Such a golden team instantly became a hot search topic.

[Originally, I wasn’t interested in this kind of TV drama where villains are brainlessly defeated! But the director is Lin Yue! ! !]

[Director Lin is the integrity of the entertainment industry, with no bad movies to his name so far!]

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[Gu Xiaowei! Gu Xiaowei guarantees high ratings! Is he going to play an undercover role? I’m really looking forward to this kind of anti hero role!]

[I thought gege would have to take another half-year break before joining a new crew! I didn’t expect a seamless connection!]

[Screenwriter Hua is the god of screenwriting! The plot direction will always keep you guessing! Every episode has a hook that makes you never want to look away!]

[Screenwriter Hua can make flowers grow out of dead wood! Even a small character role can have a highlight moment!]

[Xie Shang is going to act in a mainstream drama! I really want to see jiejie in uniform! Let’s go Rainbow Feathers!] (TN: fan club name)

Cui Zhuxin, who had not heard back from several roles, was leaning on the side of the road and sighing. She didn’t know how to tell Luo Yu when she went back. It was like the other film and television companies had deliberately joined forces. They didn’t want to give Luo Yu even a small role.

When her phone rang, she picked it up and found out that it was the new news about “Counterattack”. Looking at the cast lineup, Cui Zhuxin’s eyes almost popped out.

She suddenly remembered what Luo Yu had told her before, that soon He Mu would regret giving up the role of Bai Ying. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be true——Lin Yue was directing it and Gu Xiaowei was the leading actor. This was a blockbuster booking without question.

She immediately called the crew to ask if the role of Bai Ying would be retained if “Counterattack” was restarted, and whether the director would change actors.

The other party’s answer was: “Director Lin is a very contractual person, but he also has very high requirements for actors. The role of Bai Ying mainly appears in the early stages. The first version of the script for the first three episodes will be sent to you in two weeks. Director Lin and Screenwriter Hua will conduct an audition for this role. If he passes the audition, the role will belong to Luo Yu. But if he fails, the remuneration will be paid according to the contract, but the role will be given to someone else.”

Sister Cui was stunned. She remembered that Luo Yu had said a few days ago that this role was likely to be auditioned, but she didn’t expect that he actually hit it right on the nail.

It was just that… There were no signs in the circle, so how did Luo Yu get the news in advance?

What was even more unexpected was that a friend who had once received help from Sister Cui quietly told her that He Mu contacted the crew as soon as he learned the news and wanted to play a supporting role for zero pay, but was rejected by director Lin Yue, saying that time was tight and the task of rewriting the script was heavy, and there was no time to write a supporting role for He Mu.

However, He Mu did not give up and asked for the role of Bai Ying to be taken back. Director Lin declined again, meaning that an actor had already been contracted for this role. Unless He Mu could outperform him in the audition, the crew would not accept changing the actor.

After hearing this, He Mu immediately found an acting teacher to work overtime to practice. It could be said that he was determined to win this role.

Hearing this, Sister Cui was anxious and quickly told Luo Yu the news.

“What should we do, Luo Yu? I feel that Director Lin will not challenge Dijun Media for such a small role. The so-called audition is just a pretense of fairness——if your skills are not as good as others and you are replaced, it has nothing to do with the crew. This way it won’t affect his reputation.”

Sister Cui had seen too many twists and turns from film crews, and she was really worried that Luo Yu’s last chance would also be taken away.

Luo Yu comforted Cui Zhuxin: “Don’t worry, no matter how turbid the entertainment world is, there will always be people with clean morals. I believe in Director Lin and Screenwriter Hua.”

That’s right, the last drama Luo Yu acted in in his previous life was directed by Lin Yue and written by Hua Xingyun. At that time, there were also people with strong backgrounds who wanted to secretly snatch the role from Luo Yu. It was Lin Yue and Hua Xingyun who withstood all the pressure. He believed that Luo Yu was the most suitable actor for this role, which resulted in Luo Yu winning best supporting actor.

So in this life, if Luo Yu had not missed the role of Bai Ying, he would have met his benefactor ten years earlier.

Luo Yu knew very well that he could not compete with capital. If he wants to show his potential, he must be recognized by people like Lin Yue and Hua Xingyun who have speaking power and stick to their principles.

“Then what if you are cut out?” Cui Zhuxin was afraid that Luo Yu would be like before, a role that he had prepared for a long time would be snatched away again, and he would completely spiral into depression.

“If something like that happens, Sister Cui, you can change your job and go to Honghe Film and Television. I will go to my university teacher and ask him to introduce me to stage acting. I can make a living and hone my acting skills. When Sister Cui becomes successful, don’t forget to take care of me and give me some supporting roles.”

Cui Zhuxin was stunned. She originally thought that this was a last-ditch battle with no retreat, but Luo Yu didn’t have the tragic and anxious feeling of possible failure.

On the contrary, his calmness made Cui Zhuxin feel that… this role was definitely still his.

Not long after, Luo Yu received the script. Although there were only three episodes and also happened to cover Bai Ying’s death, the entire plot rhythm was picked up. Even Bai Ying, a cannon fodder who died in three episodes, had depth.

Cui Zhuxin originally wanted to remind Luo Yu to cut his hair, but Luo Yu said with a smile: “I think… Director Lin and Screenwriter Hua will prefer me to keep my hair long.”

The auditions were held in a hotel. In addition to the role of Bai Ying, there were several other important supporting roles being auditioned.

But there were only two competitors for Bai Ying——Luo Yu and He Mu.

Luo Yu was wore a simple white T-shirt and casual pants that day. Before entering the elevator, he happened to meet He Mu, who was surrounded by assistants, makeup artists, managers, and script teachers.

He Mu’s hair was specially combed up to the back of his head, exposing his forehead to make himself look mature and intimidating. He wore a casual suit, and the collar of his shirt was deliberately opened wide, giving him the air of a sinister gang boss.

As soon as He Mu and his team entered the elevator, the assistant immediately made a no-entry gesture to others, “Please wait for the next elevator, thank you!”

It seemed polite, but in reality it was an order, not to mention that there was clearly plenty of room in the elevator.

The other guests in the hotel didn’t know what was going on.

“Who was that just now? So ostentatious?”

“A celebrity, right? Afraid of being photographed or being asked for an autograph?”

“Ai, I don’t even know him. Do they think we will pounce on him and bite him?”

“That’s right, we don’t know him either?”

Luo Yu wore a mask and stood behind these guests. They were all over forty years old and did not pay much attention to the entertainment industry. After a long time, still no one uttered He Mu’s name. Making He Mu’s wary attitude of guarding against fire, theft and hotel guests just now seemed a little self-conscious and hilarious.

The elevator came up from the underground garage and opened with a ding. Standing inside was a man wearing a light brown sweater and casual pants. The moment Luo Yu raised his eyes and looked at him, he was stunned.

Because that man was Gu Xiaowei.

The leading actor in Luo Yu’s last TV drama.

The refreshing feeling of pitting acting skills together came to his heart instantly, but at the moment he took the step, Luo Yu realized that this was Gu Xiaowei from ten years ago. He had never acted opposite him and almost never said anything to each other.

Luo Yu followed the other guests into the elevator, and his originally calm heart was now beating like a drum.

Because this man was not a fame chasing celebrity with the false title of movie king or TV king, but Gu Xiaowei.

A person who had lived his life as he envied from the beginning——an actor who did not surrender to fame and wealth, dared to challenge the world, stood independently, and was still invincible ten years later.

But the current Luo Yu did not yet have the capital to chat familiarly with the other.

There were a lot of guests coming in, and everyone looked at Gu Xiaowei in unison. Even if he was low-key and silent, he was a presence that could not be ignored.

There were more and more guests, and Luo Yu had to squeeze back. He was careful not to bump into Gu Xiaowei.

But at this moment, the rubber band tying Luo Yu’s hair back suddenly broke.

With a “pop”, his tied hair fell down in loose waves. 

Luo Yu took a deep breath. He was too careless. Why didn’t he prepare an extra rubber band when he went out?

When his hair was tied up, it could give the feeling of soft toughness, but when it was let down, it just became messy. If one didn’t know, they might think he was cosplaying Mei Chaofeng. (TN: a character in the wuxia novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong)

Luo Yu took a deep breath and thought about borrowing one from someone on the floor.

The guests left the elevator one after another, and gradually only Luo Yu, Gu Xiaowei and his assistant were left in the elevator.

“Xiao Qin, do you have an extra rubber band?” Gu Xiaowei suddenly said.

Luo Yu took a deep breath, which was stuck in his throat. Why did Gu Xiaowei suddenly ask his assistant for a rubber band?

“Oh, my hair bun used two rubber bands, one can be removed.” Assistant Xiao Qin said.

“Okay, thank you.”

Xiao Qin took one off and handed it to Gu Xiaowei.

At this time, the elevator door opened. Luo Yu didn’t know why, but he wanted to leave here quickly, feeling embarrassed for some reason.

But Gu Xiaowei stretched out his hand and patted Luo Yu on the shoulder.

“Senior, please use this to tie your hair.”

His voice was like cold wine falling into the cup from a height, and his heartstrings burned instantly.

“Thanks.”

Luo Yu was completely stunned.

What did Gu Xiaowei call him?

Senior?

He was wearing a mask, could Gu Xiaowei recognize him?

Moreover… Gu Xiaowei was now at the height of his career, and he still recognized him, a flopped senior?

Luo Yu, who was very composed about the audition, became nervous. When he pulled his hair back, some strands were left swinging by his ear. Gu Xiaowei directly pulled the rubber band away from his fingers and said softly: “I’ll do it.”

“Oh…” Luo Yu froze there motionless.

All he knew was that Gu Xiaowei’s fingers were like a comb, sifting into his hair, gently pulling it back, and then tying it up.

“Done.”

Just one word, spoken just in Luo Yu’s ears.

At that moment, everything became dim, and Luo Yu only felt the presence of Gu Xiaowei.

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Gu Xiaowei stepped forward with his long legs and passed by Luo Yu. Only then did Luo Yu realize that it was assistant Xiao Qin who had been putting her hand between the elevator doors to keep them on this floor.

Looking at Gu Xiaowei’s leaving figure, Luo Yu curled up his lips and smiled.

How are you, old rival.

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“I’m not clear on this.” Gao He quickly changed the subject, “The movie we are going to shoot this time is not a school drama…”

“It’s “Plum Rain”. The second male lead played by Luo Yu in it is a school idol.” Gu Xiaowei said.

He Mu’s fingers twitched under the table. How could Gu Xiaowei have also watched “Plum Rain”?

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According to the other’s tastes, it should be a TV drama with a higher plot quality, similar to a spy war or historical drama.

“Ah, I thought so. His performance in “Plum Rain” was very natural and touching. Some things, such as the expression of the eyes and the ability to evoke the audience’s sense of immersion, all require talent. He is quite talented indeed, it’s just I don’t know why I haven’t seen this actor again. It turns out that he signed with an unreliable company! I think with how popular he was at the time, there should have been a better choice.” Lin Yue shook his head and revealed a puzzled look.

Lin Yue’s sudden expression of his regret for Luo Yu, which made the atmosphere at the room very awkward.

But this was Lin Yue. He would not echo other people’s opinions against his will. He never got red-faced from arguing with anyone, but he had cultivated several heavyweight actors with his own works.

The expression on Gao He’s face became more and more embarrassed, and he rolled his eyes at He Mu in his heart, just why did the other mention Luo Yu out of nowhere? “This…didn’t we just say that he chased men to the point of losing his own future? We at Dijun Media also considered signing him, but he didn’t even spare us a look and chose a little-known company instead. If you say it wasn’t the power of love that made him give up on his future, I don’t believe it.”

Jiang Yinchuan held his chin and laughed muffledly, “Oh, it turns out he rejected Dijun Media. No wonder it’s like this now. I remember the code of conduct of Director Ou of Dijun Media is——if I don’t have it, I’d rather destroy it. The fact he hasn’t withdrawn from the circle yet means Chairman Ou is already showing mercy.”

“It’s not the power of love.” Gu Xiaowei, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

“Hmm…ah?” He Mu looked at Gu Xiaowei in confusion.

“What Gu Xiaowei probably means is that Luo Yu did not sign a contract with Zhuque Media because of the power of love.” Jiang Yinchuan gestured in Gao He’s direction with his chin.

“What else could it be because of?” Gao He was a little unhappy.

Gu Xiaowei’s voice was steady, and every word he pronounced was clear. He had no intention of brushing over this matter at all, “When Luo Yu first became popular, Zhuque Media was on the verge of bankruptcy. Bo Wenyuan knelt in front of Luo Yu and smashed the beer bottle. He said that if Luo Yu refused to sign a contract with his company, he would cut his own throat with the beer bottle and die in front of Luo Yu.”

Gao He was stunned: “No… way?”

“This Bo Wenyuan is really good at bluffing people. Only a newbie like Luo Yu who has never seen much of the world would be frightened by him.” Jiang Yinchuan smiled with a bit of amusement.

“So Luo Yu signed a contract with him? Ai… He still lacks some societal experience…” Lin Yue sighed.

Gao He showed a surprised expression and said: “This…where did Teacher Gu hear this? That’s not what Bo Wenyuan said when he saw us. He said that Luo Yu was pestering him and insisted on throwing himseat him.”

He Mu also said: “Yes, this is the version I heard.”

Gu Xiaowei took a sip of tea, stood up, and straightened his sleeves, “Because when Bo Wenyuan was kneeling there crying with snot and tears, I came to pick up my drunk roommate who was sitting at the table next over. That matter was also reported to the police, and I was the one who called the police. Do I need to find the police officer who went to the police that night to clarify?”

Everyone was stunned. Gu Xiaowei never lied. What he saw and heard with his own eyes and ears could not be false.

Gao He and He Mu, who had been so confident before, were so embarrassed that they could have dug a hole in the ground with their toes.

Lin Yue let out a long sigh, “What a pity, what a pity. Xiao Gu, you called the police because you wanted the police to stop that Bo Wenyuan from seeking death, right? It’s a pity that you still couldn’t stop Luo Yu from being deceived by him.”

Jiang Yinchuan chuckled, “Tsk, tsk, tsk. It seems like if you don’t have the skills to reverse truth and false, you should be embarrassed to hang out in this circle.”

For a moment, Gao He and He Mu couldn’t tell whether Jiang Yinchuan’s “reverse of truth and false” was referring to Bo Wenyuan of Zhuque Media or the two of them.

“Also, I don’t know if Luo Yu is the national school idol. But in my sophomore year, he was the recognized school idol of our school.”

After saying that, Gu Xiaowei nodded slightly in the direction of Gao He as a gesture of polite goodbye.

“Recognized as the school idol of the film academy? That’s a place where handsome guys gather, and even Gu Xiaowei doesn’t have any objections? I am suddenly a little interested in this Luo Yu.” Jiang Yinchuan touched his chin.

He Mu opened his mouth, wanting to say something but was afraid that he would say the wrong thing. Gao He gave him a look that told him to shut up.

Lin Yue called in the direction of Gu Xiaowei: “Xiao Gu, since you didn’t drink just now, please give me a ride back.”

“Of course, Director Lin.”

Lin Yue said to Gao He and Jiang Yinchuan: “CEO Gao, CEO Jiang, it’s a bit late today, so let’s stop here.”

“Then our cooperation…” Gao He looked at Lin Yue, wanting to confirm his attitude.

“Let me think about it.”

After Lin Yue and Gu Xiaowei left, Jiang Yinchuan also left the room with his helmet in hand. Before leaving, he glanced at He Mu and said with a smile: “Do you know that rabbits look gentle and docile, but why are their eyes red?”

“Why… why?” He Mu asked subconsciously.

“Because of jealousy.”

When Jiang Yinchuan walked away, He Mu suddenly realized that the other man was mocking him.

Because of jealousy, he got red eye disease.

He Mu was so angry that he was fuming, but the other man was a capital investor, so he couldn’t quarrel or slander him.

But at this time, Gao He had a headache. He didn’t know how to explain it to Chairman Ou——everyone in the circle knew that Lin Yue’s “think about it” was a polite refusal. 

If he was interested, he would usually say “Let’s take a look at the script.”

If he hadn’t even studied the script, how could he still think about it?

Gu Xiaowei drove a black coupe which was relatively low-key among celebrities.

Director Lin sat next to him and asked with a smile: “The project Gao He just mentioned should be very large in production. If you act in it, the box office will be very high.”

The streetlights outside the window passed over Gu Xiaowei’s profile one by one. He didn’t show much expression, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

“Gao He brought He Mu meaning he wants to use my reputation to promote He Mu.” Gu Xiaowei said.

“So you’re not happy?” Director Lin asked half-jokingly.

“Director Lin, you know my problem.”

“En, if the actor you are acting against can’t match your acting or can’t get into the right emotion, you have to force yourself deeper into the character. If you get too deep into the character, it becomes difficult to get out.” Director Lin sighed.

“So, if the person I act opposite is He Mu, not only will I not have the enjoyment of meeting a well-matched opponent, but it will also consume my emotions.” Gu Xiaowei said.

“As long as you understand in your heart.” Lin Yue nodded.

At this moment, Director Lin’s phone rang, and it read “Old Huang”.

A smile appeared on Lin Yue’s face, as if he had already guessed what this old Huang was going to say to him: “Aiya! Old Huang, why did you think of calling me? Is your station going to give out souvenirs? I’ll give you the address right now!”

“Director Lin, how many times have I told you not to call me old Huang! I don’t know if you are calling a cow or a dog!”

“Okay, okay, Deputy Director Huang, what may I do for you?”

“Have you seen today’s hot search? It’s that unlucky TV drama, “Counterattack”!”

“I saw it. It’s a TV drama where the lead actor got arrested for drunk driving, the heroine ran away, and the director broke his back!”

“Then can you direct it?”

“I’ll… think about it…” Facing his old friend, Lin Yue’s polite refusal lacked a bit of momentum.

“You think I don’t know what you mean by that? You didn’t even read the script, it just means you’re not interested!”

Director Lin sighed helplessly, “Why is there any need to read that script? The audience will definitely not care for it! The plot is a mess, the lines are so cliche that they are almost slogans, and there is not even a single plot twist. After reading the first page, I know immediately that it wants to educate the audience, but the audience has finally escaped from the college entrance examination days. Do you think they still want to be educated by you?”

“I don’t think it’s interesting either! So what should I do? Is it possible to rewrite the script in time? It will be broadcast in the fourth quarter! It’s a task from above!”

“First sort out the outline first, flesh up the characters, and make changes while filming.” Lin Yue said in a relaxed tone.

“Then this means you agree to taking over! I will send you a contract immediately!”

“You are trying to trick me! I am your big brother, and you want to cause trouble!” Director Lin said with a smile.

“I’m not trying to trick you! I’ll let you have full control. The screenwriter can be replaced with your old partner Hua Xingyun if he wants!”

“Xiao Hua is not cheap.” Lin Yue’s tone when chatting with this old Huang was obviously more casual.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not cheap, as long as the script is well written! The male and female leads will also need to be re-decided, and all the roles will be assigned by you. The investors agreed not to dictate! Is that sincere enough?”

Director Lin smiled so hard that his eyes creased, “I’ll think…”

“If you think about it again, you can say goodbye to our friendship!”

“I’m saying, I am thinking of letting Gu Xiaowei play the male lead. We have worked together before and we understand each other and have a tacit understanding. I only wonder if he agrees or not.”

“Gu Xiaowei is so popular, with excellent acting skills and reputation. I’m afraid we can’t afford to hire him!”

Gu Xiaowei, who was driving, smiled lightly and said, “Then it depends on Screenwriter Hua’s script outline and whether the character is attractive or not.”

When the person on the other end of the line heard Gu Xiaowei’s voice, it was like winning the lottery, “It will absolutely be attractive! Absolutely!”

After hanging up the phone, Director Lin looked at Gu Xiaowei and said, “Think clearly, the pay for a task drama like this is not high.”

“Director Lin, think clearly. Task dramas like this may not necessarily have high ratings, but they still require quality.” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Lin Yue rubbed his chin, “Hahaha, then I’ll show them what I’m capable of.”

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Gu Xiaowei said calmly: “Then I will show them what I am capable of.”

A week later, the new team staff of “Counterattack” was officially announced.

The director was replaced by Lin Yue, the screenwriter was Hua Xingyun, the lead actor was Gu Xiaowei, and the lead actress was Xie Shang.

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Gao He was stunned. The man in front of him walked up to him from the backlight. His facial features were exquisite but not feminine. On the contrary, his eyes were sharp and should not be underestimated.

“Jiang…Vice President Jiang! Hello! Hello! You look so handsome today, I didn’t even recognize you!”

He Mu was also a little dumbfounded. He didn’t expect that the vice president of an entertainment company would be so good-looking that he could make his debut instantly.

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Moreover, most bosses socialized too much at the wine table and were a little out of shape.

But Jiang Yinchuan was different. His figure was slender and well-proportioned, like a taut string, as if he could smash a big hole in the wall by swinging the motorcycle helmet in his hand.

Those peach blossom eyes squinted at He Mu. They looked charming, but they could also cut like a razor blade, which made He Mu feel startled.

“Hello, Vice President Jiang. I was too nervous just now, so CEO Gao reassured me with a joke. Please don’t take it seriously.”

Jiang Yinchuan smiled and said, “So you are that school idol?”

“It’s just a marketing gimmick. Vice President Jiang, please don’t joke about that! It’s up to you to decide whether it’s a flower, grass, dead wood or a rock.” (TN: word for school idol could also be literally translated as school grass)

Gao He was very satisfied with He Mu’s answer. This was He Mu’s advantage, knowing when to say what to say.

“I knew it, when I was in high school, I wasn’t even rated as a school idol. And I’m better-looking than you.”

After saying that, Jiang Yinchuan entered the private room and placed the helmet on the seat next to him.

He Mu was stunned. What did Jiang Yinchuan mean just now? Was he mocking him?

Why was this different from the rumors outside?

Didn’t they say that Jiang Yinchuan was a playboy? And especially favors pretty boys, falling in love with every one he meets, and changes his lovers every month, and who lavishes generous resources on them?

But just now… Jiang Yinchuan’s meaning was that he wasn’t interested in him?

Although Gao He brought him to dinner this time and had no intention of pushing him towards Jiang Yinchuan, when the other man suddenly said that, He Mu suddenly began to doubt… whether there was something about his eyes, nose, or mouth that needed improvement?

He Mu was sitting opposite Jiang Yinchuan, and the more he looked, the more uncomfortable he felt, because the more he looked at him, he realized that Jiang Yinchuan was the type of handsome guy that was very attention grabbing. Even when he was just playing with his mobile phone with one hand, he exuded a sharp and decisive aura, male pheromones that made all know that he was difficult to conquer.

Gao He had more dealings with Jiang Yunxie. After all, the leader of Honghe Film and Television was Jiang Yunxie. He originally thought that Jiang Yinchuan was just a freeloader, but today’s indifferent attitude made Gao He doubt the truth of Jiang Yunxie’s boasting that his brother was a dog of their Jiang family. It seemed that this dog also had a temper.

Footsteps sounded in the corridor. 

He Mu’s heart rate also increased. He was so familiar with these footsteps. It was Gu Xiaowei!

The door of the room was opened, and the first person who came in was Director Lin Yue. He was in his early forties but had a gentle and scholarly demeanor and wore glasses. When speaking with Gao He, his gentle voice gave off a convincing aura, though he didn’t say much.

He Mu almost thought that the other man was a professor of literature at a certain university.

Following behind Director Lin was Gu Xiaowei.

He has a tall and straight figure, wore a brown half-turtleneck sweater and a casual suit jacket over it, making him look introspective and restrained. His eyes were reminiscent of sparks in the abyss, and his expression was calm and indifferent as if nothing could ruffle him.

He was such a man, it seemed that even the glitz and glamor of the world could not impress him, but when he was acting, even a dead tree could sprout flowers.

He smiled lightly: “CEO Gao, CEO Jiang. Hello, He Mu.”

Hearing him call his name, the blood in He Mu’s heart surged up.

“Hello, senior.” He Mu had not forgotten that today he was here to get close to Gu Xiaowei.

A normal person’s reply was usually “You call me senior? Are you from the film academy too?”

But Gu Xiaowei asked: “In what year did you graduate from the film academy?”

He Mu was stunned because he had not graduated and dropped out of college after being spotted by Dijun Media in his sophomore year.

“I… have not graduated yet.”

“You have been in the industry for a few years, why haven’t you graduated yet?” Gu Xiaowei turned his head and asked in a casual tone while pouring tea for Director Lin himself.

He Mu opened his mouth. It was not that he didn’t graduate yet. It was because he was absent from school due to too much work and was dismissed by the school.

Gao He on the side quickly smoothed things over for He Mu, “We have reserved He Mu’s student status. After two years when he is no longer so busy, He Mu will go back and complete the remaining coursework.”

When Jiang Yinchuan heard this, he let out a light laugh.

When he wasn’t busy in two years, wouldn’t that mean the same as when he had flopped?

Gu Xiaowei raised his eyes, there was no blame or tolerance in his eyes, and his tone was very calm, “Then when you graduate, you can call me senior.”

This connection had failed, and it seemed that he had also received negative points.

He Mu pursed his lips, showing a bit of grievance.

Gao He patted He Mu’s knee under the table, signaling him not to pay attention.

While eating, the several people talked about the new film they wanted to collaborate on. Basically, Gao He was introducing the idea of the film. He Mu couldn’t say anything and could only pay attention to Gu Xiaowei silently.

Gu Xiaowei did not express too many opinions, more like a solemn evaluator.

Jiang Yinchuan was more concerned about the distribution of profits.

As they talked, the topic switched to mainstream filmwork, and inevitably they talked about the TV drama “Counterattack” that was definitely not going to be made.

“Ai, when the public image of a male lead has been damaged, the whole crew and the producer will also suffer losses. It’s a pity, so many staff had done preparatory work for this drama.” Director Lin sighed regretfully.

“Yes, and the other supporting actors. I heard that the supporting actors in that drama are not very famous. They finally got this opportunity to be on C Channel, but…” He Mu also had sympathy on his face.

“Supporting actor? Which supporting actor has our top star so sympathetic?” Jiang Yinchuan askes with interest.

Everyone here were millennia old foxes, so Jiang Yinchuan naturally saw that He Mu wanted to put on an act.

This dinner party was boring, so Jiang Yinchuan didn’t mind watching a show.

“It’s Luo Yu. He is also a senior who graduated from the film academy. But… he doesn’t have much luck. I acted in a school drama and became famous. Fans give me face and call me the national school idol. Luo Yu also followed and copied the school idol image. But the fans weren’t convinced, so they began to criticize him. Later, he kept competing with me for the same roles, but wasn’t able to win, and ended up being called my dupe, which lowered his reputation. This time, he finally appeared in “Counterattack” as a villain role in the movie, but because of the male lead, the drama will probably be on the burners. His agency may now be even more anxious to terminate his contract.”

He Mu sighed and continued: “Actually, for the sake of the senior from the same school, I also thought about introducing a few roles to him. But he misunderstood me because of the school idol image, and he has a very strong self-esteem. He rejected all the roles I introduced.”

Gao He immediately said: “Yes, yes. I told He Mu that he didn’t need to be such a good person. The other may not even appreciate it. When the time comes, he might even be splashed with dirty water, and it won’t be worth it.”

Jiang Yinchuan raised his eyebrows slightly. How could he not understand what He Mu meant when he said all this——Luo Yu was someone he disliked. If they all cooperated in the future, then don’t use Luo Yu.

“Which brokerage company does this Luo Yu belong to?” Jiang Yinchuan asked.

“Zhuque Media is a small company, so there are a lot of messy things.” Gao He smiled disdainfully.

“En, the boss of Zhuque Media is actually a senior of our film academy. This senior is also very worried about how to terminate the contract with Luo Yu.” He Mu said while observing Gu Xiaowei’s reaction from the corner of his eyes.

The other man’s arm was resting leisurely on the edge of the table, while his other hand was holding a teacup, tapping the cup lightly with his index finger. He sat close to Director Lin and they seemed to be talking about something, not paying attention to Luo Yu’s matter at all.

He Mu was relieved. He didn’t want Gu Xiaowei to think that he was gossiping, but Luo Yu was a thorn in He Mu’s side. He Mu knew in his heart that he was actually modeled after Luo Yu. As long as the real original stayed in this industry, He Mu would feel frustrated that he would always be a fake.

If possible, he would of course join forces with capital tycoons like Jiang Yinchuan to drive Luo Yu out completely.

“I also occasionally heard Bo Wenyuan, the boss of Zhuque Media, say that Luo Yu followed him every day back then and insisted on signing into his company. In fact, it was because he had a crush on Bo Wenyuan and wanted to be with him. Zhuque Media is a small company, if Luo Yu went there, he would definitely be given enough resources. The boss was pestered by Luo Yu, and being his senior at the same school, he had no choice but to sign him in the end, but in order to avoid trouble, he always kept his distance from Luo Yu, in case Luo Yu would pounce over one day and he would not be able to escape. Who knew that after he saw that I became so famous, he would copy me in everything, throwing aside the development direction planned by his boss for him, only to make his status in the circle so embarrassing.” He Mu’s tone was full of grievance.

Gao He also spoke up, “Yes. The school idol image may sound ordinary, but not everyone can be worthy of it. You have to make those little girls have the urge to fall in love as soon as you appear, right? What does Luo Yu have? Now even his own boss want nothing more than to avoid him.”

“Oh, it sounds like… although the other party didn’t make any big mistakes, he clearly knew that the image of ‘school idol’ had already been reserved by Dijun Media. Luo Yu has no capital or publicity behind him, yet he still insists on competing with He Mu for the image. He is really overestimating his capabilities.”

Jiang Yinchuan smiled as he held his chin and said this.

These words seem to be in support of He Mu and Dijun Media, but if one listened carefully, it also hinted that He Mu was very domineering. For an image like the school idol that was so common and overused, he still insisted on being the most unique.

“Aiya, a thing like an image, can only be fresh for a few years, so what is there to reserve?” Gao He personally served some hot tea to the other.

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At this time, Director Lin, who had not participated in the topic, slowly spoke.

“That Luo Yu, did he appear in a TV drama a few years ago, also a school idol type, called… what was it called “Plum Rain”?”

He Mu paused. He didn’t expect anyone here to have watched “Plum Rain”. He thought that such dramas were only watched by adolescents, but a great director like Lin Yue had actually also seen it?

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That afternoon, Luo Yu sent the necklace, scarf and shoes to the buyer.

Since they were in the same city, the shirt he sent in the morning had already been received, and they confirmed receipt of the goods in less than ten minutes. Luo Yu received a considerable sum of money in an instant.

“This person is really interesting.” Luo Yu touched his chin.

In the next three days, Luo Yu would exercise at the gym and look for things to sell on the online platform at home.

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He wouldn’t know if he didn’t look for it, but when he looked through all his things he discovered that he had accumulated quite a lot of inventory when he was popular, but he never paid attention to the brand names and didn’t know that these things were actually not cheap.

The Mr. Bankroller who “established integrity” was a regular customer at Luo You online shop account. Luo Yu wanted to ask him several times if he was his fan.

If so, he wanted to say sorry to Mr. Bankroller for ending up like this. It was likely that Mr. Bankroller would be embarrassed to even tell others that he was a fan of Luo Yu.

Just when Luo Yu was immersed in online selling, Sister Cui called.

“Luo Yu! Did you read the headlines this morning? Lin Qiao, the leading actor in “Counterattack”, was arrested for drunk driving. His attitude at the time was very bad! Don’t even mention being the leading actor, he probably won’t be able to act at all anymore!”

Luo Yu took out the milk from the refrigerator unhurriedly, “I know, this means changing the male lead.”

“Yes, changing the male lead is a big deal! If they drag it on, the drama might become obsolete!” Sister Cui said with an annoyed expression, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have signed you for this role! Otherwise, you wouldn’t be stuck here because of the contract. Unable to go up or down, and not convenient to receive other work!”

This news was the same as what Luo Yu remembered, and the subsequent development should not deviate too much.

“Sister Cui, don’t worry. The new leading actor will be found soon.” Luo Yu poured the milk into the bowl and sprinkled some cereal.

“I hope so. You also said that He Mu will come to compete for your role? He would be out of his mind to compete, wouldn’t he?”

At this moment, He Mu, the so-called top star and perpetual hot search resident, was lying on the sofa, looking at the number one hot search ranking, smiling so much that the corners of his mouth reached to his ears.

“Come look! Lin Qiao’s drunk driving hit the headlines! How can that lame drama “Counterattack” bebfilmed now without the leading actor?”

His agent walked up to him and put the peeled fruit on the coffee table, “So, it was wise of me to reject that cannon fodder role, right? Even if we want to film a mainstream film, we have to find a big production and a big team. This kind of drama, even if you are paid tens of millions to make a guest appearance, there is no need. This drama has no hot topic, it just wants to suck your popularity and your blood.”

He Mu pursed his lips and said unhappily: “But for a real big production, the director must choose me. Last time I auditioned for a spy drama directed by Lin Yue, and it was even a small role. Director Lin nitpicked at my line skills and won’t choose me…. Even when our Dijun Media CEO Gao personally stepped in and said that I can practice the lines to be better, and if not there is still dubbing… Director Lin didn’t even give him face, saying that the other actors all use their original voices, and it is impossible to just let me do the dubbing alone… Lin Yue looks so amiable, but why is he so stubborn!”

The agent smiled and said: “Director Lin is a real big shot. The spy drama was still in the midst of casting but it was already slotted for C Channel even before the roles were selected. So he is under a lot of pressure and is also afraid that if he opens a back door for you, the news will spread. This is neither good for him, nor for you. There are so many big names in that drama, and you are acting with a group of acting masters. No matter how good your acting is, you will still be criticized by the anti-fans on the Internet. So bother to endure all of that? “

“But Gu Xiaowei can play the leading role in it? Didn’t he rely on his looks to get traffic when he first debuted? Why is he now known as a professional actor while I am always laughed at whenever my acting skills are mentioned.” He Mu said, upset.

“Gu Xiaowei… Although he made his debut based on his good looks, he is very independent and Xinghan Pictures can’t control him. Moreover, he has experienced many ups and downs. He has been an extra on a set, and ate three-yuan box lunches. You had it much smoother than him. As an agent, I have to admit that he has a unique vision in selecting scripts and has never acted in a bad drama. Although not every film he chooses may be a big production, it is guaranteed to be excellent. Also he can settle down and hone his acting skills, and he has accumulated a lot of good reputation. Xinghan Pictures seems not to be in a hurry to squeeze his worth either. You two are simply of different routes.”

He Mu showed a hint of worry, “I feel like a firework, no matter how brilliant it is, it only lasts for a moment. But people like Gu Xiaowei can flow slowly and stay fresh over time.”

Gu Xiaowei said that he won’t act in idol dramas, and he truly never acted in an idol drama.

He said he would not participate in variety shows, and he had never appeared in a variety show so far.

He said he would not accept any endorsements, and despite major luxury brands inundating Xinghan Pictures with calls, he had still not been seen on any promotional posters.

As his agent said just now, Gu Xiaowei was not in any hurry to make money, and he never buys hot searches and does marketing, but once one of his dramas starts airing or his movie appears in theaters, it would definitely be booked for a spot on the hot search.

The real top star should be like him. He didn’t care about fame, reputation or prosperity. He stood high and aloof, looking at the prosperity of the four seasons in the entertainment circle while above him the sky was filled with brilliant stars.

“His spy drama has been finished for two months. I wonder what his next drama will be about. Can you help me pay attention?” He Mu asked his agent.

“Of course, of course. He is taking a rest now. Isn’t there a rumor in the circle that the deeper he gets into a role, the harder it is for him to get out? He must be adjusting his condition. He probably won’t take on a new drama so soon. Don’t worry about participating in your variety show. I will keep an eye on all the news for you.”

The agent said in a coaxing tone.

In fact, over the past few years, the agent had already understood that Gu Xiaowei was He Mu’s white moonlight, and the kind who could only be seen from a distance but not get close.

He Mu wanted to cooperate with Gu Xiaowei many times, but the directors of the works chosen by Gu Xiaowei were very strict. Even if he finally arranged a role, he still couldn’t act opposite Gu Xiaowei.

And He Mu’s worries were never wrong.

He Mu was a consumable product, while Gu Xiaowei not only maintained his value but also had unlimited room for appreciation.

The crew of “Counterattack” truly had a thorny fate. After the incident involving the male protagonist Lin Qiao, the heroine Li Lanyun also received a better invitation from another script and terminated her contract with the crew of “Counterattack”.

Now that the male and female protagonists were gone, Director Wang was very anxious. He wanted to discuss it with Li Lanyun again, but just when he was planning to he fell down the stairs, injured his lumbar spine, and ended up in the hospital.

#Counterattacktheunluckiestcrew# had become a hot search topic.

This made Sister Cui so anxious that she almost cried.

“Luo Yu, I’m sorry for making you sign such an unlucky drama just for a minor role… The producers and investors in the circle are a bit superstitious. If they knew you were an actor in this unlucky drama…and won’t give you any roles in the future, what will we do?”

Luo Yu remained calm and continued to sweat on the treadmill.

After a few days of not eating junk food and paying attention to protein supplements as well as exercise, he felt that his body coordination and muscle strength were back, and his condition was much better.

“It’s okay, don’t think about it too much. Have a good sleep… I’m guessing I won’t be able to play the role of Bai Ying so easily. There may be an audition next week.”

“Audition? The crew is about to be disbanded, what else is there to audition for?”

Luo Yu closed his eyes and replayed the plot of “Counterattack” he had seen in his previous life in his mind. Although it was a long time ago, the leading actor’s performance was still unforgettable to him. It was just a pity that the actor who played Bai Ying at that time was far inferior to the leading actor in terms of aura and failed to match the other person’s acting.

“Someone else will take over.” Luo Yu smiled and reassured his agent, “Because this drama is scheduled for C Channel.”

“Then if the cast is changed, the crew will probably replace you.”

“En… although there are certain variables, I am fairly confident in myself.”

Sister Cui only thought that Luo Yu was trying to comfort her, and continued to contact other crews to see if there were any roles that suited him.

He Mu looked at today’s hot searches with satisfaction. Two makeup artists were doing the final touches on his makeup. The stylist took a few necklaces and held them up to his neck. The whole thing was like getting ready for a red carpet.

The agent came over and said, “My little ancestor, you are already good-looking enough, why are you putting on makeup again?”

He Mu patted his chest and said: “Tonight’s dinner party, I heard that Gu Xiaowei will also come. Of course I want to leave a good impression on him. Is my makeup too heavy? If it’s too heavy for a dinner party it will give people the impression of being too artificial, right?”

“It’s not heavy, not heavy. Believe me, your makeup is not heavy at all! This is the daily makeup of an artist. Let’s go to the banquet quickly. CEO Gao and other investors will also be there, don’t keep them waiting.”

“I’m still…” He Mu was not satisfied with the shadow on his side face. He always felt that he looked a little dirty.

“Think about Gu Xiaowei, he is never late!”

The agent’s words awakened He Mu, and he quickly tidied his hair before setting off.

Several makeup artists and stylists followed behind, ready to touch up He Mu’s makeup at any time.

This dinner was organized by Gao He from Dijun Media, and also invited Gu Xiaowei from Xinghan Pictures and the well-known director Lin Yue.

In addition, Jiang Yinchuan, the vice president of Honghe Film and Television, was also invited. It was said that Jiang Yinchuan had a wide range of channels and was very powerful, a new power player in Honghe Film and Television.

Gao He’s purpose was to talk about a big-budget movie, directed by Lin Yue, with Gu Xiaowei as the male lead, and Honghe Film and Television’s new best actress winner as the female lead, and then arrange an important supporting role for He Mu. With the help of this movie’ momentum He Mu would be able to ride the coattails and expand his market for movies and TV series.

Gao He and He Mu arrived first, while Gu Xiaowei went to pick up Director Lin. There was a bit of traffic on the road, but according to his character, he would not be later than the agreed time.

As for Jiang Yinchuan, he had already arrived at the underground parking lot.

Gao He instructed: “The most important thing for us this time is to leave a good impression on Director Lin and Gu Xiaowei. You and Gu Xiaowei both graduated from the same film school, so remember to use this connection.”

He Mu nodded: “I know. What about CEO Jiang? What should I pay attention to?”

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“You mean Jiang Yinchuan? Don’t worry, he is just a puppet. He listens to his brother Jiang Yunxie in everything. And he is the vice president, not the ‘CEO’. Aren’t you familiar with Jiang Yunxie? Several of your previous resources had been thanks to Jiang Yunxi pulling the strings for you. Didn’t Jiang Yunxie also agree to invest in this movie? Then Jiang Yinchuan won’t utter a word of…”

Halfway through Gao He’s words, a man wearing a leather jacket and boots came towards him. He had neat short hair and a smile on his face, “CEO Gao wants to say that——I, Jiang Yinchuan, won’t utter a word of bullshit?”

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Back home, Luo Yu put the food he bought in the refrigerator, opened the washing machine to take out and hang the clothes, and took out the portable ironer he bought.

Ironing his clothes was a habit he developed during the years when he was acting in stage plays. 

There was no assistant around, so he would iron and take care of his own clothes. Sometimes when the backstage was too busy he even had to do his own makeup. So Luo Yu was very confident in his ability to take care of himself.

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Before long, he had ironed several wrinkled shirts and trousers and hung them neatly in the closet.

There was also the “expensive” shirt. Luo Yu took a few photos of it with great satisfaction and posted it online.

Just after taking a shower, the shirt was already bought by someone.

Luo Yu smiled happily, “Tsk, tsk, let me take a closer look at what else I can sell.”

If Sister Cui were here, she would definitely stop him from doing this kind of status lowering thing. If antifans discovered it, they would definitely make a big deal about it, and there would be another embarrassing search result about Luo Yu.

But Luo Yu didn’t care. The clothes were outdated and he had nowhere to wear them. What was wrong with reselling them and letting them express their use elsewhere?

As long as he was not breaking the law, there was no meaning to the criticism and slander.

Luo Yu glanced at the address of the person who bought the shirt, and he didn’t expect it to be a high-end residential community. With his current savings, Luo Yu couldn’t even afford a toilet floor tile in that community.

“Look, rich people even buy used goods, so why should poor people care.” Luo Yu smiled.

The next morning, Luo Yu went to the gym to exercise.

He had applied for a gym card for a long time, but he hadn’t used it yet. Before, it was because Zhuque Media received too many messy and random jobs for him. Later, he was afraid of people pointing at him, “Look, isn’t this He Mu’s dupe?” Fortunately, he came today, otherwise this fitness card would have expired.

Today was Tuesday. There were not many people in the gym in the morning so Luo Yu tried out all the equipment at his leisure.

Probably because this body had been in a slump for too long, Luo Yu was more tired than usual.

As soon as he got off the treadmill, he received a call from Sister Cui.

“The contract for the role of Bai Ying in “Counterattack” has been secured for you! The director was so happy when he found out that you were willing to take this role. He smiled and said that you were the most good-looking in the entire crew, and the only well-known star.” Sister Cui massaged her forehead and said, “So the film salary is more generous than we thought.”

Luo Yu adjusted his breathing while cooling off, and said with a smile: “Soon, I will no longer be the most good-looking one in this crew. And in front of the top star, my traffic can only be calculated as a negative number.”

When Sister Cui heard this, she became nervous, “You’re not talking about He Mu, right? Over the years, Dijun Media has suppressed you openly and secretly, so that you can’t get any good roles, but they always give you breathing space before you truly reach the end of the road, leaving you with a bite to eat… I don’t even know what they are trying to do, are they playing cat and mouse?”

Luo Yu lowered his eyes and smiled mildly. In his previous life, he only realized after quitting the entertainment industry to act in stage plays, “Ou Juntao from Dijun Media… wanted me to bow my head, admit defeat, surrender, and admit to him that I was too naive at the time and failed to live up to his good intentions. Who told me to refuse his olive branch?”

“Then… since you have decided to start over and develop again, should we apologize to him?”

“What he wants is not an apology, but for me to bow my head and surrender like He Mu, doing whatever he asks of me.” Luo Yu said.

In his previous life, his first stage play as the leading actor was a hit and sold out instantly.

At that time Ou Juntao came to see his performance. When Luo Yu was taking off his makeup backstage, Ou Juntao came put a large bouquet of sunflowers on his dressing table.

He said, Luo Yu… with your ability, you could go to a bigger stage.

Luo Yu asked him, does Chairman Ou want me to be unable to act in even stage plays?

Ou Juntao asked, if you can’t act in stage plays any no longer, what will you do?

Luo Yu answered the other man indifferently, then I will become a teacher and teach acting to children who want to enter the film academy.

Among Luo Yu’s choices, surrendering to Ou Juntao was never an option.

At that moment, Ou Juntao’s eyes were filled with despair.

In the struggle of power between him and Luo Yu, he ended up losing.

“Luo Yu? Luo Yu, what are you thinking about?” Sister Cui’s voice brought Luo Yu back from the memory of his previous life.

“Although what I want to say is a bit conceited, He Mu is not really top-notch, and his current popularity is extremely overstretched.”

Sister Cui said: “You don’t call this conceited? That big head of yours is almost going to explode. He Mu can be seen on the hot search every two to three days, and there are a lot of people waiting to collect the tissue he has blown his nose on. Not to mention he has Ou Juntao’s support. “

Luo Yu asked back: “Is Sister Cui afraid?”

“Afraid of him? Ou Juntao can’t cover the sky with just one hand. After all, the entertainment industry consists of three pillars. In addition to his Dijun Media, aren’t there Xinghan Pictures and Honghe Film and Television?”

“As expected of my Sister Cui, she will not bend her waist to serve the powerful. We must be happy!”

Sister Cui returned to the previous topic, “Although this contract is signed now, the crew of “Counterattack” will still have to pay you even if they don’t use you. But if Dijun Media tries to get in the way again, I really can’t find another role for you at the moment.”

“Don’t worry, this drama will eventually have the strongest team and a real top star——so strong that Ou Juntao can’t reach his hand in.”

“Ah?”

Sister Cui didn’t understand. Even He Mu couldn’t compare? He is said to appear on the top trending search list ten times a month. And what did “the strongest team” mean? Where did Luo Yu get the news?

After hanging up the phone, Luo Yu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, raised his arms and intertwined his fingers, and stretched his waistline from left to right.

Opposite this office building was the LED screen of Xinghan Pictures. The screen was fixed on the male protagonist of a certain movie. His handsome and chiseled facial features were mysterious and elegant under the golden lighting. His eyes were as deep as the sea, the final destination is of starlight and sunset.

His aloof aura could always easily arouse the deep desire of the audience, dreaming that one day they could inspire his soul to burn and boil for them.

Pedestrians passing by, including late office workers, couldn’t help but stop and look up.

——That was Gu Xiaowei. He didn’t need a water army and didn’t care about pitting on images. Instead, marketing accounts flock to any news about him to rub off on his popularity.

He… was also Luo Yu’s biggest acting rival ten years later.

Good morning, Gu Xiaowei.

This time, maybe in less than ten years, we will be able to meet as opponents and be evenly matched.

A young man who was riding a bicycle not far away turned his face to wipe at his sweat. When he raised his eyes, he saw the silhouette of Luo Yu under the backlight.

There were no big muscles that posed a visual threat, but every line was slender, elegant and full of strength.

This was not a body figure that could be achieved by just exercising.

Luo Yu had studied martial arts for a long time, participated in some prefecture-level competitions, and even won some awards when he was young. Later, his family still wanted him to take the college entrance examination. Luo Yu’s grades were average, and there happened to be an art student studying painting living across from his house. His parents gave him an idea, why not go to film school.

During the interview at the film school, Luo Yu performed a martial arts act. His movements were smooth and flowing, and his unrestrained and decisive moves impressed the interviewing teacher at the time.

It was a pity that the company he signed with, Zhuque Media, was short-sighted, and a single school idol image suppressed Luo Yu’s real strengths.

When Luo Yu returned home from the gym, he read the script twice and put it aside.

He knew that this was the original version of the script. The character Bai Ying was a gentleman on the surface but one knew he was a villain as soon as he opened his mouth.

Very stereotypical, the character itself had no depth to explore.

He was waiting, waiting for the real Bai Ying to be polished and shaped by the best screenwriter.

In the evening, he found another accessory. When he first started out, he still had some spare money, so he followed other colleagues into a luxury store. He had a soft ear, and was convinced to buy it after being praised by the clerk and peers at the time who said it looked very classy on him and that it would never go out of style and so on, so he spent half of his savings to buy this necklace.

Luo Yu searched for a long time and finally found the certificate of this necklace in the crack at the back of the drawer.

“That’s great. The prices sold with certificates and without certificates are different.”

He really had to be grateful that it was a classic model. The price of the same model on the market had already increased by 30%. Getting his money back was not just a dream!

Luo Yu had just posted it online, but within half an hour of posting it was bought by someone.

“Ai, it seems I don’t have to worry about food in the next two months?”

Luo Yu clicked on the buyer and saw that the ID was still the same as the one who bought his shirt.

He left a message half-jokingly: [Mr. Bankroller, what else do you like? Why not buy it all at once to save money on express delivery?]

Unexpectedly, the other responded quickly: [What else do you have?]

Luo Yu scratched his forehead, wondering if this meant the other was going to accept everything?

Or was the other a fan of He Mu? They want to leave evidence that he sold second-hand luxury goods, so that they could go online to say that he was down-and-out, and laugh at him for being low?

But the reborn Luo Yu was thick-skinned. As long as the other gave money, he didn’t care how the other was going to slander him!

Luo Yu started to rummage through his thi and found a scarf. Winter was still several months away now. Luo Yu could wear a woolen scarf that cost 100 yuan. But he was worried about wearing a woolen scarf that costs several thousand yuan. If it gets hooked on something and a string gets pulled out, that would make him feel very distressed! It was better to sell it to get some much needed cash!

[Do you think this style of scarf is okay? But it’s a winter model, and it’s not the season yet.]

[Sure. Make your bid.]

Luo Yu remembered someone telling him that when selling second-hand goods, the price should be raised a little higher than his base price. The other party would definitely try to bargain, and then raise the price a little bit, so that the business could continue.

[Five thousand?]

[Sure. Any more?]

Luo Yu looked through his things again and found a pair of shoes with a very flashy style. They were very popular at the time, but he really didn’t have the courage to wear them.

[How about these shoes? It’s from the XX brand, but it’s not very suitable for everyday way.]

[How much?]

[Three thousand?]

Luo Yu didn’t know how much that pair of shoes cost, so he just mentioned a random price.

[Sure. Any more?]

[You still want to buy? Luo Yu felt something was weird, because the other party didn’t even ask him the size of the shoes.

[En.]

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

[Mr. Bankroller, I am very poor. If you buy so much and then return it to me, the shipping cost will be very bad. Crying face.jpg]

[Then I will buy these first to establish integrity.]

Luo Yu looked at the words “establish integrity” and burst out laughing.

Why was this person so cute?

This tone should not be an antifan. If it was an antifan, they would have shot back sarcastically.

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[This is really Luo Yu… but blogger, did you turn on the beauty function from him?]

[Yeah! Yeah! Blogger, did you retouch his pictures? How can Luo Yu be so good-looking!]

[Tsk! Have you betrayed gege? Otherwise, how could you take such god-like pictures of Luo Yu!]

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

……

Huang Yu choked, and for fear of being misunderstood by her sisters, she quickly clarified: “How could I retouch Luo Yu’s pictures! Look at this supermarket lighting! Look at the surrounding shelves, they are not distorted! Look at this pixel! This is the original photo!]

[? ? ?]

[That’s really funny. Why haven’t we seen your skills so well when taking photos of gege?]

[How much did you get paid for such god-like effects on Luo Yu’s photo?]

……

Huang Yu knew the fighting power of He Mu’s fans. If she allowed them to pick up on momentum and say that she had retouched photos for Luo Yu, she would be expelled from the fandom.

She took advantage of the fact that the view traffic was not very large yet, and quickly made these two Weibo posts visible to only herself.

Exhaling, she was left puzzled. She just took two photos of Luo Yu picking out yogurt from the freezer. How could she be accused of betraying He Mu and retouching photos for Luo Yu?

She got on the bus, and next to her was He Long, the roommate in her dormitory who had just helped her with taking the photos.

“Wow, Huang Yu… I never noticed before that Luo Yu is so hot?” He Long bumped her with her elbow.

“Huh? What did you say? Luo Yu is hot?” Huang Yu frowned, glanced at He Long’s cell phone, and then froze.

Just now, Huang Yu was still wondering whether she accidentally turned on the beauty function when taking pictures, but He Long did not install the beauty function software. What she captured was Luo Yu’s profile.

In the photo, the young man’s forehead, bridge of nose and chin form a smooth and chiseled profile line. Especially that strand of hair falling from the ear, which added a bit of charm that aroused an increased heart rate.

“That’s right, isn’t he hot? He looks very much like the elves in Lord of the Rings, right? This aesthetic is killer.”

He Long was different from Huang Yu. She was not obsessed with star-chasing. She followed anyone with good looks and good acting skills, and she never participated in fan wars.

“It doesn’t matter if he has good looks. Isn’t he still just following behind He Mu. Everyone says He Mu is the national school idol. Luo Yu also follows in playing the school idol image. Not only does he fail to do it better, he also specially focuses on snatching my gege‘s work. It’s just that now that he has become a flop, he went from grabbing other’s work to eating the leftovers.” Huang Yu repeated the words often spoken in the fan group.

He Long smiled awkwardly, probably because the photo on her phone was so captivating that she couldn’t help but say a few words for Luo Yu: “Actually… I think He Mu is the one buying popular search results on school idol gege this and that all day long. But look at Luo Yu, he played a college student going to the countryside in a period drama before, right? Looking dusty and old-fashioned… and has nothing to do with the school idol image. And as for the title of school idol, He Mu can call himself that, so why can’t Luo Yu do the same? Aren’t all the good-looking boys in schools called school idols? Are you going to go to major universities and issue notices not allowing them to select school idols?”

Huang Yu felt something push in her heart, but she immediately put on a straight face: “If we are sisters, then don’t say my idol is not good.”

“Okay, okay, let’s not talk anymore. Let’s go back to the dormitory quickly, there is still a pile of clothes to wash.” He Long said with a smile.

Huang Yu couldn’t help but quietly open again the two photos she had taken. Luo Yu was indeed very attractive, and he showed very well in photos. Just this confident and easy smile suddenly gave her a premonition——only a gust of east wind was needed and he would soar up to the skies.

At this time, Luo Yu was walking home carrying a plastic bag.

The night breeze at the age of twenty-six made one’s heart clear as a crystal, feeling that there were countless prospects ahead.

All the foolishness, hardships, and obstacles he had encountered before disappeared on this day.

Passing by the bus stop, Luo Yu saw an eye-catching advertisement——a cosmetics advertisement shot by He Mu.

Luo Yu looked into He Mu’s eyes and smiled.

In the advertisement, He Mu was holding several lip glosses in his hand, with three different colors on one cheek, winking at the people watching the advertisement.

Full of spirit, and very easy to inspire in people the impulse to buy.

The key was that He Mu’s appearance was somewhat similar to Luo Yu’s. If the audience was face-blind, they wouldn’t be able to tell them apart instantly.

During his junior year at the film academy, Luo Yu took on a role in a school drama, in which he played the role of a school idol in a white shirt and jeans. Although he was a male supporting actor, because Luo Yu was handsome and the character’s personality was likable, Luo Yu became a hit that year. His photos were printed on the outer packaging of milk tea and snacks, and he became a sensation for a while.

Numerous companies extended an olive branch to him, and the one with the most favorable conditions was Dijun Media, one of the three major entertainment companies. However, Luo Yu declined Dijun and joined Zhuque Media, a company founded by his senior, out of favor.

Luo Yu also paid a heavy price for this naivety and soft-heartedness. At that time, Zhuque Media was on the verge of bankruptcy. But by continuously sucking Luo Yu’s blood, turning the school idol character of that drama into a selling point, and finding him many endorsements and online drama roles of the same type.

Many of these online dramas were shoddy works, the scripts were old-fashioned and perfunctory, and none of them made even a splash.

At the same time new generations of idols emerged one after another. By the time Luo Yu graduated, almost no one remembered his famous debut work.

Zhuque Media was rescued from the brink of bankruptcy and made a lot of profits. It signed some new people and its resources were further dispersed.

At this time, the boss of Dijun Media took a fancy to He Mu, who was just a sophomore at the film academy. He was docile and knew how to please people, and his appearance was also gentle and fair. At first glance, his facial features were not recognizable enough, but when he was sent under the knife, he looked 60 to 70% similar to Luo Yu, the school idol who once won the hearts of thousands of fangirls.

As if to slap Luo Yu in the face, Dijun Media gave He Mu the best resources. He debuted in a school drama adapted from a well-known IP and written by a top screenwriter. His lines were carefully thought out, the heroine was pure and sweet, and their interactions were interesting and charming. Coupled with the overwhelming publicity funds, He Mu became an overnight sensation,becoming the only school idol in the hearts of thousands of girls.

The scene of him climbing over the wall to get close to the heroine and their feather light half-kiss became an unsurpassed classic in school dramas.

It was obvious that He Mu was modeled after Luo Yu, and it was also obvious that Luo Yu gained the title of school idol earlier than He Mu. However, under the crushing power of capital, the public’s memory was washed away by the explosive amount of publicity. They only remembered He Mu and completely forgot about the original Luo Yu.

Gradually, the roles that Luo Yu wanted would be intercepted by He Mu. Not only would his roles be intercepted, but He Mu would also post articles claiming that Luo Yu was always trying to steal his roles. But unfortunately, Luo Yu’s aura was not as good as that of He Mu, and completely failed.

After this happened too many times, Luo Yu became a shoddy fake imitation in the eyes of the public. He Mu’s water army took the opportunity to label him a “dupe”, so that Luo Yu’s once-famous school hero became a joke, completely reducing Luo Yu’s status.

Sister Cui asked Zhuque Media countless times to issue press releases and buy water army to support Luo Yu, but Zhuque Media saw that this was Dijun’s revenge and did not dare to challenge Dijun at all, for fear of being crushed by Dijun in all aspects, so they pretended to be deaf and dumb about Luo Yu’s matter.

For a long time, Luo Yu could not get roles in any film work, and all variety shows looked down on him. In addition, he lived under the pressure of online public opinion and cyber bullying all day long, so he became particularly concerned about being said to be copying He Mu’s image, He Mu’s dupe, picking up He Mu’s leftovers and so on.

He Mu was a huge overcast shadow to him, and he didn’t know how to escape from under it.

In his previous life, he had been depressed for a long time after his contract with Zhuque Media was terminated. At first, Sister Cui would help him and introduce him to roles, but whenever He Mu was mentioned, Luo Yu’s hair would explode like a cat with its tail stepped on. He would retract himself into his shell, not daring to face the pointing fingers of the entertainment world.

Later, Sister Cui finally gave up on Luo Yu. She also had to support her family, so she had no choice but to switch to Honghe Film and Television Company. Facts have proved that she was very capable, and she also managed to bring out two TV kings and one movie queen.

Luo Yu, who was unemployed, could not repay his loan, and his small apartment was repossessed.

Once people are forced into a desperate situation they would try to find a new way out even if they are bruised all over in order to survive.

Luo Yu’s college mentor felt pity on him and introduced him to acting in stage plays. At first he was very out of place and could only act minor characters, but later he concentrated on improving and spent more than seven years honing his acting skills, and finally became the leading actor of the drama troupe.

After that, he collaborated with some veteran actors and was introduced by them to play supporting roles in major tit TV dramas.

At that time, Luo Yu no longer felt uneasy, because five years had passed, and He Mu, who played up the school idol image, had long been replaced by other idols. Dijun Media had switched owners and had no time to target unknown actors like Luo Yu. The original anti-fans who attacked him had also long gone with the waves, but a new wave of audiences rose up to praise Luo Yu’s acting skills.

His expressions were natural, his lines were spoken clear and powerful, his eyes were full of drama and emotion, and he could play a stereotypical upright character in a way that made people admire him.

He was appearing in more and more films and was known as a true skilled actor. Wherever he went, people called him “Teacher Luo”.

But every time he saw those roles that belonged to energetic young men, Luo Yu always felt regretful.

He once also had the opportunity to portray these characters.

That year, Gu Xiaowei, a top actor who acted opposite him, said: “Luo Yu, it would have been great if you had not quit back then.”

“I’m sorry, my will is not as firm as yours.” Luo Yu replied.

“If someone criticizes your image, use your roles to override it. If you don’t have money for marketing and PR, then thank Dijun Media for giving you discussion topics and attention. Only you are the original, and other people’s comments are just annotations. Once you broaden your horizons, dirty water can also become a wedding dress.”

Luo Yu turned his face sideways and looked at the other person in surprise. At that moment, he suddenly realized that he had missed and lost a lot, just because he was trapped in the script written for him by Dijun Media and lost himself.

Yes, dirty water could also become a wedding dress.

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

With his thoughts returning to the present, Luo Yu squinted at the bright station advertisement in front of him.

He Mu, who once brought endless shadow to him, suddenly became insignificant.

After all, he was just a puppet of Dijun Media, and was not even as free as Luo Yu, a flop.

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