God is Being Pampered by the Group - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Working to Support the Family

Guan Zhou’s Reputation Takes a Hit

The situation regarding the video had been resolved. It wasn’t deleted; instead, a new follow-up video was recorded.

Yang Xinran’s face appeared on the screen. She rarely showed her face in her videos; this was only the third time she had appeared before her followers. She had a clean, handsome face with a touch of heroic spirit in her features, complemented by long, straight black hair giving off the vibe of a reliable “big sister.”

She explained the previous video, The Silver-Haired Beauty, clarifying that the “little brother” in the video was not a public figure. The video only remained online because she had obtained his permission, but she urged the public to remain rational and not pursue him blindly, reminding everyone that doxing is illegal.

This video was like a bucket of cold water poured over the heads of the hyper-excited netizens. They finally calmed down, and upon reflection, realized the uploader was right. One after another, they promised not to disturb the little brother’s life.

A divine little brother that is beautiful should, naturally, be “viewed from a distance but not trifled with.” This phrase eventually became the defining tag for Bai Yan in the entertainment industry.

However, the netizens hadn’t completely given up. The most upvoted comment in the section was particularly eye-catching:

“Will the UP-loader post more videos of him in the future? I’m a newbie who just followed because of his peerless beauty. I hope the UP-loader can communicate with him. This is my only humble request. If there are no videos, photos are fine too! I’ll be a fan for life!”

Indeed, the viral success of the video caused Yang Xinran’s follower count to skyrocket. Her fan base, which had just broken one million, was now racing toward six million.

Yang Xinran estimated that reaching ten million was only a matter of time. And all of this was thanks to the peerless silver-haired beauty in the video, she thought with a mix of agony and sweetness.

She didn’t reply to that comment because she didn’t know if it was allowed. Behind the scenes, she contacted Luo Miaoxi, secretly hoping to get more photos of the beauty…

Of course, she knew she could admire them privately, but she couldn’t post them online without consent. Yang Xinran was level-headed and didn’t let the fame go to her head.

Through this incident, Yang Xinran and Luo Miaoxi grew closer, their bond strengthening into a sense of mutual appreciation.

Regarding Yang Xinran’s request, Luo Miaoxi found it difficult to fulfill and said so directly. Yang Xinran expressed understanding, saying she wouldn’t force it she just hoped Luo Miaoxi wouldn’t forget her.

These were private exchanges between the two girls, revolving around Bai Yan, showing signs of them becoming his “number one fans.”

On the surface, Luo Miaoxi was like a moth to a flame, becoming the first frequent visitor to the tiny apartment Guan Zhou had lived in for three or four years.

The black cat was clever; it acted like an ordinary cat whenever the girl appeared. Then, one day, it was suddenly “propositioned” by animal-loving Luo Miaoxi

“My neighbor has a Ragdoll cat, a beautiful little princess. Want me to introduce her as your girlfriend? By the way, you aren’t neutered, are you?”

Black Cat: “…” Its ears flattened into airplane mode. This human is so annoying. Can I hit her?

Seeing the black cat’s miserable state, Guan Zhou’s face was full of schadenfreude. He became much less resistant to the girl’s daily visits.

Bai Yan: “…” Can you two be any more childish?

…

Having lived for over twenty years with a worldview based on science and opposing superstition, Guan Zhou’s life had taken a sharp turn since he accidentally picked up a silver-haired beauty from another world. Watching spirits and demons pop up one after another, his worldview lay shattered, his thoughts scattered in the wind.

But regardless, life had to go on.

Things were peaceful for Guan Zhou at the studio. Qi Yue hadn’t come over to pry, which made him relax. He figured the rat spirit had given up.

Furthermore, for some reason, Director Zhou had suddenly started favoring him. He got a few lines in every scene now. Although he was far from being a lead, it was a good sign. Was his luck finally changing?

Whether his luck was changing or not, Guan Zhou worked with extra vigor. Plus, with the rat spirit no longer leering at Bai Yan, Guan Zhou was in a great mood, his face always beaming with smiles.

However, considering he was no longer alone and had a silver-haired beauty at home to support, Guan Zhou suddenly felt his savings weren’t enough.

For a split second, a certain figure flashed through his mind, but he shook his head immediately.

Thus, besides working as an extra in Director Zhou’s crew, Guan Zhou contacted a familiar number the “head of extras,” Xiao Wang. Xiao Wang was a total “tool person,” sending people wherever there was work, and he was quite well-acquainted with Guan Zhou.

Guan Zhou asked him to keep an eye out for any crew needing extras. As long as the times didn’t clash, the more work, the better.

In addition, Guan Zhou started floating between different crews at Hengdian World Studios. Whenever he found a crew with a need, he’d change into the costume and get straight to work.

Xiao Wang was indeed quite close to Guan Zhou. As a contact for extras, he had seen many young people jump into the whirlpool of the entertainment industry for money, for stars, or for fame.

But the industry isn’t easy to navigate; it’s a mixed bag of tricks and deception. If you dig deep, the water is very murky. Without a background, luck, or immense strength, rising to the top is harder than reaching the heavens.

Xiao Wang had witnessed these young people come and go like passing travelers; less than ten or twenty percent managed to persist. Guan Zhou was one of them.

He was exceptionally determined, resilient, and unafraid of hardship. Yet, the Goddess of Luck seemed never to have smiled upon him. While others were discovered and stepped onto the path of stardom, he remained in place.

Receiving Guan Zhou’s call wasn’t a surprise. They had known each other for years, and most of Guan Zhou’s acting opportunities came through Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang thought Guan Zhou was just asking for a good opportunity or a job or two as usual, but he didn’t expect Guan Zhou to say “the more, the better.”

Does he think he’s a robot who doesn’t need rest? Crazy, he’s truly gone crazy. He must have been suppressed for too long without a chance to shine, and he’s finally snapped!

Xiao Wang couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.

Guan Zhou, unaware that his reputation was being questioned, continued to work actively and diligently to earn money and support his home, as if life finally had something to look forward to.

On set, Guan Zhou, no longer harassed by the rat spirit, actually didn’t notice a gaze falling on him from a place he couldn’t see, filled with disdain and contempt.

After filming, on the way back, Wang Shan took out a file and handed it to the “lord” behind her.

“Here, the stuff you wanted.”

Guan Zhou’s profile picture was printed on it, clear and prominent.

Guan Zhou, twenty-six years old, graduated from Xingyang Academy of Film and Drama, currently residing at… Two full pages of information on Guan Zhou, including how he entered the industry before graduating but had spent three or four years at the bottom without making it.

The disdain in Qi Yue’s eyes grew.

“This kind of person actually graduated from the Xingyang Academy of Film and Drama?”

It was the best school in the Wencheng District, one of the eight major economic zones and the largest, world-renowned professional academy in all of Huaxia. Established over two hundred years ago, it had cultivated countless actors and workers, earning the reputation of being the “Cradle of Huaxia Acting Talent.”

Wang Shan was also surprised when she saw it. Previously, she had thought Guan Zhou came from some “pheasant” art school or hadn’t gone to college at all.

After all, recruiting extras requires no educational background, no age limit, and no experience. Anyone can do it. According to surveys, almost 90% of extras have an education level below high school, and 80% have an education level below middle school.

Understandably, since Guan Zhou had been an extra for years without rising, people suspected his educational background wasn’t great.

Qi Yue flipped to the next page, which unexpectedly contained Bai Yan’s information.

The profile photo wasn’t of Bai Yan’s full face; he was wearing a hat and mask, revealing only a pair of pale golden eyes with snowy, long, curled eyelashes, with silvery-white hair pouring down from the edge of the hat.

“By the way, look at this.”

Wang Shan turned on her phone screen and went to the Watermelon website, showing a familiar video.

After it finished playing, she looked at the comment section.

Wang Shan noticed through the rearview mirror that the corners of the young master’s mouth behind her seemed to curl upward slightly.

There wasn’t much information on Bai Yan, less than a page. It only noted that he had appeared in Xingyang City a few days ago and currently lived with Guan Zhou. Anything prior to that was untraceable.

Wang Shan suddenly remembered something and said: “I ran into Teacher Zuo at the company this afternoon.”

Zuo Chengyi, the winner of the “Golden铭 Award” for Best Actor last year.

After learning Qi Yue’s true identity, Wang Shan felt as if a new door had opened. Following that, she learned Zuo Chengyi’s identity; he, like Qi Yue, was not human.

But Zuo Chengyi was completely different from Qi Yue’s easily irritable temperament; he was famous for being as gentle as a spring breeze. Every time Wang Shan faced him, her heart fluttered slightly.

He’s truly the model child of the family!

Wang Shan silently compared him to the young master she managed… then, there was no “then.” Dead fish eyes.

Qi Yue’s reaction was as expected; as if he hadn’t heard a word, he kept his eyes down on the replaying video on the phone or flipped through the file.

Wang Shan paused and eventually shut her mouth.

What she didn’t say was that when she ran into Zuo Chengyi at the company, she happened to drop her files. Movie King Zuo, true to his gentlemanly reputation, helped her without a second thought.

However, when Wang Shan was tidying up, she saw Zuo Chengyi staring intently at one specific file the page with the photo of Guan Zhou’s cousin.

Although he returned it quickly, Wang Shan, using her female sixth sense, felt something was a bit off.

Could Movie King Zuo know the little guy?

Thinking this, she had asked him, only to see Zuo Chengyi shake his head with a smile and say nothing.

So… did he know him? Or did he know him?