He plays Feng Yuxiu, and his girlfriend is a fairy-like beauty.

The next day.

The lounge at the CCTV building was already bustling with activity even before everyone had arrived.

Jia Bing was the first to arrive.

He was wearing a black jacket and carrying two plastic bags. One bag contained braised beef that his wife had made that morning, and the other bag contained red sausage sent from their hometown in Northeast China.

The moment the bag was placed on the coffee table, the aroma of spices instantly transformed the entire lounge from a CCTV setting to the ambiance of a traditional Northeastern kang bed.

Zhang Songwen was the second to push open the door and was taken aback when he saw the braised beef on the coffee table.

Why did you bring this?

"Let Director Ye try it. My wife said that Director Ye said in the group last time that he wasn't afraid of me poisoning him, so she specially made a pot for him to try and see if he really wasn't afraid."

"Your wife is proving to you that she really thinks your cooking is poisonous."

"Shut up."

When Gao Ye came in, the two of them were having a taste debate around the braised beef on the coffee table.

She was wearing a dark green dress and her hair was styled in a bun.

Chen Shuting brings 30% of her aura into real life. It's not the oppressive feeling she has in dramas, but a calm and composed presence that makes her stand out wherever she is.

"What are you two fighting over?"

"The braised beef was made by Jia Bing's wife."

"You made this, sister-in-law? I have to try it."

Aruna and Su Xiaoding were the last to arrive.

Aruna was humming the background music from that bizarre video of Mangcun when she pushed open the door.

Su Xiaoding followed behind him, carrying a backpack, looking like she had just flown in from Hengdian, which was indeed the case.

When Ye Mo was the last to enter the break room, Jia Bing had already cut the braised beef.

"Director Ye!"

Aruna was the first to stand up.

He walked up to Ye Mo, didn't shake hands, but bowed directly.

It wasn't a polite 45-degree angle; it was a genuine 90-degree angle.

Ye Mo supported his shoulder.

What are you doing?

"Thank you, Director Ye. The role of Li Hongwei made my mother see her son's name on TV. She used to be embarrassed to tell her neighbors that her son was an actor."

Su Xiaoding stood to the side without bowing, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Ye Mo said it all.

Jia Bing finished slicing the last piece of braised beef and looked up at Ye Mo.

"Director Ye, my wife asked me to ask you, are you really not afraid I might poison him?"

"Your cooking is really delicious, who would dare say you poisoned it?"

"Then you try it yourself."

Ye Mo picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

I chewed it a few times.

"This time it's not quite right, there's not enough salt."

Jia Bing slammed the kitchen knife on the coffee table and turned to look at Zhang Songwen.

"What did you just say?"

"I said the food you cooked was poisonous, and now it seems not only is it poisonous, but you also didn't put in enough salt."

The whole room burst into laughter.

Everyone sat down to talk about the recent changes.

Zhang Songwen spoke first.

His schedule is already booked until the end of next month; he's in talks for two scripts, one of which is for the male lead in a movie.

Of course, all of this is inseparable from Ye Mo's company.

Without a company, who will secure leading roles for him?

Jia Bing chimed in from the side, "I've started taking on acting roles too, but they're all supporting ones!"

Zhang Songwen looked at him and said, "That's enough. Look at how many sketch comedy actors have successfully transitioned to other roles. You've already succeeded."

Jia Bing nodded, agreeing.

If it weren't for Ye Mo, he would never have considered turning back.

Gao Ye was drinking tea beside him, and when he put down his cup, he spoke in a calm and unhurried tone.

"I have three scripts to choose from, and it's giving me a headache."

Jia Bing turned to look at her.

"Three scripts are still a headache? A year ago you didn't even have half a script. You're having a happy problem."

Gao Ye thought for a moment.

"That's true. In the past, we wouldn't get a single script for a year, but now we get three a month. We can't keep up with filming them all."

Aruna raised her phone.

The screen showed a screenshot of the call sheet his agent had sent him, filled with red and green colors.

"My agent said that starting next month I might be working non-stop, flying directly from one film set to another."

Su Xiaoding muttered something quietly from the side.

"Me too."

Looking at the people in the room whose fates had been changed by "The Storm," Zhang Songwen leaned back on the sofa, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Ye Mo put down the water glass in his hand.

"Let's get down to business. After the interview, there's a wave of promotion for 'Raging Waves,' including a special program on CCTV, several interviews, and a second round of promotional broadcasts on satellite TV. You all need to make time for me."

Jia Bing was the first to speak.

"No problem, I'll have my agent clear out my schedule for next week. Just let me know, Director Ye, and I'll be there anytime."

Gao Ye followed immediately.

"Me too. Even if I'm filming, I have to ask the director for leave to come over. The matter of 'Raging Storm' is my matter."

Aruna said something even more brilliant.

"I was supposed to audition for a role next week, but I turned it down."

"Aren't you afraid of offending the director?"

"That director was also a viewer of 'The Storm.' After watching it, he messaged me saying that Li Hongwei's performance was excellent. When I tell him that Director Ye has publicity plans, he will definitely agree."

Su Xiaoding was the last to speak; her voice wasn't loud, but every word she uttered was firm and resolute.

"Without Director Ye, I wouldn't even have a chance to decline. I'll do whatever you say, Director Ye."

Zhang Songwen remained silent.

He simply nodded.

But everyone saw it.

The interview began an hour later.

The process is self-explanatory; the host asked questions, and they answered.

They talked about the characters, the script, and behind-the-scenes stories from filming.

Zhang Songwen said that the role of Gao Qiqiang changed his life.

Jia Bing said that Xu Jiang turned him from performing in sketches into playing a gangster boss.

Gao Ye said that Chen Shuting made him believe in himself again that he could act well.

Aruna said that Li Hongwei's Mangcun dinner party was the most nerve-wracking meal he had ever had in his life.

After the interview, Ye Mo returned to his company.

Sister Zhang was already waiting for him in the office.

A document lay open on the table in front of him, its cover bearing the logos of CCTV and several satellite TV stations.

There was also a table next to it, with densely packed numbers arranged neatly.

"Six TV stations, each of their bids is on this list." Her voice carried a kind of excitement that had already been processed; it wasn't that she wasn't excited, but rather that she had already passed the excitement and was now getting down to business.

"Mango, Jiangsu, Dongfang, Yanjing, Hunan, Guangdong—Mango and Jiangsu have the highest bids, all at this price." She gestured, "The other four are bidding, and the numbers are still going up."

Ye Mo glanced at the numbers on the form.

"The first round of CCTV coverage already covered the whole country, how can the second round still sell for this price?"

"Because 'Raging Storm' isn't your average blockbuster." Sister Zhang flipped to the second page of the document and read it to him line by line.

The total number of views across the internet has exceeded 10 billion, the number of topic reads has exceeded 30 billion, and the Douban rating has remained stable at around 8 points.

Regarding GG sponsorship, all GG slots for the CCTV premiere were sold at a premium. Before the second round of GG sponsorship meetings for various satellite TV stations even started, brands had already called ahead to reserve their slots.

Ye Mo leaned back in his chair.

Sister Zhang closed the file and announced a number.

That figure covers the copyright fee for the first broadcast on CCTV, the second-run broadcast rights on six satellite TV stations, the exclusive on-demand rights on video platforms, overseas copyright distribution, and advance revenue sharing for IP derivative development.

As Ye Mo listened to the number, his fingers unconsciously tapped twice on the table.

This number is enough to support him in filming anything he wants.

........