Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 293: The New Year's Nuclear Explosion, Writing Comes in Full Swing
Before the end credits on the screen had even finished scrolling down to the last frame, the internet erupted like a volcano.

"They started kissing" explodes
"The anti-bomb couple has a happy ending" explodes.
"Opening viewership surpasses 26 billion"
"Jiang Qing and Zhao Jinmai's first on-screen kiss" explodes
"Xiao Heyun and Li Shiqing's HE (Happy Ending)" explodes
"Jiang Qing's scientific explanation of circulation" is a hot topic.
"Penguin Video's popularity ceiling"
"Group photo at the opening and celebration banquets" is trending.
……

The top 20 trending topics on Weibo's entertainment list were instantly swept up by hashtags related to "The Beginning," with the top 10 dominated by the bright red "Explosive" tag.

The server was overwhelmed, pages were loading intermittently, and the programmers' hands were trembling as they frantically expanded the backend.

I guessed that tonight's finale of "The Beginning" would have a big impact, but I didn't expect it to be this big.

The top trending topics list was almost entirely dominated by terms related to "The Beginning," with "Jiang Qing," "Xiao Heyun," and "Li Shiqing" appearing frequently.

"Ahhhhhh, they kissed! They really kissed! It wasn't a camera trick! It wasn't a long shot! It was a real kiss! Xiao Heyun and Li Shiqing, you two are finally together! Waaaaah, I'm so happy!"

The Weibo post by the drama's fan "Anti-Bomb Squad Leader" featured a high-definition screenshot of a kissing scene, and the post quickly garnered over 10,000 reposts and comments.

"1.53 million views per episode! 23 billion views after cloud-based dehydration! Over 4,000 trending topics across the internet! A solid 8.4 rating on Douban! Over 50 million bullet comments! Jiang Qingmaimai gained an average of 8 million new followers! This data... a bombshell at the start of the year? This is practically a nuclear explosion!"

A summary infographic by entertainment blogger "Drama Circle Microscope" went viral, with comments like "Holy crap!", "I'm bowing down to this master!", and "Playing this big at the start of 2022?"

The "Anti-Bombing CP" super topic is like a boiling ocean.

Profile pictures, background images, and pinned posts were all changed to classic scenes from the celebration banquet, such as Jiang Qing protecting Zhao Jinmai from ice shards, the two smiling at each other in a shower of golden champagne, and the final kiss.

"It's Chinese New Year, everyone! Let's all swear by the stars! The drama has a happy ending! And their off-screen chemistry is off the charts! What are you waiting for?!"

The top post of the super topic moderator is decorated with colorful ribbons and firework emojis.

"Sisters! It's time to finally hold our heads high! Come with me to visit the neighbors next door!"

Some overly excited and radical CP fans, like soldiers who had won a battle, carried the banner of "anti-blowing CP, the sweetest in the universe" and marched in a mighty force to other CP supertopics.

"Jiangzhou Fishing Lights" Super Topic.

Anti-bombing tour group check-in: Real couples are so much better than fake pairings! Look at this genuine kissing scene and the longing glances at the celebration banquet! Some artificially sweetened actors, stop trying to piggyback on this! (Attached: Kissing scene GIF + Celebration banquet eye contact)
"Jiang Zhou Yu Huo" fans retaliate: Take my Xiao Ye away, no thanks! Some drama fans shouldn't be so arrogant! Jiang Shen was just doing his job! (Attached: A candid photo of Jiang Qingzhou Ye buying groceries on the Peach Blossom Village set)
Anti-CP fans replied: Oh? Eye contact? Our Mai Mai was personally escorted down the stage by Jiang Shen at the celebration banquet! (Attached picture: Jiang Qingxu helping Zhao Jinmai down the steps)
Jiang Zhou Yu Huo CP fans: ...

"Love at First Sight" Super Topic

Anti-bombing tour group check-in: Just because they filmed a variety show together, you're already shipping them? First, look at our "The Beginning" with 23 billion views! A true national CP!

Fans of "Artistic Love" retorted: LOL, look at your ignorant attitude. Jiang Shen just completed a task. Why don't you check where Meng Jie's IP address was a few days ago?

Anti-explosive powder reply: ...

Super topics such as "Yan Zhi You Li" and "Ming Yun Xun Huan" were not spared either. For a time, the super topics of various CPs were filled with the smoke of battle. The smugness of the anti-fans aroused strong dissatisfaction and counterattack from the fans of other CPs. The comment section was full of heated words and was very lively.

The anti-CP fans, with their superior numbers and the lingering "concrete evidence" of the finale and celebration banquet, gained the upper hand for a time, infuriating other CP fans who exclaimed, "Too arrogant!" and "Wait until your show is over before you watch!"

Short video platforms such as Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili have been completely captivated by this sweet ocean.

The hashtags #FamousScenesOfTheOpeningCelebrationBanquet#, #TheSweetnessOfTheAnti-ExplosionCPIsOver the Limit#, and #JiangQingProtectingHisWifeMoment# have seen a surge in popularity.

Countless video editors have edited together scenes from the celebration banquet, such as Jiang Qing shielding Zhao Jinmai from ice shards, blindfolding her while feeding her cake, the two secretly gazing at each other from the audience, as well as kissing scenes, hand-holding, and hugging scenes from the drama, and added various saccharine background music to create a series of super sweet mashups.

Many fans slowed down every frame of the interaction, analyzing eye contact, micro-expressions, and body language. The comment section was filled with screams of "I'm dying of love!", "Isn't this love?", and "I'm moving to the marriage registry!"

A slow-motion video that cleverly spliced ​​together the final kiss scene and the eye contact at the celebration banquet garnered over a million likes within half an hour, with comments and reposts all saying things like "a perfect ending in a parallel universe" and "you are both on and off screen."

The topic of "The Beginning" also dominated Zhihu's trending list, but the discussion was completely different.

How should we evaluate Jiang Qing's theory of information singularity coupling and spiritual anchor point in his book "The Beginning" regarding the spacetime cycle?

This question has attracted a large number of practitioners and enthusiasts from the fields of physics, information science, and even philosophy.

The answer from a researcher at the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, received high praise: "Dr. Jiang's explanation is very ingenious, anchoring the supernatural phenomenon cycle within the framework of modern science. Although the concept of information singularity has a science fiction feel, it draws on the ideas of quantum entanglement and spacetime topology. Setting Li Shiqing as the anchor point of matching mental wavelength, and Xiao Heyun as the secondary point of the algorithm link bearing the load, not only solves the triggering mechanism of the cycle, but also explains the reason for Xiao Heyun's physical weakness. The logic is consistent and is currently the most reasonable and easy-to-understand setting for the audience."

A netizen verified as a "PhD in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory" at Peking University added: "The setting of unintentionally amplifying abnormal energy fluctuations using the core algorithm of a game engine is novel and fits Jiang Qing's identity as a game architect in the drama. Although achieving such coupling in reality is almost impossible, it provides a clear explanation based on the technological side rather than the metaphysical side within the logical chain set in the drama, greatly enhancing the hardcore feel and credibility of the plot. One has to admire Dr. Jiang's cross-disciplinary thinking."

The discussion in the comments section was also exceptionally heated, ranging from the energy source of the "information singularity" to the possibility of measuring mental wavelengths, and the impact of multiple cycles on the physical rules of reality. The debate was endless yet full of intellectual fun, which inadvertently added another layer of "hard science fiction" halo to "The Beginning".

Within the film and television industry, the bombshell of "The Beginning" has already sent everyone into chaos.

At the headquarters of iQiyi Video, an emergency high-level online meeting is being held.

Gong Yu's voice, coming through the microphone, carried an unprecedented gravity: "You've all seen the data, right? Tencent's opening bombshell has stunned the entire industry! 23 billion! 1.53 million per episode! What does that mean? It's shattered the ceiling! Most importantly, what does it prove? It proves how much energy short dramas, fast-paced storylines, new themes, and good actors can unleash! It also proves how terrifying Jiang Qing's appeal and vision are!"

He paused, then gave the order decisively.

"Keep a close eye on him! At all costs, secure Jiang Qing's next project collaboration offer! Doesn't he like good scripts? Open our S+ reserve library and pick the best, most groundbreaking scripts! The screenwriting team is on standby, ready to revise according to his vision! Price is not an issue! Remember, I don't just want Jiang Qing; I want the next 'Beginning' he might bring! Also, don't forget our AI script selection system with Wuwen; keep pushing for its progress, and make sure your attitude is impeccable!"

"understand!"

A chorus of responses came from the microphone.

The head of the content department at Kuzi Video gave a firm order to the project team working on "Lighter and Princess Dress".

"With 'The Beginning' as a shining example, all the pressure is on us! The combination of Jiang Qing and Zhang Jingyi has already generated a lot of buzz, and the original novel is also excellent. Now, the entire internet's expectations have been pushed to their peak by 'The Beginning'! Our drama can only succeed, not be mediocre! Increase the publicity budget! Keep a close eye on the filming schedule and raise the quality control to the highest level! I want 'The Beginning' to become the next phenomenon! Its popularity, word-of-mouth, and viewership must at least match 'The Beginning'!"

The project team members all looked solemn, under immense pressure, yet also filled with the excitement of a do-or-die battle.

Many small and medium-sized film and television companies have sensed the huge business opportunities in the "infinite flow" and "time loop" themes.

"Quickly! Get the project approved! Find a screenwriter! Write about a time loop! The theme is similar to 'The Beginning,' but the angle needs to be different! Change the protagonist, the setting, and the reason for the loop! We need to be quick! Take advantage of this opportunity!"

Countless similar instructions echoed in the offices of various producers.

The screenwriters were woken up by phone calls in the middle of the night and asked to rush to produce a script similar to "The Beginning".

For a time, "cycle," "reboot," and "rescue" became the hottest keywords in the film and television industry, and everyone wanted to get a share of the profits from "The Beginning."

Jiang Qing, who is at the heart of this storm, has once again sparked heated discussions due to his cross-industry identity as a tech upstart.

"A 26-year-old head of a tech unicorn company, a double PhD, and he can even become the top drama of the year just by acting? He might even be the top drama of the whole year! Did God write his life script himself?"

In short, I've never been defeated in my life!

Jiang Qing: I didn't expect this either! I was just acting casually, how did it become such a hit?

"The key is that he acted really well! Xiao Heyun's temperament, his eyes, and his sense of weakness—it's hard for anyone else to have captured that feeling!"

"Wuwen Technology has gained a huge amount of exposure this time. Jiang Qing's move is a win-win for both the technology and entertainment industries. His business acumen is amazing!"

"Even Lei Jun can't sit still! Look at that Weibo post, it's blatant seduction!"

……

Netizens flocked to Lei Jun's Weibo post, @JiangQing, "Consider endorsing Xiaomi? Price is negotiable, or you can use the latest engineering sample to settle the debt (doge)", to tease him.

"Mr. Lei, Mr. Jiang is his own boss, why would he care about endorsement fees? (doge)"

Lei Jun: Bro, how about a phone endorsement? Jiang Qing: Lei Jun, how about our Wuwen's latest intelligent voice solution? (Funny)

"Mr. Lei, wake up! Mr. Jiang is having a hard time even leaving the house these days (doge emoji)"

"Why don't you, Mr. Lei, also cross over into acting and work with Mr. Jiang in a movie? It's not like you've never acted before."

……

The comments section was filled with laughter. Everyone knew about the relationship between Lei Jun and Jiang Qing, so there was no malice in it; most of the comments were just jokes.

Shenzhen, Mandarin Oriental Hotel banquet hall.

The deafening cheers and applause gradually subsided, but the air was still thick with excitement. Champagne was passed around, and guests gathered in small groups, their faces flushed with excitement, enthusiastically discussing the recently concluded finale and the terrifying statistics.

Jiang Qing had just finished dealing with congratulations from the platform and production team. Looking slightly tired, she rubbed her temples and walked to the relatively quiet floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window is the dazzling night view of Shenzhen, with cars flowing like rivers and lights like stars.

"are you tired?"

A sweet, concerned voice sounded beside me.

Jiang Qing turned around, and Zhao Jinmai had also walked over at some point.

She was holding two glasses of juice and handed one to him.

The girl's face looked exceptionally clear under the soft light, her eyes sparkling, still tinged with the excitement from before.

"Fortunately."

Jiang Qing took the juice and inadvertently brushed it against her slightly cool fingers, causing both of them to pause slightly in surprise.

He smiled and took a sip of his juice.

"But you, you've been led astray by Yang Wei, and your face is practically burning with embarrassment."

Mentioning the "kiss me" incident, Zhao Jinmai's cheeks flushed red again. She glared at him reproachfully, but her tone was soft.

"You still dare to talk! It's all Vice President Yang's fault! And you... why did you say 'Don't scare Teacher Mai Mai'..."

Her voice trailed off at the second half of the sentence, carrying a hint of coquettishness that she herself was unaware of.

"be honest."

Jiang Qing looked at her shy expression, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

"Wasn't it because they were frightened?"

Zhao Jinmai puffed out her cheeks, wanting to refute him but also feeling that he was right. At that moment, she was so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear into the ground.

She lowered her head and stirred the juice in her glass with a straw, her long eyelashes drooping down like two small fans.

After a while, she raised her head, looking at him with bright eyes filled with pure adoration.

"However, Jiang Qing, the explanations you gave Rudy on the tablet... were really amazing! Director Sun said that setting solved his biggest worry, how did you come up with that?"

"A hobby."

Jiang Qing answered casually, a smile playing on her lips.

"I combined concepts from point physics models and information theory, trying to make the loop seem less mysterious and more acceptable to the audience."

"It's more than just accepting!"

Zhao Jinmai raised her voice a little, then lowered it again, embarrassed.

"The internet is in an uproar! Many experts on Zhihu are discussing it, and they all say your explanation is the most reasonable!"

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of anticipation.

"The Beginning...it's really over! It feels like a very long dream. Jiang Qing, what's next..."

"Next."

Jiang Qing took over the conversation, looking at her with gentle eyes.

"We need to finish filming the rest of the scenes with the lighter, and then we can wait for the Chinese New Year."

"Ok!"

Zhao Jinmai nodded vigorously, then encouraged herself and asked in a low voice.

"So...after filming the lighter scene, what will you do? Will you...still act?"

She immediately lowered her head after asking the question, pretending to be focused on the bubbles in the cup, only her slightly flushed ears betraying her nervousness.

How could she not have seen the overwhelming calls online for them to team up again?
Jiang Qing found her little actions both amusing and tender.

He hesitated for a moment, then instead of answering directly, he asked her a question in return.

What about you? What kind of roles would you like to try?

Zhao Jinmai was taken aback by his question, then her eyes lit up as she counted on her fingers.

"Me? I want to try something different! Like... a meticulous character in a suspense drama? Or a period drama? Or... a female knight-errant in ancient costume? The kind where she flies around..."

As she spoke, she laughed shyly at herself.

"Aren't we thinking too far ahead?"

"Not far."

Jiang Qing's voice carried a reassuring certainty.

"A good script and a good role are always worth looking forward to."

He swirled the juice glass in his hand, the ice cubes clinking together crisply. His gaze fell on her cheeks, slightly flushed with excitement, and he added a comment with a hint of teasing that only the two of them could understand.

"Just like tonight's celebration cake, you have to finish what's in front of you before you have time to think about what the next slice will taste like, right?"

Zhao Jinmai understood what he meant—focus on the present moment.

Although he didn't receive a clear promise of a second collaboration, he didn't close the door; instead, he left plenty of room for imagination.

This realization made her feel as if a feather had gently tickled her heart, leaving her with a pleasant, sweet sensation.

She couldn't help but flash a bright smile and nod vigorously.

"Okay! Let's finish the cake first!"

At this moment, Yang Wei's signature loud voice rang out again.

"Old Jiang! Mai Mai! What are you hiding here for? Come and cut the cake! It's a real celebration cake! President Sun specially ordered it, three tiers! It's huge!"

The two exchanged a smile, dispelling the subtle, romantic atmosphere from before, and replacing it with the relaxed joy of sharing the fruits of victory after a shared struggle.

"Let's go."

Jiang Qing naturally stepped aside, gesturing for her to go first.

"Teacher Mai, let's go eat cake."

Zhao Jinmai smiled and glared at him, protesting his use of the title "teacher," but she walked briskly towards the still noisy, brightly lit area filled with the scent of champagne for success.

Under the night sky of Shenzhen, the lights of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel are as bright as day.

Outside the hotel, countless discussions, arguments, praises, and expectations about this night, just like the endless stream of traffic in this city that never sleeps, surge to every corner of the internet.

The story belonging to "The Beginning" has already been written.

(End of this chapter)