Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  "I disagree." Gaolan Chun frowned and retorted, "It's not easy to see a talented newcomer. How many newcomers have been ruined by these black hands over the years? Let others be, but this person, I think is a potential movie emperor."

  He glanced at Chen Jialin "You're willing to push him out as a sacrifice?"

  Chen Jialin sighed with a bitter smile "It's just that I'm reluctant to part with it, unfortunately, there's no good solution."

  "Is this tacit consent?" Gao Lan Chun was dissatisfied. "I disagree, either investigate the matter thoroughly until the truth is revealed, or just cover it up like this."

  "What can you do?" Chen Jialin also got a bit angry. "Offend the investors for him? A newcomer and a company? Even if he has this value in the future, it's still in the future!"

  "Are you misunderstanding?" Xue Zhongrui said with a smile, "What sacrifice? His scenes were cut, but they can be compensated elsewhere. At that time, he and Li Rui can go together to promote it. Isn't this settled?"

  This time, no one said anything.

  "Let it be." After a long while, Chen Jialin sighed "Although I originally had the idea of bringing him for promotion too."

  "You really want to support him. Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, what are you sighing about?" Yao Chang'an also laughed.

  Chen Jialin said with a sigh, "I was just lamenting how difficult it is to be a director, having to consider all aspects of face. This time, Xu Ziyao and the others clearly stated that they wanted to bring him down, setting up a visible trap for him to fall into, but he still had no way out."

  "Alright, hurry up and comfort Gong Xuehua, this afternoon's filming is cancelled."

  When he said that, Chen Jialin's face suddenly turned black. "They've gone too far this time! They actually dare to calculate the progress of the crew! When I have the chance, I'll take good care of them."

  Just as they were about to go in, a voice suddenly came over.

  "A few directors and teachers, you're back so early. I rushed back too, but didn't make it in time." Xu Ziyao walked over with a haha smile "Just got back and heard that something happened here, listened to someone talk about it, this thing is also strange, can't blame Qian Zhong, the prop was placed irregularly. But that newcomer is really too arrogant."

  Chen Jialin's mouth twitched and she stiffly replied with a "Mm."

  "Director Xue has come over, why don't we go take a look too? The newcomer is at fault, but the prop manager also bears some responsibility." Xue Zhongrui said with a push.

  "Alright, I also want to see what's going on." Xu Ziyao thought for a moment before nodding.

  Some people are secretly sneering, what a pretentious act. Let's see what happened. Is it to check if our punishment is "fair"?

  However, no one has pierced this layer of window paper yet.

  Several people walked into the tent, where the atmosphere was eerily gloomy. Gong Xuehua's face turned pale, while Liu Yiyi and Bai Qing hid aside, not daring to speak a word. Lin Xiao, however, showed no expression, as if he had nothing to do with the matter.

  "Miss Gong, I'm really sorry. We didn't think anyone would touch the props here either. Let you suffer losses." Xu Ziyao apologized to Gong Xuehua as soon as he entered the door.

  Several old-timers hummed coldly in their hearts, having just come in and said they were accompanying him, but the big hat of disrespecting seniors had already been put on Lin Xiao's head.

  Gao Lan Chun looked at Lin Xiao with concern and found that he was still motionless.

  "What is this kid doing?! At a time like this, delaying the filming of the crew and disrespecting his seniors. The former is a taboo for the crew, and the latter is a taboo for artists, doesn't he know how to retort?! What's the use of just misunderstanding two words?!"

  Seeing Xu Ziyao apologize in person, Gong Xuehua's face slightly improved. She replied stiffly, "I'm fine, but this newcomer really doesn't understand the rules."

  Several old actors exchanged a glance, and Xu Zijiao's eyes also flickered over, it seemed that today they would have to take drastic measures.

  "Lin Xiao." Gao Lan Chun suddenly spoke up "Is it true what Liu Yi Yi said?"

  "How could this be fake?" Gong Xuehua immediately spoke out with a fiery tone, the pain making her emotions even more agitated. "These cosmetics were brought back from Japan by my friend! Several thousand per piece! Now the whole set is completely ruined! Does the makeup artist have the nerve to touch my things?!"

  Liu Yiyi and Bai Qing's bodies trembled slightly, then immediately stood up straight again.

  "Director Chen, every circle has its own rules." Qian Zhong chimed in at the right moment, "Fortunately, our crew is closed off, or this would have been a headline already."

  Gao Lan Chun furrowed her brow "Lin Xiao, you still haven't answered."

  Lin Xiao suddenly laughed, and Gong Xuehua's liver fire became even more intense, she couldn't help but want to slap him.

  "Of course not."

  "Isn't it? You mean to say that the makeup artist made you wear high heels?" Xu Ziyao gave him a cold glance. "Lin Xiao, Cami and I are considered half-fellows, after you came here, I never gave you any trouble, but today's matter, you really did something wrong, and it's not surprising that Director Chen punished you."

  "I haven't decided yet." Chen Jialin finally couldn't help but give Xu Ziyao a sideways glance, what are you doing making decisions for me when I haven't even spoken up? Do you think this is America?!

  "Director Chen won't just let it go like this, will he? We can't disappoint the actors." Xu Ziyao said with a smile.

  Gong Xuehua slapped the table with a "pa" sound, "Director Chen, you always separate public and private matters, how can you make excuses for him because of personal relationships?!"

  "Let Lin Xiao finish speaking," said Gao Lan Chun. "It's not too late to make a judgment after listening."

  Lin Xiao nodded, "To be honest, I really don't know why the two makeup artists insisted that I put on makeup here and use the products above. I thought this was Teacher Chen's dressing room. It wasn't until Sister Gong came in that I realized it was hers."

  "Nonsense!" Bai Qing suddenly jumped up, as if she had been wrongly accused. "I don't have the guts to put on makeup here like you do!"

  "Yes, Bai Qing advised him many times, but he didn't listen. He insisted on putting on makeup here, isn't this being arrogant? And to think he's a newcomer, doesn't even understand the rules." Liu Yiyi chimed in.

  "Lin Xiao." Xu Ziyao smiled and said, "Food can be eaten casually, but words cannot be spoken casually. What evidence do you have to say it's their fault?"

  As soon as the words came out, several old actors sighed. Before Lin Xiao spoke, they thought he might come up with another excuse in a hurry, but in the end, it was still the truth.

  Although I knew this was the truth of the matter. However, the other party insisted that Lin Xiao had no backstage in the crew and no one dared to stand up for him.

  "Of course I do."

  Alas, Gao Lan Chun let out a long sigh and suddenly perked up her ears.

  It wasn't just him, several others were also staring at Lin Xiao with an unbelievable gaze.

  Just now he was still like a background, but in an instant he became the center of the scene.

  Liu Yiyi felt a bit of pain in her hand, and when she looked down, she saw that Bai Qing had unknowingly grabbed onto her little finger, twisting it to the point of pain, while he himself was drenched in cold sweat, completely unaware.

  "Let go!" Yui glared at her opponent with a scowl on her face.

  Bai Qing only then realized that he had loosened his grip, suppressing the heart that was about to jump out, and trembled as he asked "Yi Yi jie... He said he has evidence..."

  Liu Yiyi gritted her teeth and said "He says you just believe?! He says he's your dad, do you believe or not?! Are you stupid?!"

  Bai Qing still looked distracted "If he really has... what should we do... Yiyi sister, will we..."

  "Get out!"

  Liu Yiyi's face turned cold as she turned her head away, her eyes also fixed on Lin Xiao who was smiling freely. He too felt a pang of unease in his heart, and even Xu Ziyao couldn't help but collect her smile.

  At this point, he is still so calm and composed, does he really have evidence?!

  After a long silence, Xu Ziyao finally spoke in a calm tone, "Since you have it, take it out and let everyone see. If it really proves to be someone else's fault, I naturally won't let them off lightly."

  Xue Zhongrui said in a low voice to Gao Lan Chun, "Old fox, has already begun to want to withdraw."

  "It's not that easy." Gao Lan Chun replied in a low voice, "What evidence can be brought out at this time? If you find someone from the crew to stand up for him, there isn't anyone. Even if there is, it would still be a mess after stirring it up. Without solid evidence, he won't make it through today."

  There aren't many people in the tent, but almost all of them are at the top of the crew's pyramid.

  Under the gaze of everyone, Lin Xiao walked into the tent and came out soon after.

  He took his own coat, the relatively loose one he wore when going out today.

  "You don't think this thing is your evidence?" Liu Yiyi snorted "If you want to frame someone, find something better."

  "No rush." Lin Xiao laughed and said, "Bai Qing, if I'm not mistaken, you have two text messages on your phone right now. One says that Director Chen and the others have finished eating, and the other says they're almost here. Or maybe there are more, the sender should be Li Ruijin."

  Bai Qing's face turned pale in an instant.

  Almost without looking, everyone knew that Lin Xiao was telling the truth. Qian Zhong pretended to walk over, stretched out his hand and said "Let me take a look."

  Bai Qing almost trembled as he took out his phone, just like a suspect caught by the public security agency.

  "It really is!" "This is indeed Li Ruijin's work!"

  Liu Yiyi gritted her teeth and said, "What does this have to do with today's events? They're close, it's normal for them to discuss the crew's affairs, isn't it?"

  Everyone withdrew their gaze, waiting for Lin Xiao to explain. Even Gong Xuehua, who was furious, calmed down a bit and retreated from her anger, only then did she feel a hint of doubt.

  "That's not necessarily true," Lin Xiao said. "For now, let's just say I did it, but what was the reason? It's because the other members haven't returned yet. Everyone didn't dare to put on makeup before the teachers. So these two text messages were very timely."

  "Li Rui is coming over for lunch with us." Xu Ziyao said lightly, "Just notify the makeup artist to get ready."

  After a moment of silence, Chen Jialin said, "Lin Xiao, this alone can't prove anything."

  "What if I add this?"