Fooling Huayu for Thirty Years

Chapter 417 Li Hong Flees in Disarray! I Only Play with Famous Toys

Earthy?

Actually, I'm just not very good at dressing up.

At least in the realm of stage setup, Li Hong was indeed a somewhat unsophisticated girl.

Okay, don't underestimate the influence of stage decoration on fashion.

This is the most influential television station in the country, and also the most-watched television station in the world.

Back in the day, Liu Xiaoqing wore a red wool sweater while hosting the Spring Festival Gala, which immediately made that style a hit.

Wool sweater factories are experiencing a surge in orders.

Although the Spring Festival Gala always uses festive costumes, mainly to highlight a grand atmosphere, many of the costumes or host styles of the Gala actually go viral.

Li Hong had just come from Jilin TV station to the equipment room, so she was naturally very cautious.

Jilin TV wasn't particularly prominent among local TV stations to begin with, so it's understandable that she was cautious in everything she did since she was new to the station.

Even if Lin Daiyu had entered the Grand View Garden, she would have had to be kept in check at first, let alone someone like her.

But she also wants to make a name for herself in this stage.

The initial caution and prudence are all for the sake of future fame.

Li Hong's current problem is actually not that big.

At least in Ma Xun's view, it was effortless.

It's just a matter of appearance and other aspects... Anyway, Ma Xun has an image in mind.

Come on then!

Soon, after the busy work of the stylists invited by Ma Xun, a 'brand new' Li Hong appeared in the makeup mirror.

Li Hong looked at herself in the mirror, and she was even a little dazed.

"Is this...is this still me?"

Such a strange exclamation made Ma Xun, who was standing next to him, want to laugh.

"It's you, what's there to doubt? You already have big eyes, and you're naturally suited to heavy makeup."

"This this……"

Li Hong really didn't know what to say.

This makeup, this look... this... she could definitely hold her own on CCTV.

However, there is still an important question.

"Actually, I really..."

"It's nothing, we're all from the same hometown, it's only right to help each other."

Ma Xun casually brushed the matter aside.

Can we really get through this so easily?
Li Hong then did not dwell on this issue.

She glanced around the dressing room to make sure no one else was there before whispering to Ma Xun, "I came to ask Brother Ma for help mainly because of Sister Dong's advice."

"Was it her suggestion?" Ma Xun only found out about this now.

Clearly, Dong Qing had not greeted him beforehand.

This surprised Li Hong, but these details were not important at the moment.

She continued, "Now I'm facing an important choice. There's a show that wants me to be a host, but the ratings are really low... I don't have much confidence."

Ma Xun doesn't know about this show?
But this is what he said: "How's your show going these days?"

"This... isn't too good either."

I seemed quite embarrassed when I spoke.

That's true; after all, it's embarrassing for a show to have low ratings.

Ma Xun laughed, "Well, since neither environment is good, we might as well change things up."

"But if I fail again, then the show might..."

"If you go on a show with this makeup, I dare say it's very difficult to fail."

"Is this...really?"

I still lack confidence.

Ma Xun then uttered a phrase he always heard back in his hometown.

"Very generous and open."

Goodness, that made Li Hong laugh.

In Northeastern dialect, everyone has definitely heard the phrase "大大方方的" (dà dà fā fāng de).

The meaning is quite simple and clear: it tells people to be more outgoing, not shy, and to talk more.

It's not that there aren't introverted people in Northeast China; it's just that even introverted people in Northeast China need to speak up, and they can't let their words fall to the ground.

However, I heard this saying when I was a child, and it's usually adults telling children this.

When Ma Xun said that, Li Hong was not only amused, but also felt like she had been taken advantage of.

So, after laughing, there was something special in his eyes.

"I actually wanted to ask some other questions."

"Ask whatever you want," Ma Xun replied swiftly.

After a moment's thought, Li Hong said, "Since we already have Sister Dong, why bother with Sister Tao?"

This question sounds ordinary, but in reality, it took her a lot of courage to ask it.

After all, this is their private matter and has little to do with you, an outsider.

Li Hong has no right to interfere, and in fact, she shouldn't interfere at all.

But why ask that question in the first place?
Is it just that you want to watch the drama unfold?
That's not worth taking such a big risk just to watch the drama unfold.

Ma Xun, Dong Qing, and Zou Tao are not people that a newcomer like her can afford to mess with.

So, Ma Xun maintained his smile when faced with this question.

"You think Dong Qing and I are friends?"

"Isn't that right? I mean, boyfriend and girlfriend."

"I didn't realize you enjoyed gossiping so much."

"I...I'm just...curious."

"What's there to be curious about?"

"Um, answer this question for me first."

"Why do you ask about this?"

"Huh? How did it become you asking me?"

"Is that not allowed? Answer me first, you won't lose out."

"But I asked first."

"Look, I've already helped you, and you still want to take advantage of me."

"No, no...that's not right."

Good heavens, Ma Xun's smooth talk completely baffled Li Hong.

Fortunately, Ma Xun did provide an answer.

"I don't actually have a girlfriend."

"Huh?" "You should say that we are a community of shared interests."

"Interests...could it be..."

Is there anything hard to understand about this?

"But won't you be tempted? I don't believe you're completely unmoved."

"Maybe it will, maybe some things will change, but maybe it won't. In this world, there can be no love, but there cannot be no interests."

"What you're saying is very profound."

"Was this helpful to you, my gossipy female host?"

"you……"

"What else do you plan to ask?"

Unexpectedly, Ma Xun answered such a difficult question, one that even Li Hong found hard to broach, with such ease.

The key point is that he put forward a concept that greatly shocked Li Hong.

Is that how their relationship is?

At this point, Li Hong had no choice but to be 'open and honest'.

Why are you helping me?

I think this question has been asked before.

"We are from the same hometown."

Ma Xun gave a similar answer to his previous one.

Li Hong smiled and shook her head, "That's not right."

"What's wrong?"

"You just said it yourself, it's about interests."

"This……"

Ma Xun laughed because he had been captured by Li Hong.

He had clearly stated before that his relationship with Dong Qing and Zou Tao was based on mutual benefit.

So why is it different for Li Hong?
Or perhaps it's also a matter of mutual benefit, but he just didn't say it?

"You are very smart."

Ma Xunxian offered a compliment first.

Li Hong smiled and accepted, "Thank you, but please answer the questions first."

Ma Xun could only say, "You should already know something about me, right?"

"You are currently a big boss in the entertainment industry, a young master from Beijing, who has invested in many films and television dramas and made many big stars famous."

"Okay, making them famous is the key."

"what do you mean……"

Li Hong frowned slightly, yet her expression was full of anticipation.

Ma Xun became serious at this moment. "When I make a star famous, I can gain benefits on the one hand, and enjoy the process on the other. In other words, if that star succeeds, then I succeed too. Moreover, there are many other benefits, but I won't go into details."

Besides celebrities, I can certainly make hosts famous too.

In an instant, Li Hong did indeed get the answer she wanted.

However, she was somewhat...

"Am I just a plaything to you?"

This metaphor is indeed sharp.

Ma Xun remained noncommittal, saying, "If that's how you think, there's nothing I can do about it."

Is Li Hong angry?

But no, perhaps because of her refinement, or perhaps for other reasons.

But then...

"So, if I succeed, what benefits will you gain?"

Ma Xun was quite frank about this issue, saying, "Sometimes, there are a lot of really good news from TV stations like this, and many of the owners are loyal viewers of the news broadcasts."

And the show you're going to be on next... I have a lot of business dealings with them.

Maybe you can't help me now, but in the future, who knows, one of your messages could make me tens of millions, or it could strike a blow against my competitors.

As for my efforts, it's just a change in appearance right now. Whether your show becomes a hit depends mainly on you.

Isn't that a kind of investment too?

Upon hearing this, Li Hong would normally have been angry, but now she remained unusually calm.

"I don't believe it's that simple."

Ma Xun didn't expect her to say that. "Is there anything complicated about it?"

Li Hong hesitated for a moment, but still said, "You've worked with Sister Dong and Sister Tao, haven't you?"

Ma Xun laughed after hearing this, and he even said something special.

“We even set up a set, just like a live broadcast studio in a TV station, in that kind of environment.”

Good guy!
Can this be said?
Wait, something's not right. Ma Xun didn't do that.

Li Hong blushed deeply, "Don't joke around!"

Actually, this is a way of speaking in Northeast China, which describes a scenario that is difficult to achieve, and it means 'negation'.

but……

"Did it."

Li Hong blushed even more, "Then..."

Before she could finish speaking, Ma Xun interrupted, "Your program hasn't been a success yet."

Li Hong inexplicably couldn't continue speaking.

"I am not them!"

Does this mean you don't plan for the future?
Ma Xun, however, didn't care at all, and had a smiling expression on his face.

"I'm not a casual man either."

A tit-for-tat confrontation?

Li Hong pursed her lips and left, but before she left, she said, "Thank you for your suggestion."

They were quite polite.

But Ma Xun said something to the person's back.

"Even if it's a toy, I only play with the famous ones."

Upon hearing this, the clicking sound of high heels hitting the ground quickened considerably.

Clearly, Li Hong fled in disarray.

Ma Xun burst out laughing.

It's quite fun to tease this future famous female host.

Actually, if there are more people like Ma Xun in the show, it will definitely be beneficial to him in every way.

(End of this chapter)