Chapter 133: A Comparison

Zhu Qin still remembered the grudge from the past, and naturally, Han Sen could not forget the origins of his own rise to fame.

Yet, looking at Zhu Qin’s latest Weibo post, Han Sen had long since lost his former arrogance and sense of triumph, replaced by an uncontrollable, suffocating panic. Even the blatant targeting by Guo Kai and Song Wan paled in comparison to this single post—times had changed. Zhu Qin was no longer the stepping stone he could exploit, nor was she someone he could suppress at will due to her lack of background.

She was now the young mistress of a powerful, wealthy family.

Because Zhu Qin had not moved against him after her marriage, Han Sen had almost forgotten the deep-seated hatred between them. He had foolishly assumed that because her life was so smooth and prosperous, she had simply forgotten about a person like him.

The reality now hit him with the force of how naive he had been. It made sense; if someone had ruined his own promising future, he would never give up on revenge, no matter how good his life became afterward.

Terrified and unable to find peace, Han Sen’s only recourse was to call Tang Su. But Tang Su’s phone was currently in the hands of Qin Fei. Qin Fei glanced at the caller ID, his eyes turning cold, and he hung up the call immediately.

"Beep, beep, beep... I'm sorry, the user you are calling is currently on another line..."

Han Sen paced back and forth in agitation, dialing Tang Su’s number over and over, only to be met with constant rejection. Ten minutes later, his patience exhausted, he slammed his phone against the wall.

The assistant standing nearby cautiously picked up the shattered device and placed it on the table before Han Sen. "Brother Han, maybe we should just go find Sister Tang in person..."

"Go to hell! Why would I go looking for that old woman?" Han Sen’s eyes were bloodshot. "Just wait. I will make Tang Su crawl back to me!"

The assistant hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze. Reflecting on the past two days of working for Han Sen, the newcomer felt like crying—*Brother Xiao Duo, how on earth did you endure Brother Han’s temper for so many years? It’s only been a day or two, and I’m already ready to quit!*

***

After Zhu Qin’s post went live, it was immediately echoed by many in the industry. This response clearly exceeded her expectations. "Honey, why is the cast of *Prosperous Stars* reposting my Weibo?"

Even after marriage, Zhu Qin retained a rare, childlike innocence. Her husband stroked her hair tenderly and let out a soft chuckle. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. It’s an ancient adage, and they surely understand it well."

Unlike Zhu Qin, her husband had grown up navigating the shark-infested waters of fame and fortune. He had seen and experienced so much that he saw the underlying motive immediately. He didn't mind explaining it to her. While he loved her innocence, he didn't want her to become "naive." Naive women were the most vulnerable and the easiest to destroy.

Zhu Qin realized the truth instantly and didn't find it strange. She didn't care for power struggles, but she didn't blame others for engaging in them, provided they had boundaries and didn't harm the innocent. Besides, having watched the whole affair unfold, she knew the *Prosperous Stars* crew was simply launching a legitimate counterattack.

"Should we form an alliance with them?" Zhu Qin asked her husband after a moment of thought.

Her husband shook his head. "No need. While they target Han Sen and his associates, our people will provide support from the shadows."

Though, he suspected they didn't even need such help. Judging by the current situation, the *Prosperous Stars* production team had backing, resources, and a ruthless edge. They were clearly intent on dragging Han Sen down without any regard for Tang Su or Mingcheng Film and Television. His own meager assistance wouldn't change the outcome much.

He was merely curious why Mingcheng Film and Television would choose to abandon Han Sen at such a critical moment. Tang Su, a madwoman, was practically tied to Han Sen; abandoning him was effectively abandoning her. And Tang Su was Mingcheng’s top star. This behavior was clearly irrational.

"Honey, what are you thinking about?" Zhu Qin looked at him with a puzzled expression.

The man shook his head. "Just curious about who is behind *Prosperous Stars* to make Mingcheng Film and Television give up on Tang Su."

"Oh?"

The man ruffled her hair. "It’s nothing. This is a good thing for us."

He had long wanted to exact revenge for Zhu Qin, but because a senior executive at Mingcheng was a close friend of his father’s, and the power dynamics were so intricately tangled, he couldn't act without absolute certainty. He had been forced to endure until now. Seeing this opportunity, how could he let it slip away?

***

Song Wan’s acting had transcended the boundaries of gender. When Zhou Qi saw Song Wan portray the role that had made Han Sen a star, capturing the essence of the character so perfectly that one completely forgot her gender, the realization came naturally to his lips.

"Song Wan, you will be a Best Actress winner sooner or later!" Zhou Qi watched her with undisguised admiration.

Song Wan laughed. "Director Zhou, you’re exaggerating."

Even if she had talent, were there really so few people with acting skills in this industry? Could it be said that those who had already won Best Actor or Best Actress trophies were truly the only ones with the best acting?

No. Perhaps a few were truly peerless, but for many, their acting wasn't the absolute pinnacle. Yet, they held the trophies that other actors dreamed of, while those with better skills were left in silence. Why? Because acting alone does not guarantee a trophy.

Acting is the foundation, of course, but other factors cannot be ignored—the film's subject matter, the director, the content, whether the film festival favors your genre, the average quality of the competition that year, and the caliber of other actors...

You might have every prerequisite for winning, but without the right connections or a proper PR strategy, you could still miss out on your dream. Often, talent isn't enough; you need luck. And Song Wan never considered herself lucky.

Zhou Qi thought for a moment but remained unfazed. "You’ve already connected with Qian Fu and Zhao Qing, and Cai Qi has a great impression of you. With resources like that, I don't see how you wouldn't win."

Qian Fu aside—he was a commercial director who cared little for awards—Zhao Qing and Cai Qi were renowned directors across the Nine Provinces. Their films aiming for international awards rarely missed. As long as they held Song Wan in high regard, they would eventually cast her. That was why Zhou Qi was so certain.

He set his phone aside and continued to watch Song Wan’s performance on the monitor, a constant, satisfied curve on his lips.

Guo Kai, who had always wanted to compete with Song Wan, sat to the side, looking dejected. Gao Xiang had been monitoring the online situation, as two of her artists were involved, and she wouldn't allow any accidents. Looking up to rest her eyes, she noticed Guo Kai’s odd demeanor.

She understood the reason after a brief thought. "Discouraged because your acting, which you’ve always been proud of, can't compare to Song Wan’s?"

Gao Xiang had met Guo Kai on a set long ago and treated him like a younger brother. Seeing him struggle, she couldn't just sit by. She put down her phone and looked at him. "There is always someone better. Didn't I tell you long ago that Song Wan has more talent than you?"

"Is what you say the same as what I’ve seen with my own eyes?" Guo Kai sighed, glancing at Song Wan. "How is her brain wired? How is her talent even better than mine?"

Since they would be sharing the same agent, they were essentially fellow disciples. He couldn't afford to be ignorant of his rival, so he had investigated her thoroughly. He knew *Immortal of the Clouds* was her first series, and her performance had been excellent. He couldn't deny her skill, but he had assumed they were on par—at least until now.

Even though Zhou Qi and Gao Xiang had warned him, he had been stubborn. He had even developed a rebellious streak, determined to prove himself. But in this first clash, he had lost completely.

In the same scene, both imitating Han Sen while adding their own interpretations, the final result forced Guo Kai to admit that Song Wan’s acting was far superior. Even if online praise seemed balanced, he knew it was only because he had the advantage of his gender. Even with her obvious skill, some chauvinistic netizens would ignore her talent just to praise him.

Knowing this only made him feel worse. He couldn't help but doubt if those who praised him actually believed he was better, or if it was just bias.

Gao Xiang chuckled at his dejection. "What’s the big deal? Forget Song Wan, even..." She paused, sighing. "There are plenty of people in this world with better acting skills than you. People with more talent are rare, but they exist. At the very least... besides Song Wan, I’ve seen one other."