Chapter 179: 《those Years, The Girl We Chased Together》
“Huh… all the popularity awards are mine?”
Jin Xia tilted her head, her peach blossom eyes sparkling: “Teacher Chi, you’re not deceiving me, are you?”
Chi Ye: “I never deceive people.”
“……Really?”
“I never deceive you.”
“…”
Around them, some people heard Chi Ye’s words, turned back in surprise upon hearing them, then turned forward again, letting out low laughs.
Isn’t that right, buddy? So this is how you usually coax the “little rich woman”?
The industry always rumored that Chi Ye had a knack for living off a woman’s earnings, unsure what sweet talk he used to spin the little drama queen around, but now it seems this “secret” has been seen through.
Chi Ye noticed a few people whispering, glancing over occasionally, but he ignored them because things were indeed different now—his status was different, and his star power was different too.
What he was considering now was how to resolve the current “dispute” and his subsequent career plan.
Winning Golden Eagle Male God was an “unexpected joy”; no matter how controversial the award, the popularity was real, in other words, he had indeed been passively upgraded in star power by a huge margin.
But how to digest so much popularity, how much of it he could retain, and redefining the direction of his suddenly disrupted career plan were all issues.
On stage, Sister Qianzi clutched her chest with lowered brows, sharing her feelings after winning this year’s Golden Eagle Goddess, while below, Chi Ye fell into contemplation.
“《Big Shot》 It’ll wrap up in at most half a month.”
Chi Ye whispered to Jin Xia: “I still have the 《Singer》 program to run here, which will hype up the popularity of 《Xing Ni》 in advance, plus an album to record, probably releasing at year-end together with 《Xing Ni》, and then… I’ll join the studio’s first movie project.”
“Teacher Chi, you work so hard.”
Jin Xia listened to Chi Ye’s schedule, feeling a bit “heartbroken”: “Why work so hard? Can you even surpass me?”
Chi Ye: “?”
Jin Xia said cheerfully: “But if you want, I can let you actively surpass me.”
Chi Ye: “……No need for that, I think passive is acceptable too.”
Empress Dowager was stunned, vaguely feeling there was more to Chi Ye’s words, but she couldn’t quite understand, so she returned to the topic: “《Singer》 will take at least another month of recording to finish, right? Do you have time?”
“Can’t finish it all.”
Chi Ye thought for a moment and said: “But I’ll resolve all the controversy before leaving… that should be enough, just in time to catch the 《Xing Ni》 publicity and distribution.”
“……Teacher Chi, is it really okay?”
On this topic, Jin Xia was a bit worried: “I see… the public opinion about you online is very negative.”
Chi Ye was surprised: “Your news is so well-informed?”
“……No, I haven’t looked at my mobile phone, but I guessed it would be like this.”
Chi Ye fell silent.
Empress Dowager was indeed smart, and the external controversy and topics about him had now reached a peak; resolving this controversy would determine how much he could gain this time, even affecting the upper limit of his future career development.
It had to be resolved well, or the sensitive topic he “stirred up” would leave him with unspeakable hidden dangers if escalated.
Opportunity or destruction, just a fine line between them.
……
At ten o’clock in the evening, the 15th Golden Eagle Awards Ceremony came to an end.
Next, there would be an internal gala exchange session, where most guests would stay, as it was a rare opportunity in the industry to expand Moments and network connections.
Chi Ye didn’t stay; he was taking a “group photo” with Sister Qianzi. After the Golden Eagle Male God and Goddess appeared together this year, he called Sister Shang and left the venue, heading to a clubhouse to discuss matters—discussing the female lead for the studio’s first movie.
As for Empress Dowager, to catch the 《Xing Ni》 publicity period as soon as possible, she flew back to the film crew with Sister Mi right after the gala ended, preparing to work overtime to finish the job.
Anyway, she’d played with Chi Ye for a long time during this period, though she was still a bit reluctant to leave.
“Why not stay with her a bit longer?”
Sister Shang watched Jin Xia looking back every few steps, and the CP fan leader’s mouth silently shed tears.
“This separation now is just for better togetherness in the future.”
Chi Ye said so.
“Oh?!”
Sister Shang’s eyes lit up, accurately catching the keyword “together,” and asked sparklingly: “Together?! Are you two together now?!”
Chi Ye: “…”
He handed a notebook to Sister Shang: “Let’s talk about the script first. What do you think of this notebook?”
“……Always dodging the main point.” Sister Shang muttered as she reached out her fair little hand to take the script: “Also, I saw Sheng Ning looking at you strangely today, and Weiwei… Weiwei seemed off too. Chi Ye, don’t tell me you’re planning to be a player.”
Chi Ye glanced at her suspiciously: “A player? Play whom? You?”
Sister Shang wasn’t angry upon hearing this, just shook her head while flipping open the script: “I’ll tell you first, I can read your script, I have a schedule now too, but if the quality isn’t good, I can’t take it.”
She explained: “I’m different from you all, I have a company and team… TV series are fine, but movies I can’t decide alone.”
Chi Ye looked at her: “If I give you ten big scoops, can you decide for yourself?”
“Uh…”
Sister Shang paused, then said difficultly: “Private matters and business must be separate, Teacher Xiao Chi, you need to mature!”
After that, she added seriously: “Don’t worry, even if I don’t take it, I can guest star for free, and when your movie does publicity and distribution, you can use my name… if all else fails, I’ll save some schedule to run promotion with you…”
“After all, it’s your studio’s first movie, I’ll do my best to help.”
Chi Ye felt a wave of “moved” in his heart upon hearing this; Sister Shang was Sister Shang, so easy to communicate with, such a good temper, such a good person!
So, he asked seriously: “Then can you let me rank above you?”
“Ah?” Shang Youshu opened her little mouth, stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded: “Sure.”
Chi Ye: “…”
He immediately pulled out his mobile phone and sent a message to Shi Jinwei: 【Can you let me rank above you?】
Shi Jinwei: 【Not even in the next life.】
Chi Ye put away his phone; ten minutes later, the 《Bridge of Fate》 personal version that Shi Jinwei’s team had been subtly promoting lately added Chi Ye’s name—yes, Chi Ye’s name was ahead of Shi Jinwei’s.
Sister Qianzi, still at the Golden Eagle Gala site, was furious, her chest heaving with anger, nearly enlarging her thyroid.
……
“Take a look at the script first, it’s not as bad as you think, I think my screenwriter ability should be recognized… okay, will soon be recognized.”
Chi Ye originally wanted to say his screenwriter ability had already been recognized by everyone.
But on second thought… with just a 《Circulation》 co-screenwriter credit, neither 《Big Shot》 nor 《Xing Ni》 on it, where’s the recognition?
No wonder Sister Shang was so anxious.
In her heart, she saw Chi Ye as a very good “friend”… anyway, her subconscious kept telling her that.
And for the studio’s first production movie project, as a friend, helping out was only right, wasn’t it?
But if the movie quality was poor, how would she explain it to the team?
Become a second Jin Xia?
Sister Shang was very troubled, but after flipping open the script and scanning a few lines, her distress began to change.
“Huh… this, it’s a youth film?”
She was surprised, looking up at Chi Ye: “Youth romance?”
Chi Ye thought and said: “Youth regret.”
“Youth regret…”
Shang Youshu’s heart stirred, and she started reading seriously.
Chi Ye sat beside her, silent, just feeling that with the quality of 《Those Years》, it should move Sister Shang.
As for why the studio’s first movie was 《Those Years》… actually simple: small investment, high revenue, good reputation, fast star power upgrade—youth films in the industry were always low-budget, and a few years ago several big hits clustered.
But honestly, youth films in this world were niche, quality worse than on Earth, full of dog blood tropes as roast material for countless UP masters, and after a flash-in-the-pan “glory,” quickly tossed into history’s trash heap.
While 《Those Years》 as the ceiling of domestic youth movies, the small-budget blockbuster that exploded across Asia, pure regret with no dog blood, Chi Ye saw no reason not to “original” it.
Another reason was, after 《Xing Ni》, his career focus would likely shift to the film circle, but now the internal entertainment film circle was full of “disdain” and “hostility” toward him, plus he was going solo… plainly, even without hostility, he’d shoot movies himself eventually.
So, riding 《Xing Ni》’s popularity, the studio’s first movie project was established.
At the same time, the project needed to consider both revenue and boost to his career…
Thus, a high-quality, well-received blockbuster youth film fit expectations best.
Time passed, unsure how long, when a knock came from the door.
Then, Sister Shang’s agent walked in with a grim face, glanced at Chi Ye first, then at Shang Youshu, frowning: “What are you doing running here?”
“Ah…”
Sister Shang snapped out of her daze, looked up blinking, then said calmly: “I’m discussing the next play with Teacher Xiao Chi.”
Agent: “?”
“Your next play? Yo, weren’t you planning to rest half a year for ‘travel’?”
Shang Youshu flushed red: “I have career ambition too, don’t look down on me!”
Has career ambition and comes to act in Chi Ye’s project?
Heh.
The agent’s mouth twitched, but with Chi Ye right there, she couldn’t say much, just sat nearby with an unpleasant face, guarding Shang Youshu like a door god.
“What are you doing?” Sister Shang felt awkward.
“Nothing, read your stuff, I’ll wait for you.” The agent looked at Chi Ye opposite.
Chi Ye was calm: “Want some fruit?”
Agent: You’ve gotten addicted to living off a woman’s earnings, huh?
Do you know how many people want You Shu to act with them?
Just recently, a great director specifically wanted Shang Youshu for a role, heard the male lead was Yu Yan, you…
She was ranting inwardly when Sister Shang put down the script, excited: “Oh, this… this is actually pretty embarrassing.”
Chi Ye: “?”
Agent: “?”
“What’s wrong?” Chi Ye was puzzled.
How does reading a script make one embarrassed?
“Um…” Sister Shang thought, slightly composedly tucking her hair behind her ear, trying to act but clearly not getting it: “Oh… I didn’t expect to be a goddess in your heart too, Teacher Xiao Chi, haha… look at this mess… I thought I was just… um cough cough…”
The agent was full of question marks.
Chi Ye was even more baffled: “Just what?”
“Just… a good person.”
Sister Shang realized she’d slipped, thought oh no, quickly changed the topic, face full of joy: “Then the campus goddess role really doesn’t suit Xia Xia.”
Chi Ye: “…”
This was spot on.
The reason Chi Ye didn’t approach Empress Dowager was her innate conditions were too obvious; that face was too alluring, not suited for national first love or pure school flower.
But Sister Shang was different; Fairy Sister also rose to fame with her face, that pure temperament overflowing just standing there, no makeup and styling needed.
Plus her personal popularity and star power, casting her meant the movie was guaranteed profit.
So, seeing her smug, Chi Ye rarely went along: “Shen Jiayi really suits you.”
“Written based on me?”
Sister Shang’s mouth was harder to suppress than an AK, pretending indifference with a wave: “Oh, Xiao Chi, you always do this, the content in this notebook feels so real, isn’t it your actual experience from school back then?”
“You didn’t substitute the female lead with me, did you? Though I know I’m the national first love, Fairy Sister… but that’s all fictional, Teacher Xiao Chi, you gotta stay grounded!”
Chi Ye grew more dumbfounded the more he heard, held back for a while, wanting to say grounded about what? Grounded from being a little marksman like you?
In reality, where’s any of that persona the outside world gives you!
Do you live up to that face of yours!
The similarly frowning agent spoke first: “You Shu, you… stop for a sec, don’t embarrass yourself… can you talk normally?”
“Ah?”
Sister Shang was stunned, dissatisfied: “Embarrass myself? I didn’t, what are you saying, sis, I…”
“You’re reading a movie script?”
The agent’s gaze fell on the script she’d just closed, opening her mouth to politely decline.
“Sis, this script is good, it’s practically written to my… image, I think we can help Teacher Xiao Chi.”
Sister Shang shot back sharply, finishing first, handed the script back to Chi Ye, pulled the agent up, walking out while looking back at Chi Ye with a wink: “Send me an electronic version later… we have things to do, WeChat for follow-up!”
“Oh, don’t push me… I haven’t finished talking…”
The agent struggled.
“Elbow elbow, quick elbow.” Sister Shang whispered devilishly in the agent’s ear: “Sis, I accidentally ate another Wallace just now, you don’t want me to turn into a little marksman on the spot, right?”
The agent’s face darkened.
This awful speech pattern…
Tell me! Where did you learn it from?!
Not learning properly!
In the private room.
Chi Ye watched Sister Shang “coerce and tempt” to stop the agent from rejecting him, his face unchanged, but a strange warmth added in his heart.
Sister Shang was such a good person.
Though she seemed scatterbrained, every time he saw her, he felt she lived so happily.
