“I… I have…” He Mu hesitated. “Why do you ask?”

“Do you think your acting is better or his?”

He Mu choked for a moment. Previously, whenever Luo Yu received a casting invitation, He Mu would “hire” some haters to bash Luo Yu, knowing his psychological resilience was weak, causing him to retreat. If it was a good role and Luo Yu insisted on auditioning for it, they would pressure Bo Wenyuan to stop him. Until the time Luo Yu auditioned for Bai Ying, when Luo Yu’s acting was clearly far superior to He Mu’s.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

But that was because Luo Yu graduated from the Film Academy, receiving complete acting training, while He Mu had only studied for just over a year, so it was normal to not be as good. But wasn’t Li Shengyu also inferior?

On the other end of the line, Li Shengyu spoke up again, “You still haven’t answered my question.”

He Mu hurriedly stammered, “Acting is… you know, everyone’s pretty much on par. What matters is the strength of the management company! Isn’t it strange to ask this?”

A surge of anger rushed to Li Shengyu’s head. He gritted his teeth, repeating He Mu’s words, “It all depends on the strength of the management company?”

He Mu instantly realized he misspoke, which was tantamount to indirectly admitting he had previously won roles over Luo Yu because of Dijun Media.

“You… you kept provoking me, and I just got caught up in the moment…”

Previously, Li Shengyu had been like his follower, but today he was noticeably more assertive, making He Mu flustered.

Li Shengyu sneered, “So when you and Luo Yu were competing for roles, it was his fault for overestimating himself, and he deserved to be suppressed by you. He shouldn’t take on roles you don’t want, and if he does, it’s like eating leftovers? What about Bai Ying? You didn’t get that role because Dijun Media couldn’t beat Zhuque Media that time?”

“Li Shengyu! How dare you talk to me like that? I didn’t want the role of Bai Ying! It’s a villain and could affect my public image!”

“Then why did you audition? Why not just decline? I asked you who you thought was the better actor, and you responded that it depends on the company’s strength? You were there for Luo Yu’s audition. Do you think he got the role by sucking up to the director or by his acting skills? You know better than I do, don’t you?”

“You… Li Shengyu… do you think that I won’t…”

“Won’t what? Are you planning to have Dijun Media get my management company to freeze me like they did to Luo Yu?” Li Shengyu’s voice rose by an octave.

He lost to Luo Yu in the acting showdown, losing not just face but the pride of being an actor. He had no complaints if the director asked him to leave the crew.

He initially believed his “friendship” with He Mu was genuine. Now it seemed to be more due to the collaboration between Dijun Media and Yuanjing Films.

If he were face-to-face with He Mu now, he would dump a trash can over his head.

“You used your top star popularity to brainwash me, making me go in circles within your rules. Competing for roles? There are countless roles in the industry. You want something, and others can’t compete with you? Copying your career path and stealing your ‘national school hunk’ image… Oh my god, why do you even think the title of ‘national school hunk’ belongs to you? Just because it says ‘national’? Did you get everyone’s approval? Is the school hunk image only yours? What’s so great about this persona that Luo Yu would fight for it? And the leftover roles? If others accept roles you don’t want, it’s fine, but if Luo Yu does, it’s eating leftovers? Why don’t you accuse Gu Xiaowei of eating your leftovers?”

“You… you… did you eat dynamite today? Are you insane?”

“Did you know because of what you said, I truly believed Luo Yu was a talentless flower vase who got roles by sucking up? Do you know what it feels like to be a clown in front of everyone? You always think Luo Yu is bad and low because you know that without Dijun Media’s protection, you are nothing compared to him!” Li Shengyu retorted.

“Li Shengyu… you… you better remember this…” He Mu stammered in anger.

“Remember what? If I lose this role, I’ll just be a sidelined actor in my own company, with no future. But I will always remember you, hypocritical and selfish. I was foolish enough to see your popularity as a halo of personality. I was blind.”

Li Shengyu didn’t give He Mu a chance to respond and hung up directly.

He Mu was left bewildered, breathing heavily, almost ready to explode on the spot.

“Ahhhh!”

In the middle of the night, He Mu yelled and threw his phone to the ground in frustration.

Unfortunately, the floor was carpeted, so it didn’t even make a dull sound.

He Mu wanted to call his agent to suppress Luo Yu’s trending topic, but the agent just sighed on the other end.

“Little ancestor, the trending topic will naturally go down by morning. Let’s not make a fuss, okay?”

“No way!” The more he thought about Li Shengyu’s words, the more enraged he became.

“It’s not negotiable.” The agent said coldly.

Although He Mu didn’t know it, the agent had received a call from Chairman Ou’s secretary, instructing him to keep an eye on He Mu and ensure he no longer targeted Luo Yu, including instigating fans or hiring trolls.

The agent also understood that since Luo Yu joined the “Counterattack” crew, his online reputation had been steadily improving. Although the change wasn’t drastic, given time, Luo Yu would surely rise up in status. When that day came, people would revisit the past controversies and realize He Mu had been targeting him. If He Mu didn’t restrain himself now, he would suffer even more when that time came.

The next morning, Luo Yu woke up as usual, scratched his head, and sat up.

He glanced at his phone, expecting to see a message from Sister Cui, but instead saw a WeChat message from Fang Qin.

Fang Qin: [Bro, did you see? You’re trending again! Brother Gu is amazing, anything he shares goes viral!]

Luo Yu was momentarily stunned. His first reaction was not to check his trending position, nor the content, but instead opened Gu Xiaowei’s Weibo.

Gu Xiaowei was the true trending master. In just one night, the comments under that post approached thirty thousand, and shares also surpassed one hundred thousand.

Partly because of Gu Xiaowei’s “senior brother,” typed by hand, making hearts flutter.

And many fans genuinely appreciated Luo Yu’s acting, becoming his fans after watching the video.

In one night, Luo Yu gained fifty to sixty thousand new followers, many sending him private messages like “Senior Brother’s acting is top-notch, when will the project be released?”, “Can’t wait for Senior Brother and Brother Gu’s scenes together,” and “Looking forward to Bai Ying.”

There was a long period when his private messages were flooded with endless insults.

But since joining the “Counterattack” crew, he had gained more recognition, receiving more fan encouragement in his private messages.

He didn’t have time to reply individually, so he stood by the window with a mug, took a photo, and captioned it: Not letting down expectations, not letting down the morning light.

By the time he finished breakfast and put on his coat, the comments had already surpassed three thousand.

[Gege exudes hormones early in the morning~]

[Is this the French nonchalant elegance I hear about?]

[I want to crash into gege’s arms, preferably spilling coffee on his shirt~]

[Can’t wait to see Bai Ying! Can’t wait to see Bai Ying! Can’t wait to see Bai Ying!]

[When will Senior Brother act with Brother Gu? The clash of different alpha auras will explode with pheromones!]

Luo Yu looked at these comments, a bit puzzled.

He couldn’t help but text Sister Cui: [Wearing a plain shirt and holding a mug, where do the hormones come from?]

Sister Cui: [Your collarbone and Adam’s apple. Pheromones don’t always need muscles; strong auras also exude hormones. Look at Gu Xiaowei.]

Well, Luo Yu scratched the back of his head.

Upon arriving at the set, he sat in his usual spot, but while waiting for the makeup artist, unexpectedly he encountered the two actors who previously gossiped about him.

“Teacher Luo… hello!”

“Teacher Luo, you’re here early.”

“Hello.” Luo Yu smiled back and lowered his head to continue reading his script.

The two exchanged glances and finally spoke up.

“We had some… misunderstandings and biases about you before, said some inappropriate things, and we apologize.”

“Yes. After watching your acting yesterday… we feel very ashamed.”

Luo Yu didn’t say he forgave them because he wasn’t in a position to forgive on behalf of Lin Yue.

Moreover, forgiving too easily makes the forgiven feel that the cost of their mistake is low.

“We’re actors, and actors are also communicators. Misunderstanding is the fate of communicators. Misunderstanding me is nothing, but you surely understand Lin Yue’s character. He is fair and just, giving many non-major company actors a chance to shine. I believe you also look forward to such opportunities; they are the motivation for many buried talents to keep striving. So, please don’t belittle it.”

At this moment, the two finally seemed to understand why Luo Yu took the initiative to challenge Li Shengyu yesterday, and their sense of guilt deepened.

Li Shengyu stood outside the dressing room, knowing that Luo Yu was inside and feeling too embarrassed to enter. Hearing Luo Yu mention Lin Yue, he realized that Luo Yu had never been trying to prove himself by participating in the acting PK; it was all for Lin Yue’s reputation.

He had listened to He Mu largely because he was already jealous of Luo Yu, and He Mu had given him a reason to release his malice. Not only had he belittled Luo Yu, but he had also hurt a director dedicated to supporting talented actors without backgrounds.

In this way, how was he any different from those paid trolls who attacked others regardless of right or wrong? Jealousy had turned him into the kind of person he despised the most.

Li Shengyu pushed open the door. As Luo Yu turned his head, he saw Li Shengyu bow deeply and say loudly, “I’m sorry.”

Luo Yu was taken aback, “Uh… ah? I… it’s okay…”

“I will also apologize to Director Lin Yue!” Li Shengyu said.

“Oh.”

That day, Li Shengyu posted an apology on Weibo, apologizing to Lin Yue and Luo Yu for his inappropriate remarks in the crew due to jealousy, and he tagged them both. Some netizens praised him for knowing his mistake and correcting it, while others mocked him for apologizing because he was afraid he couldn’t stay in the crew after losing to Luo Yu in the PK.

However, Li Shengyu felt that even if he was mocked and cursed, at least the stone pressing on his heart had been lifted.

He originally thought Luo Yu’s forgiveness was out of courtesy, but Luo Yu replied to his Weibo post saying: [Our competition was to resolve misunderstandings and improve together, fighting, Xia Yunzhi!]

Li Shengyu read “Fighting, Xia Yunzhi” many times. Did it mean the crew had no intention of replacing him?

Then Xu Han liked his Weibo post.

Lin Yue also commented below: [Young people challenging authority is courage. Publicly apologizing for their actions shows responsibility.]

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Li Shengyu didn’t expect to receive such a comment from Lin Yue and suddenly felt very fortunate.

Just as he put his phone back in his pocket, he saw Luo Yu walking over after finishing a scene.

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Xu Han, holding a megaphone, said, “Addressing casting doubts by suppressing or silencing won’t solve the problem. Even if I remove those dissatisfied or have a misunderstanding with the crew, they can still continue expressing their dissatisfaction outside.”

“Expressing dissatisfaction” was a euphemism for spreading and believing rumors.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Only through genuine acting competitions can we enhance our understanding of each other. This is a crew, a place for acting. I always believed that each actor’s job is to perform their role well, not to stir up trouble or use mutual interests or jealousy to push someone out.”

Everyone suppressed their inexplicable excitement, feeling a glimmer of hope amidst fatigue and gloom.

Xu Han continued, “We have no headlines or trending topics here. Tonight’s acting PK is simply teambuilding and a forum for resolving conflicts. Those who win the PK should communicate with the writers for the promised five minutes of highlight, without compromise. Those who lose should remember to reflect, as progress requires self-examination.”

After saying “wrap it up,” Xu Han turned off the megaphone and handed it to a staff member.

Everyone expected Xu Han to give a lengthy summary or reprimand, but it ended just like that!

Some were excited, some felt guilty, some were lost, and some found this crew to be quite interesting.

Xu Han approached the three judges to thank them.

“Thank you so much, teachers! Relying on your prestige to resolve issues makes me, as a director, feel quite ashamed.”

“I’m a part of the crew here, and those unpleasant rumors have become quite outrageous. Nowadays, information spreads quickly. You never know if what you hear today and what trends tomorrow are the same thing. Last year, a TV drama was almost boycotted nationwide due to issues between the lead actor and the producer,” said Mr. Yang Chen.

Zhu Jun patted Xu Han’s shoulder, “Director Xu, why feel ashamed? I think this method is great. It not only identifies talent within the crew but also provides a platform to address conflicts. Otherwise, unresolved grievances would increasingly disrupt your filming.”

“What Teacher Zhu said is also what I wanted to say,” Yan Mingrui said, holding his thermos cup with a laugh. “Tonight’s PK was more interesting than those variety shows centered on acting. Especially Luo Yu, he left a deep impression. I haven’t seen such a talented young actor before!”

Mentioning Luo Yu, Mr. Yang Chen couldn’t help but continue.

“You have no idea, when Luo Yu acted opposite me in our scenes, his aura was steady as a mountain, his lines fluent, and he particularly stirred my emotions. It’s been a long time since a young actor performed so well. It reignited my passion for acting, making me want to run lines with him eight hundred times more!”

Yan Mingrui’s smile widened upon hearing this. “Unlike Teacher Yang and Teacher Zhu, I’m from T City. When I first received Director Xu’s call, I thought it was to handle some complex interpersonal issues in the crew. Who knew that at noon, Xiao Gu called me!”

“What did he call you for?” Zhu Jun asked curiously.

“Haha, he told me that there was an exceptionally talented actor in Director Xu’s crew. He thought this person might be his biggest rival in the future and asked me to come and evaluate his acting skills. With Xiao Gu saying that, how could I not come? I just assumed Xiao Gu was referring to Cheng Fei. Who knew Cheng Fei was just accompanying the prince to study today!”

“Oh? So after watching for a while, who does Teacher Yan think is Xiao Gu’s rival?” Zhu Jun asked with a smile.

The three teachers simultaneously looked at the young man leaving shoulder to shoulder with Cheng Fei.

“That kid, I’m looking forward to his future performances!”

The crew wasn’t a sealed-off area. That very day, someone posted a cellphone video of the acting PK scene online.

Especially the part where Luo Yu and Li Shengyu were sparring in acting. At first, no one was interested or paid attention, but Brother Long, who was playing a small role in another, saw it and excitedly told his fellow extras, “Look! Look! This Luo Yu is my buddy! Damn, he’s awesome! His acting is amazing! He can portray anything! I even suspect he’s a computer—he remembers every line!”

Brother Long had some influence among the extras. When they shared it among themselves, the crew members who were filming saw it too. After watching, they agreed that Luo Yu’s acting was indeed impressive and gave it a like.

Just like that, the video spread from one to ten, then to a hundred, eventually reaching the lead actor of Brother Long’s historical drama, Xia Chao.

That evening, Xia Chao was about to shoot a martial arts scene. Bored while waiting, he was browsing Weibo and accidentally clicked on the video. He got so engrossed that he forgot he was being called to shoot, and inadvertently liked the video. As a result, his fans noticed the acting PK video, and its popularity started to rise.

Cheng Fei took Luo Yu home, reminding him as he got out of the car, “Put on your mask and hat! You’re on the bright path to stardom!”

“Haha, thanks for your good wishes, Teacher Cheng.”

Luo Yu smiled and walked home under the lights.

In the car, Cheng Fei started browsing Weibo and saw the video. Without hesitation, he shared it to his millions of followers, who quickly noticed.

Moreover, Cheng Fei urged his assistant Ah Qing and makeup artist Xiao Jun, “You two should share it too! He doesn’t care about this, so we have to help him get recognized!”

Xia Chao returned from hanging on wires, and his agent alerted him about the video he had liked on Weibo.

Xia Chao was startled, remembering that Luo Yu seemed to have a lot of haters.

He hesitated, wondering if he should support Luo Yu out of principle or avoid trouble by unliking the video.

But then, he was stunned.

“Who knew this Luo Yu was so popular in the circle?”

Because not only did Cheng Fei shared it, but he also praised Luo Yu’s acting with great enthusiasm.

Then, Xie Chang surprisingly shared Cheng Fei’s Weibo, commenting, “Great minds think alike.”

What shocked Xia Chao the most was that at 12:30 AM, Gu Xiaowei also shared Cheng Fei’s Weibo, adding the caption: “Senior Brother’s acting.”

Just a few words, without saying who the senior brother was or how good the acting was, yet it made people curious enough to click and watch the video.

Xia Chao patted his chest in relief. Since so many popular actors had shared it, and even Gu Xiaowei, who used his Weibo as a bulletin board, his like was well in line with the trend, so there was no need to unlike it.

So, as Luo Yu drank a glass of milk and went to sleep in his warm bed, the hashtag #SeniorBrother’sActing# inexplicably shot into the top ten trending topics.

Although it was already late at night, many netizens, seemingly accustomed to competing with the moon, were still active.

Netizens who watched the performance were amazed at how Luo Yu portrayed both the economic investigator Xia Yunzhi and the CFO Huo Haoyan with entirely different auras and personalities. Not only was his portrayal in line with the characters, but the short performance also managed to be highly immersive.

Admiration from some netizens naturally led to the emergence of haters.

They aggressively attacked Luo Yu, accusing him of having terrible acting skills and buying trending topics. They claimed that a short video couldn’t showcase real acting talent, that buying trending topics late at night was a waste of money, and that if Luo Yu had acting skills, even pigs could fly…

The words were harsh, and with the video being commented on by well-respected veteran actors, some netizens who couldn’t stand it rushed to defend him.

[Buying promotion? I didn’t know any marketing company could buy off veteran actors like Yang Chen and the others!]

[Did you even watch the video before hating? Next time, hate more professionally, and drag the veteran artists into it too!]

[Crew members testify that Luo Yu never flubs his lines on set. Director Xu never gets a chance to yell at him—he’s like a line machine!]

[Towards a certain top star’s fans, calm down! Luo Yu’s line delivery alone shows his skills! That top star was kicked out of a crew for stumbling over his lines!]

[Haters, haven’t you had enough? Which company paid you? Let me in on the deal so I can earn some too!]

Because of this acting PK video, not only did the “Storm” crew’s Weibo followers spike, but Luo Yu’s Weibo followers also skyrocketed.

Bored from having his gigs suspended, He Mu was playing on his phone late at night and saw this trending topic.

“This was bought! It must have been bought! No… it’s because Gu Xiaowei shared it! He can’t be that good at acting!”

The more He Mu watched, the more annoyed he became. He found that many comments hating on Luo Yu also mentioned him. Previously, he could rely on his fans to crush Luo Yu, but now he was getting dragged into it as a comparison.

Unable to contain his anger, He Mu made a late-night call to Li Shengyu.

When the call connected, He Mu couldn’t hold back his irritation and spoke with an accusatory tone, “Li Shengyu, what’s going on? How could you lose to Luo Yu in that acting PK?”

Actually, even if He Mu hadn’t called, Li Shengyu wouldn’t have been able to sleep.

But hearing He Mu’s angry voice, Li Shengyu became 100% certain that He Mu had just been using him.

Think about it, he had been brainwashed by He Mu’s talk in the crew, while He Mu lounged on the couch enjoying the benefits.

“Did you watch that video?” Li Shengyu asked, suppressing his anger and trying to sound calm.

“Yes! Those three veteran actors invited by the crew kept praising Luo Yu. Who knows if Luo Yu invited them or if the crew did, they were totally biased towards Luo Yu!”

Hearing this, Li Shengyu clenched his fists.

Because the video was short, it omitted the introduction of the veteran actors’ resumes, and the resolution wasn’t very clear. Even so, He Mu acted as if he didn’t recognize them or didn’t care who they were.

Taking a step back, if He Mu had watched the video, he should have realized that their acting skills were in different leagues—He Mu’s year at film school had been wasted—he didn’t understand acting.

A person who didn’t understand acting had been badmouthing another actor to him for so long, and he, Li Shengyu, had believed it. What a ridiculous irony!

“Are you listening to me, Sheng Yu?” He Mu asked, dissatisfied.

Thinking of how He Mu’s biases led him to underestimate Luo Yu’s acting, and how he had ignorantly commented on Luo Yu and Lin Yue’s relationship in the crew, Li Shengyu realized he had trusted the wrong person.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“I’m listening, He Mu. I have a question for you.” Li Shengyu’s voice was tinged with coldness.

“What do you want to ask?” He Mu sensed something was off in Li Shengyu’s tone.

“Have you ever watched Luo Yu act?” Li Shengyu asked.

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When Li Shengyu held Luo Yu’s script and looked at it more carefully, he found that the script was filled with numerous notes. 

They were just a few lines of dialogue, but Luo Yu had broken them down into several sections, each marked with subtle differences in treatment, even down to the emotions.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Li Shengyu took a deep breath, feeling a sudden warmth in his cheeks. Luo Yu was more professional than he had imagined, and the entire script in his hands was thoroughly annotated, making his pretense, if it was even a pretense now, incredibly comprehensive.

Suddenly, Li Shengyu felt that his animosity towards Luo Yu was somewhat ridiculous. 

Was it because of the comments online? Or was it because He Mu had repeatedly told him that Luo Yu stole his roles, ate his leftovers, had no ability, and yet always had his eye on He Mu’s career path despite not producing any works for years?

At this moment, Luo Yu had already started his performance. He turned his head to look at Cheng Fei, smiling generously and saying, “Teacher Cheng, you’ve played the role of the economic crime team leader before. How about playing the role of the behind-the-scenes boss today?”

Cheng Fei showed an interested expression and said with a smile, “Sure, who’s afraid of whom!”

The behind-the-scenes boss was actually played by one of the judges today, Yang Chen.

However, today Yang Chen wasn’t acting but rather evaluating everyone’s performances from an observer’s perspective, so someone else had to step in.

Cheng Fei playing the big villain immediately heightened everyone’s interest.

This scene involved Ling Jin discovering clues from the financial records ten years ago, meticulously unraveling the details to finally expose Huo Haoyan’s secrets.

At ten in the morning, it was the time Huo Haoyan enjoyed the sunlight in his office, knowing that Ling Jin was on his way with people.

While he watched the busy traffic outside the floor-to-ceiling window, he received a call from the behind-the-scenes boss. 

This conversation was also the last words Huo Haoyan left for the world.

Holding the script, Cheng Fei cleared his throat and imitated Mr. Yang Chen’s tone. The seemingly gentle yet ruthless voice spoke, “Hao Yan, I know you’re tired.”

Luo Yu, playing Huo Haoyan, slightly furrowed his eyebrows, as if he had many regrets but quickly suppressed his emotions.

“Boss, do you have any arrangements?”

His tone was similar to that of the behind-the-scenes boss on the other end of the line, humble and peaceful as if asking about something unrelated to himself, portraying Huo Haoyan’s resignation to his fate with a sense of sorrow.

“Take a good rest. Your sister is about to give birth in a few days. I’ve chosen a good nanny for her, so she won’t be too tired. I’ve also planned out the education path for the child from kindergarten to university.”

This was actually the behind-the-scenes boss reminding Huo Haoyan that his family’s fate was in his hands, and there was no way out for him.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yu’s expression wasn’t heroic nor was there any reluctance towards life; instead, there was more understanding and relief.

“Thank you, boss.”

Luo Yu’s tone remained so submissive, as if he had been treated like a problem-solving machine for so long that he had come to see himself as one too.

He leaned back in his chair, took the prepared pills, and reclined.

He didn’t fold his hands over his abdomen but rather let them rest casually on the armrests, his face turned to the side. His once furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and as his arm slipped off, lifelessly dangling by his side, the audience understood this was the final scene of Huo Haoyan’s life.

Quietly, away from all scheming and maneuvering.

The sunlight he loved the most shone on him.

Li Shengyu watched this scene; though it was night, Luo Yu conveyed a sense of gentle morning light.

A clever and cautious man who should have had a bright future had now fallen.

Luo Yu left four or five seconds for everyone to digest their emotions. Even Cheng Fei, who was acting alongside him, felt a bit choked up—Huo Haoyan was a complex character. Though he wasn’t purely evil, never having committed murder or arson, he ended up doing dirty work for the behind-the-scenes boss because he had been financially supported by him since childhood, with his mother and sister’s lives also being controlled by the boss. He was entangled in a mix of gratitude and familial bonds, unable to break free from the boss’s “life plan” for him.

Originally, such a clever person, if he had repented and joined forces with Cheng Fei, might have saved his sister and redeemed his own life.

At this point, the audience let out a collective sigh filled with mixed emotions.

Luo Yu stood up slowly and bowed to the three teachers, “My performance is over.”

As expected, there was another round of applause.

“As I thought, the shorter the lines, the more the performance tests the actor’s ability to convey expressions and emotions.” Mr. Yang Chen’s face showed unrestrained admiration. “You’ve expressed Huo Haoyan’s state of mind, his helplessness, and his final release from the scheming that he never wanted to be a part of… those emotions were very well portrayed.”

Zhu Jun also nodded, saying, “Especially towards the end, truly silence speaks louder than words. And in this scene, even though Huo Haoyan’s lines were short, the emotional expression was precise. There was no resentment towards fate in his lines because Huo Haoyan had long foreseen his ending—his education, the comfortable life for his mother and sister, could not have come without a cost, a cost he had to pay.”

Yan Mingrui agreed, “Yes, and more importantly, that crucial line did not convey despair but rather Huo Haoyan’s pursuit of internal peace. He knew he had done wrong and was waiting for his judgment. Your performance gave me the feeling that—it wasn’t the behind-the-scenes boss who decided his life or death, but Huo Haoyan himself who judged himself.”

Hearing the teachers’ comments, everyone finally understood why Luo Yu’s performance was so exceptional.

Xu Han looked at the behind the scenes cameraman not far away, who nodded and gestured “don’t worry.”

Everything that needed to be recorded was captured.

The crew wouldn’t spend an entire night on such an acting contest for no reason. It was both to solve internal issues within the crew, bringing hidden conflicts to the surface, and to provide promotional material with great potential for the marketing team.

When Luo Yu returned to the crowd, the assistant director called out loudly, “Sheng Yu, your turn!”

“Oh, okay.” Li Shengyu gripped the script tightly, suddenly realizing it wasn’t his own and couldn’t crumple it.

As he loosened his grip, his palm was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Li Shengyu regretted it. He shouldn’t have let Luo Yu perform first, or he shouldn’t have watched Luo Yu’s performance at all.

When Cheng Fei recited the same lines he had used with Luo Yu, it instantly pulled Li Shengyu back into the previous scene, “Hao Yan, I know you’re tired.”

“Boss, do you have any arrangements?”

“Take a good rest. Your sister is about to give birth in a few days. I’ve chosen a good nanny for her, so she won’t be too tired. I’ve also planned out the education path for the child from kindergarten to university.”

“Thank you, boss.”

Having watched Luo Yu’s performance, Li Shengyu couldn’t control himself from being influenced. As he began reciting the first line, Luo Yu’s image filled his mind, and he couldn’t help but imitate Luo Yu’s expressions and tone.

Because the Huo Haoyan in his mind was far less remarkable than the one Luo Yu had created.

He simply recited the memorized lines, even lying back in the chair mimicking Luo Yu’s posture.

This feeling of being led along by the nose by someone more skillful was a first for Li Shengyu.

The outcome of this contest was clear.

Mr. Yang Chen commented, “Sheng Yu, your performance was very stable, with nothing done poorly. However, the emotional rendering felt a bit formulaic. You should immerse yourself more into the role, not just thinking about how to say a particular line, but understanding what Huo Haoyan is thinking. When you truly empathize with his thoughts and concerns, your emotions will flow naturally when delivering your lines.”

Zhu Jun gave a reassuring smile, “You can’t blame Sheng Yu entirely. After all, with Luo Yu’s stellar performance before him, it’s easy for Sheng Yu’s understanding of the character to be influenced. It’s evident that Luo Yu has been pondering over Huo Haoyan for a long time, while Sheng Yu only had a few minutes. The fact that he achieved what he did shows that Li Shengyu has a solid foundation. With more life experience, I believe he will be able to portray Huo Haoyan’s internal conflicts and helplessness with more personal insight.”

These remarks helped to address Li Shengyu’s performance, affirming his foundational skills while also pointing out his shortcomings.

Hearing this made Li Shengyu’s ears turn red, unsure of how to face Zhu Jun.

Yan Mingrui also laughed, “Sheng Yu, don’t be shy. Everyone’s acting skills are honed step by step; no one can reach the top instantly. Your performance just now was excellent, especially considering you completed this role you’re not very familiar with under pressure after we praised Luo Yu. I could see you were nervous, but you didn’t let your character collapse, which shows strong mental resilience.”

After Yan Mingrui finished, all three teachers applauded him.

This made Li Shengyu feel even more ashamed. Compared to Luo Yu’s portrayal of the economic investigator Xia Yunzhi, whose seasoned aura and emotional delivery through lines were effortless, Li Shengyu felt outclassed.

Taking a deep breath, Li Shengyu realized he had lost thoroughly.

This round of acting PK not only earned Luo Yu recognition from three industry titans but also silenced the naysayers.

Actors and crew members in the team began to view Luo Yu differently.

Previously, because Luo Yu hadn’t played any notable roles in recent years and “Counterattack” had yet to air, no one knew how his Bai Ying performance was. Those who criticized him would refer to him as “that Luo Yu,” with the more polite ones using his name.

But this time, as he stood among the crowd, repeated calls of “Teacher Luo” indicated he had earned the crew’s respect.

Li Shengyu was still immersed in shame, feeling as if the surrounding discussions were from another world. He didn’t know what the cost of his loss would be.

Suddenly, he realized his past arrogance and rash judgment, misjudging things without knowing the whole picture.

Discussing another actor and director’s personal conduct within the crew was harmful, as it could be seen as spreading rumors. In the worst case, if his gossip was taken and exaggerated by someone with an agenda, it could lead to widespread resistance from uninformed netizens. This could tarnish two well-made productions or, worse, cause them to be shelved.

“Li Shengyu! Li Shengyu! Why are you standing there dumbfounded? Come back!” a fellow actor from the same company called out.

Li Shengyu, like a marionette, walked back.

Even standing among the crowd, listening to everyone’s voices, he felt as if he was in another world.

Luo Yu’s performance elevated the acting PK to a high level, making everyone else hesitant to challenge him.

The director’s assistant checked the time, “It’s already 11 PM. If anyone else wants to give it a try, now’s the time!”

After about a minute, no one spoke.

Throughout the PK process, Xu Han had almost not voiced any opinions. hint now he stood up, and the room fell silent, with everyone thinking it was time for the reckoning.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Li Shengyu was extremely nervous, clenching his fists, his shoulders trembling.

He deeply regretted his previous behavior, wondering why he had been so influenced by He Mu’s negative insinuations about Luo Yu.

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The actor who initially wanted to challenge now felt his heart pounding with all sorts of thoughts.

Xia Yunzhi had few lines; if ten minutes were cut, his presence in the drama would be almost zero.

For this moment, Luo Yu might have already planned which lines of Xia Yunzhi to challenge, possibly even coached by Director Xu Han himself!

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

But what Li Shengyu didn’t expect was that Luo Yu didn’t pick Xia Yunzhi’s lines.

“Li Shengyu, you should understand Xia Yunzhi’s role better than I do. You choose the segment we’ll compete with,” Luo Yu said.

Everyone was surprised; after all, it was Li Shengyu’s role, and he certainly knew the lines and scenes better. But Luo Yu gave him the initiative? Was he arrogant or just here for the thrill of acting?

“You… want me to choose? We’re competing as Xia Yunzhi,” Li Shengyu asked uncertainly.

Luo Yu looked at the assistant director, “Can I let him choose?”

The assistant director said, “Sure. As long as you think you can win.”

Luo Yu nodded and looked at Li Shengyu, “Yes, you choose.”

A feeling of unexpected luck welled up in Li Shengyu.

He recalled the lines he stayed up all night memorizing yesterday, a scene where economic investigator Xia Yunzhi analyzes the financial transactions of Huo Haoyan’s company, while team leader Ling Jin urgently needs to report and obtain a search warrant to prevent the destruction of key evidence.

Li Shengyu had spent a long time memorizing these lines, performing not only the dialogue but also the feedback on the phone to Ling Jin, expressing a calm urgency.

In contrast, Luo Yu only had less than five minutes to memorize these lines and express emotions, a highly challenging task.

Li Shengyu felt confident that he wouldn’t lose as Xia Yunzhi.

Luo Yu put on headphones to avoid distractions, took Li Shengyu’s script, and sat nearby to study it.

Meanwhile, Li Shengyu stood in the center of the top floor, with Cheng Fei personally playing the opposite role. He began his performance as a practice run.

“Xia Yunzhi, not done yet?” Cheng Fei, as Ling Jin, spoke with urgency.

“Give me a minute.” Li Shengyu’s face also showed urgency. He sat in the chair, miming computer operations.

“Not done yet?” Cheng Fei’s line conveyed immense pressure.

“Thirty seconds.” Li Shengyu gritted his teeth, his hands moving faster.

“Thirty-seconds are up.”

“Reporting to Captain Ling, on October 28th, Hongzhou Trading transferred 80 million yuan to Kuohai Shipping. Between November 1st and December 31st, Kuohai Shipping divided the 80 million into nearly 30 transactions, transferring it to twelve companies, including Changling Industry, Hanjiang Trading, and Ziling Yunding Manufacturing. Three of these companies have been confirmed as shell companies, and another four are highly suspected of money laundering fronts…”

Li Shengyu carefully delivered this long, memory-taxing line, speeding up to convey tension. The judges nodded, and the audience felt that Luo Yu winning as Xia Yunzhi would be difficult.

Yang Chen commented, “Li Shengyu’s rhythm and enunciation are excellent, and he matches Cheng Fei well to create tension.”

Zhu Jun nodded, “Li Shengyu’s performance is very fitting, showing the urgency of the economic investigator’s work.”

Yan Mingrui also praised him, “Delivering such a long line without interruption in an impromptu performance is rare. I look forward to your future development.”

Li Shengyu exhaled, relieved not to have messed up in such a performance.

Cheng Fei returned, with Ah Qing handing him a water bottle.

“Brother Cheng, this guy’s acting seems quite good.”

“He was just average, didn’t make mistakes but also didn’t stand out,” Cheng Fei said dismissively.

“Brother Cheng… you have high standards for others.”

“Aren’t my standards high for myself too?”

Li Shengyu approached Luo Yu, who was studying the script, wondering if he could remember such a long line and how he would perform the vastly different roles of Huo Haoyan and Xia Yunzhi.

Luo Yu looked up from the script, smiled calmly at Li Shengyu, and handed back the script, “Thanks.”

“No need. You might want to keep it. That line was quite long,” Li Shengyu said, hoping Luo Yu wouldn’t blame him for deliberately choosing a long line if he lost.

But Luo Yu shook his head, “No need, I’ve memorized it.”

Memorized it?

Alright, let’s see if you really memorized it or plan to improvise during the performance.

Luo Yu sat in the chair, nodded at Cheng Fei, indicating he was ready.

Cheng Fei’s performance was identical to before, “Xia Yunzhi, not done yet?”

“Give me a minute.” Luoyu’s pace was slightly faster than usual but slower than Li Shengyu’s, enunciating clearly with a rhythmic cadence.

Though his brow furrowed, it wasn’t as if he was being cornered. Instead, Luo Yu’s expression was focused, projecting calm and caution, even though he mimed typing on the keyboard, the judges were more drawn to his face.

A calm, cautious atmosphere, racing against time with intellect.

At this moment, Cheng Fei, as Ling Jin, issued the second reminder, “Not done yet?”

The tension was palpable, and even though everyone knew it was acting, the front row audience couldn’t help but clench their fists.

“Thirty seconds.” Luo Yu’s tone was even lower, but his voice had a clarity that made it feel reliable, contrasting with Li Shengyu’s tense urgency.

Not only did he catch Cheng Fei’s tension, but he also used his own calmness to soothe him. This subtle role reversal might go unnoticed by the audience, who would simply feel that Luo Yu’s Xia Yunzhi was not just being hurried by Ling Jin but was maintaining his own pace. However, the judges could clearly see the layers in his performance.

“Thirty seconds are up.”

Cheng Fei’s tone changed subtly with Luo Yu’s influence, slowing down and adopting a deeper tone, suggesting an impending revelation.

Next came the long monologue. Everyone was worried—Luo Yu’s performance had been great so far, but if he fumbled this lengthy dialogue, it would all be for nothing.

Li Shengyu clenched his fists, sensing that Luo Yu’s performance was more advanced, even influencing Cheng Fei’s delivery.

“Reporting to Captain Ling: On October 28, Hongzhou Trading transferred 80 million yuan to Kuohai Shipping. Between November 1 and December 31, Kuohai Shipping split the 80 million into nearly 30 transactions to 12 companies including Changling Industries, Hanjiang Trading, and Ziling Yunding Manufacturing.”

Luo Yu delivered the lines smoothly, pausing slightly at key points related to the plot to highlight the importance for both Ling Jin and the audience.

“Three of these companies have been identified as shell companies, and four are highly suspected of money laundering…”

Luo Yu finished the monologue flawlessly, not missing a single word. The room fell silent as he completed his performance.

Suddenly, applause broke out from Cheng Fei, soon joined by everyone else. They had to admit that Luo Yu’s ability to memorize and deliver the lines perfectly within five minutes, and his high-quality performance, was impressive. Even if his role was pre-decided by the director, it was due to his extraordinary skill.

Li Shengyu stood there in shock. How did Luo Yu memorize such a long monologue so quickly? And he had chosen the lines, so Luo Yu couldn’t have prepared in advance!

Without needing the judges’ scores, it was clear from the level of performances that Li Shengyu had lost.

Yang Chen proudly looked at Zhu Jun and Yan Mingrui, “Didn’t I tell you? This young man’s skills are exceptional!”

Zhu Jun took a deep breath, “So steady… Among actors his age, I’ve only seen one like Gu Xiaowei… He’s really good at engaging the audience!”

Yan Mingrui was still reflecting, “And he had the opponent choose the lines. Being able to understand and deliver them so well in such a short time is remarkable.”

The assistant director smiled, “Judges, please share your thoughts aloud so the actors can learn from your feedback!”

Yang Chen laughed, “Alright, you want us to praise Luo Yu? Here’s my first point: his performance has layers. Luo Yu’s economic crime investigator is not only urgent but also calm, precise, and very confident in his profession. This makes Xia Yunzhi a well-rounded character—young but an elite, composed in emergencies.”

Zhu Jun sipped his tea and smiled, “I’ll mention the second point: the interaction between characters. Luo Yu’s Xia Yunzhi wasn’t overwhelmed by Cheng Fei’s urgency. He responded to the demand for speed while showcasing the professionalism and precision of an economic investigator. Crucially, he gave Cheng Fei feedback, creating a mutual trust between the characters. This is excellent.”

Yan Mingrui patiently waited for Zhu Jun to finish before speaking, “In the final monologue, many actors focus on delivering the lines perfectly but neglect the audience’s perception. Luo Yu’s calm demeanor not only reassured the captain on the phone but also soothed the audience, helping them understand the critical plot information. The subtle pauses built anticipation for the subsequent investigation. This attention to both the dialogue and the plot is impressive.”

Everyone applauded, their view of Luo Yu greatly changed.

Holding the script, Luo Yu approached Li Shengyu, “Shall we start the Huo Haoyan competition?”

“Ah… yes.” Li Shengyu’s palms were sweaty, his heart pounding. Despite his interest in Huo Haoyan, he didn’t feel confident in memorizing the lines within five minutes.

“Pick a segment you’d like to perform,” Luoyu suggested.

“You… you’re letting me choose Huo Haoyan’s segment too?”

“Of course. I’ve memorized all of Huo Haoyan’s lines, but since you haven’t had much time with them, you should pick.”

Luo Yu’s matter-of-fact tone only highlighted his confidence and strength.

Li Shengyu felt like an insect caught in a spider’s web, realizing the futility of his struggle only after being ensnared.

Even knowing he would lose, he had to press on.

Li Shengyu flipped through the script and chose the scene where Huo Haoyan attempts suicide by poison.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“This… this segment.”

“This one?” Luo Yu smiled with lowered eyes. “If you’re sure.”

Li Shengyu stood there, still pondering what was special about this segment.

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Li Shengyu had also experienced losing roles to those with connections who curry favor with directors and screenwriters, so he naturally empathized with what He Mu said. Furthermore, during his previous participation in a talent show, He Mu helped him out a lot, which deepened Li Shengyu’s dislike for Luo Yu.

Now that the director had set up this acting competition, the discontent brewing within Li Shengyu finally found an outlet. Just as he was about to raise his hand, an actor from the same company stopped him.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Are you crazy? Don’t be the troublemaker! The news about Luo Yu’s role being pre-decided has been spreading throughout the crew, and it must have reached the director’s ears! You’re close to people from Dijun Media, which has always been suppressing Luo Yu. Think carefully about whether you want to be the one to stand out!”

Li Shengyu was taken aback, “Has Dijun Media always been suppressing Luo Yu?”

“What else did you think? There are so many people with similar images and schedules as He Mu, but why is Luo Yu the one getting trashed online all the time?”

This reminder struck a chord deep in Li Shengyu’s mind. Although he still trusted He Mu, he began to feel a slight sense of conflict.

“No matter what Dijun Media does, He Mu isn’t that kind of person.” Li Shengyu quickly defended He Mu.

“You have such a thick filter for He Mu! He Mu treats different people differently.”

Another actor from the same company also chimed in, “Yeah. The rumor about Luo Yu being pre-decided isn’t a big deal. Every crew has a few pre-decided roles. The key is the absurd rumor that Luo Yu has that kind of relationship with Director Lin Yue!”

“Director Xu Han’s first work reportedly couldn’t get sponsorship or find a production company. It was Director Lin who ran around various film companies and personally contacted reliable actors for him. That’s how Director Xu Han’s reputation started. So anyone who dares to slander Director Lin will definitely face Director Xu’s wrath!”

Hearing this, Li Shengyu was shocked again, questioning if he was being too impulsive and had his emotions manipulated.

A senior from the same company advised, “I’ve heard that besides Lin Yue and Hua Xingyun, even Gu Xiaowei and Xie Shang have good relationships with Luo Yu. Regardless of Luo Yu’s acting skills, if his character were bad, Gu Xiaowei wouldn’t even give him the time of day. You standing up for He Mu like this, junior brother, will only make you suffer.”

“But He Mu works really hard for his roles. He doesn’t need to suppress Luo Yu.” Li Shengyu told himself to stay firm and not let a few words shake his trust in his friend. His fingers loosened and tightened, sweating slightly.

The situation became awkward as no one stepped up to challenge, and everyone watched and waited.

The assistant director whispered to Xu Han, “Director Xu, I told you this kind of internal conflict wouldn’t work. No one wants to offend others!”

“What are you afraid of? For every rumor spreader, there’s someone who wants to dispel rumors with their skills.” Xu Han looked completely relaxed.

Among the three judges, Yang Chen spoke into the microphone on the table, “Everyone, don’t overthink this. Put aside thoughts like ‘Is the crew targeting troublemakers’ or ‘Is the director trying to eliminate dissidents.’ Many of you must be unhappy with having only a few lines and want the director and others to see your abilities. Director Xu Han prefers actors who are ambitious, have ideas, and have drive over those who obediently stick to their agency’s script.”

Zhu Jun also said, “With the three of us here, this rooftop is purely for an acting competition. This isn’t a variety show; we don’t have scripts or even know your names and roles. But if you’re good enough, we won’t let your talent go to waste and will definitely recommend you. This is your chance to show yourself.”

Yan Mingrui clapped his hands and said, “Let’s see some fresh faces. Are there no bold and ambitious actors left?”

With that, a young man raised his hand, “I… I’m Chen Dong! Just an extra here. Can I join the challenge?”

“Of course! Not only you, but everyone on this rooftop can.” Yan Mingrui replied.

“Then… I want to challenge Teacher Cheng Fei! I want to challenge his Ling Jin!”

Cheng Fei, caught off guard, whispered to Luo Yu, “This isn’t arranged by you and Director Xu, is it?”

“Do you think Director Xu has that much free time? Go, give that kid a chance!” Luo Yu laughed and gently pushed him.

Chen Dong, though young and inexperienced, memorized Cheng Fei’s lines by watching him and tried to emulate Cheng Fei’s aura. Though his acting seemed a bit immature, a child trying to act like an adult, the three judges applauded him.

Since Chen Dong’s role was just a lookout with no lines, they chose Li Shengyu’s role as the next challenge.

Cheng Fei took the small role seriously, reading the lines multiple times and portraying the young, inexperienced, somewhat stubborn character, clearly outshining Chen Dong in acting skills.

However, the judges highly praised Chen Dong for memorizing lines just by observing Cheng Fei and mimicking him, showing he had talent but needed to develop his own understanding of characters rather than copying others’ performances.

Yang Chen said, “Young man, I think you should try the drama troupe. Stage theater is great for honing your skills in dialogue and acting. On stage, you have to remember your lines from start to finish without breaks, maintaining your emotions until the end of the scene. I’ll leave you my number. If you’re interested, come find me.”

Chen Dong was stunned, “I… I never thought I could surpass Teacher Cheng Fei. I just wanted to perform his lines. Can I really act in plays?”

“Not now, so you need to practice.” Yang Chen said seriously, “Start with roles without lines, then small roles, then supporting roles. Step by step, never giving up or slacking off, and one day you’ll be the lead.”

Hearing this, Luo Yu was filled with mixed emotions. Wasn’t this what he had experienced in his past life?

Xu Han also said, “Chen Dong, I like your courage. As an extra, you didn’t give up observing and learning. Starting tomorrow, you’ll get a uniform and be part of Cheng Fei’s team, following him and learning how he acts!”

Chen Dong was overjoyed, thanking everyone profusely.

This excited the crowd.

Many raised their hands to challenge each other, and the atmosphere heated up.

Some actors from small companies challenged Cheng Fei for a taste of being the lead.

For a while, Cheng Fei was quite busy.

Returning to the audience, he took the bottled water Luo Yu handed him and drank two big gulps, “That Li Shengyu is really spineless. After all this time, why hasn’t he challenged you?”

“If he doesn’t challenge me, I’ll challenge him.”

Luo Yu smiled, raised his hand high, “I want to challenge—”

His voice was gentle but carried strong penetration.

The three judges immediately looked in Luo Yu’s direction.

The assistant director asked, “It’s Luo Yu, right? Your role is Huo Haoyan, the CFO of a big group, our tall-rich-handsome character. Who do you want to challenge?”

“Huo Haoyan is a villain. Including my last role, it seems they’re all villains. I want to experience the thrill of being a hero.” Luo Yu said.

All eyes were on him.

The news that Luo Yu was pre-decided for Huo Haoyan had been circulating for a long time, making many actors in the crew envious of his role.

At this moment, instead of keeping a low profile, he actually stood up by himself. There’s going to be a show!

The assistant director asked again, “So who do you want to challenge?”

Even at this moment, Luo Yu didn’t forget to act, touching his chin in a thoughtful manner, “Hmm…”

The two actors who were spreading rumors earlier were now so nervous that their hearts felt like they would jump out. They kept retreating, afraid of being named by Luo Yu.

They barely had a few lines, and if any were cut, they could go home directly. And those long posts on Weibo? It was like writing a self-criticism essay, sure to be mocked by the entire internet.

“Does Luo Yu even know our names?”

“What if Cheng Fei told him?”

In the crowd, Li Shengyu clenched his fists.

On one hand, he felt that his role as the economic investigator lacked highlights, hoping Luo Yu would challenge him to at least gain five minutes of effective screen time for his role.

On the other hand, although he heard from He Mu that Luo Yu had been stealing roles and schedules, hugging the director’s thigh, Luo Yu might not be capable. But what if Luo Yu was actually skilled?

“I’ve decided. I challenge… Ling Jin…”

Everyone gasped; Luo Yu was actually going to challenge Cheng Fei. This was going to be interesting. Cheng Fei had taken good care of him these past days, but now Luo Yu was biting the hand that fed him!

Who knew Luo Yu would change his tone on the next breath, “I challenge Ling Jin’s subordinate, the economic investigator, Xia Yunzhi.”

Li Shengyu gasped, eyes widening; that was his role!

Luo Yu stepped out of the crowd, walked to an open area, and bowed to the three judges.

Zhu Jun adjusted her glasses, “This young man is really handsome, with a clean and good temperament.”

Yang Chen, who had just filmed with Luo Yu today, leaned in and said, “This is going to be interesting.”

Yan Mingrui asked curiously, “Interesting? Why?”

Yang Chen praised generously, “His line delivery is excellent, and he controls his expressions well. If he challenged Cheng Fei’s role, I wouldn’t be interested.”

“Ah, I understand.” Zhu Jun laughed, “Cheng Fei’s role has a strong presence. Any actor with basic skills would understand how to project that presence. In contrast, the economic investigator requires a restrained performance, showing trust and obedience to the team leader while being cautious and meticulous in his own investigations. The key is to bring out the character through details.”

The judges seemed very interested, and the entire crew’s enthusiasm was high.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The assistant director shouted, “Where is the economic investigator Xia Yunzhi? Don’t be shy, come out!”

Li Shengyu took a deep breath, raised his hand, and stepped out from the crowd, “Economic investigator Xia Yunzhi is here!”

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But those two actors didn’t understand Cheng Fei’s intentions, thinking he was there to speak up for his company’s juniors. Given Cheng Fei’s personality, he might even go after Luo Yu, which they would love to see.

“We… we heard it from Li Shengyu.”

“Li Shengyu?” Cheng Fei searched his memory, “Oh, the actor from Yuanjing Films who plays the economic crime investigator under me?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Yes, that’s him!”

“Are you sure? This guy has a straightforward temper. If he had issues with Luo Yu, he’d probably go to the director.” Cheng Fei doubted, glancing sharply at the two actors, intimidating them into silence. “Speak the truth, or else…”

They couldn’t fathom what Cheng Fei might do if they lied.

“Well… it wasn’t directly from Li Shengyu. Before shooting began… 18MIX invited Li Shengyu and us to sing karaoke. They mentioned Luo Yu snatching He Mu’s roles, which upset Li Shengyu. So later… when the crew discussed Luo Yu, Li Shengyu complained a bit.”

Cheng Fei frowned, “What’s 18MIX?”

“It’s…,” the actor looked at Cheng Fei, surprised he didn’t know about the popular boy band, “a recent hit boy band from Dijun Media. Last week, He Mu and 18MIX held a concert together that trended online.”

“Oh, from Dijun Media… got it,” Cheng Fei sneered. “Next time, remember: believe what you see, not what you hear. I’ve acted in several scenes with Luo Yu and never felt his role was already pre-decided. You’ve never even exchanged lines with him, so why spread rumors?”

The two actors were stunned.

Wasn’t it said that Cheng Fei also disliked Luo Yu? Wasn’t he supposed to stand up for his company’s juniors? Why was he defending Luo Yu now?

They dared not speak further.

Luo Yu knocked on the door and entered, finding a seat.

The makeup room became so quiet it felt like even breathing was a crime.

Cheng Fei spoke up, “Xiao Luo, when’s your scene?”

“Ten o’clock.”

“I should be after you then,” Cheng Fei told his makeup artist, “Xiao Jun, do Luo Yu’s makeup first. The crew’s makeup artists are busy now.”

“Got it.” Xiao Jun, without hesitation, pushed his makeup case to Luo Yu, “Brother Luo, I’ll start with you.”

Cheng Fei, reviewing his script, added, “You need to be ready for your scene with Teacher Yang Chen. You shouldn’t make him wait.”

“Thanks for the reminder, Brother Cheng.”

Yang Chen was a seasoned actor and the oldest in the crew. In order to convince him to come to their crew, the director personally arranged for his transportation before and after filming.

The two actors gossiping about Luo Yu felt so awkward they could dig holes in the floor. They exchanged glances and quickly left the makeup room.

Inside, Cheng Fei continued, “Li Shengyu is from Yuanjing Films. They have strong post-production and collaborate with our Xinghan Films. They also have ties with Dijun Media.”

“I know. Li Shengyu likely participated in Dijun Media’s reality show. He Mu, who was a judge, rated him highly. It’s said online that Li Shengyu and He Mu are quite close. Based on what those two said, he was emotionally manipulated by 18MIX at the karaoke and used as a pawn.”

Luo Yu had learned over the years that He Mu leveraged capital to promote himself, often sharing traffic with newcomers. When Li Shengyu was still a newcomer he was “favored” by He Mu, and was easily influenced. He Mu could brainwash him effortlessly.

Cheng Fei snorted, “He really picked a good friend.”

“I’ll talk to Li Shengyu after today’s shoot,” Luo Yu preferred straightforward solutions.

“You? Talk to him? A heated person won’t listen to reason.”

“If it were just about me, it wouldn’t matter. But he mentioned Director Lin. I can’t tolerate that,” Luo Yu replied.

“Director Lin isn’t just your mentor, but mine too, and Director Xu Han’s senior. These blabbermouths need a lesson!”

Luo Yu frowned, “People who consider anyone who says a few kind words to them a brother—haven’t I made that mistake too?”

“We need a high-profile resolution to give He Mu and Dijun Media a warning,” Cheng Fei said coldly.

Luo Yu, worried, asked, “Brother Cheng, how do you plan to teach him a lesson? No fighting, right?”

Cheng Fei, exasperated, replied, “I never fight outside of scenes! I win with reason!”

Xiao Jun, while doing Luo Yu’s makeup, nodded, “Yeah, our Brother Cheng always outtalks others!”

“…I’ll discuss it with Director Xu. If possible, let’s resolve it the actors’ way.”

“The actors’ way?” Cheng Fei asked curiously.

What way is that?

At five that afternoon, Director Xu Han summoned all cast and staff for a meeting on the building’s top floor.

Everyone curiously arrived at the meeting place, which was the top floor of this building.

Early that morning, Xu Han, upon hearing the gossip about Lin Yue and Luo Yu, who had been mingling in the industry for many years, had a bad feeling and immediately reported the rumor to the company executives.

However, the executives initially did not take the matter seriously.

First, although Lin Yue and Xu Han were both directors of the same company, they were not directing the same drama. There was no need for Xu Han to be too serious about it. If it seriously affected the atmosphere of the crew, the actors spreading the rumors could easily be replaced.

Second, when “Counterattack” aired, they could use its quality to shut down those who spread the rumors.

But Li Qian became alert, as this gossip followed the same pattern that Dijun Media had used to destroy his cousin.

—First, they would release a little bit of gossip for people to enjoy, with no one taking it seriously at this stage.

When the spread increased, they would start making large-scale baseless accusations, posting various ambiguous photos and chat records online. The issue would then explode overnight. By the time a lawyer’s letter was sent out and the lawsuit won, the reputation damage had already been done.

“I believe that the target of this rumor is not a small supporting cast member like Luo Yu, nor simply Director Lin. The target is the customized drama for Channel C and the entire Xinghan Films. ‘Counterattack’ cannot afford any blemishes. Spreading rumors of an improper relationship between Lin Yue and Luo Yu implies moral failings, which can easily escalate. Article titles like ‘Tearing Down Lin Yue’s Hypocritical Mask’ could incite a public outcry. By then, ‘Counterattack’ would surely need to be rectified, severely damaging Lin Yue’s reputation.”

The current chairman of Xinghan also realized, “And Director Xu Han was mentored by Lin Yue, with Luo Yu also acting in ‘Storm’. If public opinion is pushed, ‘Storm’ will also be boycotted. Ou Juntao is aiming for two birds with one stone; very clever.”

“Then replacing Luo Yu would end the topic, wouldn’t it?”

Li Qian helplessly said, “Replacing Luo Yu would only confirm the suspicion that he got the role through inappropriate means, giving Ou Juntao more room to exploit.”

“Send out a lawyer’s letter to clarify?”

Li Qian laughed, “Which actor targeted by Dijun Media hasn’t sent a lawyer’s letter? Currently, there’s no online discussion about this gossip. Are we supposed to help our opponents promote the rumor?”

“Then what should we do?”

“Create a hotspot, outpace Ou Juntao, establish a good public image, and label ourselves positively before Ou Juntao can act. After all, ‘Storm’ is a serious drama that requires audience patience. It’s not as straightforward and relatable as other emotional or life dramas, even with a cast full of skilled actors; it may not attract much interest.”

“How to block it? What kind of hotspot?”

“Invite respected industry professionals to evaluate the casting. Do something new, like borrowing from reality shows with an acting showdown. We should also copy Ou Juntao and create some buzz—one move with multiple benefits. Promote ‘Counterattack,’ increase attention for ‘Storm,’ vindicate Lin Yue, and entertain the audience to make them willingly spread the word for us.”

This surprise showdown was designed to preempt Ou Juntao, giving him no time to amplify the rumor.

At this moment, Xu Han, looking very authoritative, stood on a wooden box holding a megaphone.

Not far away, there were three tables with three highly respected veteran actors from the entertainment industry: Yang Chen, Zhu Jun, and Yan Mingrui.

In front of each teacher were pens, paper, and their tea cups or thermos flasks.

Everyone was curious about the purpose of this meeting. Why were there three veteran artists besides the director?

Xu Han spoke into the megaphone, “Today, we’ve invited three teachers for fairness and justice. Let me introduce them first: Mr. Yang Chen, an honorary professor of our Film Academy, a first-class actor, former head of the B City Drama Troupe, and last year’s recipient of the Qilin Lifetime Achievement Award!”

Mr. Yang Chen stood up to greet everyone, and the set erupted in applause.

“Ms. Zhu Jun, a first-class actress, eight-time nominee for the Qilin Best Actress Award, and three-time winner! Her portrayal of the mother in the film ‘Children’ won her the Best Actress at the C City Film Festival!”

Ms. Zhu Jun stood up amid applause. Her gentle and elegant demeanor, dressed in an ink-style long dress, captivated everyone’s attention.

Cheng Fei, puzzled, whispered to Luo Yu, “Why did Director Xu invite these distinguished teachers? It’s not to give us actors a lesson, right? Wait… You said you wanted to resolve this through the actors’ way, could it be…”

Luo Yu put his finger to his lips and softly said, “Shh.”

Cheng Fei let out a breath, pressing his temples, “I’m going crazy, I’m really going crazy…”

Luo Yu laughed and said, “Brother Cheng, you can’t go crazy now. You’re the leading man today.”

“Me? The leading man? You and Director Xu better not mess this up!”

Xu Han’s voice echoed through the loudspeaker again, “This is Teacher Yan Mingrui, a first-class actor, honorary head of the S City Drama Troupe, guest professor at the Drama Academy, four-time nominee for the Qilin Award for Best Actor, and two-time winner!”

Yan Mingrui stood up, nodding to everyone present, and was met with thunderous applause.

Xu Han continued, “These three teachers, although they have participated in dramas and films produced by Xinghan Pictures, they haven’t signed any economic contracts with our company and have also collaborated with other peers like Honghe Films, Yuanjing Media, and Xiajiang Culture.”

Xu Han turned to look at the three teachers, who nodded in agreement with what he said.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if anyone has any doubts about the professionalism and impartiality of these three teachers, please speak up now! If you lose the competition and then complain about unfair judging, it will be embarrassing and undignified.”

Xu Han’s words left the actors exchanging puzzled glances, unsure of what the director was up to.

“The countdown starts now: thirty seconds! Anyone with objections, please raise your hand!”

The actors began whispering among themselves.

“These three teachers are like the North Stars of the industry.”

“If you doubt their professionalism and impartiality, you might as well not work in this industry.”

The two actors who had gossiped about Luo Yu in the makeup room earlier seemed to sense something, lowering their heads and quietly retreating, afraid of being noticed by the director.

“Time’s up! Since no one voiced any objections, please keep any opinions to yourselves from now on!” Xu Han said.

The actors were stunned into silence.

“I’ve heard that some cast members believe Xinghan Picture’s casting process is rigged and unfair! Such thoughts undermine the unity of the team and have a negative impact!”

“With the three teachers here to judge and score, I, Xu Han, respect their professional opinions. I hope my team has cohesion, not suspicion and jealousy. This sudden competition is your chance to prove your abilities with your skills! Now, the rules of the competition!”

Xu Han handed the loudspeaker to the assistant director, jumped down from the crate, pulled over a chair, and sat in the audience area, taking a swig of Coke.

The actors’ murmuring grew louder.

“I think this competition is mainly because of Luo Yu’s role as Huo Haoyan!”

“Yeah, it’s rumored that his role was pre-decided because Director Lin Yue recommended him! There’s even gossip about an inappropriate relationship between them!”

“What? Gossip about Director Lin? No wonder Director Xu is so angry!”

The assistant director stepped onto the crate, cleared his throat, and the scene quieted down.

“This competition will be a two-way match! Let’s take our cast member, Cheng Fei, as an example. If Cheng Fei thinks Luo Yu is unfit for the role of Huo Haoyan, he can challenge Luo Yu. Cheng Fei can select a scene from Luo Yu’s script where he plays Huo Haoyan, and both will perform as Huo Haoyan, to be scored and evaluated by the three judges. But since Luo Yu is more familiar with Huo Haoyan’s lines, there will be another competition.”

Everyone perked up their ears to listen.

“Luo Yu can select a scene from Cheng Fei’s script where he plays Ling Jin, and both will perform as Ling Jin, to be scored and evaluated by the three judges. The total score from both competitions will determine the winner.”

The actors began to discuss in hushed tones.

“Oh my god, that’s really tough! You have to play both your own role and the other’s?”

“Can anyone do that? In such a short time, you can’t even memorize the lines.”

The assistant director continued, “Listen up—whoever wins can ask for an additional five minutes of screen time, which will be retained in the final cut. It’s like customizing a five-minute highlight for your character.”

This sounded interesting, as “highlight moments” weren’t just random five-minute lines.

“And the loser will have a segment of their script cut, approximately ten minutes long, reducing their screen time. They also have to post weekly reflections on Weibo about their learning experience on set, such as improvements in their acting skills and which co-stars they admire.”

These words were practically the same as saying, “Reflect daily on why you shouldn’t spread rumors on set.”

“Any questions?”

“Why does the winner get five minutes while the loser loses ten?” one actor asked.

“If the punishment isn’t doubled, some people might not take the competition seriously, thinking losing isn’t a big deal. Cutting ten minutes from the script might end up as a five-minute reduction in the final edit,” the assistant director explained.

“How long should the learning reflections be?” another young actor asked loudly.

“Not less than a few hundred words, enough to gain some followers.”

Everyone laughed.

The assistant director enthusiastically announced, “Now, let the challenges begin!”

At his words, the actors started murmuring again, but no one dared to be the first to take the plunge.

Everyone knew that challenging was equivalent to questioning the fairness of the casting process. What if the director remembered it or you ended up on Xinghan Pictures’ blacklist?

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Almost ten minutes passed, and still, no one initiated a challenge.

Standing in the crowd, Li Shengyu frowned. Before joining the crew, he had shared several meals and karaoke sessions with He Mu to ease his mood, and only then did Li Shengyu understand that even a popular star like He Mu could feel powerless at times.

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