Is This How the Entertainment Industry Works? (GL) - Chapter 24

Zhao Baoshang asked, “How do you have something like this?”

“I refined it myself, of course. I’ve been refining the Gu since the competition started.”

“Why the hell would you refine this?!!”

“I wanted to give it to you.” Yan Zhen smiled as she placed the bottle into a small package and set it on the table. “Don’t you like Xu Fengmei? If she is truly beyond your reach, you might as well try this.”

Zhao Baoshang almost picked up the bottle and smashed it right then and there.

Yan Zhen added, “As long as you create enough opportunities, you can always achieve your desired goal. The method of consumption is also very simple—”

Before she could finish, Zhao Baoshang threw the package straight into the trash can. Her expression went icy. “Do you think I need this kind of thing?!”

Yan Zhen: “…”

Yes.

But she didn’t dare say it out loud. Zhao Baoshang seemed to see right through her; she snorted and stood by the window.

“Besides, Xu Fengmei and I have nothing to do with each other.”

Her feelings for Xu Fengmei were merely a form of respect that briefly transcended into liking at the very beginning. With everything Xu Fengmei had done since, that liking and respect had nearly vanished. Xu Fengmei kept using her for publicity “shipping,” so it was only natural for people to misunderstand.

But didn’t this little fan like her? Why would she give such a filthy thing to her and Xu Fengmei? Zhao Baoshang’s face turned pale with anger.

“I don’t like Xu Fengmei,” she repeated.

Yan Zhen: “???”

Yan Zhen couldn’t read Zhao Baoshang’s marriage line, so she didn’t know if the other woman was telling the truth. The Eldest Princess often said things she didn’t mean, so at this moment, Yan Zhen assumed Zhao Baoshang was simply too embarrassed to admit it.

She gave a brief response: “If you ever need it, you can come find me secretly.”

“…Get out.”

Yan Zhen smiled. “Alright, I’m leaving then.”

After Yan Zhen left, Zhao Baoshang prepared to take a shower. Before going in, she doubled back to the trash can and took a peek inside.

The glass bottle was still there. But it looked quite… clean? It didn’t have that dark, murky feeling from before.

Zhao Baoshang felt something was wrong. She walked over, put on rubber gloves, and looked closely. She discovered the bottle was shattered with a hole in the side, and the insects that were supposed to be inside were gone.

Zhao Baoshang panicked. She rummaged through the trash for a long time but saw nothing.

Where was the Love Gu? It couldn’t have crawled into her body already, could it? The veins on the back of Zhao Baoshang’s hand popped as she gripped the trash can.

Damn little fan.

Refining some Love Gu for no reason—and now the bottle is broken! She must have been infected! How hateful! Zhao Baoshang wanted to strangle the little fan.

A few days later, news of Yan Zhen winning the championship exploded on Weibo. After watching so many rounds, everyone felt Yan Zhen wasn’t human—she was a monster. A living monster!

Netizens were excited, and Yan Zhen’s Weibo was flooded with people. Her followers surged, gaining a million in a single day—much faster than during the competition. Her account received the “Big V” verification: Global Supernova Champion.

Han Xiaomeng and Lu Ming both reposted to congratulate her. Though their fame wasn’t top-tier, they had enough fans in the industry. Seeing her fierce growth, the “shills” (paid trolls) of other stars immediately jumped out.

The trolls first tried to drag Zhao Baoshang into it, but they were crushed into pieces by Zhao Baoshang’s studio. Having no choice, the trolls shifted their focus to Yan Zhen’s Weibo posts.

【My grandfather couldn’t wake up a few days ago. I believed the poster and used willow branches and liquor, but he got even sicker! You owe me for my grandfather!】

【This method doesn’t work at all! It even disfigured me. See you in court!】

【I knew people were just hyping this stuff up. Now the truth is out; the previous comments were all shills, and these are the real voices.】

Yan Zhen didn’t have time to see this yet; Yu Lian saw it first.

As someone whose life had been saved by Yan Zhen, Yu Lian unceremoniously reposted. First, she congratulated Yan Zhen on her high-profile win. Then she praised Yan Zhen’s character, stating she would never lie. Finally, she stated she had used the method herself and it was very effective.

Netizens were in disbelief: 【Doesn’t Yu Lian usually stay above the fray? She’s never taken a side since opening her Weibo, but this time she’s publicly grouping up.】

【This Yan Zhen… first Zhao Baoshang, then Yu Lian. Are all the big shots in the industry her friends? Interesting.】

Yan Zhen was searching for topics related to herself when she saw the thousands of comments. She clicked on them and saw the trolls’ words. She posted: 【If anyone thinks I’ve calculated wrong, you can leave your birth ‘Bazi.’ I’ll verify the truth on the spot. If I’m wrong, it’s free.】

The trolls laughed, thinking Yan Zhen was seeking her own death. They randomly left a string of birth dates.

Yan Zhen calculated for a moment and wrote directly: 【I don’t know why you have so many accounts, but there are only three people behind them. Your residences are located in the Capital’s Flower City, Peony District, and City Park respectively. Your workplace is Xincheng Building A, Room 1010.】

Netizens realized instantly: 【Xincheng Building A… that sounds familiar.】

【Yeah, I saw that somewhere before.】

【Found it! It’s the office for a marketing company that specializes in hype and shills!】

With their true identities exposed, the trolls had no time to explain and could only fall silent. Once the Weibo quieted down, Yan Zhen said: 【If anyone is still unconvinced, feel free to leave your Bazi. I will pick a day to calculate them.】

After that, she searched for Zhao Baoshang’s Weibo, clicked follow, and began to “stalk” her content. Most of the Eldest Princess’s posts were just reposting new projects for others—nothing very interesting.

Yan Zhen kept scrolling down until she found the post where Zhao Baoshang had helped her canvas for votes. A sense of being “favored” rose in her heart, leaving her inexplicably moved. She happily sent a private message: 【Why did you help me canvas for votes back then?】

She thought she’d have to wait, but Zhao Baoshang replied quickly: 【The old man at home asked me to.】

Yan Zhen asked: 【Is ‘Old Zhao’ your grandfather too?】

Zhao Baoshang sent an [Angry] emoji: 【Who are you calling ‘Old Zhao’!】

Yan Zhen hurried to fix it: 【I asked wrong. Is Grandpa Zhao your grandfather? Your blood relation isn’t strong, I didn’t realize it at first.】

Zhao Baoshang: 【My dad was adopted by Grandpa.】 Then she added: 【Why do you care so much, what do you want with me?!】

Yan Zhen thought about it; there wasn’t really anything, so she said “Bye-bye.”

Zhao Baoshang got even more bristly: 【You dare bother me for just this? My time is very precious.】

Yan Zhen suddenly remembered something: 【Am I a top-tier superstar now?】

Zhao Baoshang: 【Of course not.】

Yan Zhen was a bit disappointed: 【I’ll keep working hard.】

Zhao Baoshang was confused at her phone. What is this fan working hard for? To become a superstar? To surpass me in aura and fans? What a fan… Not only did she give her a Love Gu, she wanted to surpass her. What was she after?!

Zhao Baoshang typed a few lines wanting to ask about the Gu, but thinking of the fan’s slightly “stupid” face, she suddenly felt this wasn’t so bad.

Wait! Her expression changed. Even if it wasn’t bad, it was on the premise that she was more powerful than the little fan. She felt a sense of crisis. She called Li Ping to ask about the director for Qing Shan Yuan.

She really loved the script. The characterization of the female lead was incredibly cool—starting as a bit of a naive girl but transforming into a fierce, hidden-fanged warrior after a family tragedy. Zhao Baoshang had a Wuxia dream and wanted to make this film no matter what.

Li Ping replied: “We found a director, Xu Yang, but we’re missing a lead.”

“Which lead?”

“Qing Zhu, the maidservant who stays by your side. We asked a few popular ones, but no one wants to play it.”

They all thought Zhao Baoshang was a bully with a temper.

Zhao Baoshang said, “That’s fine. I have a suitable candidate. Her acting is good too, so no need to find anyone else. I’ll bring her in to start filming in a few days.”

The rewards for the champion soon reached Yan Zhen. MMV, a top global luxury brand, wanted her for their popular rose perfume. As for the custom program and the big-budget film, she could make a request.

Yan Zhen left a message: I want to have direct contact with Zhao Baoshang.

When the staff saw this, they were speechless. They showed it to Yu Lian, who laughed: “Then let’s do as she wishes.”

Author’s Note:

Staff: Master Yan, what do you mean by “direct contact”?

Zhao Baoshang: It must be that kind of “excessive” contact. I get it; being an idol is hard, always having to fulfill the little fan’s fantasies…

Yan Zhen (interrupting): I just need to be on a show to protect the Eldest Princess from her Death Calamity.