After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH66

Chapter 66

When Qin Wen and Feng Tingyun’s group returned to the country, Gu Xingshi made a point of setting aside his work to meet him at the airport.

However, as soon as he arrived, he was met with a massive crowd.

In addition to Qin Wen’s fans, a swarm of media reporters were also present, all eager to interview them the moment they arrived.

Suddenly, someone shouted, “It’s President Gu!” The reporters, who had been staring intently at the arrivals gate, immediately turned toward Gu Xingshi, eyes blazing with interest.

Startled, Gu Xingshi was grateful he had anticipated such a situation and had already arranged for bodyguards.

With the tall, imposing bodyguards standing guard, the reporters restrained themselves somewhat.

“President Gu, how do you feel about Qin Wen winning this award?”

“President Gu, did you expect Qin Wen to receive this recognition?”

“Qin Wen mentioned in his acceptance speech that he plans to give the trophy to you—is that true?”

*

Gu Xingshi chose a few questions to answer, but then a voice from the crowd caught his attention: “President Gu, now that Qin Wen has won a major acting award, you’re having him star in a horror film with Bu Qianwei—a notorious ‘Queen of Flops’—and other unknown newcomers. Isn’t that a waste of his talent?”

At this, the crowd fell silent for a moment.

Even Qin Wen’s fans began to stir.

Some of the longtime fans who had followed Qin Wen’s journey frowned, but the newer fans felt that the reporter had voiced exactly what they’d been thinking.

“Exactly! He’s the only notable actor in the whole movie. Isn’t this just using him to carry the box office while promoting newbies?”

“This is too much! Qin Wen is just too nice, which is why people take advantage of him…”

Gu Xingshi looked at the reporter with a touch of amusement and was just about to respond when Qin Wen’s voice chimed in from beside him, “I remember when The Ghostly Gate first announced its lead, some media also said it was a waste to have a ‘nobody who’s only done a few roles’ play the main character. Want to fight that out first?”

The reporter’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he muttered indignantly, “I was just trying to speak up for you…”

“Don’t bother; I can’t afford that kind of help,” Qin Wen replied dismissively, casting the reporter a casual glance before suddenly seeming to recognize him. “Oh, you’re from Entertainment 100, aren’t you? Figures. Weren’t you the one who made up that relationship rumor about me a few months ago? I shut it down right on the spot. What’s the deal now? Done with rumors, moving on to stirring up drama?”

The reporter looked both startled and fearful.

That rumor incident was over two months ago—how could Qin Wen still remember it so clearly?!

Any reporters who had been tempted to provoke him into creating a juicy headline quickly fell silent.

How had they forgotten? They were interviewing Qin Wen, of all people!!

The nightmare of reporters, the bane of interviews!

When he was just a newcomer, the journalist who tried to spin stories about him ended up as a permanent example of media missteps.

After his takedown, Qin Wen turned to the remaining reporters with polite composure. “Any other tough questions?”

The reporters: “…”

In the end, the interview concluded peacefully.

That evening, the airport video shot up the trending topics list.

[Hahahaha, how do these reporters still not get it? Everyone knows Leshi’s artists are fiercely loyal to their boss!]

[Exactly! You put them on the spot, and they might brush it off. But mess with President Gu? You’re asking for it! Not even Qin Wen’s the worst—Baby Sheng, who’s usually the nicest, will give a stone-cold stare if you go too far!]

[Pffft! This reminds me of the red carpet video with Mo An. I’d never seen Baby Sheng so mad, going full sass mode and roasting the other side without even a hint of profanity!]

[Meng Yuansheng is mild compared to Xiaoqing! Back at his previous company, he was like a silent brick wall, totally oppressed for years. Now, under President Gu, he’s a completely different person—a fusion of his senior brothers’ best traits!]

[Totally! I remember in a live stream, Xiaoqing kept quiet when a troll insulted him. But the moment the troll dragged President Gu into it, his smile disappeared, and he shut down the troll instantly.]

[Oh! And the time Xiaoqing’s alt account got exposed for spending big to vote for Baby Sheng and Brother Xin. He even turned out to be a high-ranking fan group leader! That was trending for ages, and then he clarified, saying he actually ‘stanned’ President Gu and only joined the fan group to get closer to him. I was dying laughing!]

[Hahahaha, and after he said that, Baby Sheng and Brother Xin both liked his post! True, it was all fake, but hey, even fans take after their idols in their own way, right?]

[LeShi Artists: If you’re a fan of President Gu, we’re friends.]

[LOL, that’s too accurate!]

[Honestly, who wouldn’t be envious? These days, who doesn’t dream of becoming one of President Gu’s artists?]

[Exactly. Respect for their career choices, custom-tailored development plans, immediate clarifications when issues arise, stable growth for the artists, and peace of mind for the fans. Being a fan has never been so satisfying!]

[Same here! Every day, I’m following President Gu’s Weibo, posting photos and resumes of my fave artist, hoping he’ll sign them to LeShi so I can sleep easy at night.]

*

The next day, Gu Xingshi went to negotiate a brand partnership. Just as he finished the meeting and stepped out, he bumped into an actor at the corner. The actor looked somewhat familiar—likely someone who often played supporting roles in various dramas.

Upon seeing Gu, the actor immediately gave a ninety-degree bow and handed over a resume with both hands.

Gu Xingshi was momentarily stunned. “Uh… maybe there’s been a misunderstanding. Our film’s casting wrapped up a while ago.”

Actor: “Oh no, I’m not here for casting—I’m here for you, President Gu!”

Gu Xingshi: “?”

Actor: “I’m a trained professional with ten years of acting experience. My resume has highlights of my past work, and I also have theater and stage performance experience…”

Gu Xingshi: “??”

Actor: “My contract with my current company is about to expire. I was hoping there might be a chance to join your company?”

Gu Xingshi: “???”

While artists had shown interest in working with him before, this was the first time someone had made such a straightforward and unabashed pitch!

And this actor was at least a minor celebrity in the industry. With so many companies willing to sign him, it was unusual for him to personally approach a company like this.

At first, Gu thought it was a one-time occurrence. But over the following weeks, nearly every day, he encountered people handing him resumes. Even at social events and ceremonies, actors would come up to him to chat, with some making multiple attempts. It got to the point where Gu Xingshi became cautious whenever he went out, worried someone might pop out from a corner with a resume in hand.

The system commented wryly: [You know, Host, you’re now known as the ‘Gold Standard of the Entertainment Industry.’ Rumor has it that if you sign someone, not only will they avoid scandals, but they’ll also become wildly successful. Some of these people genuinely want to join your company, but others are just trying their luck—who knows, they might just get signed.]

Gu Xingshi: […Are they farming me like I’m some rare boss in a game?]

System: [No other way to put it. You’re like a legendary item now. Getting a piece of you could take someone straight to the top. Who could resist such temptation?]

Gu Xingshi: [….]

It wasn’t just actors attempting to reach Gu Xingshi; bored netizens had also started scrutinizing artists who worked with him. Observing these collaborations, fans were shocked to discover that everyone associated with LeShi seemed to be scandal-free. They were talented, grounded, and as of now, not a single one had been involved in any major controversies.

In today’s entertainment industry, this was no small feat.

The topic gained massive traction online, even trending.

One person particularly invested in these discussions was Tan Ye, a continuity supervisor at a film studio. He ran a popular Weibo account called “Tan’s Take on the Entertainment Industry,” where he claimed to be an industry insider. His posts critiqued or revealed the supposed “inside scoop” on entertainment events, earning him the nickname “Teacher Tan” and a considerable following.

In truth, Tan Ye knew very little about the industry and merely cobbled together bits of gossip he overheard on set or invented stories out of thin air. He often spun vague or half-truthful commentary, and, to his surprise, sometimes he’d hit close to the mark. Fans started treating him as an authority, and their admiration only fueled his enjoyment of this unearned attention.

Ever since the account “#10086” burst onto the scene, they’d been dropping scandal after scandal with clarity and accuracy, never teasing or misleading. The audience loved the straightforwardness, and people flocked to follow their updates.

This left Tan Ye, who relied on vague insinuations and luck-based rumors, sidelined and out of favor.

Having grown accustomed to basking in online praise, Tan Ye found it hard to accept the sudden lack of attention. He blamed it entirely on #10086 and Gu Xingshi.

Though resentful, Tan Ye knew his limitations. He could vaguely suggest rumors about certain celebrities, especially those already mired in controversy, because they were unlikely to challenge him. But #10086 was clearly someone with real influence. If Tan Ye were to fabricate gossip and get debunked, his account would be done for.

Then, he came across the trending topic about Gu Xingshi and the “scandal-free” reputation of his artists. An idea sparked.

While Gu’s core artists might genuinely be scandal-free, Tan Ye was aware of a certain actress involved in The Ghostly Gate—Yan Xiang, who played a supporting role.

He recalled a conversation he’d had with a friend, a director of short dramas, who had mentioned Yan Xiang. According to his friend, Yan Xiang was quite plain-looking but had somehow managed to land fifteen lead roles in short dramas in one year. The friend had hinted heavily at the “methods” Yan Xiang must have used to achieve this.

Tan Ye and his friend exchanged a few lewd jokes about it at the time, but he hadn’t given it much thought afterward. Now, however, this was an opportunity ripe for the taking!

If he could prove that Yan Xiang had skeletons in her closet, he’d be able to bring down Gu Xingshi and #10086 in one fell swoop. With the fame and followers from such an exposé, he could even achieve financial freedom!

Without delay, Tan Ye posted on Weibo, declaring that all the talk about Gu’s scandal-free artists was just hype manufactured by LeShi to build up Gu Xingshi’s image. He claimed that no one in the industry actually believed it.

Fans and followers of Gu’s artists immediately took offense.

[I work hard all day on a construction site, only to come back and find out I’m supposedly a ‘paid shill’? Seriously??]

[Have you even watched the videos? Or checked my profile? What shill posts about big muscles and nerdy fandom rants?]

[I’m an industry insider, too, and yeah, whenever we do background checks on new hires, we actually look for people who have collaborated with President Gu. It’s like a seal of quality assurance! My last project almost went under because an actor had a scandal. It’s brutal!]

[Preach, sister! I’m ready for a ranking of artists based on their collaborations with Gu. The more the better—it’d make our lives so much easier!]

Just as Tan Ye had hoped, the controversy quickly escalated. He took to his “Tan’s Take on the Entertainment Industry” Weibo account and announced a live stream where he’d reveal the “truth” about the cast of The Ghostly Gate.

Ever since Qin Wen had won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Hibbert Film Festival, the hype around The Ghostly Gate had skyrocketed. Just mentioning the film could draw in views, and Tan Ye was leveraging this momentum with his provocative claim.

As soon as the live stream started, viewers flooded in.

[Finally, someone’s taking down these hyped-up reputations! Can’t wait to see what Teacher Tan digs up!]

[Artists having ‘clean’ images is one thing, but even their manager? And the whole image could collapse so easily.]

When the time arrived, Tan Ye appeared on camera wearing a mask, holding up two phones and speaking through a voice changer. “All my connections are right here,” he said, waving the phones. “This is a live investigation. We’ll ask questions on the spot, and if there’s any gossip, I’ll reveal it immediately. Exciting, right?”

Comments on Yan Xiang poured in:

[She’s so inspiring! And her acting is honestly better than a lot of those big-name idols!]

Meanwhile, Tan Ye was still arguing mid-stream, only to realize that the entire chat was now flooded with fans praising Yan Xiang. Flustered and enraged, he was about to end the live stream—when he saw that his account had been reported.

Due to the high volume of reports, his account was banned on the spot.

*

At that moment, Gu Xingshi was attending a business gala when his system suddenly chimed in: [Host, someone is spreading gossip about Yan Xiang!]

Gu’s face darkened. [What happened?]

System: [Uh… never mind, actually. The gossiper self-destructed.]

Gu Xingshi: [???]

After the system explained the situation, Gu didn’t know whether to be angry or amused.

He felt indignant because he knew better than anyone how much Yan Xiang valued this rare opportunity. Before joining the set, she had memorized the entire script until the pages were worn. Her talent might not have been extraordinary, but she was diligent and had an impressive capacity for learning. Her progress had astonished the whole team.

A hardworking actress who threw herself into her roles with such passion should have everyone’s respect!

At the same time, he couldn’t help but find it ironic. Tan Ye’s attempt to slander Yan Xiang had backfired, inadvertently giving her a boost in popularity. Previously, Yan Xiang had been relatively unknown, with barely a hundred followers on Weibo, but overnight, her follower count rose by tens of thousands, even boosting The Ghostly Gate’s buzz in the process.

Still, Gu Xingshi had no intention of letting Tan Ye off easily. He reported the incident and took legal action as needed.

While Gu Xingshi was busy with these matters, Yin Yong was having another moment of shock.

It had been over two weeks since Qin Wen’s Best Supporting Actor win, and the hype around it had gradually died down.

Yin Yong, while slightly disappointed, knew that such timely publicity was rare enough. The universe couldn’t possibly serve him a three-course meal—main dish, sides, and dessert, right?

That was just too improbable.

He mentally scolded himself to stop daydreaming and focus on his work.

Then, out of nowhere, Yan Xiang and The Ghostly Gate blew up on short video platforms.

Yin Yong: “???”

He looked down at the marketing plan he’d just finalized, suddenly feeling at a loss.

So… what exactly was his role as head of promotions?

Unable to contain himself, he called an industry friend to vent, only to have his friend calmly reply, “If you keep humble-bragging, I swear I’ll hit you!”

Yin Yong: “…”

After hanging up, Yin Yong took a moment to think.

Could this all be coincidence?

No.

When things happen with such precise timing, it’s not coincidence—it’s orchestration.

He remembered Sun Hongfei’s words: “Everything is under President Gu’s control.”

This marketing strategy was seamless and perfectly timed, each event flowing naturally into the next.

Was this the mastery of a true industry titan?

In that moment, Gu Xingshi’s image grew even more legendary in Yin Yong’s eyes. If he had once harbored any doubts, he was now a true believer.

Was this just work?

No, this was a masterclass!

When he finally met Gu Xingshi in person during a team meeting, Yin Yong had expected someone high in talent but equally high in arrogance. Yet, he was surprised to find Gu approachable and courteous, especially towards him.

Gu Xingshi noticed the rumors about Yin’s arrogance were unfounded; he was humble and eager to help, showing particular respect to Gu himself.

As they discussed the release schedule, Yin Yong’s team presented several options, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Since it was Gu Xingshi’s first time handling distribution, he asked many questions, wanting to fully understand.

He’d expected Yin Yong to be a bit impatient, but to his surprise, Yin explained everything in careful detail.

Once again, Gu thought: Rumors really can’t be trusted!

Meanwhile, Yin Yong’s inner monologue went wild: Is this basic knowledge? No, this is an industry master guiding me through intricate detail!

Yin answered, closely watching Gu’s expression. When Gu frowned, his heart skipped a beat. “President Gu, do you think none of the release dates are ideal?”

Gu replied, “Isn’t Qingming Festival a bit late?”

He knew Qin Wen planned to visit his family’s graves during Qingming, an important personal ritual. This was also Qin Wen’s first lead role in a film, and Gu didn’t want to cause him any difficulty.

One of Yin’s team members was about to respond, but Yin Yong quickly motioned for him to stop and looked at Gu intently. “Then what do you think, President Gu?”

Gu glanced at the calendar, noting that only the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day slots were left before Qingming. “What about Valentine’s Day? It’s a special date, and it happens during a holiday.”

Everyone: “Huh?!”

Who would go watch a horror movie on Valentine’s Day?

Wasn’t that a bit too unorthodox?

Yin Yong himself frowned.

Normally, he’d have rejected the idea immediately, but remembering Gu’s past genius moves, he thought it over carefully.

It was true that horror movies usually wouldn’t compete on Valentine’s Day, so if they chose that date, they’d likely be the only horror film in the market.

Viewers tired of overly-sweet romance films might just want a different flavor, something refreshing to balance it out—like how you crave something light after a holiday feast.

For couples, a horror movie could also be the perfect bonding experience!

More importantly, releasing a horror film on Valentine’s Day would make for an eye-catching marketing point.

The more Yin thought about it, the more brilliant the idea seemed. He couldn’t help but look at Gu Xingshi with admiration.

A true master, indeed!