I started as a spirited young man, and the system made me a male god.

The red oil in the hot pot bubbled and churned. Chen Fei looked at Zhao Zhihao and his new girlfriend Wang Lisha sitting opposite him, and for a moment he was in a daze.

This "Uncle Feng's Self-Service Hot Pot" is a newly opened shop nearby. Although the price is only 59 yuan, it was definitely not a place they would have visited the day before yesterday.

"Fei-ge, you've changed a lot!" Zhao Zhihao added a plate of sliced ​​beef to the pot, carefully examining Chen Fei. "Your new hairstyle and new clothes are quite handsome!"

"I didn't expect you to eat here either," Chen Fei said honestly, glancing around at the surroundings. "I remember you once said that any meal over fifty yuan is a rip-off."

Zhao Zhihao laughed and put his arm around Wang Lisha, who was standing next to him.

"Sasha wanted to come and try something new. I've picked up a few guys, so I have some spare cash and brought her here to have some fun."

Wang Lisha playfully slapped him, then turned to Chen Fei with a sweet smile:

"Ah Fei, don't listen to his nonsense. I thought this environment was perfect for filming videos, so I asked Ah Hao to bring me here. It's a win-win situation."

"Filming a video? What kind of video are you planning to film?" Chen Fei asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Many netizens wanted to see you eating at a buffet, so Sasha said she'd bring you here to eat and film a video to keep the buzz going. But judging from your expression, you don't seem hungry anymore, that's great!"

After Zhao Zhihao finished speaking, he picked up a few pieces of fatty beef and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing them with relish.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he slapped his thigh hard:

"Oh right, Fei-ge! I was so excited I almost forgot the important thing! I have some amazing news!"

His face lit up with excitement, like he'd won the lottery. "An MCN company contacted me! It's called Luhe Media! They said they're impressed with my livestreaming performance and want to sign me! They've guaranteed me this much salary!"

He held up one finger and shook it vigorously. "Ten thousand! Plus a professional team for packaging! Sasha, you know more, tell Afei!"

Wang Lisha immediately put down her chopsticks, her face beaming with barely suppressed excitement:

"Yeah, Fei-ge! They've already sent over the contract, and the terms are amazing! A guaranteed minimum of 10,000, plus high revenue sharing from tips and GG (game name)!"

People also said that Hao Ge's image and background are distinctive, and with a little packaging, he could definitely become a top streamer!

Chen Fei's heart skipped a beat, and the noise in the store seemed to disappear instantly.

MCN?

As the operations director, he knew all too well the tricks of the trade.

But instead of immediately dampening their enthusiasm, he patiently waited for them to finish speaking before calmly offering his suggestion:

"Why don't you show me the contract? I've heard that eight out of ten MCNs are problematic, so it's better to be cautious."

Hearing these words, which carried a hint of denial, Zhao Zhihao's excitement faded slightly, and he scratched his head:

"Well...their people said it's all standard contracts, they definitely won't treat me unfairly! Sasha, don't you think so?"

He instinctively looked at Wang Lisha for support.

Wang Lisha immediately chimed in, her tone carrying a hint of nonchalant coquettishness:

"Brother Fei! That contract is packed with terms and conditions; even if I showed it to you, you probably wouldn't understand it. They're a big company, they value their reputation! And the guaranteed minimum is ten thousand yuan, which is higher than a college graduate's salary!"

Upon hearing this and considering their expressions, Chen Fei knew that he couldn't stop them by force.

He hesitated for a few seconds, looked at Zhao Zhihao, and then changed the subject, revealing his plan: "Brother Hao, this is indeed a rare opportunity. However, I also have an idea that I wanted to discuss with you."

"What are you thinking?" Zhao Zhihao asked curiously as he leaned closer.

"I've been thinking, could we do it ourselves? I'm planning to create an account, and I've already thought of the content—we'll share our lives. With your livestreaming talent and my popularity, it might not be any worse than an MCN. What do you think?"

Chen Fei's words gradually replaced the little joy left on Zhao Zhihao's face with unease.

On one hand, there's the "legitimate" shortcut described by his girlfriend and the guaranteed minimum wage within reach; on the other hand, there's the "self-reliance" path planned by his brother, but with an uncertain future.

He unconsciously stirred the oil in the dish with his chopsticks, his brows furrowed. He looked at Chen Fei, then at Wang Lisha who looked anxious, and remained silent for a long time.

Wang Lisha couldn't hold back any longer and said in a clearly agitated tone:

"Starting your own business isn't that easy. MCNs have resources and channels. Look at all those top influencers now, which one of them isn't affiliated with an MCN? Just look at their bags and clothes, they're clearly making a fortune!"

Chen Fei didn't interrupt, and waited until Wang Lisha finished speaking before saying to Zhao Zhihao:

"Brother Hao, I'm not saying MCNs are necessarily bad, but we know each other well, and I definitely won't let you down. In the end, whatever you choose, I'll support you, brother."

Zhao Zhihao remained silent for a long while, which was unusual, before letting out a heavy sigh like a deflated balloon: "I think what you all said makes sense. I'll go back and think about it carefully."

Having said that, Chen Fei stopped dwelling on the slightly heavy topic and immediately steered the conversation back to the lighthearted reality:

"Okay, take your time to figure it out. But we still need to film today's video. The netizens are waiting to see what happens next. My acting skills are excellent, so how do you need me to cooperate?"

These words immediately enlivened the atmosphere at the dinner table.

Zhao Zhihao perked up and quickly recited the script he had discussed with Wang Lisha:

"Ah Fei, you're such a good friend! I want to tell my online friends that after reading their comments, I'll take you to get a haircut and buy you new clothes, and then bring you here for a nice meal! How about it? Is that okay?"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Chen Fei with a mixture of anticipation and embarrassment.

Chen Fei nodded almost without hesitation: "Okay, that's settled then, we'll do it your way."

He understood that Zhao Zhihao needed to maintain his "loyal" persona, and Zhao Zhihao had indeed helped him when he was in his most difficult time, so this small favor was nothing.

Zhao Zhihao pressed his advantage, patting his chest and promising, "Brother, you're a true friend! Once you start posting videos, I'll definitely tag you in my video descriptions to drive traffic to your site!"

"Thanks, Brother Hao." Chen Fei had originally wanted to bring this up, but it was a relief that Zhao Zhihao brought it up first.

Next up is the performance time.

Zhao Zhihao picked up his phone, instantly got into character, and his tone became extremely exaggerated:

"Family! Look who this is! Yes! It's my brother Afei! He's got a whole new look! Isn't his hairstyle cool? Aren't his clothes stylish?"

It has to be arranged by me, the older brother! Afterwards, we'll have a hot pot dinner; our brotherhood is unbreakable! Ah Fei, come say a few words to the family!

Chen Fei immediately got into acting mode when facing the camera.

A sincere, grateful, and slightly embarrassed smile appeared on his face. He lowered his head slightly and said in a soft but clear voice, "Um... thank you, Brother Hao, you've gone to so much trouble."

His expression and tone perfectly captured the essence of a young man who was deeply moved by his brother's help but was not good at expressing himself. This was far more authentic and touching than Zhao Zhihao's outgoing performance.