Chapter 15: Not Bad, Luckily My Mind Didn’t Burn Out
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This episode’s guest was Jin Yuqi, a comedy actor with impressive box office success. Pei Baoyuan had seen quite a few films starring her and held a favorable impression of her.
By the fourth episode, the show had grown from attracting little attention to gaining a rapidly increasing audience after the previous two episodes. The production team was overwhelmed with fan mail, their hands nearly numb from sorting it all. Before the recording began, Pei Baoyuan even saw staff wheeling a whole box of letters over.
As the host of the program, Pei Baoyuan genuinely felt happy.
She had been feverish and listless at first, barely able to keep up her energy until the phone-in segment began, when she managed to muster some spirit.
There was a reason for that—this part of the show always brought out explosive personalities and shocking revelations.
Today’s caller was even more extraordinary. If Pei Baoyuan hadn’t been an insider, she would have suspected these callers were planted by the production team.
The line connected to a young man who immediately stunned everyone in the studio with his introduction.
He claimed to be an eighteenth-tier actor in the entertainment industry and even called in under his real name.
Guan Yuxiao revealed, “When I signed the contract with the crew, including the early promotion for this drama, I was the male lead. I’m just a bit player at the bottom tier, and the crew was fairly average, but then suddenly, when filming started, a parachuted-in male lead appeared.”
“This lead actor was a well-known star from several years ago—my senior in the industry. At first, I never thought he’d compete with me for the lead role, but honestly, I never cared about billing; I just wanted to act well.”
“I kept trying to tolerate things, but he mistook that for weakness. He didn’t even show up at the script reading and began acting like a diva during filming.”
The studio fell utterly silent.
Had their show become so good that people in the industry were now rushing in to spill secrets?
And this was live!!!
The producers couldn’t bear to cut off this segment, not wanting to lose such precious drama and viewer engagement.
“This drama was filmed in the Northeast in the dead of winter, with temperatures below minus ten degrees. After I finished makeup and hair, dressed in thin costume, I waited on set for over an hour, and he still hadn’t arrived. Isn’t that diva behavior?”
“I told the director about his antics. The director assured me he’d handle it, but three days later, I was kicked off the crew. What did I do wrong? Just because I pointed out his diva behavior? Does being the lead and an older actor make him untouchable?”
[This guy’s got guts, daring to name names.]
[This drama is airing now; are you trying to ruin them? Haha.]
[The director and that senior actor are a couple. Foolish kid, don’t meddle in a couple’s private affairs.]
[LOL, complaining about someone’s husband—no wonder they kicked you off the set.]
Pei Baoyuan stared wide-eyed.
Sure enough, every industry had its own unspoken rules.
At this moment, Pei Baoyuan felt a surge of vitality.
Guan Yuxiao continued, “Several of you here are insiders in the industry. What do you make of what I’ve said? How would you judge this?”
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Chu Yunbo: “......”
Jin Yuqi: “......”
Zhao Kang: “......”
Not a single person dared to speak.
Chu Yunbo and Jin Yuqi were professional actors who would return to filming after the show. Without knowing the truth or the veracity of the claims, they dared not comment. Even if they knew, they wouldn’t dare speak up.
How could they judge? That would only invite trouble.
Zhao Kang, though a professional host, was too smooth and cautious to offend anyone.
Guan Yuxiao grew increasingly frustrated, angrily asking, “Teachers, do you all dare not judge? Are you afraid?”
The studio fell into a deathly silence.
Clearing her throat twice, Pei Baoyuan finally spoke amid all eyes.
“Mr. Guan, I’m truly sorry to hear about your experience. From what you’ve described about the director and that senior actor, I also strongly disapprove of their behavior.”
“Mixing personal feelings with work is highly unprofessional. This kind of thing happens all too often across many industries. So, Mr. Guan, I can only express my deepest sympathy. Beyond that, I’m afraid I can do nothing else.”
Pei Baoyuan’s expression was grim but composed as she stared into the camera and spoke evenly.
“Mr. Guan, thank you for your call and for sharing your troubles with us. Let’s take the next call. Goodbye.”
The production team quickly switched to the next caller.
Everyone there, except Pei Baoyuan, had been on pins and needles.
After the recording ended, Chu Yunbo exhaled deeply and walked beside Pei Baoyuan, complaining, “It feels like I gambled my entire career recording this show. Each caller is bolder than the last, saying whatever they want.”
Pei Baoyuan smiled. “I didn’t expect it to get more explosive each time.”
“No way—you were the calmest of the four of us just now. Really impressive,” Chu Yunbo praised her generously.
Inwardly, Pei Baoyuan thought that without her influential background, she might never have dared say such things.
Back in her dressing room, Pei Baoyuan felt utterly drained.
She wasn’t just hot; her whole body ached and felt weak. She guessed she had caught a chill last night while tussling with Huo Yanci at the doorstep.
After scolding Huo Yanci from head to toe in her mind, she lacked the energy to speak and leaned against the sofa, drowsy and wanting to sleep.
The sofa was uncomfortable, and footsteps outside were unusually loud.
Pei Baoyuan thought, I’ll just close my eyes for a bit and get up soon.
She didn’t know how long she had dozed before the ringing of her phone woke her.
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Without checking the caller ID, she answered.
“Hello...” Her voice was hoarse and barely recognizable from the persistent fever.
“...”
There was a pause on the other end, then a cold voice laced with anger spoke.
“Pei Baoyuan, where are you?”
“...”
Slowly, she processed the question, groggily opened her eyes, took in her surroundings, and replied, “I’m in the makeup room.”
In truth, her mind was muddled, her head in a fog, and it was only sheer willpower that forced her to utter those final words. After that, she heard nothing but a continuous ringing in her ears.
When she woke again, daylight flooded the room.
Everything was white.
Pei Baoyuan wondered if her unrelenting fever had finally claimed her and if she’d been taken to heaven—until her hand brushed something furry.
It was hair—blue hair, belonging to Ke Xianbo.
Her mind blanked momentarily.
[Ahhh, the supporting actress finally woke up! Your fever almost hit 40 degrees; we thought you were gone!]
[It was Ke Xianbo who rushed you to the hospital overnight and stayed with you all night!]
She gradually recalled that before she passed out, she had answered a call, and the person was angrily asking where she was. So... this person was Ke Xianbo.
The head beside her moved slightly.
The man awoke, sat up straight, and seeing Pei Baoyuan’s wide-open eyes, smiled faintly.
“Well, you’re awake. Do you know who I am?”
“Ke Xianbo.”
Ke Xianbo patted Pei Baoyuan’s head approvingly. “Not bad. Good thing your brain isn’t fried from the fever.”