Chapter 880 Superstar (7600 words updated!)
Lang Xia and Lu Yanhe had fought each other openly and secretly quite a few times before.
This matter is documented both within the industry and online.
If Lang Xia suddenly ended up working under Chen Ziyan, it would definitely raise suspicions. Were all those back-and-forth exchanges between the two of them pre-arranged?
Although these things are no longer a big deal for Lu Yanhe now—
However, Chen Ziyan is also well aware that Lu Yanhe's current status and influence in the industry are not only due to his many achievements, but also because, to some extent, he is like a banner, inspiring many people in the industry to succeed by doing their jobs conscientiously without resorting to crooked means.
Therefore, Chen Ziyan did not want such suspicions to be associated with Lu Yanhe.
Chen Ziyan looked at He Yingzi, unsure of what to say for a moment.
My former rival is about to leave.
-
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi were quietly enjoying their time together in their New York apartment.
Ah, no, it's a world of three.
Zou Dong is still around.
However, Zou Dong basically stayed in his room on the first floor and didn't come out much. Most of the time, it was truly just the two of them.
If it weren't for security concerns, and if this were in China, Zou Dong would definitely have found a hotel nearby to stay at this point.
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi were inseparable almost all the time.
Upstairs, downstairs, watching movies, cooking, going shopping...
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi rarely get to enjoy such ordinary life.
For them, this was almost a luxury.
Sometimes, Chen Siqi would stay beside Lu Yanhe and slowly fall asleep. Her head would gently rest on Lu Yanhe's shoulder. At this moment, all her usual expressions and demeanor would disappear, leaving only innocent purity. Lu Yanhe would often gaze at her like this, lost in thought.
Lu Yanhe is not someone who gets distracted easily.
But I've been getting distracted a lot these past few days.
Sometimes, I even think about how they became parents and had their own children.
Sometimes the child is naughty, making her so angry that she puts her hands on her hips and yells, and he steps in to act as a peacemaker.
Sometimes children are well-behaved. When she looks at the child sleeping, she sees an unprecedented gentleness emanating from him, as if he is bathed in a soft light. He will stand beside her, hold her in his arms, and watch the child quietly together.
Life stretches on in our imagination.
When they came to their senses, they were still "semi-adults" who had just broken free from their youthful state but hadn't quite escaped it yet.
At times like these, Lu Yanhe always felt that time passed both very quickly and very slowly. It was so contradictory, so clinging, like amber, encapsulating many things from the past and preserving them forever.
-
Chen Siqi stayed with him here for four days.
After that, Chen Siqi had to return to China.
There's a whole host of things waiting for her to handle regarding "Jump Up".
A new year, a new journey, and no one will slack off at this time.
Lu Yanhe drove Chen Siqi to the airport, and then, while driving, he casually said, "No matter what, let's hold the concert this year, shall we?"
"Huh? A concert?" Chen Siqi was stunned and taken aback, taken aback by Lu Yanhe's sudden idea.
"Hmm." Lu Yanhe nodded, then realized what he meant.
Oh no!
He never told Chen Siqi that he was going to propose to her at his concert.
This is a surprise.
He was momentarily stunned, and the words just slipped out.
Lu Yanhe quickly said, "I was thinking that since I've released so many songs, many fans have wanted me to hold a concert. I haven't had time before because I've been busy filming. I'll try to make it happen this year."
Chen Siqi suddenly realized.
“Holding a concert is fine, but I thought you weren’t planning on singing anymore,” she said with a smile. “I felt you weren’t very interested in singing.”
Lu Yanhe nodded.
"When I'm not acting, I feel like I'm blessed with natural talent," he laughed. "When I'm acting, I feel a kind of inspiration."
Chen Siqi nodded. "Do you like to sing?"
“Love, of course I love, but only the kind of love that comes from being a singing enthusiast,” Lu Yanhe laughed.
Chen Siqi: "Back then, I was the one who arranged the music for the song 'Remembrance'."
"Hmm." Lu Yanhe nodded and smiled. "Luckily, you helped me back then, otherwise, this song wouldn't have been able to be sung."
Chen Siqi: "It was a twist of fate."
"That happened a long time ago," Lu Yanhe said, still smiling. "Why does it feel like it just happened?"
"This has only just happened, and so much has already happened." Chen Siqi turned to look at Lu Yanhe, a glimmer of light in her eyes. "Yanhe—"
She suddenly shouted.
"Um?"
"Let's go back to No. 13 Middle School when we have time," Chen Siqi said.
Lu Yanhe nodded, "Okay."
Chen Siqi said with a smile, "Please put the band-aid on me again. I want to relive that feeling."
Lu Yanhe nodded, "Okay."
After a two-second pause, Lu Yanhe belatedly realized what was happening.
"So that's when it was."
Chen Siqi: "What did you say?"
Lu Yanhe shook his head, his smile revealing a glimpse of white teeth.
"nothing."
I just learned something that was important but actually insignificant.
-
After Lu Yanhe dropped Chen Siqi off at the airport, since there was still some time, Chen Siqi didn't rush to go through security. The two of them sat down next to the security checkpoint.
Chen Siqi said, "Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you before, but I thought we shouldn't talk about work these days, so I haven't said it yet."
"Hmm?" Lu Yanhe held Chen Siqi's hand and asked, "What is it?"
Chen Siqi said, "Lin Yu told me that Sister Zixing's contract with Shijin is about to expire, and she seems to think that Shijin will not renew it."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yanhe showed a look of surprise.
"Why won't Shijin renew her contract? Sister Zixing should have at least doubled the number of registered members on Yemai.com in the past two years, right?"
Lu Yanhe has been paying attention to YeMai.com's reports. YeMai.com has done very well in recent years, especially in cultivating various niche fields. It has almost turned the largest literary and artistic platform in the past into a top platform in more than 20 vertical fields.
In particular, Sister Zixing's collaborations with various film and television companies have brought these companies into the fray, allowing them to release the latest information on their projects. She has also built a powerful media network, including the film and television version of "Jump Up," which has simultaneously integrated into this information dissemination system, making it the largest entertainment information platform.
This alone brought YeMai.com more than two million new monthly active users.
For Yemai.net, what could be more important than the number of users?
Chen Siqi said, "I don't know the specifics yet. I may need to have a detailed talk with Sister Zixing to find out. My idea is that if things are really unclear right now, I want to take the initiative. I plan to ask Sister Zixing to take charge of the online media platform of Jump Up."
Lu Yanhe: "Are you planning to create an online website similar to Yemai.com?"
“Yes.” Chen Siqi nodded. “Currently, we have 748 media outlets under our umbrella, including signed influencer accounts and celebrity accounts, distributed across various vertical fields. I have always wanted to create an integrated comprehensive platform.”
"Does this mean it's already leaning towards becoming a social networking site?" Lu Yanhe asked immediately upon hearing this.
“That’s right.” Chen Siqi nodded. “Our current original high-quality content resources can be said to be top-tier in the entire internet, and our coverage is also extensive. Under such circumstances, it would be a waste of resources not to create a social platform.”
"Does this require a large investment?" Lu Yanhe asked.
“Yes.” Chen Siqi nodded. “Fortunately, over the years, we have accumulated a lot of wealth. We are still the same, taking it one step at a time. We did not expect to become very big at the beginning. We are a content creator, so we don’t need to chase trends or crazes, and we don’t need to squeeze out a certain market share within three or five years.”
Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "Anyway, if you need it, you know that Linghe, Shihuo and other companies will be willing to continue to invest and share, including myself. I can also provide support in my personal capacity."
Chen Siqi: "We've reached this stage, and it's not a crisis, so we should try not to do things that require a lot of help to make a difference, so as not to affect our own ecosystems. Right now, we should be able to support ourselves. Otherwise, I wouldn't make such a plan, trying to get rich quick."
Lu Yanhe didn't insist. He simply felt that at this time, it was necessary to tell Chen Siqi and express his stance. Just like every time he wanted to do something, many people around him would express their support.
-
A new year.
Zhou Pingan took two days off. On his first day back at work, he drove to a hotel to meet Lang Xia.
To avoid being seen, they had to choose to meet at a hotel. Otherwise, whether it was a private club or a coffee shop, there was a possibility of running into people from the same industry.
Lang Xia actually wanted to sign with him as his subordinate—
This was something Zhou Ping'an never expected.
Lang Xia is a prime example of a successful start followed by a steady rise. She rose to fame shortly after her debut with "Golden Terrace," where she and Lu Yanhe were evenly matched. Later, Lu Yanhe's rise became increasingly apparent, demonstrating a "one-man army" dominance. Lang Xia, however, did not falter; instead, she continuously solidified her popularity, consistently producing new works and generating buzz. Subsequently, she starred in several youth romance films set in Yujiang, achieving box office success exceeding 100 million yuan, becoming one of the few new generation actors capable of carrying the box office.
If it weren't for Lu Yanhe's extraordinary talent, which simultaneously propelled a host of male actors his age, including Li Zhibai, Yan Liang, Liu Zefan, and Yin Xincheng, to stardom, Lang Xia would likely be the most outstanding actor in his generation. Despite this, he remains firmly in the top tier. In fact, among male actors his age who have little connection to Lu Yanhe, he stands out as the most successful. This has earned him even greater recognition within the industry; while others have benefited to some extent from Lu Yanhe's fame, he hasn't.
Behind this, of course, was He Yingzi's influence.
Zhou Ping'an's attitude towards this colleague was the same as his attitude towards Chen Ziyan.
While feeling a sense of urgency, I also greatly admired their methods. In the agent industry, you can't get ahead by relying on connections; if your own methods aren't strong enough, even the King of Heaven himself won't help.
The more this is the case, the more they develop a mutual respect amidst their battles and struggles.
Zhou Ping'an was puzzled as to why Lang Xia wanted to switch agencies. With He Yingzi, an agent with connections and resources, wholeheartedly supporting Lang Xia's advancement, what more could he possibly want?
If he is not satisfied with He Yingzi, then who can he be satisfied with?
After exchanging pleasantries, Lang Xia revealed the truth upon meeting him.
“In recent years, my career has stagnated a bit, and I haven’t been able to take it any further,” Lang Xia said. “So, I wanted to come to Shijin. Shijin is currently lacking A-list actors, and I think we have a basis for cooperation.”
Zhou Pingan asked, "However, the resources that Shi Jin can provide you, He Yingzi can also secure for you. And the resources that He Yingzi can't secure for you, Shi Jin may not be able to secure for you either. You should know that He Yingzi is already one of the top agents in the industry. If you want to take your career to the next level, He Yingzi is one of the people in this industry who is most capable of achieving that goal."
Lang Xia nodded.
“Yes, I know she’s a top-tier agent, and she’s been a great help to me. However, she’s been handling my work for a long time, and so far there hasn’t been any progress. I think it’s time to change agents.” Lang Xia looked directly at Zhou Ping’an. “Aren’t you interested in managing me?”
Zhou Pingan laughed.
“Lang Xia, I don’t think any agent would say they’re not interested in you. But you also need to know that if you’re going to dislike even He Yingzi, I don’t think any agent would take you on without hesitation. No one is confident that they can do better than He Yingzi.”
Zhou Ping'an's words made Lang Xia frown.
Lang Xia remained silent for a moment.
Zhou Ping'an didn't urge him; he knew that what he had just said was a bit sharp.
To Lang Xia, it would certainly sound harsh.
Lang Xia may need time to accept this statement.
Lang Xia seemed to struggle for a moment.
Zhou Ping'an immediately realized that Lang Xia's desire to end his cooperative relationship with He Yingzi had other hidden reasons, reasons that Lang Xia could not explain.
Zhou Pingan continued to wait patiently.
After a long while, Lang Xia said, "I can't continue to work with He Yingzi because... because of personal matters, I can't work with her anymore."
An expression of embarrassment and anger appeared on his face.
"In short, no matter how capable she is, I can't cooperate with her." Lang Xia stared at Zhou Ping'an with almost reckless eyes. "If you think it's not suitable, then forget it, I'll find someone else."
It wasn't until this point that Zhou Ping'an said, "Of course I don't think it's inappropriate. However, for an artist as famous as you, this matter involves a wide range of people, so I can't help but want to know more. You said that you and He Yingzi can't continue to work together because of personal matters. Will this affect your career development? Will there be any entanglements?"
Lang Xia: "It's just a purely private matter and won't become a future scandal, so don't worry."
"Then do you mind—" Zhou Ping'an paused for a moment, "that I find out if there's anything private between you two?"
Lang Xia sneered.
"Do I need to know more? Haven't you heard the rumors about her and my dad?"
Zhou Ping'an was taken aback.
That was a really long time ago.
After He Yingzi brought Lang Xia into the industry, Zhou Ping'an had already tacitly accepted that Lang Xia had known and accepted this all along. Why does it seem like Lang Xia only recently found out about this situation?
Lang Xia sneered: "Actually, many people are just making fun of me, aren't they?"
“It’s not quite a joke,” Zhou Ping’an shook his head. “Those rumors from back then were only about things that happened before your father got married. They were just baseless speculations. Even if there was something going on, it’s all in the past. You’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, you should know very well how many things in this industry are true and false. Who can really tell the difference?”
When Lang Xia heard Zhou Ping'an say this, the distorted mockery on his face eased slightly.
He said in a low voice, "Perhaps only you think this way."
“I would certainly welcome you to come here,” Zhou Ping’an said. “However, I hope you can part ways with her amicably, so that she won’t be angry later. After all, she has taken care of you for so many years and put in so much effort.”
Lang Xia: "My contract simply expired, it ended normally, and I didn't renew it."
Zhou Ping'an: "Has she talked to you about renewing her contract?"
"No." Lang Xia shook his head.
Zhou Ping'an was somewhat surprised.
Generally speaking, popular artists of Lang Xia's caliber should start contract renewal negotiations a year before their contracts expire.
Why didn't He Yingzi discuss this matter with Lang Xia?
Zhou Ping'an hesitated for a moment.
He said, "Tell me your needs, and I'll think about what I can do to meet them. If you can accept the conditions I offer, we can continue our discussion."
Lang Xia said, "I hope you can personally take charge of my work, and I hope Shi Jin can tailor a career development plan for me."
Zhou Pingan laughed.
Is that all?
“That’s it.” Lang Xia nodded. “In this industry, many people say that your greatest skill is having a good eye and always being able to pick out the most suitable projects for your artists. That’s exactly what I need.”
Zhou Pingan said, "You're already very famous, and your project has a very high success rate."
"There's too much homogenization; in fact, we're completely confined to one type, unable to break through," Lang Xia said. "If you want to transform, if you want to break through, isn't that the kind of ability you need?"
Zhou Ping'an hesitated for a moment and said, "I would advise artists not to easily change their career path, as it often means failure."
Lang Xia: "But I can't keep playing the school heartthrob in youth romance movies. I'm almost thirty years old. If I don't change my image, the audience will abandon me. I don't mind being an idol-type actor forever, but I can't stay this young forever."
Zhou Ping'an looked at Lang Xia in surprise and remained silent for a long time.
Sometimes, he often wonders if the emergence of Lu Yanhe has inspired this generation of artists to be more rational and clear-headed than the last. It seems that everyone is very clear about what they want, what they are facing, and what choices they should make.
This is not the norm for young people, but it has become the norm among the young artists he has met.
Perhaps it's because the cases he chose were all successful young artists, so this is a common trait needed for success?
It didn't seem to be like this before.
-
In a conference room in Linghe, Liu Yuhuai sat nervously inside.
He received a call from a Linghe employee yesterday, informing him that Chen Yin had invited him to the company to have a face-to-face talk.
There has been no news about the development of the script "Weather Forecast" since I last met with Lu Yanhe.
Upon receiving such a call, Liu Yuhuai, who was already feeling guilty, hadn't slept well all night, tossing and turning. Today, with dark circles under his eyes, he arrived here feeling tense, excited, and exhausted. The other party simply invited him to this conference room and asked him to wait a moment.
The environment here made him even more uneasy.
It was quiet; there was no one else around except him. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he began to worry that someone might be watching him from behind some disguised mirrored wall.
Did Chen Yin already know that the writer of the script "Weather Forecast" was not Shi Hui, but him?
Will Linghe find out that he is actually He Shize's student?
Thinking about it, it wouldn't be difficult for Linghe to investigate this matter.
Liu Yuhuai hesitated for a long time, until the meeting room door opened.
Chen Yin walked in from outside.
"Teacher Liu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Chen Yin's smile remained as bright as ever, seemingly unchanged.
This relieved Liu Yuhuai slightly. He stood up and shook hands with Chen Yin.
"Mr. Chen, why did you call me over?"
Chen Yin looked at Liu Yuhuai with a warm gaze and asked in return, "Shouldn't I have invited you over?"
Liu Yuhuai was at a loss for words.
Chen Yin: "Didn't we say last time that we could discuss cooperation?"
He smiled and said, "Sit down."
Liu Yuhuai sat down.
Chen Yin glanced at the doorway to make sure it was closed before continuing to speak.
“Then I’ll be frank, Professor Liu. Right now it’s just the two of us, there’s no camera or recording, and only the two of us know what we’re talking about.” Chen Yin looked at Liu Yuhuai, his hands on the table in an open gesture, a gesture that made people feel “accepted” and “inclusive.” “I know that you wrote ‘Weather Forecast’ and that you were involved in some scriptwriting at He Shizhe’s studio as his student.”
Liu Yuhuai's heart sank.
Chen Yin's direct approach struck him squarely, leaving him completely bewildered.
"President Chen—"
Chen Yin raised his hand, indicating that Liu Yuhuai did not need to explain for the time being.
“I know you probably have your reasons for not being able to put your name on the credits, so you have to use your wife’s name.” Chen Yin nodded. “I also know that if it were possible, such an excellent script, which we have taken a liking to and want to develop into a movie, you would definitely want to put your name on the opening credits.”
Liu Yuhuai lowered his head in silence.
"I only have one question for you right now," Chen Yin asked. "If I need you or your wife to sign a long-term contract with Linghe, is that possible?"
Liu Yuhuai was taken aback.
"Although I'm willing to think the best of everything, I also have to prepare for the worst," Chen Yin said. "You must know that He Shize publicly criticized President Lu on the show for hiring ghostwriters to write his scripts, although we don't know why either, after all, we haven't had any conflicts or disagreements with him—"
“Because your reviews of the script for ‘Eagle on the Ground’ have spread throughout the industry, Shi Jin has been unable to find any A-list actors to star in the film, which has led to the project being indefinitely postponed, and the final payment for the script has not been settled.” Liu Yuhuai suddenly looked up and said, “So, he is very angry and wants to take revenge on you on the show.”
Chen Yin raised an eyebrow.
"So that's how it is."
“I happened to write the main part of that script,” Liu Yuhuai said.
Chen Yin stared at Liu Yuhuai in silence for a long time without saying a word.
“I understand, but, as I said before, even though I’m willing to trust you, I still need to keep some precautions in mind,” Chen Yin said. “Just in case this script is indeed your creation, and you own the full copyright, so it won’t cause any controversy when our project enters the formal preparation and production stage.”
Liu Yuhuai: "...Should I or my wife sign a contract with Linghe?"
“That’s right,” Chen Yin said. “Of course, we can also offer you another option. We can choose to void the previous script transfer agreement, return the script to you, and you return the licensing fee to us. We don’t need the pre-tax price—the taxed portion can be considered as compensation for the delay we’ve made.”
Liu Yuhuai fell silent.
Liu Yuhuai said, "I signed a contract with He Shize's studio, which expires at the end of this year. There is still a year left. If I sign a contract with Linghe, that would be a breach of contract."
"So, you don't have the copyright to your own works?" Chen Yin asked.
Liu Yuhuai hesitated for a moment, then said firmly, "Yes, during the contract period, the copyright of the scripts I wrote belonged to He Shize's studio. Therefore, 'Weather Forecast' was not a script I wrote, but one written by my wife."
Chen Yin nodded.
“Thank you for telling me the truth.” He smiled. “Actually, you are a very talented screenwriter. However, we can’t take that risk. We will return the script of ‘Weather Forecast’ to Ms. Shi Hui. If you trust us, we can talk about the script again after your contract with He Shizhe Studio expires.”
Liu Yuhuai was completely stunned.
"Mr. Chen, this—'Weather Forecast' is really—"
“Teacher Liu,” Chen Yin interrupted him calmly, “It’s only been a year, but our love for the script ‘Weather Forecast’ remains undiminished. Doing this is good for you and for us.”
Liu Yuhuai asked, "What if my wife signs a contract with you?"
Chen Yin looked surprised.
He spread his hands, indicating his helplessness.
"I'm sorry, but we won't allow any issues with the copyright ownership of a project that costs at least 100 million. If a dispute arises, or even one that is unfavorable to us, the subsequent compensation will be beyond your means."
Liu Yuhuai appeared distraught.
Chen Yin: "Teacher Liu, the olive branch we extended to you will still be valid a year from now. At that time, you can sign a contract with Linghe. Whether it's 'Weather Forecast' or other scripts you create, you will receive our support first. There is no doubt about that."
Liu Yuhuai nodded.
Chen Yin didn't know if he had taken those words to heart.
-
In the United States, the preliminary battles for awards season have entered a heated phase.
The Screen Actors Guild Awards, one of the four major indicators, saw Lu Yanhe predictably drop out of the nominations, while Wen Shengming overcame the Oscars' overall bias against Asians to enter the Best Supporting Actor nomination list.
The same was true for the British Academy Film Awards, where Lu Yanhe was not nominated, while Wen Shengming was a shoo-in for the list.
The public relations strategy was effective, and the public relations expenses incurred in the early stages were worthwhile.
At this point, Wen Shengming has secured his place on the nomination list for all four key indicators.
Lu Yanhe breathed a sigh of relief.
Judging from the preliminary awards, Wen Shengming's Best Supporting Actor and "The Wind Rises"'s Best Foreign Language Film should be nominations in the bag.
The basic goals have all been achieved.
The public relations success of "Dingfeng No. 1" during the awards season gave Lu Yanhe a vague sense of what the awards season was all about.
Ultimately, this is also a game. As long as you figure out the hidden rules, you can achieve twice the results with half the effort.
Darren still regrets that if Lu Yanhe had applied for Best Supporting Actor, this year's nomination would have been a certainty.
By this stage, "Windbreaker" had already achieved a very stable level of attention, with both discussion and recognition reaching a considerable scale. Its performance during the awards season exceeded many people's expectations, including those of public relations firms. After all, it's a Chinese-language film, with very few comparable examples. Ironically, it became a case study for public relations of future foreign-language films.
Of course, the prerequisite for public relations is having a superstar like Lu Yanhe who can attract attention.
(End of this chapter)
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