Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 599 -599: Raising a Star (22)

Chapter 599 -599: Raising a Star (22)

Tong Xueyan’s value system seemed quite different from most entertainers in the industry.

Chuzheng couldn’t say she liked her, nor could she say she disliked her, she could only say she didn’t find her objectionable.

“Hey, Song Zhi. Eh, let me tell you, today on set, I met the one who stole your endorsement… a supporting actress? No, she’s the lead actress. Don’t you find her annoying?”

Tong Xueyan held her phone, speaking animatedly with raised brows and expressive eyes.

She was calling Song Zhizhi, using the nickname Song Zhi.

Their relationship seemed quite good.

It wasn’t until Tong Xueyan returned to the set and hung up the phone that she and Chuzheng entered, talking and laughing together.

Really, it was her doing the talking and laughing.

Chuzheng was responsible for being cool and domineering.

Tong Xueyan didn’t put on airs, and the staff generally liked her, greeting her as she walked in.

But with Chuzheng, it was different…

Ever since she arrived on set, she had maintained an air of ‘keep out if you don’t know me.’

The staff were a bit afraid of her.

Yes.

Afraid.

Naturally, some also gossiped about her behind her back.

After all, the incident with Chu Anyang and Eastern Entertainment hadn’t happened too long ago, and it was still fresh in everyone’s mind.

In the earlier scenes, Chuzheng had barely interacted with the lead actress, so she had not met Jian Dan.

It was Tong Xueyan, the second female lead, who had quite a few scenes with Jian Dan.

Tong Xueyan probably wanted to take revenge for Song Zhizhi and intentionally or unintentionally outperformed Jian Dan in their scenes together.

Jian Dan ended up causing repeated NGs (No Good takes).

“Xueyan, come here…” The director finally couldn’t hold back and called Tong Xueyan over.

The two of them spoke about something unknown.

Suddenly, Tong Xueyan became unhappy, “Director, as an actor, it’s my duty to act well and present the best performance to the audience. How can you ask me not to use my full potential?”

“Xueyan, you’re doing this on purpose…” the director lowered his voice, “Jian Dan is a newcomer; you should guide her.”

The director took Jian Dan’s side, and although Tong Xueyan didn’t want to truly offend the director, she was almost fuming.

Especially since Jian Dan, wearing an apologetic face, sidled over to speak with Tong Xueyan.

Tong Xueyan was in a bad mood, and as Jian Dan kept talking, she pushed her away.

Jian Dan fell to the ground.

The scene instantly went quiet.

“Miss Tong, how could you push someone!” Nie Xinyang, the actor playing the male lead, quickly came over, helped Jian Dan up, and righteously condemned Tong Xueyan.

“I…” Tong Xueyan pointed at Jian Dan.

Jian Dan’s tears swirled in her eyes, “I’m sorry, Miss Tong. It’s my fault for not acting well, causing you to keep getting NGs, wasting your time. I’m sorry.”

Jian Dan apologized with a mix of grievance and sincerity.

Much to the pity of many onlookers.

“Miss Tong, Jian Dan is just a newcomer. Do you feel a sense of achievement by outshining her?” Nie Xinyang, seeing Jian Dan that way, was even more brimming with a sense of justice.

Facing the doubtful gazes cast by many, Tong Xueyan was at a loss for words.

She hadn’t pushed hard at all…

Who knew how she fell!

“Since you know you’re a newcomer and not good at acting, instead of apologizing here, you should focus on improving your skills.”

A clear voice interrupted from the side.

All eyes turned to the speaker.

“Miss Chi, what business is this of yours?” Nie Xinyang, recognizing the speaker, frowned in displeasure.

Chuzheng had a high profile in the crew, because where she stood, there always seemed to be a vacuum, making it difficult for anyone not to notice her.

Chuzheng’s cold gaze swept past Nie Xinyang.

That indifferent gaze was like looking at an inanimate object.

This made Nie Xinyang, who had always lived under the spotlight and was the center of attention wherever he went, uncomfortable.

He was now a first-tier star, his celebrity status much higher than hers.

Yet she had the audacity to ignore him so rudely!

Chuzheng’s emotionless voice slowly rose, “For an actor, performing well is their professional ethic. Taking care of newcomers is a favor, not doing so is a duty. Why must you demand Tong Xueyan to lower her standards for her?”

Tong Xueyan felt a surge of warmth as she heard Chuzheng speaking up for her.

Nie Xinyang opened his mouth.

He couldn’t deny Chuzheng’s words.

Otherwise, he would be admitting that he wasn’t a qualified actor.

People around probably felt there was some truth to what Chuzheng said and began whispering amongst themselves.

“It is a virtue for seniors to look after their juniors,” Nie Xinyang began to take the moral high ground.

“That’s not dictated by law. There is no rule stating that seniors must look after juniors, otherwise, it would be illegal,” Chuzheng said coldly, “Tong Xueyan has no obligation or responsibility to take care of her.”

Morality is meant to constrain oneself,

not others.

After all, if not for the filming, Tong Xueyan wouldn’t have had any interaction with Jian Dan.

If they were not friends, but merely colleagues because of work,

why should Tong Xueyan bear the consequences for Jian Dan’s mistakes at work?

Nie Xinyang: “…”

“…But she still shouldn’t push people!” Nie Xinyang’s face turned an ashen color.

Tong Xueyan immediately said, “I didn’t push her; she fell on her own.”

How could a mere push from her bring someone down?

Her push wasn’t even strong enough to knock over a cat.

“It… It was my own fault for not standing steady… It has nothing to do with Senior Tong,” Jian Dan said with a choked voice, as if greatly aggrieved.

Truth be told, if she hadn’t said anything, people might not have been so convinced that Tong Xueyan pushed her.

But the moment she spoke up, everyone oddly believed it.

“As for pushing someone, there’s no need to apologize now. Since it’s done, an apology won’t do much. If you’re not convinced, push back,” Chuzheng looked at Tong Xueyan, “Let her push you back.”

Tong Xueyan was somewhat surprised,

but then she straightened her back, “Fine then, as if I, Tong Xueyan, pushed you. Push me back.”

Jian Dan: “…”

Nie Xinyang: “…”

This turn of events exceeded their understanding.

“What’s going on here, what are you doing gathered around?” The director’s voice came over the loudspeaker, “Get ready, stop crowding around!”

“Director, please make a fair judgment.” Nie Xinyang immediately dragged the director into it, “Tong Xueyan pushed Jian Dan, and she’s being so arrogant about it!”

Director: “???”

The director probably didn’t want to get involved, but with Jian Dan in the mix, he had no choice but to step in, albeit reluctantly.

“What’s the problem here?” he asked.

“Just now Jian Dan was apologizing for an NG, and Tong Xueyan wouldn’t accept her apology and pushed Jian Dan.”

Upon hearing this, the director turned to Jian Dan, “Are you all right, Jian Dan?”

“I’m fine, director,” Little White Rabbit shook her head obediently.

The director secretly breathed a sigh of relief, “Xueyan, why did you push her?”

Tong Xueyan: “I didn’t, director!”

“Everyone saw it,” Nie Xinyang said.

The director glanced at the surrounding onlookers from the crew.

Most of the crew members nodded, affirming that they saw Tong Xueyan push Jian Dan, which caused her to fall.

“…Xueyan, so it was like that. You owe Jian Dan an apology. Let’s put this matter to rest. Harmony brings wealth, after all, and we still have to work together in the future,” he suggested.

Tong Xueyan refused, “Why should I? I didn’t…”

“There’s no way I will apologize.”

The director seemed to notice Chuzheng for the first time, “Miss Chi, do you have another solution?”