The atmosphere in the lounge felt as if it had been hit with a pause button.
The people who had been energetic enough to start a dance party just moments ago were now wilted and dejected, like eggplants hit by frost. After all, the name "Prosperity Entertainment" was like a massive mountain in the entertainment industry, one so heavy it made it hard to breathe.
"They've made a move? What kind of move?" Ms. Gu was the first to break the silence. Her tone was unnervingly calm, as if she were talking about a neighbor's missing chicken rather than her own affairs.
Zhang Chen swallowed hard, struggling to steady himself. "Prosperity Entertainment... they’ve started spreading rumors against you. They're saying you’re difficult to work with, that you’ve been double-booking roles, and that you… you have improper relationships with several investors."
"Pfft—" Pei Yanzhou nearly spat out his water. "Good grief, what century are we in? They're still using such outdated tactics? Do they think the audience is stupid?"
Ms. Gu, however, didn't have much of a reaction. Having spent so many years grinding her way through the entertainment industry, what kind of storms hadn't she seen? This level of smear campaign was child's play.
"Anything else besides that?" she asked.
Zhang Chen shook his head. "That’s all for now, but... but Prosperity Entertainment certainly won't let it go at that."
"That goes without saying," Ms. Gu sneered. "If they only had this much ability, would they even deserve to be called 'Prosperity'?"
"So... what do we do now?" Zhang Chen asked, somewhat panicked.
Ms. Gu and Pei Yanzhou exchanged a look.
"Stay steady, don't panic," Ms. Gu said slowly. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. If they want to play dirty, we’ll play along until the very end. But remember, don't lose your composure or show any weaknesses."
Pei Yanzhou nodded, adding, "Exactly. The most important thing now is to figure out their game plan and see what they’re actually up to. Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win every battle."
"I’m going to contact He Min," Ms. Gu said, picking up her phone and dialing a number.
The phone rang a few times before being picked up.
"Hello, Minmin, I need a favor..." Ms. Gu concisely explained the situation and asked He Min to help uncover the retaliatory measures Prosperity Entertainment might be planning.
On the other end, He Min’s voice remained optimistic and cheerful. "Don't worry, Ms. Gu, leave it to me! I’ll mobilize all my connections and get to the bottom of this! If they dare to bully my girl, I’ll make them pay dearly!"
After hanging up, Ms. Gu let out a long breath. With He Min’s help, she felt a bit more confident.
"How was it? What did He Min say?" Pei Yanzhou asked.
Ms. Gu smiled. "She said it's no problem and she'll help us get it cleared up as soon as possible."
"That’s good." Pei Yanzhou nodded, then furrowed his brows. "However, we can't just wait for news from He Min. Prosperity Entertainment won't give us much time; we must take the initiative and strike first."
"What do you want to do?" Ms. Gu asked.
Pei Yanzhou smiled mysteriously. "Naturally… give them a taste of their own medicine!"
For the next few days, Ms. Gu and Pei Yanzhou barely closed their eyes. On one hand, they had to deal with the public opinion offensive from Prosperity Entertainment, and on the other, they were secretly investigating their conspiracies.
He Min’s efficiency was high. She soon sent Ms. Gu a file detailing recent movements by Prosperity Entertainment and the potential retaliatory methods they might employ.
Prosperity Entertainment was indeed up to no good. They were plotting a PR war against Ms. Gu, attempting to further smear her image through the media, and even planning to hire "internet trolls" to spread rumors and incite the uninformed public.
"These guys are truly insidious!" Pei Yanzhou slammed the table after reading the file.
"If they weren't insidious, how could they have risen to such prominence in the entertainment industry?" Ms. Gu seemed calm, as if she had expected all of this.
"Then what do we do now? We can't just sit here and wait for death, right?" Zhang Chen asked anxiously.
"Of course we won't just sit here," Ms. Gu sneered. "Since they want to play a war of public opinion, we'll play along! Only this time, we’ll make them reap what they’ve sown!"
Ms. Gu and Pei Yanzhou consulted and decided to preempt them by uniting with several reliable media outlets to expose the plans of Prosperity Entertainment in advance.
That evening, Ms. Gu posted a statement on her social media, exposing the conspiracy.
"Recently, I discovered that a certain company is secretly plotting a PR war against me, attempting to smear my image and spread false rumors through the media. I am deeply shocked and angered by this. I have always upheld the principles of integrity and professionalism, working hard to bring better works to the audience. I firmly believe that the clear will remain clear, and the muddy will remain muddy. I will not bow to any malicious forces; I will use my work to prove my value! At the same time, I appeal to the vast number of netizens to keep their eyes sharp and not be blinded by false information. The truth will eventually come to light!"
Once published, this statement immediately caused a massive stir. Netizens left comments one after another, expressing their support for Ms. Gu and condemning the despicable actions of Prosperity Entertainment.
"Ms. Gu is mighty! We support you! We believe in you!"
"Prosperity Entertainment is truly disgusting! To use such tactics against someone!"
"There is only one truth! We will always stand by Ms. Gu!"
Public opinion turned in Ms. Gu's favor, and the conspiracy of Prosperity Entertainment was nipped in the bud before it could even be implemented.
Seeing Ms. Gu’s counterattack, Lin Haoran was so angry he nearly smashed up his office. "That bitch! How dare she ruin my plans!" he roared.
"Mr. Lin, what do we do now? Our plans have been exposed, how can we proceed?" his subordinate asked, trembling.
Lin Haoran gritted his teeth. "Even if the plan is exposed, I won't let her off! Contact a few media outlets and have them continue to publish negative reports about Ms. Gu! I don't believe I can't take her down!"
Soon, several media outlets began publishing more negative reports about Ms. Gu, with even more sensational content that even involved her family background and personal life.
Looking at these reports, the expressions of Ms. Gu and Pei Yanzhou grew increasingly grim.
"These guys truly stop at nothing," Pei Yanzhou cursed angrily.
"The more they do this, the more it shows they have a guilty conscience," Ms. Gu said calmly. "We cannot let them lead us by the nose. We must fight back and completely expose their true colors!"
Ms. Gu and Pei Yanzhou decided to unite with other artists and media outlets to expose Lin Haoran and Prosperity Entertainment together. They contacted artists who were on good terms with them, as well as media outlets with a conscience, hoping they would stand up and speak out.
"Ms. Gu, I support you in this! Prosperity Entertainment should have been exposed long ago. They’ve been riding roughshod over the industry, relying on their power, and have long since incurred public wrath!"
"Ms. Gu, if there is anything I can do to help, just say the word! My voice may be small, but I will do my best to support you!"
"Ms. Gu, we have always admired your talent and character. We will stand on your side this time and help expose the truth for you!"
With their support, Ms. Gu and Pei Yanzhou felt even more empowered. They began collecting dirt on Lin Haoran and Prosperity Entertainment, preparing to deliver a fatal blow at the right moment.
However, just as they were busily preparing their counterattack, unexpected news caught them off guard.
"Ms. Gu, Lin Haoran wants to meet you," Zhang Chen said, stuttering.
"Meet?" Ms. Gu arched her eyebrows, a cold sneer tugging at the corner of her mouth. "What does he want?"
"He says... he says he wants to talk to you and resolve the misunderstandings," Zhang Chen said.
"Resolve the misunderstandings?" Pei Yanzhou sneered. "Would he be that kind? I think he’s trying to pull some sort of trick."
Ms. Gu pondered for a moment and said, "Go. Why not? I’d like to see exactly what kind of game he wants to play."
"Ms. Gu, be careful! I'm afraid he might do something to you," Zhang Chen said worriedly.
Ms. Gu smiled and patted Zhang Chen on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I want to see exactly how capable he, Lin Haoran, really is!"
For a secret meeting, Ms. Gu accepted the invitation. She wanted to know what medicine Lin Haoran was selling in his gourd...
The atmosphere in the private room for the secret meeting felt as if it had been hit with a mute effect, leaving only the sound of Ms. Gu's fingertips lightly tapping on the table—tap, tap—making one’s heart race with anxiety.
"So, the other side knows all about our plans?" Pei Yanzhou’s peach-blossom eyes narrowed, losing his usual playful grin, looking like a panther that had caught the scent of danger.
"A mole. You really can't guard against that," He Min rolled her eyes, her tone tinged with annoyance. "When I get back, I’m going to interrogate everyone in the studio one by one to see who’s been turning their back on us!"
Ms. Gu waved her hand, signaling her to stay calm. "Now is not the time to assign blame. The most urgent task is to think about what to do next." Her gaze swept over the friends sitting there; their expressions were equally grave.
They had prepared this plan for a long time. It was supposed to be a beautiful backstab to Prosperity Entertainment, but to have it intercepted ahead of time was truly infuriating.
"Since they know our plan, they will definitely have set up defenses in advance," a male artist said in a low voice. "We must change our strategy and find another way."
"Easier said than done," another female artist sighed. "Prosperity Entertainment is deeply rooted in this industry. Trying to topple them is harder than reaching the heavens."
The room fell into silence again, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe. Ms. Gu took a deep breath, trying hard to keep herself calm. She knew that now was not the time to be discouraged; the more critical the moment, the more she had to keep a clear head.
"Everyone," Ms. Gu spoke slowly. Her voice was not loud, but it was full of strength. "I know this operation is high-risk, but we have no way back. Since they already know our plan, then we will pretend to go along with it..." She paused, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of her mouth. "Let them think they have everything under control, and then... catch them off guard!"
Pei Yanzhou watched Ms. Gu. He admired her courage in the face of danger, and he believed that she would lead everyone out of this predicament.
"Ms. Gu, we'll listen to you!"
"That's right, Ms. Gu, tell us what to do, and we’ll do it!"
With everyone working together, Ms. Gu felt a bit more confident. She believed that as long as they were united, they would surely overcome this powerful enemy, Prosperity Entertainment.
"Good. Since that's the case, we will..."
Before Ms. Gu could finish, her phone suddenly rang, displaying an unfamiliar number on the screen. She frowned slightly and answered.
"Hello, who is this?"
A low, slightly hoarse voice came from the other side.
"Good evening, Ms. Gu. This is Lin Haoran..."