Run Run Shaw shook his head slightly, not turning around. He simply cast his gaze farther downstairs, as if he could already see the stable trajectory of the Miss Hong Kong pageant for decades to come. He considered this kind of instant popularity fueled by gossip to be insignificant, certainly not worth investing real money in and changing the established strategy.
How can TVB's foundation, the authority of the Miss Hong Kong pageant, be jeopardized by the personal affairs of a single contestant? Maintaining a stable and fair competition system is the best way to protect the brand.
Fang Yihua stood quietly by, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the folder. She saw Li Haohe's eagerness and Run Run Shaw's stubbornness.
She took two slow steps and walked to the other side of the office window. Her eyes fell thoughtfully on the outline of the mountains in the distance, as if she was weighing something. Her expression was calm, and there was no obvious tendency.
Li Ka-shing's eyes were filled with urging, while Run Run Shaw remained with his back to the camera, his posture firm and without any sign of wavering.
In this delicate silence, Fang Yihua turned around, her gaze lingering for a moment between the two arguing bosses. The corners of her mouth seemed to twitch ever so slightly on her slightly cold face. Then, in a tone that was almost a soliloquy, yet clear enough for everyone in the room to hear, she calmly said, "Li Sheng says we should capitalize on the opportunity for publicity, while Shao Sheng says we should maintain the Miss Hong Kong pageant's authority. Each has their strengths. But, can we consider another approach?"
She paused slightly, her gaze sharpening. "Liu Rumeng's momentum is simply too strong right now. Her popularity, looks, and even talent seem to far surpass the other nineteen candidates. She's practically the favorite, perhaps even... the only choice. What if we don't let her be elected?"
Her words were like thunder from a clear sky, exploding suddenly in this space.
Li Xiaohe's eyes suddenly widened, almost thinking that he had misheard: "Don't let her be elected?"
Run Run Shaw also turned around suddenly, and for the first time, his eyes showed suspicion other than toughness, and he stared at Fang Yihua closely.
Fang Yihua met their shocked gazes without a trace of emotion, her tone growing calmer and clearer. With a sharp, penetrating gaze, she continued, "Right. It's not about backstage manipulation; that would be too low-brow and ruin our reputation. Rather, the judging criteria, competition rules, and even the newly added competition system were set up with extreme rationality and fairness, allowing her to lose points in non-core aspects or newly added, legitimately important assessments. For example, adding a less popular segment related to temperament and background? Or increasing the weight of certain points where "reasonable" points could be deducted?
Even... a minor adjustment to the judging panel? As long as it's done right and the reasoning is compelling enough that most of the audience and professional judges are convinced, they won't think we're biased. It's simply that Liu Rumeng couldn't achieve the highest score under certain new rules, thus losing the championship. But this result has sparked controversy, discussion, and heated discussion..."
Her words unfolded like cold silk, slowly and fatally.
"Wouldn't this be more shocking, more intriguing, and more likely to make the words 'Miss Hong Kong Pageant' known to everyone, spreading the buzz throughout Hong Kong and even internationally? Furthermore, with this level of hype, even if she doesn't win, Liu Rumeng herself and TVB will still be the biggest winners."
After Fang Yihua finished speaking, the room fell into a completely different kind of silence. No longer was Run Run Shaw's unilateral strong suppression, nor was it Li Xiaowo's helpless eagerness.
Li Ka-shing's face was filled with a complex expression of shock and thought. He had indeed never thought about this direction - deliberately and "reasonably" suppressing the biggest favorite.
And Run Run Shaw, for the first time, showed obvious astonishment on his usually cold and majestic face. His tightly furrowed brows loosened a little, and his hawk-like sharp eyes were fixed on Fang Yihua's calm face, as if he was really examining for the first time the suggestions made by this woman who had always stood by his side and rarely spoke up.
A brand-new possibility, carrying with it immense controversy and an even more intense storm of discussion, quietly brewed within this high-rise office. Outside, the Hong Kong sun blazed down, while inside, the three leaders of the island's entertainment empire, each with their own distinct thoughts, filled the air with a hefty weight that practically condensed water droplets.
Fang Yihua's analysis was like a stone dropped into a deep pond, instantly breaking the "rule" barrier constructed by Run Run Shaw. Her idea of "reasonably suppressing Liu Rumeng" directly hit two core pain points: brand authority and traffic effect.
Run Run Shaw was deeply shaken. He had always valued rules and respectability, and considered the Miss Hong Kong pageant a symbol of TVB's prestige. Mona Fong's suggestion of using the rules to suppress contestants ran counter to his belief in "strength above all else." He instinctively resisted—"Absurd! How can competition be reduced to mere manipulation?"
The thought had barely formed when it was immediately drowned out by the cold reality. He recalled that Liu Rumeng's immense popularity stemmed from rumors of jealousy, which in itself tarnished the very purpose of the pageant. If left unchecked, would Miss Hong Kong become a hunting ground for wealthy men? Fang Yihua's plan, while radical, could potentially safeguard the essence of the competition—assuming it was conducted covertly and without pretext. He clenched his fists, and for the first time, he felt a tearing pain in his heart at the very word "rules."
Li Ho-ho was a different story. After shock, there was a warm wave of ecstasy. He was a master of marketing, well-versed in the principle of "controversy equals profit." Fang Yihua's proposal was more ingenious than simply throwing money at publicity—to create a nationwide debate: Why did Liu Rumeng fail? Was it unfair rules or a lack of talent? This uncertainty was enough to make the Miss Hong Kong finals a huge hit! He could almost see advertisers waving checks.
Yet, amidst this excitement, there was a chill: if the operation were exposed, TVB's reputation would be ruined. Would it work? He stared at Fang Yihua anxiously, like a gambler seeing a chance of a comeback: "How exactly would it work? What are the risks?"
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