Huayu: Starting with Hextech

The news came a little later for Lin Xiao.

It was Brother Hu who came over with his phone to show him.

"Bro, you've been on gossip forums." Brother Hu's expression was somewhat serious as he turned his phone screen towards Lin Xiao. "With Tang Yan. Were you photographed last night?"

Lin Xiao frowned slightly as he looked at the blurry picture and the comments below.

He didn't expect to be photographed. Although it was just a blurry photo, the description made the implication quite clear.

His first thought wasn't of himself, but of Tang Yan.

She must be under a lot of pressure.

Sure enough, he soon received a text message from Tang Yan.

The panic and grievances conveyed in the words weighed heavily on his heart.

He immediately called Tang Yan.

The call was answered quickly, and Tang Yan's voice, thick with a nasal tone, came through: "Feed..."

"Tangtang, don't be afraid." Lin Xiao's voice was calm and steady, as if it had the power to soothe people's hearts. "I saw it. A few blurry pictures don't prove anything."

"But Sister Xu is very angry... She told me I'm not allowed to see you anymore..." Tang Yan's voice trembled with tears again, "She also said the company might issue a statement..."

"Listen to your agent, don't meet them for now," Lin Xiao said calmly. "At a time like this, the more you avoid suspicion, the more suspicious you'll seem. Be open and honest, just treat it as a chance encounter between ordinary friends. If a statement is released, it should also be this way, which will be to our advantage."

"But..." Tang Yan was still worried, "Will it affect you? What about the 'Myth' production team..."

"I'm fine here," Lin Xiao reassured her. "Brother Hu and the director both know we're friends. A few blurry photos won't cause any big trouble. The key is for us to stay calm and focus on filming. A good film is more powerful than any clarification."

His composure and methodical approach gradually influenced Tang Yan, who sniffed, "Hmm...you're right. But...I miss you so much, and I'm so worried..."

"It's alright," Lin Xiao softened his tone. "Focus on filming 'Storm Riders 2' and don't let these things affect your performance. Wait until this storm passes. Remember, your best performance is the most important thing."

Lin Xiao comforted her for a few more minutes until Tang Yan calmed down before hanging up the phone.

Standing by the window, Lin Xiao looked at the Hengdian World Studios, a filming base still brightly lit in the night. He felt not much panic, but rather a sense of relief, as if "it's finally here," and a cold clarity.

The entertainment industry is indeed not an easy place to make a living.

A few blurry photos and a few unfounded speculations were enough to put Tang Yan on high alert, prompting her agency to intervene forcefully and order a "severing of ties."

Simply because they are rising newcomers, simply because they lack sufficient confidence and voice.

Without connections or power, even liking someone and wanting to be with them openly becomes so cautious and so "difficult".

This is just the beginning.

If in the future he really does want more, no longer be controlled by others, and even... greedily want to experience the bliss of having multiple wives, then the obstacles and turmoil he will face will be ten or a hundred times greater than they are now.

Relying on company statements to refute the rumors? Relying on carefully hiding?

No, that would be too passive.

He recalled a scene they had just filmed, where Zhang Shi, playing Gao Yao, after suffering countless humiliations and injustices, roared out in the shadows with a voice soaked in blood, tears, and madness, each word uttered with utter deliberation:

"I will climb to the top step by step, one step at a time!"

On set, he was deeply moved by Zhang Shi's incredibly dedicated and vibrant performance.

Looking back now, those words were a wake-up call.

Climb up!

Only by climbing to a high enough position and possessing sufficient strength and resources can one have the right to choose, protect those they want to protect, and live freely without having to depend on others.

Working for someone else, signing a contract to sell oneself, and being forever controlled by the agency, production company, and even public opinion? That's not the choice Lin Xiao would make in his second life.

Start a company, build your own entertainment empire, control resources, and set the rules.

This goal, which was originally somewhat distant, became incredibly clear and urgent at this moment.

He wants to climb step by step until no one dares to interfere in his private life, until his works become the ultimate authority, until... he can truly possess and protect everything he wants.

In the darkness of night, Lin Xiao's gaze grew increasingly resolute. The slight troubles and helplessness he had felt earlier had been completely replaced by a flame of ambition.

The road ahead is long, but he has a cheat code...

Just then, that familiar voice rang in Lin Xiao's mind once again:

[Ding! Host has been caught up in an entertainment industry scandal for the first time!]

[Achievement Completed: First Encounter with Trouble!]

[Hextech 'Entourage' Special Reward Triggered!]

Please choose one of the following three.

[Option 1: Exposure Boost Card. Effect: After use, it will increase the number of scenes featuring Chonglou and Zixuan during the broadcast of "Chinese Paladin 3," boosting the discussion and online exposure of your pairing with Tang Yan. This will attract more attention and discussion from drama fans, adding fuel to the fire for the drama's pre-release hype.]

Option Two: Public Opinion Cooling Card. Effect: After use, it can guide a small-scale shift or cooling of public opinion, reducing the discussion intensity of the current scandal topic, allowing it to subside more quickly, and reducing the continuous pressure on the parties involved.

Option 3: Focus Barrier. Effect: Gain a "low-profile" barrier for 72 hours, during which time you will be protected from being photographed by passersby or paparazzi.

Looking at these three options, Lin Xiao hardly hesitated.

Option two, the public opinion cooling card, seems to be a quick fix.

Tang Yan is under a lot of pressure. If the heat can be suppressed immediately, it might give her and her agent a break.

But Lin Xiao thought again that the scandal itself wasn't very popular right now, and was only being discussed in a small number of forums. Tang Yan's company had already intervened, so they would most likely handle it quietly or issue a lukewarm statement.

Using a precious system reward to solve a minor problem that will soon be resolved is not cost-effective.

Option three, focusing on the barrier, is useless to him now. Since he's not appearing with Tang Yan, who cares about his minor role?

His gaze finally settled on option one.

Exposure of promotional cards boosts the popularity of individuals and couples related to "Chinese Paladin 3".

Red is the most important color.

In this industry, the worst thing isn't scandals, but being ignored.

Especially for newcomers like him and Tang Yan, having a certain level of discussion and attention before the work airs, even if it's discussion tinged with ambiguity, is far better than being unknown.

"Chinese Paladin 3" is a drama that is destined to be a hit. Adding fuel to the fire for the drama, the characters in the drama, and one's own name in advance is undoubtedly a worthwhile deal.

As for the minor troubles brought about by the rumors... compared to the potential attention and the benefits of being a couple, it's completely bearable.

Even the rumors of "suspected romance blossoming on set" can increase the show's buzz and make it more relatable to the audience.

"Risks and opportunities coexist..." Lin Xiao thought to himself, "Since I chose this path, I never intended to stay in the safe zone forever."

"I choose one."

[Confirm selection! Exposure booster card is now active.]

With the system rewards finalized, Lin Xiao felt more at ease.

With this card, at least for the foreseeable future, his and Tang Yan's roles in "Chinese Paladin 3" will receive more attention than before.

This was definitely beneficial to the initial accumulation of his personal reputation.