After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH42

Chapter 42

Wen Yue didn’t respond.

An awkward silence immediately settled over the scene.

A CEO close to Ning Tianyou quickly stepped up to ease the tension. “Alright, let’s leave it at that,” he said, patting Ning on the shoulder and lowering his voice. “Why provoke him, President Ning? Aren’t you afraid of another cut?”

Ning Tianyou shuddered, feeling the sting of the losses Wen Yue had inflicted on him in the capital markets. Reluctantly, he closed his mouth.

The CEO, holding his wine glass, then turned to smooth things over with Wen Yue. “President Wen, President Ning here’s just a bit drunk. You’re a bigger man; let it slide.”

But Wen Yue replied coolly, “If I really wanted to press the issue, I’m afraid President Ning wouldn’t have time to attend tonight’s gala.”

Ning Tianyou’s expression instantly turned sour.

Wen Yue then smiled lightly. “Just a joke, President Ning. No hard feelings.”

He lifted his glass slightly as a gesture of peace.

After Wen Yue had taken over the entire conversation, Ning had no choice but to take the hint, gritting his teeth as he downed his drink.

Though Wen Yue was ruthless, he was known to be a man of his word. His words here indicated he would let the matter drop.

Though Ning felt humiliated, he sighed in relief internally. He had only heard about Wen Yue’s ruthlessness in the market, but experiencing it firsthand had him losing sleep over it.

Just as he thought it was over, Wen Yue placed his glass down and asked, “But I must ask, President Ning—what exactly did you mean by ‘a hidden treasure at home’?”

Ning Tianyou nearly choked on his frustration.

Damn you, Wen Yue!

Humiliating him wasn’t enough—now he had to drag in his lover, too?

He sneered coldly. “Why act coy, President Wen? My recruiting was so easy because it was exactly what you wanted, wasn’t it?”

The project director Ning had poached had led his new project straight into the ground, a clear sign that Wen Yue must have spotted the flaws long ago and allowed the man to be poached, clearing a position for his lover. And as an added bonus, he’d used it as a foothold to bite Ning hard in the markets.

Ning had once thought he was the one running circles around others—only to realize he’d done Wen Yue’s dirty work and ended up with nothing to show for it.

Wen Yue had managed to achieve three goals with one move, profiting immensely. If it weren’t for that, Ning Tianyou wouldn’t have been this furious.

Wen Yue’s brow furrowed slightly.

Judging by Ning Tianyou’s words, he likely misunderstood, thinking Wen Yue had planned all along to get rid of that project director and had used Secrets of the Six Doors as a hidden ace. It wasn’t surprising he was angry. The timing of  Secrets of the Six Doors was pure luck; who would’ve thought it would suddenly go viral?

From Ning Tianyou’s perspective, it looked like Wen Yue had this “ace” in his back pocket, ready to strike. But Wen Yue knew better; the credit didn’t belong to him.

If not for Gu Xingshi, Wen Yue would have taken a huge financial hit again. This was twice now—first with Feng Tingyun and now here. Honestly, Ning wasn’t wrong about Gu Xingshi being a “treasure.” Still, if others knew about this, they’d swarm him like flies, and Gu Xingshi was too straightforward to handle those old foxes; he’d be eaten alive.

So Wen Yue decided it was better for people to think this was his own scheme.

He didn’t bother to deny it and simply said, “Thanks for cooperating, President Ning.”

Ning Tianyou’s eyes widened.

Unbelievable! Wen Yue, you shameless…!

The other CEO next to them was also taken aback.

He’d heard the rumors about Wen Yue and Gu Xingshi, but knowing Wen Yue’s temperament, none of them believed he’d be someone so deeply enamored. Seeing it first hand was an eye-opener.

No wonder they say, “Even heroes fall for beauty.” Now, Wen Yue was publicly standing up for his “boyfriend,” sending a clear message: anyone who thinks of troubling Gu Xingshi should think twice, or they’ll end up like Ning Tianyou.

The CEO flushed, turning red and pale before finally forcing out a compliment: “President Wen, you’ve got a good eye.”

Wen Yue assumed he was referring to Secrets of the Six Doors and nodded, “Thank you for the praise.”

The CEO: “…”

These young people! 

A little restraint wouldn’t hurt!

*

Meanwhile, Gu Xingshi was completely unaware that the “backer” he had fabricated for himself had just been solidified by the backer himself.

At that moment, he was taking Qin Wen to watch the final show of Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin’s group’s tour.

Even though it was a temporary group, Xingyao Media had put in considerable effort. Rumor had it that Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin’s manager, Gu Xingshi, was Wen Yue’s boyfriend, so the team in charge of operations was cautious, fearing they might offend the “CEO’s partner.”

As a result, each aspect of the group’s planning had been executed flawlessly.

Gu Xingshi was quite pleased with the concert’s design. Big companies really did deliver!

He was having a great time and was about to pull Qin Wen into the fun, but when he turned around, he saw Qin Wen mumbling to himself and making small gestures with his hands.

“What are you doing?” he couldn’t help but ask.

Qin Wen snapped out of it, a little embarrassed. “I’m studying their stage presence. If I ever have to play a role like this, I’ll know what to do.”

Gu Xingshi: “…!”

Although it wasn’t the first time Gu Xingshi had seen Qin Wen so engrossed, it still impressed him. He wanted to suggest that Qin Wen relax a little and just enjoy the night out instead of always thinking about work. But seeing how focused and content Qin Wen seemed, Gu Xingshi swallowed his words; maybe this was Qin Wen’s way of unwinding.

After the concert, they followed the staff to the backstage area. 

The dressing room was bustling with activity as all the members removed their makeup. Being young, the boys were all noisily planning to go out for barbecue, only to be promptly scolded by their own managers.

Gu Xingshi finally got to see Yin Hefeng again. They hadn’t met since the end of  [Boy Group Training Camp].

As soon as Yin Hefeng spotted him, his eyes lit up. With a slightly rounder figure than before, he shuffled over to Gu Xingshi, saying, “Mr. Gu, long time no see! Congratulations on landing another star!”

Gu Xingshi was surprised. “Even you know about it?”

“Not just me—probably everyone in China knows!” Yin Hefeng exaggerated, “Secrets of the Six Doors is insanely popular! You’re keeping him out of the public eye, but outside, everyone’s dying to see more of Qin!”

Gu Xingshi: “…It’s not that dramatic.”

To be honest, Gu Xingshi felt a bit helpless about this. It wasn’t that he was intentionally keeping Qin Wen from public engagements; it was just that Qin Wen seemed uncomfortable in front of the camera when he wasn’t acting. Besides, Gu Xingshi felt that actors needed a certain level of mystery, and since Qin Wen wasn’t keen on extra exposure, he hadn’t pushed it.

Yin Hefeng quickly insisted, “I swear, I’m not exaggerating!”

With a sigh, he added, “Honestly, Mr. Gu, I admire you. Most agents can barely get one in ten to succeed, but every artist you bring in turns into a hit. How do you do it?”

Gu Xingshi shrugged, looking genuinely exasperated. “It’s really not about me. They’re just talented and hard-working.”

Yin Hefeng: “…”

If anyone else had said that, he’d have thought they were just being modest. But seeing the sincerity in Gu Xingshi’s eyes, he knew he genuinely meant it.

…Which made it even more infuriating.

Taking a deep breath, Yin Hefeng decided not to compare himself to this “chosen one.” He continued earnestly, “But back to Qin Wen. Even though I’ve never managed an actor before, I do know you can’t completely separate him from his fans. He still needs some public engagements. These days, we live in a world where popularity matters. Actors don’t have to chase it, but as their manager, we have to maintain that balance.”

Yin Hefeng’s advice was heartfelt, and Gu Xingshi took it to heart. He responded seriously, “Thanks, Brother Yin.”

After a pause, Gu Xingshi seemed to remember something.

Yin Hefeng asked, “What is it? Is there something you wanted to tell me?”

Thinking of the gossip his system had recently shared, Gu Xingshi hesitated but then decided to ask, “Your company… isn’t there an idol company upstairs as well?”

Yin Hefeng nodded, “Yeah, they opened up about a year after we did, but their management approach has been shaky. They haven’t been able to make any stars. If it weren’t for the financial backing they have, they’d have gone under by now.”

Gu Xingshi: “Did they get a new boss?”

Yin Hefeng thought for a moment. “Seems like it. Why? Is there something wrong with this new boss?”

Gu Xingshi hesitated again before replying, “I heard… well, apparently he thinks his company’s underperforming because of bad luck. So he hired a ‘master’ to improve their fortune…”

Yin Hefeng: “?”

Gu Xingshi continued, “This ‘master’ claimed that their bad luck is because your company’s success was absorbing all of theirs, so he set up some sort of fortune-shifting array.”

Yin Hefeng: “??”

“Oh, and the ‘master’ even bribed one of your cleaning staff to secretly pour boiling water on your company’s money tree for, um… symbolic reasons,” Gu Xingshi added.

Yin Hefeng: “???”

*

Yin Hefeng stormed off to call his boss, furious.

Gu Xingshi wiped the sweat from his forehead. Honestly, it had been a while since he’d seen such… traditional business tactics.

He led Qin Wen to Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin’s dressing room.

“Mr. Gu!” Meng Yuansheng, spotting him first, rushed over, makeup still half-on, and hugged him enthusiastically.

Not wanting to be left out, Cheng Xin quickly joined in, making Gu Xingshi the “filling” in their group hug.

Caught off guard, Gu Xingshi managed to stretch out one arm, “Qin Wen, save me!”

Qin Wen stepped forward and, with some skillful maneuvering, gently freed Gu Xingshi from their grip.

Rubbing his face, Gu Xingshi thought to himself that they must have trained pretty hard for the concert—their muscles were solid enough to make his face hurt.

Only then did Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin notice Qin Wen.

Realizing he hadn’t properly introduced them, Gu Xingshi quickly made the introductions.

Meng Yuansheng grinned and extended his hand to Qin Wen. “Finally, we meet.”

Qin Wen shook his hand, feeling a sense of deep appreciation.

His parents had always told him, “Good deeds bring good outcomes.” He had scoffed at it back then, but now he realized that his small kindness years ago had come full circle, allowing him to meet Gu Xingshi and ultimately change his life.

Just as the moment was getting sentimental, Cheng Xin piped up, “You two are looking at each other like you’re looking at a barbecue. I’m starting to feel a bit hungry over here.”

Everyone: “…”

Gu Xingshi, exasperated, said, “Cheng Xin, quiet.”

Cheng Xin, sheepish: “Okay.”

With the mood thoroughly interrupted, Gu Xingshi had no choice but to lead them out to dinner.

The restaurant had been booked in advance, and as soon as they were seated, servers began bringing out dishes.

Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin, starving after their concert, eagerly dug in, not even pausing to say anything before starting to eat.

Since this was their last performance for a while and they’d have time to rest afterward, Gu Xingshi let them eat to their heart’s content.

Halfway through the meal, some dishes were still missing, so Gu Xingshi decided to go and check on them.

Meng and Cheng, now half-full, slowed down and started chatting with Qin Wen.

Although they had been busy with the concert tour, Secrets of the Six Doors had blown up, and they couldn’t open any app without seeing news about it. Qin Wen’s portrayal of Yu Changyan had become a sensation.

Others might envy Qin Wen for hitting it big with his first role, but these two were already used to it.

After all, this was a talent handpicked by Mr. Gu himself and taken to the audition personally. Not becoming popular would have been the real surprise.

No one understood better than they did the mysterious and seemingly magical effect of Gu Xingshi’s influence.

Qin Wen listened to them, feeling somewhat stunned by what they were saying.

But after thinking about it, he realized there was truth in it. He’d previously auditioned for several roles, but each time he failed, and the projects that followed didn’t gain much traction. Yet Secrets of the Six Doors, the project Mr. Gu had accompanied him to, succeeded on the first try, and since then, everything seemed to fall into place. Without Mr. Gu, who knows how that project would’ve turned out.

Clearly, Mr. Gu worked tirelessly behind the scenes and did so much for him.

Yet, in front of others, Mr. Gu always humbly said he did nothing, giving all credit to Qin Wen’s efforts. 

Qin Wen had thought he understood the extent of Mr. Gu’s kindness, but now he realized he hadn’t even scratched the surface.

He took a deep breath, resolving to work even harder.

Then, a look of concern crossed his face.

Meng Yuansheng noticed. “What’s wrong?”

Qin Wen sighed, “Our cast will be on a reality show in a few days. After that, there’s a celebration event for hitting over a billion views, along with media interviews. I’ve never faced something like this before, so I’m a little nervous.”

“Oh, no big deal,” Cheng Xin said, grinning and full of ideas. “Let me tell you my strategy…”

“Don’t even start,” Meng Yuansheng interrupted, rolling his eyes as he blocked Cheng Xin’s mouth. As the one who constantly had to clean up after Cheng Xin, he was exhausted and wasn’t about to let him lead Qin Wen astray.

Cheng Xin, thoroughly rebuked, sulkily went back to eating.

Meng Yuansheng turned back to Qin Wen. “Don’t listen to Cheng Xin’s nonsense. You’re new, so no one expects you to be perfect. Just answer what you feel confident about and smile if you don’t know. Simple, right?”

Qin Wen nodded thoughtfully.

At that moment, Gu Xingshi came in and casually asked, “What are you guys talking about?”

“I’m teaching Qin Wen some tips for interviews,” Meng Yuansheng replied.

Knowing Meng Yuansheng’s reputation for being well-spoken in interviews, Gu Xingshi felt relieved, trusting him to give sound advice.

*

A few days later, it was time for the Secrets of the Six Doors cast to appear on the reality show.

Concerned for Qin Wen, Gu Xingshi decided to accompany him.

The show was filmed in Dong’an City and was an outdoor variety show. Gu Xingshi wasn’t too worried about the shoot. The show’s director was a close friend of Yin Hefeng’s boss, and after Gu Xingshi’s heads-up helped them save their “fortune tree,” the director was more than willing to return the favor.

Qin Wen, though not intentionally trying to be funny, demonstrated a strong adaptability. His natural athleticism shone during the games, and his serious responses when teased gave him a cute and unexpected charm.

After wrapping up the reality show, they quickly returned to Beijing to attend the celebration event.

Gu Xingshi watched Qin Wen sitting quietly in a corner, diligently going over his speech notes. His heart filled with concern.

Don’t be fooled by how Qin Wen previously toyed with the people at the Tongfu Electronics Factory; that was because he had prepared meticulously and was in his element. 

When it comes to facing the media, though, he’s a complete rookie. And the media loves to put rookies on the spot, often posing tricky or trap-laden questions. If an artist answers poorly, the media won’t hesitate to pounce on it and blow it up, sometimes recording moments that become lifelong embarrassments.

Thinking of this, Gu Xingshi grew even more concerned. Little Qin had only recently started to open up, and the last thing he wanted was for the media to intimidate him back into his shell.

After considering the situation, Gu realized the biggest issue was likely Qin Wen’s lack of familiarity with these media outlets. So, he decided to give him a rundown.

Gu Xingshi waved Qin Wen over, and they slipped to the side of the stage while the reporters were just beginning to enter.

Pointing discreetly, Gu said, “That one over in the corner, with the apple logo? That’s Apple Entertainment. They love to ask sharp questions to dig up dirt for headlines. Also, they’ve got a bit of a grudge against our company, so they might try to give you a hard time. But they’re not spotless either—often paid by certain companies to bad-mouth their competitors…”

Qin Wen nodded seriously.

Gu continued, pointing to another group, “And that’s Popular Films. Don’t let the name fool you; they mainly focus on personal questions. Last time, they asked Fu Ya which co-star she enjoyed kissing the most, and she gave them a fierce clapback…”

“And over there is…”

Gu went through each one, until he was parched. Then he looked over at Qin Wen and asked, “Did you get all that?”

Qin Wen nodded, “Got it.”

Gu Xingshi finally felt a little more at ease. With all this knowledge, and the interview techniques that Meng Yuansheng had taught him, Qin Wen should be ready to face them.

*

For a drama as wildly popular as Secrets of the Six Doors, the media had been eagerly awaiting this celebration, armed with a slew of questions.

Their primary focus, of course, was Qin Wen.

Media outlets who had dealt with the Boy Group knew that Gu’s first two artists were tough nuts to crack. Cheng Xin had a habit of replying unpredictably, while Meng Yuansheng was a master at saying nothing, both making interviews feel like an uphill battle.

Now, it was time for Qin Wen, their “junior disciple,” to take the stage. The journalists couldn’t help but wonder which style he’d adopt.

Rumor had it from the recent reality show that Qin Wen had a serious and somewhat naive personality. The reporters were instantly intrigued.

Once all the cast and crew were seated, the celebration officially began.

It was a live-streamed event, and the online viewers flooded in as soon as it started, with the chat flying.

[Ahhhh, my goddess sister Yu!!!]

[Jiang Hanjing looks so handsome!!]

[Long Yan, my husband!!!]

Jiang Jianyue, the well-known film reviewer, had tuned in as well, eager to live-react with her audience.

“Wow, Xia Ruoying looks so good with that high ponytail! This warrior look really suits her—so much better than her old rom-com style.”

“Jiang Hanjing looks even more handsome than before. Success really does wonders for people.”

“Is that… Long Yan? The guy’s pretty handsome, but he looks a bit shy. If his real personality is this different from Long Yan’s, his acting is really impressive.”

The first half of the celebration was light and fun, with games, recreations of classic scenes, and speeches from the cast and crew.

Having watched many such events, Jiang Jianyue knew that the real show would come during the media Q&A portion in the second half. For her, this part was always the most entertaining, with its unscripted moments full of surprises.

Jiang Jianyue sighed and looked at Qin Wen with sympathy. “The unluckiest person here today has got to be Qin Wen. He’s the rookie, plus he’s playing a popular character. In my experience, the media won’t let him off easy.”

Sure enough, things went exactly as Jiang Jianyue predicted.

From the start of the group interview, after a few token questions directed at the director and the lead actors, all attention turned to Qin Wen.

“Hello, Qin Wen! I’m a reporter from Popular Cinema. How many girlfriends have you had before? Are you single now? There seem to be some intimate scenes between you and Ruoying in the series—will your girlfriend be jealous of that?”

Gu Xingshi frowned slightly. He knew this would happen.

Qin Wen shook his head. “I’ve never had a girlfriend.”

Seeing his honest demeanor, Popular Cinema’s reporter got even more excited. “Then, do you think you might fall for Ruoying while working on this series?”

This question even made Xia Ruoying, who was sitting beside him, furrow her brows slightly.

Qin Wen, however, remained calm and offered a small smile. “Didn’t you ask questions like this last time and get roasted by Teacher Fu Ya?”

The room fell into a sudden silence.

Xia Ruoying couldn’t hold back a chuckle, which was quickly followed by a wave of laughter from others in the room.

Popular Cinema’s reporter face went pale as they quickly retracted their microphone, not daring to ask another question.

Netizen:

[Haha, well said!]

[At first, I thought he was a bit too shy, not like Yu Changyan at all. But now I see the resemblance!]

[Love this! Qin Wen’s wit is sharp—I love interviews like this!]

The other reporters were starting to realize something was off. Qin Wen wasn’t as naive or easy to push around as the rumors had suggested.

But still, one brave reporter stepped forward.

“I’m a reporter from Apple Entertainment. Qin Wen, what are your thoughts on how long Secrets of the Six Doors will stay popular? Next week, The Grand Scheme is set to premiere, a big-budget historical drama that audiences have anticipated for years. Which do you think will perform better?”

This was practically a trap. 

No matter how he answered, Qin Wen was bound to get in trouble. If he said Secrets of the Six Doors would perform better, he’d be accused of being arrogant and disrespectful to senior actors. If he said The Grand Scheme would do better, it would be a slap in the face since this was a celebration event for Secrets of the Six Doors. Even a diplomatic answer like “both are great” would imply he’s comparing the two shows directly, leading to criticism that he was just riding on The Grand Scheme’s popularity.

Director Gao looked over at Qin Wen, visibly concerned.

But once again, Qin Wen didn’t seem fazed and gave another unhurried smile.

Seeing this, Apple Entertainment’s reporter, recalling what had just happened to the previous reporter, began to feel a bit nervous. “What’s that smile supposed to mean?”

Qin Wen continued, “Oh, it’s just that I’ve heard your outlet has a tendency to take payments from certain parties to smear competitors. So, with a question like that, I couldn’t help but wonder—who paid you this time?”

Apple Entertainment’s reporter was stunned, caught between guilt and anger, stammering, “Y-you’re talking nonsense!”

But Qin Wen paid him no further attention. Instead, he looked over the rest of the press with a polite smile. “Who’s next?”

All the reporters instinctively took a step back: “!!!”

Who on earth would dare ask you anything now?!

What the heck? What kind of interview beasts are you people at LeShi Entertainment?!