Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 434 Provocation
In one negotiation, Liu Jing recruited two talents and signed three contracts.

With the adaptation rights for "Love is Not Blind" secured, the remaining work was handed over to Shu Chang, who then began working on his next project.

With the release date of "The Message" set, the publicity and distribution have begun immediately.

The first phase is the pre-launch period, which involves releasing posters, trailers, information on major portal websites, and materials in cinemas.

The poster is cool, only showing the silhouettes of a few actors and a slogan that reads "Who is the old ghost?", without any plot information.

In addition to these, the pre-launch phase also includes appearing on variety shows or talk shows.

The quiet Qiu Manor has become lively once again.

The last time it was this lively was when the TV series "The Message" was being filmed. Now it's been quiet for two months.

"Happy Camp" has always been recorded on Hunan TV, but this time it made an exception and chose Qiuzhuang instead.

Before "Chinese Paladin 3" could even promote itself on the show, "The Message" beat them to it.

This episode was recorded at the end of June and is scheduled to air in August, in conjunction with the promotion of "The Message".

"This place is nice, very quiet, I'm sure I'll get a good night's sleep."

He Jiong looked around at the surroundings, seemingly quite satisfied.

The filming location has been set up. Unlike the stage he usually hosts, this place is full of the style of the Republic of China era, so he finds it quite novel.

This is a special season with the theme "Who is the Ghost?". The guests include Zeng Li, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Duan Yihong, Zhao Xiaodao, and Tian Yu. The special season is all about catching the ghost on the spot.

Zeng Li is Li Ningyu, Zhou Xun is Gu Xiaomeng, Chen Kun is Bai Xiaonian, Duan Yihong is Wu Zhiguo, Zhao Xiaodao is a nurse, and Tian Yu represents Jin Shenghuo.

Tian Yu is the actor who played Jin Shenghuo in the TV series. Fan Wei doesn't participate in this type of program, so he was called in to replace him.

In addition to the five guests, several hosts also participated. The "Old Ghost" game requires a minimum of six players and can have up to a dozen. The general rules are fixed, but are adjusted based on the number of players.

Liu Jing is an NPC who continues to play the role of Takeda and advance the game's progress.

This special season is so special, and Hunan TV is very proactive. In addition to the program's ratings, the TV series "The Message" premiered on Hunan TV, which is why they are cooperating so well.

The TV series cost 20 million yuan to produce and had a total of 30 episodes. Each episode sold for 700,000 yuan, so the cost has already been recovered.

Zhou Xun shivered, glanced at Zhao Xiaodao subconsciously, and suddenly felt a little cold. "Teacher He, why don't you stay a few more nights?"

"The hotel is already booked, we can't waste it." He Jiong said with a grin, but he was just saying it casually; how could he possibly stay there?

This wasn't tranquil; it was downright eerie. He'd learned quite a bit about what had happened during filming over the past two days.

“Teacher He, Sister Na hasn’t booked her hotel yet, why don’t we let her have it?” Zhao Xiaodao said with a smile.

She will never forget the movie "The Message" in her life; so many unforgettable stories happened there.

The first half of the story is filled with constant anxiety and frightening events.

In the latter half, she became more ambitious after being trained, understood what high-level situations were, gained a lot of knowledge, and broadened her horizons.

When she left, she left behind her chastity and took away a turning point.

“She doesn’t need to book a hotel in Shanghai; she has a place to stay.” He Jiong was naturally unwilling; hotels are so much more comfortable than this place.

clap clap clap...

Gao Yuanyuan clapped her hands and came downstairs. "Welcome everyone to Qiu Manor. I am the housekeeper here. Are you all satisfied with the decorations?"

She wasn't a guest on this episode of Happy Camp. She was in charge of setting up the recording studio and also had the task of teaching everyone how to play the game.

"I'm not satisfied, I can't see you on the show." He Jiong laughed.

"Next time I'll bring a team, Teacher He, don't forget to take good care of them." Gao Yuanyuan was speechless. She hadn't participated in the creation of "The Message," so going on stage would only steal the limelight and opportunities from others.

"Yuanyuan, I'm not very bright, can you teach me how to play?" Zhou Xun, who was sitting in the corner, stood up as soon as he saw Gao Yuanyuan appear.

If he were just an actor, Zhou Xun wouldn't need to do this. But who can blame him when Gao Zhihui has already been promoted to vice president of Chunqiu Film and Television?

"Sister Xun, if you're stupid, then I'm brain-dead." Gao Yuanyuan smiled and gracefully walked down the stairs.

Not to mention the men present, even Zhou Xun was somewhat stunned.

Redness nourishes people, and a high position makes one even more nourished, not to mention the long-term nourishment from a powerful tonic.

At thirty, Gao Yuanyuan is in full bloom like a flower, resembling a wise hydrangea, a fragrant peony, the pure and aloof lily, the lively and natural gardenia, and the grand and composed peony.

At the age of thirty, Gao Yuanyuan has not only established herself in the industry, but she has also made great strides in it.

"Don't be an idiot, you still have to lead us to inspect the scene," He Jiong joked.

He arrived early with his team; the venue was already set up, and he was responsible for inspection and acceptance.

"Sister Xun, let me teach you." Bai Bing followed Liu Jing in.

Gao Yuanyuan is in Shanghai; she and her boss just arrived from Beijing.

Bai Bing remained completely composed. She had witnessed the beauty of a blooming flower, but also the unsightly nature of a bud. In her eyes, Commander Gao held no luster whatsoever.

"Liu Jing is here."

"Thank you for your hard work, director."

"good afternoon."

……

When everyone saw Liu Jing, some exchanged pleasantries and others greeted him.

Before Liu Jing could say a word, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone went about their own business, leaving only Liu Jing, Bai Bing, and Zhou Xun with nothing to do.

"Sister Xun, when are you and Young Master Wang going to break up?"

Zhou Xun had just sat down when she wanted to stand up again. She had arrived quite early today, and it was rare for her to be so proactive, but now she felt it was better to wait until later. "Can't you wish me well for once? I'm so old, it's not easy for me to find a compatible boyfriend," Zhou Xun pouted. This guy was even more annoying than Takeda.

"It's really not easy," Liu Jing agreed, but still didn't have a good outlook on the relationship, believing it was destined to have no future and that it would be better to break up early and find someone else.

"Thanks for not breaking us up." Zhou Xun rolled his eyes.

During the filming of "The Message," Wang Shuo caused a disturbance on set because of her, leading to some unpleasant incidents. Liu Jing did not pursue the matter afterward, nor did she make things difficult for her because of it.

As for what happened to her boyfriend, she didn't ask, nor did she dare to ask.

"You're welcome." Liu Jing crossed his legs, suddenly missing Young Master Wang a little. If he were to cause trouble again, someone would reimburse the cost of setting up the venue.

Zhou Xun didn't want to talk to Liu Jing, so he turned to chat with Bai Bing. "Bai Bing, teach me how to catch ghosts. I received a set a few days ago, but I don't understand how to play it. Can you give me some pointers first, so I don't fall behind later?"

“Okay, no problem.” Bai Bing readily agreed, and under Zhou Xun’s expectant gaze, she brought up another matter, “Sister Xun, our movie ‘The Message’ will be released in two months. We started preparing for it around this time last year, it wasn’t easy.”

"It really wasn't easy. I'm grateful to the director for giving me the role of Gu Xiaomeng." Zhou Xun was completely confused. Wasn't he supposed to be teaching me how to catch ghosts? Why is he suddenly feeling sentimental?

"Huayi has started filming quite a few projects this year, including three movies: 'Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame,' 'Wind Blast,' and 'Aftershock,' as well as three TV series: 'My Mother, My Home,' 'Fireworks and Film,' and 'Revolutionary Family.' They're also preparing for 'If You Are the One 2' and 'The New Tai Chi Master,' among others. Huayi's TV and film businesses are flourishing this year and next, it's truly enviable," Bai Bing remarked.

"Huayi is rushing to go public, so its performance and business will definitely need to be more impressive." Zhou Xun frowned. No matter how many projects Huayi has, can they compare to the projects that Chunqiu has invested in? Everywhere you look, there are plays that you have invested in.

"Sister Xun, Huayi opened up stock purchases twice, why didn't you buy some? When Jiahe was restructured, the stocks we bought increased several times over. If we held them until now, they would be more than ten times higher." Bai Bing said with a smile.

Zhou Xun clutched his chest. This pair of scoundrels, one openly hurtful, the other secretly deceiving.

She took a deep breath and replied firmly, "The stock market is risky, and you should be cautious when investing. I'm not interested in stocks, futures, funds, or similar financial products; it's safest to keep money in the bank."

“Sister Xun’s concerns are valid. Last year’s financial crisis caused countless stock and futures traders to go bankrupt. They were impoverished overnight, their families were torn apart, and some couldn’t handle the blow and jumped off buildings. The financial crisis swept the globe, and the world is still devastated.” Bai Bing sighed softly, her face full of compassion.

"Yes!" Zhou Xun nodded, silently relieved. Aside from others, her boyfriend's family was significantly affected. And that was considered good; Liu Tao's newlywed husband from a wealthy family went bankrupt.

The reason she didn't buy Huayi's stock wasn't because she disliked investing, but because the Wang brothers didn't want her to.

Last year, Bai Bing poached her, and she was so decisive, partly because of this factor.

"I'm not going to talk about it anymore, I've lost quite a bit too." Bai Bing shook her head, then asked, "Sister Xun, is 'Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame' almost finished filming?"

"It'll take another month or so." Zhou Xun thought to himself with disdain. "Many scenes are filmed in your Chunqiu Building. You're always going to the film set, don't you know more about these things than I do?"
When Zhou Xun said he wasn't very bright, he was being modest. At this point, he already understood Bai Bing's purpose.

If Bai Bing didn't bring it up, she would pretend not to know. If she spoke first, she would definitely be at a disadvantage in the negotiations later.

Zhou Xun looked towards the door. "Kun'er, Kun'er, you said you'd come early, why aren't you here yet? My little body can't handle Liu Jing and Bai Bing."

Bai Bing sighed deeply, her expression indignant. "When casting for 'Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame,' Huayi Brothers Entertainment recommended Li Bingbing first. I just don't understand, Sister Xun, your acting skills are better than hers. Isn't Huayi Brothers treating Jin Xiangyu like a brain tonic?"

What nonsense is this? Zhou Xun frowned. This is blatant provocation.

"Back then, there were only four leading actresses, who knew about the 'Double Bing'? Now, Huayi Brothers values ​​her even more. If it weren't for our boss's firm stance, 'Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame' would definitely have gone to Li Bingbing this time." Bai Bing was furious.

"Thank you." Zhou Xun thought to himself, he should let Fan Bingbing hear this.

"No need to thank me, we're on the same side from now on." Bai Bing smiled, having laid the groundwork, and pressed on, "Sister Xun, a wise bird chooses its tree. When you went to Huayi, it was at their most difficult time. You've worked diligently and quietly filmed these past few years, without ever letting them down. Huayi treated you like this, and you still have a year left on your contract with them, shouldn't you start preparing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun breathed a sigh of relief, and the knife finally came down.

Chen Kun hasn't arrived yet. She doesn't have as many tricks up her sleeve as her best friend, so she'll just tell her everything.

"Not long after Sister Hua left Huayi, Boss Wang contacted me and made a lot of promises. Several years have passed, and he has fulfilled all his promises. 'The Banquet,' 'The Equation of Love and Death,' 'The Message,' 'All About Women,' and 'Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame,' including both big-budget films with investments exceeding 100 million yuan and art films vying for awards. To be honest, Huayi has treated me well." Zhou Xun's voice was hoarse, and he felt uneasy.

Three years ago, Wang Jinghua left, and Huayi Brothers went on a spending spree to poach top artist Kong Que in order to fill the void.

Zhou Xun signed a full contract with Huayi Brothers, covering his brokerage affairs in film, music, advertising, and business activities. All his work is managed by Huayi.

Such full contracts are very rare; most artists sign separate contracts.

Huayi not only handles the allocation of Zhou Xun's performing arts resources but also oversees his personal brand operations. Having CEO Wang personally act as his agent is truly top-tier treatment.

Zhou Xun's joining not only brought box office appeal to Huayi Brothers, but also helped stabilize the company's morale, making it the most crucial step in Huayi Brothers' "second entrepreneurial venture".

Bai Bing was well aware of these things, but she didn't want to hear them or discuss them openly.

"Sister Xun, Gao Yi, you haven't told Hua Yi about not planning to renew your contract yet, have you?" Bai Bing's smile faded.

“I didn’t say anything, and I didn’t need to. The competition for the top spot has exhausted the entire company, and I was tired too, so I voluntarily withdrew from the competition. Boss Wang took the initiative to talk to me about renewing my contract. He… he understands me very well and knows that I don’t want to renew.” Zhou Xun lowered his head, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Bai Bing looked at the boss and said, "Let's just say it. Zhou Xun also has an illicit relationship with the boss."

"Oh, Huayi is pushing for an IPO, but it's not going very smoothly. If you leave at this time, it will be a blow to Huayi. They definitely want you to renew your contract," Liu Jing speculated.

Zhou Xun nodded, his head bowing even lower.

When they wanted the role of Gu Xiaomeng, she had already decided to leave Huayi Brothers. Since Chunqiu offered her the role, she accepted without hesitation. People strive for higher positions, and Chunqiu had just acquired Golden Harvest, its momentum unstoppable; Chunqiu was her best choice.

This moment, that moment.

"Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame" was both its strength and its weakness; Huayi Brothers viewed this film as one of the factors that helped them go public.

Zhou Xun replaced Li Bingbing and got the female lead role. Huayi's sunk costs on her were too high, and they were unwilling to let go.

"Sister Xun, I was just praising your righteousness, but it seems I spoke a little too soon. Last year, when you agreed to sign with Chunqiu, we gave up our own artist, Gao Yuanyuan, to give you the role of Gu Xiaomeng. That's more than enough sincerity, isn't it? The movie is finished filming and about to be released, and you suddenly say you want to renew your contract with Huayi. That's not very fair." Bai Bing narrowed her eyes, and her face darkened.

"I want a peaceful breakup, I don't want to cause a scene over the contract termination. I... I can't afford to offend the company, they could ruin me." Zhou Xun bit her lip, suddenly feeling a little envious of Fan Bingbing.

Fan Bingbing left decisively and without any hesitation, because no one had any leverage over him, and because he had a powerful backer and a new client, giving him confidence.

"Hehe, what Sister Xun means is, if you can't afford to offend Huayi, you can offend Chunqiu. That makes sense, they have powerful backers, are very wealthy, and will soon be a listed company." Bai Bing laughed.

“Absolutely not.” Zhou Xun was shocked.

"Oh, then what does Sister Xun mean?" Bai Bing pressed aggressively.

"me……"

(End of this chapter)