What people say about the protagonist has long been a popular topic for discussion. This sentiment is especially strong when it comes from influential figures, bolstering the viewer's sense of identity with the documentary: "Look, everyone has something to say about him, how could he possibly be wrong?"
This sentiment extends to individuals with whom Ye Chen has had contact, so the filming team is keenly interested in gathering perspectives from everyone associated with him. After hearing from the head coach, the team was even more intrigued. Their task this time wasn't only to create a documentary; they were also producing a promotional video for the upcoming match. By mixing materials, they can optimize their resources, leaving no valuable content unused.
It's well-known that Ye Chen operates without a dedicated coaching team, lacks ties to any training gym, and even does not have an agent. If he were to partner with them again, it could lead to excellent publicity. Compounding the intrigue, Ye Chen had previously rejected their invitation without much explanation, leading the team to believe there must be a deeper story behind it.
An inquisitive staff member asked, "What's the status of your negotiation? From what I understand, Ye Chen is still preparing solo for this event. Plus, he hasn't opted to use your gym for his training. That's rather troubling..."
The head coach was taken aback, not expecting that a documentary would lead to this line of questioning. Unsure if he should feel pleased or disheartened, he puzzled over the missed opportunity. Ye Chen could have been a prime figure at their gym, plus they would have enjoyed the food together, which added an appealing bonus to the partnership. If they could secure Ye Chen's representation again, it could lead to substantial profits. Yet, they had failed to recognize Ye Chen's potential when they had the chance.
After deliberating for a moment, the head coach decided to press on. He smiled and remarked, "There was a minor misunderstanding previously. Ye Chen has indeed benefited from working with us. I recognized his potential when he was first with our team. After Lin Long's injury, we considered recommending Ye Chen as a substitute. However, we felt he needed further growth, both technically and mentally."
He continued, "Of course, he eventually found another path, as you can see; he has exceptional learning ability and talent, having won a championship and emerged as a superstar in ĖC. I'm thrilled about his success..."
Yet, the head coach quickly shifted the subject, adding, "However, I noticed he has been posting numerous videos with that foreign actress. While I don't wish to comment on his personal life, it's important to remember that many gifted athletes, upon achieving sudden wealth, can become distracted by fame, fortune, and a lavish lifestyle. I'm genuinely concerned for him. He needs a solid team of real friends—people who can guide and ground him when he strays from his goals. Only then can he achieve even greater heights. I would be thrilled to welcome Ye Chen back to our facility…"
This was absurd. If Ye Chen were present, he might have erupted in frustration at the sheer nonsense of it all. However, the head coach was correct on one point: many athletes who gain sudden wealth often succumb to indulgence. Yet, Ye Chen was not among them.
After the production team forwarded the interview to the PR department, things moved swiftly. They quickly contacted Dana, deciding there was no need to wait for the broad promotional video or personal documentary. They could simply release the interview. Dana believed this might spark interest, especially since many had eagerly anticipated the forthcoming matchup. However, skepticism loomed as well, with critics arguing the UFC was merely attempting to protect Ye Chen's undefeated record by matchmaking him against inferior opponents. If Ye Chen didn't effectively counter on the ground, even his diamond boxing skills could become a laughingstock.
Although this viewpoint had some merit, everyone within the organization realized this fight was crucial for Ye Chen—an opportunity to maintain his popularity, add another title defense to his record, and eliminate top contenders in his weight class. Professional analysts within the organization showed optimism toward Ye Chen, though they often felt compelled to amplify his weaknesses while downplaying his strengths in public analyses. This tactic aimed to foster a narrative of a close-contested battle, catering to audiences who tend to follow expert opinions without question.
Recent developments surrounding Ye Chen had captured global fan attention, sowing doubts about his commitment to the sport, with some comparisons being drawn to Connor, suggesting he might be losing focus now that he had amassed wealth. If the interview were released, it might reverberate through the online community for all the wrong reasons.
Yet, Dana wrestled with the dilemma of whether to give Ye Chen a heads-up about its release. Ultimately, he opted not to. Given Ye Chen's recent posts on social media, Dana felt increasingly concerned that Ye Chen might be treading the same path as Connor. With the interview now public, comments from Ye Chen's former collaborators could serve as a cautionary tale, although Dana was mindful that this interview wouldn't come directly from UFC officials, confident that he wouldn't be embarrassed by an anonymous account's actions.
Ye Chen, meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware of the unfolding situation. Fresh from his training session and rejuvenated by a shower, he settled down with Catwoman, who had ordered takeout, waiting to share a meal.
"I sent your contract to my team for review, and everything looks good," she said.
Ye Chen expressed his gratitude with a quick kiss, glancing down at his contract. It astonishingly detailed an appearance fee of $1.5 million alongside a matching bonus for winning. He was also entitled to a 15% share of the Pay-Per-View revenue—an incredible deal.
"The last time I provided Connor a 20% share, it was because he agreed to face me, considering I wasn't the hottest name back then—merely a minor player in Connor's eyes. He wasn't going to proceed without his due rewards."
As he sat back in his chair, Catwoman crawled onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Is one and a half million too little?"
Ye Chen chuckled, understanding her concerns, though realizing she might have a skewed understanding of market dynamics. "You know, just because you're famous, doesn't mean you can simply pull a salary of $10 million or $20 million. The highest appearance fee in the league belongs to Khabib at $6 million."
Notably, Khabib didn't receive a share of Pay-Per-View income; he earned that $6 million regardless of how many PPVs sold. Connor came in second with a $2 million fee plus a share, while Ye Chen's $1.5 million was already phenomenal.
Catwoman's eyes widened. "My father watches Bullock regularly. Is that his actual appearance fee?"
Following the release of the interview video across platforms, the heat intensified quickly—any video with Ye Chen's name garnered considerable attention.
"Wow, when the coach said that, I started to worry about Brother Chen's commitment," one fan remarked.
"Remember when Zhang Weili engaged in multiple variety shows after her championship win only to falter later? I hope that's not Ye Chen's fate."
"Honestly, if I had a girlfriend as stunning as Goddess Anne and had money, I might lose my focus too."
"I could float to the heavens, yet I still hope he maintains self-discipline. He's a top star in the Daxia fighting scene now."
"Feels like this coach is a bit envious? Perhaps he wants Ye Chen back on his team?"
"Isn't this ironic? When Ye Chen first started fighting, his team seemed far more skeptical than himself. Those deleted videos would certainly contradict him now."
The discussions online became increasingly animated.
Meanwhile, Ye Chen, entirely oblivious to the internet chatter, had finished dinner with Catwoman and was preparing to drop her off at the airport. She was set to fly to Ouzhou for a luxury brand shoot, arranged by her agent.
Once outside the hotel, however, they were suddenly surrounded by a throng of reporters, rendering Ye Chen speechless. Gossip reporters have an uncanny knack for identifying celebs, even when disguised in hats and sunglasses.
"They must have gotten wind of my brand endorsement," Catwoman speculated, visibly taken aback.
Ye Chen shrugged, noting, "Well, you're a female star now, and it seems you draw attention even more than I do."
With a protective arm around her, Ye Chen addressed the crowd, "Excuse me, please step aside; we have a flight to catch."
Questions erupted from the reporters. "Are you and Annie traveling again?" "With the match so close, are you worried? Do you have confidence?" "Annie, don't you supervise Ye Chen's daily training?"
The barrage of questions left Ye Chen bewildered. How was this suddenly all about him? Despite previous interviews, the sudden frenzy was new to him—previous queries had primarily come from sports-focused media.
One reporter broke through the noise, "How do you feel about this interview? Many netizens are questioning your motivation and state, urging you to focus on training."
Ye Chen, perplexed, took the phone, glancing at his messages. His dismay grew upon realizing the head coach's shamelessness.
He responded, "Initially, I sought their endorsement as a substitute, but they scoffed and deemed me unworthy. Had they done their homework, they wouldn't have been so dismissive. They've never believed in me, and I firmly declare I will not cooperate with them. This isn't just personal; their training center is leagues behind my current level. I possess evidence to back my claims, and if they persist, I will reveal it publicly."
With that, he powered through the crowd, determined to break free and reach the waiting car. Engaging in an online feud with his former coach felt unproductive at this juncture.
After dropping off Catwoman, they shared a warm embrace as they said their goodbyes at the airport.
In the midst of this, Ye Chen's fans dug up old clips where Lin Long and his team disparaged him, quickly escalating the buzz online—those denigrating remarks had been shared widely. Though originally deleted, one diligent netizen had saved them, providing fuel for today's frenzy.
With the resurfacing of this proof, the discussions intensified further, and the video went viral, even breaking onto trending lists, absurdly even in entertainment sectors.
"This feels like the fighting world mirrors the entertainment industry! That coach looks like he's a big deal, yet he's acting so petty. He was dismissive toward Ye Chen yet now wants to bask in his success? The internet has a long memory," one user observed.
"Absolutely, this guy's contemptible. He claimed Ye Chen couldn't best Li Zhengyong, but Ye Chen has proven his talents!" another chimed in.
"Age-wise, this guy seems to be in his forties. Being a coach, you'd expect him to maintain decent fitness. He just seems eager to cash in on Ye Chen's popularity!"
"Despite that, he undeniably makes a point: Ye Chen doesn't seem quite right in his current focus."
"It's clear they have no intention of helping out; they just want a piece of the pie now that Ye Chen is famous."
"If there's any justice, I hope Ye Chen unveils the truth and puts that guy in his place!"
"Did you catch that? Lin Long claimed he wanted to 'clean house' with Ye Chen..."
"Comedy gold! What qualifications does he even have? He wouldn't fare well against two punches from anyone!"
As Ye Chen exited the airport, he unexpectedly stumbled upon a familiar face—Diamond, his upcoming opponent. He was accompanied by a small entourage, including his wife, engaged in cheerful conversation and snapping photos.
Ye Chen shook his head in disbelief. Fate had brought their paths together at the most unexpected time.
"Hey, what a coincidence!" he greeted Diamond as they approached each other.
Gone were the days of hostility; both prominent figures had embraced a more amicable rapport, having spent time promoting their upcoming bout.
Diamond beamed, "What are you doing here?"
Despite their past online banter, with both raising stakes for views, a friendship seemed to have formed over time.
As Diamond's wife interjected, excitedly curious about Catwoman, Ye Chen graciously shared details while knowing his limits.
"Annie just boarded her flight to Ouzhou for work. If luck permits, perhaps she will come before the match.
Upon hearing her praise, Ye Chen deflected praise onto Diamond's impressive trajectory in recent years, notwithstanding the playful back-and-forth.
"Oh, you're too kind! Let's grab dinner after the match—if you're free," Diamond suggested warmly.
"Absolutely, let's keep in touch," he replied before feeling the need to excuse himself, fearing the prolonged interaction might blur his focus for the upcoming fight.
Meanwhile, Lin Long's disdainful video commentary continued to circulate, and Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh as he watched. Even if he agreed to the fight, Dana wouldn't sanction something trivial.
Confronting a newly signed, unranked player for a 'cleaning house' scenario felt overly petty.
"Cleaning up the portal?" Ye Chen chuckled to himself. During his time as Lin Long's sparring partner, he had been a solitary fighter.
Studying at their training facility? Unlikely. Still, he did acknowledge invaluable lessons learned during simulated battles with Lin Long.
Prompted, he grabbed an old phone to record his thoughts while feeling the forthcoming fight close at hand. He felt the need to clarify his stance before distractions took root in his mind.