21: An overnight success? You, Jiaobenji netizen, please calm down!

Chapter 21: An Instant Hit? Japan Netizens, You Need to Calm Down!

As soon as Lu Shenwei dialed the number, Su Qing's sarcastic tone came through the receiver.

"Chairman Lu, what made you suddenly think of calling me?"

"Su Qing, what kind of trick are you playing behind my back?"

Lu Shenwei questioned, and Su Qing softly replied, "I'm just a girl protecting her rights, what kind of trick could I be playing?"

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"Want to know? Qinchuan Intercontinental Hotel, 8 PM tonight!"

"Don't play games!"

Doo-doo-doo—

The dial tone sounded, and Lu Shenwei said with a dark face, "I'll see what kind of trick you're playing tonight."

While Lu Shenwei was busy investigating the truth, Bai Xiaoying was also in a frantic state.

A few days ago, leveraging Lu Shenwei's handsome and rich persona and Julong Steel's impressive image, she gained a lot of fans, with her follower count increasing by 420,000 in three days.

But good times didn't last; in the past two days, public opinion suddenly shifted, and Julong Steel became a pariah overnight, everyone condemning it.

She was also implicated, and her fan count instantly plummeted.

"Sister Mu, please help me think of a solution."

"I'm also in a difficult situation now; the municipal TV station has ordered me to suspend my work and reflect."

"Ah? That serious? Are Chairman Lu and his team really in trouble?"

"Whether they are in trouble or not, I don't know, but current public opinion is one-sided. Any slight blemish on Lu Shenwei will be infinitely magnified."

"Can we help with anything?"

Bai Xiaoying was still conscientious, remembering those who helped her.

"Julong Steel has released a clarification video; help them repost it."

Mu Guchan said, even if it was just a drop in the bucket, it was better than doing nothing.

"I'll try. The number of anti-fans has clearly increased in the past two days; two out of three videos I post get reported and taken down."

Bai Xiaoying said helplessly, but Mu Guchan firmly stated, "Evil cannot triumph over good. I believe Lu Shenwei is innocent."

As a seasoned journalist, Mu Guchan could feel sincerity and dedication from Lu Shenwei; she didn't believe Lu Shenwei would embezzle state-owned assets.

"I also trust Sister Mu's judgment." Bai Xiaoying mused.

More and more private messages attacking her were coming in, and some even paid her to delete the interview content.

Why? Wasn't it because someone was afraid of Lu Shenwei's positive image being exposed?

Night fell, Qinchuan Intercontinental Hotel, Executive Suite.

"What's going on? Asking me to meet at a hotel."

Lu Shenwei muttered as he knocked on the door. Su Qing, wearing a sheer black gauze dress, held a glass of red wine.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"What else could an ex-girlfriend want when she asks you to a hotel room? Come in and talk."

The scent of wine filled the air. Lu Shenwei stepped back two paces, pushing away Su Qing's restless hand.

He pressed his right hand against his chest, activating the pinhole live camera. It's always wise to be cautious.

[Damn! Look what I found! Julong Steel's Chairman Lu Shenwei is live-streaming?!]

[Oh my god, isn't the beauty in the picture Su Qing, who's been making waves these past two days?]

[Where's the tissue? My nose is bleeding!]

People in the live stream called their friends, and more and more onlookers gathered.

"I really didn't expect that in less than two years, you could revive a steel factory that was almost bankrupt. I admit I underestimated you."

Su Qing put down her wine glass and sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, the view beneath her skirt completely exposed.

[Oh my god! This scene is a bit inappropriate for minors.]

[Is this something I can watch for free? Director Lu is awesome!]

[Super admin! I advise you not to meddle. Director Lu, adjust the camera, lower it a bit more, and there will be even more viewers.]

The scene was seductive, but Lu Shenwei had no mind for it. He was certain that Su Qing had someone guiding her from behind.

Otherwise, with Su Qing's vision and ability, would she have thought of such brilliant moves as manipulating public opinion and reporting to the Administration for Industry and Commerce?

"You're uglier than a ghost without makeup. Your honey trap won't work on me."

[The conversation suddenly became profound. They are all masters!]

[Director Lu's aesthetic is on point. Although this one is a 'green tea,' she's at least a 'Biluochun' level.]

Lu Shenwei said coldly. Su Qing's face fell: "A hundred years of cultivation to cross the same boat, a thousand years of cultivation to sleep on the same pillow. Although we didn't end up together, you don't have to be so heartless."

"If you had agreed to let me use my parents' pension to revive the steel factory back then, we wouldn't have come to this point today."

Su Qing said excitedly, "If, and I mean if, I had agreed to you back then, would we still be together now?"

"With your narrow-minded personality, would you have agreed to me spending 2 million to save a factory on the verge of collapse?"

[Explosive content? Director Lu used his parents' pension to revive the factory back then?]

[2 million is too little, but if there's policy support, it seems enough to restructure a failing industrial and mining enterprise.]

Facing Lu Shenwei's counter-question, Su Qing was speechless.

"Nothing to say? Forget it, I'm too lazy to play games with you. 20 million, that's my maximum sincerity." Lu Shenwei said seriously.

"20 million? You want to get rid of me with that? I heard Director Lu's Julong Steel has an annual output value of at least 100 million."

[A 'green tea' obsessed with money, confirmed!]

[20 million, Director Lu is generous! Let me do it! Brand new, 18 years out of the factory, younger and prettier than her! I only need 2 million!]

[What's wrong with the person above? Director Lu is live-streaming in person, clearly to clear his name. Those looking for marriage and friends, get out!]

"What are you crazy about? Don't the workers need to be paid? Don't procurement and R&D costs need money? I only have 20 million!"

Lu Shenwei's face was stern. He hadn't expected Su Qing's appetite to be so big, wanting to swallow the entire factory.

"Tell me the mastermind behind this, withdraw the complaint against the Administration for Industry and Commerce, and 20 million is yours."

Su Qing laughed, "In the past, let alone 20 million, I would have compromised for 2 million. But now you're worth over 100 million, and you only offer me 20 million? Are you trying to brush off a beggar?"

[20 million is not enough? Why waste words with such a cheap woman?]

[The pathetic 'green tea' doesn't know that the moment Director Lu walked into the room, she had already lost completely.]

[What does Director Lu do? He started almost from scratch, took over a mess, and revived a steel factory on the verge of bankruptcy in half a year. Do you think a scheming woman like you can outsmart him?]

"30 million! This is all my cash, but you must tell me the mastermind!" Lu Shenwei insisted.

[Director Lu is magnificent! 30 million given just like that!]

[Little 'green tea' walked right into the trap. Just wait to die!]

[By the way, aren't you curious who the mastermind is?]

[Boring, I want to see blood flow!]

[Eating melons, eating melons! I announce that the biggest melon of the year in Qinchuan has appeared!]

Although Su Qing had drunk red wine, her head was still clear.

"I'm just a poor girl asking for compensation for lost youth; there's no mastermind."

['Green tea' is awesome! Her acting is on point, worthy of being Director Lu's ex-girlfriend.]

[If she were to act, she would definitely be an instant hit!]

[Brother upstairs, 'instant hit' in Japanese.]

[This Japan netizen, please calm down!]