Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Han Zhi’s Cameo AppearanceChapter 69: Han Zhi’s Cameo

    Lin Qin was completely unaware of what was happening online. He and Meng Chao were wholeheartedly immersed in filming. That post by the studio’s official Weibo account was deliberately published by Chu Hong after two days of observing the situation and choosing the perfect timing.

    The storm had indeed passed. Lin Qin was gradually moving on from the past, so there was no need to capitalize on his tragedies. They faced what had happened with honesty, but they weren’t going to exploit those events to market Lin Qin or craft a persona for him.

    Chu Hong cast a deep look at Lin Qin, who was earnestly focused on filming, and then lowered her head to scroll through the comments under the studio’s post.

    She had previously reached out to a few prominent fans, intending to guide public opinion, steering the attention toward the issue of school bullying rather than leaving Lin Qin with a tragic image.

    Those fans were quite capable. Currently, the comments under the studio’s post were all discussing school bullying as a societal phenomenon and the role teachers play in it.

    The focus of public discourse gradually shifted away from Lin Qin. By evening, major official media outlets had all spoken out against school bullying, advocating resistance to it and calling for a healthy growth environment for the nation’s young minds.

    Lin Qin only learned about this matter a week later. His emotions didn’t fluctuate much. To him, the past was truly in the past. People should look forward and not remain trapped in the past, stuck in place.

    Moreover, Lin Qin felt a sense of relief because this incident brought more attention to the severity of school bullying and to the vulnerable groups affected by it. Even though such awareness couldn’t eradicate school bullying at its roots, it at least served as a warning.

    And so, the matter was put to rest. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Lin Qin’s team didn’t use the event to gain sympathy, but Lin Qin’s experiences at the time had been deeply distressing. Fans, feeling heartbroken, declared their unwavering loyalty, adding a new wave of die-hard supporters—a surprising and unintended outcome.

    Life went on, and so did the work of Lin Qin and Meng Chao. However, on this particular day at the film city, someone new arrived on the set of "Silent War": none other than Han Zhi, who had previously been a guest on the show "We Are Together."

    Han Zhi had been invited by the director to cameo in a small role in "Silent War" and to compose its theme song as well.

    Since the release of a behind-the-scenes video of him singing, which had gone viral, Han Zhi re-entered the public spotlight. His former company, recognizing his renewed potential, approached him with promises to support his career—only to attempt to send him to a producer’s bed that very night.

    Having been shelved by the company for several years, Han Zhi remained proud and uncompromising. While he was indeed chasing his dream of music, he refused to violate his principles or lower his dignity to achieve success, especially in ways he found most despicable.

    Predictably, Han Zhi’s noncompliance hindered his company from securing better resources for him, leading them to shelve him once again. They had hoped that years of obscurity would wear down his sharp edges, but Han Zhi remained as steadfast as ever—an unyielding stone impervious to external forces, no matter how harsh.

    Just as the company planned to sweep him back under the rug, Chutian Entertainment took notice of him. Unwilling to let a gem remain buried, they paid his contract termination fee, and Han Zhi transformed into a Chutian Entertainment artist overnight.

    Chutian Entertainment truly valued Han Zhi. Within his first month there, they produced his debut album, filled entirely with his original songs that reflected the ups and downs of his life over the past years—the sweetness, bitterness, and all the flavors of life woven within it.

    The album’s release caused a sensation. In this age of digital music, his debut album broke records for sales and downloads within just one week.

    His music grew richer the more it was listened to. People in different emotional states found themselves resonating with the tracks in various ways, all becoming immersed in melodies that were either gentle, mournful, or grandiose.

    Han Zhi’s talent was finally recognized by the world. He had taken a monumental step forward on the path of music. He was famous now.

    But Han Zhi’s true passion lay solely in music. Despite the surge of variety show invites and endorsement deals after his rise to fame, he declined them all, continuing to devote his days to recording studios.

    "Silent War" featured a character who was tone-deaf yet madly obsessed with music to the point of obsession.

    The director had struggled to find a suitable actor, dissatisfied with everyone he had auditioned until one day, while visiting Chutian Entertainment, he saw Han Zhi in a recording studio—completely absorbed, with a star-like gleam in his eyes.

    This is the one!

    A voice in the director’s heart declared with certainty. At that time, Han Zhi’s debut album hadn’t yet been released. The director, being a well-established name, pitched the role to Han Zhi’s manager, who in turn sought Han Zhi’s opinion. After some back-and-forth, Han Zhi agreed to take the role of the tone-deaf character.

    The director also listened to a few tracks composed by Han Zhi himself and found them deeply evocative. He invited Han Zhi for a meeting, explained the story of "Silent War" in broad strokes, and asked if Han Zhi would be interested in composing its theme song and additional scores.

    On the spot, Han Zhi improvised a melody. Between his soft humming and the gentle rhythm, the director found himself pulled into the tale of "Silent War." When the melody ended, the director stood up excitedly, smacked the table, and grasped Han Zhi’s hands, insisting that he had to write their theme song.

    The director, whose films had received numerous international nominations and awards, presented Han Zhi with an incredible opportunity to go global through his work on the "Silent War" soundtrack.

    For Han Zhi, this was a massive opportunity, and he agreed without hesitation.

    Thus, two months after "Silent War" began filming, Han Zhi officially joined the cast.

    Although Han Zhi hadn’t seen Lin Qin and Meng Chao since the recording of "We Are Together," they had stayed in touch privately. So when the three reunited on set, there was no awkwardness—only cheerful banter and laughter.

    It was Han Zhi’s first time acting in a film, and he wasn’t a natural fit for the profession. While his genuine personality made many of his emotional beats accurate, his lack of experience showed in his camera presence—at times, he accidentally walked out of frame during takes.

    He wasn’t dismissive of the work, though. On the contrary, he took it very seriously. Whenever he felt he hadn’t performed well, he would spend time reflecting. Often, while others filmed their scenes, Han Zhi would stay on set, observing and learning from their sense of the camera and how they handled subtle details.

    Han Zhi didn’t plan to take on more film or TV roles in the future; his ultimate aspiration remained within music. But since he had accepted this project, he wanted to give it his all and do his absolute best.

    The director took note of Han Zhi’s earnest work ethic, becoming increasingly impressed with him.

    Meanwhile, Lin Qin and Meng Chao privately gave Han Zhi plenty of pointers. Hardworking and determined people have a way of winning everyone over.

    That day, Meng Chao had just finished filming a scene. As he stepped down, he spotted his brother Meng Ke waving to him from among the crew members.

    Meng Chao raised an eyebrow and strode toward Meng Ke.