Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 177 Intrigue
"Big ship?"

Zhang Yan originally thought Zhang Ziyang had his eye on a song for the New Year's Eve concert, but he didn't expect that the other party had chosen "Many hands make light work".

"I thought you had your eye on 'Great China'."

There were many classic original songs at this year's New Year's Eve gala, among which Gao Feng's "Great China" was the most fitting for the Spring Festival Gala stage.

While "Many Hands Make Light Work" is also suitable for performance at galas, it is clearly a level below "Great China".

"That song was originally written to accompany Jiang Kun's crosstalk performance. Now that Jiang Kun's 'Big Ship' has been rejected, isn't it only natural to replace it with the song 'Big Ship'?"

Zhang Ziyang first explained the surface reason, then said with a wry smile, "Actually, it's because your New Year's Eve concert is too popular—the Spring Festival Gala is essentially a New Year's Eve gala, and with such a short interval between them, we were worried that the audience would criticize us for copying others' ideas."

Being too passionate can also be a sin.

"Fine, anyway, this song was originally sourced from your preparation team."

Since Zhang Ziyang had already put it this way, Zhang Yan signed the labor contract in the name of the company, and then immediately called Han Lei, asking him to come to Beijing to participate in the rehearsal.

After finishing, Zhang Ziyang pulled Zhang Yan aside to discuss the stage design.

The stage design for the New Year's Eve concert was set by Zhang Yan. He was originally a graphic designer, and having seen so many future stage designs, the effect he created was definitely ahead of its time.

With only half a month left, major changes to the Spring Festival Gala are impossible, but minor adjustments to the stage design are still possible.

This can be considered the first time Zhang Yan truly fulfilled his responsibilities as an advisor.

I was busy talking and drawing until noon.

Zhang Ziyang originally wanted to extend some hospitality as a host, but Feng Gong and Zhang Guoli beat him to it.

As the three of them walked out chatting and laughing, they bumped into several hosts discussing going out for dinner, and Zhou Tao was among them.

Feng Gong was most familiar with the people. He first chatted with Zhao Zhongxiang, Ni Ping, and Yang Lan one by one, and then introduced Zhang Yan to Liang Yanling (Hong Kong Island), Li Qingan (Taiwan), and Zhang Yongquan (Singapore).

Li and Zhang only remembered Zhang Yan's screenplay for "Tianjin Wei". Liang Yanling, who was a singer, knew more about Zhang Yan and even praised Yuan Meng's album "I'm Crazy for Singing" as a rare classic.

At this moment, Zhou Tao took the initiative to say, "Mr. Zhang, we were just wondering what to have for lunch. How about we give you, a big spender, a chance to get up close and personal with some of the best hosts from home and abroad?"

He paused for a moment, then added, "Tell me more about your idea for that new variety show."

Zhang Yan glanced at Zhou Tao with some surprise. He hadn't expected Zhou Tao to bring this up in front of everyone, as if he were deliberately showing off.

This is quite unlike her usual style.

"A new variety show?"

Upon hearing this, Ni Ping couldn't help but ask, "What variety show is it?"

"It's a variety show related to poetry."

Zhang Yan gave a vague reply, then smiled and said, "After all, I am an advisor to the preparatory group, so it is only right that I treat everyone to a simple meal. I just don't know if you gentlemen would do me the honor."

The hosts exchanged ideas and had no objections, so they chose a location and set off.

Zhao Zhongxiang, Feng Gong, and Zhang Guoli all arrived by car. Zhao Zhongxiang drove the three foreign guests, Ni Ping and Yang Lan got into Feng Gong's car, and Zhou Tao naturally got into Zhang Yan's Crown.

"what happened?"

As soon as they got in the car, Zhang Yan couldn't help but ask, "Has someone been giving you trouble?"

"It can't really be considered that."

Zhou Tao tilted his head and said helplessly, "I don't know who spread the rumor that I am a younger version of Ni Ping, and that I was transferred to CCTV to take over her position on 'Variety Show'."

"No wonder you were so eager to bring up the 'Chinese Poetry Competition'—I must say, your styles are quite similar, but Ni Ping isn't at an age where she can't keep up, is she?"

"They say they want to rejuvenate the hosts, but I suspect there must be other reasons behind it."

…………

Upon arriving at the restaurant, everyone easily secured the best private room by using facial recognition. However, it took quite a bit of effort to get everyone to sit down, with everyone pushing and shoving each other.

Ultimately, at Zhang Yan's suggestion, they were arranged in order of age. Zhang Yan's left seat was Liang Yanling, and his right seats were Zhou Tao and Yang Lan—both born in 68.

Liang Yanling was clearly very interested in Zhang Yan. While everyone was ordering food, she seized the opportunity to ask him all sorts of questions, even asking bluntly, "Mr. Zhang, your record company is so popular in mainland China, you must make a lot of money in a year, right? Do you have several million?"

Back then, people in mainland China didn't ask this question so openly.

Zhang Yan was considering how to gloss over the matter when Feng Gong chimed in, "Miss Liang, you're exaggerating."

Just when everyone thought he was saying Zhang Yan couldn't earn that much, Feng Gong suddenly changed the subject, saying, "If Zhang Yan wanted to earn millions, why would he need a whole year?!"

"Brother Gong."

Zhang Yan hurriedly clasped his hands in a gesture of apology, saying, "Please stop making fun of me."

Everyone burst into laughter.

This interruption thus deflected the question about Liang Yanling.

However, everyone was secretly calculating that although Feng Gong was joking, Zhang Yan would definitely make a lot of money.

Of all the people, Zhou Tao knew best that what Feng Gong said was not an exaggeration. This year, the Five Tigers of Dream Fulfillment tested the waters and reaped millions in less than two months. Next year, when Dream Fulfillment's music video is shown all over the country, it is possible to earn 20 to 30 million in a year.

Thinking about it made her even more jealous.

At this rate, once Chen Hong and Zhang Yan get married, she'll immediately become a multi-millionaire.

Looking at myself...

Yao Ke only knows how to cook and do housework all day long, and he has absolutely no ambition!
While she was feeling upset, she suddenly noticed that Yang Lan next door seemed to be secretly observing Zhang Yan. Judging from her expression, she was probably also wondering how much money Zhang Yan could make.

Both are 24 years old, but Yang Lan has been hosting "Zhengda Variety Show" for almost three years. If it weren't for Ni Ping, she would definitely be CCTV's number one female host.

Figure:
To be honest, Zhou Tao felt somewhat resentful towards Yang Lan, after all, the other party was not even formally trained, yet had become a top variety show host on CCTV at a young age.

On the other hand, she herself had studied at university for four years, but almost failed to stay in Beijing due to the quota for staying in Beijing. If she hadn't been lucky enough to meet Zhang Yan, she might have wasted her whole life in the public security system.

But Zhang Yan wasn't his own...

Zhou Tao glanced sideways at Zhang Yan, who was chatting with Zhang Guoli, and a frivolous idea suddenly popped into his mind.

After a slight hesitation, she quietly leaned close to Yang Lan's ear and said, "Teacher Feng Gong is absolutely right. If Yuan Meng were to focus solely on making money now, earning tens of millions a year wouldn't be a problem."

"real or fake?!"

Yang Lan covered her mouth in surprise. Although working at CCTV was respectable, the pay wasn't particularly good. Earning a few million a year was already beyond her imagination, let alone tens of millions.

"He and I are old friends."

Zhou Tao put on a sighing expression: "It's a pity that I was already engaged to my husband when I met him two years ago, otherwise I wouldn't have missed such a diamond bachelor."

Upon hearing this, Yang Lan subconsciously opened his mouth, but when his gaze swept over Zhang Yan beside him, he swallowed back the words he was about to say and changed his words to: "It is indeed rare to see someone as young and promising as President Zhang."

"right."

As if he had found an ally, Zhou Tao then recounted some of Zhang Yan's glorious deeds to Yang Lan.

The purpose...

As a married woman, it would be difficult for her to threaten Chen Hong's position, but what if the famous CCTV's second sister stepped in?

Anyway, I don't like either of these women, so I can watch the show regardless of who wins or loses. Of course, it would be best if they both suffered heavy losses.

As for whether Yang Lan will be tempted...

Haha~
When she heard "tens of millions," Zhou Tao knew all too well the look that lit up in her eyes, because it was almost a carbon copy of her own.

The only thing that puzzled Zhou Tao was that Yang Lan seemed visibly conflicted and uneasy as he listened to Zhang Yan's past deeds.

Did she already know about Chen Hong's existence?

(End of this chapter)