Chapter Thirty-Five: Jiang You's Ordeal

  "A Li, you shouldn't have gone to the movies today, but don't worry, even if I lose the bet later, I'll still be on your side." Meng Qi said with concern, looking at Lu Li who hadn't smiled since coming out of the movie theater.

  Ludi is not as worried as Meng Qi thought, of course, there is still a sense of urgency in his heart. Ten years may be long, but it's enough for Zhou Chuan to grow very strong, and by then, Zhou Chuan's position in the entertainment circle will definitely be very solid.

  It seems like I should put learning acting on my agenda as soon as possible.

  "I'm not worried, Zhou Chuan is good but he's not my match, I'm an all-rounder after all." Lu Li said with a smile, looking at Meng Qi's worried and slightly guilty expression.

  Meng Qi looked at Lu Li's confident face and suddenly felt that the not-so-handsome Lu Li looked so comfortable, a different emotion spread in her heart, and slowly two blushes flew onto her face. It was actually quite good-looking. However, Lu Li didn't notice Meng Qi at this moment, but instead thought of Jiang You, who was studying directing in Xiangjiang, and wondered how Jiang You was doing in a foreign land.

  Hejiang Art Academy, where Jiang You studied, is a film art college in Hejiang. The strongest major is directing.

  In mainland China, there are four film and art colleges with strong strength, namely Beijing Film Academy, Communication University of China, Central Academy of Drama, and Shanghai Theatre Academy in Shanghai.

  Of course, among these four colleges, Hua Jing Film Academy is the most powerful, while Hua Xia Media University has a more excellent broadcasting and hosting major.

  It's hard to say who is good and who is bad, after all, many soft power things are difficult to judge.

  In Xiangjiang, if we talk about professional directors, the first one that comes to mind is the directing major at Xiangjiang Art Academy. Jiang You studied directing at this school. The directing major at Xiangjiang Art Academy is a popular program, and many people with strong backgrounds and abilities want to send their children or relatives here. Especially those who are influential in the entertainment industry want to send their younger generation to study here.

  Although the entertainment industry is deep in water, being able to graduate from such a prestigious school will make it easier to find a way out.

  Jiang You Neng can study directing major in such a school, I don't know how much effort his father Jiang Wei made.

  However, Jiang You had run into some trouble at this time.

  Today is the first day of National Day holiday, Jiang You has nothing to do. In Xiangjiang, this place Jiang You can say that he is not familiar with the local customs and language. So even on holiday, Jiang You didn't have anywhere good to go, just thinking about going to his father Jiang Wei's film set to take a look, also to learn some practical experience in advance.

  But who would have thought that just after walking out of the school gate, I was blocked by a group of people and surrounded in an alley.

  Jiang You saw that things were not going well and didn't panic. He calmed himself down and asked, "What do you want to do? I don't know any of you."

  "Hmph, you little brat, you've offended our Young Master Zhou, and yet you still ask what's going on? What do you have to say for yourself?" One of them, who appeared to be the leader, said in a thick Cantonese accent.

  "Zhou Shao, which Zhou Shao?" Jiang You heard this and was somewhat confused: "You guys won't have made a mistake, will you?" He hadn't been in Xiangjiang for long, and apart from the few people he knew in his dormitory, he didn't know anyone else. How could he have offended a Zhou Shao?

  "Hum, noble people often forget things, Jiang You, after studying directing in Xiangjiang, you've become impressive and don't recognize me?" Along with the voice, a handsome-looking man walked out from behind the crowd, who else could it be but Zhou Shan?

  Jiang You knew what was going on the moment he heard Zhou Shan's voice. Seeing Zhou Shan walk up to him, he said: "Oh, I'm nobody, it turns out it's you. What did I do to offend you that you need to find so many people to surround me? You really think highly of me."

  "Heh heh, Jiang You, you've got one thing wrong," Upon hearing Jiang You's words, Zhou Shan revealed a hint of a triumphant smile and pointed to the people behind him, saying: "These people are all your schoolmates, they're all excellent students from the performance department. And it wasn't me who called them here to surround you, they came voluntarily to surround you, isn't that right?" Zhou Shan asked loudly in the end.

  "Yes, young one, if you're looking for someone to blame, it's because you've offended Young Master Zhou."

  "You're dead meat, handsome."

  Upon hearing Zhou Shan's question, the people following behind him all chimed in, and a few who didn't speak Mandarin well even started speaking Xiangjiang dialect.

  "Zhou Shan, speak up, what do you want? I'll follow suit," said Jiang You. Seeing Zhou Shan arrive, Jiang You knew things wouldn't end well and became even more reckless.

  "Hmph, how's that? Of course, it's to make you unable to study properly. If you want to blame someone, blame Lu Li, who asked him to bet with me? Although I'm not afraid of him, I'll make sure he has no hope." Zhou Shan saw Jiang You's fearless appearance and became even more displeased, coldly snorting as he spoke.

  "Hmph, so you're afraid of losing, coward." Jiang You heard Zhou Shan's words and finally understood why Zhou Shan had been avoiding him. It turned out that he was afraid of losing the bet. Towards such a person, Jiang You looked down on him with disdain. Having already made the bet, instead of working hard to strive for it, he would rather resort to such tactics. Jiang You really felt disgusted at the thought of competing with someone like this.

  "Jiang You, I'm not afraid of your tough talk. What future does following Lu Li have? Isn't he just a poor kid? And learning music, I'd like to see what kind of skills he can develop. Look at these schoolmates of yours, how wise they are. As long as I say the word, they can act in movies and set foot on a career that countless people envy. But you, Jiang You, have no chance. Who told you to stick with Lu Li? And by the way, not just you, even your old man will be dragged down by you."

  Zhou Shan listened to Jiang You's words and saw Jiang You's completely unpretentious disdainful expression, his heart burning with anger, gritting his teeth and saying.

  Jiang You was also furious upon hearing this, and Zhou Shan really had no shame, relying on his family's entertainment company to bully others. But unexpectedly, he didn't even spare his own father: "Zhou Shan, what are you trying to do by targeting me? Taking revenge on my dad?"

  "Hmph, I don't want to waste any more words, just give me the shot!" Zhou Shan said with a cold expression, not wanting to continue arguing with Jiang You.

  Two fists can't contend with four hands. Although Jiang You is a bit chubby and good at defense, he was also beaten until his face turned blue and swollen under the siege of so many people.

  Looking around, Zhou Shan stopped everyone and said: "Jiang You, I forgot to tell you that my first movie has been released and the results are not bad so far. Tell Lu Li for me, he will never be able to beat me. And Meng Qi is mine too. As for tomorrow, your father Jiang Wei will no longer be able to mix in Xiangjiang. As for you? I think your schoolmates will take good care of you." Zhou Shan deliberately emphasized the two words "take care".

  With a string of loud laughter, Zhou Shan left amidst the flattery of the crowd, leaving only Jiang You, with a bruised nose and swollen face, slowly struggling to get up from the ground.

  "I'm dead, Lizi you've really gotten me into trouble this time." Jiang You cursed under his breath, but it was just a complaint and he didn't have any intention of blaming Lu Li.

  After Jiang You got up, he found a nearby clinic to treat the injuries on his body and then returned to the school dormitory. The dormitory was empty except for him, while his roommates had all gone home or out to pick up their sisters.

  But on the second day, a big thing was spread in the Xiangjiang entertainment circle.

  "Director Jiang Wei has a hidden rule for new actresses in his new film, violating the entertainment industry's unwritten rules." Xiangjiang Entertainment News.

  "Little Director Also Has Implicit Rules, How Many Dark Secrets Are There in the Entertainment Circle?" Xinjiang Metropolitan News.

  "Unwritten rules reappear in the entertainment industry, making it difficult for stars to achieve their dreams." Xiang's annual report.

  ……

  On that day, many media in Hong Kong reported the same thing: a little-known director had secretly promised a newcomer actress a supporting role in his new film.

  The story is well-organized, and there's also the testimony of the actress who was a victim of the hidden rules, as well as her tearful account. All of this points to one thing: that director Jiang Wei had an affair with this actress.

  Under the media's bombardment, Jiang Wei has become a street rat in the Hong Kong entertainment circle and has no place to stand.

  Jiang You only found out about the matter when he received a call from his father, and was furious, scolding Zhou for being despicable. Jiang Wei only understood why he had been pointed at by thousands of people overnight after listening to Jiang You's explanation, and realized that someone had been secretly plotting against him.

  To know, Jiang Wei's expression when he saw today's newspaper was that of utter astonishment. I'm telling you, I didn't do anything and yet I've been implicated in some unspoken rule, and it wasn't just one media outlet reporting on it either. And as for the actress who's crying foul, she's actually someone from his new film, and he had a pretty good impression of her too - never thought she'd pull something like this on him.

  "Dad, I'm sorry. This is our business and I didn't think it would drag you in." Jiang You said with embarrassment over the phone. Although Jiang You was usually playful, that didn't mean he didn't understand things. He knew how much his dad loved the profession of directing, otherwise he wouldn't have insisted on studying directing as well.

  It is now estimated that Dad can no longer mix in Xiangjiang, and it's even harder to mix in the mainland.

  "Smelly kid, no big deal, isn't it just getting kicked out of Hong Kong? At worst, I'll go back to the mainland and work as a handyman for old buddies. But what about you, how are you going to manage? Without me in Hong Kong, you'll probably find it even harder to study." Jiang Wei asked Jiang You.

  "Dad, I think I'll transfer back to the mainland too. Aren't there some good art schools in Huajing? And Lizi is also in Huajing." Jiang You said, knowing that something had happened and guessing that he really couldn't stay in Xiangjiang anymore.

  "What about the art academy in Hua Jing? It's a bit difficult, but I'll think of a way, it should be okay. Alright, let's do that, we'll head back to the mainland first and talk about it later, there's no need to stay here, there are other places to stay."

  On the phone, listening to Father's carefree tone, Jiang You knew that this was just Father not wanting him to feel guilty.

  I must work hard, for Dad, for Lizi.

  Hang up the phone, Jiang You thought secretly in his heart.