Entertainment News: I'm Not a Scumbag After Rebirth!

With each page torn from the calendar, May 1st draws ever closer.

Anxiety permeated everyone's heart.

BJ, headquarters of Huayi Brothers.

Outside the glass curtain wall, the sky above the capital city was hazy and gray; inside, the air in the luxurious conference room on the top floor was filled with the scent of champagne.

In the center of the long conference table, several bottles of Dom Pérignon were chilled in an ice bucket, the golden liquid shimmering in crystal glasses, reflecting Wang Zhonglei's smug face.

He was unusually not wearing a tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, as if he had already entered a celebration mode.

On the projection screen, there was a huge map of the national cinema schedule.

The bright blue color representing "Windy City" covered almost all the major box office cities.

The other few scattered points of light, representing the dim glimmers of light from other films, huddle in the corners.

"Everyone."

Wang Zhonglei raised his glass, his voice booming, drowning out the soft background music in the room.

"See this blue? This isn't just about screen time allocation; it's about public sentiment—choosing truly high-quality, impactful big-budget productions!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the executives from the publicity, cinema, and marketing departments present.

"That young man named Li Jun, and his student project, tell us that in this industry, sentiment and opportunism are insignificant in the face of absolute strength and capital."

A chorus of laughter and compliments filled the conference room.

A manager from the theater chain's liaison department responded obsequiously:

"Mr. Wang has great foresight. Of all the major cinema chains we contacted, almost 90% of the prime screenings during the May Day Golden Week were given to 'Love in the Windy City.' The rest were mostly animated films or re-releases of old movies. For other films, some cinemas, out of politeness, symbolically scheduled one or two late-night ghost screenings, as a last bit of dignity for those smaller films."

"Decent?"

Wang Zhonglei chuckled and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.

"He doesn't need pretense. He needs to face reality. How was the press release received?"

The publicity director immediately reported:

"The response has been excellent, with most media outlets and public opinion pointing in the direction we anticipated. Currently, the general consensus online is that Li Jun couldn't withstand the pressure and has gone into hiding, and they highly praise our expression of regret. At the same time, the combined popularity of Bingbing and Fan Bingbing has completely offset the minor negative comments regarding the song licensing issue."

The projection switched, and huge promotional posters featuring Fan Bingbing and Li Bingbing appeared.

One photo shows the two embracing and crying in a movie, while the other is a candid shot of them attending a fashion event together in real life. One is as bright as a rose, and the other is as cool as a lily.

The press release headline is shocking:

"The movie 'Love in the Windy City' is already a hit before its release. The ice and snow sisters are coming to dominate the screen. Watch them this May Day holiday."

The marketing department added:

"The number of participants in the 'Show Your Support for Bingbing' campaign has exceeded 1.5 million, and related topics have garnered over 100 million views."

"We've already made arrangements. After the premiere, we'll officially announce that one of them will be the lead actress in the company's next project. The hype must be seamlessly transferred to fully capitalize on this trump card."

Wang Zhonglei nodded in satisfaction.

He looked at the radiant twin sisters on the screen.

Li Jun, Love is Not Blind?

It was just a speck of dust that I casually brushed away; it wasn't even a stumbling block.

It was at most an untimely noise, but now that noise has completely subsided.

Wang Zhonglei's final instructions:

"The premiere should be a grand affair, and all the necessary guests should be invited. The venue for the after-party can also be booked in advance. I like to do things ahead of time."

He was arrogant to the extreme.

The sun seemed to have risen early for them on May 1st.

......

Editing room in an old warehouse in Chengdu.

The cold light from the screen was the only source of light here, illuminating Jia Peng's stubble-covered face with deep-set eyes.

On the computer screen in front of him, several windows were open side by side:

One is a distribution coordination group that no longer receives replies; the last message in the group was from a week ago, a polite apology from a cinema manager.

One was a news webpage that kept popping up with good news about Huayi Brothers and the two Bingbings, each one like a needle pricking his eyes;

Most importantly, there's the film "Love is Not Blind" in the editing software, which is almost finished but doesn't know if it will ever be shown to the audience.

At the end of the movie, Huang Xiaoxian, played by Tang Yan, after experiencing thirty-three days of shattering and rebuilding, is finally able to walk alone on a street corner in the sunlight with a faint smile.

Jia Peng watched that scene over and over again, hundreds of times, and each time his eyes welled up with tears.

But now, the glimmer of light that he helped create has been extinguished.

He mechanically moved the mouse, making final, almost obsessive adjustments, as if hope had not been completely extinguished as long as the film was not yet fully finished.

The phone was right next to him; the screen went dark and then he turned it back on, but that familiar number was never answered.

Li Jun's last sentence

"Everything is going according to plan. Stay calm and don't worry."

It reads like a riddle now.

What plan could possibly get through such an absolute blockade?

"Jun-ge, where are you...?"

Jia Peng buried his face in his palms, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Is all of this really going to become a joke with no one to witness it?

Despair settled deeper and deeper in this cramped space filled with machines, dust, and the smell of instant noodles.

Changsha, the live broadcast night of the Super Girl 5 to 4 competition.

The studio was filled with a frenzied roar of sound and dazzling lights, and the temperature was several degrees higher than outside.

In the stands, colorful support signs created a vibrant, bustling sea.

The camps of "corn", "pen pal", "boxed lunch", and "jelly noodles" are clearly distinct.

Every time a singer takes the stage, the corresponding area erupts in a deafening roar of shouts, as if the fans are engaged in a vocal competition.

Standing in the waiting area, Zhang Liangying could clearly feel the enthusiastic cheers of her fans in the stands behind her.

That sound had become pressure, heavy pressure.

She wore an elegant white gauze dress and had exquisite makeup.

But only Fang Zhi, who was right next to her, could see that her hand, hanging by her side, had icy fingertips and was trembling slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"Don't be nervous, Yingzi, just think about the song."

Fang Zhi said in a low voice, handing over a bottle of warm water.

Her own palms were also sweaty.

It wasn't just the competition; it was also the lack of response to Li Jun's message and Huayi's increasingly arrogant attitude that weighed heavily on her mind.

She didn't even dare to look at her phone for long, afraid that she would see some worse news.

The competition proceeded brutally.

Li Yuchun's appearance immediately brought the atmosphere to a fever pitch. Her unique stage presence and strong emotional connection with her fans made her a natural fit for the spotlight.

Zhou Bichang's consistency is frightening, and her technique is impeccable.

He Jie gave it her all, trying to ignite everything with her signature passion.

It was Zhang Liangying's turn.

She walked onto the stage, and the spotlight fell upon her, shutting out the noise of the outside world.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she tried to temporarily lock all her anxiety and confusion about Li Jun's whereabouts into a corner of her heart.

Tonight she is singing a rearranged version of a classic love song, which requires great emotional control and vocal power.

As the intro began, she started speaking.

The voice remained clear and penetrating, and the technique was impeccable.

On the judges' panel, several teachers nodded frequently.

However, only those who know her well can hear the extremely subtle tension in Fang Zhi's voice as she clenches her fists tightly in the audience.

Her tense nerves still affected her.

This isn't a technical problem; it's that my mind wasn't completely at ease.

Her gaze would occasionally drift to the side curtain strip, which was empty; the figure that brought her peace was nowhere to be seen.

After the performance, there was enthusiastic applause.

But as Zhang Liangying bowed, her heart sank slightly.

She knew she hadn't made any mistakes, but she also knew she hadn't performed exceptionally well.

On this stage where every step is fraught with danger, sometimes not making a mistake means not standing out enough.

The voting is proceeding with great enthusiasm.

In a somber tone, host Li Xiang announced the list of those who advanced, starting with the fifth-place finisher.

Each name announced was accompanied by ecstatic screams from one group of fans and disappointed sighs, even faint sobs, from the other.

The immense pressure turned the girls on stage pale, and they held each other's hands tightly.

"Fourth place..."

The host took a deep breath, "He Jie!"

He Jie froze, her signature bright smile instantly freezing, and then large tears rolled down her cheeks.

She covered her mouth, choked back tears, and bowed to the audience. Zhang Liangying and Zhou Bichang immediately stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

From the area where the "lunchboxes" were sitting, a chorus of sobs could be heard.

Then, the top three were announced.

"Third place... Zhang Liangying!"

"Second place... Zhou Bichang!"

"First place... Li Yuchun!"

The moment the results were announced, Zhang Liangying felt a "buzz" in her ears, and the thunderous cheers from the outside world seemed to be blocked by a layer of water, and she could not hear anything.

Third...from first to third.

Although she advanced, that number felt like a cold needle, piercing through the composure she had been maintaining for days.

She saw Zhou Bichang's relieved expression and Li Yuchun's calm gesture of greeting the audience.

An indescribable sense of frustration and loneliness gripped her tightly.

The chaos in the post-match tunnel only amplified this negative mood.

The narrow aisle was packed with excited fans, reporters, and staff.

Zhang Liangying struggled forward under the strenuous escort of Fang Zhi and security guard Lao Li, as various sounds assaulted her eardrums:

"Bichang is the best!"

"Spring Spring is invincible!"

"Zhang Liangying, come down!"

"Third place has the nerve to say that..."

"What are you without Li Jun?"

Pushing, noise, and inexplicable accusations...

Although the security guards quickly separated the crowd, the hostility and chaos of that moment almost caused her already fragile mental defenses to collapse.

Back in the lounge, the moment the door closed, the outside noise was shut out, replaced by a deathly still vacuum.

Zhang Liangying didn't remove her makeup or change her clothes. She just sat blankly in front of the mirror, staring at her own empty eyes and pale face.

The gorgeous white tulle dress now appears heavy and ironic.

Fang Zhi silently wrung out a hot towel and handed it to her, wanting to say something, but her throat felt blocked.

What could she say? The outcome of the competition couldn't be changed, Li Jun's whereabouts remained a mystery, and the future of the film was bleak.

All words of comfort seem weightless and insignificant at this moment.

Zhang Liangying picked up her phone; the screen showed her chat with Li Jun.

Their last conversation was a few days ago, when she asked him if he had eaten, and he replied, "Yeah, busy."

Her fingertips trembled as she typed:

"I'm third. You promised to watch a movie together, where are you?"

Each word felt incredibly heavy.

After finishing writing, she stared at the green send button but hesitated to press it.

Sending him such a message will only add to his worries and helplessness; he's barely able to take care of himself right now.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and deleted the message word by word, then placed her phone face down on the table with a soft "snap".

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door. He Jie pushed the door open and came in.

She had changed out of her performance costume; her eyes were red and swollen like peaches, but she was trying to put on a smile.

"Beautiful."

He Jie's voice was hoarse:

Don't take it to heart. You sang really well.

She walked over and took Zhang Liangying's cold hand.

"You still need to keep pushing forward."

Zhang Liangying looked up at her and saw the lingering tears and sincere encouragement in the other's eyes. Her throat tightened, and she almost burst into tears.

"Thank you..." she said in a hoarse voice.

"Any news about Li Jun?"

He Jie asked in a low voice.

Zhang Liangying slowly shook her head.

He Jie sighed and squeezed her hand tightly:

Everything will be alright. It will be.

After saying that, she turned and left, her back view showing a hint of loneliness, yet also a sense of relief.

After He Jie left, the room fell silent again.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Zhang Liangying saw, through the mirror, Jia Peng, who might be equally desperate in the Chengdu warehouse.

I saw Li Jun, who was nowhere to be found and was under even greater pressure.

Is this a complete and utter defeat?

The competition rankings have plummeted, the film is on the verge of collapse, and the most important person has gone missing.

Outside the window, Changsha is brightly lit, and the clamor of celebration for advancing to the next round can be faintly heard, but that excitement belongs to others.

In this corner that belonged to her, there was only cold desolation and endless waiting.

May 1st was no longer the dawn she had hoped for; it was more like a giant, dark vortex, swallowing everything she cherished...

Meanwhile, in Beijing, in that champagne-spraying conference room, Wang Zhonglei received the latest report:

The last few theater chains that had been hesitant about showing "Love is Not Blind" have officially responded that they "cannot schedule any screenings" during the May Day holiday.

He smiled and lit a cigar.

"Cleanup complete."

He raised his glass to the void, as if to his missing opponent.

The air in Changsha was already quite hot and dry, and the branches were already lush and green.

Two little birds were fighting in a sycamore tree when an eagle swooped down. One bird hid, while the other was caught.

The eagle stopped its claws and was about to savor its dinner.

But the little bird that had hidden itself had already laid a trap.

Li Jun tapped the table; all the necessary preparations were complete.

He let out a long sigh of relief.

This is just the beginning.