Chapter 100: The Cunning Strategist

"Sister Wang, Director Tian of 'Ode to the Peony' just told me he wants me to play the female lead."

Wang Ling was taken aback for a moment. She was aware of the news that "Ode to the Peony" was recasting, but the previous encounter had been so unpleasant. Furthermore, since Bai Chenxi had told her that the director didn't think much of her at all, Wang Ling hadn't given it any more thought.

Now that Director Tian had approached her again, Wang Ling inquired further and said, "Alright, I understand. I'll look into it shortly." She was determined not to let a repeat of the previous incident occur.

"What are your thoughts? Do you still want to take the role?" This was something that ultimately depended on her own wishes.

Bai Chenxi felt conflicted. "I'm not sure. Director Tian just told me that the previous incident was stirred up by Chairman Che. Everyone at the audition knew it, but apart from the director, no one warned me. I'm afraid there might be another Chairman Che."

Wang Ling understood her concerns and offered comfort. "Don't worry, I'll go look into it."

Before long, Wang Ling called back, her tone complex. "Chenxi, be honest with me—what is your relationship with President Jiang?"

Bai Chenxi was puzzled. Why would she ask that out of the blue? "There's no relationship. It’s fine if people outside spread rumors, but you shouldn't doubt me."

Wang Ling paused for a moment before speaking. "I trust you, but do you know who the investor for 'Ode to the Peony' is?"

Hearing the tone in Wang Ling’s voice, Bai Chenxi asked uncertainly, "Jiang Jize?"

"Yes," Wang Ling responded from the other end. "You mentioned before that the director didn't think highly of you. Now that he's coming back to you, could it be at President Jiang's behest?"

It was hard for Wang Ling not to be suspicious. The timing of President Jiang’s appearances had been so convenient, as if he were specifically there to rescue Bai Chenxi. Later, to suppress the scandals, he had directly secured her the role of the second female lead in 'The Tribulation of Beauty.' After all these events, even Wang Ling couldn't confidently claim there was no connection.

Wang Ling still sounded skeptical. "Are you really sure there's nothing between you and President Jiang?"

"There truly isn't." He was only looking out for me because of Chu Muyun. But she couldn't mention Chu Muyun; if she explained it poorly, it would only give Sister Wang more of a headache.

"Nothing? Then what about him visiting the set a few days ago?"

Wang Ling felt she had been respectful of Bai Chenxi’s choices. She knew about the set visit, but since the media hadn't leaked it, she had chosen to play along. Now, however, she could no longer pretend. Bai Chenxi wasn't surprised that Sister Wang knew.

"Sister Wang, he didn't come to see me, truly. At most, President Jiang and I have only met a few times."

Bai Chenxi spoke with such sincerity that Wang Ling stopped pressing. She moved on to the subject of "Ode to the Peony."

"The current investor for 'Ode to the Peony' is Kaijia Culture, so what you're worried about shouldn't happen. However, if you still want to take the role, there is another issue."

"What issue?"

"Director Li doesn't allow actors to work on multiple projects simultaneously. 'Ode to the Peony' will surely be in a rush to start filming, and I don't think you'll have the time."

Bai Chenxi replied, "Director Tian said he would negotiate that with Director Li."

Wang Ling agreed readily. "Okay! Then that's not a problem. Let me know once you’ve made your decision."

Bai Chenxi hung up the phone. She had been very adamant when telling Wang Ling that she had no relationship with Jiang Jize, but she wasn't so sure herself. Looking at Jiang Jize’s somewhat unreliable personality, it was possible he really did have something to do with it. Who knew if he had misunderstood something and was trying to make things easier for her?

Seeing Bai Chenxi approach, Tian Jie’s eyes lit up. "Well? Have you made up your mind?"

"Director Tian, I truly appreciate your recognition. As you know, I am currently on Director Li’s set, and I must complete my work here first. If the schedules don't align, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline."

Director Li looked smug at this, but Tian Jie lacked the patience for such talk. "Don't mind him—just tell me, are you doing it or not? If you are, we'll coordinate the schedules."

Director Li became annoyed. "Hey! What do you mean 'don't mind me'? She's still on my set!" *You think you can just take her without my approval?*

"Go on, say it," Tian Jie said, crossing his arms and watching him, waiting to see what he would come up with.

Director Li finally relented. After a long pause, he muttered, "I expect full dedication here too. If I catch even a hint of slacking off, she won't be coming back."

Tian Jie cast a look of disdain at Director Li. *Tch! And here I thought you’d say something impressive!* He then turned his fiery gaze back to Bai Chenxi, waiting for her answer.

Seeing the director’s intensity, Bai Chenxi couldn't bear to say she had one more question.

"Director, I have one more question."

Tian Jie squeezed the word out through his teeth: "Speak!"

He had realized that Bai Chenxi was there to test his patience. Director Li, knowing his colleague’s short temper, laughed uncharitably.

"It’s just... Director, did you choose me because of Jiang Ji... President Jiang?"

"What?" Tian Jie looked confused. "You were my choice. What does President Jiang have to do with this?"

Tian Jie was nearly driven mad by Bai Chenxi’s hesitation, but Director Li understood and gave Bai Chenxi a long, meaningful look.

Hearing that it had nothing to do with Jiang Jize, Bai Chenxi finally made up her mind. "I'll do it!"

"Good!" Tian Jie said happily, and he and Director Li immediately began coordinating the schedules. Bai Chenxi stood there, completely ignored.

*Bai Chenxi thought: Shouldn't I be the star here?*

***

"Brother, Director Tian just told me the lead for 'Ode to the Peony' has been cast. Guess who it is?" As soon as Jiang Jize received the call, he immediately notified Chu Muyun.

"Bai Chenxi," Chu Muyun said with certainty.

Jiang Jize was impressed. "Brother Chu, you knew the director would choose Bai Chenxi, which is why you didn't want me to intervene, right?"

"I didn't know. But I did know that if you had designated Bai Chenxi, she wouldn't have taken the role."

Jiang Jize was even more impressed. "That's why you're Brother Chu for you! The director just mentioned that she even asked if it was my idea to cast her as the lead."

Chu Muyun suddenly remembered something and asked, "Is 'Ode to the Peony' also filming at the Film and Television City?"

"Yeah! Why?"

Jiang Jize felt he understood and said enthusiastically, "Don't worry, both dramas are at the Film and Television City; she won't be overworked."

*Chu Muyun thought: She was supposed to come home once filming finished. Now that she's taken 'Ode to the Peony,' there's no telling when she’ll be back. Can I admit that this was a miscalculation?*

Once the matter was settled, the impatient Tian Jie rushed to make the official announcement, afraid that any delay might lead to complications.

As soon as the news of Bai Chenxi starring in "Ode to the Peony" hit the internet, the long-dormant haters became active again.

[Doesn't Director Li have a rule against working on two projects at once?]

[I’ll just say this: the investor is Kaijia Culture. Those who know, know.]

[Director Li and Director Tian are classmates. Can't they have just worked it out between them?]

[So she really does have connections, she can do whatever she wants. I wonder if Tang Ziyu's role will be reduced to the female lead's sidekick.]

[Are you joking? Tang Ziyu has strong backers too, otherwise why would Bai Chenxi be the second lead in the first place?]

[Fine! I'm actually a bit comforted by that. Having connections is a good thing; I feel like my values are on the verge of collapse.]

[There are plenty of actors with open schedules. Why does it have to be Bai Chenxi? Who believes there's nothing fishy going on?]

[Speaking frankly, I think Bai Chenxi is too soft. She might have been okay for the early stages of Huang Wanrou, but she won't be able to carry the later stages.]

[Bai Chenxi can only play an expressionless, fragile young lady; she can't act anything else.]

[My Lady Lan is deep, patient, and wise. How did she become an 'expressionless, fragile young lady'?]

[Bai Chenxi was only watchable in 'Beauty of the Empire'; everything else has been unremarkable.]

[Except for the variety show, haven't her other dramas not aired yet?]

Bai Chenxi was a newcomer who had been in the industry for less than a year. She had debuted with "Beauty of the Empire," which aired toward the end of the year. Because she was new, she had no backlog of work, and her newly filmed dramas hadn't aired yet, leading to the awkward situation where she had nothing to show for herself except for her breakout role.