Chapter 258: Idol

With the "kindness" of the directing team, they had a sumptuous hot pot meal.

Eating can soothe the heart. This saying does not deceive.

After eating and drinking their fill, Lu Yan He prepared to take a nap.

He also had to send a message to Chen Ziyan to mention the sentence He Zhong said in the morning.

Could it be He Zhong who planted the Trojan horse in his computer? This thought popped into Lu Yan He's mind from time to time.

Although Lu Yan He also felt it shouldn't be; if it were him, why would he take the initiative to warn him?

Lu Yan He couldn't figure this out, so he simply stopped thinking about it and sought to discuss it with Chen Ziyan.

Because there were cameras all around, Lu Yan He could only communicate this matter with Chen Ziyan by typing.

Chen Ziyan asked: Did He Zhong say anything else to you?

Lu Yan He: No.

Chen Ziyan said: Then perhaps he saw someone else do this? He is a photographer; if he isn't filming you, he is looking at your lens, and he will see many things you didn't notice yourself.

Lu Yan He: Maybe, but because we are constantly filming the show, I can't find him privately to ask about the situation.

Reality shows are like this; compared to ordinary program recording, reality shows have almost no time to rest, only when going to the restroom can one briefly avoid the lens.

Chen Ziyan: But He Zhong's reaction indicates one thing: the person who planted the Trojan horse in your computer is in the *Young Days* production team.

Because He Zhong's intersection with Lu Yan He was in the *Young Days* program, there was no other intersection.

Chen Ziyan said: I will contact He Zhong to see if I can get some information.

Lu Yan He replied with an "okay."

Chen Ziyan added: In this way, you have to be careful in the *Young Days* production team. Until we find that person, you must be careful in every move you make; watch your words and actions.

Lu Yan He: Yeah, I know.

However, what neither Lu Yan He nor Chen Ziyan expected was that He Zhong left the production team thirty minutes later.

At this moment, Li Zhenzhen looked at He Zhong in disbelief and asked, "You want to leave?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." He Zhong's expression also looked full of unease, apology, and even guilt.

"He Zhong, do you know what you are saying?" Li Zhenzhen asked. "Our program is in the process of recording. You say you want to leave at this time; what about the recording? Who will film Lu Yan He?"

"I will ask my friend to come over and fill my vacancy," He Zhong said. "I have an emergency at home, and there is really no way; I must go back."

Li Zhenzhen: "You signed a contract with us, He Zhong, you, you—"

Li Zhenzhen thought that she had warmly invited He Zhong to join her next program two hours ago and expressed her appreciation for him, and she felt as if she had been slapped twice, her face full of stinging pain.

The guilt on He Zhong's face was even greater, but he had no hesitation or struggle and insisted on leaving.

"Director, I'm very sorry. Regarding the compensation caused to the production team, I will bear it fully," He Zhong said. "If it weren't for a real emergency at home, I would never leave at this time. There is really no way. Don't worry about the photographer; if you are willing, I will contact my friend immediately to come over and complete the handover with him; it will not delay the filming."

Li Zhenzhen looked at He Zhong helplessly, and at this moment, her heart softened again.

He Zhong's attitude was too sincere, and he had to leave because of an emergency at home. For this situation, what else could Li Zhenzhen say?

"Can't you wait for three days?" Li Zhenzhen softened her tone and tried to fight for it one last time.

He Zhong said: "There is really no way, Director."

"What kind of emergency is it that makes you have to leave immediately?" Li Zhenzhen said. "Our program will be completely recorded in three days. If there is any difficulty, tell me; maybe I have a way to help you solve it? He Zhong, you know, I really appreciate you. My appreciation for you even reached the point of hoping you could join my team and become my fixed staff. You suddenly want to leave; I have no way to stop you, but at least tell me the matter; maybe we can find a way to solve it together?"

He Zhong shook his head, looked at Li Zhenzhen silently, and said: "This is my private matter at home; it is really inconvenient to say. Sorry."

Li Zhenzhen sighed and said: "Alright, if that's the case, then there is no way at all, it can only be like this."

He Zhong asked: "Then I will contact my friend now and ask him to come over as soon as possible."

Li Zhenzhen nodded.

Then, thirty minutes later, Lu Yan He heard from Chen Mo that He Zhong had left due to reasons and that the follow-up photographer had been changed.

Lu Yan He was somewhat at a loss at that moment.

There was even a feeling of horror rising from the soles of his feet.

How could this be?

He Zhong warned him about the laptop in the morning, and in the afternoon, He Zhong left suddenly? Without warning—an emergency at home? Clearly, two hours ago, He Zhong had no abnormalities.

A look of doubt appeared on Lu Yan He's face, and he asked: "What emergency happened at his home? This program is about to finish recording, just a few days left; is he in such a hurry to leave?"

Chen Mo explained: "We don't know either; he didn't tell us in detail what happened. However, please don't worry; we have arranged another follow-up photographer, which will not affect the normal filming of the program."

"Oh." Lu Yan He didn't know what else to say and nodded.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Lu Yan He return with a not-so-good complexion, Li Zhibai asked.

"Oh, it's nothing; they said my follow-up photographer left due to something, and I have to change one temporarily," Lu Yan He said simply. "I'm a bit gloomy."

"What's there to be gloomy about?"

"Just..." Lu Yan He also realized that his reaction was a bit excessive; in the eyes of others, it was just changing a follow-up photographer, but it seemed as if something major had happened.

Watch your words and actions.

The four words Chen Ziyan had just explained emerged in Lu Yan He's mind.

Lu Yan He came back to his senses and said: "I feel like it's a bad omen."

He gave a bitter smile, "I'm a bit superstitious in this regard. After all, it's the first reality show I've recorded, but the follow-up photographer changed halfway."

Li Zhibai showed an unbelievable expression, looking at Lu Yan He in disbelief.

"You actually have this kind of superstition?"

"Yeah," Lu Yan He nodded. "I didn't expect it myself."

"Then I really don't understand," Li Zhibai said. "You think too much."

Lu Yan He shrugged and asked: "Are there any activities in the afternoon?"

"No, no group activities," Li Zhibai said. "I have an interview later; even if there were activities in the afternoon, I couldn't participate."

"What interview?"

"I shot a magazine cover and need to do a supporting interview," Li Zhibai said.

"You still have to shoot a cover in the afternoon?"

"Not shooting in the afternoon; it's already finished. Today is just for the interview," Li Zhibai explained. "This isn't done on the same day; haven't you shot one?"

Lu Yan He shook his head and said: "I only shot the cover when the seven of us were in a group."

Since then, Lu Yan He hadn't shot a single solo cover.

Before, he wasn't popular, and Zhou Ping'an didn't take covers for him. Now that he had just become popular, the magazines that came to Lu Yan He were all very average and didn't meet the "better to have nothing than to have something inferior" principle Chen Ziyan set for Lu Yan He.

Li Zhibai said: "Are there no magazines coming to you to shoot covers now? There should be many brands that like artists with good images like you; they should be willing to pay for you."

Many people think that the artists who shoot magazine covers are decided by the magazine side; in fact, it is not that simple. Generally speaking, magazine covers are paid for by brands, and which artist shoots them is not only a matter for the magazine side but also needs to be recognized by the brand.

Li Zhibai said Lu Yan He has a good image, referring to his good social image, which is very positive in all aspects. Inviting him to shoot a cover wearing a partner brand is also good for the brand image. Especially since Lu Yan He is so popular now.

Lu Yan He shook his head: "I don't know; it's all coordinated by Sister Ziyan. However, it may also be because I've been too busy lately, so Sister Ziyan didn't help me take other work."

Lu Yan He and Li Zhibai rarely talk about work matters.

Usually, when they talk about this, they will talk about it together.

While chatting, Lu Yan He sent a message to Chen Ziyan on his phone about He Zhong suddenly leaving the production team.

Chen Ziyan replied: It's okay, I will contact He Zhong. You act normally; don't let others feel that you are affected by this matter. Regardless of whether his leaving is really because of something at home, I will talk to him; don't be nervous.

Chen Ziyan immediately understood Lu Yan He's worry and nervousness and comforted him.

Lu Yan He thought to himself, fortunately, Chen Ziyan is here.

In matters involving such potential "masterminds," Lu Yan He found that his life experience was simply not enough.

How to find He Zhong, how to talk to him, and how to get the information he wants from his mouth.

Lu Yan He had no ideas at all and could only rely on Chen Ziyan.

"However, when will your play *Phoenix Terrace* be filmed? Is the time set?"

After Lu Yan He finished sending the message to Chen Ziyan, he came back to his senses, nodded, and said: "The specific time is not set, but it will probably be filmed at the end of the year, just in time for my winter vacation."

"That's quite good; I was wondering how you would film if you had to go to school," Li Zhibai said.

"I can only prioritize classes for the next few years," Lu Yan He said. "I can't film many plays either."

Li Zhibai nodded, "If I were you, I'd rather just take some supporting roles in big productions; this way, you don't need a lot of filming time and can accumulate acting experience."

"Yeah," Lu Yan He nodded. "That's a way of thinking."

In fact, this is also the idea that Chen Ziyan and Lu Yan He reached a consensus on.

In the next few years, if there are protagonist plays that can be filmed during winter or summer vacation, that is of course the best. If not, take supporting roles, provided the play is good and the role is good; supporting roles don't matter.

Chen Ziyan said: "If you can go to big directors' plays to play a supporting role, it is also a very good experience, just like acting in *Golden Age*."

For male actors of Lu Yan He's age, it is difficult to get protagonist plays in top big productions.

One is that top big productions basically don't have male protagonists around twenty years old; the other is that Lu Yan He's current acting skills and performance experience cannot get such projects in the industry—after all, he cannot carry them, unless he is favored by a big director.

Lu Yan He asked Li Zhibai: "Do you plan to transform later?"

"Transform?"

"Don't you not like acting in idol dramas?"

"But I don't like acting in idol dramas, and there are no other plays coming to me," Li Zhibai said. "Serious dramas can't give me roles with room for performance either; I feel bored when I see them."

The two sat on the sofa chatting.

In the workroom, the staff heard their chat and looked at each other.

Li Zhenzhen was also a bit surprised, mainly because she didn't expect them to suddenly talk about acting.

"Sometimes I can't help but be a bit jealous of them," Deputy Director Zheng Hesong suddenly said. "Debuting early, having popularity and fame around twenty, being able to play the protagonist. Think about this circle; many people are forty or fifty and can't play a role with a few lines."

"Don't think they are so lucky," Li Zhenzhen said. "Didn't they also kill their way out of a bloody path? Participating in competitions at fifteen, finally defeating competitors, debuting. This is just the beginning, facing various pressures and difficulties. Don't just look at the few who are still standing here; look at their group, seven people killed their way out of hundreds, and now only four are left in the entertainment industry. If Lu Yan He hadn't relied on himself to get into Zhenhua and killed a bloody path, he would have been forgotten long ago."

Zheng Hesong nodded and said: "I don't mean to belittle them; I just can't help but sigh at the cruelty of this line."

"Cruelty is cruelty, but reality is cruel. The audience doesn't owe anyone anything. Scolding idol artists for having no ability or strength, but they didn't steal or rob, and fans are willing to pay," Chen Biqiu suddenly appeared. He smiled and said, "Cruelty, who says it isn't? But mixing in this line, you have to follow the rules of this line."

Zheng Hesong saw Chen Biqiu and laughed, asking: "Director Chen, then who do you look favorably upon among the young people in our program?"

"Who do I look favorably upon? It doesn't matter who I look favorably upon," Chen Biqiu shook his head. "Anyway, who is popular and who is not, this matter is not something I can decide, right? Whoever is popular, we will support whoever. The audience likes it most importantly; only when the audience likes it will the gold master pay."

Chen Biqiu pointed to Li Zhibai and Lu Yan He on the surveillance screen.

"What transformation or not, isn't it fine to stay in the comfort zone? Why toss and turn? How many people died from blind tossing?" Chen Biqiu said. "If Li Zhibai dares to transform at this time, how long do you think his popularity will be enough for him to toss? If it weren't for that play in the summer that gave him a wave of blood, he would actually have signs of popularity decline."

Zheng Hesong: "So this kid is lucky, really lucky. I don't understand why he is popular, but he has been popular for so long."

"With the image of a rich young master, why can't he be popular for so long? Others have to rely on packaging; he is born with such an idol drama domineering president image, heaven, earth, and people. You still ask him why he has been popular for so long?" Chen Biqiu looked at Zheng Hesong with disgust. "You might as well ask why so many female audiences like domineering presidents."

Zheng Hesong was squeezed by Chen Biqiu and was silent.

Chen Biqiu said: "Not to mention anything else, just talking about female fans, even if Lu Yan He gets into Zhenhua, he is not as attractive as Li Zhibai. A poor child wants to be an idol? I really don't look favorably upon it. He may become an excellent singer or an excellent actor in the future, but as a young idol, if he wants to take this path, it is highly likely that this path is impassable."

In the workroom, everyone was quiet.

What Chen Biqiu said was very direct, but if you think about it carefully, it really makes sense.

Idol, what kind of person can be an idol?

No fan will weigh various things when liking an idol; they only have the first feeling and the first reaction.

Can't Lu Yan He be a high-quality idol?

He can, but it is difficult for him to be an idol like Li Zhibai who is fanatically liked by many people for no reason.

In fact, what Chen Biqiu said is exactly what Chen Ziyan has thought about.

Everyone has a path that suits them.

If Li Zhibai settles down to transform into an actor, he may of course succeed, but at least before the age of thirty, it is difficult to achieve the achievements of an idol artist.

If Lu Yan He relies on his current popularity to be an idol artist, he may of course continue to be popular and maintain the image of an artist with excellent grades and a good image, but he can only reach ninety points and cannot reach the top level—for idol artists, origin is not original sin, but it will be a burden.

When an idol cannot provide fans with a perfect fantasy detached from reality, the idol's halo is destined to fade.

When everyone was lost in thought, only Chen Mo curled her lips and showed a look of disdain.

Chen Mo took out her phone and sent a message to He Zhong: If you want to continue in this line, keep your mouth shut. You know, if he wants to block you in the industry, it's just a matter of one sentence, understand?

He Zhong did not reply.

But Chen Mo didn't care; it didn't matter if He Zhong didn't reply, as long as he saw it.

That was enough.

Idol or fan, it had nothing to do with her.

She only cared about herself. ===== CHAPTER 259 =====