FI CH33: A Sudden Situation

A huge official V account was hanging in the comments section. Some netizens who didn’t understand the situation clicked on the account and the pot instantly exploded.

— Holy crap, I’ve heard of all the companies under the Lingsheng Group!
— It covers entertainment, electronics, real estate… [shocked]
— The appliance brand my family often uses is also under Lingsheng! Shocked, bowing down to the big shot!
— I thought I could gain a new wifey today, turns out it’s the young boss of Lingsheng Group… I was presumptuous. [slowly exiting]
— I’m here to join this family! [scattering flowers]
…

A large wave of comments flooded the official account.

Lin Su, scrolling through the comments, glanced sideways in amazement. “So your empire is this large.”

He Zhenling’s eyelashes were lowered, and he seemed to let out a very light scoff. “It has already changed owners. It’s your empire now.”

“…”

Xuenima added smoothly: [As easy as taking something from a bag, within arm’s reach.]

A hand gently pressed it back.

Lin Su said to He Zhenling with a straight face, “How could that be? I’m just passing by.”

Just as his words fell, a message popped up from the top of the screen. The company assistant was in a panic: “Boss! Are you online? Is the production team trying to ride our coattails, or has our company really changed owners!?”

“…”

Lin Su glanced at it, then gently handed the phone back. “You have work.”

He Zhenling closed his eyes for a moment, then calmly took it back and started replying to the messages.

During his brief retreat from the storm, the online fervor did not subside. Instead, it grew higher and higher. A large wave of amusement-seekers, drawn by the commotion, came over. After understanding the cause and effect, they couldn’t help but join in the gleeful mockery.

— Hahahahahaha… he picked on the wrong person!!
— Bai Xuanrui’s fans wanted to cyberbully a staff member, but ended up cyberbullying the main sponsor. [looking at the sky, crying with laughter]
— Dying of laughter. Didn’t you want him to come out and apologize? The Lingsheng Group’s address is attached. Remember to make an appointment at the front desk when you go.
— Ahhh, this divine plot twist! I’m laughing so hard I’ve forwarded it to three group chats!
…

As more and more onlookers poured in, the topic plaza was gradually taken over by passersby. Netizens also began to rationally investigate what had happened.

— If you turn up the volume of the video, you can hear the dialogue. It seems like someone said, “Don’t tear it off,” and Bai said, “I’ll tear it off, so what?”
— Places like this ancient village have many taboos. Could he have offended something? [not simple]
— So that’s how he got the “scare”…
— Bai’s fans, stop going crazy. Your idol didn’t listen to advice, and now you’re blaming the production team?
— What a grand scene.jpg
— Speaking of which, how much backing does Bai Xuanrui have? He’s so arrogant even to the sponsor above him. I can’t imagine his attitude towards the staff. [stunned]
— This attitude… [looking at the sky] Unfollowing.

Public opinion reversed. Bai Xuanrui’s fans couldn’t win the argument and were forced to retreat.

Ke Juexin and the production staff, who had been closely monitoring the situation, finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Lin Su, not having an account, saw this and asked, “How is it now?”

Ke Juexin was pleased and grateful. “It’s all thanks to Mr. Lin for attracting the firepower at the height of the storm! Now the plaza is mostly passersby, and the tide has turned.”

Lin Su leaned over to look at the plaza. There were still many people tagging the production team, asking them to say something.

He said, “It’s about time. Release the second wave.”

Ke Juexin nodded and with a flick of his finger, a new Weibo post was sent out amidst the storm.

@SpiritDetectiveRulesOfficialV: Although guest @BaiXuanrui—Rui v only recorded for half an episode, he will still be included in the first half of the main show. Please look forward to it. [scattering flowers]
At the same time, let’s also look forward to our new guest, Sheng Lingyu @Singing Jade v.

Attached below was a [Recording Tidbit].

This time, Bai Xuanrui’s fans, unsure of the situation, didn’t dare to rush in and start a fight, only watching from a distance.

The fresh wave of popularity, however, followed the tidbit and flowed directly into Sheng Lingyu’s Weibo:
— Damn! There are still artists in the domestic entertainment industry with this kind of talent!?
— Bamboo strip lanterns, this is intangible cultural heritage! [teary-eyed] I love this kind of traditional craftsmanship so much. Can you post more?
— Discovered a treasure! The songs on his homepage are also great. Are they original? [starry eyes]
— Following, following! Looking forward to the show~ [scattering flowers]
…

Sheng Lingyu’s voice came from the side. “Eh, I’ve gained a lot of new fans again.”

Ye Yuzhu: “Now you can look.”

She then realized, “Oh, you were already looking just now.” He had even switched to battle mode.

Sheng Lingyu smiled shyly. After scrolling through Weibo, he looked up with bright eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Lin!”

Lin Su: “You can just call me Lin Su.”

Just as Sheng Lingyu was about to open his mouth, He Zhenling stood up and came over. Looking as if he had finished his business, he handed his phone to Lin Su. “Still surfing?”

Lin Su: “Not anymore.”

“…” Sheng Lingyu closed his mouth, alert. An allegory? A warning?

A rare spark of shrewdness arose from his obtuseness, and he changed his words. “I think I’ll just call you Little Senior.”

“?” Lin Su turned his head. “Either is fine.”

One storm was quelled by the onslaught of an even bigger one.

Ke Juexin said generously, “To celebrate a perfect ending, lunch is on me today!”

Everyone: “Oh!!!”

Lin Su happily prepared to follow, then turned to see He Zhenling still standing in place. “Aren’t you going?”

He Zhenling chewed on the words “perfect ending” and looked over with deep, dark eyes. “…I feel like if I go, it would be a kind of mockery to myself.”

Did he look like he could manage a perfect ending right now?

“…” Lin Su said in a broad-minded tone, “In this life, don’t think too much.”

“Heh, I’ve been thinking too little.”

Xuenima looked down its nose: [At this point, what’s there to reflect on? Heh heh heh.]

In the lounge on the other side, Bang! Bai Xuanrui picked up a cup and threw it.

“That Sheng Lingyu got all the benefits! He took my gig, and now he’s trying to steal my traffic too, isn’t he? And that Lin Su! He’s not even in the circle, what’s he doing meddling in this?”

“What’s so great about a stupid hand! A bunch of uncultured fools!”

His manager stood opposite him, his head buzzing from the shouting. He had just barely managed to appease the fans, and now he turned off his phone. “It’s not like you weren’t the one who insisted on posting that Weibo…”

If he had just kept quiet, nothing would have happened. Now he had tried to steal a chicken, but lost the rice used to lure it.

Bai Xuanrui: “Are you saying you’re blaming me?”

The man in front of him fell silent.

He thought it over and over, unable to stomach the anger, and picked up his phone. “No, I have to…”

His manager stopped him. “Your reputation has already been affected. The higher-ups have said to let you lie low until the storm passes.”

The words “higher-ups” finally managed to quiet him down.

Bai Xuanrui cursed in frustration. “Damn, nothing is going right. I suspect it’s…” He paused, then suddenly thought of something. “By the way, where’s the master who came to exorcise the evil spirit for me yesterday?”

He immediately sat up straight. “Find him again for me. Have him change my luck or something!”

Many people in their circle had consulted masters. He hadn’t paid much attention before, but after “seeing a ghost” this time, he truly believed it.

As long as he wasn’t making a fuss online, the manager agreed. “Alright, alright.”

…

Bai Xuanrui’s side didn’t cause any more trouble. The production team’s recording for the next two days finally ended peacefully.

The next episode was in a different location and would be filmed after a period of rest. Before parting, the production team created a group chat.

Ke Juexin held up his phone to gather everyone. “Come, come, let’s all add each other.”

A circle of people gathered around to join the group. Lin Su also joined. Ke Juexin looked up at He Zhenling, who was standing behind with a cool, indifferent expression, and then said, “It’s fine. It’s enough that the young boss has joined.”

Lin Su: “…”

A light gaze fell on him from behind.

After joining the group, everyone began to pack up and prepare to leave.

Sheng Lingyu waved at Lin Su. “Little Senior, are you coming to the next recording?”

Lin Su: “Depends on my mood.”

Sheng Lingyu glanced over carefully. “Depends on Mr. He’s mood?”

Lin Su looked at him calmly.

Sheng Lingyu was startled and obediently changed the subject. “By the way, I have some good news. Probably because I gained a lot of fans last time, the company got me another show. I’ll be going to record it when I get back.”

“What show?”

“A creative music show, in a live format.”

Sheng Lingyu was full of anticipation and joy. “It suits me quite well.”

Lin Su looked at his clear, bright eyes for two seconds, then smiled lightly. “I hope you get everything you wish for.”

“Mm! I’ll take your good words!”

After they spoke, they parted ways.

Lin Su got into He Zhenling’s car. The latter was already sitting inside. Seeing him get in, He Zhenling turned his head. “What were you talking about?”

Lin Su closed the car door, gentle. “Don’t worry, I only talk about proper topics with others.”

He Zhenling sneered. “Are we very R-rated then?”

Lin Su turned to look out the window. “Stop always saying such provocative things.” He lowered his eyes shyly. “Old Zhang is still here.”

Vroom. The starting car suddenly stalled.

The suddenly-cued Kong Fu: …

He gripped the handbrake, a smile on his face. “…Do I need to get out of the car?”

He Zhenling took a shallow breath, calm. “No need. Drive.”

Five days later, they returned to Xuncheng. The first thing Lin Su did when he got home was to routinely cut a string of paper figures, clean up the living room that had been ravaged by the Black and White Impermanence, and then go take a shower. The short trip had brought a trace of fatigue to his body.

He spent the next few days at home, watching TV, surfing the internet, engaging in some verbal sparring with He Zhenling, and replying to messages from various parties.

Pei Jin had been successfully admitted to H University; the class monitor had been dragged to cram school by his family; Xue Zhibai was, as always, “helping” Qi Wang in all the wrong ways; and the Master’s Association seemed to have some event, with both Xuncheng and Huicheng sending him invitations, which Lin Su declined with the excuse of being “too sleepy and already resting.”

The liveliest place was the production team’s group chat, which was active every day, with people sharing their lives and schedules.

[Zhu]: Saw a really cute stray cat on the side of the road! Let me grab it for a photo for you all.
[Zhu]: [Flying Cat Attack!]
[Zhu]: [Illusion of the Cat!]
[Chen Keqing]: wow, cute~

Lin Su flipped through a few cat pictures. The butler over there had already prepared the ancient well roast goose, so he temporarily put down his phone to eat. When he came back after eating, he saw in the group chat:

[Zhu]: I’ve already arrived, everyone don’t worry~
[Zhu]: [Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Clinic]

He: “…” What happened?

After a few days of such liveliness, on Saturday afternoon, a message from Director Ke Juexin pinging everyone suddenly popped up in the group. Lin Su clicked on it and saw:

[Ke Xinxin]: Xiao Sheng’s live show is about to start. Let’s go cheer him on! @AllMembers

Attached was a link to the show. Below it was a string of: Go!! Go for it!!!

[Singing]: Thank you everyone! [blushing]
[Zhu]: What are you going to sing?
[Singing]: A song I wrote for myself, called “Ting Yu” (Listen to Jade).

Lin Su savored it for a moment, then also popped up and sent a [looking forward to it].

[Singing]: Little Senior! [puppy moved]

Perhaps the production team over there was rushing him, Sheng Lingyu quickly said his goodbyes and temporarily left the group chat.

Lin Su happened to be free, so he opened his computer. Following the link, he found a show called “I Sing My Heart”. The contestants included amateurs, idols, behind-the-scenes musicians, and so on. There were four judges sitting below the stage, and contestants had to pass the initial selection with their own unpublished original works.

The competition was already underway. He didn’t know which contestant was on stage now, but a large number of comments were cheering them on.

Lin Su glanced at them and suddenly saw a few among them:
— Only here for Xiao Bai.
— Hasn’t Brother Rui come on yet? Anxious, anxious, anxious
— Bai Xuanrui, Bai Xuanrui, Bai Xuanrui…

“…”

Xuenima said woodenly: [Is the screen dirty? I think I saw something dirty float by.]

Lin Su reached out and picked at it. “The scene itself is probably not clean.”

One person and one spirit leaned back and sighed.

[Forget it, let’s leave after watching Xiao Sheng.]

Lin Su nodded. “Agreed.”

The stage for the recording wasn’t large. When one contestant went on stage, the next had to wait backstage. At the same time, the camera would also pan to the facial expressions of both contestants, as the reaction between competitors was a major point of interest.

Lin Su went to get a snack in the middle of it. Just as he returned, he heard the announcement: “Let’s welcome the next contestant, Bai Xuanrui. Contestant Sheng Lingyu, please prepare backstage.”

He paused for a moment and sat back down in front of the computer. For whatever reason, whether it was because of the recent storm or something else, the production team had arranged for them to perform one after the other.

On the live comments, the fans had indeed already started flooding the screen. And because they had just had a fight, there was a palpable sense of gunpowder in the air, even drawing in some passersby.
— Looking forward to Xiao Sheng!
— This is Brother Rui’s home ground, a certain someone better not come trying to steal the spot again~
— The wannabe is here to leech off our popularity again.
— Isn’t this the Bai-maniac family that’s always spamming their presence whenever any contestant comes on? Why are you not letting others post now…
— Forget it sisters, don’t get involved with the bad luck.

The comments section quickly devolved into a quarrel.

But the main person on stage seemed unaffected. Bai Xuanrui stood on stage, dressed in a meticulously prepared outfit, a confident expression on his face.

The camera panned over to Sheng Lingyu waiting backstage. The latter was still in a simple white shirt and jeans, a guitar slung over his back. Perhaps because his insensitivity power was too strong, he didn’t have much of a reaction to Bai Xuanrui being scheduled before him.

However, the next moment, a voice from the stage said, “Today, I will be bringing everyone an original song, ‘Ting Yu’ (Listen to the Rain).”

In front of the screen, Lin Su’s eyes shot up. The Sheng Lingyu in the live broadcast also seemed stunned.

Immediately after, a light and smooth intro began to play from the stage.

The camera panned over, and a hand pressing on the guitar strings trembled. Sheng Lingyu seemed dazed for a few seconds, then looked up in disbelief.

Author’s Note:
Lin Su (with a profound face): I read the future… my next client is coming.
He Zhenling: …I read the future, I’m about to receive another “interesting” case file.
*
Sheng Lingyu (reacting after a few seconds): …Eh?

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