TSSRWAB Chapter 8

Zhao Ziyang’s face had completely darkened.

 

“Director Zhao, do you have anything else to add?” Yuan Tang turned his head slightly and asked. “If not, I’ll begin my comments.”

 

“Well, since Director Yuan has spoken, go ahead.” Zhao Ziyang’s tone was less than friendly.

 

Yuan Tang didn’t care. Looking toward the stage, he said, “I’m giving Lu Xi an A. He genuinely surprised me. The character Ning Gan maintains a perfect façade. Nobody would ever believe he’s involved in organ trafficking. But when the truth is revealed, his cruelty is laid bare. You kept the performance understated, but beneath that calmness, Ning Gan exuded a chilling, spine-tingling fear. You nailed it.”

 

“This performance today didn’t feel like it came from a first-time actor. According to your data, you haven’t acted before?”

 

“I haven’t, but I’ve taken acting classes,” Lu Xi replied.

 

Yuan Tang nodded, his tone full of praise. “Not bad, you’ve found your way in.”

 

Some stars act in over a dozen dramas and still never break through the doorway to true acting. For someone with no acting credits, Yuan Tang’s comment was a high praise. It’s a proof that Lu Xi has talent and charisma in this industry.

 

“Your looks are very refined, strong bone structure, great for close-ups.” Yuan Tang kept complimenting.

 

Zhao Ziyang’s face was slapped by Director Yuan from beginning to end.

 

He accused Lu Xi of ruining Yuan Tang’s film.

 

Only for Yuan Tang to show up and give him an A.

 

He said Lu Xi was all style and no substance, just a pretty face.

 

Then Yuan Tang said Lu Xi’s facial structure looked stunning on the big screen.

 

Zhao Ziyang: …he wanted to curse, but he held back out of respect for Yuan Tang.

 

Yuan Tang was a major director with powerful financial backing, something Zhao Ziyang couldn’t compete with.

 

Still, he wasn’t going to swallow this humiliation easily. “I have a different opinion from Director Yuan. Lu Xi’s performance was still a bit pretentious, not so profound, and not as good as the performance in the movie.”

 

Yuan Tang simply smiled without comment, letting Zhao Ziyang save a little face.

 

On stage.

 

Lu Xi smiled, revealing six pearly white teeth. “You’re right. When it comes to depth, my performance isn’t as profound as Director Zhao’s Sea Girl. Giving me a D makes sense. I totally understand.”

 

Zhao Ziyang: …

 

Zhou Xin couldn’t hold back and let out an ‘oh-ho!’, the gleeful sound of a melon-eating spectator.[mfn]吃瓜 chī guā – a popular Chinese internet slang meaning to “spectate drama” or “watch juicy gossip” (like a bystander munching on melon seeds while enjoying the show)[/mfn]

 

Jian Huai pressed his fist to his lips to stifle a laugh.

 

Back then, when Lu Xi was at the height of his fame, the wealthy second-generation Zhao Ziyang used him to promote his own film.

 

【We wanted to cast Lu Xi as the male lead, but he’s too immature to carry the deeper themes I envisioned.】

 

Lu Xi: 【Know your place and back off.】

 

Zhou Xin hadn’t seen the original post, but she knew that Sea Girl was an absolute garbage.

 

Not even a sliver of depth.

 

Zhao Ziyang came from a wealthy family, a typical spoiled rich kid who entered the entertainment industry as a director for fun. He relied on his privileged background to speak without restraint, never taking young stars seriously. He’s using their popularity to promote his own movie was a standard tactic.

 

Bad publicity is still publicity.[mfn]黑红也是红。Hēi hóng yěshì hóng. – lit. “black-red is still red” ; Even negative reviews or controversial “black and red” can bring fame and attention, and ultimately achieve the effect of “red”. To put it simply, it means “being controversial is also being popular, as long as it can be popular is fine.”[/mfn]

 

But getting embarrassed twice by the same person? That was a first.

 

He wanted to storm off the mentor panel, but doing that would be too humiliating. In the end, Zhao Ziyang stayed seated, forcing a smile. “If you end up selecting a mentor, I could spare some time to advise you.”

 

He was implying Lu Xi was petty.

 

Lu Xi responded with a regretful expression.

 

“I only signed up for one episode.”

 

What a shame.

 

Zhao Ziyang: …Damn![mfn]written in the raws as “……md！” which is a Chinese internet abbreviation that stands for “妈的” (mā de), which literally means “mother’s” but is used as a mild expletive similar to “damn it” or “shit” in English. It expresses frustration, annoyance, or anger. The abbreviation “md” is used online to avoid censorship or soften the impact of the profanity. It’s the milder form for ‘tmd’ or 他媽的 (tā mā de) roughly means “motherf*ucker” of “f*ck”[/mfn]

 

After that, Zhou Xin and Jian Huai commented on this performance, and they also gave Lu Xi an A. They also mentioned the issues with the other two contestants.

 

“Zhao Yu’s performance was too exaggerated, following a formulaic template. Anger meant screaming until your veins pop, and pain meant hugging your girlfriend and crying, but it was overdone, and I didn’t see the emotion behind it.”

 

“Also, pay attention to your lines; they’re too floaty.”

 

“And the actress, He Xiaoman, right? I can see you’ve got some technique. Crying on the operating table but still mindful of your angle? You looked beautiful, sure, but girl, you’re about to die. It’s not the time.”

 

…

 

Zhou Xin was blunt and sharp in her critique, while Jian Huai focused more on encouragement and shared some personal experience.

 

Zhou Xin scored Zhao Yu a C and He Xiaoman a B.

 

Jian Huai gave Zhao Yu a B and He Xiaoman a B.

 

Lu Xi ended up with three As and one D.

 

In the live voting session, Zhu Li pressed the voting button madly. “Vote for Xixi! Vote for my baby!”

 

Calico Cat: “Your baby?”

 

“Damn, Zhu-jie, you’re a mom fan[mfn]妈粉 mā fěn – a Chinese internet slang term referring to female fans who view their favorite idols as if they were their own children. They often express their affection and concern for the idols in a motherly way, sometimes even taking on a protective or critical role.[/mfn].”

 

Zhu Li: …

 

Oops. She slipped. But Lu Xi’s performance today as an actor had truly blown her away, enough to make her blood boil with excitement. She’d nearly forgotten she was once a devoted “mom” fan four years ago… only for her “son” to rebel and fall for an older man, abandoning his career to elope for love.

 

The old post still remained on Weibo: 【We broke up. I am sorry. I am leaving.】 Nine bold words.[mfn]【分手了，对不起，我走了】 (Fēnshǒule, duìbùqǐ, wǒ zǒule)[/mfn]

 

At the time, Zhu Li’s mom heart was shattered. She unfollowed him and joined a retirement group to lie low.

 

Swore she’d never stan anyone again.

 

“You’re not planning to become a Lu Xi fan again, are you? I admit, his acting really shocked me. He’s got a bright future.” Calico Cat then remembered Zhu Li wasn’t a career fan[mfn]事业粉 shì yè fěn – refers to fans who are primarily invested in a celebrity’s professional achievements and career development. They focus on the quality of their work, career trajectory, and overall success, rather than solely on personal aspects or appearance.[/mfn], but a mom fan. She glanced at the twins in the front row and corrected herself, “Actually, now you’d be a grandma fan.”

 

Zhu Li: …

 

Brutal.

 

“Let’s see. Taking it easy. I don’t have the energy anymore.”

 

—

 

After leaving the stage.

 

He Xiaoman looked terrified and stared at Lu Xi with a complicated expression.

 

Who was this guy? He’d dared to go head-to-head with Zhao Ziyang on stage.

 

Zhao Yu felt Lu Xi was impulsive and had just sabotaged his future. His own score wasn’t great, and Lu Xi had completely stolen the spotlight. He should have been jealous, but he wasn’t.

 

So what if a big-shot director and the Best Actor and Actress gave him a few compliments and an A?

 

It’s not like they’d hand Lu Xi any real resources. Not getting any roles is one thing, but now he’s also offended Zhao Ziyang.

 

“You really only signed on for one episode? You’re sitting at 7.6 points. You could continue the competition.”

 

Lu Xi’s score from the audience and three mentors was high, but his scores were low from Zhao Ziyang and the marketing department.

 

“No,” Lu Xi refused, offering no further explanation.

 

His first time on stage was enough to prove his ability. Before finding a suitable nanny, Lu Xi didn’t plan to participate anymore. Doubao and Dougao had followed him back and forth all day just to watch their daddy perform.

 

Lu Xi felt sorry for his sons.

 

They were the last group, and after finishing the recording, Lu Xi’s phone rang. Jian Huai messaged him on WeChat to meet at the garage.

 

Doubao and Dougao had already fallen asleep, curled up under blankets in the backseat.

 

“Back to the hotel or heading to Jinjiang City?”

 

“Hotel,” Lu Xi said from the front passenger seat. “You’ve really helped me a lot these past couple of days.”

 

Jian Huai smiled but didn’t respond to that. “Midnight snack? I had my assistant buy some skewers and crayfish. They’ll be delivered to the hotel room later. We won’t have to go out to eat. How about it?”

 

“Sure. Come to my room, then,” Lu Xi agreed. He didn’t want to leave the twins alone.

 

“Alright.”

 

They pulled into the hotel garage, and Jian Huai helped carry Doubao.

 

No one noticed when a reporter snapped a photo.

 

【Director Zhao, you were right. We got a photo of Jian Huai holding the child, but there’s a man beside him wearing a cap, so we can’t tell who it is.】

 

【Doesn’t matter. Post it anyway.】

 

Zhao Ziyang had lost face on the show today. He couldn’t touch Zhou Xin or Yuan Tang, but Lu Xi was resource-less and had only signed on for one episode. So he redirected all the hate toward Jian Huai.

 

He knew that child couldn’t be Jian Huai’s. If it were Jian Huai’s son, he would have kept it hidden.

 

Leaking the photos was just to annoy him.

 

—

 

Sunday, heading back to Jinjiang City.

 

In the car.

 

The twins had stayed up the previous night to watch their daddy’s performance. Now they are eager to perform, and they chatter away. It’s mainly Doubao who talks, and Dougao nods coldly beside him.

 

“Daddy, how about I sing in the kindergarten performance?”

 

“Didi can dance backup for me.”

 

Lu Xi: You’re dreaming.

 

He glanced at Dougao. The little boss frowned and every muscle in his body was rejecting the suggestion.

 

“How about you and Dougao both sing and I do the dancing?” Lu Xi flipped the roles. Otherwise, Dougao would suffer.

 

This time, their assistant was driving. Jian Huai has more filming, and doing the driving himself would be too exhausting.

 

“Is there an activity at kindergarten?” Jian Huai asked.

 

Lu Xi explained it was a family-themed performance for new students.

 

Last night, while having a midnight snack, Jian Huai finally asked and found out that Lu Xi was single and unmarried.

 

That was enough. He didn’t want to know who the mother was.

 

“Can I come?” Jian Huai saw Lu Xi looking at him and said in a very natural tone, “I’ve never participated in such an activity before. It sounds interesting, and I have time on the weekend.”

 

Lu Xi was stunned.

 

There are actually people who like to watch the kindergarten children’s performance.

 

Was Lao Jian’s paternal instincts acting up as he aged?

 

No wonder he liked Doubao and Dougao so much.

 

“If you want to come, sure,” Lu Xi agreed instantly. After all the help Jian Huai had given him, if the guy wanted to see a performance, how could he say no?

 

—

 

Marketing accounts exploded, posting that Jian Huai had secretly married and had kids.

 

And they have photos to prove it.

 

Gossip Bunny: Someone saw Jian Huai taking his son out to eat these past few days, and there was also a child present at the program recording site. There was even a photo of him holding a sleeping child in the garage. Is this solid evidence? The way Jian Huai holds the child looks very skilled. What a good father! [Photo] X9.

 

Jian Huai’s fans were fuming.

 

【I’m also good at holding ashes. Wanna call me Daddy too?】

 

【You bastard, spreading rumors is against the law, you know that?】

 

【Hahaha, this is hilarious. Fans always call him gege this and gege that, but it turns out all the money they spent on him went to buy baby formula and diapers. I’m crying.】

 

Jian Huai had risen quickly. Three years ago, he first gained popularity as the second male lead in an ancient romance drama, attracting fans with his good looks and tragic character. Later, the IP adaptation of a modern romance drama became a hit, boosting his popularity and propelling him into the ranks of new internet celebrities. His team also performed well, and last year he won an award for Best Actor. He has impressive achievements, popularity, and endorsements.

 

Naturally, others were jealous.

 

Big following comes with big haters.

 

Why not jump on the bandwagon and mock him for having a child, regardless of whether it’s true or not?

 

But no one expected his team to shut it down so fast.

 

Jian Huai Studio: Rumors about Jian Huai being secretly married with children are false. He is single, unmarried, and has no children. The kids in the picture are his friend’s. They hadn’t seen each other in years and were catching up. The twins were being watched by the friend alone, and Jian Huai was simply helping out.

 

【Front row! I knew it. Our gege would never get married and have kids.】

 

【Work studios should always respond this quickly! These sleazy gossip blogs are out of control.】

 

【Twins? Haven’t seen each other in years? I think I know who it is.】

 

【Lu Xi is disgusting. Leeching off our gege’s fame like a parasite.】

 

【Stop cursing. Our gege is helping to take care of the children, so it seems he is friends with Lu Xi. True fans, don’t make things difficult for our gege.】

 

Jian Huai has lots of fans, but they weren’t all rational. Of course, some may be influenced by others.

 

Zhao Ziyang didn’t expect those two children to be Lu Xi’s.

 

He spent a little cash to hire some water army and stir up Jian Huai’s fanbase.

 

Let them tear each other apart.

 

【Ah, I’m so happy! Lu Xi and Jian Huai’s family of four are so well-matched.】

 

【Amazing, I can see the CP[mfn]refers to “Couple Pairing,” often used in the context of fictional characters or real-life pairings that fans find appealing as a couple. It’s a way of expressing support for a romantic or intimate relationship between two individuals, whether real or imagined.[/mfn] chemistry. I heard Lu Xi is going to become an actor, and both of them are actors. The kids are so lucky.】

 

This behavior of shipping CPs in Jian Huai’s personal super topic[mfn]个人超话 gèrén chāohuà – A verified Super Topic exclusively dedicated to a specific celebrity/public figure, often moderated by their team or fan club.[/mfn] immediately caused a wave of fans to dislike Lu Xi.

 

On Weibo’s real-time search[mfn]广场 gǎngchǎng – lit. square/public square – On Weibo, a celebrity’s 广场 refers to their real-time search page (accessible via the search bar), where all recent posts mentioning their name (without a hashtag) are aggregated. Unlike a supertopic (超话 chāo huà), which is a curated fan space, the 广场 is a public discussion area often monitored for trends or controversies. Netizens “屠广场” (flood the square) to spam or manipulate visibility.[/mfn], searching for “Lu Xi” brings up nothing but curse words, insults, black-and-white photos[mfn]黑白照 hēi-bái zhào – often represent funeral portraits or memorial images, used here as a form of harassment[/mfn], and even photoshopped images of the kids with malicious edits.

 

—

 

“Master.”

 

Xie Zhuhan stared at the iPad screen, full of vulgar insults. Photos of a once-beautiful young man were turned monochrome[mfn]referring to the ‘black and white photos'[/mfn], and maliciously edited. His eyes turned cold. “Erase everything.”

 

The butler nodded, ready to act.

 

“Wait.” Xie Zhuhan’s eyes flicked to a particular comment ‘They’re such a perfect family of four’. “Take down that celebrity’s super topic too.”

 

“This…” Isn’t that a bit childish? But the butler had no choice. “Yes, master.”

 

—

 

The author has something to say:
Other overbearing CEOs: If you touch my Xixi, I’ll eliminate you completely and make sure you have no fans left in the entertainment industry!
逼King: Take down the super topic. What perfect family of four?!

 

—

 

Current mindset of our gong: I’m not in love with Lu Xi. I’m just checking how he’s doing.【Secretly stalking all of Xixi’s updates

 

 

 

 

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