Abstract Art Award Winner

The moment those words were spoken, the live stream chat exploded.

The live chat was flooded with question marks and shocked emojis: "Wait, Brother Le, you won and you're still running away?"

"Reverse fulfillment of a promise? I don't understand this operation!"

"Holy crap, a 100km ultramarathon! This is no joke, Brother Le, are you serious?"

"Brother Le, don't be impulsive! Ultramarathons are very physically demanding!"

Zhou Le looked at the comments and laughed even harder: "That's right, it's all about being real. It's not about fulfilling the bet, that's in the past. It's just about challenging myself. People have to have some ambitions, they can't always stay in their comfort zone."

Making movies is a challenge, commentating on games is a challenge, and running 100 kilometers is also a challenge. I'll wait a while, adjust my physical condition a bit, and then choose a suitable time and place to livestream the whole thing. Everyone is welcome to come and supervise.

These words instantly shifted the tone of the comments from mockery to admiration and concern.

"Brother Le, respect! This is bigger than my bra size."

"He's starting to brag again about 100 kilometers!"

"Your health is the most important thing, Brother Le, you must do what you can!"

"Hey haters, come look! This is what it means to keep your word, this is what a real man is!"

Immediately afterwards, comments from South Korean netizens mentioned the idea of ​​recognizing relatives.

"Brother Le, Korean netizens say you might have Korean ancestry. What do you think?"

Hearing this question, Zhou Le smiled helplessly. He pointed to his chest and said, word by word, "I am Chinese, without a doubt. The blood flowing here is definitely Chinese blood. My ancestors were all Chinese. I grew up in China and received a Chinese education. I am very proud of this identity."

He paused, a hint of clarity appearing in his eyes: "As for some people's comments... due to the rules of live streaming, there are some things I can't say too clearly. You can use your imaginations. Anyway, those who know, know. In fact, sometimes, there's no need to take some people and things seriously, and there's no need to try to ride the wave of popularity."

What they say is their business. I know who I am, and that's all that matters. Our own well-being and the recognition of our culture are more important than anything else, right?

These words, without any fierce rebuttal, are more powerful than any angry accusation.

The viewers in the live chat immediately understood.

"Brother Le is right! There's no need to lower ourselves to their level!"

"Brother Le doesn't want to give them any attention, lest they try to ride his coattails!"

"Hahaha, Brother Le has broadened his horizons and isn't bothered by sour grapes!"

The live stream lasted for two hours.

Near the end, Zhou Le once again thanked everyone for their support: "Thank you all for chatting with me for so long, and I hope you will continue to support LPL and the development of esports in China."

After the live broadcast ends.

#Actor responds to Korean bloodline theory#
The hashtag #AnActorHasToRun100Kilometers# has once again become a trending topic.

After a few days of rest and jet lag, Zhou Le had just returned to the company when Su Yingxia came to his door with a stack of data reports, her smile barely concealed: "Brother Le, 'Fame and Fortune' has exploded at the box office again! As of yesterday, the cumulative box office has exceeded 21 billion, and the daily box office is still declining. The theaters are all adding more screenings!"

This achievement far exceeded expectations when the film was first conceived.

Initially, as a low-budget suspense comedy without a cast of big-name stars or grand special effects, "Fame and Fortune" was met with skepticism from most in the industry. Some even predicted that a box office of over 5 million yuan would be an extraordinary achievement.

However, as word-of-mouth spread after the film's release, coupled with the nationwide attention garnered by Zhou Le's commentary on EDG's championship victory, the film completely broke out of its niche.

Many viewers who were not originally interested in suspense films went to the cinema because of Zhou Le's name.

Many esports fans watched the video a second or third time out of support for LeGe.

The data will not lie.

According to Maoyan Professional Edition, over 70% of the audience for "Fame and Fortune" are aged 18-35, and nearly 30% of them said they only started watching the movie because of Zhou Le's narration.

The film has a stable rating of 7.8 on Douban. On platforms such as Zhihu and Bilibili, there are numerous discussion posts about the film's details and director Zhou Le's techniques. Some film and television professors in universities have even used it as a case study and analyzed it in class.

"21 billion is just the beginning." A senior film critic wrote in his column, "Based on the current popularity, the final box office of 'Rise to Fame' is likely to be close to 30 billion. This figure not only means that the producers and investors can get at least 9 million in net profit, but more importantly, it completely breaks the curse that big-name actors who turn to directing will inevitably flop, making Zhou Le a rare new director in the film industry who can both carry the box office and maintain a good reputation."

Previously, many film and television companies were hesitant about collaborating with Zhou Le.

Some people want to capitalize on his popularity to make fast-paced movies, while others worry that his "hobby-like" approach makes it difficult for him to cultivate a deep and meaningful career.

But with the success of "Make a Name for Yourself," all of this hesitation turned into generous praise and proactive goodwill.

Executives from established film and television companies such as Huayi Brothers and Bona Film Group called one after another, hoping to participate in the investment of Zhou Le's next work.

Veteran directors such as Wong Kar-wai and Chen Kaige have also publicly praised Zhou Le's narrative rhythm, expressing their approval.

The company email inbox is flooded with scripts every day, and some lesser-known producers keep calling, wanting to arrange a dinner or drinks, hoping to get a collaboration opportunity.

In addition to recognition in the film industry, Zhou Le has also ushered in a new period of explosive growth in the field of business cooperation.

Su Yingxia receives dozens of collaboration offers every day, ranging from luxury brand endorsements to promotions of national brands, covering all aspects of life, including clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

But the most significant of these was the contact with Tencent.

In the top-floor conference room of Tencent's headquarters building, Tencent's COO personally hosted a banquet and held a three-hour meeting with Zhou Le.

During the meal, the other party didn't exchange many pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Zhou Le, with your current personal influence and the box office success of 'Fame and Fortune,' we have seen your potential. Tencent has investments in games, film and television, cultural and creative industries."

We hope to engage in deeper cooperation with you, such as jointly developing games based on traditional Chinese culture, or linking your film IP with games to create an integrated film and game ecosystem.

The words implied a reference to Black Myth.

Zhou Le said he could do it alone, but it would definitely have to be done with the goal of becoming a 3A company.

Upon hearing this, the other party understood Zhou Le's meaning, and the topic shifted to another aspect: Zhou Le's current contract with Tencent will expire in a few years.

The other party brought up the issue of contract renewal directly: "Our current contract has two years left, but we hope to secure a long-term partnership in advance. You can name your renewal terms. Whether it's cooperation resources or renewal fees, we can offer top-tier treatment in the industry."

This sincerity reflects Tencent's recognition of Zhou Le's "cross-domain influence".

This "ability to break out of the circle" is exactly what Tencent wants.

Zhou Le didn't rush into a deal, but rationally proposed, "Cooperation is possible, but I hope to be deeply involved in some projects." Ren Zhengfei immediately agreed, saying, "That's exactly the idea we want. Tencent will give you enough space; after all, everyone's goal is to make money." Besides giants like Tencent, Zhou Le's "friends" in the capital circle also expressed their approval.

Wang Sicong called almost the moment Zhou Le returned to Beijing, his voice filled with excitement: "Zhou Le! This movie of yours has earned me at least ten times my initial investment; I'm not saying anything more, this time I have to make sure everything is arranged perfectly for you, and prepare a big gift for you!"

He Youjun also sent a WeChat message: "President Zhou, investing with you was definitely the right decision! You must come to Macau when you have time, and you'll receive the best hospitality!"

The two received top-notch hospitality.

Zhou Le himself had never experienced it.

After all, these are all top-tier rich second-generation individuals in China.

If Zhou Le is just an actor.

If you want to enter someone else's circle, you have to lower your status as much as possible.

There are many examples in the industry now; if you can imagine it, you can do it.

That evening, Zhou Le invited Meng Ziyi, Tian Xiwei, Yu Shuxin, Zhou Ye, and other people from the company to a private old Beijing restaurant for a small gathering.

It's both a way to relax and a way to chat with friends about my thoughts.

In the restaurant's private room, mahogany tables and chairs were bathed in warm yellow light, and the aroma of food filled the air.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhou Le slowly said, "Actually, I've been thinking about something lately. I feel like the housing prices in Beijing aren't as outrageous as they used to be. I'm planning to buy a place, not just for living, but also for the company. We can't keep using this place in Shuxin forever."

"Buy a house?" Meng Ziyi was taken aback. "I think things are fine as they are now."

“I still want to have my own.” Zhou Le shook his head, a hint of longing in his eyes. “I want to buy a courtyard house, a big one, preferably one with a side courtyard, so I can live there and also put the company headquarters there. Just imagine, having your own yard, planting some flowers in the spring, and basking in the sun in the autumn.”

It's comfortable for discussing work, scripts, and casual get-togethers with friends. Moreover, the courtyard house is a cultural symbol of old Beijing, so future cultural and creative endeavors or film and television development can benefit from its cultural atmosphere. More importantly, it's a long-term industry; no matter how the industry changes, having a base of operations provides peace of mind.

These words surprised everyone present.

Buying a courtyard house in Beijing requires not only substantial funds but also a bit of luck; it's not something you can simply buy with money.

But on second thought, it seemed to fit Zhou Le's personality.

Zhou Le is the kind of person who takes things one step at a time.

But as it turned out, we didn't make a mistake.

Tian Xiwei was the first to react, excitedly exclaiming, "Wow! A courtyard house! Now we can have barbecues and tea in the courtyard?"

Zhou Ye nodded: "Brother Le, there are fewer and fewer high-quality courtyard houses available now, so buying one is definitely a worthwhile investment."

Sister Meng was much more direct, saying, "Then please reserve a room for me when the time comes."

Just as Zhou Le was about to say something more, Yu Shuxin put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Brother Le, Sister Meng, and everyone else, I have something I want to tell you. I want to start my own studio."

Zhou Le was not surprised by this.

Because he could actually sense some clues from his conversations with other people.

Especially Sister Meng, because Sister Meng and Yu Shuxin are the closest, but because of their relationship, even though Sister Meng is a big mouth and speaks without restraint, she still has to think more about this.

However, Zhou Le still heard some clues from Sister Meng, and even without a detailed discussion, he could guess what she meant.

It's quite common for celebrities to open their own studios after they become successful, and Yu Shuxin has definitely made it that way now.

It's understandable that the other party is now proposing to go independent again.

"Okay, this isn't really a big deal. After all, we agreed when we teamed up that even though we signed a contract, it was still because of our partnership. Even if we're close, it's still more convenient to sign one."

But if anyone wants to withdraw and develop their own business, that's fine too; the contract won't bind us, especially regarding cost-saving.

Yu Shuxin nodded.

After that, almost everyone enjoyed the meal, except for Guo Qiling, who smiled less and spoke less.

It wasn't until after we had eaten.

He was the only one among them who hadn't been drinking, so he naturally took on the task of driving Zhou Le home.

After all, he's used to not drinking at these kinds of dinner parties.

If I absolutely have to drink, it's only when I'm alone with these two people that I'll drink a little.

Moreover, Guo Qiling was well aware that if this hadn't happened today, there would definitely have been another Xiao Tian or Meng Jian in his car, but this time it was Yin Zheng.

Because there are some things you can't say in front of those girls, but since we're all men, it doesn't matter.

"I know you weren't drunk. I only found out about this today. To be honest, you gave him so many resources, that's for sure. You were ruthlessly nurturing him, and he turned around and did this to you."

The director was indeed not drunk. He slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Guo Qiling, who was driving.

"Yeah, what else can I do? If they want to leave, they can leave. To be honest, although we had cultivated a relationship before, and we did have some feelings for each other, many things are just temporary."

Just like this time when he was about to leave, why didn't I try to persuade him to stay? Actually, Zhou Le already knew some rumors about him, and you knew some things about his family, so keeping him would have been quite risky.

Moreover, the things he's doing aren't something I can stop him with just a few words. He doesn't trust me like Wang Sicong does; he's not willing to listen to my advice.

Unlike Yi Yangqianxi, who takes too big a leap in his career and seems a bit too eager for quick success, Yu Shuxin is willing to slow down after I say a few words. It's not just about her, but more importantly, her family.

Guo Qiling nodded, but he didn't know what was going on in the other person's family, so Zhou Le talked about it again in the car.

Sure enough, after listening, Guo Qiling understood why Zhou Le had said he wanted to buy a courtyard house as soon as he came back this time.

As expected, some things still need to be cut.

“I think you did the right thing this time. You made a decisive decision, otherwise you would have suffered a lot. At least now everyone is at peace. If we keep up appearances, even if people find out, it's him who owes you. We don't need to give anyone a reason to criticize us.”

Zhou Le smiled and said, "Yeah, that's what I meant. Anyway, I didn't lose money. The house will still be in use for a long time, right? It's just that I lost a little money on the movie, but there's nothing I can do about it. But since the three of us guys have gotten together today, didn't we not drink enough at the first round? How about we go to my place and have some more drinks? I still have some alcohol at home, both baijiu and beer are fine."

"Alright, let's go." (End of Chapter)