“It’s about time now.”
In his office, Gu Tingshen looked at the online public opinion that was already heated up. He lightly tapped the desk, about to instruct Secretary Qin to start counterattacking, but then paused abruptly, “Wait.”
Secretary Qin looked up at him, puzzled.
However, Gu Tingshen didn’t pay attention to him. He clicked open the explosive video that had suddenly popped up to the top and took a quick look. Then he raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise but didn’t dwell on it. He directly looked up at Secretary Qin and said, “Go check the new clarification video online. If there are no issues, we can start from there first.”
Naturally, the best counterattack against slander is the true original video, which is more convincing.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Qin also immediately clicked open his phone screen to take a look. His eyes lit up instantly. He responded and hurried out to prepare.
After Secretary Qin left, Gu Tingshen thought for a moment, then called Jing Li.
The phone rang several times before it was picked up. He didn’t know if the other party was frightened by the online commotion.
Thinking of this, Gu Tingshen could not help but soften his tone, “It’s me, Gu Tingshen. I saw what happened online. I’ve asked Secretary Qin to handle it.” After a pause, he reassured, “Don’t worry. Since your brother entrusted you to me, I certainly won’t neglect you when he’s not around.”
There was a brief silence on the phone before Jing Li’s voice came through, “Thank you, Tingshen-ge. But there’s no need. I’m already prepared to deal with this.”
Jing Li sounded calm and composed, not panicked or flustered like Gu Tingshen had imagined. This made Gu Tingshen’s impression of the young man even better, and he felt a hint of admiration.
Hearing the rejection, Gu Tingshen thought Jing Li was being polite by declining his help. He was about to persuade Jing Li when Secretary Qin, who had stepped out earlier, suddenly rushed back in and said, “President Gu, I’ve verified that the latest video is authentic. But it seems someone is already pushing it behind the scenes. It’s now ranked near the top of the hot search. Do you want to investigate who is behind this?”
Gu Tingshen was stunned for a moment, then raised his eyebrows in surprise. Recalling Jing Li’s earlier words, he couldn’t help laughing softly.
It appears the young man wasn’t just being polite with him after all.
“No need. Don’t do anything, just keep an eye on it for now,” Gu Tingshen said. Then he laughed and spoke into the phone, “Since you already have a plan, I won’t interfere too much. But you can still call me if you need anything. This is my personal number, open 24 hours a day.”
Hearing Jing Li respond on the other end, Gu Tingshen smiled and hung up the phone.
“…President Gu, were you speaking with Er Shao just now?” Secretary Qin saw his reaction and couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes,” Gu Tingshen readily admitted. Then he looked up at Secretary Qin with a smile and said, “It seems you were right. My impression of him before was perhaps a bit one-sided.”
Hearing the affirmation in his tone, Secretary Qin also smiled, feeling proud that someone he admired was recognized by an important person.
After ending the call with Gu Tingshen, Jing Li’s mood didn’t fluctuate much, as if the call didn’t surprise him at all. Indeed, given Jing Yu’s personality, even if he verbally agreed to let Jing Li make his own way, he would never truly leave him vulnerable in private.
That was the softest love in his heart.
Jing Li smiled contently, stroking the phone screen. Just as he was considering whether to give his dear brother a call, the screen suddenly lit up again. He glanced down and couldn’t help laughing. He swiftly picked up and gently called out, “Ge, have you arrived in Country X?”
However, Jing Yu, on the other end, clearly didn’t share his good mood.
“What’s going on online? How dare that scumbag Zhong Liangchen do this to you?!” Jing Yu started off with sky-high anger. The self-restraint he had built up over the years instantly collapsed at that moment.
He had come to Country X for a business trip these past few days and had just gotten off the plane when his assistant informed him about Jing Li’s situation. After listening briefly, he couldn’t help but call to check on his brother.
After a pause, as if afraid his tone would scare his younger brother, he forcibly calmed himself and said as gently as possible, “Don’t worry, your ge will resolve this for you. If you’re scared, I’ll arrange a plane ticket to send you to me first?”
“Ge, don’t get angry. I’m fine,” Jing Li was startled by his urgent voice and realized he had probably seen the scandals online. He quickly reassured, “Also, I’ve arranged everything already. He won’t get away with this. Why don’t you check Weibo again?”
Jing Yu fell silent for a moment, then had his assistant immediately open Weibo. Sure enough, he saw public opinion starting to shift gradually online, and his anger dissipated slightly. But he still said indignantly, “This is far from enough. He dared to do that to you, this time I will make sure he becomes a sewer rat that will never dare stick his head up again!”
“Of course, this is not enough,” Jing Li agreed lightly with a chuckle, but his eyes were icy cold without any warmth. “I won’t let him off so easily either, including those who schemed against me with him.”
“But Ge, don’t waste your energy on these trash. I’ve got this. Also, didn’t you have Tingshen-ge to help me too?” Jing Li smiled and changed the topic, “You just got off the plane, right? Go back and rest at the hotel first. I’ll come over and cook dinner for you when you get back?”
After a pause, he added, “I’ll make it myself.”
Hearing Jing Li mention Gu Tingshen, Jing Yu was silent for a few seconds, guessing that Gu Tingshen had probably already made a move, and he felt a lot more at ease. He was still very confident in Gu Tingshen’s ability to deal with things. Moreover, hearing his brother say he would personally cook for him made his heart involuntarily flutter with excitement. This was the first time his brother had taken the initiative to cook for him!
“Alright. I’ll finish up work as soon as possible to hurry back.” In the end, he couldn’t resist the temptation and agreed. He was already planning out his schedule in anticipation, eager to hurry back and taste his brother’s cooking.
Hearing the obvious suppressed excitement in the receiver, Jing Li couldn’t help showing a gentle smile.
The two chatted idly for a while longer before finally hanging up at Jing Li’s insistence that his brother rest.
In the time the two were talking, online opinion underwent another round of changes.
Not long after the “full video” was pushed to hot search, it caused quite a sensation. Right after, Director Li, who had been silent all this time, also updated Weibo.
Li Yi V: For unprofessional and undisciplined actors like Lin Xiao, I really don’t want to and dare not cooperate again. [Video attached]
It was rare for a director to make such a statement on Weibo. After all, everyone operated in the same circle, so no one wanted to completely tear their face apart. Also, no one would speak in absolutes in case there was no room left for both parties later on.
Therefore, as soon as Director Li’s Weibo was posted, countless netizens instantly went crazy. But after watching the video, their expressions turned complicated.
The video contained two takes of Lin Xiao’s audition. At first, everyone didn’t notice anything off, but they were all rendered speechless shortly after the opening.
Lin Xiao’s performance was decent initially, but as soon as he crossed the threshold, he instantly crumbled under Mr. Wang Xi’s harsh questioning. His whole face went pale as he stood there frozen, not responding for a long time until Director Li’s loud yell finally snapped him out of it. What’s more, the instant he heard Director Li’s voice, his expression clearly revealed immense relief.
Although everyone was also frightened by that shout, they weren’t actors. It was normal to have such instinctive reactions. But Lin Xiao was a professional actor who knew the plot progression. Yet even so, he was scared to such an extent, which was really too unprofessional!
Under normal circumstances, his performance was bad enough to get him eliminated on the spot. But he begged Director Li for another chance using the excuse of being too nervous, and Director Li reluctantly agreed despite his dissatisfaction.
However, during the second take, although he tried his best to stay calm, the subtle expressions on his face still betrayed his unease, giving off an incompatible, unnatural feeling as if watching a clown forcing himself to perform. It made people very uncomfortable.
Then when he looked at Fu Yan kneeling on the ground, he crumbled again. His face showed obvious shock and surprise as he regarded the other person. He was clearly at a loss due to fear, as if looking at something scalding hot.
After two continuous mistakes, Director Li finally lost his patience and wanted to dismiss him. But the man shamelessly said he was too tired from rushing over, hoping Director Li could give him some time to adjust.
Such a request seemed too shameless. Director Li was quite angry, but in the end, it was Jing Li, who he claimed was targeting and suppressing him, who spoke up to give him another chance. Although Jing Li’s attitude was indifferent, it was far from the malice previously described. Rather, he displayed an indifferent disregard.
On the contrary, after Jing Li interceded for him, not only did Lin Xiao not show any gratitude, but he also didn’t even glance at Jing Li before arrogantly walking away.
This contrasted extremely with the humble and pitiful image he portrayed, causing the expressions of the netizens watching the video to become subtle.
“…Am I wrong, or was Director Li already quite lenient to Lin Xiao?”
“If Director Li had chosen him, it would be an insult to the young master!”
“Did I see wrong just now? I actually saw Jing Li interceding for Lin Xiao? And Lin Xiao still arrogantly snubbed him?”
“Considering the previous video, how did Lin Xiao even have the nerve to provoke Jing Li?”
“As expected of a third party, such inconsistent behavior is really frightening!”
“I came here fully intending to bash him, but after watching the video, I…I’m sorry for the intrusion!”
…
The netizens’ impressions of Lin Xiao crumbled even further, feeling somewhat surreal. Especially those who had been following the matter and speaking up for him since last night. They were so aggrieved they wanted to go back in time to slap themselves.
Just then, Director Li posted again.
Li Yi V: I only consider acting skills when casting. To be fair, let me upload Jing Li’s audition video as well. [Video attached]
The video contained clips of Jing Li’s previous audition. Compared to Lin Xiao’s, it was clearly much better.
In the video, Jing Li wore a moon-white robe and walked gracefully towards an ancient room, his features handsome and refined, exactly like a privileged young master raised in luxury. Yet he also exuded an otherworldly aura of an exiled immortal1‘不食人间烟火’ (bù shí rén jiān yān huǒ) conveys a desire to live a simple and detached life, away from the mundane and worldly affairs. It can be translated as ‘not eating the fireworks of the mortal world’ or ‘not indulging in the worldly distractions.’ This phrase is often used to describe someone who seeks solitude, tranquility, and a life free from materialistic desires. It implies a longing for a peaceful existence, detached from the chaos and distractions of everyday life. It can be seen as an aspiration to live a more spiritual or ascetic lifestyle.
However, the moment he stepped over the threshold, his expression instantly changed to that of an arrogant, spoiled young master arguing with his father to try and save a friend who had made a mistake and was about to be punished.
The father was played by the esteemed Mr. Wang Xi. His face was stern as he angrily reprimanded Jing Li, his voice full of vigor and even more formidable than when he acted with Lin Xiao earlier, startling the netizens watching the video and making them reflexively lean back to avoid it. Yet Jing Li remained unperturbed, even laughing along and accepting the scolding. This instantly rendered Mr. Wang Xi at a loss for words. After some witty banter, Jing Li successfully saved his friend, leaving behind a helpless-looking old father.
The video froze on Mr. Wang Xi’s resigned yet doting expression.
The release of this video shocked countless people again.
If Director Li had only released Jing Li’s audition clip, the impact wouldn’t have been so strong. But with Lin Xiao’s video for comparison, the difference in their acting was made glaringly obvious.
Even just watching through the screen from afar, everyone was deeply drawn in by their natural and smooth performances, even checking the progress bar, hoping to see more.
It wasn’t until they saw the time show 0:00 that they realized the video had long ended.
The release of these two videos completely exploded the comments section.
“This is called no acting skills? Then I really don’t know what acting skills are!”
“I finally understand Director Li’s feelings! Because I’m also extremely excited after watching!”
“Mr. Wang Xi’s criticism was indeed reasonable!”
“If even skills like these require connections for a role, how many hundreds of millions did Lin Xiao have to spend2So they are implying Jing Li’s acting skills are so good that if Lin Xiao were to use money/connections to get the role over Jing Li, he would have had to spend an exorbitant amount, essentially meaning Jing Li’s skills are worth that much money comparatively. ?!”
“Where are those antis from earlier? You’ve seen the acting now, I just want to know if your faces hurt?”
“I’m sorry, Jing Li. I apologize to you! You are the perfect young master in my mind! I beg you to complete this role!!!”
…
By this point, most people’s opinions had shifted towards Jing Li. Many were already voluntarily deleting their previous comments on Jing Li’s Weibo and sincerely apologizing, hoping to gain his forgiveness.
In an instant, online opinion became polarized. Some started looking at the incident rationally, deleting comments, apologizing, and attacking Lin Xiao, demanding he come out and directly respond. Others still firmly believed in Lin Xiao’s innocence and tried to find all kinds of evidence to support their viewpoint.
Of course, most of the latter were paid online navy hired by Lin Xiao’s side. And the stockpiled evidence clearly wouldn’t hold up much longer.
“No, this can’t be! I clearly remember that the audition was not recorded at all!” Looking at the video on Director Li’s Weibo, Lin Xiao’s face was pale with disbelief.
But no matter how unwilling he was to admit it, the facts were there before his eyes, impossible to deny.
“Baby, don’t panic. It’ll be fine,” Zhong Liangchen hugged him tightly from behind, gently comforting him, “So what if there’s video proof of his skills? Don’t forget his intruding between us is an ironclad fact. Those videos can’t be faked.”
“Besides, have you forgotten we still have our final card? Once the evidence Wu Fan obtained is released, all these things will become invalid!”
These words greatly soothed Lin Xiao’s emotions, causing his mood to gradually calm down again. But before the matter was fully resolved, he still felt somewhat uneasy and couldn’t help urging, “Then hurry up and contact Wang Junwen and Wu Fan, and have them upload the evidence right away!”
Zhong Liangchen nodded and took out his phone to contact Wang Junwen. But before he could dial, his screen prompted that Wu Fan had updated Weibo.
Zhong Liangchen raised his brows slightly in surprise, thinking Wang Junwen had already instructed someone to release the evidence first. Lin Xiao was also pleasantly surprised and hurriedly tapped to view it. But upon seeing the content, his complexion paled completely.
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