Chapter 489: Not Enough

At the end of March, the Beijing International Trade Center was star-studded as Weibo Night kicked off grandly, with brilliant lights lighting up the early spring night sky.

The ceremony was simultaneously broadcast live online, and its scale far exceeded that of the previous two sessions.

Outside the China World Trade Center, fans had already been thronging the area, their voices blaring with cheering signs and banners, while security personnel stood guard, doing their best to maintain order.

Inside the venue, the heat of the red carpet ceremony continued to rise for several hours.

As the stars' status gradually increased, the sound of shutter clicks on the scene became more frequent, and the number of people online for the live broadcast soared like a rocket.

In the backstage, most of the stars, directors, producers, and investors in the Chinese entertainment industry gathered here, chatting and laughing in groups of three or five. Everyone is a participant in this traffic feast.

In the corner, Li Bingbing, wearing an elegantly tailored white dress, glanced at the noisy crowd.

He sighed softly to Huang Xiaoming, "Things are really different now. Weibo Night is probably even more grand than the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards."

Huang Xiaoming looked around and nodded with emotion, his voice filled with understanding and helplessness: "There is nothing we can do, this is the general trend.

Weibo is now the 'water, electricity, and gas' of our industry; we can't live without it. If you want to keep your job, who dares to refuse it?

Li Bingbing nodded slightly, agreeing deeply.

People in the entertainment industry have no control over their lives. In the entire online world, it is difficult to find another social platform like Weibo that can combine immediacy, publicness and openness.

It is like a virtual city square that is open 24 hours a day, where all hot spots are generated, fermented, and detonated, ultimately defining who is the top star and who is out of date.

More importantly, Weibo is the only window for celebrities to directly connect with tens of millions of fans at low cost and high frequency.

To maintain exposure and popularity by leveraging its traffic, it naturally has to follow the rules of the game set by its owner, Tenda Group.

Huang Xiaoming glanced inadvertently at a distance and saw his girlfriend having a lively conversation with Nini. The two of them were smiling and talking sweetly, like close sisters.

I was slightly startled, wondering: When did they become so close? In this circle, friendships are hard to tell, true or false.

He withdrew his gaze, turned to Li Bingbing, and said with a slightly teasing smile: "How about it, do you have any plans for today?" He was talking about buying hot searches.

Today, Weibo’s hot search list is no longer just a thermometer of public opinion, but also a bidding field and weather vane for celebrities’ commercial value.

Whether or not one makes the list, and how long one stays there, is directly linked to exposure and status. During this Weibo Night, which captured the entire internet's attention, the last trending search was as effective as a major publicity spree.

Li Bingbing smiled helplessly and responded in a low voice: "I invested a little, but I can't be completely behind."

Buying hot searches is almost an unspoken competition in the circle. If you don’t invest, others will seize the high ground. In order to maintain your voice, you can only bite the bullet and join this game dominated by capital and traffic.

After calming himself down, he spoke in a serious tone, "By the way, Xiao Ming, is there any confirmed news on The Crossing?"

Ever since rumors spread in the circle that the role of "The Crossing" might be changed and the position of the original female lead Zhang Ziyi was unstable, she has regarded this "big pie" as a top priority and has been actively working on it.

Huang Xiaoming smiled triumphantly and reassured his friend: "It's almost done. It's basically done."

"That's great! Xiao Ming, thank you so much this time!" Li Bingbing was instantly overjoyed.

"You're welcome." Huang Xiaoming waved his hand, lowering his voice to reveal more inside information. "Actually, I didn't put in much effort. You were already at the top of the candidate list, but the pressure from the investors was too great.

Pony.com signed a bet agreement and must go public by the end of the year, putting it under immense pressure to achieve good performance.

LeTV Video is being overwhelmed by Toutiao Video, and Boss Jia is busy teaming up with Foxconn to bet on "super TV", but the success or failure is unpredictable.

Boss Li and Boss Jia are now looking for both stability and a breakthrough. Zhang Ziyi has been involved in a lot of things in recent years, so they don't dare to take risks, which is why they're thinking of replacing her.

After a brief pause, he recalled an interesting incident and shared it with a friend: "Mr. Li even had the wild idea of ​​inviting Master Liu."

Li Bingbing scoffed. "Boss Li and Boss Jia may be big names in the industry and have considerable influence, but when it comes to wealth and capital, their combined wealth can't even compare to Liu Shishi's. That's a bit unrealistic."

"So," Huang Xiaoming spread his hands, "I ultimately feel that handing this burden over to you is the safest and most appropriate."

Li Bingbing nodded with satisfaction, his joy mixed with consideration as he sighed softly, "I understand. But this will only create a grudge between Zhang Ziyi and me."

Huang Xiaoming also restrained his smile: "It's inevitable. We only have so many resources."

Li Bingbing snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with a sharpness and determination, which was the sharpness honed by years of struggling in the entertainment industry. "Now that things have come to this, there is no point in saying more. It depends on your ability."

On the other side, Nini and Yang Ying were having a pleasant conversation.

They are all newly named "Four Little Flowers" by the media. They are of similar age and are at the forefront of fashion and traffic. Although they are bound to compete openly and secretly, they now have a sense of mutual appreciation.

While chatting, Ni Ni caught a glimpse of Huo Siyan waving at her from a distance, and she immediately understood that it was time for the "Tiny Times Sisters" to prepare to walk the red carpet.

"Baby, let's talk later. I'm going to go first."

Ni Ni said goodbye to Yang Ying with a smile, gracefully adjusted the hem of her expensive dress, and walked towards the sister group with graceful manners.

At the starting point of the red carpet, Yang Mi, Nini, Huo Siyan and Guo Biting had already gathered.

All four of them are bright and beautiful, each with their own charm, like four delicate but unique flowers, ready to be baptized by the camera.

Thanks to "Tiny Times 1", which became a huge box office hit and a hot topic right after its release, the four of them have been in the limelight recently, frequently appearing on hot searches together and steadily enjoying the traffic dividend.

As for the film's polarizing reviews, even receiving a flood of negative reviews? So what?

The movie is the work of director Guo Jingming. If it is not well made, the audience can blame the director, but what does it have to do with the actors who did their job perfectly?

Traffic and popularity are the real things that we hold in our hands.

Following the guidance of the staff and the loud announcement of the host, the four actresses switched their states, put on impeccable smiles on their faces, held each other's arms affectionately, and walked onto the red carpet side by side.

In front of the signature wall, facing the host's questions, their answers were full of wit and seemed to be friendly and teasing each other, but in fact they were cunning.

This subtle exchange of words caused the media on the scene to flash their shutters, and the online live broadcast room was filled with barrages of comments, which made netizens feel very excited.

This kind of "plastic sisters" drama is always the most popular part for the public.

After completing a series of procedures, the four people finally walked into the inner field under the pursuit of countless flash lights.

The lights in the venue are bright, and the elegant women are intertwined.

Yang Mi's eyes casually swept over the three "comrades-in-arms" and finally landed on Nini.

This actress, who was born as a "Mou Girl", has been in the limelight recently, relying on the support of the national mentor Zhang Yimou and LeTV Film and Television, and has been competing with herself intentionally or unintentionally everywhere.

Did he really think that he could sit on the Diaoyutai with just one role, "The Flowers of War", and be on par with himself, a top-tier actress who had already been a big hit in the field of TV dramas and successfully switched to the big screen?

Yang Mi's eyes flickered as she began to think, "Ni Ni, huh? Why didn't I see your Feng Shaofeng here? Did they have a fight?"

He frowned slightly and acted like a close friend. "Well, between boyfriends and girlfriends, you still have to be more tolerant. I know Shaofeng quite well. He's a straightforward person with no bad intentions. You just need to coax him more."

The words were spoken slowly, but they seemed to hit the nail on the head. "Well, I have to excuse myself. I'll go check where my seat is."

These words seemed caring, but in reality, they were like a soft knife. Upon hearing this, Nini's smile froze for a moment, and her anger rose in her heart.

The past between Feng Shaofeng and Yang Mi, which was difficult to tell whether true or false, has always been a thorn in her heart.

Even though her boyfriend repeatedly explained that it was just a hype arranged by the company, Yang Mi still felt extremely uncomfortable when she brought it up in public with the tone of a "veteran".

He suppressed his anger and maintained his composure, watching Yang Mi walk straight towards the second row of seats in the inner field with a swaying posture, and he felt more and more dissatisfied.

Looking around the venue, the seating order for tonight's conference is strictly hierarchical:

In the center of the first row sat the richest couple.

On the left are several presidents and senior executives of Weibo, Tenda Culture, Southern Cinemas, Toutiao Video and other companies under Tenda Group, who hold the lifeline of the platform and channels.

On the right are the CEOs of top domestic film and television companies such as Huaying, Guangguang, Huayi, Huace, and Tangren, who control projects and resources.

In the second row sat big directors in the industry such as Zhang Yimou, Feng Xiaogang, and Chen Kaige.

As well as undisputed first-line stars such as Huang Xiaoming, Qiao Zhengyu, Li Bingbing, Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Xun, Hu Ge, Yang Mi, and Zhao Liying.

The third row includes respected veteran actors in the circle, middle-aged directors with box office or award-winning masterpieces, and some senior and powerful second-tier actors.

And she herself was placed in the fourth row!

A basin of cold water instantly extinguished all the enthusiasm brought by walking on the red carpet, leaving only a chill in the heart and an uncontrollable resentment.

In the eyes of the organizers, she, Ni Ni, one of the "New Four Little Flowers" and the leading actress of the hit movie "Tiny Times", is just an ordinary second-tier actress?

I always thought that with my starting point as a Mou Girl and subsequent resources, I would have already firmly stepped into the ranks of the first-line stars!

Even though Nini was extremely reluctant, she knew that she couldn't do anything about it.

If she showed even a little dissatisfaction in public, tomorrow the trending searches would probably be all over the place with messages like "Nini is acting like a big shot" and "Nini is dissatisfied with the seating arrangement and turned her face black on the spot".

He suppressed his dissatisfaction, stamped his feet lightly, tried his best to maintain a calm smile on his face, and walked reluctantly towards the fourth row.

At the same time, the atmosphere in the exclusive lounge outside the venue was completely different.

Song Ci was listening to Liu Rong's report on the Korean company's intention to remake the hit drama "My Love from the Star".

After roughly understanding the situation, he waved his hand with a dull look, "For this level of cooperation, you can decide for yourself. If you are unsure, consult Wang Jing directly."

"I understand, Mr. Song." Liu Rong responded quickly, but he was secretly moved in his heart.

Today, the group's business is spread all over the world, with its tentacles reaching into many huge fields such as finance and technology. The "small" size and profits of the film and television industry are indeed increasingly ignored by the chairman.

Looking back a few years ago, Mr. Song would occasionally ask about the profits and losses of key projects, but now he is too lazy to even allocate this little time.

As he was speaking, the door to the lounge was gently pushed open, and Liu Shishi walked in with a smile, followed by two people: "Hubby, I brought Sister K and Lao Hu over to say hello."

The visitors were Cai Yinong and Hu Ge, both old acquaintances.

Seeing that it was an acquaintance, Song Ci restrained some of his indifference at work and said politely, "Mr. Cai, Hu Ge, long time no see, sit down and chat."

When Cai Yinong and Hu Ge came in, they noticed Liu Rong next to the richest man. After nodding in greeting, they sat down on the sofa nearby.

Liu Rong knew that the boss wanted to reminisce about the past and discuss personal matters, so he immediately stood up and left: "Mr. Song, Madam, you two can chat. I'll go to the venue to check the procedures."

Song Ci picked up the purple clay cup on the table, took a sip of tea, looked at Hu Ge, and said in a relaxed tone:

"I heard from Shishi that you haven't taken any roles recently and have been honing your skills on the stage. I'll go see you someday when I have time. To be honest, I've never seen a proper play before."

Hu Ge was humble but also a little flattered when he heard this: "Director Song is very busy. If you can come, it will be an honor for our entire drama troupe. We will definitely reserve the best seats for you."

Liu Shishi sat down next to her husband and said with a smile, "Old Hu really wants to settle down and hone his acting skills.

I heard that his performance this time was very well received and received high praise. When he returns to film or TV next time, it will definitely be a revelation.”

"It's just a slight improvement, there's still a lot to learn." Hu Ge said with a humble look on his face.

"Speaking of my understanding of acting, when I was filming The Myth, I was opposite Zhang Shi and his performance really shocked me. I still remember that sense of effortlessness and layered expression."

Liu Shishi knew that her husband usually only read "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "The Ming Dynasty 1566", so she told him about the past.

Song Ci listened and nodded slightly.

When it comes to acting, if the director gives patient guidance during filming and the actors are willing to take it seriously and spend time immersing themselves in polishing their acting, they will always be able to reach an "acceptable" or even good level.

Just like his wife Liu Shishi, when she is in good shape and meets a good director, her performance is also remarkable.

The industry climate is different now. Traffic is king, and celebrities have a commercial performance every three days and a brand event every five days.

Joining several film crews in a month, as if in a rush, how can you calm down and "waste" time to experience life and polish your role?

Everyone wants to take on more work and make more money while they are popular. This is "human nature" under market selection and there is nothing wrong with it.

After chatting with Cai Yinong for a while, Song Ci glanced at his watch and said to Liu Shishi gently, "It's almost time. Shall we go in first?"

Today he was just going through the motions with his wife. Given his status and position, he no longer needed this kind of exposure. It all depended on his mood when he showed up.

"Okay!" Liu Shishi heard this, her eyebrows curved into crescents, and she excitedly took her husband's arm. Being able to appear dazzlingly side by side with her husband was in itself a great happiness and satisfaction.

In the red carpet area, hosts Hua Shao and Li Ai received an emergency notice from backstage, and learned that the richest couple was about to arrive. They immediately interrupted the original process and adjusted the order of appearance to the highest standards.

At the red carpet entrance, Yang Ying, who was about to step onto the red carpet, was suddenly stopped politely by a staff member: "Ms. Yang, please wait a moment. The next guest needs to enter first."

Under Yang Ying's puzzled gaze, Liu Shishi affectionately took Song Ci's arm and walked towards them from behind as if strolling in the garden.

Song Ci has an upright posture and a graceful demeanor. A sapphire brooch on his chest reflects a dazzling light under the flash light. He is handsome and looks not like an ordinary person.

Liu Shishi wore a champagne-colored fishtail dress, with a slim figure, hair draped over her shoulders, and delicate makeup. She exuded the gentleness and nobility of someone who was extremely pampered and protected.

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Song!"

"Hello, Mr. Song! Hello, Madam!"

All the stars and bigwigs waiting backstage stood up and greeted each other one after another.

The couple walked calmly onto the star-studded red carpet like an emperor and queen, attracting all the cameras and attention in the audience.

Yang Ying stood there, feeling an indescribable envy and even a hint of sadness in her heart.

She had previously hoped that her boyfriend Huang Xiaoming could accompany her on the red carpet to add to the discussion and attention.

But Huang Xiaoming had already planned to make a closing appearance with Deng Chao and Hu Ge to promote the upcoming movie "Chinese Partners".

At this moment, compare the scene where Liu Shishi has the caring company of her husband and is in great glory.

When she thought about how she was all alone and had to give way to others, and how her boyfriend prioritized career cooperation over her, she suddenly lost interest and was left with an indescribable feeling of loss and depression.

(End of this chapter)