WAM CH26

This Wang So-and-so was an early editor-in-chief of Entertainment Weekly. He resigned many years ago, boldly foreseeing that the influence of print media and television would be weakened by the impact of the internet. Resolutely leaving the magazine, he struck out on his own.

After years of struggle, he had now become a verified paparazzi “Big V” with tens of millions of followers. Known as the number one paparazzo in the industry, he almost monopolized all major news in the entertainment circle.

Once this Weibo post was published, it exploded across the world like a time bomb.

Moreover, Wang So-and-so was very smart. He wouldn’t consume a huge news story all at once. He was especially skilled at layering the reveals and maximizing their utility.

In the text and images, he only posted a few video screenshots, then briefly explained the course of events. He directed the narrative subtly, digging linguistic traps that never failed to catch people.

—Oh my god!!!! This is actually true!!!!

—Tattoo faction! Let me see your hands! Everyone in the tattoo faction who likes this comment gets a follow back today!

—Talking shit without a video.

The front row was always pre-emptively occupied by netizens too excited to think. Then, a while later, amidst the vast sea of comments, a netizen named ‘Treading Snow Without a Trace’ rocketed to the top of the hot comments with the speed of a lightning bolt. All because this girl meekly posted a picture and stated:

“Am I the only one who noticed Daddy Shao wearing Best Actor Gu’s clothes? [/Image Link]”

The girl claimed she happened to visit the set to see her idol yesterday. The so-called visit was just taking a picture from afar and taking a couple of looks.

Because the girl got stuck in traffic, by the time she rushed over, Gu Yanzhou had finished shooting all his scenes and was saying goodbye to the crew. Walking while rolling up his sleeves, the coat he was wearing was exactly the one Shao Si was wearing in the photo.

As soon as her words and accompanying picture came out, Weibo became even livelier. The top few trending searches were all related topics.

“It’s over, we can’t wash this clean.” Sitting in the car, Li Guangzong was so anxious he wanted to jump out. When he saw this in the morning, he fell into a manic state. He even forgot to shave before leaving the house, shouting with stubble on his face, “No wonder my right eyelid was twitching like crazy at the police station yesterday. Even if we clarify this, we won’t be able to clear ourselves. Wang So-and-so is notoriously dramatic, ‘Treading Snow Without a Trace’ is probably his alt account.”

“…”

“I have to contact Brother Yang, give him a heads-up, and figure out how to handle this.”

After Li Guangzong finished speaking, he realized Shao Si hadn’t responded at all. So he put down his phone and turned his head to look back.

Shao Si had his eyes closed and was already asleep.

Li Guangzong truly felt like the emperor wasn’t anxious but the eunuch was worried to death. Stunned for a moment, he gritted his teeth at Shao Si’s half-concealed sleeping face: “Good, very good, you truly remain unruffled in the face of danger.”

However, Shao Si was a light sleeper. When the car braked for a red light and the body swayed, he rubbed his eyes and woke up.

Shao Si pinched the bridge of his nose and asked casually, “Little Son, where were you just now?”

Li Guangzong: “…” I don’t really want to talk right now.

Since he wouldn’t speak, Shao Si could only open Weibo himself to scroll through the news.

Because there were too many private messages and tags, the screen froze the moment he logged in.

He originally wanted to look at the trending searches, but because the touch screen glitched for a moment, he accidentally clicked into his private messages.

The number was 1,000,000+, and still rising. The message Shao Si’s fingertip happened to touch read: Daddy Shao, are you really married to Best Actor Gu? You must be happy. No matter what choice you make, we will silently support you!

…

Shao Si closed Weibo.

“The company is holding a meeting this morning, we’ll probably have to stay until noon.”

Li Guangzong had just received instructions from the company telling him not to issue any unauthorized clarifications for now.

He guessed the company intended to ride the wave and bundle them together as a ‘CP’ (couple) to sell fanservice. However, a guess was just a guess, and he didn’t tell Shao Si. Mostly, he was afraid that if he told him, this morning’s meeting wouldn’t happen. Given Daddy Shao’s temper, smashing up the conference room wasn’t an impossibility.

Propping up his head, Shao Si asked, “What meeting?”

“Quarterly report, I guess. You know they always like doing these empty formalities.” Li Guangzong stabilized his emotions and said, “Also, the company recently signed several new artists and plans to form a boy band for key cultivation. They should be attending this meeting too, for encouragement and whatnot.”

“Oh.”

For the past two years, Shao Si could be considered the pillar of the company.

Furthermore, in the company’s hands, he had evolved into a blank check. This blank check caused every junior to forge ahead, making him their goal, willing to expend everything in their desire to become the next him.

—Yang Ze was one of them.

Company Headquarters.

Inside a manager’s office.

Qi Ming sat at the desk, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. Holding a fountain pen, he was signing documents.

Actually, he still looked somewhat decent. His features were regular, and if one had to say, he even had a bit of a scholarly air.

Just then, Yang Ze kicked the door open and came in. Slamming his phone onto the desk, his expression was quite ugly: “On what basis is he the top trending search on Weibo again today? Didn’t you promise me that today they would definitely focus on me playing the second male lead in Masks?”

Calling it the second male lead was just an empty title. Strictly speaking, it was at most the third or fourth male lead. Just a minor supporting role.

Faced with Yang Ze’s accusation, Qi Ming frowned. Finishing the last stroke on the paper, he closed the file, took off his glasses, and looked up at him: “What are you doing? Don’t forget your persona.”

Right now, Yang Ze’s face was full of jealousy and unwillingness. When he spoke, it was like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

Where was the image of the sunny young idol?

“There’s no one else here! Forget about being sunny and lively.” After speaking, Yang Ze actually kicked a chair over. “The most important thing right now is to quickly buy trending searches for me. I must suppress him!”

Qi Ming remained motionless for a while before standing up. His gaze abruptly darkened, seeping with a hint of ruthlessness: “Have I been indulging you too much lately?”

Being stared at with this look, Yang Ze felt a panic in his heart.

“To whatever heights I can raise you, I can make you fall just as miserably. Whatever value you have, the initiative lies with me. You can only become what I want you to become… Now that I’ve propped you up high and fans revolve around you all day, you really think you’re something?” Qi Ming sneered. “A dog selling his ass. Your skills have grown, daring to bark wildly in front of me.”

Listening to this, a chill slowly crept up from Yang Ze’s scalp.

He had indeed been too impulsive just now. Normally, he would absolutely never speak to Qi Ming with this attitude. It was just that whenever he encountered matters related to Shao Si, all his reason scattered at top speed.

But he truly hadn’t expected that when Qi Ming got angry, he would actually be like this. That he would actually say such things.

“…”

After speaking, Qi Ming picked up his glasses from the desk and put them on. In a flash, he seemed to revert back to that refined gold-medal manager: “Apologies, I misspoke a bit.”

However, Yang Ze felt this apology was incredibly perfunctory. The man in front of him had merely swiftly slipped on another layer of skin.

Qi Ming’s gaze refracted an even colder expression through the lenses: “But I still have to remind you, it’s time to rein in your thoughts about Gu Yanzhou. If you want to have a scandal with him, you can’t afford it.”

Yang Ze: “Why? Shao Si can sell fanservice with him to drum up hype…”

Qi Ming: “Can you compare to Shao Si?”

When Yang Ze walked out of Qi Ming’s office, he slammed the door a bit forcefully.

After stepping out, a breath was blocked in his chest, so he raised his foot and kicked the trash can twice: “Fuck!”

Like a fleeting montage, the scene Yang Ze saw when he first entered the company surfaced in his mind.

Surrounded by people like stars orbiting the moon, Shao Si walked in through the doorway. Dressed all in black, wearing a pair of combat boots.

It was as if all the light in the world was shining on him.

Yang Ze had come for the second round of auditions that day and had spent a lot of time and effort on his outfit—yet that day, he looked like a joke. The media and fans only chased after Shao Si, not even sparing him a passing glance.

It was even more so after entering the company.

Wherever that person was, he, Yang Ze, could only be reduced to dust.

“Shao Si,” after kicking twice, Yang Ze vented his anger. His chest no longer heaved so violently, and he muttered calmly to himself, “As long as it’s something you have, one day it will all become mine.”

Shao Si knew nothing of all this.

No matter how rich his imagination was, he wouldn’t have guessed that an idiot was still jealous of him while he was agonizing over a scandal.

Because traffic was smooth, by the time they arrived at the company, there weren’t many people in the conference room yet.

Shao Si picked the furthest seat and sat down. Unable to behave for even two minutes, he crossed his legs and started playing games.

Li Guangzong only sat down beside him after greeting the circle of people around them. Seeing this, he patted Shao Si’s leg: “Put it down quickly, what kind of posture is this.”

“Oh,” Shao Si responded absentmindedly, putting his leg down. Less than two seconds later, he casually tossed his phone onto the table and sighed, “Fuck, I died.”

Li Guangzong: “…President Lu is personally coming to the meeting today, pay attention.”

Shao Si: “I know, isn’t he still not here yet?”

“Ah, Guangzong, when did you guys arrive? I didn’t even see you.” Qi Ming walked in from the doorway and shook hands with Li Guangzong like good buddies.

Li Guangzong stood up and chuckled: “Just got here, just got here.”

Yang Ze, following behind Qi Ming, greeted Shao Si: “Senior Brother.”

Shao Si replied casually: “Mhm.”

Qi Ming’s eyes flashed, just about to bring up the trending search on Weibo today, when Shao Si’s phone, which he had just tossed on the table, suddenly vibrated twice.

The screen lit up, and the three large characters ‘Gu Yanzhou’ flashed in the center of the screen.

…

Four people, four pairs of eyes stared at these three characters. Only, their thoughts varied.

However, Shao Si only took a single glance, snatched up the phone, stood up, and strode outward with his long legs: “Hello.”

Gu Yanzhou had probably just been working out and hadn’t caught his breath yet. When he spoke, the tail end of his words carried a muffled panting sound: “Did you look at Weibo?”

“I did,” Shao Si didn’t walk far, just standing at the door of the conference room, leaning against the wall and saying, “…Those idiots.”