A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

“Why?” Xia Ling lifted her head to look at him.

“They’ve already started filming.”

“Driver, go faster!” Lin Yunan said.

“Not going to give up until the last moment?” Jimmy gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “It’s no use. What can we say to the program team to change their mind? Going back is just a loss of face for us.”

Lin Yunan ignored him and said to Xia Ling and Rong Ping. “Later, Jimmy and I will get off first. Both of you stay in the car until we’ve completed our negotiations. I’ll ask Wei Wei to come to get you guys.” He did not lift his head, but immediately called Wei Wei on his mobile.

Jimmy looked a little sheepish and asked, “What’s your grand plan?”

Lin Yunan gave him an angry glare as he spoke into the phone, warning him to keep quiet.

Jimmy remained quiet for the rest of the way.

Xia Ling lamented as she watched both of them. She was starting to understand why Feng Kun had recommended Lin Yunan to be her manager. When things were going smoothly, his prowess was not obvious. However, when emergency matters arose, a good manager would not give up on getting the best for their artistes. Jimmy? Jimmy was not a bad manager — the manager for the Best Actor was no pushover — but he was inept in front of Lin Yunan.

Rong Ping’s expression was dark as he compared his manager with Xia Ling’s. Jimmy seemed too useless.

The car returned to the film site.

Lin Yunan brought Jimmy in tow as he ran back to the film site and stopped the filming, his gaze full of menace.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Xia Yu was just waiting for the crystal tiara to be placed on her head, her expression that of pure bliss when she suddenly heard the loud “Cut!” She turned around at the sound, confusion plastered on her face. There was nothing wrong with Zheng Chenhao and her acting, why did someone call a cut? When she saw that the person who had called the cut was Lin Yunan, she knew that there was going to be trouble.

“Lin Yunan, please don’t interrupt our filming.” Xia Yu’s assistant stepped forward. Xia Yu’s manager, Chu Chen, was head of the Imperial Entertainment’s manager’s department and the vice president of the company. Given his busy schedule, he did not always follow Xia Yu to her filming. As such, even though most of the artistes were with their managers, Xia Yu only had her assistant following her.

Lin Yunan ignored her assistant completely and spoke directly to the director. “The pins that hurt Xiao Ling are in my hand now. Together with the other evidence on set, the most likely situation is that someone had hurt Xiao Ling on purpose, and the goal was to get the position of the real princess. In this regard, I withhold the right to log a police report and speak to the media.”

A threat… this was a clear threat.

There was great commotion at his words. Everyone had witnessed how Xia Ling had been injured earlier, and those rusty pearl pins were indeed fishy. There was a good likelihood that she had indeed been set up. This was something that was common in the entertainment circle, as artistes would scheme to get good roles and parts. Even though everyone pitied Xia Ling, they merely brushed it aside and lamented that she had been unlucky.

Many were not happy at Lin Yunan’s words. The director stood up and addressed him. “Mr. Lin, what are you trying to do? Do you know the repercussions of your actions for the show?” Call in the police? Speak to the media? Wasn’t this telling the public that there were underhanded happenings on their program? “Extraordinary Risks” had been going on for several seasons, and their reputation was very positive. The broadcast station was preparing to nominate their program for many awards. He could not allow any problems to arise at this point!

Lin Yunan gave a cold laugh. “If the program team isn’t going to give Xiao Ling face, why should I give you any?” He was different from other managers, and he deigned to negotiate pleasantly with these civilized folks. He was a hooligan, blunt and brazen. Many did not dare to go against him.

Seeing that they reached a deadlock, the producer stepped forward to mediate. “Let’s not be too agitated, Mr. Lin. We are also thinking about Xiao Ling, it will be too tough for her to film with her injury…”

“Xiao Ling is willing to, so what’s your problem?!” Lin Yunan glanced around at everyone. “Unless there’s really something else going on… and Xiao Ling has gotten into the way of someone, so she’s been targeted?!”

“Mr. Lin, please watch what you say!” Xia Yu spoke up, feeling that she should not continue to pretend to be invisible. Lin Yunan insinuated in his every sentence that the person masterminding the entire incident was her, Xia Yu, who had taken over the real princess position! “Are you insinuating that I harmed Xiao Ling?! This is a false accusation! You better show some concrete evidence!”

There were tears in her eyes as she perfectly played the role of the wronged.

“Hurhur, it’s not important who I think is responsible… it’s more important who the police thinks is responsible.” Lin Yunan retorted. “Why don’t we call in the cops so that they can start investigating?” He was unsure who had set Xiao Ling up, and the most likely suspect at this point was Gu Lin. However, Xia Yu and Xiao Ling did not get along, and Xia Yu was the main beneficiary from the matter. Lin Yunan would not be surprised if it turned out that Xia Yu had been responsible for the set-up.

Regardless, the program team was not going to allow him to bring in the cops.

Once word got out that such an incident had happened on their set, regardless of the results of the investigation, there would still be negative repercussions for the program team. If a set-up were found, they would be in deep trouble. And if nothing were found, they would still have to answer to the team overlooking the dress and causing harm to a female artiste. Fans would take it out on the program team, and the rivals for “Extraordinary Risks” would rub their hands in glee and add to the fire.

The head of the broadcast station would skin them alive if they allowed anything untoward to happen to the program, given that it was on track to winning many awards.

The producer decisively said, “It’s such a small matter, let’s not bother the police with it. It’s all a big misunderstanding. Yes, a misunderstanding. If Xiao Ling is up for it, she can come back to film. She’s still the real princess.”

“Producer Gong!” This time, Zheng Chenhao’s team piped up in unhappiness. “How can you change the candidates at your whim?! Are you playing with us?!” They were paired with Xia Yu, and if Xia Yu were swapped out, it was inevitable that Zheng Chenhao would have to be swapped out too.

“Ah, ah…” Before the producer had time to respond, Lin Yunan was already jeering. “So sorry to Heavenly King Zheng… Director, emcee, is there a segment for the knight’s treason?”

***

Xia Ling and Rong Ping, who were waiting in the car all this time, were finally called over.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, Xia Ling felt a weird atmosphere in the film set. Everyone was looking at her, especially Xia Yu, who was completely pale and her expression seemed like she had been wronged and bullied.

Xia Ling held her head high and maintained her most elegant poise, walking with Rong Ping to Lin Yunan and Jimmy’s side.

“Both of you, go rehearse the scene together with Zheng Chenhao.” Lin Yunan instructed. “The small games earlier need to be filmed again. Zheng Chenhao will find a good timing to betray Xia Yu and come over to your team. Rong Ping, you will be escorting Xiao Ling and putting the tiara on the real princess together with Zheng Chenhao.”