“Public opinion really is a knife. Fans who like you will think everything you do is cute; those who hate you will find fault even with your breathing. He wasn’t doing anything wrong—he wasn’t the first to shoot this kind of thing. If this is considered SQ, then some wet-show or barely-there RT shots are basically just selling flesh, right?”
Jiang Zhen stared silently at his phone. Xu Shu continued: “But I feel like Qin Sizheng is different from before. Last time I went to Sheng Entertainment to handle something, I ran into him in the elevator.”
Just pulling the elevator doors open with bare hands was impressive. Later, his hand-to-hand breaking of horse-stable glass in the variety show, and now skiing—the vitality he carried felt like a completely different person.
Unlike people like Jiang Zhen, who climbed the industry step by step from background roles, he debuted at the top of the pyramid, with Sheng Entertainment fully backing him. Yet he always seemed to carry an unshakable resentment.
“The audience has the intelligence of a seven-year-old. At this rate, a clean image isn’t impossible. Yesterday he went to audition for the Nine Swords promo, and I heard he was already confirmed,” Xu Shu sighed. “And then this happens at such a critical moment… what a life.”
Life?
Jiang Zhen scoffed. The industry never believed in luck.
Lu Xianqing was also at the makeup trial that day—so conveniently, he got the role? Previously, they only chose top-tier artists; even if Qin Sizheng had some popularity, he was just a minor influencer.
Now he was connected to Lu Xianqing, and who knows what other good opportunities would be thrown his way.
He hadn’t even auditioned for Between Good and Evil yet—anything could still change. At this rate, he might even take that role.
Lu Xianqing could be taken by him too.
It wasn’t surprising Jiang Zhen felt a sense of crisis. Since this rebirth, the timeline seemed off. The audition for Between Good and Evil had been moved forward—could the rebirth have caused this world to shift?
Xu Shu sighed and then laughed: “But this is actually good for you—one less competitor. I saw Lu Xianqing and him getting along closely in the variety show. I thought Lu Xianqing would speak up for him in Between Good and Evil, but Zhou Changjiang still picked you. That bedsheet photo actually had a big impact.”
“Whoa, the Cute Kids Travel show just posted on Weibo that they won’t invite him for the next season!”
Cute Kids Travel signed guests per episode. Qin Sizheng’s incident was a stain for them. After all, their audience was young, and parents wouldn’t want their children around such an artist.
Besides that, two clothing brands posted that they would stop sponsoring Qin Sizheng’s private outfits, hinting at negative brand impact. Another ad immediately announced contract termination.
Jiang Zhen looked at the contract termination notices one by one and smiled with satisfaction. This was exactly the result he wanted.
Qin Sizheng’s issue wasn’t that big, but netizens had no judgment of their own. Who cared whether it was big or small? They just wanted to snack on gossip.
Three men make a tiger. When marketing accounts push a narrative, even spit can cause a tsunami. Who cares whether it’s spit or a tidal wave once it hits?
Qin Sizheng had no way to defend himself. With so many companies terminating contracts, even a big, powerful company like Nine Swords would be forced by pressure to drop him! Capitalists care not for right or wrong—only for profit.
Xu Shu muttered for a while, watching Jiang Zhen remain silent. He finally looked up at his expression. “…Jiang Zhen, you didn’t do this black-hot trending topic, did you?”
“Does it matter who did it? As long as it reminds everyone what he’s done, that’s enough. Don’t you think?” Jiang Zhen retorted. His calm tone made Xu Shu shiver.
“I want him to make one wrong step and never climb back up in his life. He wants attention? I’ll make it a lifelong stain,” Jiang Zhen said coldly, tapping the photos on the screen.
Xu Shu sighed. “You really don’t have to go after Qin Sizheng this hard. In this industry, everyone is… oh crap! Something happened!”
“What are you yelling about?”
Xu Shu, shocked, pressed his phone against Jiang Zhen’s face. Jiang Zhen impatiently took it and glanced at the screen. “What now?”
Nine Swords Official Weibo posted:
“We are aware of the concerns raised by players regarding certain photos of Mr. Qin Sizheng. The controversy stems from auditions for our new expansion. Not only Mr. Qin, but Mr. Lu Xianqing also filmed audition shots, which were deemed unsuitable and not released. Mr. Lu Xianqing will portray the Grand General in the expansion, collaborating with Mr. Qin Sizheng to bring brand-new storylines. Due to confidentiality agreements for the expansion, neither was allowed to announce anything externally. We sincerely apologize for the misunderstandings caused. Below are the audition photos of Mr. Lu Xianqing, and Mr. Qin Sizheng’s filmed audition with makeup—these are not the bedsheet photos but scenes of life and dignity.”
The official account posted Lu Xianqing’s “hands grabbing the bedsheet” photo and Qin Sizheng’s audition video from that afternoon. The young general’s bloodied fingers gripped the military flag, the creases in his gloves conveying unwillingness and tragic resolve.
“Auditions? Qin Sizheng really kept his mouth shut—he was attacked for so long without explanation.”
“This video is amazing! All of Qin Sizheng’s acting in his life is here. I almost cried—why are my tear points so low today?”
“Holy crap, the acting is incredible! Is he really my treasure? This expansion makes me want to play the game! Any advice for a newbie joining?”
“QAQ everywhere in Nine Swords, haha. But Qin Sizheng suffered so much, being scolded for so long and never explaining. Give the kid some money, even a couple of chicken wings for mental damages would be fine.”
“Will this convince people? Fans really know how to defend. The game company is playing along with Qin Sizheng, right? How convenient, a new expansion and exactly that role? I don’t believe it wasn’t planned.”
“Were you underestimating Nine Swords or overestimating Sheng Entertainment and Qin Sizheng? Nine Swords used to hire only top-tier artists. Even a real player like Mingfei was rejected. Do you think their company was short on money? And how much money does Qin Sizheng even have? Selling Sheng Entertainment wouldn’t even secure Nine Swords. Even if he could arrange Nine Swords, could he get the Fourth Brother? Wake up.”
“Releasing the new expansion in September is Nine Swords’ tradition. The storyline reaches regime change exactly then; it was announced three months ago. Isn’t it easy to Google if you don’t play?”
“Qingshan has Si! Mom, the CP I ship is real! No wonder they were so sweet on the variety show—they already collaborated. But a question: my CP started as enemies, became brothers, now somehow father and son?”
“Does that mean when Yan Yan sees the Fourth Brother, he should call him dad? Wait, this just got spicy.”
“No wonder they were so close on the show calling Yan Yan—that’s because he’s his dad, haha.”
“These two really hide things. None of it was mentioned, making us anxious and fearful. I’m unfollowing for a minute to show my anger, unless Yan Yan kisses, otherwise I’m not coming back.”
As soon as the official post went up, the narrative flipped entirely.
Although Lu Xianqing didn’t post publicly, fans recognized the hands immediately. Since the game’s official account dared to post it, it meant they had Lu Xianqing’s consent.
With his backing, the credibility increased significantly.
Since Qin Sizheng’s arrival in this world, after Xu Zhi had told him not to post on Weibo, aside from greeting fans and posting this “hand photo” during the initial storm, this was his first proactive Weibo post.
Qin Sizheng: Even if facing a thousand troops, I will not retreat a step!
This Weibo post served both as a promo line and a genuine declaration—telling everyone he would not give in.
“Our treasure is so strong! Don’t be afraid, we’ll always be with you!”
“Does this mean someone was out to get him? I found it weird before when he shot that hand photo. He’s meticulous in such matters despite his quirks. Revealing the audition now makes sense.”
“Where’s the apology for our treasure? A month already.”
“Trying to make me apologize? Could be a hand substitute, just a random shot claiming to be Lu Xianqing’s. Even movie stills might have been used. If Lu Xianqing posts on Weibo confirming it, I’ll call Qin Sizheng dad on the spot! Never deleting!”
Moments later, Lu Xianqing reposted Qin Sizheng’s Weibo, full of mockery:
“This hand? Can it look better than mine? They chose him over me.”
“………………? Lu Xianqing, if you’ve been hacked, blink!”
“LOL, Qin Sizheng happily becomes dad.”
“What a show, haha. Never deleting this, hurry and say it—I’m ready to screenshot it. If you delete, I can repost it for you.”
Xu Zhi was completely dumbfounded by the whirlwind of online attention. His emotions surged up and down so violently that his heart felt out of rhythm. He clutched his chest and asked Qin Sizheng, “Why did Emperor Lu suddenly defend you? You two…”
Before Qin Sizheng could answer, his phone rang. It was Lu Xianqing calling. He stepped into a corner to answer. “Fourth Brother.”
“Little one, standing firm, huh?”
Qin Sizheng felt a bit embarrassed at the comment. The defiance he had just shown against the trolls suddenly faded. “I was just saying something casually… don’t laugh at me.”
Lu Xianqing chuckled softly. “You’re going to call me dad, right? Say it once for me, little general.”
Qin Sizheng glanced at Xu Zhi on the phone and lowered his voice. “That day… why didn’t you say you could act like me…” He struggled to get the words out, and Lu Xianqing pressed, “What did you say?”
He He Xing rolled her eyes. Really, sometimes people could be ridiculous.
Qin Sizheng gritted his teeth and didn’t say “dad,” instead quickly changing the subject: “This promotional video for Nine Swords—did you help me get it?”
Lu Xianqing said, “No.”
He could have claimed credit and used it to coax Qin Sizheng into doing something for him, letting him indulge his whims. But that would make the little sunflower retreat again. He couldn’t let that happen; the child had just begun to grow in confidence.
“Whether someone helped you or not, it’s what you deserved,” Lu Xianqing said. “No one helps someone else for no reason. So don’t feel uneasy, okay?”
Qin Sizheng nodded. Thinking the other couldn’t see him, he mumbled another “uh-huh,” and Lu Xianqing laughed as if he could see him. “Silly.”
Even after the narrative flipped online, discussions didn’t stop. Some even ran to the “Cute Kids” show’s production team, asking who the next guest would be, wondering if they regretted posting that Weibo so quickly.
“Haha, you really thought your show was popular? This season is riding Qin Sizheng’s hype. Truly biting the hand that feeds you—eat from the bowl, then scold. Impressive.”
“Regret it? It’s clarified now! Deleting the post won’t help. Don’t tell me Qin Sizheng is still signed with you—haha, what a slap in the face.”
“So what now? Next season has neither Lu Xianqing nor Qin Sizheng. Who’s left? Sijianqiu will still be #1 in face selling, right?”
Lu Xianqing listened to He Xing muttering beside him, then leaned slightly toward Qin Sizheng. “No show anymore—sad?”
“I’m not sad.”
“Really?”
Qin Sizheng thought carefully. “Really. I’ve got the game promo now. I’ll shoot it well, and I’ll keep getting other work. As long as I’m in this industry, I haven’t lost.”
Lu Xianqing seemed to see the stubborn determination on his face. The comforting words he had planned caught in his throat. He almost said, “Come with me—I’ll lift you up, and all those idiots will kneel before you, begging you to take the role.”
He Xing coughed beside him, worried he might suddenly veer the conversation into something he shouldn’t say.
Lu Xianqing looked at her, his eyes curved in a smile. In front of He Xing, he slowly asked, “Yan Yan, are my hands pretty?”
He Xing’s vision went black.
Qin Sizheng, confused, said, “Pretty.”
His voice low, Lu Xianqing added with a hint of teasing, “Did you save them?”
“…Why would I save them?”
Lu Xianqing guessed his thought, inhaled softly, then sighed with mock melancholy. “So ‘pretty’ was just to please me? Pretty things shouldn’t be saved? I’ve saved all your photos, and Yan Yan doesn’t want me on your phone… disgusted with me.”
He Xing rolled her eyes. Somehow, he could make saving someone else’s hand photos sound so reasonable.
“I’ll save them, right now.” Qin Sizheng said, then went quiet, probably storing the pictures. Lu Xianqing smiled, covering his phone, and beckoned He Xing over.
She leaned in. “What?”
He whispered, “This little one, plus the private clothing sponsor and that other random ad—they rushed to cancel before things were clear and acted all passive-aggressive. Sigh, kids should feel wronged. I bet he’s crying. Little Qin Xian has to be miserable.”
He Xing ground her teeth. “Speak properly.”
Lu Xianqing’s expression turned serious. “Make them publicly apologize on Weibo. Trend it in five minutes. If these idiots can’t get enough attention, I’ll pay out of pocket.”
He Xing finally cursed, “Damn.”
She wasn’t used to swearing, and this was the first time she blurted out a word like that—but it felt relieving. Anning, making fresh juice nearby, laughed so hard her shoulders shook. “Calm down, He Xing. Have some juice.”
She took it, stared at it a moment, then saw the blender in the kitchen. “Go, make half a jug of carrot juice for him, watch him drink it all!”
Anning laughed even harder. “Then you might as well just kill him. Only Qin Sizheng could get him to drink carrot juice.”
He Xing nearly threw her cup. “What did you say?”
“Earlier this morning, the table still had the dishes Qin Sizheng made last night,” Anning said, pointing toward the person on the phone, gesturing with her hands. “He finished it all.”
He Xing nearly wanted to smash the glass on her own head. She took a deep breath. “I’ll call.”
Anning frowned. “Call for what?”
He Xing smirked but didn’t laugh. “To get justice for Fourth Brother’s ancestor—make someone apologize to his little ancestor! Go buy some incense or something.”
Anning blinked. “Huh?”
He Xing said, “Three sticks of incense a day, keep his living ancestor honored.”
Lu Xianqing didn’t hear that. He was focused on teasing the little one. “Saved? Can’t tell which is prettier—next time, I’ll compare myself to you.” He grabbed his wrist, pressed it against the bed rail, and onto the bedsheet.
A moment passed. Before Qin Sizheng could respond, Lu Xianqing laughed. “Never mind. I’m afraid of getting hit.”
Qin Sizheng blushed and whispered, thinking of the bruises on his face, “Do you have any plans tonight?”
“Hmm? Did your house run out of punching bags? You think I’m a good human-shaped punching bag, so you invited me over to practice?”
Qin Sizheng’s ears flushed even redder, and his voice dropped. “No… I wanted to make something. I thought you could let Sister Anning come to my place, and I’ll make it and have her take it home for you. Is that okay?”
Lu Xianqing sounded a little disappointed. “Oh… just inviting Anning?”
“No, I’m inviting you too, but…” Qin Sizheng hesitated for a moment. “It’s inconvenient for you to go out now, and it wouldn’t be good if you got photographed. Next time—when your injury heals—I’ll make it for you.”
Lu Xianqing tilted his head, thinking. Next time, huh?
Next time, I’ll sign you under me, and you’ll finally know what the real hidden rules of the entertainment industry are.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhen, staring at the trending topics, was completely stunned. No, nothing made sense.
According to his memory, Lu Xianqing and Qin Sizheng shouldn’t have had so much interaction. Qin Sizheng shouldn’t have been on variety shows; he should have stayed on his pedestal, being pulled out of the abyss by Jiang Zhen.
He hated anyone else using his hands for attention—how could they take photos like that? And post them on Weibo?
The world really had changed because of his rebirth! The “storyline” that belonged to him was slowly shifting toward Qin Sizheng. His protagonist aura seemed to be landing on Qin Sizheng’s head!
Soon, the “Cute Kids” show, two original custom clothing brands, and one commercial all issued apologies. They said they regretted canceling contracts without fully investigating and sincerely apologized to Qin Sizheng.
Ten trending topics cascaded down the list, most related to Qin Sizheng. Little Qin Xian’s heart rose and fell—especially Hong Xue Feifei, who nearly collapsed—but now she could finally relax and scroll through Weibo in peace.
“Kite, fly with ease! Mom’s always with you—go higher! We’re all your family!”
“Our little one was wronged—mom hugs you.”
“A show cancels a contract and apologizes within ten minutes. How ridiculous. Weren’t you the one broadcasting and boosting heat with someone else’s name? Look, all nine clips in that edit relied on Qin Sizheng to hold it up. Now they use him, get popular, and kick him aside.”
“Anyone who wants to be the next Qin Sizheng, hurry up and join ‘Cute Kids.’ Oh, and your safety isn’t guaranteed. Think of Xu Yindi—if Qin Sizheng hadn’t saved him, he might not have survived.”
“The show posted their gratitude on Weibo, and everyone could see it. First day, he barely got any footage. Sijianqiu’s sabotage? Ambiguous. No fairness. Shows have scripts, right? His script? He relied on himself. And that ten-meter wooden stick—if he hadn’t kicked it apart, he wouldn’t have gotten the reward.”
#Topic: #CuteKidsShowApologizesToQinSizheng# began trending. Fans and casual observers started digging up all the unfair treatment Qin Sizheng had received on the show, exposing Sijianqiu’s petty moves.
At the same time, Qin Sizheng transformed from a delicate diva into a fierce beauty, attracting a huge wave of new fans. The fan club barely managed to keep up with approving posts.
The tide turned. Qin Sizheng’s hand photo spread even more widely, sparking a “hand appreciation” trend. Fans grabbed pens, brooms, steering wheels—even one grabbed their pet chicken’s cheek—and paired it with Xuan Feng’s “let go of me” expression, sending everyone into laughter hundreds of layers deep.
With that, the controversy over Qin Sizheng’s hand photo was completely erased. Xu Zhi didn’t even react—he had just been panicking, thinking it was all over. Now the whole internet was sympathizing with Qin Sizheng?
Jiang Zhen also couldn’t process how the public sentiment had turned so quickly.
No.
He was supposed to be Lu Xianqing’s absolute protagonist. Qin Sizheng was just a cannon fodder, an unattainable love. He couldn’t let him steal what belonged to him—whether it was Lu Xianqing or fame and fortune. It all belonged to him!
Jiang Zhen found another marketing account in his contacts. “I have a scoop: Jiang Zhen is about to film Between Good and Evil with Lu Xianqing, as the male third, personally selected by Zhou Changjiang. Opening ceremony next week, filming starts early next month.”
If his “storyline” started shifting toward Qin Sizheng, he had to seize every opportunity. He couldn’t let Qin Sizheng snatch another thing from him!
Marketing accounts are interconnected. One post triggers another. Soon, the news of Jiang Zhen and Lu Xianqing collaborating on a film began to overshadow Qin Sizheng’s promo shoot.
Misunderstandings were cleared, the official account cooled the hype—standard procedure.
“Jiang Zhen’s acting with Fourth Brother? Finally, someone noticed my treasure! Must share with the world, absolute gem of a man [link].”
“Check out our guy’s role mashup—amazing! Never uses a stunt double, so serious with acting! Wraps himself like a bamboo shoot for events, pure and reliable, worth every penny!”
“Looking forward to Jiang Zhen, looking forward to Between Good and Evil! I read the original, love this role, can’t wait!”
Lu Xianqing was messaging Qin Sizheng when this push notification appeared, instantly souring his mood. He Xing looked down. “Why the sour face? Marketing accounts always do this—haven’t you gotten used to it?”
Two hours later, Jiang Zhen finally posted a carefully timed ambiguous Weibo.
Good and evil, human nature—they all hang by a thought. The righteous may unintentionally kill; the wicked may perform good deeds. One cannot judge right and wrong or good and evil one-sidedly.
Qin Sizheng’s incident blew up. Zhou Changjiang saw the Weibo. “I said it—this isn’t a big deal. So what if he clapped his hands? Clapping hands is SQ now? Everyone’s younger than me but more rigid. Do they understand art? So we’re not filming passion scenes anymore? Others haven’t been restricted—they castrated themselves first.”
Wen Li frowned silently. Why couldn’t Qin Sizheng be defeated?
Such a great opportunity, and he just turned misfortune into fortune again! And Lu Xianqing—what a weirdo. Weren’t they rivals? Now he’s speaking up for him… is he a masochist?
Zhou Changjiang regretted not taking a risk with Qin Sizheng earlier, opting for Jiang Zhen, the safe choice. Wen Li, annoyed, said, “Alright, he’s just a minor celebrity. If not him, we pick someone else. Is he irreplaceable?”
Zhou Changjiang turned back, already irritated, and hearing her say that just made his anger boil over. “I shouldn’t have listened to you in the first place. You’re in this industry yourself, how can you still have such biases?”
Wen Li slammed the table. “What are you saying? Now it’s my fault? I’m doing this for your own good! Jiang Zhen is honest and reliable, doesn’t hype or stir trouble—how is that ‘unreliable’?”
The phone on the table lit up with a Weibo notification: *[Jiang Zhen to star in Between Good and Evil, confirmed as male third.] *
Zhou Changjiang almost choked, pointing at the phone with a cold sneer. “This is what you call honest and reliable? No schemes, no fuss, and supposedly ‘easy to manage’?”
Wen Li was speechless. Zhou Changjiang took out his phone, flipped through it for two minutes, and began dialing. “Xu Zhi? This is Zhou Changjiang.”
Wen Li’s scalp tingled when she heard Xu Zhi’s name. She reached to grab the phone. “What are you doing?! Don’t tell me you’re calling Qin Sizheng! Are you crazy?”
Zhou Changjiang held the phone in one hand, pointing at her with the other. “Even if the king himself came to stop me, I would still choose Qin Sizheng. He came straight out of this script—no one else. Stay out of it.”
Wen Li slammed the cup down in frustration.
This Jiang Zhen was utterly useless. Why was he so eager to leak information?!
Zhou Changjiang hated the whole marketing trickery. Normally, he personally handled actor casting and never relied on others. Any leaks would have been the actor’s doing.
This time, Jiang Zhen leaked himself starring in Between Good and Evil, completely backfiring.
Self-inflicted disaster.
Handing over such a prime opportunity to Qin Sizheng made her so angry she smashed the expensive tea set on the table and snorted, storming off.
Useless! Why bother competing with Qin Sizheng? She had recommended him for this role, and it was all for nothing!
Xu Zhi had just come out of PR and immediately bowed. “Director Zhou, yes, yes… who could’ve thought it would blow up like this? If Jiujian hadn’t clarified, Sizheng would’ve never recovered, even jumping into the Yellow River.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhou Changjiang cut straight to the point. “I want Sizheng to star in a film. Does he have availability?”
Xu Zhi hurriedly replied, “Yes! He doesn’t have any work scheduled right now. Whatever time you need for auditions is fine!”
He had been worrying about the “Cute Kids” variety show mishap, thinking he could only help Qin Sizheng if the show apologized. But now with Zhou Changjiang, what use was that stupid variety show?
Extra work and no recognition? Not worth it compared to filming a movie! Zhou Changjiang currently had only one movie, Lu Xianqing’s Between Good and Evil. The male third was already Jiang Zhen—was Qin Sizheng supposed to be a background extra?
Zhou Changjiang said, “No need for auditions. It’s him. I’ll have the contract sent immediately.” Based on this promotional clip alone, Qin Sizheng had been under attack for so long without revealing others’ projects—Zhou Changjiang trusted this kid.
Xu Zhi froze, blinking several times.
From the hand photo explosion, multiple contract cancellations, Jiujian’s clarification, and Lu Xianqing openly supporting—now even Zhou Changjiang was approaching for a film. Things were moving so fast Xu Zhi couldn’t keep up.
He raised his hand and slapped himself hard.
Ouch.
Really hurts.
Fearing delays or complications, and with Jiang Zhen’s reckless stunt, Zhou Changjiang posted a Weibo immediately after the call, not even checking for typos or punctuation.
Zhou Changjiang: “Confirmed cast @Qin Sizheng, ‘Between Good and Evil’—the good.”
The moment this Weibo went up, everyone rushed to Zhou Changjiang, the Between Good and Evil official account, and Jiang Zhen’s Weibo. The momentum was even greater than Qin Sizheng’s hand photo.
Wait—wasn’t this Jiang Zhen? How did it suddenly change to Qin Sizheng?