Chapter 56: The He Clan's Overwhelming Power and He Xiuciong Relents!

"Why are you following me?"
"No, no reason."
"Hehe... Even if you don't say it, I can guess. For that talent show, right?"
"You already knew, so why ask?"
"Hey, are you glaring at me?"
"So what if I am?"
"Don't you want any chance in that talent show anymore?"
"You, you could possibly..."
"Little sister, take a guess at what I do for a living."
Bingbing, the stalker, had been caught red-handed by Ma Xun.
Of course, there was no way to hand her over to the authorities or anything like that, so he simply led her to this cafe to drink and chat.
At this moment, Bingbing... that's right, had completely forgotten all about her mother.
However, the conversation at hand was far too closely tied to the talent show, and she needed to have a serious talk with Ma Xun about it.
"What do you do..."
This meant guessing his identity.
Bingbing made the first accusation: "You lied to me back then!"
"Lied to you?" Ma Xun chuckled.
"You're not a talent scout at all!"
Bingbing said this with great conviction.
Ma Xun shook his head with a smile, "Sometimes, I'm pretty much the same as a talent scout."
He wasn't lying.
He, Ma Xun, had indeed discovered quite a few future stars, and as for the female stars among them... ahem, there was really no need to go into details.
Bingbing clearly didn't believe him. "Don't try to fool me! How could a talent scout possibly have as much authority as you?"
Well, this young lady had actually managed to spot his authority.
Ma Xun grew much more serious this time. "If I told you I'm a big boss, would you believe me?"
This left Bingbing stunned.
The possibility that the man before her was a big boss was actually quite high.
However, there was one thing that didn't fit at all.
"You're too young."
There was actually another sentence Bingbing left unsaid: You're also too handsome... Of course, she couldn't possibly say that out right!
Ma Xun let out a hearty laugh. "Age isn't an issue, is it? There's no rule saying you can't be a boss until a certain age."
Bingbing's heart was in turmoil. Actually, she had already vaguely guessed before that Ma Xun was definitely extraordinary.
Back during the preliminary auditions, those senior executives had all been smiling deferentially at Ma Xun.
"Then you..."
"When I said I'd make you a star back then, I wasn't just spouting nonsense. I'm not the kind of guy who likes to hoodwink people."
Ma Xun didn't blush or lose his breath as he said this.
And sure enough, Bingbing believed him. "Then, then..."
Ma Xun teased her, "Regretting it now? Want me to make you a star after all?"
"No!" Bingbing immediately shook her head.
In truth, the girl's heart was screaming yes, but how could she lose in a battle of words?
Fortunately, Ma Xun directly shifted to the next topic.
"Let's talk about the talent show instead."
"Oh, okay." Talking about this was precisely what Bingbing wanted.
"Which role are you aiming for?"
Actually, as for female actors in this talent show for *My Fair Princess*, the final 'grand prizes' were two.
Little Swallow and Ziwei, of course.
The other supporting roles didn't really mean much.
So they simply weren't brought out for the talent show.
This was all Ma Xun's idea, naturally.
He had no desire to turn this into the farce that was *The Dream of Red Mansions* talent show.
That talent show had truly been completely absurd.
The behind-the-scenes drama was astonishing, and most crucially, many of the actors chosen through the talent show.
Ended up not even acting in that *New Dream of Red Mansions*.
Only a few scattered actors actually participated.
And because of this outcome, the audience tore it to shreds with criticism.
Since you held a talent show, no matter what, you should at least let the chosen ones perform.
Pulling a stunt like this was utterly disgusting.
Returning to this *My Fair Princess* talent show.
Little Swallow was eccentric and clever, while Ziwei was gentle and virtuous.
They were precisely two extremes.
Thus, the candidate actors could also be divided into two camps.
Doing it this way sounded quite interesting.
Which direction was Bingbing choosing?
"Ziwei."
Ma Xun knew she would choose this one.
"You don't stand a chance."
Dropping those words directly, Bingbing froze instantly.
Actually, there was some juicy gossip behind this.
Ma Xun remembered that in the original timeline, Bingbing claimed she was told to play Ziwei.
Yet later, Director Sun Shupei came out and said Bingbing was originally cast as Jinsuo all along.
As for who was telling the truth, there was really no need to dwell on it too much.
Because the role of Ziwei itself underwent changes, and during that transitional window, someone might well have passed word to Bingbing telling her to play Ziwei.
Putting that aside for a moment, let's return to the current talent show.
Ma Xun had a bottom line.
That was, he didn't like Ruby Lin, and he would definitely not let her play Ziwei.
However, not giving it to Ruby Lin didn't mean it would be given to Bingbing.
Ma Xun already had his candidate in mind.
Bingbing knew nothing of this; she was thinking from a different perspective.
"You, could you possibly cover the sky with one hand!"
There was distinct anger in those words.
Yet Ma Xun remained completely unbothered. "It's useless for you to throw a tantrum with me. You should be able to see it too—this talent show is just for show anyway."
Of course Bingbing understood; she had seen through it from the very beginning.
It was all rigged!
However, but... did she really not have a single chance?
"Do you mean..." Bingbing stopped there, her face flushing red.
Ma Xun understood at a glance and smiled. "Little sister, you're a bit naive. I did say things like making you a star back then, but it was somewhat in jest at the time. Didn't you take me for a talent scout back then anyway?"
That was quite honest; Ma Xun had indeed been joking initially.
Yet at this moment, to Bingbing, she was precisely at the age where she couldn't hide her thoughts.
Whatever came to mind instantly showed on her face.
Ma Xun found this girl quite entertaining right now, her emotions entirely on her sleeve.
He then continued, "Since we've talked to this extent, I'll lay it all out.
I have my principles, too.
The person I back must be my woman."
Ma Xun had repeated these words many times now, and he was growing increasingly fluent at it.
Hearing this, Bingbing's expression shifted once more.
This Ma Xun was simply going too far!
He actually came right out and said it like that.
As if able to see right through her thoughts, Ma Xun added,
"Don't harbor any illusions about me. I'm no good guy."
Bingbing was only in her teens this year, but she completely understood what those words meant.
Illusions... she admitted she really had thought about it.
Perhaps Ma Xun was the kind of big brother figure who would help her.
Yet right now...
The guy in front of her who claimed to be no good guy was the reality!
Bingbing stood up and left... Throughout the entire process, she didn't utter a single word.
Ma Xun didn't say a word either.
He didn't feel he had done anything excessive.
Because this was the entertainment industry.
Moreover, he hadn't lied, nor had he swindled the young girl Bingbing.
If she couldn't even stomach this much, she might as well not squeeze her way into this circle.
Yet thinking of that later version of Bingbing...
"Brother! Awesome!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted Ma Xun's train of thought.
"Hey buddy, what took you? Why are you so late?"
It was Sun Hai, this fellow wearing a full face of smirks, giving off an intensely punchable vibe.
"Brother, I actually got here early." Sun Hai sat down opposite Ma Xun, right in the seat Bingbing had just vacated.
Ma Xun raised an eyebrow. "You brat, were you watching the show?"
"Holy shit! It was so dramatic!" Sun Hai was genuinely punchable, but he immediately followed up, "Hooking up with another schoolgirl? This one looks even greener than the last."
"Damn it!" Ma Xun cursed outright. "Why does your mouth sound like an old gossip? Why are you so obsessed with gossip!"
Unfazed by the scolding, Sun Hai chuckled instead, "I admire you! But hey, we're on two different tracks. I like mature ones, you like young ones—we complement each other's strengths."
Holy shit!
Ma Xun was practically laughed into anger by this guy's words. "Is there such a thing as complementing strengths like this?"
"Yes." Once on this topic, Sun Hai's mouth couldn't stop. "Mature ones have big tits, while the young ones... even the ones around twenty are too small."
Ma Xun shook his head helplessly. "Stop talking about this damn stuff! Acting like you haven't seen a woman in eight hundred years."
"Alright, alright, let's talk business."
Actually, Ma Xun muttered inwardly: There are big ones in their early twenties too, except they've already been molded into my shape.
"I've completely figured out the talent show stuff."
"Really?"
"Don't you trust how I handle things?"
"My brother is the absolute best!"
"Next, you need to go find Dragon Five and take care of a matter."
"Huh? No problem, but that old geezer's attitude lately..."
"Don't worry, it's not about that. Here's what you do..."
Ma Xun whispered a few instructions into Sun Hai's ear.
Before long, Sun Hai left with a smile to handle the task.
Watching Sun Hai's retreating figure vanish from sight,
Ma Xun knew his layout was complete.
Yet for some reason, Bingbing's pretty face flashed through his mind again.
That expression on her face... was it disappointment?
Disappointed in me?
Whatever, let her be disappointed.
...
"What? Two rerun rights?"
"Yes, that's Ma Xun's asking price."
"That's outrageous! Two rerun rights, and this is a Chiung Yao drama!"
As soon as Yeh Chuan-chen returned, she reported Ma Xun's asking price to Ho Hsiu-chiung.
Those two rerun rights were truly no small matter.
Chiung Yao dramas were blistering hot right now.
The two rerun rights had a valuation of at least twenty to thirty million.
You must understand, this referred to two reruns *after* the premiere broadcast on Hunan TV Channel 2.
Twenty to thirty million was already the most conservative estimate.
It was equivalent to Ma Xun directly demanding twenty to thirty million from Ho Hsiu-chiung!
Ho Hsiu-chiung showed immense restraint by not blowing her top.
However...
"Chen, I know we're surrounded by formidable rivals right now, but Ma Xun is also being aggressively overbearing. You simply must help me out."
As Ho Hsiu-chiung spoke, she even reached out to clasp Yeh Chuan-chen's hand.
Normally, a woman's hand is very soft.
Yet at this moment, Yeh Chuan-chen's feeling was... not as warm as the Prince's hand.
Naturally, she couldn't voice that right now; she gently patted the back of Ho Hsiu-chiung's hand.
"Of course I'm backing you, but as for the reply to their side..."
Ho Hsiu-chiung calmed down slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "One."
Yeh Chuan-chen nodded.
Inwardly, she was actually laughing—Ho Hsiu-chiung's 'one' was entirely within the Prince's calculations.
Indeed, this was the broken window effect.
Just like that, the talent show for *My Fair Princess* and 'Xiangjiang Girls' officially kicked off!
The television station had scheduled four episodes.
As for our recording schedule, it was set for four days.
Actually, this kind of variety show wasn't difficult, and four days should suffice to complete it.
In other words, results would emerge very soon.
And on the first day—
"Hello everyone!"
"Missed you all so much!"
Alec Su and Nicky Wu took the stage, the two Little Tigers instantly electrifying the atmosphere!
Naturally, there was a live audience for recording this show, of course.
Whether through ticket giveaways or local students.
Their popularity was genuinely sky-high.
And these two were Ho Hsiu-chiung's people!
Thus, on this first day, Ho Hsiu-chiung could be said to have the upper hand.
However, good times don't last.
During the second day of recording, another eye-catching figure appeared.
"Hello everyone, I am Li Tingyi."
The big-eyed sweet girl took the stage!
Her target was Little Swallow.
Li Tingyi, a Taiwanese actress whose official debut role was in *Justice Pao*.
Put simply, she was Liu Lili's person!
And she carried another label as well.
"I previously filmed a movie with Big Brother."
Big Brother? Big Brother Jackie!
A Dragon Girl?!
This was formidable indeed.
Liu Lili—or rather, the Ping family—
Had pulled off a major turnaround in one fell swoop!
Ho Hsiu-chiung panicked almost instantly.
Because the true protagonists of *My Fair Princess* were Little Swallow and Ziwei!
What was to be done now?
Li Tingyi belonged to the opposing side, while as for that other role, Ziwei...
Right now, the public outcry and support for the big-eyed girl were at their peak!
And she was definitely not Ho Hsiu-chiung's person.
"Chen, two! Two is fine!"
Facing Ho Hsiu-chiung's sudden about-face, Yeh Chuan-chen was laughing inside.
The Prince truly was prophetic!
Another chapter is coming right up, please don't worry.