True Star Chapter 113

If they want to take advantage of virus-like rumors to picture me as a man without any restraints, then I might as well use this opportunity to help them put on a show.

This was the plan Tang Feng had come up with. It was fun, interesting, and very effective. Taking care of the issues in the conventional way would be ineffective in keeping up with the recent developments. After decades of being in the entertainment industry, Tang Feng had heard, seen, and experienced many different ways of dealing with an opponent. After examining all these different methods, he’d concluded that the best way of handling an “enemy” was to take advantage of the situation and use it for your own benefit.

They were all actors, so they might as well put on a show. The movie was just beginning, and the winner of this game had yet to be decided.

“It seems you have some experience with this if you’re capable of coming up with this sort of plan. I’m beginning to see you in a new light,” said Lu Tian Chen.

Tang Feng smiled in response. Like he had said before, he doubted there existed anyone who truly understood him; Charles certainly didn’t, and neither did Lu Tian Chen.

“Many netizens right now have a fixed opinion of me. Firstly, they don’t understand whether I have a good or bad relations.h.i.+p with Ge Chen. Secondly, I haven’t been clear to the public about my s.e.xuality. Thirdly, they are wondering why President Lu is promoting an outdated celebrity like me who doesn’t have any works in my repertoire,” Tang Feng explained. “The reason why we should go with online rumors instead of a press conference is because netizens don’t put much trust in statements coming from official outlets. Announcements coming from entertainment agencies are also untrustworthy in their eyes. They are more willing to believe in rumors from the web instead. If we go with rumors, I think we can expect many of them to fall for it.”

“So you’re saying that if we start a rumor about how the two of us are lovers, we can overturn your first point: that you’re jealous of Ge Chen, because you’re my actual lover. Secondly, you’ll be able to give the public a faint impression of you being h.o.m.os.e.xual, so that they’ll be able to accept your partic.i.p.ation in Direct Li Wei’s movie once news of it is leaked to the media. Thirdly, the public will understand that the reason you have my support is because of your relations.h.i.+p with me.” Lu Tian Chen smiled. How exactly had Tang Feng come up with such an unconventional gambit of a plan?

It was dangerous, but Lu Tian Chen couldn’t help but admit that it was brilliant.

Tang Feng shook his head and smiled. “There’s something else I need to add. I’m only friends with Chen Ming Xu. As for why I became a fixed guest on his show, I think the people under President Lu will be able to come up with a better explanation than I can.”

“No, I think your explanation is good enough. As far as I know, my PR team would have never been able to come up with such a daring plan.”

“It’ll only appear real if it’s daring.” Seeing that Lu Tian Chen’s eyes were on him, Tang Feng shrugged with a smile. “I’ve studied psychology before.” I took lessons because I had the role of a psychologist for a film.

“I don’t know when you’ve had the time to study psychology, but it seems you’ve learned a lot.” Lu Tian Chen stood up and looked down at Tang Feng as he said, “I’ll take care of this matter according to your plan.”

“Thank you.” Tang Feng stood up as well.

“Rather than words, I much prefer action when it comes to expressing thanks.” That was one similar point between Lu Tian Chen and Charles: their business-oriented mindset.

“What do you want?” Tang Feng smiled as he asked.

“I’ll tell you when I’ve decided on something.” The corners of Lu Tian Chen’s lips quirked up in a smirk.

“That sounds a bit scary.”

“I won’t eat you.” Lu Tian Chen patted the actor on the shoulder and chuckled.

♦

As planned, several people claiming to be insiders took to the discussion boards and started an explosion of new rumors barely a day after the scandal involving Tang Feng and Chen Ming Xu dominated the headlines. When fake and real information collided, it would often be difficult to discern which was real and which was fake. Rather, things that were half-true caught people’s attention much more.

Using intimate and ambiguous words, the insiders divulged that Tang Feng and Lu Tian Chen’s relations.h.i.+p wasn’t a normal work relations.h.i.+p. Combining that with the fact that Lu Tian Chen had actually accompanied Tang Feng―a mere employee―to the United States, a majority of the netizens started believing that Lu Tian Chen and Tang Feng were indeed lovers.

However, they soon started asking other questions. Since when had the two of them become lovers? If it had been a long time ago, why did Lu Tian Chen choose to promote a celebrity from another entertainment agency instead of Tang Feng?

Seeing the route that the discussions were taking, someone came out and added an explanation to the already long thread: Lu Tian Chen didn’t want Tang Feng to stay in the entertainment circle. Because of that, his relations.h.i.+p with Tang Feng had been rocky for a while. There were two reasons as to why he had decided to promote someone from his business compet.i.tor and start a few scandals. For one, Lu Tian Chen was looking out for the future of his company. After all, compared to paying for publicity, a scandal between a CEO of an entertainment company and a famous celebrity would be free advertis.e.m.e.nt for him. For two, Lu Tian Chen had wanted to make Tang Feng jealous.

Unexpectedly, Tang Feng ended up being the victor of their little private game. Tang Feng’s accidental fall into the ocean was the catalyst that allowed the two of them to reconcile. Lu Tian Chen also conceded and allowed his lover to re-enter the entertainment world.

The proclaimed insiders explained everything clearly and succinctly. Moreover, the information they provided could be linked up with actual happenings. After reading through their explanations, it was hard not to believe them.