Day 31

The first print run of this magazine is only 20,000 copies.

Taking into account the current purchasing power, the sales volume of first-line magazines with first-line traffic as the cover is generally 50,000 copies, and Patrox's magazine is not a fashion magazine. As a brand magazine with an ID limited to 3 copies, the estimated sales volume is set at 20,000 copies for Cong He's sake.

But perhaps because it has been four years since the talent show, they have completely misjudged the traffic bonus of the talent show and the purchasing power of boys and girls.

In the first hour after the website link was opened, only 2,000 copies were sold, which was basically the same as previous periods because not many people saw the message.

As a result, just after the 5 o'clock working hours, the remaining 18,000 copies were sold out in just ten minutes.

Yes, in 2015, it was just ten minutes, like a dream, the inventory was gone in a flash.

On the streets, especially near schools and fashion industries, you can hear wailing everywhere, and voices everywhere are begging friends who have registered IDs to buy things for them.

Patrox's VIP conditions are not strict, but there are also thresholds, and customers need to go to offline stores to apply for membership.

So at five o'clock on Monday, a magical scene appeared on the street.

Many people, mostly young girls, and of course many young boys, rushed into the mall like crazy and went straight to Patrox, which was usually deserted.

Since even low-end and mid-range clothes start at four figures, and the discounted price of sixty or seven hundred is not affordable for most people, few people come to Patrox to shop, but today is different.

The shopping guides accepted VIP application requests with both pain and joy. The long line even stretched to the center of the mall, creating the illusion that the mall was having a big sale today.

"Wow, Patrox is so stingy! My husband and I are here, but he still refuses to print more."

"That's understandable. They don't make money from this, so there's no point in increasing printing."

"Please, please, please reprint it! I just can't look at my phone because I'm in class."

"Treasure hunt! Mommy can't make it in time! These women are crazy!"

"That's right, you guys are crazy! I'm a long-time Cong He fan. I was originally told that 20,000 copies should be a good deal, but then, holy shit, all of a sudden, all of them were gone..."

"Just be thankful. Everyone knew ahead of time that Mr. Cong He was the spokesperson and would be shooting for the new issue of the brand's magazine, but Xun Ma hadn't heard anything about him becoming an ambassador. If you had given them advance notice, you probably wouldn't have been able to get a single copy of the pho."

"He fans speak out: Yes, he's right. All the fans who got the tickets in the fan group did so before the announcement from Xun Ma came out. The announcement from Fu Xunyan's fan group... is incredible. No one got any."

Fans of both teams wailed under the official website.

Originally, because Xunma’s rude actions led to a monopoly, the river fans wanted to curse, but Fu Xunyan’s big fans suddenly jumped out and called on people not to make trouble, and to raise opinions with the authorities together and not to internalize the pressure.

So everyone worked together to leave a message on the official website.

It's a pity that Patrox has a very tough attitude, stating that magazines are not their industry. They print brand magazines only to provide reference for brand clothing of the season and they will not raise prices or print more.

Of course, for fear of causing public outrage, Patrox politely stated that although it might not be possible to get the paper version of the magazine, the electronic version of the relevant pictures will be posted on the official website on Tuesday afternoon and fans can pick them up themselves, but commercial printing is prohibited. If there is any violation, the police will be notified.

The fans were still crying and begging, but they felt a little better.

Most people don't necessarily want the magazine itself, but rather look at the pictures. Only a small number of people regard the paper magazine as a collectible and must get it.

By Tuesday afternoon, more than 500,000 people had flocked to Patrox's official website, making it the most visited day since the website was founded.

The magazine is still being packaged and mailed out after the pre-sale yesterday, so today is the first time everyone has seen the contents of the magazine.

"I'm so excited!!!" Xiaomei secretly opened the website and screamed to Liu Yu beside her.

They were both still working overtime, but they had to find time to read the first magazine that Fu Xunyan participated in as soon as possible.

Liu Yu also clenched her fists and opened a small group of ten people. These were the new people she and Chen Lianqing had recruited after the assessment. Together, they were responsible for managing Fu Xunyan's fans.

The warning to stabilize the morale of the team and prohibit verbal abuse with fans of seniors was spread through these eight people.

[Pai Pai Sweetheart: Ahhhhhhhhhhh sisters, all I can do now is scream]

[Gummy Bears Are Not Germany: Three more minutes, right? Three more minutes! Am I on time?]

[Cool mint water quote: Pat your head jpg, yes, it’s okay, don’t worry]

[Xia Shi Wushuang: A quick aside, my sister works for P-house, and she’s seen Fu Xunyan’s pictures…]

[Paipai Sweetheart: Ahhhhhhh Xiaoxia, don’t be a father-in-law! And then, what will happen?]

[Xia Shi Wushuang: In one word, absolutely amazing! She said the two photos with Cong He were especially amazing, the atmosphere was just amazing.]

[A maverick pig: You've been keeping me on edge! You'd better keep your eyes open while you sleep tonight! I'm so desperate to see this, but I can't.]

Finally, it was half past five, and the lustful ghosts couldn't wait to click on the link, and then...

The card was returned.

"Fuck!" Xiaomei and Liu Yu couldn't help but curse out loud. The moment they covered their mouths, they found that it seemed like the whole office was cursing the same thing.

Even the Minister...

"So, sisters..." Xiaomei stood up slightly and tentatively peeked at everyone's screens.

"Ahem," the director said, clutching his hand against his forehead. "As a media company, we have to keep up with the latest trends. P's new products are a key focus, so everyone, take a look. Remember to summarize your findings at tomorrow's meeting."

Great! The dozen or so girls in the office were all excited and immediately ran down from their workstations to see if there was any lucky goose that had squeezed into the server.

"Uh..." The only man in the department in the corner raised his hand tremblingly, "I use a gaming laptop with super fast internet speed, so..."

Boom—he was successfully squeezed out of his position.

First of all, the screen of the gaming laptop is very large.

Secondly, the picture that fills the entire screen is so beautiful that it leaves you speechless.

In the silent morning mist, the young man stood on the yellow grass and turned around. His black knee-length windbreaker was obviously made of wool-silk blend, with silver-gray patterns flashing in the pure black.

The black onyx button on the chest is revealed by the raised windbreaker, just like a devil spreading its wings, cool and unrestrained.

The clothes were beautiful, so beautiful that no matter whether they were men or women, tall or short, they all wanted to buy a pair for their collection. But then, their eyes moved upwards and were glued to the young man's face.

It was a face that could not be described in words, a face that could make time stand still.

The young man stood in the breeze, his eyes slightly narrowed, like a stone statue carved from obsidian, with a timeless beauty.

This is a very young face, but also a face full of charm.

His eyes were telling a mysterious story, but I couldn't hear it clearly through the screen, so I could only move closer and closer, until my nose hit the screen and I realized what a fool I was doing.

From the T-zone to the lip line, every detail is exquisite, the lines are so smooth, and the light and dark on his face are so clear.

"I have a face like a fairy."

Xiaomei took a deep breath and sighed, and then she heard sobs coming from all around her, and some girls even started crying because they were so excited.

"Wow, it's so beautiful. Sorry, it's really so beautiful."

"Hurry up and turn the page, there are two couple photos and one solo photo!"

Another solo photo was also quickly turned over because Xiaomei, who grabbed the mouse, was selfish and insisted on looking at the solo photo first.

In the picture, the boy with superior eyebrows and eyes only showed half of his face this time. He was holding the head of the white horse, and on the knuckles of his left hand that was loosely holding the reins was a snake-shaped bone ring that was the main promotion of P family that season.

The ring face is not inlaid with gems, but a piece of angular deep gray stone, which echoes the decoration on the white horse's mane.

As the mist brushed past his drooping eyelashes, dead branches and cold air formed an invisible throne behind him.

The face of the person was illuminated when this photo was taken, and the skin color is whiter than the previous one. Compared to the real one, this one has a dreamy feeling, and Fu Xunyan looks like a sleeping prince.

"Hehehe, those lips look so kissable..."

"Yeah, yeah, her face looks fragrant too, hehe, and she has a little mole..."

"Ahhhh, I want the paper version even more, what should I do? I really want to kiss this mole hard!"

Finally, we came to the couple photo.

But when Xiaomei turned to the cover, she couldn't help but exclaimed "Huh".

Because compared to ordinary magazine covers, this one is, to be honest, a bit - random.

There are two men in the picture, one is sitting on a white horse with his back straight and a gentle smile on his lips, so that his overly lazy and handsome face suddenly has a somewhat doting atmosphere.

Another man stood beside him, his hand naturally stroking the red horse's back. The face of the mature man who was known as "once in a century" was slightly tilted and raised to look at the young man on the horse. The expression on his face was as if he was extremely amused, and wrinkles appeared on his face due to his laughter.

But it does not detract from his charm. On the contrary, it is this unintentional "flaw" that makes him look so relaxed and lively.

Needless to say, the clothes of the two people fully show off their perfect figures. They are casual yet sophisticated, simple and elegant.

**

"Ah, I didn't expect them to use this photo as the cover." Fu Xunyan was talking on the phone, looking at Yang Qing's face that seemed to want to say something but couldn't, and talking to the person on the other end in a relaxed manner.

Yes, it was Cong He on the other end. He specifically asked for the program crew’s phone number and called Fu Xunyan after two days of “separation”.

The charming voice of a mature man echoed in my ears: "Oh, really, I'm going to ask Weiwei if she's biased. She exposed my wrinkles so obviously, while you are so handsome like a prince."

"Then I really have to ask. Maybe Teacher Lin really is tired of the old and loves the new. It turns out that young boys like me have more advantages, right?"

"Hahaha, just wait. I'm going to record it and expose you, the narcissist, to the media." Cong He waved to the staff in the distance to wait, then raised his watch to check the time.

"My break is over and I have to go back to work. You're out there auditioning, so eat well and rest well. It doesn't matter whether you make it or not. If you really can't, come to me. I can introduce you to some directors and we can switch tracks and make movies."

"Come to think of it... I wasn't the one who set you up. A new director here was very interested in you after watching the show. I'm not familiar with the project he's working on, but it was introduced to me by an acquaintance. It has a decent investment, so it's a very good opportunity."

"I suggest you talk to your agent about trying out first, signing a letter of intent, and then joining the team after the draft."

Cong He is willing to give young people opportunities, so there is no reason for Fu Xunyan not to accept it. Besides, the director's invitation is on Thursday, so he can contact him again after the ranking is announced.

"New Century" is very tolerant in this regard. As long as the trainees do not take on external tasks during the rehearsal stage, they encourage them to expand their popularity and give back to the program. Although, apart from Fu Xunyan, there are currently basically no investors who are interested in the "little stars" of this program.

Fu Xunyan hung up the phone. Yang Qingchao's unintentional eavesdropping was too obvious.

"Ahem, it's Teacher Cong He." Yang Qing rolled his eyes.

"Um."

"Is it possible..."

Fu Xunyan was helpless. "Brother Cong just flew to Paris yesterday and was very busy. I don't think he can come."

He even laughed secretly in his heart. He and Cong He were very compatible, so even though they had only worked together once, they did have a good relationship. But this did not mean that he could cross the line and take advantage of Cong He.

"Okay." Yang Qing waved his hand dejectedly, but then remembered that Fu Xunyan was now the Purple Star of the show, so he immediately stopped him and encouraged him.

"Xun Yan, the rankings will be announced tomorrow." He frowned, "Is there anything you want to ask?"

"No, thank you." Fu Xunyan left the office directly. At the same time, he heard someone in the office say with a smile, "This kid!"

Ah, that’s great.

Isn't that good? As long as a person's presence can affect the interests of those around them, then this group of people will all appear to be good people. They are friendly, kind, and amiable. Even if they are in a "high position", they can still chat and laugh with you without putting on airs.

But how does he compare to when he first stepped into this office?

Without Ou Rui's support, without Patrox's affirmation, and without Cong He's friendship, how would Yang Qing treat himself?

Fu Xunyan will not hold a grudge, nor will he seek trouble for himself.

He just looked back and occasionally felt a little emotional.

He couldn't help but sigh, and he had to remind himself to keep the habit of sighing.

Because once he no longer feels emotional, it proves that he has been assimilated.

**

After this day, many trainees secretly came to ask Fu Xunyan about Cong He.

The charm of this actor is so special that even though he hasn't produced a film in several years, his appearance can still cause a tsunami.

Fu Xunyan just replied perfunctorily that the other person was a very nice person, had a serious work attitude, and was approachable.

But many people didn't believe it, especially R.TAI, Cong He's biggest fanboy. He and Zhang Chi grumbled, "Can't you even judge an actor by his looks? Otherwise, why would he be so affectionate to Fu Xunyan in the behind-the-scenes footage?"

Cong He has a strong sense of distance, which comes from becoming famous at a young age, from seeing the complexity of the entertainment industry too early, and also from the past.

No one is born mature.

It only took Cong He one year to transform from a young boy running in the sun into a skilled chess player.

Because of a young man named Lu Lingke.

"I..." Cong He raised his eyes. The snow-white wall barely helped his trembling emotions to slowly calm down. The doctor sitting opposite him gave him an encouraging look, asking him to tell the story he had told thousands of times.

"If I had answered his call that day, if I had paid more attention to him during that time, perhaps he would not have died."

In 2005, a celebrity scandal shook the entire entertainment industry.

Lu Lingke, a popular movie star, is from the same class as Cong He. He was spotted by a well-known director because of his genius acting skills, and his debut film was screened at an international film festival.

But unfortunately, the ending of a genius is not the podium, but the abyss of self-degradation.

After becoming famous, he immediately forgot his roots, became addicted to hallucinogenic drugs, and eventually fell into a full bathtub and drowned because he was not sober.

People despised him, insulted him, and thought he deserved it, but no one was willing to understand Lu Lingke or know the whole story of this tragedy.

Because Lu Lingke is a star, a star who lives a glamorous and worry-free life and is sought after by people. No matter what the reason, he should not let himself fall into depravity.

As for the hardship... Oh, don't ordinary people have hard lives? Who has the obligation to sympathize with a sinner?

Yes, I understand, I know... Cong He repeatedly persuaded himself, but he was still disappointed with the coldness of this world and this society, and felt real, unexpressible... despair for the person who once shone on him like sunshine.

Lu Lingke's downfall stemmed from his reporting to the company's top management.

Although this passionate young man had selfish motives, he dared to be at the forefront and speak out against injustice. He collected and listed the evidence of illegal transactions and handed it over to the trusted media.

However, the transaction was not exposed, and he has been plagued by negative news ever since then.

The talented young man was suddenly hit by a bucket of cold water, and his endless pursuits, ideals and ambitions collapsed, and he was defeated.

He was forced to choose the wrong path, trying to numb his nerves with the wrong methods, and eventually died.

Cong He failed to keep him. When he called late at night, Cong He was on a business trip.

His friend's addiction to alcohol and drugs day after day began to make Cong He, who was unable to persuade him, physically and mentally exhausted. At the end of the phone call, he said that he would never forgive himself.

"Ling Ke, is your life still interesting? Why don't you cheer yourself up? In the past, you could spit on the company and the darkness, but what about you now? You've sunk into depravity with them, don't you know that?"

…

"Morning News: At 2:00 AM this morning, famous movie star Lu Lingke was found drowned in his home. Police detected high levels of alcohol and drugs in his system. He is suspected of having fallen into the bathtub while unconscious and drowned."

The phone slipped.

Cong He did not show up at Lu Lingke's funeral. No one allowed him to go, even though he was still a newcomer on the 18th line at the time and would not attract any attention at all.

Lu Lingke's funeral was held on a rainy summer day. Apart from his parents and the hyena-like reporters, there were no friends from the circle at the scene.

Muddy soil splashed onto the coffin, and raindrops hit the ashes that eventually turned into a small box.

The parents looked stunned, neither sad nor angry, only confused. As outsiders, they couldn't fathom how their son could have strayed from his path and died alone and miserable in his apartment.

They will never know the truth behind the reasons that led to this outcome.

No one could understand. Because those who knew the truth, clutching the evidence, sneered and tried to cover it up, while kind-hearted people cursed him the most.

Cong He worked mechanically, climbed to a high position amidst laughter and won many trophies. He could not fight like Lu Lingke, he could only run away.

Because he had witnessed the consequences of resistance firsthand, he admitted that he was afraid.

But he felt so guilty. Every time it rained heavily, the raindrops hitting the windowsill seemed like a torture to his soul.

"Do you still think that his death was due to you?" The doctor's pen tip made a sound on the paper.

Cong He smiled bitterly, his voice hoarse, "Yes."

The doctor's face was a little serious. "But you said you had let it go last time. What happened recently? Why did you suddenly have this thought again?"

Cong He's amber eyes stared at the tile floor, "Because, I met someone."

"Looks like Lu Lingke?"

"No." Cong He shook his head. "He's very different. He's much stronger than Ling Ke. I can tell from his eyes that he has a tenacity far beyond what we had back then."

"Then why?"

"I, don't know." Cong He pursed his lips.

The doctor prescribed some tranquilizers for Cong He, advising him to relax, and cruelly told him that if he were to act rationally, he would advise Cong He to stay away from Fu Xunyan.

Psychological problems cannot be cured, they will only fade away with the passage of time.

This is the horror. Human life is so long that any second of stimulation, which is insignificant in the eyes of ordinary people, can become the source of despair for a patient.

Cong He took the medicine, neither agreed nor refused, but just left the building with heavy steps.