Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 394 Eat Melon
The land south of the Yangtze River is a land of beautiful women, and Nanjing is the capital of emperors.

Nanjing, the ancient capital that bears witness to the vicissitudes of six dynasties and the splendor of the Republic of China, became the perfect filming location for the crew of "Silent Notebook" with its unique historical weight and cultural heritage.

As dawn broke, a luxury van quietly pulled up outside the film crew's location.

Inside the train carriage, Su Xiaoxiao gently shook the arm of the person next to her, waking her sister who was dozing off: "Sister, we've arrived at the film set."

Liu Shishi, still sleepy-eyed, covered her mouth and yawned, her eyes still showing signs of fatigue.

Yesterday afternoon, having no filming scheduled, she took a private plane and returned to her home in Beiping overnight. This morning, she rushed to Nanjing. The long journey was inevitably tiring.

Fortunately, Song Ci's newly purchased Gulfstream G650 had been delivered, so the Gulfstream G200 was left for her to use.

Unlike Hengdian, Nanjing has no airport and is very convenient to travel to. Whenever there was a break in filming, Liu Shishi would fly back to Beiping to reunite with her husband.

Her gaze swept through the car window toward the film crew's gate, and the leading lady froze instantly.

Outside the film set, a large group of media reporters carrying long lenses and microphones, along with many fans holding light sticks, completely blocked the entrance and exit of the film set.

"Xiaoxiao, I'm trending on Weibo?" Liu Shishi asked as she took out her phone to check.

"Yes."

After receiving a positive reply, the woman opened Weibo, saw the trending topics, and suddenly realized what was going on.

It turns out that China Film Group recently announced that its subsidiary, Huaying Co., Ltd., accepted targeted financing from Liu Shishi Film and Television Culture Studio.

In this round of financing, Huaying Co., Ltd. was valued at 80 billion yuan, and Liu Shishi Studio invested 2.4 million yuan to acquire a 3% stake.

Huaying Group stated that the funds raised will be used in cooperation with Tengda Group to invest in the development and construction of an online ticketing platform.

This news immediately caused a sensation throughout the entertainment industry.

As the leading company in the film industry, China Film Group holds an absolute dominant position in the film market.

Liu Shishi's becoming a shareholder of Huaying Film Co., Ltd. undoubtedly adds a dazzling "semi-official" halo to her image.

On Weibo, netizens are discussing it heatedly, and fans are overjoyed:
"Anyone with eyes can see that Liu Shishi has become the link between Huaying and Tengda Group."

"Sister is amazing. The value of being number one is still increasing."

"No wonder she's the richest woman in the entertainment industry; investing 2.4 million yuan without hesitation—that's some serious guts!"

Liu Shishi quickly swiped her phone screen to browse comments, then said with a troubled expression, "Xiaoxiao, call the assistant director and have him bring a few people out to greet us."

The assistant nodded in response and took out her phone to call the assistant director.

Liu Shishi neatly put on a mask and a baseball cap, fully armed and wrapped up tightly.

Unfortunately, while her beautiful face could be concealed with makeup, her excellent figure and elegant temperament were hard to hide. As soon as she got out of the car, she was recognized at a glance by reporters and fans who were waiting outside the film crew.

The crowd rushed forward, and Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Xia spread their arms wide, desperately protecting the top sister behind them.

"Shishi, why did you suddenly become a shareholder of Huaying?"

"Shishi, after acquiring a 3% stake, will you consider seeking a seat on the board of directors of Huaying Film?"

Faced with a microphone and recorder that were practically shoved in her face, Liu Shishi helplessly raised her hand and loudly reassured everyone, "Don't rush, everyone, be careful, we'll take it one at a time!"

After the situation calmed down somewhat, Liu Shishi calmly said, "This 3% stake in Huaying was invested on behalf of my husband... I will not become a director of Huaying at present..."

Having just finished the Q&A session about investing in Huaying, reporters have already raised a new topic.

"Hello Ms. Liu, I am a reporter from the Jinling Daily. Have you been following the incident of Ying Xiaotian assaulting Bian Xiaoxiao? As one of the top female stars in the entertainment industry, do you speak out for women?"

"Assault?" The woman shook her head slightly, her expression calm: "I'm sorry, I don't know about this matter and cannot comment at the moment."

No matter how much the reporter pressed her for answers, she always stuck to the bottom line of "not knowing the inside story," and her watertight responses gradually made the reporter give up the idea of ​​sensationalizing the story.

After giving interviews to several media outlets and signing autographs for enthusiastic fans, the leading lady finally made her way through the human wall created by the crew's security guards and production assistants to enter the film set.

"The reporters and fans were too enthusiastic." Liu Shishi lightly touched her chest, still shaken, and then asked her assistant, "Xiaoxia, what happened with the assault incident that the reporter just asked about?"

She had only just heard about the incident and returned to Beiping late at night yesterday. After spending time with her husband, she got up early to return to the film crew and didn't have time to follow the trending topics on Weibo.

Lin Xia, a master of gossip, vividly recounted the story to the top star:
"Something happened on the set of 'Gunfire and Bullets' yesterday afternoon! The assistant of the female lead, Bian Xiaoxiao, named 'Zhixinyu,' posted on Weibo to reveal the news."

The woman accused Ying Xiaotian of not only acting like a diva but also physically assaulting Bian Xiaoxiao due to creative disagreements, claiming he "pulled her hair and pushed her." Ying Xiaotian immediately denied the allegations in a blog post.

"Ying Xiaotian!" The eldest sister frowned in thought, feeling that she had some impression of him, but she couldn't remember him for a moment. "The name sounds familiar."

"Sis, you forgot? Ying Xiaotian and Teacher Nie Yuan are good friends. He visited the set when he was filming 'Scarlet Heart'."

"I remember now, this person seemed quite gentle back then, not like someone who would resort to violence."

"Who can say for sure? The rumors are quite detailed!" Lin Xia shrugged and continued, "Bian Xiaoxiao personally stepped in, angrily rebuking Ying Xiaotian for daring to do it but not admitting it, questioning his professional ethics and character."
This has escalated the conflict to a gender-based antagonism level, with "men hitting women"! Ying Xiaotian is now facing a barrage of criticism from netizens.

"What did Ying Xiaotian say?"

Ying Xiaotian responded that the two sides only had a verbal dispute at the time, and swore to God that he did not lay a finger on Bian Xiaoxiao. He also said that Bian Xiaoxiao cursed first and the curses were very rude.

"Arguing is useless!" Liu Shishi pointed directly to the core of the matter: "Where are the witnesses from the film crew? Where is the surveillance footage?"

"Senior Sister Shi sees things very clearly!" Lin Xia immediately chimed in. "Ying Xiaotian has already said he'll retrieve the video footage, and netizens are waiting for him to prove his innocence!"

The two walked and talked, and soon arrived at the dressing room.

Because the previous interview had taken up a lot of time, Liu Shishi didn't dare to slack off at all. She quickly walked to the dressing mirror, sat down, and signaled the stylist to do her makeup as soon as possible.

The makeup and clothing changes proceeded smoothly and efficiently, with the entire process flowing seamlessly into place.

After finishing her makeup, Liu Shishi looked at herself in the mirror: her jet-black hair was elegantly tied up and neatly cascaded to one side, with the ends slightly curled. The overall look was both dignified and intellectual.

She wore a black long-sleeved top with delicate lace embellishments at the neckline, exuding a retro and elegant charm, as if she had stepped out of a painting from the Republican era.

When Liu Shishi arrived at the studio, Li Xuejian was already waiting there, holding the script and muttering to himself, intently reciting his lines, trying to memorize every single one. Seeing his apprentice appear, Li Xuejian put down the script and smiled broadly: "Girl, you're here."

The leading lady looked apologetic: "I'm sorry to have kept my master, Director Kong, and everyone else waiting."

Kong Sheng waved his hand dismissively, saying that Liu Shishi, as a major shareholder of Daylight Entertainment, an investor in the "Silent Notes" production team, and the lead actress, would certainly enjoy some special privileges.

But she is never spoiled when filming and is always gentle with everyone on set. It is already rare for her to be like this. Besides, there was another reason for her being late today, so there is really nothing to blame her for.

"You have five minutes to get yourself in the right mood!"

Liu Shishi nodded in agreement, took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her state, and devoted herself wholeheartedly to the role of Song Hongling.

"Attention all departments! Begin."

On camera, Liu Shishi, who plays Song Hongling, looks grief-stricken, her eyes filled with sorrow, tears welling up in her eyes: "Uncle Yu, you have been targeted by spies. If you use this plan, you will surely die."

Li Xuejian plays the male lead in "Silent Notebook". When Song Hongling appears, underground party member Lu Chengyu bursts into laughter, his laughter filled with fearlessness and heroism, carrying a magnificent and awe-inspiring spirit.

"My death is the life of the nation! From the moment I threw myself into the revolution, I have disregarded life and death! You are the most crucial link in infiltrating the KMT's upper echelons. If I can ensure your safety, what does it matter if I die ten times!"

At this moment, Song Hongling was deeply moved by her comrade's revolutionary spirit and burst into tears: "Uncle Yu, I will not let you down and I will definitely send the intelligence back to the Holy Land."

"Good, good, good!" Lu Chengyu nodded with satisfaction, his gaze slowly sweeping around, looking out the window at the azure sky. His eyes held both a longing and reluctance to leave the world, as well as a resolute determination and unwavering resolve to face death.

"I have one regret! I will never see the day when the revolution is victorious! Comrade Song Hongling, I entrust the future to you!"

"Cut!" In front of the monitor, Kong Shengren held the walkie-talkie and praised repeatedly, "Teacher Li truly deserves to be called an award-winning actor; his acting skills are absolutely superb."

Li Xuejian devoted himself wholeheartedly to the performance, vividly portraying the noble sentiments of revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for righteousness, as well as their attachment to life and regret for unfinished work, making it a classic performance.

"Shishi's acting skills have also improved significantly; her crying scene just now was incredibly moving!"

The morning's filming ended quickly, and with the director's command, everyone finally wrapped up.

Liu Shishi dragged her tired body back to the rest shed and collapsed onto a recliner, tears still on her face. The morning's scenes had been quite exhausting.

"Sis, have some water!" Su Xiaoxiao thoughtfully handed over a glass of water and then brought over a plate of fresh cherries. "Sis, try these, they're so sweet!" Beside her, Lin Xia's eyes lit up, her face full of gossip: "Sis! There's more news!"

Liu Shishi's delicate eyebrows relaxed, revealing a hint of curiosity: "You got your hands on Ying Xiaotian's surveillance footage?"

"No!" Lin Xia laughed uncontrollably while holding her phone. "It's hilarious! The truth of the matter hasn't even been clarified yet, and a whole bunch of people are already rushing to condemn Ying Xiaotian."

Before the eldest sister could press for more information, Lin Xia eagerly continued: "First, Jia Nailiang spoke up for his old classmate Bian Xiaoxiao, saying that he called to verify the truth of the matter and expressed his support for his friend even if it meant being cannon fodder."

Then Li Xiaolu jumped in to support her boyfriend, saying, "Liang, kind people have discerning eyes, I'm here too!" This is ridiculous; are they putting on a show together?!

Liu Shishi looked puzzled: "I don't understand, why are they in such a hurry to take sides?"

"Sister, the best is yet to come!" Lin Xia said, getting more and more excited. "Yang Zi said that he just spoke on the phone, and Bian Xiaoxiao was sobbing uncontrollably, demanding that Ying Xiaotian give everyone an explanation."

After saying that, Lin Xia smiled mysteriously and asked, "Sister, guess what their relationship is?"

Seeing her assistant's quirky expression, the top executive smiled and said, "Stop keeping me in suspense! Tell me quickly."

"Netizens have dug up the relationships between them! Bian Xiaoxiao is a classmate of Yang Zi's wife Huang Shengyi, and Huang Shengyi is Jia Nailiang's first love."

"Goodness, the relationships are really complicated!"

"Yangzi is a bit of an interesting guy. One minute he's firmly supporting Xiaoxiao, and the next he's playing the peacemaker, acting more dramatic than the people involved!"

Hearing her assistant's rapid-fire complaints, Liu Shishi's lips curled into a slight smile, and she asked with great interest, "Is there more?"

"Of course! A bunch of celebrities have come out to take sides. Bao Beier, Bao Jianfeng, and others are on Bian Xiaoxiao's side; Nie Yuan, Yan Danchen, and others are supporting Ying Xiaotian. The two sides are arguing fiercely!"

What is the production crew's attitude?

Lin Xia spread her hands: "They issued a statement, a long and rambling one, but it didn't get to the point at all. It was all nonsense, and it didn't mention the crucial issue of assault at all."

Liu Shishi wondered suspiciously, "Could it be that the production team directed and acted this themselves to promote the TV series?"

"It doesn't look like a publicity stunt. This matter is currently causing quite a stir online."

At this moment, the stagehands brought out an exquisite special lunch. Liu Shishi took the lunchbox and said with a faint smile, "Anyway, this has nothing to do with us. Let's fill our stomachs first."

After lunch and a short rest, the entire crew sprang into action again. From sunrise to sunset, the day's filming finally came to an end.

In the dressing room, Liu Shishi was removing her makeup, while Lin Xia was giving a long, detailed report on the latest developments of the "beating" incident.

"Reporting to Senior Sister! Frontline report: This afternoon, a reporter interviewed Ying Xiaotian's agent, who insisted that Ying Xiaotian only lightly pushed Bian Xiaoxiao's shoulder and absolutely did not hit her."

After removing her heavy makeup, revealing her natural and pretty face, the woman chuckled and asked, "It's been a whole day, and Ying Xiaotian still hasn't gotten the surveillance video?"

"He didn't get it, but someone else did!"

"Who? The director?"

"It was Yangzi. He said he got the video and even posted a screenshot of the video on Weibo, demanding that both sides quickly settle the matter."

Liu Shishi paused in her makeup removal process: "This is too strange!"

Lin Xia nodded repeatedly, her tone full of disbelief: "What's even more outrageous is yet to come! Ying Xiaotian said he begged the crew and even called the police but couldn't get the surveillance video, and it ended up in Yangzi's hands!"

Then, Xiaotian pleaded with Yangzi to release the full video and reveal the truth. Yangzi casually replied, "I have no obligation." This baffling move left everyone completely confused!

Liu Shishi stared in disbelief, exclaiming in astonishment, "The plot took such a turn!"

"After Yang Zi posted that screenshot that showed nothing, even more celebrities were eager to 'stand up for justice'! Li Chen, Huang Jiao..."

Even Ying Xiaotian's good friend Du Chun called out to him, telling him to "be a man and apologize." A whole bunch of female celebrities followed suit... Wang Luodan even voiced her support for Bian Xiaoxiao!

“Wang Luodan!” Liu Shishi frowned slightly, clearly displeased: “Why is she getting involved! As an artist under Tengda, her every move represents the company’s image. If the truth is not like that, it will be Tengda Culture’s loss of face!”

(End of this chapter)