Chapter 83 Are you really ready? ...

Ah, is this the art of speaking? Even a deaf person couldn't relay his words like this! Old Qian was so angry that he wanted to slam his fist on the table, but he secretly withdrew his hand when he met his wife Zhao Lan's eyes.

The person who posted this clearly knows what they're doing, seizing the peak time when everyone's on their phones after a long day at work to release this dubious scoop. The key point is, he can't get in touch with Sheng Yi right now!

Jingjing told him that Shengyi was picked up by a driver after work, but as her manager, he didn't even know where the artist lived. Thinking of this, he was furious again. Zeng Shaoguang's agency? Ha, he figured they were hoping this would escalate.

Zhao Lan was almost dizzy from his dazzling presence. She said irritably, "If you want to go somewhere else, go somewhere else. Can't you sit down and talk about it?"

"Sigh." Old Qian sighed. Normally, if he encountered a partner who loved to create hype, he'd just let them do it. After all, Shengyi had a huge following, and being bundled together would only attract more fans for her; she wouldn't lose much. But if it weren't for…

His face scrunched up, and seeing him like this, Zhao Lan guessed that there was some hidden story she didn't know. Old Qian thought for a moment, then picked up his phone and made a call. As he dialed, he walked towards the study. Before the door closed, Zhao Lan only vaguely heard, "Hello? Brother Cao."

"I'm leaving first, good luck everyone!" In the messy dressing room, Zeng Shaoguang was about to leave after removing his makeup, rubbing his hands together, when a colleague sitting in front of the mirror playing on his phone suddenly turned around and called out, "Brother Zeng!"

"Is there anything else?" Zeng Shaoguang breathed on his hands to warm them. After being chilled for most of the night, all he wanted to do was go back to sleep. The man seemed hesitant to speak, so it probably wasn't anything important.

Before joining the crew, his manager repeatedly told him not to cause trouble, and Zeng Shaoguang kept that in mind. In addition, he is not the type to cause trouble. Although he wanted to turn back immediately, there was no sign of impatience on his face.

Seeing that he seemed easy to talk to, his colleague glanced to the side. Since it was just the two of them in the dressing room, he pressed on, "Um, I was just curious, is what happened between you and Teacher Sheng true?"

Zeng Shaoguang asked, "What is it?"

The colleague immediately handed him his phone to show him, "Everyone's spreading this now..." he said, glancing at Zeng Shaoguang's expression. Zeng Shaoguang stopped fussing and stared at the phone for a long time, his brows furrowed. The photo was indeed of him and Sheng Yi, but the location where it was taken...

He flipped through a few more photos, all of which were candid shots taken during normal interactions on set. Judging by the time, they had been trending on social media for quite some time.

Sheng Yi's meaning was clear from the start. The fact that such an outdated topic could still spark discussion was simply because... He closed his eyes, took out his phone, and opened WeChat. The first few screens were filled with different people openly and secretly inquiring about information. He scrolled through them and finally saw a few messages from Sheng Yi's assistant at the bottom.

Meanwhile, at his company, there were no phone calls or messages. Even the assistant who came with the team hadn't seen a message from lunchtime, and seemed completely unaware of what was happening online.

Zeng Shaoguang's eyes dimmed slightly as he told the colleague who asked, "That's not true."

The colleague paused for a moment before realizing he was being answered. Zeng Shaoguang didn't explain further and went straight to Weibo. The colleague, seeing his action out of the corner of his eye, was secretly delighted, knowing there was more juicy gossip to come. Sure enough, a short while later he saw Zeng Shaoguang's new Weibo post:

"Please, everyone, let's put our friendship at stake."

Upon refreshing the page, the comment section was quickly flooded with various opinions. Zeng Shaoguang didn't log off after posting; he picked out a few questions that had received the most likes and gave humorous replies, being frank and straightforward without beating around the bush or giving anyone a chance to take advantage.

"Let's call it a day, let's call it a day. These two are really not into this. I don't know why some people insist on forcing them to agree."

"That gesture looks like a polite hug between friends. With so many eyes watching on set, I don't know what they're trying to say by picking out just two people."

"Stop stirring up trouble; the ship of friendship is still waiting to become a giant ship."

"When Sheng Yi goes online, he'll probably feel like the sky is falling, hahaha. What he says is actually less than what the marketing accounts say."

As the conversation progressed, the comments section took a completely different turn. People started discussing whether the news of their second collaboration was true, and began to worry about the script, cast, and other aspects of Sheng Yi's next drama. The discussions were so focused and lively.

Old Qian glanced at the live comments and finally felt relieved. Goodness, he had always thought Sheng Yi was suited for this industry and marveled at how lucky she was, but he never imagined that this person could have such a smooth life.

She became an overnight sensation, and she also has a good fan base. No matter what news comes out, most of it is now on her side, and even... she can attract such a big shot to him.

Old Qian lit a cigarette and took a puff, recalling a drinking party a few days ago where a friend, after having too much to drink, had subtly hinted that he was destined for good fortune. Ask him? Ha, he wouldn't tell.

The two had known each other for a long time. It was this friend who leaked the news that Sheng Yi had been photographed to him. Later, he also covered for him when dealing with the Zhang Li recording incident.

During the days that Sheng Yi was abroad, he had been pondering that sentence, but before he could figure it out, a gossip tabloid came knocking on his door.

He knew this newspaper. They used to make a living selling entertainment tidbits, but after the internet came along, they started developing their business online in recent years. When they first registered their account, they gained fame through a relationship story involving a popular celebrity. Later, they released two more small scoops, accumulating a following, and then they started recklessly pursuing unorthodox methods, using dubious information to demand exorbitant prices within the industry—pay up or wait for headlines. People privately say that getting involved with them is a nightmare.

When Lao Qian heard the other party introduce themselves, his heart skipped a beat. The only reason they would contact him was because something had gone wrong on Sheng Yi's side. Sure enough, the other party got straight to the point, saying they had evidence of Sheng Yi's relationship.

Lao Qian knew that Sheng Yi had a boyfriend, but he hadn't had time to find out who it was. As long as it didn't get exposed and affect his career, he could just play around with him. The picture that the other party sent him was the first time he had ever seen Sheng Yi's "boyfriend" in a real sense.

If it's your boyfriend.

Judging from the background, it was the same neighborhood where Sheng Yi went abroad. It was quite dark when the photo was taken, and it wasn't a direct shot of the face. Lao Qian tried to make out the person in the photo for a long time, but to no avail.

Perhaps because they were outdoors, the two people in the picture were behaving very politely; they could easily be mistaken for strangers passing by. But he didn't dare to gamble. Since they had contacted him, they must have other evidence.

Just as he was thinking of stalling for time, the person on the other end of the phone seemed to guess what he was thinking, "I'm sure Teacher Sheng's reputation is worth far more than this price."

For newly popular artists, maintaining a good reputation is of paramount importance; this industry is full of meteors that fall from grace. All of the company's long-term plans depend on the continued success of Shengyi, this cash cow.

It sounds cruel, but that's the reality. Sheng Yi himself is the guarantee of everything for them in the future.

However, before he could make any move, Cao Jun suddenly contacted him. When he came to his senses, he was, without exaggeration, completely taken aback.

All the things I couldn't understand before suddenly became clear. No wonder Sheng Yi refused the invitation to the dating show and was so resistant to the CP (couple) press releases with her colleagues. So that's it!

His grin widened, "Haha, no wonder she's the girl I spotted at first sight! She's definitely cut out for this job!"

If the other party involved is Wen Shili, what impact will going public now have on them? Shengyi is no longer the same Shengyi, and Wen Shili's achievements have risen several levels in just over a year! While everyone thinks that his career has reached its peak, he is still exploring upwards.

Old Qian couldn't wait for them to go public tomorrow, but thinking about Sheng Yi's behavior, which didn't seem to indicate any intention to announce it, his previously boiling blood calmed down again. Sure enough, before hanging up the phone, Cao Jun specifically instructed, "Don't tell her."

He waited a few days and sure enough, the tabloids stopped contacting him. Unexpectedly, Zeng Shaoguang and his team's press releases kept popping up like weeds, making him break out in a cold sweat in the dead of winter.

To be honest, Lao Qian was slow to realize what was happening. He realized he'd scared himself with his past antics, and the person involved was completely unaware of what was going on outside. After washing up, Sheng Yi curled up on the sofa and watched movies all night. Even as the end credits rolled, she remained stunned, unable to come to her senses for a long time.

Wen Shili pushed open the door and saw Sheng Yi sitting on the sofa with her knees drawn up to her chest. Her eyes were red as she looked at him, like a little white rabbit that had gotten lost in the forest.

His heart ached. He changed his shoes and hurried over, reaching out to gently touch the corner of her eye. "What's wrong?"

When Sheng Yi saw the tears he was wiping away, she realized that she had cried. She reached out and hugged Wen Shili's neck, burying her head in his neck. "I watched a touching movie."

Her voice still had a nasal tone. Wen Shili patted her back and gently comforted her, "It's okay, movies are all fake."

Sheng Yi: "..."

Sheng Yi resisted the urge to roll her eyes, stepped out of his arms, picked up the script placed aside, and continued to flip through a few more pages.

Currently, besides the script she's working on with Zeng Shaoguang for the second time, she has two other scripts she likes looking at, one for a movie and the other for a TV series. She finds the movie script particularly appealing, but the director isn't very famous. Apparently, he's directed two movies before, one of which didn't even make it to theaters, and the other only grossed a few hundred thousand at the box office.

If she were only considering the financial returns, perhaps she should have chosen one of the two dramas. However, after flipping through the script, she realized the story was truly excellent.

Having some time tonight, she made a point of watching the director's two previous films, both of which depicted the fates of ordinary people struggling and being swept along by the tides of history, ultimately only able to meet their predetermined end.

The work reflects the creator's heart. Through frame by frame, Sheng Yi seems to have stepped into the time and space where those people exist, and the director is the pair of eyes that monitor everything.

Having the opportunity to act in such a script, regardless of the final outcome, is an honor for any actor. However…

As she looked at the script, she recalled how Lao Qian had repeatedly questioned her when she decided to keep it. In fact, she had also asked herself in private whether she was really ready.

There is no answer.

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Author's Note: I revised the last chapter several times but it still didn't pass. I'll try again later. [pity]