Chapter 103: Another Farce! [First Update]

Ren Qian’s Weibo post instantly triggered a barrage of attacks from countless trolls who had long been lurking and waiting for an opportunity.

“You’ve become infamous, and you still dare to show your face? Still have the nerve to come out and condemn others?”

“Huh? Where’s the usual criticism of the media’s unethical reporting? Where’s the grand reveal to shame them?”

The trolls found themselves striking at air, their usual tactics rendered useless by this unexpected move.

How could they possibly scold this version of Ren Qian with any style, wit, or camaraderie?

Just as the trolls hesitated, the market intelligence team at Soaring High Paparazzi—who had been tailing Ren Qian and had broken the explosive story—noticed the Weibo post.

They promptly convened a meeting with company executives to vote on whether to continue pursuing the story.

The topic of “Ren Qian’s luxury car running over migrant workers” had catapulted Soaring High Paparazzi into instant fame within their industry, hinting at their rise to the throne of paparazzi kings.

Many media outlets praised Soaring High’s paparazzi for their professional rigor and strong news-hunting skills—true professionals with three decades of experience.

As a result, numerous media companies sent letters expressing their willingness to purchase their entertainment news materials at high prices.

By that logic, Ren Qian was their bread and butter.

Tarnishing Ren Qian’s reputation would be counterproductive for them.

Moreover, a sense of industry conscience restrained them from overexploiting the situation. After discussion, the managers of Soaring High Paparazzi decided to clear Ren Qian’s name.

That very afternoon at five, they delivered the full video footage to major media outlets as a test of their first collaboration. The media, spotting another big story with a dramatic twist, knew it would attract clicks and traffic, so they rushed to publish it immediately.

Thus, the unscrupulous media once again launched a full-scale campaign to spread the truth.

“Absurd! The real story behind Ren Qian’s car running over migrant workers is revealed!”

Some netizens didn’t even bother to read the article and went straight to the comments section to lash out.

“Ren Qian, you’re insane! May your whole family’s funeral carriage skid off the road! You deserve to die!”

Yet others read the entire article and sighed with resignation.

“Please read carefully before you insult. I think two such blunders in a row must be tormenting Ren Qian. The media will do anything for money! But as netizens, please don’t open your mouths and sound so uncultured and rude. If you don’t even understand the article, ranting is just showing off your ignorance.”

“The above comment is right!”

“The second-floor commenter is a real jerk. Did Ren Qian pay you? He’s just stirring up trouble! We curse him to help him get famous! Without us, where would his fame come from? You’re a joke; without us, he’s nothing!”

“The fourth-floor comment is hilarious too. Who do you think you are? The whole world revolves around you? Whether you curse or not, he drives luxury cars and makes big money. Meanwhile, you’re a loser who can’t get anything right. Go collect scrap metal or something.”

...

With the truth revealed, the trolls took a harsh slap in the face. The venomous comments online felt like a series of blows landing on them.

Yet some still mindlessly ranted.

“Damn it, it’s all just hype again. Ren Qian, you scumbag… Can you go a day without self-promotion? I hate seeing parasites like you who have no real talent but rely on empty fame to make money. Trash, vulgar, scum! Go back to the farm!”

Though the incident of running over migrant workers couldn’t be used against Ren Qian anymore, the trolls always had something to attack. They just needed to fabricate a pretext.

“Here we go again, the same old trick. First, clickbait headlines to grab attention, ignite netizens’ emotions, stir up the topic, then jump out to clear Ren Qian’s name—boosting his popularity and raking in money from search engines and entertainment sites. Ren Qian’s PR team really works overtime. Damn it, trash Ren Qian.”

“Trash Ren Qian, trash tactics, trash PR team!”

These people merely ranted for the sake of ranting, trying to save face when being proven wrong.

...

Shortly after the real video was released, Ren Qian’s fan base spontaneously mobilized online.

They began defending Ren Qian everywhere, attempting to “cleanse” his reputation.

Netizens were dumbfounded. The anticipated fierce battle of insults fizzled out abruptly, leaving them craving more drama...

“I hope the media stops making a mockery out of such issues. What you should focus on is why those simple farmers resorted to blocking roads and smashing cars! Who those wealthy playboys really are! You’re putting the cart before the horse. What’s the point?”

Ren Qian’s condemnation was useless; the media ignored him and continued their business as usual.

“Alas,” Ren Qian sighed softly. He was just a singer; it was impossible for him to resolve the complex plight of the working class or correct the media’s moral and professional compass.

In a corrupt world, all he could do was strive to keep himself clean.

Still, the encounter with those unpaid migrant workers today weighed heavily on his mind.

Having worked for more than half a year without pay was bad enough, but to have so many problems on top of that—surely the unscrupulous boss had long fled.

Ren Qian hoped to use his profession to offer them some modest help, even if it might be ineffective.

With that thought, he opened his computer and downloaded several music software programs.

Then he began furiously tapping away at the keyboard, composing accompaniment tracks. Though not matching a professional studio’s quality, the results were indistinguishable to ordinary listeners.

Moreover, the song Ren Qian intended to create wasn’t serious.

He wasn’t making a traditional song but a parody video—a style wildly popular on Bilibili in a previous life.

To that end, he gathered funny clips online, such as a humorous segment from a certain smartphone CEO’s speech, and footage of Wan Feng crying profusely at a concert—each clip guaranteed to provoke laughter. Repeated playbacks with Ren Qian’s infectious enthusiasm ensured everyone who watched would be in stitches.

Two hours later, Ren Qian deleted the condemning Weibo post and uploaded the parody video instead. He added a caption: “Please pay more attention to those migrant workers owed wages!”

Netizens, bored and restless, had just seen Ren Qian’s reputation rehabilitated—it was a lull in the entertainment storm.

Suddenly, Ren Qian dropped a video titled “The Largest Leather Factory in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Has Closed!”

Without hesitation, they clicked.

The next moment, they were instantly hooked.

A catchy, hypnotic tune poured from their phones:

“Zhejiang Wenzhou, Zhejiang Wenzhou, Jiangnan Leather Factory shut down!
The largest leather factory in Zhejiang Wenzhou, Jiangnan Leather Factory shut down!
Bastard bastard Huang He boss, drinking, gambling, whoring, drinking, gambling, whoring!
Owing debts, owing 350 million, ran away with his sister-in-law!
We have no no no way way to pay, holding wallets to cover wages!”

What on earth was this parody nonsense? Yet why did one listen feel so satisfying? Damn, when did my taste get so low?

At that moment, all viewers who opened the video erupted in laughter.

In a university dormitory, the sleazy, chubby Sun Xiangfei lay on his top bunk taking a nap. Upon seeing the video, he shook with laughter, the entire bed creaking under his trembling body.

His roommate, unable to stand it, tossed a bag of tissues onto his bed.

“Son, ease up on the jerk-offs!”

“Screw you!”

Sun Xiangfei yanked off his blanket and unplugged his headphones, the catchy tune ringing out.

The atmosphere in the dorm instantly turned bizarre.

What the hell kind of bizarre tune was this!