I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 306 Capital Has Gone Mad!

Since the box office failure of "Love Ferris Wheel" and the end of the screening of "Love Roller Coaster," An Xiaoshi did not choose to join [Xuan Shi Entertainment] like Zhang Jingya, nor did she write any new scripts or prepare new film projects. Instead, she quietly faded from the public eye.

After two years away from the spotlight, she returned to her family and started working in the family's department store system...

There's so much going on at the department store. She's busy every day, but she doesn't even know what she's busy with. Basically, as soon as she opens her eyes, all she sees are orders, counts, sales figures, and other such trivial things.

Occasionally, during busy moments, I would think about my past dream of making movies, but it seemed as if I had suddenly lost my former vigor and passion, and I couldn't muster any energy.

Time flows by like water, and she is more like a silent witness, quietly observing the changes in the industry.

In just two short years, the film and television industry has undergone tremendous changes. New forces, represented by Zhou Yang, have risen rapidly with overwhelming force, despite being fraught with controversy and criticism.

At the same time, those once-impregnable industry rules are gradually loosening and disintegrating in this wave.

An Xiaoshi clearly felt that this was a turning point in an era of transition between the old and the new.

My emotions can be quite complicated sometimes...

Thinking of that bespectacled young man leaning against his Audi, the center of attention, and of the people busily pursuing their dreams in that hastily assembled film crew…

Then, I would occasionally go online to keep an eye on these people...

Chen Jianfeng, who was once unknown, has, with a few films, shown a promising trend of becoming a top-tier Chinese film star...

Former director Shen Long now stands as a representative of emerging directors, having joined the China Directors Association along with Che Xiao. It's said that at every association meeting, they would argue fiercely with the older generation of directors, causing headaches for the association's leaders...

There are also some newly emerging directors, such as Jiang Litao's "Racing Ultraman," whose total box office has exceeded an astonishing 140 million RMB as of April 8th...

Following closely behind were one abstract film after another. Although they were heavily criticized online, they all grossed over 5000 million at the box office...

Upon seeing these messages, An Xiaoshi felt a mix of emotions. She realized that she was increasingly unable to understand the world anymore.

……

August 4, early morning.

An Xiaoshi walked into Anji Department Store as usual.

Anji Department Store was founded in the early 90s.

At that time, despite everyone's advice, An Xiaoshi's parents resolutely gave up their stable and respectable government jobs and resigned to start their own business.

Leveraging his accumulated network of contacts, he led his relatives and friends to start from a small department store.

In that era brimming with opportunities, as long as one dared to think and act, had clear goals, and was adept at cultivating connections, success was just around the corner.

After ten years of development, by the year 2000, Anji Department Store had established itself in the national department store industry, ranking among the middle tier, and owned its own commercial building.

Although it has not yet entered the top ten nationwide, the company has always adhered to a steady and pragmatic development strategy and is a local power.

Because of her wealthy family background, An Xiaoshi never had any financial worries from a young age. She was admitted to Yan Film Academy and pursued her dream of becoming a director without any hesitation...

However, because he had never experienced any setbacks since childhood, a single failure shattered his Dao heart...

……

"Mr. An, this is our company's revenue statement for the first quarter of this year..."

Entering the office and sitting down, An Xiaoshi silently accepted the first report handed to her by her secretary.

He nodded when he saw the sales figure of 1.1 million RMB on the report, then glanced at the data from the first quarter of last year. Although he had a premonition, he found it hard to believe: "It's gone down?"

"It's down. From the second half of 2004 to the first half of this year, the competition in the entire department store market has become increasingly fierce. There are many new entrants, coupled with the strong competition from established giants like Yanjing Wangjing and Shanghai Bailian, our company's turnover has indeed decreased significantly..."

In 2003, as China gradually opened up to capital, more and more capital began to enter various industries.

As a traditional mainstay of retail, department stores naturally fall under the sights of these capitals. With the gradual intervention of capital, foreign-funded retailers such as Walmart and Carrefour have expanded, diverting some demand for daily necessities. In 2004, China's total retail sales of consumer goods maintained double-digit growth, increasing by 12.9% compared to 03.

The increase in the first quarter of 2005 was even more astonishing, vaguely increasing to 20% of the same period last year.

However, most of this growth was concentrated in large department stores, while the market surge caused most small and medium-sized enterprises to decline due to increased competition or outdated business models.

And Anji Department Store was naturally affected as well.

After reviewing the data, An Xiaoshi nodded silently.

Then, I took another careful look at the marketing department's analysis report, and a sense of pressure began to creep into my heart.

Afterwards, An Xiaoshi stared at the box office data of "Twilight" on the computer screen and the fervent website built by European and American fans for Zhou Yang, and fell into deep thought.

The "Zhou Yang's Home" website in China has surpassed one million followers, and sales of products endorsed by Zhou Yang seem to have increased several times over due to his influence...

If Zhou Yang could be hired as the spokesperson for Anji Department Store, his amazing appeal in the female market might be able to turn the tide in the short term.

After a brief silence, An Xiaoshi picked up her phone, organizing her thoughts on how to contact Zhou Yang. Finally, she sighed and decided to contact Zhang Jingya first.

In the past year or so, she has contacted Zhou Yang only a handful of times.

This is also partly because Zhou Yang is very busy and cannot be contacted...

Just as she was about to contact Zhang Jingya, her phone rang first. The displayed number gave her a slight jolt.

It's Zhou Yang!
....................................

The afterglow of the setting sun hung on the horizon at dusk.

An Xiaoshi silently walked into the [Xuanshi Entertainment] building.

A year and a half ago, [Xuan Shi Entertainment] was huddled in a dilapidated rented room next to the police station.

A year later, the company moved into the building...

Within about two years, [Xuanshi Entertainment] had rented out the rest of the building, turning it into a veritable [Xuanshi Group].

An Xiaoshi's data team once used a set of data to summarize the revenue of [Xuanshi Entertainment] last year. Last year, the revenue from film copyrights alone was close to 10 billion.

This year, that number will likely double...

Upon entering the building and seeing Zhang Jingya, An Xiaoshi's expression inexplicably became somewhat nervous...

Two years have passed, and it seems like everyone has changed a lot...

Zhang Jingya has become more adept at management, and although she feels she hasn't changed, she always feels a barrier between them when they chat.

Even on the long corridor leading to Zhou Yang's office, the two fell into a brief silence of nearly 30 seconds, seemingly trying to find a topic to talk about, but unable to find anything suitable.

Finally, she went to Zhou Yang's office, knocked on the door, and then pushed it open.

"Director An..."

"Mr. Zhou, I haven't been a director for a long time..."

"Haha, I'm just not making movies for the time being, I haven't retired from the entertainment industry..." Zhou Yang laughed heartily when he saw her, and then invited her to sit down.

An Xiaoshi sat by the window of the coffee shop, the setting sun shining through the glass onto the table between them, creating a soft glow.

Zhou Yang picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and broke the brief silence.

He first gently inquired about An Xiaoshi's experiences these days, and then gradually began to talk to her about her dreams.

The shadows of the trees outside the window swayed gently in the breeze, and Zhou Yang's smile remained as warm as when they first met.

Two years seemed to have left no trace on him; instead, he exuded a reassuring energy, like a friendly older brother next door, always approachable. An Xiaoshi unconsciously relaxed, and as she chatted with him, her long-dormant dream of becoming a director seemed to be instantly rekindled...

"Actually, I've always been curious!" Zhou Yang's voice carried a convincing power: "Someone as talented as you, are you really willing to give up your dreams like this?"

When An Xiaoshi heard this, she lowered her head. Although she felt that Zhou Yang wasn't being sarcastic, she still smiled bitterly: "Don't make fun of me. Compared to you, what talent do I have? I just like to dream, and then wake up from my dreams..."

"You still want to make movies, right?"

“I want to make a film, but it’s not realistic… There’s a lot going on at the company, my parents are getting old, and they don’t have a son. I can only study and take over the business at the same time… Recently, the company’s business has declined, and the market competition is fierce. These things are tormenting me. I have no mind to make a movie. Mr. Zhou, I won’t hide it from you this time. I hope our two families can sign a contract… It would be best if we could get you an endorsement deal…” After An Xiaoshi finished speaking, she paused briefly, and then her assistant handed her an agreement and silently placed it on the table.

"This agreement is..."

“I know you’re signing contracts worth hundreds of millions right now. Our Anji Department Store has limited revenue and can’t come up with hundreds of millions in signing fees all at once. But I hope we can pay in three installments, about 3500 million RMB each time, for a two-year contract… If the company makes a profit later, we can raise the signing fee again according to the market price…” An Xiaoshi looked at Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang took the contract, glanced at it briefly, and didn't refuse. Instead, he stared at An Xiaoshi and said, "President An, I recently signed seven young directors, and I'd like them to help me make various youth-themed films..."

"Ok?"

"I need someone to help me check out the products..."

"You have so many directors under your management, you..."

“I don’t lack money right now, nor do I need it. Director An, could you help me make a youth-themed movie? You can use my image as a spokesperson anytime.”

"Huh?" An Xiaoshi's eyes widened when she heard this.

She saw Zhou Yang slowly stand up and silently gaze into the distance...

"Two years ago, when no one believed in me, only you trusted me and helped me a lot... Director An, there are many people in this world who will add flowers to brocade, but to meet a benefactor who will help you in the snow... to meet even one in a lifetime is a miracle..."

Zhou Yang's voice echoed softly in the office, carrying a complex mix of emotions that were hard to define.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the setting sun casting a long shadow of his back.

Watching Zhou Yang's retreating figure, An Xiaoshi suddenly felt a tightness in her throat, as if something was stuck there, something she couldn't swallow or spit out.

The office was so quiet you could hear the clock ticking.

“If you’re willing to trust me…” Zhou Yang turned around, his eyes behind his glasses reflecting the glow of the sunset: “Leave the revenue from Anji Department Store to me. You just need to…”

He paused, his fingers unconsciously stroking the coffee cup, staring at An Xiaoshi: "You just need to focus on making the movie!"

As dusk deepened outside the window, the last rays of sunlight swept across the unsigned endorsement contract on the table…

An Xiaoshi lowered her head...

(End of this chapter)