Start with a pop song

Chapter 270 Teacher Song and His Friends Concert 1; Crazy Little Nezha; The Mature Woman Who Solved the Source
The polite teacher, Mr. Song, let his friend have his fill before it was his turn.

The classic status of this song needs no further explanation.

Even though this is the first time it has met the world in this time and space.

But at this time, "Teacher Song's friends" Chen Ting, Yin Hong, Ji Xiang, and Lao Zhao, among others.

The backing vocalists, who had also heard the song during previous rehearsals, were all incredibly excited.

When Lao Chen heard this song, his first reaction was: I finally understand why Song Dao wanted to sing a Cantonese song.

They're absolutely amazing!

"Today, I watch the snow fall in the cold night, my heart, now cold, drifts far away. I chase after it in the wind and rain, unable to distinguish its shadow in the fog. The sky is vast, the sea is wide, but will you and I change..."

A chorus of voices echoed: "Who hasn't changed?"

"Countless times, I have faced cold stares and ridicule, but I have never given up on my ideals. In a moment of confusion, I felt a sense of loss, but it has faded without me realizing it, and the love in my heart has faded."

Harmony: "Who understands me?"

A new song was released, but no one knew how to sing it, and the stadium with tens of thousands of people was completely silent.

Fans waved glow sticks and held up light boards.

Inside the VIP area.

Fang Tianlong, who had been having a blast all night, suddenly quieted down.

There are hardly any cold nights in Hong Kong, but he could instantly empathize with that state of mind.

Having been in the industry for so many years, chasing after things through wind and rain, unable to see the direction in the fog.

I have felt sorry for myself, I have been saddened, and I have faced countless cold stares and ridicule.

Have you never given up?
In fact, there are.

Men who grow up in adversity are not as strong as many people think.

There was no sense of nonchalance or ease when giving interviews after achieving great success.

One person went crazy, the other shed tears; both have experienced it.

Fang Tianlong knew very well that the songs his younger brother Song wrote for him were all "beautified" versions of the originals!
In reality, he was far less powerful than he claimed.

They weren't that strong either.

Only those who grew up together back then can understand this feeling.

But I only understood it in the past.

Later, he became famous and rose to prominence, and those people... were no longer so willing to understand.

He dared not dwell on past hardships and cherish present happiness.

As soon as he opens his mouth, his former brothers will either say: "You're so awesome now, it's a bit pretentious to talk about those things anymore."
Or it could be: You may have faced difficulties, but your efforts paid off. What about us?

Getting people to understand is not that easy.
Gradually, he began to learn to "seal his heart and lock away his love," keeping his true feelings hidden.

I've learned to be hypocritical in the face of this world.

I also realized that people don't like to hear the truth; they only like to hear what they want to hear.

He got it.

So they became shrewd and worldly-wise.

Given his current age of fifty, he shouldn't be easily moved anymore.

However, after hearing this song, Fang Tianlong's eyes still unconsciously became slightly moist.

"Forgive me for my untamed, unrestrained, and freedom-loving life..."

In the chorus, Song's sudden outburst of emotion caught many people off guard.

On the stage, the tall and slender figure still showed little expression on his face.

Yet, his voice contained an explosive amount of emotion!

"I'm also afraid that one day I'll fall down!"

"Anyone can betray their ideals."

"Why would I be afraid of a day when it's just you and me..."

Still dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, Song Dao, looking clean and neat, held an electric guitar and performed a solo interlude.

He exuded an aura of coldness and arrogance.

him at this time.

He finally looks more like a king on stage.

Whether it's the equally passionate Chen Ting or the completely immersed Yin Hong.

Whether it's guitar or bass, they can be considered top-notch in Xia Kingdom, like Ji Xiang and Lao Zhao, the number one drummer in Xia Kingdom.

They all willingly became supporting characters.

Just to play a supporting role to the young king on this stage.

Fang Tianlong's eyes, brimming with tears, were unexpectedly projected onto the large screen by the camera.

It also "challenged" countless people watching the live stream online.

The scene erupted in frantic screams.

The internet was in an uproar.

"This song is awesome!"

"Can anyone tell me where Dog Bro's limits really are?"

"It's amazing!"

"Forgive me for my unruly and unrestrained love of freedom throughout my life... I'm afraid only Song Dao could write lyrics like this."

I cried while listening to it.

"How many times have you faced cold stares and ridicule... and still dared to curse me!"

"I can't hold it in anymore..."

……

Beijing.

At Qin Yuan's home.

Lin Fei, who hadn't come to watch the concert in person, stared blankly at Song Dao's cold and aloof face on the huge television screen.

Last night, she secretly told her mother that she was pregnant.

Mom didn't seem surprised at all.

The mother, who once even somewhat hated men, whether from old age or something else, simply held her hand gently.

"Mom will bring it to you later!"

Lin Fei wanted to take care of it herself.

You should raise your own child, of course.

However, her mother's attitude surprised her somewhat.

Although she didn't say that Yan Yan was also pregnant.

But Mom must know that Yan Yan's relationship with Teacher Song isn't as simple as it seems.

Otherwise, why celebrate the Lunar New Year on two separate occasions every year?
"Don't you even ask who the father of the child is?" she couldn't help but ask.

"What nonsense are you talking about, child?" Her mother gave her a kind but smug look. "Who else could it be but Xiao Song?"

"And then?" she asked again.

"What then? And then what?" the mother asked rhetorically, then said, "He's different from your father. It's not because he's incredibly successful in his career, although that's important, of course. Material things are the foundation of a good life. But what's more important is how good he is to you."

"Is that enough?" Lin Fei rarely acted like this with her mother. In her youth, she never even dared to imagine that she would ever speak to her mother like this in her lifetime.

"Of course not enough." Her mother didn't "disappoint" her, answering her very seriously.

"People are all hypocritical. The same thing will be treated differently by different people. A genius like Song Dao, who comes along only once in a thousand years, cannot be treated the same way as an ordinary person."

This was probably the first time her mother had talked to her about this man in such a frank and open way since the day she met Song.

"Even if someone like him has some so-called problems and flaws in his conduct, they are not intolerable."

In response to her mother's assessment of Teacher Song, Lin Fei asked, "If my father had been like that back then, would you have had the same attitude?"

The mother was silent for a moment, then said, "You might be angry, but you'll understand. Anger is an instinct, it's selfishness at work, it's human nature; you'll understand, what right or ability do you have to monopolize someone like that?"

The pop diva never expected to hear such words from her mother.

At this moment, she is gazing at the man on the screen.

A happy smile appeared on the beautiful young girl's face.

"Luckily, I have some psychological issues."

If she really reacted to Song Dao in the same way her mother said, then...

Even if they come to their senses later, they've probably already lost the opportunity.

It is precisely because she never intended to possess this man from the very beginning that she has achieved everything she has today.

At that time, she didn't want to monopolize it, mainly because she had no confidence or interest in marriage and relationships.

I just want to find someone I love and spend my life with them.

She didn't want any responsibility or constraints.

But it was precisely this man who, without restraining her, took on the greatest responsibility for her.

Teacher Song, I really love you!
……

The concert scene.

Wearing a hat and mask, Zhao Xue, mingling among the fans, also stared intently at the man on stage.

It's too far away; I can't see it very clearly.

But she still preferred to look at the people on stage rather than the big screen above her head.

If she wants to watch it on a screen, she might as well go home.

That would make it clearer.

"Still free and myself, forever singing my song, traveling thousands of miles..."

The accompaniment was generous and passionate, coupled with the powerful explosive force hidden in Song Dao's voice.

This caused countless fans at the scene to scream wildly.

Zhao Xue also felt a surge of excitement.

This man is so handsome!

Perhaps only women like Lin Fei and Yan Yu are truly worthy of him?
Even proud goddesses like Lin Fei and Yan Yu stayed quietly and obediently by his side.

This kind of man is both terrifying and captivating.

The reason why he chose to travel alone after filming "War and Beauty" is that

It was because she wanted to use this time to calm herself down completely.

Think carefully about the future.

Think about it, if you ask for nothing and want nothing, and stay by the side of such a man for the rest of your life.

Will I regret it?
Before she could fully figure it out, she heard the news that Song Dao was going to hold a concert.

Of course, she could ask Song Dao for the tickets directly.

But she didn't do that.

Instead, she had her assistant buy one for her from a scalper.

She wanted to watch Song Dao's concert from the perspective of a pure audience member or fan.

Even after this concert ends, she still can't let go of this man.

Never mind then!
I absolutely must find a chance to sleep with this man!

Then she shamelessly followed him around.

Because there will never be another man in this world who can make a woman like her, who has been in the entertainment industry since childhood, so infatuated and so unable to let go.

Just like the fans who are going crazy around us right now.

One glimpse of Song Dao and your life is ruined.

It's true that I can never get out of this situation again.

……

on the stage.

After singing "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies" by Song Dao, he completely took control of the stage.

With the soul-stirring melody of the electric guitar, another new Cantonese song is here!
Grey Track

"I keep indulging in alcohol, when will it numb my depression, and bring peace to everything that's past? I can't break through the wall, I can't see the road ahead, what more struggles and coercion will there be..."

"Treading along gray paths, amidst the abyss's reflections, I've already borne a lifetime of hardship, regret, and sighs, yet your eyes are filled with tears. This world has unknowingly become empty..."

The power of literature is immense.

But it needs to go through the brain first.

There are requirements for the audience.

At least illiterate people will find it difficult to appreciate the charm of literature.

But the music is different.

It goes straight to the heart.

Even those who are barely literate can feel all sorts of power in the songs.

Such as now.

You don't need a deep understanding of literature.

As long as they are Song Dao's fans.

Based on their understanding of Song Dao's past.

You can basically feel Song Dao's inner world directly from this song.

This man, who stands on the stage like a god, radiating light, has also experienced the darkest moments of his life.

In the eyes of people in this world: his parents have passed away, his girlfriend has betrayed him, and even entering the entertainment industry means he is constantly being attacked.

So, whether he's the young emperor of the entertainment industry, the godfather of the music field, or a billionaire... those are just how others see him.

But deep down, there was always a dark area in his heart.

—If you don't want me to go, then don't go.

Perhaps this "not wanting" doesn't refer to the so-called ex-girlfriend.

The sudden death of a loved one is like a never-ending, continuous rain throughout one's life.

Through these songs, people seem to have glimpsed a part of Song Dao's inner world.

The next song further confirmed many people's speculations about him.

Who Will Accompany Me on My Journey?

"Where is ahead? Who will accompany me on my journey? There is no guidance ahead, and if I go down, it will only be a narrow alley. Seeking dreams is like chasing a fire. Who will share my madness? The long night is getting colder, but I can only try my best to hide."

"So many naive ideals, so many disappointments, silently facing despair, so many wounds in the heart."

There was a hint of sadness in Song Dao's voice.

His eyes remained calm and serene, and even as many fans screamed in distress, he seemed to be enacting someone else's story.

"Only by forgetting the things we said in the past can we realize how much we have changed since yesterday; only by persevering can we overcome the uncertainty of tomorrow's journey, and when we are tired enough to feel nothing, we should stop regretting or worrying about anything."

So, the things that countless people envy are not actually what you truly want, are they?

Countless fans at the scene were deeply moved at this moment.

However, those around Song Dao interpreted these opinions in a different way.

……

Kong Xi, who was recording a program in Northeast China, was lying lazily on the big bed in the hotel.

A large flat board was placed on the raised leg.

The cat-like girl with the somersault looked on gently and spoke softly: "Master, I'm here with you! No matter what, I'll always be by your side."

Recently, her mother hasn't asked much about her relationship.

Because she really is too busy.

Every day I'm either recording a show or on my way to record one.

Of course, this is also related to her attitude.

When I talked to my mom on the phone the other day, she seriously shared her inner thoughts—

"Don't pressure me to date or get married. I'm currently in the prime of my career, and I'm perfectly fine on my own!"

"What will happen in the future? What future? Does one have to get married in this life?"

"Maybe you and my dad have a good relationship now, but don't think I was too young to know anything back then. You two did have arguments, and I remember them all."

"So please stop asking me these questions. I'm fine on my own."

She didn't give her parents long lectures or give examples, nor did she rebel so much as to say that she would never go home again.

It simply made the attitude very clear.

That's it.

We're all adults; we should take responsibility for our own lives.

……

After Song Dao sang these three songs in a row on stage.

Speaking into the microphone: "The next song is dedicated to my mother."

The screams from the audience suddenly intensified.

Fans all know that Song Dao's mother has passed away.

After singing several somewhat melancholic songs, the song he suddenly dedicated to his mother instantly aroused great anticipation among the audience.

"A pair of hands beyond compare, always offering warmth from behind, always nagging but always caring, I feel so guilty for not appreciating them..."

"She didn't approve of my immersion in scales, but my mother's love never wavered. I was determined to break through the struggle in my heart and repay her kindness!"

This song, with its upbeat melody and moving lyrics, instantly resonated with the entire audience.

All the fans were screaming and cheering.

Even though the earlier songs were a bit melancholic, they were still very popular with fans at the concert.

To reiterate, releasing a new song through a concert is itself a powerful expression of confidence that gets people excited.

Song Dao, who is not yet thirty years old, is indeed a unique king on his own stage!
This is his time.

It also belongs to the time of that band in another time and space.

At this moment, it seemed as if some unseen force was exerting itself upon Song.

That talented figure seemed to be standing shoulder to shoulder with him on the stage, gazing at him with gentle eyes.

At the same time, his mother's gentle face appeared in his mind, her eyes full of love...

"It is your warm gaze that teaches me to look ahead with determination, reminding me that I should not give up when I fall."

"How can I ever repay the debt of gratitude I owe my parents?"

Whether in his past life or this one, he has no way to repay his mother's kindness.

Love is boundless.

I was able to miraculously appear in such a time and space; perhaps it's all thanks to your protection?

and so--

Please allow me to say that I truly love you!

This is real rock and roll!

Top-notch singing skills, profound lyrics, and beautifully melodious music.

It allows everyone to be deeply immersed in the emotions contained in the song.

At this point, the internet was in complete uproar.

……

"As expected of a farewell concert, it featured almost entirely new songs, and every single one of them was so beautiful."

"This is absolutely at the level of a singing god; he handles every emotion so perfectly."

"A song dedicated to my mother, so beautiful, yet so heartbreaking."

"This is completely different from all the songs he wrote before. He uses a rock style to write about maternal love. Song Dao is amazing!"

"This is a true idol! In this era where people call their fathers 'Old Deng' and their mothers 'birthing machines,' and where beasts abound, Song Dao is the one who truly deserves to represent us, the post-2000 generation!"

"This is the traditional virtue of our Chinese civilization. Those ignorant people who make random jokes online all day long should listen carefully!"

"What's most amazing about Dog Brother is that he never lectures his fans. He only uses his songs to tell us what kind of attitude we should have towards our country, our family, our friends, our relationships, our lives, and our careers."

"I was disappointed when I first heard it was a rock concert, but now I feel just glad and grateful to audiovisual and my show for letting us see this live broadcast."

"Circular Warrior is indeed so awesome that he has no blind spots. No matter what song or style, he can handle it perfectly."

……

The scene at the concert.

After singing the song, Song Dao took a sip of water from the thermos handed to him by a staff member.

He still looked as dashing and handsome as ever.

Holding his guitar, he walked to the other side.

The band is shaped like the Chinese character "口" (mouth), and there are always microphone stands prepared in advance no matter which direction the member is facing.

Did you enjoy tonight's song?

"like!"

The thunderous roar perfectly illustrates his current popularity and status.

"I'm a little worried that people will get tired of listening to rock music."

"will not!"

"But I still wrote some relatively gentle songs."

Screams erupted from all directions.

"Here's a song called 'Lover' for everyone!"

His response was an even louder scream.

"Hoping you didn't secretly shed tears for me again, I don't want to leave your heart empty..."

"..."

"Is it fate, affection, childlike innocence, or an accident? There are tears, guilt, sacrifices, and endurance..."

Song Dao raised one arm and waved it gently.

On the side of the stands he was facing, everyone raised their arms, holding glow sticks, and waved them in unison.

On the dark stage, fluorescent lights twinkled.

When the song reaches its climax—

How many seasons and seasons have changed this?

Love remains unchanged despite countless hardships.

How many sighs echo in the sea of ​​people?

Almost everyone at the scene was utterly shocked.

These songs are so good!
People often think of rock music as a kind of raucous song like "No Place to Hide," where the music alone can get people's blood pumping.

True rock music includes both grand and profound songs like "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies" and songs about maternal love like "Truly Love You".

There's also "Lover," a rock love song that's completely different from the feel of popular love songs!
Song kept changing positions, facing each side of the stands.

After that, she sang a series of songs including "Amani", "Midnight Lament", "Endless Emptiness", "The Days Gone", "No Regrets in This Life", "Farmer", "The Earth", "Looking Afar", "Cold Rainy Night", "Goodbye Ideal", "Old Footprints", and "Tearless Regret".

The scene was absolutely electric!
They said they'd use a concert as a new song release event, and they kept their word.

It was absolutely brutal!

These classic Cantonese rock songs not only ignited the hearts of the audience.

It also left those watching the concert via live stream completely speechless.

"god!"

"Godlike!"

"Kneel down and listen to this!"

"That's awesome!"

"Even though they are all new songs, each one of them can easily move me."

"I suddenly remembered that people online often criticize Brother Dog, saying that if he doesn't write a song of a certain type for a while, he'll run out of inspiration. Now I realize that he's just lazy, and he never hits a creative block!"

"That's amazing, and terrifying. Will Song's upcoming tour be like this at every concert?"

"Dozens of songs in one concert... almost all of them are new songs. Is he going crazy? Is he trying to completely satisfy us before retiring from the music scene?"

"I'd really like to argue and say that it's not enough, it's simply not enough, but when I think about how many concerts Dog Bro still has to do, I'm honestly starting to believe it!"

"When will Jingting Music release these songs? As a rock fan of twenty years, I feel like this is the happiest day ever!"

"Not only am I looking forward to hearing these songs on Jingting Music, but I'm also really looking forward to when Song Dao will release CDs and vinyl records. I'll definitely buy two or three sets of each album! One set to listen to, and the rest to collect!"

What's even more impressive is Song Dao's high-intensity singing; his voice remained almost completely unchanged from beginning to end!
There wasn't even the slightest hint of hoarseness!
Next, they sang "Intertwined Hearts" and "For You, For Me".

Finally, the song used to conclude the performance was "Glorious Years"!
……

"The tolling of the bells signaled his return home, carrying a touch of melancholy in his life; his dark skin signified a lifetime of dedication and struggle against racial discrimination."

Many people's first reaction upon hearing this song is one of shock!
Dark skin?
In the struggle over skin color?
Is this a song... against racial discrimination?
"The years turn possessions into losses, weary eyes still hold hope..."

Song Dao sang all night, and his voice was still high-pitched and loud.

The song is so incredibly moving!
Especially during the climax—

"Today, only the remnants of my body remain, yet I greet the glorious years, embracing freedom amidst the storms; having endured a lifetime of wandering and struggle, I am confident I can change the future, but who can truly do that..."

We won't delve into the deeper meaning hidden in the lyrics for now.

That incredibly stable, explosive high note alone is enough to send chills down your spine.

At this moment, it seemed as if he was the only one left on the stage.

Even though he only sang a few songs during the opening segment, Chen Ting still seemed completely liberated tonight.

In the past, whenever he was on stage, he was always the main star!
He is the king of the stage.

It dominates the emotions of every listener.

However, tonight, Old Chen, who was willing to play a supporting role, had an unprecedented sense of clarity!

So cool!
This is what real music playing is all about!
The key point is that the songs Song Dao wrote are really amazing! If there is one person in this world who could make Chen Ting willingly become a guitarist.

Only Song arrived!
This night was truly breathtaking.

This scene also moved Lao Chen, who had witnessed countless instances of fans' frenzy.

When Song finished singing the last song, it was time for her to take her final bow.

Even though everyone knew that there would be seven more concerts in this stadium, they were still filled with reluctance.

Many people, in particular, only managed to snag tickets for today's concert.

Those extra screenings were all sold out within just one hour!

therefore.

Countless people were chanting "Encore!"

By this time, Song's white shirt was already soaked with sweat.

Despite the top-quality materials used in Xia Yun's haute couture clothing, his perfect physique was still somewhat revealed.

The performance was met with constant screams.

He smiled and said, "As everyone knows, I have many more concerts to come. Tomorrow will still be a rock concert, but what I will perform tomorrow will be different from today; it will be more pop."

Fans who couldn't buy tickets for the next round immediately started screaming wildly.

"So today, I'll sing one more song, please consider it as me feeling sorry for you, okay?"

"A song called 'Half a Catty, Eight Taels' is dedicated to everyone!"

Amidst the reluctant screams and shouts of countless fans, the heavy yet joyful drumbeats began.

This song, which incorporates a lot of slang and is written for countless working-class people, mocking unscrupulous bosses, immediately ignited the passion of all the local Hong Kong fans who could understand it!
The song is full of local flavor and life, vividly depicting the living conditions and psychological feelings of cattle and horses.

Younger fans might not feel it as deeply, but many older fans at the event truly empathized with it.

Even Fang Tianlong, Xie Xiaofeng, Fang Zexi and their group couldn't help but laugh.

Countless people online are asking what these lyrics, which contain words they can't even recognize, mean.

Cantonese-speaking netizens were all laughing hysterically!
"My God, Song Dao is hilarious!"

"No, how did he come up with such a song?"

"Knowing that Brother Gou from Northeast China's mother is from Guangdong, it's really hard for someone who didn't grow up in Guangdong or Hong Kong to have such a subtle grasp of these slang terms!"

"Awesome, absolutely awesome! I can understand these lyrics, but they're so rare these days..."

"Haha, my dad just heard this song and laughed so hard. He said Song Dao is really amazing. At such a young age, he seems to have lived through their era."

"Amazing! Dog Bro is a god in the music industry!"

"How much more is he still hiding?"

"This song is so cheerful..."

……

Eleven o'clock at night.

The hashtag #SongDaoRockSpecialConcert# successfully surpassed "Nezha," which went viral upon its release today, and topped the headlines of major websites.

All the songs they performed tonight are now available on Jingting Music.

A chaotic fight!

A complete and utter chaotic battle!
On the major charts, almost no songs outside of the Faye Wong group can be seen in the top 50.

At this time, Song Dao and the others were still on their way back to the hotel.

It's still Brother Long's luxury van.

The group of people, who had a blast, were still full of energy.

Yin Hong looked at Song Dao and asked, "Is your throat alright?"

Song Dao smiled and shook his head: "Don't worry, Teacher Yin, there's no problem at all."

A rock concert is not as simple as it seems.

In particular, many of the songs Song sang tonight were high notes.

If it were someone like Old Chen, who is older, let alone the next round, they would have a hard time even finishing this one.

At this time, online discussions about songs such as "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies," "Nothing to My Name," "Glorious Years," and "Truly Love You" were incredibly popular.

It's not just Chinese websites; South Korean websites, Japanese websites, and many Western websites are also buzzing with discussion about it.

Rock music may seem like a niche genre, but it has a huge fan base worldwide!

In particular, the songs sung by Song Dao are all classic tracks from another time and space.

It's incredibly easy to make something happen in a space-time with the same civilization and language.

His current status in the music industry has greatly enhanced the reach of these songs and increased the number of listeners.

Song Dao has now reached the point where even singing "Two Tigers" can become a hit overnight.

……

The next day.

On the morning of June 17th.

When Song Dao woke up, he received the complete box office figures for "Nezha" on its opening day.

Including the midnight screenings on June 16th, the box office has successfully surpassed 2 billion yuan even before the film was released overseas!

It set a new box office record for films in Xia Kingdom.

Major official media outlets, the morning news channel of Xia State, and countless independent media outlets all celebrated.

Little Nezha successfully snatched back the trending headline that rightfully belonged to him from his "father".

at the same time.

Major entertainment companies in Xia Kingdom also issued congratulatory messages.

Are you envious?
In this atmosphere of widespread public excitement, no one really cares whether people are envious or not.

Two billion a day!

This near-frenzied box office performance can only prove one thing.

The Xia Kingdom in 2028 is awesome! (The author's greatest hope)!
This not only demonstrates the maturity of China's film industry, but also shows countless people the power of Eastern culture!
We already saw it back in "The Monkey King," but "Nezha" made it even clearer to everyone.

Only a civilization that belongs to oneself is the most suitable civilization!
The things passed down from our ancestors are right there. In fact, even without Song Dao bringing the mythological stories from another time and space, the Xia Kingdom in this world is not lacking in good content.

However, no one had developed them before.

How much box office revenue will this "demon pill" transformed into Nezha ultimately generate?

Even prediction websites are confused.

Based on the total number of moviegoers in previous years, the current number of moviegoers in Xia Country is approximately over 600 million.

Almost half of the viewers had seen the previous "Monkey King" movie, plus many people watched it two, three, or even four or five times, and some die-hard fans even booked out entire theaters.

Ultimately, it created a phenomenal box office phenomenon.

The popularity of "Nezha" is now much higher than that of "Monkey King" before.

Of the more than 600 million total viewers, if 400 million or 500 million of them went to see Nezha.

Based on ticket prices of 40 to 50 yuan, Nezha's total box office revenue in Chinese cinemas should be between 20 billion and 30 billion yuan.

This number is scary!

The average annual box office over the past decade has been around 60 billion.

As a result, Nezha might take up half of the market?
If we add "The Unknown," which wasn't significantly affected by the huge success of "Ne Zha," wouldn't that mean Earth Pictures has already made up more than half of its films this year?
What if we include "A Chinese Ghost Story," which was released during this year's Spring Festival?

The entire industry was so shocked that it fell completely silent.

Earth Pictures, or more precisely, Song Dao, possesses such terrifying money-making ability that it's simply despair-inducing!
There is a limit to how much a movie can gross.

If a film doesn't resonate with people enough, many people simply won't go to the cinema.

In other words, the box office revenue of Xia Kingdom's films will not skyrocket because of the emergence of Earth Film Studio.

Its existence, to a certain extent, has indeed monopolized the box office revenue that should have belonged to other films.

But there's nothing we can do about it.

Just like the music scene.

With Song Dao constantly "feeding" his audience a feast, who would still want to eat coarse food?

The same applies to movies.

With so many good movies to watch, who would want to watch those poorly made, insincere films?
Song Dao and Yan Yu were having breakfast at the restaurant.

The mature woman is also speculating about the final box office of Nezha.

She thinks it can exceed 30 billion.

Song Dao believes that the domestic box office is probably only around 20 billion yuan.

It shouldn't be much taller than "The Great Sage".

Yin Hong, Lao Chen, Li Qingqing, and others who arrived later also joined the discussion.

Li Qingqing said, "I'm still quite optimistic. I think it should exceed 30 billion!"

Yin Hong's views were similar to Lao Chen's.

Yin Hongdao said, "Everyone says that there is a ceiling to total box office revenue, but the previous Great Sage Equal to Monkey King has already shown that a top-notch movie can attract a large number of people who would not normally go to the cinema."

Chen Ting said, "That's right, I think so too. For example, someone like me who hasn't wanted to go to the cinema for years, went to the cinema before because of my undercover work."

Jixiang brought over a tray: "I don't like watching movies even more, but I went to the theater to see several of Teacher Song's movies, and they were really good! I even fell in love with watching movies, and then I watched a few other movies, which were really bad. Since then, I've made up my mind to only watch movies from Earth Pictures."

Old Zhao sat down too: "Yes, there are many people like that around us. It's not because they have a good relationship with Teacher Song, but because Earth Pictures' films are really good!"

Li Qingqing said, "No matter what, there should be no doubt that our little Nezha will become the highest-grossing film in world film history."

This is true.

With the decline of Hollywood, Hollywood gradually faded away as well.

The movie that ranked number one many years ago had little substance and relied entirely on special effects; it was almost killed by "Monkey King" before.

This time, they definitely can't escape the Fire-Tipped Spear in the hand of Nezha, who is also a top-tier fighter.

Many people believe that the Xia Kingdom market alone should be enough to achieve success.

If we include overseas markets, it is estimated that we will eventually achieve a precipitous lead!
This mysterious Eastern power has truly risen to prominence in the film industry.

After breakfast, the group quickly arrived at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

Preparing for tonight's concert rehearsals.

……

Beijing.

Qin Garden.

I barely slept last night, constantly watching the real-time box office figures. I only slept for a little over two hours before waking up again.

I glanced at my phone; only two hours had passed.

My head feels a little dizzy, and my eyes are a bit sore.

Actually, he has been resting for a while now.

They originally wanted to continue making Nezha 2, but Song Dao "forbade" it.

They even gave him a scolding—

"Brother, we can't do this. You're playing like a suicidal person. Go out for a while!"

“If you make Nezha 2 right away, I’m afraid your whole condition will be seriously affected.”

He knew that Song Dao was right.

He's been so tired these past few years!
His team also needs to relax.

If this continues, even if he doesn't cause any problems, the people in the team will probably collapse.

Not everyone is like him, making a lot of money but too lazy to spend a single penny.

Aside from the most basic living expenses, there are almost no other costs.

People who have made money still want to enjoy themselves.

Houses, luxury cars, expensive watches, gourmet food, beautiful women... life can still be wonderful.

Nezha, in particular, has become a huge hit, and it's a foregone conclusion that it will top the world box office charts.

That is, he was unwilling to show off in public.

Many people in the team still wanted to experience that immense glory.

So he gritted his teeth and gave everyone a three-month break!
As for himself, he really didn't have anything to do.

The boss had asked him if he wanted to go to a concert, and he actually did want to.

But he was unwilling to be exposed to the public eye.

Now, if he goes out, he will be watched by someone without a doubt.

So I politely declined.

However, to his surprise, even though he stayed at home and didn't go out, there were still countless people watching him!

After waking up, Baozi couldn't fall back asleep, so she took a shower and did an hour of exercise.

When I checked my phone again after I got back, there were already several missed calls.

He changed his account back when the Monkey King became a sensation.

Nowadays, the only people who know his number are his parents, his friends (his carrier pigeon), a few colleagues at his company, and members of his team.

So he had no idea who this number with so many "7"s at the end belonged to.

I didn't even think about going back.

I thought to myself, if they really need to contact me, they should at least send me a text message first, right?

However, the other side attacked again very soon.

Baozi hesitated for a moment, then answered the phone.

"Hello. Who is this?"

Today, Mr. Bao is a bona fide billionaire, and he speaks and acts with far more confidence than before.

"Hello, my name is Li Ping, you may not know me..."

They introduced themselves and then asked him to meet them.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Li, I don't think there's any need for us to meet."

It turns out that it was the big boss behind Zhang Xia of Times Media. Although Baozi had no conflict with the other party.

But the boss had fought with them many times and was considered a true "enemy" in the circle.

He didn't want his boss to misunderstand.

The other party seemed to have anticipated his response, smiling as they said, "Mr. Bao, there's no need to be so aloof. As far as I know, Song Dao's profit-sharing percentage for your team isn't high, maybe 10% at most? I have plenty of money and connections that rival his. I'm willing to give you and your team at least 20%! This will allow you to set up your own studio and have absolute autonomy..."

Money moves people's hearts.

For ordinary people, even ten thousand or eight thousand can cause them to turn against each other.

Even someone of Li Ping's status and position couldn't ignore interests worth tens or hundreds of billions.

I want it so badly!

So they tried every means to get Baozi's phone number, and couldn't resist the urge to poach him.

Even though Baozi refused very decisively, he was still not giving up and made it clear on the phone.

The team receives 20% of the profits, and can also set up their own studios. In other words, the studios can take on a lot of key projects.

If you're ruthless, you can even earn 30% or 40%!

Based on a box office of 20 billion, the production company will ultimately receive approximately 40%.

That is, eight billion.

If you agree to Li Ping's offer, you can earn at least two or three billion.

It has to be said that this is indeed a considerable temptation.

"Mr. Bao, think about it, what are you lacking right now? It's not money, is it? Although I can give you more money, I think what you lack more right now is recognition, isn't it?"

Li Ping coaxed him gently: "Two animated films that you spearheaded, which were huge hits, are blatantly labeled as 'Song Dao's works.' Is that reasonable?"

"Don't you want to build your own mythological universe while making more money?"

"There's no reason why Song's stuff is better, but our Xia Kingdom's original myths and legends can't be replicated, right?"

"If you're willing to come, you can tell me any thoughts or requests you have!"

"I won't pressure you. I'll give you time to think it over. You can answer me whenever you've made up your mind. This is my private number, blocked from all calls outside my contacts. You can reach me anytime through this number!"

"Also, there's something else... I shouldn't really tell you, but to show my sincerity, I can be frank with you. Your team has a dozen or so core members, and I've already poached a third of them!"

Baozi paused for a moment, then frowned.

He was somewhat skeptical of what he was hearing.

One-third of the core members of his team were recruited by his boss when he went abroad.

The remaining two-thirds were mostly his brothers who had fought alongside him since the time of "Monkey King".

Even if someone couldn't resist the temptation and wanted to leave, he believed they should at least say hello to him.

Surely they wouldn't just leave without saying a word, would they?
Seemingly sensing his disbelief, Li Ping smiled and named a few people.

Then he said, "If you don't believe me, just ask them. The contract has already been signed with me. Earth Pictures' contracts are always very lenient, right? Consider the penalty for breach of contract a small gift, I've already given it to them."

"Mr. Li, isn't what you're doing a bit inappropriate?" Baozi was a little angry.

The people the other party mentioned are all core members of his team, with top-notch technical skills.

In fact, whether it's "Monkey King" or "Nezha," if Earth Animation, a subsidiary of Earth Pictures, wanted to complete them independently, it would take at least five or six years, and it would be impossible to do it as quickly as it is now.

So it's almost all these core members, each responsible for a part, and then they collaborate with other top animation companies in China.

A fairly complete animation film industry has now been established.

Those animation companies have also been cultivated.

However, the other party pulled a drastic measure, poaching his core members.

This reminded Baozi of something Song had said to him a while ago when he "forced" him to rest—

"Baozi, after Nezha 1 comes out, there will probably be a lot of personnel changes, so be prepared. I'm definitely not afraid, because you are the only core in my heart. It doesn't matter if everyone else leaves."

He immediately retorted: "Boss, you're wrong. Outsiders may not know, but do you think I don't? The only core of Earth Animation is you, Boss. Each of us can be replaced."

Then he also "questioned" Song Dao's words: "I dare not speak for those animation companies outside that can be replaced at any time, but there is no reason for the core members of the team around me to leave. Although I rarely hold meetings or lectures for them, I often tell them that the boss is the only main dish on the table, and we are just side dishes, like small fish, peanuts, and cucumber salad. We must not be complacent and arrogant just because the movie is a box office hit. The success of the movie's box office is certainly due to the production team, but it is more because of your story, IP, and you as a person!"

Song Dao just smiled and said, "Don't worry, there's a 90% or higher chance that what I say will happen. Just be prepared. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, come to me."

Baozi didn't really take it to heart at the time, but he did remind his team members about it during a dinner later.

"Everyone, work hard with the boss. No one can guarantee it, but you will definitely become billionaires within five years!"

He felt that this was enough!

For a group of tech geeks and artists who had been ignored for the past few years, earning 100 million yuan in five years would basically mean financial freedom!
And five years from now, there will be many more five years to come!
Looking back now, it seems he was just too naive.

They don't see things as clearly as the boss.

Li Ping laughed on the other end of the phone and said, "What's wrong with that? It's just a business transaction. Bosses poaching people, employees leaving, isn't that normal? I still think we need to meet and have a good talk. Even if you don't agree in the end, it's okay, we can just be friends."

As if casually, Li Ping then mentioned a few important figures that he could see on TV all the time to Baozi.

“I’m good friends with their kids, and I’m not afraid to tell you the truth: I am the real major shareholder of Times Media, but I’m not the only one.”

"I believe you understand what I mean."

Baozi is just a homebody, not stupid.

How could you not understand the meaning behind the other person's words?
There was boasting, and there was also threat.

The other party may not be able to do anything to the boss, but they still have many ways to control an ordinary person like him.

But if that were all it took to completely control him, he wouldn't be "the stubborn steamed bun."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Li, I'm just an ordinary person. I'm quite satisfied with my current lifestyle and have no other thoughts."

Baozi didn't want to offend the other party and create an enemy as formidable as a mountain for herself.

But I don't want to compromise on anything.

"Is Mr. Bao not even willing to give you this much face?" Li Ping's tone turned cold. "Let me tell you, is it so hard to meet? I'm right outside Qin Garden right now, and I'm not saying you have to leave immediately. Let's make friends, and having more friends means having more options, isn't that better?"

Baozi said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Li, your status is too high, I am not worthy to be your friend."

"Heh..." Li Ping on the other end of the phone was a little defensive, barely suppressing his anger, and said, "Fine, then you just wait! No animation company will be working with you anymore!"

He couldn't understand what kind of magic Song Dao possessed that could make everyone around him, from men to women, so devoted to him.

Actually, he was just bragging.

Of the people mentioned to Baozi, some were indeed tempted by the high salaries and promises he offered.

But so far, no one has fully accepted his invitation.

Their attitudes are also highly unified: if our leader (Baozi) leaves, we will follow; if our leader doesn't leave, we won't leave either.

The other core members of the Earth animation team completely ignored him.

So what if you're a rich kid?
Our boss's boss is also incredibly powerful; his boss's boss's confidante is the future head of a trillion-dollar corporation!

If you, Li Shaozhen, are so powerful, you must have already dealt a terrible blow to our boss's boss, right?
Can he still be as carefree as he is now?
So, while there are plenty of idiots on the internet, there aren't that many fools among the elite in real life.

Which of the core members of Earth Animation isn't a multi-millionaire now?
Just a few years ago, let alone tens of millions, an annual salary of one million was an unattainable dream for the vast majority of them!
With the huge success of Nezha, their net worth has increased exponentially, but so what?
With so many film and animation companies in Xia Kingdom, did they manage to create the Monkey King? Or did they create Nezha?

Is it really entirely because of the lack of this group of people?

Ultimately, the reason why Earth Pictures' animated films were such a huge success lies with Song Dao, the leader of the company!
As a master who "founded a school of thought", his momentum has already been established!

Today, both "Monkey King" and "Nezha" have become top-tier traditional mythological IPs known to every household in the Xia Dynasty.

For others who want to break through in this arena, it's more realistic to focus on polishing two live-action movie scripts.

After the other party hung up the phone, Baozi didn't hesitate and quickly sent a carrier pigeon to Song Dao.

He knew that the boss didn't like answering the phone.

next moment.

Song called.

It must be at the concert rehearsal site.

It's a bit noisy.

"It's alright, you should rest for a while. Don't worry about what he says. There are so many animation companies in China, he can't possibly buy them all off, can he?"

"Besides, those animation companies aren't stupid. How much of a benefit would he have to offer them to prevent them from cooperating with us?"

"As for those people you mentioned who were poached... go and verify it first, maybe they're just bragging."

"If they really leave, it's not a big deal. Recently, there have been many animation talents from overseas who want to come here."

"And his threats? Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."

hang up the phone.

Baozi breathed a sigh of relief and also felt that what the boss said made a lot of sense.

He personally trained that group of people, so we should at least give them some confidence.

With that in mind, Baozi sent a message to each of the core team members, including but not limited to the ones Li Ping mentioned.

What if there are more than just those few?

The message he sent was also very simple.

—I heard someone's been trying to poach you lately, is that true?

Soon, he received replies from the team members, most of whom were out having fun.

"Boss, yes, I've said it before: if you want to leave, we'll leave; if you don't leave, we won't go anywhere!"

"Yes, that's true, but I ignored it."

"They were incredibly arrogant. I ignored them. The company was paying the maximum amount for social insurance and housing fund, and they had a base annual salary of one million. They could easily make several million a year. I must be out of my mind to leave."

"The other party contacted you? Boss, you're not going to leave, are you? I advise you to calm down. 'Big Boss' has been good enough to us..." There were even people who directly advised Baozi to calm down.

"I was raised by you, Boss. If you leave, I will follow you, but I don't want you to leave. It's good for us to follow Brother Dog!"

"Boss, you're not thinking something, are you? Don't let the current hype blind you!"

"They've contacted me, offering a high salary. I told them, if they can poach our boss Bao, then I'll work for them; otherwise, don't bother with all that nonsense."

"Hahaha, so they really dug up your stuff? They came to me with all sorts of empty promises, and I just scoffed at them. Do they think I'm stupid? It was the Great Sage and Nezha who made things happen for me, not the other way around! I told them to go play somewhere else..."

"They poached him, triple his base salary, and promised at least 10% more box office revenue than Earth animation... What a load of rubbish! If they produce an animated film that grosses 200 million, he'll get nothing!"

Seeing the replies from the core members of the team, Baozi gradually smiled.

It still has to be the boss!
That third generation... he was definitely just bragging to me!
……

the other side.

Hong Kong Stadium.

After finishing his phone call, Song Dao, who was rehearsing with a group of people, looked at Yan Yu, whose eyes were filled with a bit of inquiry.

He said with a smile, "The guy who grew up in the same compound as you couldn't resist anymore and wanted to poach Baozi and his team."

Yan Yu's beautiful peach blossom eyes suddenly turned cold.

He took out his phone and was about to dial a number.

"Hey, hey, Yan Bao, calm down. There's no need for that. Baozi isn't leaving, and it's okay even if the others leave..."

Mr. Bao's business isn't just about profit sharing from animation; he also holds shares in Earth Pictures' stock option pool!
Not to mention that people who become rich value their reputation and cherish their image, no one wants to be labeled a "traitor" easily.

The benefits that Earth Pictures has given to Xi Jinping are definitely more than enough.

The two sides are already deeply intertwined.

If Baozi ever wants to leave, it will be because he has the ability and confidence to become completely independent.

Instead of going to another less reliable company like we are now.

If your Times Media is so powerful, why can't it beat the Fei Yang Group?
If a steamed bun could turn things around, then why would a steamed bun bother with you guys?
Isn't it better to go solo?
Yan Yu said, "I didn't call him; he's not worthy."

He immediately dialed a number: "Mr. Li... Hello, hello, yes, I'm still in Hong Kong and haven't gone back yet... It's nothing major, it's just that the cooperation you proposed a while ago, I had my team evaluate it, and it feels like it's still a bit lacking. Could you perhaps look into it further? Anything else? No, no, okay, that's all for now, we'll contact you later... Haha, I'll definitely call you Uncle in private, but business is business and personal is personal, right? Okay, goodbye!"

Seeing Song looking at her.

Yan Yu said, "Li Ping's father runs a company that is in the downstream industry of Linchuan Group. It's the kind of company that can do business, but isn't irreplaceable. Because I have a good relationship with my father, I've always used their products. But after I came here, I found that there are several companies that have better quality and slightly lower prices."

Song was somewhat speechless: "Didn't you go into politics?"

Yan Yu laughed and said, "There aren't that many people going into politics. The reality is that it's not possible. It's good if a family has one or two. The real networks of relationships are very complex, with in-laws, collateral branches, etc. Among the direct relatives, the rest usually choose to go into business."

Song nodded, knowing that some topics were best left unsaid, and gave a thumbs up, saying, "President Yan is truly awesome. The other party wanted to solve the problem at its source, but you were even more ruthless, solving the problem directly at its source."

Yan Yu rolled her eyes at him with her charming peach blossom eyes: "Trying to steal my Mr. Song's girlfriend? You're delusional. If you push him too far, it won't just be calling his dad. There was a problem before, and now that our little Nezha has exploded, he can't resist again. It's so annoying!"

"Alright, stop bothering me. Do you want to go and rest for a while?" Song Dao said with a smile.

Even if the older woman hadn't intervened, he hadn't taken this matter too seriously.

Even if the steamed buns are really taken away, so what?
How successful can someone who always follows others around and loves to engage in underhanded tactics possibly be?
With no one around, Yan Yu whispered, "Don't treat me like a panda, okay? Baby doesn't bother me anymore, except for that one time when she threw up! Once she gets heavier, she won't be able to play anymore, so hurry up and hold your concert. I really want the three of us to go on stage together for the last show!"

(End of this chapter)