Due to Red's live stream, the male and female lead PK event for the drama "Floating Life" was broadcast online. Red was only focused on his own stream and the gossip at the scene, unaware that a major storm had already erupted online.
Xiao Qi's over ten million fangirls, at this moment, fully displayed their formidable fighting power. First, they lashed out at the production crew, pushing them onto the trending search list with the reason: the artist PK system disrespects artists and treats them as less than human.
Then, they targeted Xing Di, also pushing him onto the trending list with an even simpler reason: a complete unknown, not even an eighteenth-tier celebrity, dared to compete for a role with a senior, showing a lack of artistic virtue.
However, the internet was not solely at the mercy of Xiao Qi's fans. Although Xing Di's fans numbered only three million, and their personalities were usually quite serene due to Xing Di's own disposition, being serene did not equate to a lack of fighting spirit. On the contrary, at this moment, to defend Xing Di, all three million-plus fans transformed into battle-ready Bodhisattvas. Led by the fan support association, they launched a counterattack against Xiao Qi's fans.
Their counterattack was not a mindless brawl like Xiao Qi's fans. Instead, they relied on data and facts. Many fans even retorted without resorting to vulgar language. Despite the three million versus ten million disparity, they gradually managed to turn the tide.
The stark contrast in their fighting styles made onlookers perceive Xiao Qi's fans as brainless and prone to insults and slander, while Xing Di's fans were seen as having decorum and good conduct. This, in turn, attracted a new wave of fans for Xing Di himself.
Wang Feifei felt completely at ease from the moment Xing Di and Liu Wenwen appeared. She picked up her phone to take a commemorative photo, only to see a trending news push on her screen, which was about her drama.
She quickly clicked on it and after a moment, her face was filled with astonishment. "This is bad, we've been secretly filmed."
Wang Qiang and Luo Cheng were preparing for the male and female leads' opposing scenes when they heard Wang Feifei's words. Both their hearts sank. They each took out their phones to check and indeed, the drama was trending, and worse, it was trending for negative reasons.
Jiang Nan Chen clicked on the live stream on the trending list and immediately recognized the scene as being from the drama set, and it was even live. He followed the camera feed and quickly located Red, immediately calling for two security guards to apprehend him.
Red was waiting to spectate the gossip when suddenly, two tall and sturdy figures blocked his path. Red instinctively tried to run, but the two security guards were faster, seizing him from the left and right.
In his panic, Red spoke into his earpiece, "I'm being captured by the crew." Then, pointing the camera at the crew members, he said with feigned ferocity, "If you dare to harm me, you'll be facing jail time. I'm live-streaming this."
The security guards brought him before Jiang Nan Chen.
Jiang Nan Chen's expression was grim. "We are law-abiding citizens, why would we harm you? You were filming without permission, and the law will naturally punish you. Call the police. This person was filming us without permission, and his live stream is evidence."
Red immediately deflated, pleading, "Don't do that. I... I wasn't filming without permission. I came to live stream with the permission of someone from your crew. If you don't believe me, look at my chat records as proof."
He showed the chat records with Chen Yan. "She asked me to come. She's your second female lead and also part of your crew. So, I wasn't filming without permission, right?"
It was Chen Yan?
Wang Qiang's mind reeled as if he had been slapped hard by Chen Yan.
When Quan Jiu insisted on keeping Xing Di and Liu Wenwen, Jiang Nan Chen had advised against it. To save face, he had also insisted on choosing Chen Yan as the second female lead.
But now, Chen Yan had betrayed the entire production.
Wang Qiang's face contorted with anger. This was not just a loss of face, but it also endangered the entire production, making it unforgivable.
He angrily declared, "Cancel Chen Yan's role as the second female lead. With such disregard for the production's interests, how can she still be an actress?"
Then he turned to Quan Jiu, his anger even more intense than his embarrassment. "If you hadn't insisted on choosing Xing Di and Liu Wenwen, we wouldn't have had to do a PK. Now the entire internet is scolding us. If the movie is boycotted by the entire internet upon release, you will be the culprit."
Wang Feifei's voice rose. "The PK was my idea. What does Quan Jiu have to do with it? And if the movie is boycotted, that's your fault too. Our Jiu Jiu said Xing Di and Liu Wenwen were better, but you insisted on choosing Xiao Qi and Zhang Sui. Why aren't you reflecting on yourself?"
"Enough," Jiang Nan Chen's tone was unusually firm. "We are a team. Let's not let external comments damage our internal harmony."
Wang Feifei snorted and turned to look at Quan Jiu, but her words were laced with sarcasm. "The difference in makeup and styling alone is so apparent. As expected, our Jiu Jiu has a discerning eye."
Wang Qiang was cornered and after a moment, he said irritably, "The audience doesn't just look at makeup and styling compatibility; they also look at acting."
In terms of acting, he was absolutely confident in the Xiao Qi and Zhang Sui pairing. Makeup and styling could be adjusted later according to the individual. Even if Xing Di and Liu Wenwen's makeup and styling were slightly superior, it couldn't decide the outcome. He didn't believe Xiao Qi and Zhang Sui's acting would lose.
Hearing this, Red finally understood the whole story. He even had a title in mind.
"Everyone, I'm innocent. Can you let me go?" he chuckled.
Jiang Nan Chen, however, asked Public Relations Officer Zhao, "Did you call the police?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then you'll deal with the police later." Jiang Nan Chen had the security guards escort Red to the conference room to wait for the police. Of course, his live stream was not cut off; he could only talk to himself in the conference room anyway.
Luo Cheng worriedly asked, "What do we do now?" The person was caught, but the negative public opinion was still ongoing.
"At this point, we can only face it head-on. If we do nothing, it will seem like our production is in the wrong," Wang Feifei suggested. "I propose we open a live stream under the official name of the production crew and broadcast the PK live. This will also appear fair and just."
Wang Qiang, being the producer, had a keen sense of the market. He immediately chimed in, "Then let's set up a voting channel. This time, we'll have a popular vote." He looked towards Quan Jiu.
Quan Jiu smiled slightly. "That's a good method."
Wang Qiang quickly instructed other staff to set up the voting and live stream channels. Soon, the official production crew issued a public statement explaining everything. And capitalizing on the current trending topic, as soon as the live stream opened, over five hundred thousand viewers tuned in.
In the conference room, Red, who was still badmouthing, saw his live stream audience dwindling, with only a few thousand viewers remaining. He had become a solo act.
Helpless, Red had to exit his live stream. Then he noticed another live stream on the trending list. Upon clicking, he realized it was the "Floating Life" production crew live-streaming from the set.
"You won't let me broadcast, but you yourselves can learn," Red said angrily, posting a smear campaign against the "Floating Life" production.
However, he wasn't a major influencer to begin with, and with the drama dominating the trending topics, his post was like a stone sinking into the sea, barely making a ripple. This left Red utterly frustrated.
The production crew's main hall. After the live stream channel was established, Jiang Nan Chen, as the director, delivered an official statement and then turned the camera to the two pairs of male and female leads.
The live stream comments immediately flooded with mentions of Xiao Qi and disparaging remarks about Xing Di.
【It has to be Xiao Qi as the male lead, otherwise I will boycott.】
【How dare Xing Di compete for a role with a senior? Isn't he afraid of being blacklisted?】
【My male god is too ethereal. Xing Di isn't even worthy of carrying his shoes.】
Seeing the unfavorable trend in the comments, Wang Qiang inwardly smiled, believing this would surely lead to Xiao Qi and Zhang Sui being selected.
However, within a few minutes, many people began to voice neutral opinions.
【Who is Xiao Qi? Why are his fans so crazy?】
【A bunch of brainless fans. Xiao Qi is probably not that great either, ruining his public image.】
【Can Xiao Qi's fans please shut up? Please wring the water out of your brains.】
As more and more casual viewers entered the live stream, the messages praising Xiao Qi and denigrating Xing Di were drowned out in the comments. Most people were discussing the casting process, as a popular vote for male and female leads was a first and quite novel.
In just ten minutes, the number of viewers reached over twenty million.
Seeing that the time was right, Jiang Nan Chen announced the start of the acting PK.