Chapter 374: Chapter 316: Period of Ascent: 152
"I’ll take you somewhere tomorrow," said Song Chi, "My shooting isn’t until the afternoon."
"Ah? Where to?" Zhou Yun asked curiously.
Song Chi shook his head and said, "It’s a secret for now, but we’ll need to get up early."
Zhou Yun: "All mysterious, what place is it exactly?"
Song Chi said, "If I tell you now, there wouldn’t be any surprise."
"Alright then," Zhou Yun replied. "I’ll wait for your surprise tomorrow."
They were nearing the hotel.
Their hands were still held together.
As they approached the last intersection, Song Chi turned to look at her and asked, "Shall we go in like this?"
"Like this" referred to their hand-holding.
Zhou Yun nodded and said, "Yes."
Song Chi: "What if we get photographed?"
"Then let them photograph us," Zhou Yun said. "I don’t want to stand by your side as just a friend anymore."
Song Chi laughed.
His eyebrows lifted in a relaxed smile.
Zhou Yun said, "Sorry for making you wait so long."
Song Chi pinched Zhou Yun’s hand and said, "Let’s go then."
It came as no surprise that the scene of them walking into the hotel hand in hand was captured by some paparazzi lurking around.
So, unsurprisingly, the two of them hit the trending searches.
Almost the instant they trended, both of their agencies issued a statement: Artist’s private matters, no comments.
...
Zhou Lan thought to herself that she was wrong, really wrong. From the very beginning, she shouldn’t have assumed Zhou Yun was a rational and self-disciplined person.
She had never opposed Zhou Yun and Song Chi going public with their relationship, but the key point was—informing in advance, preparing in advance!
Not suddenly giving her a call to tell her, "Sister Lan, I just went back to the hotel holding hands with Song Chi. We were probably photographed."
With that nonchalant tone, Zhou Lan was incredibly frustrated, almost wanting to put Zhou Yun in a sack and give her a good beating.
But Zhou Lan didn’t have any time to scold Zhou Yun.
She had to race against time to coordinate the follow-up public relations and responses with Wu Chengbao.
Both parties met directly and, acting swiftly, reached an agreement under the premise of a previously discussed general intention.
Both sides decided not to make any substantial responses officially.
At this current stage, the exposure of their relationship wouldn’t have a widespread negative impact on either Song Chi or Zhou Yun, and might even bring mutual benefits.
In this era where everything is data-driven, for Song Chi and Zhou Yun, who are not particularly fond of hyping things up, having a romance helps maintain their exposure and popularity.
Both companies showed a willing attitude.
Especially Chengqian Entertainment.
After settling everything, Zhou Lan flew to Zhou Yun’s side before the relationship exposure.
When both companies issued their "no response" statements, Zhou Lan was in the hotel room, lecturing Zhou Yun: "You’re usually so reliable, why did you suddenly hold hands in public today? Do you remember how you swore you would never go public with Song Chi? Is this your attitude? I’m really done with you."
Zhou Yun looked up to please Zhou Lan and smiled, saying, "I just couldn’t help myself."
She hugged Zhou Lan like a child, rocking her body a little with a coquettish air, "I know we were a bit impulsive, it definitely won’t happen again, I promise!"
Zhou Lan rolled her eyes at Zhou Yun, managing not to get genuinely angry, and tapped Zhou Yun’s forehead with a bent finger.
"If you pull another stunt like this without warning, don’t say anything, just dip into your own pocket and offer a bonus to the company’s PR department."
Zhou Yun asked, "Should I give a little bonus this time? Did they have to work overtime because of it?"
"What do you think?" retorted Zhou Lan. "Today the whole PR department was on duty. For the next forty-eight hours, they need to monitor the online public opinion nonstop, help you clean up any negative rumors and guide the sentiment."
Hearing this, Zhou Yun said, "Sister Lan, could you distribute a bonus to them for me? Would ten thousand each be enough?"
Zhou Lan looked at her in surprise, "You’re really doing it?"
"The trouble I’ve caused, just want to thank everyone," Zhou Yun said with a smile, "Let’s do it."
Zhou Lan remarked, "That’s quite a few hundred thousand going out in one go."
"It’s fine, let’s do it," Zhou Yun said. "I’m not short on money right now."
Zhou Lan: "You’re really generous."
"I’ve always been generous," Zhou Yun shrugged, "just didn’t have the money to show it before."
Zhou Lan laughed and said, "Then I guess the PR colleagues might start praying for you to stir up more public opinion crises in the future."