Chapter 70: Jing Tian: I'll Hammer You to Death! (Please Favorite and Recommend)

"There's one more thing," Qi Hui said. "These can get back at the other party, but they don't do anything to improve your situation."

"You'll still be exposed as having cheated during your marriage—that can't be changed."

Hearing this, Old Ling glanced at the entertainment news broadcast on the TV and nodded helplessly.

That was an objective fact.

"So, you need to improve your own image," Qi Hui said.

"How?"

"Play a positive role," Qi Hui said, spreading his hands.

Old Ling was baffled: "I've always played the positive male lead!"

He wouldn't even play a scumbag like Hong Shixian.

"Still not positive enough," Qi Hui said, taking out a document. "This is what counts as truly positive."

"I'm a special forces soldier... oh, you mean act as a soldier?" Ling Xiaosu had a sudden realization—our military was indeed an indisputably positive image.

"Mm," Qi Hui nodded. "I plan to audition for the male lead of this show. You're free anyway, why not come along?"

"There's time. Once you've made your three moves, it'll also let you lie low through the storm."

Old Ling glanced at Qi Hui, who was sitting ramrod straight, and nodded: "Sure, I'll be your supporting actor for once."

"But I have some concerns," Old Ling thought for a moment and said. "Isn't it not great for us to use the military's image like this?"

Using the military to suppress the blossoms of evil was perfectly reasonable... Qi Hui thought to himself, but couldn't say it out loud. He immediately rolled his eyes and said:

"It is a bit not great. If you feel bad about it, just buy a few extra packs of cigarettes and give them a raise in military funding."

"When you get the chance in the future, do more roles like this and help them expand their influence."

Saying so, Qi Hui pulled out a pack of Liqun and handed it over.

"Makes sense..." Old Ling nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

He took a cigarette, lit it, and began to smoke leisurely.

Qi Hui chatted with Old Ling about some more details, while Zhang Ruoyun looked on, filling in the gaps.

Like Tang Yifei, for instance.

The person involved that both Qi Hui and Old Ling had subconsciously overlooked—only when Little Zhang brought her up did they remember.

After all the details were ironed out, Qi Hui and Little Zhang left, and Old Ling set about making his plans.

Of course, before Qi Hui left, he casually snapped a photo of Old Ling and posted his haggard-looking face on Weibo.

Playing the sympathy card... no time like the present.

Watching Qi Hui and his companion leave, Old Ling dialed a number and recounted what had just happened.

"Was this your own idea?"

"No, Qi Hui helped come up with it," Old Ling answered truthfully. "Mom, I've told you about him."

"I remember now," the voice on the other end said. "That young man who took you to catch fugitives, right?"

"A really nice young man, but didn't you say before that you didn't want to blow things up?"

"But she's already blown things up... forget it, let's not talk about that. So what do you think?"

"The idea is pretty good, worth a try," the voice on the other end said. "I'll handle the third step—the exposé—for you."

"Great," Ling Xiaosu nodded repeatedly. "But, about that show of ours..."

"I can ask around for you, but it's a military-led project, there's nothing we can do about it," the voice came through the phone. "You can't pull strings to get into the military."

"All I can do is make things a bit fairer for you during the audition."

"Understood," Old Ling nodded. After all, it was the military—they had their own casting standards.

Weibo.

Qi Hui's account posted a photo taken from a candid angle.

In the photo, Ling Xiaosu looked haggard, his eyes vacant, drinking away his sorrows, while Zhang Ruoyun beside him was full of vigor, smiling.

Soon, the witty netizens—er, the clever netizens—came swarming over.

Ling Xiaosu and Yao Chen had been the model couple of the entertainment circle, so their sudden divorce had generated no ordinary amount of buzz.

And Qi Hui's candid-angle photo revealed quite a lot.

"Boo hoo, my heart aches for Handsome Ling!"

"The divorce hit him too hard, he's a mess."

"Xiaoxiao, you have to pull yourself together!"

"Bah, scumbag!"

That was from a female fan. Though he was being called a scumbag, fan loyalty was still there.

"Are we sure it's a divorce and not public pressure?"

"The internet is terrifying, it can actually push someone to this state."

"Why feel sorry for him? He's a scumbag!"

"I think it's because of the ex-wife's pressure. In America, an ex-wife's destructive power is no joke."

"Exactly! The kind where one divorce leaves you bankrupt and homeless!"

"Ex-wives really are terrifying creatures."

"Why blame women? Setting aside the facts, aren't you guys in the wrong too?"

"F*** your mother, what do you mean 'setting aside the facts'?"

"If you're not talking facts, what are you talking about? Are you brain-dead?"

"Ignore him, just a lunatic."

"..."

Looking at the comments on the screen, Qi Hui stroked his chin; the situation was better than he had imagined.

At least it wasn't a one-sided call for blood.

Without the character Hong Shixian, Old Ling had to bear far less fire.

Combined with his deliberate guidance and the water army Old Ling had mobilized, public opinion did not tilt entirely toward Evil Flower.

Time slipped by; in the blink of an eye, two or three days had passed.

A message arrived from Lei Da's end: his wedding date was approaching; remember to come, okay?

Beep-beep-beep~

"Senior Brother, do you have time? Want to come out?" Jing Tian suddenly sent a message.

"Ah~ Junior Sister, I thought you were angry with me," Qi Hui rolled his eyes and sent back a somewhat resentful message.

"I'm not, I'm not at all!" Jing Tian replied instantly.

It was all because of those two photos... She had already viewed the original and saved it, but still felt a bit uneasy.

"Senior Brother, let's talk business," Jing Tian sent a message.

"What business?"

"The movie I told you about!" Jing Tian said: "A period epic, investment of 150 million, starring Wu Zhenyu and Kim Hee-sun."

"I want to recommend you for the male lead."

"Ah, this..." Qi Hui looked at the message she sent; his heart beat traitorously.

So tempting... If only he didn't know what movie this was.

"Junior Sister, I really want to go, but I have no schedule," Qi Hui sent a message: "I just accepted the male lead in a drama a few days ago."

"What?" Jing Tian was shocked: "Open the door; I'm coming down to find you right now."

Having said that, she tossed her phone aside and rushed downstairs in her slippers.

Just as Qi Hui opened the door, she was hurrying toward him.

"Senior Brother, what's going on?" Jing Tian, no longer caring about her earlier shyness, put her hands on her hips, tilted her head back, and glared at Qi Hui:

"Just turn it down, that's all!"

If you don't explain clearly... I really want to hammer you to death!

"Ahem... It's a drama led by the army," Qi Hui coughed twice and said, somewhat guiltily:

"I can't turn it down; if I do, won't I be a deserter?"

The girl's gaze was somewhat terrifying; he couldn't afford to be unafraid.

Hearing this, Jing Tian was speechless; she scratched her head, wanting to speak but stammering, not knowing what to say.

She simply couldn't find a suitable reason.

"Didn't I mention it to you last time?" Jing Tian was somewhat angry, her cheeks puffed out: "Why take on a new drama?"

"Didn't make it clear," Qi Hui shrugged: "Last time we were too busy watching the movie and being scared to talk in depth."

That was true... Jing Tian felt helpless.

"If you don't believe me, look; I still have photos!" Qi Hui said, about to pull out a photo of the two of them.

Jing Tian was deeply embarrassed: "N-no need to look at photos..."

Qi Hui pressed his advantage: "Don't worry, this time it's my fault; next time! Next time I'll definitely go with you."

"No, no... It's not your fault," Jing Tian said, her voice beginning to soften.

Done... Qi Hui sighed with slight relief.

"Well then... Senior Brother, if there's nothing else, I'll go first," Jing Tian said somewhat awkwardly.

She had come so hurriedly that she only just realized she was wearing slippers and a short-sleeved shirt, her hair uncombed, her face bare.

It must have looked terribly ugly!

She needed to hurry back.

"No rush," Qi Hui quickly held her back and said earnestly: "Junior Sister, there's a wedding; can you go with me?"

"... Ah?" Jing Tian tilted her head, somewhat dazed.