Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 595 "Little Consort Liu" Looks at "Big Consort Liu"

It's rare for the washing machine company to proactively share some PDA, although it's objectively convenient for both public and private purposes. It's also an attempt to leverage Gucci's popularity and create hype by associating it with "The Book of Peace".

This unusual move has sparked much discussion online, serving as a way of warming up for prime-time TV dramas.

【Fei Ni Mo Shu】: After all these years, the washing machine has finally taken the initiative to show affection! Although the photo stitching technique is still so clumsy and awkward, and the borders are not even aligned, the artist's romance is already evident in these two simple judgments. I guess it's barely passable for a passerby.

[A Crystal Palace fan of 50 years]: Studying in London, I passed by the Gucci flagship store on Regent Street today, and the huge advertisement has been changed to feature Sissi! Considering the time difference, it really is a global simultaneous launch! I suddenly have the illusion that the whole world is celebrating Sissi's birthday, and for the first time, I don't want to kill any random fans... This random fan seems to have been tamed!

[Entertainment Observer]: I knew there would be something big happening on her birthday! Using Gucci's global advertising campaign to promote the premiere of "The Book of Peace"—this is a grand scheme, and only Wenjie could pull it off with such scale and vision. Of course, among domestic actresses, besides Liu Yifei, there's really no one else who can carry this banner, considering her temperament, works, and international fame. But Yang Mi and Huang Shengyi must be feeling a bit conflicted, right?

[Are you a college student yet?]: I can't afford Gucci no matter what, but I can still use WeChat. I'll definitely support the limited-edition birthday item pack for "Ask the World Farm," and I've already played "Ball Flash" three times with my roommates! That's all a poor student CP fan can contribute!
[Coco, Senior Partner at Beiping Yingke Law Firm]: I fell in love with Liu Yifei because of the character played by Iris Chang, and I've always wanted to support her. We, the late 70s generation, are all in our 30s now; we can't exactly argue with people online like young people (right?). I used to worry that her endorsements of Pepsi and Disney didn't feel substantial enough, and sometimes I even resented how wealthy Lu Kuan was, making it impossible for us to support her. All I could do was take the kids to Hong Kong Disneyland a few more times. Now, the Gucci endorsement is finally working! After work, I meet up with my group of wealthy female clients to go shopping, then go home and watch TV!

Of course, ever since Gucci's official promotional video and various materials were released, everyone's attention has turned to Xiao Liu's deliberately "aged" makeup and styling. In particular, fashion media in China, which are always sought after by top celebrities, have their opinions on the brand's perception. Even the seating arrangements and photo spots at each event are scarce resources that are fiercely contested.

Su Mang, editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, was the first to chime in, writing on her Weibo account:

Liu Yifei's image upgrade this time is an extremely clever and strategic move. The Gucci team didn't try to make her pretend to be someone else, but rather cleverly amplified her inherent qualities—

That calm aura that transcends age.

Why would a brand create the visual age of 28 for her? Because this is the psychological comfort zone of the core customer base of luxury goods. The naivety and innocence of an ordinary 23-year-old girl cannot impress the middle class who hold wealth and pursue quality.

But look at her makeup: her natural brows retain a touch of boldness, while the mauve lip gloss tones down the youthful vibrancy, highlighting instead a warm and gentle texture. This is no longer the childishness of a girl wearing adult clothes, but rather the composure of a woman showcasing her true self.

Su Mang specifically pointed out the key: "The most wonderful thing is the hairstyle. Those deliberately scattered stray hairs are not a carelessness, but the most sophisticated 'carefully crafted casualness.' It breaks the restraint of haute couture gowns, making you feel that this is not only a superstar on the red carpet, but also an oriental woman who makes tea in the morning and reads ancient books."

This sense of contradiction is the very soul of high fashion.

“This is not about erasing her 23 years,” Su Mang concluded. “It’s about telling the world that Liu Yifei’s 23 years already possess the charm and depth that usually takes ten years to develop, which opens up a wider door for her acting career and her fashion image.”

Even Zhang Yu, the editor-in-chief of the most authoritative Vogue China edition, was lavish in her praise:

Fashion is ultimately an art that is "people-oriented." Whether it's clothing, accessories, or makeup, it always serves people, and the presenters bring their unique charm to the public.

From this perspective, I admire Gucci's choice of Liu Yifei as its global ambassador.

There's a saying in China about facial features, that those with four certain characteristics are considered to have an air of nobility:
Northerners have southern features, southerners have northern features, girls have masculine features, and boys have feminine features.

I had a private interview with artist and director Lu Kuan when I was doing an event before. We talked about fashion and aesthetics. I asked him, from an aesthetic point of view, what part of his wife's appearance do you admire the most?
His answer was a hump nose, a prominent feature of what is known as a woman with masculine features.

From the perspective of a director and artist who discovers beauty, the presence of a camel-hump nose on Yi Fei's exquisite face, which conforms to classical Eastern aesthetics, is like a vigorous brushstroke in an ink painting.

When the smooth lines of an oval face suddenly curve up at the bridge of the nose, like a resounding note inserted into a beautiful melody, this "flaw" that breaks the perfect curve breaks free from the constraints of formulaic aesthetics and gives the face a sense of story.

Just as true aristocrats often possess a rebellious spirit that defies convention, directors and artists like Director Lu also need actors with a strong sense of story.

I watched Gucci's promotional video today and couldn't help but admire the top director's aesthetic taste. He has excellent taste in choosing a wife! (laughs)

Just kidding, but all in all, Gucci's choice this time was spot on. They valued not only an Asian face, but also a timeless charm that can transcend time.

Liu Yifei's "gentle yet strong" qualities are precisely the spiritual mirror that modern women aspire to.

There's no need to deliberately flaunt strength, yet it possesses an undeniable power. This mutual achievement between people and clothing is the most captivating realm of fashion.

……

In a short time, this integrated marketing campaign led by Wenjie has shown an amazing cross-circle effect, from the morning coffee chat of financial elites in Lujiazui to the aesthetic appreciation of afternoon tea in the art circle of Beiping.
From special planning meetings for fashion editors to classroom case studies in university design programs;
Even financial media outlets are discussing the underlying capital logic behind Kering Group's stock price being affected by this marketing campaign.

People from different circles are deconstructing the same cultural phenomenon using their own discourse systems.

Even more interestingly, the sports world has also joined the discussion. With Crystal Palace achieving two wins and one draw at the start of the Championship season, Lu Kuan's famous quote, "Nothing is more harmful than being good," was quoted by a Premier League commentator during a live broadcast.

Football forums began to feature memes and creations about "Gucci red and blue color scheme jerseys." This cross-border resonance between the arts and sports fields made Liu Yifei both the Eastern muse in Harper's Bazaar's special feature and the club owner's wife in a popular Hupu post.

Until around 6 p.m., a matrix-style promotional campaign, similar to that used when "My Love from the Star" was launched during the 618 shopping festival two months ago, swept across various platforms, generating continuous buzz and discussion about "The Book of Peace," effectively taking over the attention and traffic brought by Gucci's promotional video during the day.

The series itself maintained its popularity in the early stages through Liu Yan's "Behind the Scenes Salon" and a series of event marketing campaigns.

At 7 p.m., Xiao Liu, who had not shown up on his birthday, finally posted a Weibo post.

The picture shows a makeshift costume set set for the filming of "The Book of Peace: The Great Wind," which is the second season. Liu Yifei is holding a cake in the center, surrounded by actors in casual clothes and costumes, indicating that filming is not yet finished.

For example, in the second season, which focuses on the historical period from the late Qin Dynasty and the Chu-Han Contention to the mid-to-late Han Dynasty, the cast includes Hong Kong actress Kara Hui as Empress Lü, Duan Yihong as Han Xin, Chen Baoguo as Emperor Wu of Han, director Zhang Li, and general director Zheng Xiaolong, among others.

There's also the emotionally charged Weibo post from Xiao Liu, who just finished working overtime:
Another birthday spent on set. Thank you to all the dear staff for the surprise. It was an honor to work with everyone on the filming of "The Book of Peace". Today is also the exciting moment to witness the premiere of our first season.

After eating the cake, I'm going home to celebrate my birthday again with my mom and two babies, and then I'll show the kids my first TV drama in six years.

Finally, I want to thank a certain "heartless man" who is still on a business trip in the United States and can't even make it back for his wife's birthday. I am grateful that you appeared in my life. Tonight is He Qian.
Always your Vitamin Qian!
Liu Yifei, who is currently filming the second season in Hengdian, rushed back to Yulong Bay after eating cake on set (Chapter 574).

Whenever she's filming, Liu Xiaoli, along with her nanny Aunt Qiao and her other aunts, will bring the children to live with her in this mountain and water palace. This lifestyle is expected to continue until the year after next when Youyou and Tiedan start kindergarten.

At 7:30 p.m., the serialized program ended, and countless families across China waited in front of their televisions, eagerly anticipating the official premiere of "The Book of Peace" on Travel Channel.

It's worth mentioning that the first season of the historical drama, with 12 episodes, each around 90 minutes long, will be available on Zhijie Video and Netflix at almost the same time, unlike "My Love from the Star" which opted for a staggered release schedule between television and online platforms.

The reason for this is that, firstly, "The Book of Peace" is different from "My Love from the Star," which has a fashionable theme, strong sales ability, and frequent product placement. Advertisers' rights are not fully reflected in the TV ratings, so "The Book of Peace" has a lower degree of commercialization and a stronger cultural attribute.

"My Love from the Star" needed to maximize profits and validate the "TV first, then online" business model, but "The Book of Peace" pursued the maximization of cultural influence, which meant "simultaneous TV and online release," or even simultaneous release across different industries, to create instant buzz.

The prime-time premiere on Travel Channel was like a grand premiere, giving the series an appeal to the largest middle-aged and elderly audience in mainland China.
The simultaneous global streaming of Zhijie Video and Netflix instantly propelled it onto the world stage, attracting the attention of global media and audiences, especially young viewers.

Under this strategy, internet video live streaming with bullet comments is no longer a supplement to television stations, but constitutes another highly dynamic second battlefield parallel to television live streaming.

……

Beijing, LeEco Culture Headquarters.

Guo Jinming, a bestselling author whose works are often described as "the essence lies in brevity," gave a final presentation and appeal for his film project in the conference room.

Among those present was Gao Fei, former deputy editor-in-chief of Ku6.com and current vice president of LeEco Culture;

Gan Wei, wife of Jia Yueting, has transitioned from acting to management and is now the film and television culture director.
LeTV Culture's collaborating director Chen Kexin, and contracted director Chen Sicheng, among others.

The remaining question is what Guo Jinming is mainly trying to persuade today, and also what he considers to be the testimony of those who will be involved in the film adaptation of this work:

Yang Mi, one of China's four most popular young actresses, and her executive boyfriend, Xu Duojin.

Perhaps feeling that he had to look up at everyone from this angle, which was a little inconvenient, Guo Jinming stood up leisurely. His signature baby face and carefully styled chestnut short hair stood out under the light.

"As you all know, the Tiny Times series of novels has sold more than 350 million copies in total."

He gestured to the steeply rising data curve on the projection screen, "But what I want to emphasize today is that the energy this IP can unleash in 2010 is far more than the numbers on paper."

The PPT turned to a new page, displaying a classic still from "My Love from the Star" featuring Bingbing wearing a starry dress standing in a planetarium, alongside a series of astonishing statistics:
During the broadcast, the sales of the same clothing items on the Wenjie Mall exceeded 80 pieces, the Laneige lipstick used in the show was sold out three times, and even the brand valuation of Haidilao self-heating hot pot that appeared in the show tripled.

Since the company is not yet listed, few people know that Xiao Liu holds shares in Haidilao. Due to the risks in the food industry, she has never publicly endorsed the brand. She only collaborates with the brand in suitable areas and opportunities, or goes to her private room with a few friends to enjoy food.

Guo Jinming's presence was even more impressive than his height: "It's been almost a month since the finale of 'My Love from the Star,' and Fan Bingbing, through 28 haute couture looks, has stimulated a derivative consumer market worth nearly 10 billion yuan. This fully demonstrates the commercial magic of top-tier fashion narratives."

"The same goes for 'Tiny Times.' If it were filmed according to my script, every Givenchy coat and every LV handbag in the book would be a symbol that could directly ignite consumer desire and translate into actual sales."

Vice President Gao Fei raised the question: "But will this concentrated presentation of materialism trigger controversy at the social level?"

"After all, 'My Love from the Star' had some clever plot points, but your adapted script..."

He paused for a moment: "Excuse me for being blunt, but the whole thing is just a pile of designer brands. The plot is basically driven by the need for a banquet, and the conflicts are things like 'You stole my man and you also stole my limited edition item,' and so on."

He smiled and raised his hand to indicate: "Of course, I am not a director like the two directors Chen here today. I don't object to any kind of film, whether it's art, commerce or fashion, but you have to have box office success first, otherwise everything else is in vain."

Yang Mi nodded repeatedly as she listened; she had indeed watched the "Tiny Times" series.

This novel began serialization in the magazine "Tiny Times" at the end of 2007 and immediately caused a sensation among young readers. To date, two standalone books have been published: "Tiny Times 1.0 Origami Era" and "Tiny Times 2.0 Copper Era".

Although the third installment, "Tiny Times 3.0: The Golden Age," has not yet been published, most of it has already been serialized in magazines, generating strong anticipation among readers.

In its own right, this is a female-oriented book, but no matter how many people criticize and belittle it, it still manages to sell well nationwide.

It's somewhat like a low-budget version of "Twilight." Guo Jinming just touched on this point directly, otherwise we wouldn't be listening to it now.

Should we just follow Wanda's lead and learn from them?

After traditional B-movies like "Insidious" and "Paranormal Activity," North American Entertainment's first breakout hit was "Twilight," which has become a stable money-making machine. In particular, the derivative products developed through its Quantum Toys business provide important cash flow to support its US operations.

Guo Jinming glanced at the clock in the conference room; it was 7:20 p.m., and he didn't have much time left for his final statement.

He gritted his teeth and couldn't help but continue kicking the lame man's limping leg:
"I have to say that I have only ever liked three actresses in this movie: Liu Yifei, Fan Bingbing, and Ms. Yang Mi who is here today."

A name that sounded like "Big Honey" popped out, immediately piquing her interest and fueling her competitive desires.

"Today we have all seen Liu Yifei and Gucci's global project, which is very successful. It represents a pinnacle path that has been recognized by top resources."

Guo Jinming mentioned Gucci's global promotional campaign, which frustrated LeEco Culture's top female star today: "This path requires the right timing, location, and people; it's a top-tier strategy. But the battlefield of fashion and influence isn't just at the top of the pyramid; it's also in the vast middle-class and young consumer market."

"As for Lin Xiao, I think she's perfect for you. She represents another path, a path that's more universally applicable and has greater commercial appeal—"

He walked to the projection screen and pointed to the character design and creation of Lin Xiao: "Through Lin Xiao's eyes, the audience does not see an unattainable dream shop window, but a world that they feel they can reach by standing on tiptoe. This powerful sense of immersion is an emotional connection that no top-notch advertising blockbuster can provide."

The phrase "good things come in small packages" blatantly uses Liu Yifei's image to provoke Yang Mi: "Liu Yifei is currently in a position of being looked up to; she's an 'idol.' But I believe that through this film, Ms. Yang Mi can become a 'role model'—"

"A role model of an independent urban woman that millions of young women feel they can emulate and follow. Idols bring a sense of distance and beauty, while role models bring a strong sense of approachability and consumer guidance, which is the essential commercial value that brands value most."

In other words, what he meant was that everyone was chasing big names, and Liu Yifei, through top-level design, directly "descended from heaven" from top to bottom;
Yang Mi, by playing a Cinderella-like character, rose from the bottom to the top, just like many fans who follow celebrities, and created her own persona through the plot of "Tiny Times".

Although they are all showcasing luxury brands, their approaches are different.

Da Mimi and Xu Duojin fell into deep thought, but Gao Fei and the others inexplicably felt that the idea was quite good.

Even LeEco Culture itself seems to have never dreamed of competing with the industry in terms of resources. The level and influence of being a global ambassador for Gucci is something that coal mine owners can't achieve no matter how much money they spend at this stage. There is also a hierarchy of disdain in the fashion industry from west to east.

Westerners think that Chinese people don't know anything about fashion.
On the one hand, after the global financial crisis and economic downturn, they also come to the mainland to eye the increasingly full wallets of the middle class.

However, to secure a global endorsement, it would be difficult for anyone other than Lu Kuan to do so, relying on the resources of Wenjie and his own reputation and influence in the Western art world.

If that's the case, why not take the "Cinderella" route?

Compared to Liu Yifei's meteoric rise to fame, Yang Mi is at best...

Of course, Gao Fei couldn't say these words; they were too hurtful, especially since Xu Duojin was a major shareholder and vice president of LeEco Culture.

How did the previous "Tiny Times" series work? It followed the exact same route as "My Love from the Star," with product placements primarily featuring top international luxury brands. In the third installment alone, "The Golden Age," over 80 brands appeared, involving more than 7000 pieces of clothing.

Besides fashion and luxury brands, the film also features other brands such as Roseonly, a high-end flower shop, and JD.com, but the best-selling items are some affordable luxury perfumes and accessories.

Liu Yifei directly and effectively captured the core consumer group of middle-class and above for luxury brands.
Yang Mi, on the other hand, can "put up a sheep's head and sell dog meat" by boosting sales of affordable luxury goods to solidify her commercial value. This is a very realistic and pragmatic approach.

It must be said that Guo Jinming did conduct thorough research on the current luxury goods market for today's project.

In mainland China today, customers who purchase high-end items from brands like Gucci and LV have a very high entry barrier and belong to the very top tier.

However, the vast number of young people who are the body and base of the tower and yearn to touch fashion are too large to afford ready-made clothes and handbags costing tens of thousands of yuan, but they crave the identity recognition and sense of participation in fashion that "big brands" bring.

Their spending falls on accessible luxury items, such as perfumes, cosmetics, accessories, and entry-level handbags.

Guo Jinming's strategy was to use "Tiny Times" to make Yang Mi's character "Lin Xiao" a fashion guide and consumption guide for this group of people, which would also bring huge popularity and considerable commercial value.

The original novel of "Tiny Times" is a "consumerism bible" full of brand symbols and depicting urban materialism. Its core fans are young people who are curious and eager for brand names, and it takes advantage of their vanity.

But young people don't have money!
Otherwise, why would Gucci make Liu Yifei appear older in the promotional video?

"Ahem!" Many golden fists were raised to their mouths to clear their throats, breaking the silence brought by Guo Jinming.

"Honey, what do you think?"

He shared Gao Fei's view that this was a very pragmatic approach and concept.

Moreover, with Guo Jinming's 350 million book fans, she at least has a basic fanbase. After all, apart from Wu Ershan's "Painted Skin 2", Yang Mi's past movies have not been very successful at the box office, which is the most fatal point compared to Liu Yifei.

But can Yang Mi accept this "second-best" approach in terms of star power and this "indirect approach" in terms of actual development?
This is the biggest problem.

After all, even at the 2025 Vogue event, Yang Mi still wanted to "compete with the celestial beauty".

To be honest, Yang Mi was very tempted, but she didn't seem to be able to say it in front of so many people. She also secretly blamed her boyfriend for not being considerate enough and for asking her to make this decision.
Why not just admit defeat face-to-face?
In fact, she was overthinking it.

Compared to Liu Yifei in this life, apart from the extremely competitive Liu Yifei herself, no one else believes that this gap can be bridged.

This gap has been widening since "The Return of the Condor Heroes" in 2004. However, Liu Yifei rested for more than a year during her childbirth, which allowed her to see the taillights and even inhale the exhaust fumes, and she tried to make a name for herself by leveraging black money capital.

“President Gao and President Jia, and their company leaders, will definitely consider it.” Da Mimi smiled radiantly, stood up and shook hands with Guo Jinming, saying, “Author Guo, I’m a big fan of your books. In any case, thank you for your works that have accompanied so many girls through their adolescence.”

"Oh, thank you!" Guo Jinming tilted his head slightly. "Just call me Xiao Si. I'll be going now. Thank you, General Manager Gao, General Manager Xu, and both Directors Chen..."

"And of course, there's Yang Mi..."

"Just call me Mimi, don't be shy, we're all family." Mimi showed sincerity and friendliness, which actually represented her decision.

Guo Jinming nodded: "Okay, I look forward to your reply."

By a twist of fate, because the two successful projects, "My Love from the Star" and "Twilight," were released ahead of schedule, the money-worshipping cult's work, "Tiny Times," was also released ahead of schedule, and it found Yang Mi like a turtle looking at a green bean.

Actually, it's because Guo Jinming didn't have many options. There's only so much film capital in China, and Wenjie and Wuyue are very closed off, leaving no room for him, a writer turned director, to have a say. Even if he collaborates with LeTV Culture, it's uncertain whether he'll ultimately get the director's turn.

But the "Tiny Times" series was indeed a dark horse at the box office in the previous era:
"Tiny Times 1: Origami Era" was released in 2013 with an investment of 2000 million yuan and a total box office of 4.84 million yuan in mainland China.

They subsequently made four more films to make money, and it's clear that they wouldn't have been able to produce a sequel if they hadn't made money, indicating that their profitability was quite good.

If this project can be completed this year, it is expected to be released during the 2011 Lunar New Year season. Considering the difference in the speed of development of the domestic film industry in the two countries, they are actually basically on the same wavelength.

Vice President Gao Fei watched Guo Jinming's departing figure and laughed, "These bestselling authors are quite innovative; one races cars, and the other is a director."

He nodded to Yang Mi and Duo Jin: "President Jia is busy with the final listing matters. Duo Jin, you two should evaluate this matter yourselves. If the budget is kept within 2000 million as he said, and the costs are recovered in advance with product placement, it shouldn't be a money-losing project."

"The main issue is Mimi's business positioning, which needs to be carefully considered."

"Okay, I understand." Xu Duojin smiled and said, "President Jia must be quite busy. You've been in the United States for several months now, haven't you?"

Gao Fei sighed helplessly: "Ugh! It's all because of that guy who messed things up again recently. From Zhang Yimou to Zhao Benshan, everyone who originally agreed to be our shareholder has backed out, and there's also that Liu Tao."

"When that person gives the order, who wouldn't think twice?"

This refers to Liu Tao consulting with Liu Yifei in London at the end of June about LeTV Culture's final round of celebrity investment. Obviously, Mr. Lu's attitude caused them some trouble.

Although he didn't state it as bluntly as "I don't think Wanda's purchase of AMC is a good idea," his attitude has already spread through the "cancellation" of orders by his friends in the industry, such as Zhang Yimou and Zhao Benshan.

In China, when it comes to making movies and money, or perhaps in the past, making women, Washing Machine is the biggest opinion leader. Even his opponents have to hold their noses and observe his attitude.

Yang Mi and Xu Duojin agreed and were about to leave LeTV Culture when Yang Mi saw a large, beautiful photo of Liu Yifei on the office building across the street. Suddenly, she remembered that tonight was the premiere of "The Book of Peace".

"Xiao Xu, shall we stay in the company activity room and watch Liu Yifei's new movie before we leave?"

Many Jin Man was surprised and paused for two seconds before she understood what she meant. Was this a way of telling her that she was willing to accept the commercial positioning and character design of "Tiny Times"?

Yang Mi is not stupid at all; in fact, she is one of the most intelligent people in the entertainment industry. However, she often misuses her ambition, which gives others an opportunity to take advantage of her.

She may have large breasts, but they lack the capacity to hold them, so naturally she can't compare to the towering, unyielding beauty of another young actress, who is strong because she has no desires.

Yang Mi smiled radiantly, seemingly unconcerned about the rumors circulating outside: "I still need to study. It's been so long since 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' in 2004. Let's see her new film."

"Okay, whatever you say." Xu Duojin nodded. "Why don't we go home and visit?"

The home he's referring to is the luxurious villa in Dongshan that he bought for over 5000 million yuan; it's also an elaborately decorated, intricately designed golden birdcage.

But this little bird with its fancy feathers kept trying to squeeze inside.

Yang Mi suddenly revealed a strange smile: "I want to invite another person to watch it together. They're all good friends, she'll definitely be interested."

"Who?"

Da Mimi didn't speak, but the call she made was already answered, "Hello? Shishi, are you still at the company?"

……

Xu Duojin watched his girlfriend's retreating figure, his expression instantly becoming somewhat meaningful.

He still remembered the advertorial he'd written for her during the Lunar New Year when he and the *Nanfang Metropolitan Daily* were hyping up the "Celebrity Couples Ranking," which included Liu Shishi, whom Yang Mi had personally recruited to LeTV Culture for reasons unknown. (Chapter 572)
But why would his girlfriend invite this actress, who had briefly become famous because of Liu Yifei and then completely faded into obscurity, to Liu Yifei's birthday, which was destined to shine?

Xu Duojin watched his girlfriend's graceful figure walk away. Her well-tailored Dior early autumn suit perfectly accentuated her shapely figure, and her long chestnut-colored curly hair swayed gently over her shoulders with each step, shimmering with a honey-like glow under the corridor's overhead lights.

As she tilted her head to make the call, a sweet and innocent smile even graced her lips, as if she were simply inviting her best friend to share an ordinary audio-visual feast.

However, the second-generation coal miner knew all too well what kind of heart lay hidden beneath that beautiful exterior—a heart plotting to use someone else to do his dirty work.

From a very early time, and from a very early time, LeEco Culture also dared not directly confront Wen Jie and Liu Yifei's sharp edge, only daring to ride the wave of popularity and chime in from the sidelines.

But his girlfriend was clearly unwilling to give up. She wanted to plant a seed of "resentment" and "jealousy" in Liu Shishi's heart, which had long been dormant.

Even if we don't expect this seed to sprout right now, what about the future?
Given the right time and the right nutrients, who can guarantee that it won't grow into a poisonous vine that pierces even the most beautiful woman?

Many people not only felt no pity, but actually found it even more amusing.

He leaned back leisurely in his chair, lit a cigarette, and watched the drama unfold before him, orchestrated by his girlfriend—a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada. He himself seemed like a bird watching from a higher vantage point, observing everything with a clear understanding.

This feeling of manipulation, treating the fate and even emotions of others as pawns, gave him a secret sense of pleasure.

At 7:35 p.m., the door to the activity room was gently pushed open.

Liu Shishi arrived as scheduled, her face expressionless but with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue. She and Yang Mi had finished recording "Palace" for Beiping TV that afternoon and returned to the company together.

Wearing simple jeans and a white shirt, Yang Mi looked like an ordinary employee who had been temporarily called in to work overtime, a stark contrast to her radiant appearance.

"Shishi's here! Come and sit down!" Yang Mi warmly greeted her and invited her to sit in the main seat on the sofa next to her. She handed her a glass of water and said affectionately, "I knew you must still be at get off work. Let's watch Xixi's new drama together and relax."

She didn't even bother to observe Liu Shishi's expression, and instead picked up the remote and precisely switched to Travel Channel.

The grand and majestic opening theme of "The Book of Peace: Vastness" had just ended on the screen, and the scene displayed the vast and boundless Qin and Han dynasties.

Liu Shishi looked at her best friend with a complicated expression: "Honey, this... I..."

"It's alright, just watch more, learn more, we all are." Yang Mi gently hugged her. "After all, she's the number one female star in the country. Speaking of which, if you had..."

"Yang Mi!" Xu Duojin interrupted her at just the right moment.

Liu Shishi looked troubled, but facing the company's vice president, she could only give him a helpless look. "No...it's okay, let's take a look."

Inside the event room, the screen's light flickered, illuminating two faces: one a beautiful yet cruel smile that seemed to control everything.

The other photo shows a pale face that tries to maintain its composure but ultimately cannot hide the turmoil in its eyes.

Xu Duojin silently exhaled a smoke ring from the shadows in the corner, looking at the "Little Liu Yifei" in front of him, while staring intently at the "Big Liu Yifei" on the screen.

Gu Nan made her appearance.

(End of this chapter)