Chapter 101 of 131
Chapter 62 - Ji Mian’s Explosive Black Material
9 min read2,371 wordsMature
Chen Pengxin kept refreshing the comments on Weibo. Since Director Hu Ming was
originally considering Lin Leyang for the role of the male lead, he wanted to create some
public support for Lin Leyang, which might prompt the producers to change their minds.
The main purpose of making a film is to generate revenue and for the public to watch it. If
even the public cannot recognize the acting skills of the male lead, how could the film
achieve its set box office goal?
But he obviously didn’t consider the most important point. Xiao Jiashu’s performance
wasn’t bad in the first place. It could even be said that it was equal to Lin Leyang’s, but their
styles were different. How could the average person see the gap between the two?
Furthermore, Xiao Jiashu’s appearance, height, temperament, and popularity far
exceeded Lin Leyang. Comparing the two together, even if Chen Pengxin bought a few
thousand water armies to build up momentum at once, he would still be unable to compare
to Xiao Jiashu’s tap water.
Most of his fans were mother fans and had a strong instinct to protect their child. ”My child
must be the best,” is the common sentiment amongst all mothers.
A fan wrote: ”The young people nowadays are indeed very strong, but my family’s Little
Sapling is better at acting. When I saw him raise his head and smile wickedly, my legs went
weak. I really wanted to kneel and cry to him while shouting: Take everything you want, take
it, take it, take it all! I’ll give you my life! To die in formal attire, even my ghost would be
romantic! [1]
Someone echoed: ”That’s right! It was written in the original book that the woman who
saved him was his first victim. She settled him in her home that night and fell in love with
him deeply. Why would a woman with a normal brain bring home a strange man she met for
the first time? It must be because the other party had something about him that attracted
her. After watching Little Sapling’s performance, I finally stopped worrying over this BUG
[2]. If the male protagonist described by Stenven·Abel had Little Sapling’s appearance and
possessed such a strong distinctive charm, even if I knew he was a murderous demon I
must bring him home too! This is not a BUG, this is just the nature of humans who love
beauty. We cannot control it at all ah!”
“On the other hand, if I rescued Lin Leyang and saw him roll his eyes at Laoniang [3]
strangely, then Laoniang would just throw a few slaps back! I was already scared to death
by you yet you still want me to take you home? Keep dreaming!”
“You’re right. Although Lin Leyang’s performance is wonderful, it really is too strange and
terrifying. If I were a woman, I really wouldn’t dare to approach him! Besides, he is not very
handsome. He gives off ‘the guy next door’ type feeling. In the latter half of the story, weren’t
there a few victims of Stockholm syndrome who helped the male lead escape the police?
One can’t accomplish that without enough charm, right? If the director chooses Lin Leyang
as the male lead, I would really doubt whether or not he has read the original novel carefully.
The male lead is indeed a pervert, but a charming pervert. Not a ‘guy next door’ type
pervert that looks particularly terrifying!”
“Xiao Jiashu’s performance gives off a devilish feeling, causing others to feel fear yet also
become addicted. While Lin Leyang’s performance is ghostly. Others would only feel fear
without daring to approach. I standby Xiao Jiashu!”
“I also standby Xiao Jiashu! I had originally thought that Young Master Xiao only mixed into
the entertainment circle relying on his family background and face, but now my thoughts
have completely changed! His acting skills are on par with his looks. Only one word can be
used to describe them——perfect!”
“Peerless acting skills! Spotless and stunning expression changes in the eyes! Looking
forward to Little Sapling’s performance!”
“……”
Such comments completely occupied the voting page, causing Chen Pengxin to feel very
anxious. How was he to know that today’s entertainment circle already belonged to the
face-cons? The sentence “one was right as long as they had a good appearance” was no
joke. When he was about to buy another water army for Lin Leyang, he realized that he had
no money. So he could only apply to the public relations department.
“Leyang, hurry and find President Ji for some publicity expenses. We need more water
armies!” He shouted as if this was the natural course of action.
Lin Leyang watched him busy himself the entire time, and his mood fluctuated from
embarrassment to shame. His self confidence had long been hit by the netizens’
comments. Although there were some people who did support him, most of them were
from the water armies hired by Chen Pengxin. Their compliments and comments were the
same and there was no credibility at all. Even when he himself found it ridiculous when he
saw, not to mention the bright eyed netizens. This was not an opportunity to create
momentum for himself, rather it was one to embarrass himself. Why bother!
“Forget it, I’ll give up.” He said frustratedly, “Let’s not continue. If I succeed, I am lucky, but if I
don’t, it is fate. Anyways, I am still young and there will be more opportunities in the future.”
“No! Director Hu Ming was originally interested in you, so why must you give up? We’ll
continue to buy water armies to boost your votes.” Chen Pengxin’s biggest quality was
perseverance and never letting go of an opportunity within his reach. Even if Director Hu
Ming didn’t choose Lin Leyang in the end, couldn’t he still take advantage of this
opportunity to stir up Lin Leyang’s popularity? Either way, they wouldn’t be at a
disadvantage.
Lin Leyang still wanted to refuse, but at this moment, Fang Kun walked into the lounge with
a cold face. He said solemnly, “Ji-ge is looking for you, both of you should go.”
The two of them anxiously walked into the office and saw Ji Mian making a call. They didn’t
know what was said on the other end that caused Ji Mian’s expression to be so solemn.
He tapped on the table while he promised, “Don’t worry, I will deal with public opinion on the
Internet. There is no problem with an additional investment. You [4] first draw up a budget
for me and I will show it to the review department. Alright, thank you for your support.
Goodbye.”
He hung up the phone and slowly said, “Do you know who called me just now?”
Lin Leyang and Chen Penguin both shook their heads.
“It was Director Hu Ming. After the audition, he had reached an agreement with several
producers and decided to choose you as the male lead. But just now, they found that the
netizens prefered Xiao Jiashu’s performance. So they wanted to replace you and let Xiao
Jiashu……”
Lin Leyang’s face gradually turned pale. Chen Pengxin began to pull at his hair, he didn’t
expect the results would turn out like this. If he had known that the producers were planning
to hire Lin Leyang, what would he still worry about? Who came up with those rumors, they
were really harmed to death!
Ji Mian looked at Lin Leyang deeply and continued, “But Xiao Jiashu refused.”
He said he wasn’t willing to participate in a film where the director was not optimistic of
himself. Because the film would express the director’s vision, and not the intent of the
audience or the original author. Literature is art, films are also art. Both are unique forms of
art that carry a personal signature. Even if everyone disagreed with the director’s vision,
the director still must persevere.
These words deeply touched Hu Ming and caused him to completely change his
impression of Xiao Jiashu. Previous to this, even if the netizens one-sidedly supported
Xiao Jiashu, he did not feel that his choice was wrong. But in the end, he was a
commercial film director and had to consider the issue of box office revenue. After
communicating with Xiao Jiashu, he suddenly realized what an excellent actor he had
missed out on. If the other party were allowed to act in “Love Chaser,” it would likely result in
a different chemical reaction than his horror aesthetics.
Hu Ming kept thinking of this matter, so he relayed their exact conversation to Ji Mian,
praising it greatly.
For the first time, he regretted his stubbornness. And Ji Mian, in addition to being full of
helplessness, was deeply touched. He was deeply touched because of Xiao Jiashu and full
of helplessness because of Lin Leyang. He sent a few messages to the public relations
department, and then looked at the two people in front of him. He said, “I increased the
investment and kept Leyang’s male lead role.”
Lin Leyang and Chen Pengxin were both ashamed of themselves. What did they do? They
almost lost the role of the protagonist which was within their reach!
“I’ve already asked the public relations department to purchase a water army. They will
guarantee that you will win the poll, but if the netizens are unconvinced, it is not within my
control. Originally, you could’ve smoothly begun filming. But now, the filming hasn’t even
begun yet the male lead you are playing is controversial. What have you two
accomplished?” Ji Mian did not listen to their response. He waved his hands, “Go back
and carefully study the script. Don’t mess up this role. Otherwise, in the future, others will
dig up this matter.”
What he said was true. If Lin Leyang’s performance failed to gain the audience’s approval,
today’s voting result would be taken out and discussed, even the crew would be criticized
for it. There were sure to be people who would sneer and sarcastically say, “Look, you
should’ve picked Xiao Jiashu. Haven’t you screwed up now?” What’s more, even if Lin
Leyang played the role well, some would still say, “If you had found Xiao Jiashu to play the
male lead, it would’ve definitely been better than this.”
A good performance is a matter of course, a bad performance could not uphold the stage.
Would you say Lin Leyang is under great pressure? This was simply digging a hole and
burying oneself! Chen Pengxin regretted it until his intestines turned green. He kept casting
apologetic glances towards Lin Leyang. But Lin Leyang just stared at the ground, one
wouldn’t know what he was thinking.
Was he angry with Chen Pengxin? Of course he was angry. But he could only try
desperately to play this role well, there was no other way out.
“I’m sorry, Ji-ge. I’ve caused you trouble.” Lin Leyang raised his head, revealing reddish
eyes.
“Continue filming with peace of mind in the future. Don’t get involved in these matters
anymore.” This was the first time Ji Mian spoke to him in this way.
“I will.” Lin Leyang stood there for a while and seeing that Ji-ge had nothing else to say, he
left in embarrassment. He always felt that Ji-ge seemed as if he was becoming more and
more unwilling to communicate with him. Was this his own imagination?
It took the public relations department an entire afternoon to settle public opinion. But just
as they were about to get off work, they were hit with a heavy bomb. A certain large
marketing account had unexpectedly received black material on Ji Mian. The sender of the
black material said that he and Lin Leyang were gay and attached several intimate photos
and chat records. The sender requested 5 million yuan and the marketing account
immediately agreed, but dragged the person back. The marketing account then turned
around and notified Royal Crown Studios. This was because it was actually one of the
promotional channels set up by Royal Crown Studios. The two coincidentally had a master
and subordinate relationship.
Fang Kun was almost driven insane by these incidents. When he took a look at the photos
and chat records, he was suddenly angry enough to emit smoke! These damn things were
not taken by the paparazzi at all, it was clearly obtained from either Ji Mian or Lin Leyang’s
cell phones. The two were even smiling at the camera with their faces pressed close
together. Secretly photographed your head ah!
[1] I put down the direct translation but I genuinely do not know what’s going on here (• • ;)
[2] BUG is in the raws
[3] Laoniang - “I, your mother” as opposed to Laozi - “I, your father.” An arrogant way to
refer to oneself