Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, I became a legend in the entertainment industry by avo

Chapter 168 The Catfish Effect Triggered by Zhang Qilin

Brother Long sat down next to Zhang Qilin and casually said, "I heard you're working on that online thing? Have you gone through the proper procedures?"

"It's going through the process, and it may take several months to get a result," Zhang Qilin replied politely.

Brother Long smiled at him: "When dealing with the media, if you confront them head-on, they'll just get more excited. I used to try to get angry with reporters, but I found it didn't work. The more you get angry, the more they'll write."

"There's nothing I can do, Brother Long," Zhang Qilin said with a helpless expression. "Some things, taking a step back doesn't necessarily lead to a brighter future; it just makes people think you can take two steps back next time. If you don't overturn the table the first time, there will always be people who want to take your rice bowl."

After hearing Zhang Qilin's words, Brother Long looked at him seriously and said, "I understand what you mean, but let me tell you something: you have to show the right attitude, but you don't necessarily have to overturn the table."

He smiled and spoke as if chatting casually: "Back when I was in Hollywood, people wanted me to play villains, but I said I would never play villains. If I were to, the pay would be $500 million. In the end, they didn't cast me, and I didn't offend anyone."

"Back then—didn't you ever think about compromising?" Zhang Qilin asked curiously.

"Compromise?" Brother Long thought for a moment. "It depends on the situation. Some things can be circumvented, and some things can't. But I was foolish when I was young. I went head-to-head with people and got hurt. Later, my master told me, 'Your fist is strong, but you don't necessarily have to throw it. Just holding it up is enough.'"

Zhang Qilin nodded thoughtfully.

Brother Long patted him on the shoulder and laughed, "I think you did the right thing this time, not because you overturned the table, but because you know what you're doing. In this industry, it's enough for people to know you have a bottom line. As for where that bottom line is, you don't need to shout it out. Let people figure it out slowly."

After hearing this, Zhang Qilin nodded: "Thank you, Brother Long. I'll remember what you said."

Brother Long waved his hand: "Don't be so serious. I'm just chatting. If I say anything wrong, don't take it to heart. Everyone in the entertainment industry has their own way of surviving. What I'm saying is just my experience, and it may not be suitable for you."

"No, I am very grateful that Brother Long taught me how to conduct myself in the world. I will keep it in mind," Zhang Qilin said sincerely.

Brother Long smiled and shook his head: "You kid, you're too good with words. If my movies offer you a suitable role in the future, don't turn it down."

Zhang Qilin nodded earnestly: "Definitely, thank you, Brother Long."

After finishing his sentence, Brother Long stood up, nodded, and left.

Looking at Brother Long's retreating figure, Zhang Qilin knew that he was doing it for his own good.

But as Brother Long said, everyone in the entertainment industry has their own way of dealing with things.

He only believed in the results of divination.

If the divination shows that this person has ill intentions towards him.

Even if the other party doesn't take any action, he will strike first for his own safety.

This is his way of dealing with the world.

Not far away, several young actors who were filming the movie together huddled together, discussing in hushed tones.

He glanced at Zhang Qilin from time to time, his eyes filled with amazement and a sense of sudden understanding.

"My God, they really filed a lawsuit? Or is it a private criminal prosecution?"

"That's not all. I heard that the magazine is almost bankrupt, and its accounts have been frozen."

"The Beijing People's Art Theatre has joined the fray, they're really going all out!"

"I initially thought he was just lucky to be chosen by Director Zhang and Brother Long, but I never expected he had someone behind him—"

"Even with a powerful background, you still need to have the ability. Didn't you see how polite the director and Brother Long were to him? But you absolutely mustn't offend him in the future—"

"Nonsense, who would dare? A media outlet can just disappear like that—"

Zhang Qilin did not hear these whispers.

Even if he heard it, he wouldn't care.

The matter seemed to be over, but he knew it was just the beginning.

The enemy lurking in the shadows has failed in their probe this time, losing a pawn, and will not let it go easily.

They will only become more secretive and wait for the next opportunity.

His public persona in the industry has also changed from a promising newcomer to a cunning and unapproachable newcomer.

This might scare away a lot of minor troubles, but it could also attract deeper suspicion and scrutiny.

However, that's all for the future.

Zhang Yi sat in his studio, several news headlines displayed on his computer screen.

"Star News Express" has announced its cessation of publication.

Editor-in-Chief Li Yan was taken away for investigation.

Zhang Qilin's defamation lawsuit against the media has been filed as a criminal case.

The report detailed the entire incident:

From a vague accusation at the filming ceremony, to a series of strong statements from the production team and the Beijing People's Art Theatre, and then to the uncovering of the opposing magazine's dark history, the freezing of its accounts, and the filing of a criminal self-prosecution case—

The whole process was swift, accurate, and ruthless. Within just one or two days, a smear campaign aimed at gaining attention was crushed on the spot, barely making a splash.

"I underestimated him," Zhang Yi said in a low voice, his tone revealing no emotion.

Because of a phone call, he had to cast Zhang Qilin as Instructor Li, but he still harbored a thorn in his side.

Even if a newcomer who was forced in through connections has a decent appearance and demeanor, he still feels awkward around him.

I had a chance encounter with this person at the airport last time, and seeing their sincerity in putting in the hard work, my impression of them changed somewhat.

But this news forced him to re-evaluate the young man.

This decisiveness and drive were evident from the very beginning of his public relations team's mission to eliminate the opponent.

The way this person does things is unlike any other resource-rich person he has ever met.

Those people want top billing, exposure, and traffic; they want to get all the benefits for themselves.

But what about the forces behind Zhang Qilin?

They simply put him into the production team, without demanding a lead role, a specific billing order, or special treatment. They even made him go to the Beijing People's Art Theatre to rehearse diligently first.

Then, when someone splashed dirty water on him, they smashed his rice bowl and took the pot.

This doesn't feel like promoting a celebrity.

This is about protecting a work of art.

Or to be more precise, they are protecting someone they have their eye on.

"It seems it's not just about gilding," Zhang Yi thought to himself.

In the short term, this may not be a bad thing for the "The Flowers of War" production team.

At least before powering on, a large amount of negative noise will be cleared away, saving a lot of trouble in terms of advertising.

Zhang Qilin's popularity and media attention will also surge.

But what about in the long run?

Is having an actor with such a background and resources on the set a blessing or a curse?

He couldn't predict it.

But he knew that since he was going to use it, he should use it to the fullest extent.

Background and connections may pave the way for Zhang Qilin, but his performance in front of the camera depends entirely on his own efforts.

He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

As soon as the call connected, he said, "Next month, let's change the military training unit that Zhang Qilin will experience to a special forces unit. Let him train in a more rigorous environment, which will help him gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the role."

Aside from those in the film and television industry who are close to Zhang Qilin, their opinions of him have changed because of this incident.

Other colleagues in the industry had more complex attitudes.

Zhang Qilin single-handedly brought down an entertainment media company, and the speed and ruthlessness of the operation far exceeded many people's expectations.

No newcomer has ever done this before.

Those colleagues who were used to the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry were stunned.

The various forces that might have been observing or even secretly trying to fuel the flames instantly abandoned all their ulterior motives.

A conference room at a well-known talent agency in Shanghai.

Several agents sat around a long table, with Zhang Qilin's detailed information displayed on a projector in front of them.

From enrolling at the Beijing People's Art Theatre to joining the production team for "The 1911 Revolution," from the opening ceremony to today's media battle.

"Let's all speak," the middle-aged woman sitting in the main seat said. "What do you think of Zhang Qilin?"

"He's not someone to mess with," the man sitting on the left said bluntly. "The speed and force of this counterattack are something that ordinary people can't do. He either has a lot of capital backing him or a very strong family background. Either way, our artists should avoid him if they encounter him in the future."

"I disagree," another younger woman retorted. "It's precisely because he's not someone to mess with that we need to pay more attention to him. He's taken a different path than others. He came from the Beijing People's Art Theatre and started out in historical dramas. He's not following the traffic route. If someone like him establishes himself, he'll become a powerhouse actor, the kind who can win awards. Instead of avoiding him, we should think about how to cooperate with him."

"A collaboration?" The man on the left scoffed. "A sizable magazine, gone just like that, with even the editor-in-chief in jail. They're going to destroy it completely. Do you think someone like that would go easy on their partners?"

"That's because they struck first," the young woman retorted defiantly. "If you were in their shoes and someone threw dirty water at you, wouldn't you want to fight back?"

"Alright," the middle-aged woman at the head of the table tapped the table, "Stop arguing."

The meeting room fell silent.

The middle-aged woman stood up, walked to the projector, and pointed to Zhang Qilin's photo on the screen.

"No matter how you see it, one thing is certain: this young man is a strong contender for roles in period dramas, serious dramas, and roles of talented young men. If any of our artists receive similar roles, they will definitely encounter him during the casting process."

She looked around.

"So instead of worrying about whether he's easy to mess with, we should think about how to maintain a normal relationship with someone who's destined to rise to power."

No one responded.

The middle-aged woman turned off the projector.

"That's enough for now. Go back and tell your artists that if they encounter Zhang Qilin in public, they should greet him politely. This industry isn't that big, but it's not that small either; we'll meet again someday."

The group got up and left one after another.

The young woman walked last, and she suddenly remembered a saying: "In the entertainment industry, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and the friend of my friend is not necessarily my friend. But there is one type of person you'd better not make an enemy of: the kind of person who is not afraid of death."

Zhang Qilin is clearly this kind of person.

He successfully established a reputation for being someone not to be trifled with by causing the collapse of one media outlet.

Many people who might have tried to take advantage of him because he was a newcomer now have to reconsider whether they are more powerful than a media outlet.

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