Xia Qingtian knew she was just a nobody in the entertainment industry and wouldn't attract much attention. Compared to Yu Xianxian, whose drama was a hit, or the popular members of a boy group, she received far less scrutiny.
She figured her live stream, set up by the show's production team, would have few viewers, allowing her to relax and do her own thing.
Due to her hospitalization, Xia Qingtian had missed a lot of school. Although she had Li Xiaoxiao's notes, Li Xiaoxiao's handwriting was truly indecipherable. Each character seemed to possess its own independent soul; individually familiar, yet together, they conveyed the weariness and helplessness after enduring countless trials.
Xia Qingtian had to guess as she read. With final exams approaching, she needed to catch up. International Finance, a compulsory course, was known for having the highest failure rate and the strictest professor, according to senior students. Fortunately, the old professor allowed self-study using recommended books, though most were original foreign language texts, which Xia Qingtian found challenging. She had brought several books with her, comparing and recording relevant knowledge points as she went.
At this moment, a hired internet troll, orchestrated by a high-level executive from Tongmeng Entertainment, flooded Xia Qingtian's live stream, spewing insults and curses. After a good while, they realized Xia Qingtian's live stream had no real audience, with all accounts belonging to themselves. The trolls felt a moment of bewilderment; their familiar, easy task suddenly felt awkward. They unleashed a barrage of one-sided comments, only to find no one to respond, leaving them feeling rather forlorn.
Having accepted the payment, the trolls, bound by professional ethics, and with no option to refund, contacted several influential influencers. They posted screenshots and promotional material, mocking the newcomer for feigning intelligence, for being unprofessional, and for disingenuously flipping through the same few books during her variety show live stream. They included Xia Qingtian's live stream ID.
To amplify the effect, Tongmeng Entertainment also bought trending topics. While not explicitly pitting one against another, they simultaneously featured Yu Xianxian and her ongoing drama on the hot search. With influential figures leading the charge and Yu Xianxian's assistant keeping an eye on online activity, upon hearing about the trending topic, she immediately and vaguely mentioned Xia Qingtian during her own live stream.
This two-pronged approach directly drove traffic to Xia Qingtian's live stream, causing a surge in viewers, all of whom began mocking her from the moment they arrived.
"Tch, pretending to be a literary genius? Aren't Chinese characters enough for you? Reading foreign books, as if you can actually understand them."
"People these days will go to any length to become famous."
"What era is this? Still peddling a 'talented woman' persona, gross!"
Xia Qingtian paid no attention to the live stream, engrossed in the challenging books. "Maybe I should have some milk tea. My brain needs a sugar boost," she murmured, opening her luggage and taking out a teapot and milk. She began preparing handmade milk tea step by step.
"What's this supposed to mean? Realizing the 'talented woman' act isn't working, now she's showing off her cooking skills?"
"Hilarious. Just brewing milk tea, is that considered cooking? Why are there so many clowns in the entertainment industry now!"
"Exactly, it's disgusting! Look at Yu Xianxian next door. They're in the same program, live-streaming. She's been busy since the start, and her new drama is still a hit. Truly professional people don't need to create personas. Only these nobodies, destined for obscurity, lack the ability to do so!"
After preparing the milk tea, the fragrant aroma made Xia Qingtian's mouth water. "The tea is ready, how about some snacks too~" From her luggage, she took out a box of handmade butter cookies and began to enjoy them with her milk tea. She had to admit, Li Mengxiao's handmade cookies were definitely among her top three favorite snacks.
"Is... is it really that delicious..."
"Damn it! Why are you eating so deliciously! Don't female celebrities need to maintain their figure? Milk tea and snacks! She's going to get so fat!"
"Is she trying to be a foodie now? I just checked, and she's actually a newcomer at Gu's Entertainment. Are all newcomers at Gu's Entertainment this incompetent?"
"I've seen people create personas, but never one so half-hearted."
"What persona will she create next?"
"Heh, all I can do is 'heh'."
After finishing her milk tea and cookies, Xia Qingtian contentedly placed the tray aside. Licking her fingers, she muttered, "Can't wallow in this any longer. I need to read, or failing the final exam will be disastrous." With that, Xia Qingtian sat back down to read. After only a few pages, she propped her chin and murmured, "After something sweet, I always crave something salty..."
Making up her mind, Xia Qingtian rummaged through her luggage again, pulling out two bags of spicy gluten strips and a jar of chili sauce. Opening the chili sauce, she began dipping the spicy gluten strips into it.
"What the hell... what kind of eating method is this?"
"Spicy gluten strips with chili sauce? Seriously?"
"What persona is she trying to create now?"
"Just a grotesque display of eccentricity, it sounds disgusting."
"For some reason, watching her eat makes me crave it too... I want spicy gluten strips now..."
"Just watch, no other female celebrity eats like this. She'll probably go purge later!"
After finishing the two bags of spicy gluten strips, Xia Qingtian screwed the lid back onto the chili sauce and returned it to its place. Washing her hands, she returned to her table to resume reading. This time, she didn't snack on anything else, focusing solely on writing and drawing to make her notes.
The insults in the live stream continued, with some calling her desperate for trying every persona. Others accused her of deliberately showing off.
At this point, someone knocked on Xia Qingtian's door. It turned out to be Wu Hailong and Wei Ling, a couple who wanted to explore their surroundings. Remembering Xia Qingtian was there, they decided to ask if she wanted to join them.
"Wu Hailong! This show even invited my childhood idol!"
"I haven't seen him in years. Is he participating in variety shows too? I had no idea!"
"Ahhh! My mom loves him! I have to tell her!"
Xia Qingtian's live stream briefly experienced a moment of harmony until she declined the Wu Hailong couple's invitation. The comments in the live stream then became malicious again.
"What a show-off! Seniors kindly invited her, giving her attention, and she thinks she's hot stuff?"
"What a joke! She's probably just showing off because Mr. Wu isn't popular anymore!"
"Damn, the entertainment industry really is a place where people rise and fall. Even a nobody dares to act so arrogantly in front of an old veteran."