Chapter 58: Chapter 058: An Inexplicable Fear Chapter 58: Chapter 058: An Inexplicable Fear After all, he was an esteemed actor with connections and relationships within the industry.
His public persona was also quite perfect.
Kind-hearted, easy to talk to, easy to get along with, gentle as jade…
In a word, there was always a cunning manipulation taking place behind the scenes.
For an actress like Liu Qiang, whose career was neither hot nor cold, suppressing her was a piece of cake.
Within just ten minutes after Tao Rongye put away his phone and left, his team made some subtle online manipulations, setting the pace on the internet.
And Liu Qiang was immediately vilified as a despised rat in the street.
Just last month, netizens were scolding Shen Yan to leave the entertainment industry.
Today, in less than half an hour, Liu Qiang was being bombarded wave after wave by trolls, clamoring for her to get out of the entertainment industry.
Liu Qiang’s manager did not accompany her, only placing a call through to her assistant.
After changing her clothes and applying medication in the tent, and while reminiscing about the moment she had fallen onto Tao Rongye, her assistant rushed in and, before Liu Qiang could curse, handed over her phone, indicating with her mouth that it was the manager.
Liu Qiang then leaned back in her chair and gestured for another female assistant to continue treating the wound on her foot.
“Li Qiang, has your brain been clogged with shit?! How could you blatantly do such a thing – do you know that you’re done for?!” The manager’s roar was enough to stun Liu Qiang.
Her gut was telling her that something bad had happened.
“Wha… what’s going on…”
“What’s going on? You’re asking me what’s going on? Liu Qiang, is your brain mushed with crap? Tao Rongye is no ordinary person, yet you dared to rub him the wrong way, and now that you’ve stirred up trouble, no one can save you.” The manager swore with no courtesy.
Realizing that her previous actions had backfired, Liu Qiang’s face turned slightly pale, “What exactly happened?”
“Because of your nonsense antics, you’ve now attracted the entire internet’s hatred, calling for you to leave the entertainment industry. Your dark past has also been revealed online; you’re completely ruined! The company has given up on PR for you, Liu Qiang. You truly have a death wish.” The manager continued to berate her, his face dark with anger.
Liu Qiang could no longer listen.
Her mind was in total chaos!
Impossible.
Shen Yan had been so troublesome in the past, merely targeted by online haters, but didn’t she manage to come back in the limelight?
Why was it over for her?
This couldn’t possibly be the end. She could ask Tao Rongye for help to clarify things.
Tao Rongye was so easy to talk to; he would definitely help her!
Yes, she must turn to Tao Rongye.
The manager continued speaking grimly on the other end, “You’re not suitable for appearing on shows anymore. All sorts of bookings and invitations have been canceled…”
Liu Qiang, pale-faced, insisted, “I will beg Tao Rongye. It can definitely be settled.”
With that, she hung up the phone.
The manager was so furious he called several times, but it was the assistant who answered.
Enraged and helpless, the manager ordered the assistant to stop Liu Qiang, to prevent her from doing anything more foolish.
Director Li was completely overwhelmed.
Things had escalated too quickly!
The third episode had barely been out for a few hours before the show crashed and burned. Director Li sincerely wished he could kill Liu Qiang.
She was even more self-destructive than Shen Yan!
During the first episode, although Shen Yan clung to Mu Jincheng, she at least had some integrity.
Liu Qiang was only short of stripping and throwing herself into the arms of that distinguished actor right on the spot.
As Director Li was handling this tricky issue, Shen Yan had sought out Liu Su and mentioned the incident with Tao Rongye.
Liu Su said, “Miss Shen, don’t worry. I will immediately prepare our company to handle this.”
“Mhm, thank you, Uncle Liu,” Shen Yan left the matter in Liu Su’s hands.
Since the other party was a distinguished actor, Liu Su took this matter even more seriously.
They had to suppress Tao Rongye’s actions as quickly as possible.
If Tao Rongye dared to ruin Miss Shen’s career, they wouldn’t hesitate to drag him down from his throne!
Watching Liu Su leave, Shen Yan also stepped out.
Qin Dingyue, with her keen eyes, spotted her at once.
“Yanyan, where did you go?”
“Just needed to use the restroom.”
“Oh, yeah,” Qin Dingyue moved in closer, lower her voice to whisper, “Liu Qiang went to see Teacher Tao. Have you checked online, Yanyan? Liu Qiang is topping the trend for being notorious. Her past scandals have been exposed, one more explosive than the other, and she supposedly had affairs with high-level execs at her agency…”
“Cough, cough!”
Zhou Jingming cleared his throat sharply.
Qin Dingyue immediately quieted down.
Shen Yan looked forward and thought to herself that Tao Rongye’s tactics were indeed swift.
This time, Liu Qiang wouldn’t stand a chance to turn things around.
Chu Jinghe suddenly turned to look at Shen Yan.
Shen Yan had been universally maligned online, but she was fortunate.
She had actually managed to turn the tables in such circumstances.
Qin Dingyue also belatedly remembered the incident, giving an awkward smile, seemingly wanting to offer Shen Yan an explanation but then thinking any explanation from her redundant.
She hadn’t said anything about Shen Yan, after all.
Wen Yan was getting impatient, “How much longer do we have to wait? A perfectly good show has been thrown into disarray by Liu Qiang, casting such a pall. Truly bad luck.”
Though Wen Yan’s voice was low, everyone heard.
But no one responded to his comments.
Everyone was annoyed.
Because of Liu Qiang alone, the show was thrown into this state at the very start, and who would compensate them for their losses?
Why had they joined this show?
Obviously, to catch another wave of fame.
Now, with the recording starting and stopping, it wasn’t just about gaining fame; keeping their current popularity stable was uncertain.
In the entertainment industry, it wasn’t just about them as artists. Just during the brief moment they were all waiting here, who knew how many other artists were scrambling to climb up the ladder outside?
The program kept having such blunders, and the viewers were losing patience—what could retain the heat of the show then?
Tao Rongye watched Liu Qiang cry her eyes out, his frown so tight it could kill a few flies.
The assistant had an ugly look on their face.
Tao Rongye couldn’t say anything harsh, so the assistant had to play the villain.
“Miss Liu, this matter has nothing to do with Teacher Tao, and we can’t help with your request. Teacher Tao has his own agency, and what can or can’t be said online all has to be approved from above. We hope you understand Teacher Tao’s difficulty. Miss Liu, Director Li is waiting for you,” the assistant stated firmly.
The assistant was effectively showing Liu Qiang the door.
With tears streaming down her face, Liu Qiang looked at Tao Rongye, pitifully begging, “Teacher Tao, I… I really didn’t do it on purpose… I don’t know why they’re maligning me so, I haven’t done anything. If you don’t help me, I’m really finished.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Liu, I might truly be unable to help you,” sighed Tao Rongye, instructing the assistant, “take Miss Liu over there.”
The assistant helped Liu Qiang up, and as she tried to resist, the assistant coldly reminded her, “Do you want to make another scene here, Miss Liu? There are plenty of cameras outside; if you’re not afraid of being filmed with more negative history, then by all means, go ahead and make a fuss.”
Liu Qiang’s face turned instantly pale.
Then she walked out of Tao Rongye’s tent, her eyes red and swollen.
The guests waiting outside to resume recording witnessed this scene and felt a subtle shift in their hearts.
Soon, Tao Rongye came out as well.
The moment he lifted his gaze, it met with Shen Yan’s, still exuding his warm and amiable demeanor.
Everyone else cast Tao Rongye sympathetic looks.
Rubbing shoulders with a woman like Liu Qiang must’ve been quite frustrating for the Best Actor at the moment.
Qin Dingyue discreetly tugged at Shen Yan’s sleeve, whispering, “Teacher Tao is really unlucky to have Liu Qiang as a partner.”
“Right,” Shen Yan glanced at Tao Rongye and looked away nonchalantly, agreeing with Qin Dingyue.
“If it were me, I’d have thrown up last night’s dinner. Teacher Tao has such good self-control.”
Qin Dingyue looked at the approaching Tao Rongye with eyes full of admiration.
Tao Rongye came over and offered everyone a small smile, “I’m sorry to have caused a scene, if not for me, your time wouldn’t have been wasted.”
“Teacher Tao, you’re too kind. It’s not your fault at all,” Qin Dingyue hastened to comfort Tao Rongye.
Shen Yan watched Tao Rongye behave as if nothing had happened, inwardly expressing admiration—not for nothing was he the Best Actor, his acting was impeccable.
Tao Rongye stood there, managing to smile, speaking kindly on behalf of Liu Qiang as if absolving her.
This only made others even more indignant on his behalf.
Liu Qiang’s actions could spoil his clean reputation, yet here he was, speaking up for someone so recklessly.
He truly was too kind.
After some conversation, Tao Rongye’s assistant brought over a phone. Tao Rongye gave everyone an apologetic smile, took the phone, and walked a distance away, ensuring no one could overhear before stopping.
Qin Dingyue was still indignant on behalf of Tao Rongye, “Teacher Tao is just too good-hearted. No wonder he’s known as the good guy of the entertainment industry!”
Shen Yan glanced at her sideways.
Qin Dingyue blinked, “Yanyan, why are you looking at me like that?”
Shen Yan saw in Qin Dingyue’s eyes a clear… foolishness!
Tao Rongye was holding the phone to his ear, listening to his agent speak.
The agent’s tone was a bit grave, “Xinyu made a preemptive call, and although their words were very veiled, the warning was clear. For now, the company won’t touch Shen Yan; keep an eye on her and don’t let her spout nonsense.”
Tao Rongye turned around, looking towards Shen Yan.
His gaze grew deeper.
“So the rumors that Xinyu is strongly supporting Shen Yan are true?”
“From the current look of things, yes. Even Shi Lian is doing promotion for her, and Xinyu is throwing their best resources at her. So I suspect there’s another reason behind it.” For the time being, they couldn’t touch Shen Yan.
At least, not until they had thoroughly investigated her background and could not take the risk.
Tao Rongye’s gaze deepened further.
When he looked up again, he met Shen Yan’s gaze head-on.
Shen Yan nodded slightly towards him.
At that moment, Tao Rongye inexplicably felt a sense of fear toward Shen Yan!