Liu Rulan thought for a moment, then shook her head. “We can still give him a chance. It depends on whether he can seize it himself.”

He has a bit of cunning, but not much, harbors no ill intent, and poses no threat to our side. Liu Rulan didn’t mind forming a favorable connection.

After all, stars in the entertainment circle rise in the east and set in the west;
how things end up is anyone’s guess.

“You don’t need to worry about it. Since he came for me, I’ll push a spot for him later as a way to help him offset this incident. As for the final outcome, it depends on whether he’s just a little clever and can’t achieve anything great.”

In any case, the opportunity was given. If he couldn’t grasp it himself, it had nothing to do with them, and there was no further need to pay attention.

Xiao He didn’t ask either, directly handling things according to her words.

That night, almost no one slept, keeping watch over the online news at all times.

Around two in the morning, Xiao He’s side received the latest update. After emergency treatment at the hospital, Lu Yuxi was successfully resuscitated and was currently transferred to the ICU for observation.

Fortunately, he’s young and has a good physical foundation. In his current condition, he’s basically out of danger. It just depends on when Lu Yuxi can regain consciousness.

When this news was learned, almost everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.

Good, as long as no lives were lost. As long as there were no fatalities, the nature of this incident wasn’t that severe.

The next day, Lu Yuxi woke from his coma. The program team officially began to debunk rumors, clarifying the truth about the stage accident between Xiao He and Lu Yuxi. They also released Lu Yuxi’s hospitalization details, sincerely thanking Xiao He for his assistance.

This statement finally ended the state of debate among all parties, but it also caused a huge stir.

[Haha crying, your fans were almost at each other’s throats, and you’re only saying this now?]

[What’s going on? When was Lu Yuxi hospitalized?]

[Speaking of which, an ambulance came to the scene earlier. We were all discussing who had an accident, turns out it was Lu Yuxi…]

[Wuwu, I’m sorry. As a fan, I actually knew nothing about my own idol’s situation, wuwu…]

[Lu Yuxi: I am out of danger now, thank you everyone for your concern. I am deeply sorry for the trouble caused to the program staff at the time. I am also extremely grateful to Brother Xiao for his crucial first aid at that critical moment. If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be able to speak here now. Also, regarding the recent negative public opinion about Brother Xiao online, I deeply apologize. At the time, due to heart discomfort, I subconsciously stood in the wrong position. Fortunately, Brother Xiao saved the situation in time, allowing this stage performance to conclude successfully. I ask my fans to please stop the malicious attacks against Brother Xiao…]

[Lu Yuxi: Additionally, I will terminate my management contract with my agent, Ms. Lu Yu, and will temporarily suspend work to rest and recuperate. Uncompleted related commercial activities during this period will be handled by my lawyers. Once again, I am very sorry that my own health issues have affected everyone’s work and occupied public resources…]

By the time Xiao He saw this message, his comment section had been taken over by Lu Yuxi’s fans. They unanimously expressed gratitude and apologies to Xiao He.

[Thank you, Brother Xiao.]

[Brother Xiao is a lifesaver! Thank you, Brother Xiao!]

[So Brother Xiao was saving the situation from start to finish! Another +1 for Brother Xiao’s good guy card. Saving someone and still getting cursed, truly tragic.]

[Brother Xiao truly had it rough. Where are those haters? Speak up! Whose water army is this, come claim it!]

[Where are the haters? Yesterday, I defended Xiao He a few times, and you said my mom flew away. Now what? Get out here and talk!]

[As I said before, those who can’t distinguish between a role and reality should go get their brains checked early, don’t come here looking for a sense of existence.]

The speed of changing attitudes online has always been fast. Fortunately, the program team’s ultimate goal was still achieved: minimizing the impact of Lu Yuxi’s incident, keeping its connection to the program team shallow. When Lu Yuxi announced he would terminate his contract with Lu Yu, it shifted all the conflict entirely to his own side.

Xiao He’s task could also be considered perfectly completed. This public opinion “crisis” that lasted less than half a day had no impact on him. It even helped him gain Peach platform’s resources for free and successfully sign several relatively well-known brand endorsements.

Xiao He was just a bit surprised that Lu Yuxi actually wanted to terminate his management relationship with Lu Yu.

But upon careful thought, it was quite normal. Many of the issues that had arisen recently were caused by this Lu Yu.

He really didn’t have a single good impression of this Lu Yu.

This was also good. Once these two sorted out their affairs, his side also had a lawsuit to discuss with Lu Yu.

—Did they really think they could manipulate public opinion and then retreat unscathed?

The company’s legal team couldn’t wait!

In the end, Xiao He just gave a bland, indifferent reply.

[Xiao He: Hmm, I wish Teacher Lu a speedy recovery.]

With Xiao He’s “reconciliation,” the main force of Little Box fans, who had been lying low, also began to emerge one after another, turning the comment section into a completely different style—

[Thank you everyone for trusting Brother Xiao. Brother Xiao has done many good deeds and been reported multiple times by official news. Please continue to believe in Brother Xiao’s character! Also, Brother Xiao’s new drama “Corner Also” will premiere on January 1st. Everyone is welcome to watch.]

[It’s fine, it’s fine, just a harmless misunderstanding! Wishing Lu Yuxi a speedy recovery! Also, everyone is welcome to watch the TV series “Corner Also,” exclusively streaming on Penguin Video starting January 1st!]

[A misunderstanding, we’re all friends! Come quickly to Penguin Video to reserve the upcoming “Corner Also” airing next Monday! It’s a brand new Brother Xiao! A completely different character setting from before! Everyone is welcome to discuss together!]

[Little Box fans will be releasing a VIP red envelope rain on Penguin Video. Everyone is welcome to grab them!]

Seeing his own fans completely push down the original malicious comments and bring the promotion for the upcoming “Corner Also” back to the top, Xiao He felt both moved and complex inside.

Although they had already privately reassured some of the major fans, most of the scattered fans didn’t have these channels of understanding. So after the incident happened, they genuinely helped clarify things with worry and anxiety in their hearts.

Thinking of this, Xiao He felt somewhat guilty and decisively decided to host a live stream on New Year’s Eve to accompany the fans in ringing in the new year.

Xiao He immediately told Liu Rulan about his plan.

Liu Rulan had been extremely busy recently. Besides the online public opinion battle, she was also busy with Xiao He’s birthday celebration.

Just the preparation and application for such a birthday event required a long time. Starting preparations now was already considered very late. Plus, it would coincide with the Spring Festival later, so many fans’ schedules might need adjustment in advance. Therefore, Xiao He’s birthday event should ideally be announced publicly a month in advance, allowing fans interested in participating offline to prepare early.

So Liu Rulan could be said to be busy without a moment’s rest.

Upon hearing Xiao He’s plan, she didn’t pay too much attention and directly agreed.

Thus, the matter was hastily decided.

In the following days, Xiao He continued promoting “Corner Also,” and even went out with Tao Zidong for some mountain racing, finally returning to Shanghai just before the deadline.

In the blink of an eye, the last day of the year was about to end…

…

After a busy day, Liu Rulan could finally catch her breath.

Glancing at the time on her wrist, Liu Rulan opened Xiao He’s live stream, ready to see what Xiao He was doing on stream.

But upon entering the stream, the first thing she saw was a distorted figure.

Liu Rulan: ?

She narrowed her eyes, unable to understand for a long time what game Xiao He was playing.

Immediately after, she watched as in the game, the bald, black-clothed character controlled by Xiao He hugged a diamond, laboriously spread his legs apart, and took a step forward. Then, the black-clothed character, as if boneless, fell to the ground in a very bizarre posture, sticking his butt out.

Liu Rulan: ?

“Fam, we’ve finally taken the most difficult step! As long as we steal the diamond, we win! Believe me, we can definitely clear it in one go this time!”

In the top right corner of the stream, Xiao He was still earnestly studying the black-clothed character’s “gymnastics” posture, determined to make this game character walk back to the level’s starting point in a human-like manner. “Come on, come on, first spread our hip bones, then adjust the direction of our arms—flip—”

The black-clothed character on the screen rolled on the spot, getting stuck on the ground in another weird, contorted posture with feet up and hands down.

Oh right, not forgetting to hold onto his glitched diamond.

Liu Rulan: .

Looking closely, the game’s name: Thief Simulator.

Liu Rulan: !!!

“Xiao He! What the hell are you playing, you little bastard!!!!”

I asked you to accompany everyone for the new year, not to accompany everyone in clowning around!!!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep