110 An Explosive Interview Lacking Any Vision

"Teacher Crab, what happened? A young man came to me yesterday and asked why Teacher Crab's Weibo has been so quiet lately. He wondered if you had pushed yourself too hard at the gym and caused some problems."

"I’ve been feeling a bit unaccustomed to it these past two days. It’s really that quiet?"

"Quiet (meaning over 10,000 replies)."

"Weibo celebrities with ten times the followers of Brother Crab are crying in the bathroom."

"It's possible for Brother Crab's comment section to be quiet, but it’s impossible for it to be *actually* quiet..."

"Then let me ask you, let me ask you, do you eat pancakes?"

Life without the "Fairy Fans" is cold and desolate.

Day twenty-eight of missing the "Fairy Fans."

Ever since the semester started, the "Fairy Fans" had gradually faded from the sight of the "Crab Fans." The "River Crab Army" had gone over to stalk Wang Shiyin's Weibo. Every week, she would just post announcements about where she was studying or attending exchanges—busy filming, shooting movies, and recording MVs, with no time to post pictures of food, scenery, or herself on Weibo.

The several super-fan groups of the "Fairy Fans" had also gradually gone from bustling to even *more* bustling. The reason was simple: the group leaders and fan heads had stated that there was no intel and no news; asking them anything resulted in knowing nothing.

The group leaders, fan heads, and half the moderators were actually people from "Gaolianghe Entertainment," effectively official operations. Yet, now they were completely clueless. The fans were fine for a day or two, and could even manage for a week or two, but twenty-eight days? Twenty-eight days is long enough for a second menstrual cycle to have come and gone!

So now, the "Fairy Fans" were practically in rebellion, calling the "Gaolianghe Entertainment" office every day to ask, "Where did our sister go?" The sheer absurdity of the fans' behavior actually sparked inspiration in the variety show planning team at "Gaolianghe Entertainment." Unfortunately, they couldn't use it, because even "Gaolianghe Entertainment" didn't know where "Fairy Wang" had gone.

Zhao Jiong, the chairman of "Gaolianghe Entertainment," was burning with anxiety. It wasn't as if he hadn't tried to go to the "Ji Family Courtyard" to inquire, but he couldn't even get through the front door.

Helpless, Zhao Jiong gritted his teeth and simply ordered the entire company to play dead, claiming that "Fairy Wang" was preparing to study abroad, and they could think whatever they wanted.

Then, some "Fairy Fans" snapped photos of Chairman Zhao Jiong going to the "Dijin Ferry Racetrack" to go drag racing. After posting it online, the "Fairy Fans" went ballistic, one after another threatening to take further measures. If "Gaolianghe Entertainment" didn't provide a reasonable explanation, they would escalate their current protests.

Everyone else was just watching the show, but the "Crab Fans" were as absurd as ever.

The "River Crab Army" had been on an expedition for a month, just to stir the pot.

Many "Fairy Fans" were so infuriated by the "Crab Fans" that they were moved to tears, posting short videos, long videos, essays, and photo-collages to denounce the disgusting behavior of the "Crab Fans."

However, unlike other celebrities, Boss Li was one of the few whose philosophy was "fans act, the idol doesn't pay for it"—because, is Boss Li even an idol?

"Hey, hey, hey, here we go again! If you ask me, it’s definitely because 'Fairy Wang's' *Smiling to Welcome Spring* got beaten to tears by Brother Crab, and she’s lost all heart and plans to retire from showbiz. After all, one has to be fair: *Good Luck Coming* sounds festive—every supermarket is playing it now. You guys should switch to another sister fan. I think Teacher 'Utsunomiya Mai' from the Japanese porn industry... oh, wait, not teacher, sister, she’s actually quite good."

"..."

As a "ten-year hater," one could insult Brother Crab, but one could not insult a professional teacher. So, the "Crab Fans" leaked a bit of "crab roe" in the comment section right then and there.

Leave the picture but not the source, and your chrysanthemum will be poked by ten thousand.

A matter of principle, one must be vigilant.

Facing the teasing, provocation, and instigation of the "Crab Fans," the "Fairy Fans" wished they could wipe out these internet vermin, but the "Crab Fans" were everywhere, posting "Fairy's Gum Health Photos" that they had been hoarding for years.

Don't ask; if you ask, it's that in the eyes of the "Fairy Fans," the fairy has no flaws.

However, the onlookers who loved a good show thought the "Crab Fans" were already disgusting enough, but they never expected that compared to the "main character," Boss Li, they were still a universe away.

The incident escalated following an interview after the wrap of *Black Cat Hero Police*. Li, who was now a "Teacher" of some standing, gave answers during an interview with "Shenzhou Entertainment Weekly" and other media that made the "ten-year haters" admit they still had a lot to learn.

"Teacher Li Jie, your collaboration with Teacher Mei Xingyu, *Good Luck Coming*, has been number one on the trending charts for forty-five consecutive days. What are your thoughts on this?"

"First, I’d like to thank Teacher Che Xing and Teacher Qi Jianbo for bringing us a classic, timeless song. Second, I’d like to thank Teacher Mei Xingyu for the effort she put into this song; her use of opera-style vocals reached a level of perfection, generating a vast number of positive derivative works on various subculture video sites and attracting a large number of young people to participate, which has played a positive role in promoting traditional culture. Finally, I’d like to thank Teacher Zhao Zepin of 'Gaolianghe Entertainment,' Teacher Duan Gen of 'Perfect Music,' and the singer of *Smiling to Welcome Spring*, Teacher Wang Shiyin. Without their contrast, *Good Luck Coming* could not have so easily remained number one on the charts for forty-five consecutive days."

"..."

The reporter was dumbfounded, wondering why things were going fine at first, but then the style of the conversation went off the rails?

Teacher Li Jie is quite brave, isn't he?!

The reporter from "Shenzhou Entertainment Weekly" just didn't have enough edge. How could such a bland entertainment reporter produce good entertainment reports?!

Real entertainment reporting requires unconventional methods!

Dai Zong, an offline reporter for "Trendy Blast Entertainment" who started as a "paparazzi," pulled out a black, hard, and long microphone, held it high, and asked: "Boss Li, Boss Li, are you implying that *Smiling to Welcome Spring* is inferior to *Good Luck Coming*?"

The questions "Shenzhou Entertainment" dared to ask, "Trendy Blast Entertainment" also dared to ask; the questions "Shenzhou Entertainment" *didn't* dare to ask, "Trendy Blast Entertainment" *still* dared to ask!

In a word: I’m super brave.

That "Shenzhou Entertainment Weekly" is just weak!

"*Smiling to Welcome Spring* isn't a question of being inferior to *Good Luck Coming*; it’s that putting them together is an insult to *Good Luck Coming*. *Smiling to Welcome Spring* has neither the artistic content of a creator nor the technical skill of a performer. It is entirely the false popularity brought by 'fan-circle culture.' I call for moderate fandom and strict control over 'fan-circle culture'; it will have a positive significance and provide the right guidance for the physical and mental health of teenagers."

"Isn't it a bit arbitrary for Boss Li to say that? Is there any suspicion of speaking for others?"

"That's impossible. I'm only nineteen, I'm also a teenager, and my creative level is obvious to all. I have the qualifications and the ability to say such things."

"..."

"..."

"..."

If someone else said these things, could they say them? Without that ability, they couldn't.

But Boss Li, Student Li, and Teacher Li were a "trinity." If he said it, he said it; he could flexibly switch between any identity he needed.

"Teacher Li, generally speaking, the entertainment industry is all about a bit of social etiquette. Wouldn't your remarks just now be seen as somewhat smearing 'Fairy Wang'?"

"Creating something out of nothing, spreading rumors, tilting at windmills... that’s what you call smearing. I’m stating facts, how can that be considered smearing? Besides, *Smiling to Welcome Spring* can't even make it onto the charts now, which means its popularity and download counts are well outside the top one hundred. It’s a complete failure in both reputation and sales. I don't even need to badmouth it. If every one of Teacher Wang Shiyin's fans had just chipped in one yuan to support it, it wouldn't have failed to make the top one hundred. That’s why I’ve always said that 'fan-circle culture' is no good; when it comes down to real money, you have to look at strength. Our 'creative ability' has plenty of strength; we’ve always let our strength do the talking."

"..."

"..."

The "Shenzhou Entertainment" reporter slipped away; this "Teacher Li" was too explosive, and he felt like he would be swarmed by "Fairy Fans" if he stayed for another second.

However, the "Trendy Blast Entertainment" reporter, Dai Zong, was different. He was directly excited: "Handsome, say a few more words!"

And believe it or not, there were actually "Fairy Fans" there that day to watch the show, mainly hoping to find out through various channels "where their sister had gone."

As a result, they heard "Dog Li" barking in public through the media interview.

The broken "Fairy Fans" stopped pretending. With their masks on, they rushed up crying and pointing at Li Jie, cursing him.

The reporters saw this and thought, what a great opportunity!

They immediately cleared a path and shoved their cameras right into their faces.

They thought the "Fairy Fans" would try to scratch Boss Li.

But Boss Li stood there like a stone, giving off the feeling that the game character model was simply too massive.

Several "Fairy Fans" burst into tears right then and there, accusing "Dog Li" of bullying people.

This video trended that day. Both "'Smiling to Welcome Spring' has neither the artistic content of a creator nor the technical skill of a performer" and "I'm only nineteen, I'm also a teenager" hit the hot searches.

The most ridiculous part was that all kinds of derivative videos showed a full "ghost-animal" style. The rebellious sons of the "Ten-Year Hater" group, in order to get clicks and earn some bonuses, used titles like "Teacher Li Scolds 'Fairy Fans'" and even made a beat-synced video using the BGM "Hideout" from *Black Cat Hero Police*.

Even worse for the online "Fairy Fans," "Hideout" actually broke into the daily top singles chart again.

However, the one who was more "broken" than the "Fairy Fans" was the fairy herself. On the flight from Beidu to Xuzhou, she punched the goose-down pillow next to her, bursting it.

The flight attendants on the private jet were all her own people, so they pretended not to see, silently cleaning up the goose down that filled the air, and even picking the few feathers that drifted onto the fairy's head.

As for the fairy herself, she just blew a little breath, at least blowing the feathers off her face.

Boss Li's Weibo account was undoubtedly smashed, but was Boss Li panicked?

"Ding!" It came very quickly. His fixed reputation value and floating reputation value both skyrocketed, especially the fixed reputation value, which rose by three or four million. It’s hard to say how much of that was because of "Gourd Hero" and "Black Cat Hero."

[Host: Li Jie]

[Works: *Greatness of Heaven*, *Only Mother is Good in the World*, *Orchid Grass*...]

[Talent Ability: Acting 38, Singing 25...]

[Reputation Value: 238,875,666 (+3,587,569)]

According to Boss Li's personal judgment, the increase in floating reputation value was around two million, most likely brought about by this wave of explosive remarks.

Some fans of female celebrities competing with "Fairy Wang" were probably hoping she would be stomped down. Seeing Teacher Li "speaking out for justice" at this moment, even if Teacher Li was leaking "crab roe," they would probably praise him a few times, even if it went against their conscience...

And that night, "Hulatang Is Great," who had collected his part-time wages from the Kaohuang Nursing Center in Xuzhou, very rarely sent a pop-up window and a photo to Boss Li: "Brother Crab, look at my dick?"

"Don't want to."

Boss Li was concise.

(End of chapter)