Chapter 8: Setting Off to Record the Variety Show

"If you think they're good, then sign them. I don't have any objections." Su Xingmian flipped through them roughly before setting the proposals aside, resting her chin on her hand as she spoke.

It wasn't that she wasn't paying attention, but rather that there was limited information to be gleaned from a proposal; she could only get a general idea of the format. However, a variety show that both of them agreed upon would inevitably be beneficial to her.

To ensure she wouldn't be walking in blind when it came time to film, Su Xingmian decided that once she returned, she would binge-watch all the previous episodes of these shows.

"Also, these are our company's self-produced dramas, and the scripts are all here; these are external projects, but they don't have complete scripts, so I've printed those out for you as well. You have to read them all! Read them carefully!"

Liang Yin pointed to the row of notebooks lined up on the desk. A quick glance showed there were about eight or nine of them.

"Got it. I guarantee the mission will be completed. I'll start reading them now."

...

On the top floor of Xingsheng, inside the executive office.

Fu Jinglan leaned lazily against the back of his chair, twirling a pen idly with one hand while holding his phone in the other. Seeing the person he was waiting for arrive, he beckoned with his hand, letting Bai Xuan sit on the sofa to wait first.

He turned around himself, facing the azure sky outside the window, and continued, "I never saw you care about the company's business operations before. Why are you so interested in a newcomer this time? Giving her resources, giving her a luxury apartment... tsk tsk, this doesn't sound like something you would do."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Bai Xuan guessed who was on the other end of the line.

Sheng Yuheng had just finished filming a scene and was currently on a break when he received the call from Fu Jinglan.

"I just suddenly felt that the company needs some fresh blood."

Sheng Yuheng fiddled with his costume, replying nonchalantly.

What a "sudden" feeling!

Sheng Yuheng's explanation seemed reasonable, but who was Fu Jinglan?

He was the brother who had grown up alongside Sheng Yuheng since childhood!

How was he not clear on what that guy was like?

That fellow was stubborn; otherwise, he wouldn't have resolutely plunged into the entertainment industry three years ago because of some vague, ethereal dream.

If anyone heard that, they would think it was absurd, yet he went ahead and did it!

And now, even for a possibility that was fundamentally impossible...

This made the usually eloquent and silver-tongued Fu Jinglan feel a bit of a headache. He rubbed his temples, endured it again and again, but ultimately couldn't hold back

"Don't try to play me for a fool!"

"My intuition tells me she is the one! Even if she isn't, even if the person in the dream doesn't exist at all, her ability is worth the company's investment in her training."

"Fine. Once you finish filming, bring her along. We'll have a meal together."

Sheng Yuheng was a man of his word. Knowing he couldn't persuade him, Fu Jinglan respected his choice, but he still had to vet her on his behalf.

"There's no rush. She doesn't know about what I've done yet. Don't go disturbing her."

Fu Jinglan: "..."

Remaining anonymous and making selfless contributions? How old is he to still playing this "pure love" routine!!!

But on the other end, Sheng Yuheng had already hung up. Listening to the busy signal from the receiver, Fu Jinglan turned around huffily and tossed his phone aside.

"Director Bai, this... person of interest of A-Heng's, have you met her? How is she in all aspects?"

"I watched the filming clips from Director Liu's side. Her professional ability is very strong, she's willing to work hard, and her comprehension is high. She's very talented."

Fu Jinglan: "..."

He wasn't concerned about her professional ability; he only cared about what kind of person she was and whether she would hurt A-Heng.

"Forget it. Get to know her better, especially regarding her private life. Don't let her notice. Report anything unusual to me immediately. As for work, just follow A-Heng's lead. From now on, prioritize her for the company's resources. Let her gain some momentum and achieve some results soon."

"Understood, President Fu. I know what to do. If there's nothing else, I'll head out first."

On her way back to the office, Bai Xuan passed by Liang Yin's place. Through the glass, she saw the object of interest for the company's two giants sitting upright across from Liang Yin.

One hand held a script, and her expression looked somewhat serious, but her other hand was surreptitiously snacking on the treats on the desk while Liang Yin wasn't looking.

When her peripheral vision met Liang Yin's gaze, she sheepishly put the snacks down, flashed a sweet smile, and went back to burying her head in the script.

This scene amused Bai Xuan. Having drifted through the entertainment industry for so many years, she could tell at a glance whether someone was acting or not.

With such a pure and naive personality, what kind of bad intentions could she possibly have?

***

There were so many scripts that they couldn't be finished in a single day. By evening, Su Xingmian was sent back by Liang Yin while clutching her scripts.

"You're filming a commercial tomorrow, and you'll depart to record the variety show in a week. Make sure not to stay up late these few days. Pay attention to skincare and maintenance to keep yourself in good condition."

Su Xingmian nodded like a chick pecking grain.

Following the schedule laid out by Liang Yin, a week passed in a flash.

On the eve of their departure, Liang Yin and Xu Han came to help Su Xingmian pack, and they stayed over to make it easier to head straight to the airport the next morning.

Early the next morning, during the peak commuting hours, a Weibo post featuring the names of Bai Yunjia and Xingsheng Entertainment suddenly shot up onto the trending searches.

The event was so sudden that by the time Bai Xuan saw it, it had already climbed into the top five.

The cause of the trending topic stemmed from a Weibo post taken out of context.

In the attached photo, Bai Yunjia was kneeling on the ground, while Su Xingmian stood to the side with her face held high, looking arrogant. Anyone who didn't know the cause and effect would think at a single glance that Bai Yunjia was being bullied.

Even though she had just been affected by the age controversy, Bai Yunjia had been working in the industry for so many years; her fan base was not something Su Xingmian could compare to.

As soon as they saw their idol being bullied, the fans couldn't sit still. Relying on a few minor details, they directly found Su Xingmian's Weibo, which carried the tag "Signed Artist of Xingsheng Entertainment."

Her first and only Weibo post had been made when she signed on. Originally, not many people followed it, but at this moment, the comment section was filled with verbal abuse from Bai Yunjia's fans, and even her private messages were at 99+.

"President Sheng, Miss Su has been blacklisted on the trending searches."

Sheng Yuheng had just finished filming a late-night scene. Hearing Zhou Chi's words, he pressed his throbbing temples hard and took the phone.

The comment section of the original post was a mess, and under Su Xingmian's personal Weibo, people were cursing her with every kind of profanity imaginable. Sheng Yuheng clutched his chest; an indescribable heartache surged within him.

If the young girl saw this, she would probably be devastated by anger.

Thinking of this, he could no longer control his impulse. He found Su Xingmian's WeChat from the company group and clicked that prompt box he had hesitated over countless times.

Loading,

Sending,

Sent.

The appearance of these three words made Sheng Yuheng instinctively grip his phone, his nerves instantly tightening to the limit.

"Miss Su is going to record a variety show today. She should be on a plane right now and likely won't see it," Zhou Chi reminded him.

Sheng Yuheng:...

Having an assistant who was too smart wasn't necessarily a good thing.

He gave Zhou Chi a faint glance, then pretended to act as if nothing were wrong and dialed Fu Jinglan's number.

(End of Chapter)