In 2006, young student fans had little purchasing power.
At that time, life in mainland China was just starting to improve. Luxury goods were far out of reach for ordinary people, and parents, with limited funds themselves, gave their children minimal pocket money.
Students could afford milk tea, novels, or CDs, but that was about it.
Even going to the cinema was a luxury. Unless they were die-hard fans of a particular star, buying legitimate merchandise was rare. It wasn’t that student fans were stingy; they simply didn’t have the money.
The “more mature female fans” Liang Dan referred to were middle-aged, motherly fans.
In Hong Kong, fans of this age group were called the “housewife brigade.” These women led mundane lives, controlled the family finances, had little in common with their husbands, and channelled their emotional energy into chasing celebrities. They were fanatical and willing to spend generously.
Put it this way: if Yu Tianlin’s fanbase consisted only of young girls, he might endorse mass-market brands like a certain yogurt. But if his fans were older, wealthier women, he could easily endorse high-end cosmetics or luxury watches without issue.
“Washing” the fanbase meant shedding fickle, low-value fans, retaining loyal die-hards, and attracting older female fans through *Love’s Cruise*. Liang Dan’s plan was clever. Even the vice president, who had fiercely opposed it earlier, fell silent, seriously considering its feasibility.
Why was Liang Dan so bold?
First, Yu Tianlin’s charm in *Love’s Cruise* was off the charts. A preview had already won over a female executive at Hunan Satellite TV. Before Tianjiao even finished producing *Galaxy and You*, she had fought to secure the rights for *Love’s Cruise* and scheduled it for a prime July slot.
That female executive was exactly the age of the “housewife brigade,” wasn’t she?
If a seasoned Hunan Satellite TV executive was smitten with Yu Tianlin’s performance, ordinary housewives would be even less resistant to his charm.
Second, Yu Tianlin being “with” Hu Man, who was also of “housewife” age, wouldn’t sit well with his current young female fans. But it made it easier for housewives to project themselves into the romance. Chasing stars, regardless of age, involves a bit of fantasising. Losing the young fans’ fantasies was no issue; Yu Tianlin could win over the housewife fans instead.
Of course, washing the fanbase carried risks. If *Love’s Cruise* underperformed and failed to attract new fans, Yu Tianlin would be in an awkward spot. This misstep could even be the spark that sends a top idol star into obscurity.
Whatever Yu Tianlin chose didn’t affect Liang Dan. Her analysis was sound, but the vice president from Yu Tianlin’s company remained uneasy.
“I still don’t feel secure. Tianlin, think carefully. There’s no turning back once you decide. This is a big deal, and we need to be cautious.”
Hu Man’s agent chuckled, “I think Tianlin’s got vision. Transforming while he’s still at his peak is better than doing it after his popularity fades. The former is switching tracks to keep speeding forward; the latter is climbing out of a valley. The former’s clearly easier.”
Hu Man grew impatient. “Alright, stop persuading him. Let Tianlin decide whether to confirm the scandal. Don’t make it seem like I’m the eager one. I don’t mind either way, but whether we admit or deny the scandal, Yuan Fenghui hasn’t left us much time. Tianlin, you need to decide soon.”
No need for Hu Man or her agent to push him; Yu Tianlin had made his choice.
He chose to “admit the relationship” and keep hyping the scandal with Hu Man.
The vice president couldn’t sway him. In the end, even the boss of the Taiwan agency got involved, speaking with Yu Tianlin directly. Whatever Yu Tianlin said convinced the boss, and the vice president reluctantly agreed.
“Since it’s come to this, both sides need to sit down and discuss the details of this collaboration. How long will this ‘relationship’ last? What are the obligations and responsibilities of both parties during that time? These need to be put into a contract. What do you think, Sister Man?”
Hu Man glanced at her freshly manicured nails, smirking scornfully. “What, afraid I’ll cling to Tianlin and refuse to ‘break up’? Fine, draft whatever contract you want. I’ll just sign it.”
Both sides signed the contract. To downplay the promotional boost Hu Man gave to *Galaxy and You*, they agreed Yu Tianlin would publicly confirm the relationship. The statement would be released tomorrow, adding fuel to *Love’s Cruise*’s premiere.
Cao Bo, the bystander, watched this drama unfold, utterly dazed.
Yuan Fenghui’s “blessings” had cornered Yu Tianlin and Hu Man, forcing Yu Tianlin to take a risky transformation. Now, he’d even signed a “relationship contract” with Hu Man, cementing the scandal. Hu Man, despite her good upkeep, was still of an older generation. Yu Tianlin, in his prime, had to play lovers with her. Putting himself in Yu Tianlin’s shoes, Cao Bo felt it was too bitter, too hard to accept.
Wait a second. Thinking about it, though his own engagement to Xu Mei was fake, Xu Mei was far better than Hu Man.
This concerned the futures of two major stars, Yu Tianlin and Hu Man, so both sides were cautious. Not only did they sign a contract, but everyone present also signed an NDA.
Liang Dan pulled Manager Guan and Cao Bo aside, warning, “Keep your mouths shut about this. Yuan Fenghui timed her counterattack perfectly, calm and composed. I suspect someone tipped her off. Did either of you let something slip?”
Manager Guan, innocent of any wrongdoing, refused to take the blame. Cao Bo’s heart skipped a beat.
Could it be Xu Mei?
But why would Xu Mei help Yuan Fenghui?
Cao Bo’s mind raced, but he shook his head like a rattle. “I invested in *Love’s Cruise*. I wouldn’t sabotage myself. Don’t worry, Sister Liang, my lips are sealed.”
Liang Dan wasn’t certain where the leak came from; her suspicion was just a hunch. Having been outplayed by Yuan Fenghui once, she was determined to be more cautious this time.
Cao Bo, feeling guilty, managed to brush it off in front of Liang Dan. Back home, he was careful not to vent about the day’s events to Xu Mei.
The decision for Yu Tianlin and Hu Man to go along with the scandal was a secret known only to Liang Dan’s small circle.
…
“Yuan Laoshi’s interview was a massive success!”
On July 2, Wang Shuang, fresh from filling out her college entrance exam preferences, hurried back to Tianjiao.
Everyone in Wang Shuang’s team was busy monitoring the feedback from Hu Man’s teaser and Yuan Fenghui’s interview.
*Galaxy and You*’s attention was skyrocketing.
Mrs. Wang glanced at her naive son, smiling smugly. “Didn’t I tell you not to rush? A counterattack needs perfect timing and finesse. Yuan’s interview seems casual, but do you think it was really off-the-cuff?”
Uh, wasn’t it?
Wang Shuang only knew Yuan Fenghui’s words in the interview were masterful, unaware that they were scripted beforehand by Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui, every line carefully crafted.
Mrs. Wang revealed the truth to her son, leaving Wang Shuang stunned.
“That works?!”
“Why wouldn’t it? The entertainment industry is full of truth and lies. You’ve barely stepped into it and don’t know how treacherous it can be.”
Mrs. Wang spoke from experience.
Before entering the industry, she only saw the glamorous side of celebrities. After becoming Tianjiao’s PR manager, she realised stars were just carefully packaged “products.” How long they stayed popular and how much they earned depended on the team managing them.
Take *Love’s Cruise* and *Galaxy and You*. It was never just about the stars’ popularity.
From script to production.
From directing to editing.
To the pre-broadcast promotion and hype.
The competition had long begun. Everyone involved in these dramas contributed to their success. The key to victory lay in the accumulation of every small detail, not luck.
Hype was the most superficial tactic. If the opponent could hype, couldn’t Tianjiao?
Strip away the hype’s heat, and what remained was the core essence.
While Mrs. Wang lectured her son, Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui were holding a small meeting in another office.
Tianjiao’s counterattack was effective. *Galaxy and You* had caught up, snatching the heat Liang Dan’s team built through the scandal. Wen Ying knew the opponent wouldn’t give up easily, and Yuan Fenghui knew it too.
Tomorrow was the premiere of both dramas. Wen Ying was anticipating how the other side would strike back.
This was a habit from her lawyer days: anticipate the opponent’s moves to prepare and cover any gaps.
“Yuan Laoshi, what are the chances Liang Dan’s team will go with the flow and have Yu Tianlin and Hu Man admit the relationship?”
Yuan Fenghui tapped the table. “It’s very likely, though it’s a foolish choice. I know Yu Tianlin’s personality. He’s ruthless but not smart, and he hates losing. He’ll see admitting the relationship as a chance to break and rebuild. Short-sighted people often drink poison to quench their thirst. His mindset is easy to predict.”
When ambition outstrips ability, people often make bad choices.
Yu Tianlin had chosen wrongly before and would likely do so again. That was his limited vision.
Wen Ying couldn’t help but laugh. “Yu Tianlin thinks it’s his choice, maybe even prides himself on his boldness, not knowing it’s what we wanted him to choose.”
Yuan Fenghui had poured her heart into Tianjiao and Li Mengjiao. Everyone at Tianjiao wanted to take down the ungrateful Yu Tianlin.
Wen Ying wouldn’t do anything illegal, of course, but this time, Yu Tianlin had walked into the trap himself. How could she refuse?
The power of words is immense. Saying the right thing at the right time, tailored to Yu Tianlin’s personality, left him no real choice.
Washing the fanbase?
It depends on who’s pulling the strings.
If mishandled, losing current fans without gaining new ones, fading into obscurity would be quite the joke.
