After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH28

Chapter 28

That night, gossip-loving netizens once again saw a familiar police bulletin lighting up their screens.

Compared to Yan Luoyuan’s scandal, this one might have been less sensational, but it provided much juicier details.

Key terms: #agent #Zhu #Organized prostitution—the combination of these words immediately reminded them of a certain gossip lord’s Weibo account…

Netizen: [If I remember correctly, Yan Luoyuan’s agent’s last name is Zhu, right? Damn! Weren’t his fans just claiming he was tricked into that silver party, that he hadn’t done anything? They were even accusing Gossip System #10086 of lying. Well, the evidence is right here—I’d like to see what they have to say now.]

Netizen: [I guess some things are just bound to come to light sooner or later. At least the fans got the proof they wanted. I wonder if they’ll come up with new excuses now!]

Netizen: [Oh, Zhu Xin’s wasted as a manager—he’s clearly passionate about pimping! He should’ve been born in ancient times; he’d make an excellent bawd.]

Netizen: [Wait, who’s this ‘Ning’ guy? Was he Yan’s patron? And twins? This guy doesn’t hold back…]

Netizen: [‘Ning’ isn’t a common surname. I did some digging and it looks like the head of Xingmao Media has that surname.]

Netizen: [Xingmao Media? Wasn’t that the same company behind that StarCat trainee who was groveling to the xx brand? From top to bottom, they’re all trash…]

Netizen: [Oh no, some of my favorite actors are signed with them! Please, no…]

*

Ning Wenzhuo stared in shock at the trending posts on Weibo, then glanced at the messages from “Helpful Hand,” feeling a little dizzy.

“Helpful Hand” had messaged him out of the blue a week ago, claiming they could help him take down Ning Tianyou.

At first, Wenzhuo didn’t believe him.

Given his traumatic past, trusting others didn’t come easily, especially when it came to a mysterious stranger with hidden motives.

And the idea of toppling Ning Tianyou? That sounded like a fairy tale. Not only did he have no clue about this person’s real intentions, but Ning had spent years building up connections in the entertainment industry. Bringing him down was impossible.

Yet, for reasons he couldn’t explain, Wenzhuo hadn’t blocked him. Instead, they’d begun chatting occasionally.

Over time, he sensed that the person behind the account seemed to be around his own age, with a blunt and candid personality, often throwing in internet memes.

It intrigued Wenzhuo, and he began to look forward to their chats. Talking with “Helpful Hand” felt like carving out a bit of peace and comfort in his stifling life, giving him a rare moment to breathe.

Sometimes, Wenzhuo felt like he was eight years old again.

Until he turned eight, Wenzhuo had led a happy life—loving parents, a privileged home, and carefree days.

But at eight, his world shattered when his parents died in a car crash.

The once-kind uncle who had treated him warmly transformed overnight, seizing his parents’ company and driving out all those family friends he’d grown up with.

Then, he sent Wenzhuo abroad.

The years that followed forced Wenzhuo to grow up fast, narrowly escaping harm several times. And behind each incident, he eventually found his uncle’s fingerprints.

Wenzhuo’s suspicions that his parents’ death wasn’t an accident only grew stronger.

But he’d learned the hard way to keep those thoughts to himself. Once, he’d confided in someone he thought he could trust, only to have them run straight to Ning Tianyou. From that day on, Wenzhuo kept his secrets locked away, never trusting anyone again.

To stay safe, he feigned mediocrity, playing the part of a spoiled heir to mislead Ning. Behind the scenes, he worked tirelessly, honing his skills and preparing for the future.

On the surface, he had plenty of “friends” and went along with the pretense of a carefree socialite, yet he’d never allowed himself to grow close to anyone.

Until “Helpful Hand” came along.

Even as a mere online acquaintance, this person gave him a strange sense of comfort.

So, when he sensed that “Helpful Hand” might be giving up on him, a wave of panic had hit him.

Before he knew it, he’d already bought a ticket back to China.

At that moment, Wenzhuo thought he was losing his mind.

But if that was the case, so be it.

He’d spent years hiding in the shadows like a rat, and he was sick of it.

Lying low was supposed to lead to a moment of decisive action. If he kept backing down, that would only be a weakness.

He was 23 years old now, and he’d have to face it all sooner or later.

Perhaps this was the catalyst he’d been waiting for.

By then, Wenzhuo was fully prepared to burn his bridges.

But right as he reached that resolve, he got a phone call.

It was from Shao Peng, one of his father’s former confidants who’d remained at Xingmao Media, keeping an eye on Ning Tianyou. Over the years, Shao Peng had been Wenzhuo’s most reliable source of support from within the company.

Excitement filled Shao Peng’s voice as he said, “Xiao Zhuo! I just got word—Ning Tianyou was arrested tonight for soliciting! And somehow, the news is all over the internet. The company is in chaos. This is the perfect time for you to come back!”

Wenzhuo froze.

He quickly opened Weibo and, seeing the trending headlines, stood there in stunned silence.

So, Helpful Hand had been telling the truth!

He wasn’t just messing with him, nor was he someone sent by Ning Tianyou to toy with him.

He really had come to help.

Looking back, it all made sense—his status at Ning Tianyou’s side was insignificant. Ning had no reason to spend that much effort keeping tabs on him.

From the start, Helpful Hand had approached him with sincere intentions.

Deep down, Wenzhuo had sensed that sincerity all along. But he’d been too fearful to believe it.

Yet, Helpful Hand had never given up on him.

Wenzhuo felt his chest tighten, his eyes stinging with emotion.

He’d been too afraid, too weak, nearly squandering this rare chance.

His heart surged with a whirlpool of emotions.

After a long pause, he finally pulled himself together and messaged Helpful Hand: “Thank you. I’ve made up my mind. I’m coming back to China.”

The weight pressing down on his heart seemed to lift the moment he sent the message.

That single step hadn’t been as difficult as he’d thought.

But if not for Helpful Hand, he might have wavered for far longer.

Wenzhuo didn’t know who this person was, nor what their ultimate motives might be. But right now, they felt like a gift from heaven—a lifeline in his otherwise bleak life.

He raised his head again, and for the first time in years, his gaze held a newfound clarity and resolve.

*

Gu Xingshi felt his phone vibrate.

He opened it to find a message from Ning Wenzhuo.

Since sending his last hint, he hadn’t received any response from Wenzhuo and had assumed the man had backed down.

But to his surprise, Wenzhuo had already made his decision to return to China.

Looking at the ticket information Wenzhuo had sent, Gu Xingshi realized that he’d bought the ticket even before Ning Tianyou’s arrest.

Gu Xingshi’s heart softened suddenly.

Especially when he saw Ning Wenzhuo carefully send a message: [You’re not mad, are you?]

It was as if he were feeding a highly cautious little cat, always watching him from a careful distance.

Just as he thought the cat was about to turn away in disappointment, it rushed over, looking all aggrieved and cute, meowing pitifully.

Gu Xingshi shook his head, tossing out that ridiculous metaphor.

He asked: [Any plans after you come back to the country?]

On the other end, it showed “typing…” for a while.

Gu Xingshi realized he might have crossed a line, and he was about to retract the message when Ning Wenzhuo’s response came in, outlining his plans.

Though he didn’t understand the specifics of the business proposals, Gu Xingshi noticed a few potential pitfalls, ones he’d heard about during some office gossip, so he casually mentioned them to Ning.

Ning Wenzhuo’s face grew serious.

After all that had happened, he no longer doubted Gu Xingshi; he was just a bit stunned.

While these issues weren’t exactly top secret, no one outside the circle could have known.

But Gu Xingshi not only knew them, he knew them well.

This indicated that his standing in the industry was definitely not low.

The key was that Gu Xingshi didn’t brag or lecture; he mentioned these points lightly, even making it sound like idle gossip.

Clearly, the two of them should be about the same age, yet Gu Xingshi had such a calm, seasoned presence and handled things with such ease.

Ning Wenzhuo admired and respected him all the more.

He pondered his words, hoping to continue the conversation a bit more.

But Gu Xingshi said: [Let’s leave it there—I have something to attend to.]

Ning Wenzhuo started to feel a little ashamed.

He must be a busy man, handling countless things daily. How could Ning Wenzhuo bother him with his small matters?

So he quickly deleted the message he had typed and replied formally: “Sure, go ahead.”

What Ning Wenzhuo didn’t know was that at this moment, the ‘big shot’ he looked up to put down his phone, opened his takeout box reverently, and stared happily at the golden, crispy fried chicken before him, tears of joy glistening at the corners of his mouth.

*

Wen Yue sat in his office, his expression grim as he asked the person in charge in front of him, “How’s the situation with the spokesperson?”

The person wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly reported, “After Yan Luoyuan’s incident, we immediately terminated the contract. The legal department has already filed a lawsuit, and since the advertisement hadn’t launched, the impact isn’t too significant. We’ve come up with several new campaign ideas, which we’ll announce at the press conference to fully mitigate any issues…”

Wen Yue’s expression remained indifferent; he neither nodded nor frowned.

The person in charge became increasingly nervous as he spoke.

Then Wen Yue asked, “Did you re-screen the remaining endorsers? How are they looking?”

“Yes, yes!” The person quickly handed over a file.

Wen Yue began to read through it.

The room went silent, the only sound being the soft rustle of pages turning.

The person in charge felt increasingly uneasy.

Wen Yue was known for focusing on big-picture direction while leaving specifics to his subordinates. This endorsement for a youth line would usually be entirely handled by his team unless it was a major issue, like Yan Luoyuan’s recent scandal.

That scandal had put Wen Yue on alert, and now he was personally overseeing the matter.

Feeling cornered, the person in charge lamented his decision to do a favor for Liang Wenjun by selecting two trainees as endorsers.

Had it not been for Yan Luoyuan’s scandal, the two trainees’ relatively unknown status might have slipped by. But now, Wen Yue was already displeased and asking about it himself.

Seeing no way out, he confided in Sun Hongfei, who happened to be back in the capital on business. Sun was responsible for [Boy Group Training Camp] trainees Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin. Given their frequent discussions on endorsements and advertising recently, they had grown acquainted.

Sun heard him out and, instead of offering sympathy, said cryptically, “Trust me, don’t do anything extra. Just hand in the documents as they are. If CEO Wen asks, answer honestly. You’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? Is there something I don’t know about?”

But Sun refused to elaborate, only repeating that he should follow the plan.

The person in charge had heard of Sun Hongfei’s track record. Previously just a low-ranking manager in Tiancorp Video, Sun had risen due to his exceptional handling of [Boy Group Training Camp]. Despite numerous controversies, the show’s viewership and popularity only climbed.

The most important part was that he’d made a name for himself with Wen Yue.

Everyone in the company envied his rise.

Maybe he really did know something?

So the person decided to trust him just this once.

However, standing in front of Wen Yue now, he felt his courage drain away with each of Wen Yue’s probing questions.

Just then, Wen Yue paused and tapped his fingers on the document. “What’s the story with these two?”

The person in charge glanced over. Wen Yue was referring to Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin.

With no time to come up with a new excuse, he did as Sun had suggested, explaining that they were recommended by Liang Wenjun.

Wen Yue asked, “Are they signed with Liang Wenjun?”

He shook his head quickly. “No, their company is called LeShi, and Liang Wenjun has a good relationship with their owner and manager, Gu Xingshi.”

After he finished, he cautiously glanced at Wen Yue, who didn’t seem upset, so he continued, “Of course, we chose them mainly because they’re from our own talent show. It’s easier for post-campaign coordination, and the company has a good reputation…”

The scandal between Meng Yuansheng and Jiang Mo had spread all over the internet, and the person in charge had done his research and organized the information to present it to Wen Yue.

As Wen Yue reviewed the report, he found himself unusually distracted.

He vaguely remembered LeShi, the company involved.

It was the same company where his young uncle, Yan Zhiheng, had debuted back in the day.

Since Wen Yue’s mother had a distant relationship with her family, he had little connection with her side of the family and had only met Yan Zhiheng a handful of times.

He had vaguely heard stories of his young uncle’s rebellion.

His uncle had defied the family and secretly joined a small company, where he unexpectedly rose to fame.

He had never relied on the Yan or Wen families and lived a free-spirited life.

Later, when Wen Yue’s mother passed away, Yan Zhiheng came to pay his respects.

At that time, the infighting within the Wen family was at its peak.

Even at his mother’s funeral, Wen Yue couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

This young uncle, with whom he wasn’t particularly close, had patted his shoulder and quietly slipped him a business card with a personal phone number. “Reach out if you need me.”

Later, after Wen Yue took control of the Wen family, Yan Zhiheng retired from the entertainment circle and went abroad to enjoy his life.

Wen Yue never used the business card, but he had always remembered the gesture.

Now, thinking of his uncle’s juniors, Wen Yue figured it wouldn’t hurt to extend a bit of consideration.

With that in mind, he raised his hand to stop the person in charge from continuing. “If their character checks out, then continue using them.”

After giving the instruction, Wen Yue moved on without a second thought.

The person in charge, however, was wide-eyed.

Wait… it just ended like that?

Wen Yue had already shifted topics, so he quickly refocused and continued his report.

When the meeting finally ended, he stumbled out of Wen Yue’s office in a daze.

Sun Hongfei hadn’t been lying!

There really was no problem!!

The person in charge was so impressed by his colleague’s insight that he brought a bottle of good liquor to visit Sun Hongfei that evening.

After two drinks, Sun, feeling a bit tipsy, slung an arm over his shoulder and boasted, “So, how was it? Didn’t I tell you it’d be fine?”

The person in charge poured him more wine, continuing to flatter him. Once Sun was thoroughly loosened up, he cautiously asked, “Brother Sun, what’s the connection between these two trainees and CEO Wen? Why is CEO Wen so lenient toward them?”

“Lenient toward those trainees? No way! It’s all about Gu Xingshi’s influence!” Sun Hongfei slurred in protest.

“Gu Xingshi? You mean the CEO of LeShi, Gu Xingshi?”

“Who else?” Sun slurred, leaning in with a drunken smirk. “Listen, because we’re close, I’ll let you in on a secret—but you cannot tell anyone else!”

The person in charge quickly poured him another drink, then thumped his chest. “Relax. It’s just between us!”

Sun Hongfei lowered his voice. “Let me tell you… our boss Wen and Gu… they’re involved.”

The person in charge’s hand shook, nearly spilling his drink. He set the bottle down in shock and asked, “Are you serious? And how do you know?”

Sun was irked by the doubt. “Of course it’s true! Think back—what was Wen Yue’s expression when you mentioned Gu Xingshi?”

The person in charge carefully recalled. “He… seemed almost nostalgic. His face wasn’t as cold, and he looked a bit… softer?”

“See?!” Sun clapped him on the back. “When have you ever seen CEO Wen with that expression? Just hearing the name softened him up—that’s love!”

“Ah!” The person in charge suddenly understood and gave Sun a thumbs-up. “Brother Sun, people in your industry are observant and bold. We administrators really fall short!”

“It’s nothing,” Sun replied smugly. “This is the secret to climbing the ranks, you know? I’m only telling you because we’re brothers.”

“I get it, I get it!”

Just then, he hesitated, then asked, “Brother Sun, I need your advice on something else.”

“Go on.”

“I heard someone say that President Ning of Xingmao Media has some beef with Gu Xingshi. Should I mention this to CEO Wen?”

“Of course not,” Sun replied, frowning. “Telling CEO Wen would be as good as admitting you know their secret!”

“Huh?” The person in charge looked puzzled. “Why is that an issue?”

“You don’t understand—this is their couples’ business.” Sun waved his hand. “Besides, you know what Ning Tianyou is like. If CEO Wen gets the wrong idea, even if they patch things up later, you, as an outsider, will get caught in the crossfire!”

“True!” The person in charge nodded repeatedly, finally seeing the light. Yet he was still a bit worried. “But if that’s the case, does it mean we should just ignore it?”

“Definitely not,” Sun declared, brimming with confidence. “All you need to do is mention casually that LeShi has backers. Don’t specify who. If they’re sharp, they’ll guess it’s CEO Wen. With unspoken industry rules, they wouldn’t dare mess with Gu Xingshi. That way, you’ll resolve the issue, come out looking good, and might even earn Gu Xingshi’s gratitude—triple win!”

“Brother Sun, you’re brilliant! Here, a toast to you!”

*

After his recent detention, Ning Tianyou had gone through quite a struggle to get released, leaving him thoroughly humiliated.

To make matters worse, upon returning to the company, he found Ning Wenzhuo there.

According to the will that Ning Tianzuo and his wife had left years ago, Ning Wenzhuo was the rightful heir of Xingmao Media. But over the years, Ning Tianyou had kept a tight grip on the company and exiled Ning Wenzhuo abroad, making Xingmao his personal playground.

But now, with Ning Wenzhuo’s return and the public backlash from his detention, the board of directors was increasingly displeased with Ning Tianyou.

Taking advantage of the situation, Ning Wenzhuo had positioned himself firmly within the company.

By the time Ning Tianyou returned, it was a done deal, and Ning Wenzhuo was firmly rooted in place, leaving him powerless to stop it.

Watching Ning Wenzhuo’s smug expression, Ning Tianyou could only offer a stiff, forced smile to congratulate him.

When he got home, Ning Tianyou immediately summoned his trusted aides and ordered them to investigate when exactly Ning Wenzhuo had returned.

Upon learning that Ning Wenzhuo had come back on the very day Ning was detained, Ning Tianyou instantly realized that Wenzhuo must have known in advance that trouble would befall him and had timed his return perfectly.

Gritting his teeth, he snarled, “I knew it! This whole thing is far from simple!”

One of his aides added, “Mr. Ning, we just got word that LeShi has someone backing them. The message came from Tianxuan Mobile’s side, warning anyone planning to act against them to think carefully. I have a feeling… it’s aimed at us!”

After a brief consideration, Ning Tianyou declared, “It has to be Wen Yue!”

If that was the case, it meant Wen Yue was not only behind his arrest but also the one tipping off Ning Wenzhuo.

Initially, Ning Tianyou had wondered if Wen Yue’s real target was Xingmao Media itself and was just using this as a pretense to go after him.

But now, seeing that Wen Yue had orchestrated Ning Wenzhuo’s return to challenge him, and after observing how Wenzhuo had deftly sidestepped a major pitfall in recent business dealings—one known to only a few insiders—it was impossible for Ning Tianyou to believe he hadn’t had help.

Someone with insider knowledge had definitely been assisting Ning Wenzhuo, and if anyone fit that bill, it was Wen Yue.

At this point, he was fully convinced of Zhu Xin’s words.

His fury surged—was all of this really just over a romantic fling?

What kind of hopeless romantic was Wen Yue?!

“Ah-choo!” Wen Yue, hard at work, suddenly sneezed.