Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore

Chapter 38: The Managerʼs Invitation

On the other side, Liu Rulan walked over to Su Shengxi and said, ”Go greet Xiao He later.”

Su Shengxi looked up with a helpless smile. ”Manager Liu, Iʼm about to shoot the next scene. I really donʼt have time right now, sorry.”

Liu Rulan glanced at him but ultimately didnʼt expose his poor lie.

Whatever, it didnʼt matter anymore.

Thinking of her upcoming plans, Liu Rulan lost her previous patience. ”Do as you please then. Iʼm leaving first. Keep a low profile these days - there are eyes watching you everywhere.”

”Understood, Manager Liu,” Su Shengxi replied obediently.

Only after Liu Rulan left did Su Shengxiʼs expression darken.

”What an old hag, always making trouble,” he muttered, tossing his script aside as he leaned back on the sofa and started playing with his phone.

-

”Mr. Xiao, hello.”
A strange woman suddenly appeared before Xiao He.

Xiao He looked up in confusion at the woman in her thirties with neat ear-length hair, dressed in a black womenʼs suit. Her stern, cold expression carried the authority of a school teacher, making Xiao He instinctively sit up straight.

”Iʼm Liu Rulan, currently a manager at Jiaxing Entertainment.” She handed Xiao He a business card. ”Iʼm very optimistic about your future development. If possible, Iʼd like you to consider me as your future manager.”

Xiao He: ?

As he took the card, still processing this sudden encounter, she continued, ”You can review my qualifications and think it over for a few days. I wonʼt disturb you further now. I hope you can give me an answer next time we meet. Goodbye.”

With that, the woman strode away in her heels with efficient determination.

Xiao He didnʼt even get a chance to speak before she disappeared.

This was efficiency at its finest - no wasted words...

But it was indeed the type of manager he preferred - straightforward and easy to communicate with.

Flipping the card in his fingers, Xiao Heʼs expression shifted slightly when he read its contents.

This wasnʼt a Jiaxing Entertainment business card - it only introduced Liu Rulan personally.

In other words, this invitation came from Liu Rulan herself, not representing Jiaxing Entertainment.

Recalling how Liu Rulan had emphasized ”currently” earlier, Xiao He began to understand something.

—This Manager Liu... wanted to strike out on her own.

That was... quite interesting.

After some thought, Xiao He still put the card in his bag.

-

On set:

”This phone call - you were the only one who touched it yesterday. Then coincidentally, Li Shuoʼs mission failed, and all our undercover agents and informants disappeared. Isnʼt that quite a coincidence?”

Meng Zetian suddenly closed the distance between them, his cold eyes filled with mockery and barely concealed probing.

The young man he confronted was slim and refined, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Behind those lenses, his eyes flickered slightly as he secretly clenched his fists. ”I donʼt understand what you mean, Captain Meng. If you suspect me, just report it and have me arrested.”

Meng Zetian narrowed his eyes, staring unblinkingly at the man before him. After a long silence, his face suddenly broke into a smile as he patted the otherʼs shoulder. ”Haha, Reporter Bai is still so timid! That wonʼt do! If war breaks out someday, you wouldnʼt even qualify as a war correspondent.”

Bai Mingchuan adjusted his glasses, forcing a smile that didnʼt reach his eyes. ”No need to worry about that. After all, this is Shanghai. If war really comes, it shouldnʼt concern me.”

”Haha, true enough—” Meng Zetian laughed loudly. The two exchanged glances, their smiles equally hollow.

-

”Cut—!”

Wen Hongyuan called out, his stern expression finally relaxing.

”Good, we got this take.”

The previously quiet office immediately buzzed with activity as crew members came forward to rearrange props for the next scene. Xiao He released his grip on Su Shengxi, giving him a slight nod before turning to get some water.

Su Shengxi stared at Xiao Heʼs retreating back, his expression unusually grave.

”Xiao Su—” Wen Hongyuan called to him.

Su Shengxi immediately put on a smile and approached the director.

”Look here at your...” Wen Hongyuan began enthusiastically discussing the scene with Su Shengxi.

Meanwhile, Xiao He walked aside where Yi Manʼer proactively handed him bottled water.

”Thanks, Sister Yi.”

Yi Manʼer wore a concerned expression. ”Youʼve really offended Su Shengxi these past few days.”

Xiao He: ”Huh?”

I offended Su Shengxi?

While drinking, Xiao He tried to recall: ”I donʼt think so... Wasnʼt it just normal acting? Did he bring his characterʼs emotions into real life and start hating me?”

Recently they did have more scenes together. Xiao Heʼs character Meng Zetian harbored deep suspicions about Su Shengxiʼs character Bai Mingchuan, relentlessly pursuing him and setting traps that caused the inexperienced Bai Mingchuan much suffering, frequently requiring the male lead Li Shuo to bail him out.

If Su Shengxi had immersed himself in Bai Mingchuanʼs emotions, it made sense heʼd resent Xiao He.

”Of course not. His acting is superficial - no way he could empathize with a character.” Yi Manʼer shrugged. ”But since you joined the crew, heʼs had many NGs in scenes with you. Youʼve made him lose face.”

Xiao Heʼs eyes widened. ”What? But he had even more NGs with Teacher Zhang.”

”Those are respected seniors! How can you compare?” Yi Manʼer spoke bluntly. ”Su Shengxi is the biggest star in this production, backed by investors. Except for those veteran actors, everyone else intentionally goes easy on him. Itʼs practically an unspoken rule.”

”Huh?”

Xiao He hadnʼt anticipated this situation.

As a complete newcomer, he truly hadnʼt known!

”So you really had no idea.” Yi Manʼer looked at Xiao He pityingly. ”Makes sense - you donʼt have a manager, and probably never encountered this in previous crews. No one warned you.”

Yi Manʼer was currently in Group B, filmed by the assistant director, unaware of Group Aʼs situation. Sheʼd only heard about it from the makeup artist earlier.

Xiao He felt speechless. ”Whatever. Itʼs not like he can kick me out, right?”

Frankly, Xiao He wasnʼt afraid of Su Shengxi at all. After all, wasnʼt it Xiao He who exposed Su Shengxiʼs relationship scandal with Xu Youyou? Why would he fear some spineless coward?

Heh.

Yi Manʼer hadnʼt expected Xiao Heʼs confidence, sizing him up curiously, unsure where this bravado came from. ”Well, be careful then.”

Sheʼd done her good deed by warning him.

In the following days, Xiao He didnʼt notice anything particularly amiss.

Their filming schedule was packed, more intense than usual. Though Xiao He remained alert for several days, he saw no signs of Su Shengxi plotting against him. On the contrary, Su Shengxi seemed preoccupied with other matters, leaving immediately after shoots.

Xiao He found this puzzling but remained vigilant. After one scene, he finally opened his cheat skill panel.

Mu Zeʼs long-tail effect still persisted. After accumulating over this period, Xiao He now had five lottery draws available.

Thinking of his gradually decreasing lifespan from not ”eliminating” anyone recently, Xiao He winced momentarily before going all-in.

He didnʼt expect any new criminal skills - he genuinely had little interest in crime. If possible, more lifespan please!

Oh great System God of Fate~ Have mercy on this child!