Volume 1, Chapter 108: The protagonist of this movie is me.

“Excuse me, but the lead in this film is mine,” Jiang Yu said lightly.

When Qin Tianhao heard him, he gave a slight start. The indifferent look he had been giving Jiang Yu shifted into a sharp appraisal.

He didn’t know this man at all, only that he was a singer. From the way he looked, he was indeed a little more handsome than himself.
But still—he was just a singer.
Now singers could also step into acting, could they?

The next moment, however, sent his blood pressure rising.

Jiang Yu walked up to Su Muyu and gently pushed back a loose strand of hair blown by the wind.
“Everything all right?”

Su Muyu nodded, smiling as if warmed by spring rain. “It’s fine.”

That smile completely stunned Qin Tianhao. He had worked with Su Muyu before on a drama, yet he had never seen her with such radiant warmth.
Unfortunately, that smile was not for him.

And to make it worse, nearby, Director Chen Guosheng seemed almost thrilled.
“Xiao Jiang, so you’ve agreed to take the role?”

Jiang Yu nodded. “Director Chen, you invited me so many times. If I keep refusing, people would think I’m ungrateful.”

The two onlookers were left dumbfounded.
Qin Tianhao stepped forward. “Come on, Director Chen—surely you’re joking? You’re not really going to cast him, are you? He’s just a singer.”

There was contempt in his eyes. In his mind, he was the hottest young star in the industry, the kind whose entire popularity guaranteed ticket sales.
And each film he shot could cost over ten million—about two million and eighty thousand a day, enough to sustain most singers for life.
The other man’s status could never compare.

When he said it, the whole room fell silent.

Jiang Yu lifted a brow.
“Mr. Qin, you sound as if you hold all singers in contempt.”

Director Chen, who had stepped in too, looked displeased. “Qin Tianhao, haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Sing well and you can act, act well and you can sing’?”

When Chen spoke, Xinjuan immediately burst out: “Tianhao, how can you talk like that?”

In spite of her rebuke, Qin Tianhao offered no apology. Instead he shot Jiang Yu a blatantly disdainful glance.

Chen Guosheng’s face darkened.
“Xinjuan, we have known each other for years—you’re my old friend. But what you just said is not quite appropriate.”

“Director Chen, he’s in a bad mood today, so please give him a chance,” Xinjuan said, turning back to him. “Apologize!”

“Xinjie, are you serious?” Qin Tianhao snapped, as if he’d heard something unbelievable. “Me apologizing? Impossible. He is what, exactly?”

Jiang Yu’s eyes darkened, his hand already tightening into a fist. There were certain people, after all, who truly needed correction.
But before anyone could see him speak, the director cut in.

“It seems there’s no point in continuing this collaboration. Xinjuan, Qin Tianhao, I won’t detain you any longer. Do as you wish.”

Qin Tianhao could never have imagined that Chen Guosheng would dismiss him so directly.
He had already begun to lose his head when he saw the woman he liked so warmly standing close to another man, and now this—how could he endure it?

“Director Chen, what is he, and why do you treat me this way because of him?”

His agent tried frantically to pull him back, but she couldn’t. He glared at Jiang Yu, teeth clenched.
“What are you comparing yourself to me for?”

“Get out!”

Just as Qin Tianhao’s thoughts began to scatter in panic, a furious roar cracked through the room and cut him off.
Who was it he was speaking to? Chen was one of China’s top directors. No matter how high his popularity soared, Chen would not place him in the same league.

That shout cleared his fog, and he knew at once he had utterly lost his chance to act in Chen’s drama.

“Director Chen, I’m sorry. I lost control a moment ago. I apologize.”

He forced out the words, gave a final cold glare toward Jiang Yu, and left.
Xinjuan left soon after as well.

“Qin Tianhao, what is wrong with you? Why did you become so irrational all of a sudden?” Xinjuan scolded him.

“I’m sorry, Xinjie. I saw Su Muyu being so close to that man and I couldn’t hold myself back. I caused trouble for you.”

“Enough. It’s only one television drama; we have other offers too. We don’t need this one,” she sighed. “But I’m warning you—don’t use your little schemes on Su Muyu. And that singer, Jiang Yu, is not as simple as you think.”

Hearing his agent speak that way, Qin Tianhao was stunned.
“Xinjie, does that boy have any backing?”

“I don’t know whether he has backing or not. But he has performed at the Army Day gala and the National Day gala, and the song for this year’s military parade was also written by him.”

Qin Tianhao drew in a sharp breath. Those two galas were not easy to land. He really had overstepped.

“Then… should we apologize?” He said the last two words through clenched teeth, though he truly had no wish to apologize.

Seeing his face, Xinjuan sighed. “The company will handle it. The two of you don’t have any prior circles, so it should be fine. Don’t worry—come on.”

“Where to now?”

“There’s still an audition with another director today, remember?”

...

At the hotel, Director Chen said apologetically,
“I’m sorry, everyone. When Xinjuan heard I was in Jiangxia, she called and said she was bringing Qin Tianhao for an audition. I never expected this to happen.”

Jiang Yu smiled and shook his head. “Director Chen, you don’t need to apologize. This is nothing to do with you. Thank you for standing by me. This is Qin Tianhao’s issue; it won’t affect our discussion.”

“Ha, ha, yes, yes—you’re right, it won’t affect us,” Chen laughed. “Someone who has taken the National Day stage has a broad mind. Shall we talk about the role?”

“Okay,” Jiang Yu said warmly. “Let’s talk about the role. Thank you for taking me on after all those invitations. This is my first drama—please point out anything I need to fix.”

“Don’t worry,” Chen said with a grin. “If you have any acting issues, ask me anything. I’m here.”
He took out a contract that had long been prepared.

At that point Su Ling stepped in, taking care of the contract work.
After energetic discussion between the two, the agreement was signed.

Holding the signed contract, Chen Guosheng grinned broadly.
“So, we begin principal photography in two weeks. No problem for you?”

“What…?” Jiang Yu looked at Su Ling. She was his manager, yet he scarcely knew what her schedule looked like.

Su Ling came forward and smiled. “If scheduling permits, yes. Two months from now is the Chinese Pop Song Awards ceremony, and after that we may still arrange a concert for Jiang Yu. Otherwise, everything is clear.”

“Concert?” Jiang Yu blinked in surprise, but said nothing.

“Just incredible,” she said with admiration. “In less than four months since his debut, he’s already been invited to the Chinese Pop Song Awards. That’s impressive. No issue at all—just take leave then.”

Chen extended a hand, smiling. “Then let’s have a pleasant collaboration.”

Jiang Yu took his hand, one corner of his mouth lifting.
“Pleasure doing business with you.”