Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 182, page 180: Li Dabai: I'm the biggest!
In early April 1998, the spring nights in Beijing were slightly cool, but the heat wave brought by "Titanic" swept through every corner of this ancient city, especially the hearts of young people.

As Li Xiaoran emerged from the Dahua Cinema, she was still deeply moved by the film's powerful emotional impact. Her eyes were red, and she clung tightly to Wang Sheng's arm, as if letting go would cause her "Jack" to disappear into the icy sea.

"It's so painful... my heart feels so heavy." Li Xiaoran's voice was nasal as she leaned her head on Wang Sheng's shoulder. "How could it end like this..."

Wang Sheng held her close, sensing the equally high yet wistful emotions of the departing crowd, and understood.

He knew better than anyone what astonishing box office records this "big ship" would ultimately set in mainland China—a terrifying figure approaching 360 million RMB!
This not only broke the box office record of "True Lies" exceeding 100 million, but also far surpassed it, reaching a peak that is almost insurmountable for an entire era.

Behind this success, besides the film's unparalleled industrial standards and deeply moving love story, the tireless promotion by state media has played a crucial role, shaping it into a cultural event that must be experienced firsthand.

In addition to these reasons, it is also subtly related to the chain reaction of a major event that will occur later this year, probably in October.

The "big ship" was essentially a rehearsal for the exchange between the two countries, which truly allowed them to fully capitalize on the opportunities of the times, comparable to Trump's stock speculation.

He didn't discuss these macro-level backgrounds with Li Xiaoran in detail, but simply let her hold his arm as they stood for a while at the still noisy cinema entrance.

"Come on, let me take you to get something to eat, so you can turn your grief into appetite." Wang Sheng gently patted her, interrupting her resentment over the tragic ending.

"Ah."

Li Xiaoran sniffed, finally managing to pull herself out of that sad atmosphere.

Instead of choosing those grand hotels that required formality, Wang Sheng drove around and entered a relatively quiet side street in the HD district, where he found a newly opened Hong Kong-style tea restaurant with a stylish decor.

The environment here is private, with soft lighting, perfect for whispering secrets.

After ordering some Hong Kong-style food and red wine, Li Xiaoran sat down in a small private room. The warm yellow light and the aroma of the food gradually dispelled the gloom in her heart.

"Tell me, how did Cameron come up with the idea for this story? Such a big ship, sinking just like that... and Jack and Rose, that shot at the bow, wow..."

After downing a glass of red wine, Li Xiaoran opened up completely, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling, and she began chattering away, reminiscing about the movie's plot. Her tone was full of longing and amazement: "If I could act in a movie like that in my lifetime, appear on such a big screen all over the world, and be remembered by so many people, I would die without regrets!"

Wang Sheng picked up a piece of grilled eel, listened to her childlike aspirations, and couldn't help but smile. He teased her in a joking tone, "Want to play a role like Rose? Hmm... in terms of physical attributes, I'm afraid that's a bit of a stretch."

Li Xiaoran didn't react at first, blinking her big eyes: "What hardware requirements?"

Wang Sheng chuckled mischievously, his gaze lingering on her chest as he lowered his voice: "Ruth's are real 'fleshy shreds,' substantial and well-endowed. Yours... is lacking."

Li Xiaoran was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant. Two blushes instantly appeared on her cheeks. She let go of his arm, feeling both embarrassed and angry, and punched his arm with her fist: "Go to hell! All you ever think about are these indecent things!"

Wang Sheng laughed and raised his hand to block, and the two of them laughed and joked around in the small cubicle.

After flirting for a while, Li Xiaoran finally sat back down, panting, and glared at him reproachfully.

Of course, jokes aside.

Both Wang Sheng and Li Xiaoran knew that although she had been admitted to the Beijing Film Academy and was systematically studying acting, and she longed for the big screen, she didn't have the deep-seated idea of ​​completely dedicating herself to so-called "art." She could absolutely not accept a scene like Ruth's, where she appeared completely nude.

Following her "chief strategist," Li Xiaoran could enjoy good food, drinks, and entertainment, making money, filming, and living a comfortable life. This was the life trajectory she wanted.

Having had her fill of commotion, Li Xiaoran changed the subject, bringing up another matter with a subtle emotion she herself didn't realize: "Hey, you didn't see it, but when I came back from Hunan Province airport this time, wow, there were billboards for Cecilia Cheung everywhere! Cosmetics, drinks, clothing... I just glanced at at least five brands! Even in the airport lobby, there was a huge poster of her 'BBK' brand! Her popularity is just unbelievably high."

She took a sip of her drink and continued, "She must have made a lot of money now, right? Just those endorsement fees must be astronomical."

Wang Sheng nodded slightly, not surprised by the surge in Cecilia Cheung's commercial value.

With the halo of being the champion of "Super Girl" and the image of a "Hong Kong inspirational girl" endorsed by official media, she has become the most talked-about and commercially valuable newcomer, and it is inevitable that she will be inundated with advertising endorsements.

He didn't comment much, only saying calmly, "Enlight Media will handle her agency affairs well. After deducting commissions and taxes, she will still receive a considerable amount."

He glanced at Li Xiaoran and casually changed the subject, saying, "Don't just envy others. Have you forgotten yourself? You're the spokesperson for 'Golden Jubilee Collection,' and then there were those two cosmetics and clothing ads you took on. Aren't all of those endorsement fees in the millions? You little rich girl, you must be someone who doesn't know what to do with your money now, right?"

Li Xiaoran is no longer an artist under Xinbaoyuan. After the management contract was finalized last year, Ding Xin did not mention renewing the contract, knowing that Li Xiaoran is now 'the king's woman'.

Li Xiaoran is currently signed with Shengying Media's artist management department, and her earnings are split 50/50 with the company.

Mentioning this, Li Xiaoran immediately perked up, instantly forgetting her subtle envy of Cecilia Cheung. She nodded vigorously, her eyes shining: "Yes! I'm rich now! I was just about to tell you, I'm planning to save up to buy a villa! I'll buy one in the newly developed area near the Asian Games Village, the kind with a small garden! Then I won't have to rent anymore!"

Wang Sheng agreed with her financial management philosophy: "That's a good idea. In Beijing, houses will only become more and more valuable in the future. If you have money, buy a few more and keep them; you can't go wrong."

“Yes! I think so too!” Li Xiaoran wholeheartedly agreed and had already begun to calculate whether her current savings and upcoming film and endorsement fees would be enough to make a down payment.

The two chatted for a while about the company's recent situation and interesting things at school, and the meal ended in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Back at Li Xiaoran's place, Jindouyun gracefully came over to rub against its owner's legs, only to be ruthlessly shut out of the bedroom. It could only meow a few times in dissatisfaction, wag its tail, jump onto the cat tree, and go about licking its fur.

In the bedroom, the lights were dimmed, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Perhaps it was the lingering atmosphere of the ultimate romance and tragedy of "Titanic" that made the intimacy between the two characters take on a role-playing feel that was different from usual.

“You jump, I jump…” Li Xiaoran imitated Ruth’s line, her voice filled with laughter and seduction as she wrapped her arms around Wang Sheng’s neck.

Wang Sheng chuckled and played along, "Then I'd better hurry, or my 'meat flakes' will fall into the Pacific Ocean..."

In the heat of passion, she became lost in a daze. Li Xiaoran suddenly remembered the joke at the restaurant, and breathlessly whispered in Wang Sheng's ear, half-taunting and half-coquettish, "...And now? Still don't you think...it's big enough?"

Her response was a deeper sinking and an all-encompassing tide...

(End of this chapter)