Chapter 17: Handsome Indeed, but Sadly a Fool!

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A corner of the internet.

Bilibili.

A comment section beneath a certain video, one particular thread:

“Ultimately, didn’t Cheng Cheng fail to explicitly tell the other person they were breaking up when they ‘split’ either? Personally, I think that no matter how long a cold war lasts, it only counts as a real breakup once someone actually says the words. Of course, that’s just my personal opinion. I refuse to accept any arguments. If you argue with me, that only proves you’re right.”

“I’m dying. They blocked and deleted each other. Where exactly was Cheng Cheng supposed to tell her they were breaking up? By telepathy? We’re all adults here. Blocking and deleting each other obviously means the relationship is over, okay? Stop trying to whitewash her here. How much did Zhang Jiao pay you? Share the group number, will you? I’d like to make some money too!”

“So defending Zhang Jiao means I must have been paid by Zhang Jiao? Then can I assume you were paid by Cheng Cheng too? Does everyone who speaks up for Cheng Cheng work for him?”

“Anyone with eyes can tell Cheng Cheng didn’t cheat, yet you’re still here arguing in circles. If you weren’t paid by Zhang Jiao, why are you doing this?”

“I’m just expressing my opinion, and I already said it was only my personal opinion. If you disagree, you can ignore it. There’s no need to maliciously speculate about me.”

“I’m maliciously speculating about you? That’s hilarious. You think adding ‘this is only my personal opinion’ counts as a disclaimer? So if I write ‘this is only my personal opinion,’ does that mean I can defend a murderer? We’re all longtime internet users here, so stop pretending. You’re whitewashing Zhang Jiao while hiding behind ‘it’s just my personal opinion.’ Isn’t that exactly the kind of shameless hypocrisy where someone acts like a whore and still wants a memorial arch built in her honor? You’re spineless and still itching to be vile!”

“Excuse me, I don’t like either of those two pieces of trash. I’m not whitewashing either of them. Please watch your language. You’re only making yourself look uncivilized, as though your parents never taught you any manners.”

“Hahahahaha, you’re killing me. The moment you got exposed, you started saying they’re both trash. Apart from dating someone, what exactly has Cheng Cheng done wrong? How did he suddenly become trash too? Come on, if you have the guts to call Cheng Cheng trash, then say he cheated.”

“You think I’ll do whatever you tell me?”

“So you’re too scared to say it, then? Afraid Cheng Cheng will sue you?”

“That’s the only move you people have left.”

“Hehe, it’s the only move we have, and it works wonderfully! If you don’t have the courage to say Cheng Cheng is trash or that he cheated, then shut your mouth! What a disgrace! I’ll let you in on a little secret: I’ve already reported three people to Cheng Cheng. Two deleted their accounts and ran, and one was successfully sued.”

“...”

—

After a month of online warfare, along with Cheng Cheng and the Little Blackies working together with all their might, the direction of public opinion had essentially been reversed. It could not be said that Cheng Cheng had been completely cleared, but at the very least, he had gained the upper hand over Zhang Jiao.

On the question of infidelity, the public consensus now leaned toward Cheng Cheng’s side. Most people believed that Cheng Cheng had not cheated.

Although Zhang Jiao and her supporters were still fighting small-scale battles, and the influential accounts, bloggers, and marketing accounts sued by Cheng Cheng were also trying to manipulate public opinion and incite more people, none of it had any effect on the broader situation.

Extreme groups could be very loud, creating the illusion that the internet belonged entirely to them. But the silent had always been the majority, and those capable of independent thought had always been the majority as well.

Moreover, the Little Blackies included no shortage of people with social standing: Zhihu users with hundreds of thousands of followers, Bilibili creators with millions of fans, forum administrators, influential veteran users, and even novelists, publishing-house editors, government employees, corporate executives, and newspaper editors in chief. Compared with Zhang Jiao’s supporters—those brainwashed girls of seventeen or eighteen who had not yet entered society—their advantage was overwhelming.

Whenever they spoke up at crucial points, they influenced the truly productive members of the country—the people who genuinely voted with their feet.

However, although Cheng Cheng had been cleared of cheating, his romantic entanglements, combined with his shameless conduct and his frenzied lawsuits against netizens, meant that he was essentially a dead man in the entertainment industry.

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Many people laughed at Cheng Cheng for being an idiot, believing that he had hurt the enemy by eight hundred while inflicting ten thousand points of damage on himself.

Why had he fought so hard to prove his innocence? Was it necessary? Even if he proved it, what good would it do? He was the only one who cared about his own innocence!

If he had not been so uncompromising, perhaps he could have returned once public opinion died down. His status would certainly have fallen, but he might still have managed to scrape together a living as a third-tier celebrity, taking whatever low-paying jobs came his way.

But what about now?

No one would invite him onto a show again. No one would ask him to act, collaborate, or appear on camera.

How could he be so foolish?

How could he be so stupid?

Many people even believed that Cheng Cheng had no intention of remaining in the entertainment industry. After all, who would behave like this if they still wanted to survive in show business?

But soon, a report featuring an interview with Cheng Cheng was released, once again overturning the public’s understanding of him.

In the video, Cheng Cheng stood outside the entrance to his residential compound, speaking with ease.

The afternoon sunlight fell across his face, making him appear almost radiant.

With swordlike brows, bright eyes, sharply defined features, red lips, pearly teeth, and an elegant bearing, he was an exceptionally beautiful young man. He was so handsome that he seemed unreal; no amount of praise could adequately describe his looks.

With an appearance score of ninety-one, he truly was handsome to an almost inhuman degree.

Netizens were instantly stunned.

“Holy crap, how did I never realize Cheng Cheng was this handsome before?”

“Who is this handsome guy?”

“I only discovered how good-looking Cheng Cheng is after his career collapsed?”

“What’s going on? Why does he look even better than before?”

“Doesn’t look like he’s wearing makeup, either.”

“No wonder he was once a top star. He’s ridiculously handsome!”

“Ah, but no matter how handsome he is, it won’t help now. Who would dare hire him?”

Then the reporter began asking questions one after another: his current situation, his plans for the future, and his mental state. Cheng Cheng’s answers were exactly as expected. He was still just as deranged, still leaving netizens unable to process what they had heard.

He enjoyed suing netizens every day? Had he found some kind of magic energy pill that kept him from getting tired?

He planned to enter the film and television industry? Two screenplays had already been submitted for review? He also had several variety shows, television dramas, classical poems, novels, and comedic sketches in progress?

He was preparing to enter the international market as well? There was nothing wrong with being an idol, but the global market offered him even broader horizons?

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And tomorrow he was going to take a chef’s certification exam?

The internet went insane.

Cheng Cheng, do you want to listen to what you’re saying?

You can barely make it through the crisis in front of you, and you’re talking about entering the film and television industry and breaking into the international market. Why not just fly to the moon while you’re at it? And the funniest part is that when the reporter asked what you were doing tomorrow, you said you were taking a chef’s certification exam!

What the hell are you taking a chef’s certification exam for?

A top star whose career had collapsed was going to take a chef’s exam. Did that make any sense? Had he ever even studied cooking?

“I’m dying. How does Cheng Cheng manage to exceed my expectations with every single answer?”

“He is pretty handsome, I’ll give him that. Too bad he’s an idiot!”

“This is too much!”

“Zhang Jiao’s crimes are beyond forgiveness. Just look at what she’s done to Cheng Cheng!”

“I refuse to believe Cheng Cheng isn’t mentally ill!”

“He enjoys suing netizens every day? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year. Hahahahahaha!”

It was not only netizens who were laughing. Industry insiders, Cheng Cheng’s former rivals, first- and second-tier actresses, established superstars, and influential moguls all laughed so hard after watching the interview that they scarcely knew what to say.

“He’s completely harmless now.”

“Actually, he’s rather pitiful.”

“Movies, television dramas, and variety shows are at least somewhat plausible. But novels? Isn’t he only a middle-school graduate?”

“Now he’s added comedic sketches to the list.”

“I wouldn’t even dare claim I was entering the international market, but he said it without hesitation. Should we call him a young calf unafraid of tigers, or simply a lunatic having the time of his life? Either way, I wish him success.”

Xianghua Entertainment.

Tang Fang wiped the sweat from her brow. “Thank goodness that piece of trash isn’t with our company anymore.”

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