Chapter 28: I'll Buy You a Wreath and a Grave!

Bai Lu furrowed her delicate brows. “That’s not it. Director Zhang didn’t lie, and I never tried to create an image of being dedicated to my work.”

“Bai Lu, just now, you and Director Zhang’s conversation was heard loud and clear by everyone in the livestream!” The reporter pressed aggressively. “Why did you lie? Why involve the whole crew in your deception?”

“Enough!” Director Zhang, furious, stood up and pointed at the reporter’s nose. “I’d like to ask you, where did you get that clip? Do you realize that illegally obtaining unaired footage from a drama is already against the law?”

The reporter sneered. “Director Zhang, don’t try to dodge the real issue. Please answer my question first! You and Bai Lu keep saying she only used a body double for one scene, so what is the video I have?”

“It’s a damn deleted scene, idiot!” Director Zhang, notorious in the industry for his talent and equally notorious temper and foul mouth, cursed outright.

The reporter was stunned. “What?”

Director Zhang continued. “Are you suffering from underdeveloped brain matter, or is your brain not developed at all? I’ve made it clear, so why are you still asking? Fine, since you’re a disabled person, I’ll explain again.”

Bai Lu: “……”

Director Zhang’s words were as sweet as honey—super sweet.

Director Zhang said, “I don’t know which idiot from the crew gave you that clip, but let me tell you, the footage you have is useless. Got it? After Bai Lu was discharged from the hospital, she came to me and said she wanted to reshoot that scene because the body double’s face was too obvious. Okay? If you still don’t get it, I really can’t explain any further.”

While Director Zhang was letting loose, the assistant director had already found the reshot scene featuring Bai Lu and started recording it on his phone.

“Everyone, zoom in a bit.” The assistant director held up his phone. “Here’s the clip of Bai Lu reshooting the scene. I’ve paused it so you can get a clear shot. Please try to capture her beautifully, thank you.”

The reporter’s expression changed as he picked up his phone again. “I also have a few audio recordings!”

Through a voice changer, a distorted voice said, “Bai Lu stated that unless she had the full set of La Mer skincare products, she couldn’t continue filming.”

Director Zhang’s voice, unaltered, replied, “Nonsense! She just asked for a set… what was it… that skincare brand! More than a hundred thousand yuan!”

“I can’t do anything. I tried to persuade her, but that’s just her temperament. Director Zhang, I really can’t help anymore. Please deal with it yourself.”

Director Zhang exploded. “Buy it! Get it for Bai Lu! I’ll pay for it myself!”

The second recording played.

“Bai Lu said she won’t act today; she’s having menstrual pain.”

Director Zhang unleashed another tirade. “To hell with menstrual pain! She just had her period five days ago! Is she dying or suffering from some terminal disease? Why is her period clinging to her like a shadow?! Tell Bai Lu she must film today! If she dies during shooting, I’ll buy her a funeral wreath and cemetery plot! The biggest wreath! The most expensive villa grave!”

Bai Lu touched the tip of her nose. Alas, she’d heard this once in her previous life, and hearing it again today, she still admired Director Zhang’s swearing skills.

Director Zhang was so embarrassed he didn’t dare look at her.

The seventh recording played.

“Bai Lu wants to eat—”

Director Zhang interrupted, “If she wants to eat panda meat, I’ll go catch one for her! Catch it myself and cook for her! Braised, steamed, stir-fried—I can do it all! Just tell her to come film right now!”

Bai Lu whispered, “Director Zhang, pandas are a national treasure. If you catch one, you’ll rot in prison.”

Director Zhang: “…Shut up!”

The reporter smiled coldly. “Director Zhang, that’s your voice, isn’t it?”

Director Zhang, no longer as furious, smiled slightly. “It’s me.”

Reporter: “Bai Lu acted like a diva and made all sorts of unreasonable demands. You were extremely angry.”

Director Zhang: “Not just angry. I really took up a knife several times, ready to kill Bai Lu, but my assistant director stopped me.”

Bai Lu was shocked. “That actually happened?”

Director Zhang coughed twice. “Well, wasn’t I just driven mad?”

Reporter: “Director Zhang, just now you helped Bai Lu fabricate evidence. Was it because Bai Lu is dating the investor, and the investor pressured you?”

Director Zhang laughed heartily and waved to Yu Fuqing, who stood at the back of the crowd. “Come, let the investor answer this question personally.”

Yu Fuqing: “……”

He walked over unhurriedly, took the microphone from Director Zhang’s hand, and said, “Currently, I am not dating Bai Lu. I am pursuing her, but she hasn’t agreed. That’s all I can answer, thank you.”

He then returned the microphone to Director Zhang.

Director Zhang, as if calling on a student to answer, looked around. “Who wants to come on stage and respond?”

The lighting technician raised his hand. “Eating panda meat—ah, not panda meat, it was Bai Lu’s foster mother, Wu Liping, who said Bai Lu wanted spicy crayfish tails. Director Zhang cooked them himself, but after they were ready, Wu Liping said Bai Lu didn’t want them anymore, so Wu Liping and Shen Xinluo ate them instead.”

The makeup artist took the microphone. “The full set of La Mer was bought through a friend, paid for by Director Zhang. Here’s the transfer record and unboxing video. Since the filming location was remote and the items expensive, I recorded the unboxing video in case there were any issues, so it’s clear.”

“As far as I know, Bai Lu uses the domestic brand she endorses. I haven’t seen La Mer in her room.” The makeup artist smiled gently, looking at Shen Xinluo, whose face had turned deathly pale. “Xinluo, I remember you posted a photo of the full set of La Mer on your social media.”

Shen Xinluo was trembling all over, cold sweat pouring down, looking as if she’d just been fished out of water. “I… That was a gift from my mother!”

Panicking, Shen Xinluo told the easiest lie to expose.

“Lies!” The bespectacled reporter took out his phone. “Viewers in the livestream dug through your Weibo; the photos you posted and the makeup artist’s unboxing video are of the same set! The serial numbers match! Here’s a comparison chart made by viewers! See for yourself!”

The assistant director was on point, already casting his phone screen.

“It’s… it’s… I remembered wrong!” Shen Xinluo was in total chaos, unable to think straight. “Bai Lu didn’t want it, so she gave it to me!”

“Bai Lu, is that true?”

Bai Lu covered her cheek, her shoulders trembling with laughter. Honestly, everyone’s combat prowess was so strong, she hadn’t even had a chance to take the stage!

“I have to confess.” The reporter hired by Shen Xinluo suddenly stood up and raised his hand. “I thought I was exposing the truth, believing myself to be a crusader for justice. Now it seems I’ve been used, becoming an accomplice.”

Bai Lu: ?

Everyone: ??

Livestream: ???

An instant reversal, just like that?