Chapter 365

Li Zhibai has had problems with several projects recently, and they have been shelved.

Like *Divine Map*, because of script problems, the start of filming seems far off.

And there was another show where he was a resident guest; the contract was signed, but because the producer was reported and got into trouble—the person was almost sent to the station—the show was also directly scrapped.

Even though he was quite popular, it felt like a streak of bad luck.

Even Zhou Ping'an was muttering whether Li Zhibai had been having bad luck recently and wasn't suitable for work arrangements.

Of course, muttering was one thing, but Zhou Ping'an still didn't arrange any less work.

Nonsense, Li Zhibai is incredibly popular right now. This year, he has both a hit Xianxia drama and a variety show like *Idol Era* that maintains his daily popularity. In the first half of the year's idol ranking, he was directly at the top spot, the No. 1 in commercial value voted by hundreds of brands. Under these circumstances, Zhou Ping'an would never let Li Zhibai rest.

Li Zhibai himself didn't think about resting either.

He really didn't have much ambition, but he quite liked the work of an artist.

This day, he took a job as a guest judge for a talent show.

One is to perform on stage, and the other is to act as a guest judge and exercise a "special resurrection" right.

This show is called *Star Style*.

The show's production team also received him with very high standards.

The recording was not in Yuming, and the food, clothing, housing, and transportation were all arranged to a very high standard.

Once a person is popular, you don't even need to make requests; someone will arrange everything perfectly for you.

Li Zhibai has enjoyed the treatment of being popular for many years, but the recent explosion in popularity still gave him a different feeling.

He said in the group of three: Recording a show outside today, not going back. If any of you go back, help me pick up a package.

Lu Yanhe: OK, send it to me, I'm here.

Lu Yanhe asked again: What show are you recording?

Li Zhibai: *Star Style*, a talent show, just like ours back then.

Lu Yanhe: Oh~

Yan Liang: This show.

Li Zhibai: Do you know it? Did they look for you too?

Yan Liang: They did. I'm going to be a guest judge in a later episode, but that's not what I want to say.

Li Zhibai: What do you want to say?

Yan Liang: That *Green Apple Paradise* stage we did at the graduation gala, wasn't there a video shot by someone named Li Xiaobin that became very popular later? He also participated in this talent show.

Lu Yanhe: Is that the person who put on his dad's suit and his mom couldn't help but burst into tears when she saw it?

Yan Liang: Yes.

Yan Liang: At the time, the news that he was going to participate in this show caused some discussion. Didn't you see it?

Li Zhibai and Lu Yanhe both said no.

After a while, Yan Liang sent a screenshot.

It was a screenshot of his search for "Li Xiaobin."

Above were some doubts about Li Xiaobin participating in the show.

—Wasn't that video of his just hype at the time?

—As soon as he saw he was a bit popular, he wanted to debut as a star?

—Why would he participate in this kind of talent competition? Does he have talent?

—I'm starting to doubt the authenticity of that video now.

Li Zhibai couldn't help but frown.

It can be said that these voices were more or less malicious.

As an artist, he was also very familiar with these malicious voices.

It's just that, due to their profession, there's no way around it; they always have to face such voices, and after facing them a lot, it doesn't feel so painful anymore.

But Li Xiaobin is just a college student; he hasn't been an artist before and isn't a public figure. Suddenly facing such overwhelming accusations and doubts, he must have gone through a dark period.

Li Zhibai also went to search for Li Xiaobin.

Now that the show hasn't aired yet, the news about Li Xiaobin online is just that he participated in *Star Style*.

Indeed, regarding this matter, many people's attitudes were not very positive. It was mainly because the timing was too coincidental; not long ago, Li Xiaobin's video became a big hit online, and he became popular himself, and then news immediately came out that he was participating in a talent competition, making people unable to help but question his motives.

In reality, there are indeed many such people. Hype, self-marketing—a large number of such examples have appeared in recent years.

Li Zhibai asked: Do you think this is hype?

Lu Yanhe said: It doesn't look like it. I just searched for him online; several of his classmates on his school forum helped him speak up, and he doesn't have any agency, and his family situation is all real. Where would he have the ability to hype?

Li Zhibai: That's the truth.

Li Zhibai: Won't he happen to be among those eliminated? I'm going to record this show today, and there is a "special resurrection right." If I resurrect him, I guess the internet will be in an uproar.

Yan Liang: That will definitely be in an uproar.

Li Zhibai: If this really happens, do you think I should exercise this right? He has some connection with us, and if I use it, it will look like I'm practicing favoritism.

Yan Liang: Why do you care so much? Just follow your own temper; whoever you think is worth resurrecting, resurrect them.

Lu Yanhe: Seconded.

Li Zhibai: Tsk, you guys make it sound easy.

That Li Xiaobin, after participating in the talent show *Star Style*, really didn't have a very happy time.

Because of the show's requirements, once they started, their phones were confiscated, and they couldn't contact the outside world.

He also didn't know how much discussion there was online about him participating in this show. So, the dark period Li Zhibai mentioned, he really didn't experience.

It's just that participating in a show with so many people, he also received some controversy because of the video becoming popular earlier.

Including the people competing together.

Li Xiaobin himself heard others discussing him.

And the examiners responsible for their training and quizzes, when mentioning him, the first thing would always be that video. Compared to most amateurs, he has innate popularity and promotional points, which naturally means he will receive some special attention.

Although not everyone has participated in a competition, it's like when you are in school, every class has one or two students who are specially cared for by the head teacher—such students are either so excellent that everyone can't be jealous, or they are more or less ostracized.

Li Xiaobin could also vaguely feel this rejection from everyone.

Especially when forming teams, almost no one was willing to team up with him.

"Li Xiaobin's situation is indeed quite special."

The staff member responsible for receiving Li Zhibai, hearing Li Zhibai ask about him, showed a complex expression and said, "How should I put it? Most of the people who come to participate in this show haven't officially debuted, but they actually have trainee experience and have received training in various aspects. Li Xiaobin hasn't. He was selected for this show purely because of the popularity brought by that video."

"Isn't this a singing talent show?"

"Yes, but *Idol Era* is too popular. Although we are doing a singing talent show, it's inevitable to lean towards the idol side," the staff member said. "Li Xiaobin, on one hand, has poor comprehensive strength; apart from singing well, he has zero foundation in dancing. And team formation basically requires stage performance, so naturally, everyone doesn't want to team up with him and doesn't want to be held back."

Li Zhibai suddenly understood.

It wasn't just pure ostracism; it turned out there were these reasons as well.

Lu Yanhe helped Li Zhibai pick up the package, put it on the table, and hurried out.

Director Wang Zhong suddenly contacted him and asked to meet.

Recently, Director Wang Zhong has been preparing for *Rouge*, and he has been in frequent contact with him, often communicating on his phone.

Lu Yanhe thought it was about the script.

As a result, upon meeting, Wang Zhong said: "Yan He, I can only ask you to save the day now."

"Ah?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback, looking at Wang Zhong in a daze, not understanding what he meant.

Wang Zhong said: "We've looked for the male lead for *Rouge* everywhere and couldn't find anyone. Either they weren't suitable, or they wouldn't act. I discussed it with Bige, and if it really doesn't work, we can only ask you to act."

Lu Yanhe was stunned.

"Director, you aren't joking with me, are you? Is this appropriate?"

Wang Zhong said: "We'll make your makeup look more mature; what do you think?"

Lu Yanhe didn't dare to answer at all.

He hadn't considered this possibility at all.

Wang Zhong said: "Otherwise, we can only delay this drama. If we can't find a suitable actor, filming it will just be settling."

Lu Yanhe lowered his head in silence, thinking about this problem.

Wang Zhong: "Actually, in the script, the Twelfth Young Master is not a very old person. Your script doesn't highlight the characteristic of the two people being of similar age. In the old days, it was very normal for a woman in a brothel to be older than a man who had just stepped into one."

Lu Yanhe said: "Director, do you think that when I stand with Sister Bige, there is that feeling of being in love?"

Wang Zhong's expression also became serious.

"I don't know; maybe I'll only know when you both put on the makeup and stand together," Wang Zhong said. "However, I've always felt that your temperament is quite similar to the Twelfth Young Master. At first, I just felt that the age gap between you and Chen Bige was a bit large, and there would be this problem. My first choice was of course to find a male actor of a similar age to Chen Bige, but now that I can't find one, there's no other way."

Lu Yanhe scratched his head, "How about this, Director, let's not make a decision yet. Sister Bige and I will put on the character's makeup and costumes first, try filming a segment, and see the effect. What do you think?"

Wang Zhong heard this, "Fine."

Then, this matter was known to Xin Zixing.

Xin Zixing is omnipotent; within two hours, she called Lu Yanhe to ask if there was such a thing.

Lu Yanhe said yes.

He was too lazy to ask how Xin Zixing knew.

Xin Zixing immediately said: "How about this, Yan He, let's just make it one of our plans, how about that? You are trying on makeup to see the feeling; why not take the Republic of China as the theme and film a short film for you and Chen Bige."

"Ah?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback, "Sister Zixing, our styling needs to be kept confidential."

"I mean, don't try filming with the characters' styling from the movie; film this instead," Xin Zixing said. "It can achieve the effect you want, and you can also receive feedback from the audience on you and Chen Bige playing lovers. What do you think? If you try filming privately, you won't get audience feedback."

Lu Yanhe was reminded by Xin Zixing and felt enlightened.

Yes, his biggest worry about collaborating with Chen Bige is whether the audience will accept their combination.

Trying to film is just them looking at the feeling themselves, but if they can directly take the Republic of China as the theme and film a short film where he and Chen Bige play lovers, they can also see everyone's acceptance first.

Lu Yanhe felt Xin Zixing's idea was quite good.

"I'll go talk to the director and Sister Bige to see if they are willing."

"Fine," Xin Zixing said. "If there's anything you need me to do, tell me anytime. I will contact brands willing to sponsor it, and I will definitely make it into a high-quality short film that won't lower your status."

"Good." Lu Yanhe hung up the phone and contacted Wang Zhong and Chen Bige. Unexpectedly, their attitudes were quite positive and supportive.

"This is also good," even Wang Zhong said so. "How about this, I will write the script for this short film, and I will also direct it."

"Good." Lu Yanhe was of course happy.

Thus, what was originally a test shoot turned into a plan for the Ye Mai network.

Xin Zixing contacted several brands.

Learning that this short film starred Lu Yanhe and Chen Bige, many brands came upon hearing the news.

*Seventeen Layers* is currently a hit, and this pair of male and female leads has never been together before.

Everyone knows how much attention their first collaboration after *Seventeen Layers* will receive, plus it's being handled by Xin Zixing—the woman who launched *City Travelogue* still has quite a reputation in the industry.

Li Zhibai didn't expect that in today's show recording, he would encounter Chen Ziliang as enemies on a narrow road.

Chen Ziliang is also a guest judge today.

Of course, Chen Ziliang can no longer compare to him now.

In every aspect, Li Zhibai is now far ahead of Chen Ziliang.

Chen Ziliang himself is also annoyed.

The movie *Nineteen Years of Crime Records* has already finished filming. It was a big opportunity that he spent a lot of effort to grab, but now it's a mess.

Chen Ziliang didn't even watch the rushes; just the scenes filmed on set made him feel desperate, and he didn't dare to hold any hope for this movie at all.

It's too trashy.

He is now trying every possible way to maintain exposure to maintain his popularity.

For shows like *Star Style*, the production team used to pay a lot of money to beg him to come, but now it's an opportunity he has to lower his pay to fight for.

He must have exposure; otherwise, he will really go out of style bit by bit and be forgotten.

Fortunately, there is still a second season of *Friends* later.

Chen Ziliang now has high hopes for this drama.

Whether he can turn things around and return to the top of the mountain, currently, it seems the hope is greatest if he relies on this drama.

Meeting Li Zhibai in this situation, how could his mood be good?

Although Li Zhibai is more popular than him now, he at least has the advantage of being older and doesn't need to be respectful to Li Zhibai.

Even if he were really asked to do so, he couldn't do it.

The two met in the hallway; neither took the initiative to greet the other, silently looked at each other, and then tacitly pretended to see nothing and brushed past each other.

Chen Ziliang entered the lounge; not long after, his responsible director came over to go over the script with him.

After finishing the regular process, his responsible director suddenly looked at the other people in the room and said: "Ziliang, I have some other things to tell you. Why don't you let your assistants go out first?"

Chen Ziliang heard this, and although surprised, he still nodded and let his assistants go out first.

The responsible director then smiled and said: "Ziliang, among the people competing today, there are two who need you to take care of them."

Chen Ziliang was taken aback.

"Hmm?"

"Take care of them?" Li Zhibai's expression changed, and his gaze instantly became sharp. "What do you mean?"

The responsible director sitting opposite Li Zhibai was taken aback when he saw Li Zhibai's look.

"Hmm, Zhibai, it's like this: these two contestants are people we signed, and everyone still hopes they can advance."

Li Zhibai frowned tightly and said: "If you hope they advance, then let them give a better performance than others. Are you giving them a back door now?"

"It, it's not..."

"This matter is out of the question. You don't need to tell me; I won't agree." Li Zhibai refused firmly.

Seeing Li Zhibai take such an attitude, the director responsible for him opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't continue to speak.

He left Li Zhibai's lounge to find the show's producer.

"Li Zhibai refused very firmly," he said uneasily.

This matter wasn't handled well, and he was also afraid the producer would vent his anger on him.

Who knew, the producer nodded as if he had guessed this result long ago.

"With his temper, it's normal to refuse."

"You don't mind?"

"How can I mind? Can I drive him away?" The producer curled his lips. "We are begging people to come to our show."

The responsible director muttered in his heart: Then why did you make me go through the trouble of asking him?

At this time, Chen Ziliang's responsible director came.

"There shouldn't be any problem with Chen Ziliang, right?" the producer asked.

"He nodded very readily," the other party smiled.

The producer also laughed.

At 11:00 PM, after Lu Yanhe finished reading, he saw Li Zhibai posting more than ten messages in the group complaining about the show *Star Style*.

Lu Yanhe read it and realized that it turned out *Star Style* had "royals" being protected. Coincidentally, because one of the "royals" being protected was advanced, Li Xiaobin, who had no background, was eliminated.

Li Zhibai was muttering before recording this show that if Li Xiaobin was really eliminated, should he avoid suspicion and not use this "resurrection right" on him? But the key is that the "royal" who advanced had a performance quality that was not on the same level as Li Xiaobin's. Just like that, they were all sent to advance by a group of "blind" judges, which made Li Zhibai very angry.

He couldn't say anything either.

What could he say?

With so many people up and down the entire production team, basically all the joints had been cleared. Could he jump out at this time and talk about the show team asking him to "protect" certain people before?

Li Zhibai is impulsive, but he is not a newcomer who dares to say anything. In the entertainment industry, there are too many such things. If Li Zhibai poked out everything he knew, he would be jointly banned by everyone at the first opportunity. Zhou Ping'an doesn't even need to nag him; he understands this truth himself.

However, if Li Zhibai just stood by and watched Li Xiaobin get eliminated, that wouldn't be Li Zhibai's character either.

So, when he finally used the resurrection right, he resurrected Li Xiaobin without hesitation.

"I guess when this episode of the show airs, it will cause quite a few attacks on me," Li Zhibai also had self-awareness. "After all, I didn't avoid suspicion."

Lu Yanhe smiled, "Are there few people attacking you? Are you still afraid of being attacked? As long as you exercise this resurrection right with a clear conscience, let others say whatever they want."

"Exactly, Yan He is right. Your temper is known to the whole country," Yan Liang said. "According to what you said, that royal's performance was terrible, but he advanced. He is the one who should be scolded."

Li Zhibai sighed, "Thinking about it now, the environment when we participated in the talent show was much fairer than it is now. At least at that time, we were really ordinary people without signed companies, unlike now. Like Li Xiaobin, who doesn't have a company behind him, they can basically be counted on one hand."

Lu Yanhe said: "People who want to stand out will stand out no matter what. The entertainment industry has never been a place where artists can get the audience's love by relying on capital games. If the audience likes it, they like it; if they don't, they don't. This is the greatest fairness."

"You're right," Li Zhibai picked up his wine glass. "Cheers."

The three of them chatted and laughed while eating skewers and drinking.

The summer night breeze was gentle, still like a heatwave, but it had faded a bit of the summer heat, not as unbearable as during the day.

Li Zhibai asked Lu Yanhe: "You're about to join the crew, right?"

"Hmm," Lu Yanhe nodded, "Joining the crew in two weeks."

"I don't know what the next play is filming yet," Li Zhibai curled his lips. "*Divine Map* has become like this; it feels like it's about to be scrapped."

Lu Yanhe heard this and asked: "Then Zhou Ping'an didn't help you contact other plays?"

"He's picking. He has high requirements now; unless it's a top-tier production, he won't take a play unless it's a big male lead," Li Zhibai said. "He would rather have me take more commercial performances and record some shows."

Lu Yanhe: "His approach is also correct."

"Hmm."

Yan Liang: "Actually, I wanted to ask for your opinions. I have two scripts here, but I can't make up my mind which one to act in."

"Hmm?" Li Zhibai was a bit surprised, "Scripts you just received?"

"Hmm," Yan Liang nodded. "Actually, I want to act in both scripts. One is a big production; the one looking for me is the second male lead, and the female lead is prepared to be Xu Yiren. It's a costume detective comedy. The other is a smaller production, a workplace drama with a bank background, but it's the first male lead. The scripts are both very good, and I like the characters. I can't compare them. If possible, I want to act in both, but the filming times of the two plays clash, so I can only choose one. If it were you, which one would you choose?"

Li Zhibai didn't hesitate and said: "Since you like both scripts, then of course choose the first lead one. The character in the bank script must be more critical. That costume detective one might give you a lot of young female fans; it should be a costume idol drama, right?"

"Yes," Yan Liang nodded. "The workplace drama with a bank background, Zhou Ping'an is also worried that it leans towards a serious drama, and it is mainly based on the career line. Although the script is good, it might be critically acclaimed but not commercially successful."

Li Zhibai immediately said: "What are you afraid of being critically acclaimed but not commercially successful? Anyway, you have *Friends* in hand, and you don't lack exposure at all. It's better to take advantage of *Friends* making a sequel to film some plays that truly let the industry see your strength as an actor."

Lu Yanhe also nodded and said: "I also think Li Zhibai's words make sense. I have the same opinion as him."

He said again: "Moreover, I also have a very good script later that wants you to act. In terms of popularity and fame, I think it doesn't need to be the key standard for you to choose a play."

"Is it the movie you mentioned?"

"No, it's a Xianxia-themed drama I mentioned to you before, a real Xianxia theme, not a Xianxia romance theme," Lu Yanhe said.

Li Zhibai showed a look of realization.

Yan Liang couldn't help but be shocked: "Yan He, this is really too exaggerated. How many scripts do you have in preparation?"

Lu Yanhe smiled and said: "Many, many, so I dare to say, you just pick the ones you really like to act in. Don't worry about what is critically acclaimed but not commercially successful. The scripts I prepared for you here are definitely commercially successful."

"Generous," Li Zhibai raised his eyebrows. "You're really not polite or humble when you speak now, are you?"

Lu Yanhe lowered his head and smiled slightly.

"The main thing is confidence."

Five days later, Wang Zhong brought out the script for the short film.

As soon as Lu Yanhe read the script, he felt the strong Wang Zhong flavor.

The story is very simple. It tells of a teenager in the Republic of China background who secretly likes the lady next door. Her man died in battle, and she became a widow. Her man's superior—a murderous warlord—forced her to marry into his mansion as a concubine. The teenager, in a moment of impulse, took her to elope one night. The woman ran away with him all night, stayed in an ancient temple, and listened to him tell the story of secretly liking her, until he leaned against the wall and fell into a deep sleep. Before dawn, the woman got up, covered the teenager with her cloak, and went back alone to marry the warlord.

There is not much story, it's all artistic conception and atmosphere.

But Lu Yanhe entered the story as soon as he finished reading it.

A story with no cause and no consequence, just one night, a teenager, in order not to let the lady he likes be forced to marry a cruel warlord, took her to elope in a moment of impulse.

The woman fulfilled the teenager's wish, but only treated it as a dream. When the dream wakes up, she still has to go back.

One night of dew, one night of fantasy.

No one can leave everything behind.