Huo Ziyao, who had been standing by with a displeased expression, did not expect Lu Keke to rush into her arms and call her aunt!
Her face immediately turned grim!
Lu Keke had a distant connection to her, and coupled with her family's high-ranking positions in television, Huo Ziyao had brought her along.
Unexpectedly.
Lu Keke was so ungrateful.
Not only was she made to cry by Lin Muxi, but she also called her aunt?
Lu Keke, a young woman of twenty, calling her aunt, did she look that old?
Although she was forty this year, she maintained herself well and looked only in her twenties.
And Lu Keke had called Huo Ziyao aunt as soon as she arrived.
This made Huo Ziyao feel disgusted, as if she had swallowed a fly.
She wished she could push her away immediately.
And loudly scold her, "Who is your aunt? Don't call me that randomly!"
However, with Lin Muxi and Yang Weiyang present, she did not want them to see her make a fool of herself. Thus, she could only forcibly suppress her displeasure, and Huo Ziyao spoke.
"Regardless, the roles have been changed. You have to leave the crew."
"Do I need to invite you out?"
Lin Muxi sneered. She looked up at Huo Ziyao.
"No need."
"However, I hope you know one thing. Actors compete based on their acting skills. No matter how much foul play occurs behind the scenes, what actors ultimately compete on the stage is their work!"
"Therefore, I will defeat you fair and square with my work."
This was tantamount to her openly challenging Huo Ziyao.
Hearing such boastful words from a junior, Huo Ziyao sneered. She looked at Lin Muxi, her eyes turning into icy blades, wishing she could pierce her heart.
"Remember your words!"
"Young people, do not be arrogant!"
"You will never achieve my awards in your lifetime."
Her statement had some basis.
Huo Ziyao was indeed one of the renowned Five Great Dames in the entertainment industry. Although she was not a Grand Slam Best Actress like Zhao Lan, she had won awards at two international A-list film festivals: a Spanish Royal Acting Award and Best Actress at the St. Petersburg Film Festival. She was considered quite accomplished.
The Five Great Dames were not to be trifled with.
She thought Lin Muxi's claim to defeat her with her work was simply self-humiliation.
She rarely saw such young people.
She spoke.
"Young people who do not respect their elders will never go far in this industry."
Lin Muxi calmly responded.
"Only if the elder is worthy of respect."
"An elder who wears knock-off dresses, relies on seniority, suppresses juniors, and keeps them hanging on a wire for hours using their status, I don't think there's anything respectable about that."
She retorted sharply, showing no sign of weakness.
Yang Weiyang nervously licked her lips. "Oh no, Xiao Ci is too daring. How could she offend such a senior?"
"But Xiao Ci mentioned the wire… so, she knows?"
"Is she standing up for me?"
Yang Weiyang's large eyes were filled with worry.
She was truly nervous and concerned, feeling as if she would cry any second, with worry, fear, and all sorts of emotions filling her heart.
Lin Muxi, however, held her hand with firm determination.
"Let's go."
She would not bow to power.
...
On the way back.
Ye Tongtong sighed as she looked at Lin Muxi.
"Xiao Ci, you're too daring! Didn't I tell you to be more reserved? What have you done?"
"You openly declared war on Huo Ziyao! Do you know how formidable Huo Ziyao is? What you've done is simply… sigh."
Ye Tongtong's expression was one of extreme distress.
She didn't know how to clean up this mess.
Even Zhao Lan probably wouldn't dare to directly confront Huo Ziyao like this.
"Weiyang was bullied, but she's still a senior. If she releases articles accusing you of being difficult, our PR team will have a hard time."
Lin Muxi appeared calm and composed.
"Let her release whatever articles she wants. I don't care."
"But I will never back down."
"If I were bullied myself, it would be one thing. But if she bullies someone close to me, and I continue to tolerate it, wouldn't that make me a coward?"
Lin Muxi sneered.
"I refuse to be a coward."
"I want to stand up for Yang Weiyang."
As she said this, Yang Weiyang, sitting beside her, hugged her, her eyes teary, her tears and snot almost smearing onto Lin Muxi. Yang Weiyang stammered her heartfelt feelings.
"Xiao Ci, I really don't want to drag you down!"
Lin Muxi looked puzzled.
"You haven't dragged me down. We already had a conflict with Huo Ziyao. Last time we had a wardrobe clash, she wore a knock-off while I wore genuine. She probably hates me already."
"I think you're the one who's been dragged down by me."
"That's why she found Lu Keke and deliberately snatched your role! It was to give me a hard time!"
Speaking of this.
Manager Ye Tongtong also fretted.
"What do we do now? The director seems determined to replace Weiyang… Sigh, I turned down other offers for Weiyang for this drama. Now, it's hard to find suitable roles for her to act in for a while."
Ye Tongtong was deeply worried.
Unexpectedly, Lin Muxi said without hesitation.
"I have suitable roles."
"Weiyang, remember that movie by Director Long you mentioned? He said I could choose from the main cast members. And there's a role that's perfect for you."
"You're also familiar with Director Long. Haven't you worked with him before? He also took good care of you."
"Come to our crew. That way, you definitely won't be bullied."
"Even if Huo Ziyao wants to target us, her reach won't be that long."
"The investors for this movie are also people I know well."
"The roles cannot be changed."
She had already made arrangements.
That's why she was so calm.
Yang Weiyang was clearly stunned.
"But… is this okay?"
She was a little nervous.
"I know Director Long's movie is a major production… and I'm not like you, with natural talent. I'm afraid I'll mess up the movie and drag you down."
"I thought it was fine for me to hone my acting skills in television dramas…"
Her voice grew softer and softer.
Clearly, Yang Weiyang lacked confidence in herself.
Lin Muxi glanced at Yang Weiyang, her lips curling slightly!
"I believe in you."
"Didn't your first TV drama become a huge hit? And everyone said you acted very naturally and smoothly, not like a newcomer at all."
Yang Weiyang was still a bit worried.
"But movies are different from TV dramas… How can I drag you down? Xiao Ci, don't just give me this role out of sympathy because I was replaced. You can't do that."
She became serious.
She looked up into Lin Muxi's eyes, and Lin Muxi heard Yang Weiyang say earnestly.
"No."
"You still need to find the most suitable person for the role."
She wouldn't just accept this windfall.
Instead, she earnestly considered for Lin Muxi and Wu Minlong.
Lin Muxi insisted on her opinion.
"I think you're quite suitable. How about we go together to see Director Long and audition? There are five people in the main cast, and Director Long said cooperation is most important. Let's go. Let Ye Tongtong drive us."
The manager was also surprised by Lin Muxi's determination.
And her immediate action.
She immediately turned the steering wheel.
"Alright, then let's go to Wu Minlong's set."
...
While Lin Muxi and Yang Weiyang went for auditions, a huge storm erupted outside. Because Huo Ziyao was too angry, she indeed mobilized her media resources. All of a sudden, a flood of articles smearing Lin Muxi and Yang Weiyang were released!
[Era Girls Act Like Prima Donnas! Publicly Disrespecting Senior.]
[Disrespectful Newcomers, Showing No Respect to Seniors.]
[Vile and Shameless Character, Unfit to Be Celebrities!]
[Artists Who Disrespect Seniors Should All Quit the Entertainment Industry!]
A series of articles, bearing the names of Lin Muxi and Era Girls, spread like wildfire across the domestic internet!
Fans desperately tried to control the narrative and purify the information.
But it was futile.
The other party had bought so many internet trolls; the overwhelming number of trolls, along with the articles blackening Lin Muxi, were spread everywhere.
Lin Muxi heard the little system cheerfully relay this news in the car.
"Host, you're being terribly slandered. Huo Ziyao, with a darkened face, accepted an interview, specifically naming you as disrespectful and defiant. She has makeup artists and staff as witnesses!"
Lin Muxi found it a bit strange.
"Then why do you sound so happy?"
The little system was overjoyed.
"Being infamous is also a form of fame. Her using all her media resources to smear you is also a form of promotion for you. Your popularity has actually increased by one point. This is an unexpected surprise."
This...
This was a silver lining amidst the darkness.
However, Lin Muxi didn't take Huo Ziyao's smear campaign to heart at all.
Huo Ziyao dared not mention the full story, nor did she dare mention how she had kept Yang Weiyang hanging on a wire for hours, causing her injuries.
She was guilty.
And she dared to escalate the situation?
Manager Ye Tongtong hesitantly turned back and asked her.
"Xiao Ci, Ling Qianhe's manager, Sister Fei, called me. It should be related to you. Should I answer?"
She was a bit unsure.
Lin Muxi raised an eyebrow and said without hesitation.
"Of course, answer it."
Ye Tongtong nodded, made up her mind, and pressed the answer button.
"Hello? Is this Ye Tongtong from Era Girls? Qianhe said that Era Girls are being slandered and asked if you need our help with counter-smearing."
"We can help change the media's narrative. Qianhe said he believes the truth is definitely not as Huo Ziyao claims."
"He knows staff members and can retrieve surveillance footage."
"Ask us to help find media friends and let everyone know the truth."
"What do you say?"
Yang Weiyang was both excited and thrilled.
Wow!
Qianhe is going to make a move?
As expected...
He truly lives up to being a doting husband who can't stand to see Xiao Ci being slandered!
Ye Tongtong was overjoyed!
If she had Qianhe's help, she wouldn't be so troubled!