Chapter Forty-Eight: This curve carried a hint of mockery.

Fortunately, the impending landing announcement rescued her at just the right moment.

Half an hour later, they landed smoothly.

The crew’s cars were already waiting outside the airport. The first vehicle was a Maserati.

Jiang Yunzhu, having worked as a manager back home, knew that only top-tier actors were given such a reception.

Dragging her suitcase, she said to Sang Bai and Shao Shu, who followed behind, “You two should work hard as well. Aim for the day when the crew picks you up with a Maserati or another luxury car.”

“A Cayenne would be more comfortable, wouldn’t it?” Shao Shu questioned.

Sang Bai replied earnestly, “It has to be a Rolls-Royce Phantom!”

Jiang Yunzhu chuckled, “Let’s start by getting a Mercedes to pick you up.”

They all got into the car and arrived at the crew’s hotel, where they were settled in.

Jiang Yunzhu opened her laptop and saw the approval notification, but the final page included an additional condition: she needed to film a short video, fifteen minutes in length.

Because she had applied late, the video would serve as an introduction. This wasn’t an excessive demand; many universities had such requirements.

Jiang Yunzhu replied simply: “Understood.”

Soon, a dedicated mentor reached out to her via email.

“Hello, Ms. Jiang. I may be your future advisor, Mill. You can call me Little Mill. If you have any questions about filming the short video, feel free to contact me.”

Jiang Yunzhu responded with a respectful, “Thank you.”

She then searched for information about Professor Mill. The results showed that Mill was a responsible mentor.

Relieved, Jiang Yunzhu began to think about the story she should film.

Just as an idea began to form, her phone rang.

On the other end was Sang Bai’s agent, Xia Yi. “Yunzhu, check the latest news updates!”

Jiang Yunzhu opened the news homepage on her laptop and immediately saw the top trending headline:

#Shocking! Genius director Jiang Yunzhu’s artist Sang Bai seen entering a questionable venue with dubious individuals#

When Jiang Yunzhu was a teenager, she had filmed a short film that won numerous awards. In Country M, she was hailed as a genius girl director, causing quite a stir at the time.

But in Country M, geniuses were never in short supply.

Afterwards, she followed Shen Ruizhang back home and did not continue her directing career, gradually fading from the circle.

Yet unexpectedly, now someone was using her reputation as a gimmick to attack Sang Bai.

“What’s with the ‘questionable venue’?” Jiang Yunzhu asked directly.

“It wasn’t Sang Bai. That street is all red-light district. Sang Bai just arrived, she doesn’t even know where it is. It’s a smear campaign!” Xia Yi replied immediately. “I think it’s because Sang Bai and Shao Shu got roles in Director Shang’s drama, so someone’s unhappy we squeezed two artists in.”

“Can you find out who’s behind this?” Jiang Yunzhu asked.

Xia Yi paused. “It’s Umbra PR.”

Jiang Yunzhu had never heard of this PR company. “Is it possible to negotiate and have them pull the headline?”

“I already tried. No luck. They’re deliberately targeting Sang Bai,” Xia Yi said, her voice tinged with anger. “Yunzhu, you wouldn’t believe how vile this company is.”

Jiang Yunzhu’s connections and resources in Country M were all from the past. After years abroad, few of her old contacts were still useful. She had never heard of this PR company.

“Tell me more,” Jiang Yunzhu said, not rushing to decide.

Xia Yi continued, “This company is notorious in the entertainment industry here, but their underhanded tactics ensure their success. Let me tell you a story from three years ago. An up-and-coming actress refused an unreasonable demand from an entertainment executive, and Umbra PR targeted her. Do you know what they did?”

Jiang Yunzhu had a guess, but asked anyway, “What did they do?”

“Heh, it was dirty. First, they spread rumors about her faking her academic credentials, using their many marketing accounts to amplify the story. They bribed some media to publish so-called ‘in-depth investigations’, making the lies sound credible. Three days! In just three days, they silenced an actress whose career was on the rise.”

Xia Yi’s voice carried both helplessness and sorrow. “She had lots of endorsements and film offers—now, she’s disappeared from the industry entirely.”

“If they’re so aggressive, do they have no competitors?” Jiang Yunzhu wondered.

It didn’t make sense. The entertainment industry in Country M was just as cutthroat, and surely other PR companies would envy Umbra PR’s dominance.

Xia Yi’s tone grew solemn. “They’re backed by Lei Yaoyang.”

Jiang Yunzhu straightened slightly. “I know him. He’s a giant in Country M’s entertainment industry, with many famous artists under his company. His influence here is vast.”

Now Jiang Yunzhu was perplexed.

How had she, a newcomer, offended him?

“We pushed out a few artists last time, one of whom belonged to his company,” Xia Yi said in a low voice. “She probably got close to him, didn’t want to accept defeat, and now wants her role back.”

This complicated matters. Jiang Yunzhu couldn’t even meet Lei Yaoyang, let alone negotiate.

Judging from their past actions, they wouldn’t stop until Sang Bai was ruined.

“Yunzhu, we need a plan,” Xia Yi pleaded. “Otherwise, Sang Bai won’t survive in this industry.”

She remembered how, back home, Zhou Qingpei had targeted Sang Bai because of her. Now, even abroad, Sang Bai couldn’t escape being targeted.

“Who’s Lei Yaoyang’s rival?” Jiang Yunzhu asked.

Xia Yi hesitated. “Shen Tingxiao—Master Shen.”

“What?” Jiang Yunzhu was stunned.

Once again, everything circled back to him.

“Who else could it be? Director Shang’s production only avoided Lei Yaoyang’s interference because Shen Tingxiao invested. If he weren’t involved, Lei Yaoyang would have gone straight to Director Shang and replaced Sang Bai,” Xia Yi explained, solving Jiang Yunzhu’s confusion.

Jiang Yunzhu gently bit her lip. “Understood. I’ll ask Master Shen if he can help.”

“I’m counting on you. Sang Bai’s future is in your hands,” Xia Yi pleaded softly.

After hanging up, Jiang Yunzhu pulled up Shen Tingxiao’s contact, hesitating over how to ask for help.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

She opened it to find the assistant director standing outside.

“Ms. Jiang,” he said with a smile, “the crew is having a dinner tonight. Would you care to join us?”

“No, thank you,” Jiang Yunzhu replied, not feeling inclined. With Sang Bai and Shao Shu’s agents attending, there was no need for her to go out of her way.

But the assistant director smiled and added, “Master Shen will be there, too.”