Chapter 227: Step-by-Step Guidance
Wei Shanshan wasn’t exactly popular, but she a somewhat familiar face. People would likely be able to mention a character or two she played as if asked.
This kind of news would only cause her to lose the audience who never heard of her. Besides, it wasn’t too bad. People would soon forget this as they did everything else.
Yun Xiangxiang was happy Wei Shanshan could think like that. She was only in her early twenties after all.
“Since you saw the news, can you tell me how long it took for them to snap those pics in there?” Yun Xiangxiang asked.
Looking at the attire, angles, weather, and other minor details in the photos, Yun Xiangxiang guessed that they were taken over a considerable period of time. But, she wasn’t sure about the specifics. Some elements could be doctored after all.
“Give me a minute,” Wei Shanshan went through the story again. When she saw it earlier, she didn’t even think much of it.
“The one where I was in the green dress dates back the furthest. It was two months ago, right after I entered the crew of Little Fairy.”
“They took two months for this?” Yun Xiangxiang smirked. “When was the latest pic?”
“The one where I looked handsome in a purple robe. I became a soul overseer. Filmed five days ago. I was co-acting with someone,” Wei Shanshan replied happily as if she remembered something good.
“What did your agent say?” Yun Xiangxiang suddenly asked.
“Said it’s just a minor problem.”
Yun Xiangxiang sighed silently. It was good that Wei Shanshan entered a new company that was rich.
She didn’t have to go through so much trouble and infighting, unlike known companies like Huan Yu.
Her company would also dare to invest in newbies. If it was Huan Yu, the resources would go to another actor at the snap of a finger.
But there were disadvantages of course. As the people in charge were also relatively inexperienced, they wouldn’t have the sharpness and alertness of experienced management.
“If the last photo for this story was taken today, it wouldn’t be a problem if they published it today or tomorrow. But there were five days between them. Do you know what that means?” Yun Xiangxiang had to lead Wei Shanshan to think for herself.
She couldn’t notice everything a step earlier, nor could she help Wei Shanshan every time.
“What does it mean? They didn’t manage to find someone to report it?” Wei Shanshan had a keen mind.
Yun Xiangxiang didn’t know if she should envy her, or be angry at her. She envied Wei Shanshan for being able to keep her innocence for so long after entering the industry. She had not come across the industry’s dark side yet.
She was angry at her because the silly girl was dangerously naive. She would eventually be taken advantage of.
“Or, they are disagreeing about the payment,” Yun Xiangxiang mocked.
“Ai, that’s possible too,” Wei Shanshan even nodded as if she understood it.
No wonder she doesn’t think of it as a conspiracy. She wasn’t really a simple girl. She just thought it was normal that nobody wanted to report about her since her status wouldn’t give her news any value or provide any traffic.
For example, before her last drama was aired, the company wanted to get someone influential to give her a spot for her good news. But no matter how much the company was willing to fork out, nobody would give her any great spots.
After going through that, there was also her comparison with Yun Xiangxiang, who debuted at the same time but was now the highest-grossing actress.
Wei Shanshan thought of herself as a nobody. She thought the news was published because they wanted to annoy her.
“Listen to me, don’t underestimate yourself,” Yun Xiangxiang resigned. She said seriously, “Did you think “Overseer of the Heavenly Destiny” wouldn’t change its actors now that they filmed more than half of it?”
Wei Shanshan didn’t dare tell Yun Xiangxiang she did have that idea. She wasn’t stupid. She knew the only thing she had that was worth fighting over now was the resources of “Overseer of the Heavenly Destiny.”
But if they changed the female protagonist after filming more than half of it, the crew would lose a lot of money. On top of that, Brilliant Entertainment invested in the drama themselves. Her company wouldn’t do this to her.
“They won’t change the actors, that much is true. But if your reputation is ruined now, they can change your role into a secondary character during the edits.”
Yun Xiangxiang lectured Wei Shanshan, “Have you ever thought about how you should go on after this if such a big investment goes sideways because of you? No company is a charity organization. They’re nice to you now because they think the value you have now can make money for them. You better remember that.”
“So you think this story is a conspiracy brewed by someone in the crew. And that I stand in the way of her profits, which she can loot if I fail?” Wei Shanshan finally saw the answer.
“Yes, and she stalked you for two months. She’s either an enemy who you offended before entering the crew, or they already had their eyes on you before that. Try to think about who it could be. Also, watch your temper. Don’t try to humiliate someone just because you suspect her,” Yun Xiangxiang reminded.
“Also, they published this story after five days not because they disagreed with the payment, but because they already had another attack lying in wait. If you ignore it and let this news run its course, you’ll be facing certain doom.”
“Darn it. I thought I treated everyone nicely. Do these people have no better freaking things to do? If they have the time to backstab me, they should use it to figure out the script, not try to pull me down so they can go up,” Wei Shanshan cursed.
Everyone loves to think of others with themselves as the yardstick.
Kind people would think of everyone else as kind; scheming ones would think of others as scheming people.
Wei Shanshan was a kind person. Yun Xiangxiang could see it when Wei Shanshan gave away the lead to her in “Caring Love.”
In the original script, Wei Shanshan held a more important role than Yun Xiangxiang did. She was also the female protagonist.
Few newbies could be so unconditionally generous like she did.
Yun Xiangxiang owed a part of her “Best Newbie” award to Wei Shanshan.
The “Best Newbie” may not come from the protagonists, but being one did provide the higher ground.
Wei Shanshan’s career declined after “Caring Love.” She would get disappointed and complain about the exhaustion in the group.
But she would never chase after fame with anything else but her works. When she saw how great Yun Xiangxiang was doing despite debuting at the same time, she would envy her, but never get jealous or deign to use any underhanded methods to catch up to Yun Xiangxiang.
She was a righteous and simple girl.
That was why she would think that everyone else was similar to her.
Yun Xiangxiang liked this part of Wei Shanshan the most. It was a golden spirit, but it was also the reason she could be taken advantage of easily.
“You shouldn’t have any ideas of backstabbing anyone, but you should also look out for anyone who would backstab you.”