Thinking of the hardships of his screenwriting career, Zhang Guangzhen felt so aggrieved he could cry.
This wasn’t acting; it was genuine emotion. Unlike novelists, screenwriters rarely achieved fame young. Most had to grind through years of experience.
For new screenwriters, writing a good script wasn’t enough; they might not even get credited.
Even after earning the right to a credit, they faced delinquent production teams. Payments were typically in instalments: an initial sum, with the balance due upon “complete delivery” of the script.
“Complete delivery” meant the script had to satisfy the production team.
Satisfaction was at the team’s discretion. If they weren’t pleased after multiple revisions, what then? Either revise endlessly or forfeit the final payment.
The final payment was a carrot dangled before screenwriters, visible but rarely attainable.
Unknown screenwriters had to prepare mentally for not receiving the balance. Whatever advance they got might be their only income from a script.
Zhang Guangzhen had survived those grueling days.
He never imagined he’d stumble after achieving success!
When Yu Tianlin told the media *Love’s Cruise* was his heartfelt creation, Zhang Guangzhen felt like he’d died inside.
Imagining the potential flood of negative reviews after *Love’s Cruise* aired, he experienced social death in advance.
The more he thought, the more aggrieved he felt, and he couldn’t help but sob.
Yuan Fenghui patted his shoulder, comforting him softly like a child. “Old Zhang, it’s not that serious. Why fear a punk like Yu Tianlin? Don’t cry, or Wen Ying will laugh at you!”
Zhang Guangzhen snapped his head toward Wen Ying, who raised her hands in surrender. “I’m not laughing. Cry all you want.”
Yuan Fenghui glared at Wen Ying, who quickly changed her tune. “Why fear them? The show hasn’t aired yet. You’ve got time to call them out. He says *Love’s Cruise* is your heartfelt work? So what? He’s got a mouth, but so do you.”
Zhang Guangzhen jumped up. “Bullshit *Love’s Cruise*! My script was called *Romantic Love*!”
Wen Ying was right. The show hadn’t aired. If he distanced himself now, he could still salvage his reputation!
Zhang Guangzhen wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “I’m writing a blog post right now. Wen Ying, help me… No, you’re too high-profile, you can’t repost it. Old Yuan, do you know other bloggers who can share it for me?”
Wen Ying didn’t mind. “I’m a Tianjiao screenwriter, and so are you. If I don’t repost for you, who will? Worried about attacks? I’m used to it. Just one thing to confirm: if you deny *Love’s Cruise* as your work—”
“What are you trying to say? Don’t stop halfway,” Zhang Guangzhen snapped, anxious.
Yuan Fenghui dropped her playful tone and said seriously, “Wen Ying means that denying *Love’s Cruise* as your creation means losing a chance at greater fame. It’s airing on Hunan Satellite TV, a major platform, with Yu Tianlin and Hu Man’s scandal boosting its hype. Even if the show’s terrible, it’s guaranteed some viewership. If, by some miracle, it becomes a hit, Old Zhang, you’d miss out big time!”
Zhang Guangzhen’s expression shifted from tense to relaxed, then to disdain. “You’re worried about that? I don’t want fame from a trash show like that. Even if *Love’s Cruise* tops the annual ratings, I wouldn’t claim it!”
Like a gust of wind, Zhang Guangzhen stormed off to update his blog and start a feud.
Updating a blog wasn’t enough insurance. An interview would be better, ideally timed for tonight’s entertainment news.
At the door, he paused. “Don’t think I’m that gullible. *Love’s Cruise* becoming a hit? Not that easy. Tianjiao won’t just sit idle, right? Old Yuan, strike when you need to. Don’t let the enemy gloat too long!”
With that, Zhang Guangzhen left. Wen Ying sighed repeatedly. “Even Teacher Zhang isn’t easy to fool anymore. What’s wrong with this world?”
Yuan Fenghui was speechless.
Old Zhang wasn’t bright, but he wasn’t a complete fool either.
However, the pace of their counterattack wasn’t up to Zhang Guangzhen. It would follow the plan she and Wen Ying had set.
Yu Tianlin’s press conference caused a massive stir. Wen Dongrong, keeping tabs on the promotional war between Tianjiao and Liang Dan’s team, was quietly thrilled when *Galaxy and You* surged ahead. But *Love’s Cruise*’s last-minute overtake left him irritated.
“Hmph, this entertainment news is such a mess. It’s practically corrupting minors!” Wen Dongrong tossed the newspaper onto the table.
His colleagues echoed his sentiment, chattering about their kids chasing stars and how Yu Tianlin’s romance was throwing their emotions into chaos.
One middle-aged colleague, a Hu Man fan, tore into Yu Tianlin from head to toe.
Their agreement didn’t cheer Wen Dongrong up. Their complaints wouldn’t dent *Love’s Cruise*’s ratings. Airing during the summer break, it was targeting students for viewership.
With no one to vent to, Wen Dongrong’s mood soured until Old Li called.
Having seen the news and knowing Wen Ying’s *Galaxy and You* was airing, Old Li, with unclear motives, pointed out the bad timing. “It’s clashing with Hunan Satellite TV’s show. The ratings are in trouble!”
Would Wen Dongrong admit defeat to Old Li?
Glancing at his animated colleagues, he covered the phone and stepped into the hallway. “What do you know? You’re no expert. You believe everything the papers say? Old Li, where’s your judgment?”
Wen Dongrong feigned disappointment. Old Li, unwilling to argue, proposed a bet. “A thousand bucks says *Love’s Cruise* has higher first-day ratings. You in?”
Old Li was clearly aiming to hit Wen Dongrong where it hurt. Wen Dongrong sneered, “I’m in. Let’s see who wins. You better honor the bet!”
A thousand bucks!
His monthly “tribute” from Black-Heart Cotton had risen to 2,000, but 1,000 was for Chen Ru to audit. He only had 1,000 to spend freely.
Old Li was betting his entire monthly allowance, but Wen Dongrong didn’t hesitate, refusing to show weakness.
With the bet set, Wen Dongrong kept staring at Wen Ying at home, making her uncomfortable. “Why do you keep looking at me?”
Wen Dongrong sighed, “They’ve got so many tricks. Can your show win?”
Wen Ying dragged her laptop out, opened Zhang Guangzhen’s blog, and let Wen Dongrong read his scathing post tearing into the *Love’s Cruise* team. “Teacher Zhang has faith in me. Why don’t you?”
Their father-daughter bond was so fragile! Now it was Wen Ying’s turn to act heartbroken.
Wen Dongrong, seasoned in reading the room, scanned Zhang Guangzhen’s post and felt confident. Beating Old Li’s thousand bucks? Locked in!
