Is This How the Entertainment Industry Works? (GL) - Chapter 9

“It’s you? You’re so young?” Han Xiaomeng, excessively shaken, remained neurotically wrapped in her quilt.

She raised her eyebrows. Although she recognized Yan Zhen as her savior, she clearly didn’t trust the girl’s professional level.

“She’s young, but she really was the one who told me that the cliff-jumping scene had a problem,” Lu Ming said, before introducing Yan Zhen. “This is Sister Han. You saved her during the landslide the other day, remember?”

“Who did you learn fortune-telling from?” Han Xiaomeng asked Yan Zhen.

Yan Zhen replied, “I’m self-taught.”

Han Xiaomeng: “…”

Lu Ming: “…”

Usually, saying you’re self-taught is one thing, but why did she have to add that she’s a “natural talent”? They had never seen someone so brazen…

Looking at Yan Zhen’s youthful face, Han Xiaomeng said with a hint of mockery, “Fine. Since you saved me once, give me a reading.”

Yan Zhen went straight to the point: “Your biggest worry right now is likely how to leave this set gracefully without ruining your reputation.”

Han Xiaomeng was startled but quickly composed herself. “What else?”

She was indeed troubled by this. Despite surviving the cliff-jumping incident and the landslide, she knew that if her luck stayed this bad, she could lose her life. She felt that staying here would lead to disaster. However, this was an opportunity to make money and gain fans. If she broke her contract and left, and the movie later became a hit, it would become a permanent stain on her record.

She wanted to climb higher. Therefore, she hadn’t decided whether her life or her reputation was more important.

Yan Zhen didn’t answer Han Xiaomeng’s question directly. Instead, she glanced at the actress’s hand and continued: “Your family background is decent; you were quite wealthy before the age of ten. Unfortunately, you have an older brother who indulged in drinking, gambling, and debauchery, squandering the family fortune until nothing was left.”

Han Xiaomeng stood up abruptly, still draped in her quilt. “How do you know that?”

Yan Zhen added, “You are a highly ambitious person. As soon as you reached adulthood (Age of Ji Ji), you sought out a financial backer. You’ve had three in six years. Now your career is flourishing, but your current backer seems to be growing tired of you. So, you followed those Hong Kong stars and started ‘raising a little ghost’ to steal others’ luck. But a few days ago, you offended the spirits and deities, and now you’re suffering the backlash.”

Lu Ming sat to the side, counting on her fingers. “Reaching adulthood… so she just started high school?”

Han Xiaomeng was utterly shocked. Her pupils constricted, and her breathing became rapid. She had initially thought Yan Zhen was just a country girl, but hearing so many secrets she had hidden for years made it impossible for her to sit still. She felt a brief urge to silence Yan Zhen to keep her history buried.

Fortunately, her logic remained. She knew violence wouldn’t solve her problems. Right now, her life was the priority.

“Master, I don’t want to die.” Han Xiaomeng shed two rows of insincere tears. “Please tell me what I did wrong. I will definitely make amends.”

Yan Zhen shook her leg and asked, “Haven’t you realized it yet?”

Han Xiaomeng sobbed, “I won’t raise the ghost anymore. I’ll go back and return everything I took from others.”

Yan Zhen cracked a sunflower seed. “How do you plan on returning it?”

Han Xiaomeng froze, unable to answer. Her words were just a performance; no one would willingly give up the chance to become a superstar.

Yan Zhen saw right through her. “You aren’t sincere.” She stood up to leave.

Han Xiaomeng quickly grabbed onto this lifeline. “Please, show some mercy and tell me what to do. I’ll do exactly as you say!”

Yan Zhen sat back down and looked Han Xiaomeng in the eye. Her gaze seemed to pierce through to the depths of the actress’s heart. She knew Han Xiaomeng was reluctant.

“Raising a little ghost damages your hidden merit. If I wanted to, I have a million ways to stop you from doing it,” Yan Zhen advised. “But I’m too kind-hearted, so I’m giving you a chance to save yourself.”

Han Xiaomeng fell silent for a moment. “Master, I am truly repentant.” Her attitude was now sincere—a far cry from when Yan Zhen first entered the room.

Lu Ming also put in a good word. After all, if the lead actress couldn’t hold on, the movie would fall apart, and everyone’s dreams of stardom would shatter.

Yan Zhen said, “Fine. I’ll say this once, so listen well.”

Han Xiaomeng wiped her tears and nodded.

“Your sacrifices to the Heavens are useless because the ones you offended are someone’s ancestors,” Yan Zhen said. “This village originally didn’t have air conditioning. You insisted on installing pipes, and those pipes damaged someone’s ancestral grave. Since you carry the ghostly aura of that ‘little ghost,’ you were naturally the first target for their blame.”

Han Xiaomeng’s face turned white. “So it’s not just my fault?”

Yan Zhen nodded. Han Xiaomeng realized she might have just been dragged down by the production team’s actions and felt like hitting someone in rage.

Lu Ming quickly held her down and asked Yan Zhen, “So what should we do now?”

Yan Zhen said, “It’s simple.”

Lu Ming looked at her with stars in her eyes.

Yan Zhen continued, “First, let the ‘little ghost’ go.”

Han Xiaomeng’s face darkened instantly. She asked, “Can’t I just help them repair the ancestral grave?”

Yan Zhen smiled at her. “Who is going to do the repairs? If someone else does it, you won’t get any merit. If you go yourself, given the ghostly aura on you, you probably won’t survive three hours.”

Han Xiaomeng bit her teeth. “Fine. Let it go!”

Lu Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Han Xiaomeng was decisive at the critical moment—no wonder she had climbed to her current position.

Han Xiaomeng brought out the jar containing the ghost. Yan Zhen opened the lid, and something drifted out. Then, a small paper effigy wearing a red and green floral jacket crawled out. Yan Zhen lit a stick of incense and burned a yellow talisman. The ghost “ate” the incense, hopped outside, and eventually dissipated into black mist.

At the same time, Han Xiaomeng spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Yan Zhen handed the jar back to her. “Don’t be afraid. It’s just toxic blood. Now that it’s out, your body is clean.”

Han Xiaomeng panted heavily, looking down in silence. She truly believed now. While she had been dismissive before, after witnessing such a supernatural scene, she was fully convinced of Yan Zhen’s genuine skills.

To the side, Lu Ming was so shocked her mouth could fit an egg. She had previously wondered if “little ghost” and “ghostly aura” were just code words, but it turned out to be exactly the “dirty things” she had imagined. Such things actually existed and could steal someone’s luck?! How convenient…

Yan Zhen glanced at Lu Ming and spooked her: “Raising a little ghost requires sacrificing your own fortune. Once it backfires, your life is over.”

Lu Ming shuddered and quickly explained, “I was just thinking about it!”

After releasing the ghost, Yan Zhen said, “Now, just go and repair that ancestral grave.”

Han Xiaomeng nodded.

Yan Zhen added, “After repairing it, sprinkle some water and place white flowers on top.” She pulled out a piece of paper. “Then, burn this apology letter to them.”

“Is it that much trouble?” Han Xiaomeng asked.

Yan Zhen smiled. “Of course, it doesn’t have to be a trouble. But after all, a life is precious. A half-baked job might not have the best results.”

Han Xiaomeng had no choice but to call her assistant and have them send over a set of tools for repairing stone tablets. By the time they finished, it was evening.

Yan Zhen gave a final warning: “If you raise another one after letting this one go, you will fall into a state beyond redemption.”

This sentence killed Han Xiaomeng’s last lingering thought. She gave a weak response, “I understand.” Then, she offered a weary thanks of uncertain sincerity. “Thank you. But please don’t tell anyone about today.”

Yan Zhen said, “Communication is difficult in the mountains; I have nowhere to tell.” She then held out her hand. “Where’s my payment? Give it to me.”

Author’s Note:

Yan Zhen: I’m a charlatan (master), pay up! Understand?

Zhao Baoshang: (Silently sending money…)

Yan Zhen: Princess!! I have money! Some idiot sent me money anonymously. We can go have hotpot!

Zhao Baoshang: …You’re about to lose your wealthy Princess.