Public [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 11

**Chapter 11: Scorching Lava**

As for Qin Mang—
Upon hearing from Cong Zhen, she learned that not only had she embarrassed herself in front of He Lingji, but also in front of a whole group of people. After that, she suddenly found herself calm, almost like a Buddhist.

As long as she wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassing ones were others.
And, moreover, she was admiring genuine movie art.

Qin Mang tried to stay focused, but certain images kept popping into her head.
There was that position she had seen during a search the other day.
It felt like it had become embedded in her mind.
The protagonist unconsciously seemed to have switched to her and He Lingji.
She couldn’t think about it!
How could a pure, untainted fairy be filled with such dark and vulgar images?!

Fortunately, before He Lingji returned from his business trip, the *Beijing Dream* production crew had notified her that they would begin early and start reading the script.
On June 9th.

Qin Mang wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or regretful. In any case, all her thoughts about the crew dissipated when she saw Shen Wan Yin.
In Qingcheng, China’s largest film and television base.
The crew had generously rented out a nearby five-star hotel as the accommodation for the actors during this period.

The lobby of the hotel was lavish, with a chandelier glittering in the light. The girl at the front of the group, wearing a dark green satin gown, casually twirled a lock of her long, black hair with her fingers. Every movement was alluring and captivating, brighter than the lights around her.
Even the orderly staff couldn’t help but steal a glance, then another.

At that moment, A-Tong felt proud.
Their Mengmeng was the most beautiful movie star in the world!
Until they noticed a familiar figure near the elevator.
No mistake, it was her.
A-Tong blinked and quietly asked, « Huh? Why is Shen Wan Yin here? »

The assistant director, who had sharp ears, explained, « Teacher Shen is the second female lead. »

Qin Mang followed the gaze and saw Shen Wan Yin, her eyes filled with a casual, carefree charm.
Had Shen Wan Yin gone mad, or had her agent gone mad?
After all, this person had made it her goal to overshadow her at every turn. How could she willingly humiliate herself to play second fiddle?

…

At 10 PM, after finishing the script reading, Qin Mang lazily curled up on the couch. Her eyes were half-closed, and her long gown trailed over the pure white carpet. She looked relaxed yet weary, her expression conveying some fatigue.

At the crucial moment, Meng Ting worked efficiently. In just one day, she figured out that Shen Wan Yin had joined the crew as the second female lead for zero pay.
She drank some water, shaking off the irritation from the sultry summer night.

« Shen Wan Yin is appearing in the second female lead role for zero pay. She has acting skills, traffic, and humility. She claims she’s not after fame or profit, just wanting to learn from Director Zhou and gain experience, so the crew accepted her. »

Qin Mang lazily flipped the pages of the open script on her lap, her voice dripping with sarcasm. « She would be that honest? »

Of course not!

Meng Ting started talking more, « She brought her own scriptwriter! »
« I heard that Shen Wan Yin is notorious for altering scripts. No matter what role she plays, she always adds more scenes for herself. Even if she’s just a supporting role, she demands scenes that rival or even overshadow the lead female’s. »
« And she has the Zhou Yuan studio behind her, which specializes in PR marketing. Artists who have worked with her dare not speak out, afraid of the mess it would cause. »

Qin Mang, with her white fingers, casually flipped the pages of the script, looking coldly at it. « A scriptreader in auditions, a scriptwriter when joining the crew… Can’t she walk on her own? »

Suddenly, Meng Ting, as she thought more about it, had a bad feeling and gasped, « Could it be that she’s here to undermine you? »

After all, Zhou Yuan had made a name for himself by marketing through suppressing his rivals. Shen Wan Yin, as one of his star artists, was no different.
Looking at the films and shows that had already aired, it wasn’t uncommon for the second female lead to overshadow the female lead.
Perhaps Shen Wan Yin had come here with that very purpose.

After a long silence, Meng Ting suddenly asked, « Did you two have a blood feud in your past life? »
Maybe this life was just about revenge on Qin Mang.
From her debut, she was compared to Qin Mang time and time again.
It wasn’t that Meng Ting didn’t believe in Qin Mang’s father’s eyes, but the two were clearly not even in the same league when it came to beauty.

Qin Mang, after hearing her manager’s long-winded speculation, paused thoughtfully and said, « If that’s really the case, then I must admire Teacher Shen’s confidence. »
To dare to appear on the same big screen as her.
No matter how much she alters the script, she’ll always be the second lead, fading in the background.
So every time Shen Wan Yin was portrayed as overshadowing her, it was really comparing their presence in the same frame.

Qin Mang lowered her long lashes and refocused on the script in her hands, pondering how to film the first scene.
As for Shen Wan Yin, Qin Mang lightly added, « Keep an eye on her. »

After half a month of script readings, Qin Mang had grown increasingly familiar with the character and felt very confident about the first scene.

The day of filming arrived, and the weather was perfect. The sun, surrounded by a light mist, made the crew’s newest set, with its pink walls and dark-tiled roofs, look like it had a film filter, relaxed and classical.
It almost felt like it was a sign of smooth shooting ahead.

Qin Mang had perfected her vintage, elegant look. Not being able to use a small lion fan, but fearing the heat, she had brought a shell folding fan from home. It emitted a soft glow and was delicate and high-end. It seemed more suited for collection than actual use for cooling.
It was indeed an antique.
But Qin Mang leisurely waved it as she walked out of the makeup room.

She frowned slightly at the scattered set.
There wasn’t even one person in charge, let alone the director or assistant director.

« Is it not time to start filming yet? »
Could it be she had made a mistake?

She casually asked a nearby staff member, lightly tapping their shoulder.
The staff member, who had been looking down at their phone, turned and froze when they saw her.
Their voice trembled, « Qin… Qin Qin… »

Qin Mang’s eyes flashed with confusion. Did she really look that intimidating?
Looking around, she saw that the crowd was scattered in corners, gossiping in hushed voices:
« Even third-tier flowers can’t beat her. Will she just randomly hit us? »

Just then, A-Tong came rushing back, holding her phone in a panic, « Mang Mang, look at the trending news! »
Trending news?

Qin Mang, rarely seeing A-Tong like this, instinctively glanced at the screen. The trending topic was—
#Qin Mang Hits Someone#

The caption read: Qin Mang attacked and intimidated a fellow actress in front of everyone. There are concerns about her mental health.
It was accompanied by a video.

Though blurry, Qin Mang’s face was easily recognizable, her beautiful, indifferent expression showing no emotion as her delicate arm dragged a woman from the window and pushed her out. The dark, vast ocean was barely visible outside.
In the fragmented noise, the words « Feeding the sharks » and « Crazy woman » could be vaguely heard.

The heat of the topic kept rising. In just a few seconds, it had jumped from a few dozen people to the front.
Now she understood why everyone was looking at her so strangely and fearfully.
It was—

Qin Mang’s red lips slowly curled into a smile, her porcelain-like chin slightly raised, and her black, transparent eyes were filled with a cold, mocking glint.
One of the people hiding in the corner, as if acting, had been calling her « Teacher Qin » yesterday, claiming to be her fan, but today, they looked as if they wanted to stay a million miles away.

The crowd’s eyes grew even stranger.
Qin Mang didn’t seem scared at all.
With her delicate fingers holding the exquisite shell fan, she lightly covered her lower face, revealing only her watery eyes. Her smile was clearly there, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Like a glamorous beauty from a vintage oil painting, lazy and noble, her soft voice languidly asked, « What’s the matter? Are you all afraid of getting hit from this distance? »

The air seemed frozen.
No one dared speak.

At that moment, the director’s voice called for them to disperse.
The crowd quickly scattered, afraid to be caught and beaten.

When Director Zhou met Qin Mang’s cold gaze, he couldn’t help but sigh.
This film really was doomed from the start.
Finally, helpless, he said, « There are reporters outside. We won’t film for now. Your manager is waiting for you in the actor’s passage. »
Qin Mang answered coldly,
« Are we not filming for now, or never? »

The director didn’t respond.

By the time Qin Mang and the others arrived at the hotel, reporters had already surrounded the place.
A-Tong peeked through the tightly shut curtains and nearly ran into a drone.
Below, there were reporters with long cameras and short ones, ready to snap photos at any moment.
She quickly shut the curtains.

Patting her chest with lingering fear, she said, “The reporters are swarming downstairs. What do we do?”

Meng Ting was on the phone coordinating with the company’s PR department. Halfway through the call, he started arguing.

Qin Mang leaned against the armrest of the sofa, long dark lashes lowered as she calmly scrolled through her phone. Suddenly, her delicate brows furrowed, as if something didn’t sit right.

A-Tong fell silent, not daring to disturb her.

She also opened her tablet, and the first thing she saw was the latest trending topic:

**#Shen Wanyin Accidentally Liked a Post#**

She couldn’t help but curse, “That little bitch.”

Kicking someone while they’re down!

Qin Mang saw it too.

Shen Wanyin had liked a video post about her, then unliked it seconds later, and even posted a vague Weibo update—

**Shen Wanyin V:** *Sorry, slipped my hand.*

Her fans laughed it off like it was New Year’s:

* “LOL, so even insiders love drama!”
* “Wanyin is too cute, oopsie~”
* “Heard you’re joining the *Dreams of Old Beijing* cast too, got any juicy gossip?”

That last comment immediately sparked backlash.

* “What do you mean? Wanyin playing second fiddle to a violent pretty face? She’s not worthy! Has the production lost its mind?”
* “Oh my god, Qin Mang is such a bully.”
* “Look, another video of her acting like a diva surfaced. She’s a repeat offender!”

The video in question showed Qin Mang asleep in a chair on set, exhausted after filming a commercial. A staff member bent down to offer her water, but she didn’t take it for five whole minutes.

That was all it took for people to label her a diva who mistreats staff.

Any odd details in the video were ignored. They only saw what they wanted to see and smugly concluded: “See? That’s exactly the kind of person she is.”

When the public has decided someone is guilty, explaining or staying silent—either one is wrong.

The online backlash came too quickly, like a hidden hand stirring chaos behind the scenes, fueling the flames.

Of course, there were opportunists in the mix too.

Over the years, Qin Mang had become a rival to many female celebrities in the industry. Even though she hadn’t acted in many dramas yet, her face and rapid rise in popularity were enough to make them wary.

They wished they could crush her beyond recovery.

While the company was still scrambling for a PR response, a veteran actor was suddenly interviewed by reporters and asked about the trending scandal.

He said: “Before mastering your art, you must cultivate virtue.”

That ignited a firestorm online.

Soon, many A- and B-list actors joined the movement, posting on Weibo in protest of “immoral celebrities”—

**#Before Art, Comes Virtue**

The phrase shot to the top of the trending list.

And just like that, Qin Mang was nailed to the shameful pillar of “immoral artist.”

She kept scrolling through the trending topics like self-torture. The malice pouring from the screen felt like snarling beasts lunging at her.

**#Qin Mang Is Crazy**
**#Qin Mang Get Out of Showbiz**
**#Qin Mang Immoral Artist**
**#Qin Mang Has Insulted the Title of Actor**

Even the once-sweet private messages from fans were now filled with curses and hate.

It was as if Qin Mang had killed their entire families.

They wanted her dead.

Qin Mang had underestimated how cruel people could be.

She had been protected all her life. Though her parents were gone, her only uncle treated her like his own child. Aside from strongly opposing her entering the entertainment industry, he spoiled her in every other way, raising her like a cherished jewel in a gilded world.

He never let her see the dark side of life.

Under the harsh white lights, the girl’s profile was delicate. Her lips were faintly pursed, like a porcelain doll—exquisite but lacking vitality.

After finishing his call, Meng Ting saw her still scrolling like she was punishing herself. He leaned over and took her phone away. “Stop looking.”

“The company has already set the PR plan in motion.”

But that scene on the yacht…

It really happened.

There was no way to explain it away.

This was the most severe PR crisis they’d ever faced.

Meng Ting pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag, his face dark with worry.

Just that morning, they were still dreaming about Qin Mang winning Best Actress at a film festival for this project.

Who could have imagined—

In just a few hours, everything flipped upside down.

Now, even staying in showbiz was uncertain.

Qin Mang didn’t resist.

She lay back on the sofa. The overly bright lights stung her eyes. Her slender, frail wrist rose to shield them.

She didn’t speak for a long time.

Eventually, she muttered slowly, “I’m tired.”

The usually proud and unrestrained heiress had suddenly gone quiet. Even A-Tong was stunned. Meng Ting’s cigarette suddenly tasted bitter.

—

Night deepened. Outside the hotel, the crowd still hadn’t dispersed.

Inside the top-floor luxury suite, only two wall lamps were on, casting a dim glow.

A fair hand held a glass and swirled it gently. The refracted light was dazzling. Qin Mang took a sip, then another. The strong liquor slid down her throat, turning into invisible threads wrapping around her body.

Her once-clear mind was growing hazy.

She had tried to sleep but failed. She got up for a small nightcap, not expecting to drink so much. Alone, she finished nearly half a bottle of whiskey.

At first, it burned.

Then it became addictive.

*Clink.*

No one knew how long had passed. A freshly filled glass of liquor nearly slipped from her hand but she caught it in time.

Half of it spilled out.

The thick carpet soaked up the liquid, and the strong scent of alcohol quickly filled the quiet room, overwhelming the light floral fragrance that lingered before.

At the same time—

A *beep—* sounded at the door.

In the silent space, it was sharply audible.

He Lingji lowered his gaze. To the left of the heavy black leather sofa—

Qin Mang, dressed in a frost-white nightgown, sat on the floor. Her glowing skin was mostly exposed, her slender legs tangled in the carpet, forming graceful curves.

Her wine-flushed eyelids slowly lifted. In the warm dim light, she looked like a lonely yet burning rose. Even the shadows on the wall seemed to capture her beauty.

Her gaze met He Lingji’s. It wavered slightly.

The man looked like he had just come from an important event, in a sharp suit. His pants were crisp and fitted, exuding restraint. A custom light-gold tie clip glinted like fine art. Every detail screamed elegance and nobility.

Yet his strikingly handsome face was icy cold.

As they locked eyes, he casually pulled at his perfectly arranged tie. The gesture was reckless. Even a few shirt buttons popped open—he didn’t care.

*Clack-clack.*

Two buttons rolled to a stop beside Qin Mang’s knees on the carpet.

He looked nothing like his usual refined self.

For some reason, Qin Mang suddenly recalled the image of him flying a helicopter.

Probably looked the same.

She looked up at the man who had suddenly descended from above, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion. Her moist lips parted slightly before a single syllable escaped:

“You…”

Before she could finish—

He took the remaining half-glass of whiskey from her hand and downed it in one go.

The muscles in his throat moved with each swallow, forming a seductive curve that was impossible to look away from.

He Lingji looked down at her. His gray-blue eyes were mysterious and cold, like a god of ice presiding over a frozen realm.

Under Qin Mang’s blurry gaze, he leaned down, unhurried.

Like burning magma beneath a glacier, his hot breath spread slowly.

A few seconds later.

By her ear came a distant, quiet voice, like a deity speaking from the abyss:

“You were bullied.”

“Drinking to drown your sorrows won’t help.”

“What will?”

With icy precision, he said each word clearly:

“Obviously—bully them back a thousand times worse.”