Is This How the Entertainment Industry Works? (GL) - Chapter 29.2

A few days later, Yan Zhen received a call from Han Xiaomeng. Han Xiaomeng gasped excitedly: “Master, have you seen the news? Our movie is a hit!”

“The Most Beautiful Rural Teacher?” Yan Zhen asked.

“Yes! Just as you said, it exploded! My God, I’m going to be famous.”

To relieve stress before the premiere, Han Xiaomeng had posted a Weibo: “The divine calculator sister on our crew said this movie would be number one at the box office. I believe her [doge].”

At the time, people mocked her: 【Pah, talk about a big ego.】 【Don’t forget The General’s Command is playing right next to you.】 【If it hits number one, I’ll stream myself eating sh*t.】

Two days later, the box office for the movie began to climb steadily, eventually rivaling The General’s Command. People flooded Han Xiaomeng’s Weibo, praising her performance as an extraordinary breakthrough. With so much praise, more people went to see it out of curiosity.

The film, originally dismissed as “morally questionable” or “logically flawed,” began to overtake other movies, falling only behind The General’s Command—and that was just after one night. By the next day, reviews grew even better. Most people had gone to the cinema for The General’s Command, but since those tickets sold out quickly, they bought tickets for The Most Beautiful Rural Teacher instead.

They expected a casual watch, but were sucked in by the unique execution, the blend of laughter and tears, and the explosive acting. Even the minor characters were brimming with performance power.

“Those gazes really spooked me,” people commented coming out of the theater.

“Yeah, whose were you talking about?”

“Who else? The lead’s mother!”

“I thought everyone’s eye acting was great. This is a Director Wang film, right? I don’t remember him focusing so much on eye close-ups before.”

While some were confused, the movie was a certified hit. Han Xiaomeng, as the lead, became famous overnight. The other actors were also hailed as the new generation of “character actors.”

As for Yan Zhen, her popularity was already high after the competition. People were desperate to dig up her history, wondering if she was truly a “monster” in disguise.

Han Xiaomeng asked, “Master, did you already know it would be number one?”

Yan Zhen said, “The movie’s original luck was ordinary. It should be said that everyone’s performance was so good that it changed the existing outcome.”

Han Xiaomeng was flustered by the praise. “No, no, it was you and Lu Ming who acted so well—” She stopped when she mentioned Lu Ming.

“What is it?” Yan Zhen asked.

“Lu Ming—” Han Xiaomeng said. “I suspect she’s been ‘hexed’ (Taisou) lately.”

“Huh?”

“She’s obsessed with a fan-chasing craze,” Han Xiaomeng said. “She’s chasing a ‘little fresh meat’ idol—gifting houses, watches, and constantly fawning over him on Weibo.”

Yan Zhen took a sip of cola. “That does sound a bit off.” She recalled that during her first meeting with Lu Ming, she had read her fortune and found she was a “late bloomer” who wouldn’t find her path until thirty. How could she suddenly fall for a young boy?

“But maybe I’m overthinking it. I talked to her a few days ago, and she sounded normal.”

This made Yan Zhen feel even more suspicious. She hung up, planning to ask Lu Ming herself. But just then, her phone rang. It was Yu Lian.

Yu Lian’s voice was urgent, as if she’d just woken from a nightmare. “Master, the protective charm turned to ash again.” She was terrified, feeling she might not have woken up this time. Her nightmares had escalated from dead cats and dogs to bloody humans, and that robber-reporter was staring at her with his eyes gouged out.

Yan Zhen realized the severity. She got Yu Lian’s address and rushed over. Yu Lian sat on her sofa, looking despondent. She pulled out the charm; the yellow paper looked as if it had been burned, leaving only ashy edges.

Yan Zhen thought about the recent celestial omens. “Has anyone around you been acting strangely?”

Yu Lian shook her head. “I’ve been observing since last time; most are the same.”

“Some things might not be visible to the naked eye,” Yan Zhen noted. She told Yu Lian about the “little ghost” incident from before. In this industry, strange things were common. She asked Yu Lian to think harder.

“Let me think.” Yu Lian rubbed her forehead. “I’ll go get a glass of water first.”

As she stood up, sunlight hit her eyes, and Yan Zhen noticed they flashed with a golden hue.

“Are you wearing colored contacts at home?” Yan Zhen asked.

“Contacts? I’m not wearing any.” Yu Lian blocked the light with her hand and pulled the curtains.

Fearing light, golden glint in the eyes. It looked like her body was being affected by an ancient artifact from a tomb. Yan Zhen stood up to look around. When Yu Lian returned, she found Yan Zhen staring at a vase in the corner.

“Is there something wrong with this vase?” Yu Lian asked.

“Where did you get it?”

“I bought it—wait, no, someone gave it to me for my birthday last month.”

Yan Zhen brought the vase closer. “This thing carries Yin Qi.”

“What?”

“The scent of the dead,” Yan Zhen said. “It was likely dug up from a grave.”

Yu Lian’s face paled. “So the vase is the problem?”

“More than that,” Yan Zhen said. “Many things in your home carry Yin Qi. First, the Feng Shui is bad; second, there is an evil object at work.” She walked to the door. “I felt it when I entered. Your house’s shape leans right, but you’ve piled everything on the left. Feng Shui emphasizes the left as the position of honor. If the left is blocked, it affects your luck.”

Yu Lian checked and found it was true. She wouldn’t have noticed if Yan Zhen hadn’t mentioned it.

Yan Zhen added, “There should have been two small stone lions at your entrance, but they’re gone. Your interior decor was designed to harmonize with them. If they’re lost, you should buy new ones immediately.”

Yu Lian checked outside; the lions in the corner really were gone. She was increasingly impressed by Yan Zhen.

“I’ll go buy some later.”

Yan Zhen pointed out a few more errors to help improve Yu Lian’s health and stop the nightmares. But these weren’t the core issue. She picked up the vase again. “Do you remember who gave this to you?”

Yu Lian shook her head. “I feel like someone did, but I really can’t remember.”

“It’s not your fault you don’t remember.” Yan Zhen touched the body of the vase. A bone-chilling coldness transmitted to her mind, along with the sound of screeching tires. She slapped a talisman on the vase, and the world returned to normal.

“What… what was that sound?” Yu Lian had heard it too.

Yan Zhen explained: “This is an object from the underworld, but the energy attached to it is benevolent. A spirit you once helped likely wanted to repay you and attached itself to this object to warn you.”

“Warn me about what?”

“That the flow of energy in your home is obstructed and there is a major problem.”

Yu Lian breathed a sigh of relief. “So… just those things you mentioned?”

Yan Zhen nodded. “Your nightmares are also spirits seeking you out to play. Unfortunately, their awareness is shallow; they can’t distinguish good from bad, so their good intentions resulted in bad outcomes.”

Yu Lian was silent, unsure whether to feel honored or to strangle the spirits. “Do you know who the spirit is?” She couldn’t remember saving anyone. Yan Zhen shook her head.

“Is it okay now with the talisman?” Yu Lian asked.

“Of course not. This vase cannot stay.”

Yu Lian agreed.

“Was it expensive?” Yan Zhen asked.

“I didn’t pay for it.”

Yan Zhen nodded, wrapped the vase in a plastic bag, and clatter—she smashed it.

At that same moment, in the deep mountains, a white-bearded old man smashed the bowl in his hand and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Xu Fengmei, sitting beside him, was startled.

“Master Bai, what’s wrong?”

Master Bai’s throat made a clicking sound, and his flesh withered and then swelled visibly. “It is nothing,” he said slowly. “Someone broke my array.”

“What array?”

“It has nothing to do with you.” Master Bai waved her off.

Xu Fengmei resumed her submissive posture. “Master, when can you give me what I want?”

Master Bai twisted his beard. “Not now. My array was broken and my cultivation is halved. If you do one thing for me, I will give it to you when it’s done.”

“What is it?”

Master Bai beckoned her closer and whispered a few words.

Yan Zhen had no idea that someone had been secretly photographing her when she visited Zhao Baoshang. She was on the headlines again! This time, with Zhao Baoshang. Nine high-definition photos showed them standing before Old Zhao, giving the small box in the garden, and hugging.

The comments were spicy.

【Is this coming out?! Meeting the parents?!】

【Zhao Baoshang dumped Xu Fengmei for a new love?】

【I knew Yan Zhen rose too fast; she’s definitely a social climber.】

Xu Fengmei was fuming as she saw this. She relied on being “shipped” with Zhao Baoshang to maintain her popularity. After The General’s Command finished filming, she had gone abroad to connect with Hollywood directors. She thought her studio could handle things at home.

But when she returned, she found her movie wasn’t number one at the box office. Even worse, the headlines were about Zhao Baoshang and Yan Zhen. How would she write her PR pieces now? If she wrote that she was the “betrayed original partner” and Yan Zhen was the “home-wrecker,” she’d never work in this industry again.

She thought of Master Bai’s words and looked at Weibo. She grabbed several dark bottles and ran out. She hurried to Zhao Baoshang’s home and knocked. When the door opened, Zhao Baoshang’s expression turned from warm to stormy.

“Sister Xu,” she greeted. Xu Fengmei entered the house without being stopped. In the distance, a camera flash flickered. Zhao Baoshang felt helpless; even a fool knew what Xu Fengmei was doing.

Xu Fengmei tried to pull the curtains. “No need,” Zhao Baoshang said.

“What if we’re photographed?”

Zhao Baoshang lay on the sofa. She was wearing a black shirt and trousers, making her skin look even fairer. Even Xu Fengmei felt a surge of envy and jealousy. If only Zhao Baoshang were a man.

“Sister Xu, pulling the curtains makes things even harder to explain,” Zhao Baoshang noted. “The PR pieces always say the same things; don’t you think it’s time for a change? Every time you go somewhere else it’s fine, but as soon as you come here, we’re ‘photographed.’ Don’t come next time.”

Xu Fengmei sat down. “Baoshang, I am your elder and your savior. Don’t you think you’re being too aggressive?”

Zhao Baoshang closed her eyes.

“I have urgent business,” Xu Fengmei said. “What is your relationship with that recent champion?” She was nervous; she had seen the girl in the countryside and knew how dangerous Yan Zhen was.

“She’s my fan,” Zhao Baoshang said.

“Just a fan?”

“What else would she be?”

“You didn’t buy those headlines, did you?”

“I’m not that bored,” Zhao Baoshang snorted.

Xu Fengmei didn’t blush. “Those previous ones… I didn’t buy those either; the studio did.”

Zhao Baoshang gave no opinion.

“Are you starting to find me annoying?” Xu Fengmei asked, standing near a storage cabinet.

Zhao Baoshang opened her eyes. “Sister Xu, you were originally the person I respected most.”

Xu Fengmei’s heart jolted, and she gave a bitter secret smile. Fate is a cruel thing. She had thought getting a Zhao family member was her best luck, but it was a woman, and the second daughter at that. She knew the power in such families lay with the patriarch, and Zhao Baoshang could never be the head.

She hardened her heart. She pulled a bottle from her pocket and, while Zhao Baoshang wasn’t looking, stuffed the contents into a box. Zhao Baoshang heard a sound and looked over. Xu Fengmei was leaning against the cabinet as if tidying things.

Zhao Baoshang’s eyes went dark. She wasn’t oblivious to family politics. “Sister Xu, you should leave.”

Xu Fengmei didn’t linger. Her heels clicked on the tiles—two thumps like a signal. Zhao Baoshang’s heart suddenly constricted, and the pain almost made her cry out.

“Are you okay?” Xu Fengmei smiled at the door. “If something happens, you can come find me.”

Zhao Baoshang slammed the door. Xu Fengmei cursed and left.

Inside, Zhao Baoshang felt something was wrong. She thought of Xu Fengmei’s strange smile and checked the box she had touched. Inside was a bronze toad. She knew it was nothing good and threw the whole thing in the trash.

Sitting back on the sofa, she felt terrible. She had respected Xu Fengmei so much, but now she was trying to harm her. I’m such a failure at life.

The only one who was truly good to her was her little fan. She picked up her phone to text Yan Zhen. A message from Yan Zhen arrived at that exact moment.

Yan Zhen: Were you bullied?

Zhao Baoshang: No.

Yan Zhen: Then I calculated wrong. If you are bullied, tell me; I’ll help you get justice.

Zhao Baoshang: How would you do that?

Yan Zhen: Carve a paper figure and curse them.

Zhao Baoshang: Childish.

Yan Zhen: Have a paper doll bite them.

Zhao Baoshang: You’re a primary schooler.

Yan Zhen: Send a letter to the underworld to tell their ancestors?

Zhao Baoshang: Crazy.

Yan Zhen (confused): Then what else?

Zhao Baoshang: Make them regret being born.

Yan Zhen: … (The Princess is still as ruthless as ever.)

Yan Zhen: What do you plan to do?

Zhao Baoshang: Blacklist them. Cut off their resources.

Yan Zhen: Isn’t that a bit harsh…?

Zhao Baoshang: What’s harsh about it?

Everything Xu Fengmei had was given by her. If she wanted to be cruel, there was no need to show mercy. She messaged Li Ping, telling her things were over with Xu Fengmei. Li Ping knew what to do.

Feeling better, Zhao Baoshang wanted her little fan to come over so she could hug and kiss her. Why does she make me worry so much? She leaned back into the sofa, confused. I must be sick.

She called Yan Zhen and blurted out: “Come over. My Love Gu is acting up.”

“What?” Yan Zhen nearly bit her tongue.

Author’s Note:

Yan Zhen: You scared me so much I’m speaking English…

Zhao Baoshang: Is that the only word you know?

Yan Zhen: No! I competed against a British girl, remember?

Yan Zhen: Without you, I’m nothing. (Purely in gratitude).

Zhao Baoshang (blushing): You little fan… do you want to be unable to leave the bed?