Chapter 2: 2

When Xia Yuanhang reappeared, his face was still full of spring and bright smiles. The unpleasant argument that occurred backstage did not show on his face in the slightest

“Good luck at the box office.”

“Thanks.”

This scene was dutifully captured by the surrounding mobile phone cameras, but no one heard the politeness and alienation hidden between these two sentences.

Liang Xincheng was arranged to sit with Xia Yuanhang. After sitting down, they exchanged a few formal greetings, and when the lights in the auditorium were dimmed, they stopped talking. No one would pay attention to them at this time, so those were enough.

Just now while waiting for the movie to start, Liang Xincheng refreshed his Weibo again, and sure enough his appearance had made the popular headlines, with countless fans cheering and buzzing about the relationship between him and Xia Yuanhang, almost overwhelming everyone.

He knew there were many fans on the internet who wanted him and Xia Yuanhang to have some ambiguous stories to satisfy their fantasies, and that was what they were speculating about. There were also many people who scolded them for being vulgar and wanting to be red and crazy, but they did indeed rely on these popularity.

But what was shown to the eyes of outsiders and fans was all fake. Maybe one day this bubble would burst, and no one knew how many people would go crazy by then.

When the opening credits appeared, Liang Xincheng’s distant thoughts gradually returned to him, and when Xia Yuanhang wearing his high school uniform appeared on the big screen, his eyelashes trembled slightly; his expression was blurred and hidden in the darkness.

This was a youth romance from youth to adulthood. The scene of the student days accounted for almost two-thirds of the film. The eighteen-year-old male protagonist in the film was confident and flamboyant, and he was devoted to the girl he loved. Liang Xincheng had seen the eighteen-year-old Xia Yuanhang in real life, when he was more flamboyant and dazzling than the protagonist in the film, but his gaze never stopped for anyone.

He and Xia Yuanhang’s CP became popular not only because their managers spared no effort in hyping the CP, but also because of the little relationship between them in the past. He and Xia Yuanhang were actually from the same high school, and Xia Yuanhang was two years older than him.

In the stories made up by those fans, he and Xia Yuanhang had staged many romantic and touching legends in their high school days. In fact, when he was a student, he knew Xia Yuanhuang. Xia Yuanhang was the school grass and he was a heartthrob in the eyes of girls. However, Xia Yuanhang didn’t know that there was a certain ordinary and unremarkable student among the junior students of the second grade.

Maybe it was because he was not able to watch the film he acted in, Xia Yuanhang was a little absent-minded. He turned his head inadvertently, his gaze swept over Liang Xincheng beside him, noticing his side face in the darkness staring intently at the big screen. There was a slight pause before he quickly turned his eyes away.

After the premiere, Liang Xincheng and Xia Yuanhang greeted each other before leaving immediately. Perhaps, the fans expected them to go to dinner together or something, but that was beyond the original business scope of the day, so both of them wouldn’t be happy with it.

On the way back, leaning back in the seat with eyes closed tiredly, Liang Xincheng remembered that he could probably rest for a while. The new project was robbed so the original plan was all disrupted. Plus, it was not so easy to find another film to fill the slot.

Liu Fan murmured beside him: “It’s true that you guys can’t go on like this all the time. I heard that Xia Yuanhang himself seems to have a lot of opinions. It’s time to stop hyping the CP. The role of the young king will definitely become popular. If you play it well, it may be representative work…”

Liang Xincheng didn’t answer, he also wanted this role and this drama, but what was the use of wanting it? Good luck never seemed to be on his side.

After resting at home for two days, Liang Xincheng, who only woke up at noon this day, yawned and went to the kitchen to make coffee. He clicked on Weibo to take a look. Unexpectedly found that there was a new Weibo post on his account last night.

Two simple facial expressions plus a photo, which was captured by Liu Fan two days ago when he was reading the script. Because of the high resolution photo, people could clearly see the words on the script when they enlarged it, which were the lines he had underlined at the time.

The fans in the comments had long been crazy about it. This drama was an adaptation of a big IP, a big production directed by a big director. Before this, various marketing accounts had been attracting fans, and now the leading actor broke the news to many people. And yet, there had been no official announcement about it. So, many fans were eagerly looking forward to it.

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Now that this photo was released, it could be regarded as a real hammer. Tags like #Liang Xincheng young County King# were also on the top of the hot search and all major entertainment official blogs and popular marketing accounts were reposting; his confirmed role as young Country King was all over the place.

Liang Xincheng instantly understood Liu Fan’s intentions. He posted on Weibo and he bought these marketing accounts and posts.

“What’s the use of doing this? If the role is robbed, it’s robbed. Can you grab it back doing this?”

Liang Xincheng’s WeChat message was sent, and Liu Fan quickly called: “I asked you to talk to the big boss but you don’t care, so I can only work harder for you. We call it ‘strike first to gain the initiative’.”

“Do you think you can get the producers to compromise by buying some water army and press releases and stirring things up?”

“How do you know if you don’t try? Besides, are we not allowed to do the same when they were the one who put us in an awkward situation? Even if the role is robbed, we also have to let the receiver take off a layer of skin first.”

Liang Xincheng was speechless. Although Liu Fan’s words were blunt, they were true. It was really disgusting to say this, although it was actually the norm in this circle.

After hesitating, he said helplessly: “Since you said that the other party has a close relationship with Shengxing’s boss, do you think he would be so easy to deal with? Don’t make it worse than it is worth.”

“What are you afraid of? Those with bare feet are not afraid of those who wear shoes.”1

Liu Fan really didn’t think the other party was capable. Even with Shengxing’s boss backing him up, wouldn’t Liang Xincheng also have their big boss behind him? The big boss would never watch Liang Xincheng’s role being robbed and him being bullied, right?

Besides, Liang Xincheng was a popular fresh meat in the eyes of the public. That Ding Yao, was there such a person in the eyes of the public?

Things were developing faster than Liang Xincheng imagined. Within two days of their move, the movie’s Weibo officially announced that Ding Yao would be playing the leading role of the young Country King. When the Weibo was sent out, Liang Xincheng’s fans who were full spirit seemed to be poured with a pot of cold water. After being confused, they quickly organized their fighting force and rolled up their sleeves to tear at Ding Yao’s Weibo and the movie’s official Weibo.

This was not without the rhythm of the water army bought by Liu Fan while the various marketing numbers fanning the flames. Liang Xincheng’s fans were outraged, why their gege’s role was robbed by an unknown newcomer.

The newcomer had a strong background and brought capital into the group, relying on the big backers and the big financial backer. In the first film, the original actor for the second male lead was kicked out from the production. Now, the same trick was repeated, bullying Liang Xincheng who was helpless. It was really intolerable.

So Ding Yao’s all kinds of black material, either true or false, including the unspoken rules of being kept by a gold master was circulated by Liang Xincheng’s fans on Weibo and various forums. He had already turned black before he became popular.

Liang Xincheng felt that this rhythm was not quite right, but Liu Fan’s eyes turned red with a posture of vowing to get rid of Ding Yao. Liang Xincheng couldn’t persuade him so he didn’t bother. Although Liu Fan had done a bit too much, their original intentions were indeed valid. Ding Yao did use extraordinary means to snatch his role, and he was not wronged.

He sympathized with others, but who would sympathize with him?

 

 

1

barefooted people are not afraid of those who wear shoes (idiom); fig. the poor, who have nothing to lose, do not fear those in power

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