Chapter 186 A Clever Ruse

September 18th, Sunday.

Jingzhou Airport.

Huang Sibao and Bao Xu each dragged their suitcases, finally managing to hail a taxi.

The two men, tanned a dark bronze, sat in the car, a wave of emotion washing over them.

Finally back in human society!

Thinking back to the past month, in the Sahara Desert, on Mount Kilimanjaro, in the East African Rift Valley...

They had truly lived an isolated life!

Bao Xu had originally planned the trip with the intention of dragging Huang Sibao down with him, but over the course of the long month, his feelings had gradually changed.

Thinking of that remote Africa, the two of them were alone and helpless, able only to support each other, rely on each other, and cheer each other on…

He felt that their friendship had somehow become even stronger.

So, after returning from Africa, Bao Xu was no longer angry. He simply felt that life in Jingzhou was wonderful and began browsing his phone with joy.

Huang Sibao felt the same way.

The two of them scrolled through their phones for a while before realizing that in the month they had been isolated, such enormous changes had taken place in Jingzhou!

"The GOG Global Invitational Tournament is already in its last day of the group stage today. After this afternoon, the top eight will be announced."

"Teacher Qiao actually released another video interpreting *Struggle*? Huh, why did I say 'another'?"

"It seems like a lot of people online are flocking to Jingzhou on the weekends."

"Sure enough, the Spooky Manor alone isn't enough for everyone to plan a trip to Jingzhou, but with so many fun things all stacked together, a trip to Jingzhou seems really worth it!"

"This is the cluster effect!"

The two of them browsed the news on their phones for a while, finally understanding the general cause and effect.

One key reason why the Spooky Manor wasn't popular enough was that most people weren't willing to come all the way to Jingzhou just for a haunted house.

No matter how fun it was, it couldn't change the fact that it was just a haunted house.

But now, there were many entertainment options in Jingzhou!

They could go watch the GOG Global Invitational Tournament. Of course, it was too late to buy tickets now, but Jingzhou also had a large number of Lazy Bird Internet Cafe 3.0s, which were esports-themed lifestyle halls. Lazy Bird Internet Cafe 1.0 and 2.0 also had projectors, providing a great viewing experience.

At the same time, Jingzhou had the Spooky Manor, the Nameless Restaurant, Lazy Bird Delivery, shared phone booths, and a series of other businesses. Just the Tenda-related experience schedule could fill up the entire weekend.

In this case, taking a trip to Jingzhou on the weekend became a very cost-effective choice.

Since they had already come to Jingzhou, it became a natural thing to go and play the highly-rated "Escape from Despair" in the Spooky Manor, or to challenge "Ultimate Horror."

And for the young people in Jingzhou, all the businesses on the Tenda Life App, whether it was internet cafes, food delivery, renting apartments, or gyms, were all worth trying.

As for the game *Struggle*, although it wasn't making a profit yet, it had an excellent driving effect on other businesses. For Tenda Group, it was still a huge win.

Huang Sibao and Bao Xu couldn't help but sigh, President Pei's methods were becoming more and more sophisticated!

Who would have thought that such big changes would have taken place in Jingzhou after only a month in Africa?

They felt nothing but admiration for President Pei.

Huang Sibao scrolled through his phone, his expression suddenly becoming serious.

"Damn... Old Bao, it seems like a lot of people online are really curious about President Pei's identity!"

Bao Xu was stunned, "Really? Where?"

Huang Sibao handed over his phone. Searching with "President Pei" as the keyword revealed a large number of posts discussing him.

Clearly, President Pei had become an internet celebrity!

As for why he had become an internet celebrity?

Obviously, looking at President Pei's various identities online would explain it.

A top game producer, the behind-the-scenes boss of Tenda Group, a philanthropist who donated fifteen million to his alma mater and gave a speech about wealth, a conscientious boss, an unconventional entrepreneur…

More importantly, President Pei's identity had always been mysterious and hadn't really been widely exposed.

But precisely because of that, the three "world-famous paintings" had exploded in popularity among netizens.

Clearly, no matter how low-key President Pei was, the netizens' curiosity about him had been completely suppressed!

Bao Xu's tanned face couldn't help but reveal a serious expression.

This was a serious situation that couldn't be ignored!

Everyone who knew President Pei knew that he was a low-key person who didn't want to show his face in public, let alone become an internet celebrity.

On the one hand, it was because President Pei's personality was like that. On the other hand, it was because President Pei didn't want netizens to associate him personally with Tenda and worship him as an idol.

Because that would easily breed extremist fans, and consumers would find it difficult to view Tenda objectively. In the short term, it seemed like a good thing, but in the long term, it was obviously more harmful than good.

Therefore, the entire Tenda Group had reached a consensus that President Pei's identity must not be exposed. They had to cooperate closely and continue to hide President Pei's true identity!

Previously, President Pei's identity had been hidden, partly because everyone who had seen him had reached a tacit understanding, and partly because netizens weren't that interested in President Pei's true identity.

Who would bother to investigate the owner of a company?

But looking at the current situation, it seemed impossible to hide it anymore.

Some netizens were even discussing that the young man in *President Pei's Daily Life* was President Pei himself, even comparing his clothes and back view, further confirming this possibility.

The series of short dramas *President Pei's Daily Life*, which had originally received little attention, had been dug up again!

However, many people felt that President Pei was busy with work and had no reason to play himself, so it was still just speculation and hadn't been confirmed.

Basically, there wasn't much image data related to the real President Pei that could be found online. Those netizens didn't know the inside story and could only guess.

But if they continued to guess like this, the truth would eventually come out.

Huang Sibao was anxious.

"What to do? At this rate, someone will eventually dig up President Pei's real identity."

"It's not that there will be any serious consequences, it's just that President Pei might not be able to think quietly anymore!"

"As the helmsman of Tenda Group, President Pei must not be disturbed!"

"Old Bao, do you have any ideas?"

Bao Xu fell silent.

The current situation seemed a bit hopeless. So many people were paying attention to President Pei, how could they silence the public?

This seemed like an impossible mission!

Bao Xu pondered for a moment and said, "Old Huang, do you remember a movie that came out last year? There was a trick called 'Substituting the Beams' in it?"

Huang Sibao was stunned.

"A movie about 'Substituting the Beams'? From last year?"

"I should have seen it, but I don't know which one you're talking about."

Bao Xu reminded him, "There's a line in it, 'Oh no, I've become a substitute!'"

Huang Sibao's eyes widened slightly, seeming to realize something, but he didn't know how to do it.

Bao Xu explained, "It's very simple. You use the official account of Fei Huang Workshop to tell everyone that President Pei doesn't want to be noticed, and he doesn't want everyone to disturb President Pei's life."

"If everyone cares so much about President Pei's image, then they can treat the actor in *President Pei's Daily Life* as President Pei himself."

Huang Sibao was stunned, "Huh? But that's President Pei himself!"

Bao Xu smiled slightly, "Who knows?"

"Everyone at Tenda, including President Li, and Teacher Qiao's friends, will definitely be willing to help President Pei keep his secret. If we reach a consensus and say that that's not President Pei, but a special actor who looks very much like President Pei, even if some people jump out and say that the actor and President Pei are the same person, do you think netizens will believe it?"

"Why did they say 'I've become a substitute' in the movie? 'If three men say there's a tiger, there's a tiger,' 'constant dripping wears away a stone'. If everyone says you're a substitute, then you're a substitute. The real person becomes a substitute."

"Similarly, as long as we all say that it's just an actor, not the real President Pei, how can the netizens tell the difference?"

"Moreover, in this way, the netizens' curiosity about President Pei will also be diverted, and a very strange situation will form: everyone treats President Pei as President Pei, but everyone thinks that he's just an actor and not the real President Pei."

"Stir up the water, and President Pei's real identity can continue to be hidden, right?"

Huang Sibao suddenly understood, "So that's how it is! Old Bao, you're really a genius! I'll discuss this matter with the other heads immediately, unify our statements, and then prepare to record a video!"

"Helping President Pei hide his identity is a matter of utmost importance!"

…

At the same time, Pei Qian was holed up in his room, playing games in frustration.

He had wanted to go to Lazy Bird Internet Cafe and watch the game, but now, he didn't dare to go!

Today was Sunday, and many players and Tenda fans had come to Jingzhou. Whether it was Lazy Bird Internet Cafe or the GOG Global Invitational Tournament venue, it was easy to run into acquaintances.

Wouldn't his identity be completely exposed then?

That was too scary!

Pei Qian felt like he was a celebrity trembling in fear, surrounded by crazy fans and paparazzi with cameras.

He couldn't go out in disguise, wearing sunglasses and a scarf, could he? That would be too ridiculous.

Pei Qian's attitude was the same as before: he didn't want to reveal his identity because there would be too much trouble!

Imagine walking around school, drinking coffee in Lazy Bird Internet Cafe, or even walking down the street, and fans would come up to ask for photos, older students would ask for jobs, and investors would come to him hoping to invest in projects…

Would he still have a private life?

He still wanted to be an ordinary college student until he graduated!

Pei Qian was speechless and at a loss as to what to do.

Just then, the phone on the table rang.

Pei Qian picked it up and saw that it was a message from Huang Sibao.

He had consulted with the heads of other departments, and everyone agreed with the plan, so he sent it to President Pei for a final decision.

Pei Qian was shocked after reading the plan.

This was going to work?

He was becoming his own substitute? Using this method to confuse netizens?

It seemed… really feasible!

Pei Qian considered it for a moment and replied, "Release the video immediately! Do it according to this plan!"

He couldn't help but sigh that Huang Sibao hadn't backstabbed him as soon as he returned. Instead, he had helped him.

That was great!

Pei Qian was very clear that it was now impossible to hide from all the netizens on the internet.

Some netizens were already suspecting that the actor in *President Pei's Daily Life* was President Pei himself, and as long as anyone who knew President Pei's identity publicly supported this view, the situation would quickly get out of control.

It would be too late to play this trick of substituting the beams then.

So, he had to strike first!

Through an official statement, Pei Qian could preemptively put on a disguise.

First, he would emphasize that President Pei didn't want to be disturbed and didn't want to show his true identity in public, asking most fans not to over-dig President Pei's personal information.

But at the same time, he would provide them with a symbol as an emotional outlet, allowing them to treat the actor's image in *President Pei's Daily Life* as President Pei's real image.

In this way, the netizens who came to Jingzhou would only treat Pei Qian as an actor, not the real President Pei.

This was a multilayered ruse!

For Pei Qian, although he would still be noticed, in the eyes of outsiders, his true identity was "President Pei's actor." At most, he would just take a picture with fans, which would minimize this unavoidable trouble.

Pei Qian himself was a bit dizzy, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to be the best way at the moment.

He would get everyone who knew his true identity to help him conceal his identity, so that even if some people revealed the truth, the netizens wouldn't believe it.

The art of war is deception.

Truth and falsehood, illusion and reality, how could the netizens really tell the difference?