Reborn in the Hong Kong entertainment industry in the 1980s

That day, Qi Weiming and Wang Yi experienced firsthand what speed and passion truly meant, what it meant to be at breakneck speed. And they made a pact: they would never ride in Hu Xiaoxiao's car again, no matter what.

Xia Lu led a group to cause trouble and attack Hu Xiaoxiao, but instead of causing trouble for Hu Xiaoxiao, she caused a lot of trouble for herself.

Her interpersonal relationships on set were already poor, and after this incident came to light, everyone on set distanced themselves from her to avoid being used as a pawn again. Some snobs, seeing that Xia Lu's scenes were being stolen and the director wasn't helping her, and that she couldn't beat Hu Xiaoxiao, started to ostracize her, sometimes even making sarcastic remarks when they saw her.

Although Xia Lu used to look down on these nobodys and didn't interact with them much, it's one thing for her to look down on them, but it's another thing for others to look down on them.

Xia Lu's mood worsened. She couldn't understand how things had come to this. Back then, she was a force to be reckoned with at the TV station, invincible and commanding respect. Now, after only a few years away, how had she become so forgotten?

A few days later, director Qi Weiming also learned about what Xia Lu had done. After a moment of silence, he called Xia Lu over.

"The decision to add scenes was made by me and the screenwriter. Why are you bothering Hu Xiaoxiao instead of me and the screenwriter?"

Xia Lu looked at Qi Weiming, her eyes reddening. "You ask me why? I want to know why too! Why did you and the screenwriter add scenes for her when she said she wanted more? Do you know how many scenes of mine were cut? You remember telling me that I had the most scenes among the three supporting actors, but now Hu Xiaoxiao's scenes have already surpassed mine."

"Can't take it already?" Qi Weiming brought Xia Lu another piece of bad news. "Lin Yi sent me a new script today, a street racing scene. He wants to add a few more scenes for Hu Xiaoxiao. Your racing scene only has a few shots left."

In other words, Xia Lu, who was the main character in the car chase scene, was reduced to only a few shots. Her few memorable moments were also largely gone.

"Why?" Xia Lu completely broke down, shouting at Qi Weiming, "Why did you cut my scenes again? Why did you add more scenes for Hu Xiaoxiao? Director Qi, with all this adding scenes, Hu Xiaoxiao has more screen time than the female lead, Jiang Yu! Are you trying to make her the female lead? Then go cut other people's scenes, why are you only cutting mine? Director Qi, why are you doing this to me?"

Why is everyone targeting her? What did she do wrong that everyone is against her?

Qi Weiming watched Xia Lu quietly, letting her vent her emotions. Only after she finally calmed down did he speak, "Xia Lu, let me ask you first, do you know what you're doing?"

"I'm filming! I gave up competing for the lead role to play a supporting role, even a villainous one. I did all this just to act well, so why is it still not working? I really did film well! I acted very seriously!" Xia Lu felt so upset that she could hardly breathe.

Qi Weiming asked her incisively, "Which drama are you going to compete for as the female lead? Who can you compete with? Do you want to play the female lead in 'The Bund'? But can your acting skills compare to Jiang Yu's? Can your popularity compare to Jiang Yu's?"

"The TV station's top female host isn't something others call her; it's something Jiang Yu built from scratch. Even if you've been away from television for so many years, back when you were still at the station, at the height of your popularity, you'd still have to call Jiang Yu 'Sister Yu.'"

"So I'm not even as good as Hu Xiaoxiao?"

"You can't compare." Qi Weiming's words remained cold and merciless. "Ask yourself, in what way can you compare to Hu Xiaoxiao? Acting skills? Hu Xiaoxiao can merge Xie Weihua with herself, immersing herself in the role. Can you immerse yourself in Yamamoto Masako? If you could, you wouldn't have created the loophole of adding scenes. If you can't compare acting skills, can you compare youth?"

The last question left Xia Lu speechless.

Qi Weiming continued ruthlessly, "You are ten years older than Hu Xiaoxiao. How can you compete with her in terms of youth? How can you compete with her in the young people's market? Do you know that if an artist of your age has not successfully transformed their image and wants to get roles, they have to be prepared to play housewives?"

The reason you still have a supporting actress with a significant role is because of connections and favors, not your own talent. But connections and favors are fleeting. Once they're gone, what will you do? You won't be able to return to the film industry, and you won't be able to return to television very soon either.

Qi Weiming's words were like a hammer, striking Xia Lu's anxious heart. She tried to suppress her emotions, but tears still fell drop by drop.

Seeing Xia Lu on the verge of another breakdown, Qi Weiming sighed helplessly and finally softened his tone, saying, "Xia Lu, do you know you're anxious? Instead of sorting out your emotions and resolving your anxiety, why are you always comparing yourself to this person and that person? What good does this do you except make you more anxious and do more foolish things?"

Seeing Xia Lu's tears falling uncontrollably, Qi Weiming added another strong dose of advice, "Although you became famous in the early 1980s, you debuted in the 1970s. Xia Lu, it's the 1990s now. Times have changed, and you have to accept reality. It's not that you gave up on leading roles, but that the times have given up on you."

"You ask me why I added more scenes for Hu Xiaoxiao? I can tell you right now, because this era belongs to her. Not only that, she works even harder and strives even more than you. What do you have to compare with her? What makes you think you can compare with her? Such an excellent actress can help me create better works and bring more revenue to the company. Why can't I use her?"

"Xia Lu, everyone is striving to improve, everyone is working hard to become excellent, even Lin Yi and I, two old men over fifty, are striving to improve, but what about you? What are you doing? Ask yourself, do you even know what you are doing?"

If you continue like this, without recognizing your own limitations and managing your emotions, you'll soon be eliminated, and there will be no place for you in the television industry. For Xiu's sake, I'm giving you this last piece of advice: if you still can't see things clearly, while you still have some looks, find a rich man and marry him.”

These words seemed to strike Xia Lu's Achilles' heel, causing her to completely break down. She covered her face and sobbed uncontrollably.

Seeing Xia Lu's unbearable pain, Qi Weiming felt some sympathy for her. He knew some of the details of Xia Lu's return from Xiu. However, this industry is cruel and ruthless; if she wanted to continue acting, she had to face reality sooner rather than later.

He left Xia Lu a box of tissues and then left.

Out of respect for Xiu, this was the last bit of face he was giving Xia Lu. Whether she could see through it or not was up to Xia Lu herself. After all, no one pays for anyone else's life, much less takes responsibility for it.