Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 206 The Showdown During the Interview
On June 25th, the sun shone brightly, illuminating every corner of Beiping City early in the morning.

In the morning, Hu Ge, Lin Yichen, Yuan Hong, and Liu Shishi, the four main actors of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", arrived at Tengda Group together.

He accepted an exclusive interview with Toutiao Entertainment, a column under Toutiao.com, to promote the upcoming TV series.

The atmosphere in the studio was warm and enthusiastic, with staff members and fans who had come from all directions to show their support.

They waved beautifully designed support signs, their faces beaming with excitement, their eyes filled with love and support for their idols.

Hu Ge and Lin Yichen walked into the studio side by side, both wearing matching outfits and showing great chemistry.

Their eyes met, as if they wanted to extend the friendship from "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" into reality, as if there was genuine affection both on and off screen.

Yuan Hong appeared in a simple black T-shirt and sported a cool short haircut, making her look even more handsome and rugged.

Liu Shishi wore a pristine white short-sleeved chiffon top paired with a blue long skirt. Her graceful figure made her resemble a fresh and refined white flower, a sight to behold.

The interview officially began with host Wang Hong chatting with the four lead actors about some interesting anecdotes from the set.

The four chatted and laughed, their thoughts drifting back to the days when they worked together on the film.

Wang Hong wore an exquisite little suit, revealing her shrewd and capable temperament.

She had already received instructions from her superiors before the interview, and that Liu Shishi would receive special consideration during the interview.

With a warm smile, she gently asked, "Shishi, everyone just said you're the crew's darling. So, who do you think helped you the most during filming?"

Liu Shishi tilted her head slightly, gentle and quiet, holding the microphone. She pretended to think for a moment, then replied in a clear and melodious voice, "It should be Yuan Hong. He often helps and guides me, and I am very grateful to him."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hong immediately straightened her back, sat up straight, and puffed out her chest, looking quite pleased with herself.

Hu Ge immediately chimed in, "Actually, I often help Shishi too, but Lao Yuan and Shishi have more scenes together, so they naturally communicate more."

His anxious expression and tone made it seem as if he was jealous of Liu Shishi because she was more grateful to Yuan Hong.

Liu Shishi immediately covered her mouth and chuckled, ruthlessly exposing the truth: "Hu Ge is busy cooperating with Sister Yichen, how could she have time to help me?"

Yuan Hong retorted sharply, "Old Hu, don't try to take all the credit for yourself. Shishi rarely bothers you."

The atmosphere in the studio immediately became lively.

Seeing that there seemed to be some "love-hate entanglement" among the three Tangren actors, host Wang Hong's eyes lit up, and she mischievously threw the question to Tangren's top female star:
"Shishi, when you're filming with your senior brothers Hu Ge and Yuan Hong, do you have any particular fondness for them?"

The question immediately created a subtle tension in the previously lively atmosphere. The fans below the stage stopped cheering and waited quietly for Liu Shishi's answer.

Liu Shishi smiled slightly, her eyes revealing innocence and sincerity, her tone calm and firm: "They are all my good brothers, and the relationship between us is more like that of a family."

On set, they took care of me, the younger sister, and we all worked hard and improved together. As for any romantic feelings between men and women, there really weren't any.

Her candid answer was both appropriate and dignified, and she also cleverly saved face for her two senior brothers, which earned her applause and cheers from the fans present.

Wang Hong has interviewed many actors and has extensive interviewing experience, so she naturally knows what kind of content the audience and netizens like to hear most.

A sly glint appeared in her eyes, and she asked with a smile, "Shishi, you only see Hu Ge and Yuan Hong as brothers, so what is your ideal type?"

Hu Ge suddenly sighed softly, looking as if she had suffered a great blow, and feigned dejection on her face:
"Sigh, Shishi once said on a TV show that her ideal type is Chairman Song of your company. Her standards are really high, and Lao Yuan and I can only look up to her."

"Is what Hu Ge said true, Shishi?" Wang Hong was slightly surprised and quickly turned her gaze to Liu Shishi. She thought to herself, "I didn't expect this little girl to have such high standards."

But then I thought about it again and realized it was quite normal. Which young girl doesn't dream of love? The company's big boss is indeed handsome and charming, and he's incredibly attractive to young women.

Liu Shishi nodded gently, her eyes firm and clear. Her ideal type had always been Mr. Song, the ideal man in the world.

Noticing Lin Yichen's slightly embarrassed expression, Wang Hong also realized that she had somewhat neglected the female lead.

So he quickly tried to salvage the situation: "Yichen, Shishi just said her ideal type is a Song Dynasty poet. I'm also curious to ask you, what qualities does your ideal type possess?"

Sitting next to Hu Ge, Lin Yichen was already somewhat displeased. During the interview, the host, Hu Ge, and Yuan Hong kept focusing on the second female lead, neglecting her, the female lead, which made her resentful.

When the host asked her this question, according to the established publicity plan, she should have answered that her ideal type was Hu Ge.

This way, they could take the opportunity to create some buzz about their relationship with Hu Ge, adding some highlights to "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". That's why the two of them had discussed it beforehand and specially wore matching outfits at the event.

But the interview just now made her inexplicably jealous of Liu Shishi. Why is everyone fawning over you like a star when she is the female lead in this drama?

So he glanced at Liu Shishi and blurted out, almost without thinking, "My ideal type is also Mr. Song Ci. Mr. Song is handsome, talented and charming, and perfectly matches all my fantasies about my other half."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the audience, with viewers and fans jeering and jeering.

Both the female lead and the second female lead declared that their ideal type was Song Ci, and the confrontation was obvious. Everyone could almost smell the gunpowder in the air.

Wang Hong's eyes lit up; she loved interviews that were controversial and generated buzz. What netizen would care about mundane, trivial matters from the film crew?

Only celebrity feuds, scandals, and gossip are the most exciting and eye-catching dramas on the big stage of the entertainment industry.

So, we continued the conversation by going deeper into this topic: "It seems that neither of you has ever had any contact with Mr. Song in real life."

Is it possible to choose him as your ideal type based solely on a few words or pictures circulating online?

Wouldn't this give the impression of being superficial and only focused on appearance?

The host's words were laced with sarcasm, and if the two female celebrities didn't handle the situation well, they might be branded as "lustful." Lin Yichen and Liu Shishi exchanged a glance, each sensing a different emotion in the other's eyes.

Lin Yichen's eyes revealed a sense of being caught in a dilemma, while Liu Shishi remained calm and composed, confident and at ease.

The two actresses remained silent, neither speaking first, and the interview fell into an eerie silence.

The host didn't urge them on, but just wore a half-smile on his face, his eyes shifting between the two actresses.

Seeing this, Hu Ge broke the silence and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Mr. Song is not only handsome, but his talent and knowledge are also role models for me."

I've read his novels before and greatly admire him. As far as I know, it's not just Yichen and Shishi; many actresses also consider Mr. Song their ideal type.

When Liu Shishi heard Hu Ge praise Mr. Song, she smiled brightly and said in a light voice, "Yes, Song Ci is very talented!"
He's read a lot of books; his gentle and refined demeanor is the best example of how knowledgeable one can be! Also, I've been exposed to Song Dynasty poetry, which sets me apart from others.”

After speaking, he gave Lin Yichen a meaningful look, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.

Although they had a good relationship when they were filming together before, since the other party dared to covet her man, then she, the top female star of Tangren Media, would not hesitate to strike back from the brink of disaster and deliver a decisive blow.

Lin Yichen was provoked by Liu Shishi's barbed words and became angry and embarrassed, finding the innocent little face in front of him increasingly repulsive.

Gritting her teeth, she decided to wait until the interview was over and then have her team issue a few announcements to teach her a lesson, to let her know that there is ultimately a difference between the lead actress and the second lead actress.

Although Wang Hong was very curious about Liu Shishi and Song Ci, the tense atmosphere at the scene was not right, and as an excellent host, she had to control the situation.

So he quickly changed the subject, turning the focus to Hu Ge: "As we all know, Hu Ge, you were in a serious car accident while filming 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' and took a long time to recover. How did you get back on your feet from the lowest point in your life?"

Hu Ge's previously relaxed expression instantly turned serious, and she expressed her sincere gratitude:
"First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the company and the production team, who gave me endless support and patience during my most difficult time."

After my car accident, they didn't abandon me; they waited for me for a whole year. I'm truly grateful to everyone.

Recalling that dark past, Hu Ge's emotions were genuine, her eyes slightly moist, and she sighed deeply.
"At the same time, I am very grateful to Mr. Jin. He gave me sixteen words: 'Overcome great difficulties, you will achieve great success; continue to work hard, and you will eventually become a great person.'"

I believe these words are meaningful not only during that difficult time, but also now and in the future.

Hu Ge's heartfelt speech and expression of gratitude won applause from everyone present. Several fans in the audience screamed excitedly, "Hu Ge, we will always support you!"

Hu Ge was also infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere and couldn't help but stand up and bow slightly to the audience: "Thank you everyone! Thank you for your unwavering support."

And so, the two-hour interview, which was fun and interesting in the first half and deeply moving in the second half, finally came to an end.

The four left the studio and met up with their assistants and agents waiting backstage, preparing to leave Tengda Group. While waiting for the elevator, Yuan Hong asked, "Shishi, are you coming back to Hengdian with us this afternoon?"

The filming schedule for "Chinese Paladin 3" is very tight. He, Hu Ge, and Liu Shishi flew to Beiping yesterday. After the promotional activities for "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" ended, they had to rush back to continue filming in the afternoon.

Liu Shishi shook her head and refused, saying, "No, I have some things to do tonight. I'll be going back to Hengdian tomorrow morning."

Yuan Hong nodded upon hearing this: "Then Lao Hu and I will go ahead first."

The elevator doors slowly opened, and Liu Shishi, along with her assistant Jiang Yuanyuan, stepped into the elevator. She waved to everyone, "Goodbye, Lao Yuan, Lao Hu, Sister Yichen!"

When Lin Yichen saw the elevator arrive at his floor, he intended to enter with Liu Shishi, but then he suddenly realized that it was an elevator going upstairs, not to the underground parking lot, which surprised him slightly.

Seeing Liu Shishi waving goodbye from inside the elevator, he forced a smile and replied, "Goodbye!"

The heavy iron doors of the elevator closed with a muffled "bang." Unable to contain his curiosity, Lin Yichen asked impatiently, "Why did Shishi go up?"

Although Hu Ge knew perfectly well that her sister was going to meet her lover, she couldn't tell Lin Yichen directly, so she could only give a vague answer: "Shishi is going to see a friend."

After Hu Ge reminded him, Lin Yichen remembered that Liu Shishi seemed to have a good relationship with a female executive of Tengda Group, and the two had even been trending on social media together. He could only continue waiting for the elevator, feeling rather disappointed.

With Yi-jie not around, Hu Ge lowered her voice, leaned closer, and whispered, "Yi-chen, why did you just say that your ideal type is Song Ci?"

You know his popularity and influence. If you say that, you'll get criticized by netizens and his fans, who will think you're deliberately creating a buzz and trying to ride on the popularity of Song Dynasty poetry.

Lin Yichen sneered, thinking that Hu Ge was dissatisfied with his failure to hype the situation as planned, and his face was full of indifference.

Her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels, tinged with a hint of stubbornness: "How I answer is my freedom, and whether or not I'm associated with you for publicity is also my freedom. Besides, Liu Shishi can mention Song Dynasty poetry, but I can't?"

Hu Ge looked at his old friend's reaction with a wry smile. He had a good relationship with Lin Yichen because they had worked together on "The Little Fairy," so he had offered a word of advice, but he didn't expect the other party to misunderstand.

"Yichen, you've misunderstood me. I don't care about hype or not. But you shouldn't have dragged Song Ci into this. It's inappropriate for you to involve the chairman of Tengda's program!"

Lin Yichen grew increasingly dissatisfied, believing that Hu Ge was deliberately favoring Liu Shishi, and retorted, "Why didn't you blame Liu Shishi just now? She was the one who started trying to ride the coattails of Song Dynasty poetry!"

Hu Ge was speechless, feeling bitter and unable to express his grievances. Liu Shishi and Song Ci were bedmates who slept in the same bed, and she could do whatever she wanted with them. How dare an outsider like him get involved? Did he really think that the big shots had no temper?

Yuan Hong watched everything from the side, patted Hu Ge on the shoulder, and winked at him.

Good brothers should just do their part; saying too much will only upset others, so why bother? They're not the same kind of people as those Hong Kong and Taiwanese artists; there's no need to worry about them.

Years of tacit understanding allowed Hu Ge to instantly understand the meaning behind Yuan Hong's eyes. He sighed helplessly, hoping it wouldn't affect "The Legend of the Condor Heroes".

The elevator doors opened again, and everyone filed in.

At this moment, Hu Ge couldn't care less about Lin Yichen; she was thinking about how to release a press release and try to get today's interview trending on social media to boost her popularity. "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" was her first major comeback project, and she couldn't afford to fail.

(End of this chapter)