She shook her head, looking dazed. “No……”


  She did not understand what he was trying to tell her.

  He went on to comment, “That’s because the coffee here is not well-known like Starbucks.”


  “That’s right!”


  He continued, “Let me give you a scenario. What if one day, Xingze, on a whim, decides to order a coffee from this place. He then takes a picture and posts it online. Do you think that this cup of coffee will gain attention from many?”


  “Mhm.”


  “Now, this is exposure and the power of the fans! By doing that, his fans will take note of this café, visit it, and order the same type of drink as him. This café will become famous as a result!”


  Suddenly, she understood what he was trying to express.

  Her agent explained further. “Those fans of his perhaps hold a negative impression of you now, but at least they will notice you. If you’re good enough, they’ll notice it, too, and may turn into your fans eventually, but without exposure, your talent won’t ever be discovered! The entertainment industry is full of talents. You’re a newcomer so you need to find suitable opportunities to showcase yourself and get the public’s approval!”


  He added after a pause. “This so-called hype is just a way for the public to notice you; this is also a chance for you to showcase yourself. Do you understand?”


  She nodded in acquiescence. “I understand now.”


  He held onto her shoulders with a look of seriousness, saying in a deep tone, “Listen up, Shishi; many times, an artist is like a commodity. They need marketing and packaging! You should understand this principle well and must follow my orders in the future. Don’t worry; I’m not here to harm you.”


  She maintained her silence for a long while and then finally nodded slowly. “I understand, Qin Zhou! I’ll do my best to work with you in the future.”


  “That’s great!”


  He smiled at her reassurance and ruffled her hair like a doting senior.

  “Sometimes, you are really smart. You gain fast insights when we talk about such things; very perceptive!”


  After she left the office, her head was still reeling with the man’s words.

  ‘There is no fairness in this industry. There is only a simple principle: The strong will win and the weak will succumb. I hope you understand!’


  Deep down, she was very reluctant to rely on Gu Xingze to create a buzz. She was bothered by the thought of generating news from naught, which, to her, was a crass act.

  However, it seemed that she would be eliminated if she did not follow the rules.

  It was time, then, for her to put away these inappropriate thoughts and carry out her agent’s instructions.

  The driver had not arrived yet when she stepped out of the office.

  Just then, her phone rang.

  A charming and sexy voice could be heard from the other end when she picked up the call. “Darling…… where are you?”


  The deep, magnetic voice was alluring.

  She got a shock and quickly checked the screen for the caller ID. This was a number foreign to her.

  “Who are you?” she asked warily.

  There was a long, dead silence before a grudging voice, full of grievance, could be heard. “Sis…… you are so heartless! How come you can’t recognize Xiao Jie’s voice now……”