"Boss, what are you looking at?"
Firefly leaned in close to Su Chen's face, stopping just one centimeter away.
To others, this would seem like an intimate gesture.
Firefly herself didn't know why, but she felt an inexplicable closeness to Su Chen—
she just knew he was someone she could trust completely.
"I'm watching the video—the Kafka character PV we just released."
Su Chen's focus remained fixed on the live viewer count.
Typically, Bilibili videos peaked in viewership between 30 minutes to an hour after release.
However.
Less than ten minutes after uploading, the live viewer count had already surpassed 10,000.
And this was from a brand-new account, only Level 2.
One conclusion was clear:
Kafka's popularity was real.
Riding the hype train felt amazing.
Though it did feel a little weird to be hyping up his own content.
Apparently, whether in his original world or this one, some truths remained universal.
Then again, who could resist Kafka?
She blended elegance and danger perfectly.
Suddenly, Su Chen set down his phone.
"Kafka, let's post another video."
"Hmm?" Kafka paused while applying her lipstick, pressing her lips together. "Right now?"
...
——
[Why did the video end?! I want more!]
[01:46. Kafka's foot pin.jpg. They can't handle it—kick me, step on me! Upvote me so I can embarrass myself!]
[You are embarrassing. Let me take the stomping instead!]
[How did the creator do this? Who wrote this script? How did they blend danger, elegance, maturity, and tension so seamlessly?!]
[The moment I opened this video, I felt bathed in maternal radiance. What's up with that?]
[Who is Kafka?
To the blind, she is their eyes.
To the hungry, she is their chef.
To the thirsty, she is their nectar.
Whatever Kafka thinks, I agree.
Whatever Kafka says, I listen.
If Kafka has only one admirer, it must be me!
If Kafka has no admirers, then I do not exist!
Carmen!]
[Carmen? Call 119 and let the firefighters save you.]
[Am I the only one who wants to play with the guards' guns?]
[+1.]
[Seriously, this account has only posted two short videos. I don't even get the connection. What's the story? Why make this?]
[Brothers, the account just posted another Kafka video! Charge!!!]
[Charge!!!]
——
Shortly after the PV's release,
Su Chen had Kafka film a follow-up.
However.
He only gave her a general direction—
the rest was entirely her improvisation.
Viewers still buzzing from Dramatic Irony
immediately clicked the new Kafka video.
It was a vertically shot phone recording,
the thumbnail just Kafka's smile.
"Hello, I'm Kafka!"
"The video just released was my character PV—"
"I hope you all like it!"
"However."
Her tone shifted. A "gentle" smile curled her lips.
Even as she warned viewers of her danger,
they couldn't look away.
"Creating 'fear' is my specialty—"
"Even if I know nothing about 'fear' itself!"
"I'll be waiting for you—"
"In the web series Honkai: Star Rail!"
The video ended abruptly.
[Huh?]
[What?]
[What did she even say?]
[Kafka said she loves me!]
[Keep dreaming! She was obviously talking to me!]
[I could sleep after Dramatic Irony, but now? No chance!]
[Wuwuwu, she looks so gentle yet so wicked. I'm scared, but I love it!]
[Web series? So it is a web series! Release date?!]
[If the actual series is even half as good as these shorts, it'll crush 90% of current shows. Please don't bait-and-switch us!]
[Whatever, for Kafka, I'll watch the whole thing!]
[Finally something to look forward to! But no release date? Is this a maybe-in-this-lifetime situation?]
[In this flood of web series, this is a landslide of quality!]
——
The next day, Tenghua Film & TV headquarters.
A man sat at his desk, face dark. "Who is the owner of MiHoYo Film & TV?"
"Why is Kafka under their banner now?"
"Uh—!" Scott knelt on the floor, forehead pressed to the ground.
"Boss, MiHoYo's owner is Su Chen. Kafka was just at some café before—"
"I thought she was done for, but who knew—"
"Kafka was an actress we invested heavily in."
"But no matter what scripts we gave her, she rejected them all."
"We had no choice but to bench her. Then she cut ties with Tenghua completely—"
"On one condition: as long as Tenghua exists, Kafka will never act again!"
"Scott, I heard you gifted MiHoYo a web series license. Correct?"
"Are you trying to humiliate Tenghua?"
"Y-yes!" Scott slammed his forehead against the floor.
"I'm sorry!"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Soon, a trail of blood dripped down his face.
"Enough. If you love kowtowing, do it after I leave!"
"Set up a meeting with MiHoYo's owner!"
Scott's heart leaped with joy.
Hahaha!
My 30 years of kowtow training have finally paid off!
The perfect angle for maximum sound.
The perfect spot to draw blood.
I've researched it all!
The boss must know how much I suffered at Su Chen's hands.
Is he mobilizing Tenghua's capital to crush Su Chen?
He must be!
Even a fraction of Tenghua's resources would drown MiHoYo.
Scott's lips curled into a grin.
I can already picture it—marching into that café with Tenghua's army.
"What are you smiling about?" The man glared. "Remember, be polite when you meet them."
"Make them feel welcome. Show them our sincerity in collaborating!"
"C-collaborate?!"
"Tenghua's first rule: When you can't win, use capital. Don't you know that?"