While Luo Zheng quietly hid himself away in Han Sanping's office, savoring a rare moment of peace, the outside world had already spiraled into something uncontrollable.
The entertainment industry wasn't just buzzing—it was exploding.
Newsrooms were in chaos. Phones rang nonstop, editors barked orders, journalists rushed between locations like hunters chasing prey. Ever since Spider-Man shattered records overseas, the name "Luo Zheng" had turned into a golden key—whoever could get a quote, a connection, or even a rumor related to him would instantly dominate headlines.
But the most frustrating part?
No one could find him.
From luxury apartments to company offices, from known hangouts to rumored hideouts—reporters combed through Beijing like a net cast over the ocean. Yet Luo Zheng had completely vanished, as if he had predicted this madness in advance and deliberately erased his tracks.
With their main target gone, the reporters did what they always did.
They shifted focus.
Anyone even remotely connected to Luo Zheng became the next center of attention.
On the set of Infernal Affairs, filming had been forced to halt entirely.
The reason was simple: the set was surrounded.
Cameras pressed forward from every direction, microphones stretched out like spears, and reporters crowded so tightly that even the air seemed to struggle to pass through.
At the center stood Nicholas Tse, his expression strained, his patience thinning by the second.
"Ting-fung! Is it true President Luo personally praised you as a 'rising star'—even saying you have more potential than Spider-Man?"
"You're currently dealing with legal controversies and a 'bad boy' image. What exactly did that mysterious tycoon see in you?"
"Have you been in contact with him recently? Will he arrange a Marvel superhero role for you?"
"If given the chance, would you prefer to play Spider-Man or create a Chinese superhero?"
"A Marvel film earns hundreds of millions in just days—don't you feel that kind of expectation is like a mountain pressing down on you?"
"And if Saw underperforms, will President Luo be disappointed in you?"
Each question piled onto the next, faster and sharper, leaving no room to breathe.
Nicholas Tse felt an almost absurd sense of irony.
Rising star?
Favored by Luo Zheng?
Hollywood opportunity?
He didn't even have the man's personal phone number.
Everything the reporters were talking about—those glowing labels, those imagined connections—were nothing more than carefully crafted publicity narratives from his management company. Packaging. Marketing. Illusion.
And now those illusions had become shackles.
"Sorry… I really don't know anything about this," he said, forcing calm into his voice. "Please don't block the way."
With the help of security, he finally squeezed through the crowd and escaped into a waiting vehicle.
But his denial didn't help.
To reporters, ambiguity was confirmation.
And confirmation meant bigger headlines.
At the Mid-Levels villa, things had been much lighter just hours earlier.
Ah Sa and Ah Jiao were in high spirits. Their filming schedule had wrapped up, and they were finally preparing to head to the Mainland—to see the person who had been lingering in their thoughts for days.
Excitement filled the air.
Until the moment their car exited the villa area.
The road ahead was blocked.
Reporters surged forward, surrounding both vehicles instantly. Cameras flashed, voices overlapped, and the sudden chaos hit like a wave.
The assistant immediately panicked.
"Don't get out! Stay inside!" she urged.
Bodyguards rushed from the car behind, trying to push back the crowd. But there were simply too many reporters. Even when a narrow path was forced open, the car couldn't move.
Eventually, there was no choice.
Under heavy protection, the two stepped out.
And the barrage began.
"Ah Sa, congratulations! You've secured a billionaire boyfriend!"
"The most mysterious Chinese tycoon in Hollywood—and he belongs to you?"
"Are you and President Luo officially together?"
"Did he give you a Spider-Man suit as a love gift?"
Then the attention shifted.
"Ah Jiao, are you jealous?"
"Do you regret acting too late and missing your chance?"
"Will you start calling her 'Boss Lady' now?"
The questions were sharp, invasive, and relentless.
The two girls, still inexperienced in handling such overwhelming pressure, couldn't fully hide their emotions. Their nervousness showed—hesitation in their voices, flickers of panic in their eyes.
And that was exactly what reporters wanted.
Because nervousness led to mistakes.
Ah Sa, under continuous pressure, slipped more than once. Words came out slightly wrong, phrases twisted under interpretation.
By the time the police intervened and forced the crowd to disperse, both girls looked visibly shaken, their eyes slightly red.
The moment they got back into the car, Ah Sa immediately pulled out her phone and called Luo Zheng.
"Please pick up…"
But the response was cold and distant.
The phone is switched off.
Back in the Mainland, the Blue Whale Entertainment building was completely surrounded.
Even though it was widely known that Luo Zheng wasn't there, the reporters refused to leave.
Because someone else was.
Huo Wenxi.
With no way to avoid it, she stepped forward to face the media.
Questions came immediately, sharp and layered.
"Ms. Huo, you left a major entertainment company to join Luo Zheng. What convinced you?"
"What kind of international opportunities can he provide for artists?"
"With Spider-Man's global success, will he replicate the 'content plus derivatives' model domestically?"
"Are there plans for collaboration with other companies?"
Huo Wenxi listened calmly.
Internally, though, her thoughts were far less polished.
What convinced me?
His looks? His ridiculous energy?
International opportunities?
Obviously prioritized for our own people.
As for business models and cooperation?
Not my department.
But none of that could be said aloud.
So she smiled and answered with flawless professionalism:
"This wasn't a simple job change—it was a strategic choice aligned with industry development."
"What I admire most about President Luo is his respect for content and his long-term vision for talent."
"He's not just sending artists abroad—he's building a global platform."
"A platform where our artists can truly stand on the world stage."
Her words were smooth, controlled, and persuasive.
The reporters nodded, impressed.
And Huo Wenxi knew very well—
This performance would earn her a certain kind of "reward" later.
At the Story of a Noble Family set, the atmosphere was just as heated.
Reporters had flooded the location, eager for any connection to Luo Zheng.
Dong Jie sat before them, composed and gentle.
"Miss Dong, what was your first impression when President Luo visited the set?"
"Did he comment on your performance?"
Simple questions.
Too simple.
Dong Jie felt a flicker of regret.
She should have let something slip earlier—even just a rumor.
Now, she had to guide things carefully.
Very carefully.
She lowered her gaze slightly. A faint blush appeared, perfectly timed.
"It was quite unexpected," she said softly. "The whole crew was surprised."
"He's… much more approachable than I imagined."
The reporter leaned forward.
"Did you speak privately?"
Dong Jie paused—just long enough to create tension.
Then she smiled.
"He understands acting very well."
"He said he liked the character's personality… and said I was somewhat similar."
Her voice softened further.
"He noticed things I hadn't even realized myself."
That was enough.
The reporters instantly sensed something deeper.
"Have you been in contact since then?"
"Is there a chance of future collaboration?"
Dong Jie smiled again—pure, calm, but deliberately ambiguous.
"That's… not convenient to say."
"But he did say he hopes I can remain the way I am."
She let the words linger, just long enough to spark imagination.
Then she gently redirected the topic back to the drama.
Perfect control.
She admitted nothing.
But suggested everything.
The reporters were thrilled.
No embellishment needed.
This alone would create headlines.
The Storm Expands
From Hong Kong to Beijing, from studios to company buildings, from rising actors to seasoned managers—
Everyone connected to Luo Zheng had been pulled into the spotlight.
Some struggled under the pressure.
Some endured it reluctantly.
And some…
Like Dong Jie…
Used it.
Because in this industry, attention wasn't just noise.
It was power.
And power—
Was something no one gave up easily.