At the same time, in the exclusive artist studio of Shenshi Media's headquarters.
Lin Shu stared at the screen, her eyes fixed on that glaring ID: "Actor Su Qianqian."
The follower count was pitifully low. The latest post was a training diary shared by Shenshi Media's official account.
The candid photo captured the girl's effortless charm—wearing a simple gray practice outfit, her hair tied up in a neat bun, revealing her swan-like neck.
Her almond-shaped eyes were clear and bright, radiating an almost tangible vitality through the screen.
Though the comments were sparse, a few stood out like sharp needles:
"Wow! Who is this little fairy? Even without makeup, she’s stunning!"
"Her gaze is so pure! She feels so full of life!"
"A newcomer? I’m sold! Can’t wait to see more!"
Lin Shu’s grip on her phone tightened.
Talent. Natural brilliance.
Those words stabbed at her heart like knives.
How could she not know about Su Qianqian’s recent performance at the company?
That relentless drive, that uncanny ability to grasp a character’s essence—even the most demanding coaches had whispered praises behind closed doors.
This little witch had not only silently stolen Gu Chengyu’s heart but now dared to rely on her so-called talent and hard work to carve a path in the entertainment industry?
Lin Shu feared this kind of person the most—those blessed by heaven yet still outworking everyone else.
If Su Qianqian rose to prominence, backed by Gu Chengyu’s resources and connections, the consequences would be unthinkable.
She couldn’t let Su Qianqian succeed.
She couldn’t allow this scheming girl to trample over her tears and resentment, stealing roles and endorsements right from under her.
But she didn’t dare act directly.
Closing her eyes, Lin Shu recalled everything that had happened at Yun Que that night. The memory was like a knife repeatedly slicing through her heart.
She had fallen madly in love with his aloof, untouchable demeanor.
Countless times, she had fantasized about being the only woman who could make him lower his head.
Yet in the end, her dreams had been shattered by Su Qianqian, who had appeared out of nowhere.
How could she not hate her?
But hatred couldn’t cloud her judgment.
Gu Chengyu’s blatant protection of Su Qianqian was a clear warning.
If she acted recklessly and he found out…
Lin Shu shuddered involuntarily.
She had heard enough about the man’s ruthless methods when dealing with enemies.
Crushing her would be no harder than stepping on an ant.
Not to mention, if it came to light that she had orchestrated the exploitative contract Su Qianqian had signed…
Lin Shu didn’t dare think further.
That would be suicide.
She needed someone else to do the dirty work.
First, she had to destroy Su Qianqian’s public image, ensuring the audience would despise and reject her from the outset.
That way, even if Gu Chengyu poured mountains of gold into promoting her with top-tier resources, the backlash would brand her as nothing but a "nepo baby."
Amidst a wave of public outrage, even Gu Chengyu would be forced to silence dissent.
But silencing critics would only fuel resentment. Even with an army of paid trolls, the truth would eventually surface.
By then, no amount of protection could save her.
Lin Shu picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts, stopping at the name "Qiao Xi." Her finger hovered over the call button as memories resurfaced.
It was a long time ago, back when she hadn’t yet climbed into Gu Chengyu’s orbit and was still struggling in the shadows of bar life.
One night, a drunken nouveau riche had harassed her, groping her and even trying to drag her into an elevator by force…
Qiao Xi and her friends had happened to pass by.
The girl had boldly confronted the man, calling for security and saving Lin Shu from humiliation.
Even then, Lin Shu had seen through Qiao Xi’s act—playing the righteous, kind-hearted princess in front of her peers to earn admiration.
But the rescue had been real, and Lin Shu had remembered the favor.
Later, after Lin Shu rose to fame under Gu Chengyu’s patronage, she learned that Qiao Xi also wanted to break into the industry. As a small gesture, Lin Shu had thrown her a few low-stakes variety show opportunities.
Qiao Xi hadn’t disappointed.
Though her acting was cringe-worthy and her singing off-key, she had been raised in luxury, mastering the art of performance.
Her persona—an innocent, ditzy, yet inherently kind-hearted sweetheart—was flawlessly crafted.
Paired with her striking beauty, the contrast captivated audiences.
With natural comedic timing, she had carved a niche in variety shows, amassing 20 million Weibo followers and becoming the nation’s beloved "little sister."
Lin Shu knew Qiao Xi wasn’t immune to Gu Chengyu’s allure either.
The way the girl’s eyes flickered with admiration and longing whenever he was near hadn’t escaped Lin Shu’s notice.
But back then, Lin Shu had been Gu Chengyu’s favored canary. Qiao Xi, aware her coquettish act wasn’t his type, had kept her distance, maintaining their superficial friendship.
Now, however, Lin Shu had been dethroned.
Her gaze returned to Su Qianqian’s delicate, angelic face on the screen, hatred boiling in her chest.
Su Qianqian? Playing the fragile, pitiful damsel to seduce men?
Ha.
Qiao Xi, the true master of feigned innocence, had been honing her craft since childhood.
Her schemes were bloodless yet lethal.
A few well-placed "innocent" remarks, and that little witch who only knew how to sob in Gu Chengyu’s arms would find her reputation in tatters.
Then, Qiao Xi’s millions of fans and the court of public opinion would devour her alive.
After that, any hope of a successful acting career?
Unless she was the chosen one who could defy fate, she’d never rise to stardom.
Lin Shu’s finger pressed down hard on the call button.
