Chapter 90: Being Targeted

Chapter 90: On Someone’s Radar

Before the director could speak, sporadic applause began to rise around them, quickly growing louder and more synchronized.

"Jian is amazing! His tearful performance is so moving!"

"Isn't Jian from the dance department? How is his acting this incredible too? This was eye-opening!"

"Low-key though—he totally showed up that show-off—left him in the dust."

"Jian Ye is truly an actor wasted on dancing. With skills like his, he should be in the entertainment industry! He’s destined to be famous!"

"But the thing is, he’s also an amazing dancer. Dual threat, honestly. Both very talented, and he stood up for that student earlier—so brave, so classy, and hot?"

After finishing his performance, Jian Ye shook off the emotion in a second. Aside from the tear streaks still on his face, there was no trace of sadness left in him.

Fast to immerse, faster to detach.

The director couldn’t help tsking in admiration. "Have you acted before?"

"Kinda," Jian Ye replied casually.

Su Junyang’s expression twitched with irritation, but he doubled down. "What do you mean, ‘kinda’? Don’t you know whether you’re an actor or not?"

"Not an actor. Just an ordinary sophomore dance major who played a bit part in one of Director Wu’s films."

The director suddenly seemed to recall something and pointed excitedly at Jian Ye. "You… you played Luo Ying in *Farewell to Midsummer*, didn’t you?"

"That’s right," Jian Ye admitted.

"So it’s you! No wonder you seemed familiar! I saw you trending online before—your name’s Jian Ye, right?"

"Yes."

Su Junyang didn’t pay attention to other people’s trending online or news, so Jian Ye’s name rang no bells for him.

He only studied male actors in the industry who were in his league—after all, they were his competition, and he needed to know his rivals.

Hearing that Jian Ye was just a student who hadn’t even entered the industry, Su Junyang immediately wrote him off.

But he still felt irritated.

He had to admit, this student’s acting was seriously impressive. For a moment, even he had been pulled into the scene.

After watching Jian Ye’s performance, the director rubbed his hands together, a hint of ulterior motive in his voice. "So… would you like to join my crew? I could tailor a role just for you. Your acting is outstanding—no wonder Director Wu picked you out of so many students. A rising star!"

Yet as soon as the director finished speaking, Jian Ye answered decisively, "No."

The director: "..."

Jian Ye pointed at Su Junyang. "I just want your high-and-mighty star here to apologize to the student he hit earlier."

Su Junyang: "Did I even hit him? What’s your problem? Who are you to him? Mind your own business!"

Jian Ye smiled faintly. "Are you sure you want to talk to me like that?"

He raised his phone, which was recording. "Whoa, tough guy."

"You—you dare record me?!" Su Junyang went for Jian Ye’s phone, but suddenly a water bottle flew from behind and landed right beside him. The crash made him jump.

"Stop bullying Jian Ye!"

"Exactly! If you dare treat Jian Ye like that, you're finished! We'll call you out online!"

"What a crappy actor, quit showbiz already!"

"I won’t watch any of your future shows. You think being an actor makes you hot shit? All you do is bully us students!"

The bodyguards and staff couldn’t hold back the furious students.

They looked ready to rush the set and throw hands.

Afraid the situation would escalate, the director spoke to Su Junyang in a placating tone, "Just apologize. It’s not gonna kill you. Hurry up, we still have scenes to shoot. Quit wasting time."

Su Junyang, fuming but seeing the growing crowd of students, had to swallow his pride and apologize.

Deep down, he wasn’t truly indifferent to online backlash. His rapid rise was built on momentum, and he feared pushing things too far would backfire.

"I’ve apologized. Now delete that recording," Su Junyang snapped at Jian Ye in a low growl, glaring fiercely.

Jian Ye didn’t care about the other’s reputation or whether the recording would spread online. He just wanted to show Su Junyang that Yun Chuan wasn’t a place he could act arrogantly, and its students weren’t to be trifled with.

He just smirked and walked off without another word.

"Hey, you—" Su Junyang tried to pursue, but the director held him back.

Even the director had had enough. "Why pick a fight with a student? He really did outact you. Take the L like a man! Let’s get back to filming!"

After leaving the scene, Li Xiangchi couldn’t stop gushing, "A Ye, how did you cry on command like that? That’s next-level, dude!"

Jian Ye replied casually, "With these kinds of scenes, you just imagine a scenario in your head. Everyone has their own emotional triggers—find yours, and crying comes easily. Picture being separated from someone you love..."

Li Xiangchi squinted, trying to imagine it, then shook his head. "Still can’t cry. I’m too tough. Even in that situation, I’d probably hold back the tears. You’ve got a gift for tapping into emotions—something others can’t just learn."

Jian Ye scratched his head, unsure how others processed emotions.

All he had done was imagine being apart from Yi Siyu, and the feelings surged instantly.

Plus, with the help of his new skill, controlling his tears became effortless.

Not gonna lie—this reward came in clutch, helping him bounce back without draining himself.

...

Jian Ye brushed off the whole thing.

But the clip of his crying scene still made its way online.

At first, netizens thought Jian Ye had joined another production, but there were no official announcements.

Some informed Yun Chuan students explained the context in the comments, turning it into drama for fans and random netizens alike.

Su Junyang’s unprofessionalism—double-booking gigs, wooden acting, prima donna antics, and short fuse—instantly trended on social media.

Meanwhile, the hashtag #JianYeCryingScenePerfection# slowly climbed the charts, fueling tons of chatter.

"No wonder he’s our helpful MVP—using his acting to force an apology? 100% deserved and badass."

"Getting outacted by an amateur? In the video, Su Junyang’s face looked ready to explode."

"Who is Su Junyang? Never heard of him. I only know our handsome Jian Ye, who's totally my type."

"Some time ago, sjy was all over the hot searches, probably bought by himself. This is a classic case of bad acting pushed by marketing hype! But what's the point? The audience isn't stupid!"

"Just checked—this guy actually has 10 million followers? No way that's real! Definitely inflated numbers!"

"Am I the only one focused on... how hot Xiao Ye looks when he cries?! Seeing his tears makes my heart hurt—what's up with that?"

"Girl above, you're not alone. It just shows Jian Ye's acting is superb. An actor who can move the audience is a true actor."

"Too bad our baby hasn't fully become an actor yet. 'Farewell to Midsummer' wrapped up recently—can't wait for its release! Dying to see our boy on screen!"

The video about Su Junyang and Jian Ye didn’t stay online for long. It was suddenly deleted by the platform, and even the hot search was suppressed—clearly someone was manipulating things behind the scenes.

...

In a hotel room.

Su Junyang lay in the arms of a middle-aged man, the two having just finished a heated romp.

"Alright, I’ve handled things for you. You really need to tone down that temper of yours outside," the portly man murmured, stroking the person in his arms.

"Even though the hot search was suppressed, the news has already spread. I never had many real fans to begin with, and because of that Jian Ye, I lost even more. Some even turned against me and boycotted my shows! I can’t take this lying down!" Su Junyang, still naked, gripped the sheets in anger.

He suddenly turned flirtatious as he tapped the man’s chest with a finger, whining, "Mr. Huang, I can’t let this go. Help me, okay?"

Mr. Huang eyed his young lover and gave his waist a rough squeeze. "You’re so vindictive—going after a student over this?"

Su Junyang stayed silent. Of course, it wasn’t just about this incident. Subconsciously, he felt threatened. This Jian Ye would inevitably enter the same industry, and with his talent, making it big would be easy. Su Junyang didn’t want such a rival in the entertainment world.

This industry was filthy, and Su Junyang was already tainted. Jian Ye was still pure and untouched—he needed to nip this in the bud.

Netizens praised Jian Ye’s acting and looks—so what?

The rules of showbiz weren’t that simple. Su Junyang wanted to destroy the image of this so-called rising star. He’d make him realize that without capital backing him, he was nothing in this industry.

"Which student has you so worked up? I haven’t even seen him yet," Mr. Huang said. His young lover often made demands.

Things like buying or suppressing hot searches were routine for him. This time, he assumed it was just another case of black PR, but Su Junyang was unusually persistent.

Mr. Huang usually left such matters to his assistant—hardly worth his personal attention. But Su Junyang’s tantrum got him curious about this student.

"It’s him, sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong, acting like hot stuff. What’s so special about crying anyway..." Su Junyang handed over his phone.

Mr. Huang saw the clip of Jian Ye’s crying scene that had netizens raving.

At once, the middle-aged man’s lustful stare locked onto the screen. Every tear the boy shed seemed to drip onto his heart. He had a sick kink for making people cry in bed.

Jian Ye’s face was exactly his type.

"Fine, it’s him, right? I’ll help you get even." Mr. Huang bared his uneven teeth in a sinister grin, already plotting how to arrange a meeting.

Clueless about his plans, Su Junyang felt relieved at the promise. "Mr. Huang, you’re so good to me~"

Jian Ye had no idea he was being targeted. The dance routine he was preparing for the competition was finally completed.

All his hard work during this time hadn’t been in vain—even his teacher praised the choreography as flawless.

After finishing these tasks, he had to go back and make it up to Mr. Yi, whom he had neglected this week.

As soon as he got home, Qiu Qiu came running after him.

“Hey, kiddo! Haven’t seen Daddy in days, did you miss me?” Jian Ye scooped up the little one and buried his face in his fur for a big sniff.

“Woof!” The puppy let out a bright, happy bark.

Author’s Note:

Jian Xiaogou: Achoo—(Who’s scheming against this young master now?)

Qiu Qiu: Pant pant~ (Lickin’ Daddy’s toes)