Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  A dinner for two, yet neither of them said anything, as if they were both guessing what the other would say.

  The result was a silent dinner.

  After that, they both said keep in touch and went back to their respective homes.

  One night, Lin Xiao slept very well, having just returned from Taipei and feeling a bit tired, he slept for nine hours. Unexpectedly, as soon as he got up, he saw seven or eight missed calls on his phone.

  He just wanted to see who was knocking, but an even more intense knocking sound forced him to go and open the door.

  To be exact, it's smashing the door.

  "Hua Jie." Lin Xiao shouted.

  As soon as she entered the door, Hua Ling Rong didn't even glance at his exposed body with her eyes, yesterday's frivolous woman and today's her were simply not on the same level, today's her was CAMI's completely explosive form.

  "Good job!" Huā Líng Róng slapped a few entertainment magazines onto his bed with a "slap". His chest was heaving with anger.

  Lin Xiao picked it up in confusion and took a look, and under this glance, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "Kangxi Dynasty actor Lin Xiao, beats up other actors on set!" "Newbie is arrogant, putting on airs of seniority! Former Crystal Boy band member Lin Xiao severely beats fellow disciple!" "Is it a newbie or an old-timer? Is it a drama king or personal vendetta?"

  Four or five magazines basically wrote about the same topic, and his previous photos were also published in entertainment magazines for the first time.

  "Tomorrow Star News, Headline Star News, Star Weekly. Hmm, I remember these magazines." He said with a smile.

  "Are you still smiling?!" Huā Líng Róng was furious "Do you know that this is a smear on your image?! The company plans to heavily promote you with the drama team after Kangxi ends! Letting you break into the third tier all at once! You actually did something like this before the promotion?! Do you even think things through?!"

  "Especially this one!" She grabbed a copy of Star Weekly, on which was written "Newcomer's arrogance, putting on an air of seniority! Former member of Crystal Boys Lin Xiao painfully beats up fellow apprentice!"

  "I've met this editor a few times, I don't know how much money he got this time! Every word is piercing to the heart! This kind of news is the most unbearable! Showing off, not respecting seniors, this is a major taboo in the entertainment industry! Even first-line actors dare not step on it, but you do! Don't forget that you are a complete newcomer in the film and television industry! This Li Ruijin is your senior after all!"

  "It turns out the company was planning to promote me." Lin Xiao said with a smile.

  Flower Bell was furious and only then realized she had misspoken, even more so with flames rising to three feet "Are you listening or not?! How is this going to be settled?! I just sent out a scandalous rumor about you yesterday to help boost your popularity! And yet tonight you go and do something like this!"

  "Rumors?" Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow, picked up the magazine again and found that several small sections were all printed with "Crystal Boy former member Lin Xiao's love affair exposed?"

  "You really logged out." Lin Xiao frowned, feeling very uncomfortable. "This time is fine, but next time, you must get my consent before logging out. And what's with dragging the name of that group into this?"

  "Without mentioning Crystal Boy, who would know that you are Lin Xiao? I'm afraid they only remember the newly risen Song Qingming?" Huā Líng Róng coldly smiled.

  Lin Xiao only then noticed the magazine cover, which featured photos of Song Qingming, Zhao Qingya, and an unknown female artist, with bold black font reading "New Star in the Entertainment Circle, Zhao Qingya's Successor, Song Qingming Makes a Stunning Debut. Zheng Xiaolong personally reserves the male lead role, never giving up."

  "It seems he's doing well." After glancing at it twice, he tossed the magazine aside.

  "Isn't it just fine? Do you know that every second, you're being compared. Idol groups are all transitioning to the film industry, there's no better topic than this! And yet, you've added fuel to the fire! This is great, one issue of the magazine has three news stories related to you, your popularity is soaring!" Hua Ling Rong said sarcastically.

  She had just finished speaking when she realized that the topic had been changed, and she said angrily, "Don't play tricks on me, what's going on with this matter?!"

  Beijing's news has already decided to make Lin Xiao a heavyweight newcomer, CAMI means absolutely no mistakes are allowed, thinking of this, Hua Ling Rong's teeth were chattering.

  "Just like Deng." Lin Xiao said calmly, and Hua Lingrong spat a mouthful of blood onto his face.

  "Did you do it?" she asked, clinging to her last shred of hope.

  "If a woman teases you for a long time, still gives you a hard time, and says she wants to have dinner with you in front of you, I can remain unmoved." Lin Xiao shrugged "Unfortunately, I don't have such good patience."

  This sentence was a bit of a tongue twister, and Hua Ling Rong thought for a few seconds before realizing that what he meant to say was "I've made my move", the fact.

  After getting affirmative answer, she seemed to have dissipated all her anger and started thinking quietly.

  "What are you going to do?" She asked after a while, lifting her head.

  "It seems like you're the agent, right?" Lin Xiao said with a smile. "If it were me, I wouldn't do anything. First, as a newcomer, I wouldn't be able to attract the audience's attention. Second, everyone is forgetful, and after some time passes, if I release another piece of news, they would have already forgotten about this one."

  Huā Líng Róng was shocked as she looked at him, thinking the same thing - a cold treatment was the best approach.

  But when she heard it from a newcomer's mouth, she felt it was somewhat unbelievable.

  "But what I fear most is..." Lin Xiao continued.

  Huā Líng Róng unconsciously listened carefully, the other party gave her a feeling that was completely an old rivers and lakes, having eaten enough firewood, rice, oil, and salt, deeply understanding the three flavors.

  "What I'm most afraid of is Song Qingming, he's on a roll now and will definitely bring this up. Even if the reporters don't ask, how can they not ask? This is the best opportunity to smear his opponent."

  "What's your solution?" Hua Ling Rong unknowingly had her anger truly dissipated, and began to solicit the other party's opinion.

  "No way, cold treatment is also possible. If it's specifically revealed to reporters, it would seem a bit exaggerated, after all, Song Qingming has Sanliu Film and Television's Zhao Qingya behind him, which everyone knows. Moreover, I'm afraid many people in the industry already know that my relationship with them is not harmonious, and behind me, there's nothing."

  "Thanks for your hard work, everyone."

  "No need for polite words." Lin Xiao's eyes flashed with determination "I know I'm a newcomer, but Zhao Qingya's territory, I'll take it back sooner or later! If I can't even tolerate this, then I don't need to mix in anymore."

  "Hmm." Hua Linglong let out a long sigh, and at this moment, even the last bit of anger had dissipated. With a bitter smile, she said "What I feared most was that you didn't know your limits and started this fight. I didn't expect you to think it through so thoroughly. Even that point about Song Qingming, I hadn't thought of it. So, before making a move, you already knew Li Ruijin wouldn't fight back, right?"

  "Him?" Lin Xiao snorted with laughter. "Someone who only dares to stab people in the back, how could he dare to fight face-to-face? Besides, when it comes to stabbing people in the back, Song Qingming is a hundred times more cunning than him. You don't know how miserable we were when Tian Guang harmed us back then. I can have today's thoughts, and I really have to thank him for that."

  "Alright, since there's a way, I'll let CAMI know." Hua Ling Rong's eyes rolled, and she suddenly asked with a hint of sarcasm "Tell me, you didn't do it for that little beauty, did you?"

  Lin Xiao is certain that if he says so, it will definitely be reported tomorrow.

  So he said no.

  "What a pity." Hua Ling Rong stood up with a smile "When will you make a move for your sister? Sister is waiting."

  "Yuck!" Just as Lin Xiao and Hua Ling were chatting happily, a magazine mixed with Xu Ziyao's saliva splashed onto Li Ruijin and Qian Zhong's faces.

  "How many days have I been out?! Just a few days?! You've already come up with these tricks?!" Xu Ziyao spat out in anger "He's currently worried about not being well-known, and you're going to give him free publicity?! Are you dissatisfied that his fame isn't big enough?!"

  "What's wrong with your brains?! Li Ruijin?! I'd be embarrassed to say you're my cousin! How can I tell you?! Don't get too close to that woman's people! The circle is so small, venting your anger will block the back door! Now it's even better! Not getting too close, but not dying and leaving a laughing stock for others!"

  "Even more stupid is Qian Zhong! You actually sent it to him?! Huaxia will immediately think it's my intention! Are you okay, venting your anger and making me a sandwich?! Without the cousin relationship, Xu Ziyao almost yelled "You've been in the circle for so long, what did I warn you when you were with others?! Don't do those stupid things that foxes can't catch but get into trouble! You have to be careful who you're with! Did you really take a liking to this woman this time?!"

  "Director Xu..." Qian Zhong said hesitantly.

  "Shut up!" Xu Ziyao cut him off harshly, glancing at the two of them and sighing, "How many times have I told you to not leave loose ends when doing things? Why don't you listen..."

  Qian Zhong and Li Rui exchanged a glance, both seeing an unbelievable look in each other's eyes.

  Does this sentence mean that Director Xu has not blamed them for doing something wrong, but only blamed them for not doing it well?

  "Don't worry, little uncle, it won't happen again." Li Ruijin hurriedly smiled and said.

  "Yes, Director Xu. This time was just a warning, next time we'll definitely make that little brat roll out of here. After all, Little Li is also your relative, and since you've spoken up, it's only right to support him. That Lin Xiaohe has been asking for trouble for a long time, he should have left long ago."

  Li Ruijin looked at Xu Ziyao without speaking and said in a low voice, "Young uncle, actually, we plan to..."

  He went through the whole plan once and finished, Xu Ziyao remained silent for a long time.

  "I don't know anything." He said after a long time. Then he added "Teacher Chen happened to have a cup of tea with me that day."

  "Thanks Little Uncle!" Li Rui immediately said with joy.

  As soon as they went out the door, both of their faces immediately turned dark.

  "Is your shoulder okay?" Qian Zhong looked at Li Rui with a strange and gloomy expression. "I told you, you're not reliable! I shouldn't have listened to you back then and reported this matter!"

  "It's all over!" Li Rui said viciously, "Once he's gone, my shoulder will be fine! Don't worry, I'll help him make a big show of it when the time comes!"