Evil [Entertainment Industry]

The famous French philosopher Sartre once said, “Hell is other people.” How many people in this world live according to others’ opinions? How many give up their true selves to avoid criticism? People love to condemn others, appointing themselves agents of justice and presuming to pass judgment. But what exactly counts as a mistake? If a child doesn’t like to smile, people will say they’re wrong. If a boy wears a skirt, they’ll say he’s wrong. If an idol dates someone, they’ll say they’re wrong. If you’re still unmarried at thirty, they’ll say you’re wrong too. But a lot of the time, these so-called mistakes are nothing more than being different. People always say that if you want to thrive in your circle, you have to follow its rules. So what are the rules of the entertainment industry? There’s no such thing as a free lunch. The more you want to gain, the more you have to trade away: talent, your body, freedom, or your sense of self. In this seemingly glamorous world, all wrapped up in the halo of dreams, there’s plenty of feel-good advice about how “success takes constant effort,” as well as plenty of shortcuts and traps that can’t be discussed in public. The protagonist of this story is Cui Kaile. As a child, he was a chubby loner with a different sexual orientation, regarded by everyone as an outsider. Through his own hard work, he became “Emperor Caesar,” adored and cheered by crowds onstage, and the leader of NCT, a boy band whose members love and rely on him. Just when he thinks he has left his miserable past completely behind, he discovers that things are not as wonderful as he imagined. The entertainment industry is rife with unspoken rules. Faced with enormous profits, almost everyone shows their greedy side. His refusal to cooperate without limits brings him no end of trouble. An unexpected explosion leaves ugly scars on his chest and shoulder. His appearances are canceled, his acting roles fall through, and after that he never gets another good opportunity. A secret crush that should never have begun, one that he knows can never have a happy ending, stretches on for ten years, wrapped in the guise of a beautiful friendship and innocent youth. He has endured darkness, fame, failure, and despair. Just as he finally prepares to let it all go, the world still won’t leave him alone... The ending is tentatively planned to have two versions. Theme: When children learn to see themselves through other people’s eyes, they lose their innocence.