“Li Mengjiao demanded a higher album share after becoming famous, bullying others with her influence!”
“Yu Tianlin admits ‘unspoken-rule dinners’ existed, exposing entertainment industry chaos. How can artists’ rights be protected?”
“Li Mengjiao isn’t as innocent as you think.”
“Isn’t Yuan Fenghui just terrifying? From Taiwan to the mainland, how many stars will she ruin?”
“No matter what you say, I don’t believe Li Mengjiao got endorsements through unspoken rules!”
“A young girl can’t make her own decisions. She just does what her agent tells her. I’ll never let my kids, boy or girl, enter the entertainment industry. It’s too messy!”
“You’re all talking about Li Mengjiao, but she hasn’t admitted anything. I’m starting to see Yu Tianlin differently!”
“Yeah, thinking Yu Tianlin went through unspoken rules, even as a victim, makes me uneasy.”
“Yu Tianlin’s just unlucky. Artists can’t defy their agents. He split with Yuan Fenghui because he refused her arrangements for unspoken rules!”
“It all comes down to Yuan Fenghui’s fault. Boycott shady agents, kick Yuan Fenghui out of the industry, stop her from harming others!”
“Boycott Yuan Fenghui, boycott her signed artists, boycott her dramas. Don’t watch *Starry River With You* tonight…”
The internet isn’t real-name, so anyone could be behind the screen. With water armies deliberately stirring things up, Wen Ying skimmed through and saw mostly attacks on Yuan Fenghui, doubts about Li Mengjiao, and sympathy for Yu Tianlin.
Yu Tianlin and Mr. Guan’s teamwork was impressive.
Mr. Guan even used the album share increase to smear them… Wen Ying almost laughed.
Ugh, such boring enemies with no creativity. Wen Ying felt so lonely.
Surely Teacher Yuan felt the same?
Mr. Guan probably thought he’d pulled a big move, but Li Mengjiao, a minor, had no real dirt. So they pinned a baseless unspoken-rule endorsement claim on her, then brought up her pushing for a higher album share after fame.
What could Mr. Guan attack next? Yun Chen’s too laid-back. Would he claim Yuan Fenghui poached Zhang Yangning?
Wen Ying rubbed her chin, thinking it likely.
But Tianjiao wouldn’t give Mr. Guan another chance to spout nonsense.
This wasn’t Wen Ying being cocky. Amid the flood of attacks, a different post had emerged:
“I didn’t want to say anything, as the company barred us from speaking freely about this mess, but I can’t hold back. As an ordinary employee and a regular fan of Mengjiao, I want to let facts speak.”
A simple opening, followed by screenshots.
What screenshots?
Financial records.
Each transaction, when it was made, and where it went, all detailed.
The account’s name stood out: Li Mengjiao Charity Fund.
“Bullying others to raise album shares after fame? Some people should check their conscience before speaking!”
“When Mengjiao’s popularity soared but she refused a long-term contract, some set her album share low. She agreed to harsh terms just to get the album out. When she didn’t budge, they pulled her album. Then, after her endorsement deal made her even bigger, they saw profit and put it back on sale. Tsk tsk tsk!”
“Why was the album share changed? This society respects law and reason. Could a young girl like Mengjiao force someone to change it with a knife? Bullying after fame? Nonsense. Back then, Tianjiao was a small company. What influence did they have? The share change was mutual agreement. Do you think businesspeople do losing deals?”
“Raising the album share was Tianjiao’s reasonable request based on Mengjiao’s popularity. The other side needed her for promotional appearances. Doesn’t a popular star have their own appearance fee? If it’s too expensive, don’t agree. They agreed then, but now attack Mengjiao’s character. Some people are so petty. Small-minded, small vision, only wanting to exploit talent show stars without nurturing them. Mengjiao didn’t sign, Zhang Yangning paid to break her contract. Some companies and bosses can’t keep talent. Whose fault is that?”
“Money? Mengjiao took what she deserved. But she’s too young to even spend it comfortably. Maybe she never wanted money, just her debut album to reach fans. So, after getting a higher share, she didn’t spend a cent on herself. She donated it all to charity!”
“Some online loudmouths question why Mengjiao became the ‘National Fire Safety Ambassador.’ I urge them to open their eyes and check the records. Every transaction holds up to scrutiny. Mengjiao’s been doing this for ages, not just for show. If she hadn’t been attacked, these accounts might never have surfaced… I’m done. Don’t ask who I am. I found these records on the company computer and posted this from an internet café. If the company finds out, I’m fired for sure. I’m logging off and won’t reply to this post!”
True to their word, the poster dumped the charity records, said their piece, and vanished.
The poster stayed silent, but supporters flooded in.
This was clearly from someone inside Tianjiao. Few there knew Mengjiao donated her debut album earnings, let alone had access to the records.
Without Yuan Fenghui’s approval, those accounts wouldn’t have seen the light of day!
Wen Ying wasn’t surprised by the exposure. Mr. Guan made a move, so Tianjiao had to counter.
She was just curious about the poster.
The writing wasn’t polished, all plain talk, but that made it highly credible and compelling.
Wen Ying didn’t know which Tianjiao PR staffer wrote it but told Yuan Fenghui to nurture them.
“Great at steering emotions and momentum!”
Yuan Fenghui laughed heartily. “Even you think it’s good? I really need to give Wang Shuang a raise.”
“Wang Shuang wrote it?”
Wen Ying was shocked. “No way. His usual essays are nowhere near this level!”
Forget essays, even Wang Shuang’s college entrance exam essay probably wasn’t this moving.
“What’s impossible? True feelings make words hit harder. He was really invested in this~”
True feelings make words hit harder?
Wen Ying suspected Yuan Fenghui was hinting at something.
Anything involving Li Mengjiao, Wang Shuang was indeed very invested in.
With this draft alone, Wang Shuang could not only get a raise at Tianjiao but use it as a stepping stone. Mainland film companies would likely offer him a PR job!
The landlord’s silly son had made such progress. Wen Ying was happy for Wang Jun and his wife.
Wang Shuang’s growth came from his own efforts and Xie Qian’s help!
Without hesitation, Wen Ying copied the post and emailed it to Xie Qian.
About half an hour later, Xie Qian replied, concise and cutting: “If he put this effort into studying, he’d have scored at least 630 in the college entrance exam.”
Clearly, Xie Qian hadn’t fully moved on from Wang Shuang’s 597 exam score.
Mr. Guan wasn’t the only one who could hire water armies. Tianjiao could too.
While Mr. Guan’s side bombarded, Wang Shuang’s post got boosted by water armies. Yuan Fenghui pulled strings with portal sites, and it quickly hit trending.
Some netizens, picking bones, called to verify each transaction. Every one checked out.
Li Mengjiao’s debut album earnings, over a million, were indeed all donated!
The Tianjiao whistleblower was right. Compared to Li Mengjiao’s actions, Mr. Guan looked like a petty backstabber.
Petty Mr. Guan was smashing things in his office.
“Yuan Fenghui… Yuan Fenghui…”
He didn’t even know what to curse.
Could Yuan Fenghui see the future?
She donated Li Mengjiao’s debut album earnings early on!
In Mr. Guan’s mind, no one found money too hot to handle. Yuan Fenghui fought tooth and nail for profits, only to donate them. Was she out of her mind?!
And the post saying he couldn’t keep talent? Just Li Mengjiao and Zhang Yangning, and that’s all the talent?
*Ring ring.*
Mr. Guan’s office phone suddenly rang.
He picked up, tone sour. “Sorry, no interviews right now!”
The caller paused, then spoke gently. “Mr. Guan, you misunderstood. I’m not a reporter. My surname’s Gong, general manager of Shanghai Jiaxin Film Company. I’m calling to discuss your signed artist, Xu Mei.”
Shanghai Jiaxin Film Company?
Sounded familiar.
Mr. Guan switched to a smile. “Looking to cast Xu Mei in a drama?”
Xu Mei filming meant money for the company. Of course, Mr. Guan would be polite to a cash cow.
Gong Sheng was indeed bringing money, but to buy out Xu Mei’s contract and transplant the money tree to his own company.
Hearing Gong Sheng’s intent, Mr. Guan was stunned.
“Xu Mei wants to jump to Jiaxin?”
“Yes. Your company has many artists, and Xu Mei seems to lack good resources. For her better development, I hope Mr. Guan can let her go.”
Gong Sheng stayed polite, but Mr. Guan’s head throbbed with anger.
Li Mengjiao didn’t sign, Zhang Yangning paid to break her contract, and now Xu Mei wanted to leave. The champion, runner-up, and third-place winners from the first talent show all gone. Didn’t that perfectly prove the post’s claim that “some companies and bosses can’t keep talent”?
Mr. Guan sneered. “Xu Mei wants to break her contract now? In her dreams!”
Not even hearing Gong Sheng’s terms, Mr. Guan hung up.
Gong Sheng wasn’t upset.
He hadn’t expected to free Xu Mei with just words.
If talks failed, they’d go to court. Pay the penalty, and the contract would be broken.
Mr. Guan was about to summon Xu Mei for a warning when the journalist called, voice shaky. “The… the dairy group sent me a lawyer’s letter!”
