From American Internet Celebrity to God Among Men

11: Chapter 11 went viral! And then? Let’s add some juicy details!Alex was shaken awake by his phone. It wasn’t an alarm, but that buzzing, buzzing, continuous vibration, as if the phone were tap-dancing. He squinted, grabbed it, and took a look. Good heavens, the screen was about to be submerged by push notifications—YouTube subscriptions exploding, comment tags flooding the screen, channel analytics sending congratulations... The top one was simple and brutal: ”Your video ’If Cities Could Dream’ is trending in the popular section!”

He woke up instantly, sat up with a start, and opened the data dashboard.

Views: 420,000, and the number was still jumping like a stopwatch.

Real-time viewers: 28,000.

Subscriber growth: +9,200 (just in the past few hours).

The number of comments was already unreadable, refreshing faster than a blink.

”Holy crap... this is a big one.” He rubbed his face, feeling a bit like he’d won the lottery, but better—this was a stir he’d created with his own hands!

Opening the comment section, the hot comments were basically a stand-up comedy show:

User ”Los Angeles Night Owl”: ”I saw this at 4 AM, and it made me kneel! Bro, did you open a celestial eye for these shots? That lighting, that color grading—I’d believe it if you told me this was a Hollywood art film that just left theaters! Confess, whose alt account are you?”

The replies below were perfectly aligned:

”Seconded! This quality doesn’t look like an individual creator!”

”Is the blogger taking apprentices? Tuition is negotiable, I just want to learn the magic of ’filming trash into epic scenes’!”

”Am I the only one wondering how the blogger snuck into those weird angles? Some shots made me afraid of heights just watching them!”

Scrolling down, the style gradually shifted:

User ”Lives on a Broken Street in DTLA”: ”My mind is blown! That flickering, about-to-die ’Blue Note Hotel’ neon sign in the video is right across from my window! I complain about how tacky it is every day, so how did it become... so melancholic and soulful in your lens, like it’s starring in a sequel to ’La La Land’?! I feel like my crappy apartment is artistic now!”

User ”Recovering Internet Addict”: ”I thought it would be one of those ’don’t understand it but it feels high-end’ boring films, but once I clicked, I couldn’t leave! When the music started, my scalp tingled! That lonely yet gorgeous feeling was like a top-tier massage for my eyes and ears! Liked, subscribed, and favorited. Blogger, update quickly, don’t force me to beg you on my knees!”

Even official accounts were getting in on the fun:

User ”California Department of Transportation (Intern)” (with blue check): ”Um... blogger, this is truly awesome, the visual effects are maxed out. But... about that aerial view of the 110 freeway interchange, did you, you know, apply for a permit? (Dog head emoji) Next time you film something this cool, can you give us a heads-up? We’d love to cooperate to promote ’Beautiful California’! (Madly implying cooperation)”

Alex scrolled through these comments, his shoulders shaking with laughter. This feeling of being marveled at, praised, and even having official accounts try to ride his coattails was more intoxicating than picking up money. Especially seeing the locals resonate, or the professionals looking baffled, that sense of achievement—’I made this, and it’s damn good’—was bubbling up.

The sharing data was even more exaggerated; the link spread like a virus, from the Reddit film section to the Twitter photography circle, and even several art and design Discord groups were analyzing it heatedly. The system’s notification sound chimed like victory BGM, and his popularity rocketed past 3,800 points, clearly heading toward 4,000.

”Low profile, low profile.” He told himself, but his mouth was practically splitting to his ears. This feeling was amazing!

The heat soon burned into the real world. First, Sarah from Horizon Outdoors sent a string of bomb emojis: ”Alex!! You’ve exploded again?! Our big boss had a meeting this morning, and the first sentence was ’That dream city video is the soul of our brand!’ Cooperation needs an upgrade! A top-tier contract and a bonus that will make you wake up laughing are on their way!”

Then came an email from Eric, the Silicon Valley geek, with the subject line: ”WOW.” Opening it was even more direct: ”Alex, those geniuses in our AI group, who usually have their noses in the air, are now gathered to study your video, saying your ’data poeticization’ gave them inspiration for a new model. Do you have any new ideas for that AR glasses project? Also, your test consultant allowance for next month is doubled. (Don’t ask, asking means value recognition.)”

Even the campus vibe had changed. When he went to class, he felt the head-turning rate on the way was more than a notch higher. Not just because his mixed-race face was getting more handsome (thanks to the system’s silent optimization), but mostly because of the whispering content:

”Look, it’s the real ’Alex’s Wonderland’!”

”He’s even more charismatic in person than in the video... These legs, these shoulders, do they really exist?”

”I heard he stayed up for several nights just to film a single shot at dawn; he’s too hardworking.”

”The professor even used it as a case study in class, saying it has ’phenomenal potential’...”

His classmate Lena rushed over, eyes shining: ”Alex! You’re totally famous! That old-fashioned professor in our department spent half the class analyzing your video! He even made us write an in-depth film review! Can I book an exclusive interview? As a final project!”

Alex laughed: ”Sure, just don’t make me sound too supernatural.”

”It’s impossible not to be supernatural!” Lena lowered her voice, full of gossip. ”Hey, let me tell you, there are several girls from the Film Academy and the Art School grouping up to ask about you. I heard a dance major with an amazing figure said she wants to be the ’muse of inspiration’ for your next video... You know.” She winked teasingly.

Alex didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What was all this? But the feeling of being appreciated and remembered... was really not bad. Everywhere he went now, he felt like he had an invisible aura of ”talent and charm,” and even the air felt sweeter.

Of course, there were small troubles. For example, in the library, just as he opened his computer, a scented note was pushed over, with a string of numbers and a hand-drawn heart. Looking up, a strange girl across from him smiled at him sweetly.

Alex maintained a polite smile and gently tucked the note into his book, but thought to himself: It seems I’ll have to consider welding those non-prescription glasses I use to look profound onto my face when I go out in the future.

Overall, this feeling of bombing the scene with hardcore work, and then having fame, fortune, attention, and romantic luck (even if it’s unwanted) pouring in, was like drinking a bottle of ice-cold soda in the middle of summer—every pore was shouting ”Awesome!”

But Alex didn’t get carried away. Heat is fuel, not the steering wheel. He closed the noisy social pages, looked at the 3,800+ shimmering popularity points in the system, and rubbed his hands.

”Alright, fun’s over, time to get to work.” He muttered to himself, ”The fame is here, the money path is open, the next video... needs some heavier stuff.”

”If Cities Could Dream” was the charm of stillness, so the next one should have the shock of ”movement”! An idea became clear in his mind: Parkour!

Imagine this: In the hazy, cool neon night scenery of ”If Cities Could Dream,” a figure with agility and strength beyond normal people, flying over eaves and walls between the edges of tall buildings, abandoned stairs, and narrow alleys, light and shadow sweeping across smooth muscle lines, speed and courage exploding—it would definitely ignite a new round of attention!

This would not only show off his physical ability (after redeeming relevant skills) and push the visual style of ”Alex’s Wonderland” to a new height, but also... well, incidentally rationalize his perfect physique that was becoming more and more of a magnet for attention.

Action! He immediately opened the system mall and searched for ”Parkour.”

【Urban Environment Parkour (Mastery Level)】 - 600 points (Includes combat techniques, safety assessment, terrain utilization, and performance-oriented action design in coordination with the camera.)

【Dynamic Human Photography and Follow-Shot Technology】 - 550 points (Designed specifically for filming high-speed, high-risk sports, ensuring every frame is clear, powerful, and full of tension.)

【Specialized Sports Recovery and Physical Optimization】 - 450 points (Parkour is an extreme sport; this accelerates physical recovery, reduces injury risk, and makes muscle lines richer in explosive beauty.)

A total of 1,600 points. A significant investment, but absolutely worth it! He was about to redeem it when his eyes were drawn to another related recommendation:

【Basic Martial Arts Posture and Power Aesthetics】 - 380 points (Not for fighting, but to make Parkour movements more fluid, powerful, and full of the rhythmic sense of Eastern martial arts, with visual effects maxed out.)

”This is good! Add it!” Alex’s eyes lit up. A combination of East and West Parkour—just thinking about it was exciting!

【Total consumption: 1,980 points. Redemption successful!】

【Remaining popularity: 1,820 points.】

In an instant, a vast amount of knowledge about Parkour techniques, risk assessment, camera coordination, body force, and control flooded into his mind. At the same time, a warm current swept through his body. He subconsciously walked to the full-length mirror.

Whoa!

The person in the mirror had even more upright and broad shoulder and back lines, an abdomen tight as a steel plate, and leg muscles that were long and full of power. Every inch of muscle seemed to have been carved by the most demanding sculptor, presenting the perfect form between the agility of a gymnast and the power of a model. With a height of over 1.85 meters, this muscular physique, plus that excessively handsome mixed-race face...

”System, your optimization... is based on statues in Greek mythology, right?” Alex turned in front of the mirror and couldn’t help but whistle. This physique, it would be a shame not to shoot a lingerie commercial. In the future, when filming Parkour videos, this body alone would be a major weapon.

He moved his hands and feet, feeling his body light and elastic, and his perception of the surrounding environment was much sharper. Looking at the air conditioning units and water pipes outside the window, his mind automatically simulated three or four climbing routes.

”Very good.” He nodded with satisfaction, already starting to conceive the prototype of the first Parkour video. The location would be in that downtown area he had long admired, full of industrial and abandoned vibes, and the time would be set for the ”magic hour” when the neon lights first come on.

Just then, his phone vibrated again. It was Eric: ”By the way, if you’re filming those high-intensity action videos, you’ll need lighter and sturdier filming equipment, right? I have an ultra-compact image-stabilized sports camera here that the company is testing but hasn’t released yet. It’s half the weight of the GoPro prototype and has 4K quality. Want to borrow it? Film something cool.”

Alex smiled. See, opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared (and look like they are about to do something big).

He replied: ”This is so timely! Thanks, bro, I promise to film footage that will make your engineers want to jump up and try it themselves.”

Putting down the phone, Alex felt full of energy. Fame, skills, equipment, inspiration, and this body that could be called a ”human weapon”—everything was in place.

The play of life had its ups and downs. And he was about to stage the coolest scene.

He looked at the darkening sky outside the window and the vaguely lit city lights, a wild smile curling the corners of his mouth.

With neon as the backdrop and steel as the stage, this visual feast of speed, power, and beauty was about to begin.