Chapter 11: "Borrowing Money"! For You—I Became a Deadbeat! For You—I Got Caught in Debt!
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Laughter filled Weibo, while the trio from Mushroom House suffered a complete defeat in the #HeroesAgainstLu# campaign.
Seeing Teacher Huang completely silenced by Lu Ming’s relentless verbal onslaught, and the other two seemingly “reconciled” with him, people marveled at Lu Ming’s extraordinary talent and turned their attention to Sister Zheng.
Behind the screen.
After treating her wounds at the hospital, Sister Zheng and her manager returned to the mansion in a daze.
Her manager exclaimed, “Your ex-boyfriend really knows how to roast people. Did you know about this before?”
“I’ve never been roasted like that, how would I know?” Sister Zheng replied, speechless, then grew wary. “Teacher Huang and the others were completely silenced—do you think he’s still going to pursue the debt?”
As they talked, a notification sound from Sister Zheng’s phone rang.
That guy really showed up again!
But what surprised them all was that this time, Lu Ming didn’t post a long rant—he uploaded a video.
Curious, people clicked on it.
Lu Ming appeared in the video, his face filled with sorrow, eyes red-rimmed, pale cheeks streaked with faint traces of tears, clearly having just cried.
As the classic song “Pray to Buddha” played softly as background music, Lu Ming began to sing along in a clear voice:
“When the loan is transferred into your account~”
“I think I’m about to change my appearance~”
“There’s a kind of heart-wrenching pain, you’ll understand once you borrow a loan~”
“Closing my eyes, I see cola—that’s an innocent life~”
“I’ve hung up countless calls from debt collectors, driving away the sorrow brought by loans~”
Sister Zheng: “???”
Manager: “!!!”
They instantly realized the lyrics were off, but before they could react, Lu Ming’s singing suddenly became heart-wrenching, his voice cracking as he belted out—
“For you—I became a deadbeat!”
“For you—I caught a loan!”
“For you—I owe lots of money!”
“For you—my house was foreclosed!”
Watching the flamboyantly singing man on the screen, Sister Zheng’s defenses completely broke down. Even as a woman, she couldn’t help but curse: “Damn it!”
“That bastard has this kind of talent, if only he’d used it elsewhere, no way would he have ruined his reputation!” the manager swore.
Lu Ming’s voice soared again, tears streaming down his cheeks as he wailed with a thick crying tone:
“Can we meet again? I begged at the loan office for months!”
“I’m willing to pay interest to get back my principal, hoping to move—my baby~~~”
“Can we meet again? I begged outside the bank for months!”
“Before my loan defaults, let me see my treasure once more!”
“Let me see my treasure~~~”
Sister Zheng’s chest tightened painfully, as if ants were crawling inside her body, driving her nearly mad with discomfort: “Bastard!”
The manager couldn’t hold it any longer and burst out laughing.
Immediately realizing the mistake, she bit her lip and looked sideways at Sister Zheng: “Sis, why aren’t you laughing?”
“Is it funny?” Sister Zheng scowled. “If you want a new job, keep laughing!”
The manager quickly shut up, but the video on the phone kept playing. Lu Ming had entered the second chorus, screaming with a torn voice...
She bit her lip hard and quickly recalled the saddest things in her life, but listening to Lu Ming’s unskilled yet emotionally magnetic singing, she couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing again.
Sister Zheng: “...”
She locked her phone, then threw it out of the open window with a fierce flick.
Afterward, Sister Zheng strode to the private pool and dove in.
The manager was still caught up in the joy of Lu Ming’s wild remake of the classic song, laughing uproariously like clanging bells. But when she reached the poolside and saw Sister Zheng hadn’t surfaced for a long time, she immediately sensed something wrong.
“Sis... sis?”
“Are you swimming underwater? The pool is so big, I can’t see you!”
“Damn! Sis, don’t scare me!”
In the manager’s anxious gaze, Sister Zheng surfaced slowly in the deep end, coughing and spluttering.
“Damn it!”
“That damn loser, you nearly drowned Sister Zheng!”
...
Online.
As Lu Ming entered his “third phase,” netizens who watched his latest video laughed until breathless, and the number of comments skyrocketed like a rocket.
“Oh my god, I can’t take it, I’m dying laughing!”
“First time seeing a celebrity sing like this—every lyric off key, zero professional technique, but filled with the truest emotion!”
“Bro, you’re so down-to-earth!”
“Three minutes of a twisted ‘Pray to Buddha,’ cracking voice for 2 minutes 42 seconds, I’m dying laughing…”
“That heart-wrenching ‘baby’ made me pee myself, pay for my pants!”
“Who says there are no good singers in the music industry?”
“@Huayue, look at your artist!”
“He’s truly a genius at arranging! Every line avoids mentioning Sister Zheng but refers to her, the subtle digs are brilliant!”
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“Promise: Bring your crappy video to court!”
“Can’t stop listening to this ‘Pray to Loan,’ please upload to Kugou Music! I want to loop it ten times!”
“Holy hell, ‘Pray to Loan’!”
“Honestly, seeing this guy showcase his talent like this, I have to support him.”
“@Sister Zheng: Pay back the money!”
“@Sister Zheng, look at what you’ve driven my bro to. If you don’t repay soon, with his mental state, I can’t help but worry he’ll do something foolish.”
“Joking aside, Sister Zheng’s really out of line. Lu Ming tried to present himself with dignity, bringing us joy while speaking up for himself. His life is already a mess, yet he uses his tragic story to entertain us. I have to say, this song is truly high art!”
“He really made me cry laughing!”
...
Amid the teasing, some netizens stood up for Lu Ming.
Some “Bee” and “Megni” fans, moved by Lu Ming’s tearful singing, sympathized deeply with his misfortune, especially since he’s supposedly an “ally.” This made their empathy even stronger.
While comforting Lu Ming in the comments, many also rushed to Sister Zheng’s comment section to demand repayment. Certain fan groups even organized mass reports and complaints against her.
Soon, Sister Zheng’s personal Weibo was frozen due to excessive reports!
The online tide turned completely around.
Weibo staff, who had been worried about Lu Ming during the earlier network crash, were stunned by the new developments.
This unprecedented large-scale cyber attack was the most intense heat they’d ever witnessed, but the tricky situation that made them shudder behind the scenes was effortlessly resolved by this guy’s three consecutive posts...
No, not just resolved—reversed!
“I’ve been in this industry for ten years and have never seen such a masterful PR case. This loser is the greatest PR expert I’ve ever seen!” the Weibo CEO said sincerely, watching the platform’s user activity reach new heights. “Three heroes against Lu Bu, and the losers are Wu, Li, and Huang!”
...
Kiwi Group Headquarters.
CEO Wang Gang had been fully engrossed in this online drama and, witnessing its climax, couldn’t help but applaud: “This guy is a born variety show superstar!”
In high spirits, Wang Gang picked up the office phone and made a call.
Soon after, the marketing manager knocked and entered.
“Mr. Wang, you asked for me.”
“I heard you secured the live broadcast rights for Jiang Zhetai’s variety show?” Wang asked.
“Yes, Mr. Wang, the contract has been signed.” The middle-aged man quickly reported. “This show is adapted from Peninsula’s ‘Running Man,’ which is a phenomenon in its own right. Jiang Zhetai renamed it ‘Run, Brothers!’ I’ve seen their lineup preparations—it’s guaranteed to be a hit!”
“While I can’t promise huge profits, it will at least break even with some gain.”
“Hm, I’ve heard of it.” Wang nodded. “Have they confirmed the first episode’s guest stars?”
“Not yet, but there’s fierce competition for the spot. Half the entertainment industry is eyeing this opportunity, and some second-tier celebrities are even paying out of pocket to appear in the premiere.”
“Alright, for the first episode, book the four from the Debate Group. I want to explode the hype during the live broadcast!”
The manager was stunned. “The Debate Group?”
Wang thought it over and amended, “Loser, Wu Qian, and Teacher Huang.”
“Forget Li Changfeng. There are already rumors in the circle that his scandalous video was obtained by a rival agency, and the two sides are still fighting. If they can’t settle, his career will crash!”
“Are you sure those three can appear together on another show without conflict?” The manager wiped sweat. “Also, Mushroom House had that huge live broadcast accident—Jiang Zhetai’s side might refuse.”
“They probably won’t fight, right?” Wang hesitated.
With Penguin Video thriving and releasing hits every two months, Kiwi’s market share is squeezed even further. Though still the second largest among the big three, Wang, as CEO, has a keen business sense.
If he doesn’t act, this year’s report will shrink by at least 20%.
Recently, because of the #MushroomHouseIncident# and the surge in daily active users, they’ve poached many users from Penguin. With VIP subscriptions soaring, Wang already received praise from the board.
Having tasted success, Wang wants to seize the moment and push the traffic even further before Penguin reacts.
Dreaming of his grand plans, Wang’s eyes hardened: “They definitely won’t fight. Even if they do, it’s fine—netizens love watching bloodshed!”
“No need to worry about Jiang Zhetai. If the live broadcast has issues, they can just cut that part out during TV airing.”
As the three major online video platforms enter a tripartite rivalry, they spare no effort to attract new users. Live variety shows are the hottest segment now, as opposed to traditional TV shows that require editing before airing, these platforms intervene during recording to broadcast live!
The appeal: raw authenticity.
Although this impacts TV ratings, the big three offer irresistible prices.
“And, Mr. Wang, what about the fees for Loser?”
“Pay him the highest standard for a top-tier celebrity!”
“Ah?”
“He’s the main dish. The reason we invite Teacher Huang and Wu Qian is to make this dish even tastier. You understand?”
“I think I do.”
“Then get it done quickly. If there’s any resistance, report to me immediately!”
After the manager left, Wang sat alone at his desk, lost in thought: “Hope I’m not wrong about this.”
...
In an apartment.
Xiao Ya paced anxiously while sharp knocks on the door changed her expression.
Outside, a man shouted curses: “Open up, you damn loser, open the door for me!”
Xiao Ya hesitated, then opened the door.
Song Zhe immediately unleashed a torrent of insults: “Is this the apology you mentioned? Is this how he apologizes? Do you know how much trouble this loser caused?”
“He’s finished, you’re finished, you’re all done for!”
Xiao Ya: “...”
At that moment, Lu Ming emerged from the room, eyes glazed, face flushed—deeply drunk.
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“Well, you bastard, after causing such a mess, you dare to hide at home drinking, drunk like this? Do you still have any respect for me, or the company?”
Smack!
A loud slap cut off the middle-aged man’s rant.
Xiao Ya gasped, covering her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief.
Song Zhe’s face was marked with a bright red, clear palm print. He couldn’t believe it: “You… you dared to slap me?!”
“If you keep barking, I’ll slap you to death, believe it?” Lu Ming said calmly.
Song Zhe was stunned.
He’d never been slapped before, and no subordinate had ever disrespected him. Now, this loser dared to slap him in public?
Furious, he tried to jump up and retaliate, but seeing Lu Ming tower a whole head above him raising his arm again, he only jumped in place: “I’m not going to argue with a drunk!”
“But you must immediately apologize publicly to Teacher Huang, Wu Qian, and Li Changfeng!”
Lu Ming: “How long were you in the incubator after you were born?”
Song Zhe: “?!”
“I was never in the incubator!”
“That’s impossible.” Lu Ming was shocked, then suddenly understood: “Oh, I get it—you must have been born at six months!”
“You… you… you damn…” Song Zhe was speechless with anger.
This loser’s insults were filthy!
He had endured phone insults before, but now face-to-face, this guy showed no regard for hierarchy and attacked him head-on, leaving him at a loss.
“Brother Zhe, please don’t mind him, Ming’s just drunk…” Xiao Ya quickly tried to mediate.
Song Zhe got even angrier: “So what if he’s drunk? Being drunk doesn’t excuse disrespect or foul language! Honestly, if you weren’t not in your right mind, I would’ve blacklisted you already!”
Lu Ming looked annoyed and headed toward the kitchen.
Song Zhe saw the kitchen knife on the cutting board and shouted, “Stop!”
“I’m trying to reason with you. None of Teacher Huang and the others are people you, a loser, can afford to offend. Apologize immediately, or no one in the entertainment industry can save you!”
Lu Ming said matter-of-factly:
“Don’t you surf the internet? I already apologized to them just now, and they happily accepted it. Everyone’s harmonious, mutually winning—a great result.”
Song Zhe: “...”
“You call those sarcastic little essays an apology?”
“What’s sarcastic about it? People with bad hearts see everything as dirty. If you overinterpret, that’s on you.” Lu Ming was unconcerned. “The fact that Teacher Huang and the others haven’t spoken up since means the misunderstanding is cleared, right?”
“You son of a—”
Smack!
A solid slap stunned the foul-mouthed Song Zhe.
Xiao Ya was equally stunned.
Ming is... so fierce!
“Song Zhe, I warn you, don’t use your damn tone with me. I don’t like dealing with people without backbone!” Lu Ming’s gaze turned icy. “Also, don’t order me around. I don’t owe you anything. On the contrary, the company still owes me a year’s worth of fees!”
Song Zhe’s eyes sparkled, face now red with two symmetrical slap marks.
“You’re finished, loser, you’re done!”
“From now on, you’re blacklisted!”
“You won’t get a single booking or a penny. Your career is over!”
“Prepare to pay breach of contract penalties!”
Song Zhe growled furiously, then turned without hesitation. Out of Lu Ming and Xiao Ya’s sight, tears streamed down his cheeks.
He swore he had never suffered such humiliation in his life.
Utter disgrace!
After Song Zhe left, Xiao Ya looked worried: “Ming, we might really be done for…”
“From now on, don’t be polite to Song Zhe. People like him don’t deserve our respect.” Lu Ming smiled.
Xiao Ya’s beautiful brows furrowed tightly: “Do we even have a future?”
“Do you know what’s most important in the entertainment industry?”
Xiao Ya didn’t understand why Lu Ming suddenly asked, but answered honestly: “Fame?”
“No, it’s popularity! Even an award-winning actor without popularity won’t get good roles or attention.”
“But what does that have to do with us?”
“Wait, you mean?!” Xiao Ya’s eyes sparkled with delight: “Ming, your popularity is so high now—even though you lack acting skills, sing badly, and have no chance in music or drama, many variety shows still need you for hype!”
Lu Ming knocked her head gently: “You curse pretty harshly.”
“Hehe, bad influences, all thanks to you, Ming!” Xiao Ya stuck out her tongue.
Not long after, Song Zhe, who had been shouting and threatening to blacklist them, returned gloomily.
This time he carried two colorful fruit baskets, knocked again, but without yelling or cursing. He entered politely and surprisingly well-mannered.
“Not seen you for a bit. Did you go out for gender reassignment surgery?”
...