Chapter 170 Audition Hype

Just as all the employees of Tengda Group were busy making final preparations for the launch of Weibo, time quietly arrived on October 10, 2007.

On this day, the new Hurun Rich List arrived as expected, like a blockbuster bomb, causing ripples in the business world and even the entire society.

Although Song Ci's wealth value has achieved steady growth compared with the previous year, reaching a new high of 36.5 billion yuan, surprisingly, his ranking has slipped to tenth place.

With a lead of only 500 million yuan, he was ahead of Guo Guangchang, chairman of Donghai Fosun Group, and almost fell out of the list of the top ten richest people in mainland China.

However, compared to Song Ci, who has been on the top ten of the rich list for three consecutive years, a more dazzling name has emerged.

Yang Huiyan, the 26-year-old successor of Country Garden, has attracted much attention from all walks of life this year. With an astonishing wealth of 130 billion yuan, she has surpassed all other competitors and topped the list, becoming the new richest person in mainland China.

Her success is due to the booming domestic economy and the unprecedented prosperity of the real estate industry.

Against such a background, the net worth of many real estate tycoons has skyrocketed, and real estate tycoons occupy almost half of the list of the top ten richest people.

As business elites who were both born in the 1980s, Song Ci and Yang Huiyan naturally became the focus of comparison among netizens.

Although Yang Huiyan's wealth comes from family inheritance, as a large real estate company that has just been successfully listed in Hong Kong this year, Country Garden's strength and influence are unquestionable.

In this context, some haters who were jealous of Song poetry praised Yang and criticized Song, which set off a wave of doubts on the Internet.

They expressed doubts about Song Ci's assets, believing that as an unlisted company, Tengda Group's value of more than 30 billion yuan is nothing but a castle in the air and lacks substantial support.

Some even raised sharp doubts about the authority and fairness of this year's Hurun Rich List. For a time, public opinion surged, pushing Song Ci and Hurun to the forefront.

Faced with such overwhelming doubts, the Hurun team did not choose to remain silent or escape.

They acted quickly and published a detailed assessment report on Song Ci's assets. This report was like a mirror, clearly reflecting the true face of Song Ci's wealth.

The report pointed out that after completing its first round of financing, Tengda Group's valuation has climbed to a high of US$9.5 billion.

Although the Hurun team does not know the specific shareholding ratio of Song Ci in Tengda, according to their estimates, Song Ci's shareholding will definitely not be less than 38%.

This figure undoubtedly provides solid support for the wealth of Song Ci.

In addition, the report also revealed a shocking news: in the latest round of financing of Facebook in the United States, Song Ci's name appeared on the list of shareholders, holding up to 8% of the shares.

Microsoft's latest valuation of Facebook has reached 15 billion US dollars, which means that Song Ci has a fortune of 1.2 billion US dollars with just this 8% stake.

If we only count the shares of Tengda Group and Facebook, Song Ci's net worth is no less than 36.5 billion yuan. Faced with reasonable data, skeptical netizens gradually became speechless, and the voices of doubt gradually subsided.

Song Ci, who has been ranked at the top of the Hurun Rich List for three consecutive years, has become the most dazzling new star in the business world and the most outstanding representative of the post-80s generation with his outstanding business talent and steady wealth growth.

The next morning, around 8 a.m., Cai Yinong took Liu Shishi to Tengda Culture in the Zhongao Building to attend the audition for the female lead in the movie "A Little Thing Called First Love".

In the carriage, Liu Shishi was yawning continuously, looking listless and very sleepy.

"Shishi, why are you so sleepy? Didn't you get enough rest last night?" Cai Yinong asked with a puzzled look on his face. She was about to go for an audition at Tengda Culture, and Yijie was in bad shape.

Liu Shishi patted her cheeks gently, trying to cheer herself up. Her eyes flickered as she stammered to cover up, "I'm a little nervous thinking about the audition today. I didn't get enough rest last night."

Cai Yinong was half-believing and half-doubting: "Then you should take a rest in the car, and I will call you when we get there."

"Okay!" Liu Shishi nodded, then closed her eyes and adjusted her state.

The real reason for her tiredness was certainly not nervousness. Yesterday, Mr. Song was in a good mood as he was one of the top ten richest people in mainland China. In the evening, he gave her red envelopes worth hundreds of millions of yuan and kept her busy until three in the morning. She went to bed only when she could no longer bear it.

He got up in a hurry early in the morning and rushed to the hotel to meet Cai Yinong. He slept for less than five hours and naturally looked tired.

More than half an hour later, the vehicle slowly drove into the underground parking lot of the Sino-Austrian Building.

Cai Yinong woke up Liu Shishi, and the two took the elevator to the audition location together.

In the elevator, Cai Yinong carefully helped Miss Liu straighten her collar and looked at her carefully. His eldest sister was still as pure and gentle as always.

Today, Liu Shishi wore a simple white shirt with a brown long skirt and her long hair draped over her shoulders, like a cool and noble little white flower.

"Shishi, can you tell me the bottom line? How confident are you that you can win the heroine?" Cai Yinong asked in a low voice, with a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.

Originally, she thought that with her strength and connections as a top actress, it would be easy for her to get the female lead in a movie.

But this time, Tengda Culture’s promotional efforts for "A Little Thing Called First Love" were unprecedented, and it caused a sensation in the entertainment industry before the film even started shooting.

First of all, the film is directed by the godfather of youth films, billionaire director Teng Huatao, and the male and female leads were auditioned by the entire entertainment industry.

Moreover, the screenwriter is the famous writer and nobleman Song Ci. He acts as if everything is handled in a businesslike manner. I wonder if the connection will work.

"Sister K, no one can be absolutely sure about this kind of thing. I can only try my best."

This audition was held with unprecedented grandness, even Liu Shishi herself was confused. Didn't Mr. Song say that she was chosen as the female lead? Then why did he hold such a grand audition?

I heard that many young actresses went for the interview this time. If it gets out that there was an internal operation, wouldn’t Tengda have fooled half of the entertainment industry!

Cai Yinong sighed and shook his head helplessly, thinking that he could only respond as the opponent attacked and take one step at a time.

After exiting the elevator, the two followed the signs to the waiting area.

The interview venue was bustling with people. Cai Yinong looked around and saw the actresses who came for the interview standing or sitting. Some of them she knew, and some were completely unfamiliar. In total, there were dozens of actresses.

Together with the assistants, agents and others who came with them, the whole floor was bustling with activity, as if it had become a small grand event.

Cai Yinong shook his head, thinking that those little actors who made no impression on him were so innocent and cute. Having invested tens of millions in this production, there was absolutely no way Tengda Culture would just give away the resources for nothing.

But on second thought, I feel it is understandable. Anyway, I come here to try my luck. If I am not selected, I will just come here to gain experience and show my face in front of directors and producers.

If you get selected by chance, it would be like stepping into heaven.

Liu Shishi looked around, still lamenting the fierce competition among so many people, when a familiar figure quietly came up to the two of them and greeted them warmly, "Boss Cai, Shishi, long time no see."

"Sister Tongyao, it's you!" Liu Shishi said in surprise after seeing who it was.

The person who came was Tong Yao, with whom he had worked before. The two had not met since the filming of "Young Generals of the Yang Family" was completed, but they would occasionally contact each other on QQ. Now that old acquaintances met, it was natural for them to chat for a while.

Cai Yinong also responded: "It's Tong Yao! Are you here for the interview too?"

Tong Yao had a faint smile on her face, as if it was nothing, and said nonchalantly: "I just came to join in the fun."

But the desire deep in her eyes was still caught by the always sharp Cai Yinong. He laughed secretly in his heart, women in the entertainment industry, who doesn't want to be famous!

Even our own lazy and lazy No. 1 sister was clamoring some time ago that she wanted to be famous and popular and to upgrade her status to participate in next year's Bazaar Charity Gala.

Liu Shishi, Cai Yinong and Tong Yao were talking and laughing, but they did not notice that there were several girls not far away who were secretly staring at them.

"Mimi, look quickly, isn't that Liu Shishi?" Yuan Shanshan patted her roommate's shoulder, her eyes full of confusion and uneasiness, and asked, pointing at the crowd not far away.

"Yes, it's her!" Yang Mi nodded. She recognized Liu Shishi at a glance and immediately had an ominous premonition in her heart.

The unpleasant interview in "Nightclub" seemed to have happened just yesterday, making her wary of Liu Shishi.

Yuan Shanshan recalled the encounter during the National Day holiday, and her face suddenly darkened. She said indignantly, "Damn resource guy, isn't she Song Ci's girlfriend? Does that mean we still have hope for an interview?"

"Tengda Culture has held such a grand interview this time, it should be fairer. Otherwise, they can just make an internal appointment instead of going through all the trouble." Jiao Junyan, who is always optimistic, tried to comfort everyone.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shanshan agreed, "Yanyan has a point! Maybe my idol has already dumped her, otherwise it wouldn't have taken so long without any news of them being together."

Zhang Xiaofei also nodded to comfort himself: "A large company like Tengda Culture will definitely value the actors' own abilities when conducting interviews."

Today, the four sisters from their dormitory came to Tengda Culture as a group to participate in an interview. Before the results came out, everyone had some dreams and expectations in their hearts.

"I hope so!" Yang Mi looked depressed. She had been in the crew since she was a child and was not as naive as her three roommates.

I know very well that there is no fairness in the entertainment industry. My only hope now is that Tengda really wants to choose a female lead who is highly suitable for the role and is not influenced by those with good resources.

There was a lot of noise inside the room. The actresses were busy adjusting their states and making final preparations, or getting to know each other and building up some personal connections.

In the audition room, four interviewers, led by producer Zhang Zhao, were ready.

Director Teng Huatao looked at the time and urged: "Mr. Zhang, time is almost up, why don't we start the audition!"

Assistant director Ma Xin and casting director and acting coach Zhang Songwen also looked at the producer. Although they were also in the interview group, their say was very small and the real decision maker was still Zhang Zhao.

Zhang Zhao looked at his watch and said calmly, "No hurry, the time is not up yet. Let's start at 9 o'clock."

He specially invited the chairman to attend the interview yesterday, and the boss also promised to come and see and show his support, so he didn't dare to start the interview early.

Seeing this, Teng Huatao could only wait patiently. However, before he had waited for a moment, bursts of noise were heard outside the house.

Zhang Zhao stood up and asked, "What's going on outside?"

A staff member nearby pushed the door open and looked in, then replied in a panic, "Boss Zhang, Director Song is here!"

Zhang Zhao hurriedly walked outside. As soon as he reached the door, he saw Song Ci coming towards him with bodyguards. He quickly went up to them and invited the boss into the interview room.

"Director Song, why didn't you tell me you were coming so I could go down to greet you?"

Song Ci was wearing a navy blue suit, looking very noble. He waved his hand and said with a smile, "No need to bother. I came here to join in the fun today. There are quite a few female artists outside."

The other three people in the room realized it only later and rushed forward to greet him. "Hello, Mr. Song!"

Song Ci smiled and shook hands with the three of them. Teng Huatao needn't be mentioned, he was a director promoted by Tengda Culture, and he had met him before.

Ma Xin also knew him. He was a direct descendant of the company and had been the focus of training at Tengda Culture. However, this was the first time he met Zhang Songwen.

Zhang Songwen looked reserved, knowing that the person in front of him was the noble man in his life. He was able to rise to fame overnight, play the leading male role in "The Disguiser", and sign a contract with Tengda Culture, all thanks to the support of the chairman.

Song Ci sat down at the main seat and looked at the thick stacks of resumes on the table: "How many actresses are here for interviews today?"

"We received nearly two hundred resumes in total, and after screening, we kept more than 70," Zhang Zhao replied with a smile.

He is the only one in the entire crew who knows that the female lead has been chosen, and he will be in charge of the entire audition.

He made the interview so grand and even invited Song Ci to the scene, just to hype it up and increase the popularity of the movie and the heroine Liu Shishi, just like how Zhang Da Huzi hyped "The Return of the Condor Heroes" back then.

"You guys take a seat too." Song Ci asked the four of them to sit down and casually flipped through the resume of the actress who was being interviewed.

When his eyes fell on a resume, Song Ci couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise: "Jingtian!"

Zhang Zhao beside him glanced at the resume in his boss's hand and asked curiously, "Boss Song, do you know her?"

Song Ci responded casually: "I don't know him, but I've heard of him."

"The girl is a freshman at Beijing Film Academy this year, and she has quite a background. When she submitted her profile, her agent contacted me and said that she could bring in money to join the group, and we could name our price for the investment we needed!"

Zhang Zhao recalled the other party's arrogant tone that day and couldn't help but be amazed.

If the heroine of "A Little Thing Called First Love" had not been promised to his girlfriend by the chairman, he really wouldn't mind giving the heroine to Jing Tian so that he could make a killing. After all, it's rare to find such a fool in the entertainment industry who is willing to spend money on others.

After flipping through a few more pictures, a girl with a small round face appeared in front of me.

"Zhao Liying!" Song Ci couldn't help but whisper the name. When he just came, he saw Da Mimi. He didn't expect that Zhao Liying was also there. Together with his own girl Liu Gu, half of the future top 85 flowers are here.

A sense of evil taste suddenly arose in my heart. I wondered what kind of chemical reaction would be produced if Zhao Liying was given a supporting female role and asked to play supporting role to Miss Liu. Would it trigger a fan war?

Song Ci roughly looked through dozens of resumes and found many familiar faces, including Jiang Yiyan, Huo Siyan, and Yuan Shanshan. They all came to participate in today's audition. It was really interesting!

Throwing the resume in his hand on the table, Song Ci ordered: "The audition can begin!"

(End of this chapter)