Reborn as the Harem King-Chapter 156 An Invitation from Elena

[Kong Huaijin Affection Level +5]

It wasn't Elena but Kong Huaijin who felt genuinely delighted by Zhou Yi's words.

When you think about it, it made perfect sense: whether dealing with a romantic interest or a partner, being kind to their close friends is always a good move—but only if it's clear that your actions stem from your affection for them.

Zhou Yi had emphasized this point subtly, and Kong Huaijin couldn't have been happier. This was a classic case of "love me, love my dog." Far from feeling jealous, she saw Zhou Yi's gesture as generous and thoughtful—not just toward Elena but also toward their friendship.

Elena exchanged a knowing look between Zhou Yi and Kong Huaijin, savoring the word Zhou Yi had used. "Oh~ Sis~"

Zhou Yi quickly activated his metaphorical "golden finger" and his ears flushed red.

Elena and Kong Huaijin locked eyes, both grinning mischievously.

"We're heading to the restroom to freshen up," Elena said. "Mind waiting for us, Zhou Yi?"

At dinners like these, they usually stopped eating once they were about 70% full. Zhou Yi set down his chopsticks and smiled. "Of course, go ahead."

The two headed to the restroom—not so much to touch up their makeup as to talk privately away from Zhou Yi.

As Elena applied lipstick in front of the mirror, she asked, "Huaijin, you really like Zhou Yi, don't you?"

Kong Huaijin nodded. "Yeah. What do you think of him?"

"He's amazing," Elena replied. "Talented, charismatic, humble, and so composed. Plus, he's so innocent—just teasing him a little made his ears turn red! I haven't met a guy like that in years. I envy you so much."

This encounter left Elena with an even better impression of Zhou Yi. Initially, she admired his talent, but now she found herself liking him as a person too.

In relationships, winning over a girl's best friend accounts for 90% of the battle. The remaining 10% depends on whether the guy avoids sabotaging himself later on.

Elena shared what she knew about Zhou Yi potentially joining Vocal Vanguard. Kong Huaijin seemed surprised.

"I don't doubt Zhou Yi's business acumen," Kong Huaijin admitted, "but the entertainment industry... It's ruthless. His integrity might make him vulnerable to harm."

"Especially now," she continued, "when so many internet users jump to conclusions without understanding the full story. As a newcomer with no connections, his path won't be easy."

Her concerns weren't unfounded. A director's editing choices could completely alter the narrative, and as a rookie, Zhou Yi wouldn't receive special treatment. Some might even exploit his lack of experience for the sake of generating buzz.

"Elena," Kong Huaijin said, "if he really enters the industry, you'll need to keep an eye out for him."

"You worry too much," Elena teased. "If Zhou Yi steps into the entertainment world, he'll explode in popularity. Endorsements will flood in—you'll see. But don't worry—I'll talk to my dad and make sure he's taken care of. He's joining Vocal Vanguard, and the director there is decent—not the type to sacrifice integrity for ratings. Relax."

Elena's reassurance put Kong Huaijin at ease. After a brief chat, they returned to the private room.

Elena asked Zhou Yi for an autograph, and the three took a group photo together before wrapping up the dinner.

Later, she posted the photo on TikTok along with Zhou Yi's signature, captioning it:

[Who's the lucky one who got an autograph from their idol?! So happy to have dinner with the singer I admire and my gorgeous bestie~]

The photo showcased three stunning individuals: Zhou Yi sandwiched between the two women, looking slightly awkward yet endearingly shy.

Fans flocked to comment, and Ms. Chen seized the opportunity to buy a trending topic. Marketing accounts joined in, buzzing with activity.

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[What kind of dream crossover is this?]

[OMG, it's the first time I've seen Zhou Yi looking so shy—so cute with that contrast!]

[A CEO can blush? I'm in love. I always thought Zhou Yi had a cold demeanor, but he's so innocent around beauties.]

[Is no one curious about their relationship? This is the first celebrity linked to Zhou Yi in the entertainment industry, right?]

[Isn't that the female CEO from the trending topics? Elena called her 'gorgeous bestie,' so it must be Kong Huaijin who organized the dinner. Zhou Yi and Kong Huaijin must be close.]

[Isn't Elena the daughter of that person? Zhou Yi's career is about to take off!]

This TikTok revealed quite a bit of information.

It was clear that Elena liked Zhou Yi. The entertainment industry is pragmatic, and with Zhou Yi on good terms with her, people wouldn't dare cross him.

To fans, Elena was a wealthy young woman with privileged access to resources—a "nepo baby," as some might call her. However, unlike other nepo babies criticized for poor skills, Elena was beautiful, debuted as a singer, and now acted well. Her fans never questioned her opportunities, while others could only envy her.

To her peers in the industry, Elena was a walking network of connections. She was generous—if she liked you, she'd bring you onto shows or offer you roles. No one disliked a young lady like her.

No one dared provoke her without reason. There was once a male director who didn't know her background and tried to leverage his position to exploit her. Soon after, he vanished from the industry, and his projects were shelved forever.

After this TikTok was posted, the director of Vocal Vanguard urged his team again to contact Zhou Yi's agent, determined to secure him for this season's lineup.

Zhou Yi was a walking source of traffic—wherever he went, the spotlight followed. The director couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.

From Kong Huaijin repeatedly visiting Huaihai University to the show's persistent invitations to Zhou Yi—this was influence.