Chapter Twenty-Four: Reputation

For many journalists, Speedcast is an essential platform for their livelihood.

Top-tier reporters rely on connections, second-tier on their skills, and the third-tier can only depend on Speedcast and a gifted pen. So-and-so falls in love, so-and-so suffers heartbreak, someone threatens suicide, someone is caught cheating—the information flooding Speedcast becomes news for these journalists. Perhaps, in the next moment, two complete strangers will be paired as lovers by the press, all because they happened to share the same Speedcast post.

One wonders if, by competing for Cupid’s job, these journalists fear his revenge someday. Perhaps, a whimsical and artistic writer could pen a tragic romance about paparazzi reporters.

For those journalists who focus on mining Speedcast for stories, the posts from Liu Qing, the famously sharp-tongued critic who challenges everyone and everything, are always worth watching. After all, celebrity feuds are particularly entertaining.

However, this time Liu Qing didn’t attack any stars as reporters had hoped, so the less astute among them shifted their attention elsewhere. Yet, a few sharp-eyed reporters noticed the mention of the Three Dreams Theater.

Some thought they might keep an eye on this private theater in case it became newsworthy. But others, with keen journalistic instincts, began investigating this inconspicuous venue.

Wang Lei’s name started to appear in reporters’ notebooks as their investigation deepened, and the new play "Charlotte’s Worries" attracted their attention as well. Still, most of their curiosity centered on Wang Lei himself. After digging, they discovered he was a "former famous athlete," neither obscure nor too prominent.

Wang Lei’s story was hardly a secret; he had once been among the country’s promising young sports stars, and his subsequent misfortunes were nothing short of tragic.

Now, journalists eager to stir controversy began writing articles, criticizing the nation’s longstanding athlete management policies. To them, a disabled athlete forced into the arts was a glaring injustice. They were even convinced Wang Lei himself harbored resentment over his fate.

Of course, not all journalists shared this view. Some conducted deeper investigations, reaching out to Wang Lei’s associates, which led them to Ma Dongmei, the rising star of the volleyball world. Linking her name with the lead actress in "Charlotte’s Worries," few doubted Wang Lei and Ma Dongmei’s relationship at this point.

And so, as Ma Dongmei and Wang Lei secretly enjoyed each other’s company at the Three Dreams Theater, their names soared up Speedcast’s trending charts with unusual speed.

"Volleyball’s rising star falls for injured athlete; two years of devotion rewarded with a play."
"Tragic athlete discovers life’s meaning; writes a script for volleyball’s goddess."
"He suffers calamity and loss, thanks his unwavering girlfriend with words; witness a romantic story on the nation’s sports stage."

Piece after piece—"revealing articles" and "novelized stories"—began spreading across online platforms. Media outlets, large and small, took notice.

There’s no denying Wang Lei and Ma Dongmei’s tale was captivating. In an era defined by rapid pace, young people still chose to face life together, watching over one another. This resonated deeply with many "onlookers," especially female netizens.

Meanwhile, Ke Dong, a talented singer with understated fame but significant recognition in certain circles, released a new single titled after Wang Lei. The gentle lyrics, skillful melody, and Ke Dong’s outstanding vocals made the fresh song "Just Once" spread online, carried along by the story of Wang Lei and Ma Dongmei.

Some netizens flocked to Wang Lei and Ma Dongmei’s Speedcast accounts, and upon seeing Wang Lei’s post about "Charlotte’s Worries," they also noticed the Three Dreams Theater. This created a new challenge for the theater: its venue was too small and there were too few performances. Many, undeterred by the autumn heat of the capital, wanted to see the play, only to find tickets nearly impossible to obtain.

Wang Lei’s reputation began shifting from "tragic athlete" to the most artistic sports star. Though some athletes had entered show business after retirement, Wang Lei’s transformation into a playwright and musician was unprecedented.

Old Zhang, who rarely went online, received a call from Ke Dong and decided to give Wang Lei a push. Not wanting Wang Lei’s unique voice to go to waste, he seized the opportunity to promote him as a singer. Zhang, who seldom updated his Speedcast, posted Wang Lei’s recording of "Charlotte’s Worries," tagging numerous music critics and even several singers who had previously asked for his help.

Almost overnight, this distinctive song swept through the nation’s music forums. Many sites began contacting Zhang and Wang Lei, hoping to feature the track.

Accustomed to polished voices, music lovers across the nation were startled to discover such a pure, imperfect yet authentic sound. Listening to the song felt like both a physical and spiritual cleansing.

Wang Lei’s reputation as a talented athlete spread widely. Though some critics launched attacks with various arguments, the momentum both past and present ensured his online popularity. Many had initially followed him out of sympathy, but the success of his play and two outstanding songs won over a great number of fans.

Wang Lei’s experiment had proven successful; he was convinced that resources which thrived in Earth’s timeline would succeed here as well. Most people blessed his relationship with Ma Dongmei—there were dissenting voices, of course, but they were few. The majority offered warm wishes and anticipated his new works.

Ma Dongmei was delighted by Wang Lei’s newfound fame, which validated her judgment. Love may defy logic, but life is more than romance—she had many people to consider, not least her mother, who was now much easier to talk to. After all, Wang Lei was far from useless; he was now the most talented basketball star in the nation.