Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, starting with the strategy of 95 flowers to counterattack

Chapter 140 Want to blacklist Tian Xiwei?
Shanghai Theatre Academy, Girls' Dormitory

A sound of someone turning over came from the upper bunk. Yang Yutong rubbed her eyes and sat up: "Weiwei, you're still awake?"

Tian Xiwei hurriedly turned off the screen, but it was too late. Yang Yutong climbed down the ladder and immediately saw her best friend's red and swollen eyes.

"Looking at those pointless gossips again?" Yang Yutong snatched the phone; the screen was still showing a post from someone claiming to be a high school classmate. "Only a fool would believe these photos that aren't even properly blurred!"

Tian Xiwei buried her face in her knees, her voice muffled: "But it's already trending on social media."

Yang Yutong opened the comments section, and the latest one read: "I heard that Gu Yang jumped off the building because she forced him to. This kind of woman is really scary!" Her fingers tightened suddenly.

"Ignore these keyboard warriors. Besides, wasn't last time just a publicity stunt? Director Gu already clarified it and even prepared a new movie for you!"

Yang Yutong tossed her phone aside, grabbed a tissue from the bedside table, and handed it to Tian Xiwei. "Do you want to call Gu Yang?"

Tian Xiwei shook her head, her long hair falling down to cover her expression: "He's probably still angry."

The sycamore trees outside the window rustled in the night wind, and a withered leaf gently tapped against the glass.

Tian Xiwei recalled the last time she saw Gu Yang; he was lying in a hospital bed with a pale face.

"I'll go get you a glass of hot water." Yang Yutong sighed and got out of bed in her slippers.

Tian Xiwei opened her contacts again, and Gu Yang's name lay quietly in the list of recent contacts.

The last call was two weeks ago; his weak voice still seemed to echo in my ears: "I'm fine, don't worry."

My finger hovered over the dial key, but I didn't press it.

"Could he also believe those rumors?" Tian Xiwei murmured to herself, a tear falling onto her phone screen.

When Yang Yutong returned with her water glass, she saw her best friend staring blankly out the window.

She followed her gaze and saw that the rehearsal room in the performing arts building was completely dark.

“If he really understood you,” Yang Yutong placed warm water into Tian Xiwei’s icy hands, “he wouldn’t believe this nonsense.”

Tian Xiwei gripped the water glass tightly, the warm steam blurring her vision.

Her haggard face was reflected in the windowpane, a stark contrast to the radiant self she once was in "Qingqing's Daily Life".

“But,” her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, “I’m starting to not even recognize myself anymore.”

Suddenly, the night rain poured down, the raindrops pounding against the window as if to vent all the grievances and anger.

Tian Xiwei buried her face in her palms, her thin shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Yang Yutong hugged her tightly, and the two girls embraced and wept in the rainy night.

No one knew that Gu Yang was staring at Tian Xiwei's photo on his phone screen, his eyes filled with an unfathomable darkness.

Tian Xiwei woke up at five o'clock in the morning.

She stared at her haggard face in the mirror for a long time, then carefully applied her makeup, deliberately choosing a bright red lipstick.

This was the first time she met the entire cast and crew of "The Flame's Daughter".

"Are you sure you don't need me to keep you company?" Yang Yutong handed over a thermos cup filled with loquat seeds to soothe the throat.

Tian Xiwei shook her head and stuffed the script into her backpack: "Today is just to sign the contract, it's just a formality."

She straightened her collar one last time in front of the mirror; the white suit jacket made her look exceptionally capable.

"Go, Oda!"

"I want to be rich!"

"I want to be kept by a sugar daddy..."

Before she could finish shouting the slogan, her nose suddenly felt sore.

That man seems to be getting further and further away from her.

At 6:30 a.m., Tian Xiwei's white van slowly drove into the film and television base.

She checked her makeup one last time in the car's vanity mirror; the bright red lip gloss had a matte finish in the morning light.

"Sister Lin, has the contract been confirmed?" Tian Xiwei turned to ask her agent.

Lin Lin scrolled through her tablet: "The Ministry of Justice finalized the terms last night, and the pay is 20% higher than expected."

She smiled and handed him the thermos. "Congratulations, Xiaotian!"

"Also, don't take things online too seriously! This is just temporary. Which female celebrity hasn't been attacked before she became famous?"

"As long as you have good work, everything will pass!"

"Yes!" Tian Xiwei nodded heavily, and a smile finally appeared on her face.

She worked very hard to get this role.

"The Flame's Daughter" is an ancient costume fantasy drama jointly produced by Jiaxing Media, SMG Shangshi Pictures, Perfect World Pictures, and Mantu Naked Film and Television Media.

Casting was originally scheduled to begin in March, but for some reason, it has been delayed until now.

The role she's signing this time is the second female lead, Dao Liexiang. She is the only daughter of the city lord of Wudao City. Although she is a little princess who is protected by everyone, she is not weak or pretentious at all, and she likes Lei Jinghong.

Although she wasn't the female lead, she was quite content. After all, the female lead was Dilraba, who is currently much more popular than her, and this drama was produced by her own company.

This is the best role she could get.

Although Gu Yang gave her a lot of resources, the girl still harbored resentment.

She believed that even without Gu Yang, she could make a name for herself.

It just took a little too long...

Just as the car turned into the film set's private entrance, Lin Lin's phone suddenly rang.

After the call ended, a rare look of anger appeared on the agent's well-maintained face: "Jiaxing Media hastily put together someone; the production company needs to reconsider the casting."

Tian Xiwei stared blankly at the huge poster outside the window.

Dao Liexiang's silhouette, wielding a sword, shone brightly in the morning sun; she loved this complex character who straddled the line between good and evil.

Just like myself now, even if I'm smeared with mud, I will still hold my sword and move forward.

"Don't rush," Lin Lin quickly dialed a number, "I'll contact the producer..."

At the entrance to the film set, a black Mercedes van was arrogantly parked across the middle of the passageway.

The car door opened, and Dai Si stepped out surrounded by several assistants, her costume clearly belonging to the Wudao City.

"Oh, what a coincidence?" Dai Si raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Junior Sister Tian is here to observe and learn too?"

"I'm so sorry, the production team says your current image isn't quite suitable for our positive-energy drama crew."

Lin Lin grabbed Tian Xiwei's trembling wrist: "Let's go see the producer first."

"Director Wang!" Sister Lin burst through the door. "We agreed to sign the contract at nine o'clock today..."

"Manager Lin," the producer said slowly, closing the folder, "we were just about to inform you that the investors have a new candidate in mind for this role."

Tian Xiwei's nails dug into her palms: "When I auditioned, you clearly said..."

"That was three days ago!" The producer suddenly slammed the tablet on the table. The bright red tag #DisgracedArtistTianXiwei# was trending on the hot search list. "This morning, brands withdrew two endorsements, right? Do you know how many complaint calls we received?"

Sister Lin stepped in front, saying, "Those rumors are all fabricated! The hospital certificate..."

"Who the hell cares if it's true or false?!" The producer slammed his fist on the table, splashing tea onto Tian Xiwei's pristine white suit jacket. "Is this your first day in the entertainment industry?"

The director looked up from behind the monitor, his eyes like he was looking at a pile of trash on set: "Young lady, just being a good actor isn't enough to make it in this industry; you have to know the rules."

He pointed to his temple. "You've offended someone, you know that?"

As Tian Xiwei walked out of the conference room, she heard the producer sneer: "These newcomers these days are really brainless. They're trending on social media with all the negative press, and they still dare to ask for roles."

The moment the nanny van door closed, Tian Xiwei's tears finally fell onto the contract.

……

Conference Room, Xingchen Media, Yanjing
"Boss, why are you back? Weren't you recording 'Idol Producer'?" Zhang Axin almost spilled his coffee.

"I only have half a day. I have to rush back this afternoon. Enough with the small talk, how's the matter I asked you to investigate?"

Shen Wei had already activated the holographic projection: "All the materials are ready."

Gu Yang unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down, pointing a laser pointer at the projector: "Tell me from the beginning. I need to know who is targeting Tian Xiwei, how they are targeting her, and why they are targeting her."

Shen Wei brought up the timeline projection:
"On December 5th, the production of 'The Flame's Daughter' was officially announced. Perfect World Pictures insisted on using newcomers, and Tian Xiwei won the role of Dao Liexiang after three rounds of auditions."

"On December 8, Tian Xiwei completed her official photoshoot, and related topics garnered over 12 million views."

"In the early hours of December 10, a post exposing the incident appeared on the Tongliang Middle School forum and spread across the entire internet within two hours."

"On December 11, Dai Si's (an artist under Jiaxing) agent contacted the production company, expressing her willingness to reduce her salary to join the production."

"On December 12, Tian Xiwei was officially replaced in the role."

"This is a common tactic used by Jiaxing: audition - public opinion manipulation - legal pressure - resource exchange."

"This is highly similar to the replacement of the young Chu Qiao in 'Princess Agents' last year: both involved creating moral flaws through anonymous leaks, both involved Jiaxing-affiliated companies in public opinion manipulation, and both ultimately replaced the newcomer with a Jiaxing artist."

"Then why don't they just choose their own people?"

"Ya-xing doesn't have absolute say!"

Zhang Axin switched out of the equity structure diagram:
"On the surface, 'The Flame's Daughter' is led by Jiaxing, but it is actually a joint production of four companies: Jiaxing accounts for 40%, Perfect World Pictures 35%, SMG Pictures 15%, and Mandala 10%."

“The problem lies here—” he pointed to the financial data, “Jiaxing’s accounts receivable this year reached 2.01 million yuan, accounting for 41.36% of its revenue, of which LeEco’s debts accounted for the majority. They urgently need to use this drama to promote new talents and monetize their business.”

Shen Wei added: "This year's period drama market is characterized by the concentration of top projects, with Jiaxing occupying nearly 30% of the market share with 'Eternal Love'."

"If Tian Xiwei continues to gain popularity through 'Dao Liexiang,' she may divert resources that should have gone to Jiaxing artists, such as advertising endorsements and platform collaborations."

"There is precedent for this kind of competition. Li Yitong became a hit with her role as Huang Rong in 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' which directly affected the speed at which Jiaxing artist Zhu Xudan acquired resources."

"You mean, they're not just targeting Xiaotian, they might be after our company?" Gu Yang immediately realized and frowned.

"That's right, boss. The rise of Zhou Ye, Tian Xiwei, and other actresses born in 95 in our company has already threatened the status of Jiaxing Reba!"

(End of this chapter)