1.18

Ever since discovering her connection to the Chu family, Liang Xin had subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, made this known within the entertainment circle. At first, some people doubted her claims, but after some investigation, they found it to be true. Although her bloodline was somewhat distant, everyone knew that the Chu family was fiercely protective of their own. Moreover, even if her connection was remote, who could guarantee that she had no ties to the core members of the Chu family?

In the entertainment industry, the surname "Chu" acted as a green pass, commanding respect and making others yield. Because of this, Liang Xin had been thriving lately, becoming increasingly reckless, her temper unchecked. Despite the company's frequent reminders to keep a low profile, she paid no heed.

The role of the second female lead in "The Phoenix Road" was far beyond what Liang Xin's acting skills could have secured on their own, but she had managed to snatch it away from one of the company's top actresses.

The door of the nanny car swung open, and out stepped a woman in a fiery red dress. She was tall, with a well-proportioned figure. Her wavy hair cascaded down, revealing a face so beautiful it could captivate an entire nation.

For a moment, the atmosphere on the scene froze, as everyone seemed momentarily stunned.

The woman cast a glance around, then smiled—a bright, charming smile. She waved and greeted the crowd, "Hello, everyone."

A few seconds later, the fans erupted into thunderous cheers.

"Ah, the goddess is greeting me!"

"The goddess is so beautiful!"

"Yin Yin, I love you!"

And on it went, with Yin Yin's fans pouring out their most passionate feelings. Even as Yin Yin walked further away, the screams continued unabated.

Liang Xin's eyes burned with jealousy. She slammed her hand against the seat, snapping impatiently, "It's so noisy."

In her foul mood, a thought suddenly struck her, and she turned to Sister Hu beside her, asking, "I heard the company is planning to recruit a new group of trainees soon?"

Sister Hu's heart skipped a beat at the question, but she didn't dare withhold the truth and nodded.

Seeing Sister Hu's confirmation, Liang Xin's eyes lit up with anticipation. "Send me the profiles of all the male trainees in advance," she ordered eagerly.

Sister Hu inwardly sighed, already anticipating this request, and hesitated before replying, "Liang Xin, those trainees are highly promising talents the boss personally scouted. Maybe we should just forget about it?"

Liang Xin shot her a sharp look. "Sister Hu, you make it sound like I'm going to eat them alive. I'm just offering them a better opportunity. Don't worry, I won't force them. I won't do anything they don't want."

The corners of Sister Hu's lips twitched. I would never believe you.

Despite being only 23, Liang Xin had a notoriously chaotic private life. She had many lovers, particularly favoring young men with an elegant, jade-like demeanor. She had ruined the careers of many young male artists in the company.

However, those men were often obscure, 18th-tier celebrities with little to no fame and no prospects of making a name for themselves. Some were drawn to the resources Liang Xin provided, so their relationships were never exposed.

Sister Hu felt that Liang Xin had not yet encountered anyone who truly caught her interest, otherwise, given her methods, she would certainly take what she wanted.

Just then, she heard Liang Xin gasp beside her.

"So handsome." Liang Xin stared out the car window, mesmerized by the man who had just stepped out of the second car in front of hers.

Sister Hu caught a glimpse of him as well. Though it was just a fleeting moment, she had to admit that his face, as clear and elegant as jade, was indeed captivating. His gentle yet cool demeanor was also very alluring. Clad in a white shirt and black pants, he looked like an ethereal figure from another world.

Liang Xin's gaze lingered longingly until the man walked out of sight.

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She grabbed Sister Hu's arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and asked eagerly, "Sister Hu, who is that person?"

Sister Hu searched her memory but then shook her head. "I don't know him, but it seems like he might be one of the actors in this production."

"The Legend of Chusen" had only revealed the actress playing the female lead, keeping the rest of the cast under wraps.

Upon hearing this, Liang Xin immediately assumed the man was an unknown supporting actor. She clutched her chest, feeling her heart race wildly, and declared, "Sister Hu, I want that person."

Sister Hu sighed deeply, already feeling a headache coming on. "Liang Xin, we don't know anything about him, and..." She stopped herself from adding, *he's a living person, not an object you can just claim.* Did Liang Xin really think she was some kind of queen who could have anything she desired?

Liang Xin scoffed, "Isn't he just some low-tier actor? Just offer him money and resources, and he'll be ours. You need to get him for me. As long as he's around, I promise I won't meddle with the company's trainees this time."

How many trainees would trade places with that man, even if he did look like some sort of banished immortal?

Hearing Liang Xin's promise not to interfere with the trainees, Sister Hu swallowed her words of caution. "Alright, I'll look into it." Maybe the man really was someone who could be swayed by money and resources.

"Hurry up, then," Liang Xin urged, her eyes practically devouring the sight of the man's broad shoulders and narrow waist.

Outside, fans were also buzzing with speculation about Su Mo's identity—some recognized him, while others did not.

At that moment, Su Mo had no idea that he was being eyed so covetously, and Yin Yin had no inkling that her tender, delectable husband had caught someone else's attention.

When Yin Yin and her entourage arrived, most of the other actors set to participate in the opening ceremony were already there.

As soon as they saw Yin Yin, they hurried over to greet her. She was a popular movie queen with countless connections and resources. Befriending her could easily catapult someone to fame.

In the production of "Phoenix Road," Yin Yin was undeniably the biggest star. Even the award-winning director treated her with utmost respect and courtesy.

Liang Xin felt a pang of discomfort seeing so many people fawning over Yin Yin.

Su Mo, watching from a distance, felt a mix of pride and slight disappointment as he saw his wife surrounded by admirers. But then, to his surprise, Yin Yin suddenly walked up to him. She took his hand and led him into the crowd, saying, "Let me introduce everyone. This is Shenghuang's newly signed artist and also my junior brother. His name is Su Mo, and he's the male lead of 'Phoenix Road.' I hope you all take good care of him in the future."

"Oh, so he's Yin Yin's junior fellow apprentice."

"I didn't expect you to be the male lead of 'Phoenix Road.' You really do share a similar aura. The director made a wise choice."

"Don't worry, Queen Yin, we'll definitely look after him."

On the surface, everyone appeared supportive, but inwardly, they were shocked.

Who was Yin Yin? She was a workaholic and the reigning queen of the entertainment industry, known for her aloofness. She had never gone out of her way to support any newcomers in the company.

For instance, many artists from Shenghuang had filmed alongside Yin Yin in the past. These artists tried to get close to her, hoping to build a connection or to have her put in a good word for them. But Yin Yin never did. She was so absorbed in her craft that she hardly noticed those around her.

But now, she had taken the initiative to introduce a newly signed junior brother.

This action carried significant implications.

Everyone looked at Su Mo, trying to discern what it was about him that had touched Yin Yin and made her treat him so differently.

Looking at him closely, it was clear that this person was exceptionally handsome, with a graceful figure and an aura that seemed otherworldly, like a banished immortal stepping out of a painting.

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