Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 540 Bro is the real God (7k)

The location where Honor filmed today is the two-Michelin-starred French restaurant, Robuchon, on the third floor of No. 18 Bund.

Boasting views of the Huangpu River and the historic buildings of the Bund, the interior is decorated primarily in black and red, with metallic accents, creating a blend of French luxury and modern minimalism. It is one of the representative high-end French restaurants in Shanghai.

Very stylish.

The scene where Yu Tu is harassed during a dinner with his college classmates and Jingjing gives him a Romanée-Conti to save face is this very place.

Because it was an ensemble scene requiring a large number of actors, the director spent a considerable amount of time managing and coordinating the filming schedule.

Shen Juan also took the opportunity during filming breaks to check the newly released first-week box office figures for "Leviathan Era Tour".

Domestically, it took exactly 7 days to generate 14 billion Chinese yuan.

Although it couldn't beat "My People, My Homeland," it easily defeated "Jiang Ziya" to take second place in the National Day box office.

Shen Juan's box office figures are also heading straight for Deng Chao's, and he is about to become the second-best film actor in this regard, after Wu Jing.

In North America, it was $0.86 billion in 7 days.

Although its commercial performance is far from sweeping the market, in this special period where various negative buffs are about to overflow the screen and blockbusters are withdrawing from release to avoid them, it can indeed be called the first film in the post-righteousness era that is expected to break the $100 million box office mark in North America.

Then the global box office totaled $3.8 million.

Even outside the scope of concert documentaries, such box office results are definitely a good standard!
Not only has the entire music industry praised Shen Juan, believing that he has single-handedly brought hope for the recovery and revival of the entire music industry, but even many Hollywood film giants have set their sights on the proven Shen Juan, seeing his strong box office appeal in many countries and regions around the world.

Therefore, they felt that given the current global film industry downturn and the continued decline in North American box office revenue, it would be better to try collaborating with Shen Juan and use the additional box office revenue he brings from East Asia to make up for the weak North American market, thus adding a crucial guarantee for the film's global box office.

In addition, today, October 8th, is World Sight Day.

Therefore, the charity video that Shen Juan had prepared to help 1040 cataract patients around the world regain their sight was also released online.

As soon as the news came out, in addition to the fans who were already proud, it quickly attracted praise from a large number of media outlets and netizens.

A heartfelt compliment!
After the surgery, these people saw some new colors, and some kind-hearted people experienced a blurriness in their eyes—a blurriness caused by tears of emotion. This kind of celebrity deserves to be famous! He deserves to make money! I'm willing to give him my attention; at least he'll do a lot of truly good things!

[Wow! Each patient receives a $10,000 subsidy upon recovery? This charity project is conservatively estimated to cost between $10 million and $20 million! Well, maybe this is the role that celebrities should play—setting an example, guiding fans to become better, and bringing love to this messed-up world.]

Doing things is always more practical than donating money; at least we can see a clear direction. Bro is the real god.

He was like those kind-hearted nobles and even kings in ancient China, who could easily change the fate of the poor with a simple act of kindness.

[Alex said in a previous interview that he did charity work partly out of self-interest, because he enjoys helping others and seeing their incredulous expressions and excitement gives him a great sense of satisfaction. But I'm thinking, how can that be self-interest? Isn't he just an angel from the East?]

Alex is the only celebrity I know who doesn't rely on charity to legally avoid taxes. The love his fans give him is transformed into love for the world and spreads it further. It's hard to imagine that such a gentle and kind person was recently subjected to malicious cyberbullying by a certain group.

[Fuck Drake! I swear I will never believe a word you say again! You jealous, smear-mongering scoundrel! You filthy rat from the gutter!]

"Is the male duck doomed?"

Wang Churan walked to Shen Juan's side. The crew hadn't scheduled any scenes for her today, so she was in a relaxed state of mind.

Shen Juan raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

“I see a lot of people online taking this opportunity to settle scores with him, digging up all his past scandals, saying he has both illegitimate children, frequently cancels shows at the last minute and makes fans wait in vain, was photographed in nightclubs, engaged in pedophilia, and wanted Bonsai, who was a newcomer, to write songs for him and act as his ghostwriter.”

"Oh my god! These people are practically committing crimes!"

"What crime did you commit?"

"The crime of presenting facts."

Wang Churan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"So do you think Drake can weather this storm?"

“Of course!” Shen Juan shrugged.

"At his peak, he was one of the few top-tier artists in the North American music scene, and he still holds a lot of records. So even if he has declined slightly now, he is not so easy to defeat. Moreover, strictly speaking, I am a pop star and he is a rapper. We are not in the same circle, so it is difficult to cause him much substantial damage. Unless he stands up against me like a clown and triggers a series of chain reactions that increase public dissatisfaction with him, it will pass after a period of cooling off. As long as North American stars do not involve those few sensitive issues, everything is fine."

Although it's a bit annoying, that's the truth.

A career at the very top level is very difficult to end.

Their health bars are very thick.

It is even more pronounced in the North American media environment.

(They can continue to be celebrities after serving their time in prison here)
Of course, the same goes for Shen Juan.

It's hard to kill male ducks, and the same goes for him.

With the support of public opinion brought about by his good public image, as long as he always adheres to his principles and bottom line, does not violate any fundamental issues and leave any handle for criticism, or participates in discussions on political issues as an artist, no one can openly target or suppress him.

This includes Nail Dragon, who has already lost the election.

This also includes the old man who is about to take over.

If they had a choice, they would rather ban Yangdou than risk losing the support of young people by inexplicably suppressing or even forcibly banning Shen Juan, who has a large fan base, is enthusiastic about public welfare, has an extremely positive image, and whose influence is growing. That would be too damaging to the government's image and would be a losing proposition.

Hearing Shen Juan say that they couldn't take this opportunity to bring down Drake, the instigator of the recent online bullying, Wang Churan was inevitably a little frustrated, but she quickly cheered up and changed the subject: "By the way, Juanjuan, someone on Douban said that you were invited to next year's Super Bowl halftime show, is that true?"

“Fake news”

Seeing that Wang Chuan still looked confused and curious, Shen Juan explained in more detail: "Pepsi has been a sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show since 2012, but I endorse Coca-Cola, so how could they let me go up there? And do you remember when I went to the opening of the Champions League final last year? That was also sponsored by Pepsi. Although after communication, I still went up to perform, it was equivalent to Pepsi getting the influence of a Coca-Cola spokesperson in front of so many viewers around the world for free. So I guess there won't be that opportunity in the future, unless the two brands acquire each other and become one family."

"Does that mean Pepsi will invite them, but Coca-Cola won't let them go?"

That's roughly how it can be understood.

"Is it possible for you to switch jobs and go to Pepsi?"

"There's no need for that. The Super Bowl is awesome, but at best it's just a stage to add icing on the cake. It's great if we have it, but it's not important if we don't. There's no need to blindly pursue it. Besides, because of my nationality, it's unlikely that they'll choose me as the main star of the halftime show." Shen Juan never indulged in unrealistic fantasies.

If one day a white man can sing and dance during prime time on the Spring Festival Gala, he could probably also make an appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show.

It's true that North America is relatively more inclusive compared to East Asia.

However, their arrogance in embracing multiculturalism stems from their belief in their own strength, but this does not mean they can tolerate everything.

"By the way, Chuanbao, I just received an invitation to a variety show. Do you want to come with me at the end of the month?" Shen Juan hugged Wang Churan from behind, gently holding her in his arms, his chin lightly resting on the top of her head, his voice carrying an obvious expectation: "It would be very boring for me to go on the show alone."

"What variety show?" Wang Churan's voice softened subconsciously as she nestled in Shen Juan's arms, feeling his warmth.

"A new show has started, called 'Hahahahaha,' and the main guests are Deng Chaocheng, He Luhan, and others, all of whom are familiar faces."

"Isn't this just Running Man?"

"The content of the programs is quite different."

"Oh~" Wang Chuan couldn't help but pout.

"So are you going or not?"

"Of course I'll go! But I'm worried that I don't have much of a knack for variety shows and that the audience will say I'm boring. I don't want to be called boring."

Shen Juan suddenly smiled.

He could roughly guess what Wang Chuan was worried about.

With Tian Jie's outstanding performance in "Back to Field 4" as a benchmark, Wang Chuan, who always strives to emulate Tian Jie in every aspect, obviously does not want to lose to Tian Jie, whom he regards as his lifelong rival and with whom he has a grudge against blocking the door, in terms of variety show skills. Therefore, it is inevitable that he felt pressured before going on the show, which is only human nature.

This is similar to another performance stage of "Sister-in-Law 202". A good performance can attract fans, but a poor performance can lose votes.

So I comforted her, saying, "There's no standard answer to 'variety show appeal.' She has her lively side, and you have your gentle side. Most viewers don't want to see comedy in reality shows; they want to see the most authentic side of celebrities in private. Your natural self is likable enough, so there's no need to worry."

Wang Churan gently broke free from Shen Juan's embrace, turned around and stared into his eyes for a few seconds, then hugged him even tighter, burying her cheek in his chest and rubbing against him involuntarily. Her muffled voice sounded incredibly soft: "Juanjuan, are you a tapeworm in my stomach? How do you know everything?"

"Roundworms? Then remember not to take deworming medication by mistake."

Wang Churan couldn't help but laugh in Shen Juan's arms, "Why do I think you're even cuter than me right now?"

"One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black!"

"Give me a kiss!" Wang Churan blinked and said coquettishly.

Shen Juan smiled slightly and didn't say anything more.

He simply leaned down slightly and gently kissed her.

The crew members who passed by saw the two of them being all lovey-dovey on set again, and they weren't surprised at all.

Why is it that the male and female leads used their break time to rehearse the script and improve their chemistry in order to deliver a better performance?
Is this a publicly funded romance?
No!

That's clearly dedication!
The rest of the time was spent filming while writing songs in his spare time, preparing for the AS4 release planned for next year.

The distribution model remains the same as in the previous two years.

It's the same album, one official and one charity EP.

However, unlike the previous two years, Shen Juan plans to include his solo tracks in a regular album this year, and then put his collaborations with other singers (collaborations that don't quite fit the album's coherence) into a charity EP, doing charity work with friends or with new artists from labels he plans to support.

In this way, he can gain fame and satisfaction, while his collaborators can get the exposure and traffic they desperately need.

Each gets what they need; it's a win-win situation!
In addition to this, Shen Juan had a new job: to act as an intermediary to contact Ali's group of North American singer friends and see if they had any ideas about making extra money, such as singing a few songs and recording a stage video to earn some quick cash.

Of course, this only applies to famous singers.

Ali made it clear that he didn't want newcomers like Jiangmei Guaxi because the gala had limited time and performance slots.

The result was both unexpected and reasonable: Ariana Grande, Malone, and Li Na all accepted Shen Juan's invitation.

On one hand, it was to maintain her friendship with Shen Juan, and on the other hand, it was indeed because Ah Li was very generous with money.

So Ma Long and Li Na didn't find it troublesome at all. On the contrary, after signing the performance contract with Ali, they even called to thank Shen Juan for bringing them such an easy money-making opportunity, and said that if there were any more performance opportunities like this in the future, please don't forget them! They had longed to visit China for a long time, and they also wanted to meet their Chinese fans, etc.
The problem is that Shen Juan knows perfectly well that Ma Long's previous knowledge of China came entirely from tobacco and alcohol products.

He is indeed very familiar with things like Moutai, Wuliangye, Liqun, and Huazi, but as for other things? He probably knows nothing at all.

It can only be said that Mane can easily change a person's preferences and stance; once they taste the benefits, anyone can become patriotic.

Then on the 10th, with the release and official announcement of Shen Juan's investment in the sports industry, Shen Juan gained a new identity in the public eye: the new owner of the NBA Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA New York Liberty. These two teams have, to some extent, become teams favored by Chinese people.

After all, both the big boss and the small boss are Chinese.

Therefore, Chinese people and Asians who are minorities in North America naturally have a favorable impression of these two teams.

Meanwhile, Starlink's public relations team and the outsourcing companies they hire in various countries around the world are also operating at full speed.

All marketing efforts revolve around one core objective: to make the football-basketball-e-sports league that Shen Juan invested in and created gain widespread recognition by the end of this year, thereby deepening Shen Juan's public image, helping him to continuously narrow the distance with Generation Z youth, and winning their favor.

Time flew by and it was October 11th.

The weather in Shanghai was sunny and pleasant.

I checked the weather forecast; it's not going to rain.

So Shen Juan is in a good mood today.

It looks like perfect weather for an after-dinner city walk!

But Wang Churan wasn't in a good mood today.

Because a third wheel came to the film set, interrupting her and Shen Juan's originally happy, beautiful, and peaceful sweet time together.

It's annoying!
After dinner, just a few steps from the restaurant, you'll find yourself on the riverside promenade along the Huangpu River, known as the "New Bund of Pudong".

Although it is located in Lujiazui and is only separated from the Bund by a river, the flow of people here is not on the same level as the Bund. It is just right for Shen Juan to take his girlfriend for a walk after dinner. Moreover, everyone is wearing masks now, so there is no need to worry about being recognized and disturbed by passers-by because of his outlandish appearance.

However, the mysterious aura objectively exists. No matter how ordinary and low-key Shen Juan is dressed, he has a unique attraction that makes people subconsciously want to pay attention to him. Coupled with Shen Yujie, who is dressed in a fashionable and youthful manner, it is inevitable that the two of them will attract the attention of passers-by when they walk side by side.

Looking at the familiar riverside scenery, Shen Juan suddenly remembered that he and Chuanbao had filmed the scene of Yu Tu and Qiao Jingjing taking a walk outside the community after their long-awaited reunion here a while ago.

So he couldn't help but think of teasing Xiao Shen, and said with a smile, "I feel a little unsafe walking with you."

Shen Yujie was a little confused: "Huh?"

"Ah for what?"

"I'm the one who feels insecure!"

Even so, Xiao Shen still subconsciously tightened her grip on Shen Juan's hand, trying her best to enjoy this hard-won warmth.

"How to say?"

"First, I have to make sure your fans don't find out. If they do, those extreme fans who can't stand you interacting with other men will definitely curse me to death. Then I also have to make sure Tian Xiwei doesn't find out. If she sees us walking hand in hand, I'm worried she'll come to the school and block my door."

"That's an exaggeration. Xiao Tian isn't that extraordinary." Shen Juan felt it was necessary to speak up for Sister Tian and say a fair word.

"Really not? But I've heard that Sister Tian is a completely different person in front of you than in front of others."

"Who told you that?"

"Bao Bao, Xin'er, and Sister Reba all said so."

Shen Juan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

One of them had just participated in "Sister-in-Law 202" and was left with psychological trauma by Sister Tian; another was forming a gang to fight against Sister Tian and needed to demonize Sister Tian's image to unite the team members; and the third had been relentlessly targeted and locked down by Sister Tian many times, so they could be said to have an irreconcilable hatred for each other.

In short, they all have different reasons and purposes, so there is no possibility that they are using the gold water to confirm Sister Tian's good identity.

Living in this environment, and being influenced by this group of anti-Tian sisters, it is indeed difficult to develop a good impression of Sister Tian.

Although Shen Juan knew that many of them misunderstood Sister Tian, ​​he would not intervene to change the situation.

In principle, he will not excessively interfere with the fishpond ecosystem.

The two walked quietly for a while longer.

Seeing that Shen Juan looked around at the river view with a carefree air, Shen Yujie felt that he had no intention of taking the initiative to start a conversation.

My feelings are a little complicated.
Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal.

After all, taking a leisurely stroll is quite nice.

simple is the best.

But she had been holding back her words for so long, wanting to tell Shen Juan in person! She really wanted to say a few more words to him today!

Therefore, the only option is to take the initiative.

But when the words came out, those feelings and whispers of love that had been pondered and pondered over countless lonely nights turned into trivial daily greetings: "Senior, have you been working too hard lately? You seem to have lost some weight since the last time we met."

Upon hearing this, Shen Juan paused slightly, then turned to look at her, his gaze softening unconsciously: "Have you lost weight? That's probably because you've had a lot to deal with lately, you look a little tired. But you haven't changed much, Xiao Shen, you're still the same as before, looking very lively and energetic."

These words struck Shen Yujie like a pebble thrown into a seemingly calm but actually turbulent lake, instantly creating ripples. She subconsciously tightened her grip on Shen Juan's hand, her fingertips exerting slight force, and even her cheeks began to warm up.

She had been regretting not having the courage to speak her heart, which she had been holding back for so long, but when she heard him say that he was lively and energetic, her heart skipped a beat, and her previous hesitation vanished instantly. She quickly followed up, "I've just been attending classes at school and occasionally going to the company to learn etiquette and styling. Other than that, there's nothing else going on. By the way, senior, how are the preparations for the teams and clubs you invested in going? I saw related news on Weibo yesterday, and it seems like a lot of people are looking forward to it."

"Yes, I'm really looking forward to it too!"

Shen Juan watched as she deliberately steered the conversation toward him. Her earnest yet slightly excited, clumsy demeanor was particularly endearing, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Everything's ready. The official announcement will probably be made by the end of the year. And the LPL Spring Split seems to start in January next year. If you're interested, could you come with me to watch the matches live? As the owner, it's only right to publicly support your team."

Shen Yujie's eyes lit up instantly, and the complicated emotions she had just felt were instantly replaced by surprise. She nodded repeatedly.

"Of course I'm interested!"

"How interested?"

"Exactly. Just thinking about watching the game with you makes me prepare my leave request in advance, just in case something comes up and I can't make it!"

"So you care? What if I suddenly have to go to work and can't go with you? Wouldn't that disappoint you?"

Shen Yujie quickly shook her head, her eyes particularly serious: "Even if that's the case, I won't be disappointed, because you're such a good person! I'm already very content, but I just can't help wanting to get a little closer to you, and you always go along with my little requests and tolerate my little whims."

"Is this a friend card being given to me?"

More than anyone else, I hope you are a very, very good person!

"Alright! As a kind person personally certified by our Xiao Shen, I've decided to grant you one of your birthday wishes!"

Xiao Shen thought about it seriously, then replied with a smile, "It would be great if we could watch the snow together in London this winter!"

But as soon as she finished speaking, fearing that Shen Juan would be put in a difficult position, she quickly added, "Of course, I was just thinking about it. I know that it's inconvenient for me to go abroad right now because of my righteousness, so it's fine to find a place in China where you can watch the snow with me. Whether it's Shanghai or Beijing, as long as you're with me, I'm OK!"

"But what if I take it seriously?"

Xiao Shen was taken aback and subconsciously reminded him, "Now, returning to China from abroad requires a 14-day quarantine, which will disrupt your entire trip."

Shen Juan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Do you care about these 14 days?"

Xiao Shen suddenly stopped and looked up into Shen Juan's eyes. Her clear and bright eyes stared straight into his. After two or three seconds, she slowly shook her head. Her cheeks were flushed but she was very serious. Her voice was soft but very firm: "I don't care if it's to go to London with you to see the snow."

Seeing her serious expression, Shen Juan reached out and gently pinched her cheek, his smile indulgent: "Then I don't care."

Shen Yujie blushed even more and her cheeks burned. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Shen Juan add with a mischievous grin: "Actually, I was planning to go abroad next year. Staying in China for activities all year has already reduced my exposure a lot. Next year, the promotion of my new album will definitely have to be offline."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes in exasperation, but the upturned corners of her mouth wouldn't let her down. "I knew it."

Shen Juan was charmed by Xiao Shen's arrogant expression that contradicted her true feelings. He found the girl, who only had eyes for him, to be incredibly cute. So he couldn't help but reach out his claws again, but this time the target was the top of her head instead of her cheek. "But my desire to go to London with you to see the snow is real."

"I know that too," Xiao Shen couldn't help but smugly hum.

"So, cousin, if there's anything else you've been holding back, just say it now! Treat me like a confidante."

"Are there really such beautiful tree holes?" Xiao Shen laughed.

Shen Juan shrugged noncommittally, "I never thought that someone who is so good-looking could have so many troubles."

"Who are you talking about?"

Who are you talking about now?

The silence was broken only briefly by the river breeze.

Shen Yujie suddenly raised her head, her previous shyness and hesitation gone, and openly expressed her feelings: "I missed you so much yesterday, the day before yesterday, the day before that, and every day in the past!"

"Well, what else?"

I miss you so much today too!

"What about tomorrow?"

I'll miss you even more tomorrow!

She became more and more natural as she spoke, and once she started talking, those feelings that she hadn't expressed before didn't seem so hard to hide anymore.

Seeing her happy and excited expression, Shen Juan's lips unconsciously curled up, and he didn't say anything more.

I simply slowed down and walked alongside her.

A gentle breeze carrying the scent of the Huangpu River blew by, bringing a chill, but it didn't dispel the warmth in Shen Yujie's heart. She secretly glanced at Shen Juan's profile; the streetlights illuminated his handsome face, making her think to herself: Even just chatting about trivial everyday things like this seems quite nice.

At least for now, being able to talk to someone you like a few more times and listen to them tell you interesting stories about their daily life is quite enjoyable, isn't it?

(End of this chapter)