Rising to Fame Through Gossip

"Do you have any other ideas?" Shen Tong looked at the two and asked.

Chen Xiaoyong was stumped. She really didn't have any other ideas, but her strong vanity wouldn't let her lose face in front of Su Xiao. Her vintage red lips uttered a few words, "Just wait and see! Anyway, I won't participate!" With that, she stormed out, slamming the door.

Su Xiao then stood up and looked at Shen Tong, saying, "Do you really think this will make us famous?"

"We have to try no matter what. Opportunities will arise from this," Shen Tong confidently looked at the boy in front of her, smiling brightly.

Su Xiao repeated Shen Tong's words, then muttered, "Opportunities?" He tilted his head in confusion, looking at the ever-energetic Shen Tong, "But these shows aren't popular at all. Participating really won't help."

Shen Tong looked at the cold, handsome Su Xiao, who looked like a sculpture. At this moment, as he was thinking, he looked particularly handsome with a touch of childishness. She finally understood a bit why he had so many female fans - it was because he had a face that could deceive people of all ages! It was incredibly lethal. She spoke again, "Yes! Opportunities! Seize those fleeting opportunities. Even if they're small, we can't deny or refuse them. Besides, you're so handsome, fame is just a matter of time!"

"If I get old, doesn't that mean I can't become famous?" Su Xiao grasped the key point and asked.

Hearing this, Shen Tong thought for a moment. He meant that when he got old, he wouldn't be handsome anymore, so he couldn't become famous. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost came out. After a while, she stopped and said, "Su Xiao, you're so interesting. Look at Andy Lau, he's still famous now. As long as you have real ability, you'll shine one day!"

Su Xiao hadn't seen Shen Tong smile these past few days. She always had a faint expression of sadness, which made him feel uneasy. Now seeing her laugh heartily, he felt the world had brightened considerably, and his heart felt relieved. Thinking that it was because of him that she laughed, his heart felt sweet and joyful, and he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

"Oh, looks like our big star Su is in a good mood today," Shen Tong teased.

"No, I'm not," Su Xiao quickly retracted the expression on his face, returning to his aloof and cold demeanor.

But this didn't scare Shen Tong at all. She grinned and leaned in, using her two index fingers to lift the corners of his mouth, teasing, "Please smile more. I guarantee you'll become famous with just one smile."

Su Xiao turned his head and frowned slightly, seeming very dissatisfied with her action. Yet he also seemed to enjoy the feeling.

Their intimate appearance fell into Chen Xiaoyong's eyes. Chen Xiaoyong had originally planned to leave. Later, she realized she hadn't taken her handbag and came back to get it, only to see this scene. The seed of jealousy was already planted in her heart. It just needed nourishment from her jealousy to take root and sprout.

"Hey, Xiaoxiao, are you free recently?" Chen Xiaoyong's voice was sweet enough to drip. "You are? Then let's have dinner together, how about that? How about tonight?"

"Okay, okay, let's meet there," Chen Xiaoyong hung up the phone, a flash of smugness in her eyes, and then she started scrolling through her contacts again.

"Hello, Director Lu. Are you free recently?" Chen Xiaoyong asked seductively, leaning against the sofa. "It's nothing, just wanted to have dinner with you, to keep in touch, you know."

"Alright, how about tomorrow night?" Chen Xiaoyong said with a smile. "Good, good, see you then without fail!"

After making many phone calls, Chen Xiaoyong finally lay down on the sofa. She smiled smugly, her heart full of resentment and dissatisfaction. Just wait, Shen Tong, I'll become famous using my own methods, much more effective than yours. Then she got up to dress, put on makeup, and go out.

Night is when stars relax, and also when gossip reporters sharpen their eyes. But some people would deliberately leak information just to become famous.

Early the next morning, Chen Xiaoyong came to the company and arrogantly said to Shen Tong, "Did you see today's news? I'm the headline."

Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Shen Tong's eyes. She picked up the entertainment section and saw: "Chen Xiaoyong and Xiaoxiao entering and leaving a restaurant, what's their relationship?" There were also photos of her dining with the male star Xiaoxiao, looking very intimate. The article extensively described their ambiguous relationship.

It indeed made her a bit famous. Then she threw her phone to Shen Tong to look at, "How about that? My fan count has skyrocketed, right?" She looked very proud. "Let me tell you, relying on your method of participating in those small shows is completely unreliable, it's useless!"

Shen Tong sat in her seat, looking at Chen Xiaoyong who was leisurely painting her nails, and remained silent for a long time, seemingly lost in thought. Perhaps creating gossip was a good opportunity to rise to fame.

Su Xiao pushed open the door, breaking the silence, and coincidentally, Shen Tong's phone rang.

Chen Xiaoyong went to the side to pester Su Xiao.

"Hello? Is this Miss Shen? I'm the director, the one for the TV series that Su Xiao and Chen Xiaoyong are starring in," came the director's voice from the other end of the phone.

"Yes, yes, hello, I remember you. Is there something I can help with?" Shen Tong asked.

The director thought for a moment and said, "We'd like to invite you to participate in the promotion of our new film, that is, the press conference. It's the day after tomorrow. Do you have time?"

"Yes, yes, of course we do!" Shen Tong immediately said. "We'll be prepared and arrive on time. May I ask what time it is?"

"Three in the afternoon, and then there will be a party for the artists in the evening. We hope you can attend that too," the director said.

"Mm, alright, we'll definitely be there." Shen Tong replied.

"There's one small request. We hope Su Xiao can create a Weibo account and have some small interactions with our two female leads," the director suggested. "This can also indirectly increase the ratings."

"Okay, of course!" Shen Tong quickly agreed.

After some more casual conversation, Shen Tong finally hung up the phone. Looking at the two people in front of her, she seriously announced, "The director of the drama you filmed last time wants you to attend the press conference, and there's also a small party in the evening."

"Then you'll prepare the clothes," Chen Xiaoyong said matter-of-factly, her face full of joy.

"Most importantly, Su Xiao, you must create a Weibo account," Shen Tong turned her gaze to him.

"No," Su Xiao flatly refused the proposal, his face cold.

Shen Tong's face was stern, and she said in a tone that brooked no refusal, "You have to, even if you don't want to. It's the director's request. After creating the Weibo account, try to repost some Weibo posts with Sister Linda and Miss Chen, say some ambiguous things to attract people's attention. This way, they'll watch your new drama, and you'll become famous."

Chen Xiaoyong could hardly wait to have gossip with Su Xiao. Hearing this, she immediately said, "I have no problem with it! What about you, Su Xiao?"

"No," Su Xiao still coldly uttered two words, turning his head away from Shen Tong.

"Can you give a reason?" Shen Tong persisted.

Su Xiao was silent for a moment, then said arrogantly, "I just don't want to."

"Why? This can increase your exposure, and you'll have many fans," Chen Xiaoyong also tried to persuade him. She didn't want to lose this opportunity to get close and ambiguous with him.

Su Xiao didn't speak anymore, just facing them with his arrogant profile.

Shen Tong thought of a compromise and suggested, "How about this, I'll create the Weibo account for you, and be ambiguous with Miss Chen and Sister Linda on Weibo. This way, we can also complete the director's task. How about that?"

Su Xiao uttered a few words, "Do as you please."

Shen Tong looked at Su Xiao. Since he didn't refuse, it was still feasible. After all, the public wouldn't know who was behind the Weibo account. "Then it's settled. I'll manage this account for you first. When you want this account, just ask me."

Shen Tong sighed. Once Su Xiao decided on something, it was always irreversible. Further persuasion would be useless. However, Chen Xiaoyong kept trying to work on Su Xiao's thoughts, inviting him to have gossip with her. Su Xiao didn't even look at her. Probably feeling annoyed, he went to the basement to practice singing again, leaving behind a resentful and indignant Chen Xiaoyong.

In the afternoon, Shen Tong created the Weibo account, introducing herself in Su Xiao's tone, and immediately reposted a large number of promotional videos for the new drama. The reposted language was also quite ambiguous, replying back and forth with Sister Linda and Chen Xiaoyong, leaving people confused. Of course, thanks to Sister Linda and Chen Xiaoyong's reposts, Su Xiao's Weibo also gained a large number of fans, including many of Su Xiao's own fans.

The next day's headline was Chen Xiaoyong again. This time it said she went out drinking with a certain director in the first half of the night, and sang with a certain star in the second half of the night. There were several blurry photos attached. The title was "Chen Xiaoyong's Night Meetings, Is There a Casting Couch?"

Chen Xiaoyong smiled smugly, touching her nails and saying proudly to Shen Tong, "How about that? Explosive enough, right? I've prepared many more!"

Shen Tong's face was full of exasperation, but she still said, "Although your method is effective, these stars will eventually know it was you."

Chen Xiaoyong looked at her with disdain, her eyes containing a clear understanding of this circle, "You think they don't already know? They just pretend not to know. Actually, they understand very clearly, but they just don't expose it. It's for this headline, one willing to hit, one willing to be hit. What's the problem? Don't I understand this circle? They'll do anything to become famous. What's there to be afraid of? When we become famous, we can explain it away, saying we're just friends or something. This is just the first step to becoming famous, creating gossip. When everyone is paying attention to me, we'll move on to the second step, participating in various variety shows. Then naturally, people will find you to act in films because you're famous."

Shen Tong asked, "Is it as easy as you say? Anything done through shortcuts isn't solid."

"Didn't you use to create gossip for me?" Chen Xiaoyong said disdainfully. "How is this any different?"

Shen Tong was speechless, pondering the feasibility of creating gossip. Now Chen Xiaoyong was gradually becoming famous, but Su Xiao was still silent. Even his Weibo was being managed by her, and he had very few fans on Weibo. Chen Xiaoyong knew how to seize opportunities to create chances for herself, so she could be left alone for now. It seemed that more effort needed to be put into him, otherwise, he might just be buried.