Xiao He ultimately decisively agreed to make a cameo appearance in this drama.
Just as Sister Liu had said, this could be considered an early investment. If the movie gained more popularity after its release later, he might not even get such a good opportunity to land this role.
Being able to act in one production ahead of time would at least help him become more familiar to audiences.
So after confirming this project, Liu Rulan immediately began contacting people and making preparations for Xiao He.
After Liu Rulan left, Xiao He didn't forget about Xu Youyou's situation either. He decisively opened his computer and began investigating Xu Youyou's current boyfriend.
This supposedly super wealthy and quite promiscuous tycoon was named Chen Cong, forty-one years old this year. His family originally made their fortune in real estate. He was known for being extremely generous with his spending and would frequently show off his luxury cars and mansions online, making him somewhat famous in mainland circles.
Online rumors suggested this guy had been married once before, but there was very little information about his ex-wife. It was only when Hong Kong media paparazzi noticed changes in Chen Cong's assets that they dug up this matter. Later, Chen Cong voluntarily confessed and announced he had one son and one daughter.
Based on the timeline calculations, these two children should be almost in middle school by now.
Seeing this, Xiao He took a deep breath.
No wonder Xu Youyou's fans were so devastated. Sister Liu hadn't even mentioned to him earlier that this guy was divorced with two kids!
However, thanks to this information, Xiao He noticed that Chen Cong's ex-wife wasn't a simple character either.
His ex-wife was also a businessperson, specifically in pharmaceuticals, currently managing multiple pharmaceutical companies abroad. After divorcing Chen Cong, she immigrated to another country and never returned.
Pharmaceuticals?
Xiao He frowned and decided to investigate further.
But soon, Xiao He detected some resistance.
This resistance came from foreign forces and seemed to be under close surveillance by another party.
Driven by curiosity, Xiao He probed a bit deeper, then broke out in a cold sweat and quickly retreated.
Holy crap, there were state-level players involved.
Better get out of here—
So it seemed the authorities were investigating this woman too!
Xiao He immediately turned his attention back to investigating Chen Cong, and unsurprisingly discovered that Chen Cong's father happened to be the investor for Feng Zhengyang's first film. And now, Feng Zhengyang's new drama actually had some investment from Chen Cong too.
However, compared to that, Chen Cong had another investment that was larger and more attention-grabbing, so many people hadn't noticed this connection.
That company with the larger investment was called "Kemingen," a pharmaceutical enterprise under Chen Cong's name that had recently emerged and attracted much attention and praise from industry insiders.
Their company had recently been selling some "health products," with the most notable being an "auxiliary liquid" reportedly introduced from abroad that young people in neighboring countries and Western nations were using for healthy weight loss.
Basically, they were weight loss pills.
An obvious money-making scheme.
Besides these weight loss pills, there were also things like whitening injections, anti-baldness solutions, and breast enhancement pills, though all reasonably disguised with new names—the same old wine in new bottles.
Seeing these products, Xiao He thought he had accidentally stumbled into some large-scale pyramid scheme.
Forget about whether these things actually worked or not—just considering Chen Cong and his group's purpose for coming to the mainland, it was clear their products were definitely fake.
And these people were quite clever too. They didn't massively expand their customer base but initially targeted industry insiders, only conducting offline sales to influencers and celebrities, not even targeting these people's fan bases—though Xiao He suspected it was probably because they hadn't had time to develop that yet, since fan bases were such perfect cash cows they wouldn't possibly ignore!
Among all this, Xu Youyou played a crucial role!
She was usually the one making appearances to recruit people and promoting, using offline introductions to get more colleagues to buy these products. With her endorsement plus the products' halo of being premium foreign imports, this business had actually been doing quite well since the beginning of this year...
Xiao He facepalmed in disbelief.
Seriously, people actually believed in this stuff?
And it seemed quite a few people believed it—money in the domestic entertainment industry was really easy to make, and not just from fans, but from these celebrities too.
Just thinking about it, these products definitely had no guarantees! Especially with pharmaceutical items—you really shouldn't casually take such things. Some products could be addictive, and once you got hooked, you could be affected for life.
These people were usually quite clever and sharp, treating their fans like cash cows, so how come when it was their turn to be the cash cows, they were all happily helping count the money?
But when you're in the game yourself, it's hard to be too critical.
Still, why hadn't the authorities made their move yet...
Xiao He inexplicably remembered that hotel attack, when Xu Youyou helped the criminal Shi Wei hide from the police. She had acted very strangely back then, seeming to be hiding something from the authorities—
Drug trafficking... weight loss... drug addiction symptoms... addictive properties...
Xiao He rubbed his arms, feeling somewhat creeped out, and decided to stop letting his imagination run wild.
But since he was already here, he might as well make things uncomfortable for these people!
So he decisively passed information about "Xu Youyou promoting weight loss pills within the industry" to some reporters and media outlets.
—Though it might not be much help, at least it could make Xu Youyou and her group keep a lower profile and not dare to continue conducting business so openly within the industry.
This would also conveniently stop the "Clear Light Like Dawn" crew from constantly using "Starry Radiance" for promotion and engaging in comparison tactics—it was really annoying.
Sure enough, when the related reports came out the next day, they immediately sparked much questioning and speculation. After years of official science education efforts and stark real-life cases, many people's first reaction upon hearing "weight loss pills" was suspicion and caution.
Many fans even went to their favorite celebrities' accounts to leave comments, begging their idols not to believe Xu Youyou and definitely not to buy those messy unlicensed products without proper certification. If they bought fake medicine, it would be fine if nothing happened after taking it, but they were worried about other potential problems.
No one could take responsibility for that!
With this wave of public opinion, Xu Youyou's side immediately became subdued. They didn't dare to continue comparing themselves favorably against Yi Man'er, busy clarifying their own public opinion situation and unable to focus on anything else.
"Starry Radiance" had finally shaken off this annoying leech.
Afterward, Yi Man'er was so happy she posted ten consecutive moments on her social media.
During his leisure time, Xiao He took a look and found it somewhat amusing, but still liked each post to express his stance.
.......
In the following period, "Starry Radiance" continued its normal updates.
In the latest day's update, the charming and elegant song hall owner Qiu Rongyue made her official appearance. Dressed in a stunningly beautiful red cheongsam, her brows and eyes smiling, she captured many people's attention the moment she appeared—her mission was to openly attract President Yamada's attention and delay the start of the exchange conference.
Meanwhile, Bai Mingchuan, wearing a hat and carrying a camera, entered the school under the guise of being a journalist. Taking advantage of others preparing for the exchange conference, he secretly met with the Senior Colleague Shen who was hiding within the school.
On another front, Meng Zetian's men obtained the name "Shen Yiwei" through torture from a student.
This Shen Yiwei, Shen was the person who had recently sent multiple letters to newspapers. He even attempted to use the special environment of the concession to send letters opposing invasion and exposing massacres internationally, using international public opinion to pressure the Japanese military.
At the same time, he was secretly gathering students, spreading his ideals and beliefs, calling on students to unite and jointly resist the enemy's brainwashing and cultural control!
Such a person definitely couldn't be allowed to remain! He needed to be eliminated as soon as possible!
Meng Zetian didn't hesitate at all, directly leading his men toward the school.
And so, in the tense atmosphere affecting everyone, the two parties ultimately met at the school...
"Mr. Shen, you should come with me!"
Bai Mingchuan looked at the elderly man sitting as steady as Mount Tai at his desk, his eyes pleading: "They've already started arresting students in large numbers for interrogation. It probably won't be long before you're discovered. If you don't leave now, it will be too late."
But Old Mr. Shen's gaze remained calm, his expression composed, continuing to write his manuscript with serene self-possession: "No need, Comrade Bai. You go. I won't be leaving today."
Bai Mingchuan anxiously paced around: "Mr. Shen, I know you're worried about your students, but right now you're the most important one! We need you!"
"The Great Asia Cultural Exchange Conference is about to begin. How could I not attend?"
Old Mr. Shen set down his pen.
"They've invaded our land, yet attempt to break our integrity. They hold bayonets to our necks, yet demand we admire their civilization."
"The human body can endure suffering, but the human spirit cannot be extinguished!"
Old Mr. Shen raised his eyes, looking intently at Bai Mingchuan, his face already displaying the composure of one ready to die: "Comrade Bai, I'm very grateful to you all for being willing to extend assistance to this old man in such critical times. But I'm sorry, this time I must disappoint your expectations."
Bai Mingchuan's throat moved as he tried to continue persuading: "Mr. Shen, I understand what you mean, but you also know this is essentially suicide. You're the seed of culture, the spiritual leader for many people. You could clearly lead your students and more people in resistance, rather than staying here—"
"You're mistaken, child."
Old Mr. Shen shook his head, his gaze falling toward the window, his expression carrying some melancholy: "The seeds were never hidden here."
"I've walked all the way from that era and have witnessed too many things along this journey."
"Look, the withered tree outside the window is facing autumn and winter. No matter how stubbornly the leaves on the tree cling, they will eventually fall beneath the tree, buried in the soil to become fertilizer for spring. True hope was never in any single leaf, but hidden in the roots beneath the soil, deeply concealed within countless people's hearts."
"A single leaf cannot represent spring's arrival, nor can it stop winter's invasion. All it can do is contribute its final meager strength to the tree's future."
Old Mr. Shen smiled self-mockingly, folded the already dried letter paper before him, placed it in an envelope, then handed it to Bai Mingchuan: "Child, go. Deliver this letter to your superior. He will understand."
Bai Mingchuan hadn't expected this outcome. After a moment of silence, he still reached out and accepted it.
Old Mr. Shen took one last look around his office, picked up his pen again, wrote one final sentence on the paper on his desk, then stood up and straightened his clothing.
"Looking at the time, they should be arriving soon."
Old Mr. Shen glanced at the watch on his wrist, his back straight, his steps steady and composed: "It's time for me to go greet them."
------------
That day, after "Starry Radiance" updated, related topics exploded.
[Farewell, Old Mr. Shen.]
[Wuwuwu, Starry Radiance you have no heart! Give me back Old Mr. Shen! Wuwuwu—]
[With all that groundwork laid for so long, seeing how meticulously Li Shuo and Rongyue planned everything, even preparing for the student union cracking under pressure and leaking information early, I thought they would definitely be able to get Old Mr. Shen out. I never expected that Old Mr. Shen himself was unwilling to leave!]
[The empty auditorium and the fiercely burning flames, inside the auditorium was Old Mr. Shen's solo impromptu speech, outside were his students and colleagues, and the enemy setting the fire... When will I ever stop crying when I see such scenes...]
[When I saw Old Mr. Shen being burned alive by them, I just burst out crying.]
[A scholar's unyielding integrity cannot be bent, even by raging flames.]
[When I initially saw Old Mr. Shen die, I didn't cry, but when Li Shuo was ordered to investigate Old Mr. Shen's office and saw the final words Old Mr. Shen left behind, I really couldn't hold back—]
------------------------
"What's this?"
Meng Zetian took advantage of Li Shuo's distraction and snatched the letter paper from his hand.
The penmanship was powerful and vigorous, possessing the style of a master, and the content directly expressed scholarly integrity—
"In times of crisis, integrity is revealed; each act will be recorded in history."
*Only in critical moments can one's integrity be seen; sacrificing oneself for the country will ultimately leave one's name in history.
Meng Zetian looked at the words, his eyes narrowing slightly, emitting an extremely scornful sound of disdain from his nose.
"Good, very good, so you want to leave your name in history, is that it?"
He turned around, his voice icy: "Go, drag that guy's body out and hang it on the flagpole outside. He wants to be remembered in history? Fine, I'll help him! Let all those restless people come out and see what consequences they'll face if they continue to resist—"
"Wait—"
Li Shuo quickly stopped Meng Zetian's actions.
Meng Zetian stared sinisterly at Li Shuo: "Oh? Section Chief Li, what do you mean by this? Could it be you've been moved by Shen Yiwei's 'each act will be recorded in history'?"
"Captain Meng, we've had enough drama for today."
Li Shuo looked at Meng Zetian, completely unfazed by his tone, his voice calm: "Shen Yiwei wasn't an ordinary person after all, and this is still the school where he spent many years, surrounded by his students and colleagues. Now that you've burned him alive in front of so many people, you've already achieved a deterrent effect. If you continue to desecrate his corpse, I'm afraid it will only provoke rebellion. Besides, journalists photographed the scene today. Rather than continuing to trouble a dead man, you'd be better off returning and properly explaining today's events to your superiors."
Meng Zetian's gaze remained fixed on Li Shuo's face, as if trying to detect something, but Li Shuo maintained his superficial smile, revealing no flaws.
Finally, Meng Zetian withdrew his gaze and strode outward: "Destroy everything here, then pull out—"