Chapter 57 - A Toast to Success
The atmosphere inside Amoy was a heady blend of pulsating bass, the clinking of fine crystal, and the lingering scent of expensive tobacco. For Jiang Yuan, who had once been a permanent fixture in Nancheng’s nightlife—earning himself the formidable nickname "Demon King Jiang"—the neon-drenched environment now felt strangely distant. Between the grueling demands of his academic pursuits and the equally exhausting, though far more pleasurable, nights spent rolling between the sheets with Xie Chengnan, it had been a long time since he had set foot in a nightclub.
Fang Yuan, the CEO of Morning Star Entertainment, poured another round of amber liquid into their glasses with practiced ease. He couldn't help but tease his friend. "Young Master Jiang is truly a difficult man to invite out these days. Now that I’ve finally managed to drag you into the light of the moon, you have to give me some face and have a few more drinks."
Jiang Yuan leaned back against the plush leather of the booth, his long legs crossed in a posture of casual elegance. The dim light caught the sharp lines of his profile, highlighting the "ascetic charm" that had recently become a topic of much discussion online. "Your people have made me a significant amount of money lately, Fang Yuan. By all rights, this round should be on me."
"That’s not how it works," Fang Yuan replied, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious as he handed the drink menu back to the waiter. "In this industry, we churn through newcomers every year, but to be honest, very few of them actually have the 'it' factor to attract a loyal fanbase. The competition is cutthroat. If you want to manufacture a top-tier idol, the initial investment alone is a staggering sum."
He offered Jiang Yuan a cigarette. Jiang Yuan didn't refuse, leaning in as Fang Yuan clicked open a sleek S.T. Dupont lighter to provide a flame. Jiang Yuan took a slow drag, the smoke curling around his fingers before he exhaled a thin, silver plume.
Fang Yuan lit his own and continued, "I truly didn't expect that sending them to work as streamers would yield these kinds of results. Take Du Tingming, for example. His follower count on Weibo has already reached the level of an A-list star. There are plenty of entertainment companies in Nancheng, but Onion Live is the only platform capable of elevating so many people at once."
He paused, tapping the ash from his cigarette. "This model wouldn't work anywhere else because they don't have that little robot of yours. That AI is a genuine fan-attracting weapon. With it anchoring the streams, new users are constantly being drawn in. In the end, it’s my talent who reaps the rewards of that traffic."
Jiang Yuan knew Fang Yuan was speaking from the heart. The integration of Xie Chengnan’s advanced AI technology into Onion Live had transformed the platform from a struggling venture into a market leader. It wasn't just about the content anymore; it was about the interactive experience that only Nanyuan Technology could provide.
"It seems our interests are perfectly aligned," Jiang Yuan said with a faint, knowing smile. He raised his glass, the ice clinking softly against the rim. "In that case, I believe we should discuss extending our contract. To a long and fruitful partnership, President Fang."
Fang Yuan laughed heartily, the sound nearly drowned out by the thumping music of the main floor. He clinked his glass against Jiang Yuan’s with a firm strike. "To a long and fruitful partnership! I’d be a fool to say no to the Nancheng Couple’s golden touch."
As they drank, the conversation drifted from business to the peculiar fame they had both acquired. The "Nancheng Couple" tag had become a permanent fixture on the Hot Search lists, a phenomenon that neither Jiang Yuan nor Xie Chengnan had anticipated but had nonetheless learned to navigate. For Jiang Yuan, the transition from a rebellious scion to a savvy businessman—and a devoted partner—was a metamorphosis that felt both sudden and inevitable.
By the time they stepped out of the club, the cool night air of Nancheng acted as a sharp contrast to the stifling heat of Amoy. Jiang Yuan watched the city lights, thinking of the "old beast" waiting for him at home. Little did he know that by the next morning, the city would be buzzing with a new sensation. The pilot program for Nanyuan Technology’s robot volunteers was about to go live, and the "Nancheng Couple" was about to dominate the headlines once again, proving that their influence extended far beyond the digital screens of Onion Live.
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**Glossary**
