Chapter 52: Ancestor, perhaps you should say a few words to us
The heated discussions surrounding Su Mu’s bold confrontation continued to ferment throughout the night.
Normally, when celebrities spar online, the public just enjoys the spectacle. Who scores the point, who delivers the fatal blow—none of it really matters.
But this time, many people actually switched sides in support of Su Mu.
Not only did his Weibo followers skyrocket to 25 million, he was also labeled as “genuine” and “real” by the masses.
People loved his straightforward, no-nonsense attitude.
Su Mu knew exactly what he was doing and naturally wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity to shape his public persona.
Striking while the iron was hot, he updated his Weibo bio the very next day:
“Life and death mean little—I’ll fight anyone who disagrees. -- Su Mu”
[Comments:
In a word, Su Mu is awesome!
Damn, how did I never notice Su Mu had this kind of personality before? I love it!
Isn’t this a thousand times better than all those fake, two-faced types?
I’m a fan now! Officially!
Wow, Su Mu is so manly! I’m in tears!]
...
Galaxy City, Universal Tower.
In an office on one of the upper floors, Liu Qiangxi was holding a meeting with several managers.
The large screen displayed trending news and the latest updates from the industry.
And the most eye-catching of all was, of course, the brand ambassador Su Mu’s 1V1 showdown from the night before.
“Director, last night’s incident with Su Mu has really blown up.”
“Will it affect our brand?”
“Should our PR team step in? After all, Su Mu’s image is tied to our sales.”
At that moment, everyone below was anxious, offering their suggestions, but Liu Qiangxi, sitting at the head of the table, appeared calm and unruffled.
Hands clasped beneath his chin, he looked as though he saw right through everything.
PR? Why bother? It’s entirely unnecessary.
He believed he already had Su Mu figured out.
Su Mu was no ordinary person.
If he chose to turn back, there would always be a reason.
So why did he create such a huge buzz last night for seemingly no reason?
Obviously, it was to his advantage.
The result of his confrontation was a massive influx of new fans and a refreshed public image.
From a business perspective, wasn’t this the perfect open strategy?
A true masterstroke.
Liu Qiangxi smirked, shaking his head confidently. “If you don’t understand, stay out of it. Su Mu is no simple character, otherwise he couldn’t have so easily landed my eighty-million-yuan brand endorsement.”
“This move is far-sighted—he’s clearly paving the way for the brand’s future image.”
“???”
“???”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Liu Qiangxi went on, “Tell me, what’s the main focus of our new brand?”
“Youthful elements.”
“Contemporary, personalized fashion trends!”
“Exactly. And what do young people like? What kind of celebrities do they idolize nowadays?”
“Let me tell you—authenticity! Realness!”
“The most loved stars are those who are down-to-earth and unafraid to show their true emotions.”
“This is the current trend—a spirit and attitude at the heart of modern youth culture.”
“Su Mu really is extraordinary. With this new persona, once our brand launches next year, he might just make it go viral.”
“!!!”
“!!!”
The office fell silent for a moment.
Listening to Liu Qiangxi’s analysis, everyone suddenly saw the light.
What they thought was the third level turned out to be the fifth—Su Mu and Director Liu were already playing five moves ahead.
So these were the true experts.
“All right, let’s move on to next year’s variety show sponsorships,” Liu Qiangxi said.
“Okay, Director Liu. The current proposals include ‘Rap of China 2,’ ‘Street Dance of China 3,’ and ‘Let’s Dunk 4’—all the most trendsetting shows...”
...
...
Yinzhe Expressway.
At that moment, Su Mu—unaware that he was already operating on the fifth level—was en route to Hengdian.
The Hengdian World Studios are several hours’ drive from Galaxy City, about seven or eight by car.
Although the high-speed train might be a bit faster, it doesn’t go directly there, and getting from the station could be a hassle.
So this time, Qian Jida decided to just drive the RV straight there.
But he was already starting to regret it before they’d even left Galaxy City.
Su Mu said, “Before we join the production, let me say a few words.”
Qian Jida: “...”
Fan Xiaojv: “...”
Driver: “...!”
[Speech proficiency +1]
[Skill points +0.01...]
Two hours later.
Highway service area.
Fan Xiaojv groaned, “Bro, you’ve been talking non-stop since we got in the car. We’re already out of Galaxy City—can we eat in peace for once and let the driver rest?”
Su Mu replied, “I’m not tired.”
Driver: “...”
Su Mu said, “Trust me, Red Bull won’t help—but if you listen to what I have to say, I guarantee you won’t feel sleepy for the next five or six hours. Besides, how can people your age even fall asleep? Have you ever thought about the meaning of travel? Where is the end of life’s journey? The people we once loved are no longer with us, and so many stories—how many of them are tinged with heartbreak? Do you really understand all this...”
[Speech proficiency +1+1+1+]
[Skill points +0.01...0.01]
Driver: “Hm.”
Qian Jida: “???”
Fan Xiaojv: “!!!”
...
Su Mu racked up quite a bit of proficiency at the service area.
Once they were back on the road, seeing that his three companions were truly at their limit—and that any more would likely drive them to jump out of the car—he finally stopped.
He switched to working on his acting skills instead.
“Xiaojv, did you download those classic crosstalk performances by Old Guo, as well as sketches by Uncle Benshan and Debiao?” Su Mu asked.
Xiaojv handed over the tablet, “They’re all in here.”
Satisfied, Su Mu took the tablet and began to watch.
Within minutes, he was in tears, lost in utter misery, torn apart with heart-wrenching emotion.
[Facial control +1]
[Emotional control +1]
[Behavior proficiency +1]
[Skill points +0.01+...]
Driver: “!!!”
Xiaojv: “!!!”
Qian Jida: “Su Mu, maybe you should go back to giving us another speech instead...”
...
...
At present, Hengdian is the largest film and television base in China.
Everything in the surrounding area is built to serve film crews.
Many crew apartments even come with their own canteens.
In terms of scale and facilities, it far surpasses the studios in the capital.
It can accommodate a staggering number of productions.
From the moment you enter Hengdian, the atmosphere of filming is palpable.
Actors in costume can be seen everywhere, rushing to sets to shoot their scenes.
If you see a crowd gathered with gifts outside a guesthouse or apartment block, it usually means there’s a star staying there for a shoot.
This time, Su Mu’s itinerary hadn’t been leaked to the fan club by Fan Xiaojv.
So their journey was uneventful.
By the time they met Zhang Huaimou, it was already evening.
Originally, they’d planned to meet the following day.
But Zhang Huaimou insisted on meeting right away, so they arranged to dine at a restaurant next to the crew’s apartment.
“Director Zhang, long time no see.”
Su Mu entered the small private dining room, greeting Zhang Huaimou warmly.
Zhang Huaimou looked up at Su Mu. “You’re finally here. Where are your agent and the others?”
Su Mu answered, “Oh, they’re all exhausted from the journey.”
Zhang Huaimou: “...?”