After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 456 Beauty is Like a Skull

Zhou Haoran held up the ratings chart.

The "Everyone's Artistic Achievements" program team was filled with jubilation, and everyone's face was beaming with a genuine smile.

Getting to this point has been incredibly difficult!
So much so that many people, while laughing, found their eyes welling up with tears.

"Editor-in-Chief Dong, what's wrong? Why are your eyes red?"

Zhou Haoran also released the pressure and was very happy.

Dong Lan rubbed her eyes, listening to the laughter and chatter from the production team, and said emotionally, "When I first came to 'Everyone's Art,' many people told me that this was like becoming an outlaw."

Zhou Haoran laughed heartily, "That's really true."

Dong Lan gently shook her head. "Some people say I'm being exiled, but only after arriving do they realize this is the gathering hall of the Liangshan heroes. Producer Zhou, we're acting on behalf of Heaven, aren't we?"

"Yes, it's about upholding justice!" Zhou Haoran said solemnly. "The domestic television industry is too backward, and many people are still clinging to old ideas. We're here to set an example for them!"

With a sigh of relief, Dong Lan said, "From Director Song to Director Yi, their misunderstandings run too deep!"

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "The ratings are out, this is the best report card."

"Brother Haoran!"

At this moment, Hong Zhenru came over with a radiant smile.

Because Zhou Haoran is usually very strict, everyone is a little afraid of him. Hong Zhenru, who came out of the show "Family Matters" with him, was selected as the representative.

"Haoran, we won! 'Happy Family' was no match for us. Shouldn't we...shouldn't we go celebrate?"

Hong Zhenru's eyes were filled with a strange look.

"Sure, the production team will pay for our dinner at the Peace Hotel!"

Zhou Haoran is not stingy at all.

Hong Zhenru chuckled and said, "I can't these next few days. I'm busy with post-production for the second episode and recording the third. How about this weekend? We can all go out for dinner to celebrate, okay?"

"Sure!" Zhou Haoran glanced at her. "Why don't you make the arrangements? Can you handle it?"

Hong Zhenru was just a junior director in the production team, but given the important responsibility, she bit her lip and said, "I can handle it!"

Zhou Haoran said, "Okay, I'll give you ten thousand yuan for team building expenses."

Dong Lan quickly said, "Producer Zhou, our budget has already exceeded the limit!"

"fine……"

Zhou Haoran never worries about money.

Dong Lan was very anxious. "Producer Zhou, our program's budget is 200 million yuan, and we're making 52 episodes a year. That averages out to less than 4 yuan per episode. But we haven't even recorded the third episode yet, and we've already spent 19 yuan on post-production for the second episode!"

Zhou Haoran said, "The initial preparations were very expensive, but we can spread them out gradually later."

"But……"

Dong Lan was in charge of managing the money, and her heart was breaking.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "Editor-in-Chief Dong, as long as the program is good and the ratings are high, why worry about money? It's only the first episode, so there's no effect yet. Wait half a month and you'll see!"

"how?"

Dong Lan was puzzled.

Zhou Haoran said, "We can adopt a 'broadcast and recruit simultaneously' model. Currently, the main sponsor of 'Everyone's Art Up' is Nanji Ren, and the co-sponsor is Shuixian Electric Appliances. We can also provide at least ten more sponsorship positions, waiting for you!"

"Anything else?" Dong Lan's eyes widened. "Will this work?"

Zhou Haoran retorted, "Why not?"

Dong Lan asked hesitantly, "Will the leader approve it?"

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "Who would turn down money? With the producer in charge, we decide how many ads we want to include in the program!"

Dong Lan's eyes lit up, and she happily suggested, "If all else fails, we can do this: give half of our sponsorship fee to the channel, and keep the rest as operating expenses. That way, even if the budget is exceeded, Director Song won't have any reason to refuse."

“That’s feasible.” Zhou Haoran nodded, then lowered his voice, “Editor-in-Chief Dong, Hong Zhenru doesn’t have much experience. Please take good care of her, train and encourage her, and promote her in the future.”

Dong Lan knew about his relationship with Qiao Suiqing, the backstage host of "Everyone's Artistic Awakening," and her heart stirred slightly. "You...you don't like Zhenru anymore?"

"Nothing!"

Zhou Haoran was both amused and confused.

Dong Lan kindly reminded him, "Be careful."

"No, she's too flat-chested. I prefer women with big breasts and a good temperament..." As Zhou Haoran spoke, his eyes unconsciously glanced at Dong Lan's full chest twice.

Dong Lan blushed instantly. Now that they were more familiar with each other, she wasn't as awkward as she had been when they first met during the interview. She scolded playfully, "Where are you looking?"

Zhou Haoran quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, it was subconscious... I'll try to watch less in the future."

"I didn't expect you to be such a pervert."

Dong Lan spoke reproachfully, raising her arm to shield her chest.

Zhou Haoran said seriously, "Being attracted to beauty is an essential quality for a man to achieve great things; it belongs to the realm of desire. If one doesn't even have desires or thoughts about it, where will the motivation to achieve great things come from?"

"Women are a source of motivation?"

Dong Lan disagreed with his statement.

Zhou Haoran said honestly, "It's true. You'll see once you get to know him better."

Dong Lan thought to herself, "I'm a married woman, I don't want to have any contact with strangers like you!"
At that moment, a female colleague ran over quickly.

"Producer Zhou, someone's here!"

"Hmm? Who is it?"

"I don't know her, she's a woman... She said her surname is Lin."

This female colleague was transferred from another channel, and she didn't even know Lin Guiyan.

Zhou Haoran walked out of the large office.

Sure enough, Lin Guiyan was there at the entrance. "Haoran, congratulations on the great success of your column."

Lin Guiyan's smile looked somewhat unnatural.

Zhou Haoran said with a smile, "Editor-in-Chief Lin, if you are sincerely congratulating me, then I accept it."

Lin Guiyan's expression stiffened, and she said in a low voice, "Haoran, are you free tonight? Let me treat you to dinner."

"You?" Zhou Haoran didn't believe it at all, his expression indifferent. "And Yi Changping, right?"

Lin Guiyan sighed, "There might be some misunderstanding between you and him. Let's have a meal together and talk it out. It's not good for anyone to keep things awkward like this."

"At least it won't do me any harm."

Zhou Haoran remained unmoved.

Lin Guiyan was in a difficult position. She lowered her stance and said pitifully, "Haoran, I'm begging you this time, okay?"

Zhou Haoran was very surprised.

It's important to know that Lin Guiyan is also a strong woman. Although she often talks about sleeping with someone, she has never been deferential in her attitude, and even when she does sleep with someone, she maintains a superior aura.

This time, they actually backed down.

Zhou Haoran frowned slightly. "Editor-in-Chief Lin, if Yi Changping has any problems, tell him to come directly to me! What kind of man are you, a woman, to deal with this? I have something to do tonight, so I definitely won't be going back!"

He also wanted to go to Sister He Jin's house that evening.

She contributed a lot to "Everyone's Artistic Achievements".

Now that the program is successful, we should reward it by giving it more support and encouragement.

Lin Guiyan pleaded, "Haoran, the situation is very complicated right now, really... please stop making a scene, okay?"

Zhou Haoran remained unmoved, calmly stating, "Editor-in-Chief Lin, let me reiterate: you, as a woman, shouldn't get involved in my affairs with Yi Changping. Being caught in the middle will only make things difficult for you. Right and wrong will be judged by history! I, Zhou Haoran, have always acted with integrity and uprightness!"

"Haoran..."

"Alright, that's all. Is there anything else?"

"How about we have dinner together tonight? I... I'll go to a hotel with you, let you sleep there, and help you calm down and cool off."

Lin Guiyan put on a pitiful look.

Zhou Haoran, with a heart as hard as iron and an air of arrogance, said, "No need. I have achieved mastery in my cultivation, and women are as useless as skeletons."

……

For several days in a row, good news kept coming.

First, the station commended the program, and then announced its excellence throughout the station, calling on all producers to learn from it.

Overnight, Hu Xiaochen became the most popular producer at Red Star TV!

Dong Lan also seized the opportunity to turn her career around and became a popular figure in her workplace.

The station was very generous, offering a bonus of 5000 yuan.

This is not over yet.

The awards from the channel have also arrived.

The on-stage host, Hong Yi, as well as the two backstage hosts, Qiao Suiqing and Bai Panyang, received special praise and were commended by Song Yongjun as role models for "hosts in the new era".

Another 5000 yuan bonus was given.

Finally, even the television bureau issued a letter of commendation, and it was another round of station-wide announcements!

Unfortunately, the television station was dirt poor and wouldn't spend a penny.

They only give honors, not money.

Zhou Haoran didn't participate in any of these opportunities to gain exposure, giving them all to Hu Xiaochen and Dong Lan.

He was busy looking at houses with the three sisters, Qiao Suiqing, Sheng Wenwan, and Jiang Minsi.

Affected by Hong Kong Island, the property prices in the harbor finally collapsed.

New apartments near Jing'an Temple, which were originally priced at 7000 yuan per square meter, sold out immediately upon release. Recently, 100 new apartments were released, but the price has been halved to 5000 yuan per square meter, leaving many vacant units unsold.

“There are new houses available, which is better than buying secondhand ones,” Zhou Haoran suggested. “We can buy 50 units first.”

"Huh? The total budget was only 2000 million, and it's all gone in one go?"

Qiao Suiqing exclaimed in surprise.

"It's just that the location is a bit out of the way. It would be better to stay on both sides of the Huangpu River, that's the most prime location."

Zhou Haoran never worried about the budget.

The area surrounding Jing'an Temple is definitely located in the heart of the harbor.

However, it depends on who you compare it to.

Compared to Xuhui District, the area around Jing'an Temple is much better. But compared to the banks of the Huangpu River, the area around the TV station, and Lujiazui, it's still a bit worse.

"Aunt Wan, how about..." Qiao Suiqing hesitated, "What do you think?"

Sheng Wenwan glanced at Zhou Haoran, pursed her lips and said, "You're the older sister, so you get to decide. Minmin and I will listen to you."

Zhou Haoran was very pleased. "Aunt Wan, it's good that you have this awareness. The most important thing in a family is to be united and harmonious. You three sisters can discuss the house purchase together. Anyway, our family is not short of money. If we see a good house, we'll buy it! I estimate... I estimate that the next two months will be a good time for you to buy a house!"

After going out and witnessing it, I found that the three sisters got along very well.

This is reassuring.

Now he can focus on business matters.

For example, making money off foreigners.

It seems Microsoft's $2000 million offer is going to fall through, but he also "extorted" $500 million from the parent company of the messaging app ICQ. That's an Israeli company; surely they don't have the same financial backing as Microsoft?

(End of this chapter)