Chapter 185: What

For artists who had a good year, receiving invitations to various year-end galas was a perfectly normal thing.

Dilireba belonged to the category of those who had done extremely well.

In less than two years, she had gone from a complete nobody to a meteoric rise in status.

Although the traffic she got from "Love O2O" wasn't as much as Bai Liang's, it was still enough to lift her into the position of gatekeeper of the top-tier female stars.

Jiaxing's side estimated that once "Eternal Love" aired next year, combined with the buzz from her second collaboration with Bai Liang, plus the boost from "Running Man," that national variety show, she would absolutely be able to lock down her spot among the top-tier female stars.

Officially becoming a money-printing machine!

Jiaxing's bet depended entirely on her and Yang Mi; the other artists were simply unfit for the big stage!

Sticking to the principle of working useful talents to the bone, this year Reba could only call her family again to tell them she wouldn't be getting any rest even during New Year's.

Listening to her chatting with her family in their hometown dialect, her assistant Lingling couldn't understand a word, but still couldn't help showing a sympathetic expression.

However, having just received a new assignment to attend the Weibo Night ceremony—and being told she'd be going with Bai Liang—Dilireba was actually in a pretty good mood.

She was all smiles and laughter as she spoke.

After hanging up one call, she made another one, again chatting away in her hometown dialect.

This time she was even more enthusiastic!

But it also left her assistant a bit baffled, because the expression on Dilireba's face struck her as a little odd.

After the other party hung up, the assistant couldn't help but ask, "Reba-jie, you were just on the phone with a guy, right~"

Dilireba pressed her lips together, a little embarrassed. "Yep~"

"You've got a boyfriend back in Xinjiang?!"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Dilireba was stunned for a moment, and once she recovered she really couldn't hold it together. "Oh my, you really are—"

Seeing her laughing so hard she was clutching her stomach, the assistant was a little taken aback. "Was I wrong? I saw you speaking in your hometown dialect and looking all shy while you did it."

"Mm," Dilireba cupped her cheeks, played cute for a while, then thought about it and decided to tell the truth: "The second call was to Da Bai."

"Huh?! He can already understand the Xinjiang dialect now?!"

"Yep, and he speaks it really well. He says what we have is called an encrypted call."

Badass!

It really was quite encrypted—anyway, the assistant had just listened to Reba chattering away for ages and hadn't understood a single word, completely clueless about what the two of them had talked about.

Honestly, assistant Lingling felt she was starting to get a little ship-drunk.

In her heart she also wondered—was it that Bai Liang's language talent was just too strong and he learned too fast, or had he secretly been getting "tutoring"?

She was also curious about what exactly they'd said.

Luckily Reba was in a good mood right now, so she simply gave her a brief summary and translation: "We were just talking about the Weibo Night thing. I'm going to walk the red carpet with him."

"Wow! Really?!"

"Mm, it's not confirmed yet though." Reba suddenly changed the subject and said helplessly.

"Huh? Why?!"

"Because he still has a movie coming out during the Spring Festival slot that needs promoting. In that movie he's co-leading with Deng Chao, and the female lead plays his love interest in the film. So it's hard to say who he'll walk the red carpet with—Weibo's side hasn't decided either."

No matter how you look at it, Bai Liang is only the second male lead in "Eternal Love," so from that angle, he really should lean more toward the movie side.

"Who?! Dares to compete with Reba-jie?!" assistant Lingling said indignantly.

"Zhao Liying."

"Ah, well—"

Although Dilireba had previously crushed Gulnazar online, when it came to actually going up against a top-tier A-lister like Zhao Liying, she really wasn't quite up to par.

But that "not confirmed" part did have a turning point—it depended on two sides: one was Zhao Liying's side, and the other was Bai Liang's own thoughts.

"By the way, where's our Mi-jie?" the assistant quickly brought up the company's "stabilizing pillar"—the woman who could stand toe-to-toe with Zhao Liying.

"Mi-jie's not going at all."

Yang Mi wasn't going, but the good news was that Zhao Liying wasn't going either.

The specific reason was unknown, but she had indeed turned down this edition of Weibo Night.

However, before Dilireba could be happy for long, that unkillable cockroach, that ever-fiercer little hometown girl, had popped her head up again.

Gulnazar directly updated her Weibo with a schedule announcement saying she was attending Weibo Night, and tagged Bai Liang, asking if he was going.

But that post was deleted within seconds of being published, and then she reposted a normal one.

Little green tea!

You again?!

Posting and then deleting within seconds was basically the same as throwing down a challenge.

A hundred percent deliberate!

So without a moment's hesitation, the fans of the two Xinjiang girls instantly reignited a fresh battle.

Jiaxing's side was a bit annoyed—during their previous clash, they had never imagined this damn sticky plaster of a person would be impossible to shake off.

In their view, Gulnazar was just riding the hype, freeloading off their fame!

What rank are you, anyway? This year one movie and two TV dramas all flopped; all your buzz came from forcibly riding the CP hype between Bai Liang and Dilireba.

Her Lü Bu and Diao Chan CP with Bai Liang was already last year's thing, and they were just supporting leads.

Now Jiaxing was really regretting it—was the other side trying to take the "infamous but famous" route? Forcibly clinging to the little hometown girl?

Cai Yi: Yes.

She suddenly discovered that using Dilireba as a stepping stone was really effective!

Originally Nazha had barely made a peep this year; every drama she was in flopped. But the moment she mobilized her fans to fight Dilireba, things immediately changed.

Although she got cursed out more, the more people cursed her, the more famous she became.

The number of visible topics has increased, fan stickiness is higher, and the popularity has risen a lot.

Xinjiang is so big, yet the two of them actually come from the same place, and even their birthdays are only a few days apart.

Comparing every aspect, these two are simply born to be packaged together~

In any case, Cai Yinong's side feels like they've tasted sweetness—black-red is still red, after all.

Later, she directly released a few press releases, saying they were classmates as children, to bind them even tighter.

It looks like Gulinazha is packaging Bai Liang for hype, and some people online are scolding her for it too, but in reality, the one she's watching is Dilireba.

Red? Being a bit red is great! Go for it, little fellow townsman~

Zeng Jia was so angry she directly cursed Cai Yinong for being shameless at the company, and this matter even leaked out.

However, after figuring out this whole logic, Cai Yinong was smug, and secretly hinted within the circle: Once Nazha becomes more popular than Reba, your Jiaxing can do the same too~ Who knows what the future holds.

Zeng Jia: Go to hell! More popular than Reba? Just based on her?!

Cai Yinong: Don't be anxious, our Nazha and Bai Liang have a movie coming out next year, maybe the wheel of fortune will turn.

Zeng Jia: Bah! Dreaming in broad daylight, a lousy military action movie and you still want to reach the sky?

The internet was in a heated uproar, and the bosses on both sides were also sniping at each other from afar.

And offline, Gulinazha herself, after confirming she'd attend this year's Weibo Night, happily went to pick out a gown.

Because Weibo promised her that her seat would be arranged next to Bai Liang.

Although they can't walk the red carpet together, Nazha is already very satisfied!

She feels she's finally won one back—online she's been beaten up by Dilireba's fans every day, offline she should at least get to enjoy herself~

"Sis, have you considered one possibility!"

Just as Nazha was happily preparing for Weibo Night, her little assistant sensed something was off.

"What's up?" Nazha showed a confused look—obviously, with her little brain, she hadn't thought of anything extra.

Her mind was filled only with attending the event with Bai Liang, and being able to sneak in some closeness.

The little assistant said seriously: "When the time comes and you sit with Brother Xiao Bai, is it only you?"

"Who else could it be~"

"As long as Brother Xiao Bai isn't sitting at the very edge, there should be room for two people on his left and right sides."

At this point, Nazha finally reacted, and let out a scream:

"Ah! It can't be—"

"Ninety percent it's Dilireba."

However, the little assistant still underestimated her own boss's confidence.

Nazha's face showed a brief moment of confusion and struggle, then suddenly became resolute.

She turned and called over the brand sponsors: "None of these gowns will do! I want to change."

"Huh? This..." The brand side was a bit embarrassed. "The newest styles that suit you this year are all here."

"I don't care, I want to change! If you can't change them, then alter them! I want something a bit more..." Nazha said with a resolute face.

"Which one?"

"That one!"

"Sis, perhaps you could be a bit more specific."

Nazha's cheeks flushed slightly, she made a chest-expanding motion with both hands and gestured: "I want something sexier!"

Offline, she's not afraid! This time she'll go all out to outshine the other woman!

She'll make it so Bai Liang's eyes can't look away from her! She's always had confidence in this area.

Meng Jie: I didn't...

After receiving the invitation to Weibo Night, she was stunned and bewildered.

Even though they told her there might not be an award, only the red carpet and some camera shots inside, and the seat would be arranged as well as possible, she still felt flattered.

Ah? What am I? Do I even qualify?

However, her new boss and new agent Jia Shikai encouraged her: "Go, they invited you, be generous about it, I'll help you sort out the gown."

Getting a gown for an artist of Mencius's caliber is really a troublesome matter.

Relying on herself, big brands are basically out of the question—they wouldn't even give her the time of day.

Unless she learns from that famous circle "human peony" Miss Jing Tian and just buys one outright.

But although Mencius's family conditions are quite good, it's not to the point of doing something so foolish.

Miss Jing Tian is already running that track; squeezing in would just be Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi, and might even invite mockery.

However, borrowing in the company's name is much simpler.

!.

Jia Shikai has Yang Yang and Song Qian under him, so he still has face with the brands.

This genuinely moved Meng Jie: "Boss, you're actually pretty nice~"

"Then push me Bai Liang's WeChat." Jia Shikai said, "the dagger revealed."

"I don't dare, I'm afraid he'll block me." Mencius blinked her big eyes and said solemnly.

Jia Shikai scratched his head, "Aren't you on good terms with him? It shouldn't be that bad."

"It's precisely because we're on good terms that it needs more maintenance. Boss, let's put ourselves in each other's shoes—if I were on good terms with you, would I just give your WeChat to anyone?"

"That does make sense. Have you two ever actually dated?"

Good question!

Meng Jie opened her mouth and said: "I chased him, didn't catch him."

"Really? What a pity." Jia Shikai was half-convinced, but the signing time is still too short now, he can learn more slowly in the future.

Just over a month ago, he formally helped Mencius Yi terminate his contract with Yongle Entertainment and signed him to Kaiyue Entertainment.

The path of "curving around to seek the nation"—he could be considered to have finally walked it.

Back during the casting for "Weiwei," he had already set his sights on Bai Liang, that rather off-kilter young fellow.

Afterward, his "eye for talent" was proven right.

Only pity, now wanting to sign him is a bit too late.

Then he noticed Mencius Yi—more precisely, after Bai Liang went on "Grade One," he noticed her.

Felt this Miss indeed had the makings of stardom, and at the same time, could be tied to Bai Liang somehow.

Later, prop Mencius Yi up a bit, then arrange a project together, and inviting Bai Liang—wouldn't that flow perfectly?

Plan secured!

So after signing her, Jia Shikai was prepared to focus on developing her.

This time at the Weibo Night Gala, sorting out a gown for her and such counts as showing some sincerity from the company, and lets her see the strength on offer.

Bound to move this little girl to tears~

However, Meng Jie was only moved for a brief moment, then went off daydreaming: Hehe, the little hedgehog will be there too, right~ Hehehe.

Someone on a similar emotional journey was Chen Yao.

Cai Yinong, on the other hand, was exceptionally experienced and saw at a glance exactly what Weibo was up to, so she simply told Chen Yao to keep her expressions in check.

Whatever happens, your Sister Zha will charge in; you just stay behind waving the flag and cheering.

Of course, if she had the ability to go help push butts—ahem, that really is too much to ask of a little girl, forget it.

In short—hitch a ride!

As for the brand-ad CP classmate Li Xin—just having snagged the Bvlgari Brand Friend title, she's tasted the sweetness, so naturally she's happily preparing her gown.

She's been in the industry the longest, and sees things the most clearly.

She's not involved in any messy drama herself; what's the harm in riding a bit of Bai Liang's traffic?

With Bai Liang being that fellow who likes to "spit on the ground whenever he pleases," no matter how much she hitches a ride, it's only right.

Righteous and confident.

Jin Cheng: Am I not a person?! Am I actually a person or not?!

Damn Weibo is going way too far!

She's also a TV drama CP with Bai Liang, so why doesn't she get a share?

In "Yun Zhi Fan," the Long Ming played by Bai Liang may have had "just a tiny bit" less screen time, but he really is her CP!

The two even had a kissing scene, their lips got all red from it, and Jin Cheng says she even stuck her tongue out.

Yet even when the CP fans were warring online, she didn't get a share—everyone seemed to have simply forgotten about her.

Dying of frustration! Can't even hitch a ride.

Furious, she ranted to Li Yitong, saying things like, if pushed she'll confess to Bai Liang on Weibo.

But Li Yitong, very calmly, dropped this line: "You're too abstract; even if you confess, probably no one would believe it."

"Am I that abstract?"

"Pretty much. And I don't get a share either, so what are you barking about?"

"You're an offline one, and you're not his CP—just count your blessings in secret. Still trying to 'storm the inner sanctum'?"

"I've already booked two more female-lead roles. What about you?"

Jin Cheng completely lost it, unleashing a barrage of sixty-second voice messages.

—

"I really am a genius!"

Xiao Shui, who was in charge of part of the planning for this Weibo Night Gala, stretched lazily—she had just finished arranging the artists' seating chart.

Clearly, this clever maneuver "targeting" Bai Liang at the Weibo Night Gala was entirely her handiwork.

As the editor-in-chief of Sina's Entertainment section, having this little bit of authority was perfectly normal.

And as an editor-in-chief who rose through connections, she indeed needed to produce some results.

Using this year's Person of the Year, Bai Liang, as the breakthrough point was a pretty solid plan.

Anyway, once the proposal came out, colleagues were full of praise, and even her direct superior Cao Guowei, upon hearing about it, complimented her imagination.

Still, there's one small problem now.

And that is the voting for the Weibo Night Gala.

Xiao Shui was thinking—what award would be best to give Bai Liang

This year's Weibo Night Gala set up six major voting lists, witnessing the hot topics and trends that had occurred on Weibo over the past year.

Including "Annual Events List," "Hot Figures List," "Trending Topics List," and so on.

Actually, Bai Liang's voting momentum was quite decent, but Xiao Shui noticed that the guy himself didn't seem to have any intention of soliciting votes.

At present, he couldn't stably secure the best award at this edition of the Weibo Night Gala.

His studio is still inexperienced!

Xiao Shui's fountain pen tapped lightly against her notebook. After thinking for a while, she gave out an order.

Vote manipulation!

Official vote manipulation!

Xiao Shui leaned back triumphantly: Now THAT'S what I call chasing idols on the company dime!

After arranging this matter, she opened her phone and entered a group called "Bai Liang Global Rich Lady Fan Support Club."

Watching all the young ladies and Bai Fumeis inside chatting wildly was actually quite entertaining.

Getting into this group had cost her a hell of a lot of effort.

After that Bulgari dinner, Xiao Shui had set her sights on that group of rather oddly-styled rich beauties.

With her identity as an editor-in-chief at Sina, plus her excellent family background, and presenting evidence that she really was a "Bai Liang fan," she finally managed to work her way in among them.

Once inside, naturally she rose to prominence; the hardest part was just that beginning.

But now~

She felt that in another stretch of time she could even become an admin.

No! Today was the day!

After she showed off her permissions and operations a little, the admin hat was placed right on her head.

"Sister Xiao Shui is amazing! Unlike me, I can only spend some money to buy his merchandise."

"Really too strong, I feel like it's like playing a nurturing game, everyone working together to push Dou Xiao Bai Bai up."

"Is it still in time to join Sina now? I'll have my dad buy more Sina stocks."

"I think Tencent Video's momentum is also pretty fierce, we can place a bet on it first, their Starlight Awards are also making a big splash, and Tencent has Yuewen under it, so I expect there'll be many IP projects launching later."

"Sisters are really amazing, I just can't do it, ByteDance is so boring, I slack off in the office every day."

"Sigh~ the short-video software you guys are working on is still pretty fun, will you invite more celebrities to join? Get Bai Liang to go, I want to see him shoot short videos."

"Don't know, later my dad said to let me go be a little supervisor at the short-video project, I don't want to go, I want to go to Toutiao, that way I can chase stars on the company tab like Sister Xiao Shui."

"."

Tsk tsk, the group chat is full of talent!

Xiao Shui sighed with emotion, and couldn't help but check out the Douyin short-video app that had appeared this September.

This is, in a certain sense, an exchange of resources.

(End of chapter)