Li Linlin never imagined they could blow up one promotional photo this way, like level 10 scholars when it comes to rainbow farts^[1]flattery; kissing one’s ass and praising senior employees of the company.

However, things didn’t stop there. As the ranking of the hot search got higher and higher, a post titled 【How to Evaluate Li Linlin’s Role as Ou Jiaxu?】 appeared on a certain website.

【Thanks for asking. As an industry insider, I can only say that Li Linlin is indeed a bright student at Imperial University, her vision is much higher than other actors and actresses.

If she takes on the female protagonist Zhou Rongrong this time, she will trap herself. This role may bring her momentary benefits, but it will also become a hindrance for her to take on other roles in the future—— because only when a pure and beautiful girl is needed will directors remember her. It will be hard for production teams to trust her with realistic, life-oriented and serious themes.

If Huanyu’s adaptation maintained their usual level and Li Linlin’s acting wasn’t awful, then this will be a decision that will benefit her for life.】

Li Linlin: “?”

What? What? What were they talking about? She simply wanted to kill her career, how could it be such a meaningful move?

“Wu Hui’er, do we have a water army in our studio?” Li Linlin turned to look at Wu Hui.

Wu Hui said blankly, “Do we still need to get a water army now? I think the netizens are blowing it off quite well?”

“……They’re doing it too well that it seems too fake! How about we hire a water army to defame me?”

Wu Hui: “……”

Li Linlin’s brain was really Schrödinger’s brain^[2]from the thought experiment ‘Schrödinger’s cat’, that was, sometimes it felt like she has it, and sometimes if felt like she didn’t. 🙂

Li Linlin’s eyebrows were knitted together in worry over the hot search. While Lin Zhen, the actress playing Zhou Rongrong, was furious.

“Is there something wrong with netizens? They’re giving Li Linlin praise for playing Ou Jiaxu?” In the dressing room, Lin Zhen leaned on the chair while letting the stylist do her hair as she scrolled through Weibo. “Isn’t this because her studio is trash that she can only play that role?”

“But Wang Xin has changed the script. Maybe this character will actually turn from a waste into a treasure?” Lin Zhen’s manager was sitting on the sofa, also looking at her phone.

When Lin Zhen heard what she said, she sneered. “No matter how powerful Wang Xin is, she can’t write the character into a good person, can she? I’ve read this novel, and the things Ou Jiaxu did are enough to sentence her to life imprisonment.”

The manager said, “Wang Xin is capable, but it also depends on how well Li Linlin can perform the role.”

“Heh, isn’t she always bragging that she’s a student at Imperial University? She has never studied acting professionally so what kind of performance can she give? I have at least undergone professional training.” When Lin Zhen received the news about the casting preparations for 《Fatal Heartbeat》, she wanted to win the role of Zhou Rongrong. At that time, Li Linlin was a very strong opponent of hers, but later, for some unknown reason, Li Linlin actually took on Ou Jiaxu.

Without Li Linlin, Lin Zhen got the role very smoothly. She hadn’t been happy for long when today’s official announcement had been robbed by Li Linlin. Those who didn’t know might think Li Linlin’s the female lead!

She curled her lips, logged into a certain account, and replied to the thread 【How to Evaluate Li Linlin’s Role as Ou Jiaxu?】

【How can a bunch of people whose three views^[3]one’s world view, values of worth and philosophy in life are based on facial features brag? Isn’t it just because Li Linlin’s promotional photo looks good? It’s really hard for you guys to think of so many sophisticated reasons. The drama hasn’t even started filming yet. Don’t wait until you get slap in the face later.】

After sending this reply, she logged in using her assistant’s account and responded to herself below.

【That’s right. I was dumbfounded seeing the hype online. Can all the disgusting things Ou Jiaxu did be written off just because she’s good-looking? Don’t those who like Li Linlin have three views?】

After posting several roasts, Lin Zhen’s heart finally felt more comfortable.

———

On the other side, Li Linlin suddenly noticed someone scolding her! Although she didn’t know who they were, as long as they could stand up and help scold her at this time, they’re a living Bodhisattva!

Wu Hui saw her staring at her phone excitedly, so she leaned over and took a look. “What is it? Did another big V praise you again?”

“No, there are finally voices of criticism!”

Wu Hui: “……”

Was this another one of Li Linlin’s careful consideration?

Was Wu Hui not standing tall enough as a manager?

Li Linlin thought things wouldn’t be too bad if someone criticized her, but on the last day of the year, life still gave her a surprise.

Chen Yiran and Lu Siyu were on the hot search again.

This time the two of them weren’t participating in any event, but Lu Siyu was followed by a paparazzi, and she was photographed meeting with Chen Yiran in private. Although there were no intimate actions between the two in the photos and videos, the paparazzi still used the sensational headline 【Lu Siyu’s Private Meeting with Chen Yiran】 and firmly stated in the report that the two were dating.

Li Linlin looked at the photos of Chen Yiran and Lu Siyu on her phone and threw it on the bed in a huff.

Chen Yiran was usually busy with work, so Chen Xi rarely saw him and Li Linlin hadn’t seen him for a while. Unexpectedly, Movie Queen Lu had the advantage after hanging around Brother Yiran every day.

———

“President Chen, you and Lu Siyu have made headlines again.” Fu Angsi sat across from Chen Yiran with his mobile phone and enthusiastically told him, “I think this Movie Queen Lu is interested in you. Before, whenever she got linked with someone, she will immediately come out to refute the rumor right away. I’ve been following your hot search for a long time but I haven’t seen any movement from her.”

Chen Yiran furrowed his brows lightly with a hint of impatience in his eyes. “I went out yesterday to have dinner with the director. Isn’t Lu Siyu’s movie on preparation?”

Lu Siyu was now the signboard of Shengteng Entertainment, and signing her over with great enthusiasm was also for Shengteng’s future arrangement. Fu Angsi curled the corner of his mouth and looked at Chen Yiran with a smirk on his face. “It’s not easy for President Chen, now you have to sacrifice yourself for business.”

According to Chen Yiran’s temper, it wouldn’t take much effort to deal with such things, however, they had made great efforts to sign Lu Siyu, and it would do no good to Shengteng to have a conflict with her.

“Find someone to remove the hot search.” Chen Yiran closed his eyes and pressed his temples.

Fu Angsi said, “Come on, don’t you think this kind of hype is more popular? Just go along with it for the sake of the company.”

Chen Yiran opened his eyes and glanced at him. “I think you seem to be very happy. Why don’t the company let you do it?”

Fu Angsi spread out his hands. “I would like to, but Movie Queen Lu doesn’t like me.”

Chen Yiran closed his eyes again and leaned back on the chair to rest. “Remove the hot search. Shengteng don’t need hype like this.”

Fu Angsi reminded him, “It’s easy to remove the hot search, but aren’t you afraid of hitting Movie Queen Lu’s face like this?”

Although those paparazzi weren’t hired by Lu Siyu, she never came forward to clarify, wasn’t it because she wanted to acquiesce in this matter? Fu Angsi chuckled to himself. He had known Chen Yiran for ten years, during which time countless women fell in love with Chen Yiran, but who got what they wanted?

After a moment of silence, Chen Yiran told Fu Angsi, “Lu Siyu isn’t the only person in the film industry. If she must be like this, then we can find someone else.”

Lu Siyu was a smart person and he believed that she knew what to do.

Fu Angsi instructed someone to handle the matter, then he looked at Chen Yiran with interest. “President Chen, are you afraid that your little sister will misunderstand, that’s why you’re doing this?”

“Do you think Xixi will be interested in this kind of thing?”

“No, no, no.” Fu Angsi smiled mischievously. “I’m talking about your family’s Little Sister Linlin.”

Chen Yiran opened his eyes and stared at him without saying a word.

Fu Angsi suddenly felt a chill running down his back. He took a sip of hot tea but didn’t manage to suppress it. He coughed lightly, stood up and said to Chen Yiran, “I have to meet a client soon, so I’ll be leaving first.”

Fu Angsi fled from Chen Yiran’s office.

When he went out, he happened to meet Chen Yiran’s assistant, Xiao Wu.

“Xiao Wu, I advise you not to go in now. It’s dangerous.”

Xiao Wu was holding a stack of new real estate information in his hand, a faint drop of cold sweat dripped from his forehead. “Mr. Fu, did you make President Chen angry again?”

“How dare I provoke him? It’s because he’s petty.” Fu Angsi glanced at the documents in Assistant Wu’s hand. “Hey, President Chen wants to buy a house again?”

Assistant Wu said, “I’m just helping President Chen sort out information on new properties regularly. He’ll take a look and buy something if he likes it.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Fu Angsi shook his head. “Buying so many houses without even living in them, do you think President Chen had some kind of psychological trauma when he’s a child? Is he trying to cope by buying houses?”

“This……  Mr. Fu, you’d better stop talking nonsense, otherwise President Chen will send you on a business trip again.”

“……” Fu Angsi instantly recalled a not so pleasant experience. “Don’t repeat my words in front of President Chen. Keep it confidential.”

“Got it, Mr. Fu.” Fu Angsi was saying such things like he got ten guts but he didn’t dare say it in front of President Chen. “Then I’m going in.”

When Assistant Wu walked into Chen Yiran’s office, Chen Yiran was frowning slightly, as if he was thinking about some problem. Assistant Wu walked up and carefully inquired, “President Chen, what’s wrong? Is there any problem?”

Chen Yiran glanced at him, smoothed out his brows, and shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

Assistant Wu responded, then told him, “These are the new real estate information in recent months. I have compiled some of them.”

Assistant Wu had been following Chen Yiran for several years and had a good understanding of Chen Yiran’s taste in buying houses. He would help screen them first, leaving some of the best sorted out for him.

“En, put it on the desk.”

“Yes.” Assistant Wu left after placing the documents. After the office door closed, Chen Yiran stared at the desk in a trance.

His mobile phone suddenly vibrated and he came back to his senses. Looking down at the screen, he saw that it was Chen Xi calling.

“Xixi.” He answered the phone and loosened his necktie. “What’s the matter?”

Chen Xi said, “Tonight is new year’s eve. Mom is asking if you’re free to come home for dinner?”

Chen Yiran looked at the time on his watch and nodded. “Yes.”

“That’s great. Uncle Li and Aunt Yu haven’t come back yet. Linlin is also at home alone today, so I called her too.”