Superstar Aspirations
Chapter 17

Translator: Vian

Editor: Shem

Currently in "Ambush" crew, another big argument was about to ensued.

No one thought that Han Yanghao would suddenly come out after staying inside his private lounge all day long only to use such an arrogant and willful tone towards Director Zheng: "President Li just called me to tell me that she wants a reply before eight by the evening. Her request is still the same as before. As for whatever you choose, Director Zheng, is your own business."

While Han Yanghao used a respectful tone, his nose had already reached the Heavens, simply not putting Director Zheng in his eyes at all.

All the crew members there were gnashing their teeth in anger, but didn't dare to speak up. Their gaze silently turning to the youth not far away.

The sympathy in their eyes had increased compared to early in the day. All because no one thought that Zhong Yi who came to visit Rong Xu, was currently standing behind Han Yanghao and introduced by him as such: "I've worked with Zhong Yi before, his acting is pretty good and his appearance also passes. It just so happened that he's here and also has an open slot in his schedule. President Li also agrees to let him take over Huo Xi's role."

These words caused an uproar within the crew.

You only came to visit, not to mention the one you were visiting was Rong Xu! Now you are pretending to be so just and honorable to steal his role. Aren't you being too much?!

Zhong Yi bashfully blushed: "Han ge and I had already discussed over the script, I feel it's quite good." From start to finish, his gaze never went to Rong Xu. He acted like he didn't know who Rong Xu was, much less that the role he wanted already had an actor.

Lucky, Luo Zhentao wasn't on set. He had went out with Assistant Director Li in the afternoon and still had not return. Currently inside the studio, there was the Han Yanghao acting high and mighty with a pure and innocent looking Zhong Yi on one side. On the other side, there was Director Zheng whose eyes had turned red from anger. And lastly was Rong Xu, who was sitting peacefully along the sidelines.

The beautiful and elegant youth had his head slightly hanging down. His hair hid his eyes, letting people unable to read the expression in them.

Han Yanghao lit another fire in this tense situation: "Zhong Yi's acting skills are definitely better than what's-his-name from before. Director Zheng, what are you still hesitating for?"

Director Zheng: "You!"

"Better than me…. was it?"

The crisp clear and calm voice resonated, causing everyone to turn to the origin where they saw Rong Xu who had stood up without them noticing.

He was still wearing Huo Xi's costume. His whole body was cladded in the navy blue military uniform, the deep blue appearing almost black as it hugged his long legs and narrow waist, accentuating his peerless beauty that was emanating out an imposing and awe-inspiring air. The military boots clacked against the ground as he slowly walked step by step in front of Han Yanghao and the other two. Standing side by side like this, someone suddenly discovered that Rong Xu was actually a bit taller than Han Yanghao!

His eyes lowered almost imperceptibly and looked at Han Yanghao with an indescribable gaze. Not speaking at all, he just continued to look like this. Rong Xu's staring ineffably made Han Yanghao feel somewhat agitated. But just as when he was about to open his mouth to ask, "What do you want," he saw the youth suddenly smile. The corner of his mouth curved, carrying a touch of ridicule.

His gaze was cold and sharp, much like a knife slashing across Han Yanghao's face. In an instant, the overbearing aura coming from the youth man dispersed. He looked down at Han Yanghao in a condescending manner from above, the mocking smile on his lips stabbed at Han Yanghao, causing his eyes to go unfocused, seeming to have been reminded of his countless NGs during the past two weeks.

Subconsciously, Han Yanghao started stuttering: "Wha-what do you want? You think Zhong Yi is better than you? He acted in many dramas before. Compared to you, what works do you have? Why don't you name them out for us to hear?" Saying this, he turned around: "Right, Zhong Yi?"

Zhong Yi wanted to open his mouth to agree but suddenly felt his whole body tremble. He turned to Rong Xu, but only saw the latter slightly narrow his eyes, his gaze lightly landing on his person.

Only, he barely spared him a glance before quickly turning away!

Zhong Yi turned mute. He didn't know what Rong Xu was going to say next, but if he did, he definitely would've shut him up at all costs even if he had to stake his life for it.

"His acting skills were definitely quite good earlier this year, on February in B-City's Hao Sheng Club's 13th private room." Pausing for a second, Rong Xu added with a light laugh: "His drinking capacity was also quite good."

This single sentence caused everyone present to go silent.

Hao Sheng Club was a high-end club in B-City. It was very normal for Zhong Yi to go play and drink in that club. However, Rong Xu's tone was obviously saying: What was Zhong Yi doing inside that club. What else could he be doing? It definitely was the circle's most common unspoken rules!

These things only needed to hinted at a little and others could not only guess the rest, but even imagine beyond it.

All of a sudden, everyone's gaze on Zhong Yi turned strange.

Knowing that Han Yanghao had a Gold Master was one thing, but that Zhong Yi also had a Gold Master… No wonder! Those together with Han Yanghao were all the same kind of poor goods!

Zhong Yi didn't expect that Rong Xu would know about that matter, he obviously didn't seem like he knew about it before at all!

Zhong Yi's complexion paled, he loudly yelled: "What nonsense… what nonsense are you saying!"

Rong Xu was surprised: "Did I remember it wrong? Was it in March instead?"

Zhong Yi angrily screamed: "I didn't go to any club at all! Don't you go and slander people like that! How can it be that you're this kind of person, Rong Xu?! I'll sue you!"

Rong Xu continued to smile and remain silent. His gaze didn't even stay on Zhong Yi, but instead looked to the side at Director Zheng. He softly apologised: "I'm deeply sorry for creating such a difficult situation for you, I also didn't expect for this to happen. He said that he came to visit me, but the situation ended up became like this."

Many crew members still didn't know that Zhong Yi came to visit Rong Xu. So once they heard this, their gaze on Zhong Yi turned even more complicated.

"No way… he came to visit Rong Xu?"

"He came to visit him, but still stole Rong Xu's role?"

"Exactly which big celebrity is he ah? I've never seen him before, but aren't his means a bit too fake?"

The hush whispers echoed in Zhong Yi's mind. He was livid. He wanted to shut those people's mouths but he realized that everyone was talking at the same time, making it hard to replace who were the ones talking bad about him.

Han Yanghao's face also sank. He wanted to speak but before that, he heard Rong Xu's light laugh again: "Han Yanghao, there would always be some fairness in the world. But just for a role, I should quit being an actor… How can it be like that? Could it be that you still have means to sever my life? I have been subjected to your anger for a full two weeks here already. Today as well, I have been subjected to more than enough of your anger."

Han Yanghao listened to these words and stared at Rong Xu, baffled: "What is it that you want?"

Rong Xu raised a brow and suddenly chuckled: "Who was the one that smashed the cup in the dressing room? Who was the one that criticized the props team assistant till they left? Who was the one that threw away the food that the field service sent into the trash can… Han Yanghao, do you know?"

Han Yanghao's expression stiffed.

Rong Xu narrowed his eyes as the smile on his lips receded. His frigid gaze coldly watching Han Yanghao.

The atmosphere around the crew also stagnated. Many members had lowered their head and tightly clenched their hands. And it was at this time a loud yelling came from the entrance of the studio: "What are you standing here for? You're blocking my way! Go away, don't stay and be an eyesore here!" The voice continued to shout again: "Ah Hao, what are you talking nonsense with them for? Just let President Li withdraw his investment if they don't agree."

Han Yanghao's manager rudely sneered after he approached and not in the least minding the situation, he then asked: "Director Zheng, have you considered it?"

But in the next moment, a crisp voice spoke up: "I'm an intern, but I don't need this internship anymore, I'll leave. But I need to say this, why should I come here early and return late everyday when I'm dead tired but still have to suffer under your ire for no good reason! I know what Rong Xu was talking about, Wang jie from the props team left because of you! Your manager said that if she doesn't leave, then you'll quit!"

"That's right! Your private makeup artist didn't come one day so I did your makeup. But you said I didn't make you handsome enough and smashed the cup!"

"I also know that on the first day, Xiao Ying didn't know that you have your own meals and good-heartedly delivered you your lunch. But you just dumped it into the trash in front of her! Is there anyone who bullies people like you? Very well, you are a big celebrity. Only you are a human, but are we also not human?! I also don't want this job anymore, I don't believe that after being in the industry for thirteen years, I won’t replace any work! You might as well have forced me away."

………

Han Yanghao stared at this scene with a dumbstruck expression. The crowd of people was angrily yelling and shouting at him, their red eyes furiously locked onto him.

He thoroughly never expected that there would be a day where he would be condemned like this from a thousand people.

If one were to say that Han Yanghao's tyranny over the crew in the past weeks was the root cause, then the turning point this time was a fuse. Rong Xu's exposure made them unable to not not think of when they were oppressed, and Han Yanghao's manager's arrogance just now became the final straw.

Even the head of the logistics team stood up and sneered: "Old Zheng, there's something I still haven't told you yet, because I didn't want you to get angry. This person demanded that we meet all of his requests. The day before yesterday, he wanted to eat grapes, so our team's Xiao Zhang drove the car out for six hours to buy some for him only to have him say it's too late and he doesn't feel like eating it anymore."

Director Zheng was furious to the point where he was about to explode into foul language: "I f*ck his mother, you should've told me earlier! Does he think he came for a vacation or filming!"

The "Ambush" crew was a newly formed production and filming crew, the Director was a new-comer Director. Each and every one of the crew members didn't have any reputation within the circle. This made them accustomed to swallowing down their humiliation, not daring to directly oppose Han Yanghao, only thinking: Just endure it. It will pass. The other party is one of the investor's people.

However, when they have been oppressed to the limit, the more they silently endured, the more terrifying the explosion would be.

Director Zheng pointed at Han Yanghao's nose as he retaliated: "Change actor? I pei, on what basis do you get to ask to change actors? You NG the most out of everyone, your acting skills are much worse than Rong Xu's! If I, your father, want to change actor, the first one I'll change would be you! I'll ask you, do you still want your face or not?"

Han Yanghao couldn't believe this, his eyes widened: "You dare say I'm…"

"I, your father, am exactly talking about you! You've also endured enough in the past half month. I just won't have anyone invest in me, I won't be able to film, but so what? Shoo shoo shoo, not filming anymore, you can withdraw your investment or whatever, that's on you. We'll just not release it. When the TV station violates the contract, please go and ask your President Li to solve it. How you want to solve it is however you want to solve it!"

"You…"

Director Zheng looked to the side: "That's weird, where's Old Li? Whatever, you come over here Old Chen, you go and make an announcement online saying that we're not filming anymore. Then contact someone from the TV station later about the reimbursement. Also go replace me a lawyer, I want to sue that esteemed President Li for breaching the contract!"

Han Yanghao growled: "I never said that President Li would withdraw the investment, how can you say he breached the contract!"

Director Zheng stared at him: "You didn't say to withdraw? Then who have you been threatening this whole time? Old Chen, don't bother with this stupid idiot, release the announcement online!"

Assistant Director Wang hurriedly logged into "Ambush" official Weibo. However, in the second he opened up the page, he froze. He stared in shock for along time, and was just about to raise his head to call for Director Zheng when he saw Han Yanghao glaring at Rong Xu, cursing: "You shameless moron, isn't it just replacing you, what of it? I'm warning you, if you don't want to film then we won't film. President Li won't invest and this drama might as well be canceled! Rong Xu, don't think I don't know. Who are you in the Rong Family? Did you still thought you were a Young Master? Sure enough, you were born from a mother but don't have the teachings of one. To actually be this ignorant, refusing to leave nor have any sense of shame!"

These were the words Qin Cheng and Xu Jin heard upon entering when they finally found the "Ambush" crew with great difficulty after looking around for a whole hour.

Xu Jin was startled and didn't react, only stood there with a blank expression. On the other hand, Qin Cheng's eyes darkened, and slightly widened. Using his 190cm height, his gaze bypassed the throng of people and firmly locking onto the youth in the center of the crowd.

The young man was dressed in a military uniform, his countenance beautiful and exquisite like the lowering sun. The uniform wrapped around his alluring body curves with the collar unbuttoned, exposing a tantalizing collarbone that leaves one in a reverie of fanciful thoughts. The person himself was still so damn beautiful and calm as always, but his eyes revealed his shock and fear. Glistening tears were overflowing from his eyes, appearing to have been frightened by the other party's vulgar words, and would cry in the very next moment.

Such a lovely person, there was actually someone who has the heart to treat him so badly?

In Xu Jin's eyes, there seemed to be an argument going on here, and quite a heated one as well.

And in Qin Cheng's eyes, he was only repeating one sentence——

He's being bullied!

He's being bullied!!

He's being bullied!!!

In an instant, the tall man marched forward in a flash. It was as if he had a particular aura to him, causing the crowd to subconsciously give way to him. One person had turned around and cried "Qin Cheng!" in shock when they noticed him, but just as "Cheng" had came out, the person himself had already reached the center of the crowd.

At this time, Rong Xu was preparing to open his mouth to refute Han Yanghao. As far as eloquence was concerned, since he had been able to to use four teals to move a thousand jins and turn the entire crew against Han Yanghao, including making Director Zheng determined to create a big fuss out of this for him(HYH), he naturally couldn't obediently stand there and receive Han Yanghao's insults, as stupid as they were.

Yes, he didn't feel particularly wronged by Han Yanghao's insults, but instead felt that the other was idiotic beyond saving.

However, he suddenly felt a heat over his eyes, causing the words to be stuck in his throat. Rong Xu looked up in surprise but only saw a man that had came up beside him without him realizing. The man gently caress the corner of his(RX) eyes with his hand.

Rong Xu's eyes slightly quivered and he felt a strange feeling spread in his heart. He couldn't clearly say what the feelings was, but looking at that indifferent yet nevertheless handsome face, looking at those serene yet abstruse obsidian eyes, inexplicably, he didn't stop the other's overly intimate behavior.

The two gazed at each other for a while. Rong Xu felt that his throat was a bit dry, and the stares from everyone was also making him feel somewhat embarrassed.

He suddenly heard the man's low and mellow magnetic voice: "…Don't cry."

Rong Xu: "……" EXM?!

Onlookers: "……" Cry?!

Xu Jin: "……" With which old eyes of yours did you see him cry?

Qin Cheng restrained his gaze and slowly and carefully pronounced word by word: "If he doesn't invest, then Huaxia Entertainment will invest."

Assistant Director Wang who was clutching his phone at a complete loss of the situation: "……" Hold up, you guys should let him finish ah! Something happened on Weibo ah! Something big happened ah!

The author has something to say:

Rongrong: The opponent is too stupid, there's no sense of accomplishment at all~

Qin Orangeorange: He's already on the verge of tears, Baby's heart must be in distress! ……But he also looks very lovely trying to hold back his tears(???)

Translator's Addition

The person himself was still so damn beautiful and calm as always, but his eyes revealed his shock and fright. Glistening tears were overflowing from his eyes, appearing to have been frightened by the other party's vulgar words, and would cry in the next moment.

Vian: ……[Prepares popcorn]

Shem: …popcorn again.

Vian: this time yum…*cough* besides the point

Vian: His Majesty Great God Young Master Qin Orangeorange has a hole in his brain ^^

Shem: *snorts* he's smitten! XD

Not release – Raws said dormer[天窗 – Tiānchuāng] but it means they will not release something that was supposed to be released.

Historically, there was a time due to censorship, many events are not allowed to be reported. In order to show their attitude against this kind of censorship, the reporters purposely leave some section of newspaper blank (which was supposed to be those banned reports). Those blank sections look like dormers. So we have this word but nowadays it only means not releasing something (Thank you Cici on the Secret Danmei Confederation)

Four teals to move a thousand jins – [四兩撥千斤 – Sìliǎngbōqiānjīn] A minor force winning over a greater force…or something like that

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