I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 200: Piercing the Sky!
As night falls, the lights of Victoria Harbour twinkle like stars, illuminating the awards ceremony being prepared in the distance!
Li Mingrui looked down into the distance and squinted his eyes.

Hong Kong Film Awards!
This is his chance to turn things around!
As the former chairman of the Hong Kong Film Awards, Lee Ming-shui knows better than anyone what this award means to him!
All night yesterday, no, for the past few months, he has been feeling frustrated!

Especially today!
Since "The Mine" was shortlisted for the Berlin Film Festival, it has caused an instant sensation on the Internet!
Their "joint boycott" of the book was dug out of the trash by some bastard and then became material for these "bloodthirsty" traffic-driven media outlets!
He had someone contact several media outlets with whom he had good relations.

However, the media's response was extremely cold.

"We've cooperated with you and done a lot!"

"but……"

"Chairman Li, we can't control Zhou Yang!"

"Moreover, Zhou Yang is currently a hot topic, and any newspaper or magazine that even remotely mentions 'Zhou Yang' sees its sales skyrocket!"

"If you don't let us write about Zhou Yang, we won't have any money! Besides, the conflict between you and Zhou Yang is a major flashpoint right now. If we don't write about him, others will. And [Movie Home] is profiting from Zhou Yang's traffic; its registered users have already exceeded 81!"

"..."

Almost every phone call conveyed the same message!
At that moment, he realized that something had completely spiraled out of control!
Moreover, not only did the "joint boycott" become a complete joke, but netizens also dug up his "kowtowing to the West" dark history, and he was ridiculed by the media as a "two-faced director" who, on the one hand, denounced Zhou Yang for "damaging the industry," but on the other hand, had to hypocritically send a congratulatory message...

Thinking of this, Li Mingrui's eyes darkened, and he stared intently ahead at the direction of the Hong Kong Film Awards, which was being prepared.

He has already given Zhou Yang a way out!

He even had the organizing committee personally extend an invitation to Zhou Yang!
They made an exception and invited the cast and crew of "The Mine," Zhou Yang's "Love Rollercoaster," and "The Spirit of Zhao Zilong"...

Previously, the Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony featured only Cantonese films, but this time, Mandarin films were invited, which is unprecedented for the Hong Kong Film Awards!

He hoped to have a good talk with Zhou Yang!

He wants reconciliation.

At the very least, the situation must not be allowed to escalate further, thereby affecting the stock prices of Tianyu and Huaying International!

but……

"Zhou Yang refused!"

"What? He refused?"

"Yes, not only did they refuse, but..."

"And what?"

"Mr. Li, you can see for yourself!"

"..."

He accepted a video.

In an open space in front of [Xuan Shi Entertainment], Zhou Yang was giving a speech to numerous media outlets.

His eyes widened when he saw the video!
..............................

"Over the years, there have been far too many film festivals and awards in China and abroad..."

"These awards all praise how 'artistic' and 'profound' the films are, but what about the bad ones? Who criticizes them?"

"..."

Under the setting sun at dusk.

Chen Jiajia from [Wandou Film Network] stared in shock at the cold-faced figure standing at the door, camera in hand!
Just now, she heard the news that Zhou Yang had been invited to the Hong Kong Film Awards!

This is one of the few times in the history of the Hong Kong Film Awards that films other than Cantonese films have been invited to be nominated!
Although nothing was said openly, everyone understood that this veteran Chinese filmmaker did not want to continue the feud with Zhou Yang!

They gave Zhou Yang a way out, and they also gave themselves a way out!
In this battle, Zhou Yang was undoubtedly the winner, gaining both fame and fortune. Almost all filmmakers believed that Zhou Yang would know when to stop and back down gracefully.

After all, he heard that the Hong Kong Film Awards seemed to have prepared an award for Zhou Yang!
However, at this moment!
Chen Jiajia stared at Zhou Yang in disbelief!

He actually did it!
Not only did they refuse the Hong Kong Film Awards, but they also seem to want to make a big deal out of it, and it seems like they're going to challenge them!
After Zhou Yang pushed up his glasses and said those words, the scene fell silent instantly, followed by a flurry of flashes from cameras.

Immediately afterwards...

"Everyone is afraid of offending someone!"

"They dare not criticize those who should be criticized, and dare not say what they should say. At most, they can only hurl insults online under pseudonyms, but not a single one dares to stand up in real life!"

"Many directors don't hear these things; not only do they not hear them, they don't even care!"

"I'm not afraid!"

"I'll do the things that offend people; anyway, I'm already burdened with debts!"

"Starting today, I hereby announce that our 'Golden Broom Awards' will officially launch on March 1st! We will be awarding the worst movies, worst directors, and most disgusting acting of the year... All you 'masters' are welcome to come and receive your awards!"

"Now, according to the latest data provided by media outlets such as [Movie House]!"

"I'm here to announce the shortlist!"

"..."

The moment they heard those words, all the media at the entrance of [Xuan Shi Entertainment] were stunned!

They didn't expect that Zhou Yang would not only refuse the way out the filmmakers were offering him, but instead smash the steps and slap them hard in the face!

Immediately afterwards, they carried the camera and, with trembling hands, pointed at a set of cards that Zhou Yang slowly took out!
Everyone realized that in this era of the most frenzied internet traffic, this guy was about to tear a hole in the sky!

"Best Artistic Appeal Award – Li Mingrui's *Yellow Earth*! Liang Xiaogang's *The Barbarian*! Chen Kesen's *The End of the World*... Congratulations to the three directors for being nominated for our awards ceremony! But this is just a nomination; stay tuned to see who will ultimately win the grand prize!"

"Western judges' favorite bad film award: Ding Xiaoyu's 'Black Mine', Zhang Zhigang's 'Berlin'..."

"Most Disappointing Directors of the Year - Liang Xiaogang's *The Barbarians*, Li Mingrui's *Yellow Earth*, Shen Long's *The Mine*..."

"Most Disappointing New Director of the Year: Zhang Jingya (Love Ferris Wheel), Zhou Yang (Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2), and Zhang Chao (Youth of the Sea)!"

"Most Disappointing Newcomer Actor Award: Chen Liang for 'Youth of the Sea,' Chen Liang and Zheng Yichen for 'Ferris Wheel of Love'..."

"..."

A cold wind swept through Yanjing at dusk.

At the entrance of [Xuan Shi Entertainment], Zhou Yang stood in front of the spotlight, and the LED screen behind him suddenly lit up with a blood-red [Golden Broom Award Nominees]!
Zhou Yang held the card, and with each sentence he read aloud, a set of data scrolled across the screen!
Each time a name was announced, a gasp of surprise erupted from the audience!
No media outlet could have imagined that Zhou Yang would dare to do something like this, even getting his own film, and himself, nominated for the Golden Broom Awards!
Seeing this, they thought Zhou Yang was like a madman, and he even pulled out his knife!

That knife not only slashed wildly everywhere, leaving blood everywhere and debris scattered all over the ground, but it even didn't spare itself!

Facing the camera, Zhou Yang spoke calmly, yet every word was piercing!

"Thank you to all the directors for your 'criticism' of Director Shen's 'The Mine.' Of course, I also keep in mind the criticism of my personal film 'The Mine.' I sincerely accept the criticism, but I trust the audience's judgment more than theirs. Every film here is the result of countless votes cast by the public over the past few months. Originally, there was also a 'Golden Dragon Award for Best Film,' but thinking about it, the 'Golden Broom Award' is more meaningful!"

"There's about a week left!"

"In the next week or so, we will announce the award ceremony venue and the judging process. From so many 'artistic masterpieces,' we will select the best of the best. We also welcome all our friends to come to our [Movie House] to continue voting for your favorite 'bad' movies!"

"On March 1st, the Golden Broom Awards ceremony will be held live via video transmission at the [Movie House]... All 'winners' are welcome to come and receive their awards!"

……

Hong Kong Island! Li Mingrui's eyes widened, then turned bloodshot, his face contorted and twisted as he stared intently at the video!
When he saw that his film from last year had been nominated for nearly ten awards, he felt his blood pressure spike instantly!
It felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face again, leaving his ears ringing and his face burning!

"Zhou Yang!"

"Fuck your mother!"

"I want you to die!"

"Grass!"

in the office.

He lost control and started smashing things like a madman, scaring his assistant to death!
"Ban him!"

"Ban him!"

"Damn it!"

"..."

He clenched his fists, his whole body trembling, and he muttered these words breathlessly, even grinding his teeth to powder!

The words just fell!

He then saw in the video that Zhou Yang did not appear to have left.

Instead, they had the display screen at the entrance slightly adjusted, and then...

The big screen suddenly switched to the real-time trending topics—#Scanned copy of the joint letter exposed#.

I saw that letter!
He instantly felt as if the whole world had fallen into silence!
Immediately afterwards...

What did he see?
He saw that their petition against the magazine "The Mine" had been photoshopped into an invitation to the Golden Broom Awards, with the caption: "You spent thirty years kneeling to earn an award, we'll create a golden broom for you in just three days."

"boom!"

He smashed the laptop!
Immediately afterwards...

The world spins, and my blood rushes to my head!
"Zhou Yang, I'm going to fucking kill you!"

"I am going to kill you!"

"..."

Chairman Li!

Chairman Li!

"..."

Amidst a horrified scream, he instantly lost consciousness!

..............................

"Damn it, the server crashed again!"

"Nine hundred thousand!"

"Nine hundred thousand!"

"Our registered users, damn it, have surpassed 900,000! And the active user count is about to break a million! Holy crap!"

"Quick, quick, server! Set it up, quick, quick!"

[Movie House] Technician Li Cheng grabbed his hair, staring at the crashed server, and suddenly felt a headache coming on!
Yang Bo, standing next to him, stared tremblingly at the million-plus activity level in the backstage area, too excited to say anything!

This data!

Oh shit!

That's close to half of the daily active users on BBS!

They have once again set a new record on the internet!

..............................

【XuanShi Entertainment】

Shen Long watched this scene in horror...

When he saw Zhou Yang walk into the office, his expression changed drastically, and he stumbled in.

"Mr. Zhou, we, you, I, I..."

He started to stammer!

"Are we going to make enemies of the world? This time..."

"These directors used 'artistic freedom' to belittle 'The Mine,' and we, the audience, use 'freedom' to select bad films, tearing down their moral high ground. We want to climb up by stepping on their heads!"

"But, but, you've already exposed the truth, Mr. Zhou, we..."

"Are you afraid?"

"I... I'm a little scared, but Mr. Zhou, I'm standing with you! Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it!" Shen Long's face was pale, and he was sitting in the chair, trembling all over, but in the end he still gritted his teeth and looked at Zhou Yang.

Mr. Zhou!
He is a complete and utter scoundrel!
Others are fine once they've taken their revenge!
And President Zhou...

Oh shit!

Once you get stuck with Boss Zhou, he'll slap you whenever he gets the chance, and he's got a terrifying temper!
Seeing Shen Long's terrified expression, Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes and smiled!
"Don't worry, the sky won't fall!"

"Ok?"

"Do you know that our film 'The Mine' was approved for censorship shortly after filming was completed? Why is that?"

"Huh? It's not the fast track..."

"Didn't you notice that the express lane was incredibly fast this time?"

"what do you mean……"

“Some people hope to use ‘The Mine’ and us as a weapon to put pressure on certain individuals… As long as the authorities don’t object or issue warnings, then it’s permissible!” Zhou Yang took off his glasses and squinted at the distant sunset!
Shen Long trembled slightly!
Just then, Zhang Jingya walked in with a complicated expression and saw Zhou Yang looking at her with a smile.

“Tell the brands…”

"This time, they're spending millions on advertising for the Golden Broom Awards!"

"next time!"

"We'll take them to Berlin!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)