Things seemed to be getting more and more interesting.
Shi Wei withdrew his gaze and asked, "Then where do you think I should stand, Teacher Chen Feng?"
"You!"
Seeing that Shi Wei showed no remorse whatsoever, Chen Feng became even more convinced of his rotten character.
Apparently, good acting didn't mean good character. Chen Feng bitterly regretted agreeing to Xu Xirui's request to let Shi Wei audition.
If Shi Wei hadn't joined the production, how would Xu Xirui have ended up so upset every day, and how would all these troubles and scandals have plagued the crew?
Seeing Xu Xirui suffer so many grievances hurt him deeply too.
"Director Zhang, I suggest firing Shi Wei," Chen Feng said. "There's no point keeping someone like him on the production anymore."
"Don't rush. Let me sort things out first," Zhang Zixiang said soothingly.
Chen Feng asked in bewilderment, "Director, what exactly are you trying to do, protecting him like this? Wang Jun'er leaked information and got fired, but Shi Wei can hit someone and get away unscathed?"
"How am I getting away unscathed?" Shi Wei protested. "I've been smeared so badly. I'm the one getting cursed out online."
"Wasn't what Wang Jun'er said true? Did you not hit someone?"
Shi Wei suddenly grew serious. "Do you respect Director Zhang?"
"Of course!"
"Then if you heard someone insulting him, saying he liked them young and pretty and dared to openly take a minor celebrity to a hotel room to 'discuss extra scenes'... could you still stay that calm?"
Chen Feng flushed. He faltered before saying, "That still doesn't justify hitting someone!"
"True." Shi Wei nodded. "I suppose if someone grabbed you by the collar and punched your left cheek, Teacher Chen Feng, you'd certainly offer them your right cheek too."
"You... I'm not some saint!"
Shi Wei stared at him expressionlessly, his eyes icy. "Neither am I."
Intimidated by his gaze, Chen Feng was struck speechless.
Seeing that Chen Feng had actually been scared into silence by Shi Wei, Xu Xirui swore inwardly.
Useless trash!
A big-name screenwriter, and this bitch Shi Wei had talked him stupid.
He stepped forward and took hold of Chen Feng, reminding him in a roundabout way, "Director Zhang, Xiao Wei, please don't hold it against him. Brother Feng is just angry about the netizens slandering Director Zhang."
"Oh? Was it the netizens, or a certain someone?" Shi Wei's piercing gaze swept over Xu Xirui.
"I didn't..." Xu Xirui shrank back half a step, looking aggrieved.
As the sea king's simp, how could Chen Feng stand by and watch Xu Xirui suffer? He hurriedly stepped in front of him, taking a protective stance. "Why are you looking at Ruirui? He's not the one who hit someone!"
Ruirui was right. Shi Wei really was targeting Xu Xirui!
"Brother Feng..." Xu Xirui tugged on Chen Feng's clothes, signaling him not to be afraid.
Shi Wei remained steady as a rock.
"Director Zhang, are you just going to let him gossip and spout nonsense?"
"Who?"
A pleasant voice made everyone turn.
Ji Hanchuan walked over with steady strides and looked at Shi Wei. "Is this about what's happening online?"
It seemed he knew too.
Shi Wei felt as though he could see countless radiant keyboards behind him.
Can't afford to mess with him. Can't afford to mess with him.
The moment he appeared, Chen Feng noticed Xu Xirui let go of him, and couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable.
Just as I thought. Shi Wei must have badmouthed Xu Xirui to Ji Hanchuan, making him afraid of being misunderstood.
"Hanchuan, you're just in time. Do you think we should still keep Shi Wei on the production?" Chen Feng snorted. "If we don't kick him out, he'll only cause more trouble."
Ji Hanchuan said calmly, "Shi Wei didn't start this. Would throwing him out be fair?"
Shi Wei looked at him in surprise.
Was he speaking up for me?
He wasn't the only one. Chen Yutong, who stood among the crowd, couldn't help glancing over either.
Ji Hanchuan was so cold, yet he would actually take the initiative to defend someone like this?
For the first time, Chen Yutong studied Shi Wei closely.
Unconvinced, Chen Feng said bluntly, "Are you taking his side because he's been gossiping to you?"
Hearing that, Xu Xirui nearly died of anger.
This fucking idiot isn't going to give me away next, is he?!
"Brother Feng, stop." Xu Xirui sounded uneasy as he urged him, "Brother Hanchuan is right. Xiao Wei isn't a troublemaker."
Chen Feng immediately reined in his temper and challenged Shi Wei instead. "You keep saying you were forced into it. Do you have any proof?"
Shi Wei's phone made its grand entrance.
"Sorry, but I actually do." Shi Wei waved his phone. "Did you bring your blood pressure medication, Director Zhang? Let's listen together."
Zhang Zixiang chuckled. "I've got it ready."
A few minutes later, everyone finally understood why Shi Wei had hit them.
Wang Jun'er had tried to force Shi Wei to give the role of Liang Fang back to Wang William. When Shi Wei refused, she accused him of engaging in casting-couch dealings with Zhang Zixiang, using such explicit, disgusting language that Shi Wei's account had actually been the mildest version.
"You're pretty decent-looking. What's so great about an old man like Zhang Zixiang? Why not give me a try?" Wang William's flippant voice rang out.
That was when Shi Wei struck first.
Wang William howled in pain and began cursing Shi Wei as an orphan with no father or mother.
Then came even more agonized cries from Wang William, along with Wang Jun'er's screams.
Shi Wei switched off the recording.
Everyone fell silent, but their fists clenched.
If someone had cursed them like that to their faces, they would have wanted to hit them too. Hearing Wang William getting beaten, they had only one word in their hearts: satisfying!
But...
Shi Wei had never mentioned being called an orphan before...
If he'd said so sooner, everyone would have understood.
Chen Feng looked at Shi Wei, at a loss for what to say.
Shi Wei was fiddling with his phone when he suddenly felt a moderate squeeze on his arm.
He looked up. It was Ji Hanchuan.
Why are you touching me?
Shi Wei glared at him and secretly pinched him back.
Only for Ji Hanchuan to catch his hand.
Shi Wei tried to pull free, but the warm hand held him even more tightly.
We agreed to pretend to be strangers outside. Why was Ji Hanchuan going back on his own word?
Zhang Zixiang swallowed his blood pressure medication and told everyone, "Now that you all know what happened, disperse. Get back to whatever you should be doing."
"Shi Wei, could you send me the recording?"
"If you trust me, Director Zhang, could you leave this matter to me?" Ji Hanchuan suddenly spoke.
This stern, refined man was actually volunteering to resolve someone else's trouble?
Ignoring the shocked and puzzled gazes upon him, Ji Hanchuan looked only at Zhang Zixiang.
"You want to take over?"
"She used my name to chase traffic, after all. If I didn't do something, I'd be letting down all the attention she brought me." The smile in Ji Hanchuan's eyes was icy.
"Sorry for the trouble, then." Zhang Zixiang nodded in understanding. "Shi Wei, go with Hanchuan and deal with this."
"Mm." Shi Wei seized the chance to pull his hand out of Ji Hanchuan's grip and went to get his unfinished drink.
Ji Hanchuan waited for him, and the two walked out side by side.
One tall and stern, the other handsome and captivating.
Cold and heat, utterly different, yet they looked so harmonious together...
Xu Xirui watched them leave, unwilling to accept it.
Such a good opportunity, yet Shi Wei had managed to slip through and even gained another chance to spend time with Ji Hanchuan!
"Teacher Zhang, is it really all right to leave this to Hanchuan?" Chen Yutong asked.
Zhang Zixiang smiled. "Heh, don't go thinking Hanchuan is just an ordinary actor..."