Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

Negative reviews of the movie "You Are the Apple of My Eye" are popping up online one after another, like mushrooms after rain.

During a break after the premiere, Liu Yifei approached Zhang Yang to complain: "Zhang Yang, the movie hasn't even been released yet, and netizens are already saying it's destined to be a flop! What are we going to do?!"

"Just take what netizens say with a grain of salt. They even said they want me to marry you right now!"

Zhang Yang's words infuriated Liu Yifei. What kind of time was this to be joking around?

Looking at Liu Yifei's pretty face, which was puffed up like a steamed bun, Zhang Yang smiled and said, "Alright, you need to have confidence in yourself. How about I give you some extra lessons tonight? That way, you'll be more confident when you're doing the roadshow tomorrow!"

"Go find your Yang Mi!"

After saying that, Liu Yifei got up and left, not giving Zhang Yang a chance to provoke her again.

Watching Liu Yifei's retreating figure, Zhang Yang curled his lips. He naturally knew what Liu Yifei was thinking, but he just liked seeing her anxious and upset.

Besides, this wave of negative comments online is clearly orchestrated by paid trolls. Anyone with a brain can guess that it's Huayi's doing.

However, the malice of netizens can be put to good use. After all, the higher the expectations, the easier it is to be disappointed. Conversely, the lower the psychological expectations, the easier it is to be pleasantly surprised.

Therefore, Zhang Yang directly instructed Sun Yu to release some of the materials that would be used for subsequent hype ahead of time.

And just like that, suddenly there were many voices praising Zhang Yang on the internet.

Chen Daoming: "Among the young actors under 30 years old that I know, Zhang Yang is the most talented and has the most potential in acting."

Zhao Wenzhuo: "Zhang Yang's acting skills not only amazed me, but also inspired me a lot. For the first time, I realized what it means to be born with talent."

Fan Bingbing: "Netizens don't know enough about Zhang Yang. I can say with certainty that Zhang Yang is a very talented and dedicated professional actor!!"

In addition, actors who starred in "You Are the Apple of My Eye" such as Chen Xiao, Zhu Yilong, Qiao Shan, and Shu Chang have all started praising Zhang Yang on social media, expressing their recognition of Zhang Yang's acting skills.

Finally, interviews with people like Tsai Yi-nong, Wang Ching-hua, and Li Shao-hung, who had previously praised Zhang Yang, were also "dug up".

Such widespread praise across the internet naturally provoked resentment from some netizens.

"Everyone has seen how bad Zhang Yang's acting was in 'My Love from the Star.' Do you really think the audience is blind?"

"I really want to laugh. They're just trying to suck up to the bad reviews of the movie!"

"Zhang Yang's actions are a bit baffling. What's he thinking? Does he really believe that mutual praise among his peers will make 'You Are the Apple of My Eye' a classic?"

"Insulting the audience's eyes is bad enough, but now they want to insult their intelligence too?"

"I hereby declare a unilateral boycott of 'You Are the Apple of My Eye'!!"

"Zhang Yang is truly shameless, getting so many people to praise him. He's shameless, brainless, and deserves only one star. No explanation needed!!"

"If your acting is bad, just work on it. Why do you have to jump out and invite criticism?!"

"I want to see just how good Zhang Yang's acting is, the kind everyone praises... If it's too bad, I'll make sure you suffer the consequences!!"

"Don't be impulsive, upstairs! You'll be fooled if you go into the movie theater. Zhang Yang is trying to lure us in this way!!"

"Hold on, everyone! Don't be curious, it's definitely a terrible movie!!"

Many netizens are clamoring to boycott "You Are the Apple of My Eye," but even more are simply intrigued. After all, today's moviegoers haven't experienced the widespread hype and promotion of films like "See You Tomorrow" and "The Crossing."

...

Yang Mi was furious as she leaned against the bed scrolling through her tablet, especially when she saw the comments online mocking her for "overestimating herself." She was so angry that she almost smashed the tablet in her hand.

Looking at the comments praising Liu Yifei, Yang Mi gritted her teeth in anger. Besides her face, what else does Liu Yifei have? Does she know how to use her penis? Does she have her breasts? Does she know how to have sex? She doesn't know how to...

However, despite her anger, Yang Mi had to admit that she really didn't have the strength to compete with Liu Yifei right now.

However, the strong-willed Yang Mi was not about to give up so easily. She was determined to show those who mocked her who she really was.

......

On July 30, the opening day of "You Are the Apple of My Eye" and "Chasing the Shadow," just as Wang Xiaoer had "arranged," Huayi Brothers' "Chasing the Shadow" had a screening rate of 36%, with one prime-time screening after another. In contrast, "You Are the Apple of My Eye" only had 11% of the screenings, and many of them were in the morning or late at night, which were not prime time.

"Zhang Yang, this time you'll see what happens when you offend Huayi!"

Just as Wang Xiaoer was feeling smug, Zhang Yang was making final arrangements before the roadshow.

"Mr. Zhang, feedback from major cinema chains indicates that Huayi is putting a lot of pressure on us, and the screenings of 'You Are the Apple of My Eye' have indeed been severely suppressed."

Looking at Sun Yu's bloodshot eyes, Zhang Yang calmly said, "Sun Yu, remember this: the screening rate determines the starting point, and the attendance rate determines the ending point. A low starting point does not mean we will definitely lose."

.....

Wanda Cinema in Beijing: the first stop of the "You Are the Apple of My Eye" roadshow!

The theater, which could hold nearly a thousand people, was packed to the brim, and the air felt scorching due to the dense crowd. When Zhang Yang and Liu Yifei walked onto the stage side by side as introduced by the host, the entire theater erupted in screams and applause that almost lifted the roof off, interspersed with excited whistles.

This enthusiasm far exceeds that of an ordinary youth film. Clearly, due to the "relationship scandal" between the two, this roadshow has received an unimaginable amount of attention.

Host: "Wow! I can feel everyone's enthusiasm! First of all, please welcome Zhang Yang, the director and male lead of 'You Are the Apple of My Eye,' and our most beautiful female lead, Liu Yifei!"

Deafening cheers erupted again from the audience, and countless cameras were pointed at the stage, unwilling to miss any subtle expression or interaction between the two.

The following process was simple. The familiar yet deliberately maintained "safe distance" between the two was clearly seen by countless "Sherlock Holmes"-like eyes in the audience, making it seem more like a "cover-up."

Soon it was time for fan interaction and media Q&A.

The first male fan to go on stage was so excited that he wanted to hug Liu Yifei, but Zhang Yang was quick-witted and stopped him. Otherwise, the roadshow would have been a huge mess.

"Sissi, Director Zhang, I wish you... I wish your film great success!"

He almost blurted out a different blessing, but he abruptly changed the subject, eliciting knowing laughter from the entire audience.

A blush crept onto Liu Yifei's face, and she could only smile politely: "Thank you for your support."

Zhang Yang took the microphone and smiled frankly: "Thank you. The film's success is inseparable from the support of every viewer."

The second lucky audience member was a female fan of Zhang Yang. She stared intently at him and asked, "Director Zhang, I want to ask, in the scene at the end of the movie where Ko Ching-teng kisses the groom, if it were you in real life, would you do that?"

This question is extremely tricky, instantly linking the movie plot with real-life scandals.

The entire room fell silent instantly, and all eyes were focused on Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang hesitated for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and smiled, with a roguish air reminiscent of Ko Ching-teng, and said flippantly, "In reality? I might choose to kiss the bride directly."

"Wow!!!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar, with screams and jeers almost piercing the ceiling. This response seemed both like a joke played by a character and an ambiguous response to the rumors, leaving room for endless imagination.

Caught off guard, Liu Yifei's cheeks flushed instantly. She instinctively lightly punched Zhang Yang's arm and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

This natural, intimate gesture ignited the entire audience once again. To fans, it was undoubtedly yet another irrefutable proof of their "relationship"!