Chapter 20: The battle lines are drawn

It was late at night.

After finishing her feast on the whole "Favoritism" drama, Sang Yu was thoroughly satisfied and let out a yawn.

She tossed her phone aside and slept like the dead.

She basically didn't stay up late anymore. Once she was sleepy, whatever it was could wait until tomorrow.

Her assistant would judge what was urgent and what wasn't—he generally wouldn't disturb her over entertainment-industry matters, but he couldn't be in the dark about the specifics either.

So Yu Cuijin kept monitoring in real time. After washing up, he watched the entertainment circle "explode."

If President Sang asked, he had to be ready to report at any moment.

It wasn't just the trending searches—the forums were also flooded with news about Aurora Entertainment, President Sang, "Favoritism," Yu Zhitao, and Chen Liqi.

"Favoritism," a novel that had concluded ten years ago, rocketed from nowhere onto the revenue charts.

·

[Garden Group | If only my former fave had this kind of trending-search magnetism, I wouldn't have gotten so bored I couldn't even keep stanning]

————

[OP]

Even "The Demolition Office" climbed the paid-fiction bestseller charts because of this. I'm speechless.

[3F]

Claiming some of that career luck.

[8F]

I had no idea YZT (*Yu Zhitao) was mixed up in this. She's not hugely famous, but fine, she's got dramas to film.

There's no need to be Aurora Entertainment's simp—simping in broad daylight like that.

[11F]

The scene is really ugly…

It feels so low-class. Remaking is one thing, but why pick "Favoritism" of all books? How is that not kicking someone while they're down?

[14F]

I don't think it's low at all. If my enemy were going down, I'd be the first one stomping, okay?!

[17F]

Anyone here naive? YZT and JG are obviously coordinating, deliberately stirring up black PR to drag a top star off his pedestal.

[21F]

Who's JG?

[24F]

JG = the initials of Ji Guang (Aurora) Entertainment.

[27F]

JG Entertainment's victim alliance is about to form at this point—you really don't believe Aurora Entertainment loves using these methods to promote people?!

An industry cancer like this should be purged—why keep it around?!

[31F]

I don't think so.

Us drama-watchers are having a great time! I raise both hands and shout—fight!

[34F]

I got sick of the old routine ages ago—comment control, red carpets, selling CPs, fan purification—I could write a whole entertainment-industry novel myself.

New drama to watch? Why wouldn't I.

[39F]

If the first version acted well enough, the new version will look like clowns. Fans won't even need to lift a finger—passersby will trash the remake themselves.

If someone delivered traffic to my doorstep, I'd be overjoyed.

[43F]

Because Chen Liqi's acting was a pile of crap, what if the new version stomps her into the ground? (tongue out)(tongue out)(tongue out)

[47F]

When will you people kick your habit of cosplaying as passersby and drama-watchers?

It won't make your identity any nobler—it'll just make you a squashed, bursting rat. Want to squeak "cheep cheep" a couple times for us?

[48F]

The moment I stepped into this battlefield, that familiar smell hit me. Mm, Team Xuan.

[63F]

Honestly, the reason it's blown up this big is that fandom culture has always been deformed, breeding way too much filth.

If I were the author, I'd hate it too—that was a lifetime meal ticket of a story.

[65F]

In short—every grievance has its source, every debt its debtor…

[68F]

Honestly I understand the author. What was she supposed to do when thousands upon thousands of people cyberbullied her in crossfire over CLQ (*Chen Liqi)? Sue them?

Even if she sued them all, her royalties probably wouldn't cover it, and all she'd get is an apology—an insincere one.

And in court she'd have to hear all the abuse repeated again. Who could stand that?

[71F]

That's why the entertainment circle is such a mess. Companies "raise" fans like breeding venomous gu worms, and the stars just hide behind them and stay silent.

[73F]

They play dead through every scandal, and only when they can't hide it anymore do they come out with "sorry for taking up public resources." Where were you earlier?

[77F]

But this time it's really too much…

Chen Liqi shouldn't be cyberbullied like this.

[81F]

All three sides in that old dispute were partly right and partly wrong—it's a tangled mess that can't be sorted out.

[93F]

So what is this President Sang even doing? Didn't "The Demolition Office" just start filming? She's dual-wielding projects now? Getting carried away?

May I ask—if she films it, who's buying it?

[98F]

She picked it randomly.

[101F]

Don't worry—if "Favoritism" gets remade, you won't need to worry about the costumes and sets at all. The author really wrote about high-society decadence.

Back when I read the novel, my BGM was "Young and Beautiful."

[107F]

For real. Shame her Weibo is set to six-month visibility—you can only dig up the old stuff through group archaeology now.

[111F]

Judging by "The Demolition Office," she loves throwing money around and being a hands-off boss. CTX might actually make a comeback.

[114F]

I remember there were quite a lot of luxury brands in the novel?

[120F]

Look at what counts as flaunting wealth and you'll know the stuff in "Favoritism" was just a light sprinkle.

[125F]

Lurking. Some people don't treat money like money. When I look at all those zeros, I can barely recognize numbers anymore…

[139F]

I remember someone bought a mega-yacht worth over four billion? A cruise-ship-level thing?

Anyway, it's huge—six helicopter berths, and helicopters aren't cheap either, and even the exterior was custom-designed by the brand.

[141F]

Four billion… is that still Chinese? Put that in my savings app, at 1% interest a year, and I'd be financially free forever.

[155F]

Having four billion in assets and spending four billion on a yacht are two completely different concepts. It means the latter's assets are at least ten times that.

[162F]

The scary thing is, it's not just one yacht.

[170F]

I have a little industry connections. In short, the circle's general attitude right now is: humor her for now.

She looks like she's just having a whim, playing around in the industry—even offense gets tolerated.

If there's a chance to pull more investment out of her, it might even stem the entertainment industry's winter a bit.

[183F]

Screw it, I'm going to work at Aurora Entertainment. With a boss that rich, they surely won't do last-place elimination, right?

[197F]

Never have any expectations of capitalists.

[202F]

Didn't a JGYL employee self-dox before? The benefits are good—several people from big companies jumped ship to go there.

[217F]

Who knows if that's just marketing.

If Aurora Entertainment is so great, why are they still hiring?

[230F]

Eh? They're hiring?

[239F]

They are.

[244F]

…Does anyone in this thread actually have a job? Some industries have high turnover—constant hiring is normal.

[259F]

If the company's that good, nobody would quit, right? If nobody quits, why do they need to hire?

[269F]

Some entertainment work is project-based—like "The Demolition Office" was thrown together temporarily. When they start a new project, they hire.

[264F]

Back to the main topic—!!!

[271F]

…Can it even be pulled back?

[289F]

Pull it first, worry later!

……

[519F]

Any original-novel fans who fought in that war back then willing to come out and testify?

[530F]

Here I am.

I was a high schooler when I read "Favoritism"—bought it at the bookstore with my New Year's money. I loved it back then, the character setup was great.

YZT really was a casting choice the book fans approved of, but when the official announcement came out I was dumbfounded…

[558F]

Back then, just looking at her face, I really thought she was heaven-chosen Jiang Wanyin.

[569F]

I spent money too. Same here.

[565F]

Right, I'm also a book fan. If she really has to act it, then fine—but if it doesn't get filmed, even better.

Jiang Wanyin was ruined once already; I won't take the risk of her being ruined a second time.

[568F]

The same trash-talking mastery handed down from Porky Rong—if you remake "Favoritism," go film it! What's the meaning of performing all over Weibo?

That Sang woman really gave a bunch of eighteenth-tier has-beens a stage for their performing urges.

[576F]

Who let THEM in again?

[580F]

I'll buy the physical books and support her selling the rights again.

It was already filmed into an eyesore anyway—what's one more pile of crap? Since Shu Da herself has stepped in, I can't exactly ignore it.

As long as her mental health improves, whatever she does is fine.

[620F]

Writing really is a high-risk profession… so many authors have mental health issues…

[630F]

Back then, the Shakimas (*Chen Liqi's fandom name) reported everything like lunatics—that's what worsened the author's condition.

[638F]

Bullshit, slinging mud? It was the book fans who charged in, saying she shouldn't have sold the rights, okay? Stop pinning hats on our Sha-jie?!

[641F]

Oh-ho, I guessed right—rewriting history already? Want to see the court verdict? Whose fans were doing the cyberbullying?

[650F]

Quit dodging the point—do you understand plain language?

People remake classics. "Favoritism" only aired a few years ago—what's the need to remake it? A remake guarantees comparison.

Isn't that deliberately using a senior as a target?

[671F]

No—some rich person picked it at random. Why don't you fans go charge at her first?

[675F]

I support YZT filming it. At least she's better than the last one who could only widen her eyes.

[681F]

Don't overestimate the last one—could she even deliver a long passage without a script, without her tongue tying in knots? Her reading ability approaches that of a banana.

[687F]

If Aurora Entertainment sends in more paid trolls, that Sang woman can die.

[691F]

Oho, can't stand people who pity those bullied by overbearing stars, huh?

[695F]

You mud-slugs, stop gilding your own faces—our Qi-Emperor's achievements are ones you couldn't catch up to even if you knelt and ran on all fours like a donkey!

Turning the tables? I think Huang Yunwen and Chen Liqi can just form a victims' alliance now—both of them wwzz (*suffering unprovoked disaster).

[403F]

Before you let Chen Liqi parade around, one question—has she paid her back taxes yet?

[409F]

The tax bureau said there's no problem! You idiots who ate rotten gossip from marketing accounts and believe every rumor, stay away!

And has Yu Zhitao cleared up the whole thing with her sugar daddy yet?

……

·

Huang Yunwen was secretly monitoring the public sentiment.

Seeing most of it unfolding as expected, he nodded in satisfaction.

Muddy the waters, drag it into the gutter, make it about man-and-woman drama—audiences love bashing "romance-brain" in public, but it's actually their favorite thing to watch.

This way, Yu Zhitao and Chen Liqi would definitely become arch-rivals. And the next step—his own whitewashing plan could be served up.

Huang Yunwen's life had been too smooth before.

From an ordinary person discovered by a talent scout, to a platform-backed star-in-waiting, debuting as the male lead.

His first drama was a modest hit, his second a massive hit, and though his third flopped, fans salvaged his dignity with "it was the script's fault."

He was used to being coddled, used to resources landing in his lap.

Used to everyone telling him: "You were born to be famous," "future top star," "limitless potential—you'll definitely win awards."

So "Legend of the Golden Domain" was the first and only time he fell so hard—and he couldn't let it go.

He kept trying to make trouble for Sang Yu.

He kept buying smear articles against Xuan Lerong, and kept digging for dirt on every member of "The Demolition Office" crew.

But what gnawed at him—there was never an outlet where he could vent to his satisfaction.

Because of Aurora Entertainment's response pattern: no response, no engagement, refusing to follow his script—instead they single-mindedly did marketing on Douyin.

And it worked.

Xuan Lerong's shirtless Douyin video topped three million likes, his drama-related ones hit a million, and plenty more had hundreds of thousands.

The numbers were too good.

Beyond his disgust, Huang Yunwen felt an inexplicable trace of fear.

So this time he'd made a few little moves of his own.

Only then did he feel a moment's comfort—but then his agent came back with a piece of news:

The platform seemed to be sending rising stars like him to compete for a role.

What role?

The male lead of the new "Favoritism"—the project Huang Yunwen looked down on, the one he dismissed as a cheap publicity stunt that would surely get reported and taken down.

…Why?!

Did that project even have a future?!

"Are they insane?"

Huang Yunwen threw his phone onto the sofa, stood up, paced back and forth in the room, soothing himself with words he'd prepared long ago.

"A tacky romance novel, a nouveau-riche investor—what's worth fighting over in a trash project like that?!"

…No. If the platform was sending rising stars to audition for the male lead, that was a signal.

It meant the probability of the platform accepting that President Sang's finished drama had gone up.

Huang Yunwen shuddered.

Hadn't his agent reassured him? That person had stepped on him, stepped on the people behind him—there was plenty of time to settle scores later.

Why was the platform defecting first?

Were they going to buy "The Demolition Office"?!

No. He wouldn't allow it.

It was as if he were trapped in some hidden competition…

If the platform he belonged to bought "The Demolition Office," it would be as if he'd become the loser.