Yu Tianlin was a true villain.
His handsome, refined appearance masked his sinister heart. Fans were obsessed with his striking looks and the roles he played, unaware of his true nature.
Playing favorites and tailoring his attitude to the situation was standard in the world of fame and fortune, and Yu Tianlin executed this principle flawlessly. After betraying Yuan Fenghui like an ungrateful wolf, he didn’t face immediate consequences but instead thrived.
In public, Yu Tianlin would chat with Xu Mei to showcase his charm and approachability.
In private, Xu Mei was invisible to him.
Xu Mei’s habit of stirring up news with her love life, constantly appearing in the entertainment pages, didn’t faze Yu Tianlin.
Fame without profit was meaningless to him.
Only when Xu Mei signed with Producer Yang did Yu Tianlin deign to acknowledge her. After all, the Baodao romance queen had launched many stars. If Xu Mei got lucky, she could truly rise to fame with this drama role.
How far she’d rise was unpredictable, likely not surpassing Yu Tianlin, but it was enough for him to bother speaking to her.
Yu Tianlin assumed Xu Mei would be flattered. With his good looks and idol aura, he was unaware of the storm raging in her heart.
To Xu Mei, Cao Bo was a tool, Manager Guan was a smug, ordinary man, and Yu Tianlin was a venomous, despicable scoundrel!
Pan Li, Fang Ping, Deputy Director Duan… Xu Mei had already dealt with them.
Manager Guan and Liang Dan, the couple—she was still looking for the right moment to strike.
As for Yu Tianlin, the biggest scoundrel, Xu Mei hadn’t even had time to deal with him, yet he had the audacity to flash his masculine charm at her.
“Xu Mei?”
Yu Tianlin wore a captivating smile. Xu Mei narrowed her eyes, paused, then mirrored his charm with a radiant smile of her own, “I never expected it myself. When I first pitched to Sister Yang, I was so nervous. Everyone knows her company has the strictest casting standards. But we hit it off, and I actually got the role I wanted. It’s such a pity I didn’t get to work with you last time, Brother Yu. I really look forward to collaborating with you!”
Yu Tianlin nearly laughed out loud.
*Newbies, always so excited over a slightly significant role.*
Looking forward to working with him? She was clearly clueless about why she lost the lead role last time. A fool like her could only manipulate a small-time rich kid like Cao Bo.
Now Xu Mei had some allure, unlike her dull past, but charm could be crafted with clothes and makeup. Her brain, however, remained hopelessly naive.
Yu Tianlin played along, “Yeah, such a pity. Unfortunately, there’s no role for me in your new drama.”
The drama had a “sister” and a “younger sister,” naturally paired with a “brother-in-law” and a “younger brother-in-law,” forming two couples.
Both sisters liked the “brother-in-law,” who, despite being young and handsome, had a flawed, unappealing persona—a bit of a scumbag in romance. Yu Tianlin had no interest in such a role.
The “younger brother-in-law,” who ends up with the younger sister, was very fan-friendly but was written as a middle-aged tycoon. The age gap was too large for an idol like Yu Tianlin to touch.
Idol stars didn’t mind playing youthful roles. At 20, 30, even 40, they could shamelessly play teenagers. But middle-aged or elderly roles? They avoided those like the plague.
So Xu Mei’s hard-won role in the drama didn’t tempt Yu Tianlin at all.
Xu Mei let out a huge sigh of relief, feigning a “regretful” expression to match his words.
Once Yu Tianlin entered Manager Guan’s office, her face darkened.
Though Xu Mei could endure, seeing Yu Tianlin, the ultimate scoundrel, strut around was suffocating. She pulled out her phone, scrolled through her contacts, and paused at a certain name.
After much deliberation, she crafted a message:
“I heard your company’s new drama is facing some trouble. If you need any help, just let me know. I’ll do whatever I can.”
A while later, her phone buzzed with a reply.
The other party asked what Xu Mei wanted. She smiled brightly, typing swiftly, “I don’t want anything. I just want your career to grow more successful every day.”
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
A stronger friend meant a weaker foe, making it easier for Xu Mei to strike later!
It took a long time for the reply to come: *Xiao Xu, you have a bright future.*
Xu Mei clutched her phone, smiling.
Polite words?
Didn’t matter.
Xu Mei took them as truth because that’s what she believed about herself!
The assistant asked where they were going. Xu Mei put on her sunglasses, “Find out how Tianjiao’s talks with the station are going and whether the station is interested in their new drama.”
“Sis, are you—”
The assistant made a slicing gesture at her neck, thinking Xu Mei was planning sabotage.
Xu Mei scoffed, “Do what I tell you. I don’t like people acting clever on their own!”
The assistant didn’t dare ask more and went to gather information.
—
Was Hunan Satellite TV interested in Tianjiao’s new drama?
That was a pointless question.
With *The Princess’s New Clothes*’ ratings as proof, and Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen still in their prime, Hunan Satellite TV would be crazy not to buy it.
Manager Guan thought Tianjiao’s choice of Wen Ying as screenwriter was a misstep, unaware that Director Fan at Hunan Satellite TV was a big fan of Wen Ying. Unlike other executives who prejudged young screenwriters, Fan had no such bias.
Director Fan was eager to buy the rights to *Galaxy and You*, and like *The Princess’s New Clothes*, he wanted exclusive broadcasting rights.
As soon as the group reached the city, Director Fan called. Mrs. Wang decisively sent Li Mengjiao’s trio to rest at the hotel, taking Wen Ying and Xie Qian straight to Hunan Satellite TV.
Wen Ying, the screenwriter of *Galaxy and You*, was Mrs. Wang’s “guardian,” and Xie Qian was Wen Ying’s. The two trailed behind Mrs. Wang, their eyes occasionally meeting before quickly darting away. Xie Qian was calm, but Wen Ying was nervous.
Holding hands wasn’t new.
Wen Ying had dragged Xie Qian along before!
That time was similar to this—chaos, being chased, no time to think.
But Wen Ying never held Xie Qian’s hand without letting go. She wouldn’t dare profane her idol.
So what was up with Xie Qian today?!
Tutoring her was friendship.
Earning money together and fighting bad guys was friendship.
They were naturally closer than others.
But Xie Qian not letting go of her hand—was it just forgetfulness, or something beyond friendship?
Wen Ying’s mind was a mess, full of doubts and second-guessing.
*If I’m right, what do I do?!*
