Chapter 68: Worth

“Oh, this Heat Index comes from an app called ‘Hotspot APP.’ It calculates a popularity score by collecting and analyzing various big data, such as search frequency and online mentions,” Han Xu explained. “Generally, talent agencies use it to evaluate the popularity of internet celebrities. It’s not perfectly accurate, but it’s close enough.”

With this app’s assessments of influencers and celebrities, live-streaming platforms and entertainment companies can determine how much they should offer to sign a particular artist.

“Where can I download this app? I want to get it, too,” Wang Bei asked eagerly.

“It’s a custom tool, not available for public download,” Han Xu replied. “I heard about it last time I visited an entertainment company; some agents were saying there’s a creator called ‘Old Bai’ whose Heat Index has already exceeded ten million. Several agencies are eyeing him, hoping to sign him—and yet, here’s the man himself.”

“Hey, is ten million a high score?” Han Jiayi asked curiously from the side.

“High?” Han Xu shot Han Jiayi a disdainful glance. “Do you know that top-tier celebrities usually have a Heat Index around ten million? Only those red-hot film stars can reach twenty or thirty million, and that’s usually with the help of scandals, gossip, and paid trending.”

“Oh!” Han Jiayi suddenly understood.

Han Xu then turned to Bai Renzong with a smile. “Are you interested in signing? It’s much easier with a formal agency managing things for you.”

Before Bai Renzong could answer, Han Jiayi interjected, “No! He’s staying with me!”

“Well, that didn’t take long for you to start protecting him, did it?” Han Xu teased, glaring at Han Jiayi.

“You never stop talking, even with a mouthful of porridge. Here, have a bun instead!” Han Jiayi snapped, grabbing a fried bun and stuffing it into Han Xu’s mouth.

Meanwhile, Wang Bei asked curiously, “So what’s Old Bai’s signing price?”

“Mmmph…” Han Xu mumbled incomprehensibly, struggling to swallow the bun before finally replying, “I heard some agencies are trying to sign him for up to fifteen million, but the highest offer is around twenty million.”

Having only made videos for a month, and now valued at twenty million—Bai Renzong was quite satisfied with the result.

“That much!?” Wang Bei exclaimed in shock. “That’s several times higher than what Jiayi was offered when she signed…”

“What about you?” Han Xu turned to Bai Renzong with interest.

“I’m not signing,” Bai Renzong said, shaking his head.

Although the price was tempting, and he probably couldn’t earn as much on his own in a year, once he signed with an agency, he would lose his independence—just like Han Jiayi. As a content creator, most of the time you’re pressured to do product placements or promotional events, which Bai Renzong couldn’t accept. If he recommended something to his fans, it had to be genuinely good.

So, running his own studio was much freer.

“What about Yijiaxuan’s Heat Index?” Bai Renzong asked.

“I’ll check for you.” Han Xu tapped on his phone for a while, and after his agent replied, he said, “It was over two hundred thousand before, then it surged past four hundred thousand recently, and since yesterday it’s skyrocketed—it’s almost at two million now.”

“Two million!” Han Jiayi clasped her hands in excitement, turning to Bai Renzong, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

Bai Renzong nodded. “I told you, that video was just the opening move. For the next while, you need to stay sharp—don’t mess up. If you do well, two Michelin stars are within reach. Got it?”

“What’s going on between you two?” Han Xu’s gaze flicked between them, puzzled.

“I’ll tell you when it’s done,” Han Jiayi replied simply, hastily finishing her porridge. “I’m off to the restaurant! I have to work hard and cook something delicious today!”

With that, Han Jiayi quickly changed her shoes, said goodbye, and hurried out the door.

“I’ll head back too. I was just passing by and thought I’d drop in,” Han Xu said, finishing his porridge. He smiled at Bai Renzong, “Take care of Mumu for me, will you? She’s a bit dull when it comes to some things.”

“Of course, we’ll look after each other,” Bai Renzong replied politely, shaking hands with Han Xu and seeing his landlord off.

“What are your plans, Old Bai?” Wang Bei asked, munching on a bun.

“I’m going to the gym!” Bai Renzong replied firmly. He would not let anyone say he’d “gained weight” again!

After breakfast and a quick reply to some messages, he headed to the gym.

Today was his “introductory boxing lesson.” The coach would be teaching him one-on-one, and once he was familiar with the basics, he’d join the other fighters for more systematic training under the coach’s guidance.

When Bai Renzong arrived at the gym, he breathed a sigh of relief. The others there weren’t all burly, intimidating muscle men like in the movies; they looked much like him—ordinary people.

“You’re the new trainee?” The coach was a kindly smiling man, not quite six feet tall, not particularly muscular, with an unremarkable appearance—like water, gentle and unobtrusive, nothing extraordinary about him.

“I’m Ke Hong,” the coach said, extending his hand with a smile. “I’ll be teaching you the basics today.”

After they’d put on their protective gear and stepped onto the mat, Ke Hong waved for him to begin. “Alright, try to attack me.”

“Just… attack, like this?” Bai Renzong raised an eyebrow.

“However you like,” Ke Hong replied with a smile. “Attack me any way you want.”

Bai Renzong nodded, reared back his right fist, and swung with all his might—but just as he got into position and drew his right hand back, Ke Hong’s fist shot out like lightning, aiming for his chin.

Startled, Bai Renzong felt as if time around him slowed. He quickly brought his left hand up to block his chin, but Ke Hong’s fist stopped just short, never actually hitting him.

His swift reaction surprised Ke Hong.

“Quick reflexes,” Ke Hong remarked, raising his eyebrows. “Maybe you’re a natural at boxing.”

Bai Renzong was still a bit shaken. “Coach, were you testing me just now?”

“It was just a demonstration,” Ke Hong said with a smile, pulling his right fist back. “When you come out swinging with a heavy punch, your intent is obvious, right? That’s when an opponent can break your attack with a fast strike. It’s a common mistake for beginners—experienced boxers usually use fast punches to create opportunities, then land a heavy punch for the decisive blow.”

“Is it like a boxing combo?” Bai Renzong asked, curious.

“Exactly!” Ke Hong grinned, holding up his index finger. “You catch on quickly.”

He demonstrated as he explained, “The more seasoned the boxer, the more complex and flexible the combos become. And it’s not just punches—you can add elbows, kicks, all sorts of variations.”

Ke Hong threw a few combinations: jabs, straights, hooks, then a cross, a straight, and an uppercut—all starting with quick punches and gradually increasing in power.

“Once you grasp this, you’ve got your foot in the door,” Ke Hong said with a satisfied smile. “Next, I’ll teach you some basic stances. Work on your fitness and practice the fundamentals; once your physical condition improves, we’ll move on to sparring…”

At this, Ke Hong paused and asked, “Why did you decide to learn boxing?”

“Well…” Bai Renzong thought for a moment, then explained in a way he thought the coach would understand: “My job tends to offend people, so I want to learn some self-defense skills to protect myself and my friends.”

And, he added silently, to lose weight.

“Is that so?” Ke Hong stroked his chin with interest. “Alright, I’ll speed up your progress. You have quick reflexes and a good mind for this. I believe you’ll be ready for sparring in two or three months.”

(Today is New Year’s Eve. I hope that every reader of this book has someone by their side at this moment, and that those you miss are thinking of you too.)