Chapter 33: Attention, Naval Forces Ahead

“Thank you for your concern, but it’s just a sweet kind of trouble!” Xu Zhaozhao said softly, “The only annoying thing about having so many admirers is that they get jealous over nothing!” Her voice was like the chime of bells in a gentle breeze—clear, captivating, yet tinged with a subtle defiance. Her words seemed to declare something to the entire world, carrying both confidence and nonchalance.

Chen Sisi stood nearby, a flicker of complexity crossing her eyes. She both envied and resented Xu Zhaozhao’s charm displayed on the dating show, while also feeling anxious about her own situation. To Chen Sisi, Xu Zhaozhao appeared utterly worthless. She couldn’t understand why Shen Mu, Sun Yu, and Zhan Wang all orbited around Xu Zhaozhao.

“That woman, who’s good for nothing, can only lure men with cheap tricks like childish pouting and whining,” Chen Sisi thought bitterly. “She only knows how to hum a tune or cook a bit. Are these men blind?”

In her mind, she was the ideal choice for love—obedient, sensible, famous, a rising star in the entertainment world with a promising future. They all courted her because supporting her would only bring benefits, never harm. Besides, she had cast Xu Zhaozhao as a mere foil. So why did Xu Zhaozhao seem to be stealing her spotlight?

After much thought, Chen Sisi was convinced that Xu Zhaozhao had used underhanded tactics behind her back, breaking their agreement. She glanced at the cameras inside the room. She couldn’t afford to openly clash with Xu Zhaozhao in front of outsiders; everything would wait until the show ended. Then, she would hold her accountable for violating their pact. If Xu Zhaozhao dared to play dirty tricks behind her back, she would make sure she paid dearly.

Anger and resentment filled Chen Sisi’s heart. The only comfort was the fact that the Film Emperor wasn’t fooled by Xu Zhaozhao’s little schemes. From start to finish, he had maintained a respectful distance from her. No wonder he was her chosen Film Emperor—he wouldn’t be easily swayed by such trivial tricks from another woman.

“Did you notice the displeasure on Chen Sisi’s face? She’s probably still feeling self-righteous and looks down on Xu Zhaozhao,” the commentators whispered.

“Help! Xu Zhaozhao has been so accommodating, yet she’s still not satisfied?”

“Of course not. Though Xu Zhaozhao has been supporting her and the Film Emperor, her true nature accidentally revealed has attracted Shen Mu, Zhan Wang, and others. Chen Sisi must be utterly jealous.”

“That’s all just your imagination. Chen Sisi isn’t that bad.”

“Exactly! Chen Sisi is a rising star in the entertainment industry, a popular innocent figure. She wouldn’t be petty like that.”

“I agree. Chen Sisi rose to fame first; maybe she had Xu Zhaozhao as a foil to highlight herself better, but she wouldn’t look down on her so much.”

“Wait… are those Chen Sisi’s hired online supporters?”

The crowd’s eyes were sharp. When numerous comments defending Chen Sisi flooded in, everyone immediately suspected a coordinated online campaign. Some curious viewers traced the commenters to their profiles, only to find newly created small accounts with no history or signs of real life. In this noisy and restless era, the presence of paid online supporters was no secret.

They were like ghosts lurking in the shadows, ready to manipulate public opinion for profit. This discovery sparked a burst of ridicule across the screen. People mocked the clumsy tactics of these online armies, laughing at their attempts to drown out the truth with false voices.

“Confirmed! These are definitely paid supporters hired by Chen Sisi’s studio!” Zhao Xin typed quietly on her phone after staying up two nights straight, her eyes bloodshot. She quickly logged out and looked up at the others in the conference room.

Since receiving Liu Li’s call, everyone had been holed up in the meeting room for two whole days. They slept on the floor at the company when they were tired and ate instant noodles when hungry. After the scandal about the agreement between Chen Sisi and Xu Zhaozhao broke, some of Chen Sisi’s endorsers began asking Liu Li to terminate contracts.

Now, after half a meeting, Liu Li had to step out to take calls. Starting today, more and more partners were calling to cancel their deals. Liu Li was frantic, juggling between clients and the boss. After two days, she had developed several mouth ulcers that made speaking painful. Yet, she forced a gentle smile with every call.

Zhao Xin silently marveled at what a volatile dating show this was. Who would have thought that after all these years of playing supporting roles, Xu Zhaozhao would see Chen Sisi stumble like this? But Liu Li truly was a top-notch manager. She managed to turn most contract termination calls around, quelling their intentions.

After all, Chen Sisi still had a solid base. “She’s using other actresses as foils to highlight herself, to stabilize her image and benefit her partners…”

“Right, right, the only problem with her is that she’s too ambitious…”

“Eh, it’s just a minor storm. Sisi hasn’t made any fundamental mistakes. Maybe this will even make her more marketable!”

In her conversations with partners, Liu Li’s voice was full of confidence and resolve. “Since debut, Sisi’s career has been smooth sailing. After weathering some dark times, she will shine even brighter. You must have faith in that!”

Thanks to Liu Li’s silver tongue, the partner no longer pressed for contract termination. After all, canceling would be a huge loss for both sides. And if Liu Li was right, Chen Sisi might rise even higher after this turmoil. Given how rapidly the entertainment industry changes, the partner gave up on pushing further.

After hanging up, Liu Li seemed deflated, her eyes weary. She sat back down in the meeting room, facing the team on standby. “You heard it yourselves—this is the biggest crisis Star Entertainment has ever faced. You must all give it your all!”

“Chen Sisi is the company’s rising star. Her image and career development directly affect our interests.”

“If her reputation suffers, it won’t just harm her future, but could also cause enormous losses for the company.”

Zhao Xin scoffed inwardly. Liu Li was really exaggerating—how could this be the biggest crisis? The company had dealt with artists tangled in messy fan affairs and illegal scandals before—that was a true crisis! Chen Sisi’s situation was nothing more than a personal career setback.