Zhou Tong rubbed his temples, looking exasperated. "How could I not support you? Your relationship with Young Master Bie is perfectly aboveboard and honest. Going public will definitely clear you of all the false accusations. In terms of reputation, going public will definitely benefit you."
Su Yanxi nodded, sensing the unspoken meaning in Zhou Tong's words: "Then...?"
"Because of the endorsement, you've been facing criticism again lately. Seeing those people online who don't know the truth mocking you for having poor resources, low-class status, and being a fraudulent marketing ploy with a lot of paid trolls, do you know how much I want to help you fight back?"
After Su Yanxi confirmed that she would be the commercial spokesperson for the thermos water bottle, Zhou Tong had his team release the news to the public, both to generate buzz and to test the waters.
However, the fan community has been eroded by consumerism for many days, and most people have been brainwashed by the notion of "achievements," "high-end endorsements," and "brand titles." After the news was released, apart from a small number of pragmatic fans who thought it was a good thing, most people maintained an attitude of disapproval and lack of support.
Some extreme fans bluntly called the thermos endorsement tacky, trashy, and low-class! They threatened to unfollow Su Yanxi and sent her extreme messages on Weibo and in private messages, directly labeling Su Yanxi's act of accepting the thermos endorsement as "harming fans" and "being irresponsible to fans".
"This is hilarious! I thought I was a fan of a promising and popular actor, but it turns out he has terrible business deals and hasn't received any endorsement offers yet. On top of that, he's even going to take on some no-name endorsements to scam money? Hahaha, Su Yanxi, you can play by yourself, I'm running away."
"Let me be blunt: @SuYanxi, if you dare to endorse a substandard thermos, you're letting your fans down. When you joined the production team, your fans braved public pressure to fight back against the negative publicity, hoping you would succeed. And what is this? Is this how you repay your fans?"
"Think about it from another angle, Su Yanxi really wasn't kept by a sugar daddy, right? If she was kept by a sugar daddy and her resources were this bad, then I can only say that she sold her body for nothing and was taken advantage of for nothing."
The above three are the three most common sarcastic remarks that Zhou Tong saw while patrolling Su Yanxi's online forum.
Having seen the whole truth from God's perspective, she really, really wanted to speak out for the artists!
While Su Yanxi was meticulously considering practicality and happily told her, "Something that costs 400 yuan is now only selling for 120 yuan," what were some fans who had been brainwashed by consumerism doing?
They're mocking her for being a low-class artist, lacking taste, and unwanted by anyone!
Although all the mockery was based on the premise that others did not know Su Yanxi's true identity, Zhou Tong was still furious and wanted to curse those people in a bad mood: "You really don't know your place!"
"From the perspective of venting your anger and venting my own anger, I especially hope that you will go public! The truth is cruel, most people are opportunistic; as long as you go public, all the problems and controversies can be resolved."
"But from a long-term perspective, I think... it would be better to wait until the show airs before making it public."
Su Yanxi carefully considered every word Zhou Tong said, nodding as she listened: "Yes, please explain why, Sister Tong?"
“Because face is a double-edged sword,” Zhou Tong sighed. “Right now, you’re relatively unknown. People will laugh at you for your poor business opportunities, but you also have genuine fans who like you because of your talent. Of course, I’m saying this because I believe in you; I know you can definitely attract fans with your personal charm.”
"Once you reveal your identity, they will indeed shut up because of your status as the young mistress of another family, but what about your ranking in the industry?"
Zhou Tong finally pointed out the key point.
Startled by her words, Su Yanxi paused for a moment before remembering what she had said: "That's right... The reason I concealed my identity and made a comeback was because I didn't want this 'identity bonus' and hoped to prove myself with my own strength!"
"So whether you go public or not, I understand and support you. But considering your current career situation, I think waiting until the drama airs before going public with your marital relationship is the most reasonable and advisable option."
Su Yanxi thought Zhou Tong's words made a lot of sense and nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Sister Tong is right! I've kept it a secret for more than three months since I joined the crew, so a month or two won't make a difference. Let's wait and see—"
Before he could finish speaking, a commotion erupted outside the lounge. A man shouted in a sharp, agitated voice.
"What are you doing? Can't you see where you're going?!"
The quiet atmosphere of the discussion was suddenly broken. Su Yanxi and Zhou Tong hurriedly broke up with their conversation and got up to check the situation outside the door.
You wouldn't believe it until you opened the door—there was a huge crowd gathered outside! And standing at the head of the crowd was none other than Song Jinlan, the celebrity Zhou Tong hated and feared most in the entertainment industry!
"What are you trying to do by filling the hallway with so much hot water? Are you trying to scald me to death by blocking the corridor?"
Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the floor was soaking wet, and two newly opened thermos flasks lay overturned on the ground. The person Song Jinlan had blocked and shrieked at was none other than Lin Xiaohai, whom Su Yanxi had called out to fetch water!
"I...I didn't mean to." Lin Xiaohai leaned pitifully against the corridor wall, secretly covering his two hands, which were red from the burns. "I was carrying water and was about to open the door to go in when you weren't looking where you were going and bumped into me..."
Chapter 167
Seeing his assistant's hands burned red, Su Yanxi's mind went blank. He pushed aside the crowd blocking his way, walked straight to Lin Xiaohai, and took the assistant's hand.
"Xiao Hai, you've been burned?"
Song Jinlan, being so unreasonable, naturally wouldn't admit her mistakes. After Su Yanxi stepped in to defend Lin Xiaohai, Song Jinlan became even more arrogant and sarcastic.
Song Jinlan snorted arrogantly and retorted to Su Yanxi, "And who are you? Are you the owner of this little fool? If so, keep a close eye on him and don't let him wander around. This is the backstage area of an entertainment and film awards ceremony; any celebrity here is worth tens of millions."
"Let alone injuring someone, if he just accidentally damages a piece of clothing here, he'll probably have to pay off his life savings!"
Seeing that Su Yanxi kept looking down at her little follower, Song Jinlan assumed that Su Yanxi was scared.
Just as he finished showing off and was about to turn away triumphantly, Su Yanxi, whose anger had reached its peak, grabbed him.
"Whose life savings are we going to lose?" Su Yanxi frowned, her face darkening, her aura fully unleashed. "Are you going to lose your life savings?"
"What do you mean?" Song Jinlan couldn't stand the provocation. She stopped and turned around, glaring angrily. "You're Su Yanxi?"
"Does it matter who I am?" Su Yanxi sneered, fiercely protecting Lin Xiaohai behind her. "Compared to who I am, isn't it more important that you bullied my subordinate?"
"Subordinates?" Song Jinlan scoffed, glancing contemptuously at Su Yanxi and Lin Xiaohai. "Aren't they just tea-serving lads? Do they even deserve to be called 'subordinates'?"
"You can look down on your people, you can call them 'trash,' but to me, everyone on my team is a valuable asset. I'll use whatever words I want to describe them, and that's none of your business."
As the saying goes, "I will not offend others unless they offend me; if they offend me, I will retaliate tenfold." Su Yanxi simply doesn't like to provoke others; if he really gets serious, his skills are not to be underestimated.
He asked the people following behind Song Jinlan, "Everyone, did you hear what your boss just said? You may just want to find a job to support your families, but your boss completely disregards your dignity as employees and as 'human beings.' Today he can use a contemptuous tone to ridicule my subordinates and bully them with an arrogant attitude, so tomorrow he will use the same contemptuous tone and the same arrogant attitude to ridicule and bully you."
"Are you sure you want to abandon your dignity and follow someone like that?"
Su Yanxi's tactic of sowing discord is truly a case of killing someone by attacking their spirit!
Song Jinlan's team already had many hidden problems. Due to Song Jinlan's repressive management style, the team was filled with anxiety. There was no atmosphere of unity and positivity, and the employees were like walking corpses.
If Song Jinlan's oppressive discipline turned the employees into soulless and mindless puppets, then Su Yanxi's words were the spark that brought back the light of life for them.
Several employees, whose eyes had lost their sparkle after being suppressed by Song Jinlan for a long time, suddenly regained their ability to think and their souls after Su Yanxi finished speaking.
Su Yanxi could sense the oppressive atmosphere within Song Jinlan's team, and she could also clearly perceive that many people were moved by his words.
He chuckled, using it to mock, "Mr. Song Jinlan, it seems you're not very popular, huh? My few words have such an effect on your team?"
"What results?!"
Enraged, Song Jinlan turned around and scanned the numerous staff members, then shouted angrily.
"Let's see who's getting cocky. What's wrong with you? Does other people's food just taste better? If you don't think much of me as an 'actor' and want to degenerate into an 'unknown nobody,' then so be it—get lost!"
The employees were so enraged that none dared to utter a sound. Even the few who had just shown signs of being moved quickly withdrew their bright, sparkling eyes.
Su Yanxi watched helplessly as they turned back into puppets.
After finishing her tirade, Song Jinlan turned back to glare at Su Yanxi: "You're really something, trying to steal my girlfriend in public? Just think about it, do you even deserve it?"
"Whether someone is good enough or not is not for me to decide, but for your employees to decide." Su Yanxi became more and more composed as the argument escalated, and had already gained the upper hand in this verbal confrontation.
He pointed to the floor, indicating the cups and water stains on the ground.
“You just cursed my subordinate for being blind, blocking the way, and trying to scald you, but judging from the direction the water was splashed, it’s clear that you bumped into my subordinate first. You caused him to knock over his cup, which is why the water was splashed further away and not on you.”
"With this kind of observational ability, I think you should just quit being an actor and become a criminal investigator instead?"
"You caused my subordinate to spill such scalding water, burning his hands until they were red and blistered, and you still have the nerve to argue and be sarcastic?" Su Yanxi found the man in front of her increasingly unreasonable. "Right now, I hate that I'm not a policeman. If I were, I would arrest you for intentional assault!"
"Yes, yes, you're the best and the most righteous." Realizing she couldn't win the argument with Su Yanxi, Song Jinlan rolled her eyes and started to act spoiled. "It's just a hot water burn on my hand, is it really necessary to make such a fuss?"
"They're going to frame me and arrest me? Anyone who hears that would laugh their head off!"
While Song Jinlan was acting shamelessly, she completely forgot that it was he who had initially acted so startled.
"Give your 'subordinate' five hundred yuan for medical expenses, okay?" Song Jinlan maintained his arrogant attitude, beckoning to his female assistant behind him to take out the money. "I think you just want the money, don't you? Stingy."
Song Jinlan took five bright red banknotes from his female assistant and handed them to Su Yanxi with an air of superiority.
Chapter 168
Su Yanxi was speechless. She looked at the banknotes handed to her, sneered, and then snatched the banknotes away and slapped them at Song Jinlan's face!
"Neuropathy!"
After the rehearsal, in the ground parking lot next to the stadium.
Bie Yunzong sat in his Lamborghini sports car, with the interior lights on, admiring himself in the rearview mirror, looking forward to giving his wife a cool first impression when she got in the car!
Just as he was concentrating on styling his hair, moving his bangs one strand at a time, an angry figure appeared with a clattering sound of footsteps.
Bie Yunzong paused, wondering if his wife had come out, when Su Yanxi opened the passenger door and got into the car.
"Let's go!"
Su Yanxi hadn't removed her makeup, hadn't changed her clothes, and was still wearing high-heeled leather shoes. After getting into the car, she threw her Birkin bag, worth hundreds of thousands of yuan, into the back seat, fastened her seatbelt, and was about to leave.
"hurry up!"
Bie Yunzong wasn't stupid; he could tell his wife was in a bad mood tonight. Instead of driving, he asked, "What's wrong, honey? Did the rehearsal not go well? Why are you so irritable tonight?"
"Don't ask, the answer is that I've run into a lunatic." Su Yanxi crossed her arms and her voice trembled with anger.
He was afraid that his obedient husband would be affected by the anger still burning in his eyes, so he deliberately avoided eye contact and turned his gaze to the outside of the car window.
"Xiao Hai's hand was burned because of a mentally ill person."
"Huh?" Bie Yunzong was surprised, not immediately understanding the deeper meaning in his wife's words. "How could there be a lunatic backstage at the ceremony? Is Lin Xiaohai alright? Did he go to the hospital?"
"It's not a real mental illness, but a mental illness on a different level." Su Yanxi felt sad and angry again when she thought of Lin Xiaohai's hand. "It was Song Jinlan. Song Jinlan bumped into Xiaohai, causing him to spill hot water and get scalded, and then she turned around and bit Xiaohai back!"
"Luckily, I was nearby and taught Xiao Hai a lesson."
"So crazy? This Song guy is so unreasonable!" Bie Yunzong unbuckled Su Yanxi's seatbelt and pulled the beautiful woman into his arms. "It's good that you taught him a lesson! Don't be sad, wife. Getting burned by water shouldn't be a big problem. It'll heal in the time it takes for a blister to form."
“I’m not sad about whether Xiao Hai’s hand will get better, I’m just…” Su Yanxi’s heart was heavy, and she almost couldn’t speak.
Thinking of Lin Xiaohai's mother's phone call, Su Yanxi felt ashamed, realizing that she had failed in her duty and had not taken good care of Lin Xiaohai as she had promised on the phone.
She leaned against her husband's reliable, firm, and warm chest, and her nose tingled with emotion.
"I feel that I didn't take good care of Xiaohai, and I let his mother down..."
The warm-toned lights inside the Lamborghini supercar were still on, and through the clear, luminous windshield, the figures nestled together inside could be captured with exceptional clarity.
"Is it clear? Is it clear?"
Entertainment reporter Xiao Zhang, with a dead tree trunk above his head, crouched in a clump of grass about ten meters away. He observed with binoculars while asking questions of the photographer next to him who was carrying a telephoto camera.
"How about we bet a pack of cigarettes? I think we're going to hit a big one tonight!"
Author's Note:
Dog: Sure, but you have to take a big picture! Take a picture, take a picture, take a picture, you can take any picture you want!
SuSu: I just told Sister Tong that we won't go public for now...? (Squinting dangerously)
63# Su Yanxi's defection was achieved effortlessly!