Chapter 14: The Heat and the Tool

The next morning, Liu Pangpang, who was left in a daze by the commotion from last night, went to see Su Xuan. However, whenever he tried to bring up the incident from yesterday, Su Xuan would evade the topic.

Liu Pangpang noticed that Su Xuan didn’t want to discuss it, and he hadn’t received any calls from Shen Chao’s agent asking to talk. Liu Pangpang assumed that Su Xuan would receive some news, but it seemed he hadn’t.

Thinking about it, Liu Pangpang couldn’t help but grumble. Shen Chao was looking down on Su Xuan, thinking he wasn’t famous enough. Such a big issue related to both parties, and he just flipped a switch on his Twitter and started flirting with him, without even a phone call to discuss. How rude!

Before, they were so guarded, and now they just started flirting. Su Xuan was just a tool.

Although the result was beneficial to Su Xuan, the scale of last night’s event still made Liu Pangpang uneasy.

As everyone knew, the end of every CP (couple pairing) was that the unique fans of both parties couldn’t stand each other and would start a war, leading to a tragic breakup of the CP. The CP fans would then become unique fans of one party.

But for Su Xuan and Shen Chao’s CP fans, based on last night’s situation, Liu Pangpang thought that if they dared to ‘break up’, the issue would be more than just ‘I will never believe in love again’. It might reach the level of ‘I will never let you two have love again!’

Liu Pangpang talked about Shen Chao’s popularity, but when he actually let Su Xuan use it, he felt a chill. The heat was too overwhelming, like a slap in the face. Shen Chao was known for not liking this kind of business, and he had set a precedent for Su Xuan.

Liu Pangpang was anxious. Shen Chao’s popularity was like a tsunami, and Su Xuan was just a small pond. They couldn’t control the situation!

Su Xuan needed to enter the next resource quickly. Liu Pangpang didn’t even dare to let him take on variety shows, as they were a catalyst for boosting CP popularity. He had his eyes on two scripts and an interview, as well as some endorsements.

Su Xuan took the script from Liu Pangpang: ‘The male second lead in the web drama ‘Nine Streams’?’

Liu Pangpang pursed his lips: ‘This wasn’t in the two scripts I chose for you. It was delivered this morning. I wanted to pass on it, but after I looked through it, the role was actually quite good, so you decide for yourself.’

Su Xuan flipped through it and paused: ‘I remember the male lead in this drama is Shen Chao, but he has already shot a movie, why does he want to take a web drama?’

‘Star Culture has big ambitions,’ Liu Pangpang said. ‘The overseas release of ‘Nine Kingdoms’ was also good, and they plan to make it a big IP, like building a film city. They need a series of derivative works, including TV series. And for such a big IP, it’s best to have a consistent male lead image.’

‘The movie has a lot of scenes from the original that weren’t shot, and they plan to make it into a web drama, shooting and airing simultaneously, to keep the momentum for the upcoming ‘Nine Streams 2’ movie version. The male second lead was originally set to be Star Culture’s Wang Mu Zhe, who is also the male second lead in the ‘Nine Kingdoms’ movie version. But for some reason, he withdrew from the web drama this time. This is indeed a good resource, the only concern is…’ Liu Pangpang’s expression was quite subtle. ‘The male second lead has some… homoerotic elements with the male lead.’

Su Xuan understood immediately: ‘Star Culture is looking at the current heat between me and Shen Chao, planning to continue it in the web drama, right?’

‘Yes,’ Liu Pangpang replied, and then couldn’t help but add: ‘It’s so opportunistic, and they’re so quick. As soon as the two of you got hot, the script came in, hey, you are too…’

Su Xuan looked at Liu Pangpang, and he stopped, but Su Xuan knew what he wanted to say – Liu Pangpang thought he was a tool for Shen Chao.

Su Xuan reached out to Liu Pangpang: ‘What about the other two scripts you chose for me? Let me see.’

Liu Pangpang preferred physical files and handed Su Xuan two folders: ‘I’m also interested in two resources, one is a TV series and one is a movie. I personally prefer the movie – a suspense novel adaptation, the male lead is currently set as Wang Mu Zhe, you play the male third.’

Liu Pangpang saw Su Xuan put his hands together, looking at the script in contemplation, and said: ‘Now, taking on movie scripts, you can’t take on them too well, this one is pretty good. Although it’s the male third, and this Wang Mu Zhe is the same Wang Mu Zhe from Star Culture’s ‘Nine Streams’, his acting is good, and he’s also an award-winning actor. You and him acting in this, everything will be pretty stable.’

‘But…’ Liu Pangpang’s mood was complex as he smacked his lips, then reluctantly pushed the ‘Nine Kingdoms’ male second lead web drama script towards Su Xuan: ‘This script is also good, it can be a hit, and the payment is very high, the others are all maintaining a low price and won’t be paid for a while. You’re in urgent need of money right now…’

Su Xuan looked down and glanced at it: ‘How much payment are they offering?’

Liu Pangpang gave a number, hesitating: ‘It’s really a lot, but you’re too…’ a tool.

Su Xuan heard the figure and his eyes widened a little: ‘They offered so much…’ His voice was clearly shaken, his eyes turning into dollar signs, his small hands tightly clutching the ‘Nine Streams’ script, as if clutching a whole tomorrow!

Liu Pangpang: ‘…’

Liu Pangpang: ‘You don’t mind being a tool!’

Su Xuan honestly said: ‘Actually, I do mind.’

Liu Pangpang asked: ‘Then you…’

Su Xuan sighed again: ‘But they offered so much!’

Liu Pangpang: ‘…’

Well, money is more important than feelings, worthy of you, Su Xuan.

Su Xuan did not immediately agree to take the ‘Nine Streams’ web drama script. He took the suspense movie script and finished reading it in one breath after going back. He was a bit hesitant.

He really liked this script and also liked the actor Wang Mu Zhe.

Wang Mu Zhe was Su Xuan’s senior from the same university. Su Xuan had even been on stage to help out as an extra when Wang Mu Zhe graduated with a drama performance.

After graduation, Wang Mu Zhe entered UK Music Media, a very large and several decades old media company. Like Shen Chao, he was also dug out by Star Culture. Now, Wang Mu Zhe is a pillar of Star Culture and a real award-winning actor.

Both were excellent graduates from the same school, but why was Wang Mu Zhe so successful now, while he could only drive a bulldozer? Su Xuan sighed.

Liu Pangpang had previously explained to Su Xuan the resource distribution of Star Culture: as the saying goes, Star Culture’s resources are one stone, Shen Chao takes eight cups, Wang Mu Zhe takes one cup, and the rest share one cup. Wang Mu Zhe’s resources were not as many as Shen Chao’s, but he and Shen Chao had a distinct difference in resource lines, but in a way, Wang Mu Zhe and Shen Chao had a mysterious connection – Wang Mu Zhe’s award-winning movie ‘Gray Dynasty’ and Shen Chao’s ‘Gray Hoof’ were adaptations of the same history, both portraying the same historical figure, and were released in the same year. But the movie ‘Gray Dynasty’ was far less talked about than the TV series ‘Gray Hoof’, the movie’s box office could be described as dismal, but the awards were plentiful, including Wang Mu Zhe’s best actor, best photography, and screenwriting, all won. It was also because of this best actor that Wang Mu Zhe was noticed and dug out by Star Culture.

The two became prominent in the entertainment circle because of the same historical adaptation movie and were dug out by the same company because of this work, becoming the top two in the circle, each dominating their own territory. How did Su Xuan, a little bottom, look at it, and feel a strong sense of destiny?

Wang Mu Zhe had also played a supporting role for Shen Chao in ‘Nine Streams’, and as Liu Pangpang said, the male lead and second lead in this movie had some… homoerotic elements. In addition, the movie ‘Nine Streams’ had an unprecedented explosion – during the ‘Nine Streams’ release period, Su Xuan didn’t even watch Shen Chao’s various edits, because they were all with Wang Mu Zhe. The CP of Shen Chao and Wang Mu Zhe, known as ‘God Wood’, indeed had a name, the two had equal status, and during the peak of their popularity, Star Culture also welcomed the big CP, but because of the atmosphere of ‘I don’t get along with him’ between the two, it quickly dispersed, and everyone just enjoyed the fun, using a somewhat mysterious insider term to say – the two had no CP feeling.

Su Xuan could put it more bluntly – Wang Mu Zhe was a top.

During his university days, Su Xuan had seen this senior change many boyfriends, with a very consistent taste – they were all those with a very delicate and beautiful appearance, a bit of temper.

Shen Chao looked too aggressive, and when he didn’t want to cooperate with the business, the feeling he exuded made others uncomfortable, Wang Mu Zhe probably also had some aversion, so they eventually parted ways unhappily.

Su Xuan personally liked this suspense script, but looking at the script in his hand, he couldn’t help but sigh. Well, it seemed he and Wang Mu Zhe had no fate.

Mainly, Shen Chao’s offer was really too much! Su Xuan shook his head in pain!

So, Su Xuan had Liu Pangpang call to decline, saying he had taken another play, and the schedule couldn’t be adjusted, regretting to turn down such an excellent script.

Liu Pangpang was also a bit regretful.

But unexpectedly, the next day, Liu Pangpang came to the door again with this suspense script. He was also surprised: ‘Su Xuan, Wang Mu Zhe contacted me, asking if you were taking the male second lead in the ‘Nine Streams’ web drama. If so, he could represent you to coordinate your time in the two drama groups, and you could take on both plays.’

Wang Mu Zhe had a high status in Star Culture, and both plays were produced and distributed by Star Culture. His willingness to help Su Xuan would be very likely to succeed. But… Liu Pangpang had a very confused expression: ‘Do you know this Wang Emperor? Why does he want to help you with your plays?’

Su Xuan: ‘I played a tree in his graduation drama performance five years ago, do you think we’re acquainted?’

Liu Pangpang: ‘…’

Liu Pangpang said complexly: ‘He may be a plant lover, helping you, this tree, with your plays after five years.’

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