I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

No. 31 Xiaoyun Road.

Yang Mi sat cross-legged on the sofa, wearing a loose black silk slip dress with a low neckline.

A large expanse of snow-white skin was exposed on her chest. The fabric of her nightgown was thin and clingy, outlining her slender waist and full breasts.

She was scrolling through Weibo with her head down, her fingers flying across the screen, her brows furrowing more and more tightly.

"Are these people blind? Can't they see such a top-notch production team? Why are they fixated on you?!"

Jiang Chen took the phone, glanced at the comments section, calmly put it down, and said, "Normal."

"Normal?" Yang Mi's eyes widened, and she leaned forward, the neckline of her nightgown shaking violently with the movement!

They called you a washed-up celebrity! They said you weren't good enough for me!

"I am indeed obscure," Jiang Chen said. "The Fourteenth Prince only appeared in a few episodes in 'Palace,' so it's normal that the audience doesn't remember him."

"Aren't you angry?"

"Why are you angry? They'll shut up once the show airs."

"What if it doesn't go well on broadcast?"

"If I don't do well on the show, I'll quit the industry, and you'll support me."

"Dream on!" Yang Mi rolled her eyes at him. "No way, you have to consider the owner before you hit a dog! Insulting you is the same as insulting me, isn't it?"

Jiang Chen: "..."

"I have to post something on Weibo to support you! I'll say... I'll say that Jiang Chen is the most talented actor I've ever met, and show you how much your older sister cares for you!"

"Then send it!"

"Then...then I've really struck it rich..."

"Alright, honey," Jiang Chen snatched the phone from her hand, "stop pretending."

Yang Mi's hand hovered in mid-air: "...What?"

"If you dare post that, Zeng Jia will kill you!"

"What your team fears most right now is having their relationship exposed. If you post on Weibo to support me, tomorrow's headline will be 'Yang Mi's relationship confirmed.'"

Yang Mi blinked, then suddenly leaned closer, resting her chin on his shoulder, her soft chest pressing against his arm.

"...Why don't you just stand back and play along with my act!"

Jiang Chen dribbles with one hand, "Actually, this is a good thing!"

"The more people criticize me, the more people will know the name Jiang Chen. Right now, the whole internet is asking who Jiang Chen is; that's what popularity is."

"But this is black-hot popularity..."

"Being controversial is still being famous," Jiang Chen said, switching to dribbling with both hands. "It'll all be better once the show airs!"

Actually, he originally planned to hire some online trolls to stir up trouble. It would be a shame not to take advantage of such a good opportunity.

It would be best to stir up trouble among Hu Ge's fans, intensify the conflict, and use Hu Ge for publicity; he definitely won't lose out.

However, it would be inconvenient for him to handle this himself. If he asked Yang Mi to do it, she would have to ask Zeng Jia, which would easily leave her with something to hold against her.

When Da Mimi later partnered with Zeng Jia to start a company, her shareholding was so low that she was clearly being manipulated.

No one who makes it big in the entertainment industry is a fool.

It's definitely time to get moving and form a team to build a studio.

In the entertainment industry, you can't go far by going it alone; you need your own team.

……

Hengdian World Studios

The crew of "Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky" was stationed near the Qingming Riverside Scene scenic area. A row of bungalows surrounded a small courtyard, with a sign hanging at the entrance that read "Crew Site, No Visitors Allowed".

Nazha sat in a folding chair in the corner of the courtyard, holding the script and lost in thought.

At nineteen years old, her skin was so fair it glowed, and her eyes and brows had the deep features unique to people from Xinjiang, yet she also possessed the delicate beauty of a Han Chinese girl.

Her hair was styled into an intricate bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears. A teardrop-shaped blue gemstone adorned her forehead, making her exotic face stand out even more.

This was her first time acting, and she was so nervous that her palms were sweaty.

She had to do several takes for that scene in the morning, and the director's expression was already quite displeased.

She dared not drink water, afraid that going to the toilet would take up too much time, and her lips were so dry they were peeling.

"Nazha!" A female voice came from behind.

She turned her head, and Cai Yinong was standing behind her at some point.

"Hello, Mr. Cai," Na Zha said timidly as she walked over.

"Sit down, don't be nervous, we're just chatting."

"What's your decision?" Cai Yinong asked bluntly. "Sign with our company."

In February of this year, Nazha went to the Beijing Film Academy to participate in the preliminary examination for the acting department. A set of photos of her without makeup went viral online, and she was dubbed "the most beautiful candidate of the Beijing Film Academy" by the media.

The photos were shared incredibly many times, and many film and television companies began to pay attention to this young woman from Xinjiang.

Tang Ren was one of them.

At the time, "Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky" had been in preparation for more than half a year, but the role of "Xiao Xue" in the drama could not be finalized.

This role required the actress to have an exotic look, be young, clean, and spirited; several actresses were auditioned but none were satisfactory.

When Hu Ge saw Nazha's photo on the news, he forwarded it to Cai Yinong and added a comment: "This girl looks genuine and is suitable for Xiaoxue."

After seeing the photo, Cai Yinong was cast without even having an audition.

"Mr. Cai, I...I haven't decided yet!"

"No rush," Cai Yinong smiled. "Think it over carefully. But I sincerely advise you that if you really intend to enter the entertainment industry, Tang Ren should be your best choice."

"We have Hu Ge and Liu Shishi, a mature production team, and stable broadcasting channels. With your qualifications, you might be overlooked or... misled in other companies."

"I know other companies are contacting you," Cai Yinong said calmly, "but Tangren can give you something that others can't. The role of Xiaoxue is something countless newcomers would kill for. If you come, we will train you well."

Naza lowered his head, his fingers twisting together on his knee.

She wasn't actually listening to Cai Yinong.

She was thinking of Jiang Chen.

Since that first encounter, the two have met several more times.

I've bumped into him in the hallway, next to the parcel rack in the community, and another time when she was buying yogurt at the convenience store downstairs, he came back from outside carrying two bags of fruit and casually gave her one bag.

But each time, they would just say hello and then go about their own business.

The guy next door seems really busy. He's always disappearing without a trace. You never see him during the day, but his lights stay on until midnight.

Of course she'd seen the recent news.

He's actually going to play the male lead, Baili Tusu, in "Swords of Legends".

She saw every single one of the many people criticizing him online, and she was so angry that she wanted to step in and defend him, but she didn't know how to start.

I'm going to get into the Beijing Film Academy too.

Will she become his junior sister then?

They went to the same school, studied the same major, and she even lived next door to him.

Should I ask him about my career plans?

After all, he's my senior and a veteran in the industry, so he definitely knows more than I do.

As a token of our gratitude, we could treat him to a meal.

Nazha's lips unconsciously curled up slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

"Nezha?" Cai Yinong's voice pulled her back to reality.

"Oh? Mr. Cai, please speak."

"I'm telling you, think it over carefully. There's no rush, let's keep filming." Cai Yinong stood up, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "You have great potential, act well, and you'll have a bright future."

"Thank you, Mr. Cai."

Cai Yinong has passed away.

Naza sat in the chair, his mind filled with that thought from earlier.

What should I invite him to dinner?