Chapter 192: South Korea Asia Hurricane Sweeps Southeast Asia
Inside the villa.
“Uncle is here too.”
After Chi Ye entered the door, he immediately “locked on” to Jin Ming in the crowd, who was pulling a sour face.
Hearing Chi Ye’s “surprised” voice, Jin Ming’s face grew even sourer. He huffed and said nothing.
“Jin Ming, watch your attitude.”
His wife admonished him in a low voice: “The child is greeting you. Show some upbringing.”
Jin Ming: “?”
Bringing up upbringing with me now, huh?
They were all a bunch of profit-driven “villains”!
He gritted his teeth and said flatly: “Pleased to meet you. Hope you’re well.”
Chi Ye was stunned: “Uncle is still so cultured, huh.”
“Ignore him.”
Jin Sui led Chi Ye and introduced him to the others in the house: “This is Chi Ye… um… take off the mask and hat. We’re all home now, it’s kinda hot… let the elders have a look at you.”
Chi Ye found the words a bit awkward and glanced at Empress Dowager.
Who knew, Empress Dowager had already rushed to Jin Ming’s wife’s side, cooing: “Little aunt, I didn’t lie to you, did I? It really makes money!”
Little aunt’s eyes narrowed into slits with laughter as she hugged Jin Xia: “Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Xia Xia.”
Jin Xia ran to Jin Lao San’s side again: “Third uncle, hurry up and thank me.”
Jin Lao San: “…”
He turned to look at Chi Ye, sized him up carefully for a couple of moments, and nodded: “Good lad.”
Jin Xia: “?”
She didn’t mind at all, and was even happier. She bounced over to another elder: “Little aunt, Teacher Chi said your family’s furniture is really good. He reposted the new product promotion from your official Weibo account.”
“I know. Chi Ye is a good child.”
The little aunt grew more and more satisfied with Chi Ye the more she looked at him, commenting softly: “Xia Xia, you have great taste… um… better than your aunt.”
Jin Xia’s mouth curved up. She suddenly noticed Jin Ming’s sullen face, paused, and though she originally didn’t want to interact with uncle, he looked so “pitiful”…
“Uncle.” Empress Dowager came up to Jin Ming: “Hurry up and hate me.”
Jin Ming: “???”
“Hahaha.”
The surrounding elders all laughed at her antics.
Chi Ye was secretly amazed too — was this Empress Dowager’s value in the “family”?
Indeed the “apple of the eye,” “lawless.”
“We called Chi Ye over this time mainly because of a movie project… everyone made a good amount of money this time, so don’t be stingy. The child’s career is on the rise now. We should help however we can…”
Jin Sui got straight to the point: “Of course, I’m not saying help me. You all know… my company is doing great lately, but this is for helping Chi Ye, so I want to cooperate with him on a movie project…”
As she spoke, she didn’t forget to glance at Jin Xiao Yi, who had just badmouthed her, to save face: “Also, let me clarify first: when Xia Xia and Chi Ye met, I was there at the live performance. My judgment isn’t bad…”
Everyone: “…”
……
“Chi Ye said if there’s Yu Yan, there’s no him. What do you think…”
At the rehearsal live performance site where Shi Jinwei was.
Sister Qianzi was still staring at WeChat, grinding her teeth and cursing Chi Ye.
On the other side, the person in charge had received the message of Chi Ye’s “ultimatum” and was hesitating a bit as he reported to the investor.
“…Why bother. Sigh.”
The capital representative was a Korean woman. This activity was originally a top-tier fashion show co-hosted by Mainland and Korean capital.
This show’s prestige was very high, basically the home turf of Korean top streamers, and they looked down on Internal Entertainment Circle’s so-called “top streamers” — except Yu Yan.
Yu Yan was different because he wasn’t just Internal Entertainment Circle’s unrivaled top streamer; he was once Korea’s unrivaled top streamer.
Though he had long returned to the country, his influence in Korea remained. He could be considered Internal Entertainment Circle’s only dual top streamer in China and Korea, which was the capital for him to “look down on all opponents.”
In past editions, the activity side had only invited Yu Yan among Internal Entertainment Circle’s male stars, and this time was supposed to be the same.
But…
《Xing Ni》’s emergence disrupted their plan.
Mainland and even all of Internal Entertainment Circle were still unaware, but she knew that as episode seven of 《Xing Ni》 aired in Mainland, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taipei, and even regions/countries in Southeast Asia like Singapore and Thailand had also, just like Mainland, seen the “Xing Ni fever.”
Just like the hot Korean dramas of the past that could be watched on Korean drama TV stations domestically.
Now, multiple 4K high-definition 《Xing Ni》 pirated versions had emerged across Asia.
Just like in Mainland’s Internal Entertainment Circle, 《Xing Ni》 was unstoppable once it came out.
Though it couldn’t air on TV stations due to lack of prior copyright cooperation, on media social software, hot search lists, and foreign TikTok in various regions/countries in Asia, 《Xing Ni》’s popularity had shot to the skies.
The three words #Professor Chi# even dominated the charts for a long time in South Korea, Taipei, Hong Kong, and other regions/countries with deep ties to Mainland, suppressing their local top streamers, leading by a disparity.
— What was happening in Internal Entertainment Circle now was as absurd in reality as it was in other Asian entertainment industries and realities!
《Xing Ni》’s storm had inevitably swept into South Korea, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore…
Like a spark, it instantly ignited the entire Asian scene.
And Chi Ye and Jin Xia’s names also, with this storm, appeared for the first time in the eyes of audiences in multiple regions/countries.
#Chi Pan Xia Yu# hit like a “hurricane wave” upon appearing, parachuting to first place.
In this situation… what could the activity side do?
“Any reaction from Yu Yan’s side?”
The capital representative asked.
“…No reaction for now.” The person in charge looked at the capital representative: “But he’s always had a good relationship with us and is a long-term partner. You see…”
“He said if there’s Yu Yan, there’s no him, so no Yu Yan then.”
The capital representative paused, then sighed: “He’s at the height of his popularity right now, his peak period. Everyone has to bow down. We have to accept it.”
The person in charge felt complicated, with an indescribable mix of pathos and sadness.
Yes, she wasn’t just the person in charge; she was also Yu Yan’s friend, and… fan.
But just as the capital representative said.
During 《Xing Ni》’s explosive run, Chi Ye’s peak period had arrived. No one could refuse him now.
Because no one could refuse stacks of cash and influence.
……
“Is it that exaggerated? Me or him?!”
That day, when Shi Jinwei learned of the activity side’s final decision, amid the shock, looking again at that 【Can you rank above?】 joke on WeChat… she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
Chi Ye seemed no longer the “familiar” Chi Ye from before…
Though she had adapted to the “Xing Ni phenomenal” and the “Xing Ni grand occasion” formed jointly inside and outside the industry this period, when it truly impacted the industry and herself, she still felt like it was a world away.
Me or him…
Look at him acting all cocky!
And… what right did Jin Xia have?!
With Professor Chi’s explosion, as his “protagonist,” the actress who played Qian Songyi — Jin Xia, who had been silent for nearly two years and was about to be overtaken in Internal Entertainment Circle by even more momentum-filled 00 flowers — had leaped to become Asia’s female top streamer.
She climbed over her head, over Shang Youshu’s head, and even… Sheng Ning couldn’t match her edge now.
What right… just because of one modern idol drama? Just because… of cooperating once with Chi Ye?
Has Jin Xia worked as hard as me these two years? She’s just a hidden lazy dog!
“Sheng Ning’s previously negotiated top luxury brands all fell through. Qian Songyi’s same-styles are too fierce; no one can block them… Also, Chi Ge… Teacher Chi’s side seems to have started too…”
Sister Qianzi subconsciously asked: “Started what?”
The assistant glanced at her: “Started snatching Yu Yan… um… seems even fiercer than snatching…”
Shi Jinwei was stunned: “Fiercer than snatching?”
How fierce was that?
……
Chi Ye’s line “if there’s me, no him” eventually spread in the industry.
The “Asian storm” in South Korea, Taipei, Singapore, etc., also spread accordingly.
And the first to react weren’t Yu Yan’s Team or Internal Entertainment Circle capital, nor top luxury vendors, but — Chi Ye’s existing endorsement brands like Dior, Master Kong, L’Oréal, Xtep, Junlebao yogurt, etc.!
Here, there was actually a “camp” division.
For example, L’Oréal Men’s Skincare was signed with Chi Ye later, with over half a year left on the contract, not as urgent as the other endorsement brands.
Of course, just not as urgent; it was definitely urgent.
As for the others, especially the soon-to-expire ones like Master Kong, Xtep, Junlebao, etc., these days they had gone from dumbfounded to delighted, then from delighted to regretful, and finally, the regret turned into heart-wrenching pain — they hadn’t renewed more!!
Why didn’t they renew more with Chi Ye back then!
Due to traffic stars’ instability, big-brand endorsements in Internal Entertainment Circle are usually short-term, one year at a time, rarely long-term cooperation methods.
For instance, all of Chi Ye’s current endorsements were short-term, none over a year.
So the vendors were smug when 《Xing Ni》 first exploded, but when they sensed something wrong, they got confused, and later regretted it deeply — since 《Xing Ni》 aired, all of Chi Ye’s endorsements, note, all of them, sold out overnight.
Vendors’ production lines were smoking from overdrive, still couldn’t keep up with the speed and volume of Chi Ye fans buying outside!
— You can explode, but not this explosively!!
The Master Kong executive who had “criticized” Chi Ye back then was dumbfounded on the spot and called Chi Ye:
“Tea… Teacher Chi, it’s me… ah, yes, isn’t your endorsement about to expire? We’ve cooperated happily before, about renewal… the fast-moving consumer goods side is settled, right… no problem, our beverage side… Coca-Cola…”
He hung up the phone, met a crowd of expectant gazes, then shook his head with a bitter smile: “No go. Price too high, competition too fierce… tough to renew.”
“Sigh.”
“If we’d known… we should’ve signed for five years back then!”
“…It’s all your fault. Think back carefully: wasn’t your attitude toward Chi Ye wrong back then?”
“I didn’t! I was just normally reminding him… I didn’t!”
The liaison wanted to cry without tears: “Who would’ve thought he’d blow up like this suddenly!”
Everyone: “…”
“Coca-Cola went for him?” An executive frowned: “I remember Coca-Cola went for Yu Yan before, right?”
“If there’s me, no him — haven’t you heard? The liaison sighed: “Who knows how many of Yu Yan’s endorsements will be snatched.”
……
Fast-moving consumer brands, national big brands, and even the world top luxury brand endorsements most valued inside and outside the industry have always been the standard — the most important one — for measuring a star artist’s money-making ability, industry star power, and true popularity.
For example, former Internal Entertainment Circle endorsement king Ji Hemming had no works or strength but relied on looks and fashion endorsements to step on Chu Han Zhou’s head.
Yu Yan actually had no fewer endorsements than Lao Ji, but broader coverage and higher quality.
From top luxury brands to national fast-moving consumer goods, digital/automotive, clothing/food/housing/transportation, maintaining national appeal while prestige didn’t drop, and raking in gold hand over fist — wanting it all.
To put it bluntly, Yu Yan was the textbook and “founder” for launching Internal Entertainment Circle’s traffic era + traffic endorsement monetization.
Other top streamers, including Ji Hemming, all learned from him, following the path he paved.
And he was now at his peak period, with two world top luxury brand spokesperson titles alone — note, not brand friend/ambassador, but the true highest title: global spokesperson, full coverage in Asia and Americas, the highest treatment for a luxury brand.
Roughly four levels higher than Chi Ye’s current Dior Wildland Perfume series endorsement.
If including the next-level regional/series luxury endorsements… too many, not counted.
Beyond that, his national-level endorsements in fast-moving consumer goods, apparel, daily chemicals, etc., were countless, mostly global brand spokesperson top titles.
Totaling 20+, all max value, resources other young actors wouldn’t dare dream of in a lifetime.
But this time, not only did someone dare to dream, they actually “snatched” them.
Um… accurately, not snatched, because Chi Ye only spoke up and didn’t proactively contact those brands; they came “licking” on their own.
Coca-Cola, Pepsi, KFC, Wahaha, and Uni-President fast-moving consumer goods.
Louis Vuitton LV, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Gucci, and… Bulgari world top fashion luxury brands.
Plus Huawei, JD.com, Baidu Maps, and other digital electronics apps/software…
They were all either currently cooperating with Yu Yan but nearing expiration, or preparing to negotiate with Yu Yan but changed their minds.
Besides them, Burberry, Versace, Armani, Prada, Cartier, etc., which had no relation to Yu Yan and had never sought Internal Entertainment Circle spokespersons.
That day, they gathered at Chi Ye Studio, exchanging pleasantries while eyeing the scene packed with nearly 80% of global luxury/big brands, frowning inwardly with vigilance — this is bad, the competition is this intense?!
Should’ve had top leadership come personally.
Bulgari’s person in charge sighed inwardly — they actually still had time left on cooperation with Yu Yan, but… that didn’t stop them from contacting Chi Ye early for seamless “spokesperson” transition.
Just didn’t know… if Chi Ye still remembered the past… um, from another angle, though they chose Yu Yan then, before contacting Yu Yan, they were the first to “spot the talent” and pick the then-wannabe Chi Ye!
With that, could it “balance merits and faults”?
Um… speaking of “spotting talent”… why didn’t the top luxury three giants’ Dior come?
They were the true first top luxury endorsement for Chi Ye, even if just a perfume series, but definitely “minister who served the dragon.”
Could it be… because the “three giants'” prestige is too high, can’t lower themselves?
Bulgari’s person in charge grumbled inwardly to ease the pressure.
Whoosh.
The room door suddenly opened, and then everyone saw an Asian middle-aged man being escorted out by Keke.
— Dior Asia-Pacific general person in charge.
All representatives who knew the middle-aged man were stunned, then their hearts sank.
Damn, so you’ve been here all along?!
We’re done.
And LV’s representative, seeing this, felt his heart turn ice-cold instantly.
— Top luxury acknowledged three giants: Dior, Chanel, LV.
The imperial three were the true pinnacle of top luxury. Of course, some say five giants with Hermès above the three, but… since Hermès still had no spokesperson to date, not counted.
LV had previously been Ji Hemming’s “staunch supporter,” and like Bulgari, chose Yu Yan in the Yu Yan vs. Chi Ye decision.
They came this time already a bit like backstabbing Yu Yan, but didn’t expect…
Dior, that sneaky bastard, played dirty!
Dior’s representative disdainfully swept his eyes over the room of “shrimp soldiers and crab generals,” especially LV’s “old friend” sour face, nearly bursting out laughing.
Thinking, what’s our relationship with Chi Ye? What’s yours?
That was the relationship of having ideas to renew with Chi Ye even before 《Xing Ni》 aired!
And just in terms of “sincerity,” no one could match them — they directly gave Chi Ye an unprecedented Internal Entertainment Circle “five-level jump” record, ascending from the original “Wildland Perfume series” spokesperson to global brand spokesperson.
Yes, Dior’s first Chinese global spokesperson.
For all products of one of top luxury three giants, including but not limited to color cosmetics, perfume, ready-to-wear… full series, treatment so high it’s rare in the world.
With this, what do you have to compete with me?!
……
Yue Na, in some reception room.
“They all went?”
Though trying hard to control his emotion and expression, Yu Yan’s voice still carried anger and trembling: “Some brands’ cooperation with us hasn’t expired yet. Aren’t they afraid of breach of contract?!”
“…About half or more went, all the soon-to-expire and ones in talks. There are still brands that ‘choose’ you.”
The agent looked at his slightly gaunt chin, feeling heartache mixed with an indescribable sense of loss.
Since 《Xing Ni》 aired, Yu Yan had lost ten pounds in a week. Now, hearing one after another thing that belonged to him being “snatched,” that feeling finally made Yu Yan experience substantive pain — the pain of being snatched.
The old him never worried about anyone snatching these things, because… Internal Entertainment Circle and Korean entertainment had only one “him.”
He even sometimes found them annoying, looked down on most endorsements, felt they were dispensable. He was already too popular, no need to prove more.
But… now he finally felt the existence of an “opponent.”
Yes, he seemed to have an “opponent.”
He seemed no longer the only one.
