The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 19

Wen Lu slammed his phone onto the bed in a violent rage. His chest heaved heavily, the veins on his neck bulged, and his roar made his assistant shrink back. “Where did this video come from? Did you not say it had been handled?”

Brother Chen sneered, pointing at the screen and gritting his teeth. “You are asking me? I told you long ago to restrain yourself and stop making trouble every day. Now you have hit a hard bone. Are you satisfied?”

The fury on Wen Lu’s face froze, then he feigned composure. “It is impossible. Those videos were cleaned up long ago. Lin Zhiyu could not possibly get them. Someone must be framing me!”

“Framed?” Brother Chen laughed out of extreme anger. “If you were really afraid of being framed, you should have used your brain back then and not left any loose ends! Now the wind online has completely shifted. Who cares about Lin Zhiyu anymore? Your face in the video is so clear that every mole and needle mark can be seen. You cannot wash this clean!”

The assistant chimed in cautiously, “The searches for Wen Lu Campus Bullying and Club Host cannot be taken down, and the comment control has completely collapsed.”

Wen Lu, full of disbelief, grabbed his phone and scrolled frantically, only to find overwhelming mockery and insults in every hot search.

One comment read, “I suggest the industry do a background check on new artists like they do for civil servants. There are new ways to collapse every day.”

Another said, “The face of that petty person in the video really disgusted me. Can this kind of person just die?”

A third added, “I did not want to comment, but after one look at the club segment, I feel like my eyes need bleach. Please, can capital stop letting these people out to ruin everyone?”

Finally, a post noted, “Lin Zhiyu is actually quite miserable. A resource actor is nothing compared to bullying and being a host.”

Wen Lu’s head buzzed, and his anger almost burned away his remaining sanity. “No, Brother Chen, get the public relations team on this immediately. I want to issue a lawyer’s letter. I want to call the police!”

“Call the police?” Brother Chen looked at him with an extremely strange expression. “Call the police to prove that the person in those videos is indeed you? Wen Lu, wake up. We cannot hold this off. How about we issue a statement saying you are retiring to recover from injuries and wait for the storm to pass?”

“Retire?” Wen Lu let out a piercing scream, grabbing Brother Chen’s arm uncontrollably. “Are you crazy? I worked so hard to get to where I am today. How could I retire?” He continued, “Right! Young Master Jin! Brother Chen, go contact Young Master Jin. He must have a way.”

Lin Zhiyu had a good night’s sleep.

After the wire accident was clarified, the massive waves on the internet had nothing to do with him. It was not until the next day at noon, when Chen Chen sent him back to the crew, that he learned Wen Lu had withdrawn from the filming.

“Brother Lin, do you think Wen Lu’s scandals were handled by our team behind the scenes?”

Lin Zhiyu said nonchalantly, “Team? What team? Do you mean my elusive manager, plus you, an undergraduate intern, and my own unlicensed small workshop run by a salted fish?” He added, “Stop thinking about it. No one has that kind of capability.”

“Then who else would be so kind as to crush Wen Lu for us?” Chen Chen racked his brain but could not find a suspect. “I have looked at all those leaks. The bullying photos are from middle and high school. Evidence and witnesses are all there. The club video does not look recent either. It is hard to imagine someone could gather all of this for such a lethal blow. Could it be that the heavens have eyes and karma has come around?”

Lin Zhiyu rubbed his waist and said nothing. He did not know who the hand behind the scenes was, but now it seemed everyone thought he was the one who released Wen Lu’s dirty laundry.

As soon as Lin Zhiyu entered the dressing room, the actors playing Yan Linxue and Zhou Zhongxing, Xu Xiao and Yan Ruohan, turned their heads simultaneously. The lively conversation in the room died down instantly. This eerie silence lasted until the two finished their makeup and fled immediately.

Lin Zhiyu had rested for a night, so his body could move again. Since they were filming dialogue scenes today, he did not ask for leave. However, Xie Yunce’s two best friends now avoided him like the plague, looking like rabbits seeing a hungry wolf, fearing they would be skinned alive at any moment.

Lin Zhiyu was confused at first. It was not until he reached the set and overheard a few staff members whispering that he finally understood where this strange avoidance came from.

“His attitude has been quite good these past few days. I thought he had truly turned over a new leaf, but it turns out he is still the same Lin Zhiyu.”

“But I think it is okay. Maybe he really wants to change, but if people do not cross me, I will not cross them. If someone bullies you to that extent, are you not allowed to fight back?”

“True. I actually believed the rumor that he was abandoned by capital. Looking at this, he is still highly valued by Infinite Entertainment.”

Lin Zhiyu thought, “In the eyes of others, I really am tall, mighty, and capable of any evil.”

“Lin Zhiyu.” A weight suddenly landed on his shoulder. Lin Zhiyu turned back and saw Jiang Yubai standing behind him with a calm expression. “Is the injury on your waist better?”

Lin Zhiyu nodded and teased, “If it were even slightly bad, I would not be appearing here today.” He would have definitely used it as an excuse to sleep all day at home without feeling any guilt about delaying the crew.

“That is good.” Jiang Yubai gave him a gentle smile. “When we saw the photos sent back by the assistant director yesterday, we were all shocked. From such a high place, if you had not been pulled in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Lin Zhiyu suddenly remembered something. “Thank you for helping me clarify yesterday.”

Jiang Yubai looked confused. “Hm?”

Lin Zhiyu also tilted his head suspiciously. “Director Zhao said you took a copy of the surveillance video.”

“Ah, you mean that,” Jiang Yubai realized. “My account is strictly managed, so I could not speak up for you directly. I am sorry.”

Lin Zhiyu patted his shoulder like a buddy. “I understand. But thank you regardless. Otherwise, I would have had to step in and try to clear my own name.”

“It was not entirely my credit alone. In the end, we relied on Sister Li’s help to get the video out.”

“Then thank Sister Li for me as well.”

The place on Jiang Yubai’s shoulder where he was touched grew a bit stiff. He looked down with an uncertain expression, appearing as if he wanted to step back, yet he stayed put. However, Lin Zhiyu did not take it to heart. He withdrew his hand and moved slowly under the studio canopy to greet Zhao Jinyu.

Zhao Jinyu’s attitude was perfectly normal. After expressing concern for his health, she said, “Wen Lu has left the cast. Since that kind of thing happened, even if he did not withdraw voluntarily, I would not plan on working with him anymore.” She continued, “However, yesterday’s scenes need to be reshot, so I will have to trouble you to redo them. We are already looking for a replacement. Fortunately, he had not filmed many takes. It is just that the upcoming scenes are a bit difficult.”

Lin Zhiyu covered his waist, smiling, and agreed immediately. In his heart, however, he was wailing. To have a colleague run away right after a project started, this kind of bad luck had actually happened to him.

Half an hour later, filming officially began.

After sensing the aura of the Central Province dissipating, Zhou Zhongxing, as the son of the academy’s headmaster, was the first to report to his father. The Taixu Academy specifically sent several highly respected elders to investigate, but they returned empty handed.

The elder seniors simply thought the students were unrefined and no longer believed them. The younger generation had to travel on their own, attempting to find any hidden clues.

Wei Zheng had just returned from the Northern Region a few days ago. Although he had spent half a month in the ice and snow without finding anything and almost got into a fight with the people of Lingxue Palace, he had unexpectedly unearthed some aged fine wine hidden in the back mountains by an elder.

The five of them sat at the stone table in Zhou Zhongxing’s courtyard. The crisp fragrance of wine scattered instantly as the jar was opened, mixed with a hint of plum blossom. While Wei Zheng talked about how he dodged the eldest disciple of Lingxue Palace, he casually filled the porcelain bowls of the four people in front of him.

“If you ask me, that disciple’s cultivation was average. His catching skills are not as good as the Discipline Elder’s.”

Xie Jingyao truly lived up to his title as a Movie King. His performance contained no traces of artifice; every movement was natural, as if he were perfectly integrated with the character. The five chatted idly, but the usually most lively Yun Qi and Xie Yunce seemed somewhat silent. Whether it was their disinterested expressions or their wandering gazes, they appeared preoccupied.

After a while, Wei Zheng held the wine jar and threw an arm around Xie Yunce’s shoulder. “Tell us, what are you worrying about with that frown?” He added, “I suspect you practiced wrongly back then. A person like you should have followed the Path of the Common People.”

Xie Yunce lifted his eyelids, gave a stiff smile, and said word for word, “Zheng, while you were away, Yun Qi and I discussed it. We plan to enter the forbidden area of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets.”

“What did you say?” The wine jar was smashed, porcelain shards flew everywhere, and the aged wine gurgled into the soil along the stones. Wei Zheng snapped upright, scrutinizing Xie Yunce with a complex gaze for a long time before confirming he was not joking.

“Brother Xie, Yun Qi, why did you not discuss this with us?” Zhou Zhongxing asked.

Yan Linxue also said, “The forbidden area of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets is not a place anyone can enter. The previous Heavenly Envoy lost half his cultivation just to barely make it out. You.”

“I do not agree!” Wei Zheng suddenly slapped the stone table. The vibration knocked over the wine bowls. He leaned forward, his hawk like gaze fixed on Xie Yunce, and said one word at a time, “I do not agree. Xie Yunce, you are going to your deaths!”

Xie Yunce gave him a soothing smile and reached out to gently touch the back of his hand on the table. His slender fingers slid between Wei Zheng’s, slowly prying open the clenched fist, and used his spiritual power to smooth the bloodstains on his palm.

“Zheng, we have no other choice.” His voice carried a quality like a spring breeze, instantly extinguishing all of Wei Zheng’s anger. “You traveled the Northern Region, Linxue entered the Southern Border alone, and Zhongxing searched the Sea of No Return for a long time, yet we are still at a loss. I went to Xishan again a few days ago; the speed of aura dissipation is faster than we imagined. If this continues, it will not just be the Central Province.”

“You are risking your life, Xie Yunce!” Wei Zheng squeezed out through his teeth. “If there is even one mistake, you will die. You will both die.”

“Yun Qi’s current cultivation cannot calculate fate. The only plan left is to go to the forbidden area.” Xie Yunce let go of his hand and patted his arm, his voice gentle. “Just let me go.”

Wei Zheng was silent for a long time before saying, “Then I will accompany you.”

“No,” Yun Qi and Xie Yunce said simultaneously.

“Bringing Brother Yunce is already a violation of the Pavilion’s prohibition,” Yun Qi explained. “Wei Zheng, I promise you, we will both return safely.”

Wei Zheng looked deeply at Xie Yunce, then turned to look at Yun Qi. Suddenly, he let out a scoff, stumbled back two steps, and cursed, “I said the wrong thing earlier. Both of you should have followed that damn Path of the Common People.”

Acting with Xie Jingyao was much more exhausting than imagined. After Zhao Jinyu called cut, Lin Zhiyu slumped over the stone table for a long while before his strength and spirit recovered.

“You are very impressive.” Shen Chengyi took a tissue from her assistant to wipe her sweat. “The first time I acted with Xie Jingyao, I was stuck on my lines for ages and could not remember them. My legs were weak by the end.”

Lin Zhiyu tilted his head and smiled at her. “Thank you.”

As they spoke, Chen Chen came running over with a camping cart, shouting, “Brother Lin, Teacher Shen, coffee or milk tea?”

“Coffee, thank you.” Lin Zhiyu remained slumped.

“Is there sugar free milk tea? I have been losing fat recently.”

“Teacher Shen’s figure is already so good and you are still losing?” Chen Chen said, but he still obediently found the sugar free milk tea and handed it over. He then leaned into Lin Zhiyu’s ear and said, “As you ordered, one cup for everyone in the crew. I specifically promoted that it was Brother Lin thanking everyone for their hard work, spending a fortune on afternoon tea.”

Lin Zhiyu reached out blindly and rubbed his head, saying, “Thank you. It has been hard on you. You did not forget your own, did you?”

Chen Chen laughed. “I did not! I ordered a Big Mac fruit tea. It is so full of toppings it is like eight treasure porridge. I was not polite with you at all.”

Lin Zhiyu chuckled. The previous scene was so well acted that it was almost a one take. After resting for a bit, Zhao Jinyu encouraged them to take a few closer up shots.

But before filming started this time, Xu Xiao and Yan Ruohan, who previously wanted to stay three feet away from him, actually huddled close for the first time. Holding their scripts and sipping the milk tea they just took from the cart, they enthusiastically discussed the performance rhythm and emotional reactions for the next scene with him.

Lin Zhiyu heard an earful of professional jargon, and his head felt like it was growing twice its size. Until the screenwriter also approached, saying timidly, “Teacher Lin, thank you for the afternoon tea.” He added, “Jinyu and I just discussed it, and we want to add a scene for you. See.”

Warm A4 paper was stuffed before Lin Zhiyu’s eyes without warning. The dense text on it immediately turned his face pale with shock.

What was this? Was this retribution after scattering gold coins?