Chapter 36: One Loss, All Loss

“Now everyone knows Li Biying is throwing her weight around on the set, yet you still defend her. Is it because you’re afraid of offending her?” the reporter asked sharply.

Jiang Xiaobai, however, smiled. “If we both have powerful backing, why should I be afraid of her? Besides, has her throwing her weight around truly harmed anyone?” she raised an eyebrow and continued, “Perhaps it’s harder for those working with her. Still, from what I know, she pays her assistants more than the industry average. If the assistants are willing to stay, they accept these working conditions.”

“So, you’re saying that her throwing her weight around is justified?” The reporter was taken aback for a moment but quickly pressed on.

“That’s not what I’m saying, it’s what you’re implying. I don’t know if she has mistreated others, and most people don’t know the full story. We see and hear that she has high standards for material things and enjoys luxury. I don’t know if being luxurious is wrong. Still, if everyone had enough money, they wouldn’t refuse such enjoyment.”

The reporters fell silent momentarily before asking, “What do you think about what Jiang Bingqian and other whistleblowers have said?”

“I fully agree with what Senior Jiang said. As actors, we must be dedicated and focus on doing our best. In this aspect, Senior Li has done well, as Director Niu has praised her for her quick progress on set.” Jiang Xiaobai smiled and winked. “For an actor, delivering a good performance is the best way to meet the audience’s expectations. Of course, character is also important, especially for public figures who need to set a good example. But we are young, and as long as we put our hearts into it, we will strive to improve.”

“Xiaobai is right. Biying has performed well on set, and her acting has improved compared to her previous works. She usually passes her scenes in one or two takes. I believe those who have worked with her can attest to this,” Director Niu added, stepping forward. “As for throwing her weight around, it’s my first time working with her, and I haven’t seen it yet. But Biying has probably had a comfortable life since childhood, so she still retains some of her habits. I can’t say this is wrong, after all, it’s hard to go from luxury to frugality. We can’t expect someone to lower their living standards just because they’re making money, right?”

Director Niu ended with a rare joke.

“You said everyone who has worked with her knows her acting, but Director Hu only gave her a 6 out of 10. What do you say to that?” the reporter quickly found a counterpoint.

“What’s surprising about what Old Hu said? Have you ever seen him give anyone a high score?” Director Niu chuckled, countering the reporter.

The reporter was speechless.

Indeed, Director Hu was very picky and seemed to dislike young stars and fresh faces, often calling them “flower vases.” He preferred seasoned actors with intense acting skills.

Though perhaps not entirely satisfied with Director Niu and Jiang Xiaobai’s responses, the reporters at least received a positive reaction and could report back to their newspapers and magazines. They left without lingering.

As soon as they left, Jiang Xiaobai noticed the crew members looked at her with somewhat peculiar expressions.

Surprise, confusion, and even disdain was among them.

Director Niu, however, had a stern look as he scanned the room.

“Do you know what sharing in the glory and the loss means? Before the wrap of Legend of the Nine Heavens and its broadcast, any of your reputations will affect the reputation of the entire crew. If the crew fails, the months of effort you’ve put in will be wasted. Do you want to put in all that effort and have nothing to show?”

The crew’s expressions changed as if they were thinking about something.

“Why has Legend of the Nine Heavens attracted so much attention even before it’s fully shot? One reason is the script, but another is the cast! If the lead actress, Li Biying, is brought down, have you thought about the impact on the crew? Investors might pull out, we might face criticism, and all the scenes will have to be reshot, wasting time and money. Do you think you can afford that?”

At this point, the actors waiting for a spectacle began to panic.

Their status was not as high as Li Biying’s, and they had always looked up to her. Now that they knew Li Biying was in trouble, their first reaction was schadenfreude, even though they knew it wouldn’t benefit them.

But if they were to suffer, that was a different story!

An actor’s career is actually relatively short. Generally, a decade is considered long. After that, the types of roles available to them become much more limited. As they age, new stars and fresh faces will emerge, dramatically affecting their competitiveness in the entertainment industry.

In those ten years, how many works can they produce?

In a year, they might take on one or two TV dramas, a couple of movies, a few commercials, and a few variety shows. The sky is the limit.

How many of those works will genuinely succeed? Even if they do, as supporting actors, they might not gain much from it.

When you think about it, the number of opportunities for an actor to become famous is pitifully small.

Think about the stars who have become famous. The catalyst for their sudden rise to fame is usually just one or two successful works!

The success of a single drama can benefit all the actors involved!

For them, this big-budget production, Legend of the Nine Heavens, could be their chance to become famous overnight. Missing it because of Li Biying would be a huge loss!

Suppose they had said something negative about Li Biying in front of the reporters. Li Biying might have difficulty recovering in that case, but what about them? What would they gain?

Thinking about this, they were almost sweating with fear.

Jiang Xiaobai noticed that some were giving her grateful looks, realizing they had finally understood.

What she said to the reporters seemed to defend Li Biying, but it was to minimize the crew’s losses.

After all, for her, a “minor actress,” the success or failure of Legend of the Nine Heavens would determine her status, and she didn’t want it to fail.

“Xiaobai, what you said was great!” Director Niu patted Jiang Xiaobai’s shoulder, praising her quick thinking.

Jiang Xiaobai’s words were very skillful. She didn’t deny that Li Biying had been challenging to work with. Still, she pointed out that Li Biying’s assistants were paid well above the industry average. She also used “material enjoyment” to explain the situation in the photos.

When asked about Jiang Bingqian’s comments, she immediately agreed, saying that actors should focus on their roles. In this aspect, Li Biying had done well. This clarified the situation without offending Jiang Bingqian.

 

Chapter 37: A New Approach

Various media outlets quickly posted the footage of the interview with the Legend of the Nine Heavens crew online.

Li Biying was still at the hotel.

She had just begun to relax after her trending topic was taken down. Still, she saw Jiang Bingqian personally confronting her. This erased all the small advantages the company had secured for her, and Li Biying angrily threw her phone away.

“Jiang Bingqian! What a despicable person!”

Li Biying’s whole body trembled, and the words “Jiang Bingqian” almost came out through gritted teeth.

In the entertainment industry, many artists have hidden conflicts. These conflicts may arise from competition for resources or from unpleasant interactions. For Li Biying, her biggest nemesis since entering the industry has been Jiang Bingqian.

Jiang Bingqian was once a highly promoted artist by Shenghuang Entertainment. When Li Biying first signed with Shenghuang, she secured a few resources and felt quite pleased. However, something about her must have irritated Jiang Bingqian. During a program they both appeared in, Jiang Bingqian publicly humiliated her. At the time, Li Biying didn’t dare to confront Jiang Bingqian, a senior artist, and almost burst into tears on the show.

After the program aired, Jiang Bingqian even had someone spread rumors, saying Li Biying was pretending to be a victim and a pure innocent and was using underhanded tactics to undermine her senior artists within the same company.

Li Biying was utterly bewildered. She didn’t understand what had happened. It wasn’t until she consulted her agent that she learned the brand she had just signed with had initially been interested in Jiang Bingqian. However, the new collection that season was a better fit for Li Biying’s sweet and cute image, so they changed their mind and chose her.

Jiang Bingqian had already heard the news. Although she didn’t value that brand back then, it felt different if she didn’t want it compared to if someone else took it from her!

How dare someone challenge her on her turf? A mere newcomer dared to snatch resources from a senior artist? This would ruin her reputation!

So, she used her influence to suppress Li Biying, not only humiliating her but also causing her to lose a couple of roles due to the negative publicity.

After that incident, Li Biying endured the humiliation and apologized to Jiang Bingqian. Jiang Bingqian appeared friendly and polite on the surface, and Li Biying thought the matter was over. Since then, they had no further contact and went their separate ways.

Jiang Bingqian, a senior artist, later became a massive star and left Shenghuang Entertainment to start her own studio, which she runs successfully in the industry.

Li Biying might have overlooked their past conflict if not for this sudden appearance and attack!

So much time had passed, and Jiang Bingqian still harbored resentment over that minor endorsement deal. Li Biying found this unbelievable!

Moreover, Jiang Bingqian dared to criticize her with a sense of righteousness, waving the flag of “artists must be dedicated,” leaving Li Biying with no way to defend herself. She felt a surge of anger that almost exploded inside her.

“Don’t worry, the company won’t just sit back and do nothing. But for the time being…”

Li Biying’s agent, Brother Xu, and her assistant, Liu Liu, were in the room with her. Seeing her angry and disheartened, Brother Xu tried to comfort her.

Cultivating a successful artist is not easy, and the company wouldn’t give up on her unless absolutely necessary. Public relations efforts would continue, but she would need to lay low for a while.

If she could endure it, she might still have a chance to make a comeback with one or two successful dramas. If she couldn’t…

Brother Xu took his phone and started making calls, using his industry connections to reduce the heat on Li Biying and divert attention to other news.

After a few calls, just as Brother Xu was about to dial again, a notification popped up on his phone.

He opened it and saw the interview video with the Legend of the Nine Heavens crew.

“Oh no…”

Brother Xu’s face turned pale, and his voice trembled with panic.

“Brother Xu?”

Li Biying’s heart sank, and she quickly moved over to see the title on Brother Xu’s phone:

“Li Biying throwing her weight around? See what the Legend of the Nine Heavens crew has to say!”

They exchanged a glance, both looking defeated.

If the crew was interviewed, what would they say about her?

In the industry, it’s common for people to praise and criticize each other. Resources are limited, and new artists keep emerging. Even if there were no conflicts, people might still blame her. And did they really have no conflicts?

Li Biying’s face turned ashen. She remembered how she had delayed the other actors for one or two hours when she first joined the crew due to her costume issues. She also looked down on their status and rarely interacted with them, preferring to keep to herself. They must have many grievances against her.

Worse still, she genuinely conflicted with Jiang Xiaobai, the second lead actress! Jiang Xiaobai had probably already guessed that Li Biying had orchestrated the smear campaign against her through magazines.

Brother Xu couldn’t help but sigh. The situation was complex, and if the crew added more negative comments, Li Biying’s “break” would only be prolonged.

When he saw the crew members being vague and evasive when asked about Li Biying’s performance, Brother Xu braced himself for the worst. But then, he heard Jiang Xiaobai’s voice—

“Conflict? No, there’s no conflict. The characters we play have conflicts, but that doesn’t affect…”

Brother Xu was stunned, and so was Li Biying.

She stared at the screen, her first reaction being that she must be hallucinating. But as she listened, her eyes began to well up with tears.

“…But we are young, and as long as we put our hearts into it, we will strive to improve.”

Jiang Xiaobai finished, and Director Niu also spoke up in her defense. By this time, Li Biying was already sobbing, covering her face.

Finding someone who will stand up for you when you’re down is hard, and Li Biying knew this too well.

From last night to now, she had no idea how she had managed to get through it. Every criticism online cut her like a knife. She didn’t expect anyone to speak up for her; she only hoped that fewer people would attack her. In such a situation, who would be so kind as to step forward?

But to her surprise, the first person to speak up for her was Jiang Xiaobai, with whom she had just collaborated!

“Yes, yes! Why didn’t I think of that…”

Unlike Li Biying, who was filled with gratitude and emotion, Brother Xu burst into laughter, his previous worries dissipating. He was once again the sharp and resourceful agent.

“Biying, leave this to me. I’ll resolve this in no more than three days!”

Jiang Xiaobai’s words gave Brother Xu a new approach. He had already found a way to rehabilitate Li Biying’s image.

 

Chapter 38: Thrilling Encounter

Jiang Xiaobai didn’t know what Li Biying felt after seeing the video. She had filmed a whole day and left the crew the next day to head to the DS jewelry brand’s shooting location.

This endorsement was compensation from her company. It turned out to be the only endorsement Jiang Xiaobai currently had. It was truly disheartening to think about how the original owner of her body had ended up in such a miserable state.

The advertisement was shot in a manor, reportedly a property of one of the jewelry company’s high-level executives. The environment was excellent, making it an ideal shooting location.

The manor was in full bloom with flowers, their fragrance permeating the air. The scenery was picturesque; indeed, it was a beautiful place.

After arriving, Jiang Xiaobai greeted the person in charge and the photographer, then went to the dressing room to change and get makeup done.

“Beautiful, truly beautiful…”

When Jiang Xiaobai walked out in a white, wrap-around dress, photographer George couldn’t help but widen his eyes in admiration.

George was a tall and well-built foreigner with blonde hair and blue eyes, almost rivaling a male model.

He was well-known in the industry and was said to be a good friend of DS’s founder, whom he met while studying abroad. After the founder returned to start his business, he recruited George.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Jiang Xiaobai smiled slightly at George, accepting his praise.

She was also impressed by the original owner’s appearance.

Her skin was fair, and her facial features were more than the average Easterner. She had a high nose bridge and an appealing figure, making her highly suitable for the camera.

“Alright, come here… Look into the distance, lift your chin a bit…”

Jiang Xiaobai was shooting two advertisements: one featuring diamonds and the other featuring jade. The styles were all designed for young women, elegant and of high quality.

She was wearing a white dress adorned with jade jewelry. The deep green color was as clear and lustrous as water, reflecting a pleasing glow in the sunlight.

The manor was filled with blooming roses and had an artificial lake. George led Jiang Xiaobai to different locations, the camera clicking away.

Once he started working, George became very serious, putting aside his playful demeanor. He frequently adjusted Jiang Xiaobai’s poses and angles, sometimes taking multiple shots to find the perfect feel.

Maintaining a single pose was exhausting, especially when she had to keep her expression natural and not stiff, perfectly complementing the jewelry’s elegance and nobility. Jiang Xiaobai felt her body was about to freeze.

After shooting for a whole day, they finally finished the jade series. George said they could shoot the diamond series the next day. If everything went smoothly, Jiang Xiaobai could return to the crew that day.

That evening, she had dinner with George and the person in charge, and they reviewed the unedited original photos. Jiang Xiaobai’s eyes sparkled.

“Very beautiful, right? I guarantee they will look even better once I finish editing them!”

George smiled proudly, then asked seriously, “But Bai, you have a strong presence in front of the camera and your aura… You can handle almost any style of jewelry and clothing. The jewelry already has an endorsement, but what about clothing? Have you considered it?”

Everyone has a unique aura. Even seemingly perfect and glamorous stars can’t handle every style of jewelry.

But Jiang Xiaobai was rare. When her aura was fully unleashed, she exuded a queenly and mature charm. Yet when she smiled, she appeared sweet and charming. This allowed her to adapt perfectly to various styles without seeming out of place.

After all, some people might be overshadowed by the brilliance of the jewelry.

“Not yet.”

Jiang Xiaobai shook her head.

Her status was too low in the past, and she was pretty picky. She wouldn’t even consider brands that weren’t famous or distinctive. She gained some recognition only recently, and her endorsements were still primarily vacant.

“I have a business card here. This is a friend of mine who is a shareholder in a company. They are currently looking for a Chinese spokesperson. You can give him a call and see if you can collaborate.” George handed her a business card, “But I can’t guarantee success. It depends on how your meeting goes.”

Jiang Xiaobai’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the card.

The person’s name was Carroll, and the company was Ivan.

It was actually Ivan!

Jiang Xiaobai and her assistant, Dong Ran, were both surprised. They hadn’t expected such a pleasant surprise!

“Ivan” is a French women’s clothing brand that targets women aged 20 to 35. It offers a wide range of styles, from professional to casual, with innovative and trendy designs that are very popular among urban women.

It was said that their designers were all young, recruited from around the world. They were creative and had diverse ideas, bringing surprises with each new seasonal collection.

Ivan had only entered the Chinese market in the past two years, and they still lacked a spokesperson. If Jiang Xiaobai could sign with them, she would be their first spokesperson!

“George, thank you so much!”

Jiang Xiaobai expressed her gratitude.

“You can thank me later if the collaboration is successful.”

George raised his glass to Jiang Xiaobai.

With the experience from the first day, the progress on the second day was faster.

After finishing the shoot, Jiang Xiaobai changed back into her own clothes and walked over to George, who was looking at the photos on his camera.

“George, how are the photos?” Jiang Xiaobai asked as she approached.

“Great, absolutely great! Bai, I’m really looking forward to the final results.”

George turned around excitedly, but then he suddenly shouted in panic, “Be careful!”

Jiang Xiaobai knew something was wrong. She didn’t know what had happened behind her, but George’s panicked expression made her heart skip a beat. She instinctively moved to the side, feeling a sharp pain in her shoulder.

“Ouch…” she gasped.

There was a loud thud as a heavy object hit the ground.

A large iron scaffold built against the wall suddenly collapsed, causing a deafening noise.

“Bai, are you okay?”

George’s face turned pale with fear as he quickly helped Jiang Xiaobai up.

“I’m fine, it’s just a minor injury.”

Jiang Xiaobai felt her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced at the fallen iron scaffold, still shaken by the close call.

“That was terrifying. That thing almost hit your head! You were fortunate to dodge it!”

George patted his chest and examined Jiang Xiaobai. Noticing that her shoulder was barely grazed, he sighed in relief, still in disbelief.

The staff nearby were also terrified. That moment had been perilous. They had no doubt that if Jiang Xiaobai had reacted even a split second slower, she might have been seriously injured or even killed.

Jiang Xiaobai was taken aback for a moment but then suddenly recalled something.  She removed the necklace from her neck.

 

Chapter 39: The Elder’s Protection

Jiang Xiaobai almost forgot that she had once made a protective charm, which she had always kept in her necklace pendant.

The initial reason for making it was that the role of “Liu Ruyan” caused two female actresses to suffer bad luck. At that time, Jiang Xiaobai feared this “misfortune” would fall on her, so she made a charm just in case.

But who would have thought that the “misfortune” was related to her mouth? So, naturally, she entered the crew safely and continued acting until now.

After making the charm, nothing happened, and Jiang Xiaobai almost forgot about it. If not for today’s danger…

Jiang Xiaobai opened the pendant’s lid and found that the charm paper had turned to black ash, which the wind was now scattering.

She let out a light breath, feeling a bit shaken.

Even though she had managed to dodge in time, given the weight of the iron scaffold, even a slight touch would have caused more than just a minor injury. At the very least, it would have resulted in a fracture or bruise. But now, as she looked at her shoulder, there was only a tiny scrape.

The charm had neutralized the danger; thus, it had lost its power and self-destructed.

“Huh? What’s inside that pendant?”

The person in charge, who had noticed the commotion, rushed over and saw Jiang Xiaobai’s pendant.

The DS representative was Tao Qi, a man in his forties or fifties. His face was stern, and he was usually quiet. Although he had interacted with Jiang Xiaobai for two days, they rarely spoke, and she had more conversations with George.

“This is a protective charm. The incident earlier… it protected me.”

Jiang Xiaobai didn’t want to say too much, but then she thought of something and revealed more.

In her world, talisman masters held a high status, respected and revered by all, and maintained an unshakable position.

But in the original owner’s world, it wasn’t the same. There were also supposed to be feng shui masters and practitioners here, and protective charms existed. However, most were frauds or fake goods, leading to a mixed bag of practitioners with varying skill levels. This made the field look bad; many people viewed it as superstitious nonsense.

When she mentioned the protective charm, Jiang Xiaobai wanted to see how they would react.

“Protective charm? Oh my God, are you serious!”

Tao Qi was highly excited, starkly contrasting his usual quiet demeanor. “Where did you get this? Is it really that effective?”

If I tell you the truth, you probably won’t believe it. I didn’t search for this out; I created it myself.

Jiang Xiaobai thought to herself.

But she couldn’t say that. Who would believe a young girl could make such a charm?

“This… was made by an elder in my family. Her skills are exceptional, and her charms are always effective.” Jiang Xiaobai spoke with a mix of truth and fiction. “Fortunately, I had it with me, or I would have been in trouble today.”

Tao Qi looked at the fallen scaffold, still feeling a lingering fear.

Although he didn’t communicate much with Jiang Xiaobai, he had observed her performance over the past two days. He was delighted with this new spokesperson. He felt that DS’s reputation would significantly improve once the new advertisement was released.

If Jiang Xiaobai had really been injured today, aside from the potential legal and compensation issues, the loss of this spokesperson would have been a great regret for him.

“Can I get a charm like this? The price is negotiable. Miss Jiang, please ask your elder to make one for me or give me a phone number?”

Tao Qi was even more determined to get a charm after this.

Jiang Xiaobai was disappointed by his initial reaction but then felt relieved.

She took down his phone number and address, and after seeing that the work was done, she bid them farewell and headed back to the crew.

When she returned to the film city, it was already dark. Jiang Xiaobai went to her hotel room and called the director, informing him she could resume work the next day.

After sending Dong Ran and Zhu Zhu back to their rooms, Jiang Xiaobai took paper and a pen to draw charms.

This time, she drew several more, primarily protective charms. Additionally, she drew a weakened good luck charm.

This good luck charm differed from the “Spirit Luck Charm” she had developed in her original world.

The Spirit Luck Charm was complicated to make. Despite Jiang Xiaobai’s considerable skills, she failed to complete it, as its effects were too powerful. It attracted a dense concentration of spiritual energy to the charm paper, enhancing the wearer’s luck to a supernatural level and even bringing good fortune to those close to them.

Such a charm couldn’t be made in this world, as the spiritual energy here wouldn’t allow it. So, Jiang Xiaobai created a weakened version. This good luck charm would increase the wearer’s luck by a few degrees, making them appear more fortunate than others, but not to a supernatural extent.

It’s better to be low-key. This industry is already too high-profile.

Of course, even if Jiang Xiaobai wanted to be high-profile, she couldn’t. The spiritual energy and strength she experienced here were far from what they were in her original world.

She folded the good luck and protective charm and placed them in her necklace, deciding to always keep them with her. Even if she couldn’t wear the necklace during filming, she would find a way to keep it on her person.

The iron scaffold was terrifying and served as a warning to Jiang Xiaobai.

After finishing the charms, Jiang Xiaobai picked up her phone and selected some small pendants online. However, she entered Zhu Zhu’s phone number for the delivery.

After completing these tasks, Jiang Xiaobai decided to go to bed. But then she thought about it and realized she hadn’t updated her Weibo in a long time.

Since the “Dou Fang” incident, Jiang Xiaobai’s fame had increased significantly, and she had gained more followers. The original owner rarely updated her Weibo, only posting occasionally when she had work. Regular updates were few and far between.

But now, Jiang Xiaobai felt she should be more active as an artist with a growing fan base. This would also provide more benefits to her fans.

As for what kind of fans…

Don’t ask; they’re all here for my looks!

She took a selfie by the bedside. After her shower, she was makeup-free, her lengthy hair flowing down her back and wearing a silk nightgown. Her skin was smooth and fair, and her young, unadorned face looked somewhat innocent.

The bedside lamp dimly lit the room but didn’t affect the photo.

After reviewing the photo, she thought, Hmm, the image is clear, but the angle isn’t great…

Oh well, it’s still okay. Let’s go with this.

Jiang Xiaobai used the original camera to take the photo, too lazy to edit or adjust the colors. She quickly wrote a caption and posted it with the picture.

 

 

Chapter 40: A Helpful Tip

[Jiang Xiaobai Not So White v: After a long day of work, lying in bed makes me feel so happy I could cry. Goodnight, my lovely fans~]

It turned out that night owls were always online, and replies started coming in quickly.

“Wow, another daily dose of beauty!”

“This is really her natural look, so pretty!”

“Emmm… Am I the only one who wants to comment on this death-angle shot?”

“Steel straight female angle.”

“Even in steel, she’s still beautiful, crying beautiful!”

“With my years of experience identifying beauty, this is her natural look and the original camera photo, no skin smoothing or whitening! At most, the colors were adjusted!”

Jiang Xiaobai scrolled through a few of the earliest comments, replied, and stopped.

She browsed the homepage and saw Li Biying’s trending topics were still near the top. She clicked in to take a look.

“Li Biying’s former assistant responds: High standards but no mistreatment, the pay is generous! The current assistant says the job is great, no plans to quit.”

“Unveiling Li Biying’s background: She’s a wealthy heiress!”

“Unveiling Li Biying’s gift-giving over the years!”

Jiang Xiaobai read through them and couldn’t help but smile.

Not bad; they’re quick to react and know how to turn the situation around.

Jiang Xiaobai’s response to the reporters was a hint, guiding them to a new approach.

For example, how should you counter the criticism if someone says you’re a poor student and you really are a poor student?

The wrong way to respond is to argue—

“I’m not a poor student, and many others are worse than me; why don’t you criticize them!”

“Being a poor student, what’s it to you? Mind your own business!”

Such responses only make people more eager to criticize you—look, this person doesn’t even know how to admit their mistakes!

So, how should you respond?

If they say you’re a poor student, you could say you work hard but lack talent. You could also highlight your other strengths, such as dancing, singing, good handwriting, athletic ability, and good manners.

Use your strengths to cover your weaknesses, rather than dwelling on your shortcomings.

Previously, Li Biying’s team might have been stuck in a rut or too flustered to find the best solution. However, with Jiang Xiaobai’s hint, they should have seen it relatively easy to devise a strategy.

First, former assistants said Li Biying didn’t mistreat them and paid them well. While the work was more demanding, it was reasonable given the circumstances.

Additionally, they explained that Li Biying came from a wealthy background, with a successful businessman father. She had lived a comfortable life from a young age, with nannies taking care of her daily needs, which provided context for her current behavior.

Is this diva behavior? Not really, she’s a wealthy heiress!

Even when she wasn’t making money, her lifestyle was already comfortable. Now that she’s famous and can earn her own money, requiring her to live independently is a bit much, isn’t it?

Moreover, Li Biying was generous with those around her. She was very kind to her friends, agents, and assistants, often giving them valuable gifts. Several artists in the industry had even shared photos of gifts she had given them, which were now being brought up again.

After these news items were released, the criticism against her diminished somewhat. However, Jiang Xiaobai believed more positive news would be needed to resolve the situation.

For instance, highlighting her dedication to work or charitable actions and getting well-known directors and actors to speak positively about her would help improve the situation.

It might even turn the tide and attract more fans if handled well.

With a clear plan, Jiang Xiaobai put down her phone, turned off the light, and slept.

When Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the set the next day, she didn’t see Li Biying. Upon asking, she learned that Li Biying hadn’t been there for a few days.

Jiang Xiaobai wasn’t surprised. It was better for Li Biying to stay away for now; her appearance might draw more reporters.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t be interviewed, but the timing wasn’t right.

Since she was on leave, her scenes could be postponed, and other actors’ scenes could be filmed instead. This wouldn’t significantly impact the production schedule, so Director Niu’s mood was still okay, not overly frustrated.

Moreover, Li Biying’s efforts to salvage her reputation would benefit the production, so Director Niu wouldn’t object.

Today, Jiang Xiaobai had a few emotional scenes with Shu Jie to film, but they all went smoothly.

Since she had found the trick of treating her “beloved man” as a “beloved talisman,” emotional scenes were no longer challenging. She filmed them without any anxiety, rarely needing to retake scenes, and her rapid improvement surprised even Director Niu.

“Xiaobai, you’re doing great! You’ve got the emotional scenes down so quickly! Do you have any tips to share? It might help me guide other actors in the future,” Director Niu asked.

Jiang Xiaobai, “… Well, hehehe…”

She looked a bit awkward.

What should she say in this situation? It’s urgent; I need an answer now!

Fortunately, Director Niu asked casually and didn’t insist on an answer, which relieved Jiang Xiaobai.

“Hey, everyone, look! Li Biying’s charitable work has been exposed. She donated to many schools in remote mountainous areas… and visited a leukemia fan in the hospital the other day!”

As Jiang Xiaobai had predicted, she heard the actors on set discussing Li Biying’s new developments the next day.

A 16-year-old fan had leukemia and was undergoing chemotherapy. Li Biying, upon hearing about it from the fan club, was rushed to the hospital. She brought the girl some merchandise, personally selected gifts, and supplements. Upon learning about the girl’s financial difficulties, Li Biying also contributed money and organized a charity fundraiser among her fans.

This story made the news; people also learned that she had previously donated to schools. This couldn’t be faked, as the receipts were from a few years ago, not recent efforts to improve her image.

As a result, many people praised her, and the criticism diminished.

Occasional negative posts were quickly buried.

After learning about this, Jiang Xiaobai knew Li Biying had successfully navigated this crisis.

Once the negative momentum was mainly reversed, Li Biying updated her Weibo.

The post was a long, heartfelt message. She sincerely apologized, saying she hadn’t been mindful of her actions and had a quick temper, causing trouble for many people. She assured everyone that her mistakes were unintentional and promised to be more careful in the future.

She also explained her upbringing, saying that her “diva” behavior wasn’t meant to look down on others but was a result of her environment and habits.

In the post, she acknowledged her past mistakes, admitting that she had been overly demanding on the show and causing trouble for the production team. She promised to improve and welcomed everyone’s feedback and criticism.

 

Chapter 41: Change

In the end, Li Biying said, “Acting is my passion, and I will continuously strive to improve. I will work harder to hone my acting skills and continue down this path.”

This Weibo post was immediately pushed to the trending topics, and Li Biying’s loyal fans all came out to cheer her on—

“Yingying, you’re the best; keep it up!”

“Admitting and correcting mistakes is the best way forward. Thank you all for giving my sister this opportunity. I’m looking forward to seeing her change!”

“Keep it up, we’re with you!”

Clearly, Li Biying’s company still supported her, buying her trending topics and hot searches to help her resolve the situation. After all, this was her chance to make a comeback.

Not long after Li Biying posted, other artists from her company also voiced their support. Some directors who had previously worked with her also forwarded her Weibo, praising her acting skills and potential.

This trending topic stayed on Weibo’s hot search list for a whole day before gradually being overshadowed by other artists’ updates, but it was already enough.

Li Biying came to the production set the second day after the issue was resolved.

“Sister Li is here.”

“Days without seeing you, you’ve lost weight.”

The actors on set greeted her warmly as if nothing had happened. No, they were even more enthusiastic than before.

No one expected that Li Biying, who seemed to be on the verge of being ruined by the “diva” incident, would make a stunning comeback, not only earning forgiveness from the audience but also attracting a wave of new fans.

Indeed, Li Biying gained over two million new followers because of this incident.

Perhaps it was because her family background was exposed, and her image as a wealthy and beautiful heiress made many netizens envious. Even her focus on material comfort showed her true character as a rich heiress.

“Yes, hello, everyone.”

Unlike before, Li Biying didn’t respond with a high chin and indifference. Instead, she smiled faintly and nodded. Though she still wasn’t overly enthusiastic, this was a significant improvement from her usual demeanor.

Everyone was pleasantly surprised.

Li Biying’s assistant, Liu Liu, held several bags and started handing them out, “These are cookies that Sister Li made herself. Please try them.”

Each bag contained only a dozen cookies with bits of nuts on top. The pink bags looked very cute.

This surprised everyone, and they thanked her as they accepted the bags.

Jiang Xiaobai also received a bag, which she put in her purse. At that moment, she noticed Li Biying glancing her way.

She thought Li Biying might come over to talk to her, but Li Biying just glanced and then looked away.

“Hey, I’m… the messenger. You can leave it there; I’ll pick it up later.”

Ming Zhu received a call and was still in a daze after hanging up.

“Zhu Zhu, go get the package. The items are mine.”

“Alright, sure!”

Ming Zhu, who had nothing to do at the moment, quickly went to retrieve it.

Jiang Xiaobai still had scenes to shoot, so she asked Zhu Zhu to keep the items and return them to the hotel.

Today, she and Li Biying didn’t have any scenes together, but during the preparation, Jiang Xiaobai observed from a distance. She noticed that Li Biying entered her acting state faster than before, and her overall demeanor had changed.

Indeed, adversity makes one grow. Suppose she had faced such a situation a few years ago. After so much training, she might have become a true powerhouse in the industry.

After shooting the last scene, Jiang Xiaobai changes out of her costume and walks out when Li Biying approaches her.

As they passed each other, Li Biying stopped.

“Thank you for that interview…”

The last two words were almost inaudible, tinged with a slight, nearly imperceptible nervousness.

Without waiting for Jiang Xiaobai’s reaction, Li Biying quickened her pace and walked into her makeup room.

Jiang Xiaobai watched Li Biying’s retreating back and chuckled softly before leaving.

“Sister Xiao, what are these pendants for?”

At the hotel, Jiang Xiaobai opened the package, and Ming Zhu, who was by her side, was curious.

“To store things.”

Jiang Xiaobai had selected these small pendants in different colors, with male and female styles. The male pendants were black crosses, and the female were rose gold petals. All of them had lids that could be opened to store small items. She had bought quite a few, about a hundred.

She chose the best materials, made of pure silver, which weren’t cheap.

Whether used as a bag or phone charms, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, or waist chains, they don’t cause discomfort when worn close to the body.

Although the talismans were made of paper, they had a waterproof effect when infused with spiritual energy. They could withstand fire for a short time, but not if exposed for too long.

In short, they were very convenient to use and store daily.

She had bought them to have on hand. If she wanted to give someone a talisman, she could include a pendant, making it look more presentable.

Since she knew that Tao Qi, the head of DS, would give his wife a protective charm, Jiang Xiaobai chose the female-style petal pendant and carefully placed the already prepared protective charm inside.

“Please send this to the address tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Xiaobai handed the pendant to Ming Zhu and took out two more, “These are for you and Sister Ran. Give this to her when you go back to your room. Remember, always wear them. They are protective charms, and wearing them can keep you safe.”

Ming Zhu’s eyes lit up.

Protective charms!

Ming Zhu and Dong Ran were at the manor during the advertisement shoot. They knew that Jiang Xiaobai had escaped a crisis thanks to the “protective charm given by an elder.” They had been eager to have one, but knowing how valuable and rare they were, they hadn’t asked for one.

They hadn’t expected Sister Xiao to offer them one!

Ming Zhu was overjoyed, but she had a small doubt—

Strange, Sister Xiao had been at the production set for days, and she hadn’t seen her go out or meet anyone from home. Where did she get these charms?

However, this thought flashed through her mind, and she didn’t want to pry. Gratefully, she accepted the pendants.

“Sister Xiao, you should ask the elder how much it costs. I need to pay you!”

Ming Zhu was excited. Her father worked at a construction site, where the job was physically demanding and dangerous. He was also getting older and had many health issues. She had always been worried about him getting hurt at work.

With this protective charm, her father would be safe, and she and her mother could rest easier.

However, she knew she couldn’t take these charms for free. Relatives had gone to temples to seek charms from masters, and the prices varied, but they were never given away for free.

“We’re family; why talk about money? Just work hard for me, and consider this as your reward.” Jiang Xiaobai smiled.

Ming Zhu tried to refuse for a long time, but Jiang Xiaobai insisted, so she finally gave in.

 

 

Chapter 42: Ivan Headquarters

Tao Qi had already transferred the money to Jiang Xiaobai, even though she hadn’t mentioned a price. He moved an amount higher than the market rate.

One hundred thousand yuan.

Jiang Xiaobai didn’t say much and accepted the transfer directly.

Giving a couple of pendants to her close friends was fine, but she couldn’t just give them away to outsiders. Otherwise, if everyone knew the benefits of her talismans and started asking for them, would she sell them or give them away for free?

Jiang Xiaobai knew the quality of the protective charms all too well, and she felt at ease accepting the money.

After receiving the charm, Tao Qi called Jiang Xiaobai. She told him that the wearer should always carry it with them and that it was resistant to water and fire. Tao Qi agreed and said he would offer more thanks if the charm proved effective.

“Then I’ll be waiting for your thanks.”

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself.

Ming Zhu and Dong Ran immediately strung the pendants and wore them around their necks. Dong Ran had previously worn a diamond necklace shaped like a teardrop, but she had removed it to make room for the protective charm.

“Have you called Carroll yet?”

Dong Ran asked as she saw Jiang Xiaobai hang up the phone.

“Yes, we need to go to France.”

Jiang Xiaobai nodded. George had introduced her to a photographer friend, Carroll, from Ivan. Though polite, Jiang Xiaobai called the number on the business card, and Carroll insisted that she come to their headquarters. If satisfied, they would sign her on and complete the advertisement and poster shoots in France.

“Alright, I’ll ask Director Niu for a leave of absence.”

Dong Ran was also excited. Ivan, a French luxury fashion brand that had just entered the Chinese market but hadn’t yet found an endorser, would be an excellent opportunity for Jiang Xiaobai. If she could sign on, it would be perfect.

Director Niu was easy to talk to. After learning that Jiang Xiaobai had an advertisement to discuss, he thought momentarily and agreed. He just asked her not to delay and to return as soon as possible.

Jiang Xiaobai, of course, agreed.

Leaving the production set, Jiang Xiaobai traveled with her agent and assistant to Ivan’s headquarters.

“Hello, are you Miss Jiang?”

Carroll was an unremarkable-looking French man dressed in simple, casual clothing with no logos. However, the fabric and quality clearly indicated that it was custom-made.

He wasn’t particularly tall, around 1.75 meters, and slightly overweight, but his dimples when he smiled made him very charming.

At that moment, he spoke Chinese to Jiang Xiaobai, though his pronunciation was stiff and his tone strange. This, however, showed his goodwill and respect for her, likely due to his friendship with George.

Though he didn’t show it, Carroll was inwardly impressed by Jiang Xiaobai. He wasn’t particularly fond of Eastern women’s beauty; he preferred those with more defined facial features. The reason was simple: such faces looked better on camera and would enhance the appeal of their brand’s clothing.

This was one reason the brand had not found an endorser in China. The brand’s target market was young urban women. While it offered a variety of styles, its primary focus was on a simple and elegant aesthetic.

Finding an endorser who could showcase the beauty of their clothing and have defined facial features wasn’t easy. They had been searching for a long time without success.

However, they couldn’t keep delaying. Recently, they had considered meeting with Liu Xiran, a top-tier Chinese singer. She was tall and had a distinguished presence. While her facial features weren’t conventionally beautiful, she had a calm and sophisticated look, making her a suitable candidate.

Carroll was still hesitant because Liu Xiran was already thirty, and he wasn’t entirely satisfied with her age.

Ivan differed from other brands in that they rarely changed their endorsers once they signed on, typically signing long-term contracts of three years. Thus, they preferred younger endorsers.

George had already spoken to Carroll about Jiang Xiaobai. As friends in the industry, Carroll trusted George’s judgment and agreed to give Jiang Xiaobai a chance despite her relatively low fame and limited work.

In any case, they would meet and see how it went. If she didn’t meet his standards, nothing would be done. If she were a good fit, everything would fall into place.

Now, seeing Jiang Xiaobai, Carroll was very pleased. She was tall and had a unique and elegant presence, with a cold and regal air. Her facial features were both beautiful and well-defined, perfectly matching his aesthetic.

“Carroll, you can speak French with me.”

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and extended her hand.

Carroll’s eyes lit up, and he was even more satisfied. “Wow, that’s great. Come, let’s go inside and talk.”

On the way to the meeting room, Carroll kept observing Jiang Xiaobai, focusing on her demeanor and conversation.

His eyes roamed over Jiang Xiaobai from various angles, itching to pick up his camera and start a test shoot.

Perfect, simply perfect! Her front and side views were both beautiful. If he could photograph her, the results would surely be stunning!

Once they reached the meeting room, Carroll’s assistant brought out their clothing catalog to give Jiang Xiaobai an idea of their style. Jiang Xiaobai looked through it, occasionally conversing with Carroll in French.

Meanwhile, Dong Ran and Ming Zhu were utterly bewildered.

They couldn’t understand French. Dong Ran had suggested hiring an interpreter when they arrived, as the company had such talent, but Jiang Xiaobai had declined.

“I don’t need one; I can manage.”

Dong Ran had been skeptical, thinking that even if Jiang Xiaobai knew some basic conversational French, it wouldn’t be enough for deeper discussions or contract signings. To be safe, she had gotten the phone number of a local Chinese person fluent in French, planning to call for help if needed.

But now… seeing Jiang Xiaobai chatting effortlessly and fluently with Carroll, she realized she saw a side of Jiang Xiaobai she had never known.

Of course, Jiang Xiaobai’s French was a skill of the original owner of this body, an instinctive memory. At first, speaking felt unnatural, but after a few sentences, it became very smooth.

“Come, try on a few outfits. Let’s do a test shoot.”

Carroll had a basic understanding of Jiang Xiaobai’s current situation and her career plans. He found her clear-headed and logical, increasing his positive impression. He stood up and decided to start the photoshoot.

“Wow, Sister Xiao, you look amazing in that!”

Carroll had a keen eye. The first outfit he had Jiang Xiaobai try was a new season’s design, a simple yet versatile look—

A white shirt and sky-blue pencil jeans.

The white shirt had no extra designs on the top half, just a simple style, but the waist was made of sheer white chiffon. The fabric had a beautiful drape and a subtle sheen, tantalizingly revealing Jiang Xiaobai’s fair and delicate waist.