The album’s production had been carefully planned over months, but now it was being rushed to release ahead of schedule. What was Universal aiming for?
Gu Yaxing knew.
They were targeting Luo Ding.
He wasn’t paranoid—Universal had been suppressing them for years. Luo Ding was now Yaxing Studio’s brightest star, and his upcoming EP was expected to dominate the awards circuit, securing both popularity and newcomer accolades.
However, if Mellen released their album at the same time, Luo Ding would be completely overshadowed.
With 16 members, the group would dominate both group and individual popularity. The battle would be fierce, and Gu Yaxing could already foresee how brutal it would be.
Universal was ruthless.
This was their usual tactic—crushing their competitors before they even had a chance to fight back. Precise, calculated, and quick.
Luo Ding needed to expand his exposure, and before Universal’s plans could take full effect, Gu Yaxing aimed to secure as many wins as possible.
Sure enough, the news stirred up a storm.
Within the industry, people weren’t jealous or envious of Luo Ding—they were puzzled.
Who had he offended this time?
A new actor who hadn’t fully broken into the mainstream was now rumored to be starring in *Blade Warrior III*? How was that possible?
*Blade Warrior III* was a symbol of grandeur and a pioneering force in the industry. Even if director Carmen Clovis lost his mind, the momentum of the first two films would ensure that any new role in the third film would garner immense attention.
Was this a joke? Even established Chinese stars with Hollywood aspirations wouldn’t dare make such baseless claims.
The public, however, was none the wiser. Seeing the news, they didn’t question its validity. Instead, they spread it like wildfire. Many “international stars” had risen and fallen through similar hype, only to be exposed later as frauds.
For such stars, the collapse came swiftly, and their fabricated fame turned into their final undoing.
With *Blade Warrior III* set to announce its cast soon, people would quickly see whether the rumors were true. If they weren’t, Luo Ding would be branded a liar.
And liars or celebrities bragging were : Low. (Kinda not worthy, small)
Luo Ding’s carefully built reputation would be shattered.
Many people even felt a bit sorry for him.
He had been unlucky, rising so quickly only to be targeted by such a powerful enemy. Pulling off a stunt like this required significant resources and deep-seated hatred.
Still, some people couldn’t help but gloat.
Luo Ding had become famous too fast. Despite his likable personality, his meteoric rise was a sin, and many who had never met him hoped this scandal would end his career.
It seemed Universal Entertainment was thinking the same.
Luo Ding had many rational fans, but the entertainment world was small, and most of his supporters didn’t understand the underhanded tactics of the industry. When the news broke, their first reaction was joy.
Though some had doubts about the lack of official confirmation, the overwhelming excitement led many to celebrate and share the news. By the time they started questioning it, the damage had been done.
Three days later, at the height of the speculation, Universal Entertainment made their move.
“Luo Ding, I swear it wasn’t me!” Wu Yuan sounded frantic over the phone. “Did you only tell Pan Yiming and me about the audition? As soon as I saw the news, I called you! There’s been no outsiders on the set, and we’ve only discussed it privately. We didn’t tell anyone!”
Those with experience in the industry could see that the timing and escalation of the rumors were no accident. There was clear malice behind it. Feeling guilty, Wu Yuan had called to clear the air, wanting to ensure Luo Ding didn’t suspect him or Pan Yiming.
“I know it wasn’t you two,” Luo Ding reassured him gently. He hadn’t known about Gu Yaxing’s plan, so he had told them about the audition. Now that the rumors were spreading and his friends were worried, he felt bad for dragging them into it. “I already know who’s behind this. It’s a personal grudge involving my boss. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
After hanging up, he turned to Gu Yaxing, who was sitting nearby, staring intently at his computer. “How’s it looking?”
Gu Yaxing turned to face him, looking particularly sharp and energized—probably a result of Yaxing Studio’s recent success.
“They’ve taken the bait.”
Sure enough, the first to act was Universal Entertainment. Gu Yaxing had learned to detect the tone of certain PR agencies they regularly worked with—sensational headlines, unflattering photos, ambiguous wording meant to stir up speculation.
The tone had already shifted, with rogue PR teams sneaking in to hype Luo Ding with over-the-top praise, setting him up for a fall.
Gu Yaxing’s initial release had only hinted that Luo Ding “might” appear in a Hollywood film.
Now, the headlines were filled with absolute certainty.
The backlash was building slowly.
First came a list of Chinese stars who had succeeded in Hollywood, a nostalgic look at past achievements. Compared to these well-established names, Luo Ding seemed insignificant.
The stark contrast planted seeds of doubt.
Then came reports about Hollywood’s resistance to foreign actors, detailing the years of struggle faced by those who had eventually made it big. Luo Ding, once again, seemed like an outlier. If he really were part of such a huge production, why hadn’t there been an official announcement?
It was all going according to plan.
Gu Yaxing watched the situation evolve in real time, feeling as though his heart, which had grown weary with age, was now armored with steel.
“Go home and rest,” he told Luo Ding, his eyes gleaming with determination. “The EP is launching by Sunday. Make sure you’re in top shape.”
Luo Ding sighed at the sight of his fighting spirit. “You too—get some rest.”
The storm hit with full force.
Universal seemed to be pulling every resource at its disposal to take down a rising star.
The following day, a carefully orchestrated hit piece appeared on online forums.
The article began by recounting the stories of several once-famous stars whose reputations had been destroyed by false advertising. After establishing this context, the writer turned to Luo Ding.
First, they praised his talent, acknowledging his success in both singing and dancing. Then, they shifted to a more condescending tone, warning him not to get ahead of himself and to “take things one step at a time.”
The article was scathing, and Luo Ding’s fans immediately went on the offensive.
But this was just the beginning. The real goal was to make it clear to the public that Luo Ding had angered the wrong people. With media outlets now picking up the story, even casual observers started questioning whether his rise had been legitimate. Nicknames like “Hollywood Starlet” began to spread, mocking his alleged ambitions.
Just as things were reaching a fever pitch, a single post shattered the growing backlash.
On August 25th, at 10:25 a.m., a long-dormant Weibo account sprang to life with a new message.
“I’m excited to be working with Luo Ding again after *Crouching Dragon*. With *Blade Warrior III* starting soon, I hope you’re ready. You’ve got a lot of scenes, so make sure to prepare well. And best of luck with the EP! PS: I make a cameo appearance in the EP too ;)”
The message, posted by none other than Duan Xiubo, was like rain on a wildfire, instantly quelling the storm.
The smear campaign came to an abrupt halt.
Only Gu Yaxing, knowing the full story, remained calm. Everyone else was left scrambling.
Suddenly, the narrative shifted. The fans, who had been battered by the relentless attacks, were now vindicated. Many of the hired PR teams stopped their work immediately.
As Gu Yaxing prepared for his next move, a crucial interview clip surfaced online.
Two days earlier, during a popular American talk show, Carmen Clovis had confirmed that a young, talented Chinese actor named Luo Ding would appear in *Blade Warrior III*.
For the first time, Yaxing Studio officially responded, condemning the baseless attacks against Luo Ding. Even the media outlets involved in the smear campaign began posting retractions and apologies.
Though the apology letters were carefully worded to shift the blame, it was clear to everyone that Luo Ding had been unfairly targeted.
For the second time in his career, Luo Ding had been saved from being blacklisted.
Public opinion turned in his favor. Fans rallied around him, praising his resilience in the face of such adversity.
Luo Ding’s EP announcement followed shortly afterward.
September 1st.
*******
“September 1st.”
In his office on the 75th floor of Shanhai Tower, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit leaned back in his chair, idly flipping through a file.
His assistant stood nearby, head bowed, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Jiang Changfeng sneered, slamming the file shut. “Useless.”
The assistant cowered. “Sir, we didn’t expect—”
“Shut up.” Jiang cut him off lazily. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. August 23rd, America’s highest-rated talk show, and Carmen announces this kid on air. How did no one know about this? How much did we invest in this operation? All for nothing.”
The assistant stammered an apology.
Another man asked cautiously, “Should we still go ahead with Mellen’s album release to overshadow Luo Ding’s EP?”
Jiang Changfeng shot him a glare, silencing him immediately.
“Brilliant question,” he said sarcastically, tapping his fingers on the desk. “Have you not seen the public outcry about ‘hidden agendas’? Mellen’s album was supposed to be a secret. If we release it now, we’ll look like the villains.”
The assistants hurriedly left, their faces pale. Jiang didn’t care about Mellen—he could pull the plug on their album at any time. But the rush to meet the new deadline had left the album’s production unfinished. No matter what, it wouldn’t live up to expectations. His only hope was that Mellen’s fanbase was big enough to carry the sales.
Alone in his office, Jiang clicked on a hidden folder, typed in a password, and opened a series of photos.
“Heh.” Losing to Gu Yaxing for the first time felt strange. The blurry, scanned photo on his screen showed a much younger Gu, looking nervous in front of the camera.
Jiang stared at the picture, unblinking.
“You’ve grown a lot.”
**
On September 1st, at exactly 10 a.m., Luo Ding’s debut EP hit the shelves.
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