Chapter 207: Potential of a Superstar

Chapter 207: The Potential of a Superstar

"Brother Tie!"

"God Tie!"

"Anchor Meng, can we take a photo together?"

The arcade was bustling with people coming and going, and many recognized Meng Fan. Some had been there for the CGL Basketball Tournament held at this very venue, and the regulars who had watched the games were deeply impressed by him. Others recognized him from the Double 11 Gala; after all, his presence was not something easily ignored.

"Sure."

Meng Fan took the petite girl's phone, snapped a photo, and handed it back. She was barely five feet tall, making it awkward for her to take a selfie with someone of Meng Fan's stature. Besides, if she took it herself, the double chin she had worked so hard to lose would surely be captured.

A forty-five-degree angle—how flattering, and perfect for the camera.

The girl looked at the photo, pleased with how petite and delicate she appeared. Smiling, she said, "Thanks, Anchor Meng! I'll edit you in later."

Meng Fan paused. Isn't that a privilege reserved for best friends?

"Brother Tie, good luck tomorrow!"

"God Tie, will your Maid Legion be there tomorrow?"

Da Fei watched with envy: "Bro, your popularity is absolutely explosive!"

Pao Ge chimed in bluntly: "If you could set a world record and then pull off a sand-art magic show on the Double 11 stage, you'd be popular too. You're both from Wenzhou, why is the difference between you two so vast?"

Da Fei kicked Pao Ge: "Give me back that ticket. I'd rather tear it up than give it to you."

Pao Ge dodged nimbly, laughing: "Look back, snatch! Yo, ghost blade activated, can't see me! Footwork, footwork! Hands on!"

Da Fei, more agile than Pao Ge, landed a kick squarely on his backside.

The crowd nearby, having caught the reference, joined in: "Yo, that's painful!"

Meng Fan stood there, utterly bewildered, while the onlookers erupted in laughter. What kind of routine was this? Had he been so obsessed with drawing lately that he hadn't checked his feed, missing out on some new trend?

Leaving the arcade, Pao Ge and the others headed for the underground parking, while Meng Fan exited the mall and hailed a cab toward the Huanglong Sports Center.

"Boss Meng is coming? Let's wait for him."

Su Qingcen’s manager, Hu Yijing, was a renowned gold-standard agent in the industry. She was known for her constant smile, sharp eye, and ruthless, decisive tactics—earning her the secret nickname "Smiling Tiger."

She hadn't been Su Qingcen’s original manager; she had muscled her way in and snatched the singer away. Her reasoning was simple: she believed Su’s previous manager would ruin her. History proved her right; under Hu’s guidance, Su quickly shone, rose to fame, and transformed into the powerhouse idol she was today.

Hu Yijing deserved much of the credit for Su’s success.

Hu loved to smile, but everyone knew her smiles were either genuine satisfaction or masks of mockery, coldness, or arrogance. They were never warm, and they always left people feeling uneasy.

She was a woman of high standards, driven by ambition and a fierce competitive streak. Naturally, such people are usually haughty, snobbish, and difficult—yet, her attitude toward Meng Fan had always been impeccable!

If it were anyone else, even a star, asking her to wait—let alone for something as trivial as dinner—she would never have agreed.

But for Meng Fan, she was willing to wait, and she even insisted that the others wait as well.

Was it Meng Fan’s charisma or the infectiousness of his smile? Impossible.

Was it because he was Su Qingcen’s number-one fan and provided positive publicity? That would only earn him the standard courtesy given to any guest.

Was it because she knew Meng Fan was Meng Caiwei’s brother? Yes, exactly!

Meng Caiwei was not only famous but also notoriously fierce. More importantly, Hu Yijing had once been "torn to shreds" by her—metaphorically speaking—only to be painstakingly pieced back together by her as well. Hu had been terrified and thoroughly subdued, won over completely by Caiwei’s dominance.

She simply couldn't afford to offend someone like Meng Fan!

Furthermore, there was another crucial factor—a realization that she couldn't just hide from him—she saw his potential.

And it wasn't just any potential; it was the potential of a true superstar!

She trusted her instincts, and she was absolutely certain of it.

"Boss Meng is here."

Hu Yijing used the same playful yet affectionate title as Su Qingcen and Bai Zhi. She ushered Meng Fan into the private room and smiled, "I remembered you love the black truffle and bamboo shoot shrimp dumplings, so I’ve already ordered them. Take a look and see what else you’d like."

"Thanks, Sister Jing. Let's have two... no, four more orders of those dumplings."

Meng Fan didn't stand on ceremony; the dumplings were indeed delicious.

He had always had a good impression of Hu Yijing. She was amiable, measured, and methodical, radiating the charm of a mature, successful, independent, and intellectual woman. Her smiles always felt genuine.

Yes, genuine. Meng Fan had never felt the "Smiling Tiger" vibe the industry whispered about; he only ever saw warmth and sincerity.

They say that beautiful people see a different world than the rest of us, and the same goes for those with a "gold mine" in the family—Meng Caiwei was certainly a treasure.

"Anything else besides the dumplings?"

Seeing Meng Fan shake his head, Hu Yijing signaled the waiter to bring the food.

Aside from Hu and Su, there were several staff members present. Though they didn't see Meng Fan as a major celebrity, they followed the lead of their boss and Su Qingcen without a word. If the two of them were waiting, who were they to complain?

"This is quite good, try it."

Su Qingcen sat next to Meng Fan, constantly piling food onto his plate. Watching him eat with such gusto put her in a wonderful mood.

It wasn't anything else; she just remembered a conversation she had with Meng Caiwei after a concert in Shanghai. Caiwei had mentioned that Meng Fan was incredibly cute as a child, but he had been "fattened up" by his group of sisters. Caiwei said that at first, they just enjoyed watching him eat, but then it became an addiction, and eventually, it spiraled out of control.

"Boss Meng."

About ten minutes into the meal, the second plate of dumplings arrived. Hu Yijing placed them directly in front of Meng Fan, then seemed to recall something. "I almost forgot. After the Double 11 Gala, many in the industry reached out through us to collaborate with you—variety shows, concerts, galas, music video appearances, and commercial endorsements. I know you said you wouldn't do anything outside of your live streams, but I didn't want to turn them down outright without asking you first. I’ve looked them over, and the quality of these offers is actually quite good."