Chapter 37: The Visitor's Intentions Are Not Good?
Not long after the variety show ended, Ling Wei's phone started ringing and vibrating incessantly on the sofa.
She glanced at the WeChat messages popping up on the screen and opened them with a smile.
Those colleagues at the station with keen senses, after watching the finished product, sensed the potential to be a hit and couldn't wait to pop champagne in the work group and private chat windows, flooding the screen with all sorts of praise like "awesome" and "godlike".
The guests and their teams who participated in the recording also joined in the celebration, with countless emojis interspersed among their words of thanks and congratulations.
Ling Wei had been called over by Zhou Han half a month ago to see the almost finalized rough cut version, and her intuition told her at the time that it was a success.
The initial excitement, after two weeks of settling down, has transformed into a calm acceptance of waiting for the flowers to bloom.
She was patiently replying to Riemann's howling from South Korea:
Slow down, I'm scared: [Aaaaaah!!! I want to be on "The Pursuit Order" too!]
Weiwei smiled brightly: 【What's going on now?】
Slow down, I'm scared: [I always feel safe when you're making arrangements. (Lighting a cigarette for the boss.jpg)]
Vivi's smile is very energetic: [(Big boss smoking.jpg)]
A call suddenly came in, and the name flashing on the screen made her raise an eyebrow.
She waited until the phone rang three times before slowly answering: "Director Zhou? What can I do for you?"
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed only by his soft breathing.
Then, that familiar, slightly hoarse voice came through: "Did you watch the show?"
Ling Wei: "Didn't I go with you to review the rough cut? Director Zhou, your memory is terrible..."
There was no sound from the other end, but Ling Wei could almost picture him pursing his lips slightly.
Her smile deepened, and her words carried a hint of teasing: "Didn't I praise you to the skies back then? Hey, really, Director Zhou, now that the broadcast has been a huge success, you even called just to hear me praise you again?"
A muffled chuckle finally came from the other end, like the sound of pine trees rustling in the night, before it subsided: "No need."
Ling Wei waited patiently; she could sense that he still had something to say.
"Ling Wei..." he spoke again, his voice lower.
"Um?"
"Thanks."
This straightforward and solemn thank you made Ling Wei pause for a moment, then she laughed, her voice sounding particularly clear in the night: "This is just the beginning, Director Zhou, don't open the champagne halfway through."
“Yes,” he repeated softly, as if speaking to her, or perhaps to himself, “the road ahead is still long.”
After the call ended, Zhou Han put his phone down.
He wasn't in the TV station's office filled with equipment, but rather in the study of a high-rise apartment building with a view of the city lights.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, dazzling lights shone, but inside, only an antique brass reading lamp was lit, casting a warm, dim light that projected his tall figure onto the walnut bookshelf.
The phone vibrated again, and the screen displayed "Mother".
"mom."
“The program was very good,” the mother said in a gentle voice with a unique composure. “Your father watched the whole episode in the study just now. Although he didn’t say anything, I saw him smile.”
Zhou Han walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the traffic flowing downstairs: "He actually finished watching it?"
"Not only did you watch it all, but you also turned the volume up to the maximum." The mother naturally got to the point. "By the way, make sure next weekend is free. Your dad's old colleague, Director Chen's daughter, is back from Cambridge. Uncle Chen has always admired you and would like to invite you to dinner."
Zhou Han frowned slightly: "Mom, I've been preparing..."
“I know what you’re going to say,” the mother’s voice remained gentle, but carried an uncompromising tone. “Uncle Chen went to the grassroots level with your father before, and your father also felt that he should still meet with him.”
Zhou Han paused for a moment, then looked at the stack of internal documents in the corner: "I understand."
He hung up the phone and stood by the window for a while.
Remembering Ling Wei's words, "The road ahead is still long," he turned around and picked up the proposal for "City Pursuit Order."
There are some paths he prefers to take on based on his own abilities.
In the following episodes, "City Chase Order" maintained a steady and high standard, consistently topping the ratings and online popularity charts, truly achieving a triumphant return.
The entire team was working themselves to the bone. The post-production editor had dark circles under his eyes, and the on-set director's voice was hoarse from shouting, but everyone's eyes were shining.
The immense sense of accomplishment and the visible results acted like a shot in the arm, filling the entire team with high spirits and enthusiasm.
Even the most opportunistic marketing accounts jumped on the bandwagon, each headline more sensational than the last:
[Breaking News! "City Chase" Achieves Three Consecutive Weeks of Top Ratings: A Look Back at How Zhou Han Used Three Key Strategies to Return to the Top!]
[In-depth Analysis | From Near Cancellation to Phenomenal Hit: What Did "City Chase" Do Right?]
As the show became a huge hit, the performances of the regular cast members also soared, each showcasing their own unique brilliance:
Shen Yicheng's "handsome uncle" image has deeply resonated with the public, ushering in a second spring in his career, with the scripts and endorsements he receives noticeably improving in quality.
An Yao's "bad girl face" has become a unique trademark. Her "you can't stand me but you can't do anything about me" attitude has unexpectedly won her many fans, and her commercial activity fees have doubled.
Feng Nuo has become a hot commodity in variety shows, with various TV stations extending invitations to similar programs, making him a synonym for "source of joy."
Even previously unknown idols gained countless fans and saw their fan base explode due to their genuine reactions on the show.
The explosive popularity of variety shows is like a boulder thrown into a lake, creating ripples that spread rapidly.
The most direct manifestation of this was the flood of guest applications.
At the planning meeting on Monday morning, the executive director was holding a tablet and reporting the preliminary shortlist to the chief director Zhou Han and the core team.
He read out a long list of names, including Ling Wei, one of the filming directors, but her mind was on the new segment design that he was refining.
Until a clear name reached her ears, causing her fingertips, which were tapping on the tablet, to suddenly pause.
"...In addition, Lu Zhao also formally submitted his application through the company's channels."
Several suppressed gasps rang out in the meeting room.
Lu Zhao debuted with a landslide victory in a talent show and now firmly sits on the throne of top idols. His recently concluded global tour was a complete sell-out, and his popularity and fan base are terrifying.
Behind him stands a top-tier team personally built by Lu's Capital after the Lu family recognized his entry into the entertainment industry. His core agent, Li Wei, has personally mentored many award-winning actors and actresses, possessing a keen eye and superb skills.
His team has always been extremely selective in choosing variety show invitations, and this time, the fact that they took the initiative to extend an olive branch is undoubtedly the strongest testament to the show's influence.
System: "Oh ho, here comes someone to join the fun. Could this person have ill intentions?"
Ling Wei picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. For top celebrities to maintain their popularity, expanding their national recognition through hit variety shows is the quickest way.
Lu Zhao's team's ability to accurately bet on "Pursuit Order" at this juncture demonstrates their keen insight; they truly deserve to be called the elite team specially assembled for him by the Lu family.
For a show to not take on a project with his status, it would be a fool for the production team.
As for whether he's good or bad... let's see when we meet.
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