Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 462 The Distorted Press Conference
In the multimedia lobby on the first floor of the Westin Hotel, the press conference for the TV series "Swords of Legends" was in full swing.

Below the stage, flashes of light rose and fell, crackling and popping like dense raindrops hitting glass, weaving a shimmering net of light.

Yang Mi and Deng Shuang sat side by side on a high stool, calmly responding to a group interview with reporters.

The initial questions mostly revolved around the two's new works and recent schedules. Even when a reporter steered the conversation toward Jaywalk Studio, Yang Mi answered flawlessly, and the atmosphere remained relaxed and harmonious throughout.

The host's gaze swept across the entire audience, and he announced in a loud voice, "Please ask your question, reporter in the back row."

A deliberately crafted, "sharp" voice suddenly rang out from the back of the crowd:

"Ms. Deng Shuang, there has been a lot of discussion online recently about changes in your appearance, with many netizens speculating whether you have undergone cosmetic procedures on your face. Do you have any response to this?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell silent for a moment. All the cameras turned around and focused on Deng Shuang's face like spotlights.

Yang Mi beside her maintained her professional smile, but her back was almost imperceptibly tense. She was all too familiar with these subtly pointed questions; they were traps, and she would undoubtedly be the next target.

To everyone's surprise, Deng Shuang neither avoided the question nor showed anger. She tilted her head slightly, looking openly at the reporter who asked the question, a playful smile even appearing on her lips:

"About this issue," the clear voice, with a touch of childlike sweetness, spoke clearly, "Yes, I did make some adjustments. I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about it."

The scene erupted in an uproar, and the sound of camera shutters grew increasingly frantic, as if trying to capture this moment on film.

Deng Shuang didn't care at all, her tone carrying a naive and self-righteous air: "Everyone has a love for beauty, and besides, this is my own face. If I feel happy and think I look better this way, then I can do it."

It's like buying new clothes or getting a new hairstyle; it's my choice, my right. As long as it doesn't affect my health, I don't see any problem with it.

Her frankness left the reporters speechless for a moment. Previously, female celebrities had always been reluctant to discuss plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, so it was rare for someone like Deng Shuang to respond directly and make a public statement.

In an instant, excitement ignited in everyone's eyes; this was an explosive response!

At this moment, Yang Mi's smile hadn't faded, but it was noticeably stiffer.

She maintained a forward-looking posture, but her eyes were slightly lowered, as if she were intently staring at some inconspicuous corner of the ground.

Deng Shuang's frank admission was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, and the ripples it created inevitably affected her, the actress who had also been troubled by rumors of "face changes".

As expected, the reporters caught the subtle atmosphere and immediately turned their attention to Yang Mi, asking questions that were clearly leading and comparative.

"Ms. Yang Mi and Ms. Deng Shuang have already shared their views very frankly. So, as a female celebrity who is also loved by the audience and known for her beauty, what are your thoughts on the topic of 'plastic surgery'?"
Or, to put it another way, do you believe that in the entertainment industry, undergoing cosmetic procedures to maintain one's appearance or pursue a more perfect image is common, or even necessary?

All the cameras and eyes focused again, like an invisible net, instantly tightening around Yang Mi.

An invisible pressure came over her, and she felt her cheeks burning, even though the thick foundation had already covered up all her true skin tone.

Deng Shuang's candid remarks just now have inadvertently put her in an even more awkward position. To admit it would be tantamount to acknowledging the rumors about her.

Denial? Against Deng Shuang's "frankness," it would only appear deliberate and hypocritical, and might even be interpreted as "not daring to admit it."

“I think everyone has absolute sovereignty over their own life and their own choices,” she said, calmly echoing Deng Shuang’s words, affirming the other person’s point of view and giving herself a moment to think.

"As Deng Shuang just said, this is a personal right and freedom, and outsiders really have no right to interfere too much."

After a brief pause, she looked up at the densely packed cameras below the stage, her gaze seemingly piercing through the cold lenses and reaching straight to the heart:
"As for myself..." She paused, her tone becoming calmer, "I hope the audience will focus on my work and the characters I play."

An actor's value is ultimately reflected in whether the characters they portray on screen can move people's hearts.

Managing one's outward appearance is part of an artist's job, but how to imbue a character with soul through acting is what I've always strived for.

This response was appropriate and official, cleverly avoiding the crux of the question and steer the conversation back to the professional essence of actors.

But the reporter who asked the question clearly wasn't going to give up and wanted to ask for more details. Yang Mi, however, didn't give him the chance. She smiled, turned to the host, and with a slight glance, handed the topic over.

Seeing this, the host quickly steered the conversation away from the topic: "We'll be giving other media outlets interview opportunities later, so please let the female reporter in the last row ask her question."

The young woman who was called on was clearly taken aback, then looked embarrassed, as if she didn't know what to ask for a moment.

After a moment of silence, she slowly stood up and said, "Hello, Ms. Yang Mi, I am a reporter from CCTV Finance Channel."

As soon as she finished speaking, not only did the celebrities on stage look surprised, but the reporters below also turned to look at her. What was a CCTV Finance reporter doing at a TV drama press conference? Everyone had a question in their minds.

The female reporter, however, had a different feeling: just now, the station had given an urgent notice that the richest man, Song Ci, was meeting with the leaders of the four major banks here, and she was temporarily assigned here because she was the closest.

But the hotel was so big, how could she know where those big shots were? Fortunately, the station said that the deputy director was communicating with Song Ci and would try to get an interview opportunity, so she could wait at the hotel.

Just as she was getting anxious, she unexpectedly caught a glimpse of a press conference on the first floor of the hotel. Being new to the industry, she had never seen an entertainment news event before, and out of curiosity, she decided to go in and take a look.

The security guard at the entrance saw that she had a CCTV reporter's card and naturally did not dare to stop her. However, she was called on by the host as soon as she entered.

After pondering for a while, she decided to ask a question related to her field: "Ms. Yang Mi, according to some media reports, Mr. Song Ci, Chairman of Tengda Group, is currently meeting with the leaders of the four major state-owned banks. What are your thoughts on this?"

As soon as she finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the entire press conference. The flashes paused for a moment, then began flashing even more frantically, all the cameras locked on Yang Mi's face.

The other lead actors and hosts on stage were also stunned. No one expected such a cross-industry and sensitive question to come up. An entertainment press conference asking a popular actress for her opinion on the richest man's business talks? This is too outrageous!
Deng Shuang also glanced sideways, looking at Yang Mi with interest, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Yang Mi's originally calm and composed smile froze almost imperceptibly for a few seconds when she heard the words "Song Ci" and "leaders of the four major banks," and the corners of her mouth even twitched involuntarily.

Only one thought remained in my mind: Should I really do this to her?!
But she quickly regained her composure, a brighter smile spreading across her face, as if the awkwardness and tension from before had never existed. She sat up slightly, her gaze focused intently on the financial reporter, her demeanor composed. "This is truly...an unexpected question," Yang Mi's voice, tinged with just the right amount of surprise, broke the silence, and the atmosphere eased slightly.

Instead of avoiding the topic, she said generously, "First of all, I am very grateful to CCTV Finance Channel for their attention to 'Gu Jian Qi Tan'. I am truly flattered."

In a single sentence, he cleverly transformed this seemingly thorny issue into gratitude for the media's attention, displaying a humble yet dignified demeanor.

"Regarding Mr. Song's meeting with the leaders of the four major banks," Yang Mi spoke steadily and cautiously, "as an ordinary actress and entrepreneur, I am well aware that my access to information at this level is very limited."

Mr. Song is a business leader; his strategic plans and business moves must be the result of profound considerations and a grand vision.

She neither pretended to know nor made any unwarranted comments, clearly defining her position as an "ordinary actor and entrepreneur," which expressed both respect for high-level business decisions and implied an appropriate sense of distance.

Then, she changed the subject and naturally steered the conversation toward herself: "But what you said reminds me of some of my own insights as the founder of Jaywalk Media."

In the current economic environment, whether it's a giant like Mr. Song leading the industry or a small company like ours just starting out, it's a different story.

Seeking stable, reliable, and mutually beneficial partnerships, especially positive interactions with the financial system, are the cornerstones of survival and development.

She cleverly drew a parallel between the billionaire's collaboration with the bank and the necessity for her own small company to seek financial support.

It expressed understanding, appeared humble and pragmatic, and subtly promoted its entrepreneurial identity.

"I believe that any cooperation that can promote the healthy development of the industry and facilitate the optimal allocation of resources is worth looking forward to," Yang Mi concluded, her smile gentle yet firm.

"Of course, as an actor, I'm even more looking forward to everyone paying attention to our upcoming drama, 'Swords of Legends.' After all, bringing exciting stories to the audience on screen is my primary and most beloved job."

Thank you to this friend from the financial channel for giving me this opportunity to 'think outside the box'.

After saying that, she winked playfully at the still somewhat bewildered financial reporter.

She then gracefully turned her gaze to the host, perfectly relinquishing control of the topic while also hinting at the boundaries of the interview: entertainment should be the primary focus, and business topics should be touched upon only briefly.

The host immediately understood and said loudly, "Thank you, Yang Mi, for your wonderful sharing! And thank you to the CCTV reporter for the question! Due to time constraints, our media group interview session ends here..."

After the press conference ended, Yang Mi breathed a long sigh of relief backstage. The entire event felt like a thrilling adventure, full of twists and turns that nearly broke her spirit.

At first, Shuangzi admitted to having plastic surgery without any warning, which immediately put her in an extremely awkward situation, as if the spotlight had turned into a blinding interrogation light.

She forced a smile and racked her brains to deal with the situation, barely managing to smooth things over.

Just when she thought she could finally breathe a sigh of relief, a CCTV financial reporter suddenly appeared and asked her an absurd question, as if deliberately trying to push her into a trap.

"Sister Honey, have some water." Dilraba, like a thoughtful little angel, promptly handed over a bottle of water.

Her eyes sparkled with admiration; at this moment, she had completely become Yang Mi's biggest fan.

Yang Mi remained calm and composed under the persistent questioning of reporters, displaying a cool and confident demeanor that impressed Dilraba Dilmurat from the bottom of her heart.

Yang Mi took the water and drank several large gulps before her throat finally felt relieved. She eagerly pulled out her phone and quickly opened Weibo.

As expected, the topic of "Song Ci's secret meeting with four bank presidents" firmly occupied the top spot on the trending search list, and its popularity is still soaring like a rocket.

After glancing at the news headline, Yang Mi roughly guessed the ins and outs of the matter, but her curiosity still drove her to click on the link.

Exclusive scoop! @Entertainment First Look @Film & TV Express

Asia's richest man, Song Ci, appeared at the Westin Hotel this morning for a private meeting with the presidents of four major banks: ICBC, ABC, BOC, and CCB.

"It is rare for senior executives from the four major state-owned banks to appear together in the same unofficial setting for a closed-door meeting with Song Ci, the head of internet giant Tenda Group!"
Security was tight at the scene, and the atmosphere was shrouded in mystery. At a time when internet finance is booming, this meeting has sparked endless speculation.

[Attached: Candid photos of Song Ci and ICBC President Jiang walking side-by-side into the hotel, and candid photos of the other three major bank presidents arriving at the scene] #FinancialStorm #InternetGiants #BankingGiants

"Chairman Song is upstairs!" Yang Mi was surprised. Then, her gaze swept over the comments from netizens.

Looking back, the richest man's casual advice—suggesting she buy more houses—taught her a valuable lesson:
As long as you follow in the footsteps of the big shots, even if you only get a little soup, you can still make a fortune.

"While the specific content of the talks is unknown, the timing is too sensitive, given the recent controversy surrounding Alipay's Yu'ebao."

The banking system is currently more wary of internet finance innovation than ever before. A few days ago, WeChat launched large-amount transfers; it's unclear whether Tenda (Tencent's parent company) and the four major banks are going to fight or cooperate.

"Hey hey, Yang Mi's press conference for the start of filming of 'Swords of Legends', which she promoted yesterday, was also held at the Westin Hotel today. Is this a coincidence or...? Do financial tycoons also chase after celebrities? [doge emoji]"

"The signal sent by this meeting is too strong: either banks are putting pressure on and warning WeChat's financial businesses to act cautiously."

Alternatively, both parties may seek cooperation to jointly formulate industry rules. This marks the official start of a head-on collision between internet finance and traditional banks!

"On a tangent! Although this is an outrageous story, the richest man looks so handsome in this unedited photo! Even among a group of powerful bank tycoons, he still shines brightly! Indeed, money can really enhance a man's charm."

"Holy crap! Song Ci plus the heads of the four major banks! With this lineup, they wouldn't even need to hire any more actors for 'Currency Wars'! Westin is really lucky today!"

"Boss Yang must be crying in the bathroom. His carefully planned trending topic was unintentionally crushed into dust by the richest man. The 'Gu Jian Qi Tan' press conference was completely overshadowed. I feel sorry for Sister Mi for a second."

"So, will WeChat be able to generate money like Yu'ebao in the future?"
I can't wait! WeChat Pay is still the most convenient. If WeChat has a similar product, I'll transfer the money from Alipay back to WeChat.

(End of this chapter)