After taking advice, I became a top male idol.

Monday night, 11 p.m.

Yanjing, a high-end apartment.

In the bedroom, the man looked to be in his mid-twenties, with handsome features and a muscular physique, clearly the type who works out regularly.

The woman is a rising star who has recently played the second or third female lead in several popular dramas; she has fair skin and a hot figure.

The phone on the bedside table suddenly rang.

The man made a shushing gesture, "Wait a minute."

He picked up his phone, glanced at the caller ID, and his expression instantly turned tense.

Take a deep breath and answer the phone.

"Hey, sis."

His voice immediately became docile, completely devoid of its previous wildness.

"Nothing much, just getting ready to sleep."

"At home? No, no, I'm all alone."

After hearing something said on the other end of the phone, the man's expression became even more serious.

"Okay, okay, no problem, absolutely no problem, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

"Yes, yes, I'll contact the company right away."

"Got it! Don't worry, sis, don't you trust me to handle things?"

"No, no, okay, I'll listen to you, sister."

After hanging up the phone, the man let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Who is it?

Xiaohua nuzzled closer, her soft body pressed against his back, "Calling so late, is she your girlfriend?"

"My own sister." The man casually pushed her away.

"Oh? Who is your sister? What does she do?" Xiaohua asked curiously.

"Don't ask any more questions." The man's tone was somewhat impatient. "What's it to you?"

The man dialed a number. "Yes, it's me."

"His name... his name seems to be Lin Zhixing... yes, no matter the cost..."

Although Xiao Hua didn't know who could command Ye Cheng's son, she still perked up her ears when she heard the name Lin Zhixing.

After hanging up the phone, he laid Xiaohua down on the bed, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "Instead of wasting time asking about these things, you should be doing a good job..."

People in the entertainment industry are very good at using their advantages.

This man is Ye Feng, the only son of the head of Yecheng Entertainment and Ye Lan's half-brother.

He never dared to disobey his sister's orders.

......

Tuesday morning, 10:00 AM.

Lin Zhixing returned from his morning run, drenched in sweat.

He took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and picked up his phone to check the news.

99+ Weibo messages.

He clicked on it and took a look.

All of them were requests for help and inquiries from fans.

[Brother Lin! Something terrible has happened!]

Your song has been taken down!

[Your songs are no longer available on NetEase Cloud Music, karaoke, or Mango Music!]

What happened? Why was it suddenly taken down?

[Brother Lin, did you offend someone?]

Lin Zhixing frowned and opened the NetEase Cloud Music app.

Enter "Lin Zhixing" in the search bar.

Click search.

Sorry, no relevant content was found.

He then opened other music platforms.

The same result.

Mango Music, Xiami Music, K-Dog Music...

I tried one platform after another, but I couldn't find his songs on any of them.

Only on Penguin Music, songs like "The Lone Warrior," "Red-Clad Hero," and "Sunny Day" still lie quietly.

Lin Zhixing narrowed his eyes.

Such coordinated action is clearly not a coincidence.

Someone is targeting him.

Moreover, the method is very direct—cutting off the transmission channels at the source.

He knew all too well the tricks of the trade in the entertainment industry.

First, cut off your channels of dissemination, so that no one can hear your work.

Then they'll buy articles to smear you and ruin your reputation.

In the end, no matter how talented you are, you can only slink away from the industry.

Lin Zhixing put down his phone.

coming.

He had long anticipated this day would come.

Liu Yilong is unlikely to let this go.

I just didn't expect it to come so quickly and with such ruthless methods.

Lin Zhixing picked up his phone and switched to the Weibo homepage.

Several new topics are rapidly rising on the trending topics list:

#Lin Zhixing's songs removed from all online platforms#

#Lin Zhixing Banned#

#The Truth Behind Lin Zhixing#

#Lin Zhixing's Character#

He clicked on the third topic.

It's full of smear articles posted by marketing accounts.

[Entertainment Gossip Guru]: "Exclusive scoop! Lin Zhixing had extremely poor character during his trainee days. He once groped female fans, and the company terminated his contract after multiple warnings went unheeded! Pictures and evidence included!"

The accompanying images are several blurry screenshots of chat logs, the content of which is extremely offensive.

[Music Industry Insider]: "Shocking! Lin Zhixing's songs are suspected of plagiarism; many of his works are highly similar to those of indie musicians abroad! Evidence has been released! Listen and compare for yourselves!"

The accompanying image is a waveform comparison chart of several audio segments, which looks very professional.

[Gossip Guru]: "Lin Zhixing got into The Voice of China through connections! Insiders reveal he didn't even participate in the auditions; he was directly pushed in through connections! The show's shady dealings are confirmed!"

The accompanying image is from a so-called "insider revelation," which is several hundred words long.

Each one was accompanied by so-called "solid evidence".

Chat screenshots, audio comparisons, insider revelations...

It looks like it has a nose and eyes.

The comments section is already in an uproar:

"Holy crap, really? Lin Zhixing is that disgusting?"

"I knew his popularity was abnormal; it turns out he plagiarized!"

"Backdoor admission? The Voice of China rigging confirmed!"

"Don't be fooled by what you're saying, this is obviously fake!"

"Yeah, that's what we said to him last time, and we got proven wrong!"

Lin Zhixing looked at these comments and sneered.

He was all too familiar with these tactics.

This was the same tactic used when Xinghuang was framed by Zhang Yue.

Photo editing, fabricating chat logs, hiring online trolls to stir up trouble...

There are only a few basic PR tactics used in the entertainment industry.

But it's useful.

Because most bystanders won't delve into the truth; they'll just enjoy the spectacle.

Just then, my phone vibrated again.

Chen Xi sent a message:

[Brother Zhixing! So many people on Weibo are attacking you! This is outrageous!]

[I've already sworn back for you! Don't look at the comments, they're infuriating!]

Next up is Song Zixuan:

[Brother Zhixing, don't worry, we all believe in you. Those rumors are obviously fake.]

Li Bowen:

[Brother Lin, should I ask someone to help clarify this? I know a few influential figures who can speak on my behalf.]

Gu Qingzhou also sent a message:

[Lin Zhixing, stay calm. Don't get involved in the conflict right now; it will only make things worse.]

Lin Zhixing felt a warm current surge in his heart as he read these messages.

At least, there are still people who believe in him.

He was about to reply when he suddenly noticed that the tone of the comments section was a bit off.

Suddenly, a large number of rebuttal comments appeared under the marketing accounts that were attacking him.

Moreover, it was a massive, dense, and overwhelming flood of posts.

"Hilarious, another chat screenshot? That's how I smeared him last time, and look what happened! He got proven wrong, didn't he?"

"Plagiarism? Can't you marketing accounts come up with something original? Trying to piggyback on the fame of niche foreign musicians? Do you think we won't investigate?"

"I just listened to that so-called 'original version,' and it's completely different! The melody is unlike anything I've heard, and the rhythm is different too!"

"Backdoor entry? What a joke! Lin Zhixing got four turns in the first season, is that considered backdoor entry? Does that mean all the other contestants got in through connections?"

"And can you haters please put in a little more effort? These chat screenshots are obviously photoshopped; the timestamps don't match up!"

Even more surprisingly, some people began to fight back, directing their anger elsewhere:

"Instead of wasting time criticizing Lin Zhixing, why don't you take a look at the scandals of the artists under a certain Huang Entertainment? Drug use, prostitution, tax evasion, you name it."

"Yeah, yeah, isn't Hyunwoo just someone who rose to fame through plastic surgery and creating on-screen couples? And he has the nerve to criticize others?"

"Hey guys upstairs, have you forgotten how Mr. Liu, the boss of a certain Huang, started his business? Should I spill the beans?"

Breaking news! We need a scoop!

"Alright, since you're curious, I'll tell you. Back when I was in the underworld, I was notoriously ruthless. There was a minor celebrity who didn't obey me, and he just..."

Besides these comments, there were also some comments from Lin Zhixing's fans.

【Ya Ya Loves Milk Tea】: Listen to advice team, assemble! Brother Lin is not that kind of person! Now that he's famous, you're bringing up his dirty laundry? Where were you before?

[Zhi Xing's Little Fan Girl]: I agree! What "chaotic private life"? I think some people are just jealous of Brother Lin's talent and deliberately trying to smear him! Brother Lin is either practicing singing or writing songs every day, how could he have time to mess around?

[Loves Braised Pork]: Exactly! Those so-called "solid evidence" chat logs are so obviously photoshopped! The timelines don't even match! Do they think we fans are idiots?

[Lin Ge's Little Cotton-padded Jacket]: Protect the best Lin Ge! We believe in you! Ignore those haters, focus on the game!

[I'm just a passerby]: Although I'm not a fan, judging from the intensity of this wave of gossip, it feels like someone is deliberately targeting him. These days, talented people are always the ones who get targeted.

These fans are also a precious asset to Lin Zhixing.

In an instant, the comment section turned into a battlefield.

Heilin Zhixing's marketing account was rendered speechless by the criticism, while Xinghuang Entertainment's scandals were exposed everywhere.

As Lin Zhixing read these comments, he gradually came to understand the situation.

This is something that ordinary fans cannot do.

While fans may be enthusiastic, they are unlikely to be this organized and disciplined.

Moreover, many of these counter-comments are accompanied by professional analysis and evidence, clearly indicating that someone is manipulating things behind the scenes.

Someone is helping him.

Moreover, it's a professional team.

Lin Zhixing thought for a moment, picked up his phone, and sent Ye Lan a WeChat message:

[Sister Lan, is that you?]

The other party replied:

What?

Just two words.

Lin Zhixing smiled and did not press the matter further.

He knew that Ye Lan would not admit it.

But at this point, who else could it be but her?

Moreover, only Ye Lan has the ability to mobilize such a large-scale online army and dig up dirt on Xinghuang Entertainment.

Lin Zhixing put down his phone, his mind filled with mixed feelings.

Ye Lan has already done a lot to help him.

He remembered this favor.

......

the other side.

Top floor office of Xinghuang Entertainment headquarters building.

Liu Yilong sat on a leather sofa, with a laptop on the coffee table in front of him.

On the screen is Weibo's real-time trending topics page.

Wang Qiang stood aside, cautiously reporting the situation.

"Mr. Liu, all major music platforms have removed Lin Zhixing's songs."

"Except for Penguin Music."

Liu Yilong frowned: "What did Tencent say?"

"They..." Wang Qiang wiped the sweat from his forehead, "are not very cooperative."

Explain yourself.

"I contacted the person in charge at Tencent Music," Wang Qiang said, forcing himself to speak. "They said they are an internet company and don't get involved in entertainment industry feuds."

"Moreover, Lin Zhixing's songs have a lot of traffic on their platform, and taking them down abruptly would affect the user experience."

"They refused our request."

Liu Yilong sneered: "Internet companies? To put it bluntly, they just value traffic and don't want to give up this lucrative business."

"Yes." Wang Qiang nodded. "Tencent is more difficult to deal with. The amount of capital behind them is too large, and they are not very constrained by the rules of the entertainment industry."

"Forget it." Liu Yilong waved his hand. "It's just one platform, it won't have a big impact. As long as other platforms take it down, Lin Zhixing's channels of dissemination will be cut off by more than half."

He turned on his computer screen and glanced at the trending topics on Weibo.

"How's the black draft going?"

"We've already arranged for hundreds of marketing accounts to publish articles." Wang Qiang took out his phone and showed it to Liu Yilong, "Plagiarism, poor character, backdoor dealings... we've used all the evidence we could."

"Furthermore, we also found several so-called insiders to expose Lin Zhixing's various misdeeds during his trainee period."

Liu Yilong glanced at it and nodded in satisfaction: "Good results. Keep up the pace; I want to completely ruin Lin Zhixing's reputation online."

"Yes."

Just as Wang Qiang was about to leave, Liu Yilong suddenly frowned.

"etc."

"Mr. Liu, what's wrong?"

Liu Yilong pointed to the computer screen: "Look at these comments."

Wang Qiang leaned over to take a look and saw that a large number of rebuttal comments suddenly appeared under those posts criticizing Lin Zhixing.

Moreover, the number is still increasing.

"This..." Wang Qiang's face was somewhat grim. "President Liu, it seems someone is helping Lin Zhixing."

"Nonsense!" Liu Yilong scoffed. "I'm not blind!"

He stared at the screen, his eyes darkening.

These comments are not scattered, but rather large-scale and organized.

Moreover, the counterattack was very strong, unlike the spontaneous actions of ordinary fans.

More importantly, these comments have begun to take the initiative, pointing the finger at Xinghuang Entertainment.

"Investigate," Liu Yilong said in a deep voice. "Find out exactly who's behind this."

"Yes." Wang Qiang nodded quickly.

"Oh, right," Liu Yilong suddenly remembered something, "how's the investigation into Lin Zhixing's background that I asked you to do going?"

"I've checked." Wang Qiang took out a document. "Lin Zhixing, 23 years old, parents are ordinary wage earners."

"I have no connections in the entertainment industry, and I don't have any big shots protecting me."

"When I was with Xinghuang, I was just a low-level trainee. In the end, Zhang Yue terminated my contract on the grounds of damage to my image."

Liu Yilong remained silent for a moment.

No background?

So what happened this time?

Suddenly, a large number of online trolls appeared to speak in support of Lin Zhixing.

Moreover, their counterattack was powerful and professional.

There must be someone pulling the strings behind this.

Moreover, they are people with money and resources.

"Could it be Ye Lan?" Wang Qiang asked tentatively.

Liu Yilong shook his head: "Unlikely."

Why?

"The relationship isn't close enough." Liu Yilong lit a cigar. "Lin Zhixing is just a student on Ye Lan's team. She wouldn't risk falling out with Xinghuang for a student."

"And..." he exhaled a puff of smoke, "Ye Lan never gets involved in these online trolls or smear campaigns. She's always been aloof and disdains such things."

Wang Qiang thought about it and felt it made sense.

Ye Lan is indeed very famous, but that's about it.

How much of a splash can a singer make in the face of capital?

"However..." Liu Yilong changed the subject, "we should still have someone investigate."

"Investigate what?"

"Since someone is helping Lin Zhixing, that person will eventually slip up."

"I'd like to see who's so foolish as to dare to oppose me, Liu Yilong."

Wang Qiang felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew that Liu Yilong was serious now.

"Yes, I'll arrange it right away."

Wang Qiang left the office.

Liu Yilong sat alone on the sofa, watching the comments constantly refreshing on his computer screen.

Lin Zhixing, oh Lin Zhixing.

Do you think you can escape just because someone is helping you?

In this industry, I, Liu Yilong, have the final say.

Anyone who dares to oppose me will be taught a lesson.

......

at the same time.

Yanjing, Yushuiwan luxury apartment.

Ye Lan sat on the sofa, with a laptop on the coffee table in front of her.

On the screen, there was also a real-time trending search page on Weibo.

Her agent, Sister Hong, stood to the side, her expression somewhat grave.

"Lanlan, Liu Yilong is acting very quickly," Sister Hong said. "Major music platforms have removed Lin Zhixing's songs, and marketing accounts are stirring up trouble like crazy."

"I know," Ye Lan said calmly, her gaze still fixed on the screen.

"However..." Sister Hong's expression relaxed a bit, "Our counterattack was also very effective. You see, the sentiment in the comments section has turned around."

She took out her phone and showed it to Ye Lan, "Those smear articles from those marketing accounts have basically been countered by our online army."

"Furthermore, we took the initiative and targeted Xinghuang Entertainment. Now, people online have started digging up dirt on Xinghuang."

Ye Lan glanced at it, a smile playing on her lips.

"Keep it up," she said. "We can't afford to lose this war of public opinion."

"I understand." Sister Hong nodded, but there was still some worry on her face. "But Lanlan, is it worth it for you to do this?"

"You let your brother use Yecheng's resources to help Lin Zhixing. What if your dad finds out...?"

"It's alright," Ye Lan interrupted her. "So what if they know? They'd find out sooner or later anyway."

"But..." Sister Hong hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"I know what you're worried about," Ye Lan said, looking at her. "You're afraid my dad will be angry, afraid it will affect my status in the family."

"But Sister Hong, some things can't be judged solely by immediate gains."

She stood up, walked to the French windows, and looked at the night view of Yanjing outside.

As dusk settles, the city shines exceptionally brightly in the night.

"Lin Zhixing is quite an interesting person," Ye Lan said softly.

"He is talented, principled, and has potential."

"Most importantly, he is not held hostage by capital. There are too few people like that in this industry."

She turned around and looked at Sister Hong.

"If he succeeds, then this investment of mine will be the most worthwhile deal I've ever made."

"If he fails..." Ye Lan smiled, "that's okay. At least I tried my best."

Hongjie looked at Ye Lan, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

She had followed Ye Lan for so many years, and this was the first time she had ever seen her go to such lengths for a newcomer.

She even went so far as to use her younger brother's resources at Yecheng Entertainment.

"Alright." Sister Hong sighed. "Since you've made up your mind, I'll fully cooperate."

"Thank you." Ye Lan patted her shoulder.

Sister Hong turned to leave, but suddenly remembered something and turned back to say, "Oh, right, Lanlan, there's something I need to remind you of."

"What is it?"

"Liu Yilong will definitely investigate," Sister Hong said seriously. "With his methods, he'll find out sooner or later that you're helping Lin Zhixing."

"At that point, he definitely won't let it go."

Ye Lan was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Let him investigate."

A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. "If Liu Yilong can control everything in the entertainment industry, can't I, Ye Lan, protect a student?"

"not to mention......"

She didn't continue speaking, but sat back down on the sofa and picked up her phone.

On the screen, Lin Zhixing's WeChat message was still there:

[Sister Lan, is that you?]

As she read the message, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

This kid is pretty smart.

but......

She did not reply.

Some things don't need to be said.

What's done is done.

Whether we admit it or not, it doesn't matter.

Outside the window, night began to fall in Yanjing.

Undercurrents were quietly surging in this city.