Chapter 41

[…Even when he caught a cold, he persisted in filming until the work was done before going to the hospital. I really admire Ning Yunfan’s resilience. With such dedicated celebrities, the entertainment industry can thrive, don’t you think?]

I don’t think so.

Yan Zhao logged out of Weibo, placed his phone on the bedside table, and rolled over to go to sleep.

He thought Ning Yunfan had a serious illness, but it seemed it was just his old ailment of “no hype, no survival” acting up again. Even those stupid push notifications were bought. And even the Clouds felt annoyed when they saw it.

Of course, this is an exaggeration. Ning Yunfan is Cloud’s little treasure. They wouldn’t curse their own idol. But bystanders are different. A 1000-word press release, with 900 words about Ning Yunfan’s resume, and the remaining 100 words for the title. It’s like getting marked off-topic in a college entrance essay, isn’t it?

Weibo is the backstage of celebrities, and hot searches are manipulated. Most people know this well and just mock it quietly. But this time, the buzz didn’t die down as quietly as usual. The next morning, Ning Yunfan had already been pinned to the wall by several marketing accounts. This incident has sparked criticism against the current extravagant trend in the entertainment industry.

Where did this come from again?

Yan Zhao, munching on toast smeared with orange jam, asked, “Did YuYe Group go bankrupt?”

Shen Yuanting sipped black coffee and replied, “They’re still hanging on for now.”

It’s strange. Even though Ning Yunfan was scolded by marketing accounts, there’s been no response from Han Yuxuan’s side. This doesn’t fit the identity of the main gong. They couldn’t possibly break up. The money Ning Yunfan brought into the crew is not something he could afford on his own.

Yan Zhao pondered for a moment and called Song Jing, “Sis, did you buy that push notification for Ning Yunfan last night?”

Song Jing’s tone was cold, with a hint of anger, “No, I didn’t. I don’t know who did.” As soon as the push notification came out, she called Ning Yunfan, who insisted it wasn’t purchased by him, but Song Jing didn’t fully believe him.

Somewhere along the line, Ning Yunfan became very “opinionated.” He would often resist the tasks arranged by Song Jing and instead throw himself into resources that he couldn’t quite grasp yet, but with the support of certain people, he managed to climb up successfully.

Song Jing also didn’t understand why the scripts he picked always turned out well, which variety show would explode, which TV drama would win acclaim, and even in interviews where reporters maliciously dug into him, he always managed to counterattack with his excellent eloquence. But from Song Jing’s understanding of Ning Yunfan, he wasn’t the kind of person with a lotus tongue^[1]舌綻蓮花(shé zhàn lián huā ) = Lotus Tongue, it’s an idiom to describes someone who is eloquent, good at speaking, and as beautiful as a lotus flower. —

The old Ning Yunfan used to be clumsy with words, not good at expressing himself, always falling into the traps set by others, enduring hardships without saying a word, but when praised by fans, he could be happy for days. But now everything has changed; he seems unable to endure even the slightest hardship, and he also shows an obsessive desire for data and popularity.

In Black Fan’s words, he’s gone crazy with the desire to become famous.

Recently, a colleague with a good relationship told her that Ning Yunfan was in contact with other entertainment companies. Song Jing estimated that once his contract with Xingren expired, he would go solo.

Last night’s push might have been his next move.

Song Jing: “I’ll handle this matter. Focus on your filming.” She hesitated for a moment, then advised Yan Zhao, “Since you and Ning Yunfan are in the same crew, it’s unavoidable during shoots. But in regular times, try to minimize personal contact with him.”

Yan Zhao: “I understand.”

Yan Zhao didn’t avoid Ning Yunfan, but surprisingly, Ning Yunfan didn’t show up on set. He took a short leave, claiming to feel unwell, asking the crew not to wait for him and proceed with filming.

Yan Zhao approached Yu Youyi for information, but she only shook her head.

Yan Zhao didn’t believe that Ning Yunfan was shutting himself off due to online rumors. He had a hunch that something big was brewing with Ning Yunfan.

Not long after, thanks to a crew member breaking confidentiality, news of Ning Yunfan’s leave spread online. Marketing accounts initially mocked him for making a fuss over a trivial matter, but it evolved into accusations of him being arrogant and delaying the production.

Suddenly, it seemed like all the haters in the whole world were against Ning Yunfan. His Weibo was flooded with negativity, and extreme netizens even edited photos to criticize him. Criticizing Ning Yunfan became a seemingly righteous act. Every Cloud was exhausted and worn out, having exhausted all their energy on the path of fighting back against the haters.

After waiting for a few days, just as the situation was calming down, Ning Yunfan finally spoke up.

[After careful consideration, I have decided to leave the crew.] This explosive statement was just the beginning, as he continued with a lengthy explanation.

Ning Yunfan first expressed his mutual admiration with Director Yu, engaging in a pleasant conversation. He then gave an analysis of the male lead character, expressing his fondness for the role: [It’s my honor to have secured this role. To portray him well, I spent a lot of time writing a backstory for him. In my heart, he and I have already become friends. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to portray him.]

[My long-time fans should know that due to poor family conditions and childhood malnutrition, my health has always been fragile. Despite efforts to improve in recent years, I still occasionally suffer from minor illnesses.]

[These past few days, while filming winter scenes in thirty-degree heat, I wore a down jacket all day, and at night, the temperature dropped due to rain. I caught a cold inadvertently. I did visit a doctor and got medication.]

[Now, some might ask, if you’re taking medicine, why did you still fall ill? It’s because I didn’t actually fall ill that day; I had a mild allergic reaction. That day, while filming, the crew bought me late-night snacks, and the bento box contained black pepper, which I didn’t notice until later. When I did, I rushed to the hospital.]

[As for why my account contradicts the articles being circulated, it’s simple. I didn’t intend to disclose my illness because that reporter entered the ward without permission. Even after I declined the interview, he threw a tantrum and threatened to expose me for being arrogant. I had no choice but to lie and say it was just a cold. The hospital nurses witnessed the whole scene; you can go ask them.]

[No matter how much you dislike me, please know that the crew had nothing to do with this incident. It wasn’t their idea to stir up controversy. I hope everyone can refrain from implicating innocent people.]

[My health has deteriorated further, and the doctor advised me to rest for a while. Since this matter has escalated, I feel ashamed to continue working with the crew, so I’ve decided to leave.]

[I want to thank Director Yu for nurturing me during these days, and I apologize to Yan Zhao. The incident where I took the makeup artist’s spot wasn’t intentional. I was genuinely exhausted and wanted to rest early. However, Yan Zhao is the male lead and should have priority for touch-ups. I’ll remember his advice and work hard to improve my acting skills, so I won’t cause trouble for the crew by filming until the early hours every day.]

Ning Yunfan expressed his apologies for disrupting the progress of the film crew, assuring that the investment would not be withdrawn. He hopes the drama “Tian Yuan” will be a great success, not in vain for the bond with everyone.

…

After Ning Yunfan’s lengthy statement, Clouds were deeply moved.

Their beloved idol endured extreme filming conditions, wearing a down jacket in high temperatures and experiencing an allergic reaction from late-night snacks…. It’s an allergy, with mild symptoms like swelling and severe ones risking his life. How can he calmly describe this incident?

He originally intended to silently endure everything, but he was exposed by paparazzi. Not only did he not receive any comfort, but he was also scolded by netizens for so long, carrying the blame for so long, being maliciously insulted. How did he get through it all?

After leaving the group, he still didn’t withdraw his investment. What does this mean? It’s like making a wedding dress for others. Their Yunfan’s heart is too soft, like an angel with wings!

As soon as this article was published, it caused a huge stir online. Marketing accounts apologized one after another, saying their words were inappropriate and not well-considered, causing great harm to Ning Yunfan, and then turning around to urge everyone not to engage in online violence to avoid causing greater tragedy.

Ning Yunfan’s online reputation suddenly reversed. He seemed to have become the representative of a dedicated actor, while in that article, less than a hundred words were mentioned about Yan Zhao, and he was scolded all over by the overzealous fans.

The male lead can get ready first? My Yunfan is exhausted like this, do you have any conscience?!

They even urge our beloved idol to hone his acting skills. How dare you, who acts in low-budget lousy dramas every day, say such things? Take a look at yourself in the mirror!

The comments section and private messages are filled with heated arguments. Yan Zhao glanced at them briefly and then turned off the notifications, unaffected.

Zhong Ling, on the other hand, was not as composed; her face flushed with anger. “I knew they would use the makeup incident to stir up trouble. How shameless can he be? He’s always distorting the truth!”

Yan Zhao replied, “He’s the underdog here. People tend to be more forgiving towards the underprivileged. Without evidence on our side, confronting him verbally now might play into his hands.”

Zhong Ling stomped her foot. “Just because he’s weak, he’s right?”

Yu Youyi sighed, “He’s really playing his cards well. He delayed our production for a month and now wants his mark on the movie. Even if he leaves the project, when the movie is released, people will say, ‘This is the movie invested by Ning Yunfan.’ It’s frustrating just to think about it…”

Yan Zhao asked, “Have we found a replacement for the second male lead?”

Yu Youyi replied, “A few actors are available, but… Cloud’s influence is too strong, so they’re hesitant to take on the role.”

Yan Zhao said, “Let’s keep looking. If we can’t find anyone, we’ll have to revise the script.”

Yu Youyi lowered her head sadly, “What a mess, all because of his allergy…”

Under the influence of Ning Yunfan, the atmosphere within the crew became dull and lifeless. Seeing everyone’s mood wasn’t good, Yu Youyi decided to let them leave work early.

As Yan Zhao stepped out of the studio, a girl stood outside, holding a piece of paper rolled into a cylinder.

The girl rushed over, and Xiao Dou quickly stepped forward, ready for a confrontation. The girl, unfazed, tossed the paper into Xiao Dou’s arms and ran off.

Yan Zhao asked, “What did she give you? Open it and see.”

Zhong Ling nervously said, “Brother Yan, maybe you shouldn’t look first. It might be some weird drawing… Let Xiao Dou look at it first!”

Xiao Dou: “???”

Xiao Dou removed the rubber band from the paper tube and unfolded the drawing, then handed it to Yan Zhao with a smile. “Brother, take a look.”

In the drawing, there was a cartoon version of Yan Zhao wearing a crown, cape, and a proud expression. Moreover, it was drawn using CAD software.

Yan Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. “Why did she run away?”

Engineering student Salt Soda commented : If I could just gaze at Zhao Zhao for one more second, I’d be blissfully fainting!

Yan Zhao took the drawing home. There were dishes on the table, freshly made, confirming that they were prepared by the chef at home.

He picked up Wang Zai and called Shen Yuanting, “Are you working overtime today?”

Shen Yuanting replied, “I’ll be back soon.”

Yan Zhao said, “Hmm, I miss you so much, I want to see you.”

Shen Yuanting smiled, “I miss you too, wait for me patiently.”

Secretary Li waited on the side, observing carefully, knowing that the boss only had such a gentle tone when talking to the person at home.

After hanging up the phone, Shen Yuanting tapped on the table, and the computer screen displayed a photo of a middle-aged man. If Ning Yunfan were here, he would recognize it as an up-to-date photo of the unscrupulous paparazzo from his script.

The boss’s icy voice came through, “What do you suggest I do with them?”

Secretary Li cautiously replied, “Whatever Chairman Shen wants is acceptable.”

…

Yan Zhao didn’t eat first but waited for Shen Yuanting to come back and eat together.

Shen Yuanting said, “The food’s cold.”

Yan Zhao picked up the plate to reheat the dishes in the kitchen, and complained  “You said you’d be back soon.”

Shen Yuanting hugged him from behind, and rested his chin on Yan Zhao’s shoulder, “It’s my fault, you can punish me.”

Yan Zhao: “I’m punishing you to eat two more pieces of green pepper.”

Shen Yuanting responded with an “Hmm,” and then he took Yan Zhao’s earlobe into his mouth, and bit it gently.

The warmth spread along his ear, and Shen Yuanting’s hand on Yan Zhao’s waist was still a bit unruly. Yan Zhao pushed him away, saying, “I’m not a green pepper!”

Shen Yuanting replied, “I like green peppers, and I like you.”

Yan Zhao retorted, “You can’t equate me to a green pepper!”

Halfway through cooking, the stove turned off.

Shen Yuanting pinned Yan Zhao on the sofa, kissing and teasing him, making Yan Zhao completely flustered. As the kissing continued, their focus shifted downward.

“Yuanting… you don’t have to do this…”

“Did I scratch you?”

“No, it’s just…”

While the two were occupied, a new post suddenly appeared on the online Lutou Forum^[2]鹿頭論壇(lùtóu lùntán) = Deer Head Forum, I think Deer Head is the name of that forum, so I use the name Lutou. Because I feel Deer Head is a bit weird. (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠).: [Helping clients to play the bad guy, I ended up getting fired by the company…]