Chapter 82: Trending on Social Media

After buying the supplies and returning home, Bai Renzong was overcome by drowsiness once again, so he went back to his room for a nap. When he awoke, Han Jiayi had already left for the restaurant, but on the dining table, he found a sandwich and a note.

Bai Renzong picked up the note and glanced at it. The handwriting was elegant, with a playful flourish at the end of each stroke.

"Eating the same flavor all the time gets boring, so today’s sandwich has a different sauce and ingredients..." Bai Renzong read the line aloud, raising his eyebrows in amusement. This girl was becoming more and more endearing.

“Old Bai, you’re awake?” Wang Bei’s voice suddenly rang out from the living room, startling Bai Renzong into a shiver.

“Oh, right,” Bai Renzong remembered something and asked, “Today’s August 23rd—isn’t it Jiayi’s birthday? Why didn’t anyone mention it?”

“Oh?” Wang Bei teased, covering her mouth, “How did you know?”

“I saw the date on her ID,” Bai Renzong replied with a straight face.

“Hmph, secretly paying attention to Jiayi, are you?” Wang Bei smirked mischievously. “Back in her hometown, it’s customary to celebrate birthdays according to the lunar calendar. Hers is on the sixth day of the seventh month, the day before Qixi Festival—easy to remember, right? We already celebrated for her before returning to Beichang City.”

“Is that so? I missed it, then…” Bai Renzong murmured to himself. Well, I’ll just have to celebrate for her next year.

Back in his room, Bai Renzong first edited the footage he’d recorded the previous night in the dark forest. By the time he finished, it was already afternoon. Around then, He Guang sent over the business collaboration video with Lanwafang, complete with post-production.

“Oh… it’s finally here.” Watching the video on his computer screen, Bai Renzong felt his heartbeat quicken.

To borrow Coach Ke Hong’s theory of boxing, in Bai Renzong’s own “combo” of videos, the one featuring Han Jiayi and “Yunni” was the first punch that landed squarely on the D-site audience.

The episode where he visited Sanmao Beef Noodles, though not flashy, had great editing and high engagement; it was the second punch in his combination.

Then came the appreciation video for the film “Requiem,” which rode the wave of the beef noodle video’s popularity—a swift third punch.

After these three blows, the D-site audience was already reeling, and the upcoming video of Han Jiayi’s showdown with Yang Hua was set to deliver the knockout blow.

Once the full combination had landed, Bai Renzong’s popularity would surely reach new heights.

He would then use the game review video for “Dark Forest” to solidify this newfound attention.

At this moment, Bai Renzong felt he was closer than ever to his goal. All his moves were prepared; he only needed to follow the plan and strike.

After a few moments of nervous anticipation, Bai Renzong finally regained his composure and clicked “Upload Video.”

Of course, since this episode was a business collaboration, the video ended with a giveaway: five lucky fans would be randomly selected from the comments to enjoy a free feast at Lanwafang, limited to three set meals. One person could eat all three, or three people could share them. Given Lanwafang’s prices, this was quite a generous prize.

With the video published, Bai Renzong finally noticed the emptiness in his stomach. He picked up the sandwich Han Jiayi had made and took a bite.

With that first bite, a powerful spiciness spread through his mouth. Bai Renzong was startled, suspecting Han Jiayi might be playing a prank on him, but the heat didn’t linger. Though intense at first, it quickly faded, perfectly satisfying that “love spice but can’t handle it” mentality.

“This kick… is that a sauce made from wasabi and chili?” Bai Renzong mused with interest, taking another bite.

The sauce was only mildly sweet and salty, letting the flavors of the lettuce, ham, and egg shine through. Bai Renzong appreciated this; he disliked the overpowering sauces in some fast-food burgers and sandwiches that mask every other flavor.

“Nicely done…” Bai Renzong murmured with a smile.

After finishing lunch, waiting at home for the video’s results was sheer torture, so he headed to the gym.

Having completed the beginner’s course in combat, Bai Renzong’s current focus was basic drills, getting comfortable with punching and kicking techniques.

Proper form was key to maximizing power and minimizing wasted effort.

With his “lightning reflexes,” Bai Renzong knew that once he mastered the moves, actual sparring wouldn’t be far off.

He had, however, tested the limits of his “lightning reflexes” and found that he could only extend two seconds to four; after that, his vision gradually blurred, and by the six-second mark, the ability forcibly disengaged.

Afterward, his eyes would be left in an extreme state of fatigue, tearing up so much he couldn’t see for a while.

Repeated use brought the same side effects; the ideal interval between uses was ten seconds.

This detail was crucial—only through diligent practice could he apply it in real combat.

By the time he finished at the gym and dragged his tired body home, it was past five.

Standing at the door, Bai Renzong felt a bit anxious. He pushed open the door and waited for Wang Bei’s exclamation.

“You’re killing me! Why are you only just getting home?!” Wang Bei looked both angry and delighted. “Of all times to go to the gym, you picked now! Come help me, I can’t keep up with these private messages! I’ve got several business partners talking to me!”

“How’s the video doing?” Bai Renzong asked nervously.

“We’re trending!” Wang Bei announced with glee. “We’re number twenty-five on BaiD, and number twenty-eight on Vbo!”

Bai Renzong’s heart skipped a beat. To make the trending list without spending a dime meant their influence had spread across the entire web.

Part of this influence came from Yang Hua’s fame in the culinary world, and the spectacle of his “Heart of the Prairie” dish.

Moreover, the earlier videos Bai Renzong had made about “Yunni” and the food critiques published on his public account had gathered momentum, with fans giving rave reviews after trying the food themselves. As a result, “Yunni” was trending across the internet.

This latest video brought together the popularity of Bai Renzong, “Yunni,” and Lanwafang, creating an explosive effect.

In essence, this was the final result of Bai Renzong’s carefully crafted “combo.”

He opened the website and saw the phrase “Top Dessert Showdown” proudly displayed on the trending page.

“I can’t keep up, come help me!” Wang Bei bounced in place, urging, “Your inbox is exploding. Fans, businesses, entertainment agencies, even other creators are all messaging you!”

“Got it!” Bai Renzong snapped back to reality and sat down at the laptop beside Wang Bei. “What do I need to do?”

“Sort through your private messages—separate the fans from the business inquiries. Some business partners will ask for your WeChat to discuss further; just give them our studio’s contact.” Wang Bei rattled off instructions while her fingers flew over the keyboard, replying to merchants at lightning speed, sending them the address and other information.

The two of them worked busily for a while, and before they knew it, it was past seven.

Just then, the front door opened, and Han Jiayi leapt into the house with a standing long jump. Seeing their faces full of joy, her beautiful eyes sparkled. “Did you see? We’re trending! Let’s celebrate!”

(Thanks to Shixian Yu for the reward, and to Yiqikan Jinyu, Direct Xi, Homebody Girl Gamer, Aiier 512, and Egg Sadness | Gentle Sorrow for the monthly passes, as well as two passes from Bored Vegetable.)