The liveliness of the scene was similar to Cheng Yan's imagination. Reporters jammed outside the TV station.
The atmosphere in the dressing room was somewhat depressing, and the staff coming in and out were whispering from time to time. Cheng Yan was the same as usual, he didn't deliberately bring more assistants, but only had one more teacher Yang follow him. When I got to the dressing room, I did my hair and makeup as usual, and then read the script while smoking a cigarette. He was not very talkative in the first place, but today he seemed even more quiet. Only Xiao Hu whispered on the phone in the corner from time to time.
"Fangfang called just now." Xiao Hu walked up to Cheng Yan and told him.
"Ah..." Cheng Yan was still a little moved when he heard the name.
"She asked if there was anything I could do to help," Xiao Hu said.
Cheng Yan's throat tightened for a moment. Although he never explained the truth to Fangfang, she should know that what Ji Rulan said was actually traceable. At this time, he was still willing to defend himself, and he just felt ashamed.
He doesn't need her forgiveness or help, he just wants her to stay away from all of this, and it's best to act like he doesn't know anything.
The scuffle of breaking news about Ji Rulan on the Internet reached a fever pitch at noon the next day. Among them, the two big questions about Chengyan were the most quarreling. One is whether he is gay, and the other is how he came to power.
Netizens are arguing endlessly, waiting to see the reactions of the rumored protagonists. The reporters followed and excavated non-stop.
The day's rehearsal had originally arranged for reporters to interview, but I didn't expect this kind of thing to happen before. The number of reporters coming was much higher than expected. As a result, the security guards of the TV station had to come forward to maintain order.
Anyone who directly asks about Ji Rulan will not answer: "Please don't ask questions that have nothing to do with the drama itself."
Cheng Yan felt that he had already prepared his mind well.
But in the face of the reporters who turned the corner and brought the question to the news, gradually, unknown dark flames emerged.
"You said before that Zhou Xinchun is an unscrupulous person. If you can understand this character, do you agree with him? Will you be as unscrupulous as him?"
"Will it be difficult to deal with so many beauties in this drama?"
"Do you find these beauties attractive?"
Cheng Yan felt that he was about to stop laughing: "Everyone is very attractive women, especially their very different personalities, everyone will know after watching the drama."
"Really? Are they really attractive to you?"
Cheng Yan stared at the female reporter with deep and focused eyes, with a half-smile on his lips: "Of course..."
In layman's terms, he is discharging.
The female reporter blushed slowly under his gaze, murmured "thank you" and retreated.
The day's rehearsal ended in a hurry. As soon as Cheng Yan returned to the hotel, he received a call from Xia Shaoqian. Cheng Yan reported to him that he was safe: "With Mr. Yang and Xiao Hu here, what is missing? Nothing is missing...just sleep."
Hearing Cheng Yan's pretentiously soft voice, Xia Shaoqian didn't feel any less relaxed.
"Cheng Yan."
"Um?"
"Don't worry, it's under control. I've contacted Ji's family here, and I'm trying to get Ji Rulan to come out and apologize."
Cheng Yan immediately said, "No."
Xia Shaoqian's so-called method will not be a normal method. In other words, the normal method is useless to Ji Rulan. She has lost her mind and hates this circle.
It's nothing more than intimidation or temptation, choose one of the two.
Xia Shaoqian lost his voice.
"No need..." Cheng Yan's voice softened, "It's enough farce now, don't make any further twists and turns. I don't think she will say anything more. Our company also has public relations."
Only then did Xia Shaoqian say: "This is the fastest way, I want to do something for you."
Cheng Yan couldn't help laughing: "You have done too much for me."
So while he enjoys the benefits, he will also be punished.
After a few words of persuasion, Xia Shaoqian hung up the phone. The smile on Cheng Yan's face immediately collapsed, and when he touched the cigarette, Xiao Hu was a little worried: "You have smoked too much these two days..." Cheng Yan didn't sleep at all in the second half of the night last night, so he leaned against the bed and smoked.
It's fine if Xiao Hu doesn't say anything, but when he talks about Cheng Yan, he feels like coughing.
At this time, Chengmei's phone call came again. Cheng Yan covered his mouth and held back his cough, "Did Mom and Dad know?"
Cheng Mei's voice sounded tired: "I didn't go to class today, I stayed with them at home. I unplugged the phone line at home."
Cheng Yan still asked: "What did Mom and Dad say?"
Cheng Mei comforted him: "Dad didn't say anything, Mom hid in the room and cried for a while..."
While talking, the person on the phone changed. Cheng Yan's mother took the phone and said with sobs: "I will go to the temple to worship in two days. This is a villain. It will be fine after that... Don't worry We, you have to be careful outside alone..."
Rambling on and on, he didn't say a word about his sadness.
Cheng Yan hung up the phone and lay on the bed, motionless as if dead.
That night, Chengyan's company issued a statement stating that Ji Rulan's remarks were not true, and the company reserved the right to sue Ji Rulan.
Ji Rulan has lost her voice for a while, if she really makes trouble in court, she must be the one who suffers. Cheng Yan told himself in his heart that he just had to grit his teeth and get through these few days.
The reporter kept staring at him and flirting with him. In fact, it doesn't matter what the truth is, his reaction is what the reporter wants. It's best to make a gaffe and swear at critical moments, so that they can make a big fuss and continue to entertain them.
Probably a blessing in disguise, the first episode of Old Country reached the highest ratings of the year. When Director Cai called Daoxi, he said, "To be honest, I'm a little depressed. I don't know if it's because the show is really good, or because of the scandal effect."
Either way, it's a good start. The haze and tension in Cheng Yan's heart also became better because of this: "Of course the drama is good... the more you can see it later."
Because of the double effect of the first episode's popularity and scandal, the opening of the lower part of the old country is particularly eye-catching.
Reporters rushed between Ji Rulan and the people she broke the news about. Although she hasn't revealed the news since then, she will comment on the reactions of these people from time to time. When she mentioned Cheng Yan, she told reporters that she was "pretending".
"He is really good at pretending. On the surface, he looks like he doesn't care about anything... He can talk, it's like doing Tai Chi. When did you see him answering questions directly? Do you have the ability to make him answer questions directly?"
Probably knowing that this is the last time he will fight for the page, Ji Rulan is not polite to the reporter.
So every time Cheng Yan showed up, he gathered around the reporters, trying to see who could make him answer the questions head-on.
The same is true for the start-up of the lower part of the old country on this day.
"Cheng Yan Cheng Yan! Ji Rulan said that you can speak and behave, so the crew follows you and excludes her, is that true?"
As soon as this question came up, several reporters around rolled their eyes.
Sure enough, Cheng Yan smiled: "It's not belittling me, it's belittling the entire crew. Today, try not to talk about other crews, let's talk more about the old country crew..."
At this time, a chubby reporter squeezed to the front, sweating profusely, and shouted Cheng Yan's name: "I only have one question!"
Before Cheng Yan could signal, he suddenly pulled out a large photo from the handbag he was carrying—a full 50 centimeters wide.
In the photo, two boys who look like college students are sitting under a tree, one is lying on the other's lap, the two hold hands and look at each other. One of them was the young Cheng Yan.
"Is this your ex-boyfriend?"
Time after time whizzed by, and something seemed to burst out of Cheng Yan's chest. He stared at the picture, and for about three seconds, or less, he felt that water was about to flow from his eye sockets.
He got it under control.
All the reporters stared at him.
"Ji Rulan said that I can speak and behave. I am very happy. Because in this circle, you must first be able to act. If you can't act, you must be able to behave. If you can't behave, you must be able to speak."
The implication is that Ji Rulan doesn't know anything. Immediately a reporter asked: "What if you don't know?"
Cheng Yan said lightly: "Then what's the point of her being in this circle?"
He thought that saying such a heavy word would be enough to divert attention. Unexpectedly, the fat reporter kept holding up that photo, and many people insisted on asking, "Is this really your boyfriend?"
Cheng Yan could already control his expression, he smiled: "He is my good friend."