I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 346, Will this suspense drama have a smooth ending?

At this point, Li Xuan only had one opponent left during this summer season.

That's "Lurking".

That was the only project ahead of it.
An investor is secretly sabotaging a project, trying to prevent it from achieving success. Now, the story has entered its second half and reached its most crucial final stage.

One phase was when it competed with "Lurking" for the title of "two giants" in the ratings battle.
"Sure enough, it's the scenes I film with you that really resonate. Filming outside of your studio feels completely different from filming with you. When I'm filming with you, I feel my skills improve significantly, very noticeably."

At this moment, Luo Jin and Zhu Yawen were speaking from the side.

During this period, they frequently went out to "play in the wild," after all, Li Xuan's plan couldn't accommodate all the actors.
In "The Young Pioneers," their status and level of fame skyrocketed, surpassing their peers by a significant margin. This led them to represent Shengchang Culture and Entertainment, seeking acting opportunities outside the company.

After all, there was only Li Xuan and Ning Hao, who were still digesting and comprehending the material. There wasn't much room for them to digest it. When they went out to film, they would always think of the feeling of filming with Li Xuan in those years, a feeling that was absolutely different.

Now, when they watch "The Long Season," they feel like they've returned to the feeling they had when filming it.

That very comfortable feeling,
As the mastermind on set, working with Li Xuan gives me a very special feeling; I feel that my acting skills are stronger and I have improved more.

Even established directors couldn't give the two of them the same feeling as Li Xuan.

Li Xuan had something to say about this.

System! I added a system to the film set!

The director's ability to increase acting skills is purely numerical. Of course, even if it's just a pure increase in numerical values, it won't have as many of these effects.

In fact, a large part of the reason is that Luo Jin and Zhu Yawen are actors with good potential, and their skills are simply the development of their inherent abilities.

20 percent of 0 is still 0
This time, both Wang Yang and Fu Weijun got some "soup" here, with Fu Weijun getting even more. It could be said that within Shen Mo's storyline, he was second only to Gao Yuanyuan in terms of popularity and "meat," making his gains absolutely astonishing.
"You got more 'meat' this time, but you might not get so much next time."

"Hmm, then let's see what you're capable of."

Zhu Yawen didn't feel resentful or disappointed because Luo Jin got more this time. "We're brothers, and you're even better. You helped me take off, and I'm even happier."

Of course, there is still a healthy competitive relationship between the two.

Li Xuan felt a strong sense of nemesis about him.

However, not all 'arch-enemies' are vicious competitors. Arch-enemies can also be brothers, friends, or partners who support each other's growth. Li Xuan felt that this kind of relationship was quite good.

This time, the biggest beneficiary was actually Fan Wei, who completely shed the label of Fan Debiao and has already made a significant contribution.

Let's see how it ends.
Today, Li Xuan continues to focus his attention on "Nanjing Photo Studio".

If there's any remaining variable, it's only Zhao Benshan, the "King of Northeast China." If he were to make some unfriendly comments, it would have some impact, but at most it would affect the ratings for the later episodes. On average, completing the bet with the system shouldn't be a problem.

Unless Zhao Benshan mobilizes his own resources and stirs things up at Dongshan TV—for example, by adding half an hour or an hour of advertising breaks.

This significantly impacts viewership ratings, but it's also a straightforward and unpretentious business warfare tactic.

Zhao Benshan could do it if he were truly determined to destroy Fan Wei.

He can do it.

But now, it's not something Li Xuan can decide or reason about. Because Zhao Benshan's status as the 'King of the Northeast' is no joke.

This title was no joke. In the Northeast circle, he was the real 'boss,' a person whose word was law. Besides his strength, his emotional intelligence, resources, and everything else made him a tycoon who could control destiny.

Although Zhao Benshan had no need to do this, Li Xuan didn't know what choice the "King of Northeast China" would make until the very end of the broadcast, or whether he would interfere in Fan Wei's career in order to get him back to play a supporting role.
These are all uncertain factors.

Because he wanted to, he could destroy Fan Wei's future career with just a word, simply because he could do it.

This is status—

Li Xuan also knew that reasoning was useless in order to reach this point, because his desires and preferences could dictate his fate.

Therefore, we need to 'improve' – improve our strength, status, and level of expertise, in anticipation of the awards boom two and a half years from now.

To make one's work as competitive as possible, whether as an actor or a director, one should greedily absorb as many resources as possible.

To have a position like the "King of Northeast China," where even if one is unreasonable, one can exercise their willfulness—this is a sense of security that even I, in my current state, lack.
That's how it is. Only when you have the power to arbitrarily take everything from others can you have the ability and power to prevent others from being arbitrarily taken away.
At this moment, Li Xuan opened the photo album of "Nanjing Photo Studio" again, and as he turned the pages, the Japanese soldier next to him came out again. He stood there, looking at Li Xuan arrogantly, and using vicious words, although Li Xuan didn't think these words were aggressive at all.

Compared to the offensiveness of these photos, it's nothing.

"Open mid-range, rise. Open high, rise, open high, fall, open mid-range, rise."

At that moment, Cai Yulong was at Liu Lili's home, evaluating these TV dramas.

"The Long Season" is a song that starts strong but ends strong.

"Lurking" started strong and continued to rise in popularity.

"Blood Mist" started strong but ended weakly.

There's also the classic Chinese Paladin 3, which started strong but ended strong.

In terms of viewership ratings alone, "Chinese Paladin 3" is on par with "The Long Season".

A top-notch project, three years in the making, is being compared to someone else's second work after their debut. Li Liguo, who is already known to be a 'talent,' is facing off against Li Xuan, who is a 'genius.'

It's really lacking in purity.

“I think if he can really join forces with Huayi Brothers, his future achievements should be able to reach the same level as Zhang Yimou.” At this point, Cai Yulong paused and teased, “Why don’t you try to seduce him?”

"It's not like I haven't tried; my daughter actually has feelings for him too, but neither of them has said anything to each other." Even here, Liu Lili doesn't understand.

Why did Li Xuan refuse?

Looking at Liu Lili, Cai Yulong said.

"Then I think I know why."

"Then tell me why?"

“Some things lose their meaning once they’re said, and besides, even if I said them, you might not change, and he might not change either.” At this moment, Cai Yulong looked at Liu Lili. In the eyes of this American, she could still see that lingering arrogance. Just like now when she acknowledged Li Xuan’s talent and expressed her admiration, the same lingering arrogance was flowing in her heart.

Her eyes spoke volumes.

If she really wants to match her daughter with Li Xuan.

That attitude was absolutely condescending and annoying.

Li Xuan is also an ambitious man.

A true man. This kind of man doesn't understand the meaning of submission.

"Maybe." Liu Lili vaguely realized what Cai Yulong was talking about, but she couldn't really explain it clearly.

I certainly admire your talent.

It's one thing to want to appreciate your talent, but it's quite another to want to appreciate other aspects of your life.

In a sense, if he really loses the bet, it might be better for his career if he can reach new heights with the help of Huayi Brothers.

People from humble backgrounds should use more wisdom and compromise.

Zhao Benshan is that kind of person.

Through compromise, wisdom, greed, and selfishness.

And he's talented.

The time, place and people are favorable.

This allowed him, a person from the bottom, to climb to almost the limit of this circle and become a super overlord of a local circle.

Everyone toasts Wang Jingfei when he goes to Northeast China.

"Do you think Zhao Benshan will step in and become an obstacle this time? Will he stop Li Xuan and steal his golden supporting role away?"

"certain."

Facing Cai Yulong's question.

Liu Lili's answer was without hesitation.

"Do you even know Zhao Benshan? You're so blunt." Cai Yulong was speechless at her speed of reply; it was too decisive.

Liu Lili's answer was yes.

It's just based on a specific analysis.

I'm not trying to belittle him, but the fact that he climbed from the very bottom to where he is now shows that he must be a greedy and powerful person.

Given this kind of person, how could they tolerate a traitor?

That will inevitably be done with swift and decisive action to tell everyone.

Don't have a rebellious heart.

Even if you rebel, you will be defeated by despair just when you reach the edge of hope.

He needed a reason to make an example of someone.

And Fan Wei was the perfect target at that moment.

"Is that so? Then let's wait and see. Li Xuan has already gained enough from this drama. It started strong and continued to improve. If the ending is smooth, that would be pretty good. Even if it gets stirred up, the impact won't be too big."

Liu Lili paused for a moment.

"If the King of the Northeast were willing to lend a hand, the outcome would be very different."

"But you and I both know that this is absolutely impossible."

"Don't drag me into this, I won't offer any opinions." Cai Yulong smiled at this point: "Some things are judged by their results."

Now let's return to the discussion of the plot.

The ending is actually the most important part of the work.

In fact, at present, "Lurking" has more advantages.

Because he has a solid foundation in the original work, the possibility of his work being adapted for the public is very high.

Moreover, it has a historical basis.
History is already set in stone. Although the path of infiltration is tortuous, the final 'ending' is perfect.

"The Long Season" also contains a lot of suspense. Suspense represents the unknown, and without the foundation of the original work, it's just the unknown plus the unknown. It can only be said that the probability of it being adapted into a film is not that high.

It's not without its advantages—the unknown is inherently a mixed element, bringing both good and bad results. It doesn't only bring bad outcomes; it can also bring good ones.

The probability of them bringing good results is very low. If they can land smoothly, they are already considered good works. Even in Japan, an island nation famous for its suspense works, most suspense works start strong but end weak, and not many can land smoothly.

This is a subject that demands a lot of real skill.
At this point, director Jiang Wei of "Lurking" could also prepare to pop the champagne. The show landed smoothly, with an average viewership rating of over 10%, surpassing the 8-point rating of "Chinese Paladin 3".

From a spy drama that crushed idol dramas in viewership ratings.

Hard power is undeniable; no one can deny that. And in this particular time slot...

After watching "Lurking," Liu Guanglong's previous arrogance vanished—I still have a long way to go. Whether it's the characters, the dialogue, or the ability to handle plot arrangement and scene composition, I'm far behind.
"It's clear that you're greatly influenced by Wang Zhiwen; your language styles are quite similar."

At this point, Jiang Wei pointed out Liu Guanglong's stylistic problem: he was influenced too much by Wang Zhiwen, the "legendary" actor who won the "Grand Slam" of TV drama awards.

One of the few Grand Slam TV Kings in China, with a very distinct personal style, his works such as "The Way of Heaven" are absolutely brilliant, and he speaks eloquently.

But in reality, if his style were so easy to imitate, there wouldn't be only one Wang Zhiwen. It is precisely because his personal style is difficult to imitate that he is who he is today.
"Yes, I was indeed greatly influenced by him, so my personal style has too many traces of imitation, and the imitation is quite poor," Liu Guanglong said self-deprecatingly. "It's too superficial; it doesn't capture Wang Zhiwen's essence at all."

"Yes."

"Unfortunately, I didn't notice these flaws during filming and editing—or rather, I didn't realize that my work had so many flaws."

“It’s true that those involved are often blinded by their own involvement; this kind of situation does happen.” Jiang Wei looked at Liu Guanglong and smiled slightly, saying, “Everyone goes through this. Their debut work is amazing, but with their second work, they fall into the trap of being blinded by their own involvement. If they can wake up in time when that feeling reappears, that’s already quite good.”

Those involved are often blinded by their own perspective, leading to arrogance. However, they eventually discover their shortcomings, learn from them, and correct them, ultimately achieving success.

That's how it all came about.

Um.
Then the two looked at each other and discovered the 'major flaw' in this seemingly correct statement.

Not all of them are.

Not all of them.
For example, Li Xuan didn't get there that way.

The long season, autumn, is coming to an end.

(End of this chapter)