Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

November 11st, 5:00 AM.

The sky over Shenzhen was still a deep, dark blue, with only a faint glimmer of light visible on the horizon.

Zhang Yang was awakened by the incessant, almost frantic vibrations of his phone, as if countless bees were buzzing in his ears.

Assistant Sun Yu received one phone call after another, his voice filled with unprecedented panic, even trembling slightly: "President Zhang, something's happened! You were secretly photographed at the 'My Love from the Star' wrap party, and it's going viral online."

Zhang Yang sat up abruptly, the grogginess from sleep instantly dispelled.

He rushed to the computer, turned it on, randomly selected a website, and clicked on the relevant video.

The video is short, but the shooting angle is extremely tricky. It captures him opening the gift box from the open door, his surprised expression when he sees the lace, and then his somewhat ambiguous expression due to the lighting and angle, as well as Jia Qing's shy and hesitant appearance.

The video was muted, leaving only the blurry background music, which made the content of the video stand out even more and look terrible.

The comments below the video were overwhelmingly sarcastic and abusive, mixed with questions about Zhang Yang's personal morality. The various voices intertwined, like countless poisonous needles piercing through the screen and aimed at him.

Zhang Yang's face instantly darkened, like thick clouds gathering before a storm. The warm air from the air conditioner in the room, which was as warm as spring, made him feel inexplicably hot and suffocated.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yang immediately dialed Wang Jinghua's number. Wang Jinghua was also very troubled after learning about the matter.

"Here's what we'll do. Zhang Yang, don't respond to this matter yet. I'll investigate it thoroughly."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yang's eyes flashed with a chilling light. His first thought was that Wang Xiaoer from Huayi was behind it all, since Wang Xiaoer had been causing trouble for a while.

The video was from the celebration party for "My Love from the Star." Thinking of this, Zhang Yang dialed Sun Yu's number again.

"Investigate! Use all available resources to find out the source of the video! Contact Jiangsu TV; I need all the CCTV footage from the hotel venue that day!"

Zhang Yang's voice carried an unquestionable authority, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

Sun Yu acted swiftly, but the news he brought back sank Zhang Yang's heart to the bottom.

"Mr. Zhang, the Litchi TV station replied that the surveillance system for that floor of the hotel malfunctioned inexplicably from afternoon to evening that day, and all data... has been lost and cannot be recovered."

Is the surveillance camera broken?

Why was it that the surveillance cameras on that floor malfunctioned at that particular time?

There's no way such a coincidence could happen in the world!

Zhang Yang sat at his computer desk, facing a huge floor-to-ceiling window. The sky was already beginning to lighten, and the city was starting to awaken, bustling with traffic and full of vitality, which contrasted sharply with his cold heart.

His fingers tapped unconsciously and rhythmically on the smooth computer screen, making a dull "tap-tap" sound.

This was absolutely not an accident; it was a meticulously planned and targeted conspiracy. The other party not only filmed the video but also sabotaged the surveillance system beforehand, cleanly and efficiently cutting off the most direct chain of evidence.

With a clear objective, ruthless methods, and meticulous planning, their goal was to destroy Zhang Yang.

Huayi! Wang Xiaoer!

Zhang Yang was almost certain it was him; only Wang Xiaoer had the motive and the ability to do this.

"What's Wang Xiaoer up to at Huayi?"

Zhang Yang's voice was calm, yet it contained a storm.

Sun Yu reported cautiously: "It's very quiet; there haven't been any public comments that have taken advantage of the situation."

Zhang Yang sneered inwardly. In his view, Huayi's unusual actions were simply an attempt to cover up the truth, and even more suspicious and sinister than coming out openly!

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Anger wouldn't solve anything; it would only make him a laughingstock. The priority now was to cut his losses and launch a counterattack.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, like a gleaming blade: "Let's cause some trouble for Huayi. We can't let them get away with this. Let's go after Feng Xiaogang. Isn't their movie 'If You Are the One' going to be released on the 18th?"

Give me more information about Feng Xiaogang's sex scandals, whether they're old news or fresh out of the box, I want to ruin his reputation and his movies!

I'll show Wang Xiaoer that messing with me, Zhang Yang, will come at a terrible price!

Sun Yu felt a chill run down his spine, hung up the phone, and left to carry out the order.

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yang walked to the window and looked down at the cars and pedestrians below, which looked like toy models. The sunlight was dazzling, but he only felt cold all over. He would not let this matter go so easily. Making "If You Are the One" was just the beginning. When Huayi went public, he would definitely give them a big surprise.

Although things on the internet are upsetting, life goes on, and filming for "The Heirs" still needs to continue. It would be too unlucky to stop filming right after it started.

The cast and crew of "The Heirs".

Jing Tian gripped the script, his fingertips turning slightly white, and stammered as he recited his lines: "I...I really don't know..."

"Card!"

Director Liu Junjie felt a bitter taste in his mouth, but he couldn't get angry, so he could only say softly, "Jing Tian, ​​this scene requires you to be more emotionally expressive."

Zhang Yang stood opposite her, his well-tailored suit accentuating his tall and straight figure, but the frustration in his eyes betrayed his true state. He nodded slightly and said calmly, "Don't be discouraged, let's try again."

This is already the seventh take for this scene.

On a bench in the waiting area, Wang Like nudged Lin Yushen beside him and whispered, "Have you noticed? Mr. Zhang seems a little off today."

Lin Yushen glanced at the seemingly flawless figure in the center of the set, then at Wang Like, and finally couldn't hold back: "Didn't you watch the videos online? No one would be in good shape in that situation."

video?

Wang Like was a little confused. Had something big happened last night?

Just as Wang Like and Lin Yushen were chatting, Jing Tian forgot her lines again. She looked at Zhang Yang in a panic, her eyes filled with apology and unease.

Director Liu Junjie is a well-known "shrewd person" in the industry, skilled at balancing relationships and directing big-name actors. He keenly sensed that Zhang Yang's condition was not right.

Although Zhang Yang's professional skills still allowed him to complete the performance, his heartfelt focus and creative passion were clearly diminished. Occasionally, a trace of imperceptible fatigue and detachment would flash in his eyes. If he knew about the ups and downs on the internet, he would understand how rare it was for Zhang Yang to be in this state.

Zhang Yang's performance was just a little off, but Jing Tian really gave Liu Junjie a headache. In his opinion, Jing Tian's performance had also hit a bottleneck. After all, she was not from a professional acting background, and she seemed to struggle with the complex roles and fast-paced filming. Her lines were delivered haltingly, and her emotional transitions were often not quite right.

"Cut, let's take a break!"

Hearing the director tell him to take a break, Zhang Yang gave Jing Tian an encouraging smile, then turned and headed towards his dressing room. His shadow stretched long under the lights, carrying an indescribable weariness.