The matter was resolved just like that, leaving Director Liu wondering what was going on, but little did he know there was a big surprise in store.
Qian Qiang: "I've brought Old Shen, the originally planned male lead, along with me. Don't worry, he can still film the series. I'll take Lin Youqi back with me."
Seeing the surprised looks on the faces of the staff in the room, Qian Qiang sighed helplessly, his heart filled with lingering fear.
He always made sure to provide Lin Youqi with all the resources she needed, but he never cared about the team's marketing. I only found out today that he actually used Jiang Nuo's press release to attack her!
God knows how horrified he was when he received Si Yan's call!
The person most hurt by the whole incident was Cai Can, who had just memorized the lines of the new script and then learned that the original lines had been changed back.
She took a deep breath, her fingers clicking as she gripped the script.
"I'm so angry!"
"Calm down, at least you won't have to partner with Lin Youqi for the next few months."
Yu Shen philosophical about it and went over to offer a few words of comfort.
Under the astonished yet relieved gazes of everyone, Lin Youqi and her manager were slunk away by Qian Qiang.
"Um... Jiang Nuo, the apology has been made, and the original male lead has been returned to your production team. When you go home, please put in a good word for me."
Before leaving, Qian Qiang looked at Jiang Nuo, his tone remarkably humble.
Jiang Nuo was completely confused. After watching them leave, she asked Cui Ming, "What did he say?"
"Whom did I speak well of... Si Yan?"
Cui Ming slapped his thigh. "Ah! I just called Si Yan. He's pretty quick."
Jiang Nuo drawled out an "oh".
"Turns out I'm the little vixen with a sugar daddy backing me up!"
Cui Ming: "..."
Jiang Nuo smiled and buried her head in typing messages for Si Yan.
Wife: Thank you so much, generous sponsor!
Upon seeing Jiang Nuo's message, Si Yan's eyes lit up with an undisguised smile, and the anger she felt during the meeting lessened somewhat.
The two association members, trembling with fear and still waiting to be reprimanded, exchanged a glance and slowly moved away, intending to slip away.
"Young Master, please don't waste our time. Go and keep God Nuo; that's the important thing!"
"Yes, yes, we already know we've made a mistake, we'll just go and accept the punishment ourselves."
Si Yan glanced at him irritably, "Next time, if you scare ordinary people by killing ghosts again, the punishment will be doubled."
"Yes, sir!" the two replied in unison.
--
Lin Youqi got into the car, still looking unwilling. He had clearly copied the same path to Jiang Nuo's meteoric rise to fame, so why couldn't he become a big star?
Despite the severe homogenization in the entertainment industry, new talents still keep emerging one after another.
"Don't look so down. There are plenty of new resources. Why are you trying to pick a fight with Jiang Nuo?"
Qian Qiang's tone was harsh, "Today is just a warning. If Si Yan really takes it seriously one day, you won't even be able to stay in this industry."
Lin Youqi disagreed.
" Si Yan... wasn't he able to escape danger thanks to Jiang Nuo during the live stream? What skills does he have?"
To better imitate Jiang Nuo, Lin Youqi watched all the previous live streams, and was even more surprised, "So you were warned by Si Yan today?"
"What skills? The Dao Xuan Association, which you'd fight tooth and nail to get into, is run by the Si family! The current president Si Mingde, is Si Yan's grandfather. What skills do you think he has?!"
Qian Qiang pinched his brow hard. "If you don't understand, you can ask me. How did I dare to go head-to-head with them!"
"I..."
Lin Youqi bit her lip tightly, completely unaware of this, and finally panicked.
He gripped Qian Qiang's hand tightly, "Uncle, you can't abandon me. I need to join the association and participate in the next live stream so that more people can see me and I can better absorb the Faith Spiritual Power..."
"Besides, you need me to maintain your good luck, don't you..."
Qian Qiang clapped his hands a few times, "Alright, I'll try my best to figure something out. You come with me to our new house first."
"I've been having some family issues lately. If you can resolve them, I'll try to pull some strings and get you into the next live stream."
Lin Youqi was delighted. "Okay! What's the problem?"
Qian Qiang refused to speak now, his expression somewhat strange.
The luxury car slowly drove into the villa, a house that Qian Qiang had recently bought; it was grand and spacious.
As soon as Lin Youqi entered the gate, she shivered from the cold and touched her arm in surprise, "Why is the air conditioning on in this weather?"
"The air conditioning wasn't on. I even turned on the underfloor heating before I came out, but it was still very cold and damp."
Qian Qiang was unaware that the dark aura surrounding his brows deepened after he entered the room.
"Yeah..."
Lin Youqi looked around the entryway. The corner of the corridor leading to the living room was spacious, but it inexplicably made people feel cramped and oppressed.
He knew nothing about feng shui, but he could sense the changes in the Elemental Spiritual Power around him.
This place is eerie.
Sure enough, as soon as Lin Youqi stepped inside, she smelled a very peculiar odor.
"What's that smell? It stinks!"
Lin Youqi wanted to raise his hand to pinch his nose, but the smell was like a gust of wind, and it disappeared before he could react.
It's like... the smell of an old person who has been ill for a long time.
You smelled it too?
Qian Qiang's expression darkened, and he frowned with worry. "Ever since we moved in, this smell has just wouldn't go away."
"We've tried everything, and it's not available all the time."
Lin Youqi narrowed her eyes and glanced at Qian Qiang, "Which place has the strongest smell?"
"Let me think... it should be the room next to the study on the second floor. Judging from the layout, it probably used to be a game room."
As Qian Qiang spoke, he led him upstairs, saying as they walked, "Just do your best. If it really doesn't work, I'll ask someone to contact the Dao Xuan Association."
"Why can't I?"
Lin Youqi felt slighted and was very dissatisfied. She immediately strode upstairs, leaving Qian Qiang far behind.
As soon as I opened the door, a strong smell of old people hit me, like damp sandalwood mixed with years of accumulated plasters and Chinese medicine, stuffy and unpleasant.
Lin Youqi subconsciously pinched her nose, her gaze sweeping over the black cabinet in the corner of the room. Qian Qiang had already reached the door.
"At first I suspected the cabinet, but after the nanny cleaned it inside and out three times, it was gone again when I opened it."
Lin Youqi touched the side of the cabinet that was against the wall. Because of the baseboard, there was a certain distance between the cabinet and the wall.
He reached inside and pulled out a black plastic bag.
"Vomit!"
The two men simultaneously gagged; the smell was incredibly strong. The contents of the black plastic bag were damp and filthy, like a rag that hadn't been washed in over a decade.
"Uncle, go throw this downstairs. I'll dispel the gloom from this room."
"Good."
Qian Qiang left carrying the black plastic bag, already thinking about what resources he could use to exchange for it, but after going down a few steps, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Why are there two footsteps...?
He stopped.
But then I heard the sound of people coming downstairs behind me.
Qian Qiang's body stiffened, and he slowly turned his head.
The old man was emaciated, dressed in a black burial shroud that almost clung to his back, and his face was somber.
"Ah!"