Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 613 Spring Festival Gala Explosion, Heavenly Fairy * Me!
Studio 1, located at No. 11 Fuxing Road, is the main venue for recording the Spring Festival Gala.

Built in the 80s, this studio has undergone multiple technological upgrades and has become one of the most iconic television production and broadcasting venues in China, as well as a highly competitive location in the entertainment industry.

Starting at 1 p.m. on New Year's Eve, all the performers of the Spring Festival Gala, including "Very Sweet", arrived at the recording site. After passing through security, they entered their assigned dressing rooms. Although it was their first time on stage, the combined star power of these three and the strong advertising effect they had demonstrated in pre-show promotional activities such as "I Want to Go to the Spring Festival Gala" were already astonishing.

Moreover, this was a "submitted program" from the big sponsor of the Spring Festival Gala for the Year of the Rabbit, as can be seen from the name of their dance, "Shaking the New Year".

But even disregarding these factors, given Liu Yifei's current status, it wouldn't be unreasonable for her to have a private dressing room for the Spring Festival Gala, would it?
Moreover, there's Su Chang, the top of the four little actresses in this life, and Da Tian Tian, ​​whose combined popularity in the country is "the number one among my senior sisters Liu Yifei".

That's a joke, but Jing Tian's steady progress over the past two years is far better than in her previous life. At least she has a solid foundation in acting, and with a good role model like Senior Sister Xixi to learn from, becoming a big star is actually the easiest goal to achieve.

"Sister Honey, shall we go inside and get ready?"

As soon as Yang Mi arrived backstage, her two personal assistants asked her somewhat cautiously for permission to do some preliminary preparations.

In fact, Yang Mi now has two personal assistants, one work assistant, one driver, and two bodyguards. Her outings are quite "grand and bustling". However, due to limited space backstage at the Spring Festival Gala and management requirements, even the biggest stars can only bring one assistant.

Yang Mi, making her first appearance at the Spring Festival Gala, looked around with a hint of arrogance, as if she were a celebrity transitioning into a business. Then, she took off her sunglasses and openly showed herself to the ordinary actors and staff who were watching her.

She has an elegant face and a graceful figure.

"Xiao Chen, come with me. Bring all your skincare products, disinfectant wipes, mouthwash, and the like."

Yang Mi handed the Evian drink she had just taken a sip to her assistant who was being deported: "Xiao Su, wait outside. Talk to your manager about our schedule after the New Year and see how to post promotional copy on Weibo and other social media."

"alright, got it."

The remaining assistant, Xiao Chen, with a plain face, followed closely behind the female celebrity. She was Yang Mi's mother's distant niece from the outskirts of Beiping City. They knew each other well, and therefore, Xiao Chen was the person Yang Mi trusted the most.

Xiao Chen proudly put on the pass around her neck and secretly took a selfie. While putting away her cousin Mi's pass, she couldn't help but feel envious, thinking that her big star cousin only needed to show her face and was surrounded by the halo of a billionaire businesswoman.

These cousins, who used to play together wearing open-crotch pants since childhood, have grown up to be quite different now.

I'm so envious...

Assistant Xiao Chen felt as if she had entered a grand garden, following Yang Mi with pride while curiously observing the bustling scene in the backstage corridor of the Spring Festival Gala.

The corridor was crowded with dancers, opera performers, and acrobatic performers waiting to go on stage. Most of them sat on the ground or squeezed onto small stools that had been temporarily brought in, while makeup artists squatted down and bent over to touch up their makeup and adjust their headdresses.

The air was filled with a unique backstage smell, a mixture of hairspray, face powder, and body heat—noisy and bustling.

"So many people were getting ready and waiting in the hallway..." Xiao Chen lowered his voice, with a hint of superiority in his voice. "Mi Mi, you have a lot of connections. The station arranged a private dressing room for you, even though it's supposed to be shared with two other singers."

This year's program for Da Mi Mi is a medley of classic hits called "The Flowing Years". She will appear in a retro and elegant dress, and the stage will be designed to resemble an old film reel or a nostalgic theater.

As a public relations achievement of LeEco Culture, although it is not a solo performance, the performer will eventually walk to the front of the stage, make eye contact with the audience, and the background imagery will present a warm "home" theme. The performance will end with a warm smile and a wave, making it a role with a significant "screen time".

Yang Mi was used to her distant cousin's envy, and she was tired of hearing her naturally flattering her for the past two months.

She said calmly, "Well, that's how it is with choral performances. Next time, it'll be a solo."

The two were talking as they passed a dressing room.

Unlike the other doors that had signs like "XXX Choir" or "Language Category 3," this wooden door had no markings at all, only a simple printed note that read: "Do Not Disturb."

"Hey? Honey, why doesn't this place have a name? It just says 'Do Not Disturb,' so mysterious?" Xiao Chen looked at it a few more times out of curiosity.

Yang Mi paused slightly and glanced over, her tone carrying a knowing smirk: "Usually only big shots like Zhao Benshan would use this. They're too lazy to put names on it, but anyway, the staff all know who's inside and wouldn't dare to barge in."

As soon as she finished speaking, a few clear laughs drifted out from the wooden door that Da Mimi described as representing the "highest level" of Spring Festival Gala performers.

First came a voice they all knew very well, with a touch of coquettishness—it was Liu Yifei: "Honey, what time will you arrive? Oh... um, we'll head back as soon as it's over. I want to go home and spend New Year's Eve with the baby."

Then another clear female voice rang out, with a clear hint of jeering. Xiao Chen immediately recognized it as Su Chang, who was a huge fan of "Magic Phone".

"Ugh! Liu Yifei, you're so cheesy! Are you deliberately trying to disgust us? Calling us 'husband' all the time, I should record it and upload it online!"

Another familiar voice drifted out, and Xiao Chen recognized it even more: Chu Yuxun!
Chu Yuxun echoed Su Chang's teasing: "That's just how she is. Sometimes she deliberately shows off her affection at home. She's so scheming!"

This analogy of tea to people naturally originated from Lu Kuan's popular science lesson to Xiao Liu, which she then passed on to her group of girlfriends. Because it was so vivid and apt, it quickly became popular among Liu Yifei's girlfriends' WeChat Moments.

Then came two teasing screams, clearly indicating that the angelic attacker was somewhat impotently furious and ready to use force to suppress her best friend.

Yang Mi, standing outside the door, paused abruptly. The composure on her face vanished, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, as if she had been unexpectedly given a sour lemon, or as if she had expected this displeasure.

Even more awkward was the situation for Liu Yifei's cousin and assistant, Xiao Chen. Her earlier flattery seemed to have benefited Liu Yifei in comparison.

Our dear sister arrived at the Spring Festival Gala, which is loyal to her, and then discovered that the fairy was sitting on the Iron Throne.

Even if she came from the countryside and was dull-witted and unsophisticated, she had long known about the rivalry between her celebrity cousin and the celestial beauty she had always admired.

Unilateral competition.

Because of work, she chose to stop being a fan.

Da Mimi quickly averted her gaze, subtly raising her chin, reverting to her usual haughty demeanor, as if she hadn't heard anything, and quickened her pace towards her dressing room.

But when she caught a glimpse of Xiao Chen's embarrassed expression, she suddenly felt a surge of resentment, as if she were about to run away with her tail between her legs.

How does this work?
Yang Mi took a deep breath and tapped the "Do Not Disturb" door three times with her knuckles, then pushed the door open after Liu Yifei said "Please come in."

A familiar yet slightly reproachful bright smile instantly appeared on her face, and her voice rose a few decibels, carrying her unique, bright quality that seemed to penetrate all noise:

"So that's why it sounds so lively outside! Turns out it's you guys hiding here whispering!"

"Long time no see, Sisi, Changchang, Tiantian, how is everyone?"

Da Mimi possesses a powerful "adaptability." This series of actions and words flowed smoothly, precisely breaking down the invisible barrier between the inside and outside of the door in front of her assistant. She also instantly transformed the awkward eavesdropping outside the door into a relaxed and playful banter between "best friends."

She had to.

In front of Xiao Chen, who is not only a distant cousin and a close assistant, but also someone who is being watched by people from her hometown, Yang Mi absolutely cannot allow herself to show the slightest bit of timidity, envy, or inferiority.

Xiao Chen's admiration is one of the cornerstones of her self-authority and one of the witnesses to "Yang Xiaomi's" growth into "Mi Jie".

If she were to witness herself losing composure or even fleeing in disarray due to Liu Yifei's predicament, it would not only be her current dignity that crumbles, but also the carefully constructed image of an all-powerful and invincible woman.

That's human nature. The closer you are to someone who admires you, the more you need to play the role of someone impeccable, whether it's real or not.

Even if she only had 10 yuan in her pocket, she would still take her cousin from the countryside who came to visit her to a fancy hotel for a meal. How much more so for Yang Mi, who now considers herself a capital-driven female star?
She had really enjoyed her performance, which made her three best friends, who were playing and laughing in the room, feel a little awkward.

After all, it wasn't a relationship that was directly torn apart face to face, but this one-sided "best friend relationship," which was based on falsehood and existed in name only, was suddenly broken by the person involved in such a small and private space and forcibly "renewed," causing the air to freeze for a few seconds.

Liu Yifei's smile remained unchanged, but the coquettishness she displayed while on the phone and the relaxed banter with her best friend were slightly diminished, replaced by a polite but somewhat distant formality.

"It's Yang Mi, what a coincidence."

Su Chang and Jing Tian quickly stopped laughing. A clear look of helplessness flashed in Su Chang's eyes, as she put on a professional smile and nodded without saying anything more, wondering to herself why the makeup artist hadn't arrived yet.

This awkwardness stems from an unspoken sense of distance.

Their inner circle had long excluded Yang Mi. After the changes at Huayi, the shifts in resources, and the divergence of paths, estrangement was a natural outcome.

They maintain a professional relationship on the surface, but they no longer have any contact in private.

Da Tian Tian seemed a little lost. She had a gentler personality and subconsciously raised her hand to tidy her hair, which wasn't actually messy, before getting busy with her own things.

In any other matter, she would naturally stand with Sister Qianqian, but Yang Mi's skin is too thick, and she really can't handle it.

In short, she wasn't worried about Liu Yifei being taken advantage of. With her waist and horse skills combined, she could probably escort Da Mimi directly to the door.
Yang Mi seemed completely unaware, or rather, she chose to remain unaware.

Like her unwavering birthday wishes on Weibo every year, it's like a persistent ritual, both to maintain the label of "we are friends" to the outside world, and perhaps also mixed with a hint of resentment at being completely marginalized by this top circle.

However, Xiao Liu's usual response to this is to remain silent and ignore it:
Without responding, interacting, or pointing out the truth, let that blessing hang alone on the timeline, becoming a one-man show that only onlookers will discuss.

But at this moment, Yang Mi directly barged into the physical space, bringing this one-sided performance from online to offline. Liu Yifei could no longer ignore it, but given her upbringing and demeanor, she wouldn't directly kick her out.

Yang Mi smiled as if she hadn't seen you and said, "It's nothing. I just happened to be passing by and heard you chatting, so I came in to say hello and wish you a successful performance tonight. Qianqian, you look so cool."

"Um, thank you." Xiao Liu was also a little overwhelmed and didn't even bother to say "you too," watching Yang Mi and her female assistant, who had a gossip-loving expression on their faces, leave.

The door slammed shut with a bang. A few seconds later, before the makeup artist arrived, the outspoken Su Chang exclaimed, "I'd rather hear Qianqian being sickeningly sweet than stand Yang Mi acting like this! My God! Is she alright?"

Jing Tian covered her mouth and chuckled: "It's a bit like what my uncle told my cousins: when you encounter 'force majeure' in officialdom, you have to swallow your pride and bear it, unless you want to overturn the table and walk away."

"Yang Mi loves to stir things up; to be honest, I admire her a bit."

Su Chang saw it clearly and smiled slightly: "That's because you haven't experienced Bingbing. Even that reckless girl who dared to directly provoke Boss Lu's sensitive nerves was subdued by Qianqian. Yang Mi is nothing compared to her."

Indeed, compared to Bingbing, a veteran actress who has always liked to publicly expose others, neither her risky actions like posting photos at her birthday party nor her repeated confrontations with Xiao Liu are comparable to those of Da Mimi, who is merely imitating her.

Recalling the past, Xiao Liu just smiled knowingly.

However, every stubborn person has their own tribulations to overcome. Bingbing has already overcome his tribulation and can be considered to have come back after going through many trials.

But clearly, this obsession has become an inescapable nightmare for Da Mi Mi.
This calamity was something she herself probably never imagined would come on some day in the future, or in what way.

Too much scheming and cleverness can lead to one's own demise, especially when one is simply too clever for one's own good.

After a brief interlude, the "Very Sweet" duo was greeted by the CCTV makeup team, who had just finished a meeting backstage. Their performance costumes were carefully taken out and hung up, the rich bright red and calm ink black exuding a cool vibe.

Liu Yifei's outfit was predominantly black, featuring a matte leather short jacket with a futuristic silhouette. The puffy design on the shoulders created a strong architectural line, paired with tight-fitting shorts in the same color, and the legs were decorated with straps that exuded a sense of restraint.

The fabric has a cool, matte texture, with exaggerated volume only applied to the shoulder contours, resembling a futuristic silhouette in a dark city.

The design focuses entirely on sharp lines, contrasting materials, and an overall sense of power, perfectly highlighting her mysterious and aloof temperament.

This striking retro red lipstick stands out against the overall dark tone, creating a strong visual contrast with the large, futuristic-style black eye mask covering her eyes.

Xiao Liu's "Very Sweet" style, which she originally used for fun, has brought her to her first game-like debut, and it seems she's going to contribute an extremely ethereal and powerful look.

This was also Lu Kuan's original intention. It's meaningless to be just like Korean girl groups, all sweet and sexy. Since she's going to be on stage, she should have her own style and show off her temperament.

Jing Tian wore a bright red, modified belted mini skirt. The skirt was made of a stiff material to maintain an A-line silhouette without being too fluffy, and she looked energetic as she moved.

The cuffs feature an antique-style arrow sleeve design, while the overall style remains modern, maximizing her bright and playful qualities.

Su Chang's outfits are predominantly pure white, featuring clean, straight-line cuts. The shoulders and waist are adorned with openwork or matching mesh panels, adding lightness and a sense of layering.

"OMG, Qianqian is so cool! I want to marry you!" Su Chang had just let the makeup artist straighten her long hair when she turned to her best friend to express her love.

"I'm so disappointed! I already have a sweetheart, you're just an old hag!"

"Screw you!"

Little Sweetie, with her hair in a bun, was having some details of her jawline being worked on. Upon hearing this, she raised an eyebrow in response, looking like she was willingly complying.

……

Book lovers who have attended the Spring Festival Gala know the fixed schedule for this afternoon.

Actors like Xiao Liu and Yang Mi were required to arrive backstage at 1 p.m. to prepare, and then began several hours of makeup, hair and costume changes. During this time, the production team would repeatedly check the process and remind them of precautions. For Liu Yifei, Su Chang and Jing Tian, ​​they also needed to do the final dance moves and adjust their emotions.

Starting at 3 o'clock, the final full-element rehearsal, also known as the backup recording, will take place. All actors, hosts, and equipment will conduct a final full rehearsal according to live broadcast standards.

This is the last chance to fill in any gaps and is also a crucial step for the actors to adapt to the atmosphere of a live broadcast.

After 6 p.m., the invited guests began to enter the venue one after another through the VIP channel, which is separate from the channel for performers and staff, since there is a need for confidentiality backstage at the Spring Festival Gala.

However, there are always exceptions to the rules, especially today's exception, which was broken on a particularly large scale. If we were to report it in the style of the station's communications, it would be like this:

[This station reports] At 6:00 PM on New Year's Eve, the highly anticipated CCTV 2011 Year of the Rabbit Spring Festival Gala was about to begin. As the gala entered its final countdown, Mr. Lu Kuan, President of Wenjie Group, the gala's exclusive interactive partner, led a delegation of management to the backstage of CCTV's Studio One to warmly greet and extend their regards to the "Very Sweet" dance group, who were busy preparing for their performance.

The delegation included twelve core management representatives from Wenjie Group, including managers of major branches, Zhang Xiaolong, head of WeChat business, Dong Shuangqiang, vice president of the group, and Liu Qiangdong, among others.

It is worth mentioning that Liu Qiangdong, general manager of Wenjie Mall, which has just successfully listed in overseas and Hong Kong markets, and Liu Hong, CEO of Zhijie Video, and other senior executives were also in the group. Mr. Zhuang Xu, president of Hongmeng Technology, which has maintained a deep strategic partnership with Wenjie for a long time, also participated in the visit.

Accompanied by the chief director Chen Linchun and other leaders of the station, the delegation made a low-key visit to the actors' dressing room area without disturbing the other actors' preparations. They paid special attention to the "Very Sweet" group, who were about to perform the dance program "Shaking the New Year," and extended their warm greetings to Ms. Liu Yifei, the principal actress, former director of the Integrity and Efficiency Center of Wenjie Group, and current director of the Beiping Youth Literary and Art Workers Committee.

During the visit, the management members of Wenjie affectionately addressed Liu Yifei as "Director Liu," expressing their high recognition and respect for her past contributions to the group's governance and her current performance in the arts and culture field.

President Lu Kuan inquired in detail about the program preparations and expressed his sincere gratitude to the cast and crew for their hard work.

During the visit and meeting, he held Director Liu's delicate, smooth hand and stroked it gently for a long time, demonstrating his warmth and care for his former female subordinate.

During his interaction with actor Su Chang at the event, Mr. Zhuang Xu, President of HarmonyOS, also expressed that as an important partner in the Wenjie ecosystem, HarmonyOS's mobile terminals will provide solid support for the interactive experience of this Spring Festival Gala.

The event was conducted in a solemn and warm atmosphere, fully demonstrating Wenjie Holdings' active support for social and cultural undertakings and its care for its employees as a leading cultural media and internet company.

This visit from high-level officials greatly boosted the morale of the three performers, Liu Yifei, Su Chang, and Jing Tian, ​​and added confidence to present a splendid cultural feast to Chinese people around the world.

The on-site technicians immediately began finalizing the equipment to ensure the smooth broadcast of the gala.

……

At 8 p.m. sharp, Studio One was brightly lit, and the familiar opening music resounded through the sky.

Amid thunderous applause, a team of hosts, including Zhu Jun, Zhou Tao, Dong Qing, and Zhu Xun, dressed in formal attire, appeared at the center of the stage and delivered New Year's greetings to Chinese audiences worldwide in clear, resonant voices:

"China Central Television!"

"China Central Television!"

"Dear viewers, everyone—"

Happy Chinese New Year!

As the camera panned across the audience, countless viewers in front of their televisions instantly spotted Boss Lu's familiar face in the VIP area.

In 09, he was honored by the state as the chief director of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. He and his wife watched the performance in VIP seats, sitting with space heroes and Olympic heroes.

However, this year, sharp-eyed viewers also noticed several new faces around him who have been frequently appearing in financial news recently, such as Liu Hong, CEO of Zhijie Video, and Liu Qiangdong, head of Wenjie Mall.

Attentive netizens were able to quickly identify the area around the road as a "Wenjie Group" executive team building area.

Netizens who watched the 08 Wenjie Annual Meeting quickly discovered that those present also included Long Danni, head of Travel Channel, Yang Siwei, head of Starlink business, Gao Jun of Wenjie Jiahe, and other core executives of the Wenjie ecosystem.

These business elites, all dressed in dark suits, looked energetic and radiant. They maintained just the right smiles in front of the Spring Festival Gala live broadcast cameras, sometimes talking in hushed tones, and sometimes watching the program intently.

Their appearance immediately sparked heated discussions on social media:
"Wow! Did Wenjie book out the VIP area?" "No wonder all the interactive elements of this year's Spring Festival Gala were Wenjie products; it turns out the bosses were all there to oversee things."

"As a private enterprise, Wenjie seems to be increasingly sharing the fate of the nation, which is quite remarkable!"

Among the audience were domestic entrepreneurs who, like Robin Li in the past, "paid to get exposure," especially LeEco Culture Vice President Xu Duojin and President Jia Yueting, who came specifically to support their girlfriends.

They noticed that the camera frequently focused on Boss Lu, knowing it was all free, unlike them who had to pay hefty appearance fees.

Because he is an internationally renowned director, Asia's richest man, and the holder of a series of dazzling titles.

Their view of the road is just like Yang Mi's view of Liu Yifei—full of the sentiments and ambitions of a true man, especially now that LeEco Culture has successfully listed on NASDAQ, they feel an even greater sense of pride and ambition to create a magnificent enterprise.

The Spring Festival Gala started as scheduled, and viewers across the country were as happy as ever, glancing at it casually in front of their TVs, whether they liked it or not.

But this year is indeed a bit special because a super popular dance group called "Very Sweet" has made its debut, which can at least influence the attention of ten million people.

The production team originally intended to air their skit around 10 PM, similar to Zhao Benshan's skit, to maintain viewership and prevent viewers from switching channels. However, this program had another important function today—

The marketing campaign, which used "Shake for the New Year" to introduce the "shake" feature that ran throughout the entire Spring Festival Gala, was launched.

Therefore, fans across the country, and around the world who have gradually accumulated fans of Gucci and "The Book of Peace", were able to enjoy the dance performance of the "Very Sweet" group just half an hour into the evening's opening.

After the laughter and applause from the crosstalk performance "Return the Money" by Feng Gong, Niu Li, and others subsided, the stage lights switched to a deep and technologically advanced blue.

With her signature dignified yet friendly smile, host Dong Qing gracefully walked to the center of the stage.

"Thank you, Feng Gong and Niu Li, for bringing us joy!"

She paused briefly, her gaze sweeping across the room, her tone carrying a restrained anticipation:
"Dear viewers, we've had our New Year's Eve dinner and plenty of laughter at home. Now, we're going to present you with a special 'sweet' treat—a very, very sweet audio-visual feast!"

She cleverly emphasized the word "sweet," thus introducing the key information:

"On the stage of this year's Spring Festival Gala, there is a group that has garnered countless expectations from the audience since the day they were officially announced to be there. They are three very outstanding actresses who came together because of their shared love for dance and formed a very sweet group."

The audience immediately erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers, especially the young audience members.

Dong Qing continued with a smile, speaking slightly faster, her enthusiasm evident in her presentation:
"That's right, it's Liu Yifei, Su Chang, and Jing Tian! These three girls will bring you the warmest and trendiest New Year's blessings with a vibrant and creative modern dance, 'Shaking the New Year'!"

"And everyone, please pay attention." Dong Qing paused slightly here, revealing a smile that was both mysterious and guiding—a carefully designed interactive prompt from the script. "While enjoying this dance, please remember to keep your phones on! Because the interactive red envelope giveaway sponsored by Wenjie Holdings, which you've all been waiting for, is about to begin!"

"Alright, now let's give a warm round of applause to the 'Very Sweet' duo, who will bring you the cool and dynamic 'Shake the New Year'!"

Fans who like Xiao Liu, Su Chang, and Da Tiantian went crazy, but there were also those who didn't like them, after all, they're not money.

But today, by sheer coincidence, in addition to them, there is indeed a total of 500 million RMB to be given away starting from this program. As a result, the dance of the "Very Sweet" group has become the most anticipated and most watched program of the entire Spring Festival Gala!

Perhaps the production team is both pleased and worried about this:

The good news is that after Grandpa Benshan and others gradually left the stage, a program that can be described as a blockbuster has emerged this year;

My concern is whether the new audience members brought by Liu Yifei and others will leave after watching the dance for about thirty minutes...

Fortunately, Wenjie provided red envelopes throughout the event, which should attract RMB enthusiasts to stay.

……

"Tiedan, Yoyo! Look at Mommy! Look at Mommy!"

In the living room of Wenyuhe Mansion, Liu Xiaoli and her aunt Zhou Wenqiong were watching the Spring Festival Gala with their child on the sofa. Aunt Qiao had come home for the New Year, and the latter came to help out.

The 65-inch Sharp LCD TV was playing a dazzling Spring Festival Gala. As the host Dong Qing finished her introduction, the stage lights focused and the music started playing. Tie Dan and You You, who were sitting in the arms of their grandmother Liu Xiaoli and aunt Zhou Wenqiong, immediately had their big, dark eyes drawn to the screen.

The first thing that catches the child's eye in the picture is a very impactful close-up:
Wearing a futuristic black leather mini-jacket, Liu Yifei, the mother, sat in front of a drum set that gleamed with a metallic sheen. She raised her arms, her expression cool and focused, and unleashed a series of powerful drumbeats, instantly igniting the atmosphere!

"Mommy!" The sharp-eared and quick-witted Youyou was the first to react, pointing her little finger at the screen and excitedly bouncing on Zhou Wenqiong's lap.

Tiedan broke free from his grandmother's embrace, slid off the sofa, and rushed to the TV with his short legs. He stood on tiptoe and patted his mother's image on the screen, calling out indistinctly, "Mommy! Mommy!"

If his sister calls out once, he'll call out twice: "Iron Egg will never be a slave!"
The two little ones, almost two years old, were completely captivated by the cool and handsome image of their mother on TV, so different from her usual gentle and kind self. They were so excited that they kept babbling and babbling, completely forgetting their grandmother's usual reminders to be careful.

Then the drumbeats changed, and a surge of dynamic electronic music came out.

Jing Tian emerged from the side of the stage like a blazing flame, her bright smile and vibrant energy, combined with precise and infectious movements, making her a captivating presence.

"Sweet! Auntie!" Youyou still remembers Sweetie who often came to play at her house. She was probably the outsider she and her brother had the most contact with, and she would stay whenever she had the chance.

Tie Dan was especially excited. Watching his familiar Aunt Tian Tian dance energetically, his little mouth unconsciously started to purse again, as if by conditioned reflex.

Su Chang was the last to appear.

She appeared like a pure ray of moonlight piercing through from the other side, dressed in a white, form-fitting dance costume, her movements graceful and fluid, creating a beautiful contrast and complement to Jing Tian's enthusiasm.

Liu Xiaoli walked to the television, hugged her two excited little ones, pulled them back onto the carpet to prevent them from hurting their eyes, and then kept her eyes glued to her daughter in the center of the stage.

As a former dancer, her perspective is more professional and demanding, but at this moment, her eyes are filled with barely suppressed pride and excitement.

After a powerful drumbeat, Liu Yifei nimbly left her drum position and quickly blended in with Su Chang and Jing Tian.

Three figures, one in black, one in white, and one in red, intertwine, collide, separate, and reunite on the stage.

The choreography is ingenious, combining the explosiveness and rhythm of modern dance with clean, crisp movements and precise timing. The synchronized rapid spins and jumps of the three dancers are particularly powerful and beautiful.

It also cleverly incorporates the charm of classical Chinese dance.

In a soothing rhythm, Liu Yifei turned to the side, the arc of her arm resembling the cloud hand technique, soft yet strong;

Jing Tian's playful steps revealed the lightness of her circular steps;

Su Chang's extended control reveals an elegant sense of movement.

They sometimes resemble three independent whirlwinds, each displaying their unique personality: Liu Yifei's aloofness, Jing Tian's passion, and Su Chang's purity.

At other times, they cooperate closely, forming a dynamic formation with synchronized movements, as if they were a single entity.

The actresses' signature facial expressions changed with the dance, from cool and edgy to the occasional confident smile, captivating the audience.

"You danced so well!" Aunt Zhou Wenqiong couldn't help but applaud and cheer, then turned to Liu Xiaoli and said, "Sister, Qianqian has fulfilled your life's dream, she danced on the Spring Festival Gala!"

Liu Xiaoli's eyes welled up slightly. On the television, her daughter and two little sisters displayed the cool, graceful, and passionate side of women. On the carpet, the two little ones excitedly jumped around, following their mother's figure. In a little while, her daughter and son-in-law would come home to have New Year's Eve dinner together.

This is the ultimate fulfillment in life.

The dance on TV reached its climax, the music became faster and faster, and the three people's movements became more and more intense, finally coming to an abrupt end in a visually striking freeze-frame pose!

Liu Yifei stood in the center, her head slightly turned to the side, her red lips curving into a confident arc;

Jing Tian was on her right, with a sweet smile and full of energy;

Su Chang was on the left, her posture elegant and her temperament refined.

"Mom! Great!" Although Tie Dan and Youyou couldn't understand the details of the dance, they were completely infected by the enthusiastic applause and musical atmosphere. The same was true for the audience and fans who were watching the Spring Festival Gala live, in front of the TV, and in front of the online live broadcast.

The top ten trending topics related to this dance program, which has no purchase or pay-to-win features, perfectly reflect the current online attention to this dance show.

#Liu Yifei, the Heavenly Beauty and the Powerful# (Explosive)

#SuperSweetShakeToWelcomeTheNewYear# (Explosive)

#Liu Yifei Drum Set# (Hot)

#SweetRedDress# (Hot)

#SuChangWhiteMoonlight# (Hot)

"Holy crap! This is so handsome it makes me cry! This isn't just a fairy sister, this is Her Majesty the Queen! The way she's playing the drums, the way her eyes are so intense! Su Chang is glowing white, and Jing Tian is so sweet! The 'Very Sweet' duo should debut right now!"

"Liu Yifei's matte leather futuristic silhouette, Jing Tian's bright red A-line modified mini skirt, and Su Chang's hollowed-out patchwork white dance costume! The ultimate collision of black, red, and white perfectly interprets the three styles of cool, sweet, and soft! The best stage look tonight, without a doubt."

"Oh no, oh no, the washing machine is definitely going to be played by the fairy tonight! Why are my eyes full of tears? Because the fairy's fair knees are about to be bruised!"

"You can tell that all three of them worked very hard, but to be honest, the execution wasn't perfect. However, their spirit, facial expressions, and body language were all perfect. Compared to Korean groups, even if they are slightly inferior in dance, this combination of naturally beautiful Chinese women and their temperament is still too eye-catching."

"After watching 'The Book of Peace,' I can't look at Tianxian's gender the same way anymore. Her portrayal of a male soul in a female body is so good that I always feel like there's a man's soul inside her. And after today's dance, it's even more... Ugh, Tianxian is so powerful! Ahhhhhh!"

"I'm ready."

……

The lingering effects of the dance music had barely faded when the entire audience erupted in applause.

Liu Yifei, Su Chang, and Jing Tian, ​​with slightly breathless smiles, bowed to the audience and prepared to leave. Host Zhou Tao, with her signature warm and friendly smile, quickly walked from the side of the stage and enthusiastically called out to them:

"Hey! Yi Fei, Jing Tian, ​​Su Chang, please wait! Please wait!"

The three of them stopped at the sound, following the script, and turned to Zhou Tao, their faces still flushed with the excitement of their performance.

Zhou Tao walked among them and faced the audience, her tone full of surprise and admiration: "That was wonderful! Thank you all! That dance was so cool and beautiful, full of energy!"

Then he turned to the audience, "Everyone, tell me, wasn't it amazing?!"

The audience responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers once again.

"Thank you, thank you everyone for your support!" Zhou Tao smoothly picked up the conversation, cleverly shifting the focus to the core part: "Watching the three of you perform with such energy, I'm sure you, especially the younger viewers, can't sit still, right? Don't you want to get moving too?"

She paused briefly, a mysterious yet enticing smile spreading across her face, and raised her voice: "I have great news for everyone! You can join in now! Remember the surprise we mentioned before the party started? That's right, the 'Shake and Win Red Envelopes' event is starting now!"

The live demonstration begins:
Zhou Tao, like a friendly salesperson, spoke while gesturing: "Please take out your phones immediately and open WeChat!"

She made a tapping motion on her phone screen: "Find the 'Discover' tab at the bottom, tap it, and you'll see the 'Shake' icon!"

At this moment, the large screen at the back of the stage switched to an animated illustration of the WeChat "Shake" interface, clearly showing the operation steps.

"Yes, this is it! Click on it!" Zhou Tao's voice was full of enthusiasm: "Look everyone, the interface has now changed to our Spring Festival Gala's exclusive red background! Next, the most crucial step is coming—"

She took the lead, raising her right hand and making a shaking motion as if shaking a phone, calling out to the audience and the camera: "Come on! Let's shake our phones together!"

Just as Zhou Tao shouted the "Shake it" slogan, the on-site director's camera, with remarkable "skill," quickly switched to the "Wenjie Formation" in the VIP area below the stage.

The footage clearly captures a group of over a dozen executives from the Wenjie Group, led by Boss Lu, including Liu Hong, Liu Qiangdong, Zhang Xiaolong, Long Danni, and Yang Siwei, raising their phones in unison—all of them the latest HarmonyOS flagship models.

With expressions that ranged from earnest participation to a knowing smile, they vigorously shook their arms, their movements so exaggerated and their attitude so enthusiastic, as if they were performing a meticulously rehearsed group exercise.

This wave of "shaking," emanating from the core of the formation and carrying a strong sense of demonstration and ritual, quickly swept through the entire VIP area and even affected the nearby audience.

The camera also keenly captured images of LeEco Culture's Xu Duojin and Jia Yueting, sitting a little further away, as well as other lesser-known entrepreneurs who were allowed to appear in public after paying fees.

Amidst the frenzied atmosphere around them, they passively and far less enthusiastically raised their phones than Wenjie.

Faced with such an overwhelming, well-prepared marketing extravaganza that is directly linked to a nationwide carnival, can an individual resist it?
Whether out of curiosity, conformity, or simply not wanting to miss out on potential "red envelopes," or even as competitors like Jia Yueting, people have no choice but to participate in order to understand their rivals and maintain a sociable image.

This is not just an event for the industry; it has become a phenomenon that no one can completely ignore.

All internet competitors and practitioners, regardless of their inner thoughts, have now become participants, witnesses, or even unwilling participants in this grand marketing campaign.

"Haha, I see many friends here have already started shaking!" Zhou Tao looked at the audience and the camera, encouraging them with a cheerful voice: "Yes! That's it! Shake it, and good luck and red envelopes might just come your way!"

She turned to the three girls beside her: "Yifei, why don't you take the lead and shake it together with everyone to shake out good luck for the New Year and give it to all the viewers?"

Liu Yifei, Su Chang, and Jing Tian exchanged smiles and then confidently began their planned marketing campaign in front of the camera, all within a three-minute timeframe.

At this moment, celebrities are demonstrating on stage, industry leaders are "collectively endorsing" the audience, and hundreds of millions of people are participating simultaneously in front of their televisions.

A powerful, ubiquitous sense of participation enveloped the entire Spring Festival Gala, both online and offline. The month-long promotional campaign by Wenjie reached its climax at this moment, transforming into a true nationwide interactive carnival.

"Quick, Wenqiong, get your phones ready, we're about to start shaking!" Liu Xiaoli from Wenyuhe Prefecture was naturally her daughter and son-in-law's number one supporter, contributing a fraction of her efforts to help her son-in-law recoup his marketing costs.

Every point we can win back is a point we can make!

"Grandma! It's me!"

"Grandma, it's me! It's me! Tiedan!"

The two little ones, who were practically waving their arms around the TV, watched their mother shaking the screen. The camera focused on their father for two seconds while he was shaking, and when they turned around, their grandmother and great-aunt were still shaking...

They immediately showed an innocent and eager sense of participation, rushing to their grandmother's legs and standing on tiptoe to reach the phone that was making a "click, click" sound as if casting a spell.

On New Year's Eve, under the warm yellow light in the living room of Wenyuhe Mansion, two innocent children, two kind elders, celebrity parents in the CCTV studio, business elites, and even hundreds of millions of people across the country watching television were strangely connected by this simple "shake" action.

The camera seemed to slowly pull up and out at that moment—

Over the heads of Tie Dan and Youyou, who were scrambling for the phone;

Passing over the shoulders of smiling Liu Xiaoli and Zhou Wenqiong;

Passing through the bright windows of Wenyu River Mansion;
Blend into the myriad lights of Beijing on New Year's Eve.

These lights echoed the dazzling brilliance inside Studio One.

In countless families, in front of countless screens, similar scenes are unfolding: curiosity, laughter, anticipation, participation...

Millions of arms swayed in unison, as if flowing into a vast river called the times.

The time-traveling father and the beautiful native mother, who were deeply involved in and created this era, finally arrived home soon after, much to the delight of their twins.

"Dad! Mom!"

"Daddy! Daddy! Mommy! Mommy!"

Youyou pouted and glanced at her younger brother, who wanted everything to be doubled. He didn't talk much now, otherwise he would definitely question him about who his other parents were!
They disregarded their excitement, regret, anger, and frustration at not being able to see their mother's New Year's greetings, and rushed into the adults' arms.

On New Year's Eve, the hustle and bustle will eventually come to an end, but the anticipation and reunion during the New Year's Eve vigil are the unchanging essence of life.

No matter how dazzling the stage outside may be, fame and fortune become background noise at this moment. Only the soft calls of the child in one's arms and the laughter of family gathered around the fire are the most heartwarming, down-to-earth, and precious place to return to in this era.

(End of this chapter)