American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 273 Opportunities for Cultural Export

“Scout, my advice to you is to keep a close eye on market sentiment and media trends,” he gave more actionable instructions.

"When this landmark event occurs and the stock price experiences its most frenzied vertical surge, it's a signal that the party is about to end."

"After that, no matter how high the stock price can rise, we must leave without hesitation. Because that is the guillotine for madmen, and the executioner's blade will fall then."

This analysis, which was half true and half false, offering both a prediction and leaving room for uncertainty, instantly calmed Scout on the other end of the phone.

He realized once again that Lin Yu'an's source of information might indeed be from an unspeakable force.

Scout took a deep breath, his awe deepening: "Lin, I understand. I will leave after the final detonation."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. When Scout spoke again, he had perfectly suppressed his gambler-like excitement.

He returned to his former state as a top-notch agent, strategizing and planning, even with a hint of excitement about planning Lin Yu'an's future.

"Lin, let's get back to business." He skillfully steered the conversation from his personal relationship with GME back to business.

“Brian and I both saw your performance in Vancouver; it was flawless. The feedback from Arc'teryx was excellent, and LVMH has shown extraordinary interest in you.”

"We all agree that we must strike while the iron is hot and push your influence from your current circle to a more mainstream and explosive field."

He didn't mention repaying a debt of gratitude, but instead went straight to the point from the perspective of career planning, naturally leading into his own topic.

"Oh? What are your plans?" Lin Yu'an asked cooperatively.

“A chance for you to rise to the top again.” Scout’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

"Justin, his concert next month at Madison Square Garden, you know, that's the temple of global pop music."

"We have been looking for a mystery guest who can ignite the entire event and bring cross-disciplinary topics to the table."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle, before continuing, "Justin and I discussed it for a long time, and we both felt that there was no one more suitable for this role than you."

Scout cleverly packaged this opportunity as a well-considered decision made jointly by him and Justin, rather than a one-sided reward from him.

“Just imagine, Lin,” Scout began to paint that enticing picture, “in front of tens of thousands of spectators at Madison Square Garden, and tens of millions of live viewers around the world.”

"This is not just a performance, it's a viral sensation!"

“Your current fan base is mainly men aged 25 to 45. This is a very valuable group, but its size is still too limited.”

"Justin's fans are young people aged 15 to 25 worldwide, who are the most active, passionate, and influential group on the internet."

"What does it mean for you to be his guest?"

"It means that your name will be spread to every corner of the earth overnight through TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter."

"Your Instagram followers could surge by millions or even tens of millions overnight."

"All your previous videos will be unearthed and go viral again by this huge influx of new traffic."

He summarized, "Simply put, this performance can help you accumulate fans and break into the mainstream in just one night, a process that would normally take three to five years."

"It will transform you from a highly influential opinion leader in a specific field into a top-tier internet celebrity with a truly global mainstream perspective."

"By then, it won't just be Arc'teryx and LVMH coming to you, but Coca-Cola, Nike, Sony..."

“All the top consumer brands that want to capture young people will be waving their checkbooks and lining up at CAA’s door.”

"As for the performance content, it's completely up to you." He showed his utmost sincerity, "If you want to sing your own original songs, we will provide you with the best arrangements and stage."

"If you want to do a cover, no matter who owns the copyright, CAA's legal department will handle everything for you."

He then changed the subject, speaking in a more intimate tone, "If you could sing one of Justin's songs with him, preferably 'Restore,' the effect would be... absolutely nuclear-level."

Scout's vision was an irresistible temptation for any artist, but before him stood Lin Yu-an.

Lin Yu'an listened quietly to all his analysis, but did not immediately show excitement. Instead, he fell into a long silence.

Scout on the other end of the phone was somewhat surprised. He keenly sensed Lin Yu'an's hesitation: "Lin? What's wrong? This opportunity... you don't like it?"

“No, Scout, of course I like it.” Lin Yu’an finally spoke, his voice carrying an unusual calmness. “I’m just thinking about a more practical issue.”

"what is the problem?"

"Retention rate".

This word made Scout pause for a moment.

Lin Yu-an continued, "You're right. Stepping onto the stage at Madison Square Garden would be like a tsunami, instantly bringing me tens of millions of exposures and millions of new fans."

"But what will be left after the tsunami recedes?"

“My core content is the wilderness and hunting, while Justin’s fans are a young demographic drawn to pop culture and intense sensory stimulation. There is a huge gap between the two.”

"If I don't prepare an attractive enough interface to retain this huge wave of traffic, then after this traffic explosion, all that may be left is a mess."

"Most people will forget me after three days, and my new follower count will experience a precipitous drop."

“In that case, not only would I have wasted this precious opportunity, but I would also have become a laughing stock with inflated data in front of those top brands.”

“I don’t need a one-off celebration, Scout, I need sustainable growth.”

This calm, even ruthless, self-analysis startled Scout on the other end of the phone.

The artists he has worked with, whether top stars or newcomers, all react with elation and gratitude when they hear about an opportunity of this caliber.

No one has ever been like Lin Yu'an, whose first thought when faced with temptation was not how to obtain it, but how to digest it.

Lin Yu'an continued, frankly expressing his concerns: "Before agreeing to your request, I need to figure out how to welcome and retain this valuable user base."

“I need a plan, a plan that can truly convert these young fans into my long-term supporters.”

"I need some time to think about whether we can handle this surge in traffic. Then I will give you an answer as soon as possible."

Lin Yu'an's clarity and professionalism did not disappoint Scout; on the contrary, it raised Scout's opinion of Lin Yu'an to a new level.

An artist who knows how to respect the flow of traffic and think about how to retain viewers is destined to go further in his career.

“No problem, take your time thinking about it, no rush.” Scout’s tone now carried a hint of genuine appreciation. “The concert is at the end of February, there’s plenty of time to prepare.”

"The end of February?" A thought suddenly flashed through Lin Yu'an's mind like lightning.

He checked his calendar and then suggested to Scout, "Scooter, I have an idea, or rather, a suggestion, that might partially solve the retention problem."

"tell me the story."

"If possible, I would like to schedule the concert for February 1st."

"February 1st?" Scout asked, puzzled. "That's a Tuesday, not a prime time for concert promotions."

“But that day,” Lin Yu’an’s voice carried a hint of a smile, “was the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Spring Festival.”

"Just imagine, Scooter. On a day that is most special to all Chinese people, I, as a Chinese person, am on Justin Bieber's stage."

"This is not just a crossover collaboration, it's a cultural event. This is a very meaningful New Year's gift for Justin's fans in China."

“This is the perfect global showcase for my identity. We can even extend New Year greetings to Chinese people all over the world on stage, in Chinese.”

How much discussion will this topic spark on Chinese social media?

Scout gasped on the other end of the phone.

He instantly understood Lin Yu-an's intention. Lin Yu-an wasn't just thinking about how to capitalize on the hype; he was also thinking in reverse, how to use his position to create a larger, more global buzz for the event that transcended the music itself!
“I understand…” Scout’s voice was a little hoarse. “I’ll talk to Justin’s team. Lin, you’re a genius.”

"I'm just a partner who wants to do things better," Lin Yu'an said, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

On the other end of the phone, Scout remained silent for a long time, seemingly processing the immense amount of information conveyed in the conversation.

When he spoke again, his tone carried a hint of seeking cooperation: "Lin, since we've talked about cooperation, I'd like to... make our cooperation go a little deeper."

"How to say?"

“Regarding GME,” Scout’s voice became very serious, “I have personally gotten involved, but now it seems that this is more than just a simple investment.”

"After all, this incident originated from you, and I would like to ask for your permission. I think Justin should also be a part of this incident."

Lin Yu'an listened quietly without saying a word.

Scout continued, "I don't mean for him to speculate and make money. Rather, I hope you will allow me to invest some money in Justin's name. Whether this investment is profitable or not is not important."

“The important thing,” Scout said, emphasizing each word, “is to establish a relationship of trust between you and him that goes beyond partnership through this joint, secretive investment.”

"Lin, do you understand? I'm not asking Justin for benefits on your behalf. I'm inviting you to inject your 'divine insight' into the core of our business alliance!"

"Let Justin experience it firsthand. That way, he will trust your every judgment without reservation in the future, whether it's for concerts, brand endorsements, or any other collaborations."

These words were spoken with exceptional eloquence.

Scout perfectly packaged what appeared to be a request for information into a strategic plan to solidify future cooperation, and then adopted a posture of proactively offering his services to Lin Yu'an.

A smile of approval curved Lin Yu'an's lips. Talking to smart people is so effortless.

“Okay.” He agreed, his tone becoming equally serious.

“Scooter, I accept your offer to solidify our cooperation. But my warning remains valid. You must personally monitor his account and leave immediately after the final detonation.”

He emphasized, "I don't want this newly established trust to be lost because of the greed of any party."

“I vouch for it with my entire career!” Scout’s voice was full of strength.

He knew that from this moment on, he, Lin Yu'an, and Justin were truly bound together.

"That's settled then. I'll wait for the good news that you've become a billionaire."

The two ended their conversation. Lin Yu'an had just taken the phone away from his ear, and before the screen had even gone dark, another call popped up.

He glanced at the caller ID and a knowing smile appeared on his lips.

As if by prior arrangement, Mad Dog lawyer Marty Singer should also be feeling uneasy about his five million dollar call options.

Lin Yu'an walked to the window of the study, looked at the snowfield outside the window that was illuminated by the moonlight and turned silvery white, and pressed the answer button.

As soon as the call connected, Marty's signature low growl came through, but this time, his voice lacked its usual arrogance and was instead filled with suppressed anxiety.

"Lin, I just finished a call with my trader. My options have tripled. That's great."

“But,” he said, his tone turning serious, “I spent an entire day studying all the cases handled by the SEC’s enforcement division over the past twenty years regarding abnormal market fluctuations. I’ve come to a conclusion.”

"What conclusion?" Lin Yu'an asked calmly.

"The conclusion is that we thought we were exploiting loopholes in the rules, but in the eyes of regulators, our behavior has a simpler definition—market manipulation."

Marty spoke slowly, but every word carried the weight of the law: “Section 12(k) of the Transaction Act’s emergency powers provision is tailor-made for this situation.”

"Its purpose is not to ensure procedural justice, but to maintain the stability of the system. When our actions threaten the system itself, procedures can be sacrificed."

This is the mindset of a top lawyer. What he sees is not the cold, hard law, but the unseen "big hand" behind it, the one that maintains the power structure.

“So, Lin,” Marty’s voice became soft, yet more oppressive, “the benefits of your perfect information simply don’t apply in a casino where the table can be overturned at any moment.”

“Tell me, how do you deal with this risk outside the rules? If you can’t convince me, I will immediately close all my positions, and as your lawyer, I will advise you to do the same.”

He didn't roar; instead, with the calmest logic, he pressed a gun against Lin Yu'an's plan.

Faced with this almost irrefutable question, Lin Yu'an simply chuckled.

“Marty, you are an excellent lawyer. You believe in the rules, study the rules, and utilize the rules. You are a believer in the rules.”

"But that's precisely your blind spot."

Lin Yu'an's voice began to sound distant: "You only see the rules themselves, but you don't see the people who wrote the rules, or their true purpose in making the rules."

"What do you mean?"

Lin Yu'an pointed out incisively: "The SEC's power is not to protect a few retail investors, nor to punish a few hedge funds. Its sole purpose is to maintain Wall Street's credibility as the heart of global capital."

"Therefore, when they will take action depends on which party's actions will cause greater damage to this reputation."

"Now, it's a group of retail investors taking revenge on greedy hedge funds based on publicly available information. It's a good story; the public likes it, and politicians like it too."

“If the SEC intervenes now, it will be openly protecting bad actors, which will shake the fundamental trust of global investors in the fairness of the US market. They cannot afford to pay that price.”

“So they have to wait!” Lin Yu’an continued confidently, “They will only act when the retail investors’ frenzy turns into an out-of-control, irrational stampede, when the story of revenge becomes a disaster rehearsal for a market collapse.”

"At that point, their actions will no longer be about protecting the powerful and wealthy, but about saving the market. It will be perfectly legitimate and cannot be criticized."

“Moreover,” Lin Yu’an’s voice carried a hint of cold laughter, “their approach won’t be to simply suspend the transaction. That would be too stupid.”

“They will pressure brokerages to unilaterally restrict buying. In this way, the responsibility is perfectly shifted to the brokerages’ liquidity risk, and the SEC can absolve itself of all responsibility.”

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone.

Marty was stunned by Lin Yu'an's words, which made his scalp tingle.

Lin Yu'an's analysis is no longer about legal provisions, but about the human nature, politics, and public opinion games behind the law. He stands at a level far higher than himself, overlooking the entire game.

“You… how could you… know all this?” Marty’s voice was dry, like sandpaper being rubbed.

“Because my friends not only enjoy studying scripts, but they also enjoy studying the people who write them.” Lin Yu’an didn’t dwell on the issue further, changing the subject, “Marty, don’t just focus on the risks. Have you thought about what will happen after this big show is over?”

Marty's instincts as a top lawyer led him to answer instinctively: "...lawsuits. A deluge of class-action lawsuits that could cripple the American justice system."

“That’s right.” Lin Yu’an’s lips curled into an approving smile. “A legal war that can make the top law firms in the entire United States incredibly wealthy. And you, Marty,”

"He is the only lawyer in the world who knew the script and the ending in advance."

"You not only know who will win and who will lose; you even know when and how the referee will blow the whistle unfairly."

"How much do you think this information gap is worth in this legal spectacle?"

Marty's pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size in the dark study.

He understood instantly! Lin Yu'an wanted to tell him that his real battlefield should be in the courtroom after the storm, not in worrying about the current gains.

The call is interrupted.

Marty Singer sat motionless for a long time in his study overlooking the entire Los Angeles nightscape. He poured himself a glass of the strongest whiskey, but didn't drink it immediately, only staring at the amber liquid in the glass.

All the excitement and madness in his mind had subsided, leaving only absolute rationality.

The impending legal storm will be the greatest and most profitable battle of his career!
He picked up another untraceable phone and dialed the number of his law firm's lead partner.

"Assemble our best securities litigation team and, starting now, examine all materials related to GME, especially the loopholes in the user agreements of brokerages like Robinhood and Interactive Brokers! I need the most detailed report possible!"

(End of this chapter)