Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 185 is super cool, okay!

In the video, the photos in the album are clearly visible, showing Wang Danfeng from childhood to her youth. Her radiant and stunning appearance in her youth stands in stark contrast to the paralyzed elderly woman flipping through the album now.

This is also why Wu Yuchen insisted on choosing her; this contrast and difference can create a greater shock in the hearts of the audience.

The old woman slowly turned the leaves over with her withered, aged hands, exclaiming, "So beautiful!"

Ge Cunzhuang, who was eating nearby, looked up and asked, "What?"

"Life..." the old woman replied.

As he continued flipping through the pages, he said, "It's been too long."

Ge Cunzhuang stared silently at his wife, understanding her unspoken message: happiness is fleeting, but suffering is prolonged, and she didn't want to continue. But how could Ge Cunzhuang bear to let his wife die?
Everything is left unsaid.

At this moment, two cameras were pointed at the two elderly people, filming their facial expressions and eyes.

"Pass! Very good, teachers, the emotions were just right this time!"

Wu Yuchen praised, "These micro-expressions aren't easy to achieve; we had to film them several times. The two veteran actors we found this time are indeed excellent; their personalities match the roles perfectly. However, actually filming them wasn't a quick process."

On the one hand, although the film has few scenes, the actors need to express very delicate emotions, which is not easy in itself; on the other hand, the two elderly people also need guidance in understanding these progressively evolving emotions, and they often sit down with Wu Yuchen to discuss whether this mentality and emotion is right or wrong.

This time, "Love" is Wu Yuchen's Oscar-caliber film, and he wants to make it as perfect as possible. Therefore, the pace has slowed down, and after a month of filming, they've only completed half. However, Wu Yuchen thinks the slower pace is good; it allows the two veteran actors to better understand the characters' emotions—slow and steady wins the race!

……

After returning to school, Zeng Li felt somewhat lost. The direct cause of this confusion was, of course, losing the role of Yu Jiaolong to Zhang Ziyi. This made her doubt herself, unsure whether she was truly capable.

Although she had acted in "The Grand Mansion Gate" before, to be honest, that opportunity was arranged for her by Wu Yuchen, not by her acting skills that she won over director Guo Baochang. Therefore, even though she felt that this training camp was quite rewarding, she still couldn't help but feel some frustration and doubt, and wanted to go back to school to calm down and think things through.

And it was at this very moment that "The Grand Mansion Gate" aired during prime time on CCTV.

The promotional campaign for "The Grand Mansion Gate" has been quite extensive. While the lead actors Chen Baoguo and Siqin Gaowa are not surprising, one particular promotional video has certainly caught everyone's attention.

It was just a short, edited clip. Wu Yuchen appeared first, smiling, and said, "Watch 'The Grand Mansion Gate' with me!"

Just five seconds later, Zhang Yimou appeared on screen: "Watch 'The Grand Mansion Gate'!"

Then, a host of well-known directors and big-name actors in the industry, such as Chen Kaige, Jiang Wen, Li Xuejian, Tian Zhuangzhuang, and Ning Jing, were condensed into this one-minute promotional video, which immediately shocked many people who were unaware of the inside story.

It's just a TV series, yet several top directors and numerous celebrities in China are all promoting it. Who else gets this kind of treatment?!

Wu Yuchen suggested making this promotional video, and everyone who came to make a cameo appearance also recorded a few seconds, which resulted in this simple yet powerful promotional clip. No one has ever done this before, and it was a huge success when it was released!

CCTV already has a huge fan base, and this time the publicity was quite powerful. Even before the TV series started airing, many newspapers had already spontaneously mentioned this "famous director" series, "The Grand Mansion Gate," which filled the audience with anticipation.

"A laugh from the beginning opens two doors of love, amidst the chaos of a turbulent world, a soul lost in chaos. Unrepentant blood, with the intention to save the common people, a grand mansion weathering a hundred years of storms."

The opening song immediately exudes a grand and majestic atmosphere. As the main story unfolds, the vivid characters such as Second Grandma, Bai Jingqi, and Uncle Bai make their appearances, and the captivating content keeps viewers hooked.

The first episode of "The Grand Mansion" achieved a 13% viewership rating. To put this in perspective, "Yongzheng Dynasty," which aired at the beginning of the year, only achieved an average viewership rating of 14.39% and a peak rating of 16.7%. The fact that "The Grand Mansion" has already reached 13% since its premiere is undoubtedly due to the significant role played by the pre-broadcast promotion and the support from industry insiders, led by Wu Yuchen.

Of course, the excellent quality of "The Grand Mansion Gate" also contributed to its high initial ratings, which continued to rise as the plot unfolded, increasing by 0.3% every day. Keep in mind that this is a national rating from CCTV, not a regional rating.

When Zeng Li's character Yang Jiuhong appeared nearly halfway through the series, the viewership rating for "The Grand Mansion Gate" had already risen to 19%, easily breaking the record set by "Yongzheng Dynasty" a few months earlier.

Although Zeng Li's Yang Jiuhong appears late in the series, she has a significant amount of screen time, making her the second female lead after Siqin Gaowa. He Saifei, who played the original actress, was nearly 40 years old when she appeared in this series. Although she acted very well, her age prevented her from immediately conveying the stunning presence of a top courtesan.

Zeng Li's radiant and captivating appearance immediately left a lasting impression on all viewers, making her a stunning beauty. Especially striking was her captivating smile as she turned to Bai Jingqi from upstairs—a smile that was both alluring and refined, truly breathtaking. Only a woman as beautiful as her could inspire such jealousy in Bai Jingqi, leading him to fight tooth and nail for her!
As the plot unfolds, the tumultuous fate of Yang Jiuhong, a concubine of humble origins but who dares to love and hate, is revealed, evoking a complex mix of love and hate, sorrow and lament from the audience.

But one thing is certain: Zeng Li became an instant star thanks to her role as Yang Jiuhong!

The rave reviews in the newspaper, the encouragement from classmates and friends to treat her to a meal, and the calls from her parents and sister all made Zeng Li feel as sweet as if she had eaten honey. What made her even happier was that even her usually strict homeroom teacher, Ms. Chang Li, came over to praise her for her excellent performance!

After this experience, Zeng Li felt all her previous confusion vanish. This recognition was like a shot in the arm, instantly boosting her confidence. She was determined to succeed as an actress, no less than anyone else!
At the end of May, "The Grand Mansion Gate" came to its finale, with the highest ratings reaching 24%, making CCTV very happy!

Although the TV series has come to an end, the discussion and buzz surrounding "The Grand Mansion Gate," a classic drama with high popularity, high viewership, and high reputation, will not subside anytime soon, and many related news stories have been unearthed by the media.

For example, Guo Baochang went through many hardships over the decades for "The Grand Mansion Gate", his connection with the fifth generation of directors, and how he was cheated by a black-hearted businessman, but was fortunate to receive generous financial assistance from Wu Yuchen, which enabled him to make "The Grand Mansion Gate"!
When viewers discovered the fascinating story behind the filming of "The Grand Mansion Gate," they were all abuzz with discussion, and many reporters even went to interview the relevant personnel.

Chen Baoguo, who recently rose to fame through Bai Jingqi, gave a thumbs-up: "Director Wu is impeccable, truly righteous!"

He then continued, "As far as I know, it's not just our 'Grand Mansion Gate,' but many small projects that couldn't secure investment also received support from Director Wu. Now, everyone in the industry who mentions Director Wu speaks highly of his unwavering loyalty and integrity!"

Even the relatively low-profile Guo Baochang publicly stated to reporters that the person he was most grateful to this time was Wu Yuchen, without whom there would be no "The Grand Mansion Gate".

And so, with the popularity of "The Grand Mansion Gate" and the newspapers' promotion, Wu Yuchen's reputation for righteousness and generosity was not only circulating within the industry, but also began to be talked about by the general public.

……

While "The Grand Mansion Gate" is a sensation on the mainland, "Princess Pearl 2" is even more popular on the other side of the strait after it aired in Taiwan. It has already finished two rounds of broadcast since April, but its popularity has not waned at all, prompting several Taiwanese TV stations to compete for a third or fourth run. No one can compete with it.

At this moment, Huang Xiaoming stared blankly at the lively Xiao Yanzi on the television screen, wondering if he could really keep up with her.
Then he thought of the "Meteor Garden" he was filming, and he clenched his fist. After training hard for half a year, Huang Xiaoming touched his eight-pack abs and two bulging pectoral muscles and was full of confidence in himself!
On the rooftop, the actors began their performance as the script supervisor clapped the clapperboard.

Two female extras who were bullying Jia Jingwen pushed her away, causing her to bump into Dao Ming Si, who was following behind.

At this moment, Huang Xiaoming was wearing a flashy red headband and a very stylish printed shirt. The collar of the shirt was not tied, and a cool pendant shone between his two exposed pectoral muscles, making him look domineering.

Huang Xiaoming stepped forward, glaring at the two girls with a menacing look: "Who gave you permission to bully her? Let me tell you, this woman belongs to me! If you dare touch a hair on her head again, you'll be sorry!" The two girls were shocked and panicked. One of them cried out in despair, "Daoming Si, how could you like a plain girl like Shan Cai?!"

"Hmph! Why should I, Daoming Si, explain my actions to others?" Huang Xiaoming said with a cold expression and an air of arrogance.

After the two girls left, Huang Xiaoming took Jia Jingwen's hand, his expression softening, and said, "Don't worry, with me here, they won't dare to bully you again!"

Jia Jingwen shoved Huang Xiaoming away, her face full of anger: "Get away from me! Who do you think got me into this state?! You big idiot!"

"What kind of attitude is that! I'm here to save you!"

"I didn't ask you for anything!"

Huang Xiaoming revealed a wicked smile, a glint of cunning in his eyes:
"No one has ever dared to speak to me like that before! Very well, woman, you have successfully piqued my interest!"

……

"Pass!"

After hearing the director call out, Huang Xiaoming stepped down to rest.

At this moment, Zhong Hanliang handed him a bottle of water and joked, "Xiao Ming, I really admire you! You can deliver such embarrassing lines so well. I wouldn't be able to say them myself. Luckily, I'm playing Hua Ze Lei~"

Wu Ke-qun, standing nearby, said, "Brother Xiaoming is a professional actor! Don't you remember what your acting teacher taught you? Actors have to unleash their true nature and overcome their sense of shame! Look at Brother Xiaoming, he doesn't feel embarrassed at all, that's what makes a great actor!"

Huang Xiaoming looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression, then asked, "Huh? Don't you guys think he's handsome?"

"So handsome?!" Chung Hon-liang and Wu Ke-qun exclaimed in unison.

"Yeah, these lines are so cool! I was shaking with excitement just practicing them!"

Huang Xiaoming was well protected by his family from a young age. Perhaps the more you lack something, the more you want it, and he had long admired this kind of "cool" behavior. In his previous life, when he was in his forties, he was interviewed and asked why he wanted to play a domineering CEO. He replied that he had thought that style was very cool since he was a child and wanted to play it once.

Looking at Huang Xiaoming's sincere eyes, Wu Ke-qun and Zhong Hanliang exchanged glances.

Chung Han-liang has been in the industry for many years, and Wu Ke-qun, who came from a poor family, matured early. Therefore, they both found this scene quite childish. In fact, they thought the entire TV series was rather childish. However, since they had already signed contracts and the production team had rented luxury cars and mansions, it was clear they were investing heavily. In addition, the songs they had already recorded were of good quality, so they couldn't question the company's decision.

But to their surprise, the lines that made them feel awkward were actually super cool in Huang Xiaoming's eyes!
Chung Han-liang opened his mouth, then patted Huang Xiaoming on the shoulder and exclaimed, "Xiaoming, I finally understand why we specifically chose you to play Daoming Si."

Wu Ke-qun also gave Huang Xiaoming a thumbs up: "Brother Xiaoming, I admire you!"

Huang Xiaoming chuckled, feeling he had done a pretty good job. To be honest, after arriving in Hong Kong and being exposed to different acting approaches taught by local instructors, he felt like he had finally seen the light.

Huang Xiaoming actually laid a good foundation in the past two years, but mainland actors trained in academia are all geared towards realism, so he was very tense, and his lack of life experience made it difficult for him to perform well. However, the Hong Kong acting style is more street-style, more casual and exaggerated than the mainland style, which made him seem to suddenly let go of himself. This time, when he played Dao Ming Si, he felt like a fish in water!
"Filming wrapped!"

After Wu Yuchen shouted "Filming wrapped," he rushed over and personally helped the elderly Wang Danfeng, who was lying on the bed, to sit up. He repeatedly thanked the two veteran actors.
"Teacher Wang, Teacher Ge, thank you both so much for your hard work this time. You've been through so much for two whole months!"

Wang Danfeng gently shook her head, then sighed and said:
“Playing this role this time had a big impact on me. It was like really experiencing the mental changes that come with being paralyzed. I wondered if I would make the same choice in the future. Sigh!”

Wu Yuchen quickly said, "Teacher Wang, Teacher Ge, you two are in good health. There's no need to worry about things that might not happen. Just enjoy the present moment!"

Ge Cunzhuang also said, "Director Wu is right, living well in the present is the most important thing!"

That evening, there was naturally another celebratory banquet. The crew enjoyed a good meal and drinks, while Wu Yuchen chatted with the two veteran actors. Everyone drank tea instead of alcohol, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

After Wu Yuchen returned to the hotel, he suddenly received a call from Cai Yinong.

"Mr. Cai, what is it?"

"Director Wu, it's like this, CTS has contacted us, wanting to acquire the first broadcast rights for 'Meteor Garden'."

"What are the conditions?" Wu Yuchen asked upon hearing this.

“1500 million Hong Kong dollars, and they can give us prime time slots.”

"Hmm? Such good terms?"

Wu Yuchen felt somewhat surprised, after all, Meteor Garden didn't have any big stars, and it wasn't like the previous "The Legendary Twins" which was a big IP by Gu Long. It was clearly over budget to be able to sell 1500 million yuan plus prime time slot.

"Director Wu, the other party also had conditions, which was that the ratings had to be the highest in the same period, otherwise they would only get the first 500 million, and not the subsequent 1000 million. This time, CTS was also defeated by 'Princess Pearl' for two consecutive years, which was quite frustrating. Now 'Princess Pearl 2' has been broadcast for the third time, and they still can't beat it. I thought it was an opportunity, so I went over and won the prime time slot."

After hearing Cai Yinong's explanation, Wu Yuchen nodded. That makes sense; otherwise, how could they offer such good terms?

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "President Cai, you did a great job. Promise them. By the way, has 'Meteor Garden' finished filming?"

Actually, compared to the money earned from the drama "Meteor Garden" itself, Wu Yuchen and Cai Yinong valued the prime-time premiere slot more, because the potential to make F4 famous was greater.

"We've filmed more than half of it. In Taiwan, they're filming and broadcasting simultaneously, so our progress is fine. We'll have plenty of time!"

"Okay, President Cai, everything is in your hands now. You'd better be prepared to be the godmother of idol dramas, hahaha!"

Wu Yuchen hung up the phone with a smile, completely unconcerned about whether "Meteor Garden" would become the top-rated show of its time slot. After all, it was "Meteor Garden," a show that had swept across all of Asia!

He might hesitate if it were a direct confrontation with "My Fair Princess 2", but "My Fair Princess 2" has already been broadcast in Taiwan several times, so there's nothing to be afraid of.

Although the elements in "Meteor Garden" are quite childish, British social psychologist Marroly Warber has concluded that the less mental effort required and the more stimulating the content, the easier it is for viewers to accept and appreciate.

This is almost an ironclad rule for entertainment program viewership in the future. Regardless of China or the world, the development of entertainment programs over the next few decades will tend towards simplicity, mindlessness, and excitement. Take "Princess Pearl" for example, and Marvel in the US for example—they have absolutely no substance, yet they're still incredibly popular!
Therefore, despite the seemingly awkward and embarrassing lines in "Meteor Garden," it's precisely this that makes it so captivating for the audience. What's the point of an idol drama if it doesn't have brains?
(End of this chapter)