Chapter 62
When the video shot by Jin Shi for Cheng Xuyuan appeared in B.H’s advertising department, although everyone had prepared with great anticipation, Cheng Xuyuan’s charm still left everyone in awe.
The director specifically instructed, “The president has made it clear that the ad content must not be leaked. There’s a lot of discussion about our new ad online, but let’s not pay attention to that. In the end, it’s all about increasing product visibility.”
The advertising department actually had quite a few An Ye fans. They were well aware that the company couldn’t secure An Ye, and it wasn’t Cheng Xuyuan snatching his endorsement. With this unscrupulous media leak, B.H found itself in the eye of the storm.
However, their president was a shrewd person who never engaged in losing propositions. Since someone had pushed the company into the trending spotlight, they decided to ride the wave and promote it.
The next day, B.H’s official Weibo posted a message:
“Check out the sample video for our new watch! The editor loved it — do you all anticipate it?”
Undoubtedly, this Weibo post, combined with the trending topic, was a direct challenge to An Ye’s fans.
The comments section was filled with hostility, with countless people questioning why B.H was using An Ye’s fame to pave the way for a newcomer who hadn’t even debuted.
In response, the B.H president simply said, “Don’t mind them. We’ve never actively mentioned An Ye’s name. If these fans want to give us visibility, let them continue making noise.”
The editing of the ad was quickly completed. To highlight Cheng Xuyuan’s youthful charm, the technical team added a sunny filter, making the entire scene as exquisite as an art film.
To ensure the ad’s explosive impact, the marketing department decided not to release the video online first. Instead, they would display it in central shopping malls across several major cities.
Although this approach undoubtedly increased promotional costs, it received unanimous support from top management.
Imagine the handsome youth projected on oversized mall screens — what a visual spectacle it would be.
After finishing the ad shoot, Cheng Xuyuan checked his bank balance. It was just enough to buy a plane ticket back to China. So, he mustered the courage to ask Jin Shi when he could receive his salary. Jin Shi, being quite wealthy, immediately advanced his ad fee and said, “If there’s a suitable role in the future, I’ll come find you. You better owe me a favor.”
This statement was a huge compliment to the newcomer. No matter how clueless Cheng Xuyuan was, he sincerely thanked Jin Shi.
During his time in the United States, Cheng Xuyuan was constantly approached by strangers wherever he went. So, before heading to the airport, he boldly donned a black mask and sunglasses to avoid unnecessary attention.
As Tang Ying entered the airport, his eyes immediately fell on the figure with his back turned to him.
The young man wore a simple shirt and casual pants. His short-cropped hair revealed a sexy line along his slender neck. Just this silhouette made Tang Ying momentarily hold his breath.
“Ying-ge?” His assistant nudged him. “What’s wrong?”
Tang Ying swallowed hard, unable to speak. His gaze remained fixed on the young man ahead, carrying an oversized travel bag. Suddenly, he quickened his steps and walked directly toward him.
Cheng Xuyuan was heading toward the security checkpoint when a hand landed on his shoulder.
Tang Ying watched as the young man turned around. Despite the oversized sunglasses and mask, there was a sense of familiarity about him.
“Are you…” Tang Ying hesitated, “Are you Zhou… Zhou Yuanzhe?”
The name, buried for five years, felt like a distant echo as it left his lips.
The young man shook his head without hesitation, subtly removing Tang Ying’s hand. He walked through the security gate without looking back.
A complete stranger.
Tang Ying stood frozen until his assistant called out to him. Only then did he realize his eyes were moist.
“Ying-ge, are you okay?!” The assistant was shocked. Tang Ying, usually warm and cheerful, looked utterly lost. “Why are you crying?”
Tears flowed down Tang Ying’s cheeks uncontrollably. Even during acting scenes, he hadn’t been this emotional.
“Mistaken identity,” Tang Ying said, taking the tissue the assistant handed him. “Let’s go get our boarding passes.”
Cheng Xuyuan and Tang Ying were on the same flight, but their seats were far apart. Tang Ying was in first class, while Cheng Xuyuan was in economy. They wouldn’t have a chance to meet.
After landing, Tang Ying’s fans swarmed outside. He searched for that familiar figure but quickly lost sight of it in the crowd.
Tang Ying’s heart felt empty. He kept telling himself that Zhou Yuanzhe was gone, wondering why he clung to such an unrealistic fantasy.
Unaware of the impending storm, Cheng Xuyuan, with his memory loss, returned to H City. He chose this city because he knew that almost all celebrities in the entertainment industry gathered here, including An Ye.
Judging by popularity, An Ye was undoubtedly the lead in “Brilliant Star Path.”
Cheng Xuyuan planned to stay in H City for a while. He checked rental apps on his phone and settled for a cheap place in a remote area.
After moving in, he carefully budgeted for daily necessities, spending the rest on skincare products and clothes.
With only a few worn-out outfits, he wouldn’t find suitable attire for auditions.
He explored nearby malls, selecting various styles of clothing. On the bus ride home, Cheng Xuyuan, without sunglasses or a mask, became a hundred percent head-turner.
His rented apartment was surrounded by few shops, except for a noodle restaurant that seemed to be doing well. As he passed by, he was surprised by the luxurious sports car parked outside.
It belonged to Xiang Boyan.
Every month, Xiang Boyan would find time to visit this noodle restaurant and enjoy its golden soup beef noodles. Over the years, the restaurant owner had become an old friend.
However, no matter how many times he came, Xiang Boyan couldn’t taste the same flavor he once shared with Zhou Yuanzhe.
Sitting by the window, Xiang Boyan focused on his meal, absentmindedly scrolling through Weibo. He noticed that the battle between An Ye and the mysterious newcomer was still ongoing. While marveling at B.H’s clever move, he couldn’t help but think of Zhou Yuanzhe.
If Zhou Yuanzhe were still An Ye’s manager, how would he retaliate?
Unconsciously, Xiang Boyan looked up and saw a familiar figure passing by outside. It felt like a lightning bolt struck him, and his chopsticks fell onto the table.
Stunned for a full minute, Xiang Boyan abruptly stood up and rushed out of the restaurant without settling the bill.
But the figure had already disappeared.
Xiang Boyan looked around in confusion, his heart pounding as if it would leap out of his throat. Zhou Yuanzhe…
Could it be you?
Standing in the empty street for what felt like an eternity, Xiang Boyan finally realized he was hallucinating again. He dragged his feet back to the restaurant, paid the bill, and decided to buy some alcohol from the supermarket.
Tonight was destined to be another sleepless night.
________________________
Not long after Cheng Xuyuan returned to China, B.H’s summer watch advertisement quietly appeared in major city centers.
Initially, this brief 30-second ad didn’t catch much attention. But as the handsome face of the young man repeatedly appeared on LED screens, people finally recognized him.
“Is that a B.H ad?”
“Seems like it. Isn’t he the one who snatched An Ye’s endorsement?”
“Not entirely sure…”
Passersby began discussing it in hushed tones.
The ad was also displayed in H City’s city center, not far from Xing Entertainment’s building.
Gradually, more and more people noticed the ad, especially An Ye’s sensitive fans.
On the second morning after the advertisement was launched, someone deliberately recorded a video of the ad at the entrance of a shopping mall.
The person posted the video on Weibo, but without mentioning An Ye’s name. They cautiously asked, “Is this the person I’m thinking of?”
The sparse comments below mostly guessed what they were referring to.
As dawn broke, similar videos started appearing more frequently on Weibo, accompanied by increasingly pointed captions.
“Is this B.H’s ad?” “Can someone confirm the identity of this newcomer?” “Has An Ye seen this video?” “The video is blurry; it’s hard to confirm their appearance.”
However, the discussion remained relatively contained until a marketing account reposted the video.
[This handsome guy is so eye-catching. Does anyone know who he is?]
This sparked a wave of responses. Most comments were surprisingly consistent, basically saying, “This seems to be the newcomer who snatched An Ye’s endorsement.”
In pursuit of traffic, other marketing accounts quickly followed suit, adding provocative captions: [Rumor has it that this person stole An Ye’s ad. Do you think they look better than An Ye?]
The intentionally provocative text drove An Ye’s fans crazy. They reported the marketing accounts relentlessly and commented, [I wouldn’t even click on this kind of video!]
The war between fans and marketing accounts continued, and then B.H’s official Weibo account spoke up.
[Have you seen the new ad in the mall? Did those two handsome guys catch your eye? [Video]]
The original high-definition ad video was attached.
Finally, An Ye’s fans, who had been monitoring the official account for days, realized that mall advertisements were just another marketing tactic. They suddenly turned on the official account, leaving scathing comments.
[Have some shame! Isn’t this enough after all these days of hype?]
[I want to see what kind of newcomer has such audacity…]
[Not interested; newcomers are all the same.]
An Ye’s fans pushed this Weibo post to the top of the trending list, with over 20,000 real-time comments.
An Ye, who had inexplicably become a trending topic, was still on set filming. It wasn’t until his assistant informed him during a break that he learned about the situation. He absentmindedly opened Weibo.
An Ye didn’t really care about newcomers encroaching on his territory. After all, in the age of online influence, being seen was the key. But this newcomer’s excessive hype made him furrow his brow and click on the ad video to see the newcomer’s true face.
When the luxurious Las Vegas casino appeared on the screen, the young man’s face, bearing a striking resemblance to Zhou Yuanzhe, made An Ye forget to breathe.
His eyes widened, and his fingers trembled uncontrollably.
At this moment, the hashtag #B.HNewWatchAd had already topped the trending list.
________________________
Author’s note:
Cheng Cheng: Even redder than red, it’s black-red.
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution!
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