Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, but a thought stirred in his heart.
Gu Huaiyue was still waiting, so how could he have time to play with him?
"Sorry, I'm not interested in these things."
Zhou Yang's answer was crisp and straightforward, so direct that the blogger's smile froze for a moment.
"I don't have time to film videos or give interviews. You can leave now."
He and Xu Yao quickly began cleaning up the pots and pans, preparing to retreat.
The blogger was clearly not expecting to run into such a tough opponent. He paused for a moment, then, unwilling to give up, chased after him and stood in front of Zhou Yang.
"Hey, Mr. Zhou, don't be in such a hurry to leave! Please let me finish!"
"Look, you have the skills, and I have the platform. This is a powerful alliance, a perfect combination!"
"If I help you promote your food, your popularity will definitely increase! My fans might also come and try your food after they learn about it. It's a win-win situation! Why don't you consider it?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yang almost burst out laughing.
Is this person genuinely clueless or pretending? A combined attack? And it'll give me more followers?
He raised his eyes, looking at the other person with a half-smile: "Didn't you see what happened to that celebrity who tried to ride on my coattails last time?"
"I don't need you to bring me traffic. I'm already overwhelmed with my current fans."
He pointed to the diners around him who were still there, reluctant to leave.
"With so many people queuing up every day, how many of them can actually buy my snacks? My worry is that there are too many customers, not that there aren't enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, the old customers who hadn't left immediately chimed in to corroborate his words.
"Exactly! The boss's snacks are so hard to get! I couldn't get any yesterday, and I had to take half a day off today to finally get in line!"
"That's right, young man. Don't keep the boss from closing up shop. He works so hard preparing the ingredients every day!"
"Yes, yes, we're hoping the boss will prepare more tomorrow!"
The blogger's smile froze completely, and a barely perceptible shadow crossed his eyes.
This was probably the first time he had ever been rejected so bluntly since he started doing restaurant reviews, especially in front of so many people.
But he was, after all, a big blogger who had made a name for himself online, so he still had the nerve to put on a brave face and forced a smile.
"Hehe, Mr. Zhou is really true to himself."
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, "That's true, with good skills and a strong foundation, our little temple really can't accommodate a Buddha like you."
"We understand, we understand, that they've become too arrogant."
Zhou Yang didn't want to lower himself to the level of such a clown, but the other party was taking advantage of his kindness and his sarcastic tone was really annoying.
He simply stopped what he was doing, glanced leisurely at the "big mouth eating everything" and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.
"Who the hell are you trying to fool with your sarcastic tone?!"
"You're right, you just don't have as many fans as me, and you're not as popular as me! I'm trending on social media every few days, whether it's good or bad, at least I get the traffic."
"Although I don't manage my account, I've gained over three million followers since I started selling instant noodles, and it's still growing."
Zhou Yang looked at him disdainfully: "You just wanted to ride the wave of popularity and I hit the nail on the head, so you're getting angry and starting to be sarcastic, aren't you?"
The blogger's expression froze, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes behind his glasses.
Zhou Yang added insult to injury: "That's right, I just don't like you. I think making videos with you is a complete waste of my precious time."
"What, you're not satisfied? Go ahead and sue me! See if the court will accept your 'rejected cooperation' case!"
He shrugged, looking arrogant and saying, "What can you do to me?"
"Pfft—"
A nearby diner couldn't help but laugh out loud.
These words infuriated the blogger known for his "big mouth and all-around eating," whose face turned bright red, like a boiled crab.
His chest heaved violently, clearly consumed by rage.
He's a big influencer with millions of followers, always pampered and fawned over wherever he goes. He's never been so publicly humiliated before.
But Zhou Yang's "Go ahead and sue me" really stung, causing him to turn hostile on the spot.
He dared not.
In today's online environment, a single misstep can lead to utter ruin.
He was labeled as "bullying others" and "forcing cooperation," and his fans immediately unfollowed him to teach him a lesson.
This kid is completely stubborn, he's a real piece of trash!
The blogger cursed inwardly, but could only suppress his anger and squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth, his tone even more sarcastic.
"Alright, alright! Boss Zhou is indeed a man of character, unlike anyone else. You're impressive, you've got guts!"
"I'd like to see how long someone as arrogant and conceited as you can go down this path!"
After uttering this harsh remark, he glared fiercely at Zhou Yang, signaled the photographer to call it a day, and slunk away.
That figure, no matter how you look at it, looks somewhat disheveled, like someone fleeing in panic.
"Tch, I thought he was something special."
Zhou Yang chuckled and rolled his eyes at the other person's back, looking incredibly smug.
He called out to Xu Yao, and the two of them finished packing up. Pushing their cart, they leisurely left Huaiyang Old Street amidst the diners' reminders such as "Come early tomorrow" and "Boss, stock up more for tomorrow."
The Pagani roared away from the old street, heading straight for the Tranquil Teahouse where Gu Huaiyue was staying.
Inside the private teahouse room, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and the melodious sound of a guqin.
Gu Huaiyue, dressed in an elegant cheongsam, sat gracefully sipping tea.
Seeing Zhou Yang and Xu Yao enter, she smiled and stood up to greet them: "Zhou Yang, Miss Xu, please have a seat."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Yang didn't waste any time. He took out an object wrapped tightly in soft cloth from his backpack, carefully placed it on the pear wood table, and gently unfolded it.
"Miss Gu, see for yourself."
The moment the rosewood pen holder appeared, a look of amazement flashed in Gu Huaiyue's beautiful eyes.
She didn't start working right away, but instead examined it carefully for a moment.
Only then did he put on white gloves, pick up a magnifying glass, and examine the pen holder from the rim, waist, and base.
They carefully examined everything, from the texture and patina of the cylinder to the signs of use on the inner wall.
For a moment, only the soft sounds of breathing and the occasional rustling of Gu Huaiyue turning the pen holder filled the room.
Xu Yao also curiously moved closer. Although she couldn't understand the intricacies of it, the antique and gentle temperament of the pen holder, as well as the flowing "Wen Shi Zi Chang" inscription on it, made her feel that this thing was extraordinary.
After a long while, Gu Huaiyue finally put down the magnifying glass, took off her gloves, and let out a long sigh of relief.
Her face beamed with undisguised joy and admiration: "Zhou Zhouyang, you have a really good eye! This is indeed a genuine huanghuali brush pot used by Wen Zhenheng in the late Ming Dynasty, bearing the inscription 'Wen Shi Zichang'!"
"Look at this 'ghost face pattern,' this patina as delicate as a baby's skin, and this unique waist-cinching design. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and it's rare to find it so well-preserved!"
"What's even more remarkable is the material used; it's top-grade Hainan rosewood, with a deep, rich color and incredibly oily texture!"
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