This director is vindictive.

Chapter 593 The whole internet is asking for PUA techniques, hurry up and cut me, don't stop!
The entertainment industry is, frankly speaking, a place of fame and fortune; where do all those unwritten rules come from?

When celebrities truly retire from the entertainment industry, 99% of the time they disappear quietly—they simply stop taking on roles, endorsements, and Weibo posts, and after a year or two, their fans have forgotten who they were.

Occasionally, marketing accounts will dig up old news and rehash it: "Shocking! Former top star now eating street food and no one recognizes him," accompanied by a blurry candid photo that makes it impossible to identify who it is, as if giving a has-been star a final bit of dignity.

It's truly unprecedented for someone like Chen Mo and his harem of confidantes to retire from the entertainment industry in such a dramatic and sensational way, like a character washing their hands of a martial arts novel.

So what the marketing accounts are saying isn't actually nonsense.

The other party clearly understands traffic, going against the grain. And don't say they're making things up; after all, they have their reasons and evidence. The key point is, nobody wants to leave the industry, yet they're still playing these elaborate tricks.

As expected, the haters suddenly seemed to have finally found something to criticize Chen Mo, and they flocked to the marketing accounts to mock him.

"I know this trick well, it's an old trick. More than ten years ago, there was always a shop on the pedestrian street that would hang red paper all over the store with words 'Last Day' written on it, and loudspeakers would shout 'Last Day! Last Day! Huge Discounts! Buy Now and You'll Make a Profit!' And this kind of promotion could last for several years!"

"No problem, that's why they call him a marketing master! He's done a very elegant job of fleecing people!"

"Who in the family understands this? Who announces their retirement from the entertainment industry so formally? I've never seen anything like it in the entire entertainment industry!"

"All he talks about is loyalty and friendship, but all he does is business. This is all a script he (Chen Mo) directed and acted in himself. I can imagine it all: first, he uses gimmicks like retiring from the industry, his final film, and Chen Mo's last movie to pique the interest of movie fans. Then, after the movie is released, a group of 'movie fans' will post articles to persuade him to stay. He will reluctantly say that he originally wanted to retire, but the movie fans have been too kind, so he will make one more movie. This is the last time, really the last time. Tsk tsk!"

"It's like giving up a chicken feather. Only those fans would believe it. After all, they're like韭菜 (leeks, meaning inexperienced investors), they know how to make up their own stories and feel emotional."

"If you really want to retire, just be direct. Why bother with this 'last movie' gimmick? It's obviously copied from Hollywood. For example, when the Joker actor died in *The Dark Knight*, they started using it for publicity. But he really died; he's still alive and well. Retiring? Ha!"

"Good heavens, their retirement is being treated like a martial arts movie—first a nationwide press conference, then a charity gala, a full-on Weibo trending topic package, and even a special project for a 'farewell film.' If you didn't know better, you'd think they were going to ascend the throne! This is unprecedented in the Chinese entertainment industry. If you didn't know better, you'd think they signed a retirement agreement with no KPIs and wouldn't let them leave!"

As public opinion gained momentum, marketing accounts seized the opportunity to launch a poll: "Do you believe Chen Mo really has retired from the entertainment industry?"

Options include:

Believe, unless the sun rises in the west (42%)

Charity film double success, retirement? He's got too cocky! (35%)

Waiting for "Domestic Violence" to break records and then officially announce new projects (23%)

Even Chen Mo's fans have started to have doubts this time.

After all, this kind of thing is really rare in the entertainment industry!
Then other marketing accounts and self-media accounts saw this and realized it was the key to generating traffic.

As a result, everyone stepped in to promote this topic, and for a time, the question of whether Chen Mo's retirement from the entertainment industry was a marketing ploy became the hottest topic.

Moreover, there's a saying that goes something like this: many things don't require concrete evidence, especially whether or not Chen Mo retires from the entertainment industry, which is simply a matter of a single sentence from him.

In addition, Chen Mo's marketing efforts this time were quite obvious.

Therefore, more and more people are joining the discussion.

All the "signs" given are meant to prove that their point of view is correct; this is a marketing campaign.

"When others retire from the entertainment industry, they gradually fade into obscurity, but when they retire, they become even more popular—if they don't trend on social media for a month, netizens start clamoring like they're going through drug withdrawal."

"Others disappear without a trace after retiring from the entertainment industry, but they've set up an anti-domestic violence foundation to constantly maintain their presence. Anyone who didn't know better would think they'd switched careers to become an NGO."

"The most amazing thing is the movie 'Domestic Violence.' It's not even a movie yet, but it's already been trending on social media seven or eight times. The marketing for this 'final film' is bigger than the hype for an Oscar nomination!"

"Now even the aunties at the vegetable market know that people who really want to retire from the entertainment industry delete their Weibo posts and run away overnight. How could they be like this, making a bigger fuss about retiring than a top celebrity announcing their relationship?"

Chen Mo didn't pay much attention to this controversy. After all, while it was true that he was retiring from the entertainment industry, it was also true that he was using the opportunity for marketing.

So, in a way, what these people said isn't wrong.

Chen Mo did not respond, and naturally his women did not respond either.

However, everyone underestimated Chen Mo's influence and appeal among movie fans.

Originally, the ridicule from these self-media outlets, marketing accounts, and haters, along with the participation of passersby in the discussion, seemed to have truly confirmed that Chen Mo's "fake retirement from the entertainment industry was just a marketing ploy."

Many movie fans initially suspected that Chen Mo was using marketing tactics, just as they said.

In a fan group for Chen Mo, a discussion about this topic was taking place in a large group of two thousand people.

"So, it really is marketing?"

"It does look quite similar, after all, no one has ever retired from the entertainment industry in such an exaggerated way before."

"Sisters, calm down! That marketing account is just stirring up trouble!"

"Hilarious! Saying Chen Mo is doing marketing? Does he need that kind of buzz? Look at the attention 'Domestic Violence' is getting right now—it hasn't even started filming yet, and the number of people who want to watch it on Douban has already exceeded 50! (Screenshot data)" "Exactly! If he really wanted to do marketing, why didn't he just officially announce his comeback? Now his foundation's accounts are all public, and the movie's pre-production photos are all unedited, makeup-free pictures. These days, which marketing company would dare to do this? (Angrily throws down emoji)"

"But if you're really going to retire from the entertainment industry, it doesn't seem right to do a live stream with your girlfriends after retirement!"

The group chat exploded instantly, with messages piling up to 999+. Members automatically split into two camps, arguing fiercely.

Chen Mo's die-hard fans went all out:

"Bullshit! Does Brother Mo need to resort to such underhanded tactics? Look at his solid box office performance over the years!"

"Hilarious, some people see everything as dirty because of their own hearts. Was the 300 million yuan in charity donated by the seven sisters before they retired from the entertainment industry counterfeit?"

"When 'Domestic Violence' was first conceived, Chen Mo hadn't even announced his retirement from acting yet, okay? He can't even get the timeline straight before stirring up trouble?"

But the skeptics also had their own arguments:

"Isn't it too much of a coincidence? He just announced his retirement from the entertainment industry and he's been dominating the trending topics every day, getting even more exposure than before this happened!"

"What happened to the promise of retiring from the entertainment industry and going into seclusion? In the end, the live streaming plan, charity foundation, and movie promotion all fell through! What a waste of my time!"

While the two sides were arguing fiercely, suddenly, a group member with the ID "Eating Melon Without Spitting Out Seeds" unexpectedly threw out a comment:
"No. After all this arguing, haven't you found the key point? If Chen Mo is really just playing a marketing game, doesn't that mean he never intended to leave the entertainment industry?"
Isn't this a fantastic thing for us?!
Who the hell wants to see him actually retire?
If *Domestic Violence* is the last movie, what will we watch after that? Those freaks and monsters trending on social media for faking falls?

After this message was sent, it was as if a pause button had been pressed, and the group chat fell silent for three seconds.

Immediately afterwards, the news exploded and flooded social media:

"Holy crap! This is a revelation!!!" (Image: A meme of someone struck by lightning)
"Yeah, who among us wants him to retire from the entertainment industry?"

"Damn, I actually hoped he was marketing that I was being manipulated by PUA?!"

"So, actually, the marketing accounts, self-media, and those skeptical haters are all allies?"

"Family members, this won't do! If Chen Mo really doesn't intend to retire from the entertainment industry and is just doing marketing, wouldn't this public scrutiny and pressure make him potentially retire completely?"

"That seems so, so we need to get things done!"

"Absolutely! Hurry up and go support them!"

The news quickly spread to various fan groups.

Many fans and moviegoers suddenly realized this from this perspective.

Does it matter whether Chen Mo does marketing or not? It doesn't matter at all!

They suddenly realized that if Chen Mo really was doing marketing, then it would be a good thing for everyone!
This means that we can continue to watch his movies and have fun in the future.

After all, there's only one celebrity director in the entertainment industry like Chen Mo who knows how to have fun and how to get everyone involved!

Soon, the hashtag #IsChenMo'sRetirementFromTheEntertainmentCircleAMarketingPloy# exploded in various fan groups and forums. Surprisingly, the fans' reactions were remarkably consistent—far from being angry, they were all overjoyed!
"Holy crap! If this is really a marketing ploy, that would be amazing!"

A fan group instantly received over 99 messages: "This shows that Old Chen never really intended to retire!"

A long-time fan of Chen Mo, nicknamed "Peach Oolong," posted a long article in the supertopic: "Sisters, think carefully—if Brother Mo is playing tricks, it actually proves that he will continue to make movies! Compared to those marketing ploys that are all show and no substance, when has Brother Mo ever not let us get benefits and watch good movies at the same time? 'Mojin: The Lost Legend' gave away gold coins, and '814' really gave away money. I want a dozen of these kinds of marketing!"

Then a magical scene unfolded.

The marketing accounts that previously questioned Chen Mo's alleged fake retirement from the entertainment industry are now suddenly being contradicted by longtime Chen Mo fans on social media.

What's strange is that all of these people have the same attitude.

"The editor is absolutely right! Yes, Chen Mo is all about marketing!"

"No problem, it's true, it's true, it's true, it's true! 'Domestic Violence' isn't the last one, it definitely isn't!"

"Do you need me to tell you? Don't we fans know? This is tacit understanding, you know what tacit understanding is? It's obvious at a glance that the editor isn't a professor's fan!"

"Who doesn't know that my Chen Mo is a marketing genius? Do you think we don't know? Why say it like that? It's all about tacit understanding, tacit understanding, tacit understanding! We see through each other but don't say it, understand?"

The Mo family army's destructive power was displayed in this bizarre way for the first time.

This instantly confused marketing accounts, self-media, haters, and bystanders.

I have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on.

(End of this chapter)