Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 524 Smuggling in Hidden agendas, undercurrents surging

Before filming "The Founding of a Republic" at the Huairou base, where strangers are not allowed, Jing Tian wore a short-sleeved knit top adorned with delicate yellow daisies, paired with a retro washed blue denim mini skirt, looking refreshing and sweet.

She stood gracefully by the lush tree shadows, her face as beautiful as a newly blooming gardenia. Her gaze towards the man held a mixture of shyness, excitement, anticipation, and...

Stimulate!

Teacher Lu has finally stood up! As free and unrestrained as ever, he is no longer trapped in the mental prison that a certain female bully is dedicated to extinguishing the characteristics of an artist!

With his wife away, the washing machine casually swept over the girl whose eyes were filled with warmth, sweet but not cloying, spirited but not seductive, just like a pear blossom glistening with morning dew.

He just seems to be a little mentally challenged, and he can't understand what I'm saying.

Before he could ask any further questions, the oblivious Lu Zheng had already walked over quickly and in small steps: "Mr. Lu, are you here to film a movie?"

"Yes, is your set visit over?"

“Tian Tian is here to make a cameo appearance as a female military officer. She has no lines and just finished filming.” Lu Zheng looked at the powerful figure in front of him with a smile.

Perhaps it's because he's about to become a father, but compared to when we first met two years ago, he seems to have a more authoritative air about him.

He recalled the leader's evaluation of him, and bowed slightly more respectfully: "President Lu, please come to my home more often when you have time. Uncle Tian Tian always talks to the younger generation in the family, wanting them to see what a promising young talent is. Why don't you give everyone more opportunities to get to know and learn from him?"

Da Tiantian's full lips were naturally tinged with rose color, and a smile appeared on her face: "Yes, Teacher Lu, ever since I had dinner with you, my uncle has been scolding all my brothers and sisters, always complaining that they are narrow-minded and not ambitious enough!"

Her pretty face flushed slightly, and she recalled overhearing her mother and aunt's private chatter:
It's a pity we didn't get to know this young director a few years earlier; otherwise, with the Jing family's support, he could have risen to prominence faster and more steadily, and Tian Tian could have too...

Faced with their flattery, Boss Lu joked, "Then what am I supposed to eat? Won't they all hate me?"

He then turned to Jing Tian with a serious expression: "How are you preparing for the role of Lin Yun's mother?"

Da Tiantian was startled and blurted out, "I've watched a lot of military-themed movies, and I even asked someone to visit a few retired female soldiers to learn their demeanor and way of speaking. I..."

"I'm sure I can do a great job playing this role!"

Lu Kuan looked at Jing Tian, ​​who was slightly pursing her lips. There was a hint of nervousness in the girl's eyes, but also a strong sense of determination.

At least the young female officer has the spirit and energy.

"Your skin is too fair, you can't rely entirely on makeup. Try to get a healthy tan recently." This time, Boss Lu looked at her carefully from a professional perspective.

“Lin Yun’s mother is a soldier, but not the stereotypical cold and hard image.” Lu Kuan spoke slowly, scrutinizing her with his gaze. “She has experienced war and witnessed life and death, so there must be a sense of maturity in her eyes, but when facing her daughter, she must also hide her softness.”

Da Tiantian seized the opportunity and said, "Then... then I'll wait until Sister Qianqian has given birth and then observe her more, okay?"

"Hehe, whatever you want."

Afei reminded him that someone was coming. Boss Lu looked up and saw that it was Xiaopingtou. So he waved goodbye to Jingtian and the other person.

"You even came to pick me up in person, Mr. Han."

Han Shanping did hear that he was coming and came out to say hello, but given his position and status, it was definitely not to flatter him, but to give him a special reminder.

The man with the crew cut put his arm around his shoulder and stood to the side, away from the busy entrance: "You've got some nerve, and a really bad conscience!"

"what?"

What's wrong with me today? Not a single person I've met is normal.

Han Shanping joked, "Your wife is working so hard carrying these two babies, and you still find time to surf the internet, forgetting to switch to your alternate account and getting caught red-handed?"

Boss Lu immediately realized that it must be Liu Xiaolv causing trouble again because he was bored at home. Otherwise, who else would have the opportunity to mess around with his Weibo account?

"So, what heinous crime did I commit online?" Lu Kuan laughed. "It can't be that someone used my account to cheer for the Koreans, can it?"

"No, it's just a man's nature, haha!" Old Han joked for a couple of minutes, then got down to business: "I came out specifically to tell you that a leader wants to conscript you."

"Who?"

"Mayor Cai, I heard you've been busy preparing for the Beiping Film Festival lately. You called this morning specifically to ask about your scenes today." Old Han teased, "Look, under the guise of the city's visit to 'The Founding of a Republic,' I bet you're here to arrest me."

Boss Lu chuckled and said, "Then let's go. We have to fully cooperate with the leader's orders."

Actually, Leader Liu had given him a heads-up two days ago, but these past few days he'd been preoccupied with his wife giving birth and had stayed secluded in his icy mansion, not going anywhere.

Leaders also have their pride, so it's reasonable to create a chance encounter today, a perfect opportunity for everyone to have an in-depth discussion about the film festival.

Upon entering the film set, one is greeted by a bustling scene.

Several equipment trucks bearing the "Founding of the Nation" logo were parked on the side of the field, and the stagehands were busy moving props.

In the distance, in front of a cluster of Republican-era buildings, Huang Jianxin was directing operations with a walkie-talkie, while several extras dressed in military uniforms sat on the steps to rest.

In the center of the set, tracks and a camera crane were set up, and the cameraman was adjusting the equipment. A makeup artist was chasing after an actor in a Zhongshan suit to touch up his makeup, while the script supervisor ran to the director with a clapperboard to confirm something.

Almost all the stars in the room were top celebrities from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Unfortunately, reporters and paparazzi were kept outside the Huairou film set and could only get a glimpse of the production when the crew opened the doors for interviews.

Lu Kuan and Han Shanping walked in with smiles, and familiar faces kept greeting them along the way. Even Chen Kaige, who had previously had a falling out with them, intentionally or unintentionally came closer.

"Did Mr. Han bring in an outside helper? It's been a long time since I've seen Director Lu." The poet greeted him casually, as if the unpleasantness from three years ago had vanished into thin air.

Regarding the "bloodshed" triggered by "A Steamed Bun".

Boss Lu casually shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the poet: "I can't talk about external aid. I'm just a lowly soldier under the command of Chinese cinema, relying solely on leaders like President Han to drive me around."

Chen Kaige is still better than the sixth generation, no matter what. It's true that he offended him, but he has suffered the consequences. There's no need to hold a grudge.

The man with the crew cut knew that this was him giving him face in front of others, and he waved his hand and said, "Come on, I went to great lengths to get you to play a cameo role.

Bingbing, who had just finished dressing up, came out of the dressing room and her eyes lit up when she saw him.

The veteran actress is much more experienced than the inexperienced Jing Tian. After looking through his various "I was here" graffiti, she asked Liu Yifei and found out that it was her doing.

So, not only did he highlight and pin the fake review of the "perverted emoji" to the top, he also replied with "Thank you for the certification, expectant mother," to avoid rumors and further embarrassment.

However, seeing that everyone was teasing him, Bingbing didn't mind showing his closeness to him: "President Lu, no matter who uses your Weibo account, I'll take your expression as a genuine compliment."

"But next time you can secretly message me privately, don't be so open, it's kind of embarrassing."

Although Bingbing was dressed as Soong Mei-ling, her undisguised charm and elegance still shone brightly. Now, as the female president of Wuyue Culture, her temperament has become even more refined.

The onlookers all laughed. This group consisted of people from the entertainment and arts circles; such news would spread in the blink of an eye.

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "I was wondering why you guys had all been acting strange ever since I saw Jing Tian at the gate. Did Xiao Liu play some kind of prank on me?"

Huang Xiaoming also came over, accompanied by a petite and pretty young woman with a slightly mixed-race look, who followed closely behind the man.
"Director Lu, it's all over the internet now. Starting with Bingbing, Yifei, and others, more than a dozen mainland female celebrities have voiced their support for Hualiu and Jielun. Your account hasn't missed a single beauty, has it? You've 'liked' them all."

"Now, any account you visit experiences a surge in followers, which netizens jokingly call 'professional certification'."

Huang Xiaoming couldn't very well say it was "washing machine certification" in front of so many people, even if the person involved never cared.

Some people become the center of attention as soon as they appear. Everyone surrounds Lu Kuan and teases him, which can be considered as explaining the good deeds that Liu Xiaolv did behind his back.

Boss Lu frowned at the man with the crew cut: "President Han, this is still your responsibility. You insisted on dragging me out to work now, and your wife is unhappy. Now there's trouble at home. Look at this!"

Top female celebrity fabricated rumors about her husband!

Although it's just a few lecherous emojis, combined with the suggestive nickname "washing machine" and the resulting plot, netizens think it's enough to fill ten volumes of "Jin Ping Mei".

"Who's trending again?" A kind voice came from behind the crowd.

"Mayor Cai!" "Greetings, Leader!"

"Hehe, hello everyone, you've all worked hard." Cai Fuchao greeted everyone kindly. Huang Jianxin, the director of "The Founding of a Republic," had just finished filming a scene and also gathered around with the actors.

"The Founding of a Republic is an important artistic work dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. I am very grateful for the participation of all the artists; it is both a responsibility and an honor."

"We hope that you will use your superb acting skills to portray the glorious image of the revolutionary predecessors, so that the audience can feel that magnificent history through your performance."

"On behalf of the city, I thank you and wish everyone the best. I hope the filming goes smoothly!"

The crowd applauded enthusiastically, and Mayor Cai continued the previous topic naturally: "We were just talking about whether it's popular or not. I've seen that the Korean wave is quite popular online these past two days, and there have also been some chaotic and noisy phenomena."

"But celebrities from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have also set a good example by responding with our own unique cultural characteristics—"

He smiled and turned to Lu Kuan: "Director Lu, your wife does a great job in this regard!"

After going around in circles, we finally managed to naturally bring up this young director.

Boss Lu laughed and said, "Boss, she's just being silly."

“Hey! How can you call it nonsense? You’re being modest.” Cai Fuchao said seriously, “In this situation, being able to speak out and unite artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong to jointly safeguard the dignity of Chinese culture is a practice that is worth learning from for artists.”

“In particular, expressions like ‘the pinnacle of five thousand years of cultural influence’ have set a positive example for the younger generation.”

“Alright, then I won’t be modest. I’ll thank the leader on her behalf.” Lu Kuan shook hands with him, and the onlookers laughed and applauded. The accompanying reporters who were allowed to enter took photos and recorded the scene.

Seeing that things had come to this point, Boss Lu simply took the initiative to invite her: "Mayor Cai, if you're not in a hurry to leave, I'd like to have a chat with you about what happened a few days ago with Leader Liu..."

Cai Fuchao was naturally pleased, as his real purpose for the trip was not the filming: "Alright, let's not interfere with the filming and go to Shanping's office."

Old Han, ever the astute one, led the way, saying, "Leader, we can't chat for too long. Comrade Lu Kuan overcame many difficulties to come out and support the cultural work; he still has a fire burning at home."

"Haha, okay, okay."

The group chatted and laughed as they walked towards the office behind the film set. Huang Xiaoming, feeling the tender touch of his girlfriend Xuezi brushing against him, turned his head and whispered:

"Today's timing isn't right. Didn't you see how many leaders were fawning over him? I'll introduce him to you again in a few days when we go to the set of 'Ball Lightning.' There will be plenty of opportunities then."

"Okay, I know~" Yang Ying lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes trembling, her voice soft and gentle, with just the right amount of grievance and obedience: "But I've heard so much about you, and seeing you once is enough. In my heart, you're still the most handsome!"

The domineering CEO gently stroked her artificially high nose bridge, his voice filled with indulgence: "You're so good with words."

Huang Xiaoming met Yang Ying through Raymond Wong during the event; at the time, she was filming his movie "All's Well, Ends Well 2010".

The two of them first appeared together in front of the media and the public in September 2009 at the premiere of "The Message" in Hong Kong.

Now, because of Lu Kuan's connections, Huang Xiaoming has been brought into the film "The Founding of a Republic." Yang Ying is not about to miss such an opportunity and is pestering him to come along, claiming that she wants to "see it for herself."

Huang Xiaoming was in the throes of passion and agreed without a second thought.

After all, reporters weren't allowed inside today. These are all well-known celebrities, and nobody's going to be so bored as to spread rumors.

His girlfriend was determined to enter the entertainment industry, and as her boyfriend, he should pave the way. In his previous life, he introduced her to the executives of Huayi Brothers at the Hong Kong premiere of "The Message." In this life, he wanted to be more direct and become a familiar face to the powerful figures in the Chinese entertainment industry.

The shapely Yang Ying glanced furtively in the direction of Lu Kuan, her eyes filled with admiration and longing. She then tightly pulled her boyfriend's forearm into her arms, making no attempt to express her unrestrained body language.

In the office at the Huairou base, Cai Fuchao didn't waste any time and went straight to stating his purpose.

“Director Lu, starting with *Dingjun Mountain* in 1905, next year, 2010, will mark the 105th anniversary of Chinese cinema. As the birthplace of Chinese film, Beiping should rightfully shoulder this responsibility.” He leaned forward slightly, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table: “Preliminary research has decided to establish the ‘Beiping International Film Festival,’ which will not only be a continuation of the spirit of *Dingjun Mountain*, but also an important measure in response to the national strategy of promoting Chinese culture abroad.”

Cai Fuchao spoke sincerely: "This project is currently in the preparatory stage. We are also following the instructions of Leader Liu, pooling our wisdom and efforts to solicit opinions widely. You are an internationally renowned director with a deep understanding of the three major European directors and the Oscars. Do you have any advice?"

In 2009, Liu Zhengcai was the deputy.

But if nothing changes in this life, he will be in charge of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television the year after next. He will not only be Lao Han's boss, but also have a profound impact on the entire film and entertainment industry.

This includes the introduction of future policies to curb the Korean Wave.

Perhaps the success of the Beiping Film Festival is just one of the steps that led to its success.

The young director readily expressed his support: "I dare not offer any advice. I've just spent a lot of time traveling around outside. I personally support and am happy to see such a cultural event, especially since it will be the first anniversary of the Beijing Olympics in three months. Our capital's image and reputation are very good in the world now."

"What are the main considerations and directions from above right now? There are currently four types of international film festivals. Which type should Beiping (Beijing) aim to participate in?"

Cai Fuchao's expression darkened slightly. He knew that it was useless to talk about abstract principles with such an expert. If he wanted to get him to endorse the film festival, he couldn't just do something superficial.

In fact, the question raised by Lu Kuan is quite practical—

Without discussing the purpose, how can we talk about the path?

International film festivals are divided into four categories: A, B, C, and D. This is a certification standard issued by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. The difference between A and D is not a matter of superiority or inferiority, but simply a difference in functional positioning and thematic nature.

The most widely accepted category is naturally Category A, which represents the three major European film festivals. It has a main competition section, but there are no specific thematic restrictions. It accepts films of all kinds from around the world. The current Shanghai Film Festival also belongs to this category.
Category B film festivals typically focus on specific themes. For example, the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea focuses on "new Asian talents" and only accepts directors' first two films.

The Sydney Film Festival focuses on "independent cinema" and has nurtured many independent filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino.

The Sitges Film Festival focuses on "fantasy horror," and all the films in competition fall into this genre.

Both of the above categories have competition sections, while Category C is purely for screenings, with the main purpose of providing a trading market;
Category D has a smaller scope and typically focuses on documentaries or short films.

As expected, Cai Fuchao stated the goal of holding the Class A event without hesitation, but also humbly asked the young director in front of him for his opinion.

"Mayor Cai, I have just one question," Boss Lu said with a smile. "Can Beiping's level of internationalization and film culture atmosphere compare with the three major European film festivals? Even compared with the Shanghai Film Festival, which already exists in China, it can't be said to have much of an advantage, can it?"

"Organizing a film festival is actually like running a restaurant. The three major European film festivals and the Oscars have been at the forefront internationally for many years due to the development of film culture and the commercial atmosphere dominated by Western discourse. Everyone recognizes the quality of their offerings."

"Berlin leans towards politics and society, so it's called a political correctional facility; Venice leans towards art and avant-garde, so it's called an avant-garde tea party; Cannes leans towards a combination of commerce and art, so it's called a gimmicky auction house."

Lu Kuan tried to explain to the leader in a tactful tone: "If this restaurant were opened in Beiping, Mayor Cai, what dishes would you recommend?"

“This…” Cai Fuchao was taken aback. He couldn’t say that the decision to go to Category A was a collective one, and that no one would object.

Given the domestic environment, you can't expect to hold a film festival in the capital city without being timid and hesitant. But without a concrete plan, it's just a dead end, with no chance of making it happen and only a waste of manpower and resources.

Leader Cai was quite pragmatic. He said in a deep voice, "Director Lu, with your understanding of the system, I think it's not hard to guess the answer. But I'm also hesitant. If we really do get Category A, how attractive will we be to directors and great films from other parts of the world?"

It can be said that there is none.

"The leaders said that all the top-tier film festivals, including the three major European film festivals, require a world premiere. After they have chosen their films, Tokyo and Sundance will choose theirs. As the selection process goes down the chain, new film festivals like ours can't even pick up any scraps."

Boss Lu smiled wryly and said, "Perhaps I'm being a bit self-deprecating, but I think the key point is still the question we started with: what is our purpose?"

"Film festivals are about cultural promotion and export, enhancing the cultural influence of cities and countries. If you spend money, you should hear results. Whether it's money or books, if Beiping wants to host a film festival, our real advantage is only one thing."

He didn't use scarcity marketing tactics on his superiors; he gave a straightforward answer, the same answer he'd always used to fool Hollywood filmmakers.

"It's the rapid expansion of the Chinese film market."

The young director patiently explained: "In 2008, the North American market ranked first in the world with a total box office of $98 billion, followed by Japan with $18.79 billion, and we had $9.5 million. This was our first time entering the top ten, but we were already ranked seventh."

"But just like the growth rate of China's economy, the growth rate of China's film market has simply amazed Western filmmakers. Whenever I talk to them, whether they are filmmakers from Europe or Hollywood, they all turn their attention to me."

As the conversation deepened, Mr. Lu began to slip in his own opinion: "The Beijing Film Festival has only two possible orientations: to compete with the three major European film festivals in terms of art, or to take a pragmatic commercial approach?"

"In terms of art, given our censorship standards, I think it's impossible for a slightly radical or avant-garde film to be screened without significant cuts."

Cai Fuchao asked curiously, "Then what if we take a purely commercial approach?"

"Then we don't need to consider Category A. Let's find a theme for Category B, or directly do Category C, which is mainly for screenings!"

"Just like our Shanghai World Expo, we aim to attract 'all nations to pay tribute' and make the Beiping Film Festival the world's largest film market!"

You're making me wide awake now!

Is there any person with a strong constitution who can resist this orientation of "taking economic development as the center"?
Leader Cai was very interested, but hesitated for a moment and said, "Director Lu, I have absolute faith in your professional abilities. Tell me the truth, is this really possible?"

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "At this rate of growth, let alone just entering the top ten, surpassing the US within ten years is not a problem."

"Toronto, now the world's largest Category C film festival, was built on the backing of the North American market. This year, the financial crisis has had a huge impact, and film funding is scarce. As far as I know, many directors who originally wanted to go to Venice have chosen to go to Toronto instead. After all, survival is the most important thing."

"If Chinese films can become number one in the world, why can't the Beiping Film Festival become number one in the world?"

Seeing that Cai Fuchao was completely immersed in his grand vision, Boss Lu revealed his true intentions: "Furthermore, running a commercial film festival doesn't mean you're unprofessional. I do have a suggestion..."

"Please speak!"

"I suggest that the Pan-Asia Film Academy, as a major co-organizer of the Beiping Film Festival, provide the festival with professional services including guest invitations, international promotion, and award evaluation!"

Mr. Lu spoke eloquently: "The Asian Film Academy will hold its first graduation ceremony next September. Currently, the two students from China are Lu Yang, who has already directed 'Brotherhood of Blades,' and Guo Fan, who will join the crew in two months to film 'Ball Lightning' with me."

"We have tentatively decided to invest in another sci-fi film with a budget no less than that of 'Ball Lightning' before the end of the year, together with Disney, CJ Entertainment of South Korea, and Toho of Japan. Like 'Ball Lightning,' it will be released simultaneously in China, Japan, South Korea, North America, and Europe."

"The combined abilities of the instructors, investors, and students of the Pan-Asia Film Academy are fully capable of undertaking this important task."

Cai Fuchao's pupils contracted slightly; he knew that the "sower" of Chinese cinema before him was about to reap the rewards.

The so-called elements of film industrialization—

The film company's ecosystem is already taking shape, but it still needs to catch up in terms of special effects technology.
As for actors and directors, the former are sourced globally, and the most scarce director resources, besides Ning Hao and others from Wenjie, now include two newcomers whose qualifications are yet to be tested.
In terms of distribution channels, Wenjie has Disney and Miramax in North America, MK2 and Luc Besson in Europe, and Asia goes without saying;

The so-called "cultural export" and "promoting Chinese films to the world" may still only be a goal for now, according to those in the system or associations.

But this young director, who is about to turn 30, has spent nearly ten years taking his first real step!
Even though Cai Fuchao held a high position in the government, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He didn't realize that Boss Lu was secretly pursuing his own agenda—

He wanted to use the power of the Asian Film Academy to "steal" the fruits of victory from the Beiping Film Festival and seize control of the official film criticism rights in China!

Lu Kuan's so-called professional support for the film festival is aimed at driving out the outdated and pedantic "Zhu Dake-style poison" from this new cultural project.

These old academics from cultural interest groups often like to use the mechanical dialectics of the Soviet montage school and the "auteur theory" of the French New Wave as criteria for judgment, and they blindly apply Bazin's "long take ontology" to deny innovation in commercial genre films.

Commentators are particularly keen to cite the Frankfurt School's critical theory of the culture industry, equating market-driven creation simply with the alienation of cultural commodities.

Now you can go to the Shanghai Film Festival as judges and express your opinions however you like.

But this commercialized Category C film festival, he wants to use the co-organizer role of the Pan-Asian Film Academy to completely transform itself into its own shape.

If handled properly, even the rope binding the Chinese film industry will be severed by the time traveler.

But this is just his idea at the moment. Even though Cai Fuchao is very interested and Liu, the leader in the city, is very supportive, such a cultural project cannot be approved only at the city level.

"Director Lu, you are a leading figure among the younger generation of Chinese filmmakers. Not only have your works achieved great success and prestige in the international market, but most importantly, as the chief director of the Olympics, you have perfectly promoted our culture to the world."

"I have benefited greatly from your professional insights. As an international project, the Beiping Film Festival greatly needs the participation of professionals like you in its preparation."

Cai Fuchao said sincerely, "Comrade Xiaolu, could you perhaps spare some time to participate in this work over the course of a year?"

He then made a half-joking remark: "If you don't agree, I think we'll have to ask Leader Liu to personally visit me three times."

"What the leader said... how could I dare disobey you?" Boss Lu warmly shook hands with the future industry leader.
"Whether or not my suggestions are adopted by the higher authorities, as a member of the Chinese film industry, I cannot shirk this responsibility, and I will do my utmost to fulfill it!"

Cai Fuchao had always heard that this person had a very close relationship with Leader Liu, and he was worried that the leader would not take him seriously. Now he felt very reassured.

"Okay! Let's leave it at that for now. There's still almost a year before preparations begin. I'll get your feedback back as soon as possible and seek the best solution!"

……

Leader Cai left, but this consultation delayed the crew's filming time by a whole morning, and these scenes couldn't be finished in just a few days.

At 8 p.m., the richest man, who had made a cameo appearance as a professional actor in "The Founding of a Republic", rushed home under the stars and went to his study to give his wife a stern scolding!

"Liu Xiaolv, look what you've done! Today I received love confession texts and explicit photos from over a dozen female celebrities. What do you suggest we do?"

While still battling Jay Chou's haters and casually enjoying the devastation of the Fairy Alliance and Girls' Generation fan sites being bombarded by Tieba, Xiao Liu looked up, gave a sarcastic "oh," and then sneered:

"If you're so capable, show it to me. If you have it, I'll let you go. Let's see who has the guts."

"Really?" Washing Machine grinned. "If you're going to say that, I'll take it out and show it to you."

"What are you taking out?" The young woman, Liu Yifei, raised an eyebrow, her eyes glistening with tears. "Take out carefully, don't take out the wrong thing."

"I..." The washing machine looked at its wife, whom it could only look at but not touch, and felt quite helpless in the face of her teasing.

"Haha! I've already clarified things for you, look at you." Xiao Liu chuckled and turned the computer around, revealing her own Weibo homepage:

[Lu Kuan's Weibo account has been hacked. All comments, messages, and likes today were not made by him. Please forgive any offense caused. Thank you!]

The comments below are all sarcastic, like, "Who would believe your Weibo boss's account was hacked? What's the point of playing this game then?!"
However, judging from Liu's statement and a few playful emojis, netizens also know that this might just be a prank, a "white prank"—

For the female celebrities who received the likes, whether it's Bingbing or Jingtian, no one is unhappy, even if it's fake.

Other female celebrities took the opportunity to gain a wave of fans, and getting a "washing machine certification" label was entirely beneficial!
For netizens with a sense of justice, the various "I was here" posts on the washing machine boosted the popularity of the Chinese pop culture camp, which in turn triggered the "expedition" by the Diba (a popular online forum). Why not take advantage of it?
Even for Liu Yifei, who was bored to death while waiting to give birth at home, it provided her with an afternoon of fun and made the laundry detergents start making noise again.

This was a brilliant online marketing campaign by Liu Xiaolv, and there were no losers across the entire internet except for the Korean fans.

No, there's one more!
Of course, it wasn't the washing machine that was completely irrelevant, but rather the fact that her sweetheart had been inadvertently revealed again.

Liu Yifei didn't discuss these matters with her husband. She couldn't give him any hints, lest she arouse his cravings.

Let's wait a couple of days until Jing Tian comes before we bully her properly.

Regardless, netizens, mainly fans of Jay Chou, Liu Yifei, Lu Kuan, Mei Yanfang, Fan Bingbing, and others, along with "traditional elites" like Diba, temporarily suppressed the barking and arrogance of the Korean wave and public intellectuals.

However, the more Tencent tries to suppress the game, the more its game data continues to rise, and a new kind of simple fan culture, "feeling sorry for our idol and recharging his account," is becoming very popular.

This stems from a compensatory mentality among infatuated fans:
You have the numbers and the power, we won't argue with you. We'll just use our passion and money to help our brother achieve glory.

Every day after his daily routine of stealing vegetables, Xiao Liu would anxiously watch the data that Penguin published almost daily. One could imagine how pleased the evil axis and competitors were, which only made Liu Xiaolv, who was more worried than the emperor, even more "angry at their lack of ambition."

On Saturday, May 9th, a slightly guilty Jing Tian visited a pregnant woman who was feeling rather uneasy.

Meanwhile, a vicious scandal, orchestrated on Korean online forums and rapidly sweeping across the Chinese entertainment industry, is quietly brewing.

The K-pop fandom may soon face a massive backlash after indiscriminate barking, and this is only the first step for the transmigrators to resist the K-pop fandom.

(End of this chapter)