Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 458 The Most Affectionate Person in the Entertainment Industry (Thanks to Xuegao for joining)

In fact, the discussion about the Olympic opening ceremony had already begun after the ancient part of the first half ended.

The modern segment in the second half perfectly carried on the glory of five thousand years of splendid civilization, leading the audience into the lighting ceremony with hope. The largest online forums in both the East and the West are currently saturated with discussions.

Weibo, domestic portals, Baidu Tieba, Douban (owned by Zhijie), and international platforms like Myspace, Twitter, and Facebook are all paying close attention to this globally renowned event.

Meanwhile, mainstream media outlets were also writing articles overnight, striving to comment on this opening ceremony, which was destined to go down in history, as soon as possible.

Just like paying attention to movie box office and TV ratings, for the Beijing Olympics, the organizing committee and the directing team are not only concerned with public opinion, but also with the evidence in the data.

This is the factual basis for the country to vigorously promote itself to the outside world.

According to data released by the International Olympic Committee and authoritative organizations such as Soreyford (domestic) and Nielsen (international):
The total number of viewers worldwide for the Olympic opening ceremony on August 8th exceeded 14 billion, based solely on television viewership.

Compared to the previous era's approximately 11 billion, this era's Beijing Olympics had a more internationally renowned director and top-tier media tools from both the East and West. Through extensive publicity efforts, from the torch relay to every available space along the roads, it also amassed a significant amount of fame.

Of the additional 3 million viewers, a small portion are actually Lu Xun's fans from all over the world who watch the show because of his reputation.

In Asia, the opening ceremony's cultural resonance sparked a viewing frenzy.

The viewership rating of NHK reached 38.1%, with a peak of 46% in the Kanto region, surpassing the previous record of 42% held by the Kohaku Uta Gassen in Japan.

The viewership rating on South Korean broadcaster KBS reached 33.7%, second only to the 35% rating of the Korea-Japan World Cup, and as high as 50% in Seoul's Chinatown.

In Europe and America, the technical aesthetics of the opening ceremony also won over discerning audiences.

美国NBC收视人数高达3500万，对比2004年的2700万不可谓不高，在18-49岁人群的收视率高达13.2%，超越了同期的大热美剧《豪斯医生》；
英国BBC收视人数1600万，占全国人口的26%，法国France-2收视率23.1%，在本土超过2006年德国世界杯决赛的19%。

At the Olympic Building, the directing team members, who had obtained all the first-hand data, celebrated loudly. Marvin, who was excited and unrestrained, was also moved to tears. She had already cried a lot after the opening ceremony yesterday.

This three-year battle, from the torrential rain night when the LED screen malfunctioned to the stunning moment of its phoenix-like rebirth, saw all the pressure and anxiety vanish before the number 14 billion.

The festivities didn't last long. Zhang Yimou tapped the whiteboard, signaling everyone to quickly shift their attention to the closing ceremony, followed by the Paralympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, which were overseen by Zhang Jigang and Chen Weiya.

Even though they cannot be compared to the opening ceremony in terms of attention and importance, they are still part of the overall cultural and artistic aspects of the Olympic Games, and the directing team must complete them from beginning to end to perfection.

The team inspected and maintained the wire rigging and LED ground screen, collected data on the drone performance, and organized the closing ceremony performers for rehearsals in Daxing.

Oh, and we also need to send a banner to the Beiding Niangniang Temple and the meteorological office.

Countless trivial matters followed one after another, but fortunately, everyone's mindset is different now—

Carrying the glory of the opening ceremony, we continue to forge ahead, like ambitious students recharging themselves after the college entrance examination, completely free of anxiety and pressure, only looking forward to the future and honor.

Meanwhile, before the gossip about Lu and Liu confirming that their wedding date had been set could spread, major media outlets around the world had already published their reports.

The Times commented with a calm and precise style:
The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics redefined the artistic standards for large-scale events. From the mechanical aesthetics of movable type printing to the grand narrative of Zheng He's treasure ships, Lu's team used cinematic language to compress five thousand years of civilization into a 50-minute visual epic in the first half.

Lu's control over rhythm is also amazing. He seamlessly connects opera and shadow puppet shows. This montage thinking clearly comes from the director's genes. When the drone phoenix illuminates the Bird's Nest, what we see is not only a technological miracle, but also an ancient civilization's absolute confidence in modern narrative.

Mr. Bastian of the London Organizing Committee must be very nervous now, right? Even Chinese director Zhang Yimou was criticized for his eight-minute performance in Athens. Perhaps this time it will be our turn to embarrass ourselves.

CNN published a commentary titled "A national brand advertisement even more powerful than The Lord of the Rings":
If Spielberg was in charge of the dreamlike quality of the Athens Olympics, then the road was like equipping Beijing with James Cameron's budget and Peter Jackson's ambition. That DLP projection show of the Three Gorges Dam and high-speed rail would dwarf any American infrastructure documentary.

However, it is undeniable that the achievements showcased in the modern section have a strong national propaganda flavor. We should be wary of the moment when the Eastern lion opens its eyes, as this poses a potential threat to other Asia-Pacific countries.

The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, from the perspective of cultural development, offered director Lu Kuan a lavish and envious praise:
When the phoenix drones of the Beijing Olympics soared through the night sky, the paper lanterns of the Gion Festival in Kyoto suddenly seemed so flimsy. This is not a gap in technology, but a generational break in cultural expression. While China used 1500 drones to depict the mythical bird, we were still using cartoon characters like "Super Transformer" to curry favor with the world.

When director Lu Kuan used the projection of the Three Gorges Dam to showcase the modernity of Japan's infrastructure boom, Japan's proudest "cool Japan" strategy was still stuck on anime character cosplay and sushi chef overseas tours.

We have always lacked a "cultural translator" like Lu Kuan, who can make shadow puppetry and spacesuits coexist harmoniously, and who can make Western audiences pay for the metaphor of the phoenix rising from the ashes.

In contrast, traditional culture in Japan is either museumized or simplified into fast-food symbols. While DLP projection reconstructs the Silk Road, we have yet to even realize a holographic restoration of the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Temple.

In the final chapter of this lavishly praising article, the Asahi Shimbun still employed the Japanese narrative tradition of "finding enlightenment in defeat":

Lu San's "The Sky of History" caused great distress to his Japanese film fans and enthusiasts.

However, Lu Sang's phoenix also cast a "bird of reflection" on Japan's cultural policies. Please allow us to express our respect for such cultural achievements!
Domestic media outlets, needless to say, practically showered Lu Kuan, the opening ceremony's host, with every accolade imaginable.

This also includes Lao Hu, who helped Boss Lu get crowned with the title of "the strongest post-80s generation in East Asia". How could he be missing at such a moment?
He even posted an article on social media overnight, before the Global Times was published, still using his usual nationalist tone:

Lu Kuan used a "mechanical phoenix" to complete a magnificent transformation of the Eastern narrative. This is not only an innovation in the lighting ceremony, but also a precise breakthrough in the Western cultural discourse.

When 1500 drones carried the torch and soared through the sky, ultimately shocking the world with a suspenseful design of "rebirth from the ashes," Lu Kuan proved that he was not only the "strongest post-80s generation in East Asia," but also a rare "cultural strategist" of this era!
The brilliance of the phoenix lighting the fire lies in the fact that it transcends mere technical skill.

Lu Kuan is deeply versed in the metaphorical power of Eastern civilization:
The phoenix rising from the ashes is not only a condensation of the vicissitudes of the past century, but also a contemporary interpretation of the path to rejuvenation. This ability to integrate national narratives into globally recognized symbols allows Western audiences to not only marvel at the technology, but also unconsciously accept the underlying logic of civilization.

What is even more commendable is his international perspective.

While most directors are still struggling with how to balance "national characteristics" and "international aesthetics," Lu Kuan has already transcended this binary opposition. His phoenix is ​​neither a "dragon modification" to please the West nor a self-indulgent totem replica, but a modern myth that has impressed even Hollywood special effects teams.

If Zhang Yimou opened up the commercial market for Chinese blockbusters with "Hero," then Lu Kuan redefined the strategic dimension of cultural export with this opening ceremony. While foreign media were still debating the "Tokyo University threat theory," this mechanical phoenix had already gracefully crossed the barriers of ideology.

On behalf of all my colleagues at the Global Times, please allow me to express my respect to Director Lu Kuan and the entire directing team and cast!

We are grateful to this "strongest post-80s generation" for the precious legacy they left to our times, using the power of beauty to make the world actively listen to China's voice!
. . .

If things had continued at this pace, the entire internet would have been filled with praise for the opening ceremony and the washing machine.

Especially for the latter, there's even more foreign flattery—

Many unfriendly Western media outlets prefer to focus on this international citizen, mentioning his relationship with Western society and his friendly cooperation with companies like Disney.

This would be a good way to avoid giving the University of Tokyo's opening ceremony too much direct publicity.

Just as Lu Xun, Zhang Yimou, and others were discussing the closing ceremony in their office at 9 a.m., a message from ABC News went viral online.

"Lu, the chief director of the Beijing Olympics, announced in an interview in the early hours of the morning that he and his girlfriend will get married next month."

shock!
real or fake?

In recent years, with the booming development of China's internet economy, the trend of information explosion has become increasingly obvious, making it difficult to distinguish between true and false information.

Could this be another scheme to use these two as bait to attract attention?

After all, pairing a washing machine with any female celebrity is a common plot device that can be used to write a vulgar erotic novel.

The mainstream media on the day of the interview did witness this moment, but the interview did not end until after 3 a.m.

Their real job was to write and publish articles about the opening ceremony, and then rack their brains to find fault with the flawless opening ceremony and Mr. Lu.

We can't expect all the reports to be positive, can we?
How do I explain this to my superiors?
However, as the news spread, various second-hand and third-hand information quickly emerged from the internet.

How could Liu Yifei's fans possibly accept this?!
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Are these foreign devils so terrified by the phoenix's rebirth? They're talking nonsense."

"Damn it, where's my knife?"

Liu Yifei was frantically seeking verification on dozens of fan-themed websites, countless QQ groups, Baidu Tieba forums, Weibo, and Douban groups across the country.

They dug up every recent status update of Xiao Liu, every trivial piece of information from her public appearances, trying to piece together a reason that could convince themselves.

In a QQ group that brings together all the fan site owners, everyone is brainstorming and working together.

[Yifei Chinese Website Admin]: "Don't worry, I asked Yang Siwei, but he hasn't replied yet. But based on my judgment, the news from ABC is just announcing the wedding date in public, so there must have been a proposal before that."

"But if you look at the last time Sisi appeared on the show 'Sweet Concubine's Night Talk,' she wasn't wearing a single ring. Does that look like she was after a successful marriage proposal?"

"With money like that, if he proposes successfully, would he really be stingy with a cheap ring?"

The reasoning was correct, but the result was wrong.

Your Sisi has absolutely no hope for the romance of the washing machine, and besides, the atmosphere on the mountaintop at the epicenter that night was so emotional that it didn't need any external embellishment.

[Yifei Xianju Station Master]: "I asked several friends to inquire about several sources. ABC is Disney's TV station. It wasn't originally supposed to be the broadcaster for this opening ceremony, but it seems they got in through connections with Mr. Lu. Now that both companies have officially announced the development of 'Inception,' could it be that Sissi will play the lead role, and this is just hype?"

The direction of the investigation was correct, but the result was still wrong.

ABC did indeed take a more convenient route, but that was because the ideological conflict with NBC in the previous era was too severe, and they were not given exclusive broadcasting rights in this era.

As for the hype surrounding the movie, there was objectively some, but that was for another movie, "Under the Hawthorn Tree," which hadn't been announced yet.

[Baidu Liu Yifei Bar Moderator]: "Old Yang is now the CEO of a washing machine company. He hasn't contacted us recently and hasn't replied yet."

"Sisi never knows how to refute rumors, and we can't count on her. We can only try to find a solution from Lao Yang and Aunt Liu. We need to appease the fans as soon as possible; many of them are about to go crazy."

This forum moderator probably reads too much fake news from Baidu and doesn't have much ability to judge the current situation.

Yang Siwei is an employee of Boss Lu's company. Since she is sitting in the chair of Wenjie, she will definitely focus on appeasing the fan group and strive for a smooth transition.

As for Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli, are you sure you "don't know how to refute the rumors"?

The elderly mother had just heard the news when she woke up this morning, and immediately made dozens of phone calls to inform relatives and friends. She also made a special mention to a former colleague with whom she had a complicated relationship in the Jiangcheng dance troupe.

"Hey? Sister Zhou, long time no see! I have some good news to share. My daughter Qianqian is getting married! We're getting our marriage certificate! All of you old colleagues from the dance troupe are coming to the banquet! Not a single one of you can be missing!"

On the other end of the phone, Zhou Lihua, who had once snatched the lead dancer from her husband because he worked in the Cultural Bureau, only hesitated for a second before offering flattery without hesitation.

"Xiaoli, I have to say you're really something! Qianqian was a beauty even as a child! And sure enough, she became a big star and a movie queen, and her love life is going so smoothly too!"

God knows how she told jokes to her husband after her birthday incident in 2005:
Xiaoli was always competitive, and even after having a daughter, she's still so strong-willed. Ugh! How embarrassing!

Looking at it now, it feels like a lifetime ago.

Such a well-mannered daughter not only has a billionaire husband, but Liu herself is also incredibly successful.

When you reach middle age, the competition comes down to having children.

But how can you compare them?
Zhou Lihua's sudden surrender left Liu Xiaoli feeling rather bored.

Those young, graceful female dancers, because of the struggle between youth and pride, vanished like smoke.

She herself is also preparing to accept a new identity in the near future.

Now that we've got the marriage certificate, how far away is the title of "Grandma"?
The core members of the QQ group are practically turning into Sherlock Holmes, searching for every little clue to numb themselves and their fans.

Some genuinely don't want Xiao Liu to lose a large number of fans because of his marriage announcement, while others are considering the sustainability of their fan base.

With Yang Siwei's management in this life, the numerous fan sites didn't collapse, and there were no scandals involving fan leaders acting as middlemen to profit from the situation. However, Xiao Liu still maintained a certain distance from the fan sites and groups, having no affiliation and absolutely no financial dealings with them.

The reason for being so careful is that there will always be a lot of die-hard fans, and anything that happens will affect the celebrity himself.

Secondly, her own goal is simply to become an actress. With the favorable conditions created by Lu Kuan in this life, she doesn't need to put too much effort into managing her fanbase.

Maintaining a normal distance can help fans be more rational, which is better for everyone.

The entire internet's fans spent an hour in this state of anxiety.

For them, no news is the best news.

At 10 a.m., Fengxing, the most trusted top paparazzi team in the Chinese entertainment industry, posted an article, and Zhuo Wei simultaneously released the first-hand, guaranteed juicy scoop on all his social media platforms!
[Here we go! Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei will register their marriage next month! The couple confirmed this in an interview last night!]

This message was like a depth charge dropped into the pond of Tianxianfen (a fan of celery), and it was immediately met with a barrage of criticism!
"Shameless! They spread all sorts of fake news! They piggyback on every toxic traffic source!"

"Zhuo Wei, the price of vegetables will definitely go up when you buy them, and even instant noodles will be crushed. You'll never eat four dishes in your life, and after you die, no more than three incense sticks will be lit at your grave!"

"I'm from Liu Yifei's Anti-Black Campaign. The information you've provided is seriously damaging to Xixi. I've already gathered evidence and submitted it to my lawyer. Just wait and see! I'll take you down!"

At the same time, Xiao Liu's more than 1600 million fans, who could no longer sit still, flocked to leave messages on Weibo accounts where they could investigate the real situation.

Her own, Lu Kuan, Jay Chou, Anita Mui, Zhou Xun, Su Chang, Jing Tian, ​​Tang Yan, and Da Mimi.

Even Fan Bingbing!

The one who understands you best is always your enemy; fans still vividly remember the birthday incident!

Bingbing, who was filming "If You Are the One" at Xixi Wetland in Lin'an, learned of this news from her assistant, but continued to immerse herself in her work without any expression.

Only when her personal assistant was getting her sunscreen did she see a tear-stained copy of "Marie Antoinette" on the coffee table in the RV, turned to a certain page.

Yang Mi cleverly posted a beautifully edited photo of herself attending a brand event when the news was spreading, and then had her assistant reply to the fans who were trying to gauge the situation on Weibo.

As a result, it gained hundreds of thousands more followers.

Half an hour later, Zhuo Wei received a call from Weibo's official operations staff and had no choice but to publish an article on the official Weibo account explaining the origin of the message.

If he doesn't explain himself, the fans' reports might not just go beyond Weibo; if things get any more outrageous, they might even call the police to arrest him.

Dear netizens and fans:

Recently, the news released by our studio regarding the upcoming marriage of director Lu Kuan and Ms. Liu Yifei has attracted widespread attention and also brought some controversy. Hereby, Fengxing Studio solemnly declares...

First, the source of the information is authentic and reliable, and not fabricated out of thin air. Director Lu Kuan did indeed personally admit in an interview last night that mainstream media would not publish these photos and news in their valuable space, possibly out of consideration for Director Lu's industry status, to avoid potential copyright infringement. Please be patient.

Secondly, although Fengxing Studio has no direct interaction with Ms. Liu Yifei, we have always deeply admired her professionalism and dedication. We have no intention of spreading rumors.

Third, marriage is a private matter, and we respect the choices and privacy of the individuals involved. We hope everyone will view this matter with a spirit of blessing, rather than over-interpreting or attacking our studio.

Zhuo Wei, a seasoned paparazzi, was so frightened by the clamor of Liu's fans that he almost wet his pants, and even started to act as a beacon of righteousness, which is both laughable and absurd.

Fortunately, this news story, which started circulating at 9 a.m. and whose veracity was difficult to discern, did not last long.

At 10:20 a.m., Liu Yifei, who had just spoken to her boyfriend, turned on her computer and logged into her account. Full of emotion, she wanted to type, but hesitated for a long time.

Just like announcing her love at her birthday party, officially announcing and confirming her marriage to the world was a very ceremonial process for her.

Looking at the [Yaluji] account in her favorites that had already been exposed, the 15-year-old still enjoyed following and liking the jokes about "washing machine" online.

Before I knew it, I turned 21 this month, and it's time to personally stamp this relationship with the official seal of the parties involved.

In fact, for her, the difference between dating and marriage is not that great. Since she first fell in love, Liu Yifei has never had anyone else in her mind.

In her emotional world, there are no multiple choices involving several male protagonists at the same time, nor are there any fill-in-the-blank questions about her own hopes, fantasies, or secret crushes.

From the very beginning, Liu Yifei received a test paper with only one major question, titled "Road Wide".

It's not an algebra problem that can be solved by following a set formula or substituting numbers;

It's not an essay question that can be answered simply by memorizing templates, piling up fancy words, or quoting classical texts to get a high score.

It was the final question in the Olympiad, with a concise and almost cold-blooded question stem, but the solution required crossing several knowledge dimensions and life experiences, which was far beyond her scope.

It took her five years to see some clues about this problem.

Xiao Liu steadied himself, and the sound of his keyboard typing became crisp and clear:

Hello, everyone.

I've received too many private messages in the background. In order to avoid misunderstandings and prevent rumors from spreading, I'd like to talk to everyone through Weibo.

Since 2002, I have been so fortunate to receive so much care and love from my fans.

After "Whiplash" withdrew from the Golden Horse Awards, it faced public criticism, so you registered a blog and posted an article in support.
When "The Story of a Noble Family" first aired, you defended Bai Xiuzhu's willfulness, saying that it was just a young girl's pride;
When I was working as a stunt double for "A Home Too Far," many friends left in disappointment.

Back then, I didn't understand how the gears of fate would turn; I just clumsily grasped every bit of kindness.

After watching four period dramas, including "Chinese Paladin," "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," "The Return of the Condor Heroes," and "Zhu Xian," I gained even more fans.

From Ling'er's innocence and carefree spirit to the fairy sister's ethereal grace;
From Xiaolongnu's aloofness and solitude to Lu Xueqi's frost-like swordsmanship.

During those years, you used your affectionate nicknames to take those characters out of the script and plant them in my life.

In the nearly seven years since my debut, I have read many letters from friends, some handwritten and some online.

This year, what I've seen most is this sentiment from everyone: "Sisi, thank you for accompanying me through my entire youth."

Actually, you guys were there for me throughout my youth.

Putting aside my profession as an actress, I am just an ordinary girl.

I also enjoy eating junk food, sleeping in late, worrying about acne, and being concerned about minor flaws in my appearance. I am also a fan of romance novels and inspirational literature.

My youth also included those innocent heartbeats, helpless crushes, and sleepless nights. Like all girls, I would blush suddenly at some point, and secretly feel sad for a long time because of a thoughtless remark.

Those unspoken thoughts hidden in the diary, those unspoken expectations, those clumsy yet sincere affections...

Like your youth, they are tender, immature, yet incredibly precious.

Of course, you all already know who the male protagonist in this story is.

Since that special birthday in 2005, I have had no intention of hiding anything from everyone, and I am well aware of the consequences of doing so.

From the perspective of a so-called female celebrity's career development, this is tantamount to digging her own grave.

But as mentioned earlier, because I debuted at such a young age, I've known you all for so long—

Many times, I don't think of us as having a celebrity-fan relationship, but rather as childhood playmates.

Now, it is important that you, your childhood and youthful playmates, sincerely announce some news and hope to receive everyone's blessings.

Mr. Lu Kuan and I are getting married.

He was just like you guys; he accompanied me throughout my youth.

We are teacher and student; he taught me how to shine in front of the camera.

We are best friends, and we have walked side by side through the ups and downs.

We are a couple, and the unspoken understanding and the warmth of our smiles together make me certain that he is the one I want to spend my life with.

Therefore, we decided to officially enter into the next stage of our relationship and become husband and wife.

My parents divorced before I was ten years old.

Although I still receive plenty of love from them, the word "marriage" has always weighed a ton for me.

My views may be somewhat traditional, but I firmly believe that marriage is the highest form of commitment, a solemn choice born from the interplay of reason and emotion.

It is not the end of love, but the beginning of something deeper.

Our choice to stand side by side as husband and wife is not only an affirmation of each other, but also a vow for the future:
Regardless of the weather, we are willing to face the complexity and purity of this world together with the utmost sincerity.

Love can be as light as a feather, but marriage must be as solid as the earth.

It carries not only the joys and sorrows of two people, but also our most fundamental faith in life.

Friends, please allow me to be sentimental for once.

Listening to my favorite song, "Seven Mile Fragrance," as I write this, tears are streaming down my face.

I cried because of the beautiful and painful memories of my youth, and because I am grateful for your companionship along the way.

Just like the lyrics say: It rains all night, my love overflows like rainwater.

Whether it was leaving after a failed confession, or being speechless during filming, or finally standing on the awards stage at the Berlin Film Palace...

At this moment, the past seven years are echoing in my mind, like a silent tide, gently yet surging over the banks of memory.

Time flies so fast that there's no time to recount the nights lit up by starlight, and even saying goodbye feels rushed.

Fortunately, we don't need to say goodbye; we can just continue to get along in a different way.

I urge everyone not to take this matter to extremes or use it to attack anyone. I hope everyone can be peaceful, happy, and successful.

We have come this far from childhood and adolescence. Let us continue to walk side by side and write each other into the ending of our poems.

Please don't say that I accompanied you through your youth.

Rather, our youth is a dream interwoven under the same star trail.

Thank you for writing poems for me. As an actor, I have only one promise:
I will also perform for you all in the mortal world.

At 10:40, Liu, known as "the most affectionate person in the entertainment industry," wiped away his tears and clicked send.

At 10:45 AM, Weibo's servers crashed.

(End of this chapter)