Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore

Chapter 795: Xiao He: I Think I’ve Stumbled Upon Something Huge…

“The program team naturally thought about inviting you, but weren’t you already busy filming with the production crew? There was no way you could manage it. Plus, Director Zhuang had said earlier he could take you directly over there, so we swapped this resource over to Shu Han instead.”

Liu Rulan said, “And coincidentally, he was about to take a break anyway, so taking on a travel variety show for fun isn’t a bad idea.”

Internal resource swaps within the company were practically an old tradition. Xiao He knew this and didn’t mind at all, so he hadn’t bothered with any of it.

“I see.”

Xiao He nodded in understanding, “But they sure know how to seize an opportunity, catching the Hong Kong event right on time! And aren’t these events usually kept low-key? Wouldn’t those big shots be unwilling to have someone filming on-site? Will there really be no problem with the program team going up there to record the variety show?”

He’d thought it was supposed to be pretty high-class, but now the program team was going to record on-site… Even though *Journey Across Mountains and Rivers* was undeniably a massive hit, Xiao He still felt that the untouchable cruise party had just dropped a notch in prestige.

“They should only be booking a specific area to film, not going deep into the event spaces where those big shots mingle. They’ll just shoot the outermost, most superficial scenes. It’s basically just gilding the lily to ride on their traffic,” Liu Rulan continued to spill the beans, clearly having looked into it thoroughly beforehand. “So that’s why I didn’t recommend you take part in the *Journey Across Mountains and Rivers* special episode recording. Some people go up there to work and show off, while others go to expand their connections and networks. You understand, right?”

Xiao He nodded: “I get it.”

If you boarded the ship as a variety show guest, especially with a live stream camera on you, you’d be doomed to never reach the top-tier circles. It would be like being turned directly into a promotional tool for the cruise party. For guests needing to boost their name recognition, that would be great—a chance to gild their reputation.

But Xiao He’s current status wasn’t just that of an artist; he was also the company’s boss and face. Without the need for traffic or fame boosts, boarding the ship would only be useful for making more investors and capital connections.

At times like this, having a live stream camera trailing him would be extremely inconvenient for Xiao He, causing him to miss many networking opportunities. After all, many conversations weren’t suitable for the camera’s eye.

“But Sister Liu, your tone now sounds like you want me to get on the ship and take a look?” Xiao He asked, puzzled.

“Hmm… I can’t quite put my finger on it. It just feels like with all this groundwork laid out beforehand, it’d be a shame if you didn’t board,” Liu Rulan said, propping her chin on her hand with a very serious expression.

Xiao He: …?

What groundwork! It’s still just because everyone in the Hong Kong entertainment circle is buzzing about it lately! What does that have to do with him?!

“Haha, I’m just saying that casually. Really, it’s up to you!” Seeing Xiao He’s bewildered face, Liu Rulan couldn’t help but laugh, patting him on the shoulder.

Just then, someone else entered the makeup room.

“Teacher Xiao, is your makeup finished here?” a production assistant asked quietly.

“All set. I’ll be right there,” Xiao He called back immediately.

“Go ahead and get busy,” Liu Rulan said.

“Okay.” Xiao He stood up, adjusted his clothes one more time, and headed outside.

…

After that, time flew by, and before they knew it, the end of August had arrived.

About a month had passed since the explosive exposé of the hospital scandal. Although policies had been trickling down from all sides, affecting the entire nation, people in real life didn’t feel much of a tangible impact.

And netizens online, of course, had already moved on from the story. Everyone’s new lives were filled with other interesting topics.

On this day, Bao Xingsheng, whom Xiao He had met last time, visited the film set again.

When he arrived, Xiao He happened to not be filming. Instead, he was chatting idly with Daoist Hu.

“You know, the more superstitious people are, the easier they are to be toyed with by fate,” Daoist Hu said, stroking his beard with a deeply contemplative tone. “In psychology, this is called the ‘self-fulfilling prophecy effect.’ It means our beliefs and expectations influence outcomes. Especially when we’re convinced our predictions will come true—even if we aren’t consciously aware we hold that expectation—things tend to happen.”

“So, after the event occurs, they become even more convinced that it was the power of metaphysics that made it all happen, rather than their own actions.”

Xiao He listened intently, then couldn’t help nodding: “Right, and with this kind of thing, good predictions never seem to come true, but bad ones always do.”

Daoist Hu let out a hearty laugh: “That’s because the human brain automatically records things that happen unexpectedly. So, expected events get lumped together with the mundane fragments of daily life and classified as routine. When you look back, you feel like only the bad things came true.”

“And also—” Daoist Hu raised his palm to shield his mouth, speaking bluntly, “People always like to attribute success to their own efforts, then find excuses for their failures. So when misfortune strikes, metaphysics becomes their outlet to vent and pin the blame.”

“Senior Hu, you really are…” Xiao He was left speechless by Daoist Hu’s frank words, feeling that every conversation with this otherworldly Taoist master reshaped his view of such experts.

Especially when he so candidly analyzed the ordinary psychology behind metaphysics for a young junior like him. Xiao He felt he was truly nothing like what he’d imagined.

“Senior Hu, I think you’d be great at studying psychology,” Xiao He said sincerely.

Anyone who could successfully combine metaphysics and psychology would never do badly, no matter which path they took!

Take the Daoist Hu in front of him, for example—he was a true master!

Though, judging by his age, he was likely already an old man in his eighties, his mind was still sharp, his speech fluent, and his words were clear and direct. He wasn’t like those masters in film and TV who deliberately put on airs, saying vague things for others to guess, intentionally keeping people on edge.

Talking with him instead felt like having a heart-to-heart with a university professor—an enlightening experience.

“Haha—” At Xiao He’s words, Daoist Hu proudly raised his white eyebrows and said arrogantly, “What makes you think I didn’t? I was one of the earliest batches of psychology PhDs to return from studying abroad, you know!”

Xiao He nearly fell off his chair.

“Huh?”

The young man’s eyes widened like never before, and he couldn’t help but take another careful look at the ordinary old man before him, dressed in a white old-man undershirt.

If not for the long beard adding an aura of distinction, this old man would be barely different from the seniors strolling through the park.

And now he tells you he has credentials like that?

For a moment, Xiao He didn’t know what to say to express his shock.

So, did Daoist Hu achieve enlightenment through science?

Suddenly, Xiao He paused.

Wait, no. Why did this sound so familiar?!

Then, a light bulb went off in Xiao He’s head.

In *Dragon*, wasn’t Zhou Zhiyi in a similar situation?

While the two weren’t exactly the same, the similar plot points…

Uh-uh-uh—

Staring at the old man before him, Xiao He’s expression grew more and more peculiar.

So, Director Zhuang, don’t tell me that Zhou Zhiyi’s real-life model is the man standing right in front of me!!!

Once that association clicked into place, there was no going back!