The younger generation, starting from where the wind blows...

Chapter 270: A Personal Taste of "Old Boys"

Led by Lu Xiaobei and Guan Zhenlei's rustic Cantonese, the entire audience got into the groove and started dancing along.

"Short leather skirt, big waves."

"She dances really well."

"Playing is playing, and making a fuss is making a fuss."

"Don't joke about clubbing."

……

"I feel like Tony Leung is acting in 'Infernal Affairs'."

“Make the shape of Aaron Kwok on your chest, then shake your head to the left and right.”

After their initial surprise, the four judges sitting in the swivel chairs all turned to delight.

Two of them even stood up from their seats and started shaking their heads to the rhythm of the rap.

Even Wang Yang, sitting in front of the computer, started gesturing with his left and right hands, as if he had returned to the days when he carried a radio and danced breakdance.

On the screen, three judges excitedly pressed the button to rotate the chairs and turn around for the loser boy.

As the song neared its end, Bao Xiaobai responded to the call of the other three judges and pressed the button to rotate his chair.

All four judges turned around, meaning the underdog boy advanced directly to the finals.

The camera panned to Cheng Dabao and Wu Xiaoshuai in the audience, both of whom looked on with envy.

"Stop!" Meng Xiaojun suddenly called out.

Instead of pausing, Wang Yang used his mouse to drag the progress bar back to the beginning of the song.

After finishing, he picked up his wine glass and hummed two lines of lyrics he had just learned from a song.

"Come to the left and draw a dragon with me."

Draw a rainbow on your right.

Meng Xiaojun pushed away Wang Yang's outstretched hand.

"Okay, stop making trouble."

Cheng Dongqing looked at Meng Xiaojun:
Do you think this song will become a hit?

“Of course!” Meng Xiaojun replied without hesitation.

Black and red are also red!
"Mice Love Rice" and "Two Butterflies" were criticized by countless people, but that did not stop them from becoming popular all over the country.

At this moment, Wang Yang put down his wine glass and interjected:
"Don't tell me you two didn't realize that the director or screenwriter arranged this song to satirize the chaos in the entertainment industry. I bet the loser boy band will win the championship of 'The Voice of China'."

Cheng Dongqing frowned upon hearing this.

It was supposed to be an inspirational story about pursuing dreams.

Following the typical movie formula of starting with a stalemate and then rising to victory, shouldn't the two male protagonists overcome numerous obstacles and defeat their formidable opponents to ultimately win the championship?

Faced with Cheng Dongqing's questioning, Wang Yang shrugged.

"The reason is simple. It's like when you were in class at Peking University. You were very well-behaved and followed the rules, but what happened? The whole class was sleeping."

Later, Cheng Dongqing gave up and completely let himself go, teaching by complaining to his students about his failed life.

The results were surprisingly good.

Even today, when Cheng Dongqing gives a speech to students of New Dream, he doesn't talk about his own success, but rather about those embarrassing stories from when he had amnesia.

Because success makes people feel superior, but failure and bad luck make people... gloat.

Then you can empathize with them.

After all, in reality, success is always a low-probability event.

Failure is the main theme.

Naturally, it can also evoke more empathy and resonance from the public.

In Wang Yang's view, "Old Boys" also follows this path, which means that the final outcome for the two male protagonists will definitely not be a comeback victory.

as predicted.

After the performance by the loser boy ended, the camera switched to another scene.

Rewind to before the competition began, when Bao Xiaobai was explaining some important points about recording the show to the other three judges.

The two male leads were highlighted.

If contestants who are older or have poor appearances stand out in the competition, it will seriously affect the commercial value of the show.

The three judges exchanged glances, their faces showing an expression of complete indifference.

It's no secret in the industry that the production team manipulates the competition.

Here, another flashback to Bao Xiaobai's memory appears.

He recounted how Cheng Dabao bullied him in high school and how he cut off the power while Cheng Dabao and Wu Xiaoshuai were performing on stage.

The scene shifts to Cheng Dabao and Wu Xiaoshuai standing on the stage, their expressions slightly tense.

Meanwhile, in the four swivel chairs facing away from the stage, Bao Xiaobai and the other three judges exchanged knowing glances.

Cheng Dabao picked up the guitar and adjusted the microphone height.

Wu Xiaoshuai also sold out of his coat and threw away his hat, ready to dance.

As the soothing guitar intro began, Cheng Dabao's slightly deep voice, coupled with the depressed and lost look in his eyes in the close-up shot, immediately captivated the hearts of all the viewers in front of the screen with his very first words.

"That is the person I miss and love day and night."

"How exactly should I express this?"

Will she accept me?

"Maybe I'll never say those words to her."

"I am destined to wander the world, how can I have any attachments?"

The scene shifts, and Jiang Nansun, who plays the school beauty, sits on a luxuriously decorated bedroom bed, staring in shock at Cheng Dabao and Wu Xiaoshuai on the TV screen.

Wu Di's singing voice accompanied MJ's classic dance moves.

"Dreams are always out of reach."

"Should we give up?"

"Flowers bloom and fade, another season has come."

Where are you, spring?

Meng Xiaojun stared blankly at the screen, feeling an inexplicable urge to tear up and feel a lump in his throat.

He thought of his senior, who was far away in a foreign country and out of reach.

"Youth is like a rushing river."

"He left and never returned, without even a chance to say goodbye."

"All that's left is a numb me, the passion of yesteryear is gone."

……

"Has your original wish come true?"

"Is it the only thing we can do now to offer our respects?"

"As time dries up my ideals, I can never find my true self again."

The camera kept switching between shots as the moving song played.

A school beauty sat on the bed and burst into tears.

A chubby chef selling barbecue looked at the television on the food stall with a surprised expression.

There's a bespectacled male office worker who's working overtime and just grabbing a bowl of instant noodles for dinner.

There was a middle-aged man arguing with his wife, looking exhausted and overwhelmed.

There was a plus-size woman named Hao Fang sitting in the audience, moved to tears while cheering for her husband.

And Bao Xiaobai, wearing sunglasses and sitting in a swivel chair, a tear silently falling from her eye.

The shots of everyone else were fine, but when Cheng Dongqing saw Jiang Nansun crying uncontrollably, he felt a strange pang in his heart.

He thought of his first love, Su Mei, his unrequited love.

I wonder if Su Mei, when she rang the bell with Meng Xiaojun and Wang Yang on Nasdaq, also sat in front of the TV or computer, heartbroken and shedding tears for that unforgettable relationship.

"Looking up at the starry sky."

"The one that was with me back then."

Do you still remember the story here?

"If there is a tomorrow."

Bless you, my dear.

As the sound faded, Meng Xiaojun, sitting in front of the screen, took off his glasses, lowered his head, and covered his eyes with his hand. Cheng Dongqing's eyes were also red, his gaze fixed on the computer screen, one hand gripping his wine glass tightly.

Seeing this, Wang Yang raised his hand again and pressed the space bar to pause.

After finishing, he picked up his wine glass and filled it to the brim for Meng Xiaojun and Cheng Dongqing.

"Alright, it's just a song, is it really that big of a deal? If you guys really like it that much, I'll play it again."

Meng Xiaojun wiped away his tears, put on his glasses, and looked at Wang Yang with annoyance.

Watch it again? Don't you think I've lost my composure enough?

Cheng Dongqing meant the same thing.

Other songs are so good that I wish I could listen to them multiple times.

This song, "Old Boy," is beautiful, but I dare not listen to it too much.

This song is only suitable for someone to sit alone in front of the computer, listen to it secretly, and then cry secretly.

This is the last vestige of dignity for an adult.

After silently downing a glass of wine, Cheng Dongqing put down the glass and spoke:
"continue!"

Wang Yang pressed the space bar, and as the two male leads finished singing, the end credits appeared.

Did the four judges turn around? Did the two most popular male leads advance?

Nothing was explained, and that's it?
While stunned, Wang Yang hurriedly moved the mouse to check the progress bar; there were still more than two minutes left.

Thankfully, there should be a post-credits scene.

After half a minute of subtitles, the camera pans to the next scene.

At the lively and joyous wedding ceremony, Cheng Dabao was hosting the ceremony with great enthusiasm.

The newlyweds are played by Wang Xiaojian and Huang Xiaoxian.

Wang Jingming and Lu Xiaoshan played the roles of the bride's parents.

On the table were red cans of Wanglaoji herbal tea. Cheng Dabao specifically mentioned Happiness Wedding Day Wedding Company during his hosting.

Everyone knows it's an advertisement, but the viewers in front of the screen just smile knowingly.

The scene shifts to a long queue outside Wu Xiaoshuai's barbershop, where business is booming.

The TV in the barbershop was showing news about the final concert of "The Voice of China" held at the Bird's Nest.

A loser boy won the championship with his rendition of "Wild Wolf Disco".

The host excitedly announced that this summer, talent triumphed over capital!

Upon hearing this news line, Wang Yang, who was drinking, couldn't help but spit out his drink.

Fortunately, he managed to block it with his hand in time, preventing Meng Xiaojun and Cheng Dongqing on the other side from being affected.

That's ridiculous! Talent can beat capital.

If that's really the case, then the two male leads should be the champions.

One line of dialogue is enough to deliver a powerful dose of satire.

The scene then flashes back to high school.

Cheng Dabao was playing and singing "Xiao Fang" in the rain when the school beauty walked by indifferently with an umbrella.

Cheng Dabao's stubborn singing grew louder and louder, until finally, after walking a few dozen meters, the school beauty quietly turned around and looked back.

The scene is frozen.

This film deserves a big toast!

Cheng Dongqing tilted his head back and drank a glass of wine in one gulp. After putting down the glass, he immediately looked at Meng Xiaojun and Wang Yang.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt like there was more to see after watching it, right?"

Wang Yang then put down his wine glass.

"What do you mean?"

"What you're saying is that the success of this short film is already obvious, it's a sure-fire hit, but the audience hasn't had enough yet, so what's next?"

The speaker was Meng Xiaojun.

Without hesitation, Wang Yang blurted out the answer.

"They'll definitely strike while the iron is hot and make a sequel."

Meng Xiaojun smiled.

“What you said is true, but can’t you have some ambition? Is it possible that this short film is just an extended trailer? If I were Yang Muye, I would definitely make a sequel and release it directly in theaters.”

Wang Yang was stunned.

Before he could speak, Cheng Dongqing's voice rang out first.

"We missed it once, we absolutely cannot miss it a second time."

Meng Xiaojun nodded vigorously.

Seeing that the chairman and CEO had reached a consensus, COO Wang Yang hesitated to speak.

Soon, Cheng Dongqing and Meng Xiaojun noticed Wang Yang's unusual behavior.

Usually, when Meng Xiaojun and Cheng Dongqing disagreed, Wang Yang would act as a peacemaker and mediate between them.

It's rare that Meng Xiaojun and Cheng Dongqing agree, so why is there a problem with Wang Yang?
Wang Yang spoke up: "Don't misunderstand! I'm not against your decision, I just want to say that besides making theatrical films, doesn't Yang Muye have any other plans?"

Seeing Cheng Dongqing and Meng Xiaojun both frowning, Wang Yang further explained:

"You can't use the mindset of someone born in the 70s to predict what someone born in the 90s will do."

Meng Xiaojun couldn't help but laugh:

"Are you saying we're old and can't keep up with the times?"

Wang Yang shrugged noncommittally.

They can probably keep up with the times, but they definitely can't keep up with the ideas of the younger generation like Yang Muyi.

"The traditional way of thinking is, as you just said, that sequels should be released directly in theaters."

The entertainment industry is like Yan Ying in "The Storm Riders"—she used to be a coal mine owner, and in the future, she might become an internet capitalist.

Anyway, whoever becomes really awesome has to go into the entertainment industry to prove themselves.

Of course, this is not the main point Wang Yang wanted to make.

“Yang Muyi and other post-90s are a generation that grew up relying on the Internet. If you look at all his entrepreneurial experiences, they are all closely integrated with the Internet.”

"Anyway, I think that after the short film 'Old Boys' became popular, Yang Muye's next move may not be to immediately release it in theaters. He will definitely do that, but I think he will have other moves."

Meng Xiaojun and Cheng Dongqing exchanged a glance.

"For example?"

Wang Yang feigned dissatisfaction and snorted.

So you two were so focused on being moved that you didn't pay any attention to the plot, right?

"Didn't you all notice? Isn't the singing competition rule for 'The Voice of China' in the video a bit 'redundant'?"

Redundant?

Meng Xiaojun and Cheng Dongqing looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What I mean is that if the competition rules of 'The Voice of China' were changed to those of other singing competitions, with actors performing on stage and judges scoring, it wouldn't affect the plot at all. But the director and screenwriter still designed it this way. Is it just to facilitate product placement?"

Cheng Dongqing asked in confusion, "Isn't that right?"

Wang Yang was stunned for a moment.

Still don't understand?

"Okay, let me put it another way. Tell me if the product placement in this movie was good or bad!"

"The effect is outstanding!"

The speaker was Meng Xiaojun.

He estimates that the Wanglaoji executive who approved the sponsorship of "Old Boys" is now laughing his head off.

An investment of one dollar in advertising yielded an advertising effect equivalent to at least ten dollars.

Wang Yang shrugged:
"Since the advertising is so effective, why doesn't Yang Muyi organize an identical singing competition in real life? By leveraging the popularity of the short film, he could even save on advertising costs. That's the way to maximize profits!"

Cheng Dongqing and Meng Xiaojun were taken aback at first, then their eyes lit up at the same time.

Especially Meng Xiaojun.

He previously thought that "Old Boys" was an extra-long trailer prepared for the subsequent theatrical release.

But after hearing what Wang Yang said, he suddenly realized.

"Old Boys" could also be an extra-long advertisement for "The Voice of China".

(End of this chapter)