Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 490 Classic Scenes

When Song Ci and Liu Shishi walked hand in hand onto the red carpet, the media area erupted in cheers, and fans in the distant isolation zone also screamed and cheered.

Song Ci, who usually only appears in financial magazines and CCTV news footage, has now entered the noisy and glamorous entertainment industry, which is a huge news story in itself.

Moreover, it has been quite some time since the two last appeared together in public at an entertainment event. Rarity increases value, and every second they share together is priceless.

The flashes of light created a sea of ​​intense light, illuminating the couple on the red carpet.

The live stream room was already flooded with comments.

"My brother-in-law is so handsome! His aura is like that of a top superstar, not a tech mogul!"

"Liu Shishi looks exactly like someone who married for love!"

"Wealth, good looks, love! This couple has the perfect life script."

"No one would disagree that they're the most good-looking couple in the entertainment industry, right? It's a feast for the eyes!"

Fans on both sides of the red carpet, especially Liu Shishi's "little lions," were so excited they could hardly contain themselves, shouting at the top of their lungs.

Even seasoned reporters were taken aback, once again directly witnessing Liu Shishi's unwavering top-tier popularity and the appeal of this national couple.

In front of the autograph wall, hosts Hua Shao and Li Ai had already adjusted their state, but they still couldn't hide a trace of nervousness when facing Song Ci.

"Mr. Song, Mrs. Song, good evening! Welcome to Weibo Night." Hua Shao spoke quickly but clearly, with utmost respect.

Song Ci smiled faintly and nodded slightly. Her aloof demeanor made the two famous hosts tactfully shift their focus to Liu Shishi.

"Mr. Liu, first of all, congratulations! 'Silent Notes' has been a huge ratings hit. Everyone is looking forward to your next project. Could you tell us when we can meet?"

Liu Shishi turned her head to look at her husband beside her, her eyes sparkling with sweetness, and she smiled radiantly.

"Thank you everyone. The new project will be coming soon. After my husband and I finish our honeymoon, we'll probably start filming 'The Imperial Doctress' around May."

If all goes well, it is expected to be released next Chinese New Year.

……

Compared to the frenzy outside, the inside was slightly more "reserved," but equally star-studded.

As the two entered, the guests who were talking turned their heads and many nodded in greeting.

He walked straight to the center of the first row, where several industry giants were already seated, including the chairman of Huaying and Mr. Wang of Enlight Media.

Upon seeing Song Ci, the group immediately stood up and warmly shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

"Chairman Song, your charm is even greater than before!"

"Mr. Song, Madam, good evening."

Song Ci responded calmly, while Liu Shishi stood beside her husband with an elegant smile, occasionally chatting quietly with a familiar company executive. The couple were perfectly in sync and had a great understanding of each other.

After taking his seat in the center of the first row, Liu Yan, the president of Weibo, whispered a report on the agenda before the event began: "Chairman Song, tonight's event is expected to last two hours and twenty minutes, and the main segments include..."

Song Ci's gaze swept across the venue, occasionally nodding.

"The Weibo Super Topic feature has been online for more than half a year and its effects have far exceeded expectations. Data growth has been rapid and user stickiness and activity are extremely high."

It has now replaced Baidu Tieba as the core platform for celebrity fan management, content aggregation, and interest-based communities in China, and is highly valued by many celebrities and management companies.

Song Ci nodded calmly, her expression unperturbed: "Well done. Weibo has reached a stage where one company dominates and there is a lack of competition of similar scale. We can just optimize it step by step."

Outside, as the grand finale, Huang Xiaoming, Deng Chao, and Hu Ge walked the red carpet side by side, instantly igniting a new wave of screams.

As the three male leads of the upcoming film "American Dreams in China," their joint appearance this time clearly indicates their intention to promote the film.

All three are handsome men, yet each possesses a distinct charm. Upon arriving at the autograph wall, hosts Hua Shao and Li Ai naturally steered the focus towards their new film.

After the promotional interaction regarding the film, Hua Shao turned his gaze to Hu Ge, who was silently smiling to the side, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

"Mr. Hu Ge, there's an interesting nickname circulating online lately: 'The most courageous man in the entertainment industry.' What do you think of it?"

Hu Ge was clearly taken aback, her face full of confusion: "Huh? The most courageous? What makes you say that?"

He subconsciously looked at Huang and Deng, who were equally bewildered, before revealing expectant expressions.

Hua Shao suppressed a laugh and prompted, "Then let me remind you? In the 'Chinese Paladin 3' series from many years ago, Jing Tian slapped Long Kui. Netizens said that you are the only one who 'hit' Liu Shishi. This kind of courage is not something that ordinary people have."

The scene was silent for a moment, then bursts of laughter and jeers erupted.

The live broadcast room was instantly flooded with comments:
"Hahaha! Hua Shao, you're so good at asking questions!"

"To kill someone is to destroy their spirit!"

"Jing Tian did it, what does it have to do with Hu Ge!"

Hu Ge then realized that this problem was a real trap. She broke out in a cold sweat.

But he quickly regained his composure and gave a helpless, bitter smile: "Oh dear, Young Master Hua, bringing up these old grievances has me sweating bullets."

After making a self-deprecating remark, she clarified seriously, "First of all, the word 'hit' is inaccurate. It was necessary for the plot, a camera trick and a technique; there was absolutely no real harm done to the other actor. Shishi is very professional, and we had a very pleasant working relationship."

Then, changing the subject, he said humorously and humbly, "Secondly, you're both flattering me and 'tricking' me."

Who doesn't know that Shishi has a happy family and is highly respected? If this title is attached to her, I'm afraid tomorrow she won't be trending on social media, but rather being publicly shamed by her fans.

After skillfully defusing the awkward situation, he smiled and bowed slightly towards the camera: "How about I take this opportunity to formally apologize to Shishi?"
In the drama, it was Jing Tian who did the dirty work, but as the actor who played him, I still feel lingering fear. Shishi, Mr. Song, I offended you many times back then due to work requirements; please forgive me!

This answer drew applause and laughter from the audience. Huang Xiaoming and Deng Chao gave him a thumbs-up with smiles.

Hua Shao was also very satisfied: "Teacher Hu Ge's answer was perfect!"

After signing autographs, Hu Ge walked with the two towards the inner area. Once out of the camera's view, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly complaining: "That host almost killed me."

Shortly after the three took their seats, at exactly 8 p.m., the lights in the venue suddenly dimmed, and a spotlight focused on the stage.

Accompanied by powerful music and a light show, Weibo Night officially kicked off.

The show opened with a group dance performance, where the synchronized and powerful dance moves of several avant-garde young men elicited screams from the audience.

Song Ci's gaze casually swept across the stage, lingering for a moment on four particularly eye-catching young people, recognizing them as the "Four Returned Sons" who would create a huge wave in the next few years.

Liu Yan, on the left, introduced in a low voice: "Chairman Song, this is EXO, the most popular boy group in South Korea. They are very popular in Asia. The members on stage are from China."

Song Ci nodded slightly, her tone calm: "Yes, I've heard about it. These young idols are quite valuable for brand promotion and market penetration targeting young consumers."

His eyes held no fanaticism, only a calm assessment. To him, the top celebrities on stage were first and foremost commercially valuable traffic drivers, resources that could be used for business development.

The Weibo Night event progressed steadily amidst dazzling stars and enthusiastic applause.

One after another, prestigious awards were presented: "Weibo's Most Influential Person of the Year," "Weibo's Most Influential Person of the Year," "Weibo's Most Breakthrough Person of the Year," and so on.

On stage, hosts Hua Shao and Li Ai skillfully engaged the audience with their professionalism and seamless teamwork.

"The next award to be presented is one that many netizens and fans are eagerly anticipating!" Hua Shao's voice was loud and full of passion.

"Let's unveil the Weibo Male Gods of the Year! They are: Huang Xiaoming, Chen Xiao, Deng Chao, and Zhao Youting! Congratulations to all four!"

Li Ai smiled and replied, "Congratulations to the four male gods! Please invite them to the stage to receive this recognition from the Weibo platform and the love of hundreds of millions of netizens!"

"At the same time, we are honored to have a distinguished guest present awards to our four male idols! Please welcome Mr. Han Sanping, Chairman of China Film Group Corporation!"

Amidst enthusiastic applause, four male stars, each with their own distinct style but equally dazzling presence, walked onto the stage, received their trophies from industry veteran Han Sanping, and delivered their acceptance speeches.

The stage lights flashed brightly, capturing this dazzling moment.

Feeling the enthusiastic atmosphere, Song Ci nodded slightly, quite satisfied with the awards and overall effect of this year's Weibo Night. Her gaze swept over Zhao Youting, who was receiving congratulations on stage, and she turned her head slightly to ask, "Zhao Youting? Did he have any particularly outstanding representative works last year?"

Liu Yan immediately leaned forward slightly and quickly replied: "Chairman Song, Zhao Youting starred in 'First Time,' 'Black & White Episode 1: The Dawn of Assault,' and 'Caught in the Web' last year. These films did quite well at the box office and in terms of word-of-mouth."

After his relationship with Gao Yuanyuan was exposed, they consistently dominated entertainment headlines, generating a high level of discussion and attention.

After listening, Song Ci nodded knowingly and then instructed, "Yes. Awards like 'Weibo Male God' and 'Weibo Female God' are popular with netizens and generate a lot of discussion. They can be kept as a regular feature in the future."

"Understood, Chairman Song," Liu Yan replied immediately.

As the two were talking, the awards ceremony on stage was nearing its end.

Hosts Hua Shao and Li Ai stood in the center of the stage, their tone becoming even more impassioned.

Having admired the charm of these four male gods, let's now welcome an even more dazzling moment together!

Li Ai announced with a smile, "The Weibo Goddesses of the Year are about to be revealed! They are: Liu Yifei, Yang Mi, Tong Liya, and Angelababy! Congratulations to the four goddesses!"

"Congratulations to the four ladies! Please welcome the four goddesses to the stage!" Hua Shao continued, and then announced, "Please welcome Ms. Liu Yan, President of Weibo, to present the awards to the four goddesses! Let's give her a round of applause!"

Offstage, Liu Shishi looked at the four elegant, radiant, and glamorous female celebrities who were receiving applause and the spotlight, and a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.

She gently nudged her husband with her elbow, turned her head, and asked with a charmingly naive and playful smile, "Honey, who do you think is the prettiest among these four women on stage?"

At that moment, the live broadcast camera precisely captured a close-up of Song Ci and Liu Shishi, clearly presenting the subtle expressions of Liu Shishi's questions and Song Ci's reactions to all viewers.

"What is Shishi saying to Song Ci?"

"Ahhh, I'm so curious! Is there a lip-reading expert online who can translate this for me?!"

"Shishi's smile is so sly, it feels like she's giving Chairman Song a difficult problem!"

"Look closely at Song Ci's expression! He seems to have paused for a moment!"

On camera, Song Ci was visibly taken aback when he heard his wife's sudden "life-or-death question."

He subconsciously glanced up at the four glamorous actresses on stage, then quickly looked away and at his wife beside him, who was smiling and waiting for his answer.

In a flash, a "classic quote" inexplicably flashed through his mind, and the slight surprise on his face quickly transformed into an extreme calm and seriousness.

He tilted his head slightly, leaned closer to Liu Shishi, and answered in a calm, unwavering tone, as if stating an objective fact:
"Shishi, you know, I'm a bit face-blind, I can't tell who's pretty and who's not."

"Hahaha." Liu Shishi clearly did not expect her husband to give such a "killer" answer.

She was taken aback at first, but then she couldn't help but laugh out loud at the absurd yet survival-driven answer. Her eyebrows and eyes curved into beautiful crescent moons, and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

This scene was captured on camera, reigniting the enthusiasm of netizens:
"Shishi is smiling so happily! So what exactly did the Song Dynasty poem say?!"

"I'm so anxious! Is there anyone here who's an expert in lip reading?!"

"I know a little! It seems Shishi asked, 'Who is the most beautiful on stage?' and Songci's answer was something like, 'I have face blindness, I can't tell them apart'?"

"The person upstairs seems to be right! I think that's roughly the meaning too!"

"Hahahaha! Face blindness? Richest man, that's such a flimsy excuse!"

"Amazing! Incredible! That's a survival instinct at its peak!"

"A Song Dynasty poem says: Beauty is like fleeting clouds to me; my eyes are only for my wife!"

Amidst cheers and laughter, the Weibo Night finally reached its most anticipated climax, announcing the year's most prestigious honors: Weibo King and Weibo Queen.

Hua Shao stood in the center of the stage, his tone more passionate than ever before, full of a sense of ceremony: "Now, we will unveil the two most important honors of the night!"
These represent the most popular and influential figures on Weibo over the past year, deeply loved by netizens! The winners of the 2012 Weibo King and Queen awards are…

Deliberately drawing out their voices, they exchanged a glance with Li Ai and announced together in a loud voice, "Hu Ge! Liu Shishi! Congratulations to both of you!"

The moment the results were announced, spotlights shone directly on Liu Shishi and Hu Ge.

Upon hearing her name called, Liu Shishi's face lit up with a joyful and knowing smile; she had long anticipated this outcome.

2012 was undoubtedly another peak in her career: at the beginning of the year, the movie "Goodbye Mr. Loser" became a dark horse and raked in 1 billion yuan at the box office, breaking the record for Chinese-language films.

In the middle of the year, "Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky" dominated the screens, and Xuan-Yuan Yu'er became the last phenomenal top-tier character from the Tieba era, with unparalleled popularity and buzz. This Weibo Queen title was well-deserved.

Liu Shishi gracefully stood up, but did not immediately walk to the stage. Instead, under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, she gently bent down and placed a kiss on her husband Song Ci's cheek.

This moment instantly ignited cheers from the entire audience. She then adjusted her skirt and walked gracefully and confidently onto the stage.

Hu Ge consciously lagged behind by half a step, like a respectful "little follower," appearing exceptionally low-key behind the radiant Liu Shishi.

Hua Shao's voice rang out: "Please welcome Mr. Song Ci, Chairman of Tengda Group, to present the awards to Weibo King and Queen! Let's give him a round of applause!"

Amid thunderous applause, Song Ci rose, straightened her suit, and strode confidently onto the stage.

The live stream was instantly flooded with comments like "Husband presents award to wife!" "Official sweet treat!" "His eyes are practically drooling!"

On stage, Liu Shishi looked at her husband as he walked towards her, her eyes filled with undisguised love and pride.

Hu Ge quietly moved to the edge of the stage, inwardly smiling bitterly: The organizers really know how to create a stir.

Song Ci accepted the trophy, shook hands with Hu Ge, and briefly said "Congratulations".

He then walked up to Liu Shishi, his gaze softening, and solemnly handed "Weibo Queen" to her.

The two touched fingertips, smiled at each other, and the moment was captured by the camera as the most classic scene of the night.

In her acceptance speech, Liu Shishi sincerely thanked the platform, the production team, and her fans. Finally, she looked at Song Ci and said, "Thank you to the most important person in my life for your continued support and companionship."

Just as the two were about to leave the stage, Hua Shao suddenly stopped them, saying, "Chairman Song, please wait!"

Song Ci stopped and looked at him with a slightly questioning expression.

Hua Shao mustered his courage and said, "This is a rare opportunity, and I'd like to ask you a couple of questions."

You and Mrs. Song are childhood sweethearts and are hailed as a model couple. How do you feel about personally presenting her with this award today? Could you share your secrets to a successful relationship?

The entire hall fell silent, all eyes focused on Song Ci. Liu Shishi also stopped, a gentle smile on her face, waiting expectantly.

Song Ci remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to his wife, his usually calm eyes gradually softening with a rare warmth.

He took the microphone and said in a deep, steady voice, "Before, I mostly watched her from the audience and was happy for her achievements."

Handing her the trophy in person today felt more direct and made me feel even prouder. I wouldn't call it a matter of how to get along.

We met when we were young, grew up together, witnessed each other's most innocent and naive selves, and accompanied each other through many important moments. This experience itself is irreplaceable.

"The outside world has given us many labels, but to us, they are our dearest love and our strongest support; they are also like family, and no matter how stormy the outside world is, we can always feel at ease when we go back."

Finally, in an almost chanting tone, he said with deep emotion: "There are countless kinds of people in the world, so don't chase after fleeting clouds. Such a person is like a rainbow; you only know they exist when you meet them."

After a moment of silence, the entire audience erupted in the most enthusiastic and prolonged applause.

Tears welled in Liu Shishi's eyes, but her smile was bright and content.

The live stream chat went completely wild: "A divine love story!" "This poem is perfect for them!" "This guy's romance is just too irresistible!"

Song Ci handed the microphone back, took Liu Shishi's hand, and walked off the stage side by side amidst applause.

Hu Ge finally caught up with a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: This awards ceremony really tests one's mental fortitude; he, the background character, finally made it through.

This rare scene at tonight's Weibo Night is destined to become a classic moment that fans will talk about for a long time to come.

(End of this chapter)