Chapter 75: Combination Blow

Complaints aside, the video’s views were soaring—over two million in just one night. More importantly, the number of comments from fans was unprecedented. For a content creator, “active fans” are often even more vital than sheer view counts.

“Old Bai, are you coming to my place for lunch today?” After breakfast, Han Jiayi stood in the kitchen doorway, hands on her slender waist.

“I’m just getting started, and funds are running low. Your restaurant charges three or four hundred per person—I can’t go there every day.” Bai Renzong replied. “From what I saw the past couple days, business is pretty good. Just keep it up.”

“I’ll make you two sandwiches before I head out. You can eat them if you get hungry.” Han Jiayi instructed.

“Alright, thanks.” Bai Renzong nodded.

Wang Bei, standing nearby, wore an exaggerated expression of disbelief, as if to say: What about me?

Han Jiayi seemed to realize this and quickly added, “You’re not going to wait until two or three before eating. Just go home and eat with your parents.”

“So heartless…” Wang Bei muttered, then turned to Bai Renzong. “Old Bai, I checked this morning. The article you sent to Grape Purple already has twenty thousand views today.”

“Twenty thousand… is that a lot?” Bai Renzong asked, genuinely curious. He really didn’t know, since the rewards from the Appraiser APP weren’t simply based on views or plays, but actual engagement—never more than the total heat.

For example, if website A only has a total of a hundred thousand users, it’s impossible for him to rack up two hundred thousand views.

“Twenty thousand views on a WeChat official account! Goodness!” Wang Bei looked at him as though he was some rural internet legend. “With Grape Purple’s top-tier domestic traffic, their articles usually get a few thousand views a day—smaller accounts barely get a few hundred! Ninety percent of articles don’t even break ten thousand, but you’re in that top ten percent!”

Bai Renzong did the math. Their offer was ten yuan per thousand views. At twenty thousand views, that meant a payment of two hundred yuan. That realization dampened any excitement, and he simply replied with a flat, “Oh.”

“Don’t sound so indifferent.” Wang Bei frowned. “Grape Purple’s manager said this result is already amazing and asked you to prepare the next article quickly. That way, your ID will keep its momentum in the community…”

“The next article will have to wait until the collaboration with Lanwafang. Most of the places I visit aren’t high-profile enough for WeChat articles… not that they’re unworthy, just not the right fit.” Bai Renzong explained.

He’d done his homework on WeChat articles—besides clickbait headlines, stunning photos for visual appeal were essential. Even if a hole-in-the-wall eatery made the best food, it would still feel like eating steak with chopsticks in a WeChat article. So the next food review would have to wait for the Lanwafang collaboration.

Though the month was nearly over, since the partnership began mid-month, it should run through the middle of the next month. But that might mean a gap in engagement for Grape Purple…

At that moment, Bai Renzong’s heart raced as he realized something: Maintaining momentum?

Thinking carefully, he’d recently funneled a lot of traffic to others, earning the title of “Master of Traffic Flow,” but his own numbers were surging as well. With the Appraiser APP’s heat, as long as he had material, his numbers climbed. His recent string of quality videos had only fueled that further.

His followers had already surpassed three hundred thousand, and at this rate, he’d hit five hundred thousand next month. But viewers on D-site were notoriously forgetful—if he disappeared for a few days, they might just forget about him.

However! If he could connect the momentum of his recent videos and ride the wave, he might leave a deep impression on the online community and finally step into the ranks of “renowned content creators.”

The thought set his blood racing and mind clear. The next steps were obvious.

“Xiao Bei, help me contact Lanwafang and ask how soon we can do the next collaboration. Ideally, within three to five days,” Bai Renzong said to Wang Bei, excitement in his voice.

“Alright!” Wang Bei was a bit surprised. “What about Grape Purple?”

“Tell them I’ll have the second article ready before the end of the month,” Bai Renzong replied firmly.

“Will you be able to handle it?” Han Jiayi frowned, concern in her eyes. “You just did a restaurant review, now a business partnership, plus you have to write for the food public account, and today you need to prep the next film review too… Can you manage?”

“Hah, I’ve got the film review material ready as well.” Bai Renzong grinned. “Let’s give it our all in the last week of August—this is our big push!”

He paused, then added, “Of course, even if it doesn’t work out, the only consequence is slower growth. Don’t stress too much.”

“Got it!” Han Jiayi replied cheerfully, standing up. “I’ll head to the restaurant now.”

After Han Jiayi left, Wang Bei stood as well. “Old Bai, clear out a room, will you?”

“What for?” Bai Renzong asked curiously.

“To use as a sample room,” Wang Bei smiled. “With all these collaborations, they’ll be sending you samples first.”

“So I try the samples and decide whether to promote them?” Bai Renzong asked, intrigued. “Alright, let’s clear out the room across from mine. If there’s one thing we have, it’s empty rooms.”

Initially, Bai Renzong had planned to use the place as a studio for four or five people. But He Guang worked remotely, Wang Bei lived with her family, and only Han Jiayi lived with him. Now there were three empty rooms—too much hassle to rent out, but perfect for storing samples.

“Great, I’ll go pick up the deliveries then. Some samples have already arrived.” Wang Bei said, getting up.

With both Wang Bei and Han Jiayi busy with their own tasks, Bai Renzong turned to preparing his next film review video.

This time, he’d be reviewing a movie called “The Deadly Game.” The film was deeply nuanced, telling the story of a backward village where the collective drives an innocent but rule-breaking protagonist to death—in short, “If everyone wants me dead, I have no choice but to die.”

Of course, Bai Renzong wasn’t actually airing grievances to his fans with this film review. He simply wanted to ride the momentum of his previous video, letting its heat carry over.

Judging by Lanwafang’s last comments, Yang Hua was also eager to collaborate again. So when Wang Bei reached out, she got a quick response.

“Old Bai, Lanwafang replied—they’re ready for the next collaboration anytime, preferably today!” Wang Bei announced, reading off her computer.

“Then let’s wait for Jiayi to get off work. Ask them if eight o’clock works,” Bai Renzong suggested.

Wang Bei typed out a quick message and flashed an “OK” sign.

“Perfect!” Bai Renzong nodded in satisfaction, taking a deep breath to steel himself: Let’s do this—time to impress everyone with a masterful combination of videos!

(Thank you to SupercatDreamer, Book Friend 20180515201240686, Birds in the Sky, Distant New Year's Wind, Book Friend 20180726202905210, Book Friend 20200121065101869, Evening Plan, Night-Loving God, Loneliness Never Lost, and the Proudly Walking Alone for the monthly votes, and to Shading and Red Bean Matcha for two votes each.)