Originally, these neighbors didn't have such bad intentions; they just thought it was pretty cool that the Xiao Family had produced a big star, so they secretly snapped a few photos of Xiao Wan and posted them online to boast about knowing a big celebrity.
But little did they know, as soon as the photos were uploaded, they received tens of thousands of likes, and some people even offered money for them to take more shots. Eventually, someone suggested live streaming, mentioning that internet celebrities could make a lot of money and that one could earn tens of thousands from just one session.
For ordinary people, this was undoubtedly a huge sum - who wouldn't want to stream a few times and make enough money to live comfortably?
Thus, under the guidance of some schemers, a resident tested the waters by live streaming Xiao Wan's return home. In just twenty minutes, by merely filming Xiao Wan walking and buying groceries, they made over twenty thousand!
Keep in mind, this resident worked himself to death all year long and only made seventy or eighty thousand, while today, filming Xiao Wan, he made a quarter of his annual salary!
Word spread quickly, and most of the community members spontaneously formed a group, dedicated to filming Xiao Wan after she got off work. Those with good relations with the Xiao family even had her greet their family members onscreen openly after filming.
This stirred the envy of many, after all, everyone had lived in the same alley, seeing each other every day. "We're all your elders," they justified, "so making a bit of money off of this isn't too much to ask, right?"
So these people became more and more outrageous, no longer satisfied with just sneak shots; they openly demanded Xiao Wan cooperate with their filming efforts.
"Now that she's a big star, she's forgotten all about us, her old neighbors. Back in the day, Xiao Wan was my daughter's classmate and even ate at our house. She used to call me auntie so affectionately, and now she turns her back on us!"
"Exactly, do you think it's easy for us? We stay under the hot sun every day just waiting for her to come home, and she just says a few words and leaves, making the 'big brothers' in my livestream stop sending gifts!"
"Asking her to say a few words is like asking for her life. She's made so much money outside, why can't she share a bit of the spoils with us, her family and friends? Look at how stingy she is. I'm telling you, Xiao Wan definitely won't stay famous for long!"
...
Such sentiments spread among the crowd. In their eyes, a big star's daily work wasn't tiring at all, so why couldn't she satisfy their little needs after work?
That's why they thought Xiao Wan was mean, resentful of their attempts to make money.
Xiao Wan stood there, unsure whether to laugh or cry, feeling a chill all over her body. How shameless were these people? How could they rely on filming her to make money and then turn around to criticize her?
Besides, she never asked them to wait for her at the community's entrance, did she? When she wasn't famous, she never saw a single one of them offer her comfort.
"Such a young girl, with no backing or connections, managing to enter a drama troupe, could it be..."
After all, who dared to criticize the grand niece of the big boss? Even if they had to resort to using Photoshop to replace her head in post-production, no one would speak up.
During the break, the director sat next to Xiao Wan with the script in hand, asking with a smile, "Feeling unwell? If so, let's rest for a couple of days, and talk after you've recuperated."
Xiao Wan forced a bitter smile; this was no longer just a physical illness. If she continued to be exploited by that group of neighbors, she might even grow to detest being in front of the camera.
"Thanks for your concern, Director. I've just run into some troubles..."
The director, who had been in the entertainment industry for decades and saw through the ins and outs of all sorts of issues better than anyone else, asked Xiao Wan, "Were you filmed by someone without your consent?"
Xiao Wan looked at him in surprise, and the director continued with a smile, "This morning during filming, I noticed you subconsciously avoiding the camera—it felt like something was wrong."
"Actually... the neighbors in my residential complex, they live stream me every day when I'm commuting, and some even go as far as using telescopes to peer into my home, leaving me with no privacy at all..." Xiao Wan said despondently.
"I don't know what to do..."
"Xiao Wan, do you know what many actors do first after becoming famous? Buy a house! They all make a clean break from their past environments. It's not that human nature is inherently evil, but the human heart is too difficult to fathom. Once people reap benefits without working for a long time, they forget what gratitude means!"
Enlightened by the director's words, Xiao Wan made up her mind to buy a new house elsewhere or rent one. She definitely had to choose a neighborhood with good privacy!
Just then, Xiao Wan's phone rang.
She gave the director an apologetic smile and answered the call.
From the other end, her mother's anxious voice came through.
"Xiao Wan! There's big trouble at home!"
"What's wrong? Mom, take your time, don't rush."
"I can't explain it clearly over the phone, you need to come back quickly. Oh, and it might be best to contact your company and have them send a couple of bodyguards..."
Shortly thereafter, a cacophony ensued on the other end, and her mother was forced to hang up the phone.