A grand feast for the Chinese entertainment industry

Chapter 210 The Harvest!

All sorts of sounds, like a huge tide, surged unhindered towards the center of the venue.

The sound was so loud that Lin Jianlu could barely hear it through her earpiece.

However, as soon as he sheathed the knife, he swung it around a few more times with incredible smoothness, tossed it to one of his backup dancers, and then continued singing—not even allowing the slightest mishap in his breath.

The entire massive Qualcomm Stadium was in complete uproar!

As he finished singing the last line of "Believer," he steadily controlled his breathing, spread his arms, and enjoyed the thunderous applause, screams, gasps, and whistles from the audience as the music slowly faded away—he put his hands to his lips, kissed them gently, and then stretched them out diagonally toward the audience, spinning around once more.

The only sound left in the room was applause.

A thunderous round of applause.

The unloading machines and workers were already rapidly entering the venue. Lin Jianlu, escorted by a group of backup dancers, made her exit—the applause continued unabated and remained enormous. Amidst the applause, one could faintly hear a woman's desperate sobs, "Lin, I love you! I love you!"

The live camera was constantly tracking the stream.

Lin Jianlu knew that she was still in the live broadcast camera's view.

While seemingly strolling leisurely but actually leaving the field quite quickly, Lin Jianlu even blew a kiss to the camera as he walked through the players' tunnel. Right in front of the players' tunnel, he was greeted by applause from both teams who were preparing to line up for the game. So Lin Jianlu immediately stretched out his hands and quickly high-fived the players on both sides.

The microphone had been turned off, but his lip movements were captured by the camera and instantly transmitted to hundreds of millions of television sets worldwide.

"Kamunang!"

"champion!"

…………

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

"An explosive performance!"

Lin Xilei immediately came over and helped Lin Jianlu remove the equipment from her body.

They were so familiar with each other, but even so, the assistant still praised them immediately with an expression of admiration.

Lin Jianlu exhaled gently, releasing the immense pressure she had just felt.

Just then, as Lin Jianlu was about to walk to the waiting room, Zhang Aijia came running over. Upon seeing her from afar, Lin Jianlu stopped in his tracks—they were too familiar with each other, so familiar that just by looking at the other's expression, Lin Jianlu smiled, "Looks like my twenty million dollars is about to be in my hands?"

Sylvia Chang laughed heartily, came over, hugged Lin Chien-lu, kissed him, and excitedly said, "The North American viewership reached 1.374 million, surpassing Michael Jackson's record of 1.293 million. Peak viewership exceeded 810 million, and global broadcast viewership exceeded 7.1 million, far surpassing Michael Jackson's 5.4 million!"

"You succeeded! You succeeded immensely!"

Lin Jianlu pursed his lips, and before he could speak, the dance team behind him burst into cheers.

Lin Jianlu then laughed heartily.

At that moment, a vice president from the American Football League also hurried over, opening his arms wide from afar, "Oh, Lin, perfect! Perfect! Perfect performance! Perfect you!"

This guy is probably a former rugby player; he's quite strong.

Admittedly, even Lin Jianlu felt somewhat uneasy about hugging him.

"Thank you!"

"Please forgive me for not being able to resist praising you again, Lin, you truly are a superstar, unparalleled! Your performance today will surely shake the world! No, you already have! Believe me, tomorrow you will be on the front page of at least a thousand newspapers in at least a hundred countries around the world!"

"Thank you!"

"Oh God! If you don't mind, can I take a picture with you?"

"Of course! No problem!"

After dealing with the officials, Lin Jianlu was finally able to return to her rest room.

Zhang Aijia coordinated with the event organizers to return all the items, while Lin Xilei made a few phone calls and returned to report, "The cars are already waiting outside. The plane has received its takeoff clearance, and we've also received landing clearance from the capital."

Well, Lin Jianlu has basically stopped taking flights for his recent trips. The reason is simple: if he dares to appear in the normal passageways of the airport, whether it's the boarding gate or the arrivals area, it will almost always cause massive congestion. So, when traveling to and from New York, he almost always has to choose to take a business class charter flight. To be honest, Lin Jianlu only realized after he became famous in North America that American fans are much more enthusiastic than Chinese fans.

However, there is still time.

After a short rest of a minute or two and a few sips of warm water, he put down his cup, didn't even change his clothes, and went straight to the break room next door. "Hey guys!"

He high-fived each of his backup dancers, saying "thank you." When it was Li Wen's turn, he gave her a hug and offered some words of encouragement. Finally, he concluded, "Thank you everyone for your hard work in rehearsals and for your almost perfect performance just now. Thank you all!"

A logging family!

Lin Jianlu's understanding of America mostly comes from the Hollywood movies and TV series he watched in his previous life. It's hard to say whether they accurately reflect the current situation and perceptions of Americans. However, in his view, any movie or TV series that becomes popular enough to be broadcast in China must have been a huge hit in America first. And for something to be a huge hit, it must, to some extent, convey a certain perception of Americans—if it doesn't align with those values, it certainly won't sell well in its home country!
So, he immediately started shouting "Family!" to his backup dancers.

As it turns out, Americans really do buy into this!

Of course, Lin Jianlu was also aware that these efforts needed to be made, but the core issues had not yet been addressed.

The core thing is just one thing: Mani!

Lin Xilei quickly brought over a briefcase with a combination lock, opened it with a click, and found it full of envelopes, one for each person, containing 20,000 US dollars. Lin Jianlu personally handed them to each person.

This is not salary, it's a pure bonus.

Everyone who takes the stage receives a reward of 20,000 US dollars, or 160,000 to 170,000 RMB, for those coming from China. The weight of the reward is self-evident. Even for a group of American backup dancers, 20,000 US dollars is definitely not a small amount—the income of most dancers is actually not very high.

That is to say, for singers like Chris Martins or actors like Charlize Theron who are already somewhat famous, this amount of money doesn't seem so much.

But in reality, it's clear that they weren't exactly wealthy.

Especially Charlize Theron!

Chris Martins, on the other hand, is doing much better. It's said that since the release and huge success of "21" this year, he's been inundated with gigs and gigs. He also released a new album, and by praising himself as a close friend of Lin Jianlu, claiming that he "received a lot of inspiration and guidance from Lin during the creative process," and by promoting himself as "Lin's favorite black voice," etc., his new album has reportedly sold over 80 copies, making a successful comeback and starting a second spring in his career!
But as soon as he started making money, he immediately began to spend it like crazy. It is said that the first thing he did after receiving his first royalty payment was to go to Las Vegas and have a blast, spending money like water...

Well, in short, everyone's poor.

No one would look down on a 20,000-dollar bill.

Immediately, the lounge was filled with all sorts of praise—

"Wow!"

"Lin, I love you!"

"thank you boss!"

"Thank you, Brother Lu!"

When it was Charlize Theron's turn, the girl didn't even take the envelope. Instead, she hugged Lin Jianlu tightly and passionately kissed her, saying, "Lin, you're amazing! You're the most perfect artist in my heart, unmatched by anyone! I love you!"

Lin Jianlu laughed and patted her back—he originally only intended to give her a couple of light pats, but his hand eventually disobeyed and patted her bare, smooth back twice, then touched it.

To be honest, Lin Jianlu didn't have any expectations for the feel of the fair-skinned girl's skin, but she had to admit that after years of applying moisturizer and other skincare products, it did feel quite nice to the touch.

It can't compare to the exceptionally smooth and supple skin of women like Li Dabai and Jia Jingwen, who are considered exceptionally beautiful among Eastern women. But at this moment, Charlize Theron's back still felt quite smooth.

It feels good in hand!

"Hey, listen, Charlize, I love you too!"

…………

Mariah Carey called while we were still on our way to the car outside the stadium.

He offered praise in an extremely exaggerated tone.

They had a get-together once during rehearsals in New York, which was a small family party as usual. But on that occasion, Lin Jianlu noticed that Mariah Carey was quickly surrounded by more people eager to flatter her, and it seemed that a suitor had appeared—a rather handsome young man, well, he's considered quite handsome among Black men. He's supposedly a great guitarist and blues singer.

Then, Mariah Carey, in a way that wasn't even a hint, but practically an explicit statement, found an opportunity when the two of them were alone. She said that she really liked Lin Jianlu, her big eyes blinking, which was quite a subtle way of asking for his affections. She also explained indirectly that although someone was pursuing her, she didn't have any feelings for him—well, a little scheming, but not too much.

For Lin Jianlu at the time, the matter was somewhat sudden, but not entirely unexpected.

Lin Jianlu visited America many times, almost never interacting with the outside world, not even the music industry. He felt he couldn't fit in and wasn't inclined to force himself. There was only one exception: Mariah Carey. Lin Jianlu could sense that this social butterfly genuinely liked his music. After their initial encounter in Tokyo, they hadn't met many times, but they had spoken on the phone several times. So later, Lin Jianlu began to have considerable interaction with her—being so adept at matters of the heart, Lin Jianlu could basically gauge a woman's feelings just by observing her attitude and the way she looked at him!
The last time I went to her house, it was a small party. Mariah Carey had drunk a bit too much and secretly kissed Lin Jianlu's earlobe. The way she looked at me then was a little suggestive.

It seems the divorce proceedings are nearing completion, and she's become increasingly unrestrained, even choosing to confront him directly—however, Lin Jianlu politely declined, stating he had a lover. To be honest, Lin Jianlu would be quite interested in a friendly match with this social butterfly at this stage. He didn't think she was particularly beautiful in his past life, but after living in America for a considerable time and seeing many Americans and Black people, he's started to adapt to different aesthetics and gradually comes to appreciate the beauty of mixed-race women like Mariah Carey.

But dating is out of the question – even though marriage and divorce are commonplace in the US, Americans still emphasize fidelity in marriage!

A friendly match is fine, but once it escalates to a romantic relationship, the topic of loyalty inevitably comes up!

How could Lin Jianlu possibly be loyal to Mariah Carey's love?

Is it that Chen Hong and Yu Feihong aren't appealing, or that Wang Zuxian and Zhou Huimin aren't fun?

Gao Yuanyuan is right in my hand, she's been getting more and more obedient and fun in bed lately, and Fan Bingbing is practically on my lips. A while ago, while filming, I even managed to snag Kim Hee-sun, who seemed like an easier target...

Mariah Carey?
Stop it!
Although I was one of her more loyal fans in my past life, the positive impact was limited!

Well, at the time, she must have been a little hurt—her career in recent years has basically been on the rise, with minor setbacks and even a slight damage to her reputation, but it has not affected her status as a superstar. Now she is about to get rid of "Tommy Mottola's control," which can be said to be the best period of her life in her own eyes. She is giving herself a high point!
However, charm failed to win over the new superstar!
So, after that small gathering, which ended somewhat unhappily, the two sides didn't contact each other for more than ten days.

Lin Jianlu didn't expect her to call at this time.

"Yay! He looks really cool, right?"

"Yes! But... I know who your lover is! It's her, isn't it?"

"Who?"

"Hey, don't give me that! I just asked a friend, she's from South Africa, she's a ballet dancer, and currently a minor actress on Broadway, Charlize Theron? Right? She starred in a movie last year called..."

"Hey! Hey! Kamuang, Mimi! Personal privacy, OK?"

"No! It's war!"

She was a little agitated, seemingly indignant that her dignified diva and socialite had lost to a minor actress. "I love you, Lin! I love you!"

"Kamunang!"

…………

It ended in another unpleasant breakup.

But after hanging up the phone, Lin Jianlu remained calm.

The two assistants who accompanied him in the car were both looking at him, their faces calm.

Sylvia Chang couldn't help but ask, "Planning to try something new?"

Lin Jianlu shrugged, too lazy to answer.

Lin Xilei grinned, it was hard to tell whether she was answering Zhang Aijia or provoking Lin Jianlu on her behalf, "Maybe it's already happened! That Charlize Theron has been pursuing me very aggressively lately!"

Lin laughed when he saw the deer.

Sylvia Chang chuckled and turned to answer Lin Xilei, "But it wouldn't be bad to try Mariah Carey! I heard she and Motura are settling out of court and will soon be officially divorced, which meets his requirements for sex! However, Western women might not be so easy to handle; he's afraid he won't be able to handle them, and even more afraid of missing out!"

Lin Jianlu remained silent, staring at the two unbridled women.

However, Lin Xilei ignored his expression and immediately followed up, "It's not a big problem! Anyway, it's a free love relationship. Americans don't care about responsibility like we Chinese do. As long as it's not an official announcement of the relationship, no one can criticize it! Besides, Michael Jackson is old now, and Lu Han is the only superstar in the world. Especially for these women who make music, he's so charming. They'd be willing to give him away for free, or even pay him to have him!"

Are you being sarcastic? I admit I'm willing to give it away for free, but did I pay extra for it?

"You're not even paying me out of your own pocket? Who was it that advised Brother Lu last time that it would be best not to take on commercial performances? If he really needed money and couldn't make ends meet, you had a lot of assets from your divorce..."

"But... at least I managed to pay up! I had it once, and it was really great. Have you ever had it?"

"I touched it, hehe... but I plan to quit in two years and stop being his assistant."

"Tch! Even if I quit, I'll still be a big star. What can you do if you quit? Aren't you afraid of starving to death? You want to be his mistress? He might not even want you!"

"Really? I think I'm alright, right? I have big breasts, they feel great, and I have a great figure. Besides, I'm only twenty-one, and I'll only be twenty-two after the New Year..."

"Damn it! You're hitting a nerve, aren't you?"

"Hehe, no, Sister Aijia, even though you're a bit older, you're still so sexy!"

"Haha, you're almost there too, you've been getting more and more flamboyant lately!"

"..."

Lin Jianlu initially wanted to laugh because of the sudden conflicts between the two of them lately, but as she listened, she couldn't laugh anymore and instead felt somewhat troubled.

Those two crazy women!

…………

With its long legs, it successfully boarded the plane and took off.

But it was already 6 p.m. local time in Los Angeles when we took off.

Although it was a business charter flight, and as long as the fuel was fully replenished beforehand, there was no need to land in between, the captain still gave an estimated flight time of 10.5 to 11 hours. So, by the time we landed at the Capital Airport, even if it was the fastest 10.5 hours, it would already be past 7 p.m. on January 27th – rushing to CCTV, just in time for the final rehearsal and recording of the Spring Festival Gala.

In short, we're on our way.

I chatted with my group of long-legged backup dancers for a while on the plane, and then returned to the only bedroom on the business jet. I couldn't fall asleep, so I made sure to call my girlfriends one by one as the flight started – unfortunately, video calls weren't an option these days.

Lin Jianlu was starting to miss her son and daughter in Taiwan.

Chen Shuhua is going to participate in the Spring Festival Gala and has been staying in the capital for almost ten days. To be honest, Lin Jianlu is not too at ease leaving her home in Taipei and her two babies with Su Huilun.

Fortunately, most things are done by a dedicated nanny.

Calling them and listening to their baby talk can be quite relaxing.

Then, after making several calls in a row, his phone ran out of battery. Lin Jianlu then put down his phone and fell into a deep sleep. So he didn't know that while he was rushing to the airport to board his plane, public opinion around the world had already begun to explode after a brief period of fermentation. And while he was sleeping, the influence of his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show was exploding rapidly!
All major North American television networks gave extensive coverage to the Super Bowl game, its results, and Lin Jianlu's "amazing performance" during the halftime show in their evening news that day!
Meanwhile, in South America, the Caribbean, and even Europe, where Lin Jianlu is very popular and influential, almost all the local television stations, large and small, chose to report on the performance that very evening. In North America, the first thing to report was the Super Bowl and its result, because North Americans are extremely concerned about the outcome. But once you leave North America and go to other regions and countries, people don't really care about the game itself. The focus of the reports is just Lin Jianlu's "amazing thirteen minutes" as a global superstar.

As for East Asia and Southeast Asia, Lin Jianlu's performance time is usually just after 8:00 AM local time. Therefore, newspapers published that morning, including the Morning Post, would definitely not be able to publish the article in time, but radio and television stations would have no problem at all.

In places like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, news programs at 10 a.m. already had prepared articles and broadcast recordings, giving a very grand report on Lin Jianlu's performance.

Although Hong Kong currently only has two established television stations, both of them clearly prepared their reports in advance, and they also solemnly reported on the events at 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM respectively, only slightly later than other places.

In the afternoon, ATV put together a hastily prepared interview program, inviting a group of Lin Jianlu's good friends, such as Huang Zhan, Luo Dayou, Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung, Rosamund Kwan, and Leung Wing-ki, to sit in the live broadcast studio and start lavishly flattering their boss.

The Super Bowl is incredibly important; Michael Jackson's Super Bowl halftime show performance created an unparalleled miracle. However, Lin Jianlu's performance today was absolutely amazing. According to information disclosed at a subsequent press conference by the American Football League, the Super Bowl organizer, this year's Super Bowl broadcast achieved phenomenal results, completely surpassing the miracle created by Michael Jackson in 1993... and so on and so forth.

That evening, after Lin Jianlu had woken up from a nap on the plane, it was finally the turn of countless newspapers in Hong Kong and Taiwan to start their campaign...

However, in reality, no matter the reports, praises, or flattery from around the world, nothing could compare to a phone call from Sylvia Chang, who was responsible for staying in America and flew directly back to New York from Los Angeles, in the middle of the night Eastern Time: "Ah Lu, it's exactly as I predicted, your commercial value is skyrocketing!"

When she answered the phone, Lin Jianlu was still a little dazed. She just mumbled an "uh-huh" and ignored the noise around her. She subconsciously took the phone from Lin Xilei and listened to Zhang Aijia speaking excitedly on the other end of the line.

It took him two or three minutes to gradually regain his composure.

Although it was expected, he gradually became happy.

We've discussed this before. Since the huge success of "21," Lin Jianlu has become famous worldwide. When the "Believer" music video became a hit, it seemed like the global fashion trend was being stirred up by this music video. Lin Jianlu had already embarked on the road to becoming a superstar. Globally, major media outlets have begun to openly discuss whether he is on par with Michael Jackson as one of the two global superstars.

He is young, stylish, and handsome. He has not only become a global pop king, but what is even more remarkable is that he wrote the entire album "21" himself. He handled everything from composing and writing lyrics to arranging and recording the songs. With the tireless promotion of Columbia Records, his reputation as a musical prodigy resounded around the world. His commercial value has already reached a level that is basically unmatched in the world.

Over the past six months, both Zhang Aijia and Ge Fuhong have received wave after wave of invitations to collaborate with Lin Jianlu and to have him as their spokesperson.

However, after confirming that she would be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, Sylvia Chang suggested suspending all business collaborations and endorsement negotiations—she was waiting for today.

Without a real, hands-on test, your commercial value remains solely within your fan base. At least, that's what the big brands all think.

But once there's a public test, like the Super Bowl halftime show, a live performance with tens of thousands of people watching live and broadcast globally, hundreds of millions of people can see the live stream, plus the high probability of watching the replay, the global audience will definitely exceed one billion. Then suddenly, your influence will transcend the simple fan base!
Your value to the brand will suddenly increase many times over!
As expected, the performance was a great success, even to the point of causing a global sensation. It was in no way inferior to Michael Jackson's performance a few years ago, and its viewership was even higher. As Zhang Aijia said, Lin Jianlu's commercial value took off in an instant!

It's going to burst!
Various brands and companies, and all sorts of business cooperation requests, turned into a barrage of phone calls and faxes, starting around 5 p.m. local time in America, bombarding Zhang Aijia and her three small offices in New York.

In her words, "Ah Lu, if you agree, I can help you with at least $100 million worth of commercial endorsements and collaborations every year! If you include those who want to collaborate with you on clothing and shoes... you'll earn at least $200 million a year! At least!"

(End of this chapter)