If an idol artist's relationship was exposed before they successfully transitioned, it would undoubtedly cause a massive loss of fans and a decline in commercial value. This was already a tacitly understood fact in the circle. Qiao Zhi currently had no representative work of her own; to put it bluntly, she relied solely on her looks to attract fans. Suddenly exposing a relationship at this critical juncture would undoubtedly be a fatal blow.

Especially when the other party was a little hoodlum.

For a rare change, Xi Nian was kind enough to make a call to tip her off. When Qiao Zhi heard the news on the other end, her face instantly turned deathly pale, and she was unable to even speak. After a long while, she finally managed to squeeze out a few words with difficulty: "...I got it, thank you."

Even through the phone, he could imagine how awful her expression was.

Things had already reached this point; there was no way to stop it. At best, Xi Nian could only inform her a day in advance to give her some mental preparation. However, at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a little curious: "The news will be out tomorrow. What do you plan to do?"

Qiao Zhi didn't answer, scratching her hair with a headache. "I'm going to find my manager to discuss it now. I can only take it one step at a time. I'll treat you to a meal some other day."

After saying that, she hung up the phone and rushed off to discuss countermeasures.

This matter was truly not easy to solve. After all, the photos were solid proof. Her studio couldn't just brazenly claim they were photoshopped; the fans weren't blind.

Xi Nian had already terminated his contract with Shanxing, so he couldn't live in this apartment anymore. He had already found a new place and planned to move tomorrow. That night, he and Lu Xingzhe simply packed their things and went to bed.

The sky had already grown dark. Lu Xingzhe was lying in Xi Nian's arms, but he wasn't sleepy. After a long while, he suddenly asked out of the blue, "Will Qiao Zhi break up with that little hoodlum?"

That was the best way to cut her losses in time.

Even if she had fooled around with some rich second-generation kids, it wouldn't have caused such a huge controversy. An idol and a hoodlum—the status gap was too vast.

Lu Xingzhe was inexplicably reminded of himself and Xi Nian. The identity of a paparazzi, compared to a hoodlum, didn't seem much better. He hadn't thought so much when he first entered this line of work; he only felt that it was good as long as there was money to be made and food to eat. Right and wrong were never within his consideration.

But now, he suddenly felt regret, a regret so deep his intestines were turning green.

Lu Xingzhe frowned deeply.

Xi Nian opened his eyes in the darkness, his handsome and cool features clear and distinct in the moonlight. He seemed to know what Lu Xingzhe was thinking. He turned slightly to the side, then pulled the person into his arms, their two hearts pressed tightly together, their heartbeats synchronized.

It was the first time Xi Nian had said something like this: "I'm not the same as her."

Qiao Zhi was an idol artist. The very thing she relied on for survival was the love of her fans. This love could lift her very, very high, to the point of touching the stars and plucking the moon. However, when it suddenly dissipated one day, she would fall from the Divine Platform.

The path Xi Nian wanted to take was never this one.

He had understood in his past life that external help would eventually dissipate. The only one he could rely on was himself.

Lu Xingzhe nodded in his arms like a chick pecking at rice. "I know, she's an idol, and you're a powerhouse."

#A fancy compliment every day#

Xi Nian had originally planned to comfort him, but upon hearing this, the mood he had been brewing was instantly shattered. The words on the tip of his tongue wouldn't come out. He simply grabbed the back of Lu Xingzhe's neck, bit his shoulder hard, and then said, "Sleep."

It hurt a little. Lu Xingzhe rubbed the spot where he had been bitten, then gently gave Xi Nian a peck on the cheek. "Good night."

He was like a child, sad one moment and happy the next. Since he could remember, he had been all alone. No one had ever taught him what he should and shouldn't do. He stopped being a paparazzi for Xi Nian, and he quit the business for Xi Nian. It had nothing to do with a sudden pang of conscience.

Lu Xingzhe's sense of right and wrong was all tied to this person.

For the first time, Xi Nian didn't feel sleepy. In this quiet night, he thought about many things on his own. Finally, when drowsiness washed over him and he was about to sleep, the phone under his pillow suddenly vibrated.

He glanced at Lu Xingzhe, then quietly took it out. He saw that Qiao Zhi had posted an official announcement on Weibo late at night. The content was just six concise words: "I have a boyfriend," accompanied by a picture of two hands holding.

The fair, slender hand belonged to Qiao Zhi. The other hand had a tattoo on the area between the thumb and index finger; it was clearly a man's.

One could imagine that as soon as this post went out, the comments section under her Weibo exploded.

Xi Nian was also a little surprised. He hadn't expected Qiao Zhi to just announce it so openly. Without any damage control measures, she directly abandoned her career path. However, it did seem like her style of doing things. After a moment of silence, he gave it a like and then stuffed the phone back under his pillow.

This time when he closed his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep until dawn.

The next morning, Qiao Zhi shot to the top of Weibo's hot search. Netizens never expected her to have a boyfriend, and it seemed like it had been for some time. They all started doxxing the male celebrities she had worked with, trying to dig out the man.

Xi Nian didn't pay much attention. He didn't like to watch the drama unfold. He contacted a moving company to move his things to his new place, then let it be known that he had terminated his contract with Shanxing. His popularity was much higher than before, so as soon as the news spread, it caused a lot of discussion, briefly shielding Qiao Zhi from the line of fire.

Although the Niangao didn't know the specifics, if their idol wanted to terminate his contract, they would of course support him with all their might. Some onlookers who knew about Shanxing Entertainment's unfair contract terms also expressed their understanding. But behind the scenes, many anti-fans were jumping around, accusing Xi Nian of turning his back on people after his comeback, wanting to go solo as soon as he got popular. The hat of an "ungrateful person" was firmly placed on his head, making the spectating passersby believe eight or nine out of ten of it.

Needless to say, it must have been the paid posters hired by Shanxing, fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

Just as the matter was escalating, Lu Xingzhe chose the right moment to release the dirt he had on hand. There was no need to make things up; there were plenty of examples of Shanxing oppressing its artists in the past that anyone could dig up. He also listed all the events Xi Nian had participated in since his debut.

What? You say Shanxing carefully cultivated Xi Nian? That's the biggest joke in the world.

Old fans who had followed him all along knew how unpopular Xi Nian used to be. It was one thing for his Super Topic on Weibo to be unmanaged, but his resources were also pitifully scarce. If it weren't for him winning first place at the Star Games through his own strength, he might still be playing a walk-on role in some corner right now.

Have you heard of the upcoming major Republican-era drama, Wolf Smoke? The male lead is a third-tier, professionally trained actor. Shanxing actually made Xi Nian go play a minor supporting role that appears in less than two episodes. You call this careful cultivation? Doesn't your conscience hurt?

Because his participation in the TV series hadn't been publicly announced, the Niangao were all stunned when they heard this. They quickly went to search for information and finally confirmed that Xi Nian had indeed only played a minor role, based on an anonymous confirmation from a crew member.

Wolf Smoke was a Republican-era drama adapted from a major IP novel with a wide readership. Many netizens could recite the characters in it by heart and knew them very well. Besides the male and female leads, there were also many other brilliant supporting characters, such as the self-sacrificing adjutant, the awe-inspiring military commander, and the secret agent who infiltrated the enemy's ranks. A rough count would yield at least seven or eight.

However, sorry, the character Xi Nian played was not any of the above.

You ask what he played?

Do you know He Xiaoyun? That detestable warlord who preyed on the common people, forcibly took the female supporting character as his third concubine, and was finally shot to death by the male lead.

This wasn't even called a walk-on role anymore, it was cannon fodder!

Netizens shed a handful of bitter tears. Although Xi Nian wasn't a top-tier celebrity, his status wasn't so low that he had to play such a role, right? To be an idol to this extent was truly miserable.

If even outsiders felt this way, it was even more so for the Niangao. They were so angry that they formed a group and went to Shanxing's official Weibo to flame them, wishing they could grab the manager by the neck and ask: My husband is handsome, dotes on his fans, and has an excellent character. How does he resemble that bandit leader He Xiaoyun in any way? Are you blind?!

Should we crowdfund an eye exam for you?!

How would Shanxing dare to make a sound? They remained quiet from beginning to end, not even daring to let out a fart.

Some onlookers felt they were going too far. Xi Nian was an idol artist to begin with, and his acting was ambiguous. Handsomeness and acting skills were two different things. Did he have to play the main character right off the bat to be considered worthy? Which of the current Best Actors and Actresses didn't climb their way up from walk-on roles? Do you really think having more fans makes you amazing? Maybe Xi Nian can't even play a walk-on role well. Be content.

In the end, it all came down to having a solid piece of work to show.

After all the fuss online, the news of Xi Nian's contract termination also spread. Except for a few giant corporations that were still watching from the sidelines without taking a stance, many people extended an olive branch, including Zhongxia Entertainment.

Zhongxia had a good reputation in the circle, and their restrictions on artists were relatively the most lenient among the several companies. This had also led to their previous setback, where several new artists they promoted were poached by their rivals.

Xi Nian screened all the companies that sent him contracts one by one. After weighing the pros and cons, he finally arranged to meet with Zhongxia's representative to negotiate, at a coffee shop not far from his home.

It was two in the afternoon, a time when there were generally few people. Xi Nian sat in a booth in the corner. Even though he was wearing a black mask, Xia Mingxue spotted him the moment she pushed open the door.

Some people are as conspicuous as a pearl dropped in a pile of gravel, naturally attracting the attention of others.

She walked over in her high heels, sat down gracefully across from him, and called the waiter over to order a coffee. "Sorry, I'm late."

Out of politeness, Xi Nian took off his mask. "It's fine, I was early."

Xia Mingxue was probably in her early thirties, with shoulder-length short hair. She looked like a sharp and capable career woman. Her gaze lingered on Xi Nian's outstanding appearance for a moment, then she smiled and praised, "You're even more handsome in person than on TV."

No one would deny that in the entertainment circle, looks were also a part of one's strength.

Signing a contract was like negotiating a business deal; it couldn't be rushed. Xi Nian didn't take the initiative to ask anything, just smiled and said thank you.

Xia Mingxue had no choice but to take a document from her bag, place it on the table, and push it over gently, the smile on her face unchanging. "I know many companies want to sign you. Since Mr. Xi chose Zhongxia, we will certainly show our sincerity. This is the contract drafted after discussion by the company's senior management. You can take a look."

In fact, the contracts of entertainment companies were all pretty much the same, but the terms offered by Zhongxia were relatively more generous, which indeed showed their sincerity. Xi Nian read through it line by line, his gaze finally stopping on the clause about reporting relationships. He took a sip of coffee and said, "I remember your company didn't seem to have requirements in this area before?"

Xia Mingxue explained, "Artists have different development paths, so the contract requirements are also different. The company's senior management feels that you are more suited for variety show projects. To be frank, you can develop in the direction of an idol, and the prospects are very good. So, regarding your private life, we recommend maintaining a single persona before the age of thirty."

If a handsome male god had a partner, it would be difficult for his female fans' adoration to grow. That's why male artists in the entertainment circle who marry young were so pitifully few.

To put it bluntly, Zhongxia still categorized Xi Nian as an idol.

Xi Nian's fingertips tapped lightly on the table. "Variety shows are one aspect, but I'm more focused on developing in film and television in the later stages. So, I hope this rule can be changed."

Xia Mingxue was slightly surprised to hear this, probably not expecting Xi Nian to have such thoughts. After all, if one could make a living with their face, few would go out of their way to deliberately polish their acting skills. After a moment of deliberation, she couldn't make a decision after all. "How about this, I'll go back and discuss it with the boss. I'll give you a satisfactory answer as soon as possible."

Xi Nian wasn't in a hurry either. He happened to need some time to rest. Besides, proposing this idea so suddenly would seem quite unrealistic to outsiders. He put on his mask and stood up from his seat. "I'll see you out."

Lu Xingzhe was outside, holding a chocolate-flavored ice cream cone, leaning against the car and waiting. When Xi Nian walked Xia Mingxue out of the coffee shop, he saw him at a glance.

Xia Mingxue's car was parked on the roadside, and she soon drove away.

Xi Nian walked towards Lu Xingzhe. Although his expression couldn't be seen clearly with the mask on, a distinct smile flashed in his eyes. He crossed his arms and asked, "It's almost autumn and you're still eating ice cream, aren't you cold?"

Seeing it was him, Lu Xingzhe stood up straight. "Not cold, it's sweet."

Xi Nian raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why didn't you buy one for me?"

Lu Xingzhe said, "I bought one, but it melted, so I ate it."

After he finished speaking, he polished off the cone in his hand in a few bites, then fumbled for the spare change in his pocket and asked Xi Nian, "You want one? I'll buy you one?"

Xi Nian shook his head, thinking he was like a fool. He walked around to the other side and got into the driver's seat. Lu Xingzhe followed and sat in the passenger seat, then closed the door. "How did the contract negotiation with Zhongxia go?"

Xi Nian said, "No rush, haste makes waste. I can take a break for a while."

As he spoke, he saw a bit of chocolate on Lu Xingzhe's lips. He reached out and wiped it away with his fingertip. Taking advantage of the moment when there were no pedestrians around, he leaned over and gave him a kiss before starting the car again.

Lu Xingzhe: "..."

Lu Xingzhe's face showed no expression, but his inner fox tail was wagging happily. He held it in and held it in, but in the end, he couldn't hold it in anymore. He turned to the side, his eyes curving into crescents as he smiled, as excited as if he had won the lottery.

Xi Nian saw him secretly smiling in the reflection of the car window, a slight curl on his lips, and pretended not to see.

He didn't know when it started, but the plane trees on the roadside had begun to rustle and shed their leaves, covering the asphalt road so densely that they could never be completely swept away. Xi Nian vaguely remembered that it was the height of summer when he was just reborn, and in the blink of an eye, it was autumn.

For the next period, Xi Nian was busy tidying up his new home. Before long, news came from Zhongxia, stating that the terms could be modified, and they also brought the contract over.

Xia Mingxue was the manager in charge of Xi Nian. The two met again at the same coffee shop. She handed the newly drafted contract to Xi Nian. "Take a look, is there anything else that needs to be changed?"

Xi Nian read it from beginning to end, and after confirming there were no issues, he signed his name. "No, I'm very happy to cooperate with you."

Xia Mingxue let out a slight sigh of relief, then broke into a smile. After a pause, she said, "To be honest, we discussed this matter for a long time. The senior management all wanted to groom you into a new idol star, but we didn't expect you to want to develop in film and television. Frankly, this path is not easy to walk, and there are few artists who can make it through."

Xi Nian raised an eyebrow, noncommittally.

Seeing this, Xia Mingxue added, "The company has assigned two assistants to you. As for your residence, you can also request one if you need it. After all, privacy and security are more important."

Xi Nian said, "I have my own assistant, and I don't need a place to live."

Xia Mingxue nodded. "Alright, then we'll assign one assistant to you, so you won't be overwhelmed. If possible, you might have to start working in a while. I've accepted a few scripts for you, take a look."

She had indeed taken Xi Nian's thoughts seriously and hadn't dragged him into participating in variety shows.

Xi Nian took the scripts and saw that they were all youth, campus, idol, and domineering CEO type dramas. They belonged to the kind that were very popular with young girls but didn't test acting skills much. He couldn't help but smile and look at Xia Mingxue, "So you prefer this type."

Xia Mingxue was over thirty, after all. She considered herself different from those young girls who chased stars. Hearing this, her old face blushed, and she explained awkwardly, "Acting skills need to be slowly honed. If you take on something too difficult right away, you won't be able to handle it. Let's take it slow. These kinds of sweet dramas make it easier to attract fans."

She didn't know that Xi Nian had already been a Best Actor in his past life.

He was once the number one actor of the new generation. If not for the accident halfway through, he might very well have won the three major film awards. No one could have predicted the extent of his future.

For the first time in his life, Xi Nian felt a bit stuck. On one hand, he felt it wasn't good to make too many demands, as Zhongxia had already made a concession. On the other hand, he felt that acting in a campus prince drama was really doing a disservice to both the audience and himself.

Under Xia Mingxue's gaze, he didn't answer. After a long while, he finally said tentatively, "Are there any more..."

Xi Nian thought for a long time before coming up with a descriptor: "Are there any more exciting dramas?"

Not sweet romance, but family-shattering tragedy.

"Thriller, suspense, crime-solving, war, historical?"

Xia Mingxue suddenly understood what he meant. "There are, but I feel..."

Xi Nian asked, "Feel what?"

'Feel that it's a waste of your handsome face.'

Xia Mingxue swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue, shook her head, and forced a smile. "...Nothing. There are dramas like that, but I thought you didn't like them, so I didn't accept any. I'll sort them out and send them to you later, you can pick one yourself."

Zhongxia wanted to promote Xi Nian and was generous with the resources they provided. Not long after he returned, he received the scripts from Xia Mingxue. They were all male-lead dramas, with rich plots, excellent production, and of all types.

As Xi Nian was flipping through them, he discovered a crime action film called Assassination. He vaguely felt that the name of this drama was somewhat familiar. After thinking for a moment, he looked at the director's column and only then remembered that in his past life, Assassination had been nominated for the Starlight Awards and had won multiple awards in one fell swoop.

Xi Nian couldn't remember any more details, as it was a long time ago. He just felt that the plot was good and sent a message to Xia Mingxue.

Xia Mingxue's call came quickly. "You picked the script for Assassination? How about changing it?"

Xi Nian could hear the hidden meaning in her words. "What's wrong?"

Xia Mingxue said, "Nothing, it's just that Director Chong has very high standards for acting, and he has a bad temper. If you want to act in it, you'll have to go audition for the role yourself. Although Zhongxia has invested in it, we can't help you secure a role..."

As she spoke, she seemed to be flipping through a script, and there was a rustling of paper on the other end. "No way, Assassination has too many difficult action scenes, it's easy to have an accident. You should change to another script. That psychological crime one is pretty good."

From a manager's perspective, it was understandable for Xia Mingxue to advise him against taking on high-difficulty scenes.

Xi Nian said, "I want to try. If I don't get it during the audition, I'll listen to your arrangements."

Xia Mingxue thought to herself that with Director Chong's picky temper, he probably wouldn't use a newcomer. It would be good to let Xi Nian hit a wall and give up. Hearing this, she didn't think much more and agreed, "Alright, this drama is still in preparation, and many things haven't been decided yet. I'll go ask about the audition time and notify you then."

Xi Nian nodded and hung up the phone.

With a full crew and excellent equipment, it didn't take long to film a TV series. Not long after, the Republican-era drama Wolf Smoke, which Xi Nian had previously participated in, officially announced its broadcast, and the official Weibo account even posted the promotional stills of the main cast.

But Xi Nian's wasn't there. It was normal, because he was just a minor cannon fodder and didn't have an important role. It was already good to have a few scenes.

The Niangao couldn't help but think of the crappy things Shanxing had done, and they all gritted their teeth in hatred, cursing them out online. Then, feeling sorry for Xi Nian being suppressed, they flocked to his Weibo to comfort him.

Husband, it's okay to play a cannon fodder. We like watching cannon fodder too. We're going to watch the drama right now, spam 666 for you in the bullet comments, help you climb the charts, make you the most glorious cannon fodder, and send you to debut in the C-position!!

Shake paws!!

Onlookers: "..."

Xi Nian's fans are acting up again, they all seem a bit off in their manner.

As soon as Wolf Smoke started broadcasting, many book fans went to watch it. Although the male lead, Zha Pengfei, wasn't very famous, he was handsome and his acting skills were commendable. The female leads were all beautiful, so it didn't cause public outrage. As the plot progressed, its popularity gradually rose.

Soon, it came to the scene where the concubine was forcibly taken. Although the female supporting character, Ruo Yin, couldn't be with the male lead in the end, she was still the white moonlight type, a childhood sweetheart and an understanding woman. Later, she was defiled by the warlord He Xiaoyun, which made many book fans explode with anger. As Xi Nian's appearance approached, the audience was already prepared to roll up their sleeves and start cursing.

In times of war, the one with a gun at his waist was the true overlord. It could be said that He Xiaoyun's reputation preceded him. The sound of hurried horse hooves could be heard from afar, and the surrounding street vendors had already begun to hide, as if hiding from the King of Hell.

Along with the approaching sound of horse hooves, the audience in front of their screens gathered their breath: We'll start cursing on the count of three!

Before they could finish, a navy-blue figure on the screen unexpectedly crashed into view. The man was in a crisp military uniform and black boots, riding a horse through the street. Because he was going so fast, his cape was pulled into a taut straight line behind him. The face under his military cap was roguishly handsome. He casually raised his whip, which made a crisp "swish" sound in the air.

The female supporting character failed to dodge in time and turned her head in alarm, her beautiful face revealed.

The man immediately reined in his horse, looked over sideways, and lifted the brim of his cap to look her up and down. Suddenly, he smiled, "When did such a great beauty arrive in Wucheng, and I didn't even know?"

Flamboyant and unrestrained, arrogant and perverse, calling himself "Laozi" with every other word, he was the very picture of a chaotic-era bandit.

The audience couldn't even bring themselves to curse He Xiaoyun anymore, their hearts filled with a 'what the fuck' feeling.

Onlookers: [WTF, for a moment I thought the male lead had just appeared!!]

Book Fans: [Is this He Xiaoyun, is this He Xiaoyun?! I'm on my knees begging for him and Ruo Yin to get married on the spot. The Domineering Warlord Falls in Love with Me, sob sob sob, I'm so here for it.]

Niangao suddenly appeared: [66666666]

Author's Note: Niangao: 6666666666, send my husband to debut in the C-position!

#The C-position among cannon fodder#