Shao Dong was startled by this reaction, feeling that Liang Han’s attitude was a bit too certain.
Hadn’t he just said that the boy didn’t take a liking to him? Why did his current words sound like a different story altogether?
Perhaps something had happened between Liang Han and that young boy earlier that he wasn’t aware of.
He wanted to say something more to test the waters, but Liang Han cut him off by changing the subject: “Stop talking about these irrelevant things and think properly about the project! There are still several roles short of people; finding everyone as soon as possible is the real business. Director Cen has joined in too. Once the script is refined, we’ll need to consider scene planning, finalize the filming locations, and prepare to start shooting. You’ll have plenty to be busy with then.”
Shao Dong: “…”
I just wanted to gossip a bit; is there any need to pressure me like this!
But Liang Han’s words weren’t false; he truly would be very busy later on.
After Cen Ping went back and signed the contract, now that the lead director was confirmed, the entire project team was more or less complete.
The screenwriting group received the detailed requirements from Cen Ping and Liang Han and began revising the script; the props group officially entered the production stage; the location scouts were conducting field research on filming sites and even planning to build sets.
Only the casting group was still continuing to select actors.
In the past, after a project was established, Liang Han would lead these tasks. Unfortunately, since he was taking the lead role this time, he didn’t have much time, so Shao Dong had to take over.
As the second-in-command, he had to manage everything, naturally making him busy to the point of exhaustion.
Fortunately, Shao Dong wasn’t working alone; he had assistants and heads of various departments. However, even with people under him, he still had to oversee everything personally, as Liang Han was very strict about project control requirements. These situations had to be reported to him later for his final decision.
“Eh? Didn’t you say you were going to be busy looking at actual filming locations today? Why are you here?”
Shao Dong was sitting in the audition meeting room, flipping through the resumes of artists that had recently been submitted. He was a bit surprised to see Liang Han walk in.
Liang Han simply said, “One day won’t hurt. I came to see who is coming for auditions today.”
He originally hadn’t intended to come, but he thought that if that young boy showed up, he wouldn’t have much experience. If he didn’t perform well enough and was excluded by Shao Dong, it would be a waste of time. It was better for him to come and watch in person.
Shao Dong didn’t think much of it. He knew Liang Han placed great importance on interviewing for roles; it was only because he was too busy last time that he hadn’t come.
Actually, they had mostly finished hiring for the major roles. For other secondary actors, they were in contact with veteran actors with proven skills, so it wasn’t much of a hassle.
Now, only the third male lead remained without a satisfactory choice. Because this role was young and the screen time was significant, there were requirements for both appearance and acting skills. Many people had submitted resumes, but so far, only one, Song Yuanxi, seemed to meet the requirements.
He handed over the resumes he had received. Since the people hadn’t arrived yet, he still had the mind for idle chatter: “Have you checked Weibo recently? I said Shen Yu’s side was going to pull some stunts, and sure enough. Those marketing accounts started releasing press releases these past two days.”
Liang Han nodded, took the stack of resumes, and replied casually, “Xiao Yang told me. I thought the press releases would come out that very night, but I didn’t expect Shen Yu to have some patience and wait a few more days.”
Shao Dong smiled, clearly understanding Shen Yu’s thoughts: “He’s just feeling guilty. If he had people release press releases that night, wouldn’t it be obvious that it couldn’t be disconnected from him? Besides, these marketing accounts didn’t release photos or videos isn’t that just because they’re afraid people will dig up the fact that he was there that night too, and it would burn back onto him?”
His tone carried clear disdain; he looked down on Shen Yu’s petty tricks.
Shao Dong looked at him: “By the way, what are your plans this time? Are you going to let it slide as easily as before?”
Shao Dong used to be the manager in charge of Liang Han’s studio affairs, but later he became a partner and stepped back from the studio. Now, Liang Han manages the studio himself, and Shao Dong doesn’t interfere much in its affairs.
In previous clashes of public opinion, Shao Dong was the one who handled them. Later, when Liang Han went behind the scenes to manage things himself, he didn’t pay much attention to Shen Yu and didn’t haggle too much when situations arose.
Shao Dong thought he was going to let it slide again, but to his surprise, Liang Han denied it: “I’ve already instructed the studio to pay close attention and had the partner law firm issue lawyer’s letters to be submitted to the court. Not a single one of those marketing accounts will be let off. As for Shen Yu, I’ve endured him so many times before; he probably really thinks of me as a soft persimmon with no temper. Naturally, I have to show him some color.”
That night, in front of the young boy, he hadn’t given Shen Yu face, and Shen Yu hadn’t given him face either. They had more or less torn off the mask of politeness. Since that was the case, there was no need to pretend to be a Bodhisattva.
He wasn’t a Bodhisattva, nor had he ever thought of being one.
As Liang Han spoke, his gaze was concentrated on the resumes in his hand, specifically on the artists’ photos trying to find that face that had frequently appeared in his dreams these past few nights, smiling at him.
Shao Dong was quite surprised and looked at Liang Han, but he also highly agreed: “It should be this way. In the past, the rumors about you were all fabricated between you and female stars you worked with; the studio would just clarify and it would pass. This is the first time someone has rumored you with an unknown stranger, and a same-sex one at that. Many passersby who don’t know the truth will undoubtedly believe it.”
After all, when people in the circle spread rumors of an affair, many people think it’s just hype to gain traffic.
But if one party is from outside the circle, netizens will find it much more credible there’s no smoke without fire; a stranger isn’t seeking exposure, so there’s no need, right?
Liang Han didn’t pay attention to these words. He flipped through the stack of resumes in silence for a long time until he reached the bottom, yet he didn’t see that person’s photo.
Liang Han placed the stack of resumes back on the table in front of Shao Dong, his movements carrying a bit of annoyance.
“What’s wrong?”
Shao Dong raised an eyebrow, seeing that he wasn’t unhappy because of the online rumors, and said in confusion, “These people haven’t even arrived yet, and you’re already dissatisfied? I think some of them look quite good; maybe their acting is okay too. We can pick a suitable one when the time comes.”
Liang Han didn’t speak; he just sat there, his face somewhat dark. After a moment, he asked again, “Is this all of them? Are there any missing?”
Shao Dong looked at him strangely: “That’s it. I just organized them; all the resumes submitted are right here.”
Liang Han’s brow furrowed. He had told that young boy the location; why hadn’t the person come to submit a resume?
“What is it? Is there someone you took a liking to who isn’t in there?”
Shao Dong saw his expression and caught the general meaning. He gave his assistant a look while asking curiously, “Who have you taken a liking to?”
The assistant opened the laptop and rechecked: “I’ve compiled the resumes received from all platforms. None have been missed.”
Liang Han looked toward the door, his expression suddenly softening: “It’s nothing. Let’s prepare for the auditions.”
He suddenly remembered that he hadn’t given the other party an email or a phone number, only the location and time. He might not see the person until the actual audition began.
…
After Song Yuanxi went back, he studied the matter of “drawing a big pie.” In truth, there wasn’t much he could do.
Since he wanted to be an artist under Liang Han, he had to demonstrate his professional abilities and let him see his value. So, he compiled the roles he had played since his debut and organized the relevant videos with all materials that could showcase his acting skills.
He also organized photos others had taken of him; at the very least, they could prove he had some sense of fashion and commercial potential.
While doing this, he was also looking for people to inquire about Liang Han’s schedule, preparing to find an opportunity to meet him privately.
His good friend Xu Rao had no leads this time; he had no connection to Liang Han and wasn’t even in the same film crew.
He could only try to contact some people he knew from previous filming who had interacted with Liang Han before, but none of these people knew Liang Han’s private schedule.
Liang Han spent most of his time behind the scenes now, and his schedule was kept confidential. It was actually very difficult to find out anything outside. Not to mention his own social circle, he even used a side account to sneak into Liang Han’s “Super Topic” fan group, but even those “Big Fans” didn’t know Liang Han’s schedule.
They were even very defensive: [Why are you asking about Brother Han’s schedule? Are you a sasaeng fan?]
The fans’ reaction in the group made Song Yuanxi’s heart jump. He hurriedly explained that he wasn’t, but they didn’t believe him.
[Why ask about Brother Han’s schedule for no reason? Brother Han has been behind the scenes for so long; except for official events and endorsements, he basically has no public schedule. Which fan doesn’t know that?]
[Asking about the schedule isn’t that just wanting to know Brother Han’s private schedule? What are you if not a sasaeng?]
[If not a sasaeng, then you’re a spy from another fandom coming in to stir up trouble!]
[Could it be someone from Shen Yu’s camp?]
[Highly likely. These past two days, the marketing accounts that often leak news for them have been slandering our Brother Han, saying he’s gay. They probably know Brother Han is starting a new drama soon and are deliberately making up rumors to slander him.]
[Speaking of this makes me angry. Our Brother Han is a total straight man, yet he’s being falsely accused of messing around with young boys at a club. How is that possible! It’s clearly a case of ‘the thief crying thief’; I bet it’s Shen Yu himself messing around with young boys in private and deliberately framing our Brother Han! Truly shameless!]
Seeing these words, Song Yuanxi felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
He naturally knew about this. Since returning from the club, he had been paying close attention to news about Liang Han. He even used his side account to follow Liang Han’s Weibo and studio, so he naturally saw the relevant public opinion.
Some marketing accounts said Liang Han was messing around with young boys at a club and that he wasn’t straight.
Song Yuanxi felt a headache coming on when he saw it. Luckily, those posts didn’t have photos or videos.
Otherwise, he would have become the person in the center of the storm. If Liang Han further misunderstood that he was intentionally trying to get close to him, or even thought he had hired paparazzi to get benefits, his plan would be completely ruined.
Fortunately, Liang Han had a very good reputation for many years, so not many people believed this leak only anti-fans were celebrating everywhere.
However, Liang Han’s fans were still furious. These past two days, they had been patrolling everywhere, reporting any marketing accounts they saw spreading rumors.
Seeing a side account in the group asking about Liang Han’s schedule now naturally led to inevitable suspicion.
[Is their house about to finish a drama?]
[Obviously, yes. That spy drama or whatever, it’s about to wrap up. I heard the next drama is almost set too. They’re rushing the publicity budget and catching us to fleece; it’s been so many years!]
[We haven’t settled the old accounts with them yet! Now they’re starting to stir up trouble again. This account might just be an undercover fan coming to lead the charge!]
[Looking at it, it’s still a side account with no activity even more suspicious!]
[Wait, how did the group admin let this person in without a review? Just kick them out!]
Song Yuanxi had just entered and posted one question and one explanation. Before he even had time to look closely at the group messages, he was kicked out of the Super Topic fan group.
“…”
He now knew why Liang Han’s attitude toward Shen Yu had been so impolite that day, and why Shen Yu had stared at him with that kind of look.
It seemed the feud between the two sides had been long-established. His actions had been treated as a pillar of shame by Shen Yu, which was why he looked at him that way he probably hated him now.
Song Yuanxi took a deep breath, unable to help but worry. Shen Yu was only slighted by Liang Han and already treated him like this.
Wouldn’t the person who directly caused Shen Yu to lose face be even more unlucky?
He didn’t know how Shen Yu would deal with him later.
But for now, Shen Yu didn’t know his identity; he could only hope that he found out later.
At the moment, the problem with his own company was more serious.
Song Yuanxi had been kicked out of the fan group and failed to find out news of Liang Han’s travels. Thinking about it, he decided it was better to just go to the audition place to find him.