Ma Xianbei

Biodata

Background / History

Managing Shi Wei at Billion Star

Ma Xianbei manages Shi Wei after his previous manager and explicitly promises not to hurt him as that manager did. He attributes his own limited career success to refusing exploitative industry practices, while hoping that Shi Wei’s success will eventually vindicate them both 16.

Early in Shi Wei’s conflict with Xu Xirui, Ma urges him to apologize rather than risk being shelved. He knows the company heavily favors Xu Xirui and believes yielding is necessary to preserve Shi Wei’s opportunities. After the accusations against Shi Wei are debunked, Ma enthusiastically tells him about an audition for Zhang Zixiang’s film 3 4 9.

On the set of Calming the Wind and Waves, Ma encourages Shi Wei to seek Ji Hanchuan’s guidance and cultivate a professional connection with him. His efforts include pushing Shi Wei forward to greet Ji and repeatedly sending him to deliver snacks. He also tries to manufacture publicity photographs of Shi Wei diligently studying an annotated script 13 14 15 40.

Disillusionment with the Company

During the competition for Tang Qing, Ma initially accepts Xu Xirui’s explanations and refuses to believe he deliberately came to take Shi Wei’s role. His attitude changes when Manager Gao demands a recast after Shi Wei’s livestreamed audition earns two million followers. Ma insists that Shi Wei won through ability and hangs up on Gao 59 65.

Ma later brings Shi Wei to what he believes is a promising movie-related business gathering. When Vice President Li makes coercive advances and the executives slander Shi Wei, Ma shields him and denies their accusations. Shi Wei ultimately intervenes against Li. Afterwards, Ma apologizes for unknowingly leading Shi Wei into danger and is distressed that the artist he promised to protect had to protect him instead 112 113 114 115.

Breaking with Billion Star

After another alleged assault involving an investor, Gao Zhizhang, Xu Xirui, and Zhou Shihui pressure Ma to testify against Shi Wei. They invoke his elderly mother, pregnant wife, and children, threatening his livelihood if he refuses. Meanwhile, Shi Wei and Ji Hanchuan conceal their counterplan from him because Shi Wei believes Ma’s poor acting would expose it 153 155 156.

Ma initially confirms that Shi Wei hit someone, but then declares that Shi Wei was being harassed and that the company tried to force him into slander. He denounces Gao and Xu Xirui, accuses the company of withholding resources because he refused to cooperate with its practices, and quits. When Gao threatens to make him unemployable, Ma threatens to expose the company through a livestream 156.

Ma leaves with Shi Wei in Ji Hanchuan’s car. On learning that the two had been acting, he embraces Shi Wei in gratitude rather than continuing to blame him. Shi Wei promises that Ma and his family will not be abandoned, and Ma encourages him to carry out his plan 156.

New Agency and Marriage Revelation

Following the dispute, Billion Star apologizes to Ma and compensates him. He becomes publicly recognizable, receives attention from major entertainment companies, and refuses their gifts while reviewing offers for Shi Wei 165.

At a dinner to discuss contracts, Ma challenges Ji Hanchuan’s authority to reject offers on Shi Wei’s behalf. Ji identifies himself as family, and Shi Wei reveals that they are married. Ma immediately questions them about their marriage certificate, home, finances, and New Year arrangements 165.

Despite knowing about the marriage, Ma remains concerned that visible assistance from Ji’s manager, Feng Wan, could expose the relationship and harm Shi Wei’s career. With Feng Wan’s help, he secures Haihe Entertainment’s agreement to Shi Wei’s desired freedom in choosing acting projects 166.

The *Madman* Crisis

When Madman loses its original investor, Ma alerts Shi Wei and Ji Hanchuan. He initially recommends waiting rather than taking sides in the production dispute, but Shi Wei insists on supporting Director Sha. After Xu Xirui takes over as investor, Ma cancels a family trip to remain beside Shi Wei 188 190.

Ma checks the set out of concern for Shi Wei’s safety and becomes alarmed by an unstable rooftop railing. After Xu Xirui falls, Shi Wei asks him to hold the door against the approaching bodyguards to preserve evidence. Ma cannot keep them out, but the police arrive quickly enough for the scene to be preserved 190 191.

Police question Ma alongside Shi Wei. He repeatedly maintains Shi Wei’s innocence and tries to shield him from reporters after his release. When online attackers expose photographs and addresses belonging to Ma’s family, Ji Hanchuan arranges for them to leave town temporarily. Ma remains reluctant to leave Shi Wei during the crisis 191 192.

By the later awards-ceremony preparations, Ma is still handling Shi Wei’s work, delivering invitations and urging him to bring home a Best Actor award 198.

Appearance

Ma is repeatedly described as having a chubby, broad, or round face and a heavy build. He later complains that hair loss and a growing belly have affected his marriage 54 59 112 156 166.

• Weight change: He loses weight while working to secure Shi Wei’s new contract 166.
• Public disguise: After becoming recognizable, he wears sunglasses and a mask to a meeting, looking enough like a celebrity to invite comparison 165.

Personality

Ma is loud, quick-tempered, and persistently anxious about Shi Wei’s behavior. He frequently scolds him over provocative posts, warns him not to cause trouble on set, and worries that unfavorable publicity will destroy his career. Their exchanges are also affectionate: Shi Wei routinely teases him, while Ma expresses pride in his achievements even when reluctant to praise him directly 13 40 65 74.

His professional instincts are initially cautious and status-conscious. He recommends apologizing to favored artists, cultivating influential colleagues, and shaping a marketable public persona. He is particularly susceptible to Xu Xirui’s pleasant demeanor, dismissing Shi Wei’s suspicion that Xu deliberately sought to steal his role 4 13 59 61 65.

That caution has a firm ethical limit. Ma refuses to participate in sexual exploitation, defends Shi Wei against coercion, and ultimately sacrifices his job rather than falsely condemn him. His family responsibilities make that decision painful rather than effortless: the company’s threats leave him frightened and ashamed before he openly rebels 16 114 153 155 156.

Ma’s admiration for Ji Hanchuan can produce exaggerated flattery, but it does not prevent him from challenging Ji over Shi Wei’s welfare. He angrily accuses Ji of exploitation after misunderstanding “This one’s mine,” and later questions both his contract decisions and the potential consequences of involving Feng Wan 53 54 165 166.

Abilities & Skills

Talent Management

Ma handles Shi Wei’s auditions, schedules, advertising work, travel, and agency discussions 9 40 74 112 165 166.

• Tracks audience growth and proposes livestreams, advertisements, and public personas to build on successful appearances 13 65.
• Monitors commercial shoots for excessive exposure and worries that repeated seductive roles could typecast Shi Wei 40.
• Negotiates agency terms, though Haihe initially refuses Shi Wei’s requested autonomy until Feng Wan intervenes 166.

Artist Advocacy

Ma defends Shi Wei’s work and safety even when doing so puts him in conflict with more powerful people 65 114 156.

• Rejects Gao’s attempt to replace Shi Wei after his successful audition 65.
• Refuses to endorse the company’s account of Shi Wei’s confrontation with its executives 156.
• Stays near Shi Wei during the hostile Madman production and assists during the police and media aftermath 190 191.

Relationships

• Shi Wei — His managed artist and close companion. Their relationship combines constant bickering with reciprocal protection; Ma quits rather than slander him, while Shi Wei promises to support Ma’s family 16 115 156.
• Ji Hanchuan — Initially an admired star and valuable professional connection, later known to Ma as Shi Wei’s husband. Ji helps with Shi Wei’s agency search and arranges protection for Ma’s exposed family 14 165 166 192.
• Xu Xirui — A company-favored artist whom Ma initially trusts. After witnessing Xu participate in the pressure campaign against Shi Wei, Ma openly rejects his friendly act 59 153 156.
• Gao Zhizhang — His former superior at Billion Star. Gao threatens his employment and uses his family responsibilities as leverage; Ma responds by quitting and threatening public exposure 153 156.
• Feng Wan — An influential industry contact introduced through Ji Hanchuan. She helps obtain Shi Wei’s preferred contract terms and introduces Ma to additional contacts 166.
• Wife — His longtime spouse, pregnant with their second child during the company conflict. Ma later confides that their marriage has grown cold; she rejects his proposal to take over managing their money 153 166.
• Mother and daughter — His mother is in her eighties and his daughter is three years old. He frequently invokes them in his arguments with Shi Wei, and their welfare weighs heavily on his employment decisions 3 15 155.

Notable Quotes

“You might think Brother Bei isn't as capable as other managers, but I won't hurt you like your last manager did. Understand?” 16

“Our Shi Wei won that role on merit! If you want to recast it, Manager Gao, figure out how to blind the public's discerning eyes yourself!” 65

“I don't! I've put up with this shit for years, and I'm not putting up with it today!” 156