Generation Z Artists

Chapter 363 Local Counterattack

"My lord, please! Please appear on a Japanese TV program!"

A line of earthen mounds along the edge of the field, heads bowed deeply.

The immense popularity of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" in Japan has benefited everyone who has been involved.

Among all Japanese people, the one who benefited the most was Tanabe, even more so than Yui Aragaki.

As a temporary station director who was sent to take the blame, he was originally scheduled to resign this year, bearing the smears and bowing three times to the people.

“Red Bean Smoothie Marseille!”

"Konnijiwasmimasai!"

"Balala Malzaha Smimasai!"

He can go up there and spout nonsense, let the people curse him to vent their anger, and then the previous scandals can be put on hold.

The real nepotism hire happily took over a "clean" Nippon TV station, while Tanabe went home to be his incompetent husband. If he could endure it, he would wait for his comeback; if not, he and his wife would go into the adult video industry...

Forget it, with the cutthroat nature of the Japanese workplace, no one can withstand it. I might as well go into business as soon as possible.

The US's cutoff line is a hellish joke, and Japan's scapegoat is even more sinister.

So-called senior executives without shares are nothing more than toilet paper used by conglomerates to wipe their messes. Forty years of economic stagnation has made the infighting within Japanese companies extremely ruthless. Publicly bowing and apologizing is equivalent to systemic death. Even small shareholders find it difficult to have a dignified ending, let alone a scapegoat like Tanabe.

As a result, he managed to escape from a desperate situation by decisively kneeling before his father.

After airing for four months, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" not only cleared up all the negative news about the Japanese TV station, but also created the miracle of achieving annual profit ahead of schedule.

Right now, Tanabe's position as station director is very secure. Every time the major shareholder sees him, he pats him on the shoulder affectionately and praises him, "Tanabe, keep up the good work, and you'll stay in the station director position until you die!"

The praise from the Japanese side is so genuine~~~
Tianbian hadn't forgotten who brought him this turning point. In order to curry favor with Fang's father, he gave a major report every week and a minor greeting every two days.

Actors from "The Return of the Condor Heroes" can appear on any Japanese TV program without any restrictions, and they receive the best treatment.

In terms of political leanings, he is clearly a conservative figure second only to Fuji TV, but now he has completely shifted to the left for his father, always talking about friendship and always talking about peace.

Fuji TV slammed it, Asahi and Tokyo TV mocked it, TBS and NHK looked on coldly, but it laughed maniacally: "You idiots, you have no idea how delicious Fang Daddy is!"

They actually knew.

The main series of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," along with behind-the-scenes footage and related content, boosted viewership across Taiwan, which in turn increased the value of advertising throughout the day. Who wouldn't be green with envy?

So don't be fooled by their haughty demeanor; they're actually desperate for the rebroadcast rights to "The Return of the Condor Heroes."

But Tian Bian had already made up his mind: no one can take away Fang Xinghe's father's love!
"Which Japanese female celebrity would you like to appear on a show with? Anyone is fine with me, I'll do it even if it costs me my life!"

Fang Xinghe couldn't help but glance at him: "Just for a TV show?"

Tanabe gave a classic crooked smile, typical of middle-aged Japanese men: "Of course, that includes the after-dinner entertainment!"

Why do they all want to entertain me in this way?
Fang Xinghe didn't even bother to explain, simply saying one word: "Get lost!"

"Hi Yi!"

Tianbian rolled out of the room, terrified but secretly pleased.

As long as you're willing to appear on our show, all the other details are fine.

Unfortunately, Japanese TV variety shows don't really have any classics. To save time, Fang Ge chose to watch the previous episode of "TOKIO×TOKIO," a talk show that doesn't require much effort.

TOKIO is a boy band, the second boy group under the Squirtle agency. They are not very famous in China, but they are very popular in Japan.

The five hosts—Shigeru Joshima, Taichi Kokubun, Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Masahiro Matsuoka, and Tomoya Nagase—are considered among the most handsome men in Japan today, each with their own unique charm—according to their fans.

When Fang Xinghe simply put on a white suit and stood among them, the audience gasped in surprise.

Who said they were handsome?

These aren't even on the same layer!

While there wasn't a significant height difference, Fang Ge's proportions were simply too superior: a small face, broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs. Coupled with his fair and radiant skin, resembling the beauty of oriental jade, he was far ahead of the competition.

He was also very good at finding the camera. He glanced "casually" at the side camera, and after the program aired, his affectionate gaze at the dog made the Japanese fans collectively scream and ovulate on the spot.

Wow! Today's guests are truly amazing!

"Hey! Saigo!"

"Absolutely the best of our show, right?"

"The best in the world!"

Shigeru Joshima and the others were also shouting and yelling. The hosting style of Japanese and Korean hosts is particularly outrageous in this respect. It's as if they can't live without being crazy. They're incredibly exaggerated.

in the country, only Sheila would cause such a ruckus... She must have watched too many Korean variety shows.

Fang Xinghe knew how to perform to achieve the best effect, but he was unwilling. He simply stood there with a faint smile, waiting for them to finish their commotion.

The studio spotlight shone down from above, and the handsome guy quietly basked in his own glory. Now it's not just a matter of layers anymore; now there's someone radiating light.

"So handsome..."

"Fang-sama is so intimidating that I don't dare to get close to him. Seriously, I have to stand quite far away to speak properly!"

TOKIO's mouth was full of honey as he kept praising her.

They're pretty smart; they really know what their fans like to watch.

The young fairy stood there for about ten minutes as punishment, and finally looked up blankly: No, what did I come here for today?
By the time the formal interview finally began, half an hour had already passed.

Next segment of the show: Take your seats and let's chat.

Today's main guest is Fang Xinghe, and he brought three colleagues—the host Watanabe Ken and Aragaki Yui, as well as the young fairy.

The very first question they asked touched a nerve with the fans, especially their mothers.

"This is the first time the two of you have shared the stage in Japan. As a fan, I'm really curious about your relationship in private."

"Good friend," Fang Ge said in an official tone.

Nenxian took the initiative to correct: "I think he is more like my guide. I can find the answer to any question from him. He is a very reassuring person to me, far beyond a friend."

"Oh oh oh~~~"

The audience below the stage erupted in cheers; clearly, they preferred Liu Yifei's lively response.

Kokubun Taichi's eyes lit up, and he made a clinking motion with his thumbs: "Is this the kind of relationship and feelings?"

"Of course not." Nenxian turned to Fang Xinghe and asked frankly, "It seems we've never talked about anything outside of work?"

Fang Xinghe confirmed: "Indeed, no."

The hosts immediately clutched their heads in despair, wailing, "This isn't the answer I wanted! What a pity!"

Matsuoka Masahiro, still not giving up, turned to Aragaki Yui to confirm: "Really, Yui-chan? Are they really not dating in private?"

Yui Aragaki looked burdened, desperately trying to back away while waving her hands forcefully.

"Don't surprise me! I don't know anything!"

Hahahaha!

The crowd burst into laughter, amused by her flustered state.

Nagase Tomoya, with an expression of absolute disbelief, relentlessly pursued the topic of romance: "From Chen Nian and Xiao Bei, to Fairy and Yang Guo, the two were so compatible, how could there not be sparks between them?!"

"It's true, there really isn't."

The young fairy, lacking experience in television programs, explained things with particular seriousness.

"Director Fang is a person with lofty ideals. I don't quite understand what he wants, but I can feel his state of mind. It's a kind of focused dedication to his goal, which is what I respect most. I'm even a little hesitant to send him messages..."

"what?!"

The five hosts were collectively dumbfounded: "Is this really how it is?"

"I believe."

Ken Watanabe intervened at the right moment, rescuing the two young men from their predicament.

"Director Fang's workload is extremely high. When he was on set, he only slept three or four hours a day. I have only seen that kind of passion in a very few people, and each of them is an extraordinary person."

He paused for a moment, then concluded on the relationship.

"Director Fang and Xixi's relationship is not what you think at all. During the rising period of their careers, how can we people in the entertainment industry have extra energy to manage relationships?"

Asian tradition still prioritizes career, especially for young actors with bright futures.

The entire significance of Ken Watanabe accompanying Fang Xinghe on the show can be summed up in this sentence.

The Condor Heroes was a huge hit in Japan, with an extremely wide audience. Fang Xinghe's female fans probably only accounted for one-tenth of all viewers, while CP fans became the mainstream.

Many ordinary viewers hope that "on-screen couples" will become a real-life couple, fulfilling their expectations and fantasies.

Meanwhile, Fang Xinghe's romantic fans and Nenxian's male fans did not want to see this scene.

This is the classic conflict in a hit drama – the split and infighting between solo fans and CP fans.

In later years, the usual practice for drama promotion was for the male and female leads to appear together and share sweet moments during the peak of the show's popularity. This was called "promotion" and aimed to maintain the show's popularity and boost its ratings.
Once the peak of its popularity ends, it will be quickly cut off, allowing it to shine on its own.

Fans are also aware of this; solo fans are holding back for now, while CP fans are gradually retreating.

For example, the biggest unorthodox CP fandom, "Bo Jun Yi Xiao," was born during the peak of the popularity of "The Untamed." After becoming top stars, Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan never saw each other again, cutting ties cleanly and thoroughly.

Now, Fang Xinghe and Liu Yifei, who are teaming up for the second time, are facing even more complex difficulties.

They can no longer allow the CP fans to run rampant, yet they can't completely cut them off—Actress Liu is Professor Fang's first disciple, a symbol of cruel drama, and a source of enticements for other actresses; it's impossible to completely cut ties with her.

Therefore, it is essential to clarify the public's perception of the relationship.

Leader and admirer, master and apprentice, brother and sister, director and actor... whatever it is, just not a couple.

Even if they are truly a couple, they have to keep it a secret to the death. On the day they are exposed, even a hundred crazy people who commit suicide together might not be enough to kill them all. Just imagine how terrifying it would be if rooftops were filled with people like dumplings falling from a pot.

These days, things are different from later generations. When celebrities publicly date, it's considered "disqualification from being an idol," and it can really lead to their downfall.

Consider when Andy Lau dared to publicly announce his secret marriage, and then consider the fervor of the "Full Sky Stars" (a group of fans), and you should have a sense of awe for such matters.

……

After Ken Watanabe finished testifying, he didn't say much.

The host stopped fabricating rumors, as if all the previous hype was just for this moment of clarification... Okay, congratulations, you guessed right, this was all pre-scripted. Fang Xinghe wanted to maintain the hype while also cutting ties with his previous roles; his appearance on the show was all calculated.

However, the results were better than expected.

CP fans are all imaginative weirdos. They don't care how the parties involved clarify, they just fixate on the details of their interactions and become obsessed: "Look at the secretive look in their eyes, it's all evidence!"

Solo fans are like ostriches, saying, "Our idol said it's okay, why should we believe you if we don't believe him?"

A huge crisis, before it could truly take shape, was quietly resolved by the head of the online army, reducing its destructive power by several orders of magnitude.

The rest of the program was all about promoting the show and gaining fans.

Fang Xinghe maintained an air of mystery by not speaking much, but every time he spoke, it had an effect.

At this point, Japanese talk shows will have some very "clichéd" template presentations, such as revealing the artist's hobbies, favorite foods, preferred type of opposite sex, disliked type, minor flaws, and so on.

It's a very old-fashioned, rudimentary character design, simple and crude.

Audiences love this kind of thing; they never get tired of it, there's nothing we can do about it.

Fang Xinghe found this ridiculous, so he showed off a series of unique moves.

"To Japanese audiences, Fang Dian is just too mysterious. How about we have a quick, unthinking question-and-answer session? That way, he won't be able to hide it anymore, right?"

"OK, I accept the challenge."

"Now, listen to the question... What's your favorite color?"

"black."

"what is the reason?"

"Night is the best protection."

"But you're wearing a white suit today!"

"I want to shine during the day."

What is your favorite cuisine?

"Northeastern Chinese cuisine".

"Your least favorite cuisine?"

Korean food.

"Wow, wait, wait, wait! We need to discuss this in detail!"

The crowd erupted in excited laughter and screams—the idea that Sino-Japanese friendship relies on South Korea is still effective in this era.

"Why? Can you tell me?"

"Because there are too few dishes and the cooking methods are too monotonous, kimchi is considered a salted vegetable in our area, so I don't eat it at all."

Shigeru Joshima was overjoyed and excitedly asked, "Wow, is that really what you think? You're not just saying that because you're in Japan, are you?"

“No.” Fang Xinghe smiled and replied leisurely, “I said the same thing on a Korean variety show.”

"So how did you answer?"

Fang Xinghe's expression was indifferent, and his voice was calm: "At that time, there was a meal segment in the program, and the whole table was full of kimchi."

I told them directly: I often had pickled vegetables with me during my childhood, but it wasn't because I liked them, but because I had no other choice. I hated that childhood and I hate all pickled vegetables.

I am willing to respect your culture, but please excuse me for declining this invitation.

"Hiss...you really are...real!"

The entire TOKIO group was utterly awestruck, utterly shocked.

On a South Korean variety show, he directly attacked their "national dish." Is this the majesty of Prince Fang Xinghe?

Kokubun Taichi couldn't help but ask, "So, what do you think of Japanese cuisine?"

"Sushi?"

"Yes, the most famous Japanese cuisine is sushi."

"do not like."

Brother Fang shook his head frankly, his answer both eloquent and restrained.

"The flavor is too bland, while I am a passionate person. Sushi cannot contain my passion. This kind of delicacy may be more suitable for girls."

"hiss……"

TOKIO has once again suffered a severe blow.

As a rock boy band that isn't exactly idol-like, they still need to be extra careful with their words and actions, and dare not overstep any boundaries.

But Fang Xinghe's every word and every action was unimaginably flamboyant and unrestrained, without any taboos.

Does being handsome, rich, and talented give you the right to act with such impunity?

Ah, it seems so. If you have all of them, you'll be forgiven for whatever you do...

The hosts sighed and reminisced for a while before continuing with the rapid-fire Q&A session.

Who is your favorite female celebrity?

Fang Xinghe turned his head to look at Liu Yifei, then said firmly, "Qianqian."

Wow!

The venue was filled with screams and cheers, and the hosts even jumped up and down, clapping and running around.

"So... what's the reason?"

Fang Xinghe curled his lips into a smile: "Because she is the only female artist who has come down from my waterboard. In a sense, we jointly won the Cannes Best Actress award that I could never have won."

"Hmm... Although the reason is surprisingly valid, it's so boring..."

The crowd, who had just been ecstatic, immediately fell into wailing.

This wasn't the most sensational answer they were looking for.

However, from the perspective of winning over fans, this is a dual display of Fang Xinghe's career ambition and Liu Yifei's ideal of being an actress, which is far more significant than petty romance.

The host, quite exasperated, changed his question and asked again, "Then let me ask you again, who is your favorite Japanese female celebrity?"

Yui Aragaki's ears perked up instantly, and she secretly clenched her little fists, not daring to breathe too loudly.

But Fang Xinghe didn't turn back. Instead, he gave a completely original answer.

"Mika Nakashima".

Everyone was taken aback. You two have no connection?

Shigeru Joshima reacted the fastest: "Is it because of 'Snow Flower' or because of Nana Osaki?"

"Both," Fang Xinghe smiled at the camera, "but the biggest reason is her rebelliousness, which is like mine."

Suddenly, the audience burst into applause.

Words fail to capture the essence of charisma; only by witnessing Fang Xinghe's confidence and arrogance firsthand can one truly understand what it means to be extraordinary at first glance.

The next question was still a cliché, but Fang Ge's answer was still brilliant.

"Favorite book?"

"My next book."

"Favorite movie?"

"My next project."

"Your favorite Japanese song?"

"Lemon - I may not write Japanese songs again."

What is your favorite type of the opposite sex?

"Resilient, inclusive, mentally independent, and not too beautiful."

"What?! Isn't she too beautiful?"

“People who are too beautiful are usually too self-centered and lack empathy; I am the best example of that.”

"Wow, your self-assessment..."

“I’m very objective. I know how unlikable I am.”

"No, no, no, you are loved by the most people in the world!"

"Because I never crave love, I am especially prone to attracting love—resources always flow to those who have no shortage of resources."

……

When the rapid-fire Q&A session ended, the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause.

This was the first time Fang Xinghe had presented himself in a relatively comprehensive way, directly responding to the public's curiosity in language that everyone could understand.

The first time is always incredibly exciting, so after the show aired, the number of fans in the Japanese region skyrocketed, quickly surpassing the number of viewers.

The combined number of die-hard fans, fanatic fans, and die-hard fans exceeds that of level 2 mid-level fans.

This is because the core powder has been purified on a large scale, but it cannot be replenished in a short period of time.

In Japan, he has a large base of casual fans, but it is not easy to convert them into core fans—those who could be converted have already been converted, and the remaining casual fans are those who waver because of their political stance.

Fang Xinghe possesses two major "Buffs" simultaneously: "Chinese" and "anti-Japanese," meaning his potential in Japan is almost limitless.

Next, there's no need for further exploration; all that's needed is refinement.

So after appearing on the show, he immediately set his sights on manga adaptations.

In the past, it was your anime culture that was invading us. Now, it's my turn to stir up trouble within your ranks, isn't it?

The three major shonen manga... are so outdated, old-timers!

(End of this chapter)