Stirring up trouble1
You’re done for2
The alarm clock blared. Lin Sifei stretched out her cat claws and gave a long, lazy stretch.
“Meow—”
She yawned, smacked her lips, and hopped down, planning to find Luo Ke and ask for some fish.
Luo Ke pulled a box of little fish crackers3 from the fridge. “Looks like Auntie Wu found a new snack. Want some?”
Lin Sifei immediately nodded, transformed back into a person, and was forced by Luo Ke to eat an egg and drink a glass of milk before she was finally allowed to have the crackers.
“Wow, these are so savory.” Lin Sifei crunched away contentedly.
As she was eating, the phone on the coffee table began to vibrate wildly.
Lin Sifei glanced down and saw it was Li Tao. Her face immediately soured. “No way. I have to go to work today?”
She kept eating her crackers and put the phone on speakerphone, planning to find an excuse to laze around at home.
But the moment the call connected, she heard Li Tao’s anxious voice. “You need to get to the company right now!”
Lin Sifei immediately went limp on the sofa. “Ahem, Tao-ge4, I think I’m a little sick. I have a fever.”
She blinked frantically at Luo Ke, who just smiled. “Xiao Xiao, time for your medicine.”
“Ahem, okay.”
Li Tao was silent for a moment. “Have you not seen the news online? You have to come in even if you’re sick.”
Lin Sifei’s brow furrowed, and she shot a confused look at Luo Ke. Luo Ke had already pulled it up, and her expression was grim.
“We’ll be right there.” Luo Ke’s brows were locked tight. She hung up the phone. “Go change. We’re going to the company.”
Lin Sifei’s eyes went wide as she reached for her phone. “What’s wrong?”
Luo Ke pressed her hand down. “Don’t look.”
Lin Sifei looked into her eyes. “Is someone throwing dirty water5 on me again? Are people cursing me out?”
Luo Ke’s lips thinned. She reached out and caressed her cheek. “They’re all just talking utter nonsense.6“
“I know.” Lin Sifei grinned at her and wrapped her arms around her neck. “This kind of slander is no big deal.7“
Luo Ke hugged her back, her voice muffled. “I still don’t want you to see it.”
“Then—I won’t look.” Lin Sifei glanced at her phone, took a deep breath, and suppressed her curiosity.
She and Luo Ke went upstairs to change, grabbing their sunglasses before heading out.
When they arrived at the company, Luo Ke walked her to the entrance, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m going to go over there and check things out. You and your manager figure out a strategy, then call and let me know. I’ll have Feng Xiao’s side cooperate.”
“You’re going to see Feng Xiao?” Lin Sifei pouted.
Luo Ke pinched the tip of her nose. “I’m going to make her pay.”
“Then come pick me up as soon as you’re done.” Lin Sifei still remembered Feng Xiao’s improper thoughts about Luo Ke. “Aside from making her pay, you’re not allowed to say a single extra word to her.”
“Alright.”
Only then did Lin Sifei enter the company, taking one step for every three turns of her head.8
Li Tao was already waiting in the hallway. The moment he saw her, he rushed forward. “I’ve scheduled a meeting with people from the film crew. We have to refute these rumors, and fast.”
“What on earth happened?”
“You still haven’t seen it?” Li Tao asked, shocked.
Lin Sifei tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a little embarrassed. “Luo Ke was afraid I’d get upset, so she wouldn’t let me look.”
Li Tao choked, but he didn’t dare say anything about his boss, so he could only give her a brief summary.
“Late last night, a bunch of marketing accounts9 suddenly posted a photo from the set. This one.”
Lin Sifei leaned in for a closer look. Wasn’t this from the day Feng Xiao brought her a drink to apologize? Lin Sifei remembered it clearly because she had just seen Yan Yafei. Checking the background set, it was definitely from that day.
She explained the situation to Li Tao. He frowned. “It seems Feng Xiao had this planned all along. She deliberately bowed to apologize and brought drinks, all so she could take a picture to frame you.”
“What did she say?”
“That you’re using your background to play the big card10 and bully people on set.” Li Tao sneered. “She’s gained a few fans and really thinks she’s something. She even claimed that the female lead in this movie was originally supposed to be hers.”
Lin Sifei found it hard to express in one word.11 The first rumor was one thing—a deliberate setup—but that last part was just a stunning lack of self-awareness.12
Li Tao led her out of the elevator. “The people from the film crew are already here. We’re going to discuss a strategy together.”
“Luo Ke went to see Feng Xiao’s people, too. She’s probably going to make them issue a clarification.”
Li Tao sighed. “The thing is, you do have a background. Even if Feng Xiao comes out and clarifies it herself, people will just think she was pressured into it. No matter how we handle this, the effect probably won’t be good, and it will have a huge impact on you.”
“There’s nothing to be done about it. Even if I had a grassroots origin13, they’d just invent a group of non-existent powerful backers for me.” Lin Sifei was very philosophical about these things. She knew what she needed to care about. As long as her work was good enough, these voices were not worth mentioning.
Li Tao glanced at her, very pleased with her attitude. He pushed open the door, a smile on his face. “Let me make some introductions. This is Mr. Shen, and this is Ms. Guan. They are the publicists for the film this time. And this is Lin Sifei.”
Lin Sifei smiled and stepped forward to shake their hands. “Sorry to trouble you both.”
“Not at all, not at all.”
Because the film crew was quite satisfied with Lin Sifei, and because a scandal like this was a huge blow to the movie itself, they quickly reached a consensus. The film’s official Weibo14 and all the actors would post rumor-refuting messages. They would also increase interactions between the main cast, including doing interviews and promotions together as much as possible, to create the image of a harmonious set.
Most importantly, they planned to push the blame for this incident onto their competitors. This was actually very beneficial for Lin Sifei, but at the same time, it also protected Feng Xiao.
“I have no problem with that,” Lin Sifei said with a smile. “I’ll give Luo Ke a call. She’s with Feng Xiao’s people right now. I’ll have her give them a heads-up. I hope you don’t mind.”
The crew members, of course, knew who Luo Ke was—she was the film’s investor, the one who paid their salaries. They immediately told her to go right ahead.
“Hello, Luo Ke.”
“How did it go? What’s your side planning to say?” Luo Ke sat in a chair, facing a line of people—the company’s old boss15, Feng Xiao’s manager, her assistant, and others—all standing with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe.
Lin Sifei explained the plan. After listening, Luo Ke frowned slightly. “So you’re just going to let her off the hook like that?”
Lin Sifei let out a weak little hum. “What else can I do? If I tear into16 Feng Xiao now, a lot of people will just watch for the drama. If I win, it’s because capital17 is powerful. If I lose, it proves the rumors were true. Pushing this onto someone else really gives me the best outcome.”
Luo Ke’s fist tightened. She shot a cold glance at the people in front of her. “I understand. We’ll do it that way. I’ll have this side cooperate with you.”
After hanging up, Luo Ke placed her phone on the desk and looked at the three people before her. “This business with Feng Xiao—were you the ones orchestrating it?”
The old boss would never get involved in how an individual artist operated. He immediately looked at Feng Xiao’s manager.
The manager trembled. “N-no, it wasn’t me. President Luo, you personally came with Miss Lin to choose Feng Xiao. I couldn’t be more grateful. Why would I do something like this? Besides, you’re the boss, and Miss Lin is your person. What reason would I have?”
Luo Ke stared at her, making her break out in a cold sweat before finally looking away. The manager breathed a sigh of relief.
Luo Ke turned to the assistant. “That photo was taken on set. You took it, didn’t you?”
“No!” The assistant waved her hands frantically. She looked up and her eyes met Luo Ke’s. It felt as if a hand had clamped around her neck, and she couldn’t get another word out.
“Feng Xiao told you to do it.” Luo Ke slapped a recording pen on the desk. “Expose her now, and I won’t fire you. I’ll even give you a sum of money.”
The assistant bit her lip and shook her head forcefully.
Luo Ke picked up the recording pen. “I gave you a chance.”
Luo Ke stood up. “Fire this person. Then, use Feng Xiao’s account to cooperate with the film crew’s rumor refutation. You’re in contact with her fan groups, right? Notify the fans that this was the work of our rivals, done to get the movie boycotted. Tell them to cooperate with the refutation.”
“Yes, President Luo.”
Luo Ke walked toward the door. The old boss knew the matter was more or less over and let out a breath, his face wreathed in smiles. “President Luo, it’s almost noon. How about I treat you to lunch?”
Luo Ke stepped into the elevator and the doors closed.
Only she and the old boss were left inside. “This isn’t over.”
The old boss’s smile froze, and sweat beaded on his forehead again.
“I’m not going to let you go, but I’m not done with Feng Xiao, either. From now on, you can stop thinking of her as your money-shaking tree.18“
The old boss’s expression turned grim. “Rest assured, President Luo. I understand what to do.”
President Luo took out her car keys, went straight to the parking garage, and drove away.
The old boss stood frozen in place, wiping away his sweat. “That trouble spirit.19“
After Lin Sifei finished her call with Luo Ke, she had barely put her phone down when she received a message from Lu Heng asking if they had a plan yet and offering to help refute the rumors.
Lin Sifei smiled as she replied, 【Don’t worry. The crew will post a refutation soon. You can just go along with it.】
The two people from the crew had already contacted the necessary parties. A short while later, the rumor-refuting Weibo posts went out. The main cast members all reposted them with a few simple words.
【Chen Qiyuan V: I’ve always said I was just running the dragon costume20, this is my first time with so many lines. Luckily Sifei-jiejie21 taught me. //@MovieLightOfficialWeibo: Regarding the following rumors, the entire cast and crew of 《Light》 are shocked. Every member of the crew spent several months together and created wonderful memories. We hope certain individuals and organizations will not maliciously spread rumors to damage the reputation of the actors and the crew. 《Light》 is an excellent film. It cannot be brought down by slander and defamation.】
【Lu Heng V: Sifei is a great girl, and it was a pleasure to act with her. Although she’s a newcomer, she has a real talent for acting. //@MovieLightOfficialWeibo: …】
【Feng Xiao V: As a melon in the melon patch22, I’m pretty shocked right now. That photo was just me thanking Sifei for running lines with me. I wasn’t told to buy the drinks. Lots of people in the background have drinks. I asked my assistant to buy them as a treat for everyone. Our crew always takes turns buying things. //@MovieLight…】
With the Weibo posts out, the crew had all but stated that someone was deliberately stirring up trouble. The other actors also expressed their support. The fans, given the hint, started to throw the pot23, blaming rival productions. Feng Xiao’s fans were the most aggressive about it. Since the fans of the person involved weren’t fighting, there was naturally nothing to see. Soon, everyone believed the crew’s version of events. It even stoked the rebellious bone24 in a lot of people. If you’re going to throw dirty water on it, then I’ll make a point to go see it.
Lin Sifei watched as the narrative was easily controlled and reposted the crew’s Weibo25 as well.
【Lin Sifei V: Well—that was sudden [Dazed] //@MovieLight…】
Soon, the crisis had turned into a reverse-PR opportunity. Lin Sifei leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at her phone.
Li Tao stood up. “Thanks for your hard work today. It’s probably best not to read the comments for now. Maybe post a few selfies to solidify your fanbase.”
Lin Sifei nodded. “Then can I go home for today?”
Li Tao nodded and saw her to the elevator.
When she reached the lobby, Lin Sifei spotted Luo Ke walking in and immediately rushed over, throwing herself into her arms. “Luo Ke!”
“The problem’s solved. I saw online that almost no one believes the photo this time.”
Lin Sifei nodded vigorously, then balled her fists in frustration. “But since we smoothed it over, it means we can’t use this to get Feng Xiao in trouble. What a shame.”
“People like that always have other problems.” Luo Ke raised an eyebrow, not telling her that Feng Xiao’s chances of a comeback were already gone.
“I think Yan Yafei has something to do with this. Feng Xiao’s attitude changed so suddenly right after she saw her. I’m afraid this whole trap was set by Yan Yafei.”
Luo Ke raised an eyebrow again. “This Feng Xiao is an idiot, too. She works for a company under my control. Yan Yafei was clearly going to use her and toss her aside, but she actually charged right in.”
Hearing that, Lin Sifei froze and looked at Luo Ke. “Feng Xiao didn’t listen to Yan Yafei and plan to switch companies, did she? That’s why she’s being so reckless. She’ll probably tear into the company next and then jump ship.”
“Whatever. If she’s happy to leave, then let her. It’ll be easier for me to give her trouble once she’s gone.” Luo Ke decided Feng Xiao’s fate with a casual tone.
Lin Sifei squinted at her, then suddenly burst out laughing with a pfft. She planted a kiss on Luo Ke’s cheek. “Our President Luo is such an overbearing president26! Super cool!”
Lin Sifei gave her a thumbs-up, grinning like a fool.
Looking at her smile, the anger that Feng Xiao had stirred up in Luo Ke vanished. She wrapped an arm around Lin Sifei’s shoulders and pressed her cheek against hers.
In front of a nearby restaurant, a woman in high-top riding boots took off her sunglasses, her brow furrowed.
“Hey! Are you eating or not? If not, move it. You’re blocking my business.”
A hint of confusion appeared in the woman’s blue eyes. The auntie in the apron looked at her face, and her own eyes lit up. “Here to eat, girl? It’s on me. Come on in.”
She reached for the woman’s arm, but the woman snatched her hand back and walked away quickly with a frown.
She got into a car by the side of the road, opened her phone, and looked at a photo of Bai Xingrui before sending a message to Bai Xingrui’s parents.
【Didi27: Uncle, Auntie, has Rui’er not come home yet?】
【Happy Every Day: Nope, no idea where she’s run off to this time. I’m so sorry. You came all this way to see her, and she’s nowhere to be found.】
【Didi: It’s okay, I’m just worried about her. If you get in touch with her, please let me know so I can stop worrying.】
【Happy Every Day: Okay, okay.】
Diana sat in her seat and slammed a fist on the steering wheel.
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