Chapter 68 The Casanova Who Isn't Loved Is the Third Party.
The think tank's analysis before the war concluded that Yi Lan wouldn't do anything; perhaps she would retaliate a couple of times in the short term to save face, but she would never declare war.
"Just as I thought," Shi Wei said quietly. "He didn't even provoke us verbally. He just bombed a few of Manra's overseas bases and that was it. Instead, he made himself out to be a Casanova in the media and even got into a fight with someone. What mercenary would dare to beat him up in public?"
After experiencing so many twists and turns, Shi Wei is no longer a political novice who believes everything she hears from marketing accounts. After spending so much time with Yi Lan, she has also clearly realized that this guy is definitely not an impulsive lunatic. His seemingly unconventional style often makes him difficult to understand.
“I think he is the most marketing-savvy leader in the mercenary world in the last five hundred years,” Secretary Wang said, pulling up a resume of Yi Lan and calmly adding, “He has methods that our official propaganda department can’t even dream of. After these two photos were released, he gained quite a few more fans.”
Shi Wei rubbed her forehead. Alpha's marketing of love brains really works. She sighed, "He's truly inherited Asta's skills."
Since the start of the ABO equality movement, love-struck Alphas and main protagonist Omegas have been popular character settings in various films and novels, and have continued for thousands of years. Although under Asta's influence, they have gradually become clichéd tropes, but since ancient times, dramatic gossip has never lacked popularity.
Even Asta, the discussions about her combat strength are not as heated as her romantic gossip.
“So she really is a genius. She found her niche from the very beginning. Although over the years, people have been mocking her for not understanding politics and economics, saying that she governs the country through the media, and that she complains about every little thing on social media,” Shi Wei said, quite impressed. “But it actually worked. I checked the mercenary’s internal documents. During her reign, she had a super public relations team working for her. Every word and every photo she posted on social media was carefully designed.”
Traditional large powers, once they gain size and influence, are very serious about diplomacy. However, mercenaries are an anomaly. Due to their complex nature, their diplomatic style is very down-to-earth. In addition, Asta himself is not a serious person. This trend has become increasingly apparent in later generations.
"What do you think I should do?" Shi Wei asked.
Soon someone replied: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already set the tone. Our strategy cannot conflict with the official response. We must not fall into the predicament of self-justification for such unfounded gossip. The more we explain, the more they will add details for the other side. Therefore, we believe in no response and no explanation."
Shi Wei hummed in agreement and then asked, "But he definitely has more photos. If he keeps bringing this up, it will be very detrimental to my reputation in China."
Since they were all on her side, she stopped hiding anything.
The meeting room fell silent for a moment. To be honest, this matter was indeed very tricky. The authenticity of the photos released by Yi Lan was beyond question, and he did indeed like Shi Wei. Strictly speaking, he wasn't lying.
Secretary Wang chuckled softly. Shi Wei's gaze fell on her face as she calmly said, "A photo is just a snapshot of time. Time can be stolen, but feelings cannot. If you like him, you wouldn't be in Manla right now. It's perfectly normal for a charming Omega to have multiple suitors."
"This also proves that His Majesty has excellent judgment." Secretary Wang was very disdainful of Yi Lan, the mercenary leader, for using gossip and rumors to hype things up. He said word by word, "The one who is not loved is the third party. He will eventually run out of photos. But if you are willing, we can release hundreds of photos of you and His Majesty every day."
6.
Shi Wei gave her a thumbs up in her heart. As expected of Lu Qi's capable assistant, she analyzed the situation clearly in just a few words and gave the key to the solution.
What is Yi Lan, that lunatic, pretending to be all lovey-dovey? She's no longer a naive young girl in her twenties; she won't fall for it.
Another secretary laughed: "That makes a lot of sense! In terms of who came first, Miss Shi and His Majesty are a match made in heaven. Compared to his vague 'Stockholm syndrome,' I think the 'cold emperor falls in love with me' scenario is more believable."
"..." Shi Wei, who had been discussed about her romantic affairs for a long time, did not blush. However, when she heard the setting of "the cold emperor falls in love with me," which was so embarrassing that it made her toes dig into the ground, her ears turned bright red.
The secretaries started discussing how to promote a sweet romance story like "The Cold-Hearted Emperor Falls in Love with a Commoner Girl".
Secretary Wang looked at Shi Wei, who was quite embarrassed, and wondered if he was teasing her or explaining: "There are still many Alphas who like the 'naive and innocent' persona. Those melodramatic and tragic love stories with forceful acquisition are no longer popular. Although we can't respond directly, we can work with the Omega Protection Association to make a short educational video to subtly counter it. Besides, your image is very suitable for the gentle and kind 'innocent flower' persona."
Shi Wei glared at her, then, under the other's smiling gaze, resignedly said, "You guys can handle the documentary and stuff. I have some photos and videos of myself with His Majesty from before; I'll pack them up and send them to you later. If you need any material, just let me know, and I'll go find His Majesty to film it..."
"Thank you for your trouble." Secretary Wang pushed up his glasses and smiled very gently.
...
"...Emperor Fran's health is failing. He has been under intensive care for half a month without being released. After visiting him yesterday, Prime Minister Wei did not say a word about the emperor's health in front of the media. The situation in the Fran Empire will soon change." Director Lin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sighed. He had been extremely busy lately and thought he could finally take a break, but Fran is about to have another power transition, and his rest plan has been ruined.
"The major noble families have all remained silent. The Zhang family's heirs have been in frequent contact with the generals of the Central Garrison Army. They are unwilling to be stripped of their power and are preparing to take one last gamble."
"The Douglas family contacted our ambassador seeking our assistance, but as you instructed, the ambassador declined on the grounds of non-interference in the politics of other countries."
"After the eldest daughter of the old Emperor Fran died unexpectedly, the remaining heirs, even if they were all together, could not defeat those nobles. The prime minister has only been in office for a little over a year, and he was promoted by the Cui family."
...
After the meeting, Skrag II chatted with a few close subordinates, casually discussing the impending upheaval in the Fran Empire.
"With the political situation so turbulent, should Miss Shi's family come to Manla for a temporary respite?" Jiang Guyuan asked.
Shi Wei, who had just come in, shrugged: "No need. In the end, it's just a few nobles who will win. Whoever comes up will have to give His Majesty face."
"Which family do you want to take over?" King Skrag II asked casually, with one hand on her shoulder.
Shi Wei found it strange: "Does my wish to let anyone take power go? Will those great nobles in Fran listen to me?"
"That's hard to say," Secretary Jiang said with a smile.
"I don't want to." Shi Wei straightened her skirt and looked calmly at the group of people, saying, "Those promising families are all cold-blooded and selfish people. It would be better to let this prime minister continue to preside."
Several people laughed, probably thinking her words were somewhat naive. Secretary Jiang sighed and said, "Premier Wei advocates 'human rights and equality' and has gained the support of some Betas, but he only dares to shout slogans. He doesn't dare to go against the great nobles."
Shi Wei is now a citizen of Manla and has become indifferent to the political situation in her motherland. Upon hearing this, she said, "I understand what you mean. He is someone who was supported by the nobles, so of course he will collude with the nobles. But even if he just shouts slogans, it's better than not shouting at all."
"At least he did something for the people. Maybe his slogans were just for the voters to see, but the fact that some people shouted such slogans and some people believed in such slogans proves that this country is not completely rotten."
If they stop acting altogether, then they're truly awful.
...
"When was this photo taken?" a man's voice asked.
Shi Wei was lying on a round bubble chair, with a quantum computer projection floating in the air, flipping through her photo album.
The illusory screen revealed a man's figure, casually draped in a robe, his hair wet, pointing to a photo he had never seen before: two people were talking under a tree, seemingly not very familiar with each other, Shi Wei with her head down, and the man in the picture looking at Shi Wei's face while speaking.
"It seems like it was the fourth time I came to film a video," Shi Wei said with certainty after glancing at the date. "You stood me up and made me wait for you for more than two hours."
Then she ran into him as she went out. He was rushing back from outside and seemed quite surprised to see her, as if he hadn't expected this to happen. There were many other people present at the time, so Shi Wei naturally didn't say anything. After bowing, she prepared to make way, but he came over and asked her what she was doing there.
"Oh, it was that time." The man said apologetically, "I really forgot. There were so many things happening around that time. I remembered it the day before, but then the power hub on Seahorse Star exploded, causing huge losses, and I had to rush to the scene..."
"It's okay. Anyway, all those messy shooting assignments of mine were your doing, so it doesn't matter whether I take them or not." Shi Wei was pulled into the man's arms, and she continued to flip through the photos, selecting some suitable ones and setting them aside, preparing to send them to Secretary Wang.
Unfortunately, because she was too secretive back then, she treated this jerk as her boss before the relationship was established, and never secretly took any photos, which resulted in her not being able to select many pictures after a long time.
Seeing her worried expression, King Skrag II asked, "Do you want to make a record of our love affair?"
Forehead.
Shi Wei glanced at him, then looked at the pitifully few photos. Well, it's not impossible for him to interpret it that way.
So she nodded.
The man laughed and said casually, "You want photos, right? I have plenty."
Shi Wei: "..." What do you mean you have a lot?
Then she saw the man turn on his personal computer, open a folder, and click into it. Inside, the folder was filled with countless photos.
Shi Wei was stunned.
Although they were all thumbnails, she glanced at them and found that almost all of them were photos of her.
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Author's Note: A Love Journal (not really)
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