Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 322 There are many famous people and right and wrong

The night was deep and all was quiet.

After washing up and drying her wet hair, Song Ci returned to her bedroom, but the moment she looked up, she suddenly froze.

Liu Shishi sat quietly on the edge of the bed, her graceful figure gazing around her. The warm yellow bedside lamp, like a thin veil, gently draped over her.

Her jet-black, lustrous hair cascaded over her shoulders, smooth and silky from recent treatment.

Her delicate face was now adorned with a fresh and elegant light makeup, her skin as white as snow, and under the soft lighting, it seemed as if it were coated with a soft filter, faintly revealing a pearly luster.

She wore a light gray coat, a soft and versatile color, and a scarf in the same color around her neck, which added a sense of layering to the overall look and made her swan neck appear even more slender.

The simple and elegant clothing, paired with the black-rimmed glasses on her nose, is both fashionable and graceful, giving off an intellectual and gentle beauty.

"Shishi, you?" Song Ci was slightly surprised. His wife's outfit was exactly the same as Zhang Xiao's outfit in the TV series just now.

"The Qing Dynasty palace costume is too troublesome, so I thought about it and changed into Zhang Xiao's outfit instead. Don't think I didn't notice your little scheme earlier, staring straight at me on the screen!"

Liu Shishi stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, her breath sweet and fragrant, her whole body exuding a refreshing and subtle aroma.

Song Ci chuckled lightly. He was merely comparing the version of "Scarlet Heart" with the one he remembered, not wanting Liu Shishi to misunderstand. Looking at his charming wife, he decided to go along with it—a beautiful misunderstanding.

"I'm just admiring your stunning good looks."

Miss Liu, with her eyes full of charm, said coquettishly, "My husband, I am standing right in front of you now, more vivid and lifelike than any character on TV. If you like any of my costumes, I will make them for you from now on."

"I love every role you play." Song Ci gently pushed his wife down onto the bed, his hands roaming lightly over her skin, his fingertips touching her warm, silky skin.

Liu Shishi's eyes were glazed over, her breathing rapid, and an ambiguous atmosphere filled the bedroom, the light growing increasingly dim.

In the warm embrace of the hibiscus-scented tent, they spent a spring night together. After a tender and passionate night, the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased.

Liu Shishi leaned against her husband's chest, her slender fingers tracing circles on his chest.

"Yi Yi, do you think Emperor Yongzheng loved Ruoxi?"

Song Ci gently stroked her jade-like back and said without hesitation, "She definitely doesn't love me."

Liu Shishi was taken aback: "Why do you think that?"

There is a passage in the Draft History of the Qing Dynasty that records the story of Huang Taiji and his beloved concubine Hailanzhu: "When Emperor Taizong attacked the Ming Dynasty, he heard that the concubine was ill and returned."

Throughout history, which emperor didn't shower his favorite women with the utmost affection and bestow upon them unparalleled honor?

Emperor Yongzheng, despite being the emperor's supreme ruler, only made Ruoxi a tea-serving maid. From this perspective, I really don't see where his affection lay.

After listening, Liu Shishi nodded slightly. Thinking about how Mr. Song had been so accommodating and doting on her, even giving her company shares, she realized that Yongzheng did indeed not love Ruoxi very much.

"Sigh, after all this time, Ruoxi is just living in self-pity." Miss Liu sighed, snuggled back into her husband's arms, and a happy smile appeared on her lips.

Suddenly, the mournful and melodious sound of the erhu interrupted the young couple's peaceful moment. The music was Liu Shishi's new ringtone, "Three Inches of Heaven".

"Shishi, let's change the ringtone. I don't like this sad music."

"Okay, I'll change the ringtone back to your song 'The Wind Rises' in a bit." Miss Liu kissed Song Ci on the cheek and reached for her phone on the bedside table.

"Sister K, it's almost midnight, what do you want?" Sister Yi answered the phone, her voice carrying a hint of languor after a passionate encounter.

"Shishi, the ratings for the premiere of 'Scarlet Heart' are out: 2.2% and a 12% market share, firmly holding the top spot in its time slot, even higher than 'Palace'."

Moreover, the show has received rave reviews online, with excellent word-of-mouth, and it's bound to be a huge hit. "On the other end of the phone, Cai Yinong was extremely excited, his voice trembling.

At this moment, all her worries and anxieties vanished. She only needed to wait and see for two more days. As long as the ratings for "Scarlet Heart" remained strong in the next two days, she could start a mass mockery on Weibo.

They should relentlessly attack Yu Zheng and Yang Mi, as well as those who support and speak out for them, and hype it up to further fuel the popularity of "Scarlet Heart".

"That's great." Liu Shishi breathed a sigh of relief, the weight lifted from her heart.

During the previous controversy between Cai and Yu, although she didn't speak out much, she was under tremendous pressure. After all, the whole internet was waiting for "Scarlet Heart" and "Palace" to compete, and it would be very embarrassing to lose face if she lost.

"Shishi, I will arrange for Nie Yuan and Yu Bo to help you promote this. In the next few days, you should take some time to appear on one or two programs with everyone. Strike while the iron is hot."

The eldest sister readily agreed: "No problem. This year is different from last year. There aren't as many relatives to visit. I have time."

Seeing his wife and Cai Yinong engrossed in a lively phone conversation, Song Ci got up to take a shower. After their intense encounter, he felt sticky and uncomfortable all over.

After discussing some details of the follow-up publicity for "Scarlet Heart", Liu Shishi ended the call and saw her husband go into the bathroom again. Bored, she browsed the trending searches.

"1. The premiere of 'Scarlet Heart'"

2. Liu Shishi played two roles.

. . .

8. The Ensemble Cast of Scarlet Heart

Unlike when the first two episodes had just ended, after a period of brewing and fermentation, the topic of "Scarlet Heart" has now strongly entered the top ten of the trending search list.

Netizens have been expressing their opinions on this already highly popular TV series:
"Liu Shishi's portrayal of Ruoxi is lively and delicate, Nie Yuan's portrayal of the Fourth Prince is cold and composed, and Yu Bo's portrayal of the Eighth Prince is gentle and refined. The entire cast is both physically and spiritually convincing, and their acting skills are all on point. Five stars! A masterpiece."

"The narrative style of Qing Dynasty court intrigue, love and hate is so captivating. Tangren Media really knows how to make movies."

"After seeing the costumes and props of 'Scarlet Heart,' compared to the crude and poorly made 'Palace,' I can only say that Tangren is indeed the leader in period dramas, and its production is truly excellent."

The top influencer swiped her phone screen, beaming with joy as she saw her Weibo followers about to surpass 18 million. This was proof of her popularity.

In today's entertainment industry, while popularity and online traffic don't represent everything, they are certainly a golden brand that businesses and brands flock to, and this is where a celebrity's commercial value lies.

While Liu Shishi was busy interacting with fans and moviegoers late at night, in Fengtian City in Northeast China, Yu Bo, the second male lead of "Scarlet Heart," was just about to rest when he suddenly received a call from his agent, Jiang Xuerou.

"Yu Bo, you're going to Beiping first thing tomorrow morning to meet up with Liu Shishi and Nie Yuan to promote 'Scarlet Heart.' This drama is expected to be a huge hit." Jiang Xuerou was straightforward and concise. Yu Bo was somewhat taken aback. He had just checked the trending topics and knew that "Scarlet Heart" was quite popular, but his agent's description of it as a huge hit was truly unexpected.

"The premiere ratings broke 2%! Cai Yinong is really something, he actually managed to get Tengda Group to do it. Starting tomorrow, Tengda's three apps, Weibo, Toutiao, and TT Video, will simultaneously feature splash screen recommendations. With such a powerful promotion, it's hard for 'Scarlet Heart' not to be a hit."

"I'll set off first thing tomorrow morning." Yu Bo nodded in agreement, feeling a little sentimental.

He only went out to take on acting roles because he saw that the Zhouyi empire was about to collapse and was seeking new opportunities, but he did not expect to receive such a pleasant surprise.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the male lead in "Scarlet Heart," so he probably won't reap much of the benefits.

Jiang Xue paused, her tone becoming somewhat heavy: "Yu Bo, you are also aware of Zhou Yi's situation. Zhou Ping left with part of the team, and the company fell apart."

Moreover, since 2005, Zhouyi has been mired in copyright disputes. Coupled with various changes in the past two years, I am unable to support the company alone, and Zhouyi Film and Television is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Your agency contract with Zhou Yi expires in two months. Take advantage of the popularity of "Scarlet Heart" and find a good new agency.

Unlike Zhou Yi, whose dramas become hits but the actors don't, Tangren Media excels at creating and promoting stars. I've been following the feedback on Weibo and Baidu Tieba, and the boost this drama will give you in terms of popularity will probably exceed your expectations.

Listening to Jiang Xuerou's heartfelt words, Yu Bo sighed: "Sister Xue, is there really no way to save the company?"

Jiang Xue gave a bitter smile: "I built Zhouyi from scratch. He's like my child. I'm the one who least wants anything to happen to him."

But now it seems that I may be a good producer, but I would not be a qualified company manager.

Alright, you're a grown man, stop being so wishy-washy. All good things must come to an end. Your connection with the I Ching has run its course, so let's part ways amicably.

Yu Bo held his phone, feeling a mix of emotions. He had been heavily promoted by Zhouyi Film and Television since he starred in "Shuiyue Dongtian" in 03.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yi's production philosophy imitates the Hong Kong style, emphasizing plot over styling, and the actors are not outstanding. Over the years, his status has been hovering in the second tier, neither rising nor falling.

"Sister Xue, what are your plans for the future?"

"While the company's production team is still worth something, I plan to sell Zhou Yi and become a professional producer in the future."

As his former employer, Yu Bo was still very concerned about Zhou Yi's whereabouts: "Is there a suitable buyer?"

Jiang Xuerou also made no attempt to hide anything: "There are currently two companies, and I'm about to make contact with them. Tengda Culture is preparing to assemble a new production team to shoot web dramas exclusively for TT Video, and they are currently recruiting."

“Tengda Culture is a powerful and wealthy company, one of the top companies in the industry, and it is indeed a good place to go,” Yu Bo agreed.

When his contract expires, he also has the idea of ​​switching to Tengda Culture, but he doesn't know if it will work out. After all, Tengda Culture has never paid much attention to artist management business and is not enthusiastic about expanding its artist base.

“There’s another one, recommended by Xu Zheng when we were filming ‘Li Wei the Magistrate 3’.” Jiang Xue hesitated for a moment, seemingly quite conflicted about this one, “Liu Shishi Studio!”

"Tangren Film & Television, but Zhouyi's film and television production style is very different from Tangren's."

When Jiang Xuerou saw that Yu Bo was confusing the two, she emphasized: "It's not Tangren, it's Liu Shishi Studio."

"Tangren's top female star wants to go independent?" Yu Bo recalled the rumors in the entertainment industry. Since last year, Liu Shishi's studio has been extremely enthusiastic about investing in film and television projects. He subconsciously thought that Tangren's top female star had grown up and wanted to leave the agency and fly solo.

"I don't know whether Liu Shishi wants to leave Tangren. But Xu Zheng is pushing her so hard, there must be a reason. If the negotiations with Tengda Culture don't go smoothly, I will talk to Liu Shishi."

After hanging up the phone, Yu Bo stood by the window, gazing at the city lights outside, his emotions lingering for a long time.

Zhou Yi, who once nearly rivaled Tangren Media in the industry, is about to fade into obscurity, and he should seriously consider his future.

On February 5th, the ratings for "Scarlet Heart" showed a strong upward trend, with an average rating of 2.6% for the two episodes and a national viewership share as high as 15%.

It stands out among numerous TV dramas and movies, even surpassing the likes of "The Talented Feng Tiangui" and "The Code of Happiness" which aired on CCTV-1 and CCTV-8 during prime time.

On February 6th, as expected, "Scarlet Heart" achieved another great success amidst great anticipation, with its viewership rating successfully exceeding 3%.

Cai Yinong, the "godmother of fantasy films" and president of Tangren Media, has once again launched the second installment of the "Cai-Yu Controversy," publicly mocking Yu Zheng, Yang Mi, and more than a dozen celebrities who had criticized her in the past few days on Weibo.

"Time will eventually give justice to those who are earnest."

"Plagiarists are always chasing, while creators are always leading."

"Piracy can never beat the soul of the original."

"No matter how noisy the world is, in the end, those who respect the story will always remain."

Cai Yi-nong was full of confidence and went all out this time. His 10,000-word essay was full of witty remarks and he tagged more than a dozen people, taking the sarcastic tone to the extreme.

Seeing the birth of a phenomenal hit drama, in response to Cai Yinong's relentless pressure, apart from Yu Zheng's few words emphasizing that "Palace" and "Scarlet Heart" have no connection, the other celebrities all bury their heads in the sand and avoid his sharp edge.

As the drama series became a hit, Liu Shishi's fans, nicknamed "Little Lions," were also emboldened, launching a fierce attack in the comment sections of various celebrities.

As the saying goes, fame brings trouble, and wealth is blinding. The little lion became arrogant, which displeased the fans of the other actresses, who began to dig up dirt on the leading lady.

Unfortunately, apart from her eyes not being very bright in her early acting days, there's really nothing scandalous about Liu Shishi that can be dug up.

No dirt? That won't do! If there's no dirt, then create dirt.

Some envious and extreme fans of opposing sides fully utilize their ability to stir up trouble and fabricate stories, weaving all sorts of so-called evidence and materials, using the dirtiest methods possible, without any bottom line.

Weibo won't let me post? Then I'll move to Baidu Tieba and Tianya forum to continue spreading rumors.

How dare they spread rumors and smear my idol! How can I, the little lion, tolerate this? If you are unjust, I will be unjust too. If you slander me, I will slander you back.

The two sides went back and forth, and in no time, "scandals" about the popular young actresses flooded the internet, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

The fan war escalated to the point that even relevant departments couldn't stand by and watch.

After the New Year, in order to curb this unhealthy trend, the State established the Internet Information Office to further strengthen the construction, development and management of the Internet and improve the management level of online virtual communities.

With the relevant authorities taking strong action, this fan "battle" that lasted for several days has finally come to an end, and the fans of several popular young actresses on Weibo and Tieba have finally given up.

(End of this chapter)