AFVSIBS Chapter 230: From Top Star to Public Enemy
Chen Xiaoyu, after making ten consecutive calls to Wei Wentao without any response, fell into complete despair.
"Damn it, this Wei Wentao must have turned off his phone knowing I'm in trouble," Chen Xiaoyu cursed.
"Yeah, that old fox is shameless. Brother Yu, why don't we expose him?" the assistant suggested.
"Expose him? How? Even if we do, what evidence do we have? He hasn't posted anything himself. Even if it's proven he orchestrated it, so what? He just spread a fake news story. But me? I confirmed it with my Weibo post, acknowledging the 100 million donation. The situation is entirely different."
At this moment, Chen Xiaoyu realized the gravity of his mistake, but it was too late. The internet was filled with calls for his expulsion from the entertainment industry.
"Brother Yu, you can't just sit and wait for the outcome. You need to take proactive steps. How about I write an apology statement for you? Apologize first, then bribe the leaders of the relevant organizations. As long as they don't blacklist you, the online backlash won't matter. Once the storm passes, you can play the victim card, and your hardcore fans will still support you."
The assistant, after some thought, quickly proposed this strategy. Apologizing after a scandal is a common practice among celebrities. In fact, when hiring assistants, stars often assess their ability to write apology statements.
Chen Xiaoyu's assistant had previously handled apology statements for multiple stars and was very familiar with how to draft them effectively.
"Alright, write an apology statement now, and I'll post it immediately," Chen Xiaoyu instructed.
"Got it, I'll write it right away."
...
Soon, the assistant handed over the apology statement to Chen Xiaoyu. Trusting his assistant completely, Chen Xiaoyu posted it without even reading:
"After such an incident, I feel deeply remorseful and ashamed. Deceiving everyone and betraying your trust has caused me immense sorrow. Just now, I cried and used up nearly a whole pack of tissues.
I know that no amount of explanation can earn your forgiveness because what I did was undeniably wrong. I don't want to make excuses; I just want to say I'm sorry. Truly sorry.
I acted foolishly, blindly following others' advice and losing my sense of judgment.
Everyone makes mistakes, but mine was a significant one.
I will learn from this error, strive to improve myself, and give back to you and society with better works.
Finally, I hope you can give a chance to someone who has made a mistake. I will not disappoint you again.
Thank you."
Chen Xiaoyu's apology quickly hit the trending lists, given the intense public interest in the scandal. Every move he made attracted clicks and scrutiny.
"Now he knows to apologize? Didn't seem that way a few hours ago. I don't believe his apology is sincere."
"Sincere my foot. He's just afraid this will ruin his ability to make money, so he's apologizing. If it didn't threaten his career, he wouldn't care."
"I don't believe an adult doesn't know that lying and faking are bad behaviors. He obviously took a gamble, thinking no one would expose him and he could gain immense fame."
"When someone first reported that he quietly donated 100 million, I thought it was fake news. But Chen Xiaoyu confirmed it on Weibo, so I believed him. Now it turns out he lied for fame and traffic. Disgusting."
"Crying and using a pack of tissues? Seriously? That line sounds so fake. Doesn't he feel disgusted with himself? Acting all high and mighty before, now playing the victim."
...
Chen Xiaoyu's post had little effect, with more netizens condemning and cursing him. Even his hardcore fans stayed silent, knowing that defending him now would only hasten his downfall.
"Brother Yu, the apology statement didn't work. You might have to bribe the leaders of the Arts Association," the assistant reminded him.
"Okay, I'll call Old Li. He’s taken a lot of favors from me over the years. He should repay me now," Chen Xiaoyu said, referring to the second-in-command of the Arts Association. Over the years, Chen Xiaoyu had given him many benefits, including access to willing female fans. He believed Old Li would help him out of this crisis.
Picking up his phone again, Chen Xiaoyu called Old Li. Initially, the line was busy, but then it turned off. He called 19 times, all resulting in the same message.
"Damn it, these people take my favors but turn off their phones when I’m in trouble," he cursed, realizing he was completely abandoned. He knew that by morning, news of his industry ban would likely surface.
He never thought this would ruin him. He felt angry and helpless, realizing he was now just a discarded pawn in the capitalist game. The higher he had been elevated, the harder he was falling now.
"Director Cheng, you were spot on. Chen Xiaoyu's 100 million donation was fake, exposed by the Southern City's Red Cross. Now the whole internet is condemning him," Wei Wentao's assistant reported excitedly.
"Expected, but faster than anticipated. Now 'Music 2023' won't benefit from this; they've lost everything. We don't have to worry about them stealing our traffic and attention anymore," Cheng Qiang said with a satisfied smile.
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