Chapter 68: What Is Called Upward Socializing!

Heng Dian. Daily Novel Reading, TTKS. TW, Extra Careful Service

Tian Zhenyu was having dinner with his "new girlfriend," Han Qiuying, at a barbecue restaurant.

Besides the two of them, there were two actor friends Tian Zhenyu had met after coming to Heng Dian.

"Qiuying, eat more—once you enter the set in a couple days, you won't get to eat like this."

Tian Zhenyu picked up a piece of grilled beef for his girlfriend, showing great thoughtfulness—it was clear he hadn't been affected at all by Zhang Shengnan's departure.

"Yu-ge, you're really hitting both love and career jackpot."

"After starring in Kong Sanmin's drama, you'll get offers nonstop!"

Friend A chimed in with flattery.

"Not just nonstop offers—maybe you'll shoot straight to the top!"

"Yu-ge, if you get rich, don't forget us!"

Friend B echoed the sentiment.

Tian Zhenyu feigned modesty: "It's just a small role—might not even make a splash when the drama airs, but at least I'll get to learn from Kong Sanmin."

As soon as he finished speaking, his phone on the table suddenly rang.

It was Wan Guixiang, the assistant director of Brocade Mountains and Rivers, responsible for casting—he'd used connections to land these two minor roles.

Of course, Wan Guixiang couldn't decide major roles; for a big production like Brocade Mountains and Rivers, the lead male and female roles, second male and female roles—all were already settled in Beijing. Those found in Heng Dian were only minor supporting parts.

"Wan-ge, you called me?"

"Has the shoot date changed?"

For actors like Tian Zhenyu, schedule changes were common; when Wan Guixiang called, he automatically assumed it was about a shift in the shoot date.

"Have you offended someone recently?"

Wan Guixiang didn't answer, but asked directly.

"Uh… no!"

"Wan-ge, what's going on?"

Tian Zhenyu paused, then asked nervously.

"Kong Sanmin himself just called—removed you and Han Qiuying from the cast."

"Think carefully—have you offended some big shot? Otherwise, why would Kong Sanmin personally intervene over roles as minor as yours?"

Wan Guixiang was also in their debt, otherwise he wouldn't be speaking so politely to Tian Zhenyu.

"Huh?"

"How could this happen?"

Tian Zhenyu jumped up from his seat in shock; Han Qiuying and the two friends all turned their gazes toward him.

"Wan-ge, I really haven't offended anyone!"

"My life's been exactly the same as before—can you please talk to Kong Sanmin for me? There must be some misunderstanding."

Hearing his role was gone, Tian Zhenyu panicked instantly.

This was Kong Sanmin's drama—if it blew up, even a minor role could boost your status; even if it didn't, it was still a standout credit on your resume.

"I don't know if there's a misunderstanding, but Kong Sanmin sounded furious—he wouldn't even let me explain."

"And not only won't he work with you again—he's blocked both of you!"

"Do what you can. I'll transfer your money back later."

With that, Wan Guixiang hung up.

Tian Zhenyu was left stunned, sitting motionless for a long while before slumping back into his chair.

"Zhenyu, what happened?"

"What's the big deal?"

Han Qiuying frowned at her boyfriend; the restaurant was noisy, and she hadn't heard a word of the call.

"The role's gone."

Tian Zhenyu spoke weakly.

"Huh?"

"Wasn't it all settled? Wan the director already took the money!"

Hearing the role was gone, Han Qiuying was stunned too—she cared deeply about this chance to work with Kong Sanmin.

Besides, she'd heard Kong Sanmin was a pervert—during filming, maybe she could sneak a peek at his night script and finally latch onto his leg.

Now Tian Zhenyu told her the role was gone—meaning no chance to cling to that leg at all!

"He said Kong Sanmin called personally."

"Wan asked if we'd offended some big shot."

Tian Zhenyu spoke listlessly, but his mind raced, trying to recall who he might have offended lately.

But after thinking through everything, he found no answer—he rarely even came into contact with anyone important.

"Yu-ge, getting recast is normal in our line—especially in Kong Sanmin's drama."

"Exactly! Even top stars get replaced sometimes. If you can't get in, so what? You won't starve!"

Friends A and B spoke up to comfort him, but their lips barely concealed smirks.

We're all stuck on the eighteenth tier—it's fine. Kong Sanmin's drama? I didn't even get in. Why did you?

Now you're back on equal footing.

At that moment, Friend A casually glanced at his phone, then his eyes widened in shock—his actor group had just received an announcement from Yixin Pictures: the company would never collaborate with Tian Zhenyu or Han Qiuying again!

"Yu-ge, who's the second-generation you pissed off?"

Friend A quickly held his phone out to Tian Zhenyu; Han Qiuying leaned over curiously to look—and both of them froze in disbelief.

Yixin Film and Television — everyone in the industry knows that's Kong Sanmin's company — and now it had actually "blacklisted" the two of them together!

"Tian Zhenyu, what exactly is going on here?"

"We agreed to enter the cast together, how did it end up like this!"

Han Qiuying couldn't hold it in any longer. She shot to her feet in a fury, jabbing a finger at Tian Zhenyu as she confronted him.

"How the hell should I know!"

"Must be that you offended someone and dragged me down with you!"

Tian Zhenyu was already seething, and at this moment he refused to back down either.

Seeing the two of them start arguing like this, Friend A and Friend B instinctively exchanged a glance, then wordlessly found an excuse to slip away.

They had invited Tian Zhenyu out to eat today originally hoping to flatter him before he "took off" — who knows, maybe he could be useful to them later. That's showbiz for you; it's all about connections.

But now the situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse. Not only had Tian Zhenyu lost his role, he'd also offended a big-shot director like Kong Sanmin. They had to keep their distance, lest they get dragged down too.

"It must be that bitch Zhang Shengnan!"

"She's scheming behind the scenes!"

Tian Zhenyu really couldn't think of anyone he'd offended. If there was someone who hated him and Han Qiuying, it could only be Zhang Shengnan.

"If she had that kind of power, would you have broken up with her?"

Han Qiuying gave a cold snort, her face full of mockery.

Her words were harsh to hear, but not without reason. Tian Zhenyu was instantly rendered speechless by the retort. If Zhang Shengnan really had that kind of clout, she would have taken off long ago — why would she still be suffering alongside him in Heng Dian?

Beijing.

Having vented his second sister's grievance for her, Zhang Xian was in a good mood. At the same time, he truly came to appreciate the importance of connections.

With his cheat-code dad backing him up, he himself could certainly live very comfortably. But if his family ran into trouble or got bullied, the cheat might not necessarily be able to solve it for him. So getting to know more people — useful people — was critically important.

Of course, the prerequisite for expanding your network is that you yourself must have ability, and must be seen as "a connection" in others' eyes. Otherwise, no matter how hard you try, it's useless.

The essence of human interaction is nothing more than an exchange of benefits.

Only when everyone holds roughly comparable chips can they play together.

"Birds of a feather flock together" — don't force your way into circles you can't fit into. These sayings all hold a certain truth.

As for those little fairies who go around yapping about "upward socializing" — that's purely putting gold on their own faces. For women whose own background and abilities are both very ordinary, there's no such thing as upward socializing, only "upward xing-jiao."

Harsh words, but the only thing you can offer those people is sexual value.