IHWL – Chapter 95.3

    Halfway through the stage play, Shi Xing, who had been shrinking in the crowd, finally walked onto the stage.

    He played a headstrong investor with no more than three lines. After getting the male lead’s investment application, he mocked it with abandon and even tore it up right in front of him!

    This character was an out-and-out villain. He was an insignificant stumbling block on the way to success for the hero. But even this small role with only three lines was something Shi Yang had also ‘desperately’ gotten for his brother.

    For this reason, Shi Yang’s fans cursed Shi Xing, calling him a vampire and a parasite.

    However, it was this vampire and parasite, who suddenly became another ‘person’ the second he stepped onto the stage.

    He just lazily leaned over the table, lowered his head, made a gesture of lighting a cigarette with both hands, and then held the non-existent cigarette in his mouth. His eyes slightly narrowed, as if examining the unsuspecting entrepreneur through the haze of smoke in front of him.

    He stuffed one hand in his trouser pocket, and while holding the ‘cigarette’, he skillfully stubbed the ashes with a contemptuous smile hanging on his lips.

    He spoke languidly and arrogantly.

    —— “Who are you?”

    —— “How ambitious, ah.”

    —— “You want me to invest with just a few pages of your raggedy paper? Get lost.”

    These were the only three lines he had, and when the last one fell, he had already shredded the paper in his hands and tossed it in the air. And then, amidst the scraps of paper, he exited the stage in style!

    Su Jishi sucked in a breath of cold air, feeling like there was a hand that was clutching her heart!

    She never thought that Shi Xing, whom the fans abused on Chaohua, actually had such excellent acting skills!

    Shi Yang’s acting skills were already considered the best among his peers, but Shi Xing’s acting level was even better than his brother by a point! When the two brothers played against each other, Shi Yang vaguely fell behind, and his light was completely overshadowed.

    When it came to the critique session, Su Jishi did not mince her words and gave them all to Shi Xing who ‘only appeared for a few minutes but captivated the entire scene’, praising him for his excellent acting skills and intense contrasts.

    She was so excited that she didn’t notice that when she uttered her comments, the other five mentors fell silent and didn’t echo her.

    When the four videos were finished, the program came to the finale —— Each mentor had to write down his or her favorite class and student on a small whiteboard in front of him or her. The results of this vote would eventually be added together with the votes of the audience outside and included in the total score.

    Su Jishi quickly finished writing down Stars of Tomorrow that she was most optimistic about.

    Shi Xing, naturally, ranked first.

    After the six mentors finished writing, it was time for the final climax —— The six mentors showed their whiteboards at the same time to announce the winner of the game.

    However, after the six people showed their whiteboards, Su Jishi suddenly discovered that she was the only one in the room who had voted for Shi Xing!

    Each mentor could write eight names, so six people could write forty-eight names. However, Shi Xing’s name only appeared on Su Jishi’s whiteboard.

    Su Jishi was frozen.

    With her level of appreciation as a layman, she could see Shi Xing’s excellence; she didn’t believe that several other people in the film industry wouldn’t see Shi Xing’s excellence.

    The staff present were also flabbergasted at the result. The screenwriter urgently called a halt and hurried over to discuss the results of the Council.

    “Mr. Su…” The staff smiled, “Look, your vote had better be changed.”

    Su Jishi asked, “Change what?”

    The staff member pointed to Shi Xing’s name: “This name…It isn’t appropriate.”

    Su Jishi was really confused: “What’s inappropriate about it?”

    “Er, it’s your first time recording our program as a guest mentor, so you may not be clear about the background of the show’s investors.” The staff member lowered his voice and explained, “Of those twins, the older brother has signed with an agency.”

    The agency he mentioned was very famous in the circle. The best actors and actresses they had produced couldn’t be counted with four hands. However, their company culture was relatively ‘open’. Their young artists often haunt major dinner parties, and their agents were particularly good at relationships.

    Su Jishi averted her eyes and asked, “So, what do you want to say? The elder brother signed with an agency, while the brother hasn’t. Hence, the younger brother should be suppressed, ignored, and treated as a stepping stone for the elder brother. Is that it?”

    She said it so bluntly that these few rhetorical questions were like a slap in the face, slapping the program crew loudly.

    The staff’s face went blue and white, and failed to answer for a moment: What’s the matter with Su Jin? She’s practically a firecracker today, just a bit! Everyone has always been aware of the unspoken rules in the entertainment industry. She knows what I know. Is it really necessary for her to tear faces with our crew for the sake of a young student who’s totally unrelated to her?

    In the end, even the Chief Producer came to persuade, but Su Jishi’s temper was so screwed up that she refused to change a word.

    She sneered, “I, Su Jin, put my words here. For these twins, I write whoever I like. No reason or nobody can make me change it! If you have the guts, try and force me. I have three more interviews and two magazines next week anyway, and I’m just short of topics.”

    Once she said this, the team instantly became a gourd with a sawed mouth. They exchanged glances, but had no other choice but to give in.

    In the end, Su Jishi painstakingly cast her vote —— The big screen showed the ranking of all the students in real time. The two brothers, Shi Yang and Shi Xing, one at the top, one at the bottom, were distantly and sharply opposite.

    ……

    When the recording was over, Su Jishi left the studio, but when she walked into the parking lot, someone called her.

    She turned around and saw that it was Yan Changhui.

    She and Yan Changhui had taped Wilderness Winner together, but their relationship wasn’t too close.

    Yan Changhui said, “Xiao Su, a few days ago, Wilderness Winner handed me an invitation for the second season, but they said you declined. Are you inconvenienced somewhere?”

    Su Jishi didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, “Mr. Yan, just say what’s up. Don’t pull those useless ones.”

    Yan Changhui: “…”

    He silently sized up the girl in front of him for a while, and the more he looked, the more alarmed he was.

    After recording the last variety show, he and Su Jin also met in several public occasions, mostly award ceremonies or business events. At that time, Su Jin obviously had short hair, but was surprisingly more gentle. He always felt that Su Jin had changed, but to say exactly where she had changed, he couldn’t tell. Her face was undoubtedly still the same, but her temperament was completely opposite.

    But now Su Jin —— suddenly changed back again.

    She changed back to the one who said no, domineering, and full of confidence. It made Yan Changhui instantly tread down memory lane six months ago. It was as if he were once again in that harsh natural environment.

    He subconsciously shook his head and waved those memories away.

    “Xiao Su, listen to my advice. There’s really no need for you to get into such a frenzy with the program for the sake of a student.” He sighed, “That little brother is too introverted, and not suitable for the entertainment industry at all. Moreover, his elder brother is currently the most popular type of celebrity in the entertainment industry. With acting skills, face, and the ability to ‘generate traffic’, it’s inevitable for the agency to invest more money in the elder brother.”

    Su Jishi disagreed: “Who said introverts are not suitable for the entertainment industry? You have seen how good Shi Xing’s acting was after he stepped on stage! I think that agency is just not discerning. Signing one is signing, and signing two is still signing. Why not sign both brothers?”

    Who would have thought Yan Changhui would laugh at her words?

    “No…Xiao Su, you’ve been in the circle for so long, but how come you have such naive ideas?” Yan Changhui said, “In the entertainment industry nowadays, the biggest fear is ‘homogenization’. There are only so many plays to act in, and if two artists follow a similar route, they will run into bumps and bruises when competing for resources. —— On top of that, those twin brothers are not only identical, but their acting skills are just as good!”

    Yan Changhui sighed: “Think carefully. If there’s a movie that can win awards now, would you give it to the elder brother, or to the younger brother? If you give the resources to one, will the other wait patiently for such a good script?”

    Su Jishi: “…”

    “This is a truth that even farmers know. If two buds grow on a branch, it’s inevitable to pinch one off and supply all the nutrients to one of the buds.”

    “…”

    “Su Jin, you remember this —— The entertainment industry isn’t in need of twins.”

    Capital didn’t need them, and fans needed them even less.