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The calendar for 2015 is about to turn its last page.

In the study of the Swiss manor, the crackling fire in the fireplace reflected on Su Ning's serene face.

The remaining scenes of "Qin Liangyu" were handed over to director Kong Sheng, as he had a very complicated schedule every day.

At this moment, he stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the snow-covered Alps outside, and reflecting on this magnificent year.

For ordinary people, a year passes in the blink of an eye.

But for Suning and his business empire, 2015 was a strategic year that will go down in history. It was a year in which he made significant moves in multiple key areas and gained a decisive advantage.

"Boss, this is Tiangong Auto's annual financial report summary." Afu's voice came through the encrypted line, unable to hide his excitement. "The cumulative delivery of 'Giovana A' has exceeded 250,000 units, and the order schedule is already booked until next June. In the first week of pre-sales for 'Giovana A Plus,' global orders exceeded 100,000! Our super factory in Hangzhou has started the second phase of expansion, and after completion, the annual production capacity will exceed 500,000 units!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Suning's lips.

Tiangong Automotive is not only a successful car company, but also a perfect testament to its ability to transform advanced concepts into real productivity through industrial space technology.

Like a sharp sword, it has carved out a broad road for electric and intelligent vehicles on the solid walls of traditional fuel vehicles.

“Tell Lei Jun,” Suning instructed, “that next year’s brand promotion should emphasize ‘technology for all,’ and we want to make ‘Tiangong’ a synonym for intelligent mobility.”

"Yes, boss. But Lei Jun is a bit unscrupulous. I'm worried that his marketing might backfire."

"That's for sure! Lei Jun's current strategy is nothing more than cultivating brand fans, so it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong."

"Then why didn't you stop it, boss?"

"Because I have confidence in Tiangong Auto! There will be no problem with Giovanna's quality."

"That's true."

“Afu, since we’ve decided to employ Lei Jun, we naturally have to cover for his actions.”

"Understood, boss. I'll keep an eye on him secretly."

……

At the same time, in the cultural arena, "bizarre and fantastical" has also achieved brilliant results.

Chen Xiaojun's report followed closely on the international call: "President Su, 'The New Lurk' has secured a top-three average viewership rating for the year, and its online viewership has exceeded 50 billion. 'Nirvana in Fire' has become a phenomenon, needless to say, with its second and third run rights both setting new records. More importantly, with these two dramas, we have firmly established ourselves in the field of high-quality dramas and gained industry influence."

Su Ning clearly remembers the nationwide discussion sparked by Prince Yu and Princess Nihuang when "Nirvana in Fire" aired.

This is not only a commercial success, but also a permeation of cultural influence.

Through the screen, the characters he portrays and the values ​​he conveys subtly influence hundreds of millions of viewers.

“The filming of ‘Qin Liangyu’ needs to be accelerated,” Su Ning instructed. “We want to use this drama to establish our absolute dominance in the field of historical dramas.”

"clear."

“I’ll be back in China in a few days, and I’ll bring you a limited edition bag and perfume.”

"Hmph! I don't care! You can give them to Sister Lin and your Sister Tao."

"Hehe, yes, I treat everyone the same!"

"Bah! Scumbag."

What impressed Suning most about its strategic planning was Pinduoduo, an internet project that was only officially launched in September of this year and seemed to have nothing to do with automobiles or film and television.

His thoughts drifted back to early 2014, to that crucial conversation he had with Pinduoduo founder Huang Zheng in that same office, also located in Hangzhou.

At that time, Huang Zheng brought his business plan, explaining the concepts of "social e-commerce" and "low-price group buying".

The other investors present looked skeptical, believing that the model was too low-end and the profit margin was limited.

Only Suning saw the disruptive potential it contained.

He told Huang Zheng at the time, "Mr. Huang, your model targets the vast 'lower-tier market,' which has been long overlooked by mainstream e-commerce. This is not a niche, but a blue ocean. Acquiring traffic through social sharing is extremely low-cost; focusing on high-frequency, low-priced daily consumer goods allows for rapid growth. Once the user base and consumption habits are established, the potential of this platform is limitless."

He immediately made the decision, and Daning Capital led the investment in Pinduoduo, becoming its largest controlling shareholder. Daning Capital also leveraged its media resources and strategic vision to provide crucial support for Pinduoduo's early development.

Now, just a few months after its launch, Pinduoduo's user growth curve has shown explosive growth, and the power of viral spread through social relationship chains is beginning to emerge.

“Mr. Su, Huang Zheng just reported,” the vice president in charge of internet investment said on the phone, “Pinduoduo’s quarterly user growth exceeded 300%. Although it is still in the stage of losing money to gain market share, the growth momentum is terrifying and completely in line with your previous predictions.”

Suning gave a soft "hmm," everything was as expected.

Pinduoduo will be an important piece he has laid in the future of the Internet consumption field. It forms a wonderful triangle with Tiangong Auto (high-end manufacturing) and Guangguai Luli (cultural content), covering the three crucial areas of physical stores, culture and consumption.

After a long day of work, the study returned to its tranquility.

Suning picked up a glass of red wine and swirled it gently.

That year, he held the sharp blade of the real economy, "Tiangong Auto," in his left hand, and the scepter of cultural influence, "Guangguai Luli," in his right hand, while in his pocket, he also carried the thunderbolt "Pinduoduo," which was about to ignite the sinking market.

Then, as we enter 2016, there will be an even more amazing Douyin, so the future world is destined to belong to me and Da Ning.

From physical manufacturing to spiritual culture, and then to internet consumption, his business empire has already outlined a clear and vast silhouette, with each element complementing and empowering the others.

He walked up to the huge world map, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

The glory of 2015 was just the beginning.

He knew that a wider world awaited him to conquer and reshape it.

"The tide of the times has ultimately flowed in the direction I pointed out," he murmured to himself, downing the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Outside the window, the New Year's bells seem to be ringing in the distant future, foreshadowing an even more magnificent journey.

……

In the Swiss headquarters office of Daning Capital, Suning had just finished reviewing Tiangong Auto's technology roadmap for next year when a soft hum sounded from the secure communicator on the table.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was a domestic encrypted number belonging to Liu Yifei.

He pressed the answer button, and a clear, somewhat familiar female voice came through the receiver, with the faint sound of the night wind blowing in the background.

"President Su, I hope I didn't disturb your rest?" Liu Yifei's voice was polite but carried a hint of barely perceptible distance.

"Yifei?" Su Ning was a little surprised. She adjusted her posture and spoke calmly, "Not yet. It should be past midnight in China right now. Is it urgent for you to call at this hour?"

“It’s not exactly urgent,” Liu Yifei paused, as if organizing her thoughts, “I just received official notification that our… our collaboration, ‘Like a Flowing River,’ has been selected as CCTV-8’s opening drama for next year.”

This news made Suning raise an eyebrow slightly.

Being the opening drama of the year on CCTV means the highest broadcast platform and huge exposure, which is an extremely high honor for any actor or production company.

"Really? That's good news." Su Ning's voice carried just the right amount of pleasure. "Song Yunhui and Liang Sichen are about to be put to the test in front of the entire nation."

“Yes…” Liu Yifei’s response carried a complex emotion. “The thought of seeing Song Yunhui making technological reforms on the screen at the beginning of next year, and Liang Sichen returning from studying abroad… feels quite magical.”

She subtly changed the subject, her tone becoming softer yet more formal: "Speaking of which, President Su, I haven't formally congratulated you yet. This year... you've truly achieved astonishing results."

This congratulatory message sounds simple, but Suning could clearly sense the complex emotions it contained.

His year was too dazzling. The sudden emergence of Tiangong Automobile and the dominance of TV series such as "Nirvana in Fire" and "New Lurk" were achievements that would make his peers look up to him.

"Oh? Congratulations on what?" Su Ning asked deliberately, with a hint of amusement, wanting to hear what she would say.

“In every aspect.” Liu Yifei chuckled lightly, but her laughter didn’t reveal much joy; it sounded more like a helpless sigh of admiration. “Tiangong Auto, you can see their ads on the streets now, and I heard it’s hard to find one. The Prince Yu from ‘Nirvana in Fire’ is deeply ingrained in people’s minds. And… well, Chen Xiaojun’s Princess Nihuang has amazed many people.”

She specifically mentioned Chen Xiaojun, her tone calm, yet it was like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake.

Su Ning didn't respond to Chen Xiaojun's topic; he knew it was a test hidden in Liu Yifei's words.

He simply responded calmly: "We were lucky, plus the team worked hard. The fact that 'Like a Flowing River' was able to be released at the beginning of the year is inseparable from the dedication of all our main creators."

He steered the conversation back to work: "The opening drama of the year will attract more attention and put more pressure on you. The promotional period may be quite tough, so you need to be prepared."

“I understand.” Liu Yifei also regained her professional tone. “The station and the production team are already preparing a publicity plan. I hope… I hope that our portrayals of Song Yunhui and Liang Sichen will not disappoint the audience.”

“I believe in our choice, and I also believe in your ability,” Su Ning affirmed. “The role of Liang Sichen, a returned overseas elite, is quite a leap, and you performed it very well.” After a brief exchange about the publicity schedule, the call ended in an atmosphere that seemed harmonious yet was fraught with tension.

"Well... I won't bother you any longer, Mr. Su. I wish 'Like a Flowing River' great success in ratings."

"Take care of yourself too, and keep in touch when you get back to China."

Okay! I'll wait for your call.

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning's fingers tapped lightly on the communicator.

On the surface, Liu Yifei's phone call was to deliver good news, but in reality, it was more like a cautious test and an expression of complex emotions.

She witnessed his glory that year, as well as the success of those around him. Her congratulations were tinged with envy, a touch of resentment, and perhaps even a hint of inexplicable disappointment.

He could almost imagine how much external interpretation and internal turmoil would arise when "Like a Flowing River" aired next year and the characters of Song Yunhui and Liang Sichen, played by him and Liu Yifei, became deeply ingrained in people's minds, and their subtle relationship.

On the other end of the phone, Liu Yifei put down her phone, looked out the window at the twinkling lights of Switzerland, and sighed softly.

The congratulations were genuine, but the slight unease in my heart was equally real.

The image of Su Ning, who was meticulous to the point of being demanding and had in-depth discussions about the character with her on set, is constantly overlapping with the image of Su Ning who is now stirring up trouble in the business and entertainment circles, yet they seem to be getting further and further apart.

Next year's opening drama will be another career peak for them, but it may also be a complex test of their emotions.

……

Just after New Year's Day 2016, a wave of popularity, known as "Like a Flowing River," swept across China with tremendous force, airing during prime time on CCTV-8.

As the opening drama of the year, it carries not only the expectations of the broadcasting platform, but also sets the tone for an era...

Looking back on the glorious history of reform and opening up, we pay tribute to the youth who have worked tirelessly.

When Song Yunhui, played by Su Ning, wore glasses from that era and faded old clothes, and rose from the remote Jinzhou Chemical Plant step by step to make a name for himself through extraordinary hard work and absolute focus on knowledge, countless viewers were moved by his pure belief that "knowledge changes destiny."

His performance was restrained yet nuanced, vividly portraying Song Yunhui's forbearance in the early stages, his perseverance in the middle stages, and his determination to reform in the later stages.

He's no longer the street-smart, roguish Taozi from "Under the Zhengyang Gate"; nor the naive young man from "Our Parents' Love"; nor the scheming fake blind man from "The Massage Therapist"; and certainly not the imposing Prince Yu from "Nirvana in Fire"...

In particular, the scene where he argues his case forcefully at a technical meeting, with the light of idealism shining in his eyes, has become a classic scene in the drama.

Yang Shuo's portrayal of Lei Dongbao is like a raging fire burning from the loess soil.

He led the villagers of Xiaolei Village to engage in contracting and setting up a brick factory, and he vividly demonstrated the decisiveness of a "veteran" and the street smarts with a touch of "rogue".

His partnership with Song Yunhui, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, is a striking contrast and a wonderful complement, with one working within the system and the other exploring in the fields, contributing many wonderful scenes between them.

As for Yang Xun, the self-employed individual played by Wang Kai, he represents the group of people who were among the first to "go into business" and ride the wave of the times.

He perfectly captured Yang Xun's "cleverness," "hard work," "shrewdness," and even his occasional "slipperyness," showcasing the hardship and vitality of those who strive outside the system.

His storyline is a vivid microcosm of the market economy's development from nothing to something, from chaos to standardization in the early stages of reform and opening up.

Liu Yifei's portrayal of the young Liang Sichen immediately captivated everyone's attention with her unique "overseas returnee elite" aura upon her first appearance.

She is confident, independent, and has a broad vision, integrating well with the domestic environment while maintaining a degree of scrutiny.

Her correspondence with Song Yunhui, transcending age and background, is full of intellectual exchange and wisdom, adding a bright and forward-looking international perspective to the drama's heavy industrial background.

Fan Lin plays Liu Qiming, Song Yunhui's first love, and she perfectly portrays the somewhat temperamental factory beauty of that era.

Since its broadcast, "Like a Flowing River" has quickly won unanimous praise from authoritative media to ordinary viewers for its excellent production, solid script and the outstanding performances of the entire cast.

The show's ratings have soared, consistently ranking first in its time slot nationwide for several days, and data from CSM Media Research shows that its market share continues to break new records.

The number of online views has grown exponentially, and related topics have consistently dominated the trending topics on social media.

"Have you watched 'Like a Flowing River'?" has become a common greeting.

The show received a Douban rating of over 9.0 at the start and steadily rose as the plot progressed.

"Extremely accurate recreation of the era", "Explosive acting skills", and "Solid and profound script" are the most frequently mentioned comments.

The success of this drama is not only a victory for the story, but also a model of how the actors and their roles complement each other.

With his role as Song Yunhui, Su Ning completely broke free from the constraints of his previous roles in period dramas, such as "Prince Yu," and proved to the market his extraordinary ability to handle complex and realistic characters. His "chameleon-like" acting skills are highly praised.

Liu Yifei's portrayal of Liang Sichen successfully broke away from her established "fairy sister" image, showcasing her immense potential in handling intellectual and independent modern female characters, earning recognition from both the industry and the audience.

Her appearance alone caused screams from the audience and netizens, mainly because her looks were simply stunning.

Even after encountering countless pitfalls, she still maintains a perfect image; anyone else would have already faded into obscurity.

Yang Shuo's Lei Dongbao, Wang Kai's Yang Xun, Fan Lin's Liu Qiming...

Almost every main character became the focus of heated discussion among viewers, and the actors thus ushered in a new peak in their careers.

……

The significance of "Like a Flowing River" has long transcended the entertainment scope of a TV series.

Like a flowing epic, it vividly recreates that turbulent era full of opportunities and challenges, sweat and dreams, evoking collective memories and emotional resonance across age groups.

The older generation saw their own struggles and youth reflected in the drama, while the younger generation gained an understanding of the arduous journey of national development through it.

It successfully grounds the grand narrative of the era in the fates of vivid characters, making history tangible, relatable, and resonant.

As the plot unfolds, Song Yunhui's technological reforms at the Jinzhou factory enter a more complex phase, Lei Dongbao's collective enterprise faces new challenges, Yang Xun's business empire expands but is also fraught with crises, and Liang Sichen's mentor-student relationship with Song Yunhui is about to become even more intertwined with his career...

The fate of everyone continues to roll forward in this ever-flowing river of time.

The popularity of "Like a Flowing River" set a high-quality tone for the 2016 TV drama market and once again proved Suning and its "eccentric" team's unique vision and strong production capabilities.

This ship, carrying the memories of an era and collective emotions, is sailing against the wind and waves towards a higher and farther peak of reputation.

Liu Yifei immediately called Suning with delight, "Suning, I didn't expect our 'Like a Flowing River' to be such a hit?"

"Haha, you didn't regret accepting my invitation back then, did you?" Su Ning couldn't help but jokingly ask back.

"Amazing! Although I didn't appear many times in the first part, it still caused a near-phenomenal effect."

However, Su Ning changed the subject and asked about Liu Yifei's romance in another timeline, "I heard you're going to make a movie with that Korean guy recently?"

"What do you mean by 'Korean'? You're really rude."

"Liu Yifei, you don't actually have feelings for that old bastard, do you?"

"Hmph! Mind your own business?" Liu Yifei, on the other end of the phone, felt a little pleased, which meant that Su Ning also had feelings for her.

"Liu Yifei, if you want to be in a relationship, you might as well consider me," Su Ning said to Liu Yifei on the other end of the phone.

Suppressing her inner joy, Liu Yifei asked uncertainly, "Uh? Su Ning, are you drunk?"

"No! I'm serious! Think about it, I really don't want to see you give yourself to an old Korean."

"Hmph! You're full of nonsense; I don't know which of your statements are true and which are false!"

"I'm going to Switzerland the day after tomorrow to handle some work at the headquarters of Daning Capital. Would you... like to take a vacation with me in the Alps?"

"Oh? I heard you have a private estate in the Swiss Alps?"

"So pretty! So beautiful! Just like you."

"Hmph! Smooth talker! Remember to book my plane ticket, I'll send you my identification information later."

"No need! We have a private jet."

"..."

...(End of chapter)