Chapter 29: The Man-Eating Flower

But in reality, Jiang Xiaobai thought, “What the heck is this? What are you doing?”

She knew this scene was supposed to be an emotional climax, but it didn’t need to be so intense, right? Li Biying’s performance was almost out of character.

A little white flower might turn into a little black flower, but Li Biying? She was turning into a man-eating flower!

Unlike Director Niu, who watched the scene through the lens, Li Biying faced Jiang Xiaobai directly. Her eyes were filled with venom, and her tone was fierce as if she were about to pounce and eat Jiang Xiaobai alive!

This expression momentarily took aback Jiang Xiaobai.

It was like hearing that a beautiful parrot could sing, so you excitedly went to see it, and it opened its mouth to sing —

“Sister, you sit in the boat, and I walk on the shore…”

“Director, it’s fine. We can do it again.” Li Biying said magnanimously, wiping away her tears and letting the makeup artist touch her face. However, she shot Jiang Xiaobai several challenging glances in between.

“Is it ready, Director? Xiaobai, are you ready?”

At this moment, Li Biying smiled gently, like a considerate and meticulous senior in the industry.

“I’m ready; thank you, Sister Biying, for not blaming me.” Jiang Xiaobai was happy to play along.

“Great, let’s start then.”

When filming resumed, they reached the same scene again. As Jiang Xiaobai suggested, Director Niu focused on Li Biying’s close-up this time.

“…Elder Sister Liu, were all these years of sisterhood just a lie?”

Li Biying exploded with emotion, even more intensely than before. Her performance was so over-the-top that her facial expressions were distorted, which was far from aesthetically pleasing.

Li Biying felt secretly pleased.

She had been in the industry for several years and had taken on many roles due to her popularity. She had a lot of experience on set. She remembered playing the second female lead in a drama while still a newcomer. During a confrontation with the lead actress, that veteran actress had deliberately suppressed her scene.

That lead actress was a Film Empress, already 32 years old, and had started as a child star. She was a seasoned actress, no doubt about it.

The veteran’s suppression completely threw off Li Biying. She couldn’t perform well in that scene, and her performance in all subsequent scenes with the lead actress was terrible. That drama was probably the worst of her career in terms of acting.

It left a deep shadow on Li Biying!

Fortunately, she never encountered such a situation again. Now that she was popular, no one dared to suppress her scene. She almost forgot that this method subtly punishes someone like Jiang Xiaobai!

After delivering her line, Li Biying waited to see Jiang Xiaobai’s reaction, confident she would be flustered again. But Director Niu interrupted her before she could see Jiang Xiaobai’s response.

“Cut!”

Director Niu frowned and walked over. “Biying, there’s a problem with your performance.”

Li Biying was confused. “A problem? Director, did you say that wrong?”

Li Biying turned around, bewildered. “What’s the problem?”

“Come and take a look yourself.”

Director Niu walked to the camera. “Too much is as bad as too little. Your emotions have gone beyond Mu Wanran’s character. You need to tone it down a bit. Otherwise, it will feel out of place.”

Director Niu had understood what Jiang Xiaobai meant by “overreacting, and I couldn’t react in time” —

Li Biying’s performance was so intense that it was as if she were about to kill someone. She looked more like a shrew than the kind and innocent Mu Wanran!

Seeing her distorted and ugly face on the monitor, Li Biying was stunned.

Is this… me?

No, I was fully immersed in the role, pouring my emotions into it. It should have been perfect, so why did it turn out like this?

The lead actress didn’t look like this when she suppressed my scene!

What went wrong?

Jiang Xiaobai watched Li Biying’s changing expressions from the side, shaking her head inwardly.

Does she really think anyone can suppress a scene? To achieve that level, the gap in acting skills between the two must be at least two levels.

If it were a seasoned actress, it might be different, but Li Biying trying to suppress the scene with her level of acting…

She must be overestimating herself.

Her face turned gray after Director Niu patiently explained the issues to Li Biying.

This feeling was terrible. She thought she was standing on a pedestal, teaching someone a lesson, but she was standing at the bottom of a well. She was the joke now!

Li Biying didn’t know how they finished the day’s shoot. She was out of character the entire time. Director Niu had to call it a day, saying they would continue tomorrow.

At that moment, she almost sighed with relief.

On returning to the hotel, Jiang Xiaobai told Dong Ran about the incident. “Today, she tried to suppress my scene. The other day, she had the magazine stir things up. As a rising star, isn’t she being too petty?”

Jiang Xiaobai was puzzled. She felt that the two of them were on entirely different levels. Li Biying’s hostility towards her was utterly unreasonable.

“Don’t pay her any mind. Just do your best. Also, try to avoid any obvious conflicts with her. It won’t be good if news breaks that the two of you don’t get along.”

Dong Ran glanced at Jiang Xiaobai a few times while speaking.

“What’s wrong, Sister Ran?”

“Nothing.”

Dong Ran didn’t say it out loud, but she was inwardly impressed by Li Biying’s perceptiveness.

Li Biying had been popular for a few years and had seen many newcomers rise. She and Jiang Xiaobai had worked together before, and she probably knew that Jiang Xiaobai’s career was about to take off. That’s why she instinctively wanted to suppress her.

As a senior, with her age and uncertain future in the industry, how could she remain indifferent when she saw a young, beautiful, talented girl?

 

Chapter 30: Retirement from the Industry

 

“Sister Xiaobai, Gu Yuan has responded!”

Back at the hotel, Zhu Zhu, who had already prepared the bath for Jiang Xiaobai, ran out with her phone.

Gu Yuan had responded to the incident on Weibo:

[@Tangming Gu Yuan: I am very sorry for my actions. I knew it was wrong to my wife and immoral, but I couldn’t resist the temptation at the time. I am ashamed and apologize to everyone I have hurt! From now on, I will take care of my family and will not do anything to hurt my wife again. I hope society will supervise me!]

“Pfft—”

Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t help but laugh when she saw his response, and Dong Ran and Ming Zhu also had strange expressions.

“He’s clever, shifting all the blame onto Dou Fang.” Dong Ran shook her head.

What does it mean to say he couldn’t resist the temptation? It’s as good as saying Dou Fang tempted him!

In such a scandal, women often receive more blame than men. Dou Fang had already become a laughingstock, and now, with Gu Yuan’s “blame-shifting,” her reputation would be utterly ruined.

Gu Yuan wouldn’t suffer much with his connections to Tangming’s upper management. After this incident, as long as he behaved himself, people would soon forget about it. But for Dou Fang… it was a different story.

That night, Dong Ran heard the news in the workgroup.

“Zhang Yishui and Dou Fang got into a fight at the company. Zhang Yishui pushed Dou Fang, and she was pinned under a table. She’s been taken to the hospital. Her injuries might be serious,” Dong Ran added.

“Why would Zhang Yishui hit a woman… but good for him!” Ming Zhu clenched her tiny fists, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Jiang Xiaobai frowned but didn’t say anything.

Dou Fang was already ruined. She probably wouldn’t be heard from the industry again.

Regardless of her reputation, the company wouldn’t keep her. As long as Gu Yuan was around, she couldn’t stay at Tangming.

Sure enough, Tangming terminated their contract with Dou Fang that day. While Dou Fang was still in the hospital, Gu Yuan’s wife showed up, demanding the return of the gifts he had given her, claiming they were marital property.

It was said that Gu Yuan had given her quite a lot: an apartment, regular spending money, and several pieces of jewelry.

“There’s one thing I find strange. If Gu Yuan wanted to promote Dou Fang, why hasn’t she had any good opportunities?” Jiang Xiaobai asked after hearing this.

In the industry, having a patron makes a massive difference for actresses. The resources available can be vastly different.

“She’s just unlucky. She’s only been with Gu Yuan for less than half a year. It’s said that a movie was about to cast her as the second female lead. Still, this incident happened before filming began,” Dong Ran explained.

Jiang Xiaobai was speechless.

Over the next few days, news about Dou Fang continued to trickle in. For example, she had sold her house to pay back Gu Yuan’s money. After their fight, she broke up with Zhang Yishui, and the split was not amicable.

When Dou Fang’s elderly parents heard the news, they rushed to the hospital, and it was said that there were sounds of crying from her room.

Then, a heart-wrenching event occurred.

Due to the attention her scandal had garnered, many reporters were camped outside the hospital, trying to interview her. Dou Fang finally broke down.

“I beg you, please don’t disturb my life anymore! I’m already crippled. What more do you want? Do you want to force me to die? Please, no more interviews, and don’t bother my family! I was wrong; I know I was wrong!”

The reporters were shocked. They found out from the doctors that during the altercation with Zhang Yishui, Dou Fang’s arm was crushed under the table, and she would need to have it amputated.

After the reporters left, Dou Fang posted a Weibo update:

[@Dou Fang: I have paid the price for my mistakes. Looking back, I realize that everything was fleeting. Only family and parents are a warm haven. I formally announce my retirement from the entertainment industry. I beg everyone not to disturb me or my family anymore. I apologize to those I have hurt. I am sorry. This is my last Weibo post. From now on, let’s part ways—Dou Fang]

Even those who disliked Dou Fang felt sympathy upon reading this. Everyone knew about her amputation and her decision to retire, so they stopped their harsh comments. The comments section was filled with supportive emojis, a rare moment of harmony.

“Retirement… Sigh, who would have thought it would come to this?”

Dong Ran was reflective. Many artists retire, but most women return to family life after marriage. Cases like Dou Fang’s were rare.

Wait a minute!

Dong Ran’s eyes widened as she looked at the somewhat dazed Jiang Xiaobai. “Retirement? Xiaobai, when you talked to Dou Fang in the elevator… did you say she would retire?”

Jiang Xiaobai chuckled dryly. “Did I? Haha… I’m just going to read my script now. You should go back to your rooms. Goodnight.”

She was as surprised as anyone when she saw Dou Fang’s Weibo post!

How did it come true again?

Ming Zhu was puzzled. “Sister Ran, what elevator?”

Dong Ran recounted the events of that day, and Ming Zhu also looked at Jiang Xiaobai in surprise.

Dong Ran felt a strange sensation. This wasn’t the first time something Jiang Xiaobai said had come true.

The last time was at Zhao Xiulun’s party when Jiang Xiaobai said Zhao Shan would break her leg, which happened that same day!

How could this retirement be explained if the broken leg was a coincidence? There are so many artists, but how many actually retire? The odds were too low!

“Well, it’s just a coincidence, a coincidence… I need to read my script. You should go back to your rooms. Goodnight.”

Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t explain it and laughed awkwardly as she pushed them out of her room.

Once she was alone, she seriously considered the matter.

This… doesn’t seem to be a coincidence.

Both times, when she spoke those words, she had felt a strange, cool sensation. If it was just luck, how could she explain that feeling?

Could it be…

Jiang Xiaobai’s eyes lit up. She grabbed her phone and bought a lottery ticket, then sincerely prayed,“I want to win ten million!”

But after waiting, the sensation didn’t come.

What’s going on? Maybe she was too greedy, asking for too much?

“Cough, I want to win one million!”

Whether it was one million or ten thousand, there was no reaction.

Was it because she was too direct in asking for money?

Jiang Xiaobai thought momentarily and said, “Someone will offer me a lead role in a movie!”

Still no reaction.

She tried saying many things, but the strange sensation never came.

Unable to find a pattern, Jiang Xiaobai became frustrated and said casually, “My cup will break.”

As soon as she said it, a strong gust of wind blew in, and the cup on the windowsill fell and shattered.

 

 

Chapter 31: Tears Without Crying

 

Jiang Xiaobai: …

She felt like her brain was a mess, staring blankly at the shattered cup on the floor, lost in confusion.

Previously, she had prayed for many good things, but none came true. Now, whenever she said something terrible, it immediately came to pass. What was going on?

Could it be that only bad things came true, while good things didn’t?

No, Jiang Xiaobai refused to accept that answer.

In her past life, she didn’t have this “ability,” nor did the original owner. Why did she suddenly have it now?

Even if she had brought some supernatural ability, it should have been good luck, considering she had been involved in a spirit-gathering charm incident.

But why was it turning out to be the opposite?

She scratched her head, thought momentarily, and then gritted her teeth.

“The hotel will have a power outage tonight!”

As soon as she said this, the same incredible sensation from before rose within her. Just as Jiang Xiaobai felt a jolt, the lights in the room went out, plunging her into darkness.

Jiang Xiaobai sat on the edge of the bed, feeling utterly helpless.

You really did cause a power outage! I haven’t finished my script yet!

“I was wrong. Can I stop trying? Please, let the power come back.”

Jiang Xiaobai said this with a pained expression, but there was no response.

She covered her face and buried herself under the blankets.

The sudden power outage also confused the hotel staff. The manager was in a frenzy, receiving numerous complaints from guests.

Jiang Xiaobai, the culprit, was unaware of this. She had already drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep, free from her worries.

The next day, Zhao Xiulun’s representative brought the contract for E-sports to Jiang Xiaobai’s set and left her the script.

“DS Jewelry has already contacted me. The photo shoot is scheduled for three days from now and will last two to three days. Remember to take a leave from the set in advance,” Dong Ran said during a break in filming.

Jiang Xiaobai immediately went to see Director Niu.

The shooting schedule for each segment was carefully planned. Taking leave required early notice so the director could adjust accordingly.

“Three days from now… okay, I’ll approve your leave,” Director Niu said after a long pause, frowning.

He was a strict director who disliked actors taking leave, but Jiang Xiaobai had performed well since joining the set. Her scenes were shot quickly, and a few days’ absence wouldn’t delay the production.

“However, your scenes might be more frequent in the next few days. Be prepared.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Today, Jiang Xiaobai had many scenes, mainly with the male lead, Liu Feng. This made her somewhat frustrated.

The reason was simple: Shu Jie, who played Liu Feng…, had mediocre acting skills.

Everyone had their own opinions about the acting abilities of modern young actors. Jiang Xiaobai was working with a high-profile male artist for the first time. After a few scenes with him, she clearly understood his skills.

Jiang Xiaobai rarely had to do multiple takes, but when she had scenes with Shu Jie, it almost always required two or three takes to pass. Director Niu often gave him a lot of direction beforehand to avoid further delays.

It wasn’t just Jiang Xiaobai who had to do multiple takes; almost every actor with scenes with Shu Jie had to do numerous takes.

Today was no different. Each scene required repeated takes because lines were flubbed or emotions were off. The actors on set were helpless and frustrated, but no one dared criticize Shu Jie.

He was a highly paid “big star,” who would dare to criticize him?

Even Director Niu had to suppress his temper when directing Shu Jie. It wasn’t that he was afraid of him, but Shu Jie had a fragile ego. If he was criticized too harshly, his emotions would plummet, making it impossible to continue filming.

Fortunately, Shu Jie had a good temperament and seemed aware of his shortcomings. He maintained a humble and apologetic attitude, which made it hard for others to blame him.

Finally, as the sky grew dark, they reached the last scene of the day.

This was a scene between Jiang Xiaobai and Shu Jie. The other actors had finished their parts and left, leaving only a few crew members on set.

The scene was not complicated and should have been wrapped up quickly. However, to everyone’s surprise, it kept failing to pass.

And the reason wasn’t Shu Jie; it was Jiang Xiaobai.

“…Xiaobai, your eyes are wrong. Liu Feng is your beloved. Your eyes should be filled with deep affection when you look at him. Your gaze should be especially tender when you give him the Spirit-Gathering Belt!” Director Niu’s frown could have killed a fly. When Jiang Xiaobai failed another take, he finally called her over.

“Director, I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong…” Jiang Xiaobai felt guilty. This was the first time she had to do multiple takes, always because of her.

“Try again. Don’t be nervous; relax a bit.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Xiaobai took a deep breath and returned to the camera.

In the story, Liu Ruyan and Liu Feng stand by the Luoxia Stream, and a cool breeze rustles their clothes. Both are exceptionally beautiful, making the scene elegant and romantic.

Liu Ruyan’s usual cold aura was barely noticeable. She looked at Liu Feng with a rare hint of shyness, presenting him with the Spirit-Gathering Belt she had crafted.

“…This is made from the silk of the Ice Worm in the Cold Valley. It’s waterproof and fireproof, and ordinary weapons can’t pierce it. Liu Feng, please accept it.”

Jiang Xiaobai tried to make her eyes convey “affection,” but unfortunately, Director Niu called her out again.

“Your eyes are wrong. That’s not how you should look at your beloved… he’s not your good friend, Mu Wanran; you need to look at him like a man!”

Director Niu couldn’t help but slap his forehead, his frustration showing.

In the story, Liu Ruyan deeply loved Liu Feng and her dark transformation was closely tied to him. Although Liu Ruyan was usually cold, before her transformation, she acted like a gentle and admiring woman in front of Liu Feng, her eyes filled with longing.

But now, Jiang Xiaobai’s performance made it seem like she was looking at… her best friend?

“I, I am looking at him like a man…” Jiang Xiaobai felt wronged and anxious, her voice tinged with urgency.

She tried her best but couldn’t get into the right state!

Her words made Director Niu choke, but suddenly, his eyes widened. “Jiang Xiaobai, have you never been in love?”

Jiang Xiaobai, “I haven’t…”

Her heart skipped a beat, realizing something.

Before, she had no issues with her performances because they didn’t involve love. Although she had many scenes with the male lead, none were as intimate as today’s, which was almost a confession. That’s why everything went smoothly.

Director Niu groaned and covered his face.

 

Chapter 32: Be Careful

As a director, he had encountered nearly every type of actor.

Some actors excel at emotional scenes, while others struggle to get into the right mindset when faced with such scenes. Initially, Director Niu never thought that Jiang Xiaobai, who was so beautiful, had no experience with love. It wasn’t until today, during the filming of this particular scene, that he realized this possibility.

Helplessly, he had to explain the scene to Jiang Xiaobai again. Jiang Xiaobai listened attentively, but as soon as the cameras started rolling, it still didn’t feel right.

“Director, maybe you could find someone to demonstrate for me?”

The final scene was delayed as time passed because she alone was not in the right state. Jiang Xiaobai was getting anxious.

“Why don’t we try it the other way around?”

Shu Jie suddenly spoke up.

Perhaps because his acting skills weren’t the best, Shu Jie was used to problems arising from his side. He understood the frustration all too well. Seeing Jiang Xiaobai in trouble, he decided to lend a hand.

“That could work. Switch roles and pay close attention to Shu Jie’s emotional shifts,” Director Niu nodded.

Jiang Xiaobai thanked Shu Jie, and the two swapped roles to begin their performance.

“Ruyan, this is made from the Ice Cold Valley jade silk. It’s water- and fireproof; even ordinary swords can’t pierce it. Take it.”

Surprisingly, Shu Jie was the type who struggled with other scenes but excelled in emotional ones.

After a moment of preparation, he began his performance, delivering Jiang Xiaobai’s lines but changing the name.

As he spoke, he looked deeply into Jiang Xiaobai’s eyes, his emotions seemingly overflowing.

The title of “Little Fresh Meat” wasn’t for nothing. He had an excellent appearance, with large, round eyes and long eyelashes. When he focused on Jiang Xiaobai, she momentarily felt the illusion that he truly liked her.

They might have blushed and felt their hearts race under Shu Jie’s gaze if it were someone else. But Jiang Xiaobai felt nothing unusual, focusing solely on learning from him.

“Did you see that? That’s the feeling, though Liu Ruyan’s emotions should be more reserved,” Director Niu said.

Jiang Xiaobai took a deep breath. “I see it now, Director. Let’s try again.”

“Alright.”

This time, Jiang Xiaobai recalled how Shu Jie had looked at her and replicated it.

That deep affection didn’t exist for her, but Jiang Xiaobai found it familiar. In her past life, when she created her beloved talismans, she would look at them with the same focus, excitement, and anxiety about their effects. Thinking about it, I think it was pretty similar to Shu Jie’s performance.

So, this time, she learned to look at Shu Jie as if he were her beloved talisman.

Director Niu nodded in satisfaction and finally sighed a sigh of relief. He waved his hand, “Alright, that’s a wrap!”

Jiang Xiaobai was almost drenched in sweat.

Although she had completed the task today, the set was full of people with loose tongues. The next day, when Jiang Xiaobai arrived on set, she overheard people discussing her performance from the previous night.

“…She acted quite well. Never been in love? Who believes that!”

“If she can’t act in emotional scenes, she should admit her acting skills are lacking. Instead, she makes excuses…”

As Jiang Xiaobai approached, their voices gradually faded, and they pretended to change the topic casually.

Jiang Xiaobai acted as if she hadn’t noticed.

Explaining was out of the question. Doing so would only make it seem like she was hiding something. Let them gossip if they wanted to.

They were just insignificant people, after all.

While these people didn’t dare to speak openly, someone else did.

Li Biying, who had previously failed to overshadow Jiang Xiaobai and had become a laughingstock, seized this opportunity to make her presence known.

“You shouldn’t casually say you’ve never been in love. Do you know what the consequences could be if this gets out?” she said with a smirk.

“If someone digs up your past scandals, you’ll never be able to clear your name.”

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened in the entertainment industry.

Once, a popular young actress tried to build a pure image by claiming she had never been in love, not even her first kiss, which attracted many boyfriend fans.

But some things couldn’t withstand scrutiny. When her kissing photos and even bed photos with her boyfriend were exposed, her popularity plummeted. Many fans turned against her, calling her a “green tea b*tch.”

Li Biying herself had a “girl next door” image—pure, cute, and lively—but she never dared claim she had never been in love!

Who knew if her exes had secretly taken photos of her and kept them?

“Thanks for the reminder, but what you’re worried about won’t happen,” Jiang Xiaobai said calmly.

Li Biying raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Are you that confident? Do you think all the evidence from your past has been destroyed?”

Jiang Xiaobai’s expression turned serious as she looked at her.

“Sister Li seems to have much free time, even enough to worry about me?”

Li Biying smoothed her hair and smiled. “As a senior, I should care about my juniors.”

Jiang Xiaobai closed her script and looked at her with a slight smile. “Since you’re so free, you should be careful. Trouble might come your way soon.”

After saying this, a chill ran through her body, and Jiang Xiaobai’s smile deepened.

Li Biying clearly didn’t take this seriously. “My affairs have nothing to do with you!”

“There’s something you might not know. When I went to Tangming a month ago, I ran into Dou Fang in the elevator. She provoked me, so I told her something—she would leave the industry. And look, it came true, didn’t it?” Jiang Xiaobai said nonchalantly.

Li Biying scoffed. “You think I’d believe that?”

“Oh, before I got this role, Zhao Shan provoked me at a party. I told her she would break her leg.”

Jiang Xiaobai spoke lightly.

Li Biying’s smile stiffened, and she felt a chill in her heart. But she still didn’t believe it. “You—who do you think you are? Do you think everything you say will come true?”

“I don’t know. But maybe we’ll find out soon whether what I say is true.”

Jiang Xiaobai shrugged and continued reading her script without another glance at Li Biying.

Li Biying snorted, glared at Jiang Xiaobai, and walked away.

After she left, Ming Zhu muttered softly, “She’s so annoying, always picking on you, Sister Xiaobai!”

“It’s fine. Once what I said comes true, she won’t dare to mess with me.”

Jiang Xiaobai said casually.

After last night’s experiment, Jiang Xiaobai had no doubt about her “ability.” As long as she felt a chill after speaking, it would surely come true.

She wasn’t sure whether some words would take effect immediately or be delayed.

For example, Zhao Shan’s leg injury happened that night. Still, Dou Fang’s exit from the industry took several days to come true, making her uncertain about when Li Biying’s misfortune would occur.

But it didn’t matter. A few more tries, and she’d figure out the pattern.

 

Chapter 33: Trouble Arrives

Jiang Xiaobai had thought it might take a couple of days for the result to manifest. Still, to her surprise, Li Biying’s trouble arrived that night.

“Shocking revelation from a famous variety show host: L-surname rising starlet is a diva!”

Jiang Xiaobai came across this trending news after her shower. At first, she didn’t associate it with Li Biying because the host’s hints were vague.

The host, Guo Zi, was in her early thirties but had already made a name for herself at nineteen. Now, she was a household name.

Known for her wit, humor, high emotional intelligence, and quick reflexes, Guo Zi left a lasting impression on every guest on her variety shows. Her hosting style was impeccable—she never missed a beat, avoided awkward moments, and efficiently handled unexpected situations.

However, she had a trait that was both a strength and a weakness—her sharpness.

If she chose to play dumb, everyone could get along just fine. But when she decided to dig deeper, guests would often panic because there was almost nothing she couldn’t uncover.

This earned her admirers and enemies, but Guo Zi remained fearless.

The trending news was in the form of a video. It was clear that she was participating in a popular reality show, where the guests were casually chatting when the topic of celebrities with big egos came up.

Guo Zi said, “I recall a female celebrity I witnessed acting like a diva…”

She recounted an incident a few years ago when a female celebrity had just risen to fame. The show had invited her to record an episode. Still, upon arrival, she began nitpicking—the recording studio was too hot, the sofa wasn’t soft enough, the schedule was too long…

She also bossed the staff around without courtesy, demanding this and that and throwing tantrums if things didn’t meet her standards. She even insisted on hand-ground coffee, leaving many staff members frustrated.

After Guo Zi finished her story, the other guests became curious and asked who the female celebrity was.

Guo Zi simply chuckled, “I can’t say. That would be openly offending someone. But if you can guess it, that’s none of my business.”

Her sharp eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, giving her a youthful, playful demeanor.

“Sister Guo, you’re not afraid of offending anyone! We don’t believe that! Tell us her surname, and we’ll guess the rest,” a male guest joked.

Guo Zi had connections, and many had heard rumors about her privileged background. She came from a wealthy family and had entered the entertainment industry purely out of passion.

Without such backing, who would dare to be so openly sharp? And how could she have survived in this chaotic industry for over a decade?

“Her surname…” Guo Zi rolled her eyes and said, “I can tell you that it starts with the letter L.”

After that, the other guests began guessing, but Guo Zi remained tight-lipped, smiling without revealing anything.

The episode quickly piqued viewers’ curiosity. Guo Zi’s hints were clear—the female celebrity was highly popular, had been in the industry for several years, and had a significant reputation. Naturally, everyone wanted to know who this L-surname celebrity was.

There weren’t a few L-surname rising stars, and even fewer had worked with Guo Zi. Netizens began speculating, and it didn’t take long for someone to point the finger at Li Biying.

It would have been just a passing gossip topic if it had ended there. Without concrete evidence, speculation would eventually die down.

But things didn’t stop there. Almost as soon as the video went viral, a “concerned netizen” dropped a bombshell.

[Xiao Feng Is Eating Lemons Today: Who else could the L-surname starlet be but LBY? My best friend worked at the TV station three years ago and told me that when they invited L as a guest, she acted above everyone else, constantly nitpicking and scolding her assistant like her servant. My friend was an intern then and had to hand-grind her coffee, only to be yelled at because it was too hot! My friend was so traumatized that she quit the industry, saying that celebrities are all fake and you can’t trust their public image!]

This netizen wasn’t a celebrity but an ordinary person. A quick look at her profile revealed a girl who loved life, often sharing photos of food, travel, and herself.

By directly mentioning LBY, she might as well have named Li Biying outright. The comments section exploded—

[Biying Is My Angel: Don’t slander my idol! She’s a sweet and kind person, always cheerful and bubbly. This is defamation!]

[I Love Cola: Exactly! Another clout chaser. Hands off our Biying!]

Most netizens didn’t believe it. Li Biying’s public appearances always painted her as a gentle, adorable girl, entirely at odds with the image of a diva who bullied her staff.

Many criticized the blogger, but she didn’t back down. She fired back with another post.

[Xiao Feng Is Eating Lemons Today: If my best friend hadn’t experienced this firsthand, I couldn’t believe it, but it’s true! I’ll tell you straight—the episode aired on April 19th. You can check it out for yourselves. Guo Zi’s attitude during the interview already hinted at something. Also, think about it—how many assistants have L gone through since her debut? If she weren’t abusive, why would they change so frequently?]

Her words prompted some actually to look up the episode.

Three years ago, on April 19th, Li Biying appeared on the show hosted by Guo Zi.

Those familiar with Guo Zi quickly noticed something off. Her smile was noticeably restrained compared to her usual humor, and her questions to Li Biying seemed unusually pointed.

As for the frequent assistant changes, it was easy to verify. A quick look at Li Biying’s airport photos over the years showed that her assistants were rarely the same person.

With these two pieces of evidence, many began to doubt Li Biying’s innocence. Soon after, someone dug up the Weibo account of Xiao Feng’s best friend.

The girl no longer worked at the TV station. She was now a flight attendant, and her Weibo was filled with beautiful photos of scenery, food, and selfies.

A post she made on April 19th, three years ago, confirmed her identity as Xiao Feng’s friend.

 

Chapter 34: Personal Admission

[Lin Lin the Little Fairy: I used to dream of working in a TV station, thinking it would allow me to get close to glamorous celebrities. But now I realize how naive I was… What I’ve seen is entirely different from what I imagined. After experiencing the hardships, my dream has shattered, and I’ve understood how foolish I was to idolize stars! Well, this industry probably isn’t for me. It’s time to figure out what I truly love.]

Earlier in March, she had also posted a rather gloomy Weibo update.

Soon, netizens gathered information revealing that the interview program had been recorded in March, though it aired in April.

This seemed to confirm the rumors, and in an instant, the topic “Li Biying’s Divaness” skyrocketed to the top of real-time trends.

Jiang Xiaobai shook her head as she read the news on her phone.

Feeling quite pleased, she applied a face mask, listened to music, and read her script, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Meanwhile, Li Biying was in a terrible mood, teetering on the edge of fury.

“What did I ever do to Guo Zi? Why is she targeting me?”

Li Biying was furious. As soon as she heard the news, she watched the video. When she heard Guo Zi subtly pointing the finger at her, she nearly threw her phone across the room!

“Calm down. You need to keep your cool and not give anyone more ammunition.”

Her manager, Mr. Xu, whom Li Biying called Brother Xu, was a top-tier agent with extensive experience handling such situations at her company. Even he, however, was visibly frustrated.

All artists have flaws—no one is perfect. Some flaws are minor and easily overlooked, while others involve moral or behavioral issues. If evidence of such problems surfaces, the artist is bound to face backlash.

Since he started managing her, Brother Xu had known about Li Biying’s lousy temper and diva-like behavior. While she could rein it in around higher-ups, she often let her true colors show around those she deemed inferior.

Brother Xu had always tried to keep her in check, whispering reminders whenever he was around. But with three artists under his care—all quite famous—he couldn’t always be by her side. And in those moments, she inevitably caused trouble!

Fortunately, the company was large and supportive, often suppressing scandals before they could surface. But this time, the situation had escalated too quickly.

Who could have guessed that Guo Zi would expose Li Biying on a public program? The two had only interacted once during work and had no other connection. What on earth was Guo Zi thinking?

“Brother Xu, you have to help me! Quick, get them to take down the trending topics—”

Before Brother Xu could respond, his phone chimed. When he opened it, his face darkened.

Li Biying’s heart sank as she leaned over to look. Her vision blurred as she read:

“Breaking News! Guo Zi Confirms the Identity of the L-Surname Actress!”

[Round Guo Zi v: We agreed beforehand, so don’t blame me if you figure it out~]

The message was clear: Guo Zi had personally confirmed that the L-surname actress was Li Biying!

In the entertainment industry, kicking someone when they’re down is all too familiar. With Li Biying now in the spotlight, others didn’t take long to join in.

[Little Qiao with a Banana Fan: I’ve wanted to say this for a while, but I was afraid her delusional fans wouldn’t believe me! I used to be a fan of L and even went to see her on the film set. What I witnessed was appalling—her assistant stood under the scorching sun, holding an umbrella and a mini fan for her while she sipped on iced drinks. She was sitting there playing on her phone, and when we fans asked for autographs, she glared at us impatiently and didn’t even take the pen. That was the moment I lost all respect for her.]

[Anonymous: There have been rumors of her diva behavior. She once made people wait two hours for a promotional event. But her company’s PR is so strong that any hint of scandal gets buried.]

While these netizens’ comments might be taken with a grain of salt, what truly shook Brother Xu and Li Biying was a statement from a director in the industry:

[Old Hu Isn’t Washed Up v: I only worked with L once. Her acting is a 6/10, but her attitude is a 12/10. I can’t afford to work with such an actress and will refuse future collaborations.]

This director, known for his bluntness, was once thriving but faded in recent years due to a lack of hit films. His straightforward nature and zero tolerance for bad behavior were well-known, and his words carried weight.

Even Li Biying’s fans began to waver in their support.

Li Biying’s follower count dropped by two million in less than two hours!

When Jiang Xiaobai arrived on set the next day, Director Niu informed her that Li Biying had called in sick and her scenes would be rescheduled.

“Sick? Yeah, right! With her popularity plummeting, she’s probably too busy trying to salvage her reputation to film!”

“Can she ever recover? Everyone who’s worked with her knows her true colors. Only her naive fans still buy into her innocent persona!”

“Exactly! Remember how she offended half the crew on her first day here over some styling issue…”

Li Biying was the most famous actress in the crew. While many disliked her personality, they often tried to curry favor with her, hoping to benefit from her success.

But now that she was under fire, the cast and crew couldn’t help but gossip, recounting her flaws with glee as if they were relishing her downfall.

“What are you all talking about? Have you memorized your lines yet?”

Director Niu’s sharp reprimand silenced the room, his brow furrowed.

While he felt a slight sense of schadenfreude over Li Biying’s predicament, he was more concerned about the impact on the drama.

Li Biying was the lead actress, and her tarnished reputation would inevitably affect the viewership of “The Legend of Nine Heavens.”

Replacing her now was out of the question—too much of the filming had already been completed, and reshooting would be a massive undertaking.

Director Niu’s rebuke abruptly ended the chatter. The actors quickly lowered their heads, pretending to study their scripts.

 

Chapter 35: Nothing of the Sort

As expected, Li Biying was in deep trouble. What made her situation particularly dire was the nature of the scandal. Unlike typical controversies, two prominent figures had publicly called her out this time: a well-known variety show host and a respected industry director. Neither of them was a nobody.

If things continued this way, more people would likely step forward, each adding their own criticism. Li Biying could very well find herself in an inescapable abyss.

The entertainment industry has never been where reason prevails, and Li Biying was clearly in the wrong.

Jiang Xiaobai hadn’t anticipated that her casual remark about trouble would lead to such a massive scandal. While the incident had originated from her words, Jiang Xiaobai felt no guilt or unease. After all, it was Li Biying’s actions that had brought this upon herself.

However, it was evident that Li Biying’s company, Shenghuang Entertainment, had acted swiftly to support her—a stark contrast to how Jiang Xiaobai had been treated when she faced her troubles.

After a night of intense online activity, the topic should have continued to trend. Still, by mid-morning, its heat had waned. By noon, it had fallen out of the top 20 trending topics.

“Shenghuang really went all out this time. They must have spent a fortune. Many posts from those jumping on the bandwagon have been deleted, and some can’t be commented on or shared anymore. Impressive.”

“Of course. She’s one of Shenghuang’s rising stars. They’ve invested a lot in her over the years. If she were to fall now, it would be a huge loss.”

Whispers like these could be heard among the crew.

In the entertainment industry, the two major companies were Tangming and Shenghuang. Other companies were either newcomers still developing or lacked the resources and influence of these two giants.

With Shenghuang stepping in to suppress the scandal, it seemed the issue would gradually disappear.

However, just as it appeared the matter was about to blow over, someone added fuel to the fire!

[Jiang Bingqian v: As actors, we must be professional. If you’re afraid of hardship, leaving this industry is better. Our glamorous exterior hides the difficulties we endure. Behavior like yours only deepens the public’s misunderstanding of our profession.]

Who was Jiang Bingqian? She was a top-tier beauty in the industry and a recent Best Actress award winner. She skyrocketed to fame with her role in “The Seven-Star Fan.” She was one of the highest-paid actresses among the younger generation.

Every one of her Weibo posts trended, and her selfies garnered countless admirers.

Her post included a repost of a set of photos that had been leaked online. The images showed Li Biying on set, sitting in a chair with an air of arrogance. Her assistant and manager were bustling around her, holding various items clearly meant for her comfort.

The list included eye masks, seat cushions, pillows, hand warmers, water bottles, and snacks.

The scene resembled a queen holding a court.

What made it worse was the presence of other actors in the photo. It was winter, and everyone else was standing, shivering in the cold. At the same time, Li Biying sat comfortably, surrounded by her entourage.

The photo was quickly identified as being from the set of “The Thirteenth Princess,” as it featured two of the drama’s lead actors.

Both were leads, yet while others stood, Li Biying sat. While others had no assistants, Li Biying had an entire team at her beck and call.

How entitled could she be?

Jiang Bingqian’s post instantly shot to the top of the trending list, reigniting the scandal that had just started to die down.

Jiang Xiaobai noticed Director Niu glancing at his phone before storming off to make a call. She guessed he was probably calling Li Biying.

But he returned shortly, still fuming, suggesting the call hadn’t gone through.

Of course, Li Biying and her manager’s phones were likely bombarded with calls at this time.

By the afternoon, reporters had descended on the set of “The Legend of Nine Heavens.”

“Director Niu, could you spare a moment for an interview? Is it true that Li Biying behaves like a diva on set? Do you have anything to say about this?”

“As her co-stars, has Li Biying ever been rude to you? Rumor has it she often clashes with people on set. Is that true?”

The reporters’ cameras were practically shoved into Director Niu’s and the actors’ faces!

“Those rumors are baseless! We won’t be giving any interviews. Please don’t disrupt our filming!”

Director Niu coldly rejected the interview requests and tried to shoo them away, but the reporters persisted. Sensing that Li Biying might not recover from this scandal, they were determined to get an exclusive story.

“Well… we haven’t interacted much with her.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to say, haha…”

“I’m unfamiliar with her, so I don’t know much.”

The actors all gave vague responses.

But the reporters were shrewd. Their evasive answers only made it clear there was more to the story!

Jiang Xiaobai rarely witnessed such scenes. She hadn’t been famous enough to “enjoy” this attention.

The reporters’ eyes gleamed as they asked leading questions. Even a single nod from one of the actors could seal Li Biying’s fate.

Jiang Xiaobai frowned. The slight satisfaction she had felt earlier over Li Biying’s troubles had vanished entirely.

“Jiang Xiaobai, could you comment on Li Biying’s behavior on set? Rumor has it you two had a falling out. Is that true?”

Having heard some gossip, one reporter thrust a microphone toward Jiang Xiaobai, eagerly awaiting her response.

For a moment, the set fell silent. Many of the actors turned to look at Jiang Xiaobai.

It was no secret that Jiang Xiaobai and Li Biying had clashed during a meal. A few days earlier, when Jiang Xiaobai had been embroiled in a scandal, Li Biying publicly mocked her. Most of the crew knew about it.

Now, everyone was curious about what Jiang Xiaobai would say.

Some actors, who either disliked or envied Li Biying, felt their hearts race. They knew that if Jiang Xiaobai added her criticism, Li Biying would be genuinely cornered.

After all, if even her co-stars confirmed the rumors, how could she possibly recover?

Under the weight of everyone’s expectant gazes, Jiang Xiaobai spoke.

“A falling out? Nothing of the sort.”

Her tone was calm as she looked at the reporter, but her words surprised everyone, including Director Niu. “Our characters in the drama have conflicts, but that doesn’t affect our relationship. Li Biying is a dedicated actress who works hard to bring her character to life. The entire crew has recognized her performance.”