indianbanksassociation Chapter 66 Protecting One's Own
Chapter 66 Protecting One's Own
The shutter sound stopped, only the camera's red light remained on.
Fan Binbin's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal.
But Fu Yibai could feel that her body was slightly tense.
Hu Jing stood to the side, her face calm, but her gaze lingered on the reporter's face for an unusually long time.
Just as Zhao Qi was about to interrupt, Fu Yibai raised his hand.
He looked at the reporter with a calm expression.
"What's your name? Which media outlet do you work for?"
The reporter paused.
"New Talent Weekly, Chen Feng"
"Reporter Chen."
Fu Yibai read the name aloud, unhurriedly.
You asked two questions.
One issue concerns the veracity of online rumors, and the other concerns my relationship with Ms. Fan.
I'll answer the first one first.
He turned slightly to the side so that all the cameras could capture both him and Fan Binbin at the same time.
"I'm sure you've all seen the movie 'Caught in the Web' produced by Morning Light."
Online anonymity means speaking without cost, and spreading rumors only requires a single line of text.
However, clarification requires evidence, time, and legal procedures.
Two weeks ago, Ms. Fan was dealing with the termination of her contract with her former agency. This is a normal business practice, and personnel turnover exists in any industry.
Forcibly linking business decisions with personal relationships is a logical fallacy and a matter of professional ethics.
His tone was flat, yet it made many people in the room instinctively grip their recording pens.
As for the so-called "sugar baby" relationship—
Fu Yibai paused for a moment.
"The derogatory connotation of this word is not directed at me personally, but at professional women in the entire film and television industry."
An actress earns roles through her professional skills and builds a reputation through her work. Should she be subjected to such an insulting label simply because she maintains a good working relationship with her collaborators?
He looked at the reporter.
"Reporter Chen, do you have any sisters?"
Chen Feng was stunned for a moment.
"……have."
"When she does an excellent job, would you want others to evaluate her in this way?"
The entire room fell silent.
Chen Feng opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
Fu Yibai withdrew his gaze, his tone returning to its usual calm.
"Chenxi's legal department has preserved evidence of the relevant online comments."
We have obtained basic information such as the IP address of the original account that posted the so-called "sugar baby" ad.
Whether or not legal action is taken depends on whether similar false information continues to circulate.
He didn't look at Fan Binbin, but the latter's tense body had already relaxed.
"This is the signing ceremony and press conference for Ms. Fan and Ms. Hu."
Fu Yibai took a half step back and handed the podium back to Zhao Qi.
"Please ask questions related to today's topic."
Zhao Qi immediately replied, "Next, the lady in the third row."
But the reporters were too busy to follow the order.
"Director Fu! Did your words just now imply that there's a mastermind behind these online smear articles?"
"Ms. Fan, what is your response to the so-called 'role-stealing' rumors?"
"Ms. Hu, are you worried that signing with Chenxi might lead to similar controversies?"
Fan Binbin took a deep breath and smiled again.
"Stealing a role?"
Since my debut, every role I've ever played has been earned through fair and square auditions.
If you can win a role just by talking, then what's the point of having directors, producers, and investors?
"We can all just sit down and make up stories."
She spoke quickly and with a self-deprecating smile, which eased the atmosphere a bit.
When Hu Jing was called upon, she simply said:
"We are not the only two actors signed with Dawn."
The company treats all artists equally.
If one day my personal matters affect my work or implicate my colleagues, I will leave on my own, without needing anyone to question me.
She said this without looking at anyone, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
But Fu Yibai knew that those words were meant for him.
The signing ceremony ended in chaos.
Zhao Qi announced the end of the media session, and staff guided reporters to the next room for a tea break, where, as is customary, a travel allowance was provided.
After the crowd dispersed, the hall became quiet.
Fan Binbin stood in front of the backdrop, her high heels clicking on the carpet, completely still.
"That reporter..."
Her voice was very soft, and she didn't turn around.
"When he said the word 'sugar baby,' I really wanted to take off my high heels and smash them in his face."
Hu Jing walked over and gently shook her hand.
Fan Binbin grasped her hand in return.
Fu Yibai stood a few steps away, not approaching.
Liu Yan quietly stepped forward and lowered her voice.
"Mr. Fu, we've found it."
Chen Feng, who joined New Weekly last November, previously worked for a local media outlet in South China.
His press release today…
She paused.
"It's 70% similar to the press release leaked by Huayi's marketing company two weeks ago."
Fu Yibai did not respond.
He looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lobby.
The March sun in Beijing was bright, shining on the silver-gray glass curtain wall, dazzling yet cold.
"Huayi had just calmed down for a few days, and now they can't resist again."
Liu Yan awaited instructions.
Fu Yibai withdrew his gaze.
"Let Zhao Qi leave the things outside and teach Huayi a lesson."
Liu Yan was taken aback, but then understood.
"Understood."
"besides."
Fu Yibai turned around and walked towards the elevator.
"All press releases from the media present today should be reviewed by Lin Wei before publication."
"Yes."
The elevator doors slowly closed.
At 8 p.m. that evening, press releases about the signing ceremony began to be pushed out intensively.
The vast majority of media outlets adopted the revised version from Lin Wei's team, with a mild headline and content focusing on the work.
Fan Binbin and Hu Jing signed with Chenxi on the same day; Fu Yibai was present to show his support.
Fan Binbin: Leaving Huayi was a career choice; I will focus on acting in the future.
Hu Jing ends her single life, saying she "seized the opportunity."
Just after midnight, a peculiar article appeared on a rising self-media platform.
The title is:
A Berlin Golden Bear-winning director's "protective" declaration: Some words shouldn't be used to describe professional women.
The article made no mention of the word "sugar baby" nor named any media outlets involved.
However, it used three thousand words to record in detail every question Fu Yibai asked the reporter at the signing ceremony.
Do you have any sisters?
"When she does an excellent job, would you want others to evaluate her in this way?"
The article began to be reposted at 3 a.m.
At 4:30, a portal website featured it on its homepage.
At seven o'clock in the morning, Fan Binbin was woken up by a phone call from a friend.
"Binbin! You're trending on Weibo!"
She groggily reached for her phone, the bright screen making her eyes sting.
The third trending topic is: #FanBinbin's sugar daddy rumors#
Her fingers froze for a moment, then she tapped the button.
It's not negative.
The pinned post on the topic forum is a long article titled "Some words should not be used to describe professional women."
The most upvoted comment in the comment section reads:
"I always thought that the term 'sugar baby' only belonged in tabloids."
It turns out that some people actually ask actresses this question directly at official press conferences.
Fan Binbin stared at the screen for a long time.
A ray of morning light shone through the gap in the curtains, landing on her fingers that were gripping her phone tightly.
She pressed her phone to her chest and closed her eyes.
The report quickly spread within the industry.
Fu Yibai's domineering protectiveness has won the favor of many female stars.
As a result, Lin Wei received a flood of contract signing applications over the next period of time.