His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 1669: Tonight with Girl Abante (Part III)

Girl Abante gave a nod. "Yes, I’m referring to the Slippers Army. The Black Stars Philippines modeled their setup after your primary fan club and established a local subgroup known as the Filipino Slippers Army. Based on my team’s investigation, the Filipino Slippers Army has earned a reputation among your entire international fanbase as one of the most aggressive groups in protecting your reputation across the internet."

Iris Long stayed quiet. Internally, she felt a surge of pride for the Filipino Slippers Army, yet she kept her expression neutral. She held Girl Abante’s gaze directly. Even though she suspected the path this interview was heading, she waited for the woman to keep talking.

The direction was crystal clear.

Ratings were essential for any show. And the simplest route to boost those ratings?

Stirring up controversy.

When none existed, one had to hunt for it. If nothing turned up, then manufacture it.

Girl: "I’ve spent decades in the entertainment world. I mostly operate behind the scenes, which lets me claim I’m among the most reliable insiders in our local industry. Sure, there could be variations between the entertainment scenes in our nations, but I believe they’re largely alike, particularly in how operations typically unfold. I belong to the group that holds celebrities accountable for the general conduct and demeanor of their fan clubs. Should fans begin behaving disruptively, celebrities ought to at least attempt to rein them in and correct them. Wouldn’t you agree?"

Iris’s eyes narrowed slightly. The friendly smile on her lips chilled by a fraction. Still, her tone stayed composed as she responded, "The Black Stars, my fans, rank as one of the best-organized and well-behaved fan clubs among stars in my homeland. The leaders of my fan clubs abroad mirror this approach. My brother-in-law Jin Chonglin, along with his massive fanbase, frequently envies the Black Stars’ level of discipline. Absolutely, I concur that if my fans start getting out of line, I, as the idol they support, must step in to prevent any inappropriate actions."

Girl nodded, yet her keen gaze sharpened further. She resembled a vulture hovering over its weakening, doomed target, poised to strike and devour at the perfect instant.

She kept pushing, aiming to provoke a stronger response from Iris. "The Slippers Army—not only the Filipino version, but all international branches of your fan club—have gained such infamy online that they’re labeled as bullies—"

"I must interrupt you there," Iris cut in. Her face now showed no trace of a smile.

Excitement bubbled within Girl.

Could this be the explosion she’d anticipated?

Sadly for her, Iris would leave her let down.

Composure defined Iris. "The Black Stars, my fans, along with their dedicated unit the Slippers Army, are NOT bullies. You shouldn’t toss that term around lightly. A bully preys on and hurts those seen as vulnerable to boost their own ego. That doesn’t describe my fans at all."

Girl persisted without yielding. She pressed on, "Countless accounts describe the Slippers Army swarming netizens on social platforms. When those netizens retaliate, the hackers in the Slippers Army unearth embarrassing secrets from their pasts and blast them publicly, leading to the netizens’ so-called social demise. They end up too ashamed to step outside. Some even develop severe depression. Do you know about these incidents?"

Iris: "Yes."

Girl: "You know about it all, yet you don’t view your fans as bullies? Do you see your fans’ actions as a mirror of yourself, both as a star and as an individual?"

Rather than replying, Iris glanced beyond the cameras. "Relax, darling. I’m fine."

Jin Liwei halted his advance. He’d been striding toward the front, set to pull his wife from this rude program. He’d assumed it was a dignified affair, but it proved just as sensationalist as a scandal-chasing gossip rag.

His eyes met his wife’s. Resolve blazed in her stare. She was eager to dive in.

Ultimately, he sighed and allowed her to face the fray alone. He’d stand guard, providing quiet backing and a promise to step in if things overwhelmed her.

Arms folded across his torso to steady himself, lest he snap. Though annoyed by Girl Abante and her wretched show, he had faith in his wife.

Just this much?

His wife could manage it. And she would. Effortlessly.

"This is outrageous!" Dom seethed no less. His imaginary fur stood on end. He’d have lunged at Girl Abante already if Boss Iris hadn’t restrained his Sir Boss. With Sir Boss holding back, Dom forced down his rage and simmered like a blocked beast.

He used to adore this talk show, particularly the outwardly tough but inwardly caring Girl Abante. Now, she struck him as intolerable as the paparazzi and gossip hacks who hounded Boss Iris constantly.

The glam squad members burned with anger too. They shot glares at the crew acting as if all was normal.

Jiang Ying Yue and her fellow guards maintained their usual stoicism, though their faces hardened noticeably. They awaited orders from their employers. At the first cue, they’d whisk them away without fuss.

Iris picked up on it—beyond her husband, Dom and the rest teetered on the edge of fury. She shot them a telling glance.

That glance steadied them, even as they stayed vigilant.

Suddenly, the studio’s air thickened with tension.

Crew members exchanged worried looks. Their program transcended a basic chat format. They’d seize any chance to latch onto drama and hold tight.

This embodied Girl Abante’s real approach.

Thanks to her vast network and sway in entertainment, few local stars rejected her guest spots. Many times before, guests itched to leave but stayed due to dread of her clout.

As a top producer, she could whisper to peers and filmmakers that they were tough to handle. Without bookings, their livelihoods would crumble.

"Tonight with Girl Abante" played a key role in shaping her persona as a tough yet nurturing maternal icon. Thus, even if stars complained about her aggressive tactics, the masses often dismissed them as overly sensitive.

This polished public facade shielded Girl Abante’s standing.

The team had weathered plenty of strained moments previously, but this one hit differently.

It felt oppressively heavy.

Truth be told, today’s strategy wasn’t a full consensus. The crew divided into factions.

One side favored a straightforward, tame chat. Zero scandals. Simply engaging, courteous exchange.

The opposing side craved heightened excitement.

Girl Abante cast the deciding vote, siding with the drama seekers.

She’d declared, "So what if Iris Long’s spouse is a tycoon? They lack pull in our territory. Should Iris Long and her husband act superior on my program, I’ll portray them as clueless, pampered elites blind to reality. I could amp it up to foreigners disdainful of us Filipinos. Let’s watch if they dare return to our land."

A crew member had countered, "Her closest pal is Filipino, though. That angle might not land right."

Girl Abante had dismissed it with a sneer. "Do you truly think she’s tight with her Filipino aide? It’s pure pretense, trust me. That’s your innocence showing. I’ve navigated showbiz for years. I’ve witnessed unbelievable dirt you’d doubt even hearing it. Everyone in this biz is phony. Drawing a spark from a figure like Iris Long means victory for us. We’d dominate local buzz. No—national chatter. Actually, global headlines! Negative buzz counts as buzz regardless."

Returning to now, Girl still felt justified. Yet eyeing Iris, she felt taken aback. The chill had vanished. A subtle smirk curved her mouth. Amusement sparkled in her eyes.

What did this mean?

Far from distress, Iris Long appeared entertained.

Girl shook off the thought inwardly. Likely just a trick of the mind.

Iris Long was truly entertained. Ages had passed since anyone boldly tried to undermine her so openly.

At last, she addressed the older woman’s query.

"Prior to labeling my fans as bullies, have your team investigate the reasons behind their responses. Those netizens spread vicious lies about me, aiming to ruin my image. My fans merely shield me. If false attacks targeted you, undoubtedly your loved ones would defend you. It’s identical for my fans and me. Don’t I deserve safeguarding from such venom? Or do you count yourself among those who feel stars forfeit their protections by entering the spotlight?"