Chapter 134 Extra - People from the Port City

The TV series' explosive popularity was unexpected by everyone, including Su Ruyi.

She only thought there should be a market for it, but she didn't expect the market response to be so huge, making Su Ruyi a fortune.

However, there was a lot of criticism after the show became a hit, but it didn't affect its broadcast performance, so Su Ruyi didn't care.

The fact that people were discussing it only made it even more popular.

The main actors in the show also became famous. The previously unknown actors became celebrities that were talked about everywhere, and their posters and stickers were everywhere.

Before they became famous, Su Ruyi had already signed contracts with them to be the spokespersons for her products. As soon as the movie was released, the commercials they filmed were broadcast simultaneously.

Once they become famous, it's impossible to get them to advertise at the same price as before.

Both Li Weiwei and Xu Fei became more widely known because of this drama, especially Li Weiwei, who didn't have any works before, and now everyone knows that she exists.

In this era, villainous female supporting characters are not likable and are easily hated. However, Li Weiwei is really too beautiful, and the director is very good at filming, maximizing her beauty.

Moreover, after revisions by the screenwriter and director, the character became more vivid and three-dimensional. She is not only vicious but also tragic. Her obsession is more a choice forced upon her by the oppression of power, rather than simply being driven by love.

Therefore, people don't dislike this character as much, and even feel some sympathy for her. Some people even have a good impression of Li Weiwei.

Especially online, Li Weiwei's beauty dominated forums, with many feeling that she portrayed the character very well, even more profoundly than in the original work.

Xu Fei also benefited a lot from this drama. Although she was the third female lead, she had a lot of screen time, and her character was so lively that it deepened everyone's impression of her as the girl next door.

Xu Fei's previous singles were all lively and playful, and this impression has only been reinforced now.

Su Ruyi's current strategy for Xu Fei is to create a cheerful and energetic girl persona. Although this fixed persona will restrict Xu Fei's future development to some extent, it will also solidify everyone's impression of her and allow her to have her own unique characteristics.

It's not too late for her to consider a career change once she has established herself and her skills have improved.

After filming this wildly popular period drama, Su Ruyi chose a script for Xu Fei with a similar character, also a period drama, but with a lighthearted style.

Li Weiwei also joined the cast of her second work a month after finishing her own filming. In this work, she plays the female lead. However, this drama is a martial arts drama centered on the male lead, so her screen time is limited, but her character is very outstanding.

Li Weiwei did not rest during this month, but instead went to acting classes and participated in martial arts and horseback riding training.

Li Weiwei has many fight scenes in the film, and she is very interested in action scenes. She is unwilling to be just a pretty face and knows that her current abilities are not enough to play complex roles, so she wants to start by playing an action heroine.

Li Weiwei had studied dance before, so it was relatively easy for her to become an action star.

When designing career paths for her artists, Su Ruyi not only considers their individual personalities but also respects their opinions.

Li Weiwei had such a plan, and since martial arts dramas are still a popular genre, Su Ruyi actively sought out resources in this area for her.

The film starring Xu Fei is the company's first independently produced film, and the main actors are all contracted artists under the company. The director is also contracted with the company, so the company has complete say and will not be interfered with by outsiders.

Although small workshops have limitations, the intertwined interests of various parties can easily lead to too many voices for a single work, ultimately resulting in a hodgepodge.

Su Ruyi did not want the films she invested in to be influenced by various forces and drastically altered.

The company's film and television department has produced several successful dramas, and its artists have also gained a foothold in the industry, allowing the film and television company to establish itself firmly in the industry.

In terms of music, the songs released online by the two singers with different styles, after careful planning and production, have become wildly popular online.

Among them was Su Ruyi's promoter, who specially hired people to create the currently popular FLASH animation to promote the song.

Currently, very few professional teams are involved, resulting in high-quality products that have also attracted significant attention and traffic.

Funny and quirky short videos, in particular, have the widest reach.

This approach flourished after the launch of ringback tones, with the number of ringback tone downloads alone making companies and singers incredibly wealthy.

Many traditional music companies initially looked down on this area, but they never expected it to be so profitable.

Due to factors such as piracy, it is not easy for singers other than top-tier artists to make money by selling records in the traditional record industry; they need to invest a lot of money.

Su Ruyi's approach is very suitable for singers who are not very famous and cannot support themselves by releasing albums.

Su Ruyi had the Zhao family's resources, so she took the lead and pushed the songs of her own singers to the forefront.

Zhao Dabao is now an excellent producer; he can do the job well without an assistant.

I'm so busy every day that I no longer have time to go out and have fun with my friends.

He also left that group of people on his own initiative, simply because those cronies knew he worked at a film company and asked him to invite the actresses under his management out for drinks.

Zhao Dabao felt looked down upon. These people didn't think he was doing his job seriously, but rather that he was in this line of work to make it easier to date female celebrities.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a request. It's obvious they don't take the artists he's worked so hard to promote seriously, nor do they value his efforts. That's why they're so dismissive.

Therefore, Zhao Dabao, without needing supervision, voluntarily distanced himself from this group. The people he now associates with no longer include those who idle away their days.

The Zhao family was delighted with this and invested even more resources in the media company.

It wasn't just because I wanted to support Zhao Dabao's career, but also because I felt that this industry really had great potential.

Now, people no longer think Zhao Dabao is just dabbling in small-scale projects, but rather acknowledge his abilities.

Zhao Dabao's public image has also changed. Before, people thought he was a fool who spent money recklessly, but now no one would say that.

Because several of the dramas that Zhao Dabao was in charge of achieved very good results, one of his movies had good reviews and box office success, and won numerous awards.

Zhao Dabao is not only a producer but also participated in the performance, so he walked the red carpet with the main cast and crew.

Although Zhao Dabao enjoys performing, he doesn't aspire to be a lead actor; he's content with playing supporting roles to satisfy his passion. Because he's acted so often, many people remember him, and he's sometimes recognized on the street, which makes Zhao Dabao very happy.

Su Ruyi, as a collaborator, also benefited, finding comfort under the big tree, which saved her and Lu Ting a lot of trouble.

Zhao Dabao was riding high, but in front of Su Ruyi, he was still that humble little brother.

He liked to talk to Su Ruyi about everything. Su Ruyi wouldn't spoil him unconditionally like his parents, nor would she look at him with a scrutinizing gaze like his three older sisters, as if he were being silly.

Although things have changed somewhat because of his achievements, Zhao Dabao's childhood habits still make him reluctant to share his career matters with them.

Although Zhao Dabao is busy being a producer, he still hasn't given up his love for investing, so he likes to ask Su Ruyi for her opinion.

Now that he's made money, he has more money in his hands, and more people want to invest in him.

This situation is even more common for Su Ruyi, given her track record. Many people got to know Su Ruyi through Lu Ting; after all, that's how Zhao Dabao made his connection.

Lu Ting has a lot of social engagements due to his work, and the people he knows are from all walks of life, unlike Su Ruyi, whose social circle is more stable.

He knows many people who have become rich overnight, such as those who used to run coal mines. These people control resources and make money very quickly, but they know very well that these resources are not inexhaustible, so they think about investing in other places.

Su Ruyi never had to worry about funding for her films, as people always sent her money.

These people are all very disciplined and won't interfere with the filming process. At most, they'll put their own people in the crew, and they won't necessarily play the lead roles.

Most of the people squeezed in were quite qualified, otherwise the big shots wouldn't have taken a liking to them. However, if it was the big shots' children who came to join in the fun, their qualifications were often not so good. If their physical appearance wasn't good and they had no acting talent whatsoever, Su Ruyi wouldn't give them many roles.

If the protagonist has to be someone from the Fortress, Su Ruyi can help organize a production, but it must be agreed beforehand that such productions will almost always lose money. All expenses will be covered by the other party; she won't invest a single penny, but she won't lose out on her share of the profits.

Only a few people are willing to spend a fortune to win the favor of a beauty. Occasionally, there will be one or two such people, and Su Ruyi will assemble a new team to produce the product, treating it as a learning experience.

As for those who insist on collaborating with a particular artist under Su Ruyi's management, Su Ruyi will resolutely refuse.

The artists under her management all have well-planned career paths and won't easily compromise for money.

Su Ruyi and Lu Ting are no ordinary people now; they wield considerable influence, and with the Zhao family behind them, no one dares to challenge Su Ruyi.

With ample funds, one can produce more works.

There were some misjudged projects during this period, which resulted in losses, but the impact was not significant, and Su Ruyi's reputation remained intact.

"President Su, Gangcheng Jiayuan Film & Television wants to collaborate with us on a film."

The secretary specifically mentioned this point when reporting to Su Ruyi.

Jia Yuan Film & Television is a long-established film and television company in Hong Kong, with considerable strength, and has produced many commercially successful films.

Although Su Ruyi had previously collaborated with Hong Kong and Taiwan on television dramas, she had not collaborated on films.

Su Ruyi was somewhat surprised that Jiayuan Film & Television had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch.

Although their company has developed well in recent years and produced many good works, it has only been established for a short time and is only just beginning to emerge.

Why did Jiayuan Film & Television want to collaborate with them?

That's one thing, perhaps they saw the company's potential, but when Su Ruyi saw the letter of intent, she was completely baffled.

Jiayuan Film & Television's collaboration with Baoshan Film & Television was a complete concession, with Jiayuan contributing money, effort, and personnel, but most of the benefits went to Su Ruyi.

"Could this be a scam?" That was Su Ruyi's first reaction.

However, after investigation, it was determined that the message was sent by Jiayuan Film & Television.

The CEO of Jiayuan Film and Television also contacted Su Ruyi. The other party's attitude was very good, almost too good, which made Su Ruyi feel even more strange.

In the current film and television industry, Hong Kong and Taiwan hold an absolute advantage. In the past, mainland actors could only play supporting roles, and their treatment was incomparable to that of Hong Kong stars. However, mainland actors were proud to be able to participate in Hong Kong films.

The capital in Hong Kong is also very arrogant; Su Ruyi had never seen anything like it before.

Although their company has performed brilliantly in recent years, Su Ruyi knows very well that their strength has not yet reached that level.

Su Ruyi felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't find any evidence.

"If you feel something is wrong, just give up on the cooperation. Anyway, the mainland market is huge, and we don't necessarily have to cooperate with them."

Seeing that she was conflicted, Lu Ting made a suggestion.

"You're right, I still have to trust my intuition. Something so unusual could very well be a trap."

Su Ruyi doesn't have such a deep obsession with the Hong Kong entertainment industry. She is very clear about future trends and believes that as long as she manages the local film and television industry well, the future is bright.

Although it's a bit of a pity, since Hong Kong's film and television industry is still very strong, Su Ruyi isn't greedy; she prefers stability.

Despite Su Ruyi's refusal, the other party did not give up and initiated cooperation again.

This made Su Ruyi feel even more strange, and she was even less willing to agree easily.

Other industries have encountered the same situation. The port city has sent large orders, showing a strong desire to cooperate, and the cooperation terms offered are almost too good to be true.

Lu Ting's newly built residential complex was also leased out by a Hong Kong businessman, who bought half of the building.

"Do you have any relatives in Hong Kong?" Lu Ting couldn't help but ask.

Su Ruyi shook her head and said, "There were indeed people from our village who smuggled themselves over there before, but after they returned, they contacted their families. They were just ordinary people, none of them were that wealthy and powerful. Moreover, the companies that came to cooperate were all established companies in Hong Kong, so they must have gone there even earlier. My family doesn't have any relatives like that."

“I had someone investigate, and they said that the Xu family from Gangcheng was behind it all.”

Su Ruyi was unfamiliar with the situation of the wealthy people in Hong Kong in this world. Although this world was gradually overlapping with her previous life, the specific people had changed and the time was not exactly the same; only the events were similar.

Although she had heard a lot of gossip about Hong Kong entertainment circles, mostly through rumors about Hong Kong and Taiwanese celebrities, she had never heard of the Xu family.

"The Xu family is a long-established wealthy family in Hong Kong. Although they are not well-known, their assets are actually among the top ten in Hong Kong. However, due to bad luck, they have kept a low profile in recent years."

Su Ruyi asked in confusion, "Bad luck?"

Lu Ting nodded: "The Xu family is not prosperous, and they are very unlucky. They either die of illness or accidents. Only the current head of the Xu family is left from the previous generation. However, the current head of the Xu family is a very capable woman, so she has kept the Xu family afloat. She got married at the age of twenty, but did not give birth until she was almost forty. It is said that before that, she went to see doctors and performed rituals to have children, and changed several men, but there was still no sign of pregnancy. But after giving birth to this child, she gave birth to twins two years later, and those collateral branches stopped having those little thoughts."

Su Ruyi gasped: "They're so rich, yet they still have to struggle to have children. That's too much!"

Although there was indeed a throne to inherit in the family, Su Ruyi felt that she might not have the courage to do so if it harmed her health, but she could understand the other party's choice.

"She originally had an older brother, so the pressure of inheriting the family business wasn't on her, and she didn't care about having children when she was young. But her brother's family had an unexpected accident, leaving her the only one left in the Xu family, so she had to consider the issue of an heir. A woman inheriting the Xu family is already surrounded by many people eyeing her, and without children, she's even more vulnerable to being devoured. I heard that the Xu family isn't large, but they're quite troublesome, so adopting a child won't work. If she doesn't want to be wiped out, she has no choice but to actively have children."

Su Ruyi sighed, "When will technology advance to the point where humans can give birth using artificial wombs?"

Lu Ting recalled Su Ruyi's childbirth three years ago. Although the process went relatively smoothly, it still gave him a cold sweat.

Lu Ting had his tubal ligation done long ago; one child was enough for him, and he didn't want to go through this experience a second time.

"But why would the Xu family make these moves? Are they planning to develop in mainland China? How did they manage to pick us so precisely?" Su Ruyi was still puzzled.

Generally, these families first invest in the Pearl River Delta or Shanghai, rarely heading directly to inland areas. Although it's now the year 2000 and investment environments are much more open, it's still advisable to start with regions that have a similar culture, just to be on the safe side.

Lu Ting paused slightly, his expression somewhat conflicted.

"Just say what you have to say, why are you hesitating?"

The two had been together for so many years and talked about everything, including a lot of gossip that Su Ruyi heard in the entertainment industry.

Despite his cool-looking appearance with thick eyebrows and big eyes, Lu Ting was quite the chatterbox, sharing gossip with Su Ruyi. The couple would chatter away under the covers, and the next day they would wake up with the air of elites, showing no signs of having shared gossip with the old folks in the village the night before.

"The current head of the Xu family is affectionately known as Miss Xu by the people of Hong Kong. Miss Xu was previously married to someone of equal social standing. After her brother's entire family passed away, she divorced. She later dated several boyfriends, but she hasn't been able to conceive."

At this point, Lu Ting couldn't help but interject with a few related gossips he had heard.

Hong Kong media are known for their sharp tongues. When Ms. Tsui was desperately seeking a child, the headlines in the newspapers were simply unbearable to read, yet as viewers, we couldn't help but laugh.

How can someone be so talented!

The idea of ​​extracting sperm to have children is so blunt and crude that it's both infuriating and laughable.

The two complained about the Hong Kong media's tendency to stir up trouble before bringing the topic back on track.

"Ten years ago, Miss Xu almost died and was saved by a mainland Chinese man. The two then got together. Unexpectedly, not long after they got together, Miss Xu became pregnant, and the children she gave birth to were all the fathers of this mainland Chinese man. It is said that Miss Xu consulted a fortune teller and was told that this mainland Chinese man, or rather, the uncle from the mainland, would bring her good fortune. At the time, the Hong Kong media reported on this matter quite a bit, and those headlines were very offensive."

Because of the large gap between the rich and the poor, people from the mainland faced a lot of discrimination. Miss Xu had dated many talented young men in her early years. In order to have a high-quality baby, her date was not only physically good, but also had excellent education and other conditions.

They never had a child. Who would have thought that a nobody from the mainland would get Miss Xu pregnant?

"Wait, an uncle from the mainland?"

Lu Ting's expression was somewhat indescribable, which was also a point of ridicule for the Hong Kong media at the time.

Previously, Miss Xu only dated young and strong men, but she never got pregnant. Who knew that she would get pregnant with a forty-year-old man?

Therefore, many people mocked this old man for being "amazing," and there were even rumors that some people offered a lot of money for his maintenance methods.

Some tabloids in Hong Kong have no bottom line; for the sake of sensationalism, some of their reports are vulgar and obscene.

A thought flashed through Su Ruyi's mind: Impossible!

Once such an absurd thought arises, it's impossible to suppress it.

"Do you have a photo of that uncle?" Su Ruyi asked with difficulty.

Lu Ting shook his head: "That person is very low-key. He never attends public events with Miss Xu and stays at home taking care of the children, so no one knows what he looks like. Even the ever-present paparazzi couldn't get a picture of him."

Although Miss Xu had three children with him, she did not marry him, and the outside world did not know his name.

Lu Ting only knew that everyone called him Uncle Shui, but he didn't know his full name.

"That's probably impossible. Qing Province isn't my hometown; it's a long way from the port city."

Su Ruyi wanted to shake off that thought, but her heart was pounding uncontrollably.

Although Tong Aihua's body has never been found over the years, everyone has assumed that he has passed away. The river is swift and it is unknown where it might have been swept away. Such situations are not uncommon on that river.

Moreover, so many years have passed. If he were still alive, he would have contacted us long ago. The lack of any response means he is no longer alive.

Tong Aihua is not an irresponsible person. His home and his work are here, and he won't just disappear for no reason.

However, Lu Ting's mention of such a person inevitably caused Su Ruyi to begin to have some delusions.

Otherwise, why would the Xu family of Hong Kong cooperate with them and offer such good terms?

Such unusual circumstances made it hard for Su Ruyi not to overthink things.

"It shouldn't be Dad, otherwise we would have heard nothing about it," Lu Ting comforted him.

Although he had never met his father-in-law, he had heard a lot about him from his mother-in-law and Aunt Mei.

Lu Ting's father-in-law was quite a character; he was a completely different person in front of his two wives. If it weren't for the fact that they were the same person, they would never have gotten together.

However, they did have something in common: both of them praised his appearance highly.

Tong Aihua is good-looking, but not in a particularly dazzling way. Instead, he is reserved and gentle, and you will unconsciously let your guard down when you are with him.

Moreover, he is considerate to everyone and is very good at talking and pleasing people; he just says different things to different people.

"Or perhaps they're so happy they've forgotten about home?"

He hooked up with a rich woman there, had a son, and naturally stopped contacting his ex-wife.

“There’s no point in us guessing all this time. Why don’t we just go to Hong Kong?” Lu Ting suggested.

Su Ruyi also felt uneasy until the matter was thoroughly investigated, so she immediately decided to go to Hong Kong.

Before the two could set off, people from the port city arrived.