Who said this top flow is crazy! This top flow is awesome!

Chapter 218 Internal strife and the fall of Yu Yan

The Beijing entertainment circle is in chaos.

The circles are chaotic, and the people are even more chaotic.

Director Yang often enjoys chatting with a few actresses in his spare time, discussing life and philosophy.

But in the last few days, especially the last five days, his mental state has been on the verge of "collapse" and "explosion".

If it were just "The Fortress of Shanghai" being the only one that's bad, that would be fine. But the low-budget film next door, "Big Boss," is like a clown jumping around, releasing "Breaking X Billion" posters every day on time.

The main cast, including Chi Ye and Wu Zhenyu, celebrated the Lunar New Year every day, singing and dancing.

In contrast, "The Fortress of Shanghai" has become "The Shanghai Outrage," not only being criticized across the internet but also gaining "quite a reputation" in Asia—everyone knows that a great nation that sang classics like "Blue and White Porcelain" at this year's Spring Festival Gala has produced a "sci-fi film" that rivals the first-ever defense in history.

Director Yang's "lifelong reputation" was completely ruined, and the Beijing entertainment circle paid the price of two companies going bankrupt and losing face within the industry.

The better the box office and the higher the reputation of "The Boss" is, the more useless and stupid they seem.

Who can tolerate this?
Director Yang no longer dares to criticize the audience, but he dares to criticize Chi Ye: "I'm so angry, what kind of lowlife can now step on our heads and shit on us? Does he get the box office himself? He's just profiting off our suffering!"

"Shameless! Despicable! A scoundrel!!"

"...That lousy studio's team is constantly engaging in disparaging marketing tactics, thinking nobody knows about their underhanded tricks...That bastard is really cunning, his marketing skills are too good."

Director Feng looked worried, but there was a hint of schadenfreude in his expression—"The Fortress of Shanghai" wasn't his work, and he hadn't invested any money in it, so this wave of trouble really didn't cause him any personal loss.

"No... I can't stand it."

Director Yang grew increasingly angry, and that same day, on Weibo, which had already been shut down due to criticism, he posted a cryptic message:

Heaven is watching what people do. Some people are really good at scheming and plotting behind the scenes, but remember, if you keep hunting geese all day long, you'll eventually get pecked in the eye by the goose. Be careful!

When this Weibo post was first published, casual viewers didn't understand what he meant at all.

But not long after, Director Yang accidentally posted several trending topics about "Big Boss" eating "Fortress" steamed buns, and everyone realized - so you're going to fight Chi Ye?

How did Ikeno respond?
He expressed his gratitude.

Chi Ye used his account, which is now the most viewed account on Weibo, to take a screenshot of Director Yang's post and tagged him: 【@Director Yang, 21 billion views, thank you.】

Director Yang, who was expecting Chi Ye to confront him head-on, was stunned. He checked three or four times before his eyes rolled back, white foam appeared at the corner of his mouth, and his blood pressure reached 888: "Fuck your mother... you bastard! He even thanked me?! 21 billion my ass!!"

"...Old Yang, calm down. Aren't you losing face and dignity by getting angry with someone who's just a celebrity?"

Director Lu persuaded him, and then suggested: "He's a public figure with such high popularity, and he dares to reply to you like that. Let's seize on this point and smear him!"

"I can see it."

"Let even romance novels 'accidentally' click! We'll also have a surge in viewership!"

"...Don't mention him, he's bad luck, every movie he acts in flops."

As everyone was talking, they suddenly remembered Yu Yan. It seemed like they hadn't been in contact for several days. They subconsciously looked at Ling Han, who usually liked Yu Yan the most.

Ling Han seemed to realize something and looked at the others with some displeasure: "...Brother Yan hasn't contacted me recently."

"He's probably handling a crisis."

How to handle crisis public relations?

……

This is a very critical situation.

Yu Yan has indeed had a very unpleasant few days. Ever since the release of "The Fortress of Shanghai", he has basically become a sitting duck – because he has the highest traffic, much higher than the big shots in the Beijing circle behind Director Yang and others.

In addition, there's the comparison with Ikeno Jotae's acting skills. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Without Ikeno Ikuen, it might be painful, but it would definitely not be as "miserable" as it is now.

Yes, he was "miserable".

"The Fortress of Shanghai" was released for two days. On the first day, it had 45% of the screenings, taking away 10% of the screenings from "The Big Boss". As a result, the box office was only a pitiful 2000 million yuan. On the second day, it dropped even further to 900 million yuan.

Now... five days later, the screenings of "The Fortress of Shanghai" have been completely taken over by "Big Boss" and the movies released by Shen Bin and Ma Li. Therefore, its daily box office today is "as high as" 30!
It can be said to have broken the record for the lowest box office in the history of the Beijing film industry, and also the lowest record in the history of Chinese films.

—Smear it all the way through the Earth's core? NO, it'll be smeared all the way to outer

As for Yu Yan, the male lead, he lost three big-budget scripts and two high-end endorsements within five days... This kind of operation, where he didn't actually collapse, but relied on his strength and acting skills to make himself look like he had collapsed, has set a precedent in the Chinese entertainment industry.

“A few big fans switched their allegiance to Ikeno again yesterday… We dealt with it as quickly as possible, but the impact is still there, which is not good.”

Yuena Company.

Sitting in the office, the agent looked tired and said to Yu Yan, "Do you think we should come up with some ways to retain your fans... If this continues, Chi Ye will drain all your fans."

Yu Yan stood silently to the side, his eyes vacant.

"Xiaoyan? Xiaoyan?"

The agent tried calling out a few times.

"Ling Han sent me a message... They have a lot of opinions about me."

Yu Yan replied hoarsely, "The Beijing social circle... has become much colder towards me."

The agent was stunned.

"...I feel like this time...it's all over."

Yu Yan closed her eyes.

He was a top-tier celebrity in his early days. When he was at the peak of his career, his birthday would garner over 100 million comments on Weibo, breaking a Guinness World Record.

But since "My Love from the Star" aired, his leading position has been taken away. Now, not long after, a big-budget production that he saw as his hope for a comeback has become the last straw that broke his top spot.

Yes, losing fans is secondary when "The Fortress of Shanghai" comes out, because he and Chi Ye both rely on traffic and fandom, and have their own base of support. Even if things go badly, there is still a bottom line.

But "The Fortress of Shanghai" directly destroyed two companies, causing the largest investor behind them to lose the opportunity to go public... That's the most fatal thing.

—In the future, who in the industry will still use Yu Yan?

Who would dare to use Yu Yan now?

Is this generation about to perish?

Yu Yan was confused. He used to care the least about resources, but now he seemed to have ruined everything with his own hands.

The agent was equally confused.

From Yu Yan's negative attitude, she also sensed another signal—why did the Beijing entertainment circle suddenly "neglect" Xiao Yan?

……

On the day that the daily box office of "The Fortress of Shanghai" dropped below 20 yuan, the Douban score that the film's producers and investors had been trying to suppress finally couldn't be suppressed any longer. Thus, amidst much anticipation, the Douban score of "The Fortress of Shanghai" made its dazzling debut.

— 2.8 points.

This is the lowest Douban rating ever recorded for a movie. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but it just happens to be the same unit as "The Boss" with a score of 8.2... I can only say that the two are indeed very destined to meet.

That night, #ShanghaiFortress# with a score of 2.8 plummeted to the top of the trending searches, continuously contributing various negative traffic and buzz to everyone.

At the same time, various young male stars and their competitors in the industry also began to enter the fray, "dividing up" Yu Yan's "legacy" after the gold coins were exposed.

For example, Lao Peng issued press releases 24/7, subtly criticizing Yu Yan and engaging in various underhanded tactics.

Ikeno did not receive a share.

His very existence is the biggest draw. Now that he's at this level, he no longer needs to be as "embarrassed" as he was when he was competing with other popular young actors for the legacy of the prison.

To put it dramatically—he could stand there, do nothing, and receive the vast majority of Yu Yan's "legacy".

This is the confidence and status of a leading man with a dominant position and a newly emerged box office star with over 25 billion yuan in earnings.

He's busy with other things right now... well... very personal things.

Inside the hotel.

This summer, her fingertips curled and unfolded on the silk hem of her dress. The room was dimly lit. She had been bent over for a while, her beautiful peach blossom eyes staring at Chi Ye, who was carefully "studying" her. Suddenly, she straightened up, gathering all the wonderful spring scenery.

"Ok?"

Chino was taken aback and looked up in confusion: "What are you doing?"

"Have you seen enough?"

This summer, her face was a little flushed under the lights, but her sweet voice remained "steady": "I promised you, and I will do it, so, Teacher Chi, you have to be good too."

Ikeno nodded, then shook his head.

"what's wrong?"

Makoto Ikeno: "I haven't seen enough."

This summer, she asked curiously, "...It's been twenty minutes already, aren't you tired of watching?"

"I'm mainly studying your body structure, and there's something wrong with it."

Chi Ye said with a serious expression, "For example, you're so thin, why are you so big? And your shape and skin are so good. I think this is a medical condition, you need to see a doctor to get it checked out..."

This summer, she bit her lower lip, stared at Chi Ye, and remained silent for a long time.

Feeling a little uncomfortable under that "strange" gaze, Chino raised an eyebrow: "What? Am I wrong?"

"Teacher Chi, you're getting more and more explicit these days."

This summer, she said in a serious tone: "Do you want to touch me? If you want to touch me, you can just say so."

"think."

This summer: "Oh, I won't let you touch me."

Chiye: "?"

This summer, a slight smile played on her lips. After thinking for a moment, she leaned closer and said, "Just once... be gentle, and then you have to agree to my previous conditions..."

Ikeno's outstretched hand froze: "Conditions? What conditions?"

"You have to keep up with my lifestyle. You have to eat, dress, live, and use the same things as me."

This summer, Lulu blushed and said, "You haven't forgotten everything, have you?"

Ikeno remained unfazed: "I haven't forgotten."

It's just a bit difficult.

The Empress Dowager was spoiled from childhood, so her lifestyle habits were ingrained in her bones and even became somewhat outrageous.

For example, back when they were filming "See You", she was constantly teased by Ikeno because of her various little habits, and that's how their relationship started.

The variety show is long over now, the novelty has worn off, and the affectations she's developed over twenty years are still there, and there's no way she'll ever change them.

Since she won't change, then we can only let Chi Ye change it, otherwise, wouldn't the two of them always be out of sync when they're together in the future?

One of them goes to bed late and wakes up late, while the other goes to bed early and wakes up early; they never even see each other!

Ok…

But who is Ikeno?

Putting aside the fact that he wasn't from that kind of family background in either of his two lives, even if he were, he couldn't accept only drinking "spring water" every day. As for the food, things he used, and the things he played with... he couldn't do it.

"Can we ever go back to that afternoon when we drank gutter oil together?"

Ikeno asked eagerly.

The Empress Dowager thought about it seriously for a moment, then chuckled and said, "You drink when I drink."

Ikeno: "...Then I won't change it."

"?"

This summer, she looked at him with a wronged expression: "Why? Don't you think about the future?"

"In the future? I don't know if you've ever heard this saying."

Chino thought for a moment and said, "Two people need time to adjust to each other when they're together."

This summer, she paused for a moment, then recalled: "It seems... that's what they say online."

"See, since you know this, how can you not work things out?"

Chi Ye pointed to his chicken feet: "I suggest we try to work things out first, and as we work it out, things will..."

"Hey, where are you putting your hand? Ike...Ikeno, you're so mean! You said you'd grind...don't..."

Inside the room, Jin Xia's panicked voice could be heard.

A minute later, Jin Xia walked out of the room looking sullen, and met Mi Jie's nervous gaze: "What did you guys do?"

"What did you do? What do you think you could accomplish in such a short time?"

This summer, I asked a question in return.

Sister Mi: “…”

She muttered sarcastically, "That's hard to say..."

"Ugh."

The old lady ignored Honey's mutterings. Normally, she would have subconsciously told Honey not to criticize Teacher Chi, but now she was very annoyed, so she forgot about it.

"Honey... do you think my standards are too high?"

The two went downstairs. The old lady's "vacation" had actually ended long ago, but in order to spend a few more days with Chi Ye, she took it upon herself to stay a few more days.

But no matter how long she stayed, she always had to return to the film set. She said with some annoyance, "I should have gone slower... He doesn't seem to like my lifestyle habits."

Honey Sister: "...So what? Two people together don't have to be exactly the same."

"You do not understand."

This summer, she paused for a moment before saying, somewhat hesitantly, "If I can't even handle this, then... I can't keep up this act forever, can I? That would be really painful for both of us."

After thinking about it seriously, and recalling Xia Xia's "drama" from childhood to adulthood, Sister Mi nodded sincerely: "That's true, Xia Xia, I didn't realize you were so 'self-aware' now."

This summer: "...Don't criticize me when I'm in a bad mood, or I'll...I'll dock your pay!"

"I'm sorry, I was unaware of my own limitations and didn't dare to comment. Please don't come to me with your business in the future, I wouldn't dare to say anything out of turn."

Honey waved her hand, but in her heart she was thinking, "Yeah, what normal person would like a girl whose antics are off the charts?"

Hmm... if this girl is Xiaxia, she feels that none of this is a problem.

……

at the same time.

Chi Ye hadn't expected that Jin Xia would think so deeply. After the old lady left, he finally found the time to prepare to target the Beijing circle and Yu Yan, and launch a big attack to make the other side "feel good."

But before he could even take any action, Yang, the director of "The Fortress of Shanghai," who had been subjected to continuous online harassment for days, miraculously accepted an interview with a certain media outlet that same day.

Furthermore, in the interview, he bluntly stated: "I misused Yu Yan."

(End of this chapter)