A heavy tension filled the room.

The assistant could feel the immense pressure emanating from Fu Yingdi. Even on a regular day, his silent authority was palpable. But now, the angry Fu Jinxiao was even more terrifying.

As the assistant was cautiously contemplating what to say next, Fu Jinxiao put down his tablet and commanded, "Call Mei Can."

Agent.

Typically, celebrated actors like Fu Yingdi don't require their agents to accompany them on every itinerary. With his many years in the industry, Fu Yingdi has outstanding professionalism. He can efficiently manage his schedule with his assistant, ensuring that there are no hitches. Hence, he seldom contacts his agent; when he does, it often indicates something significant.

Upon answering the call, Wang Meican took the initiative, saying, "Hello, Jinxiao, I saw your post on Weibo."

Professional agents always possess exceptional keenness and observational skills, predicting any public sentiment or risks associated with their artist in advance.

"This show, 'Star Showcase,' is so blatant. Anyone in the industry can tell they're intentionally promoting someone," Wang Meican expressed with disdain. "Their editing is deliberate to create drama. They elevate one while belittling another, smartly targeting contestants who are trending. Clearly, that Jian Anran, a classic blue blood, has substantial backing. He might even be incredibly talented."

Fu Jinxiao smirked and sarcastically inquired, "Talented? How so?"

Wang Meican detected the chilling undertone in Fu Jinxiao's voice.

"So confident they're using me as a stepping stone?" Fu Jinxiao's words dripped with irony, "I'd love to see how that turns out."

Wang Meican, thinking he was offended by the move, hurriedly interjected, "Don't be upset. Though there is indeed malicious editing, the production team wouldn't dare use such tactics on you or portray you negatively."

Fu Jinxiao retorted, "Obviously, I'm aware of that."

Wang Meican hesitated, "Then what's upset you?"

"The trending topics," replied Fu Jinxiao succinctly. "In that segment, I praised Jian Xingsui."

After a quick check on Weibo, Wang Meican understood the issue, her dislike for 'Star Showcase' deepening. "What beef do they have with Jian Xingsui? Why can't they let the audience see him in a positive light? Did he offend someone?"

Fu Jinxiao leaned back, tapping the armrest of his chair intermittently, his expression stern, "Who he may or may not have offended is none of my concern."

"But..."

Her lingering tone almost sent her into retreat.

She heard Fu Jinxiao's icy voice, "The entertainment industry has deteriorated over the years. Ticket manipulations, capitalist exploitation – I've seen it all and generally stay out of it. But if someone tries to leverage my fanbase and popularity to suppress contestants, is it because I've been too accommodating?"

With that statement, Fu Yingdi's public facade was stripped away, revealing the assertive, almost roguish man beneath.

He might have always portrayed a courteous demeanor, but it's merely a means to an end. In reality, Fu Jinxiao isn't one to be trifled with. Those who did in the past met unfortunate fates.

Even after years of association, Wang Meican still felt a shiver.

"Calm down," she urged. "There's no need to get angry over a minor talent show or a newbie artist. Are they worth it?" She knew the situation was dire and quickly added, "I'll contact the production team immediately."

Only then did Fu Jinxiao's anger subside. "Fine, handle it. Call me afterward."

Wang Meican promptly responded, "Of course. Please hand the phone to your assistant. I'd like a word."

She needed to ensure that the assistant kept a close eye on Fu Jinxiao. With his growing influence, few would dare cross him. She feared Fu Jinxiao might confront the producers directly.

The assistant hurriedly agreed.

Yet, upon her return, she found Fu Yingdi engrossed in his tablet again.

Fu Jinxiao was browsing the recent trending topics. This time, it indeed seemed like organized trolls were spreading negativity. The next moment, under the official Weibo post, he saw a comment from a netizen:

“Fu always seemed to have a liking for Ranran, which speaks volumes about the kid’s character.”

“I’m a big fan of Fu too. If he sees potential in An Ran, then I’m all for it.”

“The two of them would make a cute pair.”

Shortly after, some manipulated GIFs from recent clips were released. One of them was of An Ran offering food from a thermos. Fu, known for his deep, expressive eyes, always appeared emotional. The GIF was edited with pink bubbles, adding a romantic atmosphere.

Below, naive netizens chimed in:

“A match made in heaven~”

“Fu really seems to have a soft spot for An Ran.”

“Jian Xingsui is definitely not on the same level as Ranran.”

Even more shocking, one of these shipper comments got liked by an official from the Star Show Weibo, bringing even more attention to it and misleading many.

Liking?

A cold smirk appeared on Fu Jinxiao’s lips, thinking, “The production team must be joking with me.”

...

His assistant, who just ended a call with the agent, was about to speak when she saw Fu Jinxiao toss his tablet aside, stand up, and radiate an intimidating aura with his towering presence.

Hesitantly, she asked, “Where are you headed, sir?”

Fu Jinxiao grabbed his coat, gave her a deep look, and without turning back, said, “To the sports hall.”

That was where “Star Show” was being filmed.

Wang Meican tried her best to persuade the assistant to keep Fu from going on set. But what could've provoked him to decide to go so suddenly and late at night?

...

night

As dusk settled, someone entered the sports hall, seemingly bringing the coolness of the evening with him.

Fu Jinxiao made his entrance, initially heading towards the second floor, passing by the dining area for the participants. Some had just finished eating. And, by chance, he saw Jian Xingsui exiting.

Their eyes met, silence ensued.

The tension Fu Jinxiao felt melted away upon seeing Jian's innocent face. For some reason, a small smile formed on his lips. Gesturing, he called out, “Come here.”

At first, Jian Xingsui was taken aback, unsure if he was being called.

Patiently, Fu Jinxiao beckoned again, as if calling a pet. And Jian Xingsui hurried over.

“Fu,” Jian Xingsui panted lightly, his eyes shining as they met Fu Jinxiao’s, “What brings you here?”

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, “Can't I come?”

Jian Xingsui shook his head, "But this isn't your scheduled recording time. They said you have an appointment. You should be heading there."

Fu Jinxiao responded with a questioning, "Huh?" and then half-jokingly remarked, "You're quite informed. Did you inquire about me?"

"No!" Jian Xingsui instinctively wanted to refute, but he realized the actor wasn't exactly wrong. He hesitated, lowering his head bashfully, his earlobes turning a shade of red. He murmured, "They mentioned it in a conversation earlier. I overheard."

Seeing Jian Xingsui's adorably earnest explanation, Fu Jinxiao's mood lifted considerably.

The assistant who hurriedly followed from behind had originally intended to mediate, but to their surprise, they saw the movie star, head lowered, talking to a trainee with a soft smile playing on his lips. The look in his eyes, warm and tender, was distinct from his usual superficial and indifferent glances. It was a look of deep affection, something the assistant hadn't seen in a long while.

However, the assistant soon heard Fu Jinxiao ask, "While training here, did you hear about the release of today's edited version?"

The one speaking with him, Jian Xingsui, paused for a moment and then nodded gently, "We don't have phones, but some do. They mentioned a bit about it to me."

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, "Aren't you upset?"

Jian Xingsui always came off as naive, but what surprised Fu Jinxiao was that, in the face of such a grievance, the boy seemed relatively calm. Comparatively, it seemed the backlash from before was even more impactful, and this evoked a certain curiosity within Fu Jinxiao.

Jian Xingsui honestly replied, "It's okay."

Fu Jinxiao looked down at him, "About that segment of the competition, my comments about you..."

It was evident Jian Xingsui was aware. Anyone else, if praises meant for them were replaced, would be rightfully furious. But he pondered for a moment, and then with a gentle smile said, "I know. In a way, I'm kind of relieved."

Fu Jinxiao frowned, displeased, "Relieved?"

"Yes," Jian Xingsui spoke softly, "The way the show was edited earlier, many already dislike me. If you praised me now, others might blame you."

Jian Xingsui, with clear and innocent eyes, spoke with a hint of gratitude, "I'm just glad it didn't affect you."

"..."

There was a momentary silence in the air.

Fu Jinxiao's dark eyes fixed on Jian Xingsui, revealing a turbulent emotion that was hard to fathom.

Then, he let out a cold chuckle.

Always the smiling figure before Jian Xingsui, now a shadow of his dark side seemed to emerge. Fu Jinxiao reached out, pinching Jian Xingsui's cheek with a bit of force.

Jian Xingsui immediately let out a muffled sound, stepping back to escape the grasp, and softly exclaimed, "That hurt."

Fu Jinxiao arched an eyebrow, "So you do feel pain. I thought you were heartless."

Such a heartless little thing.

I've been upset all this while, and here you are, making light of it.

Jian Xingsui looked up at him, a hint of tears in his eyes. It was uncertain if it was because of the pinch or the recent events on the show. He remained silent, looking hurt.

Fu Jinxiao bent slightly, his tone unintentionally softening, "Did it really hurt that much? I barely exerted any strength."

Jian Xingsui shook his head, "No, it didn't hurt."

"It would have been amusing if you made a fuss, but instead, you're being so obedient." Fu Jinxiao sighed inwardly as he looked at the person before him. "Young man, you seem quite bold. I praised you, and yet you casually let others take credit. Don't you value my opinion?"

Jian Xingsui was taken aback, not expecting such a misunderstanding. He hurriedly replied, "That's not what I meant, Brother Fu."

Fu Jinxiao waved dismissively, "I know, I know. You don't have the guts. Doesn't your dorm have a dance practice to attend? Better get going."

Jian Xingsui recalled the practice. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Alright, I'll be on my way."

Fu Jinxiao simply responded, "Mhm."

He stood still, watching as Jian Xingsui walked away. Over the years, as his stature grew, it was usually others who watched him depart. Now, standing in the corridor watching Jian Xingsui's retreating figure, the young man, just in his twenties, looked inexplicably lonely.

The assistant whispered, "Brother..."

Fu Jinxiao spoke up, "What do you think of him?"

"Well," the assistant followed Jian Xingsui's receding figure with her eyes and smiled, "At first glance, he seems a bit aloof and hard to get along with. But deep down, he seems kind-hearted and obedient. No wonder you praised him."

Fu Jinxiao nodded lightly, "Mhm."

The competition wasn't the only reason for his praise; it was deliberate.

For some reason, Jian Xingsui emanated a deep-seated sense of inferiority and timidity. Despite his best efforts to hide it, Fu Jinxiao perceived it. Without knowing what Jian had been through, Fu began to pay more attention to him, offering encouragement when appropriate.

He wanted to give Jian Xingsui a leg up.

Indeed, there was ulterior motive. Having been a top-tier celebrity for years with a massive fan base, Fu Jinxiao understood the psychological impact his favoritism could have on fans and, consequently, a contestant's ranking.

The production team was well aware of this dynamic. They gave key footage to An Ran, seemingly malignantly editing, but in reality, depriving Jian Xingsui of valuable exposure. This injustice was why Fu Jinxiao was furious; his intended gift to Jian became a stepping stone for someone else.

...

"Mr. Fu, what brings you here so late?"

A delicate voice sounded from behind. Turning around, Fu Jinxiao found An Ran.

An Ran, freshly back from the canteen and donned in a white tracksuit, radiated youthful exuberance. His inherent charm was apparent, a clear reason for his popularity. Some might come off as standoffish at first glance, while others are instantly likable.

Fu Jinxiao responded calmly, "I had some business with the production team."

"What about?" An Ran blurted out, then quickly covered his mouth, apologizing, "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"Are you here because of today's Weibo incident?" Clearly, An Ran was among those with phones, and he was astute enough to connect the dots. With a look of genuine concern, he said, "I saw some of it. I don't understand why they edited it that way. It doesn't seem fair to the others."

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Fu Jinxiao's eyes.

Mistaking it for approval, An Ran bit his lip before softly saying, "I never expected this outcome. I wanted to talk to the director, but the episode's already edited. It's beyond my control. Xingsui looked upset today, and I feel so guilty. Once we resume recording and live broadcasts, I'll make sure to clear things up for him in front of the audience."

Such pretty words, indeed.

She revealed her kindness and beauty, while deftly clarifying her relationships.

Even Fu Jinxiao, who's been in the entertainment industry for many years, had to admit that An Ran is indeed skilled. Others might genuinely applaud his consideration, but unfortunately, he met me.

Fu, the acclaimed actor, curled his lips and spoke unhurriedly: "Is that so?"

An Ran quickly nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll give you this chance," said Fu Jinxiao leisurely. "Go and tell the director the same thing in a moment, alright?"

The color drained from An Ran's face. He certainly hadn't expected this move from Fu Jinxiao. Stammering, he said, "Well, the show has already been aired. If I speak up now, it can't be changed immediately. Besides, I'm just a trainee..."

Fu Jinxiao let out a cold chuckle.

An Ran looked up, meeting the charismatic and handsome eyes of the man before him. Those usually casual eyes now seemed cold, causing a shiver in An Ran's heart. It felt as if all his little secrets were laid bare before this man.

Fu Jinxiao took a step forward, murmuring, "Xiaoxiao, let's go."

The assistant quickly followed, casting a few more glances at An Ran before catching up with his boss.

Soon after, the door to the director's room was kicked open. The director, who was on the phone, turned in shock, only to see a man leaning against the doorframe, his face adorned with his usual light smile, watching him. Although Fu Jinxiao was smiling, the director felt a chilling sensation, as if Death itself was coming for him.

"Director," Fu Jinxiao said in his leisurely manner. "Good evening."

The director hurriedly hung up, standing up with a sense of eagerness. "Mr. Fu, why didn't you let me know you were coming? I would've greeted you at the door."

"No need," Fu Jinxiao replied as he took a seat, crossing his long legs, his presence commanding. "Why trouble someone as esteemed as you for someone as insignificant as me?"

Cold sweat formed on the director's back. He quickly replied with a forced laugh, "Mr. Fu, you're being too modest. Your presence here is an honor for us. How can you call yourself insignificant?"

"Really?" Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow at him. "Then it seems you didn't handle the editing of this episode of 'Star Showcase'."

The director, realizing that he was in a tight spot, stammered, "There were some issues with the editing of this episode. We were considering improvements for the next one..."

"Why wait for the next episode? Let's handle this one." Fu Jinxiao said with a smile, appearing reasonable. "I'm not a difficult person. Just take this episode down and replace it with a proper edit."

...

He calls that being reasonable?!

Everyone in the room was stunned. Is he not acting like a bandit?

The director hesitated, "Mr. Fu, it's not that I don't want to. Jian Xingsui is a good kid, hardworking and without any strong background. But you know, our main sponsor for the show is the Jian family. They've signed contracts, even specifically supporting An Ran's debut. They had one specific request."

Fu Jinxiao inquired, "Which is?"

"To eliminate Jian Xingsui in the first round," the director confessed, laying out all his cards. "Considering the Jian family's influence, offending Fu Jinxiao might mean the end of our show. I thought it'd be simple, just suppress the votes or give less screen time to a contestant with no background. But then..."

The assistant director added, "We didn't expect that the young master of the Shen family would befriend Jian Xingsui!"

The director sighed, "You know about the Shen Corporation. They've also signed contracts with us. We can't afford to offend them. Shen Xingchen is set to debut, and for his sake, we need to give him more screen time. Who knew that the young master would become close with Jian Xingsui and pull him into the limelight?"

The result was uncontrollable, much like an unhinged wild horse. Jian Xingsui's popularity skyrocketed, reaching a peak this week and securing his place as the most popular contender!

How could we possibly eliminate him now? How do we wrap this up?

With no other choice, the production team hoped to manipulate the edited version, to see if they could subtly alter the narrative.

Little did they expect that just as Jian's family issues seemed to be resolving, they had now incurred the wrath of a major figure. The director felt as if his legs were giving out from beneath him.

After listening quietly, Fu Jinxiao tapped his slender fingers on the armrest and smirked, "Do you think you can't offend the Jian family?"

The director nodded gently.

"So, you think you can offend me?" Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, his expression soft but his words making everyone's heart race. "Is that so?"

The director hurriedly said, "I truly apologize, Mr. Fu. What if we release a separate version, showing the full competition footage? Would that work?"

This was the biggest concession the production team was willing to make.

In the past, Fu Jinxiao might have agreed, but now he couldn't help thinking of the child in the hallway, trying to hold back tears and saying, "I'm glad you weren't involved."

He began to realize that perhaps from the beginning, Jian Xingsui never truly held back in the competition; instead, he might've foreseen that he wouldn't go far. Even with the malicious edits, he took it all in stride, as if he had always known his fate.

...

For some reason, thinking about this made the superstar Fu feel uneasy.

If he wasn’t happy, no one else would be either.

And so, under the eager eyes of the production team, Fu Jinxiao simply said, "No."

The director felt like he was being tortured, shocked and on the verge of tears after hearing Fu's words.

Just as Fu Jinxiao was about to speak again, the assistant director's phone rang. After a brief conversation, he handed the phone to the director, saying, "It's Mr. Shen."

The director was surprised. "What does Mr. Shen want?"

The assistant director glanced nervously at Fu and said, "Mr. Shen, as an investor in our show, expressed dissatisfaction with the edited version of 'Star Show'. He thinks An Ran got too much screen time, overshadowing his younger brother. The investment doesn't seem worthwhile to him."

The director, internally panicking, stuttered, "Mr. Shen, what do you suggest?"

Shen Minglang, always the opportunist, weighed in, "I suggest you release a new edited version immediately. Otherwise, I might reconsider the investment for the next episode."