A Wave of "Viral Videos"

After hanging up with Taylor, Ryan did a simple edit of the "Harlem Shake" video he'd filmed at the nightclub a few hours earlier, then uploaded it to the "Dr. Ray Official Account" on YouTube. The previous Tremor and official Harlem Shake versions were also already on YouTube.

The next morning, Ryan was surprised to find that the Harlem Shake version commissioned from the sisterhood had appeared directly on NYU's official YouTube channel, retitled Crazy Weekend Sisterhood.

It wasn't unusual for a university's official YouTube account to post goofy videos, but what caught Ryan off guard was how much pull this sisterhood had.

He immediately called Elizabeth.

"Really? I just handed the video to the Vice President—she posted it on the official account?" Elizabeth sounded just as surprised.

So this was all the Vice President's doing... Ryan thanked Elizabeth and hung up, then called the Vice President.

"Right, I thought the video was pretty fun, even if I didn't like the song. I happen to know the student rep who runs the account, so I sent it to her. Oh, and why isn't Piero answering my calls?" The Vice President suddenly brought up Piero again.

"He's been busy the last couple of days. He's a model—actually, I know some other models too..."

"Tell him to call me back." The Vice President cut Ryan off.

Looks like I'll have to put you through it again, Piero.

"If possible, could you shoot a few more versions? The song's available on paid platforms," Ryan added a new request.

"Can't help you there," the Vice President refused.

"I can pay," Ryan said bluntly.

"Don't joke around. How could I use the school's account to make money?" The Vice President scoffed on the other end.

"That's not what I meant." Ryan quickly corrected himself. "But I can have Piero send you some gifts—like lipstick, clothes..."

A long silence hung on the line.

"I'm pretty fond of Chanel's Rouge Allure line, especially Coral No. 22, and..." The Vice President finally spoke up after a moment.

Ryan carefully noted down her requests. As a college student, the Vice President didn't ask for anything too outrageous—the total was still within reason.

"Also, I'd like to have branches at other schools do similar shoots," Ryan said slowly.

Another silence on the line. The Vice President didn't agree, but she didn't refuse either.

At the very end of the call, Ryan asked one more question.

"That Elizabeth I've been in touch with—I'd like to know her last name," Ryan said.

"Why do you care about that? It's her private business."

"Nothing, just pure curiosity."

For the sake of the goods, the Vice President finally gave him the answer: "Her sisters are the Olsen Twins."

It all clicked for Ryan. No wonder she looked so familiar. The Olsen Twins were household-name child stars in 90s American television. In the new century, they'd earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and over the following years, they kept investing in and starring in films.

But like most child stars, the Olsen Twins faced the struggle of transitioning as they aged. After their seventh invested film bombed at the box office in 2003, the twins made a move that seemed odd at the time but was later copied by many celebrities—celebrity entrepreneurship.

The Dualstar Group, jointly controlled by the sisters, had been rolling out products targeting the youth market since 2004. Their clothing line focused on teenage girls and sold in over three thousand stores nationwide—including Walmart—and over fifty-three hundred globally.

After that, the twins fully pivoted to fashion design, launching the luxury brand The Row, sold in thirty-seven countries worldwide.

Last year, Forbes ranked them eleventh among the wealthiest women in entertainment, with a net worth of around $100 million.

"No wonder she's been avoiding her last name," Ryan said.

Elizabeth Olsen was in a similar spot to Austin Swift in some ways, but she might have it tougher. She was younger, taller, and prettier than her two sisters. Besides the pressure, though, she'd also get a boost.

After graduating from the Imperial Arts Academy, she'd probably try to break into Hollywood. What a shame...

·

"Yeah, just like that—like you're getting shocked. Wiggle however you want." Ryan directed like a film director.

"Is this really going to work?" Abigail still seemed a bit stiff.

"Look at Austin—you need to get something like that." Ryan pointed at Taylor's brother nearby.

Right then, Austin was squirming forward on the ground like a maggot, inching along.

"Ryan, check this out—I'm definitely passing." Paul was thrusting his hips back and forth.

"If I gave you a female donkey, you'd look even more convincing," Ryan teased.

"She'd have to be a pretty one!" Paul nodded.

Everyone burst out laughing. Out on the field, the football team and a few of Ryan's friends were filming another version of the Harlem Shake.

Ryan checked the footage. Abigail beside him seemed like she wanted to say something but held back.

"I'll be busy the next few days. I'll hang out with you in a couple," Ryan said without looking up.

"Mm." Abigail nodded firmly.

·

"Check out how it looks?" Trey plugged a USB drive into the computer.

The video on it was the office version of the Harlem Shake shot at the production company. Ryan had mobilized everyone he could, including Trey. When Trey heard the concept, she didn't say much—and tonight, she'd already delivered the finished cut.

As expected of a director, Trey's version was already edited and ready to upload.

"Can you post it from your personal account?" Ryan asked tentatively.

Trey shrugged. "That's assuming I can even remember my personal account password." She shifted gears. "I also reached out to Billy Ray Cyrus today—I shot the MV for his 'Real Gone.' You know his daughter Hannah Montana, right..."

"Her name is Miley," Ryan corrected.

If the Olsen Twins were the household child stars of a decade ago, then Miley was today's Olsen Twins—Disney's heavily promoted teen idol.

On the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, she played a rock star in middle school who had to keep her identity secret from her classmates, leading to a string of hilarious situations. The show was hugely popular with teen audiences.

Off-screen, Miley also released albums under the stage name Hannah Montana. Last year, her debut sold 320,000 copies in its first week, landing at number one on the Billboard 200. Taylor's debut album sold only tens of thousands in its first week—calling it a blowout wasn't an exaggeration.

Of course, that couldn't have happened without Disney's backing. But as the saying goes, fate's gifts come with a hidden price tag. These days, Disney had kicked its exploitation into overdrive. Miley's life was now completely consumed by filming and touring, with Disney taking the lion's share of the profits.

In Ryan's view, Miley, under long-term high-pressure conditions, had already developed "Child Star Syndrome"—in other words, she wasn't exactly mentally stable.

The news surrounding her was all trashy drama: feuding in the media with her label junior Selena Gomez over a love triangle with another Disney teen male idol, her computer hacked and private photos leaked online, posing fully topless for Vanity Fair, then being forced to issue a public apology. In short, it was killing her public goodwill.

"Don't interrupt. Her dad said Hannah's been into making videos on YouTube lately. I told her about your situation, but I'm not sure she'll actually film it," Trey said.

Ryan was so excited he grabbed Trey and kissed her on the cheek.

Trey froze for a second, then chased after Ryan, beating him senseless.