Chapter 178

No matter what schemes or shady plans Li Yitong might have, Bai Liang had to take a brief leave.

Because a hot, handsome guy from Guangdong was waiting for him in Shanghai.

This was about settling superiority—and "life or death."

This guy seemed overly confident in his popularity, convinced he could effortlessly dominate Bai Liang, this so-called new top streamer.

So from the moment he landed at Hongqiao Airport, he was under constant public exposure.

He even organized a massive reception, with a crowd of female fans screaming wildly; though he remained cold-faced the whole time, never taking off his sunglasses, this only sent the fans into a frenzy, their shrieks rising in wave after wave.

It nearly blocked the airport.

His popularity was plainly absurd.

And this was even after that scandal involving fake fans!

The Four Returnees—terrifying indeed.

Of course, among the four of them, some were actually weak; one even had fewer fans than Bai Liang. We won't name names here.

Wu Moufan and his team seemed to have finally realized: last time's stunt with the racing track was like using their own weakness to attack the enemy's strength.

Who could've guessed that Bai Liang not only knew how to drive well, but could also pull off something as brutal as a car crash?

Even that "life photo" is still circulating online, popping up from time to time.

Supposedly, a large portion of Bai Liang's fans use that photo as their wallpaper.

This counts as the kind of "breakout iconic image" that many entertainers dream of.

But Bai Liang's was utterly unreplicable—no celebrity's breakout image was ever created like his.

So Wu Moufan's side decided: no more stunts. Direct confrontation.

We'll crush him with pure popularity—this is a battle of raw power.

If Bai Liang's got guts, go ahead and "blow up" the Bvlgari gala to steal the headlines!

The Bvlgari gala sounds fancy, but in reality, it's just a giant sales pitch.

It's predictable that when Bai Liang arrives, he'll be surrounded by the wealthy women attending the event.

Those aunts know how to "show affection"—even if they don't lay hands on you, chatting with you is fine, right?

Just imagining that scene, Wu Moufan's side felt certain of victory.

Then they'd launch a smear campaign, branding Bai Liang as the "King of PR Male Sales."

When his fans see their beloved idol forced to wear a fake smile in front of a crowd of glittering older ladies, and when online PR articles push the narrative, it's impossible he won't lose fans.

They've all checked: Bai Liang's studio has no seasoned veterans—just a bunch of green recruits.

Probably haven't even thought of this angle yet~

Kid! Welcome to the real entertainment industry!

Bai Liang: That sounds familiar~

Sister Yanzi: Honestly, didn't expect it.

But green recruits have their advantages.

That is, young bulls fear no tigers—and Sister Yanzi wasn't the least bit nervous.

This time, she'd learned some "essentials" from Cai Yi: just fucking explode on him!

Even if we can't win, we'll blast him hard anyway!

So Sister Yanzi was especially fired up—her little Bai brother trusted her completely; she absolutely wouldn't back down.

Of course, despise the enemy strategically, but respect them tactically.

For this Bvlgari gala, Sister Yanzi wouldn't slack off in the slightest—she'd planned every possible detail, determined to avoid any misstep.

Oh, by the way, besides preparing for the offline event, she'd also long since prepared to dig up dirt.

Thanks to Bai Liang's funding, she'd even arranged to flood the entire internet with Wu Moufan's past scandals again.

It's just money! Our little Bai brother knows the score!

No one understands how to waste money better than him~

So many people are waiting to watch the show—it's basically a preview of the top-streamer collision.

Under these circumstances, Bai Liang returned once more to his loyal Shanghai.

He didn't organize any fan reception—after all, his first part-time job with Huang Jingyu before entering the industry left too deep an impression.

Whatever, what if Sister Yanzi got too busy and forgot to pay them, or accidentally left them outside?

Besides, he came back to Shanghai by high-speed train.

Jiaxing is barely any distance from Shanghai—who'd be crazy enough to fly back?

But as soon as he exited the high-speed rail station, a group of young girls who'd clearly been waiting a long time came into view.

Judging by the posters they held, they appeared to be his fans.

Bai Liang turned to Sister Yanzi and asked, puzzled: "You arranged this?"

But Sister Yanzi looked utterly confused: "I didn't know! We took the high-speed train—there's no point in doing this. Little Bai brother, we're short on time."

Before she finished speaking, Bai Liang had already walked over.

Well~ that was predictable.

Their little Bai brother could never let these girls make the trip for nothing.

But by the time Sister Yanzi finished arranging the car and walked over, she suddenly noticed something was off.

Bai Liang was signing autographs while cheerfully "torturing" the female fans.

"High school or college? How are your grades?"

"Senior year soon? Looking for a job or taking the civil service exam? Have you read my civil service guide?"

"Graduate school? I don't believe you for a second—wanna bet I'll take the exam first, then write you a guide? Bet?"

"Don't waste time picking people up at the airport—just watch a drama instead. Oh, same goes for picking people up at the high-speed rail station."

"."

The girls visibly shifted from excitement to numbness, as if they'd encountered their own homeroom teacher.

Of course, if their homeroom teacher were actually this good-looking, they'd probably grin inwardly while getting scolded.

Sister Yanzi struggled to hold back her laughter and asked, "Brother Dou Xiao Bai, how much longer?"

"Right away, right away—they've come all this way, I'll sign for each of them~"

After a little time spent, Bai Liang fulfilled the small wishes of these dozens of girls.

He also sprinkled a bit of positive energy their way.

Bai Liang felt his actions were sustainable.

After all, these girls hadn't even entered society yet—they couldn't yield much as leeks to be harvested.

At most, a little lucky money.

But if each of them worked hard, studied well, and later earned good incomes, wouldn't they be better able to "support him"?

Encouraging "rich women" to improve was something Bai Liang always excelled at.

He'd regularly sent motivational messages to that lazy, love-struck fish, pushing her to hustle hard and earn money.

Otherwise, how could she have bought her mom a new house so quickly?

That girl was pretty sneaky—she bought her own mother a house, and it's only in the same district as the one she currently shares with Bai Liang, and even a bit farther away.

So now, the time and travel cost for dropping by unannounced have gone up significantly—clever little thing!

For Bai Liang's "cultivating fans" theory, Sister Yanzi could only raise her thumb in admiration.

Okay okay, so we wait until the fans grow up, right?

That'll take at least three to five years.

If Bai Liang really becomes that big by then, the spending power of those earliest little female fans will definitely rise substantially.

Far-sighted!

Their own Brother Dou Xiao Bai clearly isn't as lazy as he looks—he's got serious confidence.

Watching Sister Yanzi suddenly ignite with enthusiasm, Bai Liang had no idea what she was fired up about; after getting in the car, he started thinking about what he'd eat at the Bvlgari gala tonight.

The ingredients should all be top-tier, right?

Unsurprisingly, news of Bai Liang and Wu Moufan arriving in Shanghai one after the other quickly hit the trending list.

One arrived to a massive crowd of fans welcoming the aloof godlike idol.

The other had fans whose eyes were filled with confusion and innocent stupidity after being scolded by their idol, yet he still signed autographs and drew pictures for everyone—scenes that were oddly cute.

The two completely different styles set netizens buzzing with debate.

The fans on both sides were also fiercely attacking each other.

One side mocked Bai Liang's popularity as manufactured, pointing to how few people showed up to meet him.

The other side fired back: "Look at your brother—he doesn't even acknowledge you! Our Immortal encourages us to study! What can you learn from your brother? Just fanning the flames?"

"All the noise is theirs—I have nothing." —Yang Yang.

Dammit, these two bastards!

Yang Yang, who was about to attend the same Bvlgari gala with Bai Liang, really wanted to curse.

This resentment had begun after "Wei Wei" exploded in popularity, and had been building ever since.

Sometimes, once you realize exactly what you've missed, even if you claim not to care, only you know whether you truly do.

And honestly, he didn't even know why Wu Moufan had suddenly popped up—he was Bai Liang's direct rival!

Their career paths had truly aligned, with comparisons everywhere.

For instance, Yang Yang's box-office hit "Passing Through Your Whole World," a romantic comedy co-starring Deng Chao.

Funny enough, the Spring Festival slot belongs to Bai Liang and Deng Chao's "Riding the Waves"—though the film is still shooting, its release date was long set, and early promotion was necessary.

And that's not all: Bai Liang starred in the TV series "Eternal Love," while Yang Yang starred in the movie adaptation, set for release next August.

Hmm… I heard Bai Liang also has a movie in that same slot—a military action film, and he's the second male lead, not worth mentioning.

Considering all these factors, the two were truly set for a direct clash—not through trending topics or marketing tricks, but through their actual works.

That was the most convincing.

Yang Yang felt his advantage was huge!

He played the male lead; not only did victory seem assured, even a tie would let him overshadow Bai Liang.

He would reclaim what he had lost.

!.

One could say Bai Liang was practically Yang Yang's designated stepping stone.

But this guy was too good at stirring up trouble—Yang Yang was waiting for him to "challenge the imperial palace," and this guy turned around and stole Wu Moufan's resources.

Not only did he anger the other side, he also stepped on Yang Yang's foot.

Because Yang Yang had just signed on as a Bvlgari watch ambassador, and the announcement was barely a few days old when Bai Liang announced himself as the brand's new spokesperson.

This came as a sudden blow, but Yang Yang said it was fine—he could endure it.

Next year, the tide will almost certainly reverse—no need to panic!

When he overshadows Bai Liang, a promotion will naturally follow—perfectly reasonable.

High-end brands often have multiple ambassadors; for example, Shu Qi is also a Bvlgari ambassador, on the same level as Bai Liang.

Above that is the global ambassador tier—the ultimate goal.

"Though our current heat is low, there are advantages to being low-key—tonight's event is a sales battle; it's fine that Bai Liang draws the fire."

Hearing his agent Jia Shikai's words, Yang Yang nodded and chose to believe him once more.

Even though the other party misjudged "Weiwei" last time, they were still mostly reliable.

But recently Jia Shikai has been fixated on something—he brought Bai Liang into the company, gave him shares, and staged a publicity stunt against their rivals. Two top idols from the same company being archenemies? Just thinking about it is thrilling!

This made Yang Yang utterly confused—could you really pull off such a flashy move?

Why not bring in his girlfriend too, and make it a husband-and-wife-archenemies scenario?

Your brain's fried.

Time slipped by quickly, and soon it was night.

Only under the night sky did Shanghai reveal its true identity as a magical metropolis.

The glittering, intoxicating spectacle of the glamorous foreign concession unveiled its real face to all.

The Bvlgari evening banquet, as the first lights shimmered.

Ladies adorned in jewels, successful men in sharp suits, and superstar celebrities surrounded by flowers and opulence.

Crystal chandeliers sparkled like constellations, their light refracting off crystal glasses, casting hazy halos.

This was the pinnacle of the realm of fame and fortune.

The arrival of a long-wheelbase Maybach drew attention from the media waiting outside.

Today, they were watching every luxury car bearing the Mercedes-Benz tri-star emblem.

After all, not far away, Wu Mofan had already taken the stage, yet today's other "male lead" had yet to appear.

Surely these two would exchange glances across the distance.

And they didn't disappoint—the car stopped before the red carpet, and a celebrity currently being interviewed vanished instantly from every camera frame.

Because every camera had now locked onto the parked car.

Lao Zhou stepped out from the front passenger seat, his heart trembling at the sight, yet his face remained rigid.

He kept repeating inside: Don't embarrass Liang Ge! Don't embarrass Liang Ge!

He calmly opened the door, and everyone leaned forward, waiting.

But as if deliberately teasing them, the person inside didn't step out immediately.

A few seconds of silence felt unbearably long.

A faint laugh seemed to drift through the air, then one foot finally stepped out.

Dressed in a precisely tailored dark suit, with a silver lapel pin, his face wore a half-smile, enhanced by his upturned phoenix eyes—elegant, yet slightly unruly.

The most striking feature was his gold-rimmed glasses.

These were Sister Yanzi's carefully chosen "secret weapon" for Bai Liang—today's aesthetic: the refined rogue.

The moment he appeared, a roar erupted!

The fan support was so intense it left even seasoned media reporters gaping.

Holy shit, is he this popular? This is what a top idol looks like?!

Lao Zhou's forehead was slick with sweat—he stared at Bai Liang's casual composure and screamed inside: Holy fuck, Liang Ge! You're too good at faking it!

Bai Liang: I know this fame-and-fortune game inside out~

At that moment, perhaps prompted by the media or simply sensing it, he turned his head toward Wu Mofan's position.

The other man seemed to be looking his way too—after all, such a commotion was impossible to ignore.

Though they weren't far apart, direct eye contact was nearly impossible.

They could only make out each other's silhouettes.

But the media adored this moment—or rather, both sides' teams loved it too.

Bai Liang: I can't see clearly—who the hell is Wu Mofan?

When he turned his gaze away, he still remembered to complain to Lao Zhou: "So many people~"

Lao Zhou gave him a resentful look but dared not chat with him now—he slipped away.

Inside, Sister Yanzi would handle things—he'd already finished his part.

Still, Lao Zhou was curious: could his Liang Ge hold his ground against those wealthy ladies?

Middle-aged and elderly aunts loved guys like him.

Hmm—who says only middle-aged wealthy ladies have money?

At tonight's Bvlgari banquet, one group had drawn attention from the start.

They were a cluster of beautiful young girls.

At first glance, one might mistake them for entertainment industry actresses—but their unfamiliar faces and casually relaxed attitudes proved they were also patrons of the banquet.

Yang Yang, who had entered earlier, brightened instantly.

Hey! If they're young Bai Fumei, even if surrounded, the photos posted online won't get much backlash.

And wasn't there an empty seat over there?

Since there was no clear center stage tonight, seating arrangements for celebrities weren't strictly planned.

But as he walked over, before he could even greet them, one of the girls said: "Sorry, this table's taken."

Yang Yang didn't lose composure—he smiled and nodded, then turned and walked toward another group: glittering, well-dressed, average age forty or above.

He felt a pang of bitterness inside, yet his smile remained, his back still straight.

"Wow! Yang Yang! So handsome!"

"Can you sit here? I'll give you a cut of every jewel I buy."

That's right—celebrities received commissions on jewelry sold tonight!

It all depended on which customer chose to reward whom.

That's why they called this a sales arena of fame and fortune.

Otherwise, why would they say this is a sales arena of fame and fortune?

It can also be considered the most direct embodiment of a star's commercial value!

Don't throw those online numbers at me. Whether it can move merchandise or not, let's take it for a walk offline, face to face.

"Excuse me, let me through." A Miss in a gown, head lowered, spoke softly.

"Sure~ Huh?"

Yang Yang came face to face with Li Xin. This time he couldn't keep his expression in check, and a clear look of astonishment appeared on his face.

He hadn't expected her to show up here.

But Li Xin merely quickened her pace for a few steps and hurried off in another direction.

Originally she really hadn't planned to come, but the commotion between Bai Liang and Wu Yifan was so big that she couldn't help it.

The reason she gave her manager was that she wanted to see the excitement.

Manager: I really can't with you, then just go~

Maybe she could even snag a few camera shots. If she got lucky and snagged a title like brand-friend or something, that would be pure profit, no loss.

And Li Xin was also thinking, on the side—

If the rich lady over here really puts Bai Liang in a spot he can't handle, she, as a girl, could also help out a bit.

Speaking of which, where is Bai Liang?

The artists who should be at the gala have pretty much all arrived, right?!

Just as she was looking around, a familiar voice came from behind her:

"Huh? What a coincidence?"

—

Third watch, fifteen thousand words done, begging for monthly tickets!

See you tomorrow, muah~

(End of this chapter)