Chapter 61 The Livestream Continues

The sedan sped down the highway, a warm and lively atmosphere filling the car. After sharing a hushed conversation with Su Chen, the paparazzo in the passenger seat began reminiscing about his years of experience.

"...Anyway, there are hardly any decent celebrities in this industry! Each and every one of them falls apart under scrutiny!"

"Of course, Brother Chen, you're not like that! In the whole entertainment industry, there isn't a single one like you or me!"

"Hahaha, you flatter me!" Su Chen waved his hand, laughing.

Thanks to Su Chen's heartfelt candor, the two paparazzi had let down their guard and began sharing with him the sordid tales they'd witnessed in the world of showbiz throughout the years.

They spoke of how a certain actress, desperate for fame, slept her way up from the crew hands to the director, single-handedly turning the entire production into a palace intrigue drama. Another male star, notorious for his wild lifestyle, scorned women who could be bought—he only fancied married women from respectable families. He would lure them out, drug them, and after the deed, blackmail them with videos, breaking up several families in the process.

But the most outrageous was a male celebrity who, trying to curry favor with a director, visited his home night after night. Publicly, they claimed to be just friends, but in truth, their relationship was far more intimate. Rumor had it that even the director's decade-long constipation was cured!

Such stories were countless, leaving Su Chen utterly dumbfounded.

Truth be told, as seasoned paparazzi, the two men knew far more about the secrets of these stars than Su Chen ever could. What Su Chen thought he knew was nothing compared to the real depths of depravity they described. This exchange had opened his eyes, and his resolve to cleanse this filthy industry only grew stronger.

The two paparazzi were careful, though, never mentioning names and details together—if they spoke of an incident, they'd keep the identity vague, and if a name was dropped, the specifics were glossed over. Even so, the cameraman holding up his camera was already drenched in sweat.

Many of these tales weren't just matters of morals—they were criminal offenses. If he wasn't careful and the wrong people took offense, losing his job would be the least of his worries. He might end up with broken limbs in a back alley, or worse, tossed into a sack and...

At this thought, the cameraman's lips trembled. He desperately wished the director would give him a sign to stop filming.

But little did he know, Wu Tong, the director, his eyes bloodshot, was glued to Su Chen's livestream, as several anxious staff members tried to dissuade him.

"Di—Director, maybe we should get Su Chen another car? I'm worried those two paparazzi might drop something we can't handle..."

"Yeah, Director! They're still being careful, but if things get out of hand, they won't care about us streaming live!"

Wu Tong didn't answer directly, instead checking the stats of Su Chen's livestream. At this moment, the numbers had reached a terrifying new peak, breaking all previous records since Mango Video was founded.

Wu Tong stared at the screen, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. "Let the stream continue! No one stops unless I say so!"

With numbers like these, as long as the show aired as planned, his share of the revenue would be substantial. And right now, money was secondary; with this surge in popularity, the show would become a sensation of sensations, and his own standing would skyrocket to heights he'd only dreamed of. This risk was well worth the reward.

A staff member couldn't help but say, "But if the station holds us accountable..."

"Shut up! Just keep filming—I'll take the heat for everything!" Wu Tong roared, his face twisted with determination.

"Alright..."

Meanwhile, in the livestream chat, viewers were calling their friends to join the spectacle, flooding the screen with frenzied comments.

"Damn! This is insane! Is this paparazzo for real?!"

"He's telling the truth! I know who one of them is! Listen, let me tell you..."

"Oh my god! Did he really mention Zheng Huayu just now? Is that for real?!"

"Ha, it's just a scripted hype. Who'd be dumb enough to get in a paparazzo's car on purpose?"

"Don't listen to them. My husband has always been so gentle and kind! Both the paparazzi and Su Chen can go to hell!"

The chat was a chaotic sea of voices, every kind of person imaginable, the flood of messages even causing the stream to lag. More and more rubberneckers were rushing in, and at that moment, Su Chen's name was known to even more people. It was exactly the outcome the two paparazzi had guided toward, in response to Su Chen's kindness.

Gradually, as the conversation continued, the two paparazzi began to pour out their own grievances to Su Chen and the camera, recounting the hardships they'd suffered over the years. Deeply moved, they choked up with tears, treating Su Chen as a rare confidant.

Truly, it was the first time in their lives a celebrity had ever treated them as human beings.

As the conversation wound down and the cameraman felt his nerves finally begin to settle, Su Chen reclined in the back seat, closing his eyes for a brief rest. Only the two paparazzi in the front still murmured to each other.

"Brother Chen really is different from those other stars, he's just too good."

"Not only is he a good person, he's so down-to-earth—no airs at all. He even said he'd buy us milk tea later."

"Exactly! After all these years chasing after celebrities, it's the first time we've ever been offered a drink by one!"

"Yeah! But I really don't get it—why didn't Brother Chen debut earlier? If he had, he'd have been a star long ago!"

"With his character and looks, just a little push and he'd outshine all those pretty boys!"

"Maybe we just haven't reached his level yet. I really hope Brother Chen can stay popular and bring some decency back to this industry..."

Meanwhile, most of the other mentors' morning training sessions had ended. Meng Xiaotian walked out of the Hunan TV building, heading out to meet a voluptuous third-tier actress that Starlight had paid handsomely to pair with him for a publicity stunt.

Thinking of her face and figure, Meng Xiaotian couldn't help licking his lips. Starlight had spent enough that he could really have some fun this time.

With a wicked grin, Meng Xiaotian glanced at his phone, checking the livestream numbers. When he saw that his own stream only had a few ten thousand viewers while Su Chen’s had soared past a million, a look of malice flashed in his eyes, followed by a cold sneer.

Heh, this script is decent, but it’s only good for a one-time stunt. The shock value of gossip only lasts so long before people start calling it fake.

But I’m about to go flirt with a hot actress—who the hell’s going to watch you chat with a couple of men?

Ha!