Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 293 Everyone is ancient, but I am modern

April 7th, just after the Qingming Festival. For the past few days, the sky over the East China Sea had been overcast and gloomy, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Today, the long-awaited sunshine finally pierced through the thick clouds and poured down freely.

In the morning, Tangren Media held a press conference for the TV series "Scarlet Heart" at the Donghai International Conference Center.

Inside the press conference venue, the lights were bright and the atmosphere was bustling with activity. A group of invited media reporters sat in the audience, discussing among themselves, all filled with curiosity and anticipation for the upcoming fashion show.

"A while ago, there was a lot of online voting for the male lead of 'Scarlet Heart,' but I wonder who Tangren ultimately chose?"

"You'll know once the show starts. By the way, Tangren always comes up with some interesting tricks to attract attention at their press conferences."

At 9:00 AM sharp, producer Cai Yinong, dressed in a white suit and high heels, stepped onto the stage.

His sharp gaze swept across the entire venue, taking in the impressive sight of hundreds of media outlets gathered together. He was immediately filled with excitement, and his confidence in the huge success of "Scarlet Heart" grew even stronger.

As a well-known beautiful CEO in the entertainment industry, Cai Yinong's appearance and temperament are outstanding. Standing on the stage, she seems to have her own light.

"On behalf of Tangren Media and the cast and crew of 'Scarlet Heart,' I extend a warm welcome to everyone. Without further ado, please welcome our cast to the stage to meet you all."

Cai Yinong's speech was concise and powerful, without any unnecessary embellishment. She knew what the reporters were most looking forward to. After a brief welcome speech to the guests, she let the actors take the stage one by one.

In an instant, melodious and moving music began to play, the tune seemingly possessing a magical power, making one feel as if they had returned to the Qing Dynasty palace.

The actors, dressed in magnificent Qing Dynasty costumes, exuded the elegance of ancient times in every gesture.

The lead actors of "Scarlet Heart" walked onto the stage in pairs, showcasing themselves under the flashing lights of the reporters.

"Isn't that Lu Ziqiao from 'iPartment'? What's his name again, Sun something? How come he's acting in 'Scarlet Heart'?"

"His name is Sun Yizhou. I heard he's now a contracted artist with Tangren's top female artist studio. It seems Liu Shishi values ​​him quite a bit, letting him participate in this big production."

"Tang Dynasty costumes are as exquisite and elegant as ever. From the texture of the fabric to the patterns of the embroidery, every detail is impeccable. As expected of the leader in period costumes, they have never disappointed us over the years."

"These two actresses are so beautiful, one is bright and elegant, and the other is gentle and refined."

“I know them. One of them is Li Chengyuan, a contracted artist with Tangren Media, and the other is Liu Xinyou, an actress from Taiwan, but she is not very famous.”

The reporters whispered among themselves, exchanging information and praising Tangren's dedication to selecting people and styling costumes.

Soon, it was Yuan Hong's turn to take the stage with a handsome young man. The two were dressed as Qing Dynasty princes, wearing python robes and jade belts, exuding an air of grandeur.

"Who is this young man? He's appearing alongside Yuan Hong, so he must have a significant role in the drama."

"I thought about it for a long time but couldn't recall anything. She's probably a newcomer. She's good-looking, and standing next to a veteran like Yuan Hong, she doesn't lose out in terms of presence."

After all the supporting actors had taken turns on stage, the atmosphere reached its climax.

With the female lead Liu Shishi and the much-anticipated male lead about to appear, and the mystery about to be revealed, the audience's excitement is palpable.

Suddenly, the music stopped, and the stage lights dimmed. At the same time, a thick white fog filled the air, obscuring everything and making it seem as if one were in a dreamlike fairyland.

The audience held their breath. When the lights came on again, they saw two beams of cold light shining on the center of the stage, where two actors stood quietly. The unknown mystery made everyone look forward to it.

As the fog gradually dissipated, the reporters finally saw the two men clearly; they were Nie Yuan and Yu Bo.

One person exuded a calm and capable demeanor, while the other possessed a gentle and friendly air. Their presence and aura were equally impressive, causing a stir among the audience.

"It's these two! This cast is amazing! I'm even interested in this show now, and I want to watch it when it's released."

"Judging from their appearance and temperament, Nie Yuan should play the Fourth Prince, and Yu Bo should play the Eighth Prince. Tangren really put a lot of thought into the casting this time, and they perfectly match everyone's imagination of the characters."

At this moment, the melodious background music started playing again, but it was more tragic and mournful than the previous one.

The melody is plaintive and poignant, evoking a deep sense of sorrow and emotion in the listener, seemingly foreshadowing the joys and sorrows of the characters in the play.

As the music played, Nie Yuan and Yu Bo slowly moved to the left and right. Only after the wisps of smoke swirling on the stage dissipated did the crowd see Liu Shishi behind them.

Today, the eldest sister wore a black and white striped chiffon dress, simple yet elegant. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, naturally falling, smooth and lustrous. She wore a faint smile on her face, warm and charming.

The novel modern attire stood out against the antique-style press conference, like a refreshing and elegant ray of light illuminating the entire venue and making a striking impression.

The three walked side by side toward the end of the runway. Their unique combination of modern and traditional clothing was full of creativity, which aroused the strong curiosity of the reporters.

In an instant, the sound of camera shutters and flashes rose and fell, as everyone captured this interesting and wonderful scene.

"Why is it that only Senior Sister is dressed in modern clothes, while everyone else is dressed in ancient costumes?"

Offstage, Gulnazar, who had come to join the fun at the press conference, couldn't help but ask Jin Chen next to her, her eyes fixed on the radiant star, her face full of envy.

"How would I know?" Jin Chen pouted, looking rather uninterested. She was quite unhappy that Cai Yinong wouldn't let her participate in "Scarlet Heart," and she seemed reluctant to be called over to support him today.

"Because Shishi plays Ruoxi, a woman who travels from modern times to the Qing Dynasty. Everyone in the drama is from ancient times, but she is actually a modern person."

Her modern attire is like opening a portal to another time, connecting two completely different worlds, and foreshadowing the unique story perspective of this drama.

A cool, clear voice rang in her ears, making Gulinaza suddenly realize what was happening. She turned around and noticed that a man had appeared beside her sometime during the night.

However, the other person was dressed very well, wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, covering their face completely so that it was impossible to see their face.

"Could it be some celebrity?" Gulinaza muttered to herself, a strong desire to find out the identity of the person beside her growing stronger.

I observed them discreetly for a long time, but unfortunately, they were wrapped up too tightly, and I really couldn't tell who they were.

The fashion show came to a perfect end, and Cai Yinong and director Li Guoli, all smiles, returned to the stage with the cast to begin their interviews with reporters.

Keen-eyed reporters were surprised to find industry heavyweight Chen Daoming among them, and they all raised their hands, eager to ask questions. Cai Yinong, holding the microphone, moderated the Q&A session: "Please ask the reporter in the middle of the first row to ask a question."

A female reporter stood up in response, slightly excited: "Hello Mr. Chen Daoming, I am a reporter from the Donghai Daily. I would like to interview you. What role did you play in 'Scarlet Heart'?"

Chen Daoming, with his upright posture and refined manner, replied in a clear voice, "Emperor Kangxi!"

"Wow!" The scene erupted in cheers, and the reporters couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. You know, back then, "Kangxi Dynasty" was Chen Daoming's masterpiece, and his brilliant performance is still talked about today.

Now that he's playing Emperor Kangxi again, it's anyone's guess what kind of chemistry he'll bring to the show, and how he'll interpret this classic character.

The female reporter then asked, "If I remember correctly, this is the first time you've played Emperor Kangxi in ten years. I wonder what circumstances led you to take on this role?"

Chen Daoming spoke candidly: "That's right. When we were filming 'The Founding of a Republic,' Shishi extended a sincere invitation to me."

After reading the script, I discovered that the Kangxi Emperor in "Scarlet Heart" was more about his wariness and helplessness regarding the struggle for the throne among the nine princes in his later years.

This character is both an emperor who controls the world and a father, which is different from the roles I have played before.

I also wanted to give it a try and see if I could portray a different kind of Kangxi, so I accepted Shishi's invitation.

Listening to Chen Daoming's high-sounding reasons, Cai Yi-nong couldn't help but sigh, realizing that the appeal of the role was only a small part of the reason why Chen was willing to take the part.

The main reason is that when Tong Dawei starred in "Go Lala Go!", the leading lady contributed a lot.

Chen Daoming and Tong Dawei both had Wang Jinghua as their agent. It was through Wang Jinghua's mediation that Chen Daoming agreed to star in the film.

Without this personal connection, Tangren Media probably wouldn't have been able to get Chen Daoming to participate in the film.

Chen Daoming, as expected of a big name in the industry, attracted a lot of attention from reporters as soon as he appeared. It is likely that his participation will add a lot of buzz to "Scarlet Heart".

The questioning continued, "Hello Shishi, I'm a reporter from Toutiao Entertainment. I'm curious, during the fashion show just now, why were you the only one in modern clothes when all the other performers were in period costumes?"

Liu Shishi stood in the center of the stage, graceful and poised: "Please allow me to keep this question a secret for now. When filming for 'Scarlet Heart' wraps up, the production team will hold another press conference, and I will answer your question then."

The reporter didn't press the lead actress, smiling and nodding: "Then I look forward to Shishi answering my questions then. I wish 'Scarlet Heart' a smooth start and great ratings."

"Hello Shishi, I'm a reporter from the Beijing News. There are rumors that Tangren invested tens of millions to film 'Scarlet Heart' in order to help you solidify your position as a top actress and challenge the established leading ladies. I wonder if you feel any pressure?"

After thinking for a moment, the actress smiled and replied, "There is definitely pressure, but more than that, I'm afraid I won't perform well in this drama and will let down the fans and the audience."

As for what you said about securing a top-tier position and competing with established actresses, I've never thought about those things.

Liu Shishi's calm and composed demeanor, coupled with her exceptional temperament, deeply moved the reporter. She could sense that Liu's answer truly came from the heart, suggesting that she genuinely didn't care much about being a top-tier celebrity or having a certain level of fame. She truly lived up to the reputation of being as serene and unassuming as a chrysanthemum.

"Hello Nie Yuan, I'm a reporter from xx newspaper..."

"Mr. Yu Bo, this is XX Entertainment. I'd like to ask you a question..."

The press conference proceeded smoothly, and the reporters' attention was not only on Liu Shishi and Chen Daoming, but also on Nie Yuanhe and Bo, two well-established male stars.

However, both of them are seasoned veterans in the industry and handled the situation with ease, giving flawless answers to the various tricky questions from the reporters.

"Mr. Cai, could you introduce the actress next to Yuan Hong?"

“No problem!” Cai Yinong came to Yuan Hong’s side and said with a smile, “This is Lin Gengxin.”

He plays the Fourteenth Prince in the drama and is a newly signed artist with Tangren Media. He is currently studying at the Donghai Drama Academy and is a very promising newcomer.

Lin Gengxin was not shy at all. Facing the reporter's questions, she introduced herself generously: "Hello everyone, I am Lin Gengxin..."

Around 11 a.m., after two hours, the press conference concluded successfully. The reporters received small gifts from Tangren Media and left the venue satisfied.

As the saying goes, "He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated to do so," and everyone understands the ways of the world. The reporters have already figured out how to release press releases to promote "Scarlet Heart."

Inside the venue, reporters left in an orderly fashion, while Gulnazar was still trying to figure out the identity of the mysterious man beside her.

Seeing that the other person had taken out their phone and seemed to be replying to a WeChat message, she couldn't resist her curiosity and, taking advantage of the man's inattention, secretly peeked at the other person's phone screen.

Gulina had sharp eyes and good vision, and because her actions of stealing the cat were very discreet, the man didn't notice at all and didn't bother to cover the screen.

Upon looking at it, she was immediately stunned; the profile picture of the man next to her who was chatting with her looked very familiar.

A cute cartoon image of a little girl pulling a little boy's ear—isn't that Liu Shishi's WeChat profile picture?

As expected, the plot unfolded exactly as she had anticipated. The other party quickly typed a message and sent it.

"Shishi, I'm going back to Beiping!"

A moment later, the other party received a reply: "Honey, wait for me, I'll tell Sister K and then I'll come and take you."

Gulinaza was filled with doubt and suspicion. She knew that the top sister had two WeChat accounts. One was a private WeChat ID called "Mr. Song's Little Darling Wife," which was only used to add close friends. This was the same WeChat account she was talking to the man next to her at the moment.

"Could he be the Mr. Song that Senior Sister has only heard of but never seen, the one that President Cai and Hu Ge have kept silent about?"

The mysterious man next to Gulnazar was Song Ci. He and Liu Shishi had returned to Suzhou to pay respects to their ancestors the day before yesterday and stayed in Donghai for a day or two. On a whim today, he came to attend the press conference for "Scarlet Heart" wrapped up tightly.

Now that everything is settled, he prepares to take a private plane back to Beiping, and tells his beloved wife before he leaves.

"Let's meet in the parking lot then. I'll be downstairs in a bit."

After seeing that the man, who was probably the number one girl's boyfriend, got up and left, Gulinaza wanted to say hello, but she swallowed the words back.

After all, they didn't know what kind of person or what kind of person the other party was, but seeing that neither President Cai nor Hu Ge was willing to talk about his identity in detail, they guessed that he was not easy to get along with, so they dared not disturb him easily.

(End of this chapter)