Whether they interfere or not, what does it have to do with us?”
Chi Ye didn’t care.
Sheng Ning was stunned for a moment and also nodded, “Yes, it really doesn’t have much to do with it.”
After speaking, she felt she had said a bit too much today, appearing too “transparent” in front of Chi Ye. After finishing the coffee, she stood up, “Alright, I came today just to confirm the overseas publicity issue with you. Since there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now.”
Chi Ye looked at her slender body, remained silent for two seconds, and suddenly said, “I’m celebrating the New Year with others today, leaving you alone. You don’t hate me, do you?”
Sheng Ning let out a scoff, “I’m not someone who can’t stand to see others do well. You don’t have to think of me as so bad… although, I’m indeed not a good person.”
Chi Ye was silent.
“I’m leaving… See you.”
Sheng Ning picked up her bag, straightened her back, and walked out of Chi Ye Studio with elegant steps in her high heels.
Chi Ye stared at her retreating back, feeling inexplicably moved.
*Click.*
The room door was suddenly opened.
Teacher Shi quietly entered, holding an insulated bucket, and glanced around.
“Looking for what?”
“Where’s Sheng… Sister Ning?”
“Just left.”
After speaking, Chi Ye curiously asked, “When did you get to know her? What are you looking for her for?”
With Teacher Shi’s personality, could she really get along with Sheng Ning?
Wouldn’t she be bullied to death?
Teacher Shi glanced at him and explained softly, “I don’t know her, but she’s been waiting for you here since six in the morning. She hasn’t eaten, so I thought… I’d get her something to eat.”
“Ah.”
Chi Ye suddenly realized, “She came so early? Why didn’t she tell me?”
“…… Do you know you have a habit of not replying to WeChat messages?”
Chi Ye: “…… I really don’t know.”
Seeing that the person had left, Teacher Shi didn’t search further and picked up the insulated bucket to leave.
“Hey, where are you going? I haven’t eaten yet.”
Chi Ye called out to stop her. “Since you’re here, there’s no point in wasting it. I’ll reluctantly try it for her.”
Teacher Shi paused, then turned around, walked to his side, and put down the insulated bucket. “Eat.”
Chi Ye was a bit displeased, “Why do I feel like you have an opinion of me, your boss? Little Shi, if you have an opinion, just say it. I won’t change it anyway.”
Teacher Shi: “……”
Chi Ye was just teasing Lao Shi daily. Lao Shi is like dough. As long as you don’t go too far, no matter how you knead and shape her, she won’t have any intention of resisting.
Of course, if you wanted to try something exciting, you could attempt to take advantage of her.
But if you did that, you’d probably have your hand broken by a pair of “iron fists” before you could even reach out.
