Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 549 They pay you to push your limits
From the morning of the 27th to the early morning of the 29th, we recorded for almost two episodes.

After saying goodbye to everyone, we agreed to get together again when we have time.

On the plane back to Shanghai, Wang Churan obediently lay down in her bedroom to catch up on sleep; her energy level was still within the range of a normal person.

Shen Juan, who remained energetic even after working through the night and whose time management skills even surpassed Luo Xiaozhu's, then communicated with Yang Yangjin about their recent work arrangements.

"First of all, your concert film 'Leviathan Era Tour' has been released for almost a month now. It has accumulated a box office of 17 billion Chinese yuan in China and 4.5 million US dollars worldwide, successfully surpassing 'Bad Boys for Life' with 4.2 million US dollars, and is currently ranked second in the global box office for the year."

"It's worth mentioning that the number one film is 'The Matchmaker,' which you starred in, with a global box office of $6.5 million. And this was after the closure of some cinemas; otherwise, more people would have gone to the cinemas, and the box office would have been even higher."

"It's hard to say. After all, to some extent, it was precisely the emergence of loyalty and righteousness that led to the postponement of the release of those blockbusters, which allowed our films to enjoy the most favorable and comfortable distribution environment."

Shen Juanqiang's strength lies in his personal influence and marketing and distribution capabilities. If it comes down to quality, "The Matchmaker" definitely can't compete. After all, this film is basically a popcorn romance movie with a score of around 7 out of 10. After its release, it mainly benefits from the reopening of cinemas after the "Love and Loyalty" movie and the viewing bonus for couples on Qixi Festival.

In short, while it meets the emotional needs of today's moviegoers, it cannot become a classic that is continuously discussed.

Such is the case with "The Vanished She".

Such is the meaning of "Going All In".

The same applies to "Hot and Spicy".

They are all products of a fleeting era.

Yangyang Jin did not refute Shen Juan's point of view, but continued: "However, no matter what, the two films have grossed a total of 11 billion US dollars, which is an amazing achievement in Hollywood, so many production companies have taken the initiative to extend olive branches."

"But as you know, because the situation is still unstable, many film crews have stopped production and are burning money and losing money every day. Many theatrical projects do not have a clear plan to start yet. And the awkward point is that big productions will not ask you to play the male lead. The big productions that ask you only intend to let you play a supporting role or a cameo."

Shen Juan could understand this.

After all, with the global economy in a downturn, film markets in all countries are struggling. China is relying on patriotic films to maintain its market share, while the US is relying on superhero films. Each country has its own problems and pain points.

As a foreigner, he obviously wouldn't get many opportunities during Hollywood's downturn, where there were too many wolves and not enough sheep.

Unless he's willing to be a supporting character to those black and white people.

But is such a thing really possible?

There is no possibility.

As the face of China in the eyes of foreigners, he represents not only himself but also the country in a sense.

Therefore, he only plays leading roles, and even only accepts lead roles!
There is absolutely no possibility of me being a supporting character for foreigners!

"So, Yangyang, what do you want to say?"

"So I did some filtering and found that documentary films that are only available on streaming platforms are more suitable for us."

"What kind of documentary film?" Shen Juan asked, intrigued.

Didn't Disney previously spend $7500 million to buy the streaming rights to "Leviathan Era Tour"?

"This time, they made a special documentary for you called 'Limitless with Alex Shen,' which mainly involves you participating in various severe challenges and pushing yourself to the limit to discover the mysteries of the human body, so that you and the audience watching the documentary can have a better understanding of life, health, and longevity."

“We believe this invitation is quite valuable. On the one hand, the remuneration they offered is quite good, with a base salary of 1500 million plus 20% of streaming revenue. On the other hand, participating in the filming of this kind of documentary will also be very helpful in shaping and maintaining your positive, healthy and sunny public image.”

Upon hearing the name, Shen Juan felt a vague sense of familiarity, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
A moment later, his brows relaxed, and he suddenly realized, "Isn't this the same 'Challenge the Limit' that Thor filmed in the original timeline?"

So now you're asking me to challenge your limits?
You've really found the right person!

Shen Juan is genuinely interested in challenging the limits of human endurance, provided that his own safety is not compromised!

Otherwise, he wouldn't have become so fascinated by the thrill of high-speed racing and the adrenaline rush, would he?

In addition, he will have ample time to complete the filming of this documentary piecemeal during his trip abroad in the first half of next year.

At that time, you can broaden your horizons, make money and gain exposure, and set an example for your fans. It can be said that you have won big!

So there wasn't much hesitation.

Shen Juan directly expressed his willingness to accept the challenge.

Of course, the contract cannot be signed so quickly.

After all, subsequent negotiations regarding the various terms and conditions in this contract are a crucial part of the entire cooperation.

Therefore, every detail must be carefully considered and finalized repeatedly, and must be meticulously refined to ensure that one's own interests are not harmed.

Take off in the morning and land at noon.

After filming the afternoon's scenes, the dinner venue was a club restaurant with a very good reputation among celebrities.

Because Wang Chuan was completely exhausted after working all night and needed to catch up on sleep in the afternoon, while Shen Juan did not, the production team specially staggered their scenes so that Shen Juan could have a completely free night to calm down and finish filming with his character early, and then enjoy a proper meal with Ai Bao, who had come all the way from Xiangshan.

"Try this, it tastes pretty good." Shen Juan handed over a plate of braised snowflake beef with fresh bamboo shoots that the waiter had just brought over.

"Thanks."

Zhang Tianai did not refuse, nor did she rush to pick up her chopsticks. Instead, she asked a question that had been bothering her.

"Juanjuan, did you have a good time in Chongqing the other day?"

Actually, she finished filming on the 27th, thinking that she could come to Shanghai to see Shen Juan on her birthday on the 28th, and make a wish in her heart while selling Coca-Cola. However, she did not expect that Shen Juan would go to Chongqing to record a program, which made her change her destination at the last minute and return to Beijing to celebrate this special day with a few friends.

Zhang Tianai didn't seem to have any objections to this.
After all, everyone has the right to manage their time freely, especially celebrities whose schedules are set well in advance.

Moreover, Shen Juan had prepared a birthday gift that she really liked in advance and sent her birthday wishes via video call.

But to be honest, I'm still a little unhappy.

Unhappiness for which there is no specific reason.

Perhaps it was the slight resentment from not being able to be together all the time due to the long-distance relationship; perhaps it was the slight sadness of not being able to completely belong to her because Shen Juan's tall, handsome, striking appearance and his resilient yet gentle personality, as well as his cool and taciturn nature towards outsiders, almost perfectly matched her ideal type of partner; or perhaps it was the trending topic on Weibo about Shen Juan and Wang Churan traveling together in Chongqing and the comments from those CP fans.
In short, I'd also like to record a show with you!

I'd also like to travel to Chongqing with you!
I want to be trending on social media with you too!

Why didn't you call me?

I thought we were already boyfriend and girlfriend.

But don't you think so?
Or is it that you have too many boyfriends/girlfriends, making it too busy for you to keep up, and you have to make choices?
Why can't I be ranked at a higher position?

Your aloof attitude is really giving me a headache.
Shen Juan paused for a few seconds, looking at Ai Bao whose expression was changing, and suddenly laughed and said, "Happy? Of course I'm happy!"

After saying that, before Aibao could react, she added with a smile, "I'm just as happy that you can have dinner with me tonight!"

Zhang Tianai paused for a moment upon hearing this, then raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice soft: "You always have such a way with words."

"Are you good at talking? But I was just saying what was on my mind." Shen Juan's eyes were full of clarity and sincerity.

"Your scumbag vibe is already overflowing." Zhang Tianai quickly pretended to casually pick up her glass and take a sip of orange juice, as if this would prevent Shen Juan from knowing how turbulent her heart was at that moment. However, when she put down the glass, her slightly trembling right hand still betrayed her unsettled mood.

You're so good at serving water, were you working in a teahouse in your past life?
With such a sweet tongue, were you a bee in your past life?
Hmph, I'm going to taste just how sweet it really is tonight!
Moreover, even though I was the one who called you to come over for dinner, you said it was you who called me to come over for you. It's this reversal of priorities that hides a quiet tenderness that makes me feel warmer and sweeter the more I think about it. Can someone really be this gentle and attentive?

Am I really stuck with this?

How can it be?

I'm not love-struck!
"What scumbag?" Shen Juan asked with a smile.

“Everywhere you look, there are scumbags!” Zhang Tianai curled the corners of her mouth.

"I was telling the truth, but you still insist on calling me a scumbag." Shen Juan instantly put on a dramatic act, pretending to be sad and helpless, and sighed in a low voice: "I feel like I'll never love again."

Zhang Tianai was amused by his exaggerated appearance and burst out laughing. "When did you learn to play the innocent green tea act?"

Shen Juan returned to normal, shrugged with a smile, and said, "Maybe it's because I've seen so much that I just naturally learned it."

"Should I praise you for being so knowledgeable?" Zhang Tian smiled and forked a piece of snowflake beef soaked in broth into his mouth. The soft and tender meat, mixed with the sweetness of bamboo shoots, melted gently on his tongue. The emotions that had been churning seemed to be soothed by this blissful taste.

Shen Juan smiled and raised an eyebrow: "Do as you please." Zhang Tianai's smile hadn't faded, and she said in a more relaxed and natural tone than when she had asked about the Chongqing itinerary earlier: "To be honest, I've always wanted to go somewhere where nobody knows me and stay for a while, to enjoy the life of an ordinary person where I won't be photographed or asked for photos. It's just a pity that Yiqing's arrival interrupted this plan."

"Go to a place where nobody knows you. Isn't that overseas? Which overseas places do you want to travel to?" Shen Juan didn't find it too strange. After all, ordinary people yearn to make a lot of money and be loved by fans like celebrities, but celebrities sometimes want to be like ordinary people, free from outside attention and disturbance.

People always tend to fall in love with things that are out of season.

"I currently prefer Japan and Europe."

"The major cities in Japan are full of Chinese tourists."

"So, it means only Europe is left?"

"There are quite a few in Europe too, but definitely far fewer than in Japan."

"So, do you have any recommendations? You toured so many countries and cities last year, there must have been some that left a deep impression on you!"

Shen Juan thought for a moment and then replied, "Munich, I'll go. I took some time to visit the BMW Museum and Neuschwanstein Castle."

"Germany? Can you tell me the specific details of that day?" Zhang Tianai blinked her beautiful eyes and asked with great interest.

"It was a spur-of-the-moment decision after landing in Munich and giving an exclusive interview to the local media. As a result, it started raining as soon as we drove to the foot of the mountain. We had no choice but to hike up the mountain. When we got to the castle gate, we found that the queue was ridiculously long, like a concert. Everyone was eagerly waiting."

Shen Juan carefully recalled what happened that day last year.

"The rain was getting heavier and heavier, but I had left in a hurry and hadn't brought an umbrella. Moreover, because there were so many people in line, I was almost squeezed out of my way. Interestingly, they didn't bring umbrellas either, but they didn't seem to be in a hurry. They just calmly waited in the rain. Although it felt a bit strange, it was also quite wonderful. I haven't been in the rain like this for a very long time since I grew up."

"So you went in to take a look in the end?"

“No, Neuschwanstein Castle closes at 5:30 pm and prohibits tourists from entering.” Shen Juan suddenly looked up at Zhang Tian’ai’s eyes, a gentle smile on his face, his tone relaxed and casual, but his voice was so gentle that it made people’s heads buzz: “Just like now, although we are so close, we are very far apart.”

Zhang Tianai didn't dare to meet those incredibly handsome eyes, afraid that she might not be able to resist rushing forward to hug him and kiss him wildly, letting him know how irresistible she was to his charm, and thus being easily manipulated by this scumbag. So she quickly lowered her head and focused her gaze on the tender and juicy beef in the bowl in front of her.

Then just listen quietly as he continues:

"The day before yesterday, on my way to Chongqing, I read some old comics from decades ago to kill time. There was a part that I found quite interesting: Charlie asked Snoopy, 'What are you missing?' Snoopy replied, 'I miss the way I saw the world before I knew too much about it.'"

“I think we always unconsciously go from ‘thinking the world is full of novelty and beauty’ to ‘seeing the complexity and darkness of reality.’ The pure curiosity about everything in the world is often slowly covered by later knowledge and concerns. Just like when we were young, we thought that playing computer games could solve all our unhappiness, but when we grew up, we realized that many things are not as simple as we imagined, and simple happiness and joy are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.”

"Of course, this is not to say that growing up is bad, but rather to gently remind us that we can sometimes be like we were before, with fewer worries and less weighing of options, and pay more attention to the little beauties in life. Let's not let 'knowing too much' make us lose the pure lightness and love we had when we first looked at the world."

After a moment of silence, Zhang Tianai broke the silence by asking, "Are we recording some kind of philosophical discussion program?"

Shen Juan smiled and shook his head. "Aibao, don't you often complain that we don't spend enough time together and are always curious about my daily life? So I'm just sharing my daily life and my specific feelings and insights at a certain time with you."

"Do you remember how it felt when we first met? You were carefree and relaxed back then, so there was really no need to overcomplicate things or force yourself to do anything. I think it's enough to just hold onto that initial feeling that the world is full of new and beautiful things."

"If I were to answer using a line from a comic I read the other day, it would probably be what Charlie said to Snoopy." Shen Juan's gaze fell on Ai Bao's face. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were exceptionally serious: "Snoopy, you know what? Even if you do nothing, it's enough for me to be by your side."

Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Zhang Tianai tilted her head back and smiled sweetly, "Are you saying I'm your pet dog?"

"I just want you to stay by my side."

"That's such a jerk line!"

"So, are you willing to be scummed by me?"

Do you think I still have a choice?

"If you really can't accept it, we can break up."

Before Shen Juan could finish speaking, a warm, soft touch suddenly silenced his lips. Sitting opposite him, Zhang Tian'ai leaned in almost instinctively, her desperate, clinging gaze choking back the words he was about to utter. Her eyes, brimming with affection, seemed to say…
We can talk about anything, except breaking up!

So what if I admit I'm a hopeless romantic?
Want to break up with me? Don't even think about it!

On the 30th, after completing the filming work assigned to him by the crew during the day, Shen Juan immediately went to the Shanghai International Circuit and the Shanghai Pudong Football Stadium to familiarize himself with the Porsche Sports Cup and conduct media interviews, as well as to rehearse the opening ceremony of the League of Legends S10 World Championship.

The former is from October 31st to November 1st.

The latter is October 31st.

Since we happened to be at the same time, we were naturally extremely busy.

On his commute from the racetrack to the football field, Shen Juan took a moment to check his phone, prompted by his assistant.

Ariana Grande's new album "Positions" has been released.

The album includes "Positions", "pov" and "34+35", which Shen Juan previously worked on in his spare time.

Because the album was promoted as a "reunion of Alexana", it received a very enthusiastic response after its release.

It not only topped the iTunes album charts in dozens of countries and regions, but also made it onto the news sections of major mainstream media outlets.

Billboard called it a dual benchmark of commercial and cultural influence in the current era, stating that the album not only solidified Ariana Grande's status as the "Queen of Pop in the Streaming Era," but also redefined the diverse narrative style of pop music through tracks like "34+35" that blend electronic and R&B elements.

The reason Shen Juan wasn't mentioned is because recently, some people of both black and white descent felt that Billboard was being too "appeasement" of Shen Juan, a foreign singer, which sparked controversy for pandering to ethnic minorities. So, to avoid any appearance of impropriety, Billboard has significantly reduced the frequency of Shen Juan's appearances on their website and in their articles.

A music critic for The Guardian believes that *Positions* marks Ariana Grande's significant transition from the collective euphoria of *Thank U, Next* to a more personal narrative. The album, grounded in bedroom pop, constructs a highly immersive auditory space through the whispered vocals of "Love Language" and the vulnerable expression of "Off the Table." While some tracks have been criticized for being too explicit and lacking melodic melodies, the album as a whole is considered a rare example of genuine pop music. The addition of Shen Juan is described as the perfect finishing touch, bringing the album to life.

NME praised the album's main creators for their ingenious fusion of vocal experimentation and retro R&B, and said that Shen Juan knew how to amplify Ariana Grande's vocal strengths, as if they had known, interacted and worked together for ten years and knew what the other wanted with just a pat on the back.

Of course, the second half was added by fans.
The Atlantic published an article criticizing Ariana Grande's new album for excessively imitating Black music, alleging cultural appropriation, and formulaically sparking discussions on racial issues: "[While Ariana Grande, a white woman, and Alex Shen, an Asian man, are enjoying the benefits of Black music, they haven't given sufficient respect to their cultural roots.]"

There's nothing I can do, people are just weirdos.

If someone beats them with something they invented, they'll play the race card and accuse the other side of cultural appropriation.

Shen Juan had no good solution to this long-standing group phenomenon except to remain silent. He could only say that this group had never been his base of support, so there was no need to feel sad about losing their support.

Pitchfork, however, believes that most of the tracks on this album rely too much on production techniques and lack emotional resonance.

Of course, the three main tracks that Shen Juan helped produce are not included. After all, the lyrics are full of Ariana Grande's long-accumulated expressions of love. If you say that these lack emotional resonance, then it's a bit like nitpicking. You don't even need to think about it to know that you'll be cyberbullied by angry Alexana CP fans.

Meanwhile, many fans who listened to the entire album as soon as it was released also shared their feelings on various social media platforms.

[Alex still understands Ari so well; hopefully, they can record their Coke-selling sounds into their next collaboration song.]

[This is undoubtedly the best part of the entire album! I never expected that the snoring sound at the beginning was actually Alex's pet dog.]

Unlike other songs on the album that explicitly describe a woman's sexual feelings, this song delicately depicts how physical intimacy leads to mutual trust, acceptance of each other, and ultimately, a higher level of fusion.

[The high-pitched enunciation and breathy tone at the end were truly amazing. I didn't understand before why she was called "Little Cow" when she had such a sweet voice.]

The lyrics to "34+35" are really raunchy and violent. Ariana in love is terrifying. Did she write all her sexual fantasies about Alex into the lyrics?

[I have a question: During my online English class, I couldn't help but sing "Fxxk me to the daylight," and my teacher heard me. Anyone want to go to another planet with me?]

[Lyrics: I've been drinking coffee. Fun fact: Drinking coffee before sex can effectively enhance pleasure for women.]

[Ariana's songs always give me the illusion that she's sexy and sassy. Listening to them in the shower makes me feel like I'm filming a music video in the bathroom—it's so embarrassing! So now I really want to hear Alex's version; it seems to have a different flavor, haha!]

Upon seeing this, Shen Juan first called his US agent, planning to release his solo version in a couple of days.

(Only the lower-pitched versions of POV and positions, which are more suitable for male vocals, were recorded. The lyrics of "Six Nine" are too explicit, so I didn't record them.)
Then I opened Instagram and started editing the caption.

At the very beginning, Shen Juan actually treated A-mei as a business partner and collaborator assigned to him by the company.

Even though there was a fight during the filming of the "Senorita" music video, it was just out of politeness and not because of any personal feelings involved.

The most important thing is that everyone gets what they want from creating a CP (couple pairing) relationship.

As time went by and they experienced more and more together, their tacit understanding deepened through their interactions, and their relationship grew stronger through spending time together. The bond built on emotion and mutual benefit became increasingly solid, and they had long since transcended the framework of a contractual relationship, becoming true friends who could confide in each other.

so.
Shen Juan casually left behind a passage that was destined to be regarded as a bible by Alexana's CP fans and circulated for a very long time.

People often say that too much love can cripple you, but what if the person conveying that love is Ariana Grande?

Then I might think being disabled isn't so bad.

(End of this chapter)