Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 186 Boys should protect themselves outside
Other dramas may only be popular for a few years and then disappear after the trend ends, but Meteor Garden will never be like that; every time it's filmed, it becomes a hit!

As you can see, after "Meteor Garden" was released, China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand would release a remake every few years, and each time it would become a huge hit in its own country and even become a hit abroad!
For example, the 2021 Thai version of "Meteor Garden" still captivated a huge number of Chinese drama fans!
Even the most poorly plagiarized of these shows, "Meteor Shower," dominated its time slot and made stars of Zhang Han and Zheng Shuang.

This is why Wu Yuchen put Huang Xiaoming in the show; "Meteor Garden" really made people famous, and this was the fastest shortcut for him to become popular.

The biggest challenge for this drama is actually casting. If the actors are handsome enough and have the right charisma, the drama is already halfway to success. For F4, all they have to do is act cool and stylish, and they're basically set for the future.

Putting everything else aside, Huang Xiaoming's face is undeniably striking. The admissions officer initially didn't want him after his audition, saying he was too wooden and lacked the natural talent of an actor. However, Cui Xinqin said that even if he was wooden, he was still beautiful wood, and immediately decided to hire him.

Moreover, filming "Meteor Garden" was not difficult. To put it bluntly, it was just an urban drama. Although the costumes and props of this "Meteor Garden" far surpassed the original version, and luxury cars and mansions were rented, the entire filming cost only a few million. After all, they were all newcomers, and the actors' salaries were cheap to begin with!

On Monday night, many people in Taiwan sat in front of their televisions and tuned to CTS (Chinese Television System).

"CTS is airing a new drama today, it's called 'Meteor Garden,' I wonder if it'll be any good?"

"I don't know, it probably won't be as good as 'Princess Pearl'. But I've been watching 'Little Swallow' for the past two months, so it's a good change of pace~"

The fact that "Meteor Garden" was placed in prime time by CTS this time also shows that they invested in promotional resources in advance, which attracted a lot of people.

"I can't forget the first time I saw you, your captivating eyes..."

"Hey, this song is actually pretty good!"

Many people were immediately captivated by the light and melodious tune at the beginning of the show, and while thinking about finding out the song's name later, they couldn't help but feel more excited about the upcoming drama.

The opening theme song is "Unavoidable Love," which became a hit across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China with the popularity of "Meteor Garden." It was a very common song and became Yu Chengqing's signature song, which she sang for decades.

With such a popular song, it's impossible to ask Yu Chengqing to sing it this time. F4 will sing it themselves, and with "Meteor Rain" added, just two songs are enough for an album's title track. In fact, the "Meteor Rain" album has already been recorded and is just waiting to be released to the market as soon as "Meteor Garden" becomes a hit.

Wu Wenxuan was listening to music and doing her homework in her room when she suddenly heard a chattering sound outside. She frowned, took off her headphones, and stormed out in her slippers. Sure enough, she saw her younger sister, who was 10 years younger than her, watching "Princess Pearl" in the living room.

Wu Wenxuan, hands on her hips, yelled at her younger sister, "Wu Wenjing, didn't I tell you? Keep the TV down when I'm doing my homework!"

Then she pointed at the TV and said, "How many times have you watched 'Princess Pearl'? Aren't you tired of it?!"

Wu Wenjing stuck her tongue out at her sister: "You're the annoying one! Hehehe, I just love watching Little Swallow! I'll just watch... Ah!"

Before she could finish speaking, she screamed. Her older sister had grabbed her hair, pushed her onto the sofa, and started spanking her.

"Waaah! When Mom and Dad come back, I'll tell them you bullied me again!" Wu Wenjing shouted as she struggled, pinned to the sofa.

"Huh? You dare to tattle! Do you still dare? Do you still dare!" Wu Wenxuan pinched her younger sister's buttocks and twisted them hard a few times.

"Waaah, I won't do it again, I won't do it again!" The younger sister, who was being ridden, quickly succumbed to her older sister's tyranny.

Just as the two sisters were fighting, the remote control they pressed changed the channel to CTS. A loud motor sound came from the TV, and the two sisters on the sofa turned their heads to look.

On the screen, a red Ferrari and a blue Lamborghini drove up and stopped at the school gate.

On the television screen, as the roar of engines subsided, a red Ferrari and a blue Lamborghini pulled up in front of the school. The red body made it dazzling and incredibly beautiful; the car's lines were remarkably smooth, and the red and black exterior created a stunning visual impact. Combined with the luxurious gold-plated jewels, countless people would want to own one of these vehicles!

The car door opened, and a long leg stepped out. A man wearing a leather jacket, casual trousers, and high-top leather boots stood out, his sunglasses adding to his cool demeanor. As he removed his glasses, a high-bridged nose, deep-set eyes, and striking eyebrows revealed a handsome and extraordinary figure—it was none other than Huang Xiaoming!
Then three more handsome men, each with a different style and attire, stepped out of the car. Their outfits and styling were undeniably sophisticated. The four men stood in front of the car; some leaned against it, some had their hands in their pockets, and some smiled broadly. This was clearly a staged performance for the audience, but the natural movements prevented it from feeling jarring. The luxury car, the handsome men, and the powerful entrance music immediately captivated the audience!

At this moment, the younger sister, who was being pinned down, had completely forgotten about her older sister, and Wu Wenxuan, who was riding on her sister's back, had also unconsciously let go. The two sisters stared blankly at the four handsome men next to the luxury car on TV and exclaimed in unison, "So handsome!"

Wu Wenjing jumped out from under her sister and sat up straight, excitedly staring at the TV. Wu Wenxuan didn't even go back to do her homework.

As F4 walked through the school gate, all the students quickly made way for them. They walked with an overbearing and domineering air, and with the background music playing, an incredibly cool and arrogant atmosphere immediately hit them. Wu Wenjing, the younger sister, couldn't take it anymore and screamed excitedly with her hands clenched, "Sis, I'm going to die! How can they be so handsome! So cool!"

Wu Wenxuan ignored her sister, her heart fluttering at the sight of the four handsome men from wealthy families. When she watched the scene where the F4 were bumped into by their teacher, and the teacher immediately knelt down to wipe their shoes and apologize, just like the female lead Shan Cai in the drama, she was completely stunned.

The only thing echoing in her mind was Dao Ming Si's retort to the teacher: "If apologies were enough, what would we need the police for?"

So this is the style of all elite schools? Are all the children of noble families this arrogant?! This exceeded her imagination, and she was deeply shocked! She inwardly exclaimed, "Holy crap, does it have to be this exaggerated?!"
But Daoming Si is really cool, handsome, and domineering!
All her studies were forgotten at this moment; she only wanted to see what would happen between the commoner heroine Shan Cai and the handsome aristocratic F4.

The craze for "Princess Pearl 2" in Taiwan hadn't even died down before it was replaced by another wave of popularity: "Meteor Garden" and F4. Previously, Taiwan was known for its period dramas, melodramas, and rural themes; never before had there been such a charismatic idol drama, instantly creating a sensation in the market. It wasn't just teenagers who loved it; even middle-aged women enjoyed it—the sheer good looks of those four actors were a feast for the eyes!

Moreover, Meteor Garden is not dragging at all; the first two episodes alone have a lot of plot points.

The male and female leads are introduced. Shan Cai is ostracized and pranked by the entire school after offending Dao Ming Si. During this crisis, Hua Ze Lei helps Shan Cai, and Shan Cai develops feelings for him. Shan Cai bravely declares war on Dao Ming Si, who then starts to see her in a new light. However, Hua Ze Lei, longing for his goddess Teng Tang Jing, accidentally kisses Shan Cai, causing a falling out between Dao Ming Si and Hua Ze Lei, turning their brothers into enemies!

This series has a brisk pace, constantly resolving conflicts and advancing relationships, keeping viewers hooked and wanting more. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be "addictive"!

A week later, while Wu Yuchen was editing "Love", he received another call from Cai Yinong, who said with a smile, "Director Wu, 'Meteor Garden' is a hit in Taiwan!"

"Oh? What are the ratings now?"

"It's only halfway through its run, and the viewership rating is already 8%!"

Don't think that 8% is nothing. In Taiwan, many TV series are considered to have a good score of 2%, and anything above 4% is considered popular. Many popular martial arts classics only have around 6%-7%, so 8% is definitely a blockbuster.

In its previous life, "Meteor Garden" was initially overlooked and aired in an unpopular time slot. It was only moved up in time after it became popular halfway through its run, eventually achieving a viewership rating of nearly 7%. This time, "Meteor Garden" started in prime time and has already reached 8% after airing halfway through, so it's not surprising.

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "Okay, President Cai, keep up the good work and try to reach over 10%! How's F4 doing?"

The purpose of making "Meteor Garden" was to promote F4 and make money, while also directly countering the impending Korean wave. H.O.T. and TVXQ, with F4, they all had to step aside!

When Wu Yuchen asked about F4, Cai Yinong perked up: "I can only describe it with one word: crazy! We don't dare let them out on the street at all now. I've already hired security personnel for them, otherwise we simply can't stop those fans!"

Wu Yuchen nodded upon hearing this: "Their safety is our top priority. Each person should have at least one security guard. When they interact with fans, the bodyguards should keep a close eye on them to prevent anything from going too far."

He wasn't being overly pessimistic; this was a necessary measure. Twenty years later, many people will talk about "brainless fans" and the fanaticism of young male idols' fans. But the truth is, the mainland entertainment industry wasn't as developed back then, and the level of fanaticism in Hong Kong and Taiwan was no less than that.

In later generations, fans mostly just argued online, but nowadays fans arrange to fight offline. They fight, clash, get bloodshed, burn posters, tapes, and postcards—they do it all. Sometimes, it even forces the two main fans to step in and mediate to temporarily end the conflict.

Idol groups like F4, which rely on their good looks and popular dramas, are more likely to become the objects of fantasy for these female fans, so security measures must be in place.

"Ah, F4! I love you guys!" "Daoming Si! Daoming Si!"

"Hanazawa Rui!"

"F4, we are your bodyguards!"

"Where is Daoming Si? Where is Daoming Si located?"

At the hotel entrance, a large group of girls were shouting. When a group of burly men in suits came out to block their way, and then Huang Xiaoming, Zhong Hanliang, Qiao Zhenyu, and Wu Kequn appeared, the group of girls immediately let out deafening screams. The four men, escorted by security guards, slowly made their way to the car while maintaining smiles.

After finally getting into the car, Qiao Zhenyu breathed a sigh of relief: "This is too exaggerated. I thought I had encountered a group of female demons like Tang Sanzang!"

Chung Han-liang patted him on the shoulder and said, "You should be content. Many people want to be Tang Sanzang but don't even qualify!"

Having been in the entertainment industry for six years, Chung Han-liang sighed with emotion. He thought that his career had been quite successful over the past six years, and he was considered a celebrity to some extent before, even being nicknamed "Little Sun" by his fans. But when had he ever received this kind of adoration?!

Six years of hard work couldn't compare to just one casual role in the TV series "Meteor Garden." Now, nobody calls him "Little Sun" anymore; everyone calls him "Hua Ze Lei." It has to be said that sometimes choice really does matter more than effort. If he hadn't joined F4, no matter how hard he worked, he wouldn't have the popularity and fame he has today!
At this moment, Wu Ke-qun looked very excited: "I feel like I'm dreaming! No, I never dreamed that 'Meteor Garden' would be so popular. When I was acting, I thought he was so young and ordinary, but he looked so handsome on TV!"

He no longer finds "Meteor Garden" childish at all; the more he watches it, the more handsome he thinks it is!
Then Wu Ke-qun patted Huang Xiao-ming on the shoulder and said, "Hey, Brother Xiao-ming, you're super popular right now, just as popular as Little Swallow!"

Upon hearing Wu Ke-qun mention Zhao Wei, Huang Xiaoming immediately broke into a silly grin. Zhao Wei, who had never called him before, had been calling him repeatedly these past few days to congratulate him. Even her initially impatient tone had turned into one of great warmth, and she'd chatted with him for a long time each time. If it weren't for the company's immediate need to send them to Hong Kong for promotional activities, Zhao Wei would have already taken the initiative to ask him out for a meal!
At this moment, Qiao Zhenyu asked Zhong Hanliang, "Ah Liang, how is the response to 'Meteor Garden' in Hong Kong?"

Chung Hon-leung smiled upon hearing this: "My friend said it's incredibly popular. ATV used our 'Meteor Garden' to replace 'My Fair Princess,' firmly suppressing TVB. You know, for the past ten years or so, TVB has been suffocating ATV!"

Qiao Zhenyu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "That's good. I thought people in Hong Kong didn't watch Mandarin films!"

“Most people on Hong Kong Island can understand Mandarin, they just can’t speak it.”

"I don't know how many albums I'll be signing tomorrow. The other day, my hands felt like they weren't even mine anymore."

"Hehe, that's a happy problem for you, and Xiaoming signed so many without complaining~"

Then Chung Han-liang asked, "Xiao-ming, how many contracts are you planning to sign tomorrow?"

Huang Xiaoming stretched out one hand and said, "I want to sign 500 copies!"

……

F4's autograph sessions have an advantage over those of other singers, since all four members are signing autographs at the same time. There are four long lines at this moment, with Huang Xiaoming's line being the longest, since Dao Ming Si is the most popular!

Huang Xiaoming had just taken a sip of water and stretched his wrists when he looked up and saw the next fan walking up. She looked to be a girl of about twelve or thirteen years old, with sausage lips and a baby face. When she smiled at him, her mouth looked very big.

"Mingzai! I love you!" the girl shouted excitedly.

Huang Xiaoming smiled back at him while signing his copy of the "Meteor Shower" record.

Just then, the other person pulled out a notebook and suddenly said in Mandarin, "Brother Xiaoming, I really like you! Can you write me a message of blessing? I'm also from the mainland!"

Upon hearing the woman's Mandarin, Huang Xiaoming realized she was from the mainland and smiled as he took the notebook from her hand: "Little sister, what's your name?"

"My name is Yang Ying, and my English name is Angela! I've only been in Hong Kong for a year, and I'm 13 years old this year. I used to live in Shanghai. Brother Xiaoming, you are my dream lover! I listen to your songs 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and 'Meteor Shower' every day until I fall asleep!" Yang Ying excitedly told Huang Xiaoming quickly.

"Thank you, but your task now is to study hard~"

As Huang Xiaoming spoke, he wrote: "Wishing the beautiful Yang Ying (Angela) to study hard and make progress every day!"

After Huang Xiaoming finished writing, he handed the notebook back to the little girl in front of him.

"Thank you, Brother Xiaoming!"

As Yang Ying spoke, she bent down as if to bow and express her gratitude, but unexpectedly she suddenly lunged forward, grabbed Huang Xiaoming's face, and kissed him.

Caught off guard by her sudden attack, Huang Xiaoming was stunned and was instantly photographed by the paparazzi from Hong Kong Island who were waiting there.

Fortunately, Huang Xiaoming's bodyguards reacted quickly, pulling Yang Ying away in a flash and carrying her out with both hands.

At this moment, Yang Ying struggled in the bodyguard's arms and shouted, "Brother Xiaoming, I love you! I love you! I want to have your babies!"

Her actions nearly caused a riot in the long line behind her, with a group of girls immediately shouting, "You slut! You dare kiss Dao Ming Si!"

"You damned hag, you worthless slut, you're a disgrace to your mother!"

"You bastard, may your whole family die a horrible death!"

"You idiot, you gave birth to a son without eyelids, so your father sold his eyelids and now his own eyelids are rotting!"

"You lewd woman, so thirsty, go and become a man in Loufenggou!"

Immediately, many more people from the organizers rushed out to maintain order, and the autograph session had to be temporarily suspended.

Huang Xiaoming touched his face and thought to himself, "She's only twelve or thirteen years old. Are all girls in Hong Kong this outgoing?" Then he seemed to smell a cigarette. "This little girl is smoking at such a young age. She's a little delinquent!"
Huang Xiaoming shook his head; his Zhao Wei was still the best!

This incident did not affect the popularity of the autograph session in Hong Kong Island; in fact, it made the news afterward, further fueling F4's popularity.

Many newspapers featured a photo of a female student, Yang Ying, stealthily kissing Huang Xiaoming on the cheek, while Huang Xiaoming looked utterly astonished.

"Daomyo-ji was ambushed with a wet kiss by Sausage Girl!"

"Huang Xiaoming is being showered with love by a female student!"

"F4 ignites Hong Kong Island, becoming the dream lovers of female students!"

That evening, Wu Yuchen, who happened to be calling, heard about this and earnestly advised Huang Xiaoming, "Xiaoming, boys need to learn to protect themselves when they're out!"

(End of this chapter)