Actually, even before Xia Qingfan came over, Yu Qian had already relayed Han Heng’s words to Zheng Qiushi,
He actually wanted the station to publicly apologize to Jiang Chenxing, otherwise he would do this and that.
Simply delusional, outrageously arrogant!
He, Zheng Qiushi, was at least the head of a station, yet he was being threatened by a mere actor.
Fine. Since you want to start a war, then we’ll fight it to the end and see whose fist is harder!
Did he really think Zheng Qiushi was afraid?
“Fanfan, you go back first. For the next while, try not to use your phone. I’ll handle the rest on my end.”
“Uncle, can it still be whitewashed? I’m going to debut, I can’t ruin my passerby reputation right at the start…” Thinking of the attacks online, Xia Qingfan felt a chill crawl up the back of his neck, shivering with fear.
Many netizens had already begun suspecting that he was the “royal.”
The followers he had just gained were dropping off at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving only zombie followers bought with the company’s money.
Seeing how he showed not a shred of responsibility, flustered and panicky, Zheng Qiushi was instantly filled with anger at his failure to live up to expectations. “If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?! Before this matter is resolved, behave yourself. If anything else happens, don’t blame me, your uncle, for being ruthless!”
Xia Qingfan hurriedly promised, “I’ll be good, I definitely won’t cause trouble!”
…
Since he had decided to protect Xia Qingfan, Zheng Qiushi quickly began laying things out.
First of all, Han Heng demanding that the station issue a public apology, there was no way he could agree to that.
Not only that, he also gave word to Yu Qian’s side, telling him not to pay any attention to Han Heng’s threats or to those so-called “righteous crusades” online.
With approval from above, Yu Qian immediately let out a long sigh of relief and completely put his mind at ease.
Now this matter was no longer a tug-of-war between him and Han Heng, but a contest between Blueberry TV and the many forces behind Jiang Chenxing.
Although he wasn’t entirely in agreement with Director Zheng’s hardline approach, thinking that Xia Qingfan was his biological nephew made it seem understandable.
People, after all, have selfish motives.
“Director Yu, why are you sighing? Didn’t upper management already take this on? We finally don’t have to worry about it, it should be something to be happy about, right?”
“This isn’t as simple as you think. The outcome isn’t decided yet, don’t celebrate too early.”
“…It can’t be that bad, right? Didn’t the station already agree to step in and resolve it?”
And that still can’t handle it?
Just how solid and powerful is Jiang Chenxing’s backing?
…
Very soon, an hour passed. Not only did Han Heng fail to see Blueberry TV’s public apology, the other side didn’t even make a phone call to communicate.
They just… ignored him?
Han Ke couldn’t help questioning, “Old Three, are you actually any good or not? Blueberry TV’s official account still hasn’t moved.”
Han Heng’s fingertip lightly touched the phone screen, pulling down to refresh. The feed was still the same as before, no apology, no statement.
Han Shen said, “Looks like they’re not buying your move.”
Han Heng’s first reaction wasn’t embarrassment, but a sudden sinking feeling in his heart.
“There are only two reasons Blueberry TV would do this, first, it’s not that they won’t post it; something might have happened midway, causing a delay. Second, they’re not accepting the threat and plan to declare war head-on.”
The former would be fine. If it was the latter…
Then the situation would be rather bad.
Han Ke sneered. “If it’s war, it’s war. Are we afraid of them?”
Han Heng wasn’t so optimistic. “Blueberry TV has a very wide network in the industry. The current station head, Zheng Qiushi, is said to be very well-connected up top…”
Han Shen said, “Our family hasn’t laid out anything in the entertainment industry. For the time being, we might really not be able to do much to him.”
As the saying goes, a strong dragon can’t suppress a local snake.
For the entertainment industry, Blueberry TV was the seasoned old fox.
Han Heng let out a cold laugh, rapidly typed on his phone, then flipped the screen face-down and exhaled heavily.
“Whether we can deal with him or not, we’ll show our stance first!”
Han Ke suddenly had a bad premonition. “What did you just do?”
Han Heng replied lightly, “Nothing much. Just posted a Weibo.”
Little did they know, this Weibo post would push the already intense public-opinion battle to a new peak.
Han Heng V: Before becoming an artist, be a decent human being. Virtue comes first in being human, raise the threshold for being a celebrity.
That wasn’t all, he even added the related tag #StarMakingCampBlackCurtain#!
As a top-tier Best Actor with over a hundred million followers, every time Han Heng posted, even if it was just sharing food or scenery, it could shoot straight to the hot searches. Let alone such sharp, condemning words?
The comments section exploded in a second,
【Brother Heng finally spoke up. As expected, you protect your own kid】
【Chenxing has such a good uncle】
【Brother Heng never publicly takes sides. This time he didn’t even wait for the dust to settle before jumping out】
【When you care too much, you get flustered, if Brother Heng were a dad, he’d definitely be a doting parent】
【@Xia Qingfan learn from this, before becoming an artist, be a decent human being】
【Sisters, help Brother Heng protect the best little Chenxing, charge, , 】
【Support. While enjoying the worship of tens of thousands, celebrities should also consciously shoulder the responsibility of being role models】
【Some production teams have no shame, not even the most basic human decency left!】
【Suggest @Yu Qian retake political ideology class, fail it and get blacklisted】
【@BlueberryTV so tell us, are you scared yet?】
……
By the time Han Heng’s agent, Brother Bing, found out, #HanHengPosted had already rushed to the number one trending spot.
He went crazy, first shrieking like a chicken in the office for three minutes, then charged over with a phone call,
“My Best Actor, my brother, my lord, my ancestor! Have you lost your mind?!”
Han Heng had expected this. When answering, he held the phone away from his ear. Only after the roaring on the other end finished did he put it back. “I’m not crazy. But this is something I must do.”
Brother Bing fell silent. After a long while: “…Alright. The studio will fully cooperate.”
Huh?
Han Heng raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. “Why aren’t you nagging this time? Doesn’t feel like you…”
In the past, whenever Han Heng impulsively posted, when did he ever not get lectured for thirty or forty minutes?
And when Brother Bing nagged, he never repeated himself, ginseng-and-rooster stew mixed with cold sarcasm, not stopping until he sprayed someone full of holes.
Because of that, he even earned the nickname “The Entertainment Industry’s No. 1 Tang Monk.”
Brother Bing laughed and cried at the same time. “You’re serious this time, what’s the point of me stopping you? Just wait.”
Wait for what?
A quarter of an hour later, Han Heng Studio’s official account posted a contract termination statement, mentioning that the three programs previously collaborating with Blueberry TV would be postponed indefinitely, and that they would no longer participate in any activities hosted by Blueberry TV in the future.
Caption: Refuse to be complicit.
Awesome!
【Brother Bing V5 (mighty)】
【Shocking! Brother Heng posts recklessly, and Bingbing not only isn’t angry but backs him to the end, what kind of righteous angel is this?】
【Even though I used to always scold Bingbing for being profit-driven, when it comes to stance and attitude, our Bingbing is never absent!】
【Alright, I’ll scold Old Bing a little less in the future】
【Actually, Brother Bing has always been very decent, in major decisions, he never interferes with Brother Heng’s choices; all the nagging is over trivial stuff】
【Does that mean Brother Heng is serious this time?】
【@BlueberryTV you’re basically done】
【Refusing to be complicit, what a huge white lotus, absolutely no sarcasm, just explosive praise!】
Since Han Heng and his studio had both taken their stances one after another, fans naturally gave unconditional support, @Blueberry TV demanding an explanation.
They didn’t argue, and they didn’t curse, very civilized, very classy.
But every word was razor-sharp, every sentence hit the sore spot, stripping Blueberry TV and Star-Making Camp down to their underwear without using a single swear word.
Not only that, they also “paraded them through the streets,” calling over all kinds of melon-eating onlookers to watch the spectacle.
【Best Actor Han’s fans are incredible, every other sentence is like: “A rat may have skin, but a man without decorum, if a man lacks decorum, why not die?” Feels so cultured】
【Academic underachievers shouldn’t have clicked in】
【Middle-school essay material库 get!】
【This generation of fans is way too refined】
【Back in the day, Han Heng’s fans single-handedly raised the overall cultural level of the entire fandom circle】
【Is stanning idols this competitive now?】
【Haven’t read The Book of Songs or The Analects… then should I just leave?】
【Feels like Blueberry TV is about to get roasted into blueberry jam】
【It’d be best if it gets smashed to bits】
【Long ago the fandom was already circulating all kinds of legends about Han Heng’s fans; today I finally saw it with my own eyes, one word: insane!】
【Back then, when Film Emperor Han tore billing, tore at the production crew, tore at directors, it was all thanks to this batch of ‘refined fans’, all battle-hardened veterans; their combat power speaks for itself.】
Besides verbal denunciations, the support club also produced a large number of “mockery images.”
Things like [Blueberries Gone Bad].JPG, [Star-Making Explosion].JPG, [Royal Favor Reeks].JPG, [Yu Qian Grasped].JPG…
【Are Film Emperor fans sand-sculptures sent by God?】
【Too talented, how did they even come up with these pics?】
【Sorry, please allow me to laugh first, with respect hhhhhhh】
These images were also turned into jokes and spread wildly online, wherever they went, it was all hahaha.
There was simply no stopping it.
However, while the online outcry was in full swing, Blueberry TV and the Star-Making Camp production team showed no reaction at all, let alone making any effective response.
Both official accounts seemed determined to play dead to the end.
【Why act like a turtle hiding its head? Get out here! @BlueberryTV @StarMakingCamp @YuQian】
【Feeling guilty, so you don’t even dare fart a word?】
【Blueberry TV’s PR team this round isn’t very competent, huh?】
【The production team is probably hiding behind Blueberry TV right now, smugly watching the joke】
【Can’t understand why Blueberry TV refuses to respond, are they really covering for someone?】
【Looks like this round’s ‘royal favorite’ has quite the backing, the whole station is escorting him】
【So mad!】
【Is there really no way to drag out the person in charge of Blueberry TV?】
【Punching a corpse really feels awful】
…
At that moment, Zheng Qiushi sat in his office, holding his phone, smiling as he watched netizens stomp and rage; an indescribable sense of pleasure welled up inside him.
Make a fuss, let’s see how big you can make it!
Get mad, best if you die of anger!
Fans from previous seasons of Star-Making Camp were also crazy. At the slightest misstep, the production team would be scolded relentlessly, and Zheng Qiushi, as Blueberry TV’s station director, was almost dragged out by those brainless idiots to be whipped posthumously.
With the mindset of keeping the peace and turning big issues into small ones, he had always only apologized, softened up, bowed his head, and let himself be trampled, never clashing head-on with those fans.
Yet every day there were countless insulting private messages, many public @mentions accusing him, and some even called directly, unloading a barrage of filthy curses.
And he couldn’t say anything, only endure and endure again, living stifled and depressed.
Perhaps he had been repressed for too long before; this time, he actually derived immense pleasure from these fans’ reactions, stomping yet helpless, furious yet powerless.
It wasn’t over, there was more suffocation to come.
…
Very soon, netizens discovered that Weibo had begun large-scale post deletions, muting, account bans, and even blowing up super topics!
The topics they had just created, with heat just rising, vanished without a trace.
Some posts attacking Blueberry TV and exposing the dark inside of Star-Making Camp were also “harmonized.”
【Shameless Blueberry TV actually wants to manipulate public opinion!】
【I just want to ask, who gave you the guts?】
【Is this the legendary ‘one rank higher can crush you to death’?】
【The benefit of power is letting those who hold it run rampant, how ironic!】
【Isn’t the General Bureau going to do anything?!】
【Trying to shut everyone up, dream on】
【The last person who tried to silence the masses is still nailed to the pillar of shame in history, another one today?】
【A song of ‘Liang Liang’ for Blueberry】
Yet the deletions continued, and grew more and more reckless.
Anything people posted that involved sensitive words would be harmonized in under two minutes.
Netizens began jumping with anger.
Zheng Qiushi, however, calmly watched it all, the corners of his mouth lifting as he sighed pleasantly, “Just a rabble, that’s all.”
Who can they threaten?
He really doesn’t believe in that kind of curse!
…
At dusk, the sun set in the west.
Denunciations and deletions continued; resistance and suppression played out in a silent tug-of-war.
Zheng Qiushi acted as if nothing was happening, drove away from the TV station.
Half an hour later, he parked in front of a private club.
“Director Zheng is here, this way, please, ”
Inside, pushing open the private room door, another middle-aged man sat quietly sipping tea.
The curling fragrance and rich tea aroma stood utterly at odds with the garish surroundings outside.
A hint of a smile rose at the corner of Zheng Qiushi’s mouth. “Director Zhang, terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“This tea is good, have a taste.”
Zheng Qiushi stepped forward, sat cross-legged, first smelled then sipped; he promptly set the cup down and nodded with a smile. “Fresh, brisk, full-bodied and sweet; a tender green, bright liquor; lively aroma with a faint hint of orchid; a sweet aftertaste, uniquely ‘monkey charm’, top-grade Taiping Houkui. As expected, Director Zhang has taste.”
Hearing this, the man’s previously stern expression eased at once, a faint smile appearing. “Why do you think everyone in the circle loves inviting you to taste tea? Taste the tea, talk the talk, and the mood relaxes along with it, perfect!”
Zheng Qiushi rubbed his nose, all humility. “As the saying goes, one who knows how to taste isn’t as good as one who knows how to brew. If you ask me, it’s still your gongfu tea that’s the finest!”
“Alright, let’s stop flattering each other, it’s awkward. You didn’t invite me today just to taste tea, did you? Speak, what’s the matter.”
“Ahem, it’s a bit embarrassing to say, troubling you again. It’s not a big deal, just that bunch of flies online; they’ve been making quite a ruckus lately. I’ve already had people handle it on my end, but I’m worried it might alert the higher-ups. You know our line of work, if the top steps in, the significance changes. So…”
There still needed to be someone in the middle to maneuver.
At least give him two days to press this matter down.
As long as the higher-ups didn’t step in, didn’t take a stance, didn’t speak, calm seas would just be a matter of time.
Director Zhang’s brow furrowed, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Which fans is it this time? The entire film and TV industry’s atmosphere has been ruined by these traffic fans!”
Zheng Qiushi: “No big deal, a small issue.”
“Alright. I’ll cover for you on the Guangding side. Resolve it quickly, don’t make the internet such a mess. That whatever-it-is Weibo, day after day, just looking at it is irritating…”
Someone like him never looks at it at all.
Zheng Qiushi curled his lips and poured him another cup of tea. “Rest assured, I’ll handle it.”
This round was stable.
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