Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 100, Nightclub Filming Wraps Up, "Bright Sword" Airs
Upon seeing Liu Shishi, Song Ci was immediately filled with joy. A gentle smile bloomed on his face as he leaned in to embrace Liu, enjoying a moment of peace and warmth.

"Mmm!" Liu Shishi pressed her bright red lips against her boyfriend's left cheek, and before Song Ci could react, she kissed him several more times.

"Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!"

She kissed her boyfriend's right cheek, forehead, and lips, leaving several faint lipstick marks on his handsome face. Today, Liu Shishi showed an intense passion unlike anything she had ever shown before.

"Shishi, you?" Song Ci was a little surprised. Miss Liu was usually gentle and reserved, so why was she so proactive today, even a bit bold!
Liu Shishi's eyes were like crescent moons, filled with a strong sense of possessiveness. She said in a sweet, cloying voice, "My man is the most handsome man in the world. Only I can kiss him, and I can kiss him however I want. It'll make them jealous."

A few days ago, Liu Shishi secretly helped her boyfriend register for the "Most Handsome Campus Heartthrob" contest on Toutiao.com. After the online voting started, Song Ci's votes were far ahead of other contestants, making him the number one campus heartthrob.

As the event gained momentum, the title of "Peking University's Number One Campus Heartthrob" spread across the internet, attracting countless female netizens.

After seeing Song Ci's photos, people left comments on his voting page boldly expressing their love by calling him "husband," and there were also various explicit replies that made people blush and speechless.

This infuriated Liu Shishi, who was extremely jealous. So, upon seeing her boyfriend, her possessiveness kicked in, and she grabbed him and showered him with kisses, asserting her ownership.

Song Ci knew a little about his girlfriend's thoughts; these past few days, when Miss Liu talked to him on the phone, she said a lot of sarcastic things.

He pretended to scold, "Who told you to secretly register me? Now, wherever I go in school, I'm surrounded by girls who want to seduce me. Sigh, it's a happy kind of trouble."

Liu Shishi's almond-shaped eyes widened, and she replied angrily, "Fine, you still feel happy! Are you enjoying yourself?"

Song Ci spread his hands and said, "They were all ladies. They were pestering me, and I couldn't do anything about it. I could only suffer through my tears."

Liu Shishi was starting to regret her actions. She hadn't even completely won over Shen Sisi yet, and she was afraid that another beauty from Peking University would come along and steal her man. She would be caught in the middle, and what would she do then?

Since things had come to this, he could only resort to his usual tactics and arrogantly say, "I don't care, you have a girlfriend, and you're not allowed to associate with those disreputable women."

Seeing the worried look on Miss Liu's face, Song Ci gently stroked her hand and assured her, "Don't worry, you're the only one in my heart. I'll keep my distance from other women."

The two cuddled for a while, then, remembering their business, Song Ci asked, "Who's having dinner with us tonight?"

"Just Senior Brother Qiao, Sister Yan Ni, and the two of us, four people in total."

After thinking for a moment, Song Ci suggested, "Then let's call them. I'll drive directly to the restaurant. Otherwise, my car is parked here at the film set, and I'll have to ask Wang Shan to pick it up tomorrow, which is a hassle."

Liu Shishi naturally followed her boyfriend's instructions. She got out of the car and returned to the supermarket entrance. After exchanging a few words with the two of them, she invited Qiao Zhengyu and Yan Ni into the car.

The vehicle slowly started moving, and Yan Ni and Song Ci, who were in the back seat, said politely, "We're so sorry to trouble Teacher Song to drive us."

Qiao Zhengyu thanked him repeatedly, showing great enthusiasm.

While driving, Song Ci replied, "It's no trouble at all. Thank you for taking care of Shishi on set."

The roads in Beiping were a bit congested on Saturday afternoon, and it took more than half an hour for everyone to arrive at the restaurant they had booked.

To cater to Song Ci's tastes, Yan Ni and Liu Shishi discussed it and specially selected a famous Huaiyang cuisine restaurant in Beiping.

The dinner was pleasant and lively, and Qiao Zhengyu and Yan Ni were the first connections Liu Shishi made in the entertainment industry.

Out of consideration for his girlfriend, Song Ci was easygoing and friendly towards the two of them, without putting on any airs of being the chairman of Tengda.

At the dinner table, the three of them kept telling Song Ci about their experiences filming on set. As they ate and drank, the distance between them quietly closed.

Time flies, and two more days have passed in the blink of an eye. On the evening of September 12th, after a busy day on the set, Liu Shishi rushed home.

Yan Ni had finished filming and left the crew. She didn't want to stay in a hotel by herself, and since it wasn't too late, she took a taxi from the supermarket home to stay for the night.

Exhausted, Liu Shishi returned home and lazily sprawled on the sofa, enjoying the warmth and comfort of home.

Liu's mother handed the peeled apple to her daughter, staring at the somewhat listless Liu with concern on her face.

"How long until your movie wraps up? You're filming all night and your life is completely disrupted. You don't look right at all."

"thanks Mom!"

Liu Shishi took the apple, took a bite of the tender and juicy flesh, and her taste buds instantly felt the sourness of the apple. Her eyes narrowed, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she revealed an interesting and vivid little expression.

Then came the delicious sweetness, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly. Chewing on the fruit, he replied indistinctly, "Almost there, just a few more shots to film, and we'll be done in two or three days."

Perhaps because she was in a hurry to speak, Liu Shishi choked on the apple. She quickly pounded her chest and exhaled after a while, "I almost choked to death!"

Mrs. Liu smiled kindly and said, "You child, eat slowly. You're a grown woman now, why are you still so fussy?"

After saying that, he sighed, his voice tinged with regret: "Your Uncle Zhou originally wanted to invite you to make a cameo appearance in a TV series, but the filming is almost over and it's too late. It's such a pity."

Liu Shishi was quite nonchalant and didn't care at all about not being able to make a cameo appearance: "What's there to regret? A cameo can't compare to being the lead actress in a movie. When 'Nightclub' is released, our whole family will go see it together and support your daughter's first leading role."

Mrs. Liu nodded slightly, "That makes sense, but it was your Uncle Zhou's good intention after all. Whether we go or not, we should still thank him."

Liu Shishi took another bite of the apple, glanced at her silent father beside her, and with her free hand she grabbed his arm, saying in a sweet, coquettish voice:

"Comrade Liu, your beautiful and beloved daughter is home today, but you seem unhappy and haven't said a word."

Mr. Liu was engrossed in watching TV, the program on the screen seemingly possessing a magical power that made him unable to tear himself away. He ignored his beloved daughter and said perfunctorily, "Happy, happy!"

Miss Liu pouted, a little annoyed, and asked discontentedly, "Dad, what program are you watching? You're so engrossed in it!"

After speaking, he looked at the TV. Mr. Liu was watching a program on CCTV-1, with the words "Bright Sword Episode 1" prominently displayed in the lower right corner. It was a newly broadcast drama.

At this moment, the screen was filled with interplay of light and shadow, and the image of the male lead, Li Yunlong, was vivid and lifelike. Liu Shishi only had to watch a few times before she unknowingly fell in love with the TV series.

Just like her father, she was completely absorbed in the story, as if she had become a part of it, sharing the joys and sorrows of the characters. Their emotions deeply touched Liu's heart. Time passed by, and soon the episode ended. Only then did Liu's father come back to his senses, still feeling a little unsatisfied. "Daughter, come back! You've lost weight. I'll have your mother give you some good nutrition in a few days."

Liu Shishi also came to her senses, pouted and said coquettishly, "Dad, I've been back for a long time, and you're busy watching TV."

While begging his daughter for forgiveness, Mr. Liu shook his head and expressed his opinion.

"I just neglected my precious daughter, it's my fault. But the TV series 'Bright Sword' is really exciting and addictive. Li Youbin's acting is excellent, and the plot is also very cleverly conceived. It's a rare top-notch drama."

"It was truly wonderful," Liu's mother agreed, as she herself had been immediately drawn to the program.

After the commercial break, the second episode quickly began airing. With the stirring opening theme song, scenes flashed by, continuously announcing the cast, production information, and other basic details of "Bright Sword".

When the production company was displayed, Hairun Film & Television Production Co., Ltd. and Tengda Culture Co., Ltd. were shown in the center of the screen, catching Mr. Liu's attention.

Mr. Liu was curious. The name Tengda Culture sounded familiar. “Girl, I vaguely remember you saying that Xiao Song’s company is called Tengda Culture, right? You even interned there last year?”

The program information flashed by, and Liu Shishi, not noticing the production company of the TV series, replied, puzzled, "Yes, Yiyi's company is called Tengda Culture. What's wrong?"

Mr. Liu exclaimed in shock, "The production company behind 'Bright Sword' is Tengda Culture! How did Xiao Song's company develop so well? It's only been established for a few days, and its TV series can already be broadcast on CCTV!"

In the minds of ordinary people, a company that produces programs that can be broadcast on CCTV-1, especially during prime time, must be one of the top companies.

Liu Shishi felt proud and proudly raised her snow-white swan neck, saying, "Tengda Culture is really impressive."

Mrs. Liu tentatively asked, "How does it compare to Tangren Media?"

Liu Shishi thought for a moment, hesitated for a long time, and had to admit: "Tengda Culture should be stronger."

Although Ms. Liu didn't understand why the young man's company, which had only been established for a little over a year, could surpass many established film and television companies in the industry.

But that's what outsiders say, and given K-sister's attitude towards Tengda Culture, it seems that Tengda Culture is indeed stronger than Tangren Media.

Mr. and Mrs. Liu exchanged a glance, looking at each other in bewilderment. At the time, Song Ci wanted to keep their daughter at Tengda Culture, but they felt that the company's prospects were unclear since it was a newly established business.

After much deliberation, they finally decided to have their daughter sign with Tangren Media. Now, judging from the current situation, Tengda Culture has a bright future. Although their starting point was for their daughter's good, haven't they just made a fool of themselves and acted like petty people?

Mr. Liu frowned slightly, subtly probing for information, "Shishi, you've been with Tangren for a few months now. Has President Cai assigned you any roles recently?"

While staring at the screen, Ms. Liu casually replied, "Yes, I'll be joining a film crew at the end of the year, and the company is going to remake 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' next year. Sister K promised to let me play the second female lead, Mu Nianci."

Mr. Liu nodded, somewhat relieved. "You're going to play Mu Nianci? That's not bad."

These days, Jin Yong's martial arts dramas are household names, and being able to play a major role means you have a high level of fame among the general audience.

Upon hearing this, Liu's mother breathed a sigh of relief. Even if Tangren Media couldn't compare to Tengda Culture, as long as it could provide her daughter with some high-quality resources, that would be fine. As for the company's size, she didn't need to worry about it.

"You son of a bitch!" Soon the second episode began airing, and Li Yunlong's classic catchphrase echoed through the TV series. Liu Shishi's family watched the program, laughing and enjoying themselves.

The following morning, as the first rays of autumn sunlight peeked over the horizon, the glass curtain wall of the CCTV building shone brilliantly in the morning light, creating a magnificent sight.

"Good morning, Director Jiang!"

"You look great today, Director Jiang."

On his way to the office, Jiang Tao wore a polite smile and responded to the warm greetings from his colleagues at the TV station.

Before entering the office, Jiang Tao instructed his assistant at the workstation, "Bring me yesterday's viewership report immediately."

Upon seeing her boss arrive, the female assistant beamed with joy and followed him into the office.

Once Jiang Tao was seated, he eagerly presented the pre-prepared viewership report, beaming with joy, and said, "Director Jiang, congratulations!"

Seeing his assistant's expression, Jiang Tao eagerly took the thin sheet of paper. His eyes swept over it, and his pupils widened slightly. Unable to suppress his joy, he clenched his fist and shouted excitedly, "Good, good, good!"

The report shows that the first episode of the TV series "Bright Sword" which premiered on CCTV-1 yesterday had a rating of 7.91%, and the rating for the second episode climbed to 9.88%.

This achievement surpasses the previous CCTV hit drama "The Great Song Dynasty Judge", essentially securing the title of drama king of the year.

In 2005, CCTV's production and broadcasting system was still in the traditional stage, and reforms such as the channel system and the separation of production and broadcasting had not yet been fully implemented.

Since a dedicated program acquisition center for purchasing TV dramas has not yet been established, the Arts and Literature Center still bears the important function of purchasing TV dramas.

Jiang Tao, as the director of the Arts and Literature Center and in charge of the Film and Television Department, held a high position and great power within the television station. Because "Bright Sword" was a war-themed program, it was not originally favored by the Arts and Literature Center.

It was Jiang's discerning eye that led him to overrule objections and make the decision to purchase and broadcast the show. Now, "Bright Sword" has achieved phenomenal ratings, earning the station at least tens of millions more in advertising revenue. This is undoubtedly thanks to Director Jiang.

Jiang Tao is 38 years old this year, which is the prime of his life and the golden age for pursuing his career. The outstanding performance of "Bright Sword" is a remarkable achievement in his career.

At the age of 38, Jiang Tao was able to take on the position of director of the arts center, which shows that he was no ordinary person without ability.

At this moment, Jiang Tao's ambition was growing. As long as he could purchase two or three more hit dramas and generate a lot of profits for the TV station, he would naturally be in a good position to be promoted!
In front of his assistant, Jiang Tao calmed down after a moment of excitement.

After thinking for a moment, he instructed, "I remember that 'Bright Sword' was a joint production of Hairun Pictures and Tengda Culture. Didn't Tengda Culture recently submit another drama to our film and television department and send the finished product over?"

The assistant was speechless for a moment, stammering and unable to answer. He could only give a perfunctory reply: "I will ask the film and television department and report back to you immediately."

Jiang Tao shook his head almost imperceptibly, not entirely satisfied with his assistant's work, but he was in a great mood at the moment and didn't dwell on it.

(End of this chapter)