Chapter 105: Looks Like Starlight Got Cocky
After signing the contract with Sheffield, Xia Shang began to handle The Deep's matter.
He called The Deep and Starlight separately.
The Deep's attitude was quite respectful; the moment he received Xia Shang's phone call, he immediately rushed to Xia Shang's office.
"Good morning, Mr. Jervis, is there something you need?" The Deep understood that Xia Shang calling him over this time was definitely related to the stupid thing he had done before. Currently, the sexual harassment incident was causing a huge uproar on the Internet, and his popularity had dropped significantly because of it.
"Take a look at this."
Xia Shang picked up the "The Deep" Incident Handling Plan that had just been printed on the desk and handed it to The Deep standing before him.
"It records the trend of your popularity decline during this period, along with some other data. Oh, and there are comments from netizens too, you can take a close look." Xia Shang got up and went to the water dispenser, pouring The Deep a cup of water.
"Thank you." The Deep took the cup of water Xia Shang handed him and lowered his head, continuing to flip through the Plan document in his hand.
"From this data and the comments from netizens, it's not hard to see that the hot topic they're discussing is whether you are still qualified to remain in The Seven Superheroes. In their eyes, Superheroes should be the embodiment of justice, bravery, and kindness. You are different from those entertainment stars; your audience is very broad, encompassing almost the entire United States and even people worldwide."
"So some parents are worried that if you continue to stay in The Seven Superheroes, their children might be influenced by you and become sexual harassment Criminals." Xia Shang returned to his seat and said nonchalantly.
The Deep's expression at this moment was a bit nervous. He looked eagerly at Xia Shang, seemingly pleading with Xia Shang not to make him leave The Seven.
"Mr. Jervis... I understand, I did a stupid thing, but I also made a huge contribution to Environmental Protection. I don't think those parents should only focus on my shortcomings." The Deep was about to defend himself but was interrupted by Xia Shang.
"You need to know, when a heinous Criminals does a good deed, people will overlook the wrong things he did before. Conversely, when a good person does a bad deed, they will be condemned by everyone. They will latch onto that point and refuse to let go until they completely ruin your reputation."
"What's more, you're a Superhero. As long as they can pull you off your pedestal, they'll be even more excited than if they were high."
Xia Shang's words were very real, because The Deep was currently experiencing all of this.
"Mr. Jervis, does Vought want to fire me?" The Deep said nervously.
At this moment, a smile appeared at the corner of Xia Shang's mouth. He pointed to the Plan document in The Deep's hand: "Use your brain. If I wanted to fire you, there wouldn't be this Incident Handling Plan. The last few pages have the method to resolve the matter."
"Lovestruck character trope, Starlight's failed suitor?" The Deep flipped to the last few pages of the Plan, looking at the content, and murmured softly.
"Can this work?" The Deep couldn't believe that his reputation could be saved so simply.
"What do you think? The former is sexual harassment, while the latter is a suitor's reckless action. Will the essence of these two things be the same?"
"So that's how it is." Under Xia Shang's guidance, The Deep suddenly understood.
Just then, Starlight arrived late. When she saw The Deep in front of Xia Shang, her expression changed, and she turned around to leave with a cold expression.
"Step out that door, and you won't need to come tomorrow." She showed no respect for Xia Shang, so naturally, Xia Shang wouldn't show respect for Starlight either.
"Are you threatening me?" Starlight stopped and said coldly to Xia Shang.
"You can think so." Xia Shang waved his hand and crossed his legs.
Looks like Starlight got cocky, especially after rejecting Madelyn Stillwell, which made her even more certain that no one could fire her. As long as she could still affect Vought's stock price, no one could fire her arbitrarily, not even Xia Shang.
"The Deep, give the Plan in your hand to Starlight." Xia Shang said.
Starlight suppressed her anger and took the Plan document handed to her by The Deep. When she flipped to the last few pages, she couldn't suppress the anger in her heart even more. "This is the Plan you researched? Oh, shit, then you really are an asshole."
Her eyes glowed with golden light, and the lights in the office flickered.
"This Plan can also increase your popularity at the same time, why not?" Xia Shang said expressionlessly.
"Mr. Jervis!" Starlight clenched her fists and walked up to Xia Shang, seemingly wanting to make a move, but was stopped by The Deep.
Xia Shang reached out and pushed away The Deep who was blocking him, and said to Starlight in a cold tone: "I indeed have no right to fire you, but I can freeze out you until you die. Do you believe that starting this afternoon, you won't receive a single announcement, and Vought's promotional support for you will be completely cut off?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you're from Des Moines in Iowa. That's a remote place, do you want to go back there?"
Xia Shang's threat was completely undisguised.
However, he quickly smiled again and said: "Of course, if you agree, I will increase Vought's support for you, and all you have to do is film a video forgiving The Deep. This is very simple, I believe you will make the correct choice."
Starlight stood rooted to the spot, staring intently at Xia Shang. Her heart was in extreme turmoil, as if a voice in her consciousness was telling her, "Starlight, what are you still hesitating about? Just throw the Plan in that asshole's face and turn around and leave."
At this moment, another voice appeared in her consciousness: "The result of doing that is being completely freeze out by Vought, losing the superhero halo. All the achievements and glory you've gained before will dissipate, and you'll ultimately have to return to Des Moines, becoming that utterly ordinary girl again."
After the time it takes to drink half a cup of coffee passed, Starlight slowly exhaled. She now somewhat missed Ashley Barrett from back then.
"You're an asshole." Starlight put down the Plan in her hand and turned to leave Xia Shang's office.
Looking at her retreating back, Xia Shang smoothed out the creases on the Plan while softly saying, "Likewise."
Meanwhile.
Something unusual happened with Billy. Hughie received a phone call from his father, but when he pressed the answer button, the voice on the other end was A-Train's.
As Homelander's top lackey, A-Train was definitely the one Homelander would assign dirty work like murder to silence people.
"Shit." Hughie said subconsciously, and then he immediately hung up the phone.
"It's A-Train, why would he be at my house? Damn it, someone leaked information." Hughie's mood at this moment was both fearful and indignant. Fearful because he was worried about his family being harmed, and indignant because someone had actually told Vought or Homelander about their existence.
(end of chapter )