Chapter 28 I'm the male lead's backer, I don't want to be a backer! ...

The keyword #HenghuiConscienceCompany# has been trending on social media for quite some time recently, along with milk and mineral water advertisements.

Many passersby only realized at this point that Heng Hui Group had done so much. They had only learned about that milk out of curiosity, but now they truly remembered Heng Hui's products.

"Everyone knows that companies donate money whenever a natural disaster occurs. But while donating, they also regularly sponsor children in remote areas, establish welfare homes, and hire disabled employees. It has to be said that Heng Hui really has charity ingrained in its bones."

"I've compiled a list of Heng Hui's products, including beverages, snacks, and some daily necessities. If you're planning to buy anything, please keep an eye out for them and do your best to support this conscientious domestic company. [Image.jpg]"

"Thanks for the comment! I've saved the picture and forwarded it to my friends and family! Heng Hui is a well-established brand; just the name makes me feel reassured!"

"I came here from that post about people being allergic to fruit juice, and I've decided to buy Heng Hui's fruit juice from now on."

"Wow, so the MSG my family has been using is also from Heng Hui. No wonder the price hasn't gone up all these years, and the taste is just as good as ever."

"Let me share with you Heng Hui's pork jerky, it tastes really good!"

"Wow, I've used so many of these things before, it really brings back childhood memories..."

More and more people gathered here, and more and more people became aware of Heng Hui's products as a result. What could have been a huge blow to Heng Hui turned into a major publicity event, significantly boosting the company's visibility and making many of its previously lukewarm products known to the public.

Many netizens enthusiastically left messages online, recommending their favorite products to others. As a result, orders poured in from all over the country, keeping the factory extremely busy.

Inside the group, the senior executives watched with their hearts racing as public opinion shifted dramatically and sales surged.

They had heard stories of certain brands suddenly becoming wildly popular and experiencing a surge in sales, often fantasizing about whether their own products could have the same luck. The mineral water incident had given them a real taste of being propelled by online hype, and they thought it would be lucky to encounter such good fortune even once. Little did they know that it was just the beginning.

Seeing that all the products in the group, big and small, had become well-known to the public because of this incident, many people were overjoyed. They immediately held a meeting and decided to deal with the series of problems brought about by the surge in sales, and to make sure to control the quality so as not to disappoint consumers.

At the same time, they also deeply understood Si Qi's abilities and were completely convinced of the future leader of the group, who was young but had outstanding strength.

Therefore, when Si Qi reached out to tea-flavored drinks and proposed to develop several new beverages, everyone had no objections and responded very enthusiastically to Si Qi's call.

Everything proceeded smoothly in this harmonious and joyful atmosphere.

In contrast, there is the male protagonist Zhou Wu, who lives on the other side of the city.

Zhou Wu stared at the trending topics and saw that the one under #HenghuiConscienceCompany# was the negative trending topic #QianqingDramaCreationRejectsZhouWu#.

He knew perfectly well who bought this trending topic; it was that big shot who had tried to steal his resources when he was with Si's company, only to be publicly humiliated by him.

Because Zhou Wu won the role based on his own merit, the hashtag #xxproductionsetrejectsso# trended online, mocking the big star for trying to use his status to snatch the role from Zhou Wu, a newcomer, but failing.

Now that he has left the Si family, the role of the male lead in "A Thousand Feelings" has been transferred from him to a big shot. The other party immediately seized the opportunity to retaliate by buying trending searches to get back at him for taking the role, without even changing the format of the trending search terms.

Zhou Wu was furious. He contacted public relations everywhere to deal with this matter, but after a lot of effort, he still couldn't get the trending topic off the screen. His name was left hanging in a place where everyone could see it, causing him endless embarrassment.

He couldn't help but regret it, not understanding why he had been so determined to leave the Si Corporation. If he hadn't left, not only would he have no trouble finding negative headlines, but he would also be the male lead in many dramas.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but click on the hashtag #HenghuiConscienceCompany# and saw everyone saying in unison that they would support Henghui. He sighed that Si Qi was indeed Si Qi. No matter where he went or what industry he was in, his methods were still so powerful.

If only I could ask Si Qi to help me get rid of this negative trending topic. With Si Qi's abilities, he could definitely reverse public opinion in no time, just like he did with Heng Hui's negative news, and might even use this opportunity to make him famous again.

Unfortunately, he had only recently managed to win Bai Qian back, and if he were to ask Si Qi for help in front of her now, Bai Qian would probably get angry again...

Just then, Bai Qian walked over excitedly and shoved the computer screen in front of Zhou Wu: "Zhou, look! This variety show!"

Zhou Wu looked closely and realized it was a small variety show he had never heard of before. He asked in confusion, "What's wrong with this variety show?"

"This variety show is great, it's bound to be a huge hit, you should sign up!" Bai Qian exclaimed excitedly.

In the original novel, this variety show quickly became a hit in the entertainment industry after its broadcast due to its novel and interesting content. Several previously unknown stars in the show became household names, and its popularity surpassed that of many top stars at the time, making it a huge success.

Zhou Wu frowned, looking rather reluctant, and said, "I'm currently waiting for invitations from several film crews, so I don't have time to participate in this kind of small variety show."

Since establishing his own studio, he has received virtually no new work besides the jobs he already had with Si's company. If he doesn't hurry up and get back into filming, he will likely face a hiatus of at least six months in the public eye.

People are fickle; if there's no news about him for a while, both casual observers and fans will gradually forget him, and the scripts and jobs he can get in the future will become increasingly worse. He doesn't want to disappear from the entertainment industry right after becoming famous; that's definitely not the future he hoped for when he left Si's Group.

Not to mention, the variety show Bai Qian recommended to him was one that was completely unknown; he had never heard of either the director or the planner. How could he possibly participate in such a show? Unless he already had a good script and didn't have to worry about any schedules, he wouldn't have the time or energy to relax on a program.

Seeing Zhou Wu's nonchalant attitude towards the variety show, Bai Qian became anxious: "You should take a look! The content of this variety show is very interesting, and it will definitely become a hit after it airs."

Zhou Wu shook his head: "There are interesting programs every year, but it's too difficult to become popular just by being interesting."

Since suffering repeated setbacks after establishing his studio, Zhou Wu dared not risk his future any longer. He knew that dark horses would emerge in the entertainment industry every year, but he had no one to back him up, and he didn't have the capital to make reckless attempts.

Bai Qian completely ignored what he was saying and insisted, "Just believe me this once. When have I ever broken my promise to you?"

Zhou Wu hesitated.

Indeed, Bai Qian has excellent judgment, a fact that has been proven on many occasions before.

But... do we really have to gamble with such important time?

He should have quickly accepted a high-quality script to maintain his popularity.

Bai Qian urged, "Go ahead, I'll go with you."

To cover up her lie, Bai Qian always explained why she had such a keen eye for talent but remained a nobody in the entertainment industry by saying, "I don't care if I become famous."

But in reality, Bai Qian really hopes to become a top star in the entertainment industry and enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention.

She knew the plot in the book, which dramas would be hits, and what kind of characters would be most popular. She was on the fast track from the very beginning, so why would she miss out on an opportunity?

She wanted to become famous, to stand at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry alongside Zhou Wu, and to be envied and admired by everyone.

So she persuaded her again, "It's only been a little over a month, just think of it as a trip to relax. Don't you want to go out and have fun with me? It's rare for us to have a date together."

Zhou Wu held up several scripts in his hand: "I'm still reading the scripts and waiting for the audition."

“These scripts won’t be popular,” Bai Qian said, glancing at the names on the covers. “Instead of wasting time on them, you might as well join me on a variety show.”

Zhou Wu: "..." He didn't know where Bai Qian's confidence came from, that she didn't even care about the TV dramas that other artists were vying for.

"What are you hesitating about? Would I ever hurt you?" Bai Qian said with some dissatisfaction. "You're my boyfriend, that's why I invited you to participate. I don't want you to miss such a good opportunity."

To everyone's surprise, Zhou Wu not only didn't appreciate it, but also hesitated and wavered.

She said with dissatisfaction, "If Si Qi had introduced you to the job, you wouldn't have hesitated, would you?"

Zhou Wu's expression immediately became unnatural.

This is really...

If Si Qi had introduced him to this variety show, he certainly wouldn't have worried about its quality and would have agreed without hesitation.

But he couldn't say this to Bai Qian, so he could only coax his girlfriend: "Okay, okay, I understand. A month, right? I'll talk to the people over there and see if we can coordinate the time."

He can film TV dramas and also find time to appear on variety shows, so there shouldn't be any problems.

Bai Qian was still dissatisfied: "You really don't appreciate kindness."

If it weren't for Zhou Wu's sake, why would she have gone to Zhou Wu for this, letting him take advantage of her for nothing?

She wasn't a tool like Si Qi, working hard without complaint or regard for personal gain.

Zhou Wu looked at his girlfriend, who was clearly unhappy: "..." He had already agreed, what more did she want!

Although not born into a wealthy family, Zhou Wu, who had been pampered and spoiled by Si Qi and developed a spoiled attitude, suppressed his emotions and found the program team's contact information on the computer.

The other party was pleasantly surprised by Zhou Wu's appearance and immediately agreed to let him join. They were also very accommodating regarding the timing, saying they could accommodate Zhou Wu's schedule.

So Zhou Wu signed the contract, feeling extremely melancholy as he looked at the meager compensation that seemed like a form of relief.

Not to mention that he is still heavily in debt, Zhou Wu felt exhausted thinking about the fact that he might have to film movies and variety shows at the same time.

He never used to need to push himself to this level.

But his girlfriend kept grumbling, saying things like, "What's the point of making this kind of TV series? Don't believe me, it's a waste of time," which made Zhou Wu even more helpless.

Meanwhile, after the show's producers were pleasantly surprised to have Zhou Wu, a top star, join the cast, they immediately launched a grand and excited promotional campaign.

The production team, which was originally unknown and only invited a few minor celebrities, finally managed to get Zhou Wu, a top star who is currently very popular. Of course, they did not hesitate to use him as the face of their show and promote it on various platforms.

Many fans who pay close attention to their idols noticed that a small program was trying to piggyback on their fame by claiming that their idols would participate in such an unheard-of variety show. They assumed it was a rumor and immediately flocked to the program's comment section to threaten them not to spread nonsense or they would receive a lawyer's letter.

When the production team first saw so many comments, they thought they had become famous and excitedly clicked on the comments. However, they found that they were all attacks targeting the production team, with comments like "a lousy little show" and "how could my idol possibly be interested in this?" They felt both helpless and amused, and quickly edited the comments to prove that the news was not fabricated, that Zhou Wu had indeed signed a contract with them, and would be participating in the show soon.

Fans were stunned and rushed to Zhou Wu's personal website to leave messages, asking if the news was true and wondering why Zhou Wu would do something like this to help the poor.

After Zhou Wu's assistant inquired about Zhou Wu's opinion, he quickly logged into his account to reassure the fans, expressing his optimism about the show and his anticipation for the upcoming variety show content, hoping that the fans would continue to support him.

The fans, however, were not convinced and still could not understand.

"What's the point of participating in a show like this? After leaving the company, he needs to take on some good scripts to solidify his popularity. Wasting his time on a variety show that nobody watches is just a waste of his time."

"Just terminate the contract already. The agents in your studio are really incompetent. What kind of terrible jobs have they found for you?"

"It's one thing to not have top luxury brand endorsements, but now they can't even handle a decent business deal. To be honest, it's really disappointing."

"I'm a fan of my idol because I want to see him shine on the most dazzling stage, not because I want to see him suffer in some low-quality variety show."

Zhou Wu's public persona in the entertainment industry is that of a wealthy young master from a powerful and influential family with abundant resources. His fans love this polished, glamorous, and perpetually powerful image. It was one thing for him to walk the red carpet in ordinary clothes, but to have his role in "Qian Qing" snatched away, be ridiculed online, and now be forced to take on variety shows that even third-tier celebrities wouldn't consider…

Fans have repeatedly felt the discrepancy between the character's persona and reality, and no matter how many filters are applied, it's almost too much to bear.

In the comments section, they kept asking Zhou Wu about his upcoming schedule, inquiring about potential photoshoots for top magazines, endorsements for high-end brands, or even a reliable film or television collaboration if all else failed.

But the assistant couldn't answer any of it, since Zhou Wu hadn't received a single job like that since leaving Si's Entertainment.

He looked awkwardly at Zhou Wu, who remained silent with a dark expression. The situation remained stagnant, and many fans, understanding Zhou Wu's perspective, angrily remarked, "I really don't understand why my brother left the Si Corporation in the first place."

"I have no endorsements, I can't afford the most luxury brands, and now I can only make money by doing these kinds of trashy variety shows."

"So disappointing!"

Zhou Wu felt a tightness in his chest as he looked at the comments like these. He quickly asked someone to contact several influential fans and ask them to find a way to control the comments and reassure everyone not to worry.

After a busy day, the big fans finally managed to stop the fans who were worried about their brother from complaining about Zhou Wu by saying things like "We want to be there for our brother through this most difficult time" and "We can share the glory with our brother and also get through the hardships with him." Instead, they felt sorry for Zhou Wu, who was not doing well at the moment, and encouraged him to cheer up.

Just as he had managed to appease his own fans, some unscrupulous individuals noticed his predicament and bought trending topics, putting his participation in a trashy variety show on the front page, and releasing numerous photos as "evidence" of the "aloof young master personally going to dinner parties to cultivate relationships with investors in order to find work." Countless onlookers and rival fans gloated over this, mocking him: "Oh dear, wasn't he supposed to be a pampered young master who never lacked resources? How come he's fallen on hard times like this?"

"I've always said that you shouldn't create a persona in the entertainment industry, because once that persona collapses, you're finished. Look, Zhou Wu is the best example!"

"Hehehe, before you were so good at grabbing resources because you had President Si backing you up, weren't you? Now that you've left, you can only find work in the garbage dump yourself~~"

"Where's the rich and noble young master he was supposed to be? Why doesn't he just throw money at it and buy a few roles himself? I bet he's been a complete fabrication from beginning to end."

“I checked Zhou Wu’s family background and found that in the photos taken by fans, Zhou Wu was always by the side of the former president of Si’s Group. He was just a follower.”

“I know a rich kid in the photo. He said Zhou Wu is a friend of President Si. Because of his good relationship with President Si since childhood, he received financial support from President Si’s mother. Wherever President Si went to school, he went to school. Whatever artistic talent President Si pursued, he pursued too. He was just a companion who accompanied the prince in his studies.”

"I'm just curious to ask Zhou Wu's fans, isn't this blatant deception? He claims to come from a wealthy family, received the most elite education, and that if he didn't want to be in the entertainment industry anymore, he would go home and inherit the family business, making you admire him because of this. But everything he said was a lie, everything you liked didn't exist, and even after all this, you can still go against your conscience and continue to love this liar?"

Online trolls stirred up public opinion wildly, quickly turning the matter into a huge uproar. They posted all sorts of evidence they had collected over the past period, ruthlessly exposing Zhou Wu's lies and determined to bring this newly crowned top influencer down from his pedestal.

Just as Zhou Wu's fans were finally appeased by the big fans and prepared to stand with their idol who was temporarily in a slump, a flood of evidence exposing Zhou Wu's false identity appeared online.

Countless people rushed up to them, gloating and mocking them for being blind to the truth, for being completely fooled by a conman, and for helping the conman boast to everyone about how noble and powerful he was.

They were so angry when they saw it that they almost cried.

So, are all the things said online true?

"Is my brother really lying to us?"

"I just want a straight answer from my brother. If you can prove that everything you told us is true, I will definitely stand by your side and fight those guys to the end!"

Fans were crying and begging Zhou Wu for an explanation. Zhou Wu was already extremely annoyed by the terrible program production team, and he had finally managed to appease the fans, but then this mess happened, which completely enraged him.

"I knew I shouldn't have taken that lousy variety show!" Zhou Wu was frustrated and irritable, and he could almost foresee what kind of situation he would soon fall into—fans leaving, ridicule from the whole internet, and being nailed to the pillar of shame of a liar and unable to get off. All of this was the last thing he wanted to see, but he just couldn't produce any evidence that he was a rich young master.

"How can you blame me? It was that variety show that insisted on using your name to promote itself..." Bai Qian felt guilty after seeing the overwhelming comments online, but she was unwilling to admit her mistake. After all, she hadn't caused this. She had kindly introduced good resources to Zhou Wu, so how could she be blamed?

Thinking of this, Bai Qian became self-righteous again: "In the end, it's all Si Qi's fault. Didn't he consider this when he was creating this persona for you?"

Zhou Wu: "He did consider it! When other artists kept bringing this up, Xiao Qi helped me put it down, saying that once I've established myself in the industry, this will become an inspirational point for me, not a point of contention!"

People are forgetful. Some artists who initially cultivated a "pure and innocent" image can transition to a "mature and sophisticated" image halfway through their careers. As long as their later image remains stable, their earlier image will only become a topic of jokes and won't have any real impact.

But his transformation went awry halfway through, and his lies were exposed, so what was "nothing" became "something".

Previously, with Si Qi's help, none of his troubles would have been a problem, but now...

Zhou Wu couldn't help but wipe his face, overwhelmed by the situation: "I need to find Xiao Qi for help."

Bai Qian looked at the screen full of mockery and pessimism, saying that Zhou Wu could only make a living by doing these low-brow variety shows after leaving the Si family. She finally realized that things were not going well, so she stopped saying anything to put down Si Qi and nodded, saying, "Then you should go quickly."

In the original novel that Bai Qian had read, just as Zhou Wu said, when Zhou Wu became the undisputed number one star in China and gained some international fame, even though he gradually revealed that although he received an elite education, he came from humble beginnings, fans didn't question the fabricated persona he had created. They expressed, "We like you, not your background," feeling that Zhou Wu's ability to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry with such a background was far more impressive than a rich young master who rose to fame through his status, making him a truly inspiring role model.

Zhou Wu doesn't have enough status yet, and his fans only feel deceived and don't realize he's not being inspired. It probably won't be easy for him to clear his name.

At this point, only Si Qi, who repeatedly helped Zhou Wu turn the tide and solve all the troubles in the original work, could be relied upon.

Zhou Wu called Si Qi, while Bai Qian watched silently from the side, once again pondering whether she could persuade Si Qi to become Zhou Wu's manager. Otherwise, trouble kept coming their way, which was really annoying.

The scene fell silent as Zhou Wu took action, and everyone watched him, hoping to resolve the matter.

But, one minute, two minutes.

The phone rang for a long time before being automatically disconnected. Zhou Wu's face gradually darkened from initial irritation. He saw Bai Qian's strange expression, as if she wanted to mock him but had to suppress it due to the situation. He said in a hoarse voice, "Xiao Qi didn't answer."

Bai Qian cautiously probed, "It's not that you know you're in trouble and don't want to help, is it?"

Zhou Wu didn't speak, but his expression clearly showed that he thought the same thing.

“Go directly to his house,” Bai Qian said. “You’ve already come to his door, he can’t just ignore you, can he?”

Speaking of this, Bai Qian suddenly remembered that in the original novel, Si Qi's mother was also a soft-hearted woman. She had watched Zhou Wu grow up since he was a child, and if Si Qi didn't care and instead came to her for help, she definitely wouldn't stand idly by.

Zhou Wu sighed, "Then I'll go."

Wearing a mask and hat, Zhou Wu covered himself completely before taking a car to the Si family's house.

On the way, he mentally prepared many plans, thinking about how to appeal to Si Qi's emotions and get Si Qi to help him when he met him.

To his surprise, before he could even enter the villa, the security guard outside stopped him and reminded him, "Young Master moved out a long time ago."

Zhou Wu: "...What?"

"Aren't you the young master's friend? How come you didn't know?" The security guard looked surprised. "After Madam and Chairman Si divorced, the young master moved away with Madam."

"Where did they go?" Zhou Wu asked, suppressing his embarrassment.

"I don't know." The security guard shook his head. "How could Madam possibly tell us these things?" She hated Director Si too much to even think about it, and her attitude of drawing a clear line between them couldn't be clearer.

Zhou Wu remained silent.

Has Si Qi completely stopped treating him as a friend? He didn't tell him he left the Si family, he didn't tell him his parents got divorced, and he didn't even tell him his new address after moving.

Zhou Wu, who had always believed that even though his relationship with Si Qi had become awkward, they would still be each other's best friends, felt a deep emptiness in his heart. A mix of bitterness, resentment, and unwillingness welled up inside him. He hung his head, looking as forlorn as a stray dog ​​that had been abandoned.

"Young Master is now working for Madam," the security guard, who had worked for the Si family for many years and was very familiar with Zhou Wu, suggested enthusiastically upon seeing this, "Why don't you go and take a look at Madam's company?"

Zhou Wu nodded to indicate that he understood, thanked the security guard, and then changed direction again, heading towards the Heng Hui Group's office building.

He had Mrs. Si's phone number and called in advance to express his desire to visit. Mrs. Si naturally had no objection, but reminded him, "Xiao Qi is not in the company right now."

Zhou Wu said softly, "Huh?"

Mrs. Si said gently, "You can wait here for a while. Xiao Qi will be back this afternoon. I haven't seen you in a long time. Please come and sit here. Auntie is very happy to have you."

Zhou Wu: "What is Xiao Qi busy with?"

Mrs. Si chuckled on the other end of the phone: "She said she's met someone she likes and is pursuing him."

Zhou Wu's expression changed slightly, and he asked incredulously, "Xiao Qi has someone he likes?"

But he had no idea!

Mrs. Si: "I heard that I fell in love with him a long time ago, and we finally met again recently."

Zhou Wu felt increasingly uneasy.

She fell in love with him a long time ago... so it's not that they're not telling him because they've had a recent argument, but rather that she's been keeping it from him for a long time.

During this time, Zhou Wu had been constantly brainwashed by Bai Qian that "Si Qi doesn't treat you like a brother," but he never listened. Now, upon suddenly hearing this news, Zhou Wu suddenly wavered.

“Xiao Qi never told me,” Zhou Wu said, his voice tinged with grievance.

Si's mother understood and comforted him, saying, "Auntie doesn't know either. Maybe it's because the child is also a boy, so Xiao Qi is hesitant to tell us."

Zhou Wu was startled: "What? It's a man?!"

“Boys are fine too,” Si’s mother gently advised, “as long as Xiao Qi likes them.”

"I...I didn't mean that," Zhou Wu said, his emotions fluctuating and unable to calm down for a moment. "I just didn't expect it...I couldn't have seen it before!"

"Who can say for sure about sexual orientation?" Mrs. Si sighed.

Not to mention Zhou Wu, even she, as the mother, didn't realize it.

Zhou Wu: "Then...does that person also like the same sex?"

As he said this, his feelings were complicated. He couldn't imagine who Si Qi would be with one day, or rather, he couldn't imagine that Si Qi would have someone closer to him than his friend.

Could it be that he didn't answer my call because he was with this person?

What is he busy with right now?

Zhou Wu, who already had a girlfriend, couldn't help but overthink things.

Si's mother: "I don't know. Xiao Qi is still pursuing him. It's said that in order to have a reason to get close to that boy, Xiao Qi has invested several hundred million yuan in the research institute where he works to support his research."

Si's mother and Zhou Wu had a good relationship, and Si's mother would not deliberately hide many things from Zhou Wu. They chatted casually, and she sighed that her son was indeed a romantic.

Upon hearing the amount of several hundred million, Zhou Wu's breathing instantly became heavy, and his fingers gripped his phone tightly: "Xiao Qi, how could he do this? Don't you think about stopping him? What if he's a scammer, deliberately trying to trick Xiao Qi into spending money! Xiao Qi is the kind of person who's completely open and honest with the people he likes, aren't you worried that he'll suffer a loss?"

“How could that be?” Mrs. Si said with a smile, “Although Xiao Qi never hides his feelings for the person he likes, he’s not stupid. If he finds that the person isn’t worth his effort, Xiao Qi will definitely walk away faster than anyone else.”

Before Si Qi worked by her side, Si's mother couldn't figure out Si Qi's bottom line. She thought Si Qi was still the same as when he was a student, easy to talk to and not fussy.

But now Si Qi works with her at the company every day, and he is decisive and efficient in his work. He never hesitates to correct mistakes, and Si's mother has gradually come to understand what kind of person Si Qi is when he is doing serious work.

“For Xiao Qi, whether the business makes money or not is not important. What matters is whether that person is worth his effort. If the other person is not a good person, Xiao Qi can simply stay away from them in time, rather than letting himself get himself into a mess,” Mrs. Si explained with a smile.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Si's mother, unaware of the past conflict between Si Qi and Zhou Wu, readily shared her opinion of Si Qi with Zhou Wu.

Zhou Wu listened carefully to these words and pondered their meaning. His emotions surged, and he was severely provoked by Si's mother's casual words.

Could it be him, the kind of person that Si's mother was talking about who is "not worth the effort"?

Because of his sudden departure, Si Qi felt that he had turned his back on him and thought that he valued women over friends, so he distanced himself from him and his attitude suddenly became cold.

Zhou Wu's heart clenched, and he gave a bitter smile. "Auntie, do you think Xiao Qi is angry with me?"

He told Si's mother about the conflicts between him and Si Qi during this period, the troubles he had encountered after leaving Si's personal studio in the city, and his current predicament.

Mrs. Si was heartbroken and exclaimed, "Oh dear, how could this happen? Those people said such awful things!"

"I came here today to ask Xiao Qi for help," Zhou Wu said pitifully. "I called him, but he didn't answer. I went to his house to look for him, but I found out he moved. Auntie, I really have no other choice."

"Okay, okay, Auntie will talk to Xiao Qi for you later."

Zhou Wu had been by Si's mother's side for so many years, and Si's mother had watched him grow up. It was impossible for her not to feel sorry for Zhou Wu. But Si's mother also understood her son. She knew that if her son hadn't completely lost heart towards Zhou Wu, he wouldn't have let Zhou Wu be hurt to this extent.

Things might not be as Zhou Wu unilaterally described, and it might just be a minor conflict. She still needs to ask Si Qi for the specifics before making a judgment.

To avoid interfering with her son's pursuit of someone, Si's mother didn't call Si Qi, but instead sent a text message asking, "Son, Xiao Zhou said she wants to come to the company to ask you for some help. When are you coming back?"

Si Qi, who was reportedly so busy that he couldn't even answer the phone, replied quickly: "I'll be back this afternoon. Zhou Wu must have run into trouble again and wants me to clean up his mess."

When Si Qi called Zhou Wu by his full name, Si Qi's mother knew that Si Qi had indeed fallen out with Zhou Wu and asked him, "Did you and Xiao Zhou have a fight?"

Si Qi spoke bluntly: "He's a complete ingrate."

When Mrs. Si saw that her usually easy-going son was speaking so directly, she was speechless and sighed, "Since that's the case, let's part ways amicably."

Having done charity work for so many years, Ms. Si has sponsored hundreds, if not thousands, of children. Among them are certainly selfish and ungrateful individuals, and she has long seen through them.

With another example like Zhou Wu now, Si's mother can understand, but she can't help feeling disappointed.

"He was very good to you when you were a child."

Whenever there's food or drink, Si Qi is always the first person they think of. When they're out and about, they always pay attention to Si Qi's safety and keep everything about Si Qi in mind.

Unfortunately, as people grow up, their hearts change.

Si Qi: "So we were friends back then."

Mrs. Si stared blankly at the words on the screen, and after a long while, she sighed again.

"Okay, then Mom will talk to Xiao Zhou and tell him not to come looking for you again."

"Thank you, Mom." Si Qi sent this message and put down his phone. Inadvertently, he recalled some events from the original timeline.

At that time, Zhou Wu left the company because of his girlfriend and started his own studio. The original owner was unaware of Zhou Wu's true nature and still treated him as a friend, occasionally helping him to find resources.

Fans, seeing that Zhou Wu had just become the spokesperson for a top luxury brand introduced to him by the original owner, and then successfully auditioned for the male lead in "Qian Qing," showed no concern for his future prospects after the contract termination. Instead, they expressed their support, seeing that Zhou Wu could film another variety show and have another opportunity to see their idol, completely unlike the current situation where everyone was trying to kick him while he was down.

Zhou Wu, having no worries about his own career, had the resources to support his girlfriend. Not only did he appear on stage with her for the first time on a variety show, but he also arranged a good role for Bai Qian in the drama "Qian Qing".

In the drama "A Thousand Feelings," Bai Qian was given a supporting role because Zhou Wu had brought his own investment to the production and was also the male lead. Her screen time was limited, but her character was memorable; she was a beautiful, strong, tragic, and idealized figure, and her interactions with the male lead were particularly captivating.

After the character stills were released, many book fans were dissatisfied that such an excellent character was played by Bai Qian, a relatively unknown actress. According to insiders from the production team, they protested that Bai Qian had gotten the role through connections.

Variety shows seized the opportunity to capitalize on the buzz, announcing that a program featuring Bai Qian and Zhou Wu would be released soon, inviting viewers to watch.

Thus, the dark horse variety show, which was originally expected to go unnoticed until after its broadcast, became a hit even before airing thanks to Bai Qian's participation. In the show, Bai Qian, having prior knowledge of the content and knowing which lines would produce excellent results when spoken by the guests, prepared in advance and effortlessly shone on the show, successfully cultivating an image of intelligence and poise, reversing the public's previous negative impression of her and attracting many fans.

In the original timeline, several guests who should have become famous overnight on the show lost their spotlight and became mere supporting characters because Bai Qian stole most of their memorable quotes. As a result, the public attributed all the credit for the show's success to Bai Qian, believing that this small-time show couldn't have functioned without her.

In addition, she and Zhou Wu cooperated seamlessly several times in the show, and their strong teamwork was so classic that many fans of the show thought that the two good-looking and talented men and women looked particularly good together.

So when "A Thousand Loves" aired later, thanks to their already good audience appeal and the added filter effect of the plot, more and more variety show fans and drama fans edited videos of the two of them as a couple, and became their die-hard CP fans.

Zhou Wu didn't mind this happening. He intentionally or unintentionally cooperated with the production team's marketing and promotion, openly showing affection and creating a CP (couple pairing) with Bai Qian. Even if some fans were unhappy that their idol was too close to the female artist, other fans would explain that it was all a publicity stunt by the production team, and that Zhou Wu and Bai Qian were actually just good friends.

This action was actually very dangerous. The original owner reminded Zhou Wu several times to be careful and not to expose the relationship at this time.

Bai Qian and Zhou Wu knew the situation in the industry, and after hearing this, they restrained their behavior somewhat. However, they were both dissatisfied with the original owner's discipline. They felt that they were not artists under the original owner's management, so why should the original owner interfere with their private lives? They blamed the original owner for all the frustration and resentment they felt about having to secretly date like thieves because of their careers. They said it was all the original owner's fault, and that the original owner's controlling nature had put too much pressure on them.

Bai Qian has intentionally or unintentionally "criticized" Zhou Wu's former boss on many occasions, saying that the other party was unhappy that she was too close to Zhou Wu, and that the original owner privately mocked her for clinging to Zhou Wu and riding on his popularity, which made many fans feel indignant on Bai Qian's behalf.

Even Zhou Wu's fans felt sorry for this young lady, who was being bullied just because of the CP fans and the crew's teasing. They said they wouldn't misunderstand Bai Qian, watching Bai Qian secretly dating their brother amidst everyone's trust.

Later, when Bai Qian and Zhou Wu had established their positions in the industry and gained enough fans, they no longer wanted to hide their relationship. Bai Qian then released the news that Zhou Wu's former boss coveted Zhou Wu and had ulterior motives towards him.

Many fans, worried that Zhou Wu would be hurt, launched attacks on the original owner of the body, saying that no wonder the original owner had targeted Bai Qian before—it was because he was jealous of Bai Qian and Zhou Wu's close relationship. Online trolls seized the opportunity to join in, manipulating public opinion, claiming that "compared to a pervert like you, Bai Qian is clearly more suitable for Zhou Wu," explaining that Zhou Wu's "ungrateful" departure from the company was actually due to his inability to endure Si Qi's harassment, and that the grievances he had suffered over the years had finally been redressed.

By this time, Zhou Wu no longer relied on popularity for his livelihood. He had acting skills and talent, and let his abilities speak for themselves. He was no longer an idol star, and at this age, dating was no longer an unacceptable thing. The online supporters, from the perspective of CP fans, unanimously said, "We hope that Brother and Bai Qian will be together." Zhou Wu then took the opportunity to express that he did indeed have some feelings for Bai Qian.

Fans had just experienced their idol almost being violated by a disgusting gay man, and then they saw Bai Qian, who was exceptionally perfect in both looks and circumstances. They suddenly felt that as long as the roof wasn't blown off, opening a window wouldn't be a problem. Bai Qian's appearance might help soothe the trauma left in Zhou Wu's heart by Si Qi's sexual harassment.

Thus, Zhou Wu smoothly relied on the original owner as a stepping stone and, amidst everyone's blessings, got together with Bai Qian.

As for the original owner, he was first thoroughly exploited by Bai Qian and Zhou Wu in his career, and then his reputation paved the way for their relationship. Finally, because Bai Qian was afraid that his talent in business would lead to revenge after he rose to prominence, she instigated a sasaeng fan to crash into him and send him to the hospital, causing him to become paralyzed. His illegitimate son took the opportunity to take over and steal everything from him.

I wonder what kind of bad luck the original owner had to encounter these two people.

Otherwise, given his wholehearted consideration for his friends and his willingness to lend a helping hand without hesitation when they encounter difficulties, anyone who becomes his friend would feel incredibly lucky to have met such a benefactor as the original owner of this body, and would be overjoyed and grateful.

Zhou Wu and Bai Qian, however, not only did not know how to be grateful, but also kept repaying kindness with enmity.

Si Qi shook his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts. In the blink of an eye, he saw Chu Feng, who had been silent since earlier, staring at him intently.

Si Qi chuckled: "What's wrong?"

Why do you look so mournful? Is it because you haven't spoken to him for a while?

Chu Feng said in a low voice, "The clothes you're wearing..."

Si Qi glanced down at his attire: "Hmm?"

Chu Feng: "Could you wear light blue next time?"

He only remembered that he was going to wear the clothes he had seen in his memory, but he forgot to consider the styles that Si Qi would wear.

Si Qi asked doubtfully, "It's possible... but am I not dressed well today?"

Chu Feng quickly shook his head, his ears turning slightly red for some reason. "No, it looks great. I just... think you would look even better in that one."

Cough, he wasn't in a hurry to kiss Si Qi, he just wanted to make Si Qi look better!

-----------------------

Author's Note: --

47: (;￢＿￢) Guess if I believe this?

(While doing so, she opened the wardrobe and invited Chu Feng to help her choose something.)

Chu Feng (his face flushed red upon seeing the clothes): ///////[heart]

Xiuxiu: Why am I in the dark room again?! [Eye roll]

#Chu Feng, a fully automatic black room giveaway machine#