Start with a pop song

Chapter 243 Returning to Eighteen; "The Covert Operation Ends"; "A Chinese Ghost Story"; Threat
"How...how did I become like this?"

The Empress Sister is usually aloof and distant, only occasionally showing her girlish side in front of Song Dao and Yan Yu.

Even when he was in front of the two of them, he rarely panicked and remained extremely calm.

Even during the years he was away from the entertainment industry, he was only engaged in internal strife and never showed too much emotion.

But at this moment, looking at herself in the mirror, she felt a chill run down her spine.

The mirror reflected a face that looked like a young girl's, a face both familiar and unfamiliar to her, exquisitely beautiful. Was it really her?

This is not a fantasy world.

The items that appeared in the system shop were not things like Foundation Establishment Pills.

Therefore, Song Dao was also unclear about just how miraculous "eternal stability" and "youth preservation" truly were.

In his understanding, it's probably similar to "Golden Throat Lozenges," fundamentally transforming and improving the body.

It still falls within the realm of science and can be understood.

So the gasp from the bathroom made Song Dao, who had already woken up, a little nervous.

I wondered if there would be any problems.

The room was dimly lit, and the family of three all preferred to sleep with heavy curtains.

Moreover, the mature woman had her back to him, with her long hair cascading over her smooth shoulders.

Song Dao felt that Yan Bao's body seemed to have become whiter and more tender, though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.

However, Yan Yu's skin is naturally excellent, and the lighting was poor, so it's hard to be sure.

He got up, got out of bed, and went into the bathroom.

The pop diva is still staring blankly at herself in the mirror.

When Song Dao saw the person behind the glasses, he was also startled.

I thought to myself, "Isn't it supposed to be about 'preserving youth'? How can it be so outrageous?"
This is... shouldn't it be called rejuvenation?

Lin Fei originally had a youthful appearance, the kind of person whose real age would be hard to guess even when she turned forty.

Her skin has been in excellent condition thanks to years of skincare.

With the added benefit of Teacher Song's care, even though she's already in her thirties, she looks like she's in her mid-twenties even without makeup.

That's why, when you're with Song Dao, aside from the haters, very few people will bring up his age.

No matter how good her condition is, a thirty-year-old woman is still different from an eighteen-year-old girl.

At this moment, Lin Fei, with her bare face, skin condition, and overall mental and physical state, was almost indistinguishable from an eighteen-year-old girl!
No wonder she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, staring blankly at the mirror, unable to recover from the shock.

Song was also a little confused, thinking to himself, "The system didn't tell me this medicine is so potent!"

This is... seriously defying the heavens.

"Teacher Song..."

Lin Fei's voice trembled slightly as she looked up at the handsome face in the mirror that captivated her.

Song Dao met her gaze.

"You wouldn't actually be... a deity, would you?" There wasn't a trace of jest in the Queen's eyes.

Only shock and some inexplicable fear remained.

Yes, I am terrified.

She recalled that time when she had a severe cold, and the medicine that Teacher Song gave her. From then on, her voice seemed to have been given a boost!

No one knows this better than she, a professional singer herself.

Now, with just a small pill, her entire appearance and physical functions have returned to the state of an eighteen-year-old!
The face is very intuitive; the body is actually even more intuitive!

Because a 30-year-old's body is a bit "sluggish," no matter how healthy they are, their physical functions can't compare to those of an 18-year-old.

But now, she feels as light as a feather!

Then think about Professor Song's extraordinary talent... If, if he really is the kind of... immortal that science cannot explain, does that mean that he might leave one day...?

It's not that Lin Fei is being pretentious. Everyone laughs at Lord Ye for his love of dragons, but when that ferocious dragon with its head and horns actually appears in front of you, how many people can remain calm?

Let alone a dragon, even the appearance of a large snake would make one's scalp tingle and spine tremble with fear.

And...and more!
She's been with Yan Yan and Teacher Song for so long, and they've never used any contraception, so why isn't she pregnant at all?

In the past, she thought this situation was normal. She could just ask any doctor in the gynecology department of the hospital and she would know that both of them were healthy and that many people had not had children for more than ten years.

But now that I think about it, isn't it possible that Teacher Song is a deity, and that he really... refined his essence into qi?

These fearful, bewildered, and absurd thoughts quickly appeared in Lin Fei's mind.

Lingering.

Looking at her incredibly young and radiant face in the mirror, Song Dao chuckled and hugged her from behind.

He whispered in the queen's ear, "So young, my darling, I haven't even slept with an eighteen-year-old queen yet..."

Lin Fei was wearing pajamas and pajama bottoms, while Teacher Song was only wearing shorts.

After taking "Yonggu", it was early morning again.

That night, her little buttocks, which had become exceptionally firm and perky, pressed against Song's legs.

Lin Fei's body trembled slightly the moment her two large, adorable breasts were covered by the dog-man's big hand.

She then suddenly realized that her muscles seemed to have become firmer!

Although it was firm enough before, without any sagging, it had the softness of a thirty-year-old woman.

Sensing the change behind her, the "girl" suddenly felt a surge of heat throughout her body, and her baby-like, fair and delicate face turned pink.

The young lady let out a soft moan, her body suddenly becoming incredibly limp.

No matter how well she recovers, she has already been molded into the shape that Teacher Song likes.

The silk pajama bottoms that were perched on her slender waist suddenly slipped down, exposing her exposed inner parts to a sudden attack.

hiss!
The dog-man suddenly let out a low gasp.

The path, covered in morning dew, was clearly very moist.

But it was extremely tight!
It is completely different from the previous "contraction" state.

In short, at this moment, the diva sister really... seems to have fully recovered to the age of eighteen!

"ah!"

At that moment, Lin Fei let out a short gasp and then desperately covered her mouth.

She didn't know why, but even though... right now her heart was pounding like a deer, filled with a strange sense of shame, even... a forbidden feeling!

This kind of experience was something that 28-year-old Lin Fei had never had before, especially during her first time.

Her waist was supple and slender, and her body, honed from years of dance training since childhood, reacted with the utmost precision in an instant.

His body leaned slightly forward, but his back arched unconsciously.

Her long, flowing black hair cascaded down onto the pool, she covered her mouth with one hand, and then subconsciously looked at herself in the mirror.

Her face was as red as cherry blossoms, and her eyes were as alluring as silk.

Her extremely beautiful eyes were almost overflowing with tears.

"Teacher Lin, I want to test you."

"Wha...what?"

"Let's see if your skills have declined. Come sing a song for your brother!"

That scoundrel doesn't want to explain anything to her right now; what's the point of saying so much?
Just do it and that's it.

"No, no, I... can't sing it!"

"Come on, come on, sweetie, sing me 'Red Bean'?" The scoundrel's voice was like the whisper of a devil.

In an instant, Lin Fei felt as if she could barely stand; the extreme shame was expressed through her body in the most direct way.

The dog-like man behind him bared his teeth, but still tried to entice him in a low voice.

"Come on, Teacher Lin!"

"We haven't... properly experienced the weather of snowflakes blooming... yet, we... tremble together..."

She couldn't continue singing.

It felt like I was instantly ascending to the clouds.

I wonder what year it is tonight.

Just then, a groggy, soft voice came from the doorway: "What are you doing?"

The mature woman, with the same youthful face, looked sleepy and muttered something under her breath as she walked inside with her half-open, almond-shaped eyes.

They ignored the absurd behavior of the two.

He walked to the side, plopped down on the toilet, nodded sleepily, and muttered, "You two are really diligent, so energetic... yawn, I'm so sleepy."

With a splash of water, she casually pressed the clear switch next to the toilet.

"So comfortable..." The warm water washed over her younger sister, filling Yan Yu's extremely young and beautiful face with joy.

Lin Fei looked at Yan Yu's face in the mirror.

If there were any doubts before, now it's completely certain.

There must be something wrong with the pills that Teacher Song fed them last night!
However, she was still in a state of being unreasonably contradicted by Teacher Song and couldn't say anything at all.

Even if she could speak, she wouldn't know what to say.

Anyway, the fear deep in my heart had long since vanished with the feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction.

The mature woman still didn't realize the "seriousness" of the problem. After rinsing herself clean, she closed her eyes, pulled out a tissue, wiped herself casually, and then closed her eyes again, intending to slip away from the two of them.

She's never really liked participating in activities that start the day early, because she's too sleepy!

Getting up too early can damage your skin!
As soon as she walked up to Song Dao, she was slapped on the butt by that scoundrel.

Then he put his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"Hey, what are you doing..." the mature woman said coquettishly, her voice still a little sleepy.

Because she was looking in the mirror, she instinctively opened her eyes.

next moment.

She was suddenly stunned.

Even when that scoundrel shamelessly slipped his hand into her slightly damp crotch, she didn't react at all.

She rubbed her eyes blankly, looked at herself, and then looked at Lin Fei beside her, whose head was slightly lowered and whose long black hair was hanging down.

He instinctively reached out an arm and lifted Lin Fei's head.

The two women's eyes met in the mirror.

Lin Fei's starry eyes held only a gentle, watery charm.

Yan Yu was completely stunned!
She blinked her almond-shaped eyes as if she'd seen a ghost, then looked at the dog's face in the mirror.

Well, still so handsome.

But what the heck is this between me and Sister Fei?

The man next to her was still shamelessly burying his head in his work.

Huodi.

Beside her, Sister Fei let out an uncontrollable, coquettish moan, her body trembling slightly.

Then Yan Yucai felt that he was being maliciously attacked by that scoundrel.

His whole body trembled slightly.

Then she heard a soft "pop" sound, and then she and Lin Fei were switched places.

next moment.

An unprecedented feeling suddenly washed over me.

"You scoundrel..."

The young, mature woman only managed to utter half a curse before she was completely lost in the storm.

……

"What exactly happened?"

It's about seven o'clock in the morning.

After the rain stopped, the family of three lay lazily on their comfortable bed.

Yan Yu and Lin Fei, one on each side, huddled in Song Dao's arms, not wanting to move at all.

"What's going on?"

Faced with the mature woman's question, the scoundrel decided to play dumb.

"It's that pill from last night, right? Teacher Song, tell the truth, are you a cultivator?"

The equally intelligent and mature woman accepted the situation much faster than the insecure Lin Fei.

"You've been reading too many fantasy novels, haven't you?" Song Dao's hand caressed her incredibly smooth body.

"Then how do you explain the changes in me and Sister Fei?"

"What? How do you explain that? Being pampered by her husband, the quantitative change led to the qualitative change, and last night was like a tipping point. It makes perfect sense, right?" Song said confidently. "Look at that woman, that queen of pop from Taiwan. She's over sixty years old, but she looks like she's in her early thirties."

"But this is too outrageous! How can someone go back to being eighteen overnight?"

Yan Yu, supporting her slightly sore body, took out her phone, opened her photo album, and found photos of herself when she was eighteen or nineteen.

Then I turned on the bedside lamp and took a selfie.

Compare the two photos side by side.

"Look, look, what's the difference?" she said, sitting up and happily nestling against Song Dao's chest. "Honey, are you a disciple of some reclusive sect? Does your sect have rules against revealing your true identity?"

Song arrived: "..."

Yan Yu: "I understand, I understand everything. Don't worry, Fei-jie and I won't ask anymore!"

He then looked at Lin Fei's stunningly beautiful face and said, "Sister Fei, it really has to be the two of us! We're so lucky! Don't you think so?"

Lin Fei: "..."

She really couldn't understand Yan Yan's thought process.

Are we really going to accept something that is so utterly beyond our comprehension and subverts our worldview so easily?

"I need to be careful when I go out. I should probably adjust my makeup. I can't just go out with this face on; it would scare people," Yan Yu muttered.

"Yan Yan, aren't you surprised? Aren't you curious?" Lin Fei couldn't help but ask.

"I was surprised, but even more delighted; I was also curious, but my husband must have something he can't say! There are rules in our sect that forbid us from talking about it!" Yan Yu said in a tone that seemed to say, "I'm so wise."

Then he reached out and gently stroked Lin Fei's arm: "Wow, this is really amazing! I'm so envious of the two of us, to have such a wonderful encounter!"

Lin Fei was speechless and didn't want to say anything anymore.

But thinking about it carefully, Yan Yan is right. Teacher Song might really be one of those legendary cultivators.

Otherwise, how could he have such a clear understanding of the traditional myths of the Xia Kingdom?
How could someone possibly write a novel like "Journey to the West" that contains a wealth of knowledge about cultivation?

It would be even more impossible for them to write ghost stories like "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio," which seem to make the protagonist feel as if he were actually there!
Yes, that must be it!
That's why people say the most terrifying thing is your own imagination.

Song Dao never expected that the magical system that came with her transmigration would be understood by them as a product of the cultivation world.

But then again, who can guarantee that it isn't?
After all, the end of the universe is Tieling... no, I mean metaphysics!

"Anyway, as long as you don't suddenly disappear one day, I'm not afraid of anything," Lin Fei suddenly said softly.

"You're overthinking it. Why would Teacher Song disappear? Even if he's a deity who's been experiencing the world, he still has to spend his life with us properly, otherwise his Dao heart won't be stable enough!" Yan Yu said with certainty.

"Yes, yes, you're both right. With these two precious darlings of yours, how could I bear to leave?" Song Dao assured him, somewhat speechless.

“Three!” Lin Fei emphasized, “and Xi Xi too!”

Yan Yu asked, "Does your Consort Xi also have one?"

Song arrived: "..."

He patted her buttocks, which had also become particularly firm, and said, "Only two."

This statement is tantamount to admitting that their changes were indeed related to the pill.

Neither woman was surprised.

Especially Lin Fei.

Teacher Song had previously mentioned that there was only one such pill in the world that had given her voice a significant boost and made her never feel tired while singing.

At the time, she took it as a sweet remark and didn't take it to heart.

"Oh? There won't be any more in the future?" Yan Yu said with some regret, "Then what about Xixi?"

Neither she nor Lin Fei knew that this thing was called "youth preservation," but the fact that they had returned to their eighteen-year-old selves was undeniable.

Even though we will still grow old over time, it's like stealing ten years from God's hands!
"Who knows? Maybe there will be more in the future?" Song wasn't sure if there would be more in the future.

Anyway, after I redeemed these three pills last night, three more mysterious treasure chests appeared in the system shop.

Just like the original three, each treasure chest contains 1 billion reputation points.

"Oh, if you do, don't forget her," the mature woman said sweetly.

It's clear that she has fully accepted the "setting" of her man's mysterious and extraordinary identity.

Originally, it was because of psychological issues that he didn't mind that there were other women around Song Dao.

Now it doesn't matter at all.

My husband is so amazing, and it's not that he's not a womanizer, but he's very restrained when it comes to women.

As a good wife to her husband, she naturally has to perform even better to be worthy of him.

Worldly wealth... what's that compared to the face that instantly transforms you back to eighteen?!
This kind of communication between the two gradually calmed Lin Fei down, who had always felt insecure.

I even felt sleepy and drifted off to sleep.

Song didn't go out to exercise either.

He knew that Yan Bao might seem loud and boisterous, and that she might easily accept everything.

Actually, just like the pop diva, they are women who lack a sense of security deep down.

Even if one appears to understand and accept it easily, there is still a hidden unease in one's heart.

So, cuddling his two "little sisters," he drifted off to sleep.

Whether it was because of what the older sister said or not, Song Dao, who slept very soundly, even had a dream.

In my dream, I seemed to have truly become a cultivator who could fly and escape into the earth.

They can do anything, from ascending to heaven to descending to the earth.

However, when I woke up, I couldn't remember any of the details of the dream.

Then he looked around and realized the two women beside him were nowhere to be seen.

I got up, took a shower in the bathroom, changed into a very comfortable set of sportswear, and came out.

I saw two women sitting in a row, putting on makeup in front of a large makeup mirror that had been designed beforehand.

Aside from appearing on TV shows, the two rarely wear full makeup, but they were taking their time getting ready.

Song walked up behind them and glanced at them.

Hmm, it's back to how it was before last night.

It has to be said that for makeup experts, the disguises in martial arts novels are really not that difficult.

From now on, she will wear full makeup when going out, and the eighteen-year-old "young and tender girl" will belong only to Song Dao.

Just great.

……

Although The Legend of the Condor Heroes has ended on the video streaming platform, its popularity remains consistently high.

Northeast TV, which had never had a drama series that broke 3% in popularity since its establishment, and had never won the title of "Drama King of the Year," truly rose to prominence through this drama.

The station director and deputy director are both quite old, but in order to curry favor with the "Feiyang faction," they created a special group chat.

They would chat in the group whenever they had free time, and "report" their progress in The Legend of the Condor Heroes to Song Dao.

Or perhaps it's the various online comments about The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

Then every few days, I would call Song Dao—first asking if he was free via carrier pigeon, and then calling him.

Every ten days or so, at least one deputy director would come to Beijing, sometimes accompanied by two young and beautiful girls.

In short, it's about communicating feelings.

And "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" did indeed make a lot of money on Northeast TV.

With the TV series becoming a hit, countless businesses in Xia Kingdom flocked there to advertise.

We also contacted the relevant departments at Earth Pictures – if there are opportunities for product placement in new TV series or movies, price is definitely not an issue!

As a result, even "Lurking," which wasn't initially well-received, attracted a large number of advertisers.

Even "Little Cow Milk," which has always had a good relationship with the Fei Yang group, saw that this was a period drama and they couldn't directly product placement it, so they simply gave a generous sponsorship fee of five million!
There's only one condition—during the roadshow, their milk brand should be listed as a sponsor on all promotional posters, and ideally, you should be able to drink their products during interviews.

Well, it's basically like giving it away for free.

This is simply to maintain a good relationship and wait for deeper cooperation later.

Some established domestic brands, however, have changed their usual practice of disliking advertising.

They flocked to offer money and discuss product placement.

To be honest, from toothpaste to toothbrushes, and to other daily chemical brands, such as the still effective cold cream, there are many of these century-old domestic brands that can be incorporated into product placement.

Song did not act recklessly, but fully respected Director Zhang's opinion.

If he says it's suitable, then we'll accept it; if Director Zhang says it's not quite suitable, we'll never force it.

As the top director in Xia Guo, even if Baozi makes an animated film with a box office exceeding 10 billion, it will be difficult to shake Lao Zhang's position in the short term.

Director Zhang understands commercial films.

It's easy to seamlessly integrate many domestic brands without them even realizing it, and without affecting the plot at all.

For example, when Fang Zexi, who plays a soldier, squeezes toothpaste in the morning, there is a close-up shot.

The logos of established domestic brands are easily recognizable.

But the plot doesn't feel out of place.

For example, there's the scene where Fang Zexi, all alone, endures the strange looks of that era for "his wife running off with someone else," and frantically tries to make formula for his child.

For example, the character played by Zhao Xue, years later, returns to China and goes to the "Friendship Store" in Beijing to buy various gifts for her husband and daughter.

These are home appliances that have long been phased out, but the brands still exist; they are just home appliances with updated and iterated products. They are old-brand bedding products from Xiaguo.

Even rice, flour, cooking oil...

Yes, it's all for the sake of the plot!
There's nothing wrong with it.

Many things can not only evoke people's nostalgia, but also educate young people who are unfamiliar with old domestic brands!
This is an unexpected bonus for Earth Pictures.

According to the information reported by Sun Zhe, who has been working even harder recently, the film "Lurking," with a total investment of less than 100 million yuan, has already recouped half of its costs just through product placement and sponsorship.

Yan Yu and Lin Fei, who didn't know much about the film and television industry before, couldn't help but exclaim that making movies is really lucrative!

But the prerequisite is... that you have to be able to shoot it well!

In the early years, movies that were essentially garbage still had a market, given the lack of other options and the limited quality of the films available to audiences.

It's gotten worse and worse in the last two years.

Director Zhang's "Demon Love" and Earth Pictures' "Monkey King" have made countless viewers understand one thing: these moviemakers are not incapable of making good things!
Once you've seen something good, who would want to watch something trashy?

So Starforge was a disaster.

It was released at the same time as "Monkey King".

After a month, with an average daily box office of 500 million yuan, "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" has surged to sixth place in the world's highest-grossing films, and is only one step away from fifth place "Star Wars".

It's only natural that this kind of movie would get the extension key.

As for "Brother Lei"... more than ten days ago, its screening schedule was already abysmal, with daily box office revenue of one or two hundred thousand yuan, which was almost negligible.

It's a loss, a loss is inevitable.

The stock price of Times Media has also been falling recently.

The film, which had been completed and submitted for review long ago, finally passed review after repeated revisions, thanks to the increasing number of screenings of "Monkey King" by Times Cinema and its repeated statements advocating fair competition and absolutely not engaging in so-called industry monopolies.

It's over now, but compared to "Monkey King: Hero Is Back," which is starting to decline but still grosses two or three hundred million yuan a day.

That fantasy epic, starring another near-top-tier actor as the male lead, is something that the platform simply wouldn't dare release at this time.

They decided to wait for "Lurking"!
Yes, Shi·Honey Badger·Dai is still not convinced.

It's not that they were reckless; they were simply caught in a situation they had no choice in.

It may look like art, but in reality, anything that is "publicly sold," no matter what it is, is a commercial activity!

If we can't find an opportunity to overpower Earth Pictures, and let this young man Song continue his rampage...

Once Earth Pictures starts producing a lot of content, it will be the "doomsday" for all of these big companies!
The power of brand influence is something anyone with a basic understanding of business logic knows how terrifying it is.

The Legend of the Condor Heroes was a huge hit!

It was basically a "second-run" drama, and it was broadcast on Northeast TV, yet it still managed to win the title of "Drama King of the Year".

The movie "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" was a phenomenal hit!

The profits from one film easily surpass the annual revenue of a behemoth like Time Media, excluding theater sales!

Yes, "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" has already surpassed 15 billion and is heading towards 180 or even 200 billion. Its profit figures will easily exceed the annual revenue of Times Media excluding theaters!

If their next series, "Lurking," becomes a hit, then next year or the year after, their currently in-production "Ne Zha" will also become a hit...

From now on, no one will be able to stop Earth Pictures.

Just like some top commercial film directors, their names are their brands. As long as a new film is released, they can easily make billions.

No one in the entire Xia Kingdom film industry wanted to see such a phenomenal figure rise from the "small" music scene to the "big" film and television industry.

Even many filmmakers with good character would at most offer their blessings to "Monkey King," which is already a fait accompli, rather than hoping that Earth Pictures would continue to be a huge success.

In this summer box office battle, it's not just Times Media that's suffered the most.

Another top-tier art film, "Wilderness Love," also flopped so badly that even its own mother wouldn't recognize it!
They say this film isn't aiming for box office success, but anyone who believes that is a fool.

If you're not aiming for box office success, why schedule so many screenings in the first place?
Without "Monkey King," given Wang Xiaobo's popularity and established reputation, he could probably have grossed 300 to 400 million yuan at the box office, recouping the costs and possibly making a small profit.

Just like "Lei Ge," "Wilderness" was completely overwhelmed by the Monkey King's overwhelming impact upon its release.

It was released for a month, and the box office barely exceeded 300 million.

Fortunately, this film about suffering has reportedly been submitted to the Berlin Film Festival in Germany and has a high probability of winning an award.

If they do win an award, it will likely lead to success at the overseas box office.

Ultimately, I should be able to break even.

Sun Kai and Wang Xiaobo, those two top celebrities, saw all of this clearly and completely.

Otherwise, why would these two have gone to be groomsmen at Hu Wei's wedding recently?

I don't have any connection with Lao Hu.

Ultimately, it's all about leaving themselves a way out!

What if one day Earth Pictures really does grow into a behemoth that transcends time and stardom?

Thanks to the connections they've built up over the years, even if they're no longer top stars, they can still curry favor with Song Dao!
It's too late to pierce the ears right after getting into the sedan chair.

……

"I hereby announce that filming for 'Lurking' has wrapped!"

After several months of hard work, director Zhang, known for his quick shooting, finally finished filming the movie on August 13th.

Song Dao, accompanied by Vice Presidents Sun Zhe and Kang Peng, personally presented flowers to the main actors. Actually, Earth Pictures now has three vice presidents.

Baozi Bao Xingchen has been promoted to head of the animation division, while also holding the position of vice president of the company.

At the same time, the company has also improved its option pool.

In the future, from ordinary employees to senior executives, as long as they have the ability and perform well enough during their time with the company, they can receive a portion of stock options and dividends.

Not only Song Dao and others were present, but also several of the real-life figures who inspired this story!

Song Dao's godparents and sister Zhou Qian.

And, that Mr. Liang.

These people were on set when the final scene was filmed.

Fang Zexi and Zhao Xue, and the scene where their "daughter" in the film reunites with her family.

The sight brought tears to the eyes of the sister's family of three.

In reality, it might not be that sentimental, but with a certain degree of artistic embellishment, and through the performance of an award-winning actor like Fang Zexi, the story becomes truly moving.

It's worth mentioning that Zhao Xue also acted very well!

This television actor, who had appeared on the big screen before but never played a leading role and whose performances were mediocre, showed a remarkable improvement in his acting skills in this film!

Especially in the later scenes where she plays an older character, Zhao Xue, who is about to call Zhou Qian's mother "godmother," really captured that feeling.

Even now that filming has wrapped, she is still deeply immersed in that emotion and can't get out of it.

As soon as the last shot was filmed, he rushed out and hugged Zhou's mother tightly.

He burst into tears.

Through this scene, I truly felt how great these people were back then.

Let alone giving up one's entire life, even if it meant living in anonymity, cutting off all contact with relatives, and enduring endless condemnation for three to five years, very few people could do it.

It just goes to show how great this era is; even the smallest thing can make you depressed.

Zhou's mother was also in tears, hugging Zhao Xue: "Girl, you acted so well, you brought this character to life, you're amazing!"

Zhao Xue sobbed, "I feel so happy, but during the months of filming, I often felt like I couldn't breathe. I really don't know how you, Auntie, managed to get through it."

Qin Ge, standing to the side, said in a deep voice, "It's an ideal, a belief, a firm conviction that our motherland will get better and better. What does it matter if we sacrifice our personal lives for this?"

This is a line from a movie.

At the same time, it was also that "Mr. Liang" who, after returning to China, was asked by a reporter from Xia TV when he was received by the leaders, said something that was destined never to be broadcast!

Not only can this speech not be broadcast, but he himself almost never makes public appearances.

Just like Zhou's mother, it's the same.

Without this movie, probably until their deaths, very few people would know that there was such a person and such a group of people in Xia Kingdom!

Therefore, if we don't look at what "Mr. Liang" did or what he sacrificed, and just listen to this passage, many people will think it's pretentious and empty.

It's all politically correct; it has no practical significance whatsoever.

But when their life stories were revealed, all those who thought it was fake felt only moved and ashamed.

It's like a soldier who has died on the battlefield, roaring: "Fuck them all so that our descendants will not be humiliated!"
Then they will sacrifice themselves without hesitation and go to their deaths!
Which beast would dare say they're lying?
Fang Zexi remained as elegant as ever. He wore old-age makeup, had a head of silver hair, and smiled as he came over to shake hands with Zhou's father.

Although he didn't have the same difficulty in getting out of character as Zhao Xue, he was equally deeply immersed in his role during filming.

He perfectly portrayed the image of a soldier father who endured hardship and served as a strong support for his wife from the rear.

His expressive eyes, in particular, are amazing!
The deep melancholy that remains even when alone; the tenderness and love towards her daughter, the sadness and sorrow when her daughter rebels and bewilders her, cursing her mother as inhuman; the perseverance and indomitable spirit of a soldier at work.

When it comes to contributions, he is in no way inferior to his wife!

So this drama is actually an ensemble piece, and he is also one of the main actors!

In those dramas where there's a "battle for top billing," Fang Zexi would definitely be the lead actor!

However, he has never liked to argue about these things, and his team would never write press releases like that.

Even in the few media interviews he did, he always said that Qin Ge and Zhao Xue were the real leads.

Such grace is truly admirable.

Mr. Liang held Qin Ge's hand and said with great emotion, "Teacher Qin Ge, you acted very well. I always felt that I was not that great or in that much danger in real life, but after watching your performance, I myself thought, 'Wow, this person is amazing!'"

Everyone laughed.

This is the noble character of our predecessors.

It's not that they're ashamed to talk about their achievements, but rather that they genuinely believe that this is their life's ideal and pursuit.

Yes, to make the country prosperous and strong.

Full of confidence, not at all intimidated!

Soon, Mr. Liang and his godparents, accompanied by guards and escorted by police cars, quietly left in a state gift vehicle.

Zhou Qian didn't leave.

After her mother hugged Zhao Xue, her older sister also hugged Zhao Xue tightly for a long time.

With red-rimmed eyes, the girl was urged to quickly move on.

"Xiaoxue, you acted so well! You don't know, in the last scene, when you called out 'Mom' to your 'daughter,' I couldn't stop crying. To be honest, I even wanted to call you 'Mom'!"

As she spoke, Zhao Xue, who was wearing old-age makeup and even trying to look ugly, shed tears again.

Zhou Qian patted her back, then walked up to "her own prototype," the actress who played the "daughter."

He also gave her a big hug.

This actor is also very young; even when playing a middle-aged character, he has to use makeup to compensate.

The actress named Hong Xiaoqiu also came from the previous Legend of the Condor Heroes production team.

This role was originally intended for Dong Yu.

However, after reading the script, Dong Yu felt that Hong Xiaoqiu was more suitable for the role than herself.

So I recommended this sister I met during the filming of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" to join Earth Pictures.

I successfully landed the role.

The entertainment industry is indeed chaotic and has many dark sides, but it is not lacking in warmth at the same time.

Especially in a company with a great atmosphere, everyone's mental state and mindset will be completely different.

……

At the wrap party that followed.

After spending several months together, the group of people, finally relaxed, all got a little tipsy.

Wu Taihua and Xi Jingchen, who were previously signed with Earth Pictures, also gave outstanding performances in "Lurking".

Having become quite familiar with Song Dao, this young and incredibly talented boss, he came over to offer a toast.

Wu Taihua said with a moved expression, "President Song, I respect you. I never thought that one day I would not only have an organization, but also have a continuous stream of acting opportunities. This feeling is truly wonderful!"

Song smiled and said, "Don't worry, there will be many more to come!"

Zhou Qian, who was invited, asked, "The animation team is working on 'Nezha.' What are the plans for film and television adaptations?"

This is a problem that almost everyone faces.

Not to mention Qin Ge and Zhao Xue, even Director Zhang couldn't help but look up at Song Dao.

He really enjoyed filming "Lurking"!
The solid plot and touching scenes gave Lao Zhang, who has always been weak in storytelling, a special sense of confidence and enjoyment while filming.

He also watched the TV series "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" in his spare time, and the script was excellent!
Therefore, this top director is also paying close attention to Song Dao's new film.

Another point is that working with Song Dao and Earth Pictures is particularly comfortable!

After a moment's thought, Song said, "There's a ghost movie..."

Everyone: "..."

Director Zhang was somewhat speechless: "A ghost movie?"

He glanced at Zhou Qian beside him and almost laughed. "Aren't you just making things difficult for your sister?"

It's quite difficult for this kind of film to pass censorship.

Fang Zexi looked thoughtful. During filming, he bought all the novels with "unknown authors" that had become popular in the past two years.

I've gone through it more than once, with great care.

So when Song Dao mentioned "ghost movies", he subconsciously thought of the book "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio".

really.

Song Dao said with a smile, "It's not the kind of scary ghost movie you're thinking of. To be precise, it's a romance drama."

Qin Ge raised an eyebrow slightly: "Romance drama? Ghost movie? A love story between a human and a ghost?"

Song Dao said, "It is adapted from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."

"Oh, Mr. Pu Songling's books." Qin Ge said seriously.

Many people present couldn't help but laugh.

Well, anyway, Teacher Song didn't admit it.

Song Dao nodded seriously and said, "The story tells of a noblewoman named Nie Xiaoqian who was unfortunately murdered and became a wandering ghost. She was controlled by the thousand-year-old tree demon, Granny, and forced to use her beauty to lure men and absorb their yang energy."

"Ning Caichen was a poor scholar who, while collecting debts, spent the night at Lanruo Temple, where he unexpectedly encountered Nie Xiaoqian..."

As he spoke, the group of people who were initially a little tipsy all perked up.

Director Zhang's eyes gradually brightened.

Having filmed "Demon Love," he could clearly sense that the plot Song Dao described was fantastic!
It's a fantasy epic belonging to the East!

In particular, the love story between the male and female protagonists, told by Song Dao, is very delicate and moving.

But it really puts the acting skills of the male and female leads to the test!

Moreover, according to Song Dao's setting, the female lead is a very beautiful female ghost, and many people present looked at Zhao Xue.

It feels like this was probably tailor-made for Zhao Xue.

Just like how Teacher Song promotes his apprentices in the music industry.

They couldn't help but admire Song Dao's talent.

However, Zhao Xue immediately thought of someone else.

Han Ling!

She is also very confident in her appearance.

But when it comes to stunning beauty... Han Ling, who always "makes up" her makeup for filming, is clearly superior.

Therefore, this drama is most likely intended for Han Ling.

After all, she's a renowned actress who brought her entire studio with her to Earth Pictures, so Teacher Song will definitely prepare a new film for her.

Dong Yu, who is usually quiet, was sitting at the next table. When Song asked her to come over, she was too embarrassed to do so.

Her brother-in-law actually took good care of her.

She didn't want outsiders to think that she was receiving preferential treatment because of Lin Fei's "sister".

Therefore, from "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" to "Lurking", almost no one knows about her relationship with Lin Fei and Song Dao.

After Song finished his brief explanation, Director Zhang remained silent for a while, seemingly lost in thought.

Then he asked, "When will this project be officially approved?"

Song Dao glanced at Zhou Qian: "Sis, is there anything wrong with this plot?"

Zhou Qian thought for a moment and said, "There's no problem, after all, this is an adaptation of a mythological story."

Regardless of when the myths originated, they are all good stories that punish evil and promote good, with extremely positive values.

Song nodded: "Then let's start the project soon. Director Zhang, are you interested?"

Old Zhang's wrinkled face showed a hint of hesitation as he said, "I was thinking of taking a break, but I really liked your story..."

Song Dao has always had a comfortable working relationship with this renowned director, and upon hearing this, he smiled and said, "The story isn't complicated, so filming should be quick. I estimate we can wrap up before the end of the year!"

Old Zhang silently calculated the time and felt that there was still about half a year left. With Earth Pictures' financial resources and efficient work capabilities, plus this not-so-complicated story, it seemed like it was about time.

"Okay, let's make another one then, and take a proper rest next year!"

No one expected that a wrap party would lead to the creation of a new film.

As long as there's a new film, these contracted actors from Earth Pictures will most likely have a role.

Who in the family understands?

I wanted to get some rest...bullshit!
Having a role to play is the greatest happiness, why would I need to rest?

Song looked at Zhao Xue at this moment.

The rebellious girl, who had drunk a few bottles of beer, looked on with anticipation.

Although she felt it should be prepared for Han Ling, what if it is!
Nie Xiaoqian? I, Zhao, can play her too!
"I plan to cast Han Ling as the female lead in this drama."

Zhao Xue: "..."

No, bro, then why are you looking at me like that?

The others were also speechless.

“Zhao Xue, I have other plans. The company has sufficient funds right now, and we can launch several projects at the same time without any problem,” Song Dao said calmly.

Zhao Xue's slightly embarrassed smile immediately brightened again.

The boss's sudden remark almost completely pulled me out of the scene!

Zhao Xue's heart suddenly stirred slightly. Could it be that Teacher Song... meant this?

It seems that it really is true, after all, she herself knows that she was immersed in the TV series "Lurking" almost all night.

Whether in words, actions, or mindset, that's the state they're in.

I was embarrassed, annoyed, and a little wronged after being teased like that, so I quickly got over it.

She forcefully suppressed the surging emotions deep within her; while moved, she also felt a little wronged.

Why are you so good to me? And why are you so kind to me? Teacher Song, the way you treat me is making me want to fall for you!

Zhou Qian couldn't help but ask, "Besides this... are there any other projects going to be launched?"

Song said, "Yes, there are so many, we can't possibly film them all!"

Everyone was speechless.

Talented and willful.

It leaves one speechless.

Song didn't mention any other new dramas. Even though everyone here is on the same side, it's not appropriate to say too much.

Because the copyright of "A Chinese Ghost Story" is in their own hands, it doesn't matter what they say.

He first glanced at Qin Ge.

With Zhao Xue's experience of being tricked as a warning, Lao Qin immediately sat up straight when he saw Song Dao looking over.

I thought to myself, even if it's not me, I'm not disappointed!

"I'm planning to cast Brother Fang as the male lead. He should still be able to play a young scholar without any problems, right?"

Qin Ge: "..."

Old Song is a real scoundrel!

Luckily, I had the foresight!

It seems that a decision needs to be made on that matter as soon as possible.

Old Qin felt he had done everything he could for Tianxi, but he was just missing that one... opportunity to get him to speak up.

Teacher Song was absolutely kind to him. In fact, Qin Ge knew that even if he wasn't chosen for this movie, he would still be considered for future collaborations.

Since that's the case, let's find an opportunity to confront Tianxi.

Otherwise, he himself would feel a little embarrassed if he continued to cast Earth Pictures' male lead like this.

Fang Zexi smiled and said, "I like this character. As soon as you mentioned it, I thought of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. Then you told the story, and I felt a special sense of familiarity with it."

Song Dao smiled and nodded, then looked at Dong Yu at the next table: "How do you think of playing the Thousand-Year Tree Demon Granny?"

Many people immediately looked at Dong Yu with envy.

Even though Dong Yu never mentions her relationships, some people can actually guess what they are.

Whether it was filming "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" or the recent "Lurking", Song Dao has always taken good care of Dong Yu.

Then Lin Fei also visited the set and became quite familiar with her.

Given that her surname is Dong, and considering Lin Fei's previous mentor, it all makes sense.

Dong Yu is just low-key and never talks about it, so no one dares to ask.

Dong Yu nodded slightly, then looked at Song Dao and said, "Thank you, boss!"

The "A Chinese Ghost Story" project was finalized at this wrap party.

At the end, Song told Zhao Xue to come to his company the next day, and then got into Xiaobai's car and went home.

I received a call from Han Ling halfway there.

……

"Brother!" Little Han said cheerfully, "Thanks!"

"No need to thank me. Acting alongside Brother Fang, is that alright?" Song Dao asked.

"Oh my god, this is exactly what I've been dreaming of! His acting skills are beyond question, and everyone in the industry knows Fang Ge's character!" Han Ling was clearly delighted, chattering on and on: "But if there's a kissing scene, could we use a camera trick?"

"Huh? You didn't film kissing scenes before?" Song asked.

"Uh, yes, there were times, but they were all camera tricks. The two award-winning films didn't use any... There was one time in *Demon Love*, the director said camera tricks were fine." Han Ling said, "If you were playing the male lead, then you wouldn't need camera tricks!"

wipe!
This white tiger spirit.

Just when we finally managed to put an end to those rebellious elements in the music industry, another troublemaker has risen up in the film and television industry.

"I have no acting skills, I can't act." Song Dao could only pretend not to understand.

"Brother, with your looks, you don't even need to say a word to be Ning Caichen!"

"Don't overhype it, just give it a little praise."

Han Ling laughed on the other end and said, "This isn't what I said. Fang Ge just called me and said that you're actually more suitable to play Ning Caichen. He said that you're too much of an old scholar."

"Brother Fang is being modest. He's in great shape. Even a seventy-year-old woman can play an eighteen-year-old girl, so Brother Fang could easily play a scholar in his thirties," Song Dao said.

Han Ling burst out laughing.

There are always some extraordinary people in any circle.

With high status and abundant resources, they can do whatever they want and don't care what others think.

—As long as I'm happy.

Song Dao also made an appointment with Han Ling to meet at the company the next day, and then hung up the phone.

He still plans to film "A Chinese Ghost Story" in Hong Kong.

It wasn't because of the theme song of the same name, but simply because I was a little petty.

Those damn film studios were previously in cahoots with film companies like Times and Starlight.

If it weren't for Brother Lung's help in arranging a filming location in Hong Kong, he would have been in trouble.

Filming the Legend of the Condor Heroes couldn't have gone so smoothly.

Because of that film, he maintained a very good relationship with people in Hong Kong.

Given the right opportunity, he will naturally prioritize that area.

Even for some of the big projects to come, he will not cooperate with those few film and television cities in China.

Part of the cinema built by the publishing group is about to be put into use.

Why can't he film the new drama on location first and then use his own film studio?
If those people knew what he was thinking, they would probably be furious.

I've never seen such a terrifying young man before.

Stuck in the music industry, he created his own platform and became an overnight sensation.

The film and television industry is stuck, so they're using veteran actors and a few rebellious individuals who don't listen to the big companies; they'd rather go all the way to Hong Kong for filming locations and spend more money than compromise.

What's even more outrageous is that it's practically like rebuilding a movie theater from scratch.

If everyone in this circle plays it this way, then what's the point of them even playing?

However, before these film studios and big companies like Times and Starlight could even retaliate, some people were already getting restless.

Tianxi Media!

……

This brokerage firm, which is considered one of the top in the industry, used to be full of talented people.

The top-tier actresses include Zhao Xue, Qin Ge, Han Ling, and Huang Hai. Except for Zhao Xue, who is slightly weaker in terms of awards and has not yet become a TV Queen, the rest of the actresses are quite different. Qin Ge has won many awards in the TV drama field, and it is not an exaggeration to call him a TV King.

Han Ling is undoubtedly a young Best Actress, and Huang Hai has won numerous awards in the film industry, making him a true Best Actor!
There are hundreds of actors, including those in second- or third tiers and below.

The company owner is the type who follows the rules of the film and television industry in everything, neither particularly good nor bad. He protects his artists to the best of his ability, and if he can't protect them... well, there's nothing he can do about it.

Therefore, these frontline employees from Tianxi generally have a fairly good relationship with the company.

Everything was fine at first.

But these past two years have felt like a bit of bad luck.

First, Zhao Xue ran away and was sold to Starlight Entertainment by her two short-sighted parents.

In the end, it benefited Song Dao.

Then there's Qin Ge, who had been flirting with Song Dao even before the "Singing While Walking" show.

He then went on to play the male lead in a TV series and a movie.

It was precisely for this reason that when the film and television industry launched a crackdown on Song Dao and Earth Pictures, Tianxi also collected a lot of dirt on Qin Ge.

The purpose was to take precautions.

If Qin Ge really wants to leave, they will definitely follow the "rules" of the film and television industry and release all sorts of true and false dirt on Qin Ge.

If we can't have it, no one else should either!
In fact, some shareholders of the company suggested that they should give some shares to people like Qin Ge, Han Ling, and Huang Hai to completely lock them in.

But the big boss absolutely refused to do it.

These people already have a very high degree of freedom, and now the company is like a nanny to them, isn't that enough?

They want shares too? On what grounds?
They simply chatted with these people, mentioning the past: If it weren't for the company's strong support, none of you would be where you are today.

Qin Ge and Huang Hai didn't seem to be leaving, but Han Ling remained silent.

Then, recently, news started circulating that Han Ling and Song Dao were "hooking up" together.

Even rumors like "the actress pursuing the godfather" have surfaced.

Just tonight!

It is said that at the wrap party for "Lurking", Song Dao publicly stated that he would cast Han Ling as the female lead in his next film!

Although the news didn't trend on social media or spread widely, almost everyone in the industry knew about it.

The owner of Tianxi has received several phone calls from friends in the industry this night.

Speaking of this, Xiaohua Tianxi is known as the "university" of the film and television industry, having cultivated many outstanding artists over the years.

But most of them can't be retained!
The owner of Tianxi was furious.

I was extremely angry.

He immediately called Han Ling.

Even the equally famous boss of Tianxi, known as "Sister Xi," didn't mince words and directly asked Han Ling if she wanted to leave.

Although he had already decided to leave, like Lao Qin, Han Ling was also lacking an excuse to confront Tianxi.

When Han Ling saw that Sister Xi was calling, his eyes immediately lit up.

……

"Sister Xi, why are you calling so late?"

"Lingling, how have I treated you all these years?" Sister Xi asked directly, barely suppressing her anger.

"It's fine, what's wrong?" Han Ling asked.

"Then why are you getting so close to Song Dao? Is it because you want to go to his side?"

Han Ling frowned slightly.

Sister Xi isn't a bad person, but she has a narrow perspective, a bit of a temper, and is very assertive.

"Sister, Teacher Song and I are just ordinary friends. Also, where did you hear that I'm leaving?"

Of course, she couldn't admit it directly.

Even in her current situation, her collaboration with Tianxi is a mutual choice.

But I don't want to completely sever ties.

"Little sister, there are no secrets in this industry. Let me give you a piece of advice: Earth Film Studio is not a good place to go!"

Sister Xi said calmly, "They are indeed quite impressive. An animated film broke the record in China's film history and is even about to break into the top five in the world's box office history. But that's an animation, and the popularity of Monkey King has too many accidental factors in it!"

"That doesn't mean they can do live-action movies too, understand?"

Before Han Ling could say anything, Sister Xi continued, "Just you wait and see. This time, Da Sheng has made 'Starry Sky Fortress' lose a fortune. The Times won't let this go. When their 'Lurking' is released, they will definitely settle both old and new scores at once!"

"Don't think I'm exaggerating. Look at the cast they chose. Qin Ge has been on the big screen quite a bit, but he's never quite made it. Fang Zexi is indeed a movie star, but he's too old! He's long past his prime and can't carry the box office at all. Zhao Xue is even worse than Qin Ge."

"How could a movie like this not flop?"

"Song Dao is very good at animation and also quite skilled at writing TV dramas, but your ambition is for the big screen, right, baby?"

"Take my advice, Earth Pictures is currently riding high on its success, but if they stumble, it will be fatal. Those investors won't let them get away with it!"

"Just look at how Song Dao announced his new film plans at a wrap party for a movie; you can tell he's gotten arrogant!"

"You have a bright future ahead of you, so don't get entangled with this kind of person. It won't end well, you know?"

Sister Xi was genuinely angry.

Shocked and angry.

The gossip outside says that Han Ling is pursuing Song Dao, and whether it's true or not is hard to say, but she knows that it's probably true!

After all, Song Dao's conditions were indeed too good; whether it was his appearance, talent, or wealth, he was first-rate.

So it wasn't someone beckoning her; Han Ling herself took the initiative to pounce on him.

Qin Ge is wavering, Zhao Xue has run away, and if Han Ling also leaves, wouldn't Tianxi's "two kings and two queens" structure be completely dismantled?
After listening to Sister Xi's long speech, Han Ling remained silent until she finished speaking, then said quietly, "Sister Xi, may I ask for some company shares?"

The breathing on the other end of the phone suddenly became a few beats louder.

"Why should I?" Sister Xi's tone rose. "Han Ling, ask yourself, why should you have company shares? Hasn't the company given you enough over the years? Haven't you earned enough money? I will never give company shares to anyone!"

"Oh, in that case, let's part ways amicably, Sister Xi. I really do want to leave," Han Ling said calmly.

"Are you serious?" Sister Xi's voice turned cold.

"Yes, I think Earth Pictures would be more helpful to my career," Han Ling said calmly.

She had the phone on speakerphone and was recording.

Based on my experiences over the years, I must be on guard.

To avoid being misinterpreted and used to smear her.

"Do you know how much dirt the company has suppressed for you over the years? Do you know that if you leave, the company has no obligation to continue suppressing these things for you? Little sister, you are still young. If you can't figure it out yourself, ask some seniors. Don't make a mistake."

Sister Xi's voice grew increasingly cold: "You're not Song Dao, you don't have so many powerful figures protecting you, so you need to think twice before you act, understand?"

(End of this chapter)