Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 478 The Wandering Earth

The breakup between Huang Xiaoming and Yang Ying turned into a celebration for fans on both sides, something no one expected.

Xiaoming's fans felt it was a cause for celebration that their idol had broken up with Yang Ying, a former model. They even jokingly criticized Yang Ying, saying, "Without Xiaoming's resources, what will you do?"

Yang Ying's fans felt that Yang Ying was at the height of her popularity and didn't need to waste her youth by being with an "older man" who was 12 years older than her: "Luckily she's not married. She's so young, she can find any man she wants."

However, a huge number of casual fans chose to side with Huang Xiaoming—Huang Xiaoming's public image, if not the best in the Chinese entertainment industry, is certainly one of the best, and most celebrities can't compare to him.

The general public previously believed that Yang Ying's success in recent years was at least half due to Huang Xiaoming, if not 100%.

Now that Yang Ying has left Huang Xiaoming, "her future resources will definitely decline."

The day after the couple officially announced their breakup, reporters finally contacted a representative from Huayi Brothers, but Huayi's response was completely unhelpful: "This is the artist's private matter. The company is unaware of it and will not interfere."

Huang Xiaoming's agent's response was even more intriguing: "Xiaoming loved too humbly. After the breakup, we hope everyone will not disturb each other's lives."

Clearly, Huang Xiaoming's agent dislikes Yang Ying and hopes that the two will have no further contact after the breakup.

#Huang Xiaoming's Humble Love# is trending again.

However, neither party has shown up since the breakup announcement was made.

Huang Xiaoming just joined the cast of "Xuanzang" last week and declined all visits to the set.

Yang Ying is currently filming "Independence Day 2" in the United States, and domestic reporters cannot find her.

Unsurprisingly, Yang Ying's fans began attacking Huang Xiaoming and Qin Lan.

Qin Lan has played too many mistresses, and netizens often jokingly call her a professional mistress. Everyone just laughs it off, and she doesn't care. In fact, during the promotion of "The Invisible Guest" last year, she said that she didn't want to play mistresses anymore: "I hope directors and producers can ask me to play other roles."

However, Qin Lan's acting experience has now become a point of attack for Yang Ying's fans, who believe that Qin Lan must have been a mistress who stole Yang Ying's boyfriend.

They called her a mistress, saying she acted so convincingly that she believed it herself, and even more vulgar things like "slut" and "bitch."

Qin Lan isn't as popular as Yang Ying, doesn't have as many fans, and isn't as strong in combat, but she's not someone to be trifled with.

She dared to hit Yang Ying in front of the crew, and now she dares to argue with her fans online. Would she really be so shameful?

It was because the other party's fans were hurling such nasty insults that Qin Lan couldn't take it anymore.

They directly engaged in a heated exchange of insults in the comment section of their own Weibo posts.

"Go back to your master!"

I'll steal your whole family's husbands!

How much money did she give you?

"Ask your master how he rose to power!"

Do I have to explain what I did in Hong Kong and Japan?

"Heh, a face-swapping monster."

Qin Lan engaged in a heated online argument with the opposing fan in the comments section, which landed her on the trending topics list. Weibo users watched her rant in real time. After replying, "Does she know how hard you're defending her?", Qin Lan's phone was likely taken away by her agent, and she disappeared from the comments section.

Liu Yifei was bored and spent the whole time watching the drama unfold in Qin Lan's comment section.

This woman is really something else; she would never do something like arguing with someone in the comments section.

Li Qiutang didn't have time to gossip about this. He was at the company, besieged by Zhang Zhao, Chen Zhixi, and two project initiation staff from China Film Group. The four of them were urging him to take on a project.

The Wandering Earth!
“When we held our film slate launch event, we wanted to do this project, but after looking around, no one was willing to take it on,” Chen Zhixi said.

Who did you all contact?

“We even approached Zhang Yimou, who is interested in science fiction, but he has two or three films waiting to be shot and can’t spare the time,” Chen Zhixi said.

Zhang Zhao said, "After thinking it over, you're the most suitable one."

"But I'm working on 'The Butterfly Lovers' right now."

"We'll take it slow. We'll push two projects at the same time, and film whichever one is ready first." The company doesn't have a timetable for the "Wandering Earth" project yet.

“We wouldn’t feel comfortable entrusting such a blockbuster to anyone else.” Representatives from China Film Group also joined the persuasion effort, praising Li Qiutang, “How many companies in China can handle this kind of blockbuster? Especially one that can make science fiction. Who else could we possibly hire besides you?”

Li Qiutang laughed and said, "Didn't you say you were going to train new talent? You should find new talent to take on this film."

"It's one thing to cast newcomers for low-budget films, but how can you find newcomers for a film like this?" Li Qiutang is right there, so why cast newcomers for "The Wandering Earth"?

Next, several people took turns trying to persuade him.

"Didn't you turn down several projects at the same time before? That's normal."

"The film can't start shooting anytime soon, so take your time. It won't be tiring and it won't interfere with your wedding or honeymoon."

"We won't rush you; you can continue working on 'The Butterfly Lovers'."

"We really can't find any domestic directors who can take the job. If you don't take the job, we'll have to find foreign directors."

Li Qiutang was startled: "Why hire a foreign director?!"

“Then take it,” this tactic worked. “Take your time, no rush. You can start filming next year, the year after, or even the year after that. We won’t pressure you at all. Film however you want, and we’ll give you whatever you want.”

Nonsense, Li Qiutang could act like a big shot at any film company in the country.

Getting a film role can be difficult, sometimes requiring multiple attempts to secure a position, but other times it's very simple, requiring only a few words.

“I can start working on it first,” but Li Qiutang insisted, “but let’s make it clear, I can’t guarantee the project timeline. I need to get married first, then go on my honeymoon, then film ‘The Butterfly Lovers,’ and only then will I film ‘The Wandering Earth.’”

"No problem, no problem." The producers wanted Li Qiutang to take the job; once he did, things would be much easier. "Get ready, you decide when to shoot."

The group knew Li Qiutang well; once he accepted a task, he would give it his all.

Zhang Zhao said a few words to soften the blow: "We know you've been busy these past few years, getting married, preparing for a new film, and producing for newcomers, but we have no choice. If there were anyone in China who could take on the job, we wouldn't have bothered you."

The manager of China Film Group also said, "Yes, the current environment for science fiction films is not good. Nobody is optimistic about them. Several directors and producers said they couldn't do it as soon as they heard that we were making science fiction films."

Chen Zhixi also said, "You don't know, when I said that our company was planning to make a science fiction film, guess what people said? They said that domestic science fiction has no future, that there is no soil for science fiction in China, and that Chinese people cannot face reality, so they cannot imagine the future."

"Who said that?" Li Qiutang asked.

Chen Zhixi mentioned a name: a well-known scholar in the industry.

It's not surprising that he said that.

And so, without any preparation, Li Qiutang accepted the role in "The Wandering Earth".

(End of this chapter)