The only sun in Huayu

As soon as she finished speaking, two red clouds rose on Shuangzi's cheeks, spreading all the way to her ears.

She wasn't yet the rising star who became an overnight sensation after "Meteor Shower."

Right now, she's just a young girl who has just finished her first year of college and hasn't really experienced the ups and downs of the entertainment industry.

After that undisguised desire for the things I liked had fully erupted, I belatedly felt ashamed.

She subconsciously lowered her head, poking at the food in her bowl with her chopsticks, not daring to look at Shen Shandeng again.

Da Mimi and Da Tiantian also widened their eyes.

It felt like I was meeting Shuangzi for the first time.

Da Mimi's eyes were filled with disbelief and a hint of offended anger.

Da Tian Tian, ​​on the other hand, was more genuinely shocked, her mouth agape.

Shen Shandeng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

He examined with great interest the seemingly pure and flawless little white flower before him, which was so vigorous inside, even a bit reckless.

Sawako's figure is typical of a young girl: slender, bony, and like a bud that has not yet fully grown.

But there's a contrast in their every move.

She was restless and bold, contrary to her age and appearance.

Especially her shocking words and her innocent outfit created a huge impact.

This stark contrast unexpectedly sparked Shen Shandeng's creative desire.

A thought flashed through his mind: his project, "No Man's Land."

Perhaps the role of the dancer, representing a glimmer of hope in a desolate land, could be given to a girl with unique qualities like Sawako.

He had his own ideas about "No Man's Land," and it wasn't the dark allegorical story of the original.

Moreover, Shen Shandeng doesn't necessarily have to follow the original mold when it comes to hiring people; he has his own vision and ideas.

The atmosphere at the end of the meal was incredibly strange.

Everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts and finished their meal hastily.

Shen Shandeng naturally kept Shuangzi's contact information, indicating that they could contact each other if a suitable opportunity arose in the future.

However, Shen Shandeng emphasized that he would never engage in any underhanded tactics, so Shuangzi could rest assured.

Shuangzi was initially overjoyed and readily agreed, but she was a little dumbfounded when she heard that Shen Shandeng did not engage in any unspoken rules.

First, take Da Tian Tian and Shuang Zi back to school, then restart the car.

Watching their figures disappear at the end of the tree-lined path on campus, Da Mimi finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Its taste was sour, like it had been soaked in aged vinegar.

“My husband is so charming that they’re all vying to ‘sacrifice themselves’ to me, and they’re even ‘willing’ to do so.”

Shen Shandeng rubbed her head and said lightly, "Try to clean up the smell, it has a sour odor. It's just a little girl's momentary lapse of judgment, did you really take it seriously?"

"Hmph, who knows?" Da Mimi persisted, "Is it because you think I'm too old and can't compare to these fresh and pretty junior girls?"

Shen Shandeng glanced at her and asked, "What, did I not feed you enough yesterday? You still have the mind to think about these nonsense things."

Da Mimi's face flushed red instantly.

Recalling the absurdity of last night, she suddenly felt short of breath and playfully punched him.

He turned his head to look out the window and stopped talking.

However, the little bit of jealousy in my heart was completely shattered by these words.

Shen Shandeng had originally planned to take a day off to relax and send Da Mimi back, but he turned his attention to the company instead.

The sudden media storm surrounding "Red Cliff (Part 1)" struck him as somewhat interesting.

When he arrived at the company, Ma Youde was already waiting in the office.

Upon seeing Shen Shandeng enter, he immediately stood up and reported: "Boss, the public opinion surrounding 'Red Cliff (Part 1)' is quite fierce."

Ma Youde analyzed, "It feels a bit like the pattern of the systematic smear campaign we were subjected to before, except this time, the firepower is more concentrated, and the other side doesn't seem to be trying to hide it much."

Shen Shandeng sat in his large executive chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest: "China Film Group, surely they won't just sit idly by and do nothing? Haven't they offered any guidance?"

“We guided them, we definitely guided them.” Ma Youde nodded: “But this time it’s different. The plot and dialogue of Red Cliff (Part 1) are too obviously flawed, and the audience’s desire to complain is uncontrollable.”

"Our previous works, 'The Eunuch' and 'Lost in Thailand,' were of high quality and had a solid foundation, making them difficult to criticize. Theirs is not so good."

Ma Youde said, "However, on the other hand, many things can only be truly revealed when they are put on the table for comparison."

"True gold is tested by fire. Now that the public opinion is in such a turmoil, it only makes you, boss, realize how precious it was that you were able to withstand the pressure and let your work speak for itself."

Ma Youde tentatively asked, "Boss, the current situation is very favorable for us. Should we take this opportunity to fuel the fire and market the concept of 'surpassing the three major directors'?"

"Even if we don't touch the three big directors, we should at least give that old bastard Wu Yusen a good beating. He's caused us a lot of trouble, and he even threatened to blacklist you before."

Shen Shandeng thought for a moment, then walked to the window and looked at the bustling traffic below.

To Ma Youde's surprise, Shen Shandeng shook his head and said, "No, this time we won't kick someone when they're down."

Ma Youde looked puzzled.

Shen Shandeng slowly said, "Old Ma, do you think this wave of discussion about John Woo and 'Red Cliff' has gone a bit beyond the movie itself? Just like Xiaoming's previous 'too much trouble,' it has a strong flavor of veiled criticism."

"What does this year, 2008, mean for our country? It started with a once-in-a-century snow disaster, followed by a major earthquake in May, and then the Olympics in August."

Ma Youde quickly took out his notebook to write it down.

"From the start of reform and opening up in 1978 to this year, it has been exactly thirty years."

Shen Shandeng said: "In these thirty years, from the tripartite division of the country to the struggle for survival with humiliation and hardship, how much bitterness and heartache have we experienced? The four great grievances of the 1990s, the plane collision incident in 2001, and the roar of 9/11, and finally the strategic turning point after entering the WTO."

"Thirty years of dust and dirt, the joys and sorrows of 1.3 billion people, have been suppressed and accumulated for far too long."

"The Olympics is the outlet for this energy! It's a grand event that mobilizes the entire nation, a window for the world to see China, and for China to reach out to the world!"

"It's true that John Woo is a terrible person, but ultimately it's an internal conflict."

Shen Shandeng firmly stated, "We cannot allow others to fail to distinguish between friend and foe! At this critical juncture, some people are trying to use a film to create division, launch a psychological offensive, and sow discord. We cannot give in to the wishes of those enemies lurking in the shadows!"

This isn't because Shen Shandeng is good, but because Wu Yusen is someone he never takes seriously.

Moreover, kicking someone when they're down at this time would backfire and damage his popularity with the audience.

There's no need to have all the advantages.

Ma Youde was deeply moved and took notes, gaining much insight from the experience.

"Boss, you've seen things very clearly! I understand now!"

Shen Shandeng shook his head and said, "Youde, let's do our own thing. I will not only not step on you, but I will also help you out."

Of course, there's a right time to lend a helping hand.

Monday, October 7.

In its third week of release, "Red Cliff Part I" saw its box office revenue halved, compared to just over 60 million in its second week.

With box office potential exhausted, Shen Shandeng has spoken out.

at dusk.

Shen Shandeng "bumped into" the reporters waiting downstairs at the company.

Facing the microphone, he first expressed his gratitude once again for the success of "Lost on Journey." Nearly a month after its release, "Lost on Journey" has maintained a steady box office of 350 million yuan.

Although the peak period has passed, there is still some income every day, which proves the unique long-tail effect of Shen Shandeng's films.

"Movies are a form of entertainment. I'm very satisfied with the box office of 3.5 million yuan! It's my honor that the audience enjoys the movies!"

The reporter then steered the conversation toward the critically panned film *Red Cliff Part 1*, to which Shen Shandeng responded with great composure.

He frankly admitted: "There are definitely different opinions on the understanding and interpretation of historical figures, and I personally do not completely agree with some aspects."

He then made a fair statement: "However, to be fair, 'Red Cliff Part I' truly represents the top industrial level of Chinese-language films in terms of cinematography, art direction, costumes, and especially the creation of large-scale battle scenes. It is technically very advanced, and this deserves recognition. The progress of the Chinese film industry requires various attempts and accumulations."

Just like when he was promoting "Lust, Caution," he wasn't just promoting a movie.

Now, his support for "Red Cliff" goes beyond just one movie.

His opponent has never been a particular person or work.

He is good at destruction, good at construction, and even better at protection.

After the celebration banquet, Shen Shandeng quietly disappeared from the media spotlight.

He turned down numerous interview invitations and rarely appeared in even some important interviews.

He simply focused on running the company, and most people were used to him staying behind the scenes.

This deliberate low profile did not diminish his presence; on the contrary, it seemed like a way of building up his strength, making every statement he made carry more weight.

In this controversy surrounding "Red Cliff (Part 1)," Shen Shandeng merely gave a seemingly objective commentary to reporters, yet its effect was like a boulder thrown into water.

It caused a huge uproar.

That evening, the headlines on the entertainment sections of several major portal websites became "Shen Shandeng reviews 'Red Cliff': Praising its top-notch industrial standards."

The video was widely reposted and discussed on various movie forums and online communities.

Many people were surprised by Shen Shandeng's magnanimity and vision.

The following day, entertainment print media followed up with the story.

Many social news sections also reported on it.

It can be said that Shen Shandeng's few words directly reversed public opinion.

The overwhelming criticism that initially aimed to condemn the film was largely neutralized and diluted.

Looking back, many viewers also felt that although the plot of the movie was ridiculous, the visuals and scenes were indeed made with a huge budget and were exquisite and grand.

The core of the criticism is that John Woo, in an attempt to pander to the overseas market, turned the Three Kingdoms story, full of Eastern wisdom, into a film that is neither fish nor fowl.

Because of the excessive criticism, the reputation of "Red Cliff" has actually improved.

Although it did nothing to help the overall box office, in the public sphere, it was no longer a purely one-sided barrage of criticism.

Charlsmith's office.

This left the mastermind behind it all, Chalperic, completely stunned.

He painstakingly orchestrated a media storm, intending to indirectly impact the pre-Olympic social atmosphere by criticizing John Woo and "Red Cliff." Unexpectedly, Shen Shandeng's few casual words were like a giant hand, directly calming down most of the storm he had stirred up.

This also shifted some attention back to discussions about the technical aspects of the film industry itself.

This completely deviated from his original intention.

"This Shen Shandeng! What exactly is he trying to do?!"

In his spacious office, Chalperik was so angry he nearly smashed his coffee cup.

He felt once again that he was not facing a director, but an opponent who was proficient in all their moves.

Smith comforted him, saying, "Commissioner, at least the box office failure of 'Red Cliff' is a foregone conclusion, and one of our main objectives has been achieved."

"My main objective? I don't want a movie to fail at the box office!" Chapel Perik interrupted him, annoyed. "I want the atmosphere! The atmosphere of questioning, discontent, and division!"

"Now look what's happened! With him stirring things up, it makes us look like we're being unreasonable, while their own people have united!"

Smith tentatively asked, "Shall we increase the intensity?"

Chalperik waved his hand dismissively, his face showing obvious exhaustion and fear.

"It's going to be difficult. Once public opinion is swayed, it's too costly to bring it back. This Shen Shandeng, his grasp of timing and his sense of proportion are too precise."

Once again, Chalperic went from extreme optimism to extreme pessimism.

He felt like God no longer loved him.

A sense of despair and frustration arose towards Shen Shandeng.

He consoled himself, "Perhaps, perhaps our previous thinking was wrong."

"Although Shen Shandeng criticizes the three major European cinemas, he agrees with Hollywood's industrial system. This time, when he speaks up for 'Red Cliff,' he is also affirming the technology."

"This shows that he fundamentally recognizes the value of strong industrial capabilities. Perhaps, perhaps we should try to understand him by incorporating him into our system."

"A collaboration wouldn't be bad?"

Chalperic has returned to where he started.

Smith clenched his fists at his sides as he heard the familiar tone of voice.

I was speechless. You've gone around in circles, wasted so many resources, and in the end, you've come back to his original suggestion?

But he could only maintain a calm demeanor and compliment him, saying, "The commissioner's insights are always a step deeper."

Wu Yusen, who was at the eye of the storm, also had mixed feelings.

He was stunned when he saw Shen Shandeng's evaluation.

He never expected that after he was utterly humiliated by the public opinion of the "civilized world," the one who reached out to him and helped him save face a little was this young man whom he had always regarded as an opponent and had even threatened to blacklist.

This feeling evoked a mix of emotions in him.

As we entered mid-to-late July, the preparations for the Olympics were entering their final sprint.

At this moment, there is a sense of tension and excitement throughout the country.

During an internal coordination meeting of the cultural propaganda system, a leader, in summarizing recent work on the arts and culture front, specifically praised the positive role played by film.

"At this crucial time when the Olympics are about to be held, a number of films, such as 'Lost in Thailand,' have not only achieved great commercial success, but more importantly, they have explored the organic combination of mainstream values ​​and popular entertainment, combining education with entertainment, effectively consolidating our public opinion position, and demonstrating the great development and prosperity of socialist cultural undertakings."

"It has played an active and positive role in creating a festive, peaceful, and confident social atmosphere. This shows that our literary and artistic workers have a strong sense of the big picture!"

in the afternoon.

Han Sanping went to attend a meeting convened by the propaganda department.

As soon as he entered the venue, he sensed that something was off.

Um? what happened?

Several familiar leaders from brother units and colleagues from the publicity system took the initiative to come forward and strike up a conversation.

"Old Han, you're doing great! You've gotten the job done without making a sound!"

"Seizing the initiative and having foresight! This move was brilliant!"

"Chairman Han, this time you've really brought honor to our film industry!"

What's so proactive? Advanced? Impressive? Wonderful?

Han Sanping was somewhat puzzled. (End of Chapter)