Chapter 282: Indiscriminate Attack

Just as the Porsche was speeding through the wind and snow.

Online public opinion suddenly shifted again. Zeng posted on Weibo: "That voice message was sent to my boyfriend Zhu Yangang, not to anyone else."

Being able to post on Weibo so promptly meant Zeng was completely numb all over, her body and mind had taken a severe blow, and an endless fear filled her heart.

It was only because the person Fang Hong had speak on his behalf was none other than her "boyfriend," who said to her directly: "If you don't comply, next time I won't be asking you to clarify — I'll throw you into the Pacific Ocean."

This person who used to be as gentle as water to her, attending to her every need, had now completely changed — become cold and heartless, utterly a stranger.

This person had hidden too deeply, lurking by her side for a full year, and dealt her a devastating blow.

Who on earth had planned something this terrifying — actually sending someone to lurk by her side and lure her in, and with such patience too. That was what truly frightened her.

The other side had enough patience to finish her off.

She didn't think this was Liu Tianxian's doing — Liu Tianxian didn't have such a deep scheming mind; she was sincere with people.

Now she was completely falling apart. She wanted to call Liu Tianxian, but all she heard was the notification tone saying she'd been blocked; messages couldn't be sent either.

It seemed Liu Tianxian really did blame her. She had even confronted Liu Tianxian, asking whether the very first photos had been secretly taken and released by someone Liu Tianxian had hired.

The conflict between the two was already irreconcilable.

She had not only lost her "boyfriend" — Liu Tianxian would also never speak to her again.

If Liu Tianxian decided not to acknowledge someone, she was utterly heartless — she'd never speak to you until death, but she also wouldn't hurt you.

Zeng fell into complete self-isolation. After posting that Weibo, she was unwilling to appear again — she was truly terrified.

After this clarification Weibo was posted, public opinion fermented once more, and netizens were also worn out by it all.

"What's actually going on? First she says she likes men, then she says she likes women."

"I'm driven into self-isolation too. Liu Tianxian still hasn't come out to say a single word."

"People in the entertainment circle really know how to play."

"Liu is into women, Zeng is into women too."

"She's already clarified it was sent to her boyfriend — stop spreading rumors, will you?"

"Liu Tianxian is normal — the one she likes is the Principal."

"I can tell Zeng is bi, Liu is into women."

"."

Online public opinion was a mess. Large numbers of haters were still setting the pace, claiming Liu was into women.

Actually, resolving this matter wasn't as simple as just dealing with Zeng.

It required dealing with all the forces big and small driving the narrative — the various leading ladies Da Mimi, Fan Xiaopang, Ren, Li Bailian, Guoji Zhang, Tianyu, Yuan Shanshan, Huanrui, Hairun, Peking University Starlight, 7 Wei, Orange Sky, Vanke, Da Baobei, Rongxingda, Yao Dazui, Huayi.

Every single one of these individuals and agencies — who knew whether they were all involved.

But going after all of them, probably none would be wrongly accused.

Only because, with Liu Tianxian's current commercial value, the events she attended, and the brands she endorsed, any move she made blocked someone else's path.

A few hours at an event earned hundreds of thousands; a single commercial day brought over a million; endorsing a brand brought tens of millions. For any company or individual star, this was an enormous lure of profit.

Otherwise public opinion wouldn't have been pushed so hot.

Add to that Liu Tianxian's fashion value, hidden popularity value, personal brand's comprehensive strength — in every respect she was blocking others' paths.

Simple — if a brand could pick Liu Tianxian, it wouldn't pick Da Mimi; if an event could pick Liu Tianxian, it wouldn't pick Fan Xiaopang; if fans could stan Liu Tianxian, they wouldn't stan Xia Jie. That's how it was.

On top of that, she was independent — her profits were shared only with the interest group led by her mother, and no one else got a share, which offended even more people.

Just like a few years ago — if they couldn't have her, they'd destroy her. Same old playbook.

There's only so much meat in the entertainment circle now. The bigger the piece Liu Tianxian bit off, the smaller the pieces left for everyone else.

That was the origin of the conflict. Zeng wasn't the main contradiction — she was the secondary one. Without those people fanning the flames, this couldn't have caused any storm at all. Zeng didn't have that kind of ability — if she wrote a passage on Weibo, probably not many people would even pay attention.

So dealing with Zeng's matter was the small part. Dealing with all the forces big and small across the entire entertainment circle together — that was the real test for Jade Rabbit.

As for Red Star Fort's few million, it was of no use at all.

For this matter, Fang Hong mobilized overseas funds — that is, the Zhong family's funds — to handle it.

The Zhong family put up the money; Jade Rabbit only ran the operation.

Coincidentally, "Fall" had already finished its theatrical run, with a global box office of $81 million; subsequent rights were to be calculated separately. That meant the Zhong family had at least $20 million in funds on their books.

Equivalent to 140 million — enough to buy all kinds of internet marketing channels, and enough to carry out indiscriminate attacks.

That's right — Fang Hong was going to launch indiscriminate attacks against every currently popular female star in the entire entertainment circle.

He would smear every currently popular female star at this stage — that is, warn every single one of them. If he didn't warn them once.

They really didn't know who was backing Liu Tianxian!

Fang Hong wasn't targeting companies — only the currently popular female stars at this stage, meaning first- and second-tier.

The Porsche came to a steady stop downstairs at Jade Rabbit. Fang Hong arrived at the 17th-floor Public Relations department.

In a conference room, several people were already waiting for him — the leaders among them being Chen Zhixi and Huang Bing.

They had been monitoring online public opinion the whole time.

Chen Zhixi had come just to watch the show. Seeing Fang Hong enter, she asked: "Are you really going to do this?"

"Without doing this, it won't be enough to intimidate the small fry." Fang Hong pulled out a chair and sat down.

The conference room didn't have a long conference table cutting across it — instead, casual lounge chairs were scattered about, so one could sit anywhere, like a leisure space.

"Fan Xiaopang starred in our company's 'My Love from the Star.' If you're going to smear her, are we still going to broadcast that drama or not?" Chen Zhixi said.

The drama was set to air in January.

"It'll air. She's a smart woman — she'll naturally back off and come give us assurances," Fang Hong said.

Chen Zhixi didn't know what to say. Could this count as a modern version of a man flaring up in anger for a beauty?

To smear every single female star as a warning.

Still, she didn't feel right saying anything. The ones putting up the money were Red Star Fort and the Zhong family; Jade Rabbit was only running the operation. The ones doing the work were several PR firms and media outlets big and small in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing.

There were also several other major portals: Sina, Sohu, Tencent.

Over a hundred million in funding — that would be a huge order!

But whether it could actually cross the hundred-million mark was still uncertain. If Fang Hong made a single move and everyone backed down, too soft to take a hit, then there'd be nothing to be done.

It was also possible he'd antagonize everyone into ganging up on him, which would be even more terrifying — Fang Hong might not be able to withstand it, and Liu Tianxian would only suffer worse. So this matter called for a sense of measure; it was meant only as a warning.

As long as the other side was willing to let go, stop drumming up the beat, and compromise, then the matter would be considered over.

And the dirt wasn't in the reporter's hands, nor was it fresh — it was old scandals being rehashed, so it wouldn't go too far in offending people.

They were all old stories from years past; at most they'd disgust people, and couldn't cause any real, substantive harm.

For example, Fan Xiaopang's plastic surgery, her illegitimate child, her scandals; Da Mimi's casting-couch rules, the harassment incident;

Xia Jie — wasn't she supposed to be as pure as a chrysanthemum? Her past love affairs got dragged out and rehashed too — quite the romantic behind the scenes.

In any case, those with old scandals got their scandals rehashed; those without got some freshly made up. Simple enough — a little editor's pen mustn't be allowed to rust.

Truth and lies mixed together, as long as it didn't go too far.

Fang Hong said to Huang Bing, "You keep a firm grip on this. Stop at the right point. Whoever compromises, you stop."

"Got it. I've already spoken with the people below. If anyone calls in, or sends word on someone's behalf, we'll explain things." Huang Bing nodded.

He also knew this was no small matter and couldn't be handled carelessly.

(End of chapter)