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Chapter 1100: A subtle charm is worse than an open fire; "The Story of Minglan" gradually dominates the small screen.

The moon didn't sleep tonight.

While Wang Churan was tossing and turning, unable to sleep because of Zhou Yutang, another woman was also awake.

"What are you and Wang Churan talking about?"

"It's nothing."

Hu Lianxin hooked her arms around the back of Zhou Yutang's neck, sat on his lap, and smiled brightly: "I just chatted with Sister Chuan about things on set. I'm leaving the set tomorrow, so please take good care of her for me, boss."

The mountain city just experienced a sudden storm tonight.

Zhou Yutang lightly lifted Hu Lianxin's smooth, jade-like chin with his fingertips, then brushed past the fragrant strands of hair by her ear, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Hu Lianxin nuzzled her cheek against Zhou Yutang's palm, her voice growing increasingly sweet: "Master, I can't bear to part with you."

"We can do a video call then."

"You're always thinking about doing bad things."

The little fox spirit twisted her body in protest: "Videos can't really keep you by my side."

Zhou Yutang gently patted her head in a comforting manner.

The sensible little fox spirit obediently lowered her head, just as she was about to unleash her charm, when a series of rapid and rhythmic knocks suddenly sounded on the door.

"Could it be...could it be that the Empress herself has come to check up on us with her entourage?!"

The thought instantly popped into Hu Lianxin's mind. The little fox spirit was so frightened that she almost jumped off Zhou Yutang's lap, her face turning several shades pale.

Seeing Hu Lianxin's sudden change in expression, Zhou Yutang couldn't help but chuckle: "What's the panic? Go open the door."

Zhang Tianai, who was only wearing a flight attendant uniform over a long down jacket, was a little confused when she saw Hu Lianxin tiptoeing to open the door.

What are you doing here!?

Then, almost simultaneously, they both blurted it out.

An eerie silence ensued, their gazes briefly meeting in the air.

Oh wow, I can tell from their eyes, they're all here to discuss script readings in the dark.

"Come in."

Zhou Yutang leaned back on the sofa, one hand casually resting on the armrest.

A simple, unassuming sentence was enough to defuse the tense confrontation once again.

Hu Lianxin stepped aside to let the person in. She smelled the fragrance that wafted past her and couldn't help but curl her lips: "Hmph, I thought you had some tricks up your sleeve. This uniform fetish is something I've already mastered."

As Zhang Tianai entered the room, she immediately noticed the torn stockings on the carpet, and her heart sank.

Well, well, this little vixen is no pushover.

Although the two didn't speak to each other on set, they developed a wonderful tacit understanding.

Zhang Tianai wanted to read the script in the dark, but Hu Lianxin had other commitments, such as being a little vixen eating candy. Zhang Tianai was always scheduled for night scenes by the crew.

Chen Duling went to great lengths to maintain a balanced approach to things, arranging his schedule countless times, which caused him considerable resentment.

Zhang Tianai wasn't stupid; how could she not know who had instructed her? However, her insecurity grew stronger. Tonight, she had agreed to read the Moonlight script, but the little vixen had interfered again, leaving her feeling somewhat aggrieved.

The room was warm and cozy, with the heating on.

Zhang Tianai's beautiful eyes swept across the room, finally landing on Zhou Yutang, who was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, engrossed in watching a drama. Her tone carried a hint of resentment: "Looks like I came at the wrong time."

"You came just in time."

Zhou Yutang looked up at the screen and patted the empty seat next to her.

With Maoyan's IPO imminent, he had a two-hour video conference tonight and was also busy giving private lessons to his little vixen. He only had time to watch "The Story of Minglan" now.

Zhang Tianai then went over to him, took off her long down jacket and threw it aside, and sat down next to him.

It's normal for jealousy to simmer in a fishpond, with everyone vying for favor.

Zhou Yutang always turned a blind eye.

The Grand Commander is extremely busy with state affairs; how could he possibly have the time or inclination to deal with such trivial matters?
It's fine to be a little jealous and sarcastic, and a little playful rivalry is also acceptable. But if people go too far and start pulling each other's hair and fighting, it will be very detrimental to unity.

With so many people and eyes on the set, it's hard to guarantee that the news won't get out. How will the team be managed after that?
"Boss, I'm going to take a shower now."

Zhou Yutang gave her a look, and the little fox spirit, whose eyes had been darting around, immediately became obedient, turned around, grabbed her pajamas, and went into the bathroom.

Zhang Tianai was slightly taken aback.

I was originally thinking about how to give a tea ceremony performance that would make me look dignified but also embarrass my brat, but I didn't expect that I would have no room to perform at all.

After watching Hu Lianxin enter the bathroom, with the sound of running water, Zhou Yutang finally spoke, "You'll stay here tonight. I have something to tell you."

"Ah."

As soon as Zhang Tianai responded, her fragrant body was pulled into his arms.

She struggled symbolically for a moment, then went along with it and leaned into his arms.

Zhang Tianai has never been able to resist this man.

Feeling a strange thrill from being intimate in front of Hu Lianxin, Zhang Tianai leaned against Zhou Yutang's chest and asked:
"Where does she sleep?"

The reason she disliked Hu Lianxin was largely because this arrogant young lady, who had reached her peak right from her debut, was too high-profile and somewhat conceited.

Furthermore, Zhou Yutang is simply not able to be in two places at once; if he spends more time here, he will naturally have less time there.

Hu Lianxin's time on set has taken up a lot of the time she could spend with Zhou Yutang.

There are also separate rooms outside.

"Let her go, I'll go with her."

How could she allow someone else to sleep soundly beside her bed? Aibao was about to throw a tantrum and get Zhou Yutang to kick this little vixen out.

"Mango has a project recently."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Yutang's hand was already on her leg, and he said slowly, "The prospects are good. I originally wanted to ask Xiao Hu to play the role, but I think her acting skills are not up to par. You'll have to take the part."

"Really."

Zhang Tianai's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she instantly forgot all about being a "little vixen." She grabbed Zhou Yutang's arm and pressed him for answers.

"What project?"

In her eyes, receiving a "good prospect" comment from Zhou Yutang was basically a guarantee of a hit drama of the year.

"The Great Song Youth Chronicles, they invited Wang Juan and a group from the creative center to compile the script. I took a look and it's quite outstanding."

Zhou Yutang pulled out WeChat and, in front of Aibao, sent a message to Wang Shuo, the top producer at Mango TV, inquiring about the matter.

Wang Shuo, a veteran of Hunan TV and the person in charge of this project, replied quickly:
"Don't worry, Mr. Zhou, I'll have my team connect with Ms. Zhang Tianai's management team tomorrow."

Since the Grand Commander had requested the female lead, he could only apologize to the person originally chosen through connections.

It's not that you don't have strong enough connections, sister.

It must have been a divine being with extraordinary abilities who cast the spell.

Zhang Tianai couldn't resist giving the man a big kiss on the cheek, then gently blew air into his ear:
"Boss, is Xiao Hu prettier or am I prettier?"

"She's still too young."

Zhou Yutang shook his head and chuckled: "It has to be you."

At times like these, even a second's hesitation is disrespectful to the professionalism of aquaman.

But then again, Zhang Tianai, who just turned 30, is at the peak of her feminine charm.

In addition, she never missed a day of daily exercise, yoga, Pilates, and other body-shaping routines, resulting in a slender waist that could be grasped in one hand. Governor Zhou had already experienced firsthand the power of her long, straight legs.

Tonight, he's going to learn a thing or two again.

The morning air in the mountain town was a bit chilly.

Zhou Yutang got up on time to prepare for self-discipline training.

Perhaps the movement was too large and woke Hu Lianxin.

The little fox spirit opened her sleepy eyes and hugged his waist from behind.

Zhou Yutang turned around and gave him a loving kiss, then got up without hesitation to use the restroom. After washing up, he worked out in the hotel gym and took care of his overseas business.

Wenwen Township is the Tomb of Heroes.

Zhou Yutang knew very well that health was the most important thing.

He has maintained the habit of exercising early in the morning for many years, which is also his secret to maintaining his high energy levels.

After he left, Hu Lianxin glanced at Zhang Tianai, who was wrapped in a quilt on the other side, and a hint of fear flashed in her peach blossom eyes.

I never expected this. I thought that open flattery was no match for subtle charm, but who knew Aibao had such tricks up her sleeve.

Despite her dislike for him, Hu Lianxin had to admit it.

Aibao, who started her career as a model, certainly has substantial resources and is a formidable competitor that should not be underestimated.

"You must have woken up early, stop pretending to be asleep."

After getting up and listening to the voice message sent by her agent, the little vixen gently touched Zhang Tianai's buttocks with her toe.

"none of your business."

"."

When two people don't see eye to eye, a single word is too much. Without Zhou Yutang present, their conversation was not as intense as it had been the night before.

Zhang Tianai also turned to reply to the message, and when she sat up, her chest swayed, revealing a dazzling display of her breasts that made people dizzy.

Damn, so what if he's a big shot?

It must be a combination of advanced technology and ruthless skill!
Hu Lianxin glanced down subconsciously, then comforted herself.

It's okay, they're cute even when they're small, and they might even have a second growth spurt.

After the absurd things that happened last night, Zhang Tianai was still feeling ashamed and embarrassed when she woke up, and didn't know how to face it, so she simply pretended to be asleep.

Upon receiving the audition invitation from her agent for Wang Shuo's "Young Blood" from Mango TV, Zhang Tianai was overjoyed and immediately began discussing the schedule with her assistant.

"The commercial shoot scheduled for the day after tomorrow has been postponed to the 15th. I'll go to Hunan TV for an audition first, and also coordinate with Hunan TV's New Year's Eve Gala rehearsals."

As the agent of a popular celebrity, I usually coordinate the schedule and appearances the day before, and then confirm them again in the morning.

The flight attendant uniform from last night was in a state of complete damage and could not be worn out. Zhang Tianai's assistant received the news and sent up clothes and medicine first.

Upon seeing Hu Lianxin wearing Governor Zhou's men's shirt, the assistant's pupils dilated in shock.

She quickly lowered her head, pretending not to see anything, but her mind had already automatically conjured up 100 episodes of R-rated Japanese romance dramas.
……

"Is 'Put Your Head on My Shoulder' a project of ours?"

"It seems to be an urban drama produced by Tencent. They say President Zhou has spoken to Tencent, and Director Wu is personally in charge of the production. They've definitely cast us as the lead actor!"

"It's not even certain that it will become popular."

Zhou Yutang sent a message at the last minute saying that he had work to deal with, so Hu Lianxin went straight to the airport without eating breakfast.

Hearing her assistant's flattery, Hu Lianxin said a few modest words, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

My master really cares about me!

She picked up her phone and sent a sweet, coquettish voice message to Zhou Yutang, then took some beautiful selfies on the Jiangdong private plane arranged by the Grand Commander.

She carefully selected several selfies from different angles and shared them, along with news of her new drama, with her best friend Wang Churan.

"congratulations."

With dark circles under her eyes, Wang Churan originally wanted to ask Hu Lianxin where she had gone last night.

But upon opening the photo, it seems unnecessary to ask such a question.

When Zhou Yutang first debuted, she would share her life updates, but in recent years she has rarely updated her social media.

He certainly wouldn't show off his private jet.

However, observant fans had already noticed that the interior decoration of this plane had appeared in the background of one of Chen Duling's work vlogs, which has been widely circulated online.

Wang Churan, with his meticulous attention to detail, compared the two and found they matched.

Her feelings suddenly became complicated, like a spice bottle had been spilled.

Envy, jealousy, and a hint of inexplicable disappointment.
……

Since its premiere, "The Story of Minglan" has attracted countless viewers thanks to the strong promotion across all platforms of the Jiangdong Group.

On the day of its premiere, Hunan TV's ratings broke 2%, and the online broadcast results were not bad either, but controversy followed.

Viewers who disliked the show mainly complained that the pacing was too slow.

It's supposed to be a female-centric drama, but she doesn't even appear in the first two episodes, can you believe it?
Many book fans also protested that the venerable and eloquent Old Master Sheng in the original novel was portrayed as a henpecked coward in the drama, which was somewhat out of touch with the historical context.

The eldest daughter-in-law, on the other hand, is like a tigress, with an overly exaggerated personality.

Of course, most viewers were supporters, feeling that the family ensemble drama was wonderful, the conflicts within the Sheng family were portrayed delicately, and the costumes, props and sets were stunning. The overall narrative pace was just right, making it another high-quality period drama presented by Jiangdong in collaboration with Daylight Entertainment.

After the first day, the ratings declined slightly, but as the plot entered the main storyline, the ratings began to stabilize.

The show consistently garnered over 100 million views per day, firmly holding the top spot on the popularity charts for dramas across all platforms during the same period.

The neighboring kiwi fruit company had "So Young 2: Never Gone," starring Li Yifeng and Yang Ying, both top-tier celebrities, which originally had some popularity.

But after "The Story of Minglan" premiered.

He collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The two fan groups are currently busy shifting blame and arguing, and are fighting fiercely.

If "The Story of Minglan" gradually dominated the small screen in December...

As a result, the entire Chinese film market is somewhat desolate and lonely.

The Warner Bros. film "Crazy Rich Asians," which was a dark horse in Hollywood, seems to have had some difficulties adapting to the Chinese market after its introduction.

Despite numerous Hong Kong celebrities promoting "The Monster Hunt" in hopes of making it a hit during the Lunar New Year season, the film has performed poorly.

Following its opening day, the box office grossed 1075 million on the second day and 830 million on the third day.

Even on a weekday, it failed to turn things around, earning only 580 million, completely signaling its demise!

However, Fatty Yu is like an unkillable cockroach.

When "The Monster Hunt" arrived in Hong Kong, it was as if nothing had happened. Then, they began to vigorously promote the two other mainstream commercial blockbusters in their hands.

Sweet Princess has joined the cast of "The Bravest" and another film, "The Rescue", also held a press conference recently, which was quite a grand event.

Renowned Hong Kong director Lam Chiu-yin personally penned the film "The Rescue." The press conference was attended not only by several important leaders from the Ministry of Transport and the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Transport, but also by the president of the People's Transportation Publishing House, who accompanied the audience throughout.

"To be honest, when I first received this project, I was both excited and deeply aware of the great responsibility. It is a great honor and a heavy trust to work with the Ministry of Transport to create the first commercial blockbuster in China focusing on maritime rescue."

"How can we live up to everyone's expectations and do this project the best it can be? This question kept me up all night thinking about it."

"Finally, I specifically consulted Mr. Zhou from Jiangdong about his successful experience, and his words truly benefited me greatly."

(End of this chapter)