Chapter 25: The New Protagonist

Overnight, I became the queen of trending topics.

#JiangTianRedDress#, #JiangTianStunningBeauty#, #JiangTianInVeilsOfSilk#—various hashtags bombarded the feeds, and my follower count on Weibo shot up like a rocket.

All that messy drama involving me and Fu Shuhua seemed to have been wiped clean with a single click. Now, netizens had eyes only for my breathtaking appearance, each transforming into a master of sycophantic praise, making me blush with their compliments.

Originally, when I first joined the production, Director Chen’s attitude toward me was not exactly hostile, but certainly not warm.

I understood his position; after all, the original lead actress was an award-winning star whose presence was a guaranteed draw for traffic. Compared to a big-name lead, I was just a nobody shoved into the role by an investor. Even though my work ethic was solid, that didn’t mean the market or the audience would buy in.

Now, with the boost from the trending topics, it was undoubtedly a reassurance for everyone involved.

Even Director Chen’s attitude toward me underwent a drastic change. His once stern face was now plastered with smiles, and he would drop by from time to time to offer his warm regards.

"Jiang Tian, you’ve worked hard, really hard! You were in great form today!" He patted my shoulder, his face crinkling into a smile like a blooming chrysanthemum. "Keep it up! This drama is counting on you!"

I responded politely with a smile, "It’s all thanks to Director Chen’s guidance! If I ever fall short in the future, please don’t hesitate to keep teaching me!"

The subsequent filming went exceptionally smoothly. It felt as though I had reclaimed the feeling of being a true lead actress; every take was filled with confidence, and every line was imbued with genuine emotion.

The character Fang Er—passionate, brave, and delicate—was so much like who I used to be. I poured my heart into my acting, savoring every moment under the spotlight.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I finally remembered the confident, unyielding woman I once was, the one who never backed down from a challenge.

Since leaving Fu Shuhua, this was the first time I felt that the future was truly full of promise.

"Tian, you’re doing great."

Gu Yan had been very busy lately, so we hadn't really seen each other. After learning I had made it to the trending list, it wasn't until the third day that he finally sent a belated message of encouragement.

I didn't mind. The reposts from industry bigwigs on Weibo and the synchronized posts across various social and print media made it clear that even if we weren't meeting in person, Gu Yan was consistently working hard for our careers.

"Thank you, Senior! The day I truly make it big, I’ll be sure to work hard and earn lots of money for the company!"

Because of the issues with Brother Ji, the contract had only officially transferred to Gu Yan’s company in the last few days. Seeing my new profile verification on Weibo made me feel like I could finally breathe freely.

I was sprawled across the large bed in my hotel room, preparing my lines and performance for the next day, when a group notification popped up.

"Dear colleagues, the past ten days of filming have been a joy, but due to scheduling conflicts, I must withdraw from the filming of *Veils of Silk*! I wish you all a brilliant career!"

The sender was none other than the male lead.

The situation was sudden, and I was left in a daze, worried only that changing actors might delay the production schedule.

Director Chen’s message arrived right at that moment: "Filming will proceed as normal tomorrow. The new male lead will be arriving. Jiang Tian, be sure to prepare well."

I quickly replied with a "Got it." I was confident I could work well with any partner.

But the next day, when the new male lead was announced, I realized I was wrong.

"Let us welcome... President Fu?" Director Chen’s voice was filled with excitement.

On set, I jerked my head up to see Fu Shuhua, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, walking toward me with steady, deliberate steps, a faint, cryptic smile playing on his lips.