Chapter 109: Overshadowing

Director Chen's new film was a massive hit upon release, and along with the lead actor and actress, the second female lead also became famous; this film further solidified Xie Jin's position as a top-tier superstar.

Qin Shu exploded in popularity and broke out of the circle thanks to her superb acting skills and looks, directly overshadowing Chu Sheng's "little white flower" face, and her acting skills even completely crushed the female lead.

There were even people on the internet who took clips of the two acting together to compare them; Chu Sheng's acting was quite good, but she couldn't keep up with Qin Shu's performance.

When Chu Sheng saw the comparison videos posted by netizens, she was instantly furious.

"Who posted these videos?"

Seeing her lose her temper, the little assistant quickly said, "It must be the 'overshadowing' press releases that Qin Shu had people buy."

"These are all paid trolls; they're afraid their master won't become popular, so they're dragging you down to step on you."

Hearing this, Chu Sheng felt a bit better; after all, she was the female lead, so how could Qin Shu, a mere second female lead, be more popular than her?

If it were a few years earlier, and Chu Sheng had returned to the country to debut in the entertainment industry sooner, netizens would definitely have been into her look.

After all, at that time, the "plain water" and "innocent and sweet" personas were indeed very popular in the market.

But now, what is more popular is who is prettier—beauty that is bewitching, stunning, and dazzling, and being fierce and cool when taking action!

Acting skills coexisting with beauty—this is the way to survive in the entertainment industry.

The news was filled with reports of the second female lead overshadowing and crushing the female lead; in the film *Imperial City*, the female lead even became a background prop.

Qin Shu's overnight explosion in popularity was within Director Chen's expectations; his film gained quite a lot of traffic relying on Qin Shu.

At a group variety show, Director Chen was waiting backstage when Qin Shu arrived with Su Tuantuan; Director Chen looked at her with a smile: "Congratulations to our explosive new star."

Qin Shu: "Director Chen, please don't tease me."

Director Chen smiled, and the host over there signaled for them to go on stage; this variety show was very famous and also very popular overseas.

Chu Sheng had arrived at the scene before Qin Shu, and seeing the interaction between Qin Shu and Director Chen, her expression darkened.

Director Chen had only greeted her indifferently, acting as if he hadn't seen her, yet when he saw Qin Shu arrive, he actually welcomed her with a smile.

This differential treatment made Chu Sheng clench her fingers; what was he acting so arrogant for? Wasn't he just a director working in the entertainment industry?

Wasn't this film all invested in by Gu Tingyan?

Chu Sheng was filled with disdain in her heart.

Director Chen led the group onto the stage: "Let's go."

This variety show recording lasted about three hours; the host asked some standard questions and they played a few games, which would be cut down to an hour and a half in post-production.

After recording the show, Qin Shu looked at all the crew members: "The show recording is finished, I'm treating everyone to a meal."

She hadn't been able to attend the wrap party because she was pregnant at the time, so this would make up for it.

Everyone replied in unison: "Thank you, Sister Qin."

The little assistant looked at Chu Sheng: "Sister, are we going?"

She knew perfectly well that Chu Sheng and Qin Shu were at odds; one was Gu Tingyan's wife, and the other was the mistress Gu Tingyan kept outside.

It would be strange if they could get along.

Yet, when these two were filming or recording shows, they acted no differently than usual.

The little assistant was terrified that Qin Shu might come over at any moment to pull Chu Sheng's hair, or blow things up on the show by announcing she was Gu Tingyan's wife and Chu Sheng was a mistress.

Working with Qin Shu was simply nerve-wracking; one slight lapse in attention, and her future could be ruined.

Chu Sheng said with a cold face: "We're going, why wouldn't we go?"

Not going would make it look like she was afraid of Qin Shu.

Even though she was the female lead, the audience didn't even acknowledge her as the lead after watching the film, directly marginalizing her and only recognizing the second female lead who went through thick and thin with the male lead.

Unfortunately, the second female lead died while saving the male lead, becoming an unforgettable "white moonlight" in the hearts of the audience.

Upon hearing this, the little assistant's face immediately fell; she didn't dare offend Chu Sheng, after all, the woman had a powerful father.

The dinner was booked at the most prosperous Di Du Da Jiu Dian in the capital.

As the group walked into the hotel entrance, they bumped into Gu Tingyan, who was coming out surrounded by a group of elite professionals in suits.

Seeing Gu Tingyan, everyone was startled and greeted him respectfully one after another: "Mr. Gu."

"Mr. Gu."

"Mr. Gu."

Gu Tingyan was also quite surprised to see them; he turned back and said something to his subordinates, and the group looked over, nodded, and left on their own.

Only then did Gu Tingyan walk toward them, his gaze lingering on Qin Shu as he smiled at Director Chen: "Director Chen, are you bringing people here for a meal?"

Director Chen smiled faintly and offered a polite, casual remark: "Yes, would you like to join us?"

After all, Gu Tingyan was their biggest investor; the film was a massive hit, and Gu Tingyan had also made a lot of money, his net worth doubling again.

Gu Tingyan said indifferently: "Sure."

Director Chen: "........."

He really was just being politely fake.

Who knew he would agree immediately? Were big investment bosses like him that free during the day?

With Gu Tingyan's addition, the group of employees began to feel very unnatural; they didn't know where to put their hands or feet, feeling very constrained.

Seeing Gu Tingyan arrive, Chu Sheng hurried to greet him, smiling gently and elegantly, her voice soft and coquettish: "Tingyan."

That voice made people's skin crawl, as if she were acting like a spoiled child.

The crew members all looked at the two, whispering: "Oh my, I didn't expect the rumors online to be true."

"Mr. Gu really is Chu Sheng's boyfriend; they are very intimate."

"No wonder Chu Sheng played the lead as soon as she debuted, but unfortunately, as soon as she left the village, she met a top-tier succubus and was completely suppressed by Qin Shu."

"People don't buy that 'innocent and sweet' look anymore; a true top-tier beauty is the real deal."

"Tsk tsk tsk, look at Qin Shu's slender waist, those perky hips, and that bewitching face—who could resist that?"

"The key is that she has both strength and beauty."

"Tell me, is President Gu blind? With such a top beauty under his company, he prefers a little green vegetable?"

The colleague smiled meaningfully: "Maybe he wants to try a different flavor?"

"Besides, don't you think there's a huge gap between Chu Sheng's appearance and her personality? She looks so slutty."

"Those who know Gu Tingyan is her boyfriend understand, but those who don't would think she's acting like a slut to seduce someone else's man."

Qin Shu, now, her looks are a perfect ten, it's just that her temperament is too cold; I guess men just like those little women who worship them, cater to them, and flatter them.

If anyone were to harass Qin Shu, she would probably smash a wine bottle over their head.

The colleague felt quite the same: "True, men just love them slutty in bed."

The few people's hushed discussion still reached the ears of Qin Shu and Gu Tingyan, and instantly, Gu Tingyan's face turned black.

He took a step back, putting a large distance between himself and Chu Sheng, who was walking toward him.

Chu Sheng's face turned slightly pale, and she stopped in her tracks, but soon a smile appeared on her face: "Tingyan, why are you here?"

Gu Tingyan said indifferently: "Just passing by."