Chapter 35
Chapter 35
“Cut!”
“Lu Yao, your emotions are still a little stiff here.”
Ji Lingze’s attitude toward Lu Yao could now be called gentle. “If you aren’t sure how to approach it, you can come to me.”
The supporting actress beside her said enviously, “Director Ji is an expert in art films. No one creates a better atmosphere in emotional scenes.”
Lu Yao curved her lips. “Thank you, Director. I’ll think it over some more.”
Emotional scenes were indeed difficult for her. But the drama was a martial arts story centered on plot and action. The relationship between the hero and heroine was closer to that of kindred spirits who admired, accompanied, and understood each other, so it did not require much flirtatious tension.
If she worked at it on her own, it was not beyond her ability.
She did not think well of Ji Lingze. He had once been so harsh on her that she wondered whether she had offended him. Now that she was performing well and the company “valued” her, he had immediately become gentle.
She wanted nothing more than to keep a respectful distance from him.
Ji Lingze naturally noticed her detachment.
He frowned but said nothing.
Lu Yao’s talent had surpassed his expectations, and Landi Entertainment’s recent attitude made it clear that the company now genuinely intended to promote and support her.
Ji Lingze did not know what had happened in those few short days, but one thing was certain: he could forget his previous plan. Lu Yao was no longer someone he could control.
When had everything begun to change?
His gaze passed over the crowd and settled on the woman sitting beneath the shade of a tree in the distance.
It had started with the arrival of her assistant, Zhu Yin.
“Host, that director is looking at you.”
“I know. Once I’m finished with Zheng Yushu, he’s next,” Zhu Yin said.
Barbara grew nervous. “Host, he seems to have abandoned his plans against the heroine. Perhaps we should…”
It had wanted to say they should let the matter go, but that seemed far too easy on the scum. Yet they could not punish someone for crimes he had not committed.
The little system became torn.
Zhu Yin patted its tiny head. “Don’t worry. I’ve already prepared the perfect gift for him.”
Just as with Zheng Yushu, Zhu Yin had ten thousand ways to make Landi Entertainment release Lu Yao from her contract.
But why should she do that?
Did Zheng Yushu not constantly tell Lu Yao that she was like a little sister to him, that he would treat her well and give her the very best?
Since everyone already called her Landi’s little princess, they might as well make the title real.
There were ready-made resources available. Why let them go to waste?
Two days later, behind-the-scenes footage from the set of The Swordsman was posted online.
The short video had originally been intended to promote the male lead’s looks and bearing. But viewers who clicked on it, apart from Sun Lie’s fans, quickly found their attention drawn to the actress performing opposite him.
[Who’s the woman in black beside Sun Lie? I can’t see her face clearly, but even from behind, she looks so cool.]
[I don’t know how to describe it. She has a very distinctive presence. Just seeing her stand there makes me feel like she must be powerful.]
[Yes, exactly. Her presence is so strong.]
[I searched for ages. Black robes and a scarlet belt–she should be the heroine, Chi Lian. Her character is the greatest assassin in the martial world.]
[Isn’t she Landi’s crown princess? Lots of people complained before that she was a rookie with powerful backing who got the lead in a major production for her debut. But she looks pretty good in this footage.]
[Front-view screenshot incoming. Ma’am, slay me!]
Many viewers searched for Lu Yao because of the video and found their way to her Weibo account. She did not have many followers, and her latest post was a set of street photographs uploaded two days earlier.
As the heroine, Lu Yao’s beauty went without saying.
With the help of the footage and her looks, she successfully gained a wave of fans, and her previously poor reputation gradually began to turn around.
Two months later, Chi Lian’s scenes wrapped.
Only after Lu Yao returned did she discover that her home had changed too. Her new residence was in a more secluded community with better security.
She had no time to rest. Zhou Yan had arranged her schedule long ago. She was an assistant in name, but in practice, she was almost a second manager Zheng Yushu had assigned to Lu Yao.
Lines, posture, fitness…
Besides those regular lessons:
“There’s a concert at four on Wednesday afternoon. I’ve already arranged your outfit and contacted the photographer. ST is holding a concert next Sunday, and you’ll attend as a guest…”
Lu Yao listened with wide eyes. “W-wait a moment.”
Seeming to understand her confusion, Zhou Yan explained, “After you finish filming The Swordsman, there will be a gap in your schedule. Artists need an appropriate degree of exposure.”
The concert itself was not important. What mattered was that she attended and that the accompanying photographer provided beautiful edited pictures afterward.
As for ST, it was a recently popular male idol group under Landi Entertainment. Lu Yao did not know them at all. Put plainly, this guest appearance was an opportunity to borrow some of their popularity.
Naturally, ST would be informed in advance. This kind of arrangement was common among artists under the same entertainment company.
Lu Yao listened in a daze before blurting out, “Won’t they object?”
Zhu Yin burst out laughing.
A trace of amusement appeared on Zhou Yan’s face as well. “We’ll only take a few photographs and promote your friendship as colleagues. There won’t be any romantic-pairing hype, so it’s fine.”
She added, “No one minds this kind of low-cost ‘investment.’ It might produce an unexpected return.”
After all, stars rose and fell constantly in this industry. Given Landi’s obvious intention to promote Lu Yao heavily, perhaps by this time next year, ST would be the one relying on her popularity.
Aside from all those activities, the most important event was a guest slot on the family reality show I’m No Superstar the following month.
“It’s only one episode, filmed over one week,” Zhou Yan said. “The show gets good exposure and suits you well.”
Zhu Yin, who was curled up on the sofa playing a match-three game, immediately perked up.
She knew the show Zhou Yan was talking about.
The third scumbag in Lu Yao’s entertainment career appeared on that show.
In the original timeline, however, Lu Yao had not participated in it, and she had met Scumbag Number Three much later.
I’m No Superstar was a reality show that filmed celebrities in their everyday lives with their families, revealing the ordinary, down-to-earth people they became when they stepped away from the spotlight.
The program had premiered four years earlier and immediately became a cultural phenomenon. Every guest in its first season regained popularity, with the result that nearly every major platform spent the following two years producing family reality shows of its own.
I’m No Superstar was less popular now than before, but it still performed well and retained a group of devoted longtime viewers.
To keep things fresh, the production introduced temporary guests who served as foils alongside its several regular families.
Lu Yao herself had followed I’m No Superstar. She had never imagined she might appear on it one day.
Zhou Yan asked her, “Do you have anyone in mind as your non-celebrity partner? If you don’t have a suitable candidate, the company can–”
“Me, me, me!” a cheerful voice rang out.
They turned. Zhu Yin had already raised her hand. “I can do it! I want to go!”
Zhou Yan paused. She knew Zhu Yin and Lu Yao’s relationship. They were cousins, which fully met the program’s requirements. Their equally striking looks would also attract even more attention.
She quickly decided. “Of course. But Miss Zhu Yin, I need to confirm one more time: do you have any intention of debuting as an artist?”
Zhu Yin shook her head. “This is the last time I’ll answer. No. I won’t become a celebrity. I only like being an assistant!”