Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 228 A "Small Stall" in the World of Fame and Fortune

At the buffet dinner at the International Hotel, Zhai Da and Li Tiantian sat alone in a corner, seemingly not part of the group of celebrities.

Several more "big names" arrived at the banquet hall, but none of them had a higher social standing than "King Arthur." For example, when Zhang Ziyi arrived, she surrounded him, and King Arthur seemed to enjoy it, accepting the compliments with a radiant smile.

Li Tiantian watched from afar, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, she smiled gently and changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, the idea for Weibo was actually related to Professor Zhai."

Zhai Da asked in confusion, "Me?"

Li Tiantian recounted how, during the meeting, she had a sudden inspiration and used Zhai Da's "Mentally challenged Short Blog" as an example to comprehensively analyze the various drawbacks of blogs.

Immediacy, spontaneity, and relevance to daily life—these three points were extracted from Zhai Da's blog during that period.

Even without Zhai Da, this platform would still appear, but it might not come from Li Tiantian's mouth.

With Zhai Da's arrival, Weibo was launched almost a year ahead of schedule, and a young director was created.

Li Tiantian's meteoric rise in her career certainly wasn't solely due to a single "creative idea," but it marked the beginning of her "successful career path."

Even his earlier "official appointment" was achieved through a press release about the Zhai Dawei short story competition.

Therefore, Li Tiantian always regarded Zhai Da as her "lucky charm," to the point of being somewhat superstitious.

She firmly believes that Zhai Da will once again be blessed with good fortune, allowing the new platform and her career to reach new heights.

There's really no other explanation besides "luck" for why everything went so smoothly.

Zhai Da found it amusing that he actually had his own affairs to attend to.
Weibo's momentum will continue for at least another ten years until the advent of short videos. Securing a foothold within these ten years will be extremely valuable.

Whether it's boosting sales of a work or earning hundreds of thousands in advertising fees with just a few clicks, it's all excellent.

There's another very important point!

That means having your own powerful "voice" channel. When it comes to public opinion, if you don't seize the high ground, you'll be silenced by others. You're already a semi-public figure, so you need to have your own voice.

Zhai Da is considering drawing on his previous experience and moving the format of "Clown Poker" plus the serialization of new works to Weibo. He thinks it should be incredibly effective at attracting fans!
"I have no objection and I am very optimistic about the future of Weibo. As one of the first members to join, and with the platform's unwavering support, I might be able to amass hundreds of millions of followers in the future."

Li Tiantian's eyes widened in disbelief. Even as one of the main creators, she wouldn't dare to dream of hundreds of millions of views. Compared to her own blog, a million views would be considered top-tier.

Teacher Zhai is putting pressure on me.
"The number of fans is uncertain, but you won't be among the first to join."

Zhai Da was taken aback. What did that mean? Were you just performing a pantomime?

"You will be the 'first' pioneer to join! I've already spoken with the tech department. You prepare some content in advance, and the system will publish it for you the moment the public beta begins. Except for testing, you will be the first person in the country to post a Weibo and become the first user!"

This is called "bringing good luck"!
Zhai Da smiled and said, "Alright, you're quite superstitious. You can talk to Xiao Lu about the details later. You should know her better than me. We'll still let her handle the Weibo operations."

"I will have someone to handle this for me, so please don't worry."

As for the blog's "reading revenue sharing" contract, it will not become invalid just because he moved to Weibo. After all, he didn't delete his account; he just changed his main platform.

However, this revenue-sharing model cannot be replicated on Weibo, where everything is still undetermined.

Just as the two were about to double-check, a figure approached from the side, bowing slightly and saying somewhat awkwardly, "Hello~"

Zhai Da and Li Tiantian were both quite surprised. Someone actually came to us for networking?
Turning around, I saw a familiar face, and quite famous at that.

Gao Yuanyuan.
Moreover, it's the younger version, not "Zhao Gaoshi".

I don't know who to contact.

This actress, who is in her prime, with her looks, figure, and charm at their peak, is dressed in a well-fitting black narrow-necked skirt and a women's blouse. Among female celebrities, she is quite low-key and conservative, and looks more like a working woman.

To be honest, celebrities don't look as amazing up close as they do in online photos, but they are still noticeably different from most ordinary people. For example, Li Tiantian, whom he just described as having a "good face," can only be considered "decent-looking" compared to this person.

"Hello. How can I help you?"

Unsure of who they were looking for, Li Tiantian, as the organizer, took over the conversation.

Gao Yuanyuan clasped her hands together, and after a moment's hesitation, she happily exclaimed, "Is this Teacher Zhai Da? I'm a fan of yours, but I wasn't quite sure because I was far away!"

Zhai Da raised an eyebrow, not taking it seriously; he figured the "book fans" thing was just a social excuse.

Li Tiantian got up and sat facing inwards, making room for this popular actress who has a high level of national recognition but is slightly less famous.

After Gao Yuanyuan sat down, she still clasped her hands together and immediately asked a question that convinced Zhai Da that she had indeed read "The Long Road of Lü".

"Teacher Zhai, I remember you said on your blog that you would write a story with two endings, right? I wonder when I'll have the chance to see it."

Zhai Da scratched his temple: "Soon, soon."

If I actually wrote it, you wouldn't be willing, and I never said the second ending would be a happy ending.
It's just someone else dying.

Gao Yuanyuan said regretfully, "It's a pity I didn't know you would be coming, so I didn't bring any books. I also wanted to go to your book signing yesterday, but I was afraid of causing trouble, so I didn't dare."

When celebrities make an appearance, it's a statement, and showing up without prior notice, even if it's with good intentions, is against the rules.

Perhaps knowing that her identity as a "book fan" might arouse suspicion, she proactively explained:
"I don't read many books, only three or four a year. Your book was recommended by a friend."

Before we could discuss more about the novel, this corner felt like an empty restaurant.

Once you have the first customer, you'll have a second and a third.

Hi everyone.

Zhai Da turned his head and thought to himself that this person was definitely coming for him. He politely stood up and shook hands with the other person, saying, "Hello, Teacher Guo, it's great to finally meet you."

Guo Jinming smiled happily, but was also nervous: "I also want to thank you for your recommendation of 'Tiny Times'."

"It's nothing. Didn't you also give a recommendation for 'The Long Road of Lü'? I hope it helps you." This little fourth brother was indeed as petite as rumored, quite short and thin, seemingly only reaching Zhai Da's chest.

Her official height is 157cm, but that's said to be a lot of exaggeration.

Zhai Da actually thinks that since it's already in the 15 range, is it really necessary to add any watermark? Is there a big difference?

Today's meeting will help Xiao Si clear his name!
150+, let's call it a day, that's settled!

Guo Jinming appeared very nervous, but not because of Zhai Da, but because of the occasion.

If Zhai Da is a "newcomer" who is not very interested in the world of fame and fortune.

Guo Jinming is a "newbie" who is very interested in and admires the world of fame and fortune.

He didn't know anyone here, and neither the Beijing nor Shanghai social circles included him. So when he recognized Zhai Da, he instinctively moved closer, wanting to find a sense of belonging to the "writers' community" and build a safe zone.

To be fair, Guo Jingming's yearning for fame and fortune isn't necessarily offensive. It's normal for people to seek wealth, fame, and pleasure.

But this excitement and nervousness made Zhai Da appear to be the more mature and older one.

With the addition of a fourth child, the conversation here still revolves around literary works. Although Gao Yuanyuan has never read "Ice Fantasy" or "Tiny Times," she has considerable respect for the writers, which may be related to her upbringing.

During our casual conversation, I learned that the "handwritten letter" that came with the book when he recommended "Tiny Times" was actually written by Guo Jinming himself. At first, he thought the publisher was just being polite.

"Tiny Times must have sold quite well, right?"

Guo Jinming in 08 wasn't particularly shrewd and said happily, "It's really good. It's my best-selling book so far. But since it was only released in October, the best-selling novel this year should still be 'The Long Road of Lu'."

Zhai Da: "It's just a statistics award."

Guo Jinming said, "Most honors for literary works are statistical, and we don't get the awards that are named and recognized."

So-called statistical awards are honors that are automatically awarded when data is reached, such as best-selling or richest authors. Since there is little room for manipulation, no one will actually come out to "award" them.

As for well-known awards, such as the Mao Dun Literature Prize, the Lu Xun Literature Prize, and the Lao She Literature Prize, Guo Jinming feels that they will have nothing to do with him in this lifetime, and he doesn't value them.

But he quickly realized that his previous statement was too absolute, and immediately changed his words, saying, "However, Professor Zhai is different from us. Perhaps he really has a chance to compete for the three major awards."

"The Long Road of Lü" has received high praise within the industry, which is completely different from his habit of being criticized by his peers.

Zhai Da shrugged: "That's a long journey indeed, we'll have to wait."

These awards are given out every few years, and they are basically awarded to "traditional literature about suffering," which is a challenge for these academic writers. They spend their whole lives writing about suffering, unable to see the future or the present.

Winning these three awards is too far off, but if Zhai Da were to write "serious literature" one day, he certainly wouldn't write about pain.

Instead, write about magnificent waves, about impregnable passes, and about how one could draw a divine sword from the heavens.

The four of them inexplicably formed a small social circle, which was quite harmonious. Gao Yuanyuan was rather peculiar as she stayed put, even though Zhai Da thought she should be socializing with the big shots like other female stars.

With literature and entertainment in the mix, the conversation inevitably drifted to the topic of "adaptation." For example, Li Tiantian mentioned that the author of the currently filming movie "The Message" might also attend the ceremony, but since he is a traditional author, he might only make a brief appearance at the ceremony.

At this point, Gao Yuanyuan suddenly asked, "Teacher Zhai, are there any plans to adapt 'The Long Road of Lü' into a movie or TV series?"

Zhai Da thought for a moment and said, "There are many scammers who try their luck and ask about the copyright, such as by email or through publishing houses. They offer low prices but have big appetites. I don't think they have the real ability to adapt it into a film or television series. The copyrights in this regard are still in my own hands."

Gao Yuanyuan nodded thoughtfully.

Guo Jinming said, "You have to be careful. Many authors get scammed out of their copyrights right from the start. A friend of mine only sold his copyright for 3000 yuan, and later had to spend 100,000 yuan to buy it back himself."

The most typical example is "Liu Cixin". It is said that this godfather of science fiction was not famous before he even had the qualifications to attend the Internet Festival.

Even though the other party's "The Three-Body Problem" had already reached its second book, it still took a long time to finally gain recognition, and it wasn't until it won the Hugo Award in 15.

Zhai Da recalled that when Liu Cixin was still relatively unknown, the adaptation rights to "The Three-Body Problem" only sold for 100,000 yuan. Later, that person made tens of millions from it.
Well, authors with bestselling books, like Zhai Da, generally don't make this mistake because they're not short of money.
Gao Yuanyuan bit her lip, originally intending to subtly probe the topic, but Guo Jinming immediately said, "Don't be fooled," leaving her at a loss for words.

The number of guests at the buffet is decreasing, with some going back to their rooms to rest or moving on to other places for drinks and entertainment.

Zhai Da spent the whole day brain-burning with Lu Siwen and also wanted to get some rest.

As the stall was about to close down, Gao Yuanyuan finally mustered up her courage and said, "Teacher Zhai, if you don't know when you will consider selling the adaptation rights for 'The Long Road of Lü,' please contact me as soon as possible."

Zhai Da turned his head, unsure, and asked, "Actors are interested in this too?"

Shouldn't this be the job of a director or producer?
Without needing an explanation, Zhai Da quickly came to his answer after a moment's thought: "You want to play Lin Manman to win an award?"

Gao Yuanyuan thought to herself that dealing with smart people is indeed stressful.
She is currently in an awkward period in her career. She has gained fame, but she has not won any prestigious awards, she does not have any big capital backing her, and she is not very well integrated into various circles.

In fact, his acting roles have become increasingly limited in recent years, and he has even considered taking a few years off and retiring from the entertainment industry.

But she was not willing to give up.
"The Long Road to Lu" is very suitable for film adaptation due to its unique subject matter. The theme of "terminal patient" alone deserves a nomination.

She certainly doesn't have the ability to single-handedly support the production of a film; tailoring a film to a specific person requires the energy of a top star. But if there's even a sliver of an opportunity, she'd like to try and push it forward.

Otherwise, even a best-selling work that was just released this year will take at least several years to be adapted into a film or television series.

Gao Yuanyuan was about to say a few more words when Zhai Da shook his head:

"Adaptation is still a long way off, and I'm not familiar with the industry's processes, but to be honest... in terms of image and temperament, you and Lin Manman are quite different."

With a final smile, Zhai Da waved and said, "Then I'll be going now. Let's talk again next time."

　If only I could draw a divine sword from the heavens and cut you into three pieces! One piece for Europe, one for America, and one for the East. In a peaceful world, all under heaven would share the same warmth and coolness.

　　1935
　　A small insight I gained while researching: Most writers only see the "past," a very small number of great writers see the "present," and an even smaller number see the "future."

　　Also, the monthly ticket rankings were updated at the beginning of the month, and we've climbed up to over 200th place! Please give us a monthly ticket!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)