Superstars of Tomorrow - Chapter 489
Chapter 489: Super Powerful Formation
When Fang Zhao became the Outer Space Immigration Plan’s ambassador, photos and videos of him swept through the world with the immigration discussions. The industry was stunned.
This… this… isn’t a standard method at all!
We can’t compete with him any more.
This was especially so for Silver Wing Media. The senior management executives were similarly dumbfounded. The company had prepared a strategy to use Fang Zhao’s global reputation and appeal once the Immigration Plan was announced. But, they hadn’t imagined that Fang Zhao himself would win an endorsement of this magnitude by himself.
This already completely transcended beyond the entertainment circles. It was something no entertainment company could handle.
People were baffled as to why Fang Zhao had received this ambassador role. Rumors flew around. Many suspected that Fang Zhao had a mysterious backer.
A lot of people were envious. Why was such a resource given to him?! What right did he have to be granted a resource of this level?!
Some people called this into question and felt Fang Zhao wasn’t good enough for an undertaking of this magnitude. He was an artist and gamer. What qualifications did he have to become the ambassador of a super project like the Outer Space Immigration”? Other people would work their entire lives for such an opportunity.
But, very quickly, Fang Zhao appeared in various continents’ promotions of the Outer Space Immigration Plan. This signified that regardless of what Fang Zhao had relied on to land this ambassador role, he had obtained the recognition of every continent and the various foreign planet military districts for the role.
Fang Zhao didn’t accept any other commercial assignments after taking on the Outer Space Immigration Plan’s endorsement. He collaborated with the Public Safety Bureau headquarters to shoot a series of promotional videos. Then, he decided to return to his private island for a period of time in seclusion. He had taken on a new composing assignment on Mo Lang’s recommendation and needed a quiet place to work.
Thus, reporters eager to dig up information on Fang Zhao’s mysterious backer were once again stunned.
Where is he?
Where has he disappeared to once again from the limelight?!
Shouldn’t he take this opportunity to consolidate his position at the top of the entire world’s popularity indices?!
Large entertainment conglomerates from other continents are joining forces to deal with Fang Zhao. How will Fang Zhao react to such an offensive?
Is Fang Zhao preparing an ultimate move?
Entertainment reporters could only anxiously clutch at straws. Curious Yanzhou netizens were helpless too and could only once again shout out their own ultimate move.
“Wang Tie, you piece of trash!”
Yanzhou’s paparazzi king, Wang Tie: Your cries are useless!
——
Leizhou.
With the new generation of warp engines becoming functional and news about the Outer Space Immigration Plan’s application process, the entire market was bustling. People could be seen scurrying to and fro.
The self-proclaimed “Leizhou’s greatest internet celebrity” Zaro was pompously waiting at home for endorsement deals to come knocking.
But, as he waited and waited, nobody came looking for him.
Others with just a slight bit of fame were busy flaunting in the group chats everyday. Seeing this, Zaro became anxious.
That shouldn’t be. I am Leizhou’s greatest internet celebrity. How can there be no one seeking me out for endorsements?
Could it be that I’m too good looking and have such a high prestige that nobody can afford my services?
Given Zaro’s brain capacity, he still hadn’t figured it out after mulling for a long time. Thus, he called his agent over.
Zaro inquired, “Did my number change? Is my communications device shut off? Was there anyone who sought me out for endorsements?”
His agent replied calmly, “There were.”
Then, as Zaro looked on expectantly, his agent explained with a wooden expression that Zaro’s father thought him to be unreliable. Thus, his father had rejected all endorsement offers and wanted Zaro to know his place and stay home obediently.
Zaro’s agent was composed on the surface, but deep down his heart was aching. Aarghh, what a good opportunity this is!
Not jumping on this epoch-making wave was akin to letting every part of yourself down!
At this huge turning point in history, something big should be done in order to leave one’s mark.
Fang Zhao was a good example. Perhaps even after a hundred, two hundred or even a thousand years later, people searching about this point in history would be able to see traces of Fang Zhao because he was the Outer Space Immigration Plan’s ambassador.
Of course, he didn’t even consider taking Fang Zhao as a comparison. Just like many other agents and managers, he was just a behind-the-scenes worker. However, his own interests were bound together with Zaro’s. He too wanted to ride on this wave and sell Zaro at a good value! His heart ached just thinking about this missed chance!
However, Zaro was oblivious and incapable of understanding his agent’s sorrow. He couldn’t be bothered to think about anything else and was livid from his agent’s explanation. He took a look at the time. It just so happened to be his father’s rest period, so Zaro immediately made a call. The two had a furious quarrel.
After this argument, Zaro sneaked out stealthily. He wasn’t going to sit around to be caught and sent into the military for more grueling training.
As he left, he didn’t forget to make a complaint to his grandfather.
Thus, the busy Leizhou governor chuckled with a shake of the head when he finally saw the message from his favorite grandson. “Is he so upset that he is running away from home?”
The Leizhou governor asked Zaro about his plan and relaxed when he learned that Zaro was going to find Fang Zhao.
“That young Fang Zhao is rather reliable.”
Elsewhere, Zaro had gotten Fang Zhao’s location and was on his personal flying transport headed towards Fang Zhao’s island.
When Zaro arrived, Zuo Yu was the one responsible for receiving him.
Fang Zhao was currently in the study composing. Nanfeng wasn’t on the island, and Yan Biao was out at sea walking the dog.
Zaro was first curious as to why a dog would be walked out at sea, but a small machine caught his attention very quickly.
“What is this?” Zaro picked up a palm-sized machine from the coffee table and inspected it.
“It’s… a custom-made retro handheld console,” Zuo Yu said without showing any hint of emotion.
“A game console? Oh, I’ve never played this sort before!”
Zaro was interested. As a nouveau riche, he was well adept in the ways of enjoyment and had a special fondness for terms like “limited edition” and “special custom-made”.
This game console was placed on the coffee table and didn’t have any passcode on it. Zaro reckoned that it was a game console for the bodyguards to play with.
The machine’s panel and configuration seemed simple to use, and there wasn’t any identity verification required to turn it on. All that was shown was a table of scores, and the top scores for each level were rather high.
It appeared like it wasn’t very difficult.
“I’ll play this game for a bit.”
Having said that, Zaro delved into the game.
However, Zaro found himself using a lot of effort for this so-called simple game. He couldn’t keep up mentally, and his reactions were slow. Zaro got more frustrated the more he played.
Zaro stopped after a while. “This trash game doesn’t have in-app purchases!”
Beside him, Zaro’s agent rolled his eyes. Do you expect to beat all games just by throwing in money?!
Fortunately, Fang Zhao came out of his study shortly. Since Zaro had sent him a message earlier, Fang Zhao set aside some time for him.
Zaro’s attention was diverted when he saw Fang Zhao and no longer harped on the problems of no Internet and lack of in-app purchases with the handheld game console. He first complained about how his father looked down on him before expressing how envious he was that Fang Zhao had managed to become the ambassador of the Outer Space Immigration Plan.
Actually, Zaro had come over for two reasons. First, he wanted to find out what special means Fang Zhao had relied on to become the ambassador of such a large-scale project. Secondly, he wanted a companion in his complaints about his father.
But, as they talked, Zaro felt that Fang Zhao hadn’t changed at all. Thus, he forgot to ask Fang Zhao how he had managed to become such an ambassador. Right now, he just wanted to vent his grievances.
“Now, no business will seek me out. I’ve become ostracized.”
The businesses he referred to were basically high-end brands that he liked. The majority of them were from Leizhou, and these brands didn’t dare look to Zaro for a collaboration because Zaro’s father, General Renault, had stopped them.
Thus, Zaro deeply felt that he had talent but lacked opportunity.
In Fang Zhao’s eyes, Zaro was the kind of person he could easily see through. He was more tolerant towards Zaro since he viewed him as an old friend and junior.
After listening to Zaro’s complaints of his father, Fang Zhao could also understand General Renault’s intentions for doing so.
While this was a period of new markets, it was also an extremely sensitive time for figures of authority. In order to prevent Zaro from being deceived by others, the easiest and the most effective method would be to make Zaro stay home rather than spend needless cash and cause trouble outside.
However, Zaro wasn’t the sort to stay at home obediently.
As he observed Zaro switch from rambling to thinking, Fang Zhao was quite sure that Zaro was plotting something.
Fang Zhao pondered for a bit. He really did have a suitable endorsement for Zaro.
“What do you think about an image of gold on pink?” Fang Zhao asked.
“Old-fashioned!” Zaro then felt a single word wasn’t enough to describe his disdain. “Utterly outdated!”
Fang Zhao brought up an image for him to see. “What about this?”
This image was the one that Wai Base commanding officer Huo Yi had sent to Fang Zhao. Huo Yi had previously sought out Fang Zhao to endorse Planet Wai’s scenic peach blossom locations. Fang Zhao had declined, but Huo Yi had asked Fang Zhao to keep a lookout and recommend any suitable candidates.
Fang Zhao reckoned that a suitable endorser hadn’t been found as he had yet to see any publicity regarding Planet Wai’s attractions. An official advertisement hadn’t been shot yet, and Huo Yi had sent a message to Fang Zhao the previous day to try his luck once again.
Huo Yi still wanted to shoot that promotional campaign with rich gold and romantic pink. In the photograph Fang Zhao showed Zaro, twelve golden mechas stood tall and overbearing beneath the shower of pink petals like mystical warriors.
Zaro’s eyes widened.
“Sweet! Awesome! I want to be in it!”
Zaro’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the photograph. He felt that this was the coming of his own company’s new drama series.
“Where is this image from?” Zaro asked. “Is there any script? I want to purchase and shoot it myself!”
“Don’t get impatient. Let me ask first.” Fang Zhao sent a short message recommending Zaro.
Fang Zhao didn’t know when Huo Yi would see this message since Huo Yi was busy at Wai Base. He explained to Zaro that the other party probably wouldn’t reply quickly. Then, he told Zaro about the idea’s development on inspiration from an Old Era piece.
There were very few Old Era art pieces that were preserved fully intact. Fortunately, New Era technology was able to restore them. Zaro immediately logged onto the Internet to search for related information.
On Planet Wai, Huo Yi finished a videoconference and was having some tea. As he was checking through his mail, he saw Fang Zhao’s message.
Huo Yi was disappointed because Fang Zhao declined to participate. However, when he saw the person Fang Zhao recommended, he immediately slapped his palms on the table in delight.
Zaro?
That fellow from Leizhou’s Renault family who didn’t have much ability but was well known for eating, drinking and making merry?
That would do!
That would really do!
Eating, drinking and making merry were all that was required!
Furthermore, Zaro had invested in the Wai film studio complex together with Fang Zhao. Huo Yi still had a rather favorable impression of him.
Therefore, Huo Yi immediately sent a reply to Fang Zhao, expressing that he was familiar with Zaro and that they could discuss a collaboration. He also told Fang Zhao to recommend more people like Zaro since there were twelve slots in total. To express his sincerity, Wai Base would be covering all travel, food and lodging expenses.
After reading through Huo Yi’s reply, Fang Zhao relayed Huo Yi’s response to Zaro.
“En… endorsement?”
Although Zaro tried his hardest to act like he didn’t care, he was totally unable to stop the corners of his mouth from curling upwards.
It’s finally here!
And, it’s an endorsement for a huge attraction on a foreign planet!
This has sufficient class!
The proposed filming plan is satisfying too!
The trivial matters about expenses being covered and endorsement fees were unimportant to him. Do I look like I lack that little bit of money?
“Cough, considering that we are old friends, I’ll accept this endorsement.” Zaro got excited. “Are they still lacking people? Let me look for others!”
Zaro scrolled through his contacts list and started to pull people in.
In Jinzhou, Chu Bo was currently giving vocal lessons to a talented nephew taking part in a singing competition.
“Pay attention to your breathing! Your song requires this technique. You will fail if you don’t take note of your breathing! The attention of the judges will be attracted to the sound of your breathing… Wait a moment, let me take this call… Zaro? What’s the matter… Scenic attraction endorsement? Sounds okay, let me see the concept image first… Holy crap! Cool! When does filming start? I’ll adjust my schedule…”
In Tongzhou, Woo Tianhao was reading a martial arts novel when Zaro’s call came.
“Tianhao!”
“What’s up?”
“Let’s meet on the night of the full moon…”
“And have a decisive duel for ascendancy?”
“Ptui! I have proper business! An ad for an attraction. Are you in?”
“What kind of attraction? Can it beat reading a novel?”
…
Since Huo Yi’s requirements weren’t gender specific, Zaro contacted Barbara too.
Barbara had a look of contempt on her face. She wasn’t willing to participate in such a tacky shoot. However, when she saw the concept image, she felt there was a lustrous grandeur amidst that tackiness.
Thus, she accepted. Although there would be twelve individuals, she was fully confident that she would be the most dazzling amongst the twelve!
Zaro continued to make calls to acquaintances he felt were suitable. He found one from each continent for twelve in total.
Within two hours, Zaro had gathered twelve people.
Fang Zhao studied the list that Zaro sent him and was silent for quite a while. Then, he forwarded the list to Huo Yi to decide.
Huo Yi was delighted and sighed emotionally when he saw this list.
This array… would really do!
Together, they would attract much more attention than most celebrities!
It was enough to break through the current deluge of marketing campaigns from all sides!
Although the person he wanted to swindle… or invite over wasn’t among these twelve, he was still rather satisfied with them.
A pleasant surprise!
Huo Yi’s good mood lasted all the way until the shoot began.
Huo Yi had arranged for these twelve people to be flown to Planet Wai aboard the new model spaceships so they could start filming right away. However, the filming outcome was… somewhat different from what Huo Yi had envisaged.
Zaro: Extraordinary, Samoyed’s wise and far-sighted smile!
Chu Bo: Head tilted 45 degrees, observe my apparent emo style!
Woo Tianhao: Check out my terrifying gaze! I’m the manifestation of fear!
Barbara: Majesty beyond words. My entire family is royalty!
…
Wai Base commanding officer Huo Yi was the creator of this publicity campaign, but right now, he was in dull spirits. With falling spirits, he watched his invitees strike all kinds of ridiculous poses. Finally, he saw the shy Mitisy and felt this was still salvageable.
Even though Mitisy had been a professional athlete and was used to grand occasions, he didn’t seem to be as thick-skinned as the others. He appeared a little uneasy at this film shoot.
Under Huo Yi’s guidance, Mitisy struck a pose according to Huo Yi’s requirements. However, even Mitisy added in some of his own details after observing the others.
Huo Yi: “…” He was exhausted.
Fortunately, the film shoot still went rather smoothly.
Although the actors made all sorts of modifications in their attire and props, the end combined product was still blindingly stunning!
Huo Yi suddenly felt a sense of guilt towards the original idea.
However, after considering the promotional value of his actors, the guilt in Huo Yi’s heart was tossed aside.
After shooting the video and adding in a dignified soundtrack, the advertisement was released. Planet Wai’s scenic attractions started to garner a lot of attention as it carved a bloody and tyrannical path through many other promotional campaigns. It forcefully occupied the entertainment headlines of each continent.
Planet Wai’s Twelve Poser Kings!
