"Today's livestream hit record highs in both concurrent viewers and paying viewers." Xie Weishui put on a businesslike air. "There's no question that this is all thanks to you, Chi Li."
Because of the negative trending topic, along with Shen Qiang's and Jiang Yue's inexplicable behavior, new viewers had kept pouring into Raising House throughout the second half of the audience Q&A.
A large number of them had even purchased memberships in Chi Li's livestream under the banners of "supporting sister-in-law" and "paying Jiang Yue's admission."
Every metric had already broken Raising House's historical records.
He had also heard that everyone's bonuses on the production team would be doubled this month.
From now on, the main livestream's camera would definitely favor Chi Li even more.
"Mm-hmm." Chi Li nodded lightly, waiting for Xie Weishui's "but."
"But," Xie Weishui began solemnly, just as expected, "you relied on a negative trending topic and the coincidences that followed it to create a sensational hook, attracting a wave of viewers who aren't Raising House's target audience... That's actually a disruption to Raising House's existing ecosystem."
"So?" Chi Li tilted his head and prompted him.
"So, I hope this sort of thing won't happen again." Xie Weishui's tone was firm. "I don't want our existing viewers to feel uncomfortable because of your behavior. We have to protect the experience of our loyal viewers."
"Heh..." Chi Li couldn't help laughing.
He made it sound as though Chi Li had done this on purpose.
Clearly, someone had simply tried to gain an advantage and ended up losing out instead.
Xie Weishui's high-sounding speech seemed reasonable, but in reality, it was nothing more than belittling Chi Li, denying his contribution, and shifting the blame onto him.
Someone less sure of themselves would probably start wondering whether they really had done something wrong after hearing that.
"This is a very serious matter!" Xie Weishui stressed. "What you're doing is damaging the show's reputation, and it won't do your future development the slightest bit of good."
"Who are you?" Chi Li tilted his head and asked.
Now he was worrying about Chi Li's future, too.
Xie Weishui's expression didn't change. "I'm your senior. I have a duty to correct you."
"Really? I thought you were the jurisdiction police, sticking your nose into everything." Chi Li feigned surprise.
Xie Weishui clenched both hands into fists. "I'm discussing a serious matter with you. I hope you'll take it seriously."
Chi Li really had no idea where this man's elder act came from. "Before you worry about me, you'd better worry about yourself."
"I don't want to worry about you either." Xie Weishui looked displeased. "But you've damaged the entire show..."
"It's damaged just because you say so?" Chi Li laughed in disbelief. "Something every member of the production crew is delighted about becomes... some unforgivable crime coming out of your mouth?"
"All they want is traffic. They don't care what happens to you or the show, so of course they're happy..." Xie Weishui always had an endless supply of these high-sounding speeches. "But I'm thinking about the show's longevity..."
"I'm begging you." Chi Li simply found talking to Xie Weishui exhausting. "Could you be a little more honest? I don't want to hear these high-sounding speeches. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I might even consider cooperating."
Xie Weishui pressed his lips together, momentarily at a loss as to how to continue the conversation.
He had planned to first make Chi Li recognize his own "mistake" and feel guilty toward everyone else and the show, then subtly influence his behavior.
"If you don't want to say it, don't. I want to rest." Chi Li pinched the bridge of his nose.
Shen Xunye reached for the doorknob and began ushering them out outright. "Go on. Don't get in the way of our fun."
"Fun, my ass. Today, I'm..." Zhou Yang glanced at everyone else present, then braced himself and finished. "I'm competing with you for the job today!"
Fuck, the thought that he had dated Chi Li without ever sleeping with him, only for someone else to beat him to it now, left him feeling awful.
Shen Xunye shot him a disdainful look, took two steps backward with an arm around Chi Li's waist, then slammed the door with a bang.
The hallway fell quiet again.
Zhou Yang fiercely thrust a thumbs-up at the closed door.
"Um." Wei Xuan, who had been listening the whole time, spoke hesitantly. "Weishui, how about we leave it here for today?"
Zhou Yang had nowhere to vent his anger. Hearing that, he immediately sneered, "Simp."
Who knew how long this guy had diligently simped for Xie Weishui, on camera and off? Hadn't Zhou Yang still swooped in and beaten him to it in the end?
That thought suddenly offered him some comfort. "Haha, at least I'm not a simp."
"Is the way you look at Chi Li now any different from a simp?" Xie Weishui suddenly spoke, giving him a cold glance, his tone growing increasingly mocking. "Do you think I didn't hear what you just said? Competing for the job? His fanservice with Shen Xunye works so well. Do you really think you have a chance of getting the job?"
Saying he wanted to compete for a job with someone else in front of his fanservice partner, who hadn't even become his former partner yet, was really... disgusting enough.
"Who the fuck is competing with him over that?" Zhou Yang retorted instinctively. "I don't need to do fanservice with him!"
He and Chi Li had been real to begin with. What fanservice?
Xie Weishui clearly trusted his own judgment more than anything coming out of Zhou Yang's mouth.
But before he secured a new member, he couldn't kick Zhou Yang aside completely.
Even without doing fanservice with Zhou Yang, he could still use him for other things.
"Zhou Yang, we're still working together." The confidence Xie Weishui had lost in front of Chi Li had returned in full before Zhou Yang. "I hope you'll make sure to listen to me from now on and not do anything stupid."
Zhou Yang's face went red, then pale. "...Got it."
Inside the room, Shen Xunye found himself a seat with practiced ease. "What movie are we watching today?"
The mention of a movie immediately made Chi Li feel a little embarrassed.
"...Did you finish watching it alone yesterday before leaving?"
"Yeah."
Though what he had watched hadn't been the movie.
Chi Li picked up the phone on the table and unlocked it. Jiang Yue's friend request was already waiting on WeChat.
...He had almost forgotten about that.
"Watch by yourself for now." Chi Li accepted the friend request. "I've still got something to take care of."
Shen Xunye scrolled through the movie list, asking casually, "What is it?"
"Something with Jiang Yue." Chi Li had no intention of hiding it from Shen Xunye.
After all, he had Shen Xunye to thank for getting through today's crisis smoothly.
If he hadn't reached out to Shen Qiang, Jiang Yue wouldn't have come along afterward either.
"Jiang Yue?" Shen Xunye's finger stopped, and he looked at Chi Li beside him. "What does he want with you?"
As Chi Li typed out pleasantries to Jiang Yue, he answered Shen Xunye, "He wants to admit he watched the livestream, so he needs me to cooperate."
"Cooperate how?" Shen Xunye sounded increasingly displeased.
Shen Qiang was at least his own second brother, so he could let the joking slide, but this Jiang Yue was a complete stranger to him.