Chapter 62 Tonight, leave it to me?
The next day, Song Yanlin didn't come to the set, but instead appeared in front of the public in a more dramatic way.
On Weibo's trending topics, the top four entries contained his name, and the public was in an uproar as countless fans frantically tagged the production team's official account demanding an explanation.
Unable to withstand the pressure, the drama's publicity team finally released a statement on Weibo as requested by Yu Jianshan:
Dear viewers, fans, and media friends:
Since the start of filming, we have been deeply grateful for everyone's love and support for the movie "Before the Freeze," and we have been working hard to create it.
Recently, due to Mr. Song Yanlin, the actor who plays the role of "Chen Xu," unilaterally violating the terms of the actor contract signed with us, after several serious discussions within the production team, we have had to make a difficult decision: to adjust the script and make post-production cuts to the relevant scenes of Mr. Song Yanlin's role as "Chen Xu."
This change was made out of necessity, but we firmly believe that an excellent film cannot be made without the joint efforts and dedication of every member of the cast and crew. The production team will mobilize all resources to ensure the smooth flow of the main storyline and the overall artistic quality of the film, living up to everyone's expectations.
Thank you to all the friends who care about this film for your understanding and support.
A short break is for a better reunion. See you at the cinema.
Sincerely, the producers of the film "Before the Freeze"
But this is just the beginning.
Overnight, major luxury brands that had business collaborations with Song Yanlin removed his huge posters in shopping malls across the country and erased all traces of him from their official Weibo and websites.
Some of the movies, TV series, and variety shows he participated in have been taken down, had their scenes cut, or had their faces replaced, in an attempt to minimize his presence.
In fact, no one knew exactly what happened in any of these steps; they were just following orders from above.
It wasn't until two days later, when a marketing account posted a Weibo post, that the public's confusion was cleared up.
The blog post is simple, just a few words, concise in its wording, yet powerful enough.
Accompanied by chat logs, street photos, and audio recordings, the content provides irrefutable evidence of Song Yanlin's ambiguous entanglements with different actresses over the past few years, as he moved between different film crews.
Just as fans were trying to clear their names, even more damning evidence began to emerge.
On Weibo's public platform, insults continued to pour in:
[This guy has finally fallen from grace.]
It turns out all those rumors were true.
[Disgusting! He's having affairs, cheating, and having multiple relationships with so many actresses.]
No wonder he was carried away; it's a good thing he was. One person wrote a petition in blood demanding the production team be 'frozen' and the actor be replaced! I don't want to see him on the big screen; just looking at him makes my eyes feel like they're going to get a disease. [vomit]
Xu Shaoting's methods were particularly clever. Instead of releasing all of Song Yanlin's dirt at once, he gradually disseminated it to the media and personally set the tone for the press releases, ensuring that the scandal would only affect Song Yanlin personally and protect Wen Jia and the crew from the outside.
As he predicted, after the concrete evidence was released, fans kept clamoring for the production team to replace the actor. This not only raised everyone's expectations for the film, but also brought a new wave of traffic and increased its popularity.
Of course, many netizens guessed the truth, but he neither silenced nor interfered, giving the public ample freedom of speech. He knew that within half a day, these comments would be drowned out by the overwhelming criticism of Song Yanlin.
Seeing the situation was hopeless, Huanyu Entertainment's public relations team sought help from General Manager Ye of Yingsheng Group.
Mr. Ye knew the inside story, but he couldn't withstand the pressure and still had to bite the bullet and go to Xu Shaoting to plead for Song Yanlin.
Based on his slight acquaintance with Xu Shaoting, this Mr. Ye talked at length before finally revealing his true purpose:
"Chairman Xu, do you think we could give him another chance?"
Xu Shaoting calmly sipped his tea, put down the bone china cup, and smiled elegantly, "President Ye, you are a man too, you should understand? After something like this happened, I would feel bad if I let him go, not to mention I would have a hard time explaining it to my wife at home."
How could President Ye possibly understand this? He neither possessed Xu Shaoting's shrewdness nor had a doting "wife" like Xu Shaoting.
Although he didn't understand, he still chuckled twice in agreement and kept saying, "Yes, yes..."
After saying that, just as she was about to try to save face, Xu Shaoting gained the upper hand:
"Actually, there's one thing about the people in your company that I really admire."
Mr. Ye responded earnestly, "Please go ahead."
“He’s bold enough. And he’s not the only one who’s bold,” Xu Shaoting’s smile gradually faded. “You’re bold too. I wonder if the other artists in your company are just as bold?”
Mr. Ye's smile instantly froze on his face. He knew that even if he wanted to plead for Song Yanlin, he would have to protect himself and the other artists first. Hearing this, he didn't dare to continue and wisely slipped away, leaving Song Yanlin to fend for himself.
-
To ensure the integrity of the story and to give the fans who supported it an explanation, Yu Jianshan and a group of senior executives finally decided to retain the character of Chen Xu and find a new male actor.
What seems like a simple decision involves countless aspects. Yu Jianshan reassembled the directing team and handed out scripts to qualified and morally upright male actors for auditions.
The actor chosen after three rounds of auditions is Yang Muyuan. He is not a popular idol, but a down-to-earth and talented actor. However, because his acting style and image are very different from Song Yanlin's, the script for Chen Xu, a character with only one storyline, needs to be greatly revised, and all the pressure falls on Su Jianyun.
The day after she met with Jerry Yang, she began revising the script.
Slow and steady wins the race. To give Su Jianyun enough creative space, Yu Jianshan solemnly announced in the group chat:
"Thank you all for your cooperation and support in the early stages of filming. The directing team has tentatively finalized the new male lead, @Yang Muyuan. The script needs to be adjusted accordingly, so this will be a lot of work for Jianyun. She'll be busy revising the script. Therefore, our pace will be slightly different from now on. Please cooperate with Jianyun and give her creative space. There's no rush; we'll work on it until it's perfect."
We all know it's not easy, but let's get through it together. When the show comes out, it'll all be worth it!
From then on, Song Yanlin gradually faded from the public eye, like a hot potato that no one dared to take on and no one dared to mention again.
The entire production team was thus plunged into a prolonged standstill, remaining in place for nearly six months.
-
Six months later.
Starry Entertainment.
Wearing a mask, Wen Jia pushed open the company door and walked calmly down the familiar corridor under the watchful eyes of her employees.
Her gaze swept lightly across the wall, where images of herself once adorned the walls, from her early, inexperienced days to her triumphant awards. Now, without exception, they had all been replaced by the face of another girl—
Kim Yeon, a newcomer heavily promoted by Ahn Hee-wook, displays a standardized, sickeningly sweet smile on a giant poster.
Wen Jia watched, her lips curving almost imperceptibly. Without lingering, she knocked directly on the heavy walnut door at the end of the alley.
An Xiyue turned around from the window, a smile spreading across his face as if he were meeting an old friend. “You’ve come. Have a seat,” he said, leading her to the sofa in the reception area. “Try the Lao Ban Zhang tea that I got through someone. I know you know your tea.”
Wen Jia sat down, without touching her teacup, and got straight to the point, "President An, my lawyer should have already delivered the termination letter. Here's also a supplementary agreement. The film was originally signed under the company's name, and this agreement ensures the smooth completion of the film and its post-production promotion. All the terms are in there; if there are no problems, just sign it."
An Xiyue seemed not to hear him, took a sip of tea, and then slowly said, "Does this corridor look a little unfamiliar?" He looked up and said, "It seems like only yesterday that I hung up your first poster."
“Things are always being updated and replaced, that’s normal.” Wen Jia smiled, her tone completely calm. “Just like the company’s resources, they will flow to people who are more trustworthy.”
Who is this person you're talking about, someone you can entrust your life to?
"Who is being described on the poster?"
He smiled appreciatively at her clear-headedness, then said bluntly, "Wen Jia, I don't want you to leave."
"Impossible."
An Xiyue paused for a moment, then threw out his first offer, his tone tinged with just the right amount of heartache: "I know that back then, in order to get close to Jin Yan, I neglected you a bit, and you suffered some grievances. That was because the company had overall strategic considerations at the time. But now, I'm giving you a chance."
As he spoke, he pushed a pre-prepared letter of intent toward her.
Wen Jia glanced down at the large characters on the cover.
This is a lucrative opportunity that would tempt any A-list actress.
However, she just smiled, her voice gentle yet firm: "President An, my plans no longer lie here. This kind of thing is only good for coaxing Jin Yan."
A hint of surprise flashed in An Xiyue's eyes. He leaned back on the sofa. "Okay, let's talk about something more practical. We'll renew the contract for another five years. You'll have veto power over all future film and television projects. Your personal studio will have independent operating rights, and we'll split the profits 70/30, with you getting 70%." He stared intently into her eyes and dropped the final bombshell, "And, three percent of Xing Shuo Media's shares."
This is not just generous, it's an exception.
This means she will go from being a worker to becoming one of the owners.
Wen Jia finally raised her eyes, her gaze clear and bright, as if she were moved. "President An, the conditions you have offered are so generous that I doubt whether I am worthy of them."
An Xiyue's brows relaxed slightly, thinking she had wavered.
However, what he said next completely froze the smile on his face.
“But,” she said slowly but clearly, “when you tacitly allowed Kim Yeon’s team to release press releases to discredit me, you should have expected this situation today.”
“What you gave me, I can now get myself. In fact,” her gaze swept meaningfully across the doorway, as if it could penetrate the wall and see Kim Yeon’s poster in the hallway, “I can get it even better.”
An Xiyue's expression finally darkened, and he slowly asked, "So, there's no room for negotiation..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wen Jia stood up abruptly, dusting off imaginary dust. "President An, my new company is called Lingguang, Lingguang Culture Media. Welcome to visit us."
After saying that, he pushed the teapot towards him, saying, "The tea is getting cold, Mr. An."
Then, without any mercy, she turned around, the sound of her heels striking the floor striking An Xiyue's nerves with an unusually crisp sound.
The solid wood door to the office was opened and then gently closed.
An Xiyue sat alone in his spacious office for a long time before finally picking up the now-cold tea and drinking it all in one gulp. The bitter taste of the tea spread from the tip of his tongue all the way to his internal organs.
Outside the door, Wen Jia walked calmly once again down the long corridor covered with posters of Jin Yan.
Her back was ramrod straight.
There was no turning back.
The silver elevator doors opened just in time to welcome her, then closed, descended, and went straight to the first floor.
Wen Jia, travel-worn and weary, pushed open the doors of the large building.
Autumn has arrived in Linzhou again. The plane trees along the roadside spread out their golden leaves, which drifted down to her feet. Just as they settled, Zhang Linzhi's Genesis braked suddenly and stopped in front of her.
She stepped forward and got into the passenger seat.
The person in the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel, gestured with their chin towards her, "How's it going? Is everything alright?"
Wen Jia snorted, "That old man is cunning. Seeing that Jin Yan couldn't be promoted, he knows to come and try to keep me here, even bringing up his shares. You should have come with me, just look at his face."
She casually tossed her bag onto the back seat, and as she spoke, she deftly removed her updo, letting her long, straight black hair fall down, instantly transforming her aura.
She knows exactly how to act in different ways depending on who you're meeting.
Zhang Linzhi snorted dismissively and tossed her a paper bag. "I brought you the dress. Hurry up and change into it. The car will be there in about the right time."
"Is everything ready?"
"Everything is ready, just waiting for us to arrive." Zhang Linzhi's tone rose uncontrollably as he spoke, and then the car made a sharp turn, driving onto a small road.
Wen Jia smiled knowingly, opened the paper bag, and unfolded a navy blue short dress that had been carefully ironed.
The passenger seat was cramped, so she struggled to take off her shirt and pencil skirt and put on a formal dress.
Even though she couldn't stretch her arms and legs out, she still remembered to call her man.
"Where are you?" came a deep, nonchalant voice from the other end of the phone.
"I just terminated my contract and am now on my way back."
As soon as she finished speaking, the chain on her skirt slid up perfectly.
On the top floor of Yunxi, the man's face was reflected in the office window. He smiled, turned around, took his suit jacket from the coat rack, and draped it over his arm.
"I'm leaving now."
Fifteen minutes later.
The Maybach and Genesis met on the avenue and then slid one after the other into the underground parking garage of the Linzhou Building, coming to a stop side by side.
Xu Shaoting, wrapped in a long trench coat, stepped out of the Maybach, the hem of his coat fluttering with each step. He walked around the front of the car and opened the passenger door of the Genesis.
But all they saw was Wen Jia applying lipstick in front of the mirror above.
She was clearly not fully ready; her feet were still bare.
Xu Shaoting smiled and took her high heels out of the paper bag. He bent down slightly, held her slender ankle, and lifted the high heels with his other hand, allowing her foot to fit perfectly into the opening.
Once both feet were in their shoes, he extended his palm to her, and she readily took it, stepping out of the car and naturally linking her arm with his.
Zhang Linzhi and Lin Youzhe followed behind, watching the two figures from behind. Although they didn't speak, their synchronized pace, her natural arm-linking gesture, and his slight leaning towards her all created a silent yet powerful aura.
The elevator goes directly to the 46th floor of the building.
The moment the elevator door opened, there was a loud 'bang'—
Fireworks burst forth, showering them with golden and silver shimmering fragments.
A row of people, men and women, stood on both sides of the corridor, all dressed in proper business attire, and thunderous applause erupted.
"Welcome, Mr. Wen! Welcome, Chairman Xu! Welcome, Mr. Zhang!"
This unexpected turn of events caught Wen Jia off guard, causing her to pause slightly and instinctively hide in Xu Shaoting's arms.
He smiled, supported her weight, held her waist tightly, and steadily moved forward amidst cheers.
At the end of the corridor was a glass door, with a plaque above it—
'Lingguang Culture Media Co., Ltd.'
The inscription was written by him personally.
She was in his arms, her eyes filled with joy, and she looked up at him.
"Push it away," he said softly.
The glass door slowly opened, and sunlight slanted in, filling the bright and spacious room with neat rows of workstations, everything brand new.
She stepped inside, and behind her, fireworks burst once again.
This time, she wasn't frightened. She simply clasped her hands together, her eyes filled with anticipation, and meticulously sketched out this new beginning that belonged to her.
Xu Shaoting stood behind her, gazing intently at her back. He gently brushed the glitter off her clothes, then embraced her from behind, kissing her on the collarbone. "How is it, Mr. Wen? Are you satisfied?"
After acquiring the office, Xu Shaoting commissioned a design to be created entirely according to her preferences. It took four months to completely renovate it.
At this moment, the two stood in the center, the soft white carpet beneath their feet, the clear sunlight shining on him as he held her, casting a long shadow on the ground.
"Very satisfied."
Wen Jia nestled her cheek against his shoulder, seemingly lost in the atmosphere.
It wasn't until the coughing sound came that she seemed to snap out of her daze, turning away from Xu Shaoting's embrace and glancing shyly towards the door.
They saw Zhang Linzhi leaning against the door, surrounded by a large group of people. The employees had never met Wen Jia, the major shareholder, before. On their first meeting, they were shocked to see such an intimate scene. They pursed their lips, blinked, and looked away, not daring to look.
"Stop being so lovey-dovey! Let's cut the ribbon!" Zhang Linzhi crossed her arms and cleared her throat.
As soon as he finished speaking, several media personnel who had been invited in advance carried their cameras and ran to the backdrop to set up their positions.
The host handed over a long ribbon, which was elegantly held by the three shareholders as they stood in front of the backdrop.
Wen Jia stood in the very center, under the media's cameras. Her posture was elegant and upright, and her flawless, light makeup accentuated her stunning beauty.
The camera pans down, revealing that this navy blue dress was chosen from a collection of VELRA styles in his walk-in closet. VELRA hadn't officially released it yet, so this moment, when it's on her, marks its global debut.
The satin fabric, with its delicate, expensive shimmer, sparkled brilliantly under the flashing lights of the media. It was the same material and even the exact color of the tie worn by the man beside her.
To an outsider, it's impossible to tell who complements whom or who sets off whom; all that's clear is that even without saying a word, the two of them standing together exude an unspoken understanding.
"Please keep this pose and look ahead. Let's take a group photo." The host skillfully managed the situation.
With a click of the shutter, the scene was captured.
"Next, please have the hostesses present the golden scissors. Now, all our guests, please focus your attention on this colorful ribbon symbolizing glory and success. Let us count down together to three and witness this historic moment: three, two, one! Ribbon cutting!"
The surrounding noise suddenly disappeared, and everyone held their breath, focusing their attention on the three shareholders.
Zhang Linzhi looked capable, Wen Jia wore a gorgeous evening gown, and Xu Shaoting was dressed in a suit and tie.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, each ribbon was cut without obstruction, a very auspicious sign.
Amidst enthusiastic cheers, the host walked to the backdrop and, as usual, conducted an interview: "Ms. Wen, congratulations! From today onwards, you have another role to play. We are all amazed to see such a meticulously designed office. As the owner of this place, standing at this new starting point for you, what are your biggest feelings? What are your expectations for the future?"
“Thank you. My first feeling right now is gratitude. Thank you to my team for starting preparations months in advance, and thank you to our media friends for coming. Of course, I also want to thank a special… project director.” Wen Jia looked at the man beside her without any hesitation, smiling and meeting his gaze for a few seconds. “I hope this place can become a warm and welcoming family. In the future, I hope we can work together to do something truly meaningful.”
Seeing the opportunity, the host handed the microphone to Xu Shaoting.
He wore silver-rimmed glasses today and smiled very gentlemanly and refinedly in front of the camera.
His suit trousers hugged his long, slender legs, his black shirt was of unparalleled quality, his tie was impeccably tied, and his eyes remained calm and composed.
"So, as the 'Project Director,' what would Chairman Xu like to say to President Wen?" the host asked with a smile.
Xu Shaoting didn't steal the show; his words were elegant and slow.
"I will support everything Mr. Wen does."
It was just a sentence meant for Wen Jia, but the female host felt inexplicably embarrassed for a moment after hearing that beautiful voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Youzhe led the way, and another round of sincere applause rang out from the crowd.
The employee recruitment was organized by Lin Youzhe. The applicants were all elites from various fields. The process was very swift. In just one afternoon, the name "Xingshuo Entertainment" was ruthlessly deleted from the introduction section of Wenjia Studio's official Weibo account and replaced with "Lingguang Culture".
All previous posts related to Xing Shuo Entertainment on the account and Wen Jia's personal super topic have been completely deleted, leaving no trace.
At 5 p.m., the studio released a ribbon-cutting video on its Weibo account.
Caption: [A New Beginning]
Fans flooded the comments section with their blessings:
Congratulations to my sister on finally escaping her misery!
Congratulations on becoming independent! From now on, you'll be Boss Wen! Looking forward to more great works from you!
It's a pity An Xiyue doesn't have a Weibo account.
[An Xiyue doesn't have it, but Xing Shuo does, @XingShuoEntertainment]
I envy the employees; I really want to apply for the job.
Save your breath, celebrity companies don't recruit fans.
My baby looks so beautiful today!!!
[I'm going all out on my career!!]
Such a solemn blessing only occupied a few pages; if you flip through the pages further, you'll find that the style of the writing suddenly changes abruptly.
[Finally, we get to see my brother-in-law's face! How pay! How pay!]
【Great, I'm very satisfied with this brother-in-law; he's a perfect match for my sister】
Brother-in-law, I can…
[...His presence is so strong, I'm almost afraid to look him in the eye. Honestly, I wonder if the host feels a lot of pressure standing next to him...]
I'm impressed by the nine million watch on his wrist.
[A face perfectly suited for wearing glasses, who knows?]
I agree. He's just as good as male stars, but his aura is completely different. Stars actively chase after the camera, while he's always being chased by it.
Why does it feel so sweet even though there's no interaction between them?
...
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Xu Shaoting brought Wen Jia into her office.
The spacious room is decorated in a light beige color, and her trophies are displayed in a spotless glass cabinet.
Her path of honor in the Starry Corridor has been moved to this glass cabinet.
The spacious room was filled with a faint fragrance that matched his own.
Wen Jia walked to the clear window and placed her hands on the cool glass.
The top floor offers a superb view, overlooking the Yunting River, with the city's extravagance unfolding below. The river reflects the dazzling neon lights on both banks, and cruise ships cut through the ripples.
Her eyes were bright and clear, reflecting not only the dazzling scenery but also the man's figure reflected in the window.
He leaned against the doorway, gazing intently at her. His gaze wasn't reflected in the glass, but imprinted in the air, intensely burning.
After admiring her back for a while, he strode up behind her, removed her hands from the window, and took them into his own palms.
"Are you satisfied, Mr. Wen?"
Wen Jia turned around, wrapped her slender arms tightly around his waist, and buried her face in his chest.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"How are you going to thank me?"
Xu Shaoting covered her alabaster neck with one hand, lifted her head, took off her cumbersome glasses, and lightly kissed her lips, "Leave to me tonight?"
Wen Jia glanced towards the door to make sure no one was there before saying meaningfully, "Pay it every day..."
Xu Shaoting chuckled softly, "What are you thinking about now? Miss Wen, have you forgotten what day it is today?"
"Um... today is the company's ribbon-cutting ceremony."
Xu Shaoting looked at her innocent face, as if she really didn't remember what day it was, and gently flicked her nose.
“You’re right, but for me, what’s more important than the ribbon-cutting is your birthday.”
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