Chapter 87: Targeted Once Again

Director Xu wanted to recommend Yu Qian to a crew led by a friend of his. His friend's name was Lin Mubai, who had once been an advertising and variety show director, and had only recently succeeded in transitioning to directing television dramas. His very first TV series was a massive hit.

Now, he was preparing a family drama that told the story of a blended family after second marriages. The role Director Xu had in mind was that of the daughter brought into the family by the female lead—a girl who existed awkwardly within this new arrangement. Having left her biological father behind and unable to accept that her mother had remarried so quickly, the shift in environment and her mother’s unintentional neglect led her to become increasingly rebellious. If she hadn't met her redemption, her entire life might have been ruined.

Because the mother was to be played by a famously beautiful actress, the daughter naturally couldn't be played by someone lacking in looks. Lin Mubai had been searching for the right actress for this role. Unfortunately, the child stars in the industry were all too young; otherwise, he wouldn't have been scouring high schools for talent.

It had been said before that Yu Qian’s looks were the type that elders would find pleasing, and by coincidence, she even bore a faint resemblance to the actress cast as her mother.

Upon understanding the situation, Wen Xiu decisively took Director Xu Guangrong’s business card. Yu Qian was too young for the currently popular idol dramas, and Wen Xiu had been pondering what path she should take into the industry. The opportunity Director Xu offered was precisely what Yu Qian needed.

An important child role in a family drama, directed by a rising star whose debut drama had exploded in popularity—only a fool would refuse.

After sincerely thanking Director Xu, Wen Xiu took Yu Qian by the hand and, together with Zhou Jingchen, went to clean up the mess left by the Yu Si incident.

While Yu Qian and her companions left without a backward glance, they were unaware that many people in the crew had their eyes on them.

There were those who envied them, and those who felt jealous. The cleverer minds were already plotting.

Everyone in the crew had heard Director Xu suggest that Yu Qian take over Yu Si’s role. Even though she had refused, there were plenty who envied her. After all, not everyone could win the favor of a great director.

Some people had also overheard what Director Xu said to Wen Xiu. Unfortunately, one of them had been hoping to get their own child to audition for Director Lin’s show.

With Director Xu’s recommendation, Yu Qian had at least a seventy percent chance of landing the role; the remaining thirty percent depended on her acting, or rather, whether she could play herself naturally in the part.

If she could, the role would almost certainly be hers. Director Lin was famously fond of working with newcomers.

The person plotting was Zheng Xiajun, the martial arts choreographer for this film.

He didn’t want Yu Qian to have the chance to meet Director Lin, and considered spreading some rumors to block her opportunity. However, at the thought of Zhou Jingchen, he hesitated.

But thinking of his own adorable daughter, he gritted his teeth, found a quiet corner, and made a phone call.

Yu Si and Zhou Jingchen were not close, so the rumors about them were fake.

But this girl named Qianqian really did know Zhou Jingchen. If he could pin her with the label of clinging to a powerful backer, Director Lin—who prided himself on his integrity—would never consider using Yu Qian.

He handed the information he had to Big Eye Studio, repeatedly assuring them of its authenticity and even telling them not to contact their informant beforehand.

Big Eye Studio, having had their account recently shut down, were already holding back a bellyful of frustration. When they received yet another tip about a Zhou Jingchen scandal, they were skeptical, but the source’s insistence and refusal of payment piqued their curiosity.

After much deliberation, they decided to keep their people at the film city watching.

If they didn’t catch anything, no harm done. If they did, it would be a major scoop.

Unaware that he was once again being watched, Zhou Jingchen left the hotel with Yu Qian to get something to eat.

Neither of them made any attempt to disguise themselves. Along the way, everyone who recognized Zhou Jingchen looked as if they’d seen a ghost.

Only last night, he had publicly denied the rumors and stated he was already interested in someone. Yet today, here he was, walking out with a pretty, tall, slender girl.

Looking at her, people couldn’t help but wonder—could this girl be the one Zhou Jingchen’s heart belonged to?