After offending capital, my songs became more and more popular.

Chapter 219 Are you serious about agreeing to change the song?! Trying to curry favor with me?
"so……"

Yao Changyu, being a shrewd and calculating man, leaned close to Chen Guangrong's ear and whispered something. Chen Guangrong frowned slightly upon hearing this and couldn't help but ask:
"Isn't this a bit dangerous?"

If not handled properly, it could easily backfire.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Master Yao asked.

"Here……"

Chen Guangrong was speechless for a moment.

"Ugh……"

He sighed silently and nodded: "Alright, that's all we can do."

……

The incident of Xiao Rizi demanding that Shen Mingen "change the song" didn't actually cause a big stir online. It was just a few individuals stirring things up behind the scenes and deliberately causing trouble...

But just as Shen Ming'en and his group were taking off from the airport to their new home, a rumor suddenly appeared online: that the troupe might ask Shen Ming'en to change the song at the last minute and sing a Peking Opera piece in order to pay attention to international friendship.

The news immediately caused an uproar among Chinese entertainment viewers, with the entire internet erupting in criticism.

[You can just change your dick whenever you want?!]

If they could just change it whenever they wanted, that would be nothing short of pandering to them, and we definitely can't accept that!

If the theater troupe forces Shen Ming'en to change his song under pressure, we will file a complaint and protest!

【No, I just don't understand, what kind of pressure could there be?!】

[International friendship, my foot... When they asked us to change the song, did they not think about international friendship at all?]

[I don't care, as long as Shen Ming'en changes the song, he's a traitor!]

No way! I'm not exchanging it!

……

The public already had a lot of opinions about this matter, and when they heard that Shen Mingen was really going to have to change the song, they naturally couldn't accept it. There was a barrage of criticism online, and the situation was getting worse and worse.

The news spread, the matter escalated, and a public opinion crisis ensued. If the troupe really asked Shen Ming'en to change the song under these circumstances, then the troupe would definitely have to take the blame. If the higher-ups blamed them, even the troupe leader Zhao Qu would be completely unable to bear it.

So, to be fair, Yao Changyu's underhanded "pushing the flames" and "using someone else to do the dirty work" was quite skillful.

But how should I put it...

As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise. While Yao Changyu may know a little about internet marketing, he is still far from being a true expert.

"Use public opinion to put pressure on the theater troupe?"

In Shanghai, President Qin Yu, who was handling business at the company, noticed this and a smile crept onto his lips. He then picked up his phone from the table and dialed a number.

"Dudu..."

After a few brief rings, the call connected, and a man's voice came from the other end. President Qin smiled slightly and then said directly:
"Mr. Ma, it's up to you now."

……

Online, there's a lot of discussion about how netizens on Xiao Rizi's side demanded a song change and were nitpicking during the first overseas performance of "Silk Road Blossoms".

Originally, the comments section was full of people saying, "If the production team dares to ask Shen Ming'en to change the song, we will complain and protest." But at some point, the comments section started to "go off-topic".

A group of people suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started spamming the comments section:

[I don't care, Shen Mingen can't change the song!]

If he dares to switch, I'll unfollow him and never be a fan again!

Forget about being a fan, I'll curse him every time I see him from now on!

[Hey! Traitor!]

……

These same people refused the request to "change the song," and they also used the banner of patriotism and the idea that people shouldn't be spoiled...

but!

They pinned almost all the blame for the consequences of "changing the song" on Shen Ming'en's head!

It's as if Shen Ming'en is their enemy the moment the song is changed.

A classic case of trying to distract the audience!

But unfortunately...

This tactic was surprisingly effective.

It's important to understand that the vast majority of onlookers initially had no idea what was going on, and many were too lazy to search for the details; they basically just believed whatever they read online…

If they see someone saying they'll complain to the theater troupe if the song is changed, they'll point the finger at the theater troupe; but if they see someone saying they'll unfollow Shen Ming'en if the song is changed, they'll definitely think it's Shen Ming'en's fault, and based on this, their impression of Shen Ming'en will be greatly diminished.

At first, someone below said:
This is the theater troupe's fault; it has nothing to do with Shen Ming'en.

[Shen Ming'en had no say in a theater troupe of that caliber and couldn't change the songs.]

[If anyone's to blame, it can't be Shen Ming'en, right?]

They said that because there were rumors circulating online that the theater troupe was up to something and was planning to change the songs...

Then wouldn't the capital behind them just release information online?

Others can do it too!
Within hours, the marketing accounts on Mr. Ma's side collectively released the news that the troupe's song change was discussed with Shen Ming'en and that Shen Ming'en had given his consent...

Then the comments section went crazy with insults!
Suddenly, a large group of people appeared, almost all of them targeting Shen Ming'en, saying things like he changed the song, was a traitor, and so on.

Even the comment sections of Shen Ming'en's official accounts on various platforms were filled with similar remarks.

But those netizens who are just looking for a life of leisure actually joined in the fun, saying things like:
[Singing songs for us is considered treason? Then let's just not let this person sing at all.]

[He's the one who wants to sing for us, not us. Let's get that straight, okay?]

In your Chinese parlance, this is called having one's cake and eating it too!

……

To be honest, in this situation, whether Shen Mingen changes the song or not, there are problems. He's caught in the middle!

But in any case, given the current situation, the theater troupe certainly won't bear much of the consequences...

The one who really takes the blame is Shen Ming'en!

……

We arrived at Xiao Rizi in the afternoon. To be honest, the scenery along the way was quite unique. After all, it's a flight across the strait. Unlike domestic routes where you see different landforms, the sea scenery is quite distinctive.

Besides that, they also saw Mount Tomimuro. A funny thing happened then: Hoshino Rin, sitting next to Shen Ming'en, saw Shen Ming'en staring at that magnificent and beautiful mountain, and couldn't resist taking out her phone from her pocket, opening the front camera's selfie function, making a peace sign at the camera, winking slightly, and snapping a picture with Shen Ming'en's back to her…

A very exquisite and beautiful photo appeared in her phone's photo album.

Upon hearing the voice, Shen Ming'en couldn't help but frown, thinking to himself, "Damn it, do you even know how dangerous this kind of group photo is?"
But Shen Ming'en ultimately suppressed the urge to complain, because complaining would require talking to this woman, and if he did talk to her, she would always have something to talk about.

Is this not?

Seeing that Shen Ming'en was ignoring her, Hoshino Rin couldn't help but move closer...

Outside the airplane cabin was Mount Tomishiro, which looked like a closed mouth. Inside the glass, Shen Ming'en's head was below, and Hoshino Rin's delicate little face was above. To be honest, the action was a bit ambiguous. Just when Shen Ming'en couldn't help but want her to keep her distance... "Ming'en-kun, what are you thinking about?" Hoshino Rin suddenly asked in Shen Ming'en's ear in that kind of Japanese anime-style voice.

To be fair, many aspects of island nation culture are quite commendable. Netizens often say that if island nations were to perish, they would hope that three things would remain: "beautiful anime characters."

The succubus's voice in anime is truly terrifying; if a male otaku were here, his bones would probably melt. But Shen Ming'en just chuckled, then pointed to the mountain outside and said:

"I'm wondering when it will suddenly erupt..."

"Huh...?"

Hoshino Rin paused for a moment...

break out?

The little succubus thought to herself, "Do you even know what this volcanic eruption means?!"

This country might even perish!
Know……

Shen Ming'en said that precisely because he knew!

Ask any of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, who wouldn't want this volcano to erupt, so that this stupid country would cease to exist?!

Did you really think Shen Ming'en was here to admire the beautiful scenery of this wretched mountain?

The mountains and rivers of my great China, with their three sacred peaks and five lakes and four seas, all have better scenery than your tiny little place.

Deep down, Shen Ming'en looked down on this lousy place!
Hoshino Rin, slightly embarrassed after being turned away again, still covered her lips with her hand and said with a smile, "Ming'en-kun is really joking..."

Shen Mingen was too lazy to pay attention to her, so he simply closed his eyes to rest.

And this wasn't the first time something like this had happened along the way.

Shen Ming'en realized that the BYD group had sent this woman to deliberately annoy him. After all, Hoshino Rin had been sitting next to Shen Ming'en almost the entire way, whether in the car, on the plane, or in the hotel room.

In other words, what a coincidence!
It's obvious that someone deliberately arranged this...

"Ugh……"

Upon arriving at the hotel, Shen Ming'en threw down his things and sighed helplessly. Although he had known for a long time that this industry was prone to being targeted and having all sorts of things done to him, he still didn't expect it to be this tiring right from the start.

He really has to be on guard even when he's just staying in a hotel to rest...

Take the hotel they booked, for example. It's located in the heart of the city, a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle. It's not a particularly high-end five- or six-star hotel, but it has its own unique charm.

For example, this hotel is a large chain of hot spring hotels, so the troupe members, who have traveled a long way, can soak in the hot springs in the evening...

Upon arrival, the person in charge of the handover suggested that they could soak in a hot spring that evening. Standing next to Shen Ming'en, Hoshino Rin immediately chimed in excitedly, "Why not a hot spring?" Shen Ming'en had heard about the local hot spring culture before, and he had even tried it back in China. He wasn't some country bumpkin...

The problem is, what they've prepared for us seems to be mostly Japanese-style clothing, and some of the yukatas are very similar in style to men's kimonos...

If someone wore this and took a picture of it, and the photo was sent back to China, do you think Shen Mingen would still be able to work there?!
In the troupe, apart from Shen Ming'en, everyone else is talented but doesn't have much fame or popularity in the entertainment industry. Since this performance focuses on international friendship, no one really cares. So, if only Shen Ming'en cares, then it becomes Shen Ming'en's problem...

So, while agreeing, Shen Ming'en still indicated that he would bring his own pajamas.

"Dong dong..."

There was a knock on the door. Shen Ming'en, who had only been lying down for less than ten minutes, had no choice but to get up and go to the door. When he saw Hoshino Rin through the peephole, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Are you okay?"

His attitude remained sharp, and he showed absolutely no liking for this cute anime girl from Japan. Hoshino Rin, standing outside the door, seemed to have anticipated Shen Ming'en's reaction; she wasn't angry, and simply smiled and said:
"Ming Enjun, your theater troupe leader is looking for you in room 812 upstairs. He asked me to let you know."

After saying that, she very cutely and carefully returned to her room next door.

"Why doesn't he send a message in the group chat or send a private message if he has something to say..." Shen Ming'en wanted to curse. This Commander Zhao really gave him the worst feeling ever.

Even so, as the head of the troupe, he couldn't refuse when someone called him. Shen Ming'en sighed helplessly, went out, and went upstairs.

When Shen Ming'en arrived at room 812, he knocked on the door and went in, only to find that there were quite a few people in the room...

Not only was troupe leader Zhao Qu present, but also teacher Chen Guangrong and several senior members who led the team.

At that moment, Shen Ming'en saw Teacher Chen Guangrong frowning, looking at him with a very troubled expression...

Before Shen Ming'en could ask, he saw Zhao Qu, the troupe leader with slightly graying temples, smile at him from not far away and call out:

"Ming En is here. Come in, have a seat."

As he spoke, he poured Shen Mingen a cup of tea and called for Shen Mingen to sit next to him.

Commander Zhao's room wasn't cramped; since it was the troupe leader's residence, it was a suite with a small living room in the middle, which they were now using as a meeting room. The room was dimly lit with the curtains drawn, and there were quite a few people, but no one spoke; everyone was communicating with their eyes. Commander Zhao, however, pulled Shen Ming'en up and started exchanging pleasantries...

Everyone's saying things like, "Oh, it's all thanks to Shen Ming'en and his team that they got so much attention this time. Our troupe is also really looking forward to Shen Ming'en's performance this time..."

He talked a whole bunch of stuff, just spouting off, which left Shen Ming'en feeling a bit helpless.

Back then, in the eyes of Chen Guangrong and others, Shen Mingen was just like Sun Wukong being subjected to the spell of Tang Sanzang!
Just as Shen Ming'en was getting a terrible headache, Commander Zhao opened his mouth and said:
"Well... I believe you. Ming'en, you've seen some of the comments online. They're saying that you might have more options for the projects you'll be performing in this time..."

As soon as he said that, almost everyone in the room held their breath for a moment. Teacher Chen Guangrong's mouth twitched wildly. He thought to himself, "What's the difference between you, Lao Zhao, saying this and directly telling people to change the song?"
That's it!

Troupe leader Zhao Qu added a special sentence:
"Dang Ran, it's more up to you. The decision is yours. If you insist on sticking to the piece you've decided on, then our troupe won't have any major objections."

To be honest, this troupe leader named Zhao Qu is quite capable, having managed to lead a team to perform abroad.

Listen to what he said...

He was implying to Shen Mingen that he should make the decision himself, shirking all responsibility so that he wouldn't have to take charge if anything went wrong later...

He said he would listen to Shen Ming'en completely, but then he added, "The troupe doesn't have much of an objection to sticking to the original repertoire"...

Note that it says "not much of an opinion", not "no opinion".

It's so damn detailed!

The use of yin and yang metaphors here is absolutely disgusting...

Yet...

It's impossible to find any fault with him.

To be honest, right now, if Zhao Qu were to explicitly mention changing the song to Shen Ming'en, Teacher Chen Guangrong would surely chime in with his opinions...

Unfortunately, he said it in such a "hinting" way. If Teacher Chen Guangrong objected, wouldn't he have to say something? The troupe didn't say that he had to change the song. Isn't it up to him to decide?

To put it bluntly, it's about using someone else's power to intimidate them...

At that time, Teacher Chen Guangrong's gaze towards Shen Mingen was shifty, almost as if he was telling Shen Mingen directly, "Don't agree, refuse immediately!"

Others who were kind to Shen Mingen or appreciated his talent were giving him meaningful glances...

To everyone's great surprise, Shen Ming'en nodded almost without hesitation upon hearing this, then smiled and said casually:

"Sure, let's change it. I have other works here."

That moment...

"..."

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly.

Teacher Chen Guangrong looked at Shen Ming'en with a hint of disbelief, his expression seeming to say, "Didn't you see my hint?!"
Do you even realize what your decision means?

……

(End of this chapter)