The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

When Sun Zhonghuai saw the data for "Detective Chinatown" in his hand, he was completely shocked.

He asked the question several times, uncertainly.

10.3 billion!

Although it's only barely over a billion, it's still a billion!

He remained silent for a good ten seconds before taking a deep breath and then bursting into uncontrollable, hearty laughter.

Since Shen Mo took him along to the film "Beijing Love Story," which had a budget of 4000 million yuan but grossed 4.05 million yuan at the box office, his Tencent Pictures has gained a firm foothold within the group.

Who knew that Shen Mo would give him another huge surprise in this "Detective Chinatown" series.

Of the total production cost of 80 million, Tencent Pictures invested 25 million, accounting for 25% of the total. This means that Tencent Pictures will receive nearly 100 million in the final revenue share.

This is a super big red envelope that Shen Mo gave to Tencent Pictures.

However, Mohen clearly earned more, after all, the film was distributed not only by China Film Group and Wanda Cinemas, but also by Mohen Cinemas, which is now quite well-established.

Sun Zhonghuai was not someone who didn't understand the importance of reciprocating kindness.

After his excitement subsided slightly, he immediately picked up the phone and dialed Shen Mo.

The moment the call connected, his laughter came through.

"President Shen! I, Old Sun, have received this wonderful New Year's gift; it's truly generous!"

After a few pleasantries, he got straight to the point, his tone brimming with confidence.

"Mr. Shen, it's only fair to reciprocate."

"Our Penguin Pictures' main investment project, 'Monster Hunt,' can be considered the opening shot for our film and television production sector."

"This is definitely a big production. I'll give you 25% of the investment in this project."

"Choose either the male lead or the female lead."

On the other end of the phone, Shen Mo chuckled lightly, with a hint of teasing.

"Mr. Sun, if you want to repay a favor with this, one 'Monster Hunt' won't be enough!"

"We still have 'Goodbye Mr. Loser' and 'Lost in Hong Kong' line up behind us."

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Sun Zhonghuai's eyes.

Having dealt with Shen Mo many times, he could say he knew Shen Mo very well. "Oh?"

"Mr. Shen, what good stuff do you have that you've got your eye on? Just say it! There's no need for beating around the bush between us."

Shen Mo smiled slightly, not keeping anyone in suspense.

"Is Shengda Group considering parting with 'Joy of Life'?"

Sun Zhonghuai pondered for a moment, quickly reviewing the relevant information in his mind.

He was well aware of the copyright value of this work, which was touted as "the strongest political intrigue novel of 08," and there were many inquiries about it.

"Ah, this book? We've certainly received quite a few inquiries about adapting it. What, is Mr. Shen also interested?"

"Good books are hard to come by," Shen Mo said with a hint of appreciation in his voice.

"I am indeed interested in bringing it to the screen."

Sun Zhonghuai laughed again almost without hesitation.

"President Shen has led Tencent Pictures through two such spectacular plays; what's the copyright of a novel compared to that?"

"I'll give you 'Joy of Life,' no problem! I only have one request."

He paused.

"If we really do decide to adapt it into a film or television series in the future, Tencent Pictures should get involved in the production, what do you think?"

It's a deal.

Shen Mo's answer was crisp and concise.

A box office of one billion is enough to completely ignite the market.

Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran, needless to say, are bound to be popular as the male leads.

Liu Haocun's sudden rise to fame was an unexpected surprise.

After the movie ended and during the period when she started school, the entrance of the Beijing Dance Academy became a bustling tourist attraction.

Every morning and evening, an astonishing number of young men and women gather on both sides of the school gate.

They held up cell phones, professional cameras, and even small signs attached to selfie sticks that read "Haocun, I love you" and "Cunbao, look here."

Whenever a vehicle slows down and approaches, or a girl with a figure similar to Liu Haocun steps out, it triggers a commotion and a chorus of tentative shouts: "Cunzi! Is that Cunzi?"

When Liu Haocun himself appeared, the scene became even more shocking.

This scene lasted for three days.

On the third day, before the car that brought her had even come to a complete stop, the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, just as it always has.

The phone and camera lenses were practically right up to her face.

"Liu Haocun! Look this way!"

"Cunzi is so beautiful!"

"Cunbao looks so beautiful today!"

"Haocun, could you sign your name for me?"

"Does Cunzi receive mail?"

Shouts, screams, and camera shutters mingled together, creating a huge sound wave that almost drowned out the security guards maintaining order at the school gate.

Someone forcefully stuffed letters and plush toys into her arms.

Some people were holding up movie posters and solo portraits, shouting wildly.

Even more extreme, some tried to break through the human wall formed by security guards, just to get closer and touch her.

At this point, Liu Haocun dared not stop, because once he stopped signing or receiving letters, it would be an endless cycle.

She was only able to squeeze into the school with the help of her assistant, the bodyguards arranged by the company over the past two days, and the school security guards.

The assistant pushed her quickly toward the school, but halfway there, she stopped and turned back.

She stood at the school gate, wearing a simple sweatshirt and jeans, with a mask on her other side of the railing. Her clear, doe-like eyes held a hint of panic and a forced composure.

She bowed to the security guard first, then raised her hand and pressed down on the fans outside who were frantically trying to get in.

Once everyone calmed down, they all turned their attention to her.

"Thank you all for your support. Thank you for liking me because of this movie."

"However, the crowd blocking the school gate over the past three days has caused a lot of trouble for the school, as well as a lot of pressure and risks."

"I'm just a 16-year-old high school student; studying is my priority."

"I hope everyone will stop crowding at the school gate starting today."

She pondered for a moment, then looked sincerely at the twenty or thirty people in front of her.

"I can take a group photo with everyone present, and I can accept everyone's letters, but I won't accept any other gifts."

"I hope everyone can understand."

After speaking, she bowed again, then asked her assistant to collect the letters handed to her by fans. Finally, she stood in front of everyone and took a group photo.

Before leaving, she waved the phone she had just used to take a photo with.

"I've already posted the photos on Weibo. You can download them if you need them."

"But really, please don't come to the school gate again."

After saying this, she turned and walked into the school.

Actually, the affiliated high school of Beijing Dance Academy offers the option of boarding.

However, given her current popularity, living on campus is not a good option for her.

On the one hand, we must take into account the possibility of obsessive fans sneaking into the school, which could lead to safety issues.

On the other hand, even though Shen Mo instructed her to prioritize her studies, after screening out countless commercial activities, she still received a considerable number of endorsements and magazine shoots.

Fortunately, there was another way. She applied to the school that same day, and her vehicle could now be driven directly into the school's parking lot.

If they don't show up at the school gate, even if fans come later, they will naturally disperse and stop gathering if they can't see them.

-----------------

When Shen Mo returned home, Li Yitong was leaning back on the sofa with one leg crossed, and a notebook was on the sofa.

He leaned closer to take a look; the file title was: "The Lonely and Great God - Goblin".

"What's wrong? The popular urban novel category list is updated weekly. Click here."

The sudden sound made Li Yitong, who was immersed in memorizing the script, tremble slightly.

Turning his head and seeing the familiar figure beside him, the tense expression on his face instantly melted away, and he casually put his notebook aside.

She slumped limply into his arms, nuzzling her head against his chest and whimpering like a kitten.

"Hmm! We've run into a problem."

She wrinkled her delicate nose listlessly, and when she tilted her head back, her crescent-shaped eyes deliberately looked unfocused and lifeless.

Shen Mo's heart tightened at that gaze, and he instinctively pulled her into his arms, his brows furrowing in response.

"Is your memory failing you? Can't you remember the script from your past life?"

His own memory was completely intact, so she shouldn't be in any danger either. But seeing her like this, he couldn't help but worry.

Li Yitong shook her head in his arms, her hair brushing against his chin.

"No, that's not it."

A muffled sound came from inside him, and she continued to wriggle in his arms.

"The script outline, key plot points, and core characters have been almost completely extracted."

"Then what's there to worry about?"

"I'm worried about localization!" She suddenly raised her head, her eyes widening.

"Have you forgotten how difficult our review process is?"

"Can the word 'ghost' appear so openly in the title and setting of a drama?"

"With so many ghosts and underworld messengers in the original, if we just copied them over, I'm afraid the project wouldn't even get approved."

So that's what it was for.

Shen Mo's tense nerves relaxed instantly, and he even chuckled a little.

He thought it was some kind of creative flaw, but it turned out to be just a technical barrier.

"this one?"

He gently tapped her forehead with his fingertip, his tone carrying a hint of a smile.

"Rules are rules, but people are flexible. If we can't mention ghosts and monsters, we can just change the setting."

"Let's change the title to 'The Lonely and Great God' and remove the 'Goblin' part."

"Isn't the male lead an immortal general ghost? Then let's change him to an ancient hero who died on the battlefield but whose obsession lingers in the mortal world."

"The second male lead, who was originally a messenger of the underworld, is now a ferryman, responsible for guiding the deceased to the afterlife."

"In this way, the basic framework of the world-building and the relationships between the characters are preserved, right?"

Li Yitong's eyes grew brighter and brighter as she listened, sparkling with excitement.

"The filming location can also be moved," Shen Mo continued.

"How about Prague Square? And Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, and the Vltava River at dusk."

"That medieval romantic atmosphere might be more in line with our adapted heroic spirits and sense of destiny than the maple leaf country."

"Amo!"

Li Yitong exclaimed in surprise, sprang up from his arms, cupped his face in her hands, and her eyes were almost overflowing with light.

"You're so smart!"

Before he could finish speaking, a loud kiss landed on his lips.

"You've solved a huge problem for me!"

Shen Mo was taken aback by the sudden outpouring of enthusiasm.

After she stepped back a little, he deliberately raised his chin, revealing a slightly smug expression.

"Now you know how amazing your man is, right?"

"Okay, okay!"

Looking at him now, Li Yitong felt that he was radiating light.

She snuggled back into his arms, found a comfortable position to sit down, wrapped her arms around his neck, and grinned without any regard for her image.

Well, he might be a bit arrogant, but who can blame him when he's her man and so capable?

Even a stinky fart is cute.

After cuddling for a while, Shen Mo played with her long, drooping hair and asked.

"Do you have any plans for this film? What about the cast?"

Li Yitong pondered for a moment.

"You already have 'Love O2O' and 'My Sunshine' this year. This drama has a long production cycle and heavy workload, so don't do it yourself. Let someone else in the company take over."

"Didn't Yang Tianzhen just sign Zhu Yilong and Zhang Ruoyun? Their temperament and age fit the original drama quite well, let them give it a try."

"Zhang Ruoyun?" Shen Mo tilted his head.

"I remember he seems to be from the Beijing entertainment circle? Isn't his father the director who made a lot of war dramas?"

"Yes, that's him."

Li Yitong explained.

"Zhang Ruoyun didn't want to keep filming those dramas, nor did he want to stay in the Beijing entertainment circle. He had a conflict with his father and went out on his own."

"After Sister Tianzhen found out, she went and signed it."

Upon hearing this, Li Yitong's crescent-shaped eyes curved upwards, a sly glint in them.

"Do you think if we use this, the Beijing elites will feel like we're deliberately slapping them in the face and trying to poach their talent?"

"Then let them think so."

Shen Mo chuckled lightly, with a hint of nonchalant arrogance.

"He did it voluntarily; they couldn't keep him, so who can they blame?"

"That's right!"

Li Yitong smiled and agreed.

"What about the female character?"

"Oh, right, the female lead is a high school student, but it seems that high school romances aren't really allowed in our TV dramas. How about we change it to the last semester of senior year, film some scenes in high school uniforms, and then film the rest of the romance during the freshman year of college?"

"This kind of campus vibe needs to be a bit fresh and innocent, with the feel of a first love, and also a bit resilient."

"How is Zhang Ruonan?"

Shen Mo suggested.

"Her clean yet intriguing appearance and temperament are quite suitable for the 'white moonlight' ideal; we could give her a try."

Li Yitong thought about it carefully and nodded.

"Yes, she is indeed suitable."

"What about the second female lead? This character is described as both cool and beautiful."

"Meng Ziyi, right?"

Shen Mo hardly hesitated.

"She has a straightforward and bright spirit, so playing a character who appears carefree on the outside but is wounded on the inside should have a contrasting charm."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Li Yitong nuzzled against his neck, and a feeling of relief and satisfaction washed over her as the problem was solved.

"Oh, by the way, I got you a role."

Li Yitong suddenly opened her eyes wide and pouted.

"Ah... I only need 'Princess Agents'. I don't want to be this tired in this life. I want to just give up..."

As she spoke, she began to snuggle and act coquettishly in Shen Mo's arms.

Shen Mo smiled, "Really? Are you sure you don't want to answer?"

Li Yitong paused, realizing Shen Mo's teasing tone, and suddenly became interested.

"What show?"

"Monster Hunt".

"ah?!"

Should I answer it?

"They're going to be making 'Monster Hunt'!"

"Weren't you going to just give up?"

"We'll set it up again next year!"

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

"This is the first domestic film to break 20 billion yuan; I can't afford to slack off!"

"Hahaha……"

As night deepened outside the window, the room was warm and cozy.

The two discussed the details of the script in hushed tones for a while, until Li Yitong started to yawn.

Shen Mo picked her up along with the thin blanket on the sofa.

"It's time to rest, screenwriter Li. See you tomorrow for a brighter future."

Li Yitong wrapped her arms around his neck and mumbled sleepily.

"Yes, with you here, every day is bright and beautiful..."