Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapter 279, Page 280: A Thrilling Press Conference
When the investigation team released its findings, Lin Xiao was stunned.

He never imagined it would end like this.

During the investigation, the investigation team naturally spoke with him, the person involved, and more than once.

But during the discussion...

The head of the investigation team was friendly and kind to him throughout the entire process.

The appreciation and goodwill that couldn't be hidden in their eyes or words were completely genuine; it wasn't the fake politeness or pretense of a seasoned office worker.

This attitude instantly put Lin Xiao's initial anxiety at ease.

He felt that there shouldn't be anything serious, and that the investigation was just a formality to give the general public an explanation.

Never imagined.

The investigation team's findings implicated both his father-in-law and mother-in-law, while he himself escaped unscathed.

Lin Xiao was dumbfounded.

He simply couldn't be complacent about his "complete escape".

On the contrary, he was fine, but his father-in-law and mother-in-law were punished. This result was worse than death for him.

He would rather bear all the punishment, insults, and cyberbullying himself than let his innocent father-in-law and mother-in-law take the punishment for him.

what is this?
On the surface, they don't punish him, but in reality, they humiliate him through psychological means.
If that was indeed their intention, then it must be said that they succeeded.

Lin Xiao is now living a life worse than death!
However, he knew that based on his interactions with the head of the investigation team, none of his comrades should have such a perverse interest.

The team leader genuinely admired him, and at the same time, he himself was genuinely fine.

As for her promotion to deputy section chief, Liu Liyun was indeed aware that Lin Xiao had become her son-in-law, but she did not truthfully explain this to the organization during the promotion process.

Even though Lin Xiao reminded his mother-in-law of this point back then, she didn't think it mattered.

If it hadn't caused such a huge online uproar.

That little detail is indeed insignificant, and no one will bother to investigate it further.

But now, since their family's various misdeeds have become known throughout the entire internet.

Upon closer examination, this matter, at its most minor, is "not in accordance with the promotion procedures," and at its most serious, it is "illegal promotion" and "violation of organizational discipline."

From this perspective...

It is reasonable and justifiable for Liu Liyun to be punished; she is not wronged.

As for the South Korean Navy.

Lin Xiao is still unable to determine whether his resignation as mayor of Yizhou was related to the incident of him taking his daughter shopping at a luxury store.

From a rational perspective.

Lin Xiao felt that things were definitely not that simple.

After all, the news of the father-in-law's resignation went viral before it became a trending topic.

Without considering responding to public concerns or calming online public opinion, this kind of thing is actually not a big deal, and it doesn't even count as a violation of discipline or regulations, since no public funds were used to purchase luxury goods.

Therefore, even if the organization was aware of this situation.

At most, they would give a warning or a lesson; it would be far from warranting dismissal—that would be too terrifying.

Therefore, Lin Xiao judged that there must be something else going on here.

But even after he pressed his father-in-law for an answer several times, he gave up. Perhaps the matter was too high-level for him to be qualified to hear, so he simply stopped asking.

No matter what the truth is.

The recent trending topic has brought the issue of the father-in-law's punishment from within the organization to the forefront of public attention.

Even if the result is still the same.

However, for the South Korean Navy, a smooth landing internally and a public humiliation online are completely different in terms of public image.

And all of this is entirely thanks to him having a good son-in-law.

After all, if Lin Xiao hadn't taken that "sugar baby" photo, if Ma Yao's identity hadn't become the focus of the entire internet, if he hadn't offended Zhong Jiawen and triggered that crazy woman's insane revenge... the Han family's affairs would never have attracted the attention of the entire internet, and Han Haijun wouldn't have been so humiliated.

After Lin Xiao understood the ins and outs, he felt as if he had a thorn in his side and a fishbone stuck in his throat.

He couldn't sit still any longer.

If he were the one being disciplined, he could accept whatever punishment was given without batting an eye.

But now he's perfectly fine.

My father-in-law and mother-in-law, who spent their entire lives as leaders and striving for face, are now being publicly humiliated online...

Lin Xiao felt extremely ashamed, and he fell into the most painful, unbearable, and frantic phase of his twelve years of transmigration.

He couldn't stay calm any longer.

I made several decisions the moment I saw the survey results.

The first thing to do is to hold a press conference to face the major media outlets and netizens across the country, taking all the disputes and conflicts upon myself, and resolutely not letting my parents-in-law suffer all of this in silence.

He told his wife, Han Xixi, about the idea.

Xi Xi was still in a daze because of the investigation results, and her mind couldn't process anything.

She is the only one in her family who doesn't work in the public sector.

Therefore, after so many days of investigation, the provincial investigation team's final findings focused on Han Haijun, Liu Liyun, and Lin Xiao, but made no mention of her.

As a result, while the entire internet was abuzz with discussion about the survey results, the female protagonist herself was forgotten.

Han Xixi inexplicably became a survivor of this online bullying and trending topic.

But she felt no joy whatsoever.

She felt the same way as Lin Xiao, both feeling deeply humiliated by their parents' public execution.

She willingly endured all of this herself.

"Hold a press conference?" Xi Xi was a little confused.

"Correct!"

Lin Xiao said firmly, "Once the investigation results are released, they definitely can't be changed. But the trending topics online were initially directed at the two of us. We can't just sit here and wait to see the pressure of public opinion fall on your parents."

Xi Xi nodded, approving of Lin Xiao's plan.

But soon he became doubtful again.

"But what is the purpose of holding a press conference, and what are they going to say?"

"The goal is to directly address the questions raised online!"

Lin Xiao said, "Instead of letting netizens speculate and argue, it's better to open a direct channel to address all online controversies and questions. There are several advantages to doing this."

"Firstly, it demonstrates our proactive attitude and shows that we haven't done anything wrong, so we have nothing to be ashamed of."

"Secondly, we want to shift netizens' attention from your parents to the two of us, helping to alleviate the pressure from public opinion on them."

"Thirdly, we should explain the whole story clearly so that netizens can have their fill of gossip and avoid dwelling on it forever. What do you think?"

Xi Xi was still a little confused, and nodded blankly.

"But... given your background, can you attend a press conference without organizational approval?"

"You have to participate even if you can't."

Lin Xiao's tone was firm, even urgent, "Let the organization deal with it if they want. At worst, I'll just resign and quit, so I won't end up like this, feeling so pathetic!"

Xixi sensed her husband's emotions and gradually calmed down.

She stepped forward and threw herself into his arms.

The sudden intimacy and warmth instantly calmed Lin Xiao's anxious emotions.

“Brother, since you’ve made your decision, I support you. The company has also been thinking about this, but I didn’t say anything because I was afraid you wouldn’t agree… Now that things have developed to this point, everything that should and shouldn’t have been exposed has been exposed, so we have nothing to be afraid of anymore. Let’s do as you said, hold a press conference, and explain everything clearly!”

Han Xixi's tone was firm, and her emotions finally calmed down.

Lin Xiao breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Honey, will you blame me?"

"What's your fault?"

"It's my fault... If I hadn't taken that picture of you and your dad by mistake and posted it online, none of this would have happened!"

Lin Xiao looked ashamed.

Xi Xi frowned, seriously considering his words. Clearly, too much had happened these past few days, and she hadn't yet considered this essential relationship.

Now that things have suddenly become clear, I really feel like I've had an epiphany.

However, she then smiled and said, "It's better to blame myself than to blame you. When my dad said he wanted to give my mom a birthday present, I suggested going to the mall to buy her a bag. My dad initially refused, but I kept saying that fifty is a big birthday, and my mom has been frugal all her life, so she should get something nice... That's when my dad finally agreed."

Lin Xiao remained silent, uncomforted by his wife's words.

Xi Xi sighed and smiled: "What happened today was all a series of unforeseen events; none of us could have predicted it. If we're really blaming someone, you're responsible, and I'm responsible too... This might be what they call 'betraying one's father,' right?"

A self-deprecating remark made Lin Xiao laugh.

The couple both smiled helplessly.

Although they didn't want things to come to this, they can't shirk the responsibility they have to bear.

Lin Xiao has decided that once everything is settled, he will give his parents-in-law an explanation.

However, holding a press conference is more urgent right now.

……

Under Han Xixi's arrangement, Feihong Entertainment quickly prepared for the press conference.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Despite the scandal involving Han Xixi's family being widely known online, Feihong Entertainment, as one of the capital players in the entertainment industry, immediately recognized that Han Xixi, as the person involved, had not suffered any fundamental damage, so there was no question of her leaving the industry or being blacklisted.

As long as this bottom line is maintained, her status as the highest-earning artist in Fei Hong Entertainment's music sector will remain unchanged.

Feihong Entertainment will never give up on her and her husband Lin Xiao, these two cash cows.

So these days.

Even though the online uproar was deafening, Fei Hong's public relations department remained calm and kept urging Han Xixi to stand up, hold a press conference, and actively respond to the situation in order to win back public favor with a positive attitude.

Fei Hong's public relations strategy is sound.

However, Han Xixi was really confused lately. After all, her three closest relatives, her father, her mother, and her husband, were involved. Even though she was usually rational and smart, she immediately became lost and hesitant after giving birth and experiencing family changes, and she couldn't make up her mind.

Now that Lin Xiao has taken the initiative to hold a press conference, it has put her at ease.

After speaking with his agent, Chen Jiajia, on the phone.

Feihong acted swiftly, renting the largest banquet hall at Ninghai's most luxurious five-star hotel and announcing that a press conference would be held on May 26 and broadcast live online.

The news quickly attracted attention from the entire internet and major media outlets.

After all, in the entire entertainment industry right now, when it comes to popularity, no one dares to claim to be number one if Han Xixi says she's second.

She's a rising star, a celebrity of the century, and a walking embodiment of popularity and buzz.

It's hard for netizens not to pay attention.

Moreover, Fei Hong Entertainment's announcement specifically stated that the main figures at the press conference were "Han Xixi and her husband".

Although no names were mentioned.

But everyone on the internet knows who Han Xixi's "husband" is.

This veiled, ambiguous tone is more likely to tantalize netizens than simply stating Lin Xiao's name in the announcement.

It has the public completely hooked.

As soon as the announcement was released, Feihong Entertainment's stock price soared, hitting the daily limit.

Speculative capital in the stock market is the most astute.

Amidst the surge in stock prices, major media outlets are scrambling to secure interview slots, video websites and short video platforms are vying for live streaming channels, and even many top-tier brands are seeking sponsorship and collaboration opportunities.

As a top-tier entertainment company, Fei Hong's staff are all quite worldly-wise.

After the announcement was released, the public relations department was overwhelmed with phone calls.

Everyone was utterly puzzled: No, this is supposed to be a press conference, not a concert, fan meeting, or film and television investment conference, right?!

As an entertainment industry professional.

Those within Feihong were actually the least perceptive of the extent of Han Xixi and Lin Xiao's popularity, far less excited and direct than netizens.

But at this moment, they also realized something profound.

Feihong has so many top-tier celebrities and big names, but in terms of popularity, buzz, and commercial value, no one can compare to Han Xixi now.

Even though she did nothing.

But that's the terrifying part. What so many people struggle their whole lives for—to "break out of their comfort zone"—is as easy as breathing for them. Isn't that infuriating?
No matter how the world shakes or how heated the situation becomes.

The press conference was held on time at 10:5 AM on May 26.

This day was actually only two days after the special investigation team of Nanzhou Province released its investigation results.

The online live streaming channel was seized by Douyin. The live streaming channel had been opened half an hour earlier. The simple blue stage was empty, but it still attracted more than 60 netizens to enter, and the comment section was filled with people reserving their spots.

Keep in mind that this is 9:30 a.m. on a weekday, which is when traffic on major internet platforms is at its lowest.

This clearly demonstrates just how incredibly popular Han Xixi and Lin Xiao are.

Of course, for now, this doesn't seem like something to be proud of.

The press conference started promptly at 10:00 AM.

The banquet hall, which is over 400 square meters, was already packed with media outlets and online social media. The scene was bustling with noise and people, with cameras and microphones pointed at the empty stage.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi entered the venue under the guidance of the host.

The scene instantly erupted in commotion, with flashes from cameras making the stage look like it was exploding with white phosphorus, and the number of viewers in the live stream had already reached 200 million.

The comments section was scrolling wildly, like a madman.

However, we can still see that the two most frequently posted comments are "He's here" and "So handsome".

It is evident that Lin Xiao actually receives more attention than Han Xixi.

On the blue dais.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi sat side by side, with their chairs nearly a meter apart.

Lin Xiao is not in the entertainment industry, so he was somewhat uncomfortable in this kind of situation.

But soon, his deep-seated memory of being a top star was triggered.

His expression instantly calmed down.

Under the table, he squeezed his wife's hand, offering her some comfort.

Xi Xi gave her a calm smile, a moment that was captured by reporters.

Given that Lin Xiao's purpose in holding the press conference was to provide the entire internet with a juicy gossip session, the conference agenda skipped his and Han Xixi's speeches and only included a Q&A session with reporters.

The press conference has officially begun.

The reporter immediately asked, "Mr. Lin Xiao, what are your thoughts on the investigation results released by the Nanzhou Province investigation team the day before yesterday?"

The first problem is the tough part.

Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow, knowing that this question was difficult to answer and that one could easily fall into a trap if one was not careful.

He was certainly dissatisfied with the result, but that was the provincial special investigation team!

Even if you have emotions, you can't show them at all!
It wasn't that he was afraid or wanted to have a backup plan, but he really couldn't afford to cause any more trouble for his parents-in-law.

Fortunately, he had already prepared for this.

Didn't you just throw out your trump card right away? Coincidentally, I have my trump card too.

Let's bombard each other!

Facing the camera, he smiled calmly: "I respect and acknowledge the investigation team's findings, and I am grateful to the organization for protecting me, a young cadre. In fact, as a section-level cadre who was promoted two ranks in two years, whether it was due to organizational recognition or family support, as the sole beneficiary, I should be the one most held accountable when problems arose in the promotion process."

"I am holding this press conference today to give the most positive response and the most sincere apology to the organization that nurtured me, the leaders who cared for me, and the netizens who cared about me. To show my sincerity, I will submit my resignation to the organization after the press conference. At the same time, I also promise here that I will never engage in music creation again. I will return to my family and resolutely refrain from taking up public resources. Thank you all!"

His words stunned everyone present, including Han Xixi sitting next to him.

The live stream chat exploded, and the comments section took a sudden turn for the worse.

"????"

"Did I miss something? Wasn't this supposed to be a press conference? How did it turn into a resignation and retirement press conference?"

"No, no one asked you to quit your job, no one asked you to leave the industry!"

"No, no, if you don't write songs, whose songs will I listen to?"

What are you doing?!

"What's going on? Why did they pull this stunt right from the start?"

"Ma Yao is so handsome! He and Han Xixi are a perfect match!"

"I knew today's press conference would be explosive!"

"No, I just became a fan of your looks and you're telling me you're leaving the entertainment industry?"

"No, no, that's not true. The investigation of your family didn't find any serious problems. You're an absolutely model family. We like you more than anything!"

"Exactly! Take back what you said right now, and I'll pretend I didn't hear it!!"

"Goodness, this is a masterful strategy of retreating to advance and defending to attack. He's definitely a promising talent for working within the system!"

"..."

The comments section was filled with madness, while the press conference was in complete chaos.

It took a long time for the emotions at the scene to calm down.

The press conference continued.

Given that Lin Xiao threw a bomb right away, catching everyone off guard.

As a result, many media outlets and internet celebrities who initially came with ill intentions all fell silent, each becoming more gentle, courteous, frugal, and modest than the last.

The reporter asked, "Mr. Lin, why do you use a stage name for your songwriting instead of your real name?"

Lin Xiao replied, "There's no special reason. If I had to say, it's that I never thought about working full-time as a music composer, and that's exactly what happened later."

The reporter asked, "With your creative talent, you could easily become a great musician. Why don't you want to be a full-time musician?"

Lin Xiao replied, "I am not a professional musician and do not have solid basic skills. I write songs entirely based on inspiration. But inspiration is very unreliable, which is why my first song, 'Later,' was written eight years ago, while the following songs were released in the last two years."

The reporter asked excitedly, "Then can I understand that your later songs, such as 'Human World,' 'Warm,' and 'The Magic of Love,' were all inspired by your interactions with Han Xixi?"

As soon as the question was asked, the professional Q&A session immediately shifted to emotional analysis, and the atmosphere of gossip intensified.

On the podium, Han Xixi also looked at Lin Xiao with curiosity.

Lin Xiao gave his wife a gentle smile, then turned to face the camera and said, "That's right. These songs can completely represent the whole process of how I fell in love with my wife, and they are also the source of my creative inspiration."

"So, Xi Xi is your muse?"

"That's right!"

Lin Xiao smiled calmly, "However, I need to correct you on one point. The song 'The Magic of Love' was co-written by my wife and me, not by me alone!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room exclaimed "Oh!" and the gossip reached its peak.

The same is true in the comments section.

"It's so sweet!"

"I thought it was a partnership based on mutual interests, but it turns out it's true love!"

"I knew it! The ship I ship will never fall apart! Shippers are ecstatic!"

"Words can lie, but eyes don't. The love in this young couple's eyes is practically overflowing!"

"I hit it, I hit it!"

"Wait, you guys are still shipping them? Have you forgotten that Lin Xiao just said he won't write songs anymore?!"

"..."

The press conference continues.

The reporters grew increasingly excited, and one began asking Han Xixi, "Xixi, is it true that you are pregnant and have given birth?"

Xi Xi was nervous too.

After all, she hasn't faced the camera for a year since she found out she was pregnant.

Looking at this room full of cameras and microphones, I'm really nervous.

But Lin Xiao's few words just now calmed her down instantly.

She simply smiled gently and nodded, saying, "Yes!"

"Unplanned pregnancy?"

"Uh, it wasn't an accident."

"That's what was planned?"

"Correct."

These words caused another wave of commotion at the scene.

The live stream comment section quickly split into two camps: one side was so engrossed in the drama that they almost fainted, while the other side was criticizing the reporter for not asking questions and then cursing his entire family.

Reporters on the scene naturally couldn't see these things.

One person pressed on, "But Xixi, you're only 24 years old this year, and your career is going so well. This is the golden age for a singer. Why did you decide to have a child at this age?"

After hearing this, Han Xixi and Lin Xiao exchanged a glance and smiled gently.

Xi Xi said, "I think having children has nothing to do with age or career success; it only depends on whether you want to have children. Anyway, when my husband and I decided to have a child... I really wanted to!"

Her words, spoken with a touch of shyness, immediately drew a chorus of "Oh!"s from the audience.

Millions of people, both online and offline, were like they were all on a high, having an incredibly exciting time.

Then someone in the comments section poured cold water on the idea.

"Still shipping them? Lin Xiao's stopped writing songs, and Han Xixi probably won't sing anymore either, and you guys still have the nerve to be happy?!"

The press conference continued.

The reporter then proceeded to ask detailed questions about how Lin Xiao and Han Xixi met, the details of their relationship, Lin Xiao's decision to participate in the "Young Seedling Project" and his work in Chaobai Town.

Clearly, it stemmed from genuine curiosity, and they had done their homework before the press conference, thoroughly reviewing all the leaks online.

Lin Xiaojun answered all questions without reservation.

He didn't have anything to hide anyway, and besides, today's press conference was meant to give the whole internet a good dose of gossip, so naturally he wouldn't hold back.

Moreover, the reporter's follow-up question actually had a deeper meaning.

Asking about the details of their relationship is to confirm that he and Xixi are a real couple, and not just putting on an act in front of the entire internet.

The purpose of asking about his work was to confirm that the booming development of the cultural tourism industry in Chaobai Town, which went from nothing to a major boom in just one year, was indeed his doing, and not a fabricated story.

After all... this kind of thing has happened quite a few times in recent years, and everyone is used to it.

However, Lin Xiao answered all the questions with ease.

Let's not even look at what he said!
His calm and composed demeanor, as well as his eloquent and articulate manner, demonstrate that his relationship with Han Xixi is genuine, and that his remarkable achievements during his work period are also real.

An hour passed quietly in this question-and-answer session.

The number of viewers in the live stream did not decrease; instead, it surged to 400 million, which proves that Lin Xiao's answer was insightful and did not disappoint netizens. On the contrary, it attracted more and more people to stay in the front row to watch the drama even on weekdays.

At the start of the press conference, many people in the comments section were just there to watch the spectacle and see the joke unfold.

But by this point, the voices questioning Lin Xiao and Han Xixi had completely disappeared.

Even at the press conference, some reporters who originally had ill intentions were completely impressed by Lin Xiao's ability, demeanor, and eloquence.

A female reporter, her eyes sparkling, asked, "Mr. Lin, you are not only a talented music creator, but also a capable and compassionate public servant. You just said you want to resign from your current job and retire from the music creation industry..."

"If you really do that, I dare say it will be a huge loss not only to the music industry, but also to the organization and the people. So what I want to ask is, what you just said was just said in anger, not really, right?"

The press conference fell silent immediately after these words were spoken.

Hundreds of people, some carrying equipment, others holding microphones, all focused their reluctant eyes on Lin Xiao, hoping for a positive answer from him.

Facing the spotlight.

Lin Xiao looked sorrowful and sighed, "I'm sorry, I really don't want my family to suffer any more attention or harm because of my work, hobbies, or relationships. So, I've decided to resign and stop writing songs... I'm sorry!"

As he spoke, he stood up and bowed sincerely to the camera.

Han Xixi was stunned for a long time before she roughly understood what her husband was about to do.

He quickly stood up and bowed solemnly to the camera.

The couple acted as if they were worshipping heaven and earth.

Everyone on the scene was stunned.

In the live stream, millions of viewers were stunned, never expecting Lin Xiao to be so resolute.

After a series of lamentations, a comment started flooding the screen.

"You've all had your fun cursing, are you all satisfied now?!"

(End of this chapter)