Chapter 44: Warning the Shadow

On the big screen, the Zebra team had selected some amusing comments from the audience for the host—

“Haha, Cannon Master’s Five Venom Slap left Lord Huan completely bewildered!”
“Cannon Master, you’re hilarious!”
“Nobody can stop Cannon Master when he’s being mischievous!”
“Looks like Lord Huan has finally met his match!”
“Who would’ve thought Cannon Master could be so adorable!”
“It’s foreseeable—Lord Huan will never dare call himself a veteran doctor again.”
“Lord Huan specializes in exposing braggarts, Cannon Master specializes in exposing veteran doctors!”
“Serves you right for teasing Cannon Master—got slapped in the face this time, huh?”
“No one should boast in front of Cannon Master—he’s the nemesis of veteran doctors!”
“Did Cannon Master improvise that? Incredible! He nearly made Lord Huan kneel and sing!”
“Cannon Master came prepared—this song must’ve been written by the team behind him to crush Lord Huan’s aura as soon as he arrived! Cannon Master, can’t you break your habit of copying songs? Honestly, you don’t need to sing; just roast Lord Huan and he’ll never dare act out again. We want to see you roast people!”
…

After Zhang Qiyang finished his song, the atmosphere in the live broadcast room exploded with excitement once again, and he received tens of thousands more gifts.

Qin Xueyang was overjoyed, giving Zhang Qiyang a thumbs up behind the camera repeatedly. Lord Huan also gave Zhang Qiyang a thumbs up, praising, “I concede, Cannon Master. You’ve ruined my image.”

“You’ve barely seen anything yet. Wait until everyone’s voices drown out and tarnish your reputation; then you’ll truly know what it feels like to be misunderstood and have your image destroyed,” Zhang Qiyang replied with a serene air.

Dong Huan suddenly empathized with Zhang Qiyang’s plight, being maligned by millions. She felt a bit guilty for making up a song to poke fun at him earlier, so she explained again, “Cannon Master, that song I sang—‘My Name Is Zhang Cannon’—I was just messing around, didn’t mean to slander you.”

Zhang Qiyang smiled breezily, “I understand, you don’t need to explain. I get it, and I’m not bothered. Your attitude is much like those unscrupulous media outlets. They don’t necessarily want to harm me, but in order to grab public attention and cater to the masses, they go all out to malign me, exploit me, and siphon off my worth. I’ve long grown accustomed to it. None of it matters to me. Since I chose this world, I don’t fear being smeared. If I did, I wouldn’t wade into these murky waters.”

Li Die followed up, “Cannon Master, I’ve always had a question—one I think all the netizens are curious about too: Why did you leave your life as a super-rich to join the entertainment world and endure all this pressure?”

“I don’t feel much pressure in this world. Don’t think that just because lots of people curse me, my life is suffocating. I live with great joy. I honestly don’t care what you all say about me.”

Zhang Qiyang put down his guitar, assumed a slightly more serious demeanor, and chatted with his wine glass in hand, “As for why I entered this world, if I claim it’s for dreams and passion, you probably won’t believe me, but that’s part of it. The bigger reason is—I want to stir things up.”

“To stir things up?” Li Die and Dong Huan echoed together.

“Have you ever heard this saying: ‘Hard work doesn’t guarantee success, but not working hard ensures an easy life.’—I think that’s spot on. Life is like that. You struggle, scrape by, get battered, and even if you succeed in the end, your life might not be any easier or more satisfying. Let alone those who fail after all their efforts—their misery is even greater. No doubt, I’m talking about those keyboard warriors, the losers, who are busy slandering me.”

Qin Xueyang was happily calculating tonight’s earnings when she saw Zhang Qiyang stirring up trouble again, provoking the masses, and was left speechless.

The Zebra staff in the broadcast room were terrified—Cannon Master’s firepower was legendary! After roasting Lord Huan, he was now about to roast millions of haters!

Both female hosts didn’t dare speak, afraid to be dragged onto Zhang Qiyang’s negative energy ship and condemned by the public.

Glancing at the comment section on the big screen, Zhang Qiyang laughed, “No need to get so worked up—your keyboards must be nearly destroyed from blasting me! I honestly pity your keyboards. You don’t need to be jealous of my family fortune. If you must be jealous, envy my ability to let go and see things clearly.”

Zhang Qiyang offered his advice to the audience, “If you set your life goals a bit lower, if you stop striving so hard, or stop insisting on living a life that’s all about effort, you’ll live easier than I do. Really, I’m not bluffing—I’m speaking from the heart. I’m not telling you never to strive, I’m telling you that you don’t always have to strive, and you don’t always have to set your life goals so high. Isn’t it exhausting? I think living like I do is just fine. You all think that as the son of a wealthy family, I ought to do something more meaningful, right? Well, I refuse! Why should I live as you envision me? I just want an easy life—is that not allowed? Is it illegal? If it truly is, go ahead and sue me in court; what’s the point of roasting me?”

The audience exploded!

To many, Zhang Qiyang’s remarks were the most infuriating kind of boast.

The more rational viewers could understand his attitude—he simply wanted an easy life, and who could dictate otherwise?

Others found inspiration and insight in his words: life need not be only one way.

Sometimes, setting lower goals and living lightly can be a graceful choice.

Li Die asked Zhang Qiyang, intrigued, “Cannon Master, are you really living lightly now? It seems to me that if you hadn’t entered the entertainment world, and just enjoyed a carefree life as a rich man, that would be true ease.”

“How is being a rich man easy? I’m certain, ninety-nine percent of the wealthy bear far heavier burdens than ordinary people. Only those second- or third-generation heirs who lack ambition live truly easy lives. Before I came into entertainment, I spent a long period living without ambition, and I enjoyed it immensely—it was great! But if you keep living that way, you eventually get bored. Who wouldn’t tire of delicacies every day? I got tired of that super-easy life, so I wanted to stir things up in the entertainment world.”

He took a sip of sweet wine to clear his throat and continued, “As I said, I entered this world because of passion and to stir things up. If I want to stir things up, I have to set myself a goal, and I have to put in some effort. If you’re used to not striving, one day you’ll get bored of it and want to shake things up. If you have that urge, then don’t be lazy—go for it, like me.”

Zhang Qiyang grew more enthusiastic as he spoke, “Anyway, unless I turn the entertainment world upside-down, unless I make waves, I won’t rest. That’s just who I am. Call me headstrong, arrogant, or even brainless, it doesn’t matter. Say whatever you want; I’ll live how I want.”

He deliberately addressed the camera, schooling his haters, “Let me take this chance to say to everyone who slanders me: no matter how you try, you can’t affect me. In fact, I’ll affect you. Infuriating, isn’t it? But that’s the truth. You think your attacks will anger me, but in reality, it’s you who get angry. Can you really say otherwise? You think you feel better after cursing me, but if you think about it, why are you cursing me? Isn’t it because you’re angry? Of course, those paid trolls who take money to smear me are excluded—they’re trash, and I wish them all get hit by cars when they step out; may none of them meet a good end! As for those with ulterior motives who persistently target me, let me remind you: since I don’t provoke you, count your blessings—don’t come looking for trouble. Anyone who comes at me with ill intent, I’ll make sure they pay dearly. In short, whoever messes with me, I’ll mess with them—let’s see who gets the last laugh!”