The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 18

While Lin Zhiyu was still at the hospital, rumors of a wirework accident on the set of The Blue Bird began circulating on Weibo.

However, at that time, the crew was still discussing solutions with Wen Lu’s management team. Since there were no photos or videos from the scene, public opinion only fermented within a small circle. It was not until Wen Lu released an insinuation-filled post that the topic of the accident completely exploded.

@WenLuV: I do not want to say much more. I hope the production team can prioritize safety and that every actor can maintain professional ethics. I am not sad about losing a role I loved; perhaps my skills were inferior and my abilities limited, or perhaps the other party is simply socially adept and tactful.

But now, because I was accidentally “yanked,” I have completely missed out on my favorite intellectual property.

Goodbye, The Blue Bird. Goodbye, Xie Yunce.

The attached image was a selfie of him with his arm in a plaster cast. Wen Lu stared directly into the lens with watery eyes, looking aggrieved and innocent. He even remembered to apply “pure and innocent” style makeup while hospitalized, which showed a certain level of professional dedication.

Lin Zhiyu read the text several times and laughed out of sheer anger. “Is he implying that I am the villain here?”

“He is practically dumping the entire pot of blame on your head!” Chen Chen said indignantly. “With such a clear direction, all the comments are saying you snatched his role and used unfair competition to purposely cause his fracture!”

Within half an hour of the post, the comments multiplied. Many of Wen Lu’s fans began to deduce the “truth” from those few sentences. Some even produced photos taken by fansites at the scene and the hospital entrance, drafting a formal denunciation of the “Thief Lin” and demanding an explanation from the production team.

Lin Zhiyu took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. “What did Xu Dongdong say?”

Chen Chen hesitated before answering, “Brother Xu did not say how to handle it. He just told you to stay quiet and stay off Weibo.”

Lin Zhiyu thought to himself, What use do I have for this useless manager?

“What about the production team? Have they issued a statement?”

“Not yet.” Chen Chen quickly scrolled through his phone and frowned. “But people are already cursing in the comments. Almost everyone thinks it is your fault. Are we really just going to sit here and wait for death?”

Lin Zhiyu was silent for a moment before beckoning. “Give me my phone. I will not speak publicly, but the production team must take a stand.”

Chen Chen immediately handed over the phone and asked, “What about Brother Xu?”

“Ignore him,” Lin Zhiyu said as he dialed Zhao Jinyu directly.

He cleared his throat, trying to make his tone firm while maintaining basic social etiquette.

“Zhiyu, to be honest, we are also overwhelmed. The crew is doing their best to handle it and stop the rumors from spreading, but Wen Lu’s team is being very aggressive. Give us a little more time. I promise I will not let you suffer an injustice.”

When Lin Zhiyu asked for the surveillance footage of the accident, Zhao Jinyu paused before saying, “Right after you left, Jiang Yubai already had a copy of the video made.”

Lin Zhiyu was stunned. “Why did he take the video?”

Zhao Jinyu thought for a moment and offered a hint: “His manager has many connections. In short, do not worry. We will issue a statement by tonight at the latest.”

By 8:00 PM, the hashtags #TheBlueBirdProductionAccident and #XieYunceCastingControversy had reached the top two spots on the Hot Search list. The comment sections were a battlefield.

Chen Chen had returned to school. Lin Zhiyu, in too much pain to move, lay bored on the bed playing Snake. After topping the leaderboard for the fifth time, he heard the sound of wheels. He turned his head to see Mu Sui pushing open the door, looking at him expressionlessly.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” Mu Sui said mockingly.

Lin Zhiyu tossed his phone aside and slumped onto the pillow. “Actually, my mood is terrible. I wish I could rush out to settle scores with Wen Lu and then go down in flames with my manager.”

Mu Sui scoffed. As the wheelchair entered the bedroom, the rustling friction sound filled the quiet night. Lin Zhiyu’s shirt was still pulled up, and the bruising on his lower back had spread even further since the afternoon. Mu Sui’s eyes swept over the exposed skin. “I thought you would not care about the barking of dogs by the roadside,” he said flatly.

“No one likes being a scapegoat, especially since I actually tried to save him,” Lin Zhiyu pouted, feeling aggrieved. “I regret it so much now. Why could I not control my own hand?” He even lightly slapped his own left hand for causing the trouble.

Mu Sui did not speak. His gaze lingered on Lin Zhiyu’s waist, and his fingers tapped impatiently on the armrest. Lin Zhiyu felt a bit flushed under the scrutiny. He involuntarily recalled the sensation of Mu Sui’s cold fingers on his skin earlier. The man’s fingers were like frost, yet the places they touched easily caught fire.

Lin Zhiyu did not know why Mu Sui had done that in the afternoon, just as he did not know what Mu Sui was looking at right now.

“It just looks a bit scary. I hope it did not frighten you, Mr. Mu… ugh!”

Mu Sui’s fingers pressed against the small of his back without warning. He traced a gentle circle with light pressure, kneading the swollen area. The throbbing pain seemed to be dispelled by that slight chill.

“Is it just for looking?” Mu Sui asked.

Lin Zhiyu’s waist did not have much fat, and the skin was thin, but it felt surprisingly good to the touch. However, the large patch of dark purple had turned a brownish-purple, which looked irritating.

Lin Zhiyu clutched his pillow and gasped. Mu Sui’s fingers continued to knead the area with moderate pressure. Even though he knew the man was trying to help dissolve the bruise, Lin Zhiyu could not help but try to stop him. “Wait… do not rub it anymore… it hurts.”

The muscles in his lower abdomen spasmed involuntarily. His back arched instinctively, creating a beautiful yet fragile curve in his lower back.

A few seconds later, Mu Sui withdrew his hand. His gaze slid up Lin Zhiyu’s back, past his bitten lip, and landed on the glowing phone.

“Your production team has issued a statement,” he noted indifferently.

“Huh?” Lin Zhiyu looked up and noticed a notification pop up.

Wen Lu’s fans, self-righteous bystanders, and Lin Zhiyu’s haters had spent the whole afternoon demanding an explanation and boycotting the “resource actor.” Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, the official Weibo account for The Blue Bird finally posted:

Official Statement Regarding the Production Accident: After investigation, the actor Wen Lu was accidentally injured during filming due to personal operational errors. The production team immediately took medical measures. Wen Lu’s condition is currently stable. Thank you for your concern.

Regarding other false rumors circulating about this accident, please remain rational. We reserve the right to pursue legal action.

The tone of the statement was very firm. Although it pointed out the cause of the accident and Wen Lu’s responsibility, the comments did not stop. Instead, they became even more divided. Some felt the crew was shirking responsibility, while others demanded a clear answer regarding the “casting of Xie Yunce” and “Lin Zhiyu’s role in the accident.”

However, what was even more unexpected was that ten minutes later, a marketing account dropped a bomb on the battlefield.

@MelonFieldBeauty: Lin Zhiyu probably never expected that ‘The Farmer and the Snake’ or ‘Mr. Dongguo and the Wolf’ would boomerang back to him. Ironically, this time he actually played the role of the Farmer and Mr. Dongguo.

The post included a surveillance video of the scene. It clearly showed Wen Lu’s foot slipping and him dropping his sword, him grabbing onto Lin Zhiyu, Lin Zhiyu reflexively catching his wrist, and finally, both of them falling together.

The comment section exploded instantly:

• • [My god, this is much more dangerous than the fansite photos! That sword almost hit Lin Zhiyu in the face!]

• • [Wen Lu’s team is too good at acting. Who hurt whom? If he hadn’t yanked Lin Zhiyu, Lin Zhiyu wouldn’t have fallen. I actually feel sorry for Lin Zhiyu today. Everyone is talking about Wen Lu’s injury; does anyone know if Lin Zhiyu is okay? That fall looked painful.]

• • [Someone saw Lin Zhiyu go to the hospital too, but he went home with his assistant afterward. He should be okay? Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn’t have reacted like that. I would let that kind of person die.]

• • [Was Wen Lu not just being careless? It is normal to seek help instinctively when your life is threatened. Besides, if Lin Zhiyu hadn’t yanked him back, Wen Lu might not have hit the eaves.]

• • [Even if the intentional injury is cleared up, what about the back-door casting for Xie Yunce? We all know Lin Zhiyu’s acting level. Surely Zhao Jinyu isn’t ‘strict’ enough to accept that?]

• • [Am I the only one who thinks Lin Zhiyu looked amazing when he flew up? His form and temperament are top-tier. He has a natural, relaxed poise. The other guy looks like… well, a common fat-headed goose. It is normal he didn’t get the role of Xie Yunce. Xie Yunce is the ultimate ‘white moonlight’ in the story; not just any random person can play him.]

Lin Zhiyu stared at the words “fat-headed goose” for a few seconds and burst out laughing.

Mu Sui looked at him. “What is it?”

Lin Zhiyu shook his head, his voice filled with a bit of excitement. “Jiang Yubai’s team is really reliable! They cleared my name instantly.”

Mu Sui’s expression darkened.

“I wonder if I should also play the victim. This waist injury is truly shocking. But then again, I do not have many fans. Even if I wanted to gain sympathy…” Lin Zhiyu paused and looked at Mu Sui, confused.

The man’s gaze was gloomy, and his pale face showed an unutterable dead silence, like a alpha wolf waiting in the dark of night.

“What is wrong?”

Half a minute later, Mu Sui let out a cold snort and turned his wheelchair to leave the bedroom. Before leaving, he stopped and said sarcastically, “Jiang Yubai is backed by the Lin family. His team is indeed very powerful.”

Meanwhile, Wen Lu’s management team was holding an emergency meeting in his ward. The atmosphere was as tense as a volcano about to erupt.

“I do not care! Lin Zhiyu ruined me like this. I cannot film the upcoming scenes, and he should not be able to either!” Wen Lu shouted. “Brother Chen, go talk to Young Master Jin for me again!”

The assistant nearby suddenly turned pale and handed the phone to the manager, Brother Chen. Seeing their grim faces, Wen Lu’s voice gradually faded.

“What… what happened?”

“Damn it, look for yourself!” The manager threw the phone onto the bed.

Wen Lu looked down, and his blood froze instantly. School bullying? Working at a host club? Who the hell started these rumors!

He suddenly realized something. “Lin… Zhi… Yu! That lunatic!”