Chapter 191: 15-second Heartbeat Challenge: Snow Milk Tea Gutter Oil Sells Out
In the private room.
“Zongzi” Chi Ye turned his head, and the commotion outside the door immediately quieted down, followed by the low scolding voice of a manager: “Move, move, everyone pay attention to your image and professional conduct!”
The area outside the door quickly quieted down.
The people in the private room exchanged glances, and a woman in her thirties who was accompanying them blinked, looking at Chi Ye.
“…People we don’t know well don’t need money, are we signing now?”
The woman’s face turned red, and she quickly said: “After we finish talking business…”
“…Mm, President Chi is right, this movie really can’t be filmed on the Mainland.”
The middle-aged man in the lead nodded, speaking in a thick Taiwanese accent full of biker flair: “But Taipei can.”
Chi Ye glanced at him: “Go on.”
“Here’s what we’re thinking: the team has already been working on special effects for a while, and there’s the script issue. The script feels much higher quality after your revisions, and since you bought this notebook, we’re wondering if on the investment side…”
The middle-aged man started explaining.
Chi Ye sat quietly listening on the side.
……
Today in the private room, there were two groups of people: one was the Chi Ye Team, the other was the 《Xing Ni》 special effects outsourcing team.
The personnel in this special effects team were quite mixed, with few Mainland people, mainly South Koreans, and people from Taipei and Hong Kong, so that’s why Jin Sui had introduced this team to Chi Ye earlier.
Facts proved that the team indeed had outstanding business ability and possessed quite a bit of technology.
《Influenza》—a project their team had been working on for a while, but due to large project funding investments, the investor’s cash flow problems and running away, etc., the project stalled several times.
It wasn’t until Jin Sui noticed this project and invested some funds that it barely came back to life.
But it was only barely.
Originally, their team took on the 《Xing Ni》 job just to make a quick buck to continue production on this project, but who would have thought that 《Xing Ni》 would explode to this extent.
So…
The person in charge of the team looked at the new “unrivaled top streamer” in the internal entertainment circle right in front of him and started getting ideas—because of his “identity,” he knew that 《Xing Ni》 wasn’t just popular on the Mainland right now, but even in Taipei, Hong Kong, and even South Korea…
He had a premonition that 《Xing Ni》 might not just create an “internal entertainment top streamer,” but an “Asian top streamer.”
At this thought, his heart trembled, and his gaze toward Chi Ye became even hotter.
And Chi Ye wasn’t unaware of his “eager” look; he was just equally puzzled in his own mind.
This 《Influenza》… it’s very similar to Train to Busan on Earth… of course, after his revisions.
—This was a big investment, with special effects, production, and scenes all more refined than Train to Busan, and it was a “special effects blockbuster” of a doomsday disaster type that had never appeared domestically.
It was true blockbuster level, a top Asian explosive movie that could sweep major commercial awards.
To say Chi Ye wasn’t tempted would be fake.
It was just the filming location and subject matter issues; it definitely couldn’t be filmed domestically, but if they changed locations… and with Jin Sui investing, then… that seemed doable.
Moreover… after the cooperation on 《Xing Ni》, Chi Ye increasingly felt that his aunt, this little Hong Kong princess’s “treasure,” couldn’t be wasted.
She had background when needed, connections when needed, business acumen… connections.
Taipei, Hong Kong, South Korea, even the Mainland…
Except for not being able to break into the film circle, she almost perfectly fit the image of a “boss.”
Chi Ye had taken a liking to his aunt; he felt he needed to show some “filial piety.”
So, after finishing business that day, he prepared to call Jin Sui.
But unexpectedly, his aunt’s call came first.
“Hello? Chi Ye, where are you?”
On the other end of the phone, Jin Sui’s voice was as aloof as ever.
Chi Ye lowered his head to sign an autograph for the woman from the special effects team and replied: “I just finished talking business with Brother Liang and them.”
“Oh… went well?”
“Not bad.”
“Mm… that… in a couple days I’m going to the Capital City to gather with family, bring Xia Xia over then, I have something to discuss with you.”
Chi Ye was stunned and nodded: “Okay.”
“That’s it then, hanging up.”
Jin Sui finished indifferently and then hung up.
Zhang Jie next to her was surprised: “Sui Zong, didn’t you say you were going to go find Chi Ye personally? How did it become him coming to you…”
“I didn’t come off too desperate just now, did I?”
Jin Sui asked.
Zhang Jie: “Huh?”
“Still can’t act too whatever, after all, I’m the elder.”
Jin Sui had a face full of composure: “So still have him come to me, then I’ll personally pour tea for him.”
Zhang Jie: “…”
Jin Sui was still sighing, still feeling a dreamlike sense of unreality: “Tell me, who could have thought that with one modern idol drama, Chi Ye could reach this point?”
Zhang Jie: “We invested a little money and earned a lot.”
“Earned… right, almost forgot.”
Her aunt’s train of thought was indeed different from ordinary people; hearing Zhang Jie mention this, she immediately reacted, pulled out her phone, and called her own big brother: “Hello? Jin Ming, are you listening?”
On the other end, Jin Ming replied coldly: “What is it?”
“Have you seen the performance of 《Xing Ni》? How much did you invest? You didn’t earn more than me, did you?!”
“…Jin Sui, don’t be smug and bully people too much!”
Jin Ming’s eyes instantly turned red: “Just an idol drama, child’s play, nothing to brag about?!”
“Hey, don’t hang up, don’t hang up yet.”
Sensing her big brother was about to lose it, Jin Sui hurriedly stopped him: “Listen to me.”
“Less harmful gas.”
“…I’m talking to you nicely, you better talk nicely too… I’m preparing to cooperate with Chi Ye on a big investment special effects blockbuster, starting investment estimated at 300 million, wanna play?”
Jin Ming was silent for a moment and asked: “Chi Ye starring?”
“Yes, probably.” Jin Sui nodded: “I need to go confirm with him, his schedule is probably booked until the year after next…”
“Not investing.”
“???”
Beep beep beep.
The call had already been hung up.
Jin Sui opened her mouth, speechless for a moment, then cursed: “Is there something wrong with his brain?!”
Zhang Jie said nothing, just silently agreed—indeed there was.
……
At the same time.
Jin Ming, who had been evaluated by his sister as “having something wrong with his brain,” after hanging up, shook his head: “My silly sister, where would I have money now, heh.”
“And the company now has three big productions all wrapping up, what I don’t lack most is big productions!”
He looked out the floor-to-ceiling window with high spirits, then thought of something, and his mood soured again.
“Shouldn’t be… how could this Chi Ye really make Xia Xia popular together… shouldn’t be, shouldn’t be.”
“Just one idol drama, and it can reach the heavens?”
“Xia Xia even had Third Uncle and them keep helping Chi Ye… Third Uncle’s factory was on the verge of bankruptcy, not even as good as mine, and he can turn things around with one idol drama? Nonsense… wishful thinking!”
Jin Ming now felt an indescribable mix of emotions.
To say he didn’t regret it would be absolutely fake; to say make him admit how great 《Xing Ni》 was, that was equally impossible—otherwise, where would an elder’s face go?
Just as he was thinking this, a message popped up in the 【Jin Family Home】 group chat.
The message was from the one he had noted as “Third Uncle,” @-ing him, Jin Sui, and Jin Xia: 【Where did you all find my dear nephew-in-law?! The stock preparation was spot on, revenue has increased tenfold these past few days! Our factory production lines are smoking from overuse! Thank Chi Ye for me on your behalf, I’ll definitely buy you two lovebirds a gold carving when I get back!】
Jin Ming: “?”
He couldn’t help replying: 【Tenfold? Tenfold in your dreams?】
Jin Xia replied: 【Third Uncle, we’re not lovebirds yet, also, no gold carving, I want Ye Zi, remember to give it to me soon.】
Jin Sui replied: 【@Jin Ming, stop talking, I beg you, shut up.】
Jin Ming was furious: 【Who are you all family with?!】
Third Uncle Jin replied: 【Come to my house tomorrow to gather, @Jin Ming no need to come.】
—The Jin Family Home felt Jin Ming didn’t deserve to be “family.”
……
January 11th, overcast, with scattered snowflakes falling from the sky.
Episode 7 of 《Xing Ni》 aired.
The emotional entanglement between Professor Chi and Qian Songyi escalated; Professor Chi used superpowers like time pause and instant movement several times to help Qian Songyi out of trouble, followed by the drama’s first explosive famous scene—the 15-second Heartbeat Challenge.
The “first kiss” between Professor Chi and Qian Songyi.
As sweet as it was filmed on site back then, now with the post-production excellent BGM, special effects, and filters, it was that explosive.
That night.
#15SecondHeartbeatChallenge# exploded all over Weibo, Moments, Douyin; countless bystanders, internet celebrities, and star artists started imitating it; 《Xing Ni》 popularity shot to the skies, ratings broke 4% for the first time, creating the highest historical record in ten years for Tomato TV.
Ku Ying’s recharge channels crashed three times—the Ku Ying APP download volume that night broke the all-time high since its establishment, with new member acquisitions preliminarily estimated to generate over 200 million in revenue, attracting countless new users and audience.
And previously, this record was held by Kiwifruit, the only profitable one among the three major platforms, with 150 million single-day data, Penguin Video at 130 million.
The two “big brothers” were topped by “eternal third place” Ku Ying for the first time in history, their eyes visibly red; that night they urgently held three meetings.
—The 《Singer》 Peak Night Recap activity was completely overshadowed.
Xiangnan.
A certain commercial street.
Scattered snowflakes fell, streets and alleys resounding with insert songs and theme songs from the 《Xing Ni》 OST like 《Xing Ni》 and 《Jiangnan》 《Count Down》.
Street side shops full of human touch, milk tea shops, fried chicken shops, pork ribs with rice cakes and other snack shops—almost every shop doorway had a long line; girls often holding milk tea in one hand and iced cola in the other took street selfies, then happily posted to Moments and Douyin amid excited laughter and play from their girlfriends beside them, gradually walking away.
Ling Han wore a mask, her forehead bangs swaying in the cold wind; hands in pockets, she looked at all this with complex eyes.
“Hanhan.”
The agent stepped out from a high-end luxury mall, dejectedly saying: “Still no stock.”
“Still none? It’s been days?!”
Ling Han irritably said upon hearing: “Don’t they know how to do business?”
“Really none… the true red Christian Louboutin you usually wear just happens to match the color of the one Jin Xia… Qian Songyi used in the drama; this model has sold out recently, online preorders are a week out.”
The agent explained: “I see others are the same as us; those who didn’t stock up usually can’t buy any now.”
Ling Han: “…”
The agent sighed: “Chi Ye and Jin Xia aren’t just popular anymore, this is… this is… unprecedented.”
Ling Han didn’t retort this time, just looking at the streets and malls that were “all 《Xing Ni》 world,” feeling an indescribable palpitation.
—So this was what disparity meant, this was what top streamer meant.
Could Yan Ge have this kind of influence?
She was a bit lost, just habitually saying: “Not as good as Yan Ge.”
The agent glanced at her and said no more.
……
Not far away, Liu Xiaoxiao happily “snagged” a cup of “Qian Songyi same style” milk tea, immediately excitedly taking photos to check in, then looked up at the snowy sky, muttering seriously: “It’s snowing, how can there be no pork ribs with rice cakes and milk tea.”
“Humans always have a special fondness for gutter oil!”
Beside her, laughter suddenly rang out; Liu Xiaoxiao turned sharply and saw the girl she had met at the fried chicken shop a few days ago, now smilingly responding to her with the classic line from 《Xing Ni》 that had gone viral.
“Ah, Xiao Zhang, you’re here too?”
Liu Xiaoxiao was delighted.
“Hehe, I’m preparing to go buy the thermos cup that Professor Chi custom-made for Xia Xia, wanna come together?”
Xiao Zhang girl smilingly pointed to the mall ahead: “Heard it’s the same style from the 《Xing Ni》 drama.”
“Really?”
Liu Xiaoxiao was stunned, then remembered: “I know that brand, lots of furniture in 《Xing Ni》 are from that brand!”
“Yeah, come on, come on, I specially asked someone to reserve two cups yesterday through connections; we’re so fated, one each.”
“God, Xiao Zhang, you’re too nice…”
Liu Xiaoxiao was so moved she almost cried; the two walked into the mall together and soon spotted the store with a long dragon line.
—Jin Zhen Furniture.
“This place sells furniture? So pretty…”
Liu Xiaoxiao was surprised, looking at the exquisite interior decor, a bit hesitant.
“Mainly high-end furniture, but we’re not here to buy furniture, no need to line up… come, follow me…”
Xiao Zhang led Liu Xiaoxiao through the crowd into the store and started contacting her friend.
And Liu Xiaoxiao stared at the line that almost reached outside the mall… momentarily dizzy—the furniture prices inside she had glanced at earlier were all high-end, expensive enough to make one’s liver tremble.
So many people, all here to buy 《Xing Ni》 Professor Chi Qian Songyi same-style furniture?!
How much money was this business making?!
—The answer was making a killing, so much that Jin Xia’s several uncles, brothers, aunts were all numb!
……
Capital City.
Jin Lao San’s home.
Jin Sui, Jin Ming, Jin Xiao Yi, Third Uncle Jin, Jin Xia’s big uncle, and respective family members and other relatives, over a dozen people gathered together, atmosphere lively.
“How much did you earn?”
“Not much, revenue tripled maybe.”
“That’s indeed not much, mine went up tenfold.”
“Alright alright, we know yours went up tenfold, but mine isn’t clothing business like yours, prices are high to begin with.”
Jin Xiao Yi teased Third Uncle Jin: “But profits might be higher than yours oh.”
“Sigh, this wave for me is ‘back from the dead,’ I’m already very content… gotta thank Xia Xia and her little boyfriend, I really didn’t expect… young people nowadays are something else!”
Third Uncle Jin still couldn’t forget seeing the explosive orders suddenly arrive one day at his company that was on the verge of bankruptcy, the staff working like crazy…
The shock and joy were simply indescribable.
His current impression and “feelings” toward Jin Xia and Chi Ye were beyond what Jin Ming could imagine!
Mm…
Speaking of Jin Ming, Ming Zong at this moment was listening to all sorts of “multiples,” “my tenfold,” “my fivefold,” “my revenue over 100 million” exchanges around him, his face scary black but with a weird pallor.
Jin Sui glanced at her big brother and said: “Hey, the two kids haven’t confirmed their relationship yet, what little boyfriend… don’t talk nonsense.”
“Hey, if you ask me, this kind of talent matches Xia Xia; I heard your big brother is quite satisfied too.”
Jin Lao San had a very rough temper; just looking at his personality, he hardly seemed like a “Jin family” member.
“I see Xia Xia even gave him her first kiss; if he doesn’t confirm the relationship now, that wouldn’t be bullying our Jin family for having no one?”
Jin Xiao Yi also frowned: “No way, I as the aunt won’t agree.”
“…”
A bunch of worldly people! Worldly, too damn worldly!
Jin Ming looking at this “stinky” scene felt a wave of nausea.
Then hearing the next sentence made him even more nauseous.
“Jin Ming ah, how much did you lose?”
Jin Ming: “?!”
Everyone else is “how much earned,” just me “how much lost”?
Damn, looking down on people, huh?
“I earned; my company has a big production releasing in the Spring Festival slot this year, guaranteed profit!”
Jin Lao San turned to look at the others: “Everyone hear that? Those invested in film and TV hurry up and pull out, otherwise don’t blame Jin Ming for not warning you.”
“Hahaha.”
The crowd burst into laughter.
Jin Ming was furious: “Third Bro, isn’t that going too far?!”
“Hey, why are you yelling so loud for what!”
Beside him, his wife with the same delighted expression frowned upon hearing: “You’re disturbing me.”
Jin Ming looking at her expression: “Why are you so happy too?”
“I earned too.” His wife had a smile she couldn’t hide, sighing: “All thanks to Xia Xia; she asked me for a few sponsorships back then, my family’s few factories recently can’t keep up with supply, oh… must thank Xia Xia and Chi Ye more later.”
Jin Ming: “?!!”
He gaped, “shocked and angry”: “I… how did I not know?!”
“What do you know? Know and then not let me earn this money? Jin Ming, have some conscience; without me, you’d have been out whoring long ago!”
Jin Ming face red and neck thick scanned the crowd, lowering his voice: “Talk details when back home, save face.”
“Hmph.”
His wife snorted but didn’t really continue scolding Jin Ming.
But the atmosphere in the living room was completely lively now.
Jin Lao San couldn’t wait to ask: “When are Xia Xia and Chi Ye arriving? They’re super busy lately, right?”
Jin Sui raised her hand to check the time: “Should… be soon.”
……
Outside the villa.
Chi Ye and the Empress Dowager were like two “walking zongzi”; the Empress Dowager had just gotten out of the car and was craning her neck to scan the surroundings, still fearful: “Should be no one now… did the yard security check? No one secretly swapped security clothes waiting for us to ‘walk into the trap’…… right?”
Chi Ye: “…”
He too had a dazed look; in the past, he might not have believed such things could happen in reality.
But now…
“Should… not, right?”
He wasn’t sure.
“Whatever, let’s go; if not, run.”
The Empress Dowager sneakily pulled Chi Ye toward the villa gate.
On the way.
Chi Ye saw the message and missed call from Keke, called back: “Hello?”
“Chi Ge, those top luxury brands sent people again, want to invite you to a fashion show activity to discuss endorsement… this time it’s the Asia-Pacific region general person in charge…”
Chi Ye paused, looking toward the villa where people had already come out, straightened his clothes: “Didn’t Yu Yan say events with me don’t have him?”
“Tell those persons in charge, events I’m at have me, no him.”
Keke paused, then firmly: “Okay, got it.”
“That’s it.”
Chi Ye hung up and already saw Jin Xia happily running over to hug Jin Sui.
“Come in.”
Jin Sui put on airs, but her eyes couldn’t help glancing at Chi Ye.
Mm… the living Professor Chi… is my “nephew-in-law.”
……
At the same time.
A certain activity rehearsal site.
Shi Jinwei rested her chin on her hand, staring off into the distance in a daze.
At this moment, the chief director was negotiating with people—about Chi Ye’s seating and grand finale appearance at the activity; without a response from Chi Ye’s side that day, they couldn’t continue rehearsing here.
No one found it strange, there were objections, but useless.
Shi Jinwei looked down at her phone’s WeChat interface again, suddenly gritting her teeth.
Because her last contact with Chi Ye on phone WeChat was yesterday.
Chi Ye: 【Can it rank above?】
This time, she didn’t reply.
But…
Impossible!
Better never cooperate for life!
