Who Needs a CEO? I Choose Stardom

”Don’t be so curious! The registration desk is over there, and the rules are posted. We still have to get ready, so go take a look for yourself!”

This old man was clearly not as good-natured as the last one. Not wanting to press their luck, the two thanked him and headed over to the registration desk.

Registration had been open for a few days. The veteran anglers were already well-prepared; only a bunch of people looking to join the fun would show up at the last minute to ask about it.

But after seeing the steep registration fee of four hundred yuan per person, very few actually signed up.

When Ni Bingyan learned that it was four hundred yuan per person for a team of two, and that the organizers provided not just the equipment but also the bait, she immediately pulled out her phone to transfer the money.

Then, remembering she hadn’t asked Duanmu Li’s opinion, she looked at her sheepishly.

”We’re already here, right? Let’s have some fun today. You can’t necessarily do this kind of thing anywhere else. What do you think?”

Duanmu Li wasn’t particularly interested in fishing, but she had nowhere else to go. Seeing Ni Bingyan so enthusiastic, she didn’t have the heart to pour cold water on her plans, so she agreed.

So, Ni Bingyan paid the registration fee, collected their number card and equipment, and followed a staff member’s directions to their designated spot.

Duanmu Li was very capable and had wilderness survival experience. After a quick glance at their neighbors, she quickly copied them, drilling a hole in the ice and setting up their tent.

Once they had laid down the mats and gotten inside the tent, looking through the fishing hole at the water beneath the ice felt quite novel.

After they started fishing, Duanmu Li watched for a bit, found it boring, and sat off to the side to boil water for tea and eat some snacks.

Surprisingly, the organizers had not only provided tea, but also other food and drinks. Since the competition lasted from morning until afternoon, they could even use the provided hot pot set to cook a small meal right there.

Even if you didn’t catch a single fish, you could still spend a comfortable day there. For out-of-town tourists, it was a particularly unique experience.

Ni Bingyan was a different story. She already loved fishing, and since she’d never tried this method before, the moment she got hooked, she completely lost track of time.

The tent had a heater, thick mats on the floor, and no shortage of food or drink. Crucially, the internet speed was also decent. Duanmu Li gradually grew drowsy and, wrapping herself in a blanket, took a nap.

In her drowsy state, she could faintly hear the sounds of Ni Bingyan fishing. When she finally woke up, she saw that the large, white plastic bucket provided by the organizers was already filled to the brim with fish.

”Oh, no, no, time’s almost up, and I still have a big one on the line that I haven’t pulled in yet!”

Seeing that she was awake, Ni Bingyan could finally let out all her pent-up excitement. You have no idea how thrilled she was!

Duanmu Li saw that her face was flushed pink with excitement and that the hot pot she had prepared earlier was untouched. She couldn’t help but chide, ”I told you to eat when it was ready, didn’t I? Why is it still sitting here?”

”Oh, please! That would have been a waste of time! You can eat anytime, but fishing is different. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

As she spoke, she let out a mischievous laugh and pulled a large grass carp out of the hole in the ice.

What a coincidence. Just as the fish landed in the bucket, a starting pistol fired outside, and an announcement boomed from the loudspeakers:

”Time’s up! Time’s up! All contestants, please bring the fish you’ve caught outside your tents and wait for them to be weighed. We will then rank everyone by the total combined weight of their catch and award certificates and prize money to the top 30 competitors!”

The announcement was repeated several times to make sure everyone heard it.

Ni Bingyan had already carried the bucket outside the tent. A moment later, someone came over to weigh her catch.

While waiting for the results, the two of them packed up their gear. They had just returned it to the organizers when an announcement on the loudspeaker said that all contestants could enjoy a complimentary specialty fish banquet that evening.

The two had spent the better part of the day on the ice. With the sky growing dark and their stomachs empty, they were both delighted by the news.

Before long, the results were announced—Ni Bingyan had somehow placed fourth!

When she accepted the sign that read ”Prize Money: 10,000 Yuan,” Ni Bingyan almost split her face with a grin!

’What do you call skill?’

’This is skill!’

’Look at the envious, jealous glares from all the guys who got skunked!’

’Ahhh, so satisfying!’

”Look at this! What did I tell you? I’m a natural-born hustler! I can earn extra cash with my skills even on my days off! Haha, we’ll split it fifty-fifty later!”

Duanmu Li quickly refused.

She was only following Ni Bingyan out of professional duty, as she wasn’t comfortable with her being out alone.

She hadn’t caught a single fish during the competition; it was all Ni Bingyan’s accomplishment. She couldn’t possibly take advantage of that.

Since she wouldn’t take it, Ni Bingyan didn’t press the issue. She’d just give her a bigger bonus for the holidays.

When the organizing committee presented the awards, Ni Bingyan went up on stage. Standing among a group of old-timers and middle-aged men, her smile couldn’t have been more brilliant.

That same evening, while Ni Bingyan was still enjoying the specialty fish banquet hosted by the committee, news that she had participated in—and won a prize at—an ice fishing competition in the Northeast went viral.

Wei Shuojie had only just gotten to relax for two days. She was at the movies, arm in arm with her husband, when her son called. ”Mom! Sister Bingbing is trending again!”

”What is it this time?”

She’d been through this so many times she’d probably developed an immunity. Wei Shuojie calmly asked her son as she munched on her popcorn.

Li Zhi was about to burst out laughing.

”She won a prize for fishing in the Northeast! Ten thousand yuan! Can you believe it?”

Taking a sip of Coke from the cup her husband was holding, Wei Shuojie chuckled dryly. ”Oh, how interesting.”

”Of course it’s interesting! The netizens laughed her all the way to the top of the trending list! How awesome is that?”

”No, I mean the *movie* is interesting. That’s all. I’m hanging up now.”

’It’s just fishing, isn’t it?’

’Just a female celebrity fishing among a bunch of old men?’

’What’s the big deal...’

’Heh, heh heh...’

”Huh?”

Li Zhi was a little confused. This was a big deal, so why was his mom so calm?

’Back when she was managing Aunt Sun, wasn’t she constantly on the phone at home, discussing how to generate buzz without it blowing up in their faces?’

’Sigh, the world of female celebrities really is complicated!’