"Now that I think about it, hey, something's off. There's a preview screening today, and it's your production team, right? I checked the industry announcements, and it seems like your team is the only one having a promotional preview screening today."
Xiao He never expected to get such news from his roommate!
"So our opponents are planning to target us online later?"
"Most likely."
Zhai Zhipeng lowered his voice to warn him, "I don't know the detailed damaging information content. We're only responsible for coordination, not the initial dissemination, so you'll need to prepare in advance yourselves."
Xiao He frowned in thought for a moment, then expressed gratitude: "Alright, I'll handle it. Thanks, brother. I'll treat you to a meal later."
"Hey, no problem. Since I know about this, I definitely had to tell you."
Zhai Zhipeng said casually, "You go ahead with your work then. I'll be waiting for that treat!"
"Okay!"
After hanging up, Xiao He immediately had Xiao Chen find Liu Rulan.
When Liu Rulan arrived, Xiao He quickly explained the situation to her.
Liu Rulan was somewhat surprised, but not overly so.
She had encountered opponents targeting Hot Search tactics many times before, so it wasn't particularly shocking.
She just hadn't expected Xiao He to get the news faster than she did.
"How did you find out?"
"I have a classmate working over there who happened to come across it," Xiao He explained with a smile. "If I hadn't entered this industry, I might have ended up working at one of those companies too."
Although before getting the system, Xiao He was just an ordinary computer science student, graduates from Hu University still had basic survival skills. Even if he couldn't become a hacker dominating the online world, he could still work as a programmer, quietly coding to earn a living.
Liu Rulan understood: "I see."
Then her phone also rang.
Liu Rulan raised her eyebrows slightly: "Oh, looks like I'm getting news too. Wait a moment."
She then went out to take the call as well.
After about a few minutes, she returned.
"What's the word?"
Xiao He asked.
"Well, it's definitely Silent Search behind this."
Liu Rulan nodded.
As a seasoned agent in the industry, she naturally had her own connections. When the other side was planning such a major move to expose damaging information, she was bound to catch some wind of it.
Xiao He: "Can't we just approach the platforms directly to suppress this?"
Since they were planning to expose it on platforms, wouldn't it be simpler to just stop the platforms from posting it?
But Liu Rulan shook her head: "They need to make money too. Since we're reacting after the fact, we'd have to spend much more than the other side. That would be really cost-ineffective."
"However, after waiting so long, they're finally making their move. This is actually good news in a way. Let me handle this matter, you don't need to worry about it. Go ahead with your styling first," Liu Rulan said. "You and Xiao Chen can head over directly later. I'll arrive a bit later."
Xiao He had initially considered approaching the platforms directly to suppress the damaging information, but realizing how obvious that approach would be, he ultimately swallowed his suggestion about getting his computer and nodded to Liu Rulan: "Alright, I understand."
Better leave it to Sister Liu to handle.
After Liu Rulan arranged Xiao He's subsequent schedule, she left directly.
When Xiao He finished his styling, changed clothes, and went out with Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen still looked confused: "Isn't Sister Liu coming with us?"
"She'll join us later."
"Oh."
Xiao Chen didn't ask further. After driving Xiao He to the destination, he actually became somewhat nervous himself. Remembering Liu Rulan's instructions, he proactively encouraged Xiao He: "Brother Xiao, do your best! The preview screening will definitely go smoothly."
Xiao He chuckled: "Alright, alright."
Backstage, Xiao He also ran into He Junhao.
"My esteemed benefactor is here! Quick, quick, say hello to my esteemed viewers."
He Junhao waved excitedly.
Xiao He didn't mind, directly moving beside He Junhao and greeting his camera: "Hello, esteemed viewers of Bilibili! I'm actor Xiao He, currently at the Law of the Jungle preview screening event! Welcome everyone to watch Law of the Jungle on April 4th! Thank you all for your support, thank you!"
He Junhao didn't forget to play the host role either, casually asking Xiao He a few questions about Law of the Jungle, using this opportunity to record as much promotional content as possible within the limited time.
Xiao He naturally cooperated fully, never interrupting the recording throughout, as if he were just casually chatting with He Junhao. They completed the entire recording in just a few minutes.
"Our coordination is absolutely unbeatable—"
He Junhao put down the camera and shared a knowing fist bump with Xiao He.
Xiao He asked: "When did you get here?"
"About forty-some minutes ago," He Junhao said. "I even randomly grabbed several of your fans for interviews on site earlier. But later, too many people arrived, so I used the staff pass you provided to come in early."
"I see—"
Xiao He was about to chat more with He Junhao when Liu Zehang came looking for him.
"You go ahead with your work. I'll head to the front to find my seat now," He Junhao proactively suggested leaving. "Looking forward to Law of the Jungle being a huge success!"
Xiao He chuckled lightly: "Alright."
After He Junhao left, Liu Zehang approached: "Brother Xiao, do you know about that situation over there?"
Xiao He immediately understood Liu Zehang's unspoken meaning. His gaze swept behind Liu Zehang but didn't see Liu Zehang's agent: "Yes, I know."
He figured Liu Zehang's agent had also received the news and went to handle the matter.
"Sister Cheng has already gone to find Director Ren and the others," Liu Zehang said, growing increasingly angry as he spoke. "And Brother Xiao, you probably don't know this yet! Their main targets this time are the two of us!"
Xiao He: "I roughly guessed that, but I didn't expect them to be so shameless."
"Right! I'm absolutely speechless!"
Liu Zehang gritted his teeth, "Previously, when I decided not to renew my contract with Taidong and things got tense with the company, my agent at the time specifically spread some damaging information about me online, trying to control me. Unfortunately for them, the company eventually replaced that agent."
"But those damaging rumors still left some traces online. I never expected they'd try to use that old incident to attack me now!"
When Liu Zehang learned this news, he was practically dumbfounded.
Those damaging rumors were a mix of true and false.
The true part was that Liu Zehang had indeed used profanity toward an assistant, because that assistant had privately sold his schedule to stalker fans, nearly getting Liu Zehang trapped at his own doorstep. The false part was that Liu Zehang had replaced the assistant with his girlfriend, and they were secretly dating...
Still single, Liu Zehang looked at the damaging rumors, then at his 190cm tall, muscular male assistant beside him, and nearly spat blood in frustration.
However, the internet is just such an absurd place.
Haters who have never even met you in real life can still vividly narrate romantic affairs between you and your "mysterious girlfriend" as if they were hiding under the bed witnessing the entire scene that very night.
And when they step forward, they attract more fools, creating a resonance phenomenon among idiots who only believe what they want to believe, making your clarifications and explanations seem pale and powerless.
—Because once they firmly believe something, that notion becomes deeply ingrained and unlikely to change.