138: Lin Pei is trending on social media, dashing Wang Tianwang's hopes of making headlines once again.
At that moment, Lin Pei, who had just been toasted by a round of drinks from the entire Film Crew, heard his phone chime with a 'ding-dong'.
Lin Pei picked it up to see a voice message from Gong Dan, the director of the General Administration of Sports.
"Lin Pei, how's the filming going lately?"
"Good news, our National Football Team has just welcomed some fresh blood these past couple of days. When do you have time to come over and personally provide some guidance?"
Lin Pei mused at how euphemistically Director Gong put it—wasn't it just about going over and kicking each of them once?
"Director, it's perfect timing. Our movie has just wrapped up, so I can come over anytime."
"You're so busy with your affairs; next time, just have Coach Chen tell me about this sort of thing."
Gong Dan let out a booming "Ha-ha" laugh.
"No, no, I have to invite you personally."
"By the way, I'll be there too. Give my other side a kick around the waist area, thanks a lot."
"..."
They were old friends, so Lin Pei naturally agreed.
"Director, it's just a lift of the foot, no need to be so polite."
...The next day, before dawn even broke, the official account for 'shaolin soccer' updated with a wrap-up group photo and a special wrap-up feature.
The feature video was edited from the movie's preparation process, the actors' daily training routines, and some unpolished filming clips.
After the last time the Japanese people came to the Film Crew to provoke, only to be crushed and forced to kneel in defeat by Lin Pei's foot strength, the Film Crew had already trended on hot search once.
Upon learning more, the movie was directed by the already household-name comedy director Stephen Chow, and with its strong cast, everyone's expectations for it were also very high.
After the wrap-up feature aired, everyone was once again deeply shocked by the devastating, almost special-effects-like effect Lin Pei created with a single kick.
The popularity of this official post soared, pushing several related topics back onto the hot search list, even knocking down yesterday's posts about the Dragon Kingdom's World Cup victory.
The comment section was buzzing with excitement, wishing the movie would be released tomorrow so they could feast their eyes.
"Oh my god, so looking forward to it. With Star Lord and Brother Lin's kicks, it's hard to imagine how amazing this film will be."
"Brother Lin's face is quite good-looking too, I just want to lick the screen."
"You big glutton up there, if you like the taste of tempered glass on a handsome guy, go ahead and lick some more."
"You know what, after Brother Lin started playing the male lead, his visual advantages have really started to shine."
"I originally wanted my Brother Lin to become a god in the football world, but since our National Football Team Members are also excellent now, forget it. It's also good for Brother Lin to stay in the entertainment industry and benefit the audience."
"Brother Lin is still young, he has a long road ahead. Since his talent is so high and he's skilled in many areas, wherever there's trouble in the future, we can just deploy him there."
"..."
...At that moment, in an entertainment company in Capital City, a man of somewhat short stature but very fashionable sat in a leather chair.
His not-so-long legs, encased in fine-quality leather pants, were crossed and propped on the desk, shaking vigorously.
This man was the current famous song king of the Dragon Kingdom, Wang Feng.
At this moment, he wore a smug, triumphant expression, his eyes slightly narrowed behind reading glasses, as if waiting for some good news to arrive.
Sure enough, the office door was soon knocked on urgently several times.
Wang Feng didn't move his body, but his voice couldn't hide his excitement.
"Come in."
After the door opened, a woman with delicate features and a graceful figure hurried in anxiously; it was Wang Feng's assistant, Xiao Li.
"Brother Feng!"
Wang Feng opened his eyes. Seeing Xiao Li's excited face, he felt even more pleased with himself.
"Did it work?"
"Look how nervous you are, where's your composure? I know we've never topped the headlines before, and it's not easy the first time."
"But the first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar. From now on, we'll break the curse of not being able to top the headlines."
Xiao Li twisted her hands together, her face looking like she was about to cry.
"Brother Feng, we... we didn't make the headlines..."
Upon hearing this, Wang Feng's legs "swished" down from the desk, sweeping the ashtray onto the floor.
"What, we didn't?!"
"Why not?!"
For so many years, every time he was about to release a new song and prepared for a big promotional push to top the headlines, some unexpected event would always occur, suppressing his popularity.
To break this curse, he had spent a fortune on this song release.
Not only had he investigated all the Celebrities in the entertainment industry who might have scandals, public announcements, or marriages, deliberately avoiding those dates.
He had even paid attention to certain entertainment or political movements abroad.
The investigation results showed that indeed, very few events had occurred recently both inside and outside the circle, making it perfect for releasing a song and topping the headlines.
He was only waiting for one major event—the closing of the Peony Football World Cup.
So he specifically chose to release the song after the World Cup ended, but he never expected... Wang Feng was both confused and furious.
"What's today's headline?"
Xiao Li pursed her lips.
"It's the wrap-up feature from the 'shaolin soccer' Film Crew."
Wang Feng's face turned even uglier.
"What? A wrap-up feature can top the headlines?"
"What movie could be more attractive than my song?"
"What's our ranking? Buy some more popularity to push it up."
Xiao Li hemmed and hawed.
"We're not even on the hot search list..."
"Right now, the hot search is all about 'shaolin soccer' and the lead actor Lin Pei. Even yesterday's World Cup news got pushed off."
"The popularity gap is too big; it's hard even with money..."
Wang Feng was stunned for a long moment, as if he couldn't understand Xiao Li's words.
Just a movie—why does it have such influence?
In his confusion and shock, Wang Feng opened his phone to personally check the hot search ranking list.
# 'shaolin soccer' Film Crew Wrap-Up Feature, Stunning #
# 'shaolin soccer' Lin Pei Kicks with an Apocalyptic Effect #
# Want to See Brother Lin Play Football, Please Release 'shaolin soccer' Soon #
# 'father of the national football team' Lin Pei's Football-Themed Movie Wraps Up, Production Team is Strong #
...Nine out of the top ten hot search topics were about Lin Pei.
Wang Feng narrowed his eyes.
Lin Pei... Hiss, isn't this the guy who kept trending on hot search with the National Football Team some time ago?
He remembered this person had extraordinary kicking power, crushingly defeating all the other teams that came to challenge.
At the time, he even got excited himself, frantically liking comments in the hot search section.
This person isn't a player? He's also an actor in the circle?
Thinking about it now, he was really blind back then, and his hands were too itchy.
Anyone who hinders him from topping the headlines will be noted down in his little book, becoming a permanent enemy!
In vain, he didn't even go to the casino to win money today, specifically waiting in the office for good news, only to receive such terrible news.
Seeing her boss about to go crazy, Xiao Li gently pinched his shoulder.
"Brother Feng, don't panic just yet."
"Didn't you recently have a movie theme song coming out? We can buy another round of promotion for that then."
Wang Feng felt like he was about to suck blood from his gums.
"Dammit, now we can only rely on that."
...