Xie Guan had just let out a roar. Before he could even scare the person in question, Li Yan pounced on him and desperately held him down. "Ancestor! Stop shouting! Look where we are! What if there are reporters nearby!"

In a fight, how could Li Yan possibly be Xie Guan's match? In the blink of an eye, he was shrugged off. Just as he was about to bravely throw himself back into the fray, he saw Xie Guan raise a hand, making a "stop" gesture at him.

"Enough."

His emotions, before they could fully erupt, were decisively reined in by Xie Guan. The intensity didn't even match that of a neighborhood auntie haggling with a vegetable seller over fifty cents.

Xie Guan said to Fang Wei, "You don't need to come anymore. Return the company card and keys. After this show is done filming, go to the company and resign yourself."

Fang Wei tried to plead, "Mr. Xie, just this once, can you please be lenient..."

"Don't waste my time with your nonsense," Xie Guan said coldly. "Or do you want me to call the company right now?"

Li Yan walked over and patted his shoulder, signaling that there was no need to waste any more words on this bastard. The two of them turned and walked back to the stadium. Fang Wei stood there awkwardly for a long moment before finally gritting his teeth and getting into his car.

"Teacher Xie, Sister Lin is looking for you."

Xie Guan glanced over, his face expressionless, as if asking why he hadn't pissed off yet. Fang Wei sheepishly handed his own phone to Xie Guan. He and Xie Guan were basically strangers now, yet he was stubbornly hanging around the set. Naturally, when Xie Guan went to film, he wouldn't entrust his phone and personal belongings to him. When Lin Yao called, Xie Guan was on set, so she had called Fang Wei instead.

Xie Guan's mood seemed to be getting worse and worse lately. In the past, he would habitually put on a gentle expression, but now he couldn't even be bothered to pretend. He took the phone with a cold look, didn't say a word, and turned to walk to the other side to answer the call.

Fang Wei stood rooted to the spot, staring intently at his back, neurotically rubbing the smooth fabric of his clothes until the corner of his shirt was crumpled into a wrinkled piece of dried pickled vegetable.

"Sister Lin, you were looking for me."

Lin Yao was a big agent at Xihua Group, managing over a dozen artists. She wasn't an octopus, so she couldn't attend to every single detail. Plus, Fang Wei was a bastard who was a habitual liar and deceived his superiors, so she was completely unaware of the changes on Xie Guan's side. She asked with a smile, "How are things? Is filming going smoothly?"

Hearing that she was in a good mood, Xie Guan didn't want to spoil it with his own mess, so he reported the good news and hid the bad. After a few pleasantries, they got to the point. Lin Yao laughed and said, "This time it's good news. You've got another offer."

Xie Guan was slightly surprised.

He was still an obscure, eighteenth-tier nobody, with no representative works or fame. None of the shows he had filmed had even aired yet. Any opportunity to participate would be called an "audition." How could there be a "film offer," which was something set in stone?

"Stunned speechless with joy?" Although Lin Yao was used to all sorts of major productions and projects, she was still quite enthusiastic about this insignificant little role Xie Guan had landed. "The film adaptation rights for the IP 'The Rising Tides of the Azure Sea' were sold to Herun Tiancheng. They're currently gathering investment and contacting actors. The director contacted me yesterday and said there was a... uh, I think it's a role in a heretical sect, and she still wants you for it. She asked if you would accept."

Generally speaking, for a film and a TV series produced by two different production companies, it's almost unheard of to use the same actor. This is because the two versions have different focuses in their plot and character settings. For the audience, having the same actor play the same role lacks novelty. Furthermore, in the entertainment industry, comparisons create buzz. This is true for the main leads, and equally true for the supporting cast.

Such exceptions were not without precedent, but they all received a mediocre response, neither successful nor a failure.

Xie Guan asked doubtfully, "Who is the director, and why would she still want me for the role?"

"Bai Luzhou. You've heard of her film 'A Second Spring,' right? She's famous for not taking the beaten path," Lin Yao said. "I heard that while drinking with Director He, she heard him talk about you and, on a whim, asked to see the footage. Speaking of which, I'm curious myself. What kind of otherworldly beauty did Director He capture you as? Why are all these directors singing your praises?"

Xie Guan was left speechless by her teasing. Lin Yao continued, "It seems she has high expectations for you. She didn't give me the specific details, but next Tuesday, the director's team is having a meeting with the cast and investors, and she wants to talk to you in person. You should try your best to squeeze out some time to go."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Sister Lin," Xie Guan said after a moment of thought. "Could I trouble you to get an address and contact information for me?"

Lin Yao agreed, expressed a few more words of concern, and told him to work hard on set before hanging up.

The next day, Xie Guan received a text from Lin Yao. Awkwardly, however, the meeting location was the headquarters of the film's main investor and Xie Guan's old employer—Xinghui Entertainment's headquarters.

This was truly one hell of an ill-fated connection.

Xie Guan was no stranger to the Xinghui Entertainment headquarters. It had been less than half a year since he terminated his contract, and many acquaintances in the hallway still greeted him. Exchanging pleasantries all the way, Xie Guan arrived outside the conference room. Just as he was about to knock and enter, he came face-to-face with a group of people walking out of an office at the other end of the hall.

Both sides were stunned into silence.

As the saying goes, enemies often cross paths. For Xie Guan, the person before him could probably be considered the one and only great nemesis of his life.

It was none other than President Zhang, Zhang Heshan, the man who had gotten into a big fight with Xie Guan at the Lanyue Club that night.

"It's you?!"

"What are you doing here?!"

Zhang Heshan and Yao Jing, who was behind him, questioned him in unison.

Xie Guan was stunned by the rolling killing intent emanating from the two. His body unconsciously pressed back against the door panel behind him. With a "creak," the conference room door was pulled open, and out walked a lean, sharp-looking... woman with a men's-style short haircut, wearing a loose work jacket and jeans.

All eyes at the scene, like searchlights, shot towards the newcomer in unison.

The person had an expression like they were looking at a lunatic. When she spoke, her voice was a shockingly world-weary, raspy smoker's voice: "What's this? Blocking the door for a scheduled fight?"

She exuded a rather fierce and rugged aura, and her mannerisms were very masculine, successfully frightening President Zhang and his group. Only then did the person leisurely turn her gaze to Xie Guan, looking him up and down before asking stiffly, "You're Xie Guan?"

The moment Xie Guan saw her, he immediately recognized her as the famous female director. Not daring to be disrespectful in the slightest, he quickly answered, "Hello, Director Bai."

"Come in," Bai Luzhou said, stepping aside to clear the doorway. Xie Guan walked in without a sideways glance, leaving President Zhang and the others behind to stare at each other blankly.

Director Bai Luzhou had a beautiful name full of poetry and picturesque imagery, but her personality was the complete opposite of those four words. This person was arrogant, had a fiery temper, was brutally honest, and had powerful backing. In the industry, few people were willing to offend her. Zhang Heshan and Yao Jing were stuck, not knowing whether to advance or retreat. Just as they were about to speak, Bai Luzhou acted as if she hadn't seen them at all and briskly returned to her seat at the conference table.

"Well, President Zhang... shall we go in?" Yao Jing was dying of embarrassment, but as the host, she had to speak up. She took the initiative to pull the door open for President Zhang and made a "please" gesture, essentially giving him a way to save face. However, Zhang Heshan was fuming inside and didn't give her a pleasant look. Without even a word of courtesy, he strode into the room. A faint, cold snort could even be heard from him.

Yao Jing nearly exploded with anger. Her exquisite makeup couldn't save her contorted facial muscles. She stood there, grinding her teeth in hatred, and only managed to suppress the towering rage in her heart after a long moment. In her mind, she silently added another mark against Xie Guan's name.

Bai Luzhou wasn't particularly enthusiastic toward Xie Guan; in fact, there was a hint of disdain in her gaze. Aside from Huo Mingjun and his direct superior, Ye Zheng, this was the first time Xie Guan had felt such a sharp, penetrating, X-ray-like gaze from someone in the industry. The feeling of being seen through was not pleasant. Xie Guan braced himself and let her look, when he suddenly heard Bai Luzhou ask, "What show are you filming now?"

Xie Guan said, "Director Pang Zhonghua's 'Jingwu Youth'."

"Oh, Old Pang," Bai Luzhou said nonchalantly, pulling half a soft pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from her pocket. She stuck one in her mouth, lit it, and slowly exhaled a wisp of white smoke. "He's getting on in years, and he's still filming these kinds of childish movies."

Xie Guan: "..."

There was simply no way for Xie Guan to respond to that. However, all the big shots present were also being ignored by her, so everyone was equally awkward.

Fortunately, the Vice President of Herun Tiancheng wasn't so useless. He had a personal relationship with Bai Luzhou and knew that this was just her usual behavior, not a deliberate attempt to stir up trouble. He stood up to smooth things over, "Since our director's team and the investors are all here, let's start the meeting."

"The Rising Tides of the Azure Sea" had secured investment from three companies. Besides the copyright holder, Herun Tiancheng, there were also Xinghui Entertainment, Zhang Heshan's Siyue Media, and Caiwei Pictures. Among them, Bai Luzhou was a director signed with Herun Tiancheng, the chosen male lead Qing Lan was currently Xinghui Entertainment's top star, and Siyue Media and Caiwei Pictures were co-producers.

This meeting was mainly for the production side and the investors to get on the same page. The investors would provide the exact investment amount, and the production side, led by the director, would briefly explain the filming plan and casting matters. In truth, apart from Xinghui Entertainment, which was providing the actors and would pay attention to the filming, the other investors only cared if the movie would be a hit, if the box office would be good, and if they could recoup their investment. They weren't concerned with the specific details. Therefore, Bai Luzhou originally thought that casting a role in advance wouldn't cause much of a fuss. Who would have known that as soon as she introduced Xie Guan to everyone present, Siyue Media and Xinghui Entertainment immediately formed an opposition alliance.

"No."

"I don't agree."

Xie Guan could do nothing but give a wry smile.

Not only had he run into a sworn enemy, but two of them had shown up at once. When Xinghui Entertainment had kicked him out, they had adamantly claimed he had offended President Zhang and caused the company significant losses. How much time had passed, and now they were sitting together, united by a common hatred, to open fire on him.

Xie Guan reckoned that his borrowed good luck was probably about to run out this time. He might even go into debt.

Bai Luzhou lazily flicked her cigarette ash into the ashtray beside her and immediately rebuffed them. "Am I the director, or are you? Why don't I give this seat to you, and you can direct?"

Having been publicly humiliated by her several times, Zhang Heshan had long been suppressing a wicked fire in his heart. Seeing her speak so impolitely now, he slammed the table and said, "Director Bai, don't blame me for being harsh. I, as your sponsor, would rather throw this money into a river for fun than invest a single dime in this kid. Anyone can play the role, but not him!"

"Then I'll also lay my cards on the table today," Bai Luzhou said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I don't care what grievances you had before. If you want me to direct 'The Rising Tides of the Azure Sea,' then professional matters are my call. If you insist on bossing me around just because you have money, then I'm sorry, you can find someone better. I'm not at your service."

Zhang Heshan was furious. "Don't fucking push your luck when I'm trying to be nice! If you don't direct it, there are plenty of others who will! A few words of praise and you really think you're somebody! You think all the directors in China are dead?"

Bai Luzhou let out a cold laugh and was about to retort when a soft, smiling female voice suddenly drifted from the other end of the long table. "You two, please calm down, calm down. There might be some misunderstanding here. Let's not rush to argue. Everyone, just cool off first."

Everyone, like a row of perfectly aligned geese, craned their necks in unison towards the woman who had spoken up from the other side of the table.

"Director Bai, esteemed investors, although I'm not sure how this Mr. Xie managed to gain your special favor, I can assure you that when it comes to certain truths about him, no one here knows them better than President Zhang and I."

"I believe that after you hear what I'm about to disclose, you will understand why President Zhang and I are so fiercely opposed to Director Bai's casting decision, and you will also reconsider your own choices with due caution."

The executives exchanged glances, their feigned composure hiding a restless curiosity. There was only one exception, who remained as unshakable as a mountain, sitting upright and proper in the corner, steady as Mount Tai.

Yao Jing's and Xie Guan's gazes met unexpectedly in mid-air. She lifted the corner of her lips almost imperceptibly, giving Xie Guan a smile that screamed of certain victory.