Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapter 280, page 281: A press conference? A new song release conference!
The press conference lasted an hour and a half.

The atmosphere at the huge venue had completely changed.

Before the press conference, the reporters' expressions and thoughts were like this:

"I'd like to see just who this Lin Xiao is!"

"Trying to whitewash your image with a press conference, huh? Dream on!"

"I've seen plenty of people who seek fame and fortune, but today I'll expose your true colors!"

Now, the arrogance on the reporters' faces and the inherent fighting spirit and disdain for others have vanished.

Everyone's emotions became:

"It's over, they've forced this great talent out of the entertainment industry!"

"Although I have no feelings for this couple, if we're talking about retiring from the entertainment industry... there are so many heartless couples in the industry who stubbornly refuse to retire, it's not their turn, is it?"

"Wait, what happened to the press conference to clarify things? How did it turn out like this?"

The reporters who managed to squeeze into today's press conference are all top figures in their respective media outlets, having witnessed countless memorable moments, and their hearts are colder than the butcher's knife of RT-Mart.

But now, these people are completely baffled by Lin Xiao.

Even inexplicably, a sense of guilt and frustration arises, a feeling of unease that "I didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me," and a sense of panic that one thinks oneself a messenger of justice only to find oneself merely an accomplice or even the mastermind.

For a moment, the atmosphere at the press conference was so harmonious that it was almost as if hymns could be played!

"Mr. Lin, I have a question."

Another reporter asked, "I personally approve of and admire your innovative approach of using pop music creation as a starting point to boost the development of cultural tourism in rural areas. This undoubtedly requires extremely high talent, strong ability, and a high degree of empathy; all three are indispensable."

"At present, it is almost impossible to find someone in our country who can possess all three qualities at the same time. Therefore, I personally feel very, very sorry for your decision to resign from your current position and to stop creating music."

"So my question is, is your decision directly related to the exposure of your true identity during this online uproar, and the fact that your family was subjected to online discussion and even cyberbullying after the organization's investigation?"

As soon as this question was raised, the hundreds of people at the scene and the millions of people watching the live stream fell silent.

All eyes were on Lin Xiao on the podium.

Lin Xiao's expression was calm.

He clearly realized that this question was actually quite similar to the one raised at the beginning of the press conference.

However, the tone and motivation of the reporter asking the question were completely different, even the opposite.

The reporter's initial question was aggressive, seemingly trying to prove that he rose to power through his in-laws, using this "fact" that met public expectations to grab attention and create a sensation.

but now.

The reporter's question, however, fully affirmed his ability, achievements, and character, expressed regret over his public resignation and retirement from the entertainment industry, and also felt aggrieved for his recent experiences and cyberbullying.

So I offered him a window to express all his grievances.

Lin Xiao could clearly sense the reporter's goodwill and the change in the atmosphere.

But just as he couldn't express any resentment towards the organization at the beginning, he still can't now.

not to mention.

He didn't hold this press conference today to complain about his grievances.

It's not that they're here to... morally blackmail us!

Moreover, he has a big appetite; if he's going to kidnap someone, he'll kidnap all the netizens and tens of millions of people in Nanzhou Province!

So now, we hear this question.

Lin Xiao's face flashed with a hint of grievance, then he quickly regained his smile. The change in emotion was clearly traced, giving people a sense of tragic heroism, like "I'm suffering inside, but I won't say it."

Everyone in the room felt even more sorry for him; he looked so furry and pitiful, and they wanted to pet him.

Lin Xiao had thus achieved half of his goal.

As for the other half, you still need to rely on your superb language skills, well, that is, tea talk.

So he smiled strongly yet with restraint and said, "Thank you for your affirmation, friend. But I need to reiterate that I have no objection to the organization's investigation results. It is a very fair, objective, and factual result, and I fully support and agree with it."

"As a public servant, my achievements and honors today are entirely due to the education and training provided by the organization. I am well aware that my own strength is insignificant, and the achievements I have made are only due to some insignificant efforts made on the platform provided by the organization."

"Personally, I dare not take credit at all. In the future, whether I continue to work in this industry or not, I will always be grateful and thank the organization for its careful cultivation of me and for providing me with a stage to show my talents."

"As for the disciplinary action taken against me and my family by the organization, although I am somewhat disheartened, I fully accept it. After all, I was the one who made the mistake first. The organization, adhering to the principles of learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones and curing the disease to save the patient, promptly conducted an investigation and took action. This was to help me, correct me, and guide me onto the right path. I am extremely grateful for this..."

Lin Xiao's face was resolute, his expression bright and cheerful, and he exuded an air of righteous evil.

The reporters on the scene were stunned, and netizens were equally bewildered.

I hate people who think they are all righteous and upright, but when I see this young, handsome guy who is righteous and upright, I find him cute and his "uprightness" convincing.

Netizens lamented: It's not just fashion that depends on looks, even justice depends on looks!

Just as Lin Xiao was sitting at the press conference, speaking eloquently...

Ninghai, a video conference room.

Several middle-aged people sat at the conference table. The video system was connected to a Douyin live stream, and the vertical video images appeared on a widescreen monitor, which looked very out of place.

The leaders also found it quite uncomfortable to watch.

However, after watching the press conference live for an hour and a half, they had already gotten used to it.

Especially Lin Xiao's remarks just now.

This made the leaders completely forget any discomfort they might feel and instead become completely absorbed in the content of the speech.

"This kid at least knows the rules; he didn't say anything out of line at the press conference!"

A middle-aged man with a square face visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Before the press conference, he was extremely nervous, fearing that Lin Xiao had ulterior motives in holding the press conference, or even intended to "fight to the death".

After all, the investigation results released by the provincial special investigation team were fair, objective, and unbiased.

But anyone with eyes can see that, based on Lin Xiao's work performance over the past two years, he is definitely a rare talent.

Especially considering his unparalleled musical composition ability.

This kind of unconventional, multi-talented individual is one of a kind in the whole country, and yet he happens to be in Nanzhou Province and is so passionate about his job and hometown. The provincial leaders must be laughing all the way to the bank.

If such talents are given key training and proper development, they can definitely make great strides in the propaganda and cultural tourism sectors, bringing great fame to Nanzhou Province throughout the country.

This is an achievement that the entire province can benefit from, so how could the leaders not cherish this little guy like a precious gem!
From the perspective of talent discovery.

If we disregard the fact that Han Haijun and Liu Liyun are Lin Xiao's parents-in-law, then their discovery, cultivation, and promotion of him were entirely meritorious and a good example of a responsible and capable leader.

Ironically, while they were grooming Lin Xiao, they also ended up registering him on their daughter's marriage certificate.

And to make matters worse, their daughter is a big star.

Then, in addition, their family's trivial matters, which were originally insignificant, inexplicably attracted the attention of the entire internet and became a hot topic because of their daughter and son-in-law's fame.

Under pressure from public opinion, the provincial authorities must conduct a special investigation into this matter, truthfully publish the investigation results, and provide an explanation to the vast number of netizens who are concerned about the case.

On one side are outstanding talents who have fallen from the sky like treasures from the Ziwei Star, and on the other side are tens of millions of netizens who are coming in strong and demanding an explanation.

The provincial investigation team was also in a difficult position.

After consulting with the top leadership, it was decided that talent should be protected and netizens should be supported, but in the end, the two mentors, Han Haijun and Liu Liyun, had to be sacrificed.

This is also a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils.

Fortunately, Han Haijun and Liu Liyun are both veteran comrades and will definitely obey the organization's arrangements, so that this result that satisfies everyone will not cause any more trouble.

In fact, Han Haijun and Liu Liyun had no doubts about the organization's handling of the matter.

The public also saw the organization's serious attitude in handling the matter from this announcement, and thus brought this complex trending topic to a close.

In fact, netizens have given high praise to Nanzhou Province for its attitude and speed in handling the matter.

This trending topic and gossip that garnered widespread attention across the internet has finally come to a close after two years and a week of intense discussion.

The leaders finally breathed a sigh of relief and decided to put an end to the matter internally as well.

But I never expected it.

The above actions took everything into account, but they failed to consider Lin Xiao's reaction to the outcome.

On the very day the evaluation results were released, this kid, together with Han Xixi's agency, Feihong Entertainment, announced in a high-profile manner that they would be holding a press conference.

Unfortunately, this announcement wasn't issued by Lin Xiao personally.

Feihong Entertainment's announcement only mentioned "Han Xixi and her husband," without even mentioning Lin Xiao's name.

Even if the organization obtained the relevant information immediately, it would not have a legitimate reason to obstruct the press conference.

They could only contact Lin Xiao privately.

According to relevant regulations, cadres are not allowed to make any speeches or remarks in the media without reporting to their superiors, let alone hold a press conference.

Lin Xiao's actions were undoubtedly against the rules.

No matter what he says at the press conference, the organization can use that as grounds to punish him. If he were to say something in front of netizens across the country at the press conference... then it wouldn't just be a matter of punishing him, but rather a matter of how the leaders of the investigation team should resign.

Therefore, as soon as the news of the press conference was released, the organization immediately contacted Lin Xiao and demanded that he not attend the press conference.

Lin Xiao was very humble.

First, he fully respects the organization's decision and did not attend the press conference to complain or overturn the verdict. Second, he attended as Han Xixi's husband.

Although the organization has issued an investigation announcement, Han Xixi herself, as a singer, still needs to give an explanation to netizens.

Now that Lin Xiao has been exposed, attending the press conference is a must, and he can also answer netizens' questions in person, bringing this trending topic to a satisfactory conclusion.

These words greatly reduced the leaders' wariness of him.

Considering that after the results of the investigation were released, a large number of netizens did turn from critics to fans and began to "call out for justice" for Lin Xiao, Han Haijun, and Liu Liyun, criticizing that "the punishment was too harsh".

This is indeed not a good thing; it's like trying to hold down one gourd only to have another float up.

From the organization's perspective, Lin Xiao's response to online concerns is indeed a good way to dispel netizens' doubts and salvage the government's image.

Furthermore, this press conference was for entertainment purposes rather than through official channels.

This means that no matter what goes wrong at the press conference, Nanzhou Province still has room for explanation, action, and remediation.

If the provincial investigation team were to hold a press conference, and Lin Xiao were to say something that showed he was "unconvinced," then that would be a truly hopeless situation with no hope of recovery.

In view of the above considerations.

The organization ultimately approved Lin Xiao's attendance at the press conference.

However, despite their agreement, the leaders remained uneasy.

After all, no matter how fully or reasonably Lin Xiao explained his reasons for attending the press conference, as experienced and well-trained leaders at the "adjustment" and "inspection" levels, they all saw through Lin Xiao's obsequious facade and could see the hint of resentment and dissatisfaction hidden beneath it.

As long as this sentiment exists, the press conference will always be fraught with uncertainty.

If Lin Xiao says anything inappropriate at the meeting, the leaders will definitely be in deep trouble. After all, this trending topic has already garnered attention across the entire internet and is extremely popular. The press conference will only attract even more attention, and the public opinion spring has already been stretched to its limit.

Therefore, the leaders are experiencing unprecedented tension and anxiety.

They watched the press conference live in front of the video system for as long as it lasted, and even though Lin Xiao "performed excellently" from beginning to end, they dared not slack off in the slightest.

Only after Lin Xiao expressed his trust and loyalty to the organization for the nth time did the leaders finally feel a little relieved.

After making the above remarks, the square-faced leader breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair.

However, the others in the meeting room did not relax at all after hearing his words.

A leader surnamed Liu said with a cold smile, "He didn't say anything out of line, but his constant use of 'trust' and 'gratitude' gives people a feeling that there's something else going on!"

These words stirred up a sense of doubt at the table.

"Some hidden meaning? What hidden meaning could there be? Do you expect us to rescind the decisions made against Han Haijun and Liu Liyun?"

"How is this possible! Not only is the disciplinary decision already made and unlikely to be changed easily, but the results of the investigation have already been made public. To revoke it now would be a slap in the face, making the government appear to speak carelessly and have no credibility whatsoever."

"Exactly! Besides, even if Lin Xiao is a rare talent and has made outstanding achievements at the grassroots level, does that mean the entire Nanzhou Province can't function without him? Does he really think he can use public pressure to force the organization to change its decision on the cadre? That's just too presumptuous!"

"..."

The group began to discuss it amongst themselves.

The leader just said, "I also think it's outrageous. If this kid really intends to do that, then he's too audacious. But... judging from his appearance, he's definitely not the type to accept things passively. This outcome has indeed wronged Liu Liyun. As for Han Haijun, his transfer order was issued before this trending topic, and he was originally unrelated to this matter."

"Now that it has attracted widespread attention online, announcing his dismissal as the official disciplinary decision would show netizens the organization's strength in handling the matter without imposing harsher penalties on Han Haijun, which is actually a good thing. However, we at the higher-ups are aware of this, but Lin Xiao may not be. If he is single-mindedly seeking justice for his parents-in-law and acts impulsively, taking a risky move... it's not impossible!"

These words immediately made the atmosphere in the meeting room solemn again.

After a long pause, the square-faced leader said, "Minister Liu makes a lot of sense, but I don't understand why Lin Xiao, if he was angry, publicly resigned at the press conference while simultaneously praising the organization. What was he trying to do, moral blackmail? But to think that the organization would be forced by public opinion to change its disciplinary decision against the Navy based on this... isn't that wishful thinking?"

The others thought the square-faced leader's words made sense, and their expressions grew increasingly serious, wondering what Lin Xiao was up to.

There's no point in overthinking right now; we can only wait and see.

On the screen, Lin Xiao thanked the organization once again before continuing his speech.

The leaders noticed that in just a few casual words, Lin Xiao's eyes had already reddened, and he looked very affectionate and reluctant to part.

The leaders were all dumbfounded.

What's going on? Who, who bullied him?!
Completely bewildered, Lin Xiao began sobbing, "Reporters and netizens, today's press conference has come to an end, and I believe you have asked your questions. I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words from my heart!"

Upon hearing this, the leaders watching the press conference live felt a pang of anxiety.

Everyone was terrified that Lin Xiao would "do something foolish," especially Han Haijun and Liu Liyun.

But since things have come to this, there is no other way but to pray in one's heart.

Everyone could only watch helplessly as Lin Xiao spoke with deep emotion on his phone screen: "I am a native of Nanzhou, my home is Anyang County, Yizhou City. Although I was admitted to a street office in Ninghai, the provincial capital, after graduating from university, I have always kept my hometown in my heart, and I have always kept my fellow villagers, friends and acquaintances in my heart."

"Although people often say that a good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown, I believe that a good man should not only have the courage to venture out and explore, but also the determination to return and build his hometown. I may be exaggerating a bit when I say this, but that's truly how I think!"

When Lin Xiao said these words.

Han Xixi was right next to him, smiling and gazing at him with sincere longing in her eyes.

The press conference had been going on for an hour and a half, during which the mood and atmosphere had shifted several times, and Xixi was starting to feel numb.

As the only person on the entire planet Earth who clearly understands "what kind of person" Lin Xiao is.

Han Xixi knew that even though her husband looked very affectionate, he was definitely not hiding anything good in his heart.

Even though she realized this, she was still deeply attracted by Lin Xiao's touching tone and simple words, and now her eyes were full of love and tenderness when she looked at her husband.

This scene was also captured precisely by reporters on the scene.

Lin Xiao continued emotionally, "It was precisely because I always held the determination to build up my hometown that I filled out the application form without hesitation after seeing the 'Young Seedling Project' registration notice. At that time, I was already married to Xixi, and my parents-in-law did not actually support my going to the countryside."

"The reasons behind this are actually quite clear to everyone. Staying in Ninghai, the provincial capital, offers a larger platform and more opportunities. Not only can one achieve better career development, but one can also stay with their newlywed wife for life. It is the optimal solution."

“Participating in the Green Seedling Program to go to the countryside not only involves a harsh environment and extremely challenging work, but also requires living apart from your newlywed wife... No matter how you look at it, going to the countryside is not a good path.”

"Fortunately, my persistence, my wife's understanding, and my parents-in-law's support finally allowed me to get my wish and be assigned to a township under my hometown, Anyang County, as the deputy mayor."

"I won't go into detail about my work experience over the past year and a half. I just want to say that no matter what trials and tribulations I've faced, I have lived up to the trust placed in me by the organization and the expectations of the people, and that's enough..."

At this point, Lin Xiao's voice choked with emotion.

At the press conference and among the millions of viewers watching the live stream, everyone remained silent and extremely focused, a powerful sense of conviction and mission spreading through their minds.

It was almost noon.

On weekdays, in the vast land of China, whether it is a commercial building made of steel and concrete or a city street with heavy traffic, the world that should be bustling and noisy seems to have been put on pause.

Almost everyone was holding their phones, staring silently.

As everyone watched the man on the screen, whose upper body was framed in a close-up shot, his eyes red and his voice hoarse, recounting his life journey, they all completely forgot about the outside world.

“Nanzhou is my hometown, and I love this land deeply. That’s why I was able to write the song ‘Love Like a Tide’ during my tenure in Chaobai Town. The Chaoshui River is the mother river that accompanied me growing up. My love is given to the Chaoshui River, and my love is just like the tide.”

Lin Xiao became more and more emotional as he spoke, and he almost got so into the role that he started acting himself out.

I have to give myself a pat on the back; I changed bodies and entered a different world, and my acting skills actually improved.

Indeed, art should reflect life!

Only through actual experience can one make their acting more realistic.

Recalling his ultimate goal, Lin Xiao quickly returned to the main point, saying, "I have a passionate love for the Chaoshui River, and a passionate love for my hometown, Nanzhou. To be honest, after voluntarily transferring to the Anyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau, I wandered around the mountains and rivers of Anyang County every day, and inspired by my experiences, I even wrote a song for Nanzhou Province..."

These words immediately caused a stir at the press conference, and the comment section of the live stream was flooded with messages again.

"Huh? This plot twist!!!"

"What do you mean? Are we going to sing?!"

"Sing!! We love to hear it!!"

"No, didn't you just say you were going to retire from the music industry?"

"The press conference turned into a new song release event?!"

"Listen first, as a sign of respect!"

"Sing it now!!!"

"..."

The comments section was filled with madness.

Throughout Nanzhou, behind the phone screens of people on all fronts, leaders and colleagues alike were frowning and holding their breath.

Everyone was completely baffled as to what Lin Xiao's intentions were in doing this.

For now, all we can do is continue to watch.

In front of the camera, Lin Xiao took a deep breath and suddenly smiled: "As everyone knows, Nanzhou Province is famous for its many mountains and rivers. It has left behind many masterpieces since ancient times. The scenery is beautiful and can be described as unique. In order to better promote the mountains and rivers of my hometown, I created this song, which is called 'Thousands of Mountains and Rivers'."

"This song was actually only half written. I originally planned to release it after it was finished, but now plans can't keep up with changes. I have decided to resign from my public office and will no longer create music."

"In response to the attention and expectations of netizens, I would like to take this opportunity to present this half of the song 'Thousands of Mountains and Rivers' to everyone. It can also be considered as a final farewell to all netizens in the name of 'Ma Yao'!"

As Lin Xiao spoke, he suddenly stood up and, under the watchful eyes of millions of people, pulled a guitar out from under the table.

This scene left everyone on the internet completely dumbfounded.

The comment section was flooded with a single sentence.

"Holy crap, the press conference really turned into a new song release event!!"

(End of this chapter)