The Queen's Rise to the Top

Chapter 254

Gu Beihuai frowned, "Quiet down a little."

Mantou: "Any big news?"

Jie Chou: "No no, the black fox earlier was just a teaser, this is the real deal!"

Mantou leaned in closer: "Let me see, let me see."

Jie Chou: "A certain Two-Time Best Actor winner was oppressed by Superstar Gu and kicked off the Trembling Starry Sky crew. Money changed hands and the second male lead was suddenly recast within a day."

Mantou: "Oh? Now that's interesting."

Gu Beihuai knitted his brows slightly, pondered for a moment.

But soon, he started smiling.

How silly!

Jie Chou was excited to see his buddy being criticized: "Hey hey, Fox, aren't you going to see people scolding you online! Take a look!"

Mantou: "Jie Chou, why do you get so thrilled seeing Fox get attacked? You should be joining them!"

Jie Chou: "Pfft hahaha!"

Seeing the usually impervious Gu Beihuai actually being criticized by others, the two found it very novel.

Especially now, this wave of attacks was much more vicious than the first one at 5 pm.

It was obvious that the earlier scandal was just a trailer.

Gu Beihuai impatiently tapped his chopsticks on the plate: "Still eating or not? You two seem to have lots of free time."

Mantou: "Eating, later. Let's eat melon first."

Jie Chou: "I'll give you a live update. Listen up Fox!"

Gu Beihuai picked up his phone: "I'll check it myself, shut up, annoying."

Jie Chou: "Oh."

Online, the so-called "exposé" on Trembling Starry Sky's second male lead recast was trending rapidly.

All kinds of insider news and gossip were flying around.

Coupled with the earlier rumors of Gu Beihuai's money and power oppressing other artists, things were being slowly revealed by various self-proclaimed "insiders".

Comments:

I'm a Trembling Starry Sky crew member! Although I signed an NDA I still want to say this! It's true Gu Superstar oppressed other artists!

Hope the whistleblowers can talk specifics instead of "allegedly", "someone", "who". We melon-eating masses want real juicy details!

Easy to guess, the Two-Time Best Actor took part in military training. Just search the keywords yourself.

The new second male lead is @Lan Tianyou. It's confirmed in the official announcement on his Weibo page. Lan Tianyou is a One-Time Best Actor winner. This crew member switch is real!

But I'm curious what kind of big production is Trembling Starry Sky that even a Two-Time Best Actor winner can only play second fiddle? And there's a competition between two Best Actor winners at that? Who's the male lead? Gu Beihuai?

Male lead is Gu Beihuai! What else could "oppression" refer to! It's so obvious!

Leak! I'm not a crew member but I'm a supporting character's relative. I know some inside story! The Two-Time Best Actor who got kicked out is @Tan Shen... Teacher Tan already attended training but got sent away all of a sudden without anyone expecting it and then they recast it.

Is the above post real? F**k me! With this context I'm pissed now! Kicking @Tan Shen for @Lan Tianyou? Are the director and producers out of their minds? An veteran Two-Time Best Actor versus some newbie who got lucky with one Best Actor award in just two years! Can they even compare?

Wasn't it said already, in the previous wave, Gu Superstar used [dog head emoji] money and power to suppress others.

Holy crap! What a huge melon! Boycott Trembling Starry Sky! Boycott unethical artists and investors!

@Tan Shen is such a superb actor! Can't believe he got kicked from the crew! Boycott unethical films!

Boycott! Boycott!

Although I like Gu Superstar's songs, such blatant power play really ruins his image. Boycott!

...

As more and more so-called "exposés" appeared online, various big influencers and key opinion leaders started a joint boycott of the film's "capital manipulation".

Things escalated in an extremely dangerous direction.

Gu Beihuai read it all quietly without any reaction.

He had a lot of fans but still couldn't withstand the flood of criticisms from all these outsiders.

Director Feng Kai Ji was watching the actors train in the army base when countless calls and messages suddenly flooded his phone.

Explosion!

After Feng Kai Ji read through the online exposures, he scoffed disdainfully.

Didn't even need his toes to guess who was behind this.

Gu Superstar was indeed right about that person's poor character!

Luckily he came prepared when Gu Beihuai proposed changing the actor.

He already sent over a file for times like this.

Now it became useful.

Although Feng Kai Ji didn't release it immediately because Gu Beihuai sent him a message.

"Gu Beihuai: Not prime time now. Send the stuff out later, let's see the 8 pm situation."

"Feng Kai Ji: Got it."

Their conversation was brief but intense, like talking in code.

Gu Beihuai put down his phone and went to settle the bill, getting ready to leave for the Talent show recording to see his boys' performance.

Mantou followed him the entire way.

Jie Chou kept his head lowered as he walked, hands busy typing away on his phone.

In the car, the trio soon arrived at the venue.

The stage was already set up. The 300 audience members steadily streamed in, some carrying video cameras - clearly people sent from various studios to film their own artists for subsequent hype.

Given Gu Beihuai's status, they didn't enter through the normal passage but a different way with his two sidekicks in tow.

Soon, they found three seats in the middle of the front row.

He wore a mask, fully disguising his identity.

Mantou and Jie Chou dressed normally since they weren't celebrities.

While waiting for the event to start:

Mantou kept leaning towards Jie Chou, discussing something.

Jie Chou nodded, continuing to draft copy.

Gu Beihuai suddenly turned and asked: "Lil Chou, are you helping your bro fight back against the negativity?"

Quite touched!

Jie Chou: "Oh no, I'm writing Criminal Psychology Analysis (3)."

Gu Beihuai: "..."

Heartless!

Online, the situation escalated to public condemnation levels.

Tan Shen's good guy image had seeped deeply into the public psyche, resulting in overwhelmingly one-sided public opinion.

Gu Beihuai even overheard discussions in the industry-insider audience denouncing the situation - yet most still sided with Tan Shen.

Lots of indignation!

Time ticked away until finally, 8 pm sharp!

The Talent Show The Songster's opening. The livestream started.

Host Guan Liangzhe appeared on stage, briefly greeted the audience, then got right to business.

Guan Liangzhe: "I know you're not here for me so I won't waste time. Let's start the draw!"

The Songster stage performance order was also random draw.

As soon as the stream began hordes of bullet screen comments flooded in.

Although most were underage fans unable to vote, at least they could still spam bullet screens.

Must maintain image!

At the same time, breaking news strangely shot up the hot search rankings on Weibo.

【Blockbuster Trembling Starry Sky casts newcomer Nan Xiangwan as female lead】

Followed swiftly by waves of snarky news pieces with similar content but more mocking tones.

【Does newcomer Nan Xiangwan have the ability to carry such a big production's female lead? Don't break your back! 】

【Unprecedented sci-fi blockbuster Trembling Starry Sky gets release date! Paving the road to fame for Nan Xiangwan?】

【South-North Entertainment and Hua Wan Entertainment collaborate on new film, heavily promoting newcomer Nan Xiangwan as a goddess! Acting skills worrying!】