Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 257 The Era of 85 Flowers
On the evening of April 6th, in a cozy and elegant private room of a restaurant in Donghai, a corner of the city, soft lighting fell on the dining table.

Apart from Chen Xiao being too busy with his studies at school to attend, the five main actors of "Chinese Paladin 3," including Liu Shishi, Hu Ge, and Yang Mi, sat together.

Liu Shishi rushed back from Suzhou in the afternoon, while Yang Mi came to the "Myth" crew yesterday to audition and stayed in Donghai for a day.

It just so happened that the others were also in Donghai, so the usually busy celebrities had a rare get-together.

Hu Ge smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes, yet she remained humble.

Today he just won the lead role in "The Myth" with his own merit, and he is currently receiving congratulations from his friends.

Everyone raised their glasses, and laughter echoed in the private room, celebrating Hu Ge's successful landing of this important role.

Mentioning the audition, Yang Mi's previously beaming face instantly darkened. She put down her chopsticks, her face showing dissatisfaction and resentment, clearly indignant.

"Honestly, I think the audition for the female lead was unfair; I feel like there was something fishy going on. What does Jing Tian have? No popularity, no acting skills, why was she chosen? She's definitely another one with connections, I really hate her."

The word "again" sounded particularly jarring. Although there was no evidence, Liu Shishi vaguely felt that Yang Mi was implying something about her.

It doesn't matter. She now accepts the label of "resource-backed star" with equanimity. There's no need to explain too much about some misunderstandings and doubts. Doing her best is the most important thing.

Upon hearing this, Tang Yan gently patted Yang Mi's hand to comfort her. She also felt that Jing Tian hadn't won the lead role based on merit, so her eyes revealed understanding and support for her friend.

Yuan Hong then joked from the side, trying to ease the atmosphere: "Honey, who can really understand things in the entertainment industry? I don't know about the female lead's situation, but Lao Hu definitely won Cheng Long over with his real talent."

Hu Ge laughed heartily. He knew that continuing the discussion might upset everyone, so he changed the subject:

"Since everyone's here, I need to get a heads up. To promote 'Chinese Paladin 3,' K-sister is planning to contact Hunan TV to have us on an episode of 'Happy Camp.' I'd like to ask for everyone's opinion."

Upon hearing that she would be appearing on a variety show, Liu Shishi immediately had second thoughts and shook her head repeatedly: "I can't do it. I'm slow to react, and I'll definitely embarrass myself on a variety show. I'm not going!"

She has a slow-to-warm-up personality and needs a long time to adapt to new environments. She feels that she would definitely not be able to keep up with the pace and would make a fool of herself if she went on a variety show.

"Shishi, come on, come on! Yanyan, you should also try to persuade Shishi." Yang Mi shook her sister's arm, acting coquettishly.

She now understands the power of hype; generating buzz translates to popularity, so naturally she doesn't want to miss this great opportunity to increase exposure and generate buzz.

He secretly calculated that if he could get Liu Shishi to appear on Happy Camp together and release a few press releases to promote it, he could at least get on the trending topics for three days and gain tens of thousands of fans.

Despite her best friend's desperate pleas, Liu Shishi remained unmoved, fully aware of Yang Mi's true intentions.

This good friend is loyal, generous, and has many admirable qualities, which makes her cherish this friendship very much.

But she's also shrewd and calculating, always busy with her own little schemes. She can also clearly sense that Yang Mi is secretly competing with her, as evidenced by her insistence on surpassing her in the last vote-buying contest.

"Speaking of which, Shishi, you and President Song really are like family. President Song doesn't seem to like appearing on shows, and neither does Shishi," Yuan Hong suddenly remarked, neither confirming nor denying the matter of appearing on variety shows.

He was self-aware enough to know that even if all the main actors appeared on Happy Camp, the main characters would inevitably be Hu Ge, Shi Shi, and Mi, and he would just be a supporting character on the show.

In the entertainment industry, no one is willing to play a supporting role forever; everyone longs for their own moment in the spotlight.

Liu Shishi smiled and said, "My husband Song has always been low-key and doesn't like to show off. I feel that I'm really not suited to participating in noisy variety shows. I can only reluctantly go on talk shows and chat with everyone, which is fine."

The host made it clear that she did not want to appear on Happy Camp, which put Hu Ge in a difficult position. She could only secretly make another plan and think of an opportunity to work with Cai Yinong to persuade her.

"I'm going to the restroom!" With that, Yang Mi hurriedly left the private room.

Taking advantage of her best friend's temporary absence, Liu Shishi leaned forward slightly, her face full of gossip: "Old Hu, how are things going between you and Mimi?"

She had been keeping an eye on Hu Ge and Yang Mi. The two seemed noticeably distant during their gathering today, a far cry from their close relationship in Switzerland.

"Sigh! We're both too busy!" Hu Ge sighed heavily, her tone full of helplessness and exhaustion.

He is currently trying his best to maintain their relationship, but he is very confused and has no idea how much longer he can hold on.

After all, both of their careers are in a period of rapid development, and they usually don't see each other for more than a month. Even when they do meet, it's a quick get-together and a quick farewell. Under such circumstances, it's really hard to maintain the relationship.

Upon hearing this, Sister Yi immediately realized that there was most likely a problem in their relationship. She advised, "Old Hu, you need to pamper girls more. Mimi is a good girl, you must cherish her."

Hu Ge nodded: "I am very serious about relationships. But this can't go on. Now that I think about it, Shishi, it would be good for you to find someone outside the industry. If both of you are in the industry and are very career-oriented, you really won't see each other more than a few times a year."

Hearing this, Sister Yi rolled her eyes, thinking to herself, "Old Hu, you actually dare to compare yourself to me? You and Mr. Song are childhood sweethearts, deeply in love. You and Mimi just fell in love on set and were attracted to each other. To put it bluntly, there's a high chance you two won't end up together."

Yuan Hong reached out and patted his good brother on the shoulder: "How can a man of seven feet tall be troubled by love? Xue Jianing's example is a good warning."

"Old Yuan, Mimi is still here, why are you bringing up Old Hu's ex-girlfriend?" Liu Shishi immediately glared at Yuan Hong. This guy is a pretty good person, but sometimes he speaks without thinking and doesn't consider the occasion.

A short while later, with a light footstep, Yang Mi returned to the private room, and the group tacitly stopped talking about the emotional topics they had just discussed.

The gathering lasted until after eight o'clock, and as the night grew deeper, it was time to leave.

Liu Shishi stood to the side, her gaze shifting back and forth between Yang Mi and Hu Ge. After a moment's thought, she decided to try her best to reunite her best friend and Lao Hu, hoping that the two could get back together.

So he smiled at Yang Mi and said, "Mi Mi, it's getting late, it's not safe for you to be on the road alone, let Lao Hu take you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly turned her head and winked playfully at Tangren's top host: "Old Hu, what are you still standing there for?"

Hu Ge was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered, a look of expectation appearing on her face: "Mi Mi, let me see you off. I'll go get the car now." Yang Mi looked at Hu Ge's sincere eyes, her feelings complicated. Memories of their time together flashed through her mind, those sweet moments contrasting sharply with their current estrangement.

After hesitating for a moment, she nodded slightly, agreeing to Hu Ge's escort. Then, she asked the two young women, "Shishi, Yanyan, how will you get back?"

Seeing that the mission was accomplished, Liu Shishi smiled and waved her hand, "Don't worry, my assistant is here to pick me up."

Tang Yan smiled sweetly and said, "I'm a local from Donghai, so you don't need to worry about me. My dad is already waiting for me downstairs."

After their gathering, the main cast members of "Chinese Paladin" went back to their respective busy schedules. Liu Shishi returned to the set of "Go Lala Go!" the next day, throwing herself wholeheartedly into the intense filming work.

Days passed by, and before we knew it, it was late April.

On the evening of April 26th, the 16th College Student Film Festival was grandly held at the Beiping Olympic Sports Center.

The film festival was a dazzling spectacle, a dreamlike scene. Along the red carpet, flashes from various media outlets rose and fell, seemingly illuminating the entire night sky with a vibrant, captivating display.

When it was the turn of the "A Little Thing Called First Love" cast to walk the red carpet, Liu Shishi, dressed in a simple yet elegant white gown, gracefully walked onto the red carpet.

The eldest sister's makeup was exceptionally exquisite today; the delicate base makeup made her skin as smooth as white jade.

Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, her eyes are bright and spirited, and her demeanor exudes a fresh and refined air, like a newly blossoming white lotus, pure and beautiful.

Even in a star-studded setting, she stands out brilliantly, her radiance in no way inferior to any of her senior actresses.

As one of the four most popular young actresses right now, Tangren's leading lady's appearance instantly attracted everyone's attention. The audience gasped in amazement, and the sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air.

Even some veteran actresses in the industry couldn't help but glance at her, secretly admiring her while feeling a slight pressure in their hearts.

Since the selection of the "Four Little Actresses" in March, several actresses born around 85, as the best of the new generation in the entertainment industry, have begun to officially step onto the grand stage of Chinese entertainment.

They are attracting much attention and have a bright future. Competing on the same stage with veteran actresses in the industry, they fully demonstrate the outstanding style of the post-85 generation of actresses, marking the beginning of a new era in the entertainment industry.

After Liu Shishi entered the venue with graceful poise, the awards ceremony quickly began.

Because the film "First Love" received multiple nominations, she and the director and male lead Chen Xiao were seated relatively close to the front.

The leading lady sat gracefully in her seat, her hands gently folded on her knees, her back straight, and her gaze focused intently on the stage. Under the camera's lens, she exuded charm and gentle beauty.

She received two nominations at this film festival, marking the first time a post-85s actress has received nominations for a film award. This is a significant moment in her career and of great importance.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly, with a tense yet enthusiastic atmosphere. Soon, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: the announcement of the "Best Actress" award.

Liu Shishi's heart raced a little, and she clenched her fists slightly. Although Cai Yinong had already warned her that she was likely to be a runner-up, she still held a sliver of hope deep down, fantasizing that a miracle might happen!

However, just as K-sister predicted, thanks to her admirable and consistent performance in the film "The Equation of Love and Death," the award ultimately went to Zhou Xun.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Liu Shishi's eyes, filled with regret that her efforts had not yielded the expected results. But she quickly composed herself, revealing a graceful and generous smile. As the saying goes, even if you lose the game, you can't lose face, and she joined the audience in applauding and congratulating them.

As each award was announced, the highly anticipated announcement of the "Most Popular Actress" finally arrived.

All eyes were on the stage, where the host, holding the envelope that would decide who would win, paused slightly to deliberately create a tense atmosphere.

He then slowly opened the envelope and clearly and loudly read out the name "Liu Shishi".

In an instant, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue. The star athlete gracefully rose to her feet, her eyes flashing with surprise and emotion. With swaying movements and elegant bearing, she walked onto the stage, accepted the trophy, and smiled at the audience and her colleagues below.

With a broad smile, the host handed the microphone to the newly crowned "Most Popular Actress" and warmly congratulated her: "Congratulations, Shishi, please give your acceptance speech."

Liu Shishi took a deep breath to calm her excited emotions: "Thank you all for your support. This honor belongs not only to me, but also to everyone who supports me."

I want to thank the team behind "A Little Thing Called First Love," and of course, a special thank you to screenwriter Mr. Song for creating such a beautiful story. It's thanks to everyone's collective effort that I have the opportunity to stand here.

The eldest sister's voice was gentle yet firm, every word filled with deep emotion, and her gaze swept across the audience, conveying her gratitude and determination.

In a corner of the audience, Zhang Jingchu looked at the radiant Tangren Media's top female star on stage and felt an indescribable sense of urgency. His eyes flashed with a variety of complex emotions, including resentment, envy, and worry about the future.

"She is one of the four most popular young actresses in mainland China right now! She is indeed beautiful and charming, no wonder she was able to beat you to win the award."

Hearing his partner Li Lizhen's sentiments, Zhang Jingchu nodded slightly, his face somewhat grim, as if someone had reopened a wound he didn't want to talk about.

After being blacklisted by the wives' circle, she had no choice but to go to Hong Kong to avoid the limelight. She planned to lie low for a few years, accumulate strength, and then make a comeback in the Chinese entertainment industry.

However, the situation in the entertainment industry today is very different from the past. The top four actresses and two top female stars are now moving towards capital and transforming.

There's a new generation of actresses born in the 85s, young, beautiful, and incredibly popular, rapidly surpassing them. Actresses like her, stuck in the middle, are in the most awkward position right now.

Li Lizhen seemed to sense Zhang Jingchu's disappointment, and said in a low voice, "That's how the entertainment industry is. New people replace the old ones. No one can stay popular forever. I just didn't expect the younger generation to take over so quickly."

I heard that she, along with Liu Yifei and Yang Mi, were all born after 85, and are only twenty-two or twenty-three years old now, yet they are already quite famous. Jingchu, a female star's prime only lasts a few years; you seniors need to step up your game.”

Zhang Jingchu was naturally unwilling to admit that he was inferior to his juniors. He bit his lip, showing a hint of stubbornness and unwillingness to admit defeat.

"They only got to the top by luck. They don't have the strength to back them up. I want to see how long they can stay popular. I don't believe they can stay popular for ten or twenty years."

(End of this chapter)