Press Conference

And the company he had run in his original world had happened to specialize in cutting-edge technology.

Unfortunately, this world did not have his assistant. Otherwise, he might not have needed to do anything himself.

"Huh?" Guan Shunan was completely baffled by Xie Ran's reaction. "Xiao Ran, what are you talking about?"

Xie Ran shut off the computer and leaned back slightly in his chair. He thought that if his assistant were here, he would probably say—

Xie Ran gave an inscrutable little laugh. "The weather's turning cold. Let them go bankrupt."

Quite fitting for the season.

Guan Shunan: "...??"

What kind of overbearing CEO line was that?

Author's note: Fang Huiwang: His mighty body trembled!

Assistant: That's right, I said it.

Chapter 4: Press Conference

Xie Ran Studio chose a well-known five-star hotel in the city as the venue for its virtual idol launch. Besides inviting the media to conduct interviews that day, it had also opened an online livestream, allowing viewers to follow the launch through a streaming app in real time.

Kuang Youfang was deeply versed in the entertainment industry's art of stepping on rivals. Not only had he scheduled his own launch for the same day as Xie Ran's, but the timing and format were nearly identical as well: media coverage and an online livestream running simultaneously. It instantly drove netizens' anticipation to a fever pitch, and the press conference was already trending before it even began.

For several days straight, the internet had been full of speculation about the launches. Xie Ran's and Fang Huiwang's fans started threads on every major forum to battle each other, creating quite a spectacle.

On the day of the launches, huge crowds of fan support groups had gathered outside the hotels booked by the two studios long beforehand. The livestreams had not even started yet, but countless netizens were already waiting. Quite a few had opened both streams at once to keep watch on them together, while those unable to do so could only curse and switch back and forth between the two.

The media outlets split into two groups as well. One headed to Xie Ran Studio's venue, while the other went to Ambition Studio for interviews. Everyone was rubbing their hands together, waiting to seize the astonishing traffic from this showdown at the first possible moment.

Backstage at the hotel venue, a large number of staff members hurried about anxiously, making their final preparations before the opening.

Xie Ran sat on a sofa in the corner, dressed in a long black down coat. Unlike everyone else's extreme tension, he appeared calm and composed, sitting casually as he unhurriedly went over the schedule with his assistant.

Seeing that it was nearly time, Xie Ran finally stood up and was about to take off his down coat when the phone screen beside him flashed.

The assistant glanced over and saw that the caller ID was actually Fang Huiwang.

Assistant: !!!

Something was going on! She knew the relationship between her boss and Fang Huiwang was not that simple!

Still, she was a professional. Though she was dying for gossip, she knowingly prepared to step away.

Unexpectedly, Xie Ran picked up the phone with one hand and casually extended the other toward her, signaling for her to help take off his coat. He had absolutely no intention of avoiding her.

The assistant perked up and could not help pricking up her ears excitedly.

Then she watched Xie Ran decisively reject the call before tossing the phone into her hand. "Put it away."

Assistant: "..."

Damn! So ruthless!

Ever since his studio announced that it would be launching a virtual idol, Fang Huiwang had been waiting for Xie Ran to call him.

He thought that as long as Xie Ran softened his attitude a little, he would not mind comforting him. Once the press conference was over, he could even have his studio be more courteous in its media releases and leave Xie Ran a little dignity.

He would make Xie Ran believe that he still had his best interests at heart. The two of them still had a chance to be together.

But Xie Ran's call never came.

His confidence of certain victory gradually turned into agitation.

Even if Xie Ran was not worried about winning or losing, was he not angry? What was he doing? Why was he not coming to question him?

Fang Huiwang had clearly made thorough preparations to deal with Xie Ran, yet Xie Ran did not even acknowledge him. The feeling was like punching cotton; he had a breath stuck in his chest that simply would not come out.

At last, with the launch about to begin, Fang Huiwang could no longer hold back and took the initiative to call Xie Ran first.

He thought that as long as Xie Ran's attitude was decent, he could still go easy on him...

Before he could finish the thought, the dead tone of "beep, beep, beep—" sounded from the other end.

Xie Ran actually refused to take his call!!!

Fang Huiwang stared at his phone in disbelief, then gritted his teeth and growled, "Xie Ran!"

"What's wrong? Don't tell me you've gone soft?" Kuang Youfang suddenly walked over from the side, looking at him meaningfully. A young man followed beside him—it was Ni Le, the person in charge of the Black Star Team.

Fang Huiwang's expression darkened, and he snorted coldly. "How could that be?"

"Good. Let's watch together, then." Kuang Youfang held out his phone in front of him.

The screen displayed Xie Ran Studio's livestream. It had already begun, and Xie Ran Studio's press conference was officially underway.

Fang Huiwang recovered his composure, drew a deep breath, and nodded as if nothing had happened. At the same time, a cold urge for revenge rose within him.

Since Xie Ran wanted to act like this, then he could not blame him for showing no mercy!

Guided by the host, Xie Ran stepped onto the stage.

The moment he appeared, the entire livestream exploded.

As a celebrity, the original owner had always favored fashionable, varied looks for the sake of his commercial value. He had also consistently been gentle and polite before the camera, with an appropriate smile always on his face.

But today, Xie Ran wore a simple, formal bespoke suit without any unnecessary embellishments, which accentuated his tall, straight figure.

His hairstyle was no longer as meticulously styled as usual, merely combed back casually to reveal his smooth forehead. There was little expression on his face, making his features seem to sharpen all at once.

Xie Ran took the microphone from the host, then swept his gaze indifferently over the cameras and the audience below. An air of looking down on the world seemed to arise around him for no reason at all.

[!!!!!!!!]

[Holy shit holy shit holy shit!!! Xiao Ran is way too cool today!!]

[Is it just me? Why does Xiao Ran feel different from usual?]