Chapter 297: Sister Shang: You’ve Got Some Nerve
In the living room.
Ling Bingbing and Manager Zhang looked at the two former Beijing Circle investors in front of them, their faces full of eager expressions, and they kept gesticulating while saying something.
The emotions in their hearts couldn’t be described as either happy or complicated.
How to put it.
Perhaps in this world, interests are the most solid “friendship.”
A spy drama, just because Chi Ye is the lead actor, actually makes film circle investors flock to it.
Are they concerned about one or two TV series?
No, what they care about is using this opportunity to ease their relationship with Chi Ye, in hopes of cooperation in future movies.
That’s all.
Unfortunately, 《Latent》 this project is completely led by Director Jiang and Chi Ye, the investors’ spots have long been filled, they’re definitely not short on funding, but the two’s “attitude,” Ling Bingbing already knows, and perhaps Chi Ye will know soon too.
Such an effect is enough; the two returned home satisfied, while Ling Bingbing and Manager Zhang looked at each other in the hall for a moment, speechless.
“See, now everyone in the industry has reacted, all rushing to cooperate with Chi Ye… You really saw it one step ahead of all of us.”
“……I think you’re too optimistic.”
Ling Bingbing shook her head instead and said: “From 《Influenza》 exploding until now, it’s been a lot of small capitals jumping around; the real opponents haven’t shown up, including the recent Qian Rui and Zhu Yao Lin teams. This time they must have truly felt the threat. The industry ahead… won’t be peaceful.”
Manager Zhang was surprised: “Not peaceful, and you’re still actively getting close?”
Ling Bingbing was silent for a moment: “How many times do I have to say it before you believe me? I really think his acting skills are quite strong, and I really like that script, so that’s why I made contact.”
“Actively auditioning to boost popularity was also because of that?”
“Just lending a little hand conveniently. Since we’re cooperating, we should leave a good impression.”
“……Anyway, you’ve said everything; I believe you.”
Ling Bingbing speechlessly glanced at her partner, then turned to ask about another matter: “Speaking of ‘opponents’ and enemies… Yue Na side recently…?”
“Yue Na understands traffic too well; they really have their own set.”
On this, Manager Zhang could only nod in acknowledgment.
……
Yue Na Group has finally gotten through the ordeal period during this time.
Although the company ultimately had some assets seized, due to the connections accumulated by the group over the years, including the final aid from Penguin, the centipede is dead but not stiff, and they managed to survive this hurdle.
Moreover, after surviving this hurdle, their work was very swift; the first thing wasn’t to “retaliate” against Chi Ye, but to immediately resume business that had been stalled for a long time.
Although many projects are currently stalled due to artist scandals, group reputation issues, and the like, what is Yue Na best at?
Traffic, star-making!
Yue Na is known as the company with the most terrifying star-making ability in internal entertainment circle in the past decade; it’s slightly declined in recent years but still ranks in the top three.
Chi Ye aside, although current Chi Ye is known to everyone and unrivaled top streamer publicly recognized in internal entertainment circle, he became popular after leaving Yue Na.
As for before, Ji Hemming, Yu Yan, including the second-generation top streamers, first-generation top streamers, and even the two super first-tier middle-aged actors in the film circle, all came out of Yue Na Group.
This star-making ability keeps Yue Na standing firm in the internal entertainment circle; similarly, their proficiency in this new era internal entertainment circle traffic gameplay makes them very confident in this “assembly line” process.
—They have the qualification for that confidence.
At the beginning of this year, shortly after 《Influenza》 exploded, a danmei adaptation drama called 《Flower Shallow Fate》 emerged, seizing the gap in the internal entertainment circle music and film winter finally dissipating and standards gradually loosening, propelling their few remaining uncollapsed top streamer Xiao Zhan（ whose agency contract is with Penguin） to an even higher position.
If previous Xiao Zhan was just a resource person hard-promoted by Yue Na and Penguin, then after 《Flower Shallow Fate》, Xiao Zhan’s traffic has directly chased after Chi Ye, far ahead suppressing other first-tier young actors.
For example, Peng Chen, Chu Han Zhou, including Si Zi and Zhu Yao Lin’s traffic, were somewhat stretched thin during Xiao Zhan’s peak, of course, only in terms of traffic.
Now the only one who can still “press” Xiao Zhan in traffic is Chi Ye, who still carries a bit of 《Xing Ni》 halo.
But whether this suppression can continue forever, no one knows.
After all, the traffic turnover of male stars in internal entertainment circle is notoriously fast and cruel, countless times more brutal than little flowers’ competition.
Chi Ye maintaining the unrivaled top streamer status for nearly three years is already a miracle, because his top streamer status is different from previous ones; he has always been “unrivaled first.”
First place is 100, second place is at most 50.
True disparity leading.
But after Xiao Zhan exploded, especially recently, because Chi Ye after 《Xing Ni》 has been doing movie works, and everyone in the industry knows that movies can’t massively attract fans and explode traffic, and might even wash away some fans.
Movies are mainly for artists to accumulate star power and prestige.
Plus Xiao Zhan backed by Penguin + Yue Na, naturally has irreconcilable conflicts with Chi Ye, so online during this time, fans from both Chi Xiao camps have been in “you die I live” feuds.
Chi Ye himself is actually very unwilling to see such a scene, because at his status, once you engage in feuds with other traffic stars, that’s “actively” elevating their status.
Um… it’s hard for him to control all fans.
—Previously Chi Ye Team and fans have encountered such peng ci, but this time due to “strength” reasons, it’s a bit troublesome, and the real reason is that Chi Ye indeed has no “traffic” sources now.
He has always been on the “consuming and washing fans” side, while Xiao Zhan is like him a few years ago, in a crazy expansion period.
Among the fans he attracts, who knows how many were previously Chi Ye’s fans but climbed walls due to danmei.
So, the ebb and flow isn’t strange.
One and a half months later.
Approaching the end of May.
《Mars Rescue》 film crew.
Chi Ye took off the heavy “astronaut” suit, removed the face mask, breathing “fresh air”…
The fresh air isn’t fresh; opening his mouth gets a mouthful of sand. He has adapted to the harsh climate here, but still occasionally touches his face.
His most proud face now has a bit more roughness.
This makes Chi Ye very “worried”; when Empress Dowager comes to visit the set later, will it delay his continuing to live off a woman’s earnings?
Um… probably not; Empress Dowager isn’t that superficial.
“You’re done for, I tell you; this location choice of yours is really something. My fair tender skin is about to be ruined by you. No, Xiao Chi, you must compensate me. You have to be a regular on the variety show; if you don’t, I’ll die for you to see.”
Beside him, Sister Shang, who had just finished supplementing her guest role scenes this week and came to visit the set without schedule, was applying sunscreen to her body while shaking her head expressing her suicidal wish.
Chi Ye also agreed with her idea: “Try to find a feng shui treasure land, a place with water.”
“? Why water? For good feng shui?”
Sister Shang was curious.
Chi Ye nodded then shook his head: “That’s just a saying; actually more importantly, places with water can mask the taste.”
Sister Shang: “……I want you to taste the flavor now.”
“Don’t be so disgusting, okay? Such a nice little fairy, always pulling this in front of me.”
“You started it.”
Sister Shang never bickers with Chi Ye; usually, she gets teased by him a few times and doesn’t take it seriously, but on the little marksman issue, she cares a lot.
She thinks this might be the only embarrassing event in her life, and right in front of Chi Ye’s eyes, quite losing face.
But she actually doesn’t know that in her life’s embarrassments, this only ranks at the bottom… Chi Ye reminded her, but she doesn’t want to face reality.
Now, she really hopes Chi Ye can be more “realistic.”
“A 200 million announcement that allows you to leave midway for other work; Xiao Chi, 200 million—that’s the highest variety show announcement since the entertainment circle rectification, right?”
Sister Shang chattered on: “If I were you, I’d take it. Go play and get paid; with this money, why go back to work? One holiday, directly take leave until five years later; must properly compensate my belly.”
Chi Ye listened curiously: “Five years? You taking maternity leave?”
“Don’t digress; I’m not giving birth to Nezha, how can I take five years maternity leave.”
Chi Ye nodded silently: “True.”
“Wait, no.” Sister Shang reacted, suddenly a bit angry: “You said I take maternity leave? You you… you’re sarcastically saying my belly is big, right?”
Chi Ye glanced at Sister Shang’s little belly, finding it only a bit fatter than last time, and shook his head: “No, you misunderstood.”
“That’s exactly what you mean!”
Sister Shang was absolutely certain: “Xiao Chi, I tell you, I’ll lose weight sooner or later. You might not know how good I look when slim; however you treat me now, that’s how I’ll treat you when I’m slim. Just you wait!”
After saying that, she huffed and walked to the side, wanting to squat but feeling it wasn’t elegant, so found a spot out of sight, accidentally exposing half her waist: “I’m going back; I’m never coming again.”
Chi Ye glanced: “The program invitation is already in the mailbox; we’ll see each other on the variety show then.”
“……!!”
Sister Shang blinked her eyes, still not turning back, just “aloofly” saying faintly: “Come if you want; anyway, I’ve said both good and bad things to you for so long.”
“…”
Chi Ye ignored her, picked up his mobile phone, preparing to notify Empress Dowager to go play on the program together, also counting as a vacation for the two.
Ding ling ling.
At that moment.
The phone in Sister Shang’s pocket rang.
Sister Shang, who still wanted to keep up the aloof act and maintain her “fairy” persona in front of Chi Ye, was stunned, took out her mobile phone and answered: “Hello? Director Wang… um… what?!”
“No, I’ve already settled the matters; now you tell me… oh, okay, I got it. Fine, I’ll remind him.”
After a brief chat, Sister Shang’s emotions fluctuated.
Chi Ye walked over: “What’s the situation? What’s wrong with you?”
This was the first time seeing Sister Shang so angry.
Although it was only a moment before she calmed down, he still sensed it.
“Nothing.”
Shang Youshu paused, put away her phone, and looked at Chi Ye with complicated eyes: “The program team asked me to tell you that Penguin contacted their program and wants Xiao Zhan to be a regular.”
“Hm?”
Chi Ye raised an eyebrow: “Not just that, right? I remember your relationship with Penguin is pretty good too, and Xiao Zhan hasn’t offended you; why such a big reaction?”
“……The regular spots are already full; Penguin and Yue Na ‘heard’ you’re not coming and want Xiao Zhan to replace you.”
“Heh.”
Hearing this, Chi Ye laughed.
What a “heard”; now it’s heard, but if he really doesn’t go to the program, tomorrow there’ll probably be hot searches about Xiao Zhan rank above robbing Chi Ye’s variety show resources, with gossip spreading all over the industry.
This Yue Na… and Penguin, right, forgot Penguin is Yue Na’s big sponsor.
Previous two cooperations weren’t pleasant; currently, the only remaining cooperation between Chi Ye and Penguin is in music.
But since he hasn’t released songs much in the past year, the music side relationship is just so-so.
Mainly film and television; Penguin had wanted to invest in Chi Ye’s projects, but neither 《Mars Rescue》 nor 《Ghost》 worked out.
Especially 《Ghost》’s exclusive broadcasting rights ultimately went to Kiwifruit.
Penguin side is furious.
Understanding this, Chi Ye didn’t take it seriously, because at his current level, traffic disputes aren’t that important anymore; the main reason for trying to maintain the unrivaled traffic is to earn more money.
—Maintaining this star power one more day accelerates the studio’s development one more day.
If it can’t be maintained… still can’t let Penguin’s people rise.
If retreating, it’s me retreating; what the hell are you guys?
“How did the program team reply?”
Chi Ye sat down in an empty spot: “Xiao Zhan’s traffic has caught up now; not much worse than mine.”
“Of course the program team didn’t agree.”
Sister Shang, having just vented a bit, felt a phoenix aura still around her, slapped her thigh, and started bragging with eyes closed: “They originally wanted to switch, but in my anger, I directly said if you don’t come, I won’t go; hearing that, they immediately changed their minds.”
“?”
Chi Ye was skeptical: “Really?”
“Uh…” Sister Shang felt guilty: “Of course… what else did you think.”
“Oh, in that case, forget it; the program team’s attitude chills me. Since they had that idea, let them find Xiao Zhan instead.”
“???”
Sister Shang was dumbfounded, seeing Chi Ye seemed serious, hurriedly stood up and grabbed him: “No no, Xiao Chi… okay I was wrong, I lied just now. The program team asked me to remind you; they rejected Penguin as soon as they learned about it, just… just called me to remind you that recently Xiao Zhan is going to rob your resources in the traffic market.”
Chi Ye shook his head: “Sorry, I believe you, so I don’t believe you.”
Sister Shang: “?”
“Don’t, Xiao Chi, I really lied just now; don’t do this. If you do, how do I explain to the program team later? I… are you trying to force me to death? Chi Ye, have a heart!”
