Chapter 125: Fairy Tales Are All Lies; A Gathering of Stars! (Requesting Subscriptions!)

The air was filled with a chilling breeze, yet the atmosphere on the burial hill was surprisingly harmonious.

Su Mu: "Don't be nervous, just sit wherever you like."

Sun Liaojun: "!!!"

Su Mu: "I know who you are."

*Brother... why do you know who I am? Please, I beg you, don't know me!* Sun Liaojun felt like crying: "I—I really am a fan of yours. I just..."

Su Mu: "The 'Black Material' guy, right?"

Sun Liaojun: "..."

Su Mu: "Your account is quite famous. You took some great shots of me back in Gubei Province."

Sun Liaojun's heart sank. *He found out? Impossible, I hid my tracks perfectly. How could he know?*

Sun Liaojun began to doubt reality: "Su Mu... Mr. Su, I know I shouldn't have taken those photos. How about I delete them all? I can even delete them right in front of you."

Su Mu shook his head, then patted Sun Liaojun on the shoulder: "Just let it be. It's no big deal. We’re all just trying to make a living; I understand."

Sun Liaojun: "...?"

Su Mu gave a hearty laugh: "Really, it’s fine. Besides, I’ve seen what you posted before, and I actually have to thank you—the photos were quite good. Honestly, I think you’re a very professional media person with real potential. The fact that you’ve managed to keep 'Black Material' running this long shows your persistence and commitment to your original goals. That’s not easy to do. Keep it up."

"!?"

Hearing Su Mu’s encouraging words, Sun Liaojun’s expression froze. Beyond the surprise, he felt a flicker of genuine emotion. *Is this the kind of person Su Mu is? Broad-minded, chivalrous, and carefree. Sincere! Most importantly, he seems to be the only person in this world who understands me! Even those two traitors who abandoned me below couldn’t offer me this kind of comfort and care! But Su Mu did.*

He wanted to cry.

"Mr. Su, I am truly ashamed. Actually, I had no choice..." At this point, Sun Liaojun felt a bit heartbroken: "But I’m the one who should be thanking you!"

Su Mu: "You?"

Sun Liaojun: "That’s right! If it weren't for leaking your stories, which brought traffic to 'Black Material,' my account might have been shut down. Thank you so much!"

Su Mu heard this, his eyes filled with sympathetic understanding: "So that’s how it is. You must have had a very difficult time. If that’s the case, then I think your leaks are even more understandable. We are all striving for our ideals. I don’t think there’s anything to apologize for."

[Expression Proficiency +1]
[Emotion Proficiency +1]
[Skill Point +0.01...]

"Mr. Su!" Watching Su Mu speak with such sincerity, Sun Liaojun felt as if the man before him was glowing. His heart was filled with warmth.

"Just call me Su Mu. You guys are working really hard, and I admire that. How about this, let’s add each other on WeChat. If you ever need me in the future, just reach out."

Sun Liaojun was stunned: "R-really? Is that okay?"

Su Mu stood up and smiled: "It is."

Sun Liaojun added him on WeChat with tears in his eyes: "Mr. Su, I..."

Su Mu raised a hand to stop him, gesturing that there was no need for more words. Then, mimicking the gesture the Wuling CEO Li Rong had made that day, he thumped his own chest. *No need to say it, I understand. It's in my heart.*

[Behavior Imitation Proficiency +1]
[Skill Point +0.01...]

*He understands me!* Sun Liaojun held his phone, tears brimming in his eyes, his heart filled with emotion. Watching Su Mu’s actions, he made a silent vow: *Mr. Su, don't you worry! From now on, not only will I never leak any black material about you, but if anyone on the internet dares to smear you, I will personally handle them to repay today's kindness!*

...

At the main gate, Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang sat on the ground, shivering. It wasn't until they ran out that they saw the large characters reading "Galaxy Eastern Suburb Cemetery." Of course, the most pressing issue was that they had left Sun Liaojun inside.

*He’s definitely going to skin us alive when he comes out.*

Xiao Li looked up at the man standing next to the RV, smoking a cigarette. He had broad shoulders and a righteous, steady face. *Must be an honest, loyal guy.*

"Sir, could I trouble you for a cigarette? Thanks."

Zhu Youcai leaned against the RV. He glanced at Xiao Li, then reached into his left pocket and tossed over a pack of Red Double Happiness.

Xiao Li caught it, opened the pack, pulled out a cigarette, and went blank. *Good grief, a pack of ten-yuan cigarettes, but it's filled with Chunghwa? Who the hell are you acting humble for!*

Xiao Li took two, gave one to Xiao Zhang, and handed the pack back. "Thanks, sir. Uh... could you tell me what time it is? My phone is dead."

Zhu Youcai pursed his lips without a word. He stretched his arm and twisted his wrist, revealing a flash of gold from his sleeve. The entire motion was smooth and fluid.

"!!!"
"!!!"

Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang were dumbstruck again. It was a Rolex Gold Daytona. On the second-hand market, it was 160,000 more expensive than a damn Submariner. *Wait a minute... isn't he just a driver? Was that necessary?! Sure, you might be driving for a celebrity, but does that justify stuffing Chunghwa cigarettes into a Red Double Happiness pack and hiding a Rolex in your sleeve? What is this? Are you trying to make us lose our will to live? Also... is working for Su Mu really that profitable? Just for a driver?*

Looking at themselves—university graduates with degrees in journalism—and then looking at him... *Damn it...*

Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang began to doubt their existence. Their last shred of hope for society collapsed. *Boss, you lied to us! You said hard work pays off, but we've been eating scraps with you, braving the sun and rain, living like rats—and we're still broke! But look at this driver!*

Their worldviews were completely shattered. The two exchanged glances. Though they didn't speak, their thoughts were in sync:

Xiao Li: *Should we talk to the boss?*
Xiao Zhang: *I want to work for Su Mu...*
Xiao Li: *It won't be that easy.*
Xiao Zhang: *I'd die to do it! I'm so envious of the driver... I want a Rolex too...*
Xiao Li: *Right! No more cheap takeout!*
Xiao Zhang: *From now on, I'm eating KFC every day!*

Just then, as the two were mourning their lives and deciding to change their paths, two figures emerged from inside. Su Mu and Sun Liaojun walked out one after the other. Before long, Su Mu arrived at the RV.

Master Zhu was no longer where he had been standing. He had already started the engine and turned on the air conditioning. Su Mu looked at the two, and before they could speak, he gave them a firm nod.

"Not bad. Keep working hard for your boss! Good luck!"

Xiao Li: "..."
Xiao Zhang: "..."

They were dumbfounded. *Daddy Su, we want to work for you!*

Sun Liaojun walked over, looking moved: "Mr. Su, Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang are my most capable men! They’re quick on their feet and run fast."

Xiao Li: "..."
Xiao Zhang: "..."

Su Mu looked at them all and began: "Everyone, listen up. Since we met at the cemetery today, I’ll say a few words... Although we’ve just met... we are just like the 'residents' who live here... we are all close..."

[Speech Proficiency +1]
[Graveyard Exploration Proficiency +1]
[Skill Point +0.01...]

Half an hour later.

Master Zhu: "Good!"
Xiao Li: "???"
Xiao Zhang: "!!!"
Sun Liaojun: "..."

...

After hoodwinking Sun Liaojun, Su Mu had Master Zhu drive him back. In reality, he had only come to grind his graveyard exploration proficiency, and "KTV-ing" Sun Liaojun had just been an unexpected bonus.

A few days passed quickly. The Golden Peng Awards ceremony was held as scheduled. The Galaxy City Global Exhibition Center was packed with stars. Compared to the China Summit, more A-list celebrities attended the Golden Peng Awards. The influence of the film industry was undeniable. Many top-tier directors like Zhang Huaimou and Chen Anzhi were there, along with Gu An, Wu Dongsheng, and Dong Xuefei.

Zhang Jianlin and Zhou Yi, who were once considered the best among young actors, seemed a bit dim in this circle.

"Lin Haoming! It’s Lin Haoming! Wow, I really want to see his *Millennium*!"

"Wang Xuan is so handsome too! He's starring in Teacher Dong Xuefei's *Love Elegy* this year. I'm going to cry!"

"They’ll both win awards this year, right?"

"What a shame, Su Mu’s *Xin Qiji* wasn't nominated, otherwise he’d definitely be a contender!"

"Exactly, it's such a pity for Su Mu. I think if his *Xin Qiji* had been submitted, he would have crushed the others."

"Su Mu isn't invincible. He's only been famous for two years; do you really think he's better than Lin Haoming and Wang Xuan? They have works with 400 million in box office!"

"Pfft, 400 million? Even ignoring international figures, in our Chinese box office rankings, 400 million wouldn't even make the top 50, right?"

"Well, your Su Mu has zero box office! He didn't even get a nomination this year, haha."

"Su Mu wasn't submitted, but if he had been, he would have made it!"

At this moment, both online and offline, fans were already arguing as per tradition. This situation was unavoidable. As fans, they naturally supported their stars as strongly as possible, and some overly broad generalizations inevitably offended other fan bases. Controversy erupted almost every year at this time.

The entertainment industry was a vanity fair; under the spotlight, everyone tried to put on a mask, but once interests clashed, falling out was common.

At this moment, the stars took turns signing the red carpet. The host began the announcements. Media reporters and photographers raised their equipment, ready to interview and shoot. The spotlights flashed incessantly.

"Next on the red carpet are the rising young stars of the film industry, please welcome Su Mu, Zhang Jianlin, Zhou Yi, and Chen Yang."

Perhaps because they had collaborated before and had similar levels of prestige, they were arranged together. As the announcement finished, Su Mu and the others stepped onto the red carpet...