Chapter 38 Chapter 38
“Achoo!!!”
Sun Hongfei was speaking when he suddenly sneezed loudly.
Gao Shen looked at him worriedly: “Mr. Sun, are you catching a cold?”
Sun Hongfei was also puzzled. He had always been in good health, but for the past few days, he had been feeling cold and sneezing frequently. Could he really have a cold?
But he didn't take it seriously: “It should be nothing. I’m always in good health.”
Gao Shen: “Mr. Sun, you must take care of your health!”
He was the goldmine of the film crew now, so nothing must go wrong!
Gu Xing Shi also nodded seriously: “Manager Sun, why don't you go for a checkup?”
Sun Hongfei wanted to refuse, but seeing Gu Xing Shi's concerned look, he changed his mind: “I’ll listen to Mr. Gu. I’ll go for a checkup when I get back.”
As they spoke, they arrived at the barbecue restaurant.
Gao Shen waved his hand majestically: “Eat and drink! I’m treating tonight!”
Everyone cheered: “Director Gao is awesome!”
Then everyone rushed to the refrigerator, eager to empty the whole thing.
Gao Shen, Gu Xing Shi, and others went into a private room.
Gao Shen raised his glass, looking gratefully at Sun Hongfei and Gu Xing Shi: “Mr. Gu, Mr. Sun, I toast to you! Without you, this drama might not have been made! My directing career might have been over…”
By the end, Gao Shen's voice was choked with emotion.
Today had been a rollercoaster for him. If his mental fortitude were any weaker, he wouldn't have survived.
He had been in this industry for nearly ten years, and he had finally gotten this opportunity. If he failed, he wouldn’t have a second chance, and it would even affect his screenwriting career.
Besides, he was still paying off his mortgage, and his daughter would be transferring to Beijing next year. He needed that house for her to get a school place. If his career was affected and he couldn’t pay the mortgage, it wouldn't just affect his life, but also his daughter's future.
It could be said that Sun Hongfei and Gu Xing Shi had saved not only his career but also his family and daughter.
No matter how much gratitude he expressed, it wouldn't be enough.
Gao Shen wiped away tears from the corner of his eyes and said in a hoarse voice: “I won’t say too much. Anyway, I, Gao Shen, will always remember this kindness!”
After saying that, he drained his glass.
Sun Hongfei, around the same age as him, understood his feelings and patted him on the shoulder in comfort.
Gao Shen, after a day of great sadness and great joy, had a few drinks and opened up completely: “Mr. Gu, you’re a straightforward person, and I want to tell you something heartfelt. Actually, the character of Xiao Qin wasn’t originally the third male lead; he was the second male lead and the real hidden mastermind behind the scenes.”
Gu Xing Shi was stunned: “This…”
Gao Shen thought he was going to refuse and hurriedly said: “Mr. Gu, I’m not saying this to please you. I really thought this way…”
Gao Shen had his own ideas for his first directed script.
He originally wanted to design a villain hidden within the protagonist’s team, creating a big twist at the end. To make this twist exciting enough, this person would not only deceive the protagonist's team but also the audience.
That’s why he designed the character Yu Changyan, a seemingly gentle, affectionate, wealthy young master, who was actually cold-blooded and cruel.
The more the audience liked him and trusted him in the early stages, the more shocked they would be when the twist was revealed.
Unfortunately, the previous investors thought this plan was too risky.
After all, TV dramas aren’t novels. Audiences are more likely to invest emotions and trust in characters. If there’s such a drastic change later, the audience wouldn’t care about dramatic tension or an exciting twist. They would only feel cheated and that the character’s personality had collapsed.
This wasn’t unreasonable, but Gao Shen always felt that he should trust the audience’s aesthetic more.
However, the original investors didn’t listen to him, and Gao Shen could only sadly delete all those scenes and add another villain.
That’s why Gu Xing Shi and others saw Yu Changyan, a character with a very flat personality, almost like a tool.
Gu Xing Shi listened carefully to Gao Shen’s story.
It had to be said that Gao Shen was truly talented. In the original version of the story, all the clues were interlocking, foreshadowing laid subtly, and all erupting in the final climax, making it breathtaking.
And the character Yu Changyan wasn’t a purely villainous character. He also fought for the people and for justice. From his perspective, he was absolute justice.
He wasn’t completely opposed to the protagonist's team. He also had admiration, respect, and genuine affection for them. It was just that because of their different stances, they ultimately became enemies.
The whole story wasn’t just a simple suspenseful investigation; it explored the oppression of humanity by class and imperial power at a higher level, with a more profound and thoughtful theme, making the story more memorable.
The character Yu Changyan was extremely complex and outstanding.
If performed well, it would be a role that would be deeply imprinted in the audience's hearts.
Qin Wen was captivated.
Originally, he didn’t have any special feelings about being an actor. Gu Xing Shi asked him to do it, so he did it, just like countless times before when he compromised for his livelihood and took jobs he didn’t like.
He wasn’t interested in the glamorous life Gu Xing Shi described, nor did he care about being liked by many people. Although he was only in his twenties, his mentality was like an old man who had experienced the world, calm as a well.
But hearing Gao Shen tell the whole story, hearing him talk about Yu Changyan’s ambition and aspirations, his struggles and confusion,
a flame suddenly ignited in Qin Wen’s calm heart.
A strong desire told him, I want to act!
Before he realized it, he had already spoken.
Everyone looked at him in shock.
Qin Wen’s usually calm voice was unusually trembling, but the words he spoke were firm: “Mr. Gu, Director Gao, I want to act!”
Gao Shen scratched his head, a little annoyed.
He shouldn’t have talked so much after getting drunk.
This role was indeed exciting, but it was too difficult, and it was also dangerous for the actor. If they weren’t careful, the audience might think of them as troublemakers and subject them to online abuse and cyberbullying.
Let alone Qin Wen being a newcomer; even experienced actors couldn’t handle it.
So, he had already decided to add a beautiful, strong, and pitiful background to this second male lead character, enriching his personality. With Qin Wen’s face, he would definitely be a likable character.
This kind of role wasn’t difficult, and the audience liked it. After the drama aired, he would definitely gain a lot of fans. With traffic, his future path would be smooth.
With such a clear and stable path to success ahead of him, Gao Shen couldn’t understand why Qin Wen would choose a rugged and unclear path.
So, he earnestly tried to persuade Qin Wen.
But Qin Wen was adamant, determined to play this version of Yu Changyan.
He could only keep assuring him: “Director Gao, don't worry. I can definitely play it well. I will do my best to understand the character. If I don’t perform well, you can hit me or scold me; it’s fine!”
Gao Shen was helpless and could only look at Gu Xing Shi: “Mr. Gu, what do you think…”
Qin Wen also looked at Gu Xing Shi with pleading eyes.
Gu Xing Shi fell silent.
If it was just to become a star, the path Gao Shen mentioned was clearly stable.
But…
His gaze fell on Qin Wen’s hands.
His long hands were tightly clenched into fists, his knuckles slightly white, showing his tension.
He remembered the system gossiping about Qin Wen’s history. Perhaps, this was the first time in his twenty-odd years that he wanted to do something not for others, but for himself.
Gu Xing Shi’s heart softened.
Forget it.
If they failed, it would just mean not making money!
Didn’t the company get through its poor times before?
He coughed lightly: “Director Gao, I think this version of the story is quite good. It’s worth a try.”
The pressure on Qin Wen’s heart instantly eased.
Feeling Gu Xing Shi’s trusting and tolerant gaze, his heart felt like it was immersed in warm water, almost bringing tears to his eyes because of the warmth.
Is this what it feels like to have someone to rely on?
It felt like no matter what he did, when he looked back, he would always be there for him.
At that moment, the heavy armor he had been carrying was finally removed.
His wounded but sensitive heart reached out to feel the world again. His numb heart started to function again.
In the past, he was like someone who had taken painkillers. He had abandoned pain, fear, desire, and a series of negative emotions. Because he couldn’t feel pain, he lived recklessly, self-destructively.
Now, he actively pulled out the painkiller needle, preferring to feel pain and live again truly.
Qin Wen loosened his hands, turned around, and hugged Gu Xing Shi tightly: “Thank you.”
Gu Xing Shi seemed to feel something and gently patted his back.
Gao Shen: “…”
This was the first time he had seen such a tolerant manager!
He was helpless and could only look at Sun Hongfei for help.
However, Sun Hongfei’s heart was sounding an alarm.
He definitely didn’t mistake the look of dependence and trust Qin Wen had when looking at Gu Xing Shi!!
He knew Qin Wen’s identity, knowing that Gu Xing Shi had saved him, helped him avenge his sister, and then signed him as an actor.
It was normal to be moved by such great kindness! Not to mention that Mr. Gu was so handsome!!
If Qin Wen really had ulterior motives, he was such a good actor and could always be around Mr. Gu. Wouldn’t that be very dangerous!!
No!
Absolutely not!
For Mr. Gu and Mr. Wen’s love, he, Sun Hongfei, would nip any signs in the bud!
Rather than having fewer scenes and being around Mr. Gu every day, it’s better to play a difficult role. Whether it’s good or bad, at least he’ll be confined to the film crew. As long as there’s no chance of contact, the possibility of seducing Mr. Gu is eliminated!
Thinking of this, Sun Hongfei spoke righteously: “I think that TV dramas should be made in a way that makes them look good! I think the reason why there haven’t been any good dramas in recent years is that creators set limits on themselves, saying that the audience doesn’t like this, that audience doesn’t like that. I think it’s all bullshit!”
“What does the audience like? The audience likes good stories! Although I don’t participate in creation, I’m also an audience member. I don’t need the creators to choose for me; I just need you to create a good story!”
His words shocked everyone present.
Gao Shen fell into silence.
It had to be said that Sun Hongfei's words were like a hammer, hitting him awake.
He thought of his youthful enthusiasm when he first entered the industry. At that time, he looked down on those monotonous conflicts and personalities, determined to write truly amazing stories.
But when did he become the old-timer he once despised?
He used to say that the investors restricted him, that the actors were unwilling to challenge complex roles.
But now, he had met investors who were willing to support him, and talented, resilient actors who were willing to act. Why did he back down?!
His long-lost fighting spirit ignited again.
He cast aside worldly things like ratings, money, and fame. He seemed to return to his purest days as a creator.
In a trance, he seemed to have crossed a boundary.
His years of experience and original aspirations seemed to merge, countless plots bursting in his mind.
The story he previously thought was perfect now seemed to have countless flaws and loopholes.
And these flaws and loopholes were slowly being filled in his mind.
He suddenly stood up, opened his laptop, and started typing away.
By the time he finished writing, it was already late at night. Everyone was drunk, lying haphazardly on the table or on the floor.
Only Gu Xing Shi remained sober.
Gao Shen was dumbfounded: “What… what happened?”
“Oh, they challenged me to a drinking contest.” Gu Xing Shi looked innocent and showed his pinky finger. “But I can drink a little bit.”
Gao Shen: “…”
He had previously heard Sun Hongfei mention that Mr. Gu was a cute, innocent little rabbit protected by Mr. Wen. Now he realized that this might be his biggest misunderstanding of Mr. Gu.
Gu Xing Shi smiled: “Director Gao, did you finish writing?”
Gao Shen immediately collected his thoughts, showed Gu Xing Shi the outline he had just written, and excitedly said: “Mr. Gu, I’m very confident now. This drama is going to be amazing!!!”
Gu Xing Shi, after reading the outline, was also shocked.
He couldn’t believe that Gao Shen had written this in just a few hours.
This script was amazing!!!
He even had a feeling that this drama would be a hit!
-
Because Gao Shen temporarily modified the script, the original shooting start date was delayed by half a month.
The case of Lin Laosan and others who caused Qin Wen’s sister’s suicide was being tried during this period. Qin Wen had to appear in court as a witness, so Gu Xing Shi decided to return to Lunan Province with Qin Wen to witness their conviction.
Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin’s schedules also came to an end, and Cheng Xin happened to be from Lunan Province. So everyone decided to meet in Lunan Province and let Cheng Xin be the host to take them around.
However, just as Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin booked their tickets, the system popped up: 【Host! New gossip!】
Gu Xing Shi: 【?】
System: 【The identity information of popular actress Li Jia Ruo was leaked and maliciously altered by her haters, affecting her schedule and forcing her to miss the Macau-Hong Kong Film Festival. The Best Actress award had to be accepted by her crew on her behalf.】
Gu Xing Shi: 【What’s wrong with these haters?】
He suddenly thought of something and asked the system: 【How common is this kind of identity information leak? Will Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin’s information be leaked too?】
System: 【I can only tell you that this is quite common, especially flight information, which is easily modified. As for whether Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin’s information was leaked, you know, I’m a gossip system. If I could tell you, they would most likely be part of the gossip. I think you wouldn’t want to see that, right?】
Gu Xing Shi: 【…】
He thought for a moment.
After all, Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin were no longer the unknown amateurs they were. As members of the hottest boy band, even without haters, they might have stalkers who intentionally sit next to them, which isn’t a comfortable feeling.
To be safe, he called them, asking them to cancel their flight tickets and take the high-speed train instead.
After all, the high-speed train from their place would only take four hours, which wouldn’t be too hard.
Meng and Cheng always listened to Gu Xing Shi, and didn’t ask much, readily canceling their flight tickets. However, high-speed train tickets for tomorrow were sold out, so they could only postpone their trip by another day.
As for Gu Xing Shi and Qin Wen, they didn’t have such worries and still took the plane.
At the airport, Gu Xing Shi asked Qin Wen to wear a mask and hat.
Qin Wen was puzzled: “It’s not necessary. I’m not a star.”
“You’re not now, but you might be in the future!”
Gu Xing Shi remembered the gossip the system revealed before bed last night: an actress was photographed picking her nose before her debut, and her team spent a huge sum to buy and destroy the photo.
The amount made Gu Xing Shi gasp.
Although Qin Wen didn’t seem to have the habit of picking his nose, what if he was photographed doing other unsightly things!
Their company was very poor!!!
To prevent this from happening, they should be cautious from now on and give others no chance.
Gu Xing Shi was firm in his request, and Qin Wen could only obediently put on his mask and hat, covering himself tightly.
But looking at Gu Xing Shi, who was clean and clear without any cover, he couldn’t help but ask: “Mr. Gu, why aren’t you wearing a mask and hat?”
“Me?” Gu Xing Shi didn’t care. “I’m just a manager. What if I’m photographed doing something unsightly? They won’t get a cent from me!”
Qin Wen: “…”
After two hours of flight, they arrived at Wujin, the capital city of Lunan Province.
Both of them had slept on the plane and were still a little groggy. After leaving the airport, they took a taxi to their hotel.
Therefore, they didn’t notice two suspicious men at the airport taking pictures of them with their cameras.
These two were paparazzi. They had bought Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin’s flight information, knowing that they were coming to Lunan Province without assistants, on a private trip.
So they arrived early at Wujin Airport, but unexpectedly met many colleagues.
When the flight arrived, Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin weren’t there.
Other paparazzi thought they were tricked and left grumbling, but the two of them were unwilling to give up and stayed.
Unexpectedly, their efforts paid off! They actually waited for them!
Paparazzo A recognized Gu Xing Shi at a glance. As for the man next to him who was covered up, he must be his artist!
As everyone knows, Gu Xing Shi only has two artists: Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin.
The two carefully examined the photos.
“This figure looks like Cheng Xin, right?”
“It should be. Meng Yuansheng seems to be thinner? But why is only Cheng Xin here? Where’s Meng Yuansheng?”
“Maybe something came up? Anyway, it’s good to get Cheng Xin’s gossip! Many people want to buy his gossip; it’s easy to sell.”
“Let’s follow them quickly.”
Having decided, the two quickly followed Gu Xing Shi’s car to the hotel and hid in their car, watching the hotel entrance.
As soon as Gu Xing Shi and Qin Wen arrived at the hotel, they received a call from Officer Lin: “You’re already here?”
Gu Xing Shi: “Yes. Isn’t the trial tomorrow?”
Officer Lin hurriedly said: “During our investigation, we found that Lin Laosan’s wife, Zhang Li, has underworld connections. She has a gangster brother who knew Qin Wen was going to be a witness and threatened to teach him a lesson if he returned to Lunan Province. I’ve already reported this matter, and the higher-ups take it seriously. For safety reasons, you should stay at the public security bureau’s guest house.”
Gu Xing Shi and Qin Wen could only agree.
Officer Lin said: “I’ll be passing by your hotel soon, and I’ll give you a ride.”
So, the two packed their luggage again. After leaving the hotel, they saw a police car parked on the roadside.
The two: “…”
Officer Lin got out of the car and awkwardly coughed: “For safety reasons, you know, this car was approved by the higher-ups…”
Alright.
The two had no choice but to get into the car obediently.
The paparazzi watching from afar were dumbfounded, but they didn’t forget to frantically press the shutter.
“Wow wow!! Big news!!!”
“A popular boy band member is a criminal!!”
“He’s here to surrender, right?”
“If this news breaks out, Weibo will crash!!!”
However, to ensure there was no problem, the two followed, but they were a little scared of the public security bureau and didn’t dare to get too close. They only saw the police car drive into the back of the public security bureau and didn’t come out again, and Gu Xing Shi and “Cheng Xin” didn’t come out either.
The next day, the police car left the public security bureau again, heading towards the court. The two paparazzi saw reporters with the legal channel logo holding microphones, along with a film crew, heading into the court.
“Confirmed!!”
“Definitely committed a crime!! A big case!!”
“Damn! We’re rich!!!”
…
A few hours later, the trial finally ended.
Lin Laosan and the others received their due punishment.
Qin Wen let out a sigh of relief. His sister’s grievances were finally cleared, and he could finally let go of this heavy burden and live his life.
However, the danger was still there, so Gu Xing Shi called Cheng Xin and decided not to go to Lunan Province for now and go somewhere else to play.
Officer Lin treated them to lunch at the canteen and then safely sent them to the airport.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the food was served, the system excitedly popped up: 【Host, see? As long as an artist’s name appears here, it means there’s gossip! Congratulations! You got Cheng Xin’s gossip!!】
Gu Xing Shi: 【?】
After hearing the system, he fell silent.
After a while, he looked at Officer Lin and seriously asked: “Officer Lin, what legal responsibilities are there for leaking a star’s flight information?”
Officer Lin answered without thinking: “According to the Criminal Law, those who sell or provide citizens’ personal information to others, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to imprisonment of not more than three years or detention, and shall also be fined or given a single fine; if the circumstances are particularly serious, they shall be sentenced to imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years, and shall also be fined.”①
After speaking, he remembered that Gu Xing Shi was a manager and helplessly said, “However, it’s difficult to gather evidence in this kind of case. These people are all over the country, hiding like eels. It requires multiple provinces and cities to cooperate in the investigation. Also, we need conclusive evidence to prove the information was leaked…”
Gu Xing Shi picked up his phone, pointed at the “breaking news” on the hot search, and said: “This, is this considered evidence?”
Officer Lin: “…”
“According to the time shown in the photos, the paparazzi should still be in Wujin.” Gu Xing Shi smiled slightly. “Officer Lin, there’s no problem if I report this, right?”