Chapter 95: Chapter 93: Twists and Turns in the Livestream Room

Huang Tianzhu’s smug voice was audible even over the phone. He sounded like a proud peacock, deigning to look down upon the Mortal World from on high.

"So if you manage me personally, I can become a big star? The kind that makes a lot of money?"

"Of course! If I’m taking you on, I’ll naturally find the best opportunities for you! I know a few directors with great projects, and you’re just their type. You’re still a virgin, right?"

Wen Ying, "..."

[??? What kind of predatory talk is that?]

[Do you have to be a virgin to be a star nowadays?]

[Why is Doctor Wen still putting up with this moron?]

[I just had someone run the number, and it’s definitely Huang Tianzhu’s! It’s confirmed! He’s threatening Doctor Wen to get her to delete the video!]

"As long as you’re a virgin, I can guarantee you a leading role! You just have to be a good girl and take good care of the directors and investors, and a bright future will be yours for the taking!"

"I am, but I’m not willing to go through the casting couch."

"Are you an idiot? In this day and age, how do you expect to get promoted if you aren’t willing to play the game? You don’t seriously think you can make it big just because you’re pretty, do you? I know you have a decent number of fans online, but you only make a few thousand a day, right? Do you have any idea that a star can rake in tens of millions for a two-hour endorsement shoot?"

"So, you’re saying your two stars got so rich by sleeping their way to the top?"

"Of course! And I’m telling you the truth, so don’t you go repeating it. I’ll deny everything later, understand? You’re way better looking than Zhong Haocun. I can promise you a much brighter future than hers! She gets twenty million for an endorsement; you’ll get at least twenty-five million!"

Everyone knew celebrities made good money, but they never imagined it was *this* good!

A few hours shooting a commercial and some photos for an endorsement deal brings in tens of millions. That’s tens of thousands of times more than what scientists make!

So what on earth are those celebrities who cry poor and then evade taxes thinking?

[Honestly, the money I’d make in dozens of lifetimes doesn’t even add up to what they make in a single day. How brain-dead was I to feel sorry for my favorite celebrity just because he lost one endorsement deal?]

[Same as the user above! I was the same way when I was younger. My favorite young star did all his own stunts, and people still flamed him for his terrible acting! I thought he was so pitiful! Damn it! I only found out later how much he was paid—hundreds of thousands for a single TV episode! At least ten million for a whole series! What right does a poor slob like me have to feel sorry for anyone?]

[Is everyone missing the point? The agent just said Zhong Haocun slept her way to the top, ahahahahaha! Isn’t her career dead and buried now?]

[It’s not just Zhong Haocun! It’s Zhu Hua Han, too! He said at the start that he represents both of them! Does this mean they both used the casting couch to become the starlet and the A-lister they are today?]

[I knew it! That guy’s singing is like some kind of shamanistic ritual. How did he land all those variety show and mentor spots? So that’s how! To his fans: don’t come at me! If you do, you’re just proving my point!]

[Just stumbled into Doctor Wen’s stream and found out the truth about two major stars and the casting couch! How’s that for a headline? Think it’ll go viral?]

"Wen Ying, what do you think? Let me be honest with you—"

[Oh my god, more honesty? Is he about to expose another industry secret?]

[I can’t believe Zhong Haocun’s agent is this much of an idiot. Is this really something you should be saying over the phone?]

[Every action has a consequence! Since he’s saying all this, it means the consequences are coming. Just listen, you’ll see!]

"To be honest, there’s a producer who has his eye on you! If he finds out you’re a virgin, he’ll throw in another leading role! The only condition is you have to keep him company for a month! I haven’t offered such a great deal to anyone else, you know?"

[So he’s spilling all the secrets because he’s desperate to make a sale for his ’client’?]

"Agent Huang, I think I basically understand. You want me to take the million yuan, delete the video, and issue a public apology claiming I did it because I was desperate for fame. You want me to say the video was fake, and then you’ll release a statement magnanimously forgiving me. After this, Zhong Haocun’s and Zhu Hua Han’s careers will reach new heights, while I become a pariah that everyone despises."

"No, no, no! You’ve misunderstood me. I told you, I’ll promote you and make you a huge star! I wouldn’t lie to you!"

"Perhaps that thought crossed your mind, but here’s what you were really thinking just now: you’d keep the evidence of me accepting the one million, then use me behind the scenes to achieve your other goals. And if I didn’t play along, you’d accuse me of extortion, right? That way, I’d be forced to be your puppet. But your star client won’t let you sign me, which means all that talk about directors, investors, and leading roles was just to deceive me! She’s sitting right there next to you, isn’t she?" As Wen Ying said this, a recent photo of Huang Tianzhu was displayed on her computer.

"Doctor Wen, I think you’ve misunderstood me." A delicate voice came from the other end of the line.

[It really is Zhong Haocun! Holy crap, she’s actually right there with Huang Tianzhu!]

[Here’s the question: there’s no video, so how did Doctor Wen know?]

[The user above must be a fake fan! Didn’t you see Doctor Wen looking at Huang Tianzhu’s picture? With Doctor Wen’s skills, she can look at his photo and deduce what he wants to do and what he’s doing right now! It’s just that amazing!]

"Whatever is going on between you and Brother Zhu is your own business. I would never interfere. I’m actually really looking forward to becoming colleagues with you, Doctor Wen~"

"Don’t get your hopes up. The only thing you’ll be is my patient."

"Doctor Wen, you must be joking, right? I really admire people like you."

"Don’t. I’m a genuine person; I don’t act."

"Chunchun! You’re a huge star, why are you wasting your breath talking to some minor internet celebrity? Since she won’t listen to reason, she can just disappear from the industry! When she comes crawling back to me on her knees, I won’t lift a finger to help her!"

"Brother Zhu, don’t talk like that. Doctor Wen is just being her genuine self. Even if what she says isn’t very pleasant, there’s no need to be like this. We’re both women, I think I can understand her. And please, don’t try to scare her with fake stories about the casting couch. I don’t like that sort of thing either. Brother Zhu, if you ever dared to make me do something like that, I’d quit the business."

[This Zhong Haocun doesn’t seem so bad, does she?]

[I was about to start hating on her, but after hearing that, I think I’m becoming a fan!]

[Poor Zhong Haocun, being stuck with an idiot like him for an agent. He’s going to ruin her career one of these days.]

[Wow, watching Doctor Wen’s stream is like being on a road with a thousand twists and turns~ What a ride~]

[So, did Zhong Haocun sleep her way to the top or not? Does anyone have the answer? Waiting online, and I’m desperate to know!]

"Patient Zhong, you’re already aware that I’m live-streaming, aren’t you?"