Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

Hong Kong.

Liu Yuehua is observing the news trends of the past few days; the line graph has been rising sharply since last night, as if it had been injected with adrenaline.

The phone rang, and as soon as it was answered, Huo Wenxi, the public relations director of Yinghuang, came through with an anxious voice.

"Director Liu, something's not right."

"The blurry teaser videotape we released in Taiwan a few days ago was just to test the waters, but starting yesterday, several well-known newspapers in Taiwan all published it on their front page."

"In addition, several gossip programs on Taiwanese television stations are also repeatedly broadcasting those juicy stories."

"This fire is burning rather strangely; it feels like someone is secretly pulling strings behind the scenes."

"Boss Yang asked me to ask you if Director Liu's friends in Taiwan helped him?"

"If not, and this fire gets out of control, shouldn't we try to put it under control?"

"I don't think that's necessary, Ms. Huo."

"What's the point of suppressing the hype? Are we, who are creating this hype, afraid of having a lot of onlookers?"

"There's no such thing as a free lunch. If this scallop had simply fermented naturally, it certainly wouldn't have been able to dominate the front pages of Taiwan's mainstream newspapers overnight."

"Whether it's power or money, there are probably only a few people who can get several of Taiwan's major mainstream media outlets to join forces overnight with the clear goal of pushing things forward and smearing us."

Huo Wenxi hesitated for a moment, then realized what was happening.

"You mean that guy surnamed Pi from Hong Kong Island?"

Liu Yuehua pondered for a moment.

"Actually, I also have an enemy in mainland China, but I can't figure out who did it yet."

Huo Wenxi: "..."

"But this is a good thing, being willing to be a sucker who spends money but gets no reward."

"Whether it's Mr. Ma from China Film Group or Mr. Pi from Hong Kong, they must have a few acquaintances in the Taiwanese media circle."

"It seems they genuinely believed this was a leaked, secretly recorded video."

"They're trying to escalate the public outcry and drive these superstars to their deaths."

"So what do we do? Just watch?" Huo Wenxi asked.

"Yes, not only should we watch, but we should also inform your public relations departments to play dead for the next few days and not say a word."

Liu Yuehua's tone revealed the shamelessness of a capitalist.

"I was just worried that the Taiwanese bosses weren't doing enough publicity in the early stages, and then someone paid out of their own pocket to buy us a front-page headline."

"I don't see anything wrong with it; at least it's quite lively."

"Let them hype it up as much as they want. Once they've used up all their connections and funds, and the hype has spread throughout Asia, then we'll hold a press conference to clear their name."

"I'll personally present the banners to Mr. Ma and Mr. Pi once our box office hits big."

……

Meanwhile, the Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy.

Xie Xiaojing was pacing back and forth in her office.

"Old Tian, ​​although Ma's group has stepped down, there are still quite a few remnants."

"Those bastards spread rumors everywhere, saying that Yuehua hangs out with capitalists all day, making bad movies to make money, and has long lost the bottom line of a filmmaker."

"Right now, our school, and even some of the former leaders who have retired, are cursing us, saying that Beijing Film Academy has ruined its reputation. Shouldn't we clarify things for Yuehua?"

After listening to Lao Xie's complaints, Tian Zhuangzhuang smiled.

"Old Xie, you've lived most of your life, how come you don't even have this much self-control?"

"I heard that they're going to make you the director of the Beijing Youth Factory soon, and they're even planning to promote you to vice president?"

"How can you expect to gain the respect of others if you're so impulsive?"

"Logically speaking, I should be the director of the Beijing Youth Film Studio. My father was the director of the Beijing Film Studio, and my mother was the director of the Children's Film Studio."

"If I become the director of the Beijing Youth Factory again, my family of three will be complete."

"Stop talking nonsense. What's the position? Who gets it? It's all decided by the leaders. If you're not happy, go complain to the leaders yourself." Xie Xiaojing glared at Tian Zhuangzhuang with dissatisfaction.

"Alright, alright, I've noticed you're a real stickler for details."

"The more noise Yuehua makes outside, the more attention it attracts, and the less guarded people are about the cards we have up our sleeves."

Tian Zhuangzhuang beckoned Xie Xiaojing over to look at her computer screen, where a reply email from the Venice Film Festival committee was displayed.

Xie Xiaojing was stunned.

"What do those idiots outside know?" Tian Zhuangzhuang's eyes gleamed with arrogance. "By the end of August, Yuehua will easily win a few awards at Venice with 'Peng Zu.' Those old fogies who called him vulgar today will be slapped in the face just like Lao Xie."

……

That evening, at a high-end private club in Beijing.

Zhang Mo was reeking of alcohol, and he and several other spoiled young men from Beijing's elite circle were chatting and bragging in a foul-mouthed manner.

Tong Yao, dressed in a pure and innocent dress, sat next to Zhang Mo.

She disliked such occasions, but due to Zhang Mo's domineering temper, she could only endure her discomfort and sit with him.

After a few drinks, Zhang Mo started to get cocky. He put his arm around Tong Yao's shoulder, reeking of alcohol, and boasted to his cronies across the table.

"You guys don't know, those so-called up-and-coming directors in the industry these days, they look respectable, but they're all working with a bunch of cowards and weaklings."

At the end of the chapter, he turned to look at Tong Yao, his eyes filled with disdain.

"A few days ago, I went shopping with Tong Yao, and some bookworm actually dared to come up to me and chat me up. I slapped him across the face, and guess what happened?"

The people in the private room started commotion, "What? Kneel down and call me grandpa?"

"He didn't even dare to fart." Zhang Mo laughed arrogantly.

"The nursery rhyme even defended him, saying he was a friend of Liu Yuehua, the guy who directed 'The Comet.' Pah!"

"What nouveau riche director's friend? He's just a coward who doesn't even dare to fight back."

"Tong Yao, you fucking know this spineless coward? I'd be ashamed of myself for knowing him."

Tong Yao sat beside him, listening to Zhang Mo belittle Feng Chengcheng to the point of being worthless, and felt her face burning with embarrassment.

Although Feng Chengcheng is a bit slow-witted, he is definitely a kind-hearted person.

Seeing the mocking looks from those around her, Tong Yao couldn't help but retort in a low voice.

"Don't talk about him like that. He's a programmer; he wouldn't fight at all."

"Besides, they just came over to say hello; they didn't mean any harm."

Before he could finish speaking, boos erupted from the private room.

Zhang Mo's smile vanished, his eyes turning violent. He slammed the wine glass in his hand against the wall on the other side, shattering glass shards all over the floor, startling the hostesses in the private room who screamed.

Before Tong Yao could react, Zhang Mo had already grabbed her wrist tightly.

"You dare to speak up for him?"

Zhang Mo's eyes were bloodshot and red from the alcohol as he stared at Tong Yao's face.

"Who do you think you are?"

"I'll flatter you; you'll be the next Zhang Ziyi from the Central Academy of Drama."

"I'm not happy. You're not even a background actor."

"What? You've fucking forgotten my last name, haven't you? My dad is Zhang Guoli!"

The sharp pain in her wrist made Tong Yao tremble all over, and tears streamed down her face. She shook her head desperately.

"I'm sorry, Zhang Mo, I was wrong, you hurt me."

"I'm warning you!" Zhang Mo flung Tong Yao's hand away and pointed at her nose, threatening her fiercely.

"If I ever see you hanging out with Liu Yuehua's gang again, or say another word for that good-for-nothing, I'll kill you!"

Tong Yao covered her reddened wrist, trembling all over.

The people in the private room were used to it, and no one even came up to offer a word of advice.