If he couldn't succeed, who could?

Ye Yizhou stood in front of the elevator with his hands behind his back, waiting leisurely.

"People from both Lingyao Group and Yan Group came today. The president came down personally to meet them. I heard rumors that they're going to invest a huge sum in co-producing a big-budget movie."

A conversation drifted over from behind him.

"Since our company is producing it, our artists will definitely get priority at the auditions. We need to seize this opportunity and really fight for the lead."

"Lingyao Group is a major corporation. We're just an entertainment company under Yan Group. Does our company really have that much say?"

The other person couldn't help sighing, sounding less confident. "The company has so many artists it's pushing hard. No matter what, a big production like this won't fall to nobodies like us, stuck in the middle and barely making a splash."

Ye Yizhou looked toward the voices.

He Xu, twenty-seven, was a professionally trained actor who had signed with Yuhuang Entertainment Company after graduating from college.

He had starred in several shows. His looks weren't bad, but they weren't striking enough; his acting was competent, but not outstanding enough.

That was how the entertainment industry worked. You had to be either exceptionally good or exceptionally bad to be dragged out for judgment. Those in the middle didn't fall into either category, so nobody thought of them. With nothing to generate discussion, they remained lukewarm, never making much of a splash.

"Ye Yizhou? It's been ages since you came to the office. Are you here today because you heard about this opportunity of a lifetime too?"

Seeing Ye Yizhou, He Xu smiled and greeted him, asking curiously for gossip like an ordinary coworker.

"Yeah."

Ye Yizhou nodded in acknowledgment. That was indeed what he had come for.

Although Ye Yizhou's career was going nowhere, he generated plenty of discussion and attention, regularly appearing on the trending searches.

So much so that far too many people recognized him.

Ye Yizhou fell into the category of being so exceptionally bad that discussion went through the roof. Good or bad, people liked dragging him out for comparison. After all, it was your peers who made you look good, and any random person had a better public image than he did.

A designated punching bag for making others look good.

Ye Yizhou and He Xu were simply artists at the same company. They rarely crossed paths and weren't competing for opportunities. They really were just ordinary coworkers.

"Xu, even Ye Yizhou has come to give it a shot. You should feel more confident." The man beside He Xu reached out and patted his shoulder, sounding excited, even fired up.

Ye Yizhou: ...

I'm still standing right here. Is it really appropriate to be that blunt?

Chen Kangcheng, He Xu's manager, was rather straightforward, even a little reckless. He was a decent person, and the opportunities he passionately sought out for He Xu weren't bad. But whether someone became a huge star really did depend a little on luck.

Both of them worked steadily and didn't do much marketing, building things up one solid step at a time.

"Sorry. My manager didn't mean anything by it. He just wanted to encourage me. Please don't take it to heart."

He Xu didn't look down on Ye Yizhou or mock him because of his poor online reputation. Instead, he sincerely apologized and explained.

"Sorry, I really didn't mean anything by it. Please don't be upset!" Only then did Chen Kangcheng catch on. He scratched his head sheepishly and hurriedly apologized.

Judging by how practiced the two were at apologizing, they probably apologized quite often for speaking without thinking.

An artist really did take after his manager. Each had his own style.

"It's fine."

Ye Yizhou didn't mind any of it. Instead, he praised him in earnest. "Your acting is good. You're professionally trained, and you've spent the past few years honing your skills in supporting roles in plenty of serious dramas. Be more confident. Those wildly popular stars right now aren't necessarily better actors than you."

He Xu froze for a moment, his face turning red at once. He couldn't help stammering, "Th-thank you."

"Ding."

The elevator opened. Ye Yizhou stepped inside first, with He Xu and Chen Kangcheng following close behind.

When they reached the seventh floor, the elevator doors opened.

Ye Yizhou moved aside, clearing the doorway, and looked at He Xu and his manager.

"No, no, you go first."

Overwhelmed by the courtesy, He Xu quickly waved his hands and deferred to him.

"I'm not getting off on this floor," Ye Yizhou said mildly.

Huh?

Looking a little embarrassed and a little confused, He Xu hurried out of the elevator.

Chen Kangcheng followed him out. They watched the doors close, then watched the elevator go up to the 10th Floor.

He Xu and Chen Kangcheng looked at each other.

He had gone straight up to see the boss?

That bold?

If he couldn't succeed, who could?

"There's a reason I'm not as famous as Ye Yizhou."

Instantly crushed, He Xu spoke dejectedly.

"It's fine, it's fine. Just give it a try. If you get the role, it's a huge win. If you don't, chalk it up to experience."

Chen Kangcheng remained levelheaded as he comforted He Xu.

"What are you doing? Standing outside the elevator first thing in the morning, serving up motivational speeches? Feeling that inspired?"

Wei Zhao stepped out of another elevator and heard this dose of inspiration. He couldn't help teasing them.

"Easy for you to say. If my Xu were as driven and as little trouble as your Ye Yizhou, I wouldn't have to stand here giving him pep talks."

Chen Kangcheng retorted irritably, then looked at He Xu beside him and hurried to salvage the situation.

"I don't mean there's anything wrong with you. You understand, right?"

He Xu nodded in wholehearted agreement. "I agree with you."

"Who? Who did you say was driven? Who's no trouble?"

Wei Zhao unconsciously raised his voice, his brows knitting as though he couldn't believe his ears.

"Ye Yizhou!" Chen Kangcheng said lifelessly. "Who else? Who else under you is more impressive than him?"

Still, in a certain sense, Ye Yizhou really was impressive-on an entirely different plane of impressive.

"No, why did you suddenly bring him up? What has he done now?"

At the thought of that possibility, alarm crept into Wei Zhao's voice.

"You didn't know? He just went straight up to the 10th Floor. It's full of big shots today." Seeing that Wei Zhao really seemed to know nothing, Chen Kangcheng gave him a hint.

"Huh? I haven't seen him anywhere outside the trending searches in ages."

Wei Zhao was even more confused. Remembering that Ye Yizhou had said "see you tomorrow" yesterday, had he meant here at the office?

But...

"He came in today? And went straight to the 10th Floor? What on earth is that menace trying to do?"

Wei Zhao's worry lasted only a second before he calmed down. "It's not a big problem."

"Sure, Ye Yizhou's courage is admirable. But everyone here today is a big shot. Aren't you worried he'll say or do something wrong in front of them and cause a whole heap of trouble?"

After expressing his admiration, Chen Kangcheng finally spoke seriously to Wei Zhao.

With a solemn, earnest expression, Wei Zhao said, "I'm not worried."