Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

The plane landed at the Capital Airport at 8 p.m.

The capital was enveloped by a sudden night rain. The raindrops were small, but they were continuous. The wet streets reflected the car lights and looked particularly cold and desolate.

Li Ran sat in the waiting van, fatigue washing over him like a tidal wave, but he knew that this was far from the time to rest.

He rubbed his temples, took his phone out of his pocket, and the trending topics page refreshed, with a series of glaring keywords hitting his eyes.

#Li Ran Capital# Explosion

#Tian Xiwei Bullying# Hot

#The Casting Secrets of "The Legend of Canglan"# New

#Li Ran fixed match# New

……

The hashtag #LiuHaocun#, which topped the list yesterday and caused a huge uproar, has been pushed down to eighth place, with its popularity significantly decreasing. However, this does not mean the storm is over; it is more like it has been temporarily covered up.

Li Ran's eyes instantly turned cold.

This is no longer a fan war or a chance scandal; it is a well-prepared, multi-pronged, and all-out attack that strikes at the heart of the matter.

The pinned post is a lengthy article of over 10,000 words from a well-known entertainment gossip blogger. It has a sensational title, a clear structure, and is extremely aggressive.

[The Mystery of Resources: The "Family Background" and "Privileges" Behind Top Celebrities]

For the first time, Li Ran's family background was thoroughly "exposed." Although his specific name and position were omitted, vague yet highly targeted terms were used to outline the image of a "child of a privileged class."

It was pointed out that Li Ran's resources after transitioning from an e-sports player to an actor were abnormally good, and it was questioned whether her rise to prominence was inseparable from the protection of her family.

Taking "The Legend of Canglan" as an example, it is claimed that the original female lead was not Tian Xiwei, but Li Ran's side used their influence to exert pressure and forcibly change the role to pave the way for artists from the same company.

Listing past incidents such as the replacement of important supporting actors during the filming of "Minglong Boys" and the rumors of "pre-selected" roles in "Sending You a Little Red Flower", all of these are attributed to Li Ran's "capital operations".

[A Chaotic Relationship: Who is the Real "Mrs. Li"?]

The names of all the actresses who have worked or interacted with Li Ran, including Zhang Jingyi, Zhou Ye, Liu Haocun, Tian Xiwei, Hu Lianxin, Zhang Ruonan, and Lu Yuxiao, were listed and compiled into a "rumored girlfriends" list.

This implies that Li Ran used his influence and resources to maintain "improper relationships" with multiple female stars, resulting in a chaotic love life and questionable private morality.

The recent "Pikachu incident" that broke out shortly after Li Ran's scandal at the "Weibo Night" event suggests that Li Ran's side has the ability and precedent to manipulate public opinion and cover up scandals.

[Side scandals of her fellow students: Tien Hsi-wei's true colors]

They turned their guns on Tian Xiwei, claiming that her "sweet girl" persona was a complete fabrication and that she was a participant in school bullying during high school, posting so-called "classmate revelations" and blurry old photos.

They dug up his old Weibo posts and found screenshots of some emotional and vulgar remarks that contrasted with his current image, accusing him of hypocrisy.

This implies that her acquisition of important resources such as the "Azure Orchid Manual" was not entirely due to her strength, but involved unsavory methods such as "sexual favors" and "ingratiating with higher-ups," directly pointing to her close relationship with Li Ran.

[The Ultimate "Evidence": Betrayal in the Era of Esports]

The article concludes with a bombshell accusation, bringing up the 2017 League of Legends World Championship, in which Li Ran's LPL team suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the Bird's Nest stadium.

It's not simply a matter of questioning his operational errors, but a direct accusation that he "deliberately threw the game."

The article claims that his "incomprehensible failure to steal the dragon with a flash" in the most crucial team fight was due to "receiving benefits from overseas gambling," "deliberately ruining the game," and "not wanting the all-Chinese team to win the championship." It further escalates the allegations, implying that he has "problematic stance" and "is biased."

The air inside the car seemed to freeze. Through the rearview mirror from the passenger side, Assistant Chen saw Li Ran staring intently at his phone screen, his face expressionless…

This is no longer an attack targeting a specific event or a specific person.

This is to nail him to the pillar of shame as a "capitalist puppet," "morally corrupt," "industry cancer," and "even a traitor."

Family background, career resources, love life, professional ethics, even stance... every aspect, without any blind spots, every strike is aimed at completely destroying him.

The timing was ruthless and precise, as he was preoccupied with the Liu Haocun incident and his public image was already being questioned.

Li Ran's gaze lingered longest on the section about "match-fixing".

That was the most painful scar of his career, a regret that would still drench his eyes in cold sweat during countless nights of dreaming. Now, it has been reopened in the most vicious way, sprinkled with the salt of betrayal and conspiracy.

"Xiao Chen," he said slowly, his voice low and hoarse, yet unusually calm, "give me a cigarette."

Xiao Chen glanced at him in the rearview mirror, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

He knew Li Ran didn't usually smoke, but he didn't say anything. He silently took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket, turned around and handed them over.

Li Ran took it, skillfully flicked out a lighter, put it in his mouth, lowered his head, and used his hand to cup the flickering flame of the lighter to light it.

He lowered the car window a crack, and the cool, damp night wind rushed in, dispersing some of the smoke and clearing his groggy mind a little.

The vehicle drove steadily and firmly toward Wajijiwa Entertainment in the rainy night.

He knew that it would be another sleepless night in the company building.

Inside the Wajijiwa meeting room.

After recounting her experiences during high school, Tian Xiwei looked at Long Danni in the main seat, her voice clear yet carrying her unique stubbornness.

"Auntie, that's how it is. I didn't bully anyone. I was just fighting back normally. They were the ones bullying me. I just did what I thought was right and said what I thought should be said. I... don't think I did anything wrong."

In the youth of ordinary people, this might just be a small conflict or misunderstanding, but under the spotlight, and on a young female artist who is known for her "sweet girl" and "energetic" persona, it becomes a matter that needs to be repeatedly examined, and could even be fatal.

Long Danni rubbed her temples. She understood Tian Xiwei's grievances and even agreed with her actions from a personal perspective.

But from a business perspective, in the magnifying glass of the entertainment industry, there is no absolute "right or wrong," only the "image" that is interpreted.

She sighed, her voice softening, soothing yet revealing a sense of helplessness: "Xiaotian, I understand. For ordinary people, this is nothing, it's even something to be proud of."

"But you are a celebrity, so the key now is how to deal with this and how to minimize the damage."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the other core members in the conference room, her tone becoming even more somber: "Moreover, the most pressing issue right now isn't just your problem."

Her implication was clear: the public opinion storm surrounding Li Ran and Liu Haocun was the more turbulent vortex at present.

Although Liu Haocun is not an artist under Wajijiwa Entertainment, the company should not be directly involved in his crisis public relations.

However, Long Danni knew perfectly well that with Li Ran's connection, Wajiji would not stand idly by. Moreover, Long Ying had privately revealed to her that Li Ran intended to push Liu Haocun to establish an independent studio, and Li Ran was very likely to invest in the company or as an individual.

If that happens, Liu Haocun's matter will truly become "a family affair," and the risks must be shared.

Commercial interests, personal relationships, potential risks... all sorts of considerations intertwined in Long Danni's mind.

From a purely business perspective, she should perhaps advise Li Ran to temporarily sever ties and protect himself.

But in the end, she is still Li Ran's aunt...

Just then, the conference room door was pushed open.

Li Ran's hair was slightly damp from the rain, with a few strands clinging to his forehead, adding to his aloof demeanor.

Ignoring everyone's gaze, he walked straight to the empty seat next to Tian Xiwei and sat down. His movements were swift and decisive, even carrying a hint of suppressed anger.

After sitting down, he first turned his head to look at Tian Xiwei next to him.

In the instant their eyes met, Tian Xiwei saw a deep, brooding anger in the depths of his eyes.

Immediately, Li Ran turned to Long Danni, without any pleasantries, and went straight to the point. His voice was not loud, but it carried a resolute force: "Auntie, put aside all other matters, including Xiaotian's and Cunzi's. Now, let's talk about the rumors about me 'fixing the match'."

Long Danni was not surprised by Li Ran's directness at all; she knew her nephew too well.

The defeat at the Bird's Nest in 17 is a wound in his heart that can never be healed.

Now, he has been torn apart again in the most vicious way and smeared with filth such as "betrayal" and "selling out the country," which has touched his bottom line that he absolutely cannot back down from.

She nodded, gesturing to the public relations manager: "Explain the situation in detail."

The person in charge immediately pulled up the data panel and spoke quickly but clearly: "Regarding the accusations of 'match-fixing,' the main battleground for these accusations is currently some esports forums, online communities, and historical discussion areas."

"The core group participating in the discussion is indeed the e-sports fans and followers from back then, but the good news is that, according to our real-time monitoring of public opinion, the vast majority of old fans and veteran viewers scoff at this and consider it nonsense."

"Many people are spontaneously refuting and clarifying. But the bad news is that after this topic was maliciously hyped up, it is rapidly 'breaking out of its circle,' and a large number of passers-by who are unaware of the situation back then are attracted by the sensational headlines and begin to watch and spread it."

Li Ran listened quietly, her face expressionless, until the person in charge finished speaking.

He paused for a few seconds, then spoke, his voice unusually calm: "Not enough. The buzz isn't enough. The public's rebuttal isn't strong enough either."

He looked up and gave an unexpected answer. "My opinion is that instead of suppressing the hype surrounding this 'match-fixing,' we should secretly add fuel to the fire and analyze every frame of that crucial, criticized 'mistake' in the 17 finals—the failed dragon steal—and amplify its interpretation."

"They inadvertently leaked all the details that showed my extremely poor condition before I went on in the fifth game, the first-person perspective during the match, and the interpretations that suggested 'match-fixing.'"

He paused, his tone growing even colder: "Not only do we need to leak it, but we also need to guide public opinion, making more people believe in my abnormal behavior at the time, deepening their speculation about the possibility of me fixing the match. We need to completely muddy the waters, make the matter as big as possible, so hot it's unbearable to ignore."

The moment these words were spoken, the conference room fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Even Tian Xiwei turned to look at him in shock, not understanding why he would "destroy his own Great Wall".

Long Danni's expression changed as well. She leaned forward, her brows furrowed. "Li Ran, do you know what you're saying? What will be the consequences of doing this? What will Tencent Esports and the former league officials think? You're putting them back in the spotlight."

"You can't get over what happened back then?"

"make life difficult for!"

Li Ran's voice remained calm, but two cold flames ignited in his eyes. "Since someone dares to use this to attack me, trying to pin the accusations of 'match-fixing' and 'treason' on me, then I will expose this matter to the world."

"I was unwilling to accept defeat in that match, and even more so, I was completely baffled by the reason for it!"

His tone finally betrayed a hint of barely suppressed anger and resentment.

This is not a youthful impulsiveness, but rather the most dangerous yet most thorough form of retaliation chosen by adults after weighing the pros and cons.

Only by facing certain death can one find a way out; use the greatest storm to cleanse the dirtiest sewage.

Tian Xiwei stared blankly at the taut lines of his profile and the almost obsessive determination in his eyes, and suddenly felt that Li Ran was a stranger to her.

It's like a lone wolf, completely enraged, baring its fangs, ready to tear its prey apart.

How much of her past and pain is hidden behind this?

Li Ran seemed to sense her gaze, tilted his head slightly, and met her worried eyes. The icy coldness in his eyes melted slightly, but it quickly returned to its hard state.

He subconsciously reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette case. He had just taken one out and put it to his lips, but before he could light it, Tian Xiwei reached out and snatched the cigarette away.

"I could smell the smoke as soon as I came in," Tian Xiwei said, frowning, her face full of disapproval and concern. "Don't smoke indoors, it's bad for your health."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable concern. She glanced at a staff member beside her and slowly said, "Go get a towel."

Li Ran gave a helpless twitch of his lips. He didn't insist any further, put the lighter back, and nodded to Tian Xiwei, accepting the reproachful concern.

He turned his attention back to the public relations manager and asked, "So, who was behind this public opinion campaign in the first place, according to our investigation?"

The person in charge quickly reviewed the latest report and replied, "Based on the information and funding flows we've tracked so far, the earliest source of the large-scale release of smear campaign articles, the coordinated marketing accounts, and the online trolls stirring up trouble points to Huace Film & TV. However…"

He emphasized, "According to our further understanding, this does not seem to be a decision made at the Huace Media level, but rather... by the artist himself."

"Huace?" Li Ran repeated, then fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

After a moment, he seemed to have figured out something crucial, and a cold, mocking smile appeared on his lips.

He chuckled softly, a laugh devoid of warmth, filled only with deep disdain and a hint of knowing: "I wondered who had such power and audacity... So it was her. What a troublemaker. Just because of her grandfather?"

Long Danni sensed the hidden meaning in his words and slowly said, "Let's do as Li Ran says first."

He then looked at Li Ran and Tian Xiwei, "You two come to my office."

in the office.

Long Danni looked at Li Ran sitting opposite her and sighed softly.

"You... are you really going to take things this far? Without leaving any room for maneuver?" Long Danni's voice softened, no longer that of a company boss, but more like that of an elder watching a junior about to step into danger.

Li Ran didn't speak, but her attitude was firm, indicating that this time she had to do something to resolve all the negative comments once and for all.

Tian Xiwei had already dried his hair with a towel and was now sitting quietly on the sofa next to him.

She folded the towel and placed it aside, then looked up at Long Danni.

"Auntie, I agree with Li Ran's idea. Just now... I sent a WeChat message to Mom and briefly explained the situation."

"Mom also supports Li Ran's idea..."

She paused here, then turned her gaze to Li Ran: "Mom also said that at worst, we can just quit being an entertainer."

"If I finish this job and have some free time, I'll let her hold her grandson..."

"Alright," Long Danni waved her hand, her voice weary, "There's no point in me saying more. Have the public relations and legal departments work overtime to come up with the necessary plans. They need to be ruthless, but also compliant, leaving no room for complaint. As for the rest..."

She looked at Li Ran and said, "You can do whatever you want... but Li Ran, remember to always leave yourself an out. If things really come to that, be prepared to stop."

Li Ran nodded, "Okay, Auntie."

"Go back and rest early..." Long Danni said finally.

It was nearly midnight when Li Ran returned to his apartment.

Tian Xiwei, nestled in Li Ran's arms, spoke in a muffled voice: "So, it really was that shrewd Yu from Huace... just because she didn't get the female lead role in 'The Legend of Canglan'? She went to such lengths to make such a fuss?"

Li Ran had one arm around her, while the other unconsciously stroked her hair. Hearing this, he scoffed, "Whether it's her or not, who cares? Does it matter? After all, she was the first choice for the female lead in 'The Azure Orchid Manual,' but you were chosen in the end. It's not surprising that she's holding me responsible for this."

Tian Xiwei understood his subtext and didn't press the matter further.

Just as she was about to say something else, Li Ran's phone suddenly vibrated, the screen lit up, and the caller ID showed... Li Gengxi.

Li Ran glanced at it and hung up immediately.

But a few seconds later, a WeChat message came through.

[Li Ran, I saw what happened online. It has nothing to do with me! The casting news for "The Snow Sword" wasn't leaked from our side, I swear!]

Li Ran didn't even flinch, tapping his fingers on the screen to reply simply: 【OK】

Almost instantly, Li Gengxi's next message popped up: "Do you... need any help right now? I can get in touch with some media outlets and platforms."

Li Ran looked at the message, a faint smile playing on his lips, and replied: 【What, you're a 'capitalist's kid,' but I'm not?】

Li Gengxi seemed momentarily speechless, replying after almost half a minute: [I know, this is nothing to you. I just... wanted to check on you! I was worried you'd get really upset by all that nonsense.]

His tone conveyed a cautious probing and a desire to get closer.

"Thank you!" Li Ran replied.

Want to come out for a drink?

Why do you want to get involved too?

It's not impossible...

Tian Xiwei leaned against Li Ran's chest and could see the conversation on his phone screen clearly.

After Li Ran put down his phone, she snorted coldly, looked up, her eyes flashing with displeasure, and poked Li Ran's chest with her finger: "What exactly is your relationship with her?"

"Just friends."

"Would an ordinary friend rush to 'care' about you at this time? And even 'worry you'll be upset'?"

She paused, then added, "And what does she mean by that? Last time 'Little Tablet' and 'Little Fox' teamed up, didn't they teach her a lesson? She still dares to mess with you?"

Li Ran sighed helplessly, wrapped his arms around the suddenly jealous little ball in his arms, and kissed the top of her head: "What time is it? You're still in the mood to be jealous?"

"Alright, let's go to sleep!"

……