Chapter 40: Unstoppable Shock Waves

Chapter 40: Unstoppable Shock Waves

Some of Civilization Hua's fans had initially believed in the video that Yao Hui had released. They had said some odd things about Tang Fei, following the trend blindly.

Now, upon seeing their idol's statement, they felt their faces flush with embarrassment. They had stood against their idol and become accomplices in this mess.

They had been deceived by Yao Hui!

He had dragged our idol into the mud!

And he made us the villains.

This cannot be tolerated!

With Civilization Hua taking a clear stance, his fans immediately unified their position internally.

Support our idol; don't care about our dignity anymore! Mr. Wen has apologized. He lowered himself for the sake of the industry's atmosphere!

Aren't you touched?

Aren't you supposed to dedicate your strength for Big Brother Wen, shielding the promising young talents from the storm and nurturing their growth?

What should you do?

Apologize!

Support them!

Let's go, guiding lights! We'll gather like fireflies, illuminating the path for the newcomers in the entertainment industry! Big Brother Wen is retired yet still worries so much! Don't you feel for him? Cheer him up!

"Giving an apology to Tang Fei. Supporting the launch of Psionic Frenzy. Safeguarding the young sprouts."

"Support +1, Apology +1"

"Forming a line to apologize, protecting the seedlings."

Rows upon rows of apologies flooded the screen, leaving Yao Hui's online army hesitant to make any move. Meanwhile, the connection to Yao Hui's headquarters seemed to have disconnected, unresponsive no matter how many times they tried to contact them, as if they were stuck in the 2G era.

They could only hold their tails down and remain silent, even when their old Weibo posts from five years ago, where they had bashed Tang Fei, were dug up, screenshotted, and displayed for all to see. They didn't dare to utter a sound.

Not that they weren't furious! They truly didn't dare!

There was a precedent. An hour ago, someone had defied the consensus and argued that at least Tang Fei's middle school education was true.

He was ruthlessly mocked by thousands of people! His post was deleted, comments were closed, and he was still being cursed at through retweets. It was a miserable sight!

"What's wrong with having a middle school education? Are you her father or mother? Did you pay her tuition?"

"Your hand is so long it's touching the ground. Are you a gorilla?"

"Educational background doesn't equate to one's character. People like you who earn money through deceitful means would be a waste of educational resources even if you became a PhD."

"Some are good at studying, some at acting, some are good-looking—it's all a talent. Why look down on other talents? If you can't act and are ugly, can I scold you?"

That guy now had a pale face, his teeth grinding audibly, and his body trembling as if he had Parkinson's. He couldn't even hold a glass of water steady. The marketing company colleagues pretended to console him in solidarity, but inwardly, they were relieved. "Thankfully, a brother absorbed the fire and cleared the minefield for us. A salute to him, may he rest in peace."

Mr. Wen's long-time fans hadn't initially joined this grand event in the entertainment circle. But Mr. Wen himself had stepped forward to express his stance!

What did this represent?

Angry, are we?

What has our elderly gentleman, who's contentedly enjoying his retirement, done wrong?

The serene fans who've been quietly supporting him should come out now, head to Weibo.

Long-dormant accounts, like warriors emerging from hidden trenches in a guerrilla warfare, suddenly rise up, digging through the soil to join the fray! Sisters, let's play a chain game!

"Everyone has a role in purifying the industry's atmosphere."

"Yao Hui from the Heartless Company deserves criticism from all."

"The entertainment circle thrives when you and I work together."

"A good promotion benefits you, me, and all of us."

"Negative marketing tarnishes one, but not the other."

"Your love decides a product's fate."

"Your money decides how the merchants make theirs."

The poetic chain game took Weibo by a whirlwind of amusement.

Eight out of ten trending topics were dominated by this incident: Tang Fei at nine sharp, Yao Hui at nine and a half, the ethical bottom line of promotional accounts, legal weapons, celebrity rights protection, compensation for slander, evidence on eight hard drives, and seventy voices singing "Tears Behind Iron Bars" in unison.

Yao Hui was utterly crushed.

Ah Hui, who had always been strong-willed, when had you ever tasted such bitterness? Even at the brink of death, you sought one last chance to salvage your dignity!

Thus, the disconnected headquarters command suddenly staged another explosion, reigniting the activities of their online troops.

They propagated a conspiracy theory: This Tang Fei, without a single solid work, was this sudden fame just a marketing tactic?

The public's eyes were sharp, and they immediately countered!

"Would you be willing to endure five years of blackening campaigns across the internet, being slandered as a hooligan, doused with acid, cursed at, portrayed as violent, and labeled illiterate, all just for a moment of fame?"

"Without the benevolent support at 9 o'clock, Tang Fei would've long been forced out of the industry. We still remember vividly how she was criticized when chosen as the female lead in 'Psychic Frenzy.' Do you have a memory span of only seven seconds?"

"The conspiracy theorists have no conscience. Try signing a liability waiver with me, and I'll happily berate you for free for five years."

"Haha, would he dare? Trying means goodbye."

Despite the scolding, he attempted to steer the conversation: "Nine O'Clock is a business too. Why would they engage in a loss-making venture? Suing seventy people and gathering so much evidence—what benefits could they possibly gain from Tang Fei?"

He was about to continue, but Nine O'Clock's legal team was promptly flooded with concerned netizens' private messages, swiftly providing screenshots and recordings. "Evidence has been preserved. We reserve the right to pursue legal action against you."

No, not...

"I was just asking a question! It was an interrogative sentence! I'm not spreading rumors!" the astroturfers wailed.

"Adding a question mark to a leading statement doesn't exempt you from responsibility? Just say your cat stepped on the keyboard, and we'll still gather evidence!" The Nine O'Clock legal team brushed off their sleeves, leaving behind a chilly silhouette.

Yao Hui's astroturfers continued their feeble resistance.

What about freedom of discussion, or the harm in controlling public opinion?

In this industry, everyone had gotten by this way for years. Nine O'Clock's actions were a challenge to the entire field.

Sensation! How could stirring up controversy in the entertainment industry be called spreading rumors?

Shen Fan even posted a weibo: "Industry insiders should take a magnanimous view of public opinion. As practitioners who are also audience members, when we come across false news, we should just laugh it off. After all, it's all about entertainment; why take it too seriously? Being overly earnest only reveals pettiness and lack of breadth."

While Mr. Shen appeared calm and composed on his weibo, in President Yao Hui's office, he was clenching his teeth and covering his forehead with a pale face, gasping for breath. His secretary brought him some antihypertensive medication, and after taking it, he barely mustered the strength to address everyone attending the PR department meeting: "It's alright. The company will continue to pay their salaries if they go to jail, and the company will cover any compensation. They can proceed with confidence.

All we need is to plant seeds of doubt about how Tang Fei secured those nine points. I know public relations best. People love nothing more than conspiracy theories and scandalous gossip. There's still a chance! I've got one more big reveal that hasn't been disclosed yet. We haven't lost yet!"

...

"Report! Nine O'clock Entertainment's official account has released major news! Nine O'clock Entertainment has established a fully-owned talent agency, Time Culture! The first artist signed is none other than Tang Fei! The signing ceremony and press conference will be held at the Shanghai Ink Impression International Hotel this Friday!"

Upon this announcement, another wave of tremors swept through the industry. Before the day was over, the entertainment world had been jolted back and forth three times!

Industry insiders shivered with fear: "Are Tang Fei and Nine O'clock Entertainment the devil? My show aired today, but there's been no buzz at all. They're still dropping bombs left and right – isn't the drama too intense?"

"Aren't netizens getting tired of this by now?"

"You're overthinking it. Each day is more thrilling than the last. My wife is so engrossed in following this that she doesn't even look at me anymore at night."

"Not just online, my mom's mahjong friends even bring up Tang Fei when they play. It's like the truth about a beautiful woman being slandered has finally come to light! My mom loves this kind of melodramatic plot."

"A phenomenon-level takedown – I have to admit, this move is impressive!"

"Who would've thought Yao Hui would be so vulnerable to criticism?"

"It's not that Yao Hui isn't capable, but he doesn't have the moral high ground. With all these shady tactics against his own actor, did Tang Fei dig up his family's graves? The resentment must be immense."

Just as Shen Fan of Yao Hui was sowing seeds of doubt, at nine o'clock, it was announced that Time Culture under his management would sign a contract with Tang Fei – countering the blackening of their own artiste! Completely justified!

"You want conspiracy theories?

"You want scandal?

"The internet's imagination might not go in the direction you expect.

"Could this seed of doubt grow back to slap Yao Hui in the face instead?

"One can never tell – netizens have a wild imagination!"

"I sense something's off. Yao Hui was Tang Fei's original company and initially treated her so well. Why the sudden downfall?"

"Indeed, it seems like love turned into hate!"

"Tang Fei is so beautiful, anyone would be smitten. But she chose five years of obscurity over submitting. Could it be that the boss of Yao Hui couldn't have her and thus turned bitter out of unrequited love?"

"You see, at Nine O'clock, it's right to protect their own artist. Who would go against money and step on their own people? There must be a strange reason behind this abnormal behavior!"

"It's a CEO romance in the entertainment industry! A twisted CEO with twisted love! The heroine kicks away the psycho and strides towards a new life! Perfect!"

"The following is a condensed version of 800,000 words."

Once this seed of doubt was sown, its growth became uncontrollable. In light of Nine O'clock's actions and announcements, Shen Fan's words were like a boomerang, striking his own face, spewing blood and muddling his image, yet he had to force a smile.

Yao Hui couldn't even release a statement to condemn false rumors!

The replies below were heart-wrenching, yet he had to grin and bear them. Yao Hui was invincible, ruthless enough to show how he could inflict pain upon himself!

"President Shen, your generosity is commendable. From now on, I'll focus on spreading rumors about you. Thank you for your understanding. You're truly a good person."

"Mr. Shen, don't delete it, I've saved the image. Any future clarification from Yao Hui regarding any negative remark will be a betrayal of Mr. Shen's guiding principles!"

"I bow to Mr. Shen, the pioneer of rumor-spreading."

"The Rumor King has arrived, truth steps aside."

"Flying high, Fanfan, rumors shall forever trail behind."

"The banner of the king changes atop the city walls!"

Abandoned by Yao Hui, Tang Fei and Zhou Weichuan, in unison, kicked his invincible banner off the city walls.

Trampled upon by countless soldiers and officers.

What inner lining or outward appearance? It's all covered with shoe prints!

Yao Hui invincible? Hmm, how impressive? Let's see your mettle.

Why is it so light?

A paper tiger with bluff and bluster, ready to crumble at the slightest touch. All these years of arrogance were merely a facade that held up because no one took him seriously. Now that someone finally does, he's nothing but a dish to be served.

A Bronze tier performer, acting so convincingly that even he himself believes it, a lovably naive portrayal!

In the past, Yao Hui's influence was immense; his calls were answered by countless marketing accounts, while the flock of major influencers' followers swarmed like a dense cloud. Actors eager to please him gathered in clusters, and professional fans functioned like an army, ready to strike wherever he pointed. It was a grand spectacle indeed.

The grand spectacle, with its vibrant red flags fluttering and festive drums thundering, had been unmasked by a reckless young man and an inexperienced girl, revealing a festering underbelly of darkness and corruption.

A young hero of the jianghu and a beautiful maiden, who had defied her own sect, joined forces to unmask the female leader of the martial alliance, revealing her true face, more enchanting than any devil cultist.

Wow!

Zuo Lengchuan, you hypocrite like Yue Buqun!