Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 129 Public Opinion Counterattack, Standing Firm for the Female Lead (Bonus Chapter for the Alliance Leader)

Meng Ziyi wore a long white down jacket over her clothes, with the hood covering most of her face, but underneath she wore a pair of fluffy cartoon slippers, which looked rather incongruous.

She gently closed the door behind her and gave Jiang Ye a sly smile.

Then, he deftly unzipped his down jacket, took it off, and casually tossed it onto the single sofa next to him.

Under the light, she was wearing an extremely sexy black lace slip dress underneath. The fine lace outlined her full bust and slender waist, and the skirt was very short, revealing a pair of straight and fair legs.

The material, as thin as a cicada's wing, is almost translucent and gleams alluringly in warm light.

Before Jiang Ye could react, she had already slipped into his bed like a nimble fish, her cool, smooth skin instantly pressing against his. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, nuzzled her head against his neck, and let out a satisfied sigh.

Jiang Ye froze, nearly dropping the book in his hand, and exclaimed in astonishment, "Sister Meng, you...you didn't sleep with Xiao Ye?"

He remembered that his dog had been sleeping with Zhou Ye every day recently.

Meng Ziyi raised her head, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears under the light, and a hint of smugness in them: "It's nothing, I told her a few super boring stories and shared some sleep-inducing red wine, she's already sleeping like a log."

"I'll sneak back after I'm done, she definitely won't notice!"

Jiang Ye was speechless for a moment; sometimes he couldn't keep up with this girl's train of thought.

Ignoring his reaction, Meng Ziyi hugged him tightly, her voice soft and filled with deep emotion: "Aye, I'm so touched..."

"What's so touching?" Jiang Ye asked, somewhat puzzled.

"You played the second male lead for me!"

Jiang Ye: "???"

"Are you worried that you'll feel uncomfortable or angry if I play the second female lead and act as a supporting character to Xiao Ye?"

She looked up, her eyes filled with a tender understanding. "Don't worry, I'm very sensible! I know this is all for our company's project, for making 'A Thousand Years of Song' better. Besides, I genuinely like Xiao Ye, and I'm happy acting opposite her; I don't feel wronged at all!"

As she spoke, she kissed Jiang Ye on the cheek and continued to pledge her loyalty: "Don't worry! I'll definitely act well and won't hold the crew back. I'll also take good care of Xiao Ye!"

Jiang Ye felt inexplicably uneasy and gave a dry laugh: "Heh...that's good, that's good. I'm relieved that you think that way."

“I was worried that you would be unhappy, so… so I thought I'd just act along with you and keep you company, so you could feel more at ease.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Ziyi was deeply moved and hugged Jiang Ye even tighter, wishing she could meld herself into his body.

"Ah Ye! You're so nice, hehe!"

Jiang Ye felt the soft, warm touch of the woman in his arms and listened to her touching words, but inwardly he was silently complaining.

Why would I be afraid of upsetting Sister Meng?
It's simply because we didn't have enough budget!
The original plan was to hire a relatively established young actor to play the role of the extradition leader, and the offers from the few actors they considered were quite high.

Should we spend money to hire another big name? Jiang Ye felt it was unnecessary.

In addition, my own company is busy, and we need to start the machine soon, so there's no time to discuss it further.

After thinking about it for a moment, he decided to take the plunge himself!

Anyway, it's quite common in the industry for directors to direct and act in their own films or make cameo appearances in important roles, which can save them a lot of money on film salaries.

When he occasionally looks in the mirror, he does feel that with his looks and temperament, it would be a great loss to the Chinese entertainment industry if he didn't act in a few dramas!

Originally, it was planned to be used in a movie later, but plans can't keep up with changes, so this time I can only bite the bullet and use it as a substitute.

However, looking at Meng Ziyi, who was deeply moved by the truth in his arms, Jiang Ye simply pressed down on her...

"Yes, I'm glad you understand my good intentions."

……

Friday, January 3th.

As most people began planning their weekend trips, the media storm surrounding "A Thousand Years of Song" and Zhou Ye, after fermenting overnight, not only failed to subside but instead seemed to be fueled, burning even more fiercely and systematically.

Jiang Ye sat in the study of the courtyard house, the tablet screen in front of him flashing the interfaces of multiple platforms such as Weibo, Zhihu, and Tieba.

Lin Jianjun, Lin Xi, and others were also present, and the atmosphere was even more somber than the day before.

"Boss, look at this."

Lin Xi turned a laptop toward Jiang Ye, the screen displaying the titles of several recently trending WeChat articles.

Unveiling the Mysterious Background of Zhou Ye, the "Millennium Actress": A Shocking Figure in the Entertainment Industry

"A Feast Driven by Capital: Where Does the Road Lead for Students from Impoverished Backgrounds?"

On the Importance of a Good Father: Starting with the Casting of a Classic Song

Several articles went to great lengths to fabricate stories, using words such as "rumored," "suspected," and "insider revelations" to portray Zhou Ye as a resourceful person with unfathomable background.

This incident escalated a normal commercial casting call into a discussion of class stratification and resource monopoly, successfully igniting netizens' resentment towards the rich and powerful.

"They are trying to steer the conversation and muddy the waters."

Lin Jianjun said in a deep voice, tapping his fingers on the table, "From questioning her acting skills to attacking her background, this is to completely nail her to the pillar of shame."

Jiang Ye scrolled through the screen expressionlessly, and saw a large number of press releases comparing Zhou Ye and Meng Ziyi.

The stark contrast between Meng Ziyi's sudden rise to lead role with zero previous works and her being relegated to supporting roles despite having both and a large following successfully garnered her a lot of sympathy, while simultaneously exposing Zhou Ye's flaws even further.

Some people have even begun to reminisce about the struggles of the older generation of actors, using this as a way to criticize the current unhealthy trends in the entertainment industry.

“Not only that,” Marketing Director Lin Xi added, “Industry analysts who are pessimistic about our project have also come out, saying that our exorbitant production cost is for money laundering, and that you, boss, are an outsider giving advice to insiders and indulging in self-enrichment…”

“Some people even spread rumors that our script was terrible and destined to fail.”

"This is a combination of punches."

Jiang Ye sneered and put down the tablet. "The goal is clear: first, to smear Zhou Ye, then to undermine the project, shake the confidence of the platform and investors, and finally to damage our Series A funding."

"Even if they can't kill us, they can at least skin us alive after one round."

He looked at Lin Xi: "Is the lawyer's letter ready?"

"It's ready. It's been sent to the legal department for final review, and it will be released under the company name this afternoon."

“Okay.” Jiang Ye nodded. “The statement should be strongly worded, clearly stating that legal responsibility will be pursued. Don’t be afraid of offending people. Showing weakness now will only embolden them.”

“Understood.” “Furthermore,” Jiang Ye continued, “the positive developments for the project cannot stop. Continue releasing the cooperation memorandum and concept art from Dexter Studios as planned. We need to show the market that we rely on solid strength, not underhanded methods.”

"What about Zhou Ye..." Lin Xi asked how to handle Zhou Ye's personal image.

“Remain absolutely silent.” Jiang Ye said firmly, “No response, no playing the victim, no interaction. All social media companies are under my control; any content must be published with my permission.”

"Anything you say now will be wrong, and the more you explain, the worse it will get. Let her remain a mystery; sometimes, silence is the best armor."

"Also, contact our media and celebrity friends with whom we have good relationships. We don't need them to directly engage in the online battles; just share our positive news and express their anticipation for the project. This will show that we are not fighting alone."

"Uncle, you and I will call them again personally to keep them informed of our response strategies and the latest project progress. We must keep them calm and stable."

Orders were issued one after another, and Jiangying Media began to operate at high speed to deal with this sudden attack.

On the afternoon of March 4, Jiangying Media's official Weibo account issued a solemn statement with an unprecedentedly strong tone.

The article directly names some internet users and media outlets for fabricating and spreading false information, which is suspected of infringing on their right to reputation. It also shows the law firm's acceptance letter, indicating that legal proceedings have been initiated.

This statement was like a stone thrown into muddy waters, temporarily silencing some of the clamoring voices.

Facing the core focus of this media storm, Jiangying Media's stance on the newcomer, Zhou Yiye, was clear and resolute.

We'll protect it to the very end!

Jiangying Media issued another statement.

"Zhou Ye is our mutual choice!"

The statement was not issued solely by Jiangying Media.

The four major investors – Tencent Video, Huace Film & TV, Pusi Capital, and Mingjia Capital – also jointly signed the statement, forming a powerful alliance of five investors supporting the project.

The statement emphasized: "Ms. Zhou Ye's selection as the female lead in 'A Thousand Years of Song' is a choice made by our five investors based on professional judgment and with their mutual approval."

"The role required a highly convincing sense of youthful campus life and a fresh and refined temperament. In collaboration with the Beijing Film Academy's School of Performing Arts, we conducted multiple rounds of selection from numerous graduating students. Ultimately, we unanimously agreed that Ms. Zhou Ye's appearance and temperament were the best fit for the role, and the talent and potential she displayed during the audition also met our expectations."

"This move aims to discover and cultivate new talent, which is a normal part of a healthy ecosystem in the film and television industry."

Even more surprisingly, the Beijing Film Academy subsequently reposted the statement, adding the following explanation: "Our school encourages and supports qualified students to participate in artistic practice. The production team of 'A Thousand Years of Song' conducted compliant communication and selection work with our school in the early stages, and its selection process was standardized. We hope that all sectors of society can give young students a healthy space to grow and pay more attention to their future works."

This endorsement from a professional art institution greatly enhances the persuasiveness of the statement and effectively refutes the "behind-the-scenes" and "background" claims.

Meng Ziyi, another key figure in the incident and who has been portrayed by the outside world as a victim and exploited person, posted the latest update on her personal Weibo account.

Instead of simply forwarding the statement, she directly posted a compilation of videos of herself and Zhou Ye visiting Yanjing Happy Valley.

In the video, the two are dressed casually, wearing cartoon headbands, experiencing activities together, tasting food, and taking funny selfies in front of the camera. Their interaction is intimate and full of laughter, just like a pair of best friends going on a trip.

Meng Ziyi captioned the post: "She's my junior colleague, and even more so, my best friend! @Zhou Ye, let's cheer each other on~ (heart)"

They also included hashtags such as #AThousandYearsOfSong# and #SistersDailyLife#.

This video is intuitive, vivid, and highly impactful, instantly shattering all speculations about discord between the two and Meng Ziyi's resentment.

The comments section was filled with well wishes such as "May the two sisters be well" and "Looking forward to their collaboration".

Following this, a set of photos from the signing ceremony between "A Thousand Years of Song" and Dexter Studios, a top South Korean visual effects company, along with several concept art pieces with a strong sense of Eastern fantasy, were released.

This has once again attracted attention from both inside and outside the industry, prompting many to take the project's production specifications seriously.

The joint strong statement from the five major investors, the official endorsement from Beijing Film Academy, and Meng Ziyi's well-timed display of sisterly affection formed a perfect combination.

Online public opinion has begun to show significant divergence.

"With so many big names endorsing him, it seems Zhou Ye might actually have something going for him?"

"Since the Beijing Film Academy has stepped in, it shouldn't be a random choice."

"Meng Ziyi herself has said so, so what are outsiders arguing about?"

Some rationality and support began to emerge.

However, there are still many doubts and other issues.

"Okay, even without connections, I hope my acting skills can really carry the show and not waste such good resources."

"There's no use saying more now, let's see how it goes when the show airs!"

Regardless, although doubts remain, Jiangying Media's crisis management strategy not only effectively protected newcomer actress Zhou Ye, but also drew public attention back to the work itself.

A seemingly deadly crisis has been temporarily brought under control.

Of course, the crisis is not over.

In the current situation, the other party has essentially put Jiangying Media on a pedestal, making it extremely difficult to operate.

All eyes are on this drama, and its release date will be the final battle in this media storm.

If the series receives rave reviews and Zhou Ye's performance is stunning, all doubts will naturally be dispelled. This strong endorsement will become a story of capital supporting a promising newcomer, and may even help the series become a hit of the year.

However, if the series flops and Zhou Ye's acting fails to support the role, the accumulated doubts will explode instantly, and Jiangying Media will face a public opinion battle ten times more intense than before.

The labels of "resource-backed actors" and "overly favored by capital" will be firmly attached to the works and actors, and it will be difficult to remove them.

This put more pressure on Jiang Ye. He wasn't stressed about the script; he was worried about Zhou Ye's acting skills.

So he brought Zhang Songwen along, and also invited Hao Lei.

The two actors are both excellent at teaching; they'll teach as much as they can, and if that doesn't work, they'll work on it little by little.

……

March 10, Beijing Capital International Airport terminal.

The terminal building was not yet fully awake in the early morning, but a certain area of ​​the international departure hall was already bustling with people, filled with a busy yet orderly hustle and bustle.

The crew of "A Thousand Years of Song" is gathering here, preparing to take a Hainan Airlines flight that morning to Budapest, Hungary.

This marks the first large-scale collective action by the production crew, signifying the official start of months of cross-border filming.

The entire team was huge, totaling about 120 people, and they practically chartered half a flight.

(End of this chapter)