Chapter 287: Two Years, Movie First-tier, Star Power Upgrade Again
“Lost for words? If you have an opinion, just say it.”
Teacher Shi didn’t answer, just helped Chi Ye open the Insulated Bucket’s lid, took out the still somewhat hot dishes one by one, and then… then she didn’t leave.
This surprised Chi Ye a bit, and he started muttering to himself inwardly.
Normally, at this time, the Valkyrie would definitely leave without looking back, disdainful of paying attention to his kind of teasing.
But today…
Something up?
He paused, picked up the chopsticks and tasted a peeled boiled large shrimp: “Almost the taste.”
Teacher Shi: “……I’ll make you another one.”
“No need for that.”
Chi Ye calmly put away the chopsticks, guarded the vital spot, and then asked: “Something up?”
“……I’m holding a concert.”
“Oh.”
Chi Ye nodded, thought for a moment, and said: “Wasn’t this decided last year? You want me to attend the live performance to listen to singing?”
Shi Daifu glanced at him, couldn’t hold back: “You… can you stop teasing me all the time.”
Chi Ye: “……What do you want?”
“Can you be a guest at the concert once?”
After Shi Daifu said it, she felt a bit guilty and quickly added: “That… I… it’s what the fans requested, many voted saying they want to hear you singing, but you haven’t sung for a long time, so… if you’re too busy, forget it.”
Chi Ye nodded frankly: “Then forget it, I’m indeed pretty busy.”
Shi Daifu was silent for two seconds, nodded, stood up and started clearing the plates: “I’ll go back and make another one for you, this one wasn’t made to your taste.”
“……Look at you, how can’t you take a joke.” Chi Ye felt a bit guilty, looking at the serious-faced Shi Daifu, he always felt this girl sometimes really made people “love and hate” her.
He carefully thought about his schedule this year and said: “How about this, I’ll probably go to several provinces to film later, different times and places, have your agent send me the concert schedule later, and I’ll try to help you out at a few more shows.”
“Really?”
Teacher Shi looked up, her almond eyes blinking unceasingly, but then felt it was a bit too obvious, quickly lowered her head again, though her tone couldn’t hide the excitement: “I’ll pay you.”
Chi Ye: “?”
He looked Teacher Shi up and down a few times: “Looks like you’ve made quite a bit of money lately, so generous?”
“Yeah, made a lot, much better than before.”
Shi Daifu was the honest type of child who would answer whatever you asked, so she completely didn’t get Chi Ye’s sarcasm, and said contentedly: “I was always lukewarm at my previous company, just starting to pick up when the company took a big cut, now it’s much better, if I save a bit more, I should be able to buy a house outright.”
“Ah? Haven’t even earned enough for one house yet?”
Chi Ye was dumbfounded: “Don’t lie to me.”
Who knew, Shi Daifu was even more embarrassed: “The house I like is a bit expensive…”
Chi Ye was really curious now: “Where’s the house? Do you like big houses?”
“……It’s in a good location, over 200,000 per square meter.”
Chi Ye fell silent: “Looks like you’ve earned too much, tomorrow I’ll take a harsher cut from you.”
Shi Daifu: “…”
Chi Ye suddenly felt that he really hadn’t “cared” about the Boxing King for a long time, as the former second only to the Empress Dowager in “founding merits,” she was a bit too low-key.
“Do you really like big houses that much?”
“It’s okay.”
“Then why buy such an expensive one?”
“Holds value.”
“?”
Chi Ye opened his mouth: “In this market now, buying a house as investment?”
You’re really an investment genius.
Shi Daifu’s face turned bright red from what was said, stammering: “I… I don’t know anything else, just singing, I heard houses are cheap now, but good houses in the Capital City still hold value… am I… too greedy?”
“Not at all, you earned the money yourself through hard work, no whoring or drugs, what’s greedy about that.”
After Chi Ye said it, with a serious face: “But personally, instead of investing in a house, you might as well give all your money to me, I’ll make money grow for you.”
“Okay.”
“Ah?”
Chi Ye was even more dumbfounded, the ones who could crash him in such a short time, besides the Empress Dowager and Sister Shang, probably only the Boxing King could do it.
Truly speaking, the Boxing King should be the MVP in this record.
“You… not even a bit hesitant? Not afraid I’ll scam you?”
Teacher Shi looked at him strangely and shook her head: “Not afraid.”
Chi Ye: “I’m suddenly afraid.”
“…”
The two were successively silent for several seconds, then Chi Ye nodded: “Then tell Keke about this later, no need to give it all to me… how’s your credit, can you take out a loan?”
Teacher Shi: “?”
“Cough cough… embarrassed, I blurted it out again, sorry.”
Chi Ye was ashamed.
King of Hell: Why does someone keep flashing here, can’t they come down?
Afterward, the two simply exchanged some “investment insights,” mainly Shi Daifu softly sharing, then Chi Ye striking blows, and finally ending with Chi Ye slipping away when Shi Daifu felt her fists hardening.
……
Helping Teacher Shi with investments started as a joke, but since the Boxing King’s pure heart was so strong, Chi Ye felt there was no reason not to help his “right-hand minister.”
Of course, what did he know about investments…
It was just pulling Teacher Shi onto the next projects, like the soon-to-start 《Mars Rescue》.
If 《Influenza》 had its ceiling decided from the start due to the subject matter.
Then 《Mars Rescue》 was a genuine global smash-hit super “hard currency.”
Plus several upcoming projects… Chi Ye figured the Boxing King would be very happy, he hoped she could live a bit happier.
And to be fair, Chi Ye’s current “investment return rate” was indeed terrifying.
At least, if others in the circle right now learned that Shi Daifu, such an “ordinary” young girl, got Chi Ye to agree to take her on as a shareholder with just a few words, they’d be jealous to death.
——Like Chen Sicheng.
“Chen Zong, 《Detective Chinatown 3》 looks like it barely broke even now, but… didn’t make much money.”
Three days later.
The Spring Festival Slot competition was nearing its end, 《Influenza》 whale-swallowed the market, and after the overseas explosion news reached domestic, it was unstoppable, now just mainland box office alone was over 35 billion, Chi Ye had clearly risen to first-tier in movies this year.
From last year’s 《Xing Ni》 leap to unrivaled top streamer, to this year’s 《Influenza》 leap from television traffic to movie first-tier big star, even with some self-driven box office reputation, his path here was so fast and perilous, even bystanders could glimpse the wind and frost in it.
Chen Sicheng didn’t care about that, he only cared that his super king bomb 《Detective Chinatown 3》, which he’d pinned high hopes on this year, ended up like this.
Barely broke even… didn’t make much.
For someone like Chen who’d been wildly scamming for money since debut, this was simply the biggest failure in his career.
“But no worries Chen Zong, 《749 Bureau》 did even worse than us, heard Lu Chuan’s side is being sued by several investors, might impact the national first deadbeat title this year.”
Chen Sicheng: “……Can we compare to good people for once?”
“This Old Lu too, such an old age, ended up mixing from great director to deadbeat… look at him, so embarrassing.”
He shook his head with a sigh, then asked: “The others made quite a bit this year, right?”
“……《Iron Fist》 and 《Flying Speed》 did make a lot, just looking at mainland, not necessarily less than 《Influenza》, mainly Shen Bin… after this, his status feels not much below Wu Jing’s.”
“These old film circle people just don’t know how to adapt, I think Chi Ye did great this time, should give them a show of color, let them know the film circle now is the new generation’s era.”
Chen Sicheng completely ignored his own actions toward 《Influenza》 back then, and asked his assistant with a frank face: “Right, check the projects our company started this year, which one fits Chi Ye’s role, let’s cooperate with him.”
“Ah?”
The assistant was stunned: “Cooperate? Get him to film?”
“Investment works too.”
Chen Sicheng’s thinking was clear: “Even if not willing, no big deal, relationships between people build slowly, no rush, leave a good impression first, then we’ll study this matter properly.”
“I’ll direct personally, he can act whatever he wants, even pick the female lead.”
The assistant listened in shock.
He knew Chen Zong well, ever since the 《Detective Chinatown》 series made him famous overnight into a big star, he rarely directed personally, more often producing and investing in movies.
Him saying this now just meant one thing—I’m desperate to make money, I’m not like those Beijing Circle idiots, I truly love money, let’s team up to scam some, or I itch all over.
“Okay, I’ll find suitable projects later and communicate with Chi Ye Studio.”
“Remember, handle it quickly.”
“Got it.”
……
After experiencing the 《Big Shot》 《Girl》 《Influenza》 “trilogy,” Chi Ye’s status in the film circle was now obviously incomparable.
The previous film circle might have disliked Chi Ye for various reasons, some even happily gossiped and watched the drama, but 《Influenza》, especially 《Influenza》’s box office explosion, after Chi Ye broke into the overseas market, his star power almost didn’t need his own marketing, it was evident.
Counting the so-called “international superstars” from mainland, even across the two shores and three places.
Basically, they build enough star power in internal entertainment circle, go overseas for a tour, attend one of the three major film festivals, regardless of awards or box office, just touring counts as “resume,” circling around elevates status.
So-called export turned domestic sales, the once most famous double ice basically took this route, so Ling Bingbing had such a complex sigh after seeing Chi Ye’s popularity at Cannes live performance.
Among male stars, mainland basically has none famous overseas, Andy Lau counts as one, but he was American before, now Canadian, only doesn’t want to be Chinese, half “Hong Kong person” at best, full buffs stacked, and age long past prime, hasn’t appeared in public for years.
On star power, perhaps bigger than current Shen Bin and Wu Jing, with overseas resume being the key ring.
Chi Ye isn’t even thirty this year, but since leaving Yue Na, his career’s like cheated, successively achieving dreamlike results in music film drama three tracks that other young actors dare not dream of, so he deserves his due “returns.”
“Guoshi… Chen Sicheng… Han Han also reaching out to me?”
At some small company.
In the living room.
Chi Ye flipping through the cooperation announcements Xiao Liu brought: “Beijing Circle hasn’t reached out?”
“No.”
Xiao Liu thought and said: “Lu Chuan, Peng Chen, Jin Ming and them are still cursing.”
“Ah, Uncle helped me again.”
Chi Ye sighed: “My success owes to his standing up, many times, he really has it tough.”
Xiao Liu: “……Then Chi Ge, should we respond?”
Chi Ye fell into thought.
Actually, right after 《Xing Ni》 blew up, top great directors like Guoshi had ideas to cooperate, but the role offered then wasn’t protagonist.
Because everyone came this way, a drama circle young male actor wanting into film circle is fine, but eat bit by bit, start from main supporting actor, step up, eventually land great director’s male lead, not hard.
Like Peng Chen wanted this path, but didn’t expect Yu Yan to drop dead midway, he took over… then… then he found he took not a plate, but a bomb.
Now the bomb exploded, sneaky dog Peng might regret most in life touching that 《749 Bureau》 pile.
“If there’s suitable notebook, can reach out… we don’t reject great directors.”
Chi Ye said: “But depends on schedule.”
“Okay, also…”
Xiao Liu hesitated: “Chi Ge, one more thing… I think I should tell you.”
“Oh? What?”
“It’s… Beijing Circle quiet, but Ling Bingbing ‘gave’ Xia Xia Jie several top endorsements.”
“Hm?”
Chi Ye was stunned.
“Not just Xia Xia Jie, heard Sister Shang and Sister Shi also got… not sure what Ling Bingbing means.”
Chi Ye listened similarly dumbfounded, not understanding this film circle big flower he hadn’t really contacted, no strong impression good or bad, what her idea was.
Her sister he knew, several times publicly, even in drama promotion, straight said: “Favorite male artist in the circle is Chi Ye, ideal partner type also Chi Ye.”
For this, Ling Han got sprayed + mocked plenty by Chi Ye’s fans and bystanders, thinking she was crazy riding popularity, saying such “tiger wolf words” in broad daylight.
Hm… Chi Ye thought it normal, he looked so good even he liked himself, hard for anyone not to like him, right?
Cough cough…
“Ignore her, if she wants to give, let her, if something she’ll come find me herself.”
Couldn’t figure Ling Bingbing’s intent after thinking, Chi Ye stopped thinking, just stood up and walked toward the doorway.
At the doorway, Teacher You and his good friend Director Jiang walked in with flattered surprise.
