Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

Lin Shen looked at her, and Yang Chaoyue handed her his phone: "The online public opinion has escalated again after a night of fermentation."

Lin Shen took the phone and glanced at it.

On Weibo's trending topics list, the hashtag #LinShenDoesNotUpholdProfessionalEthics# has climbed to third place, followed by a dark red "Trending" label.

Clicking through, the top comment had over 200,000 likes:

"Lin Shen really went too far this time. He dragged the crew along for months, and then just said he wasn't going. Isn't he just playing around with them?"

The following is a comment:

"What's most disgusting is that he's playing dead, not giving a single response. What's he so guilty about?"

"Heh, that's how traffic stars are. Once they get a little popularity, they forget who they are."

There were also those who spoke up for Lin Shen, but they were suppressed and relegated to the bottom:

"That's just one side of the story. Who knows if it's true or not? Did you overhear it while you were lying under their table?"

"Hasn't Huayi done enough hype? Are they addicted to riding the coattails of trending topics?"

But the most conspicuous were a few influential figures who were stirring up trouble.

An account called "Entertainment Gossip Girl" posted a long article:

"I've also received some news about Lin Shen and 'Mr. Six.' Apparently, Lin Shen's team was very assertive from the beginning, making all sorts of demands, which the production team agreed to."

But right before filming started, he suddenly said he couldn't come, citing a scheduling conflict. But as far as I know, he didn't have any other projects lined up at that time. What do you call that? That's called being a diva, that's called disrespecting your seniors.

The post was forwarded over 20,000 times, and the comments section was filled with insults.

Another account, called Film and Television Observer, is even more direct:

"Lin Shen's situation boils down to him getting arrogant. He's only been famous for less than half a year, and he's already got too cocky. Now that the online sentiment is so clear, he's still playing dead. His attitude is...tsk tsk."

The top-rated comment below:

"Playing dead means you're guilty, and being guilty means you're in the wrong. It's confirmed."

Lin Shen scrolled down and saw another topic: #LinShenDarkCircles#.

Clicking on it reveals photos taken by fans at the airport earlier.

In the photo, he stands among his fans, still smiling, but his dark circles are quite noticeable.

Comment area:

"I feel so sorry for my brother, he must be having trouble sleeping..."

"Those people went too far, driving my brother to this state!"

"Don't be afraid, brother, we will always support you!"

"Look at those dark circles under his eyes, and then look at Director Feng's radiant face. It's hard to say who's bullying whom!"

But there were also sarcastic remarks:

"Is it an act? She pretends to look haggard after being scolded; she's too familiar with this routine."

"Even dark circles under the eyes can trend on social media; top celebrities really do get different treatment."

"Fans, don't feel bad. Your brother is probably counting his money right now."

After Lin Shen finished reading, he returned the phone to Yang Chaoyue.

"That's all?"

Yang Chaoyue nodded and added, "Huayi has increased its efforts considerably, with marketing accounts releasing messages in batches and online trolls joining in. The information we released earlier has had some effect, but it's not enough."

Lin Shen nodded without saying anything.

Bai Mengyan listened from the side, her brows furrowing: "Why are they doing this...?"

Lin Shen glanced at her and smiled, "That's normal, just riding the wave of popularity. Why not take advantage of it?"

Bai Mengyan wanted to say something, but Lin Shen pressed her hand down: "It's okay, I know what I'm doing."

The announcement came over the loudspeaker: it's time to board.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Huayi Brothers in Beijing.

Wang Zhonglei sat behind his desk, a cigar between his fingers, with the Weibo trending topics list on the screen in front of him.

He looked at the entries and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

A knock came at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Assistant Xiao Zhou walked in.

"Mr. Wang, the data is in. The current trend in the comments section is very stable; everyone is criticizing Lin Shen."

Wang Zhonglei nodded and exhaled a puff of smoke.

"What about Director Feng?"

"Director Feng didn't say anything today, he just accidentally clicked a few likes."

Wang Zhonglei laughed: "Old fox."

Xiao Zhou flipped through the tablet again: "Marketing accounts are also following up, and public opinion has completely taken off now, but Lin Shen still hasn't responded."

Wang Zhonglei placed his cigar on the ashtray, leaned back, and his smile widened.

"It's best not to respond; whatever he says now will be wrong."

Xiao Zhou nodded and bowed, "President Wang is indeed wise."

Wang Zhonglei waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

The door closed, and the office fell silent.

After his assistant left, Wang Zhonglei leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest.

Lin Shen's face reappeared in my mind.

That face, that figure, that demeanor...

Pity.

What a fucking waste.

No problem, let the public opinion ferment for a few more days, and this kid will know that in this circle, offending people comes at a price.

That kid must be in a real mess by now, right?

After thinking for a moment, Wang Zhonglei couldn't resist picking up his phone, finding Lin Shen's number, and pressing the dial button.

beep...beep...

The call was answered on the other end.

"Feed?"

Wang Zhonglei spoke with a smile, his tone very amiable:

"Lin Shen, I am Wang Zhonglei."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Mr. Wang, is there something you need?"

Hearing this indifferent tone, Wang Zhonglei felt a little annoyed, but his smile remained unchanged.

"Xiao Lin, I saw what happened online. Director Feng is a straightforward person, don't take it to heart."

There was no answer on the other end of the phone.

Wang Zhonglei continued, "Here's what we'll do: whenever you're free, I'll organize a get-together so you, Director Feng, and Director Guan can sit down and talk things over in person, and put this matter behind us. We can collaborate again in the future if there's an opportunity."

After he finished speaking, he waited for Lin Shen's reaction.

silence.

A brief silence.

Then, a soft laugh came from the other end of the phone.

"Mr. Wang, I appreciate your kind offer, but there's no need for the dinner."

Wang Zhonglei's smile froze for a moment.

"Lin Shen, what do you mean by this?"

"It's nothing," Lin Shen's voice remained calm. "It's just that my schedule is full right now, I don't have time."

Wang Zhonglei's face darkened.

"Lin Shen, listen to me—"

"Mr. Wang," Lin Shen interrupted him, "I have something to attend to, so I'll hang up now. Goodbye."

beep--

The phone hangs up.

Wang Zhonglei stared at his phone screen, paused for a second, and then slammed the phone down on the table.

"Damn it!"

He stood up and paced back and forth in the office, his face ashen.

How dare a relatively unknown actor, who has been in the industry for less than three years, speak to him like that?

Damn it, they really don't know what's good for them!

Wang Zhonglei walked back to his desk and pressed the intercom.

"Xiao Zhou, come in."

When Xiao Zhou pushed the door open and saw Wang Zhonglei's expression, his heart skipped a beat.

"Mr. Wang?"

Wang Zhonglei lit a cigar and took a deep drag:

"Go all out! Double the number of online trolls, keep the marketing accounts posting, and crush Lin Shen to death!"

Xiao Zhou paused for a moment, then said, "Mr. Wang, if we add more..."

"Add more! Money is no object. I want him to know what happens when you try to play dumb in front of Huayi."

Wang Zhonglei leaned back in his chair, his voice turning cold:

"Smash him to death. Make sure he trends on social media, keep the topic trending, and control the comments section. I want everyone to know that Lin Shen is a person who doesn't follow the rules and doesn't know how to be virtuous."

Xiao Zhou paused for a moment, then nodded: "Understood, Mr. Wang! I'll get on it right away!"

He turned to leave, but Wang Zhonglei called him back.

"Also," Wang Zhonglei looked at him, "let our artists speak out if they need to. Don't be too direct, but let outsiders know Huayi's stance on this matter."

Xiao Zhou's eyes lit up: "I understand!"

Go!

After he left, Wang Zhonglei leaned back in his chair, exhaled a smoke ring, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

Kid, you think you can mess with me?

just wait.

As soon as Wang Zhonglei's budget was in place, the online buzz immediately grew.

First, several marketing accounts launched their campaigns simultaneously, and various insider revelations flooded the internet.

Then some familiar celebrity accounts started making subtle pronouncements.

Li Chen posted a Weibo message: "To be an actor, first be a good person. Let's all strive for this."

The accompanying photo is a selfie taken at the gym, bathed in sunshine.

Commenters immediately offered their interpretations:

"Is Brother Chen trying to pick Lin Shen?"

"Brother Chen is right. Being a good person is more important than acting."

"Since Li Chen has spoken out, there must be something wrong with Lin Shen's matter."

Du Chun posted a more cryptic message: "After so many years in the industry, my biggest takeaway is that you have to be worthy of everyone who gives you a chance."

Comments below:

"Brother Chun, are you referring to Director Feng's matter?"

"If Lin Shen saw this, wouldn't he feel embarrassed?"

Even Brother Chun couldn't stand it anymore.

Several artists under Huayi Brothers liked Weibo posts criticizing Lin Shen or reposted Feng Xiaogang's interview with a "hands clasped together" emoji.

The comment section completely exploded:

"Holy crap, is Huayi all getting involved?"

"Even Li Chen, an honest man, has spoken out, so Lin Shen must be up to something."

"Li Chen actually spoke up? This honest guy usually doesn't get involved in these kinds of things!"

"Du Chun also reposted it? Has Lin Shen offended the entire Huayi Brothers?"

"Hilarious! Even the 'Backstabbing Cult' is speaking out. How many of your Huayi artists have clean hands?"

"The person upstairs is right! The 'Backstabbing Cult' dares to say others lack trust?"

"Li Chen and Du Chun? What right do they have to criticize others? They're the ones who criticize the most harshly!"

"Hahaha, stop making me laugh. Everyone knows about their messy past."

"No matter what, Lin Shen is really finished this time."

"Hilarious! Huayi has shot itself in the foot by letting these people endorse it, completely ruining its public image."

"To be honest, Li Chen and Du Chun's statements actually make me think that Lin Shen might be wronged..."

"+1, those two have a reputation, those who know, know."

"Even the 'Backstabbing Cult' has appeared; how much does Huayi hate Lin Shen?"

The opinions in the comments section began to subtly diverge.

Some people continued to criticize Lin Shen, while others began to mock Li Chen and Du Chun's dark past, and still others were observing from the sidelines.

But overall, those who criticize Lin Shen are still the majority.

After all, who among ordinary passersby remembers the old stories of the Backstabbing Cult? They only saw that even Li Chen, the honest and docile "Big Black Bull," had spoken up.

Lin Shen's dark circles also became a trending topic.

The comments section is a battleground of sympathy and mockery.

At 12:10 pm, the plane landed smoothly at Changbaishan Airport.

Lin Shen led his group out of the covered bridge, and as soon as they turned the corner, they saw a large group of people surrounding them.

This time it wasn't a fan, it was an entertainment reporter.

At least twenty people, armed with long guns and short cannons, rushed forward the moment they saw Lin Shen appear.

"Lin Shen! Lin Shen, would you please grant me an interview?"

Are those rumors about Lin Shen online true?

"Lin Shen, what do you think of Li Chen and Du Chun's statements?"

Lin Shen stopped in his tracks, and Yang Chaoyue and the security guards immediately stepped forward to block him, but the reporters didn't listen at all, and they practically shoved their microphones into Lin Shen's face.

Bai Mengyan was startled by the scene, her drowsiness vanished, and she subconsciously hid behind Lin Shen.

Lin Shen reached out and gently patted her arm, signaling her not to be afraid.

Then he looked at the reporters in front of him, with a polite smile on his face.

"Everyone, please speak slowly and don't push."

The reporters toned it down a bit, but they still held their microphones high.

A male reporter wearing glasses spoke first:

"Lin Shen, Director Feng Xiaogang said you delayed the release of 'Mr. Six' for several months and then canceled it. How do you respond to this?"

Lin Shen glanced at him but did not answer.

Another female reporter asked, "Li Chen said some people get arrogant after becoming famous. Is he talking about you?"

Lin Shen still did not answer.

The third reporter asked, "Lin Shen, why haven't you responded? Are you feeling guilty?"

Lin Shen smiled and glanced at the reporters in front of him:

"Thank you all for coming all this way. I'll answer three questions, and then please make way so as not to obstruct other passengers."

The reporters exchanged glances; some wanted to protest, but Lin Shen had already looked at the first male reporter who had asked a question.

"You just asked Director Feng about that, right?"

The male reporter nodded quickly, and Lin Shen looked at him:

"It's a fact that I was in contact with the 'Mr. Six' production team. It's also a fact that I didn't accept the role in the end. But the specific reasons involve business confidentiality and I can't disclose them."

He paused, then smiled: "All I can say is that my schedule is indeed too tight; there's no truth to the claim that it's been delayed for several months. Some of the things circulating online are true, and some are false; you can judge for yourselves."

After he finished speaking, he looked at the second female reporter.

"I saw the Weibo post about Li Chen that you mentioned."

The female reporter's eyes lit up, waiting for what would follow.

Lin Shen smiled and said, "I don't know Li Chen, and I've never worked with him. I don't know who he's talking about, and I can't identify him."

The female reporter was taken aback for a moment, and wanted to ask more questions, but Lin Shen had already looked at the third reporter.

"You just asked me if I was guilty for not responding."

He looked directly at the reporter: "What do you think?"

The reporter was stunned by his gaze, opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.

Lin Shen withdrew his gaze, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly:

"Now that the three questions have been answered, please go back. Don't block the way and inconvenience other passengers."

After saying that, he winked at Yang Chaoyue and led the group around the reporters toward the exit.

The reporters wanted to continue, but security personnel were already blocking their way, their stance firm.

"Excuse me, the interview is over. Please make way."

The entertainment reporters could only watch helplessly as Lin Shen's figure disappeared at the exit.

Bai Mengyan, protected by Lin Shen, walked forward, glanced back at the group of reporters still looking around, and asked softly:

"Brother Shen, won't they write things up if you respond like that?"

Lin Shen glanced at her and smiled: "It's their business how they want to write it. I'll just say what I want to say."

Bai Mengyan nodded and moved closer to him.

As the group stepped out of the airport, a cold wind from Changbai Mountain hit them.

In the distance, snow-capped mountains stretch out, gleaming white in the sunlight.

The film crew's car was already waiting at the door, and Yang Chaoyue quickly stepped forward to check the license plate.

Lin Shen stood on the steps and glanced back in the direction of the airport.

The group of reporters were still inside, discussing something.

He looked away, a slight smile playing on his lips.

almost.