Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 469 New Era

February 9th, Lunar New Year's Eve.

Around 5 p.m., as the sun began to set, a magnificent sunset painted the sky, adding warmth to this day of reunion.

While every household lights up and families gather in celebration, the crew of "Han Zhi Yun" in Hengdian is a hive of activity, with everyone working overtime to meet deadlines.

In front of the monitor on set, Lin Yufen stared at the performances of the main actors on the screen. His brows furrowed slightly before slowly relaxing. He nodded with a hint of "barely satisfactory" and called out, "Cut! That's a wrap."

In front of the camera, Lin Gengxin, Jiang Jinfu, and Chen Yao, dressed in ancient costumes, all breathed a sigh of relief and were preparing to adjust their state to devote themselves to the next scene when the director's voice rang out again.

"It's Lunar New Year's Eve today, so let's wrap up early. The crew has prepared a New Year's Eve dinner, so let's all have a good time. Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Day, so we'll give everyone a half-day off in the morning."

"That's great!" "Thank you, director!"

Instantly, cheers filled the entire studio, dispelling the fatigue of the past few days.

Chen Yao breathed a sigh of relief. Although she had received systematic acting training, she was still a newcomer after all. The high-intensity filming pace was a bit too much for her, and she was so exhausted that she couldn't keep up with the pace.

Having half a day to rest and recuperate tomorrow is like a long-awaited rain after a drought for her.

Lin Gengxin stretched his limbs and turned to Chen Yao, inviting her, "Yao-mei, let's go remove our makeup together."

Jiang Jinfu smiled and chimed in, then suggested, "How about we invite Sister Jin Chen over and play cards while watching the Spring Festival Gala?"

The two male leads were always very polite to Chen Yao, their junior colleague who had just joined Tangren Media.

The two exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly. Judging from the resources Chen Yao had acquired, it was clear to anyone with eyes that she was Tangren's next top female star.

Her debut role was as the female lead in the sequel to the hugely popular drama "Xuan-Yuan Sword". She also played the second female lead in Tengda Culture's 4 million yuan big-budget production "Joy of Life" and the second female lead in the movie "My Old Classmate".

Such resources are top-tier even in the entire entertainment industry, something a newcomer could hardly imagine.

More importantly, the young girl has also won the favor of Liu Shishi, the top star, so her future is obviously limitless.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yao shook his head, his face apologetic, and his voice soft: "I'm sorry, senior brother, I've been too tired lately and just want to rest as soon as possible to rejuvenate."

Jiang Jinfu scratched his head somewhat awkwardly: "Okay, then you should get some rest."

Lin Gengxin saw Jiang Jinfu's enthusiasm for Chen Yao and shook his head inwardly. Fuzi's feelings for Yao were too obvious.

His relationship with Jiang Jinfu has recently become tense due to their competition for the male lead and second male lead roles in "Han Zhi Yun," and their respective fans have been arguing fiercely online.

After all, both are strong contenders for Tangren's future "number one star" position and need to compete for resources, so friction is inevitable.

Previously, Jiang Jinfu rose to fame with "Xuan-Yuan Sword"; and he also became a hit with "Legend of Chasing Fish" produced by Yijie Studio, showing no less momentum.

In addition, he had a fan base built up from playing the Fourteenth Prince in "Scarlet Heart" in his early years, so he was slightly better than Jiang Jinfu in terms of popularity and status.

Ultimately, after much deliberation, Cai Yi-nong decided to give the lead role of Huangfu Chaoyun to Lin Gengxin, hoping that the drama would boost his career and help him become a top-tier actor soon.

In the styling room, the makeup artist was removing makeup from Chen Yao and Jin Chen, her hands moving constantly while she chatted idly.

"Today, all the apps from Tengda Group, such as WeChat, Weibo, and Toutiao, are promoting Spring Festival Gala perks. I wonder what surprises they're hiding."

"Did the company film a New Year's greeting video for the top male and female employees before? I heard it was related to Tengda's Spring Festival Gala event."

"The WeChat Shake feature has changed; it looks like it's going to send red envelopes. I just don't know the specifics of how to send them, but it's quite something to look forward to."

As Chen Yao listened to the makeup artists chatting amongst themselves, her curiosity grew. She took out her phone, opened WeChat, and saw that the familiar "Shake" icon had indeed changed.

The original simple line drawing of a little figure has been transformed into a festive and golden "Spring Festival Gala" logo.

Clicking the icon reveals a completely refreshed interface with the message: "Shake it to win millions in red envelopes for the New Year!"

"On New Year's Eve, tune in to CCTV's Spring Festival Gala, and the hosts will ask you to 'shake' your phone!"

Shake for real cash red envelopes, celebrity New Year's greetings, and even a family reunion photo to appear on the Spring Festival Gala! There are also greeting cards from friends and surprise easter eggs waiting for you to discover!

After reading the concise and clear event introduction, Chen Yao subconsciously shook her phone, but there was no reaction, and the usual "click" sound was absent.

Jin Chen chuckled softly, "Yao Mei, you're too impatient. The event won't start until the Spring Festival Gala begins."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yao playfully stuck out her tongue, casually opened her WeChat Moments, and found that many friends were forwarding topics related to "WeChat Shake for Red Envelopes," filling the screen with festive cheer.

Jin Chen looked at Chen Yao through the dressing mirror. This was the successor to Cai Yinong's top female star. Her eyes were full of envy, but also hid a bit of sorrow.

Previously, Guli Nazha stood in his way, but fortunately, she was a love-obsessed person who was always busy dating, which made Cai Yinong dislike her.

She thought that once she made it to the top, she would be heavily promoted by the company, but then Chen Yao came along and directly enjoyed the treatment of Tangren's "favorite daughter," which made her furious. She couldn't understand why she couldn't catch Cai Yinong's eye.

Composing himself, Jin Chen suppressed his emotions and asked with concern, "Yao Mei, you'll be spending the Lunar New Year on set this year. Will you find it difficult to adjust?"

Chen Yao smiled and said in a light tone, "It's alright. It's my first time celebrating the New Year like this, and it feels quite novel."

Jin Chen chatted with Chen Yao for a few minutes, then subtly inquired, "Yao-mei, you should eat more for the New Year's Eve dinner. You're too thin. Celebrities need to maintain their figure, but they can't skip meals; their bodies can't handle it."

You're filming one drama after another. After "Han Zhi Yun" finishes, you immediately have "Joy of Life," "My Old Classmate," and "The Breakup Guru." You all have a lot of roles; you need to keep replenishing your energy.

"Thank you for your concern, Sister Chen." Chen Yao thanked her first, then paused, and subconsciously said, "The Breakup Guru? Is that the movie that Sister Shi's studio invested in? I didn't act in it."

"Really? Rumors are circulating in the company that you're going to play the second female lead." Jin Chen feigned surprise, but secretly she was delighted.

She was scheming to compete for the second female lead in this movie, and was always afraid that the leading lady would directly hand over Chen Yao. Now that this test had been done, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Yao, unaware of Jin Chen's thoughts, smiled and explained, "Sister Chen, you must have misheard. I don't have that schedule."

Jin Chen suppressed his joy and quickly replied, "Oh, I see. Then I must have misheard."

As dusk settled, countless lights gradually illuminated the land, the warm aroma of food mingling with the festive cheer. Song Ci and Liu Shishi finished their New Year's Eve dinner in their grandparents' courtyard house and returned to Jingyuan.

At this moment, on the television screen, bright red lanterns and festive songs and dances complemented each other, igniting the reunion night for countless families. Amid the lively atmosphere of the opening song and dance, hosts Dong Qing, Zhu Jun, Shen Sisi, and others stood on the stage with beaming smiles.

"Sisi is becoming more and more magnanimous. In a few years, when Dong Qing gets old, she will probably become the top female anchor of CCTV."

Looking at Shen Sisi in her bright dress on the screen, Liu Shishi sighed softly. Seeing this old friend again now, she felt calm and her heart was no longer troubled.

Song Ci glanced at his wife, thought for a moment, but still didn't say anything.

After a few warm-up New Year's greetings, Zhu Jun's voice rang out with excitement and solemnity:

"Dear viewers, on this Lunar New Year's Eve, a time for family reunions, we would like to express our special thanks to Tenda Technology Group for their generous sponsorship of this year's Spring Festival Gala!"

Tengda Group has prepared an unprecedented New Year's gift for everyone: by shaking your WeChat app at a specific time tonight, you can grab a real cash red envelope!

Dong chuckled and added, "That's right! Tonight at 9 PM, 10 PM, 11 PM, and even at midnight when the New Year's bells ring, as long as you open WeChat..."

Enter the 'Shake' feature, listen to the host's instructions, shake your phone vigorously, and you'll have a chance to win a red envelope! The highest amount can reach 888 yuan!
Please get your phones ready and tune in to CCTV's Spring Festival Gala – don't miss the spectacular show!

As Liu Shishi took out her phone to prepare for the lucky draw later, she snuggled closer to her husband, leaning against his chest: "Yiyi, are you going to the company tomorrow morning?"

"I'm going. It was supposed to be Sister Jing's shift this year, but I just happened to be going to the company to check on the WeChat red envelope data tonight and also to give the employees a little something to say."

The couple chatted casually while sending New Year's greetings to their elders and relatives. Before they knew it, it was nine o'clock, and the evening's program reached its first small climax.

The camera cuts to the host, Shen Sisi, who announces with great enthusiasm: "Dear friends, it's time for JD.com to give away red envelopes! Now, pick up your phone, open WeChat, and shake it!"

Liu Shishi perked up and enthusiastically started shaking her phone.

At the same time, it was as if an invisible command had spread throughout the country.

In the living room, around the dining table, on the sofa, and even in the busy moments in the kitchen, countless people who had been waiting for a long time raised their phones and shook them vigorously with anticipation.

"Swish swish swish... swish swish swish..." The sounds of countless mobile phone accelerometers being triggered converged into a peculiar and contemporary background sound, intertwining with the cheerful music from the television program.

"Wow, I won! 8.8 yuan!" came the excited voice of the housekeeper, Sister Li.

Liu Shishi looked at her phone screen, pouted, and muttered unhappily, "Why is it a 5 yuan coupon from JD.com! JD.com is really something, using this kind of coupon to fool people."

Song Ci smiled and said, "There are still a few more chances. If you don't get a red envelope tonight, I'll give you a big one."

Liu Shishi chuckled: "How big is it? If it's a good deal, I won't shake it anymore."

Song Ci raised an eyebrow and said with a mischievous smile, "A red envelope worth several hundred million."

Liu Shishi was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening and spat out, "You stinky man, you're making fun of me again."

Haier's red envelopes at 10:00 AM and China Mobile's red envelopes at 11:00 AM have sparked a new wave of nationwide red envelope grabbing frenzy every hour on the hour.

Every time the phone is shaken, it is accompanied by shouts and laughter of surprise or frustration.

Friends and family compared the amounts and coupons they had won, and discussed the celebrities who would be appearing next. The festive atmosphere was pushed to an unprecedented peak by this online "red envelope grabbing battle".

Song Ci checks the WeChat work group from time to time, while Wu Yi, who is working overtime at the company, reports the latest data.

Every hour on the hour, the server has to withstand hundreds of millions of requests per minute for WeChat red envelopes. Tenda Group's North and South Data Centers operate efficiently in the background, with engineers on duty on high alert to ensure the smooth running of this nationwide carnival.

Besides the incentive of real money, another big surprise of the WeChat red envelope campaign is the New Year's greeting videos from celebrities.

When users shake their phones with high expectations, and instead of a red envelope amount popping up on the screen, a smiling face of a popular celebrity suddenly appears, they can also experience an indescribable joy.

"Wow! It's Jay Chou! He wished me a Happy New Year!" The fangirl screamed excitedly. On the screen, Jay Chou said in his signature accent, "Happy New Year, give me a red envelope!" against a carefully designed festive background.

"Oh my god, it's Liu Shishi! I got Sister Shishi! She's so beautiful and has such a great presence!" The fan was overjoyed as he looked at the top star's blessing on his phone.

"Yang Mi! It's Yang Mi! I got Qingchuan in the lottery! I'm going to post this on my WeChat Moments!" Even moms who love watching dramas couldn't resist joining in the sharing.

Andy Lau, Huang Xiaoming, Jackie Chan, Zhou Xun... More than ten top celebrities, carefully selected by Tengda Culture and personally overseen by Song Ci, sent New Year's greetings to the mobile phones of thousands of households in this private yet highly communicative way.

These videos were screenshotted, forwarded, and discussed like crazy, and the celebrities gained explosive national exposure and goodwill on New Year's Eve through unprecedented interaction.

This is not just a New Year's greeting, but a phenomenal celebrity "down-to-earth" marketing campaign.

As the clock struck midnight, a massive wave of red envelopes swept across the internet, pushing the atmosphere to its peak, and the data in the WeChat team's backend was also fluctuating wildly.

That night, hundreds of millions of users did things that many people had never done or rarely did in order to grab red envelopes: they linked their bank cards.

Lured by the red envelopes and guided by the simple process, countless middle-aged and elderly users, as well as users in third- and fourth-tier cities, either with the help of their children or by figuring it out on their own, completed their first WeChat Pay binding.

"Dad, click here, enter the card number, then enter the password... Yes, that's it, you can withdraw the money!"

"Can this red envelope money really be transferred to a bank card? It's so convenient!"

When the amount of the red envelope received actually appears in WeChat Wallet and can be easily withdrawn or spent, users' trust and reliance on WeChat Pay increases dramatically.

The term "WeChat Pay," which was originally unfamiliar to many people, became a household name and deeply ingrained in people's minds overnight.

Countless users who had never used mobile payment before crossed that threshold that night and became loyal users of WeChat Pay.

A milestone moment for mobile payment was launched on New Year's Eve 2013, amidst the nationwide "shake" frenzy.

Looking at the data reports constantly arriving on her phone, Song Ci was filled with excitement! WeChat red envelopes had achieved legendary status! A new era of mobile payment had begun.

(One update today, two updates tomorrow)

(End of this chapter)