Chapter 128.2: Voting for the Three Trailers of “Immortal Path”

Listening to everyone laugh and joke while slyly avoiding eye contact and secretly writing down their votes, Zhao Heng couldn’t help but feel amused.

“What are you voting for?” Xuan Ji, who didn’t have voting rights, leaned in closer to Zhao Heng.

Zhao Heng’s hand, just about to write, suddenly shook. “…”

With Xuan Ji staring at him, he couldn’t laugh anymore.

“N-no, haha, nothing. I haven’t decided yet. Everyone’s just too good, I really can’t choose. I need to think a bit more.”

As he spoke, Zhao Heng put on an expression of deep contemplation, subtly moving away from Xuan Ji.

Three minutes later, everyone had folded their pieces of paper with their chosen answers and placed them on the table.

“Who did you vote for?”

“What about you?”

“Relax. We’ll know soon enough.”

Everyone started probing one another, but since this group was full of seasoned pros, no one was foolish enough to reveal their vote in front of the three involved—doing so could offend the other two.

Besides… there were nine voters. Surely someone would have voted for Director Xuan.

No matter what, Xuan Ji was still the director—he should be shown some face, at least.

Zhao Heng said, “I’ll tally the votes. Anyone object?”

Shen Xiu: “No objections.”

“None,” Team Leader Liu echoed right after.

Xuan Ji also said, “No objections.”

Three minutes later, Zhao Heng finished counting.

Looking at the results, Zhao Heng didn’t even dare glance at Xuan Ji.

Xuan Ji, growing impatient, saw that Zhao Heng had clearly finished counting but wasn’t saying anything, so he urged, “Hurry up and say it already.”

Zhao Heng said, “…Shen Xiu’s version received 6 votes, Liu Qing’s received 3.”

“These are the final voting results.”

He hadn’t wanted to say it, but Xuan Ji had pushed him.

What’s more… Zhao Heng hadn’t expected that not a single person would vote for Xuan Ji.

When he cast his own vote for someone else, he had thought—out of the nine people, someone would surely vote for Xuan Ji.

Turns out… he was thinking too much.

Xuan Ji: “?”

“Zhao Heng, did you count wrong?”

The nine voters: “???”

Seriously? All nine of them had the same idea?

After the results were announced, none of the nine—including Zhao Heng—dared to meet Xuan Ji’s gaze.

They had expected Xuan Ji to lose badly… but not this badly.

As the one who had proposed the vote, Team Leader Liu pretended to lower his head and stare at the floor—secretly pleased, but also feeling a bit guilty.

Although his own version wasn’t selected, he had to admit Shen Xiu’s edit was far more moving and impactful. He accepted the outcome wholeheartedly.

With not a single person choosing him, Xuan Ji would be lying if he claimed he wasn’t hurt.

“Why?” Xuan Ji looked around at the others.

No one met his gaze. No one responded. With no other choice, Xuan Ji looked toward Shen Xiu.

Shen Xiu felt that if he kept his head down any longer, it would just make things even more awkward for Xuan Ji.

He asked, “What do you mean ‘why’?”

That cold and curt “What do you mean ‘why’?” hit Xuan Ji like a bucket of ice water from head to toe, snapping him out of his heated frustration.

Shen Xiu’s words clearly meant—‘Isn’t it obvious? You’re just that bad. No one’s blind. It’s plain as day. Why even ask?’

Xuan Ji: “……”

Wuwuwu, was he really that bad?!

Even when his own father criticized him, Xuan Ji didn’t fully accept it. His father had started small in film crews and worked his way up to being a major director. Xuan Ji was his son—could he really be that much worse?

Even when his own dad said something, Xuan Ji could brush it off as just background noise. Not to mention, no one in the crew ever dared criticize Xuan Yushu.

Everyone always praised Shen Xiu—how talented he was, how skilled he was. As someone the same age as Shen Xiu, who had personally experienced Shen Xiu’s abilities, Xuan Ji saw him differently.

When Shen Xiu spoke, Xuan Ji actually listened.

And listening… only made it hurt more.

“I get what you mean now…”

Shen Xiu: “?”

“Are you sure?”

If he remembered correctly, he had asked Xuan Ji “What do you mean, why?” Yet Xuan Ji hadn’t even answered that question—he just turned around and said he understood. Shen Xiu was confused.

As expected, communicating with people… really wasn’t his strength.

Hearing Shen Xiu’s repeated, cold questioning, Xuan Ji’s face grew even more awkward. He raised a hand to cover his face. “Really, really! I really get it!”

So please don’t ask again, or he’d die of embarrassment!

Shen Xiu: “…Alright then.”

The group of onlookers, secretly eavesdropping with keen interest: “!”

As expected of Shen Xiu. Just two cold, sharp lines were enough to break Xuan Ji’s defenses—and make him accept his own lack of ability.

Xuan Ji raised his head and ruffled his hair in frustration. Agitated, he asked, “Shen Xiu, then tell me—what should I do to be like you and Team Leader Liu, so that the videos I edit can actually be recognized?”

They both got votes. He didn’t get a single one.

The more he thought about it, the more discouraged he felt.

Hearing this question, Shen Xiu let out a quiet sigh of relief—thankfully, it was something he actually knew how to answer. He told Xuan Ji his method:

“It’s very simple. Just do what the teachers say: watch more, learn more, practice more.”

“……”

Everyone in the room was stunned by Shen Xiu’s words.

Teachers? Watch more? Learn more?

The entire crew knew Xuan Ji hadn’t even gone to college!

No wonder Shen Xiu was called the Demon King—he was brutal!

Xuan Ji: “……”

How did Shen Xiu know he hadn’t gone to college?!

Xuan Ji clutched his chest, suddenly feeling like he was about to cough up blood. He took a few steps back, looking at Shen Xiu with wide, aggrieved eyes.

Shen Xiu: “?”

“What’s wrong?”

The light, casual question came out of Shen Xiu’s mouth—yet it carried maximum damage.

Xuan Ji forced a bitter smile and shook his head. “N-nothing…”

Shen Xiu didn’t explicitly mention school, but everything he said was clearly pushing him toward studying more.

He was definitely calling him an idiot.

Xuan Ji used to think that once he got accepted, whether he went to college or not didn’t matter.

Even without a degree, he believed he could carve out his own path—just like his dad.

But now, after being relentlessly wrecked by Shen Xiu’s bluntness, Xuan Ji was starting to regret everything.

Shen Xiu: “…Mm.”

He was getting more and more confused about what went on in Xuan Ji’s head.

Since he couldn’t figure him out, Shen Xiu decided to take the initiative and ask what he wanted to know.

“Why did you take over the editing team’s work?”

Team Leader Liu silently wiped away a bitter tear in his heart.

As expected of Shen Xiu—unafraid of Xuan Ji, and even remembering to stand up for the editing team.

By now, Xuan Ji was covered in imaginary knives from Shen Xiu’s words. His body and soul were both numb with pain.

He said softly, “If you have an idea in your heart, just go for it…”

He didn’t expect that the spur-of-the-moment ‘joke’ teaser he made would get netizens angrily criticizing him until he was completely overwhelmed.

He originally wanted Shen Xiu to comfort him, but Shen Xiu’s sharp tongue only made things worse.

Xuan Ji was at his wit’s end: “I thought I could handle the editing work too.”

Xuan Ji’s gaze fell on Team Leader Liu and the editors, then back to Shen Xiu.

“Am I really that bad?”

Shen Xiu was still a student himself, had never done editing work, and wasn’t qualified to judge Xuan Ji’s skill from an editor’s perspective.

Shen Xiu spoke honestly: “Different professions are like mountains apart. It’s hard for me to judge.”

Xuan Ji: “?”

Was Shen Xiu telling him to just focus on directing and not cross over to snatch the editors’ jobs?

Xuan Ji clutched his chest, feeling the urge to kneel to Shen Xiu.

From today on, if anyone says Shen Xiu isn’t the big devil, he’ll be mad at them!

After being roasted again and again, Xuan Ji felt like a withered plant: “I get it.”

No longer asked to evaluate, Shen Xiu’s nervous heart settled back into place.

“Thank you, Shen Xiu. Really, thank you very much. I know what I should do now.”

Though stung repeatedly, Xuan Ji felt enlightened by Shen Xiu’s words.

He rubbed his aching, throbbing head hard. Once his mind cleared a bit, he looked toward Zhao Heng.

“Tell the publicity team to prepare. Let’s release all three versions of the edits—Shen Xiu’s, Team Leader Liu’s, and mine. At first, don’t say who edited which version. After we pique the netizens’ curiosity, then reveal it.”

“Then put a poll at the bottom to let the netizens participate.”

After all, it’s a ‘joke’ teaser—what’s the harm in having a few more?

Letting netizens vote and compare will only increase the buzz, which will help boost reservations after the release date is set.

This was basically the only thing he could do for Immortal Path.

Also… there was absolutely no way he was going to be the only one shocked that Shen Xiu could edit!

Zhao Heng let out a breath: “No problem.”

After Immortal Path was criticized, he deliberately mentioned Shen Xiu in front of Xuan Ji, then had Xuan Ji invite Shen Xiu over. It turned out to be the right call.

Although Xuan Ji was immature in many ways, when it came to generating hype for Immortal Path, he was a major contributor. After all, bad publicity is still publicity—controversy is better than barely making a splash.

“Shen Xiu, come on, I’ll treat you to a big meal!”

After saying this, Xuan Ji blushed a little. Shen Xiu had probably eaten better things before, so his words were like waving a big sword in front of Guan Yu himself.

Shen Xiu would probably laugh at him!

Shen Xiu nodded: “Okay, thanks.”

Compared to being surrounded by a bunch of strangers here, he’d rather go eat with someone more familiar like Xuan Ji.

Xuan Ji: “!”

Wuwuwu, Shen Xiu really is such a good person. As long as he listens to advice, Shen Xiu’s attitude toward him really improves.

Xuan Ji looked at the people he had dragged down with him and bowed: “I’m sorry. I was too arrogant before, too ungrateful!”

“Director Xuan, what are you saying?”

“No, no.”

“Exactly, Director Xuan, you’re being way too harsh on yourself.”

“Haha, yes, that’s too serious.”

Everyone laughed it off, not taking Xuan Ji’s apology too seriously.

After Shen Xiu, Xuan Ji, and Zhao Heng left, only the editing team remained in the room.

They were all familiar with each other, having worked together for a long time. Without outsiders around, their speech was no longer as cautious as before.

“This is so hard, so hard. Whether it’s Shen Xiu or Director Xuan, they don’t do anything but just stand there, and it makes people nervous inside.”

“Director Xuan has his dad, and Boss Xiu himself is already a big shot. Just looking at them, it’s hard to please them.”

Team Leader Liu smiled after hearing everyone’s comments.

“Let me put it this way. Suppose you have two kinds of bosses in front of you.”

“The first kind has a good temper but is arrogant without having finished their studies. Their blind confidence often causes trouble, dragging the whole team down, wasting early efforts, and easily leading their team to stagnate or even regress.”

“The second kind is well-versed and truly talented but has a cold temper, mostly strict and unyielding. Their words are harsh, but they get things done reliably. Under their leadership, it’s no problem to suddenly climb step by step.”

“Between these two kinds of people, which would you rather have as your boss?”

Team Leader Liu didn’t mention Shen Xiu or Xuan Ji by name, but every word clearly hinted at the two of them.

The team members immediately understood.

Without hesitation, they answered, “Of course the second kind!”

Although they joked every day about being “couch potatoes” for life, if they could get promoted and earn more money first, they’d definitely choose to make the money before slacking off.

Team Leader Liu neither agreed nor disagreed, just chuckled a few times: “Hahaha…”

“All right, all right, stop chatting nonsense. Quickly send those three videos over to operations and publicity. Don’t delay Director Xuan’s instructions. After all, he’s the chief director.”

“Got it, don’t worry, we’ll package them and send them right away.”

While Immortal Path’s new teaser was being mercilessly criticized, the official Immortal Path Weibo suddenly released all three teaser videos at once.

@ImmortalPathOfficial: Which one do you choose—1, 2, or 3? Come vote now!

[Video 1] [Video 2] [Video 3]

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