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In the spring of 1999, Charlotte had already released her third album.

The songs on the album are all classic hits that are now widely known.

Some of them were not published until the late 1990s, some will appear after 2000, and a few were songs that were popular all over the country back then, but the lyricist and composer are still in middle school.

Charlotte didn't care about any of that; he just kept copying.

Copy them one by one, and post them one by one.

Anyway, nobody knows, anyway, he's a reincarnated person, anyway, nobody exposes his trick.

The album sold like hotcakes as soon as it was released.

Tapes filled the shelves of record stores, were played on the radio every day, and were played everywhere.

Charlotte's name was printed in the lyric book; his name was listed in the lyricist and composer sections.

The media began calling Xia Luo a "musical genius," a "creative prodigy," and "the hope of the Chinese music scene."

A reporter asked, "Charlotte, where do you get your creative inspiration?"

Charlotte smiled at the camera and said, "Inspiration is something that comes when you least expect it, and you can't stop it."

"Then why are the styles of your songs so diverse?"

"That's the beauty of inspiration! You outsiders simply don't understand."

The reporter then asked, "So what are your thoughts on the current music scene?"

Charlotte said, "The music these days is too superficial and lacks real talent."

These words sounded very high-sounding, and the next day's newspaper headline read, "Charlotte criticizes the current music scene: lacking real talent."

Readers felt that Charlotte was confident, had a strong attitude, and was a serious musician.

Nobody knows that those songs weren't written by Charlotte at all.

When Na Jie heard this backstage, she didn't say anything.

In fact, she had already figured out where Charlotte's song came from, but she didn't want to care, nor could she.

That's how this industry works; if you're capable of becoming famous, then you're right.

As for where the song came from, nobody cares.

After all, no one knew that Charlotte was a reincarnated person, nor did they know that these songs came from the future.

Therefore, Sister Na thought that Xia Luo had secretly hired a ghostwriter, since his songs were very different in style and did not seem to be the work of the same singer.

In the second half of the year, Charlotte won several music awards.

He won Best Male Singer, Best Album, Best Lyricist, Best Composer—he won everything he could.

Standing on the podium, holding the trophy, with the lights shining on Charlotte's face, the audience erupted in applause.

Charlotte suddenly felt that he was the most talented musician of this era, and that he had written those songs himself.

As he kept copying, he even started to believe it himself.

When interviewed by reporters, Charlotte would shamelessly declare, "I want to be the music godfather of this era."

Public opinion was immediately ignited by Xia Luo's words, and Qiu Ya in the audience looked at Xia Luo with admiration.

This kind of glory is exactly what Charlotte has always dreamed of; it feels like this is the highlight moment a man should have.

By this time, Xia Luo had long forgotten about Ma Dongmei, and he didn't take Ma Dongmei's accusations to heart.

That evening, Xia Luo took Qiu Ya back to the hotel.

Qiuya did her best to please this charming man, "Xia Luo, you are really so talented."

"Qiuya, do you like it?" Xia Luo, who was smoking a cigarette afterward, suddenly asked.

"Yes, I like it! You are the most talented man I have ever met."

"If one day my talent disappears, will you still like me as much as before?"

"How could that be! Your talent will never disappear."

"..." At this moment, Xia Luo did not say anything more, and the phrase "his talent had run dry" suddenly came to mind.

Unfortunately, he didn't even qualify as "having run out of talent"; to be precise, he was "just filling a position without real ability."

Seeing Qiuya lying in his arms with a radiant smile, Xia Luo stopped overthinking.

After all, everything he had now was what he had always dreamed of, and he felt like the master and king of this world.

However, at this moment, Xia Luo thought of his old classmate Su Ning again, and he didn't know why he always compared himself to him.

Whenever I hear news about Suning in the media, I feel particularly unhappy.

Fortunately, Suning has always been very low-key. Apart from the media storm orchestrated by Xia Luo last time, no one paid attention to Suning's affairs anymore.

……

In the autumn of 1999, Suning was already a junior.

He hasn't been idle in the past year or two.

I was credited as the executive director for both "My Fair Princess" and "My Fair Princess 2". Although I didn't spend many days on set, the title was enough.

In the directing department, there are very few students with this kind of resume.

When the teacher mentions Suning in class, his tone changes: "Does any of you have Suning's resume as an executive director? If not, study hard and stop thinking about getting ahead overnight."

The students all admired Suning's resume, but there was nothing they could do; they didn't have Suning's abilities.

Besides school classes, Suning also takes on a lot of feng shui work.

Many people in the entertainment industry believe in this.

Through Aunt Qiong's introduction, Suning successively helped several celebrities with feng shui consultations and exorcised evil spirits.

As word spread, more and more people sought out Suning.

Everyone in the industry knows about Mr. Sun's situation.

After moving to a south-facing office, my bad luck disappeared.

It sounds unbelievable, but their profits over three years speak for themselves; you can't deny it.

Some celebrities privately inquired, "Is that master really that miraculous?"

"Whether it's a miracle or not, I don't know, but Boss Sun believes in it very much, and he's made sure to get his share of the profits every year for the past three years."

"How much does he charge?"

"It depends on the specific situation. Some are 10%, some are 20%. I heard the most difficult ones are 40%."

Some people involuntarily gasped.

But then I thought, if it really can ensure the success of my career, then this money is worth it.

After these stories spread, people who came to Suning were not only seeking feng shui advice, but also looking to invest.

That day, Su Ning's phone rang as she left school.

It turned out to be an unfamiliar number. The caller identified himself as Mr. Chen, who was involved in film and television investment. "Director Su, I've long admired your name. Everyone in the industry knows that you were the executive director of 'Princess Pearl.' I have a few projects that I'd like to discuss with you."

"What project?"

Mr. Chen said, "It's an urban romance, twenty episodes, low investment, short production cycle, and quick return on investment. If you're interested, let's meet and discuss it."

Su Ning thought for a moment, "Mr. Chen, I don't film urban romance dramas. If you have other projects, we can talk about them."

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. "What about period comedies? They're all the rage right now."

"No, I won't take the picture."

"Then... family ethics?"

"I won't take any pictures."

Mr. Chen was getting a little anxious. "Director Su, what exactly do you want to film?"

"Appropriate".

Mr. Chen was speechless.

You know, he's been in the film and television industry for so many years, and this is the first time he's met such a picky director.

Which new director doesn't just shoot whatever they're given?
Some don't even have a choice of what they're given to film; they're lucky to have any work at all.

This guy, on the other hand, is picky and nitpicky, and he even has the audacity to say, "Director Su, it'll be hard for you to find investment if you keep doing this."

Su Ning smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, you must have heard about my situation. I don't lack investment; I just lack suitable projects."

Mr. Chen fell silent; he had indeed heard about it.

This student from the Beijing Film Academy earned ten million yuan by choosing auspicious dates for Qiong Yao and took a cut by consulting feng shui for real estate developers; everyone in the industry knows this.

Such people certainly don't lack money.

The reason he actively invested in Suning's film and television production was, frankly speaking, to get closer to Suning.

"Okay, Director Su, I'll go back and look again. I'll contact you again if I find a suitable project."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Wei leaned over and asked, "Su Ning, is it someone calling you again?" "Yes! It's someone wanting to collaborate with me again," Su Ning nodded.

What do you want me to film this time?

"Urban Romance"

Aren't you going to take a picture?

"No, I won't take the picture."

Liu Wei sighed, "Look at you, others would kill for an opportunity, and you're pushing it away."

Suning did not provide an explanation.

I don't make soap operas or those incomplete, filler-up shows.

What's the point of making a film if the audience forgets it after watching it?
After all, I work in the film and television industry in the real world, so I always have to do something special in this dungeon world.

Since Charlotte wants to be the godfather of music, then I will be the godfather of film and television.

He believes that as a film and television godfather, he doesn't need to plagiarize; he can achieve his goals through his own abilities.

……

A few days later, someone else came to the door.

This time it was a boss surnamed Zhou, who was in the real estate business and had some spare money to invest in the film and television industry. "Director Su, I heard you are looking for projects? I have a period martial arts drama here, 20 episodes. The script is written, and all I need is a director."

Suning took the script and flipped through it.

He only read a few pages before putting the script down in disappointment. "Mr. Zhou, this script is no good."

Boss Zhou was taken aback for a moment, "Why not?"

"The characters are unconvincing, the plot is too scattered, and the dialogue is wrong. No one will watch it. It's obviously cobbled together by a lot of people."

"..." Boss Zhou's expression immediately turned ugly.

He did indeed spend a lot of money to buy this script, and hired several screenwriters to work overtime overnight to put it together.

But being told it was no good by a student in his early twenties still made him a little embarrassed. "Director Su, the script can be revised. Please take a look first, and we can adjust the parts that are not suitable."

Su Ning shook his head. "President Zhou, it's not a matter of revision, it's a matter of the root cause. This kind of document can't be improved no matter how many times it's revised."

"..." Boss Zhou remained silent.

Su Ning added, "Mr. Zhou, if you really want to produce a film, I suggest you find a good script. If the script is bad, even the best director can't make a good film."

Boss Zhou is gone.

Liu Wei sighed from the side, "Look at you, you don't film, yet you give people feedback. How can they be happy?"

"There's nothing I can do about being unhappy. I can't lie through my teeth."

Liu Wei shook his head and remained silent.

Suning knew what was going on.

I have no shortage of money or connections; what I lack is a project that is truly worth filming.

It's not just for show, it's not a cheap imitation; it's the kind of film that will stand the test of time.

But these kinds of notebooks are hard to find.

……

A few days later, Aunt Qiong called, "Suning, I have a project here, and I'd like to ask if you're interested."

What project?

"It's a Republican-era drama, forty episodes long. It tells the story of the rise and fall of a large family over several decades. The script has been polished for two years and has a solid foundation."

Suning became interested. "Whose notebook is this?"

"Teacher Zhao's 'Moment in Peking'".

Suning's eyes lit up.

Teacher Zhao's notebooks are truly valuable items.

He had seen "Moment in Peking" in the real world; the characters, plot, and dialogue were all top-notch.

This kind of script is worth filming.

"Aunt Qiong, can I invest in this project?"

Aunt Qiong smiled. "I knew you'd be interested. The investment is easy to discuss. How much are you willing to contribute?"

"Half. But I have one condition."

"You said."

"I want autonomy. I decide on casting, filming, and editing. The investors won't interfere."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

In the film and television industry, it is common for investors to get involved in the production process.

Casting actors, revising scripts, overseeing editing—she had to manage everything.

That's how many shows get ruined.

“Okay, I’ll talk to them,” Aunt Qiong said. “Teacher Zhao should be fine. He’s just worried that the investors will make changes to the script. He’d be happy if you didn’t interfere with the script.”

"I won't touch the script; we'll film it exactly as Teacher Zhao wrote it."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning sat in the yard for a while.

When Ma Dongmei returned from outside, she saw him sitting there in a daze. "Su Ning, what are you thinking about?"

"I might have to start filming a movie."

Ma Dongmei was taken aback. "What kind of film?"

"A period drama set in the Republican era, with forty episodes."

When will it be filmed?

"It'll be soon. Once we've finalized things with Aunt Qiong, we'll start making preparations."

Ma Dongmei was a little nervous, "What about Chenchen? Can she act?"

Su Ning laughed, "She has to audition. If the role is suitable, she'll take it; if not, she won't."

Ma Dongmei nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

She knew Su Ning's temperament: fight for what she should fight for, and don't fight for what she shouldn't fight for.

Suning has always been aware of the closeness and distance between people.

……

A few days later, Aunt Qiong replied, "Su Ning, it's settled. Teacher Zhao has agreed. The investment will be split 50/50, and you'll have full autonomy. You'll take the lead in the preparations."

Su Ning nodded. "Aunt Qiong, I plan to hold public auditions for the casting."

"Public auditions? That's too much trouble."

"It's troublesome, but this way we can find the most suitable actors."

Aunt Qiong thought for a moment, "Okay, you decide. Just let me know if you need any help."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning stood in the yard for a while.

This is my first real role in this dungeon world.

It wasn't just a nominal role or a filler role; it was a serious and down-to-earth shoot.

We need to take good pictures; we can't ruin the reputation.

Immediately afterwards, Su Ning looked at Ma Dongmei beside her and said, "Dongmei, can you help me manage the announcements? Casting is complicated and needs someone to keep an eye on it."

Ma Dongmei's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll do it."

Su Ning smiled and said, "Then go and make preparations. It will start in a few days."

Ma Dongmei nodded and turned to go back into the house.

He took out his notebook again, turned to a new page, and wrote down a few words: Republican era drama, forty episodes, casting preparation.

Suning stood in the courtyard and looked up at the sky.

It's autumn of 1999; time flies.

A lot has happened during this period.

Some people are busy copying songs, while others are busy becoming famous.

Some people are busy scheming, while others are busy moving forward.

It's good that we're going our separate ways.

...(End of this chapter)