Chapter 52 – Solving the Problem

[Heh, I’m speechless. He’s just a third-rate young idol. His skills don’t even match his ambition, yet he dares to boast about his acting. It’s hilarious. And now he’s shamelessly latching onto Warmth for popularity. Shameless!]

[Xiao Fang never cared about face to begin with. Look, they’re brothers, but Brother Xiao Qi has always climbed up step by step. Unlike him, who gets everything with money. The key is, his acting is terrible. What a waste of family money!]

[No matter what, Warmth absolutely cannot be adapted. If they dare to film it, I’ll give it a negative score. I’m now a lifelong anti-fan of Xiao Fang. I don’t want such a meaningful book to be butchered by some unscrupulous screenwriter, and I don’t want this kind of third-rate actor to give a cringe-worthy performance!!!]

[Resolutely boycott the remake of Warmth!]

[Xiao Fang needs to be canceled, quick! Resolutely boycott Dynasty! I’m coming with my negative review!]

[I second the comment above! Blacklist this guy already!]

[As a neutral netizen, let me just say, no hate, but this Xiao Fang guy is a real piece of work. He caused his own brother to lose an endorsement and then has the audacity to take the resources for Warmth. Ptooey!]

[And he buys roles! Not just once, but ever since graduation. My god, does having money mean you can just throw your morals out the window? My favorite actor is only just getting popular now. I suspect Xiao Fang stole his resources.]

[Wait for me, person above! My favorite actor only got popular at thirty. Could it have been a few years ago?]

[Oh my god, the more you think about it, the more terrifying it becomes!]

Terrifying, my ass!

Xiao Fang sat cross-legged in the living room, blasting the cold air conditioning. He stroked Nuomici with one hand and held his phone with the other, his expression full of disdain. In this day and age, it was true that tall trees catch the wind and a falling wall gets a push from everyone. You know your favorite actor only got popular at thirty, and he was only in his twenties? Did he start snatching resources in high school?

Besides, although the original owner had used money to buy lead roles, they were all for terrible scripts that no one else wanted. Some of those poor production crews even managed to finish filming only because of Xiao Fang’s financial support. While Xiao Fang had been ruthless when it came to securing lead roles, he was otherwise a normal person. He had a bit of a rich second-generation temper, but he wasn’t a fundamentally bad person.

But now, just as he was about to face things on his own, he was hit with this huge mess. Reality was so damn frustrating!

And that wasn’t all. Moments later, another incredibly inflammatory topic shot up the Hot Search.

#Congratulations to my idol for landing the lead role in Warmth. May you always be there# The text was accompanied by a series of pictures. They weren’t even stills from Xiao Fang’s role in Dynasty, but rather photos from his early, cringey roles, complete with various “godly filters.” The ninth picture brazenly declared, “Who gives a damn about the book fans? Who gives a damn about Xiao Qi’s fans? It’s just buying a script. If you have the guts, why don’t you old men throw some money around too? I bet you can’t even afford it!”

My god, this was definitely an anti-fan!

Xiao Fang almost spat out his milk.

As expected, tens of thousands of comments flooded in under this Weibo post, all cursing him out. Everyone in his family except Xiao Qi was verbally abused. The occasional rational fan who tried to analyze the situation was quickly drowned out by a sea of insults. All sorts of scandalous past incidents were dug up. If the person they were talking about wasn’t him, Xiao Fang himself would have thought the guy was disgusting.

The most popular comment at the moment wasn’t overly harsh. It simply said, “This person’s character is clear for all to see,” followed by a link portal. Xiao Fang’s hand trembled as he clicked on it.

It led to a Weibo account. The pinned post at the top featured several lab reports, all marked with the words “three months pregnant.”

I am Xiao Fang’s never-acknowledged girlfriend. His family and friends have never known about me. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just an outlet for Xiao Fang’s frustrations. I still remember how sincere he was when he first pursued me in college. He spoke with such sincerity that for a moment, I thought this was it, this was for life.

Xiao Fang has a terrible temper. He often failed his classes in college, and if the make-up exams weren’t strict, I would take them for him. I didn’t think it was a big deal; boys always mature later than girls. We were together for almost three years, and in those three years, I witnessed him buy lead roles time and time again. Once, a young actor who knew about me secretly found me and begged me to persuade Xiao Fang to give him a chance, as it was his only opportunity. I felt sorry for him, so I talked to Xiao Fang. I never expected him to hit me for it. I may not be rich, but I was raised with love by my parents. I tried to break up with him then, but Xiao Fang used various methods to force me to get back together with him. My heart had already grown cold by then. What I never expected was to get pregnant. But then, Xiao Fang unexpectedly became famous. Now he wants to break up with me. When my father found out, he had a heart attack and was hospitalized. My mother’s mental state is getting worse and worse. Suddenly, I feel like there’s no meaning in living anymore. This time, I’ve decided to stand up. Xiao Fang, I will use my death to prove your true character. Xiao Fang, may you die a horrible death!!!!

In his previous life, Xiao Fang had seen all sorts of popular celebrities being slandered. Now that it was happening to him, it felt ridiculously comical. How dare they present something like this? Some people’s consciences had truly been eaten by dogs.

Naturally, a flood of supportive comments appeared under this Weibo post. There were people contacting the cyber police, offering comfort, and cursing Xiao Fang on her behalf—all sorts of reactions. The issue would probably blow up on the Hot Search in less than an hour.

Xiao Fang leaned his upper body against the soft sofa cushion, his eyes gazing at the white ceiling and the simple chandelier. He had to resolve this matter himself. It wasn’t just his agent watching this drama unfold, but also the Fei family, and Old Master Fei. Only by proving he was a capable person could he and Xiangnan have an easier path ahead.

Xiao Fang took the time to carefully research the matter concerning Warmth. It was a story about a person with ALS and a doctor suffering from depression. The two meet, get to know each other, and fall in love in just three short months. During that time, they support each other. The patient leads the doctor to see the sunlight again, while the doctor provides him with repeated moments of warmth and physical contact. This all continues until the patient passes away. It was a certified tear-jerker. The novel wasn’t long, but every word was sincere, with no filler content. It was written by a renowned author, and its release sent shockwaves through the entire BL world. Fanfiction and rebirth-themed stories sprouted up on various platforms, all in an attempt to keep that little sun alive.

But in this profit-driven society, Warmth still couldn’t escape the fate of a drama adaptation. The matter was complicated, and as soon as the news of the adaptation was released, various communities collectively opposed it. Even the gaming community joined the protest, creating a momentum that seemed determined to crush the production team. Powerless, the crew could only postpone the project indefinitely. Just when everyone thought the matter was settled, a year later, Xiao Fang was pushed into this pit.

Xiao Fang’s mind raced, logically listing out all the issues one by one.

The first thing to do was to post on Weibo.

At eleven in the morning, Xiao Fang’s Weibo was updated, attracting onlookers from all sides.

#There’s a lot going on, so I won’t post separate explanations for everything. I will now announce ten things.

First: I, Xiao Fang, am officially terminating my contract with my current entertainment company. The reason is that my agent signed a contract without my consent. I will absolutely not be filming Warmth. If you see Warmth wrap up filming, the lead actor in it will be my agent.

Second: Regarding the matter of abandoning a pregnant girlfriend, I’m sorry, but I’m gay. I can’t get hard for women. Feel free to verify this with anyone from my middle school, high school, or college years. Also, to the young lady online who’s threatening suicide, I hope you won’t casually curse your parents. It wasn’t easy for them to raise you. Your dad probably doesn’t have a heart condition, and your mom is in good health. They’ll live to be ninety-eight. Consider this my contribution to your good karma.

Third: Regarding Xiao Qi’s endorsement deal, any brand is a ‘daddy’ I have to respect. I can only afford to buy lead roles in third-rate productions, so how could I possibly afford to support a brand ‘daddy’? I also hope that when my dear brother sees people using this to stir up trouble, he can speak up for his unlucky older brother. Then we can still be good half-brothers.

Fourth: To everyone whose favorite actors are only just getting popular, it really has nothing to do with me, Xiao Fang. To prove I haven’t stolen your idols’ resources, please see the attached picture. #List of lead roles Xiao Fang has played over the years and their respective cast lists#

Fifth: Buying roles was indeed my fault. Feel free to criticize me for this. I know what’s right and what’s wrong in my heart.

Sixth: An actor’s skill is proven by their ability, not by empty talk. I will work hard to grow and prove you all wrong.

Seventh: To the book fans of Warmth, please rest assured. The production team only approached me because they were at their wit’s end. After this fiasco I’ve caused, they probably won’t film it anymore. It’s a classic entertainment industry tactic. You can all relax now.

Eighth: Everyone should know about the existence of water armies. They won’t disappear overnight. Once I terminate my contract, there probably won’t be many left. To the rational fans, if you see certain comments, please don’t let yourselves be swayed by the rhythm.

Ninth: To the fans who have spoken up for me, I am very touched. But these are my problems, and you don’t need to bear the burden. In the future, if anyone insults you, please send them a link portal to me. I can take it. I, Xiao Fang, may not have much, but I have a thick skin. You can all just enjoy the drama in peace.

Tenth: Wu the Dog, your Grandpa Xiao is here. Come get your face slapped!#

This Weibo post instantly stirred up a huge wave. It wasn’t uncommon to see straightforward celebrities these days, but one this straightforward was a rare sight. From then on, Xiao Fang earned the nickname “Straightforward Xiao.”

The water army began to stir up trouble in various ways, but the book community was stunned. What kind of bizarre move was this? An agent could act in place of an actor? They went online to search for Wu Quanwu’s picture and found a greasy man with a fleshy face. The book fans were now relieved and withdrew from the battle. Some even went to Xiao Fang’s Weibo to apologize, figuring that anyone whose own company treated them this way would have had a mental breakdown if they weren’t strong.

Next, the rational fans Xiao Fang had recently gained were moved to tears and flocked to his Weibo to leave comments, promising they would not cause any more trouble and would stick to supporting him directly.

There were also some neutral netizens who were purely there for the drama. When they read the last sentence, they noted that it was rare for an artist to dare to challenge their agent so openly. The concise and sharp wording was picked up by many as a joke.

However, this was a sign of a positive turn, but there were also some negative consequences. First, Xiao Fang had thoroughly offended Xiao Qi. Even if Xiao Qi accepted it, his tens of millions of fans would not let him off so easily. The number of people cursing him doubled, with half of them being Xiao Qi’s fans.

[You have the nerve to blame Xiao Qi? Hilarious. Whether you caused him to lose the endorsement or not, you shouldn’t be slandering your own brother!]

[Why do you keep repeating ‘half-brothers’? Aren’t you just trying to announce to the world that you were born to the legal wife? Why don’t you mention how you used to bully Xiao Qi back then? Disgusting!]

[I’m gonna puke. Some people are so shameless. They’re a mess themselves, yet they try to sling mud at my idol. He’s busy filming a movie, who has the time to speak up for a scumbag like you? You’ve got some nerve!]

[His acting sucks, but he’s got a ton of drama!]

… …

Then there was the matter of Xiao Fang buying lead roles, which he himself had admitted to. So, the group of people scolding him for this was not small. The rest were just the water army. But Xiao Fang knew that the biggest part of the Warmth incident had been dealt with. The next step was to terminate his contract.

He had originally planned to wait until Dynasty finished airing before terminating his contract, but some people clearly couldn’t wait.

First, he called Que Jiang and asked him to find the personal phone number of the person behind the Weibo account impersonating his girlfriend.

“Are you sure you don’t need to tell President Fei? If he steps in, this matter can be resolved very quickly. You’re already six months pregnant, there’s no need to trouble yourself with things like this. Otherwise, I can handle it for President Fei and explain the situation to him when he gets back,” Que Jiang said, his tone laced with concern.

Xiao Fang held up the soft, fluffy Nuomici, his face surprisingly calm. “No need. These are things I have to go through.”

There’s really no need for this at all, Que Jiang thought to himself.

He suddenly felt that the way these two interacted was very foolish. It wasn’t as easy as his boss made it out to be. At least from his perspective, there were problems everywhere. However, he still firmly believed that love was something one had to figure out on their own. The considerate subordinate, Que Jiang, decided to keep his mouth shut.

“Well, if you have any problems, you can call me anytime,” the reliable subordinate said.

Que Jiang was efficient. Half an hour later, a string of numbers was sent to Xiao Fang’s phone. Without any hesitation, Xiao Fang dialed the number.

“Hello.”

Click! The other end hung up abruptly.