The winter sunlight filtered softly through the blinds of Muyao's room, casting long, pale shadows across the floor. Three weeks had passed since her first lesson with He Yanzhou, and each day had been filled with exercises, readings, and moments that pushed her to confront more than just her acting skills. After Muyao officially completed her acting class, she went straight away on a vacation to the serene coastal town of Lianhai, craving a few days of calm and freedom before diving fully into the whirlwind of her acting career. He Yanzhou had suggested the break, insisting she needed fresh air and space to reset after the intensity of their lessons.
While Muyao relaxed by the waves and wandered the quiet streets, her phone buzzed repeatedly. Star My Destination's official Weibo had just posted the cast announcement:
"Welcome Lin Muyao as Lin Meixin!"
The post included a polished photo of her in character, radiating confidence and charm.
The comments appeared almost instantly:
"So she's Lin Meixin… excited but also skeptical. Can she really pull this off?"
"She was just announced as Xing Xia's new actress not long ago… Why does it feel like they're pushing her everywhere? Is this talent or just connections?"
"Xing Xia is clearly trying to make her the next big star. Not sure I buy it yet."
"I'll wait and see, but isn't this her very first project after entering the industry? That's a big role to start with—hope she can handle the pressure."
"Her travel photos are cute, but acting a supporting lead? Big jump. Curious to watch."
"Seems like a classic case of being 'pushed' by the company. Can she survive the pressure?"
"Lin Meixin is an important role even if not the lead… is she really ready?"
"Honestly, she seems talented, but the hype feels forced. Xing Xia wants a new face fast."
"Some people are saying she's just being promoted because she's under Xing Xia… but maybe she'll surprise us."
"Wow, the photos look amazing, but acting is different from being photogenic. Fingers crossed."
The comments kept pouring in, refreshing faster than Muyao could read them.
Some were doubtful, some curious, some sharp enough to sting even through the screen. Yet mixed among them were a few quieter voices—people who hadn't judged her yet, who were simply waiting.
Muyao scrolled for a moment longer, then stopped.
She set the phone down on the small wooden table beside her chair and leaned back, listening to the steady rhythm of the waves below the balcony. The sea breeze carried a faint scent of salt and sunlight, cool against her skin. Compared to the noise online, Lianhai felt unreal in its calm.
So this is what it means to be seen, she thought.
Three weeks ago, she had been nothing more than a newcomer attending a private acting class, struggling to face herself. Now, her name was tied to a role, her face attached to expectations she hadn't asked for. Praise or doubt—it was all attention, and it all carried weight.
Her phone vibrated again. This time, it was a message from Li Zhenwei.
The announcement is out. Don't read too much into the comments. Focus on resting. Filming arrangements will come soon.
Muyao stared at the message, then typed back a simple reply.
Okay.
No excuses. No explanations.
Li Zhenwei had thought the announcement would quiet down after the initial wave of attention. A newcomer in a supporting lead role—give it a day or two, and the viewers would move on.
He was wrong.
Not long after the post went live, comments from other actresses' fans began to appear. At first, they were subtle—questions that carried sharp edges, comparisons that felt intentional.
Then the tone shifted.
"She stole the role. My actress was clearly a better fit."
"Another resource snatched away by a company-backed newcomer."
"Don't tell me this wasn't arranged behind the scenes."
Soon, uglier rumors followed.
"I heard she slept with someone on the cast to get the role."
"No acting works, just dirty tricks."
"Xing Xia really will do anything to push their people."
Some people didn't know Muyao at all. They didn't care to check the facts. Seeing the comments pile up, they joined in, repeating the words, adding sharper ones of their own. Doubt turned into accusation. Curiosity turned into an attack.
Within an hour, the post was no longer just a cast announcement.
Lin Muyao's name climbed onto the trending list.
The topic title was blunt and harsh:
"Lin Muyao Drawn Into Casting Controversy"
Li Zhenwei stared at the screen, his expression darkening.
This wasn't normal skepticism anymore.
This wasn't an accident.
Li Zhenwei's fingers flew over his phone, tracing the origin of the disgusting rumors. He opened fan group posts, scrolled through threads, and cross-checked timestamps. Three weeks ago—a week before the official announcement—someone had started planting doubts.
It didn't take long to find the source.
Cao Yirou
A B-list actress with a polished image and known for being strong and never giving up, Cao Yirou had posted in her fan group that her role in Star My Destination had been "stolen." Even though Director Zhang had already confirmed she got the part, Cao Yirou said the news was being shifted to "push a newcomer." Behind her confident public image, she had a habit of acting self-righteous and stirring trouble to keep attention on herself.
Li Zhenwei frowned, his fingers tapping against the edge of his desk. He clicked through Cao Yirou's fan posts, each one more inflammatory than the last. The accusations were spreading fast, and her fans were echoing every word, adding their own speculation and insults toward Muyao.
"This can't be allowed to continue," he muttered under his breath. "She's deliberately trying to ruin Muyao's reputation before she's even started."
He opened a private messaging window and sent a quick note to Director Zhang, explaining the situation. Within minutes, he also contacted the PR team at Xing Xia, instructing them to prepare an official statement to clarify the casting and protect Muyao.
Meanwhile, Cao Yirou seemed oblivious to the storm she was stirring online. Using a backup account no one knew was hers, she sent a message in her fan group chat: "I can't believe they're giving such an important role to a newcomer. It's not fair! We need to make our voices heard!"
Li Zhenwei clenched his jaw. "This ends now," he said firmly. He already had a plan to handle Cao Yirou before the rumor could escalate any further.
Just as Li Zhenwei was coordinating with the PR team, Star My Destination's official Weibo account posted a new video: a clip from Muyao's audition for the role of Lin Meixin. The video showed her focus, emotion, and natural expression, moving through several lines from the script with a quiet intensity that drew viewers in.
The caption read:
"Every role is earned. Watch Lin Muyao bring Lin Meixin to life in her audition. #StarMyDestination #LinMuyao #LinMeixin"
Almost immediately, Anruo, the original author of Star My Destination, reposted the video on her personal Weibo with her own caption:
"This is the Lin Meixin I've been waiting for. #LinMuyao #LinMeixin #StarMyDestination"
Fans of the novel and casual viewers alike began flooding the comments. Excitement and curiosity sparked across the platform:
"She really is Lin Meixin!"
"Finally, someone who understands the character as the author intended."
"I love how natural she is. This is exactly how I imagined Lin Meixin."
"Looks like Xing Xia knows what she's doing. Muyao seems perfect for the role."
The repost from Anruo gave Muyao an extra boost of credibility. Suddenly, doubts began to be drowned out by praise, with more and more people defending her talent rather than the rumors that had spread earlier.
Li Zhenwei watched the comments with a satisfied expression. This was exactly what was needed: the work speaking for itself, letting the audience see the real Muyao.