Chapter 180: A Strange Private Message
On the weekend, Wang Heng and Ye Xun’s mathematics tutoring continued.
Although she could already achieve scores above the passing line, these below-average grades naturally couldn’t satisfy Ye Xun. The necessity of mathematics tutoring was undoubtedly unquestionable. Apart from mathematics, she didn’t need tutoring at all in Chinese language and English; liberal arts comprehensive relied more on memorizing and understanding by herself, and basically didn’t need tutoring either. So every weekend, Ye Xun still found Wang Heng for lessons, and he was her only tutor.
After today’s course ended, Ye Xun suddenly brought up a topic that was beyond Wang Heng’s expectation.
“Sister Xiao Le’s song, recently isn’t it…” The young girl pinched the pen in her hand, her tone clearly showing some hesitation, “getting some bad reviews?”
Wang Heng: “You know about this too?”
Ye Xun: “Of course, I’m her fan after all!”
Wang Heng thought for a moment and replied: “Actually, it’s really not a big problem. Because compared to the playback volume growth in the past few days, those bad reviews don’t amount to much. Good reviews clearly outnumber bad reviews, and many bad reviews have rebuttals below them.”
Of course, many of those rebuttals to bad reviews were posted by Wang Heng himself using alt accounts, but there was no need to tell Ye Xun or Pei Ningle about that.
Ye Xun didn’t give up on the topic, though, and continued: “But yesterday when I chatted with Sister Xiao Le, she said she doesn’t dare look at the song’s comment section anymore!”
Wang Heng was somewhat surprised: “You two even call each other privately?”
Ye Xun: “Of course! I already said I’m her fan, and now we’re still friends who chat frequently!”
Wang Heng secretly warned himself that he must never repeat the mistake of dogmatic adherence to past experience—in the previous cycle, he remembered that although Pei Ningle and Ye Xun didn’t outright clash, their relationship was far from friendly; at least, something like the two of them calling to talk heart-to-heart was absolutely impossible.
But now, even Han Yixuan could stand side by side with Pei Ningle, so adding Ye Xun to this complex circle of friends was naturally normal too. If he kept clinging to the previous cycle’s experience, problems were bound to arise later.
While Wang Heng was silently contemplating, a composition paper filled with writing appeared in front of him.
Ye Xun handed him the paper, head lowered, and said: “I wrote an article and want you to take a look. If you think it’s okay too, maybe we can ask Yan Xingzhou to help publish it.”
Wang Heng didn’t agree immediately and started reading first.
He had to admit, Ye Xun’s handwriting was quite clear and elegant, and her writing style was orderly; on a foundation of clear logic, it subtly conveyed the young girl’s care and worry.
This care and worry was naturally for Pei Ningle.
【Sister Xiao Le hasn’t signed with a company, and her agent is her own older brother. Unlike those commercialized singers, Sister Xiao Le really reads every comment, so how could the bad reviews these days not affect her? Some people even sneak in profanity in the comments, and Wangyu Music’s bans are always a step late.】
【Just like a couple evenings ago, she saw several bad reviews, felt so down she couldn’t eat, and still had to resident sing at the bar in the evening—with that being her livelihood—returning home at night dizzy and bleary-eyed, not knowing if it was from fatigue or hunger. Of course, bad reviews didn’t outnumber good reviews, and the especially awful ones were even rarer. But just one was enough to summon dark clouds in her heart.】
【In life, if someone curses us to our face, we often stay angry for a long time, even feeling uncomfortable two months later when we think of it. In life, we rarely use particularly harsh words to insult others, so why is it okay to be unrestrained online?】
In Wang Heng’s view, these comments were somewhat naive. But when the article discussed Pei Ningle’s situation, it was quite sincere and heartfelt, and basically all facts—except the point about the relationship between himself as her agent and Pei Ningle being debatable. If this article were published, it might bring another wave of positive momentum.
Thinking carefully, since Pei Ningle was already using her real name, information like resident singing at the bar obviously didn’t need to be hidden.
After finishing the article, Wang Heng looked up and stared at the young girl in front of him.
At this moment, Ye Xun added: “I can also add contact info; if they don’t believe it…”
Wang Heng immediately shook his head: “Absolutely do not add real personal information. Let me remind you: never overestimate the network’s bottom line. Most people are normal, but that doesn’t mean you won’t run into those with absolutely no bottom line. Don’t hand your weaknesses to others on a platter.”
Ye Xun: “Is real information considered a weakness?”
Wang Heng nodded: “Of course, it’s too easy to be doxxed or harassed.”
The young girl imagined it and felt a bit scared: “Yeah, it does seem really dangerous…”
Wang Heng: “Anyway, your article is fine. I’ll send it to Yan Xingzhou unchanged and have him publish it. Of course, besides your original text, he can add some things appropriately, and we’ll say you’re a fan of both Yan Sheng and Pei Ningle—that way the effect will be better.”
“Yan Sheng?” Ye Xun was clearly quite unfamiliar with the name, “Is that the name of Yan Xingzhou’s official account?”
Wang Heng nodded: “Exactly.”
“Then I’ll tell her now!” Ye Xun smiled and immediately picked up her mobile phone to call Pei Ningle.
Moments later, the call connected.
Ye Xun: “Sister Xiao Le, we’ve arranged your second article!”
Pei Ningle: “…What did you say?”
Ye Xun: “I wrote it! Once it’s posted on that official account, everyone will support you even more!”
Pei Ningle: “Wait, wait, does Wang Heng know about this?”
Ye Xun glanced at the boy across from her and smiled: “Of course I showed it to Senior Student Wang Heng first for review. Sister Xiao Le, do you want to see how I wrote about you?”
Pei Ningle: “Show me quick!”
————
After reading the article, although she felt a bit embarrassed, Pei Ningle still agreed. It was just that feeling others describe her as so fragile yet persevering in her ideals was still somewhat embarrassing.
Two days later, after Ye Xun’s article was published on Yan Xingzhou’s official account—with Yan Xingzhou adding a long comment section—the new audience’s messages were indeed much kinder.
The comments flaming her had indeed decreased, and those with profanity had vanished completely.
Then on this day, when she opened Wangyu Music’s account, she saw a private message from a stranger.
【Hello, I’m sort of your fan and have some words for you. Can we meet? Which city are you in? I can fly straight there. Oh right, besides talking, I can also provide some sponsorship for you. What do you think?】
Looking at this private message, Pei Ningle fell into contemplation.
What does this ‘fan’ want?
The young girl opened the other person’s account and saw the personal info indicated female; looking at the playlist records, it did seem like female taste, and the literary style… But after the fraud and kidnapping incident, Pei Ningle of course wouldn’t be so naive now.
After some contemplation, she called Wang Heng.
————
