Not long after Wang Shaolei hung up the phone, Zhuo Fengāer received a call from this big brother in the entertainment circle.
Calling him a big brother was just because he was older. He was almost fifty this year. He became famous in the early years for singing military songs and some ethnic music, which perfectly matched the aesthetic of that era.
Zhuo Fengāer didnāt recognize the number, so she was a bit surprised when she answered the call. After a few greetings, the caller got straight to the point, "Little Zhuo, we havenāt seen each other for several years. I didnāt expect you to switch careers and become a director now."
"Brother Han, youāre joking. My directing is just for fun. Itās far from qualified," Zhuo Fengāer replied modestly.
"Haha, itās more than just a matter of being qualified. Youāve surprised everyone. Iāve seen quite a few news stories about you these past few days. Itās caused quite a stir!" the caller said with a sense of nostalgia.
Zhuo Fengāer let out a light laugh and said, "To use an internet phrase, Iāve been hit by a stray bullet while lying down. Brother Han, you can be a witness. I have no idea how Iāve touched some peopleās sensitive nerves. Theyāve been attacking me mercilessly, spreading all kinds of rumors and slanders!"
Zhuo Fengāer quickly cut off the other partyās words. Han Lu paused for a moment and then said with a smile, "About this matter... Iāve also observed it. Donāt blame me for speaking frankly, but there has been an overreaction. However, everyone nowadays talks about harmony and prosperity. Itās not good to make too much of a fuss. It doesnāt look good for anyone involved."
"Brother Han, thatās not right. I havenāt provoked anyone, and Iām not the one causing trouble. I think my reaction has been quite restrained. If it were someone with your personality, you might have already gone to their house and cursed them out!" Zhuo Fengāer said bluntly.
Han Lu didnāt have much education. He got into the military art troupe by singing in those years, and his quality is still not high to this day.
His low quality is constantly reflected in his programs. Netizens call him ugly, fat, short, and uneducated, and he doesnāt even realize it.
So when talking to him, thereās no need to be too polite, especially since heās here to play the peacemaker, but he seems to be biased.
Perhaps Long Entertainment felt that the situation had gotten out of hand and couldnāt bear it anymore, so they found someone to play the peacemaker.
But to make peace, one should have the right attitude instead of using oneās status to pressure others and showing off oneās seniority.
"Your way of speaking is not right, Little Zhuo. It takes two to tango. You were the one who started the fuss on Weibo. How can you say youāre not at fault? Listen to Brother Hanās advice. Weāre all in the same industry.
Donāt make too much of a fuss. It will be hard to wrap things up in the end. Over the years, how many people havenāt seen the reality? How many people have faded away in the end? Iām not asking you to swallow your pride. I just hope you wonāt make a big deal out of it. There are too many things in the circle. If you make too much of a fuss, who knows what might be exposed... The consequences could be severe, so..."
"Brother Han, I didnāt originally think much of it. But the people from Long Entertainment have gone too far. Iām a female artist. What did they release? Videos of me in bed? They even hired a bunch of internet trolls to slander me. Iām not an aggressive person, but canāt I defend myself on Weibo?
Should I just let them spread rumors and slander me, even to the point of blackening my name? Slandering a woman as a whore, I canāt think of anything worse than that! Moreover, this is not an individual act but a top company in the industry slandering and suppressing an individual!"
"Donāt get too excited. Brother Han just said that itās not that you canāt speak up for yourself. Just donāt make a big deal out of it. It wonāt look good for anyone. Donāt you agree?" Han Lu said.
Zhuo Fengāer let out a soft sigh and said, "Brother Han, first of all, Iām not making a fuss. Iām just speaking up for myself. Theyāre the ones causing trouble, and theyāre the ugly ones. Besides, if I donāt speak up for my innocence, should I expect others to do it for me?
What would others say about me? If it gets out of hand and someone gets embarrassed, it wonāt be me. Why should I care whether it gets big or small? Moreover, itās not up to me whether it gets big or not. If Long Entertainment dares to do it, they shouldnāt be afraid of being criticized!"
Zhuo Fengāerās firm attitude made Han Lu hit a wall repeatedly, which caused his temper to rise. He was known in the circle for his bad temper, so he directly started yelling into the phone, "Zhuo Fengāer, why canāt you take any advice? Long Entertainment is a big company, one of the top in the industry. Do you think you can take on the entire company by yourself? Arenāt you afraid of losing out? Moreover, if things keep going like this, who in the industry will dare to cooperate with you in the future? Everyone will avoid you. No one wants to have too much contact with someone like you!"
"Brother Han, your reaction is also a bit too strong. I suggest you calm down. I, Zhuo Fengāer, donāt rely on sleeping around or being provocative. Iāve been making a living by my abilities all these years, surviving in the industry by my real strength. I never did before, and I wonāt now. I donāt care who the other party is. If they want to make me submit through this method, forget it!
Moreover, isnāt it just because my low-budget movie was nominated for an international award? They spent five hundred million but produced garbage. This was originally a matter of individual ability, but Long Entertainment chose to harm me in this way. I will fight back!"
Once the fig leaf was torn off, the other party found it hard to accept. Especially Zhuo Fengāerās reaction was different from before. She used to be more strategic and tactful, but she was now so strong. This was the confidence that her family gave her. She didnāt need to sell anyoneās face. Respecting seniors is a matter of personal quality, but thereās no need to respect old rascals.
Han Lu snorted heavily. It seemed that he kicked over something on the other end of the phone and said, "Since youāre like this, I wonāt persuade you anymore. You caused the trouble, and youāll bear the consequences. When it gets out of hand, youāll be the one who loses out!"
"Itās not me who will lose out if it gets big. Moreover, Brother Han, you didnāt come here to persuade me from the beginning. Itās not good to be biased!" Zhuo Fengāer said.
"Bang!" The phone was hung up. Zhuo Fengāer curled her lips and sneered. She didnāt take this matter seriously. To expect such an old fox to stand on the side of justice and give an opinion was just a joke, right?
Of course, this was not the only call, but the beginning. That night, Zhuo Fengāer received several calls from peacemakers. The better ones still knew how to stand from Zhuo Fengāerās perspective, criticize the other party, as if this made them one of their own.
The biased ones were like Han Lu, who relied on his so-called prestige and leaned towards Long Entertainment, trying to coerce and tempt Zhuo Fengāer.