Chapter 316: Dad, I Lost
Today was the release day for Wang Feng’s new song.
Wang Feng was nervous.
Before this, every time he released a new song and it hit the trending charts, something would go wrong. The entertainment industry would inevitably be rocked by some huge scandal, suppressing his new song’s popularity and knocking it down to second place!
In order to finally claim that number one spot.
Wang Feng contacted Zhuo Wei, the number one paparazzo in the entertainment industry.
"Old Zhuo, we’ve been old friends for years. Can you do me a favor this time? I’ll treat you to a meal afterward!"
"Brother Feng, you’re being too kind. With our relationship, what’s the need for a meal? Just tell me what you need!"
"Old Zhuo, today’s my new song’s release day. Please, don’t let any huge scandals break!"
Zhuo Wei chuckled sheepishly. "Don’t worry, Brother Feng, I guarantee it. Everything before was just a coincidence! I promise, absolutely no huge scandals will break in the entertainment industry today! Even if there is some dirt, I’ll hold it until tomorrow!"
"Old Zhuo, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease!"
The morning passed quickly. Wang Feng checked the trending rankings, and his new song was sitting high at number one!
Wang Feng was completely relieved. He figured the number one spot was secure this time, and he could finally take a nice, long nap.
Not long after he fell asleep, Wang Feng was jolted awake by the urgent ringing of his phone.
Somewhat annoyed, Wang Feng grabbed his phone. It was his assistant.
"Old Huang, I was finally catching up on some sleep. Didn’t I tell you not to disturb me unless it was something important?"
"Brother Feng, you have to see the trending topics!"
Wang Feng’s heart sank. He quickly fumbled for his phone, opened the trending list, and his entire mood soured.
Damn it all!
What the hell is this Yuanxi Pharmaceutical press conference?
How did it actually top the trending charts at number one?
What Wang Feng found most unacceptable was that the hype around the Yuanxi Pharmaceutical press conference was more than ten times greater than his new song’s!
There was no way to even catch up!
Wang Feng was furious. ’These pharmaceutical companies are so damn rich and arrogant!’
’How much money did they have to spend to buy this much traffic?’
He wouldn’t be willing to spend that much, anyway!
Wang Feng really wanted to post an update to publicly condemn Yuanxi Pharmaceutical!
But after thinking about it, Wang Feng dismissed the idea. He really couldn’t afford to provoke a corporate behemoth like that.
Fuming, Wang Feng clicked on the press conference video. He wanted to see just what kind of "good show" this company called Yuanxi had staged.
At first, Wang Feng scoffed at the reporters’ cooperation.
But by the time Wang Feng saw the end, his attitude had done a complete 180-degree turn!
From some of the scrolling comments, Wang Feng learned that Lin Xingchen was the president of Huanya Pharmaceutical. Since Huanya Pharmaceutical was Yuanxi Pharmaceutical’s mortal enemy, how could he possibly be helping Yuanxi Pharmaceutical put on an act?
This meant that the beverage called Lingxi actually had miraculous effects!
As a top singer and A-list celebrity, Wang Feng had a very sharp eye.
Wang Feng was certain, absolutely positive, that Yuanxi Pharmaceutical hadn’t bought its way onto the trending charts! They hadn’t bought the traffic!
This was all real, organic traffic!
This was hype that had fermented and grown through word-of-mouth!
It was the common people’s yearning for health!
A product that resonated so deeply with the masses would soon explode in popularity and break into the mainstream!
’I have to hurry and ride this wave of popularity!’
Wang Feng immediately posted an update on WeChat, Weibo, and Douyin simultaneously.
He used a teasing tone.
"Am I the unluckiest person or what? Every time I release a new song, I get knocked down to second place! Before, it was always by some huge, negative scandal, and I was furious! Why are there so many dirty dealings in the entertainment industry? But this time, I’m not angry at all! I want to give a thumbs-up to Yuanxi Pharmaceutical! I want to give a thumbs-up to the Lingxi Health Beverage!"
At the end, Wang Feng @’d Yuanxi Pharmaceutical and added in a playful tone, "President Lin, please go ahead and settle the advertising fee—a dollar will do. Also, if Yuanxi Pharmaceutical needs a brand ambassador, I’m willing to do it for free."
Wang Feng was one of Dragon Country’s top A-list singers, and his influence was terrifying!
In an instant, his post was shared tens of millions of times!
Yuanxi Pharmaceutical went viral!
The Lingxi Health Beverage went viral!
======
「The Lin Family’s ancestral home.」
Lin Jianan had instructed the kitchen to prepare a lavish celebration banquet, awaiting the return of the Lin Family’s great hero, Lin Xingchen!
Lin Xingchen was in a state of utter confusion, completely unable to accept reality!
Today was clearly supposed to be the day he rose to power, the day Lin Ruoxi was driven to despair!
He was supposed to be the one acquiring Yuanxi Pharmaceutical in a victor’s stance!
But cruel reality had slapped him hard across the face!
Yuanxi Pharmaceutical had actually come up with such a badass product! And he hadn’t heard a single whisper about it beforehand!
This was too terrifying!
"Sir, we’ve arrived."
"Ah? We’re home?"
Lin Xingchen got out of the car distractedly, his steps somewhat unsteady as he returned to the ancestral home.
The members of the Lin Family had already received the news: Elder Lin would announce his retirement at the celebration banquet shortly, and declare that the eldest son would be taking over as chairman.
The Lin Family members were all extremely deferential toward Lin Xingchen, almost to the point of being sycophantic!
"Sir, watch your step."
"This way, sir."
Lin Xingchen wanted to tell the butler and the guards that he had lost, lost completely. But he truly enjoyed this feeling of being surrounded and revered!
’I’ll just be willful this once. Let me experience this feeling of being the center of attention one last time!’
Lin Xingchen didn’t explain anything to the butler and guards. He strode into the inner courtyard with an arrogant swagger!
Seeing Lin Xingchen’s demeanor, the spirits of the Lin Family members soared!
’He did it!’
’Big Brother (Eldest Uncle) did it!’
’Huanya Pharmaceutical is destined to rise!’
’Huanyu Group’s stock price will skyrocket!’
’Every one of them from the Lin Family’s main lineage will benefit greatly!’
Lin Jianan stood up personally to welcome the Lin Family’s great hero, to welcome his own son!
"Xingchen, you’ve worked hard! Let your father toast you personally! From this day forward, you are the head of our Lin Family! Do not fail to live up to your father’s expectations of you!"
As he spoke, Lin Jianan took off the emerald green Jade Ring that represented the Lin Family Patriarch, stroked it gently a couple of times, and reluctantly held it out to Lin Xingchen.
The members of the Lin Family all looked at Lin Xingchen with expressions of absolute reverence!
Even the second son, Lin Xingyu, who had never been convinced by Lin Xingchen, was no exception!
From now on, his big brother was the head of the family, the pillar of the Lin Family. He would have to work under his big brother’s leadership!
Lin Xingchen stared dazedly at the emerald green Jade Ring. How he longed to take that Ring!
Once he took this Jade Ring, he would be the Lin Family Patriarch, a pivotal figure in the Provincial City!
But Lin Xingchen knew very well that he couldn’t accept it!
He had already lost!
Utterly and completely!
Soon, the news of the Yuanxi press conference would reach the Lin Family!
If he dared to accept the Jade Ring, Elder Lin would break his legs after learning the truth!
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Lin Xingchen fell to his knees with a THUD, looking at Lin Jianan with a face full of shame!
"Dad! Your son has failed to live up to your hopes! Your son has lost! It was a complete and utter defeat! Yuanxi Pharmaceutical’s rise is unstoppable! From now on, our Huanya Pharmaceutical can only struggle to survive under Yuanxi Pharmaceutical’s suppression!"