Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 563, Section 561: Winning the Championship and the Closing Ceremony
Beijing time, 8:00 PM on August 29, 2004.

Across China, countless families, dormitories, bars, and shopping malls, wherever there is a television signal, almost all tune in to one channel—Hunan Provincial Satellite TV.

The second season of "Super Girl" has finally reached its final battle for the crown after months of auditions, regional competitions, the top 100 elimination rounds, and brutal eliminations.

Changsha, Hunan Provincial Radio and Television Center Studio Hall.

The lights were dazzling, and the place was bustling with noise.

The venue, which can accommodate thousands of people, was packed to capacity, with glow sticks and support signs creating a sea of ​​color.

The enormous stage was meticulously designed, brimming with futuristic technology and youthful energy. Huge posters of the four finalists hung on both sides of the stage, signifying the protagonists of the evening.

The top four teams nationwide will be drawn into head-to-head matches, with the winners advancing to the final championship battle.

The atmosphere was built to a climax from the very beginning.

Hosts He Jiong and Li Xiang introduced the competition format, judges, and the "weight of fate" that would determine the champion tonight in a highly persuasive tone: the on-site judges' scores, the media jury's votes, and most importantly, the SMS votes open to the national audience.

According to data released by the program team, since the opening of the SMS voting channel during the national finals, the total number of votes has exceeded ten million, which was a staggering figure for all television professionals in China in 2004.

It not only means real money income, but also represents an unprecedented entertainment carnival with the participation of the whole nation.

In the control room, Wang Changtian of Enlight Media and Ouyang Changlin of Hunan TV stood side by side, looking down at the bustling scene through the huge glass wall.

Both of them wore expressions of barely suppressed excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness.

This program, which was initially proposed by Wang Sheng and upgraded by both parties, has far exceeded expectations in terms of influence and commercial value.

"How's the data flow on the SMS platform?" Ouyang Changlin asked the technical lead beside him in a low voice.

"Reporting to the station manager, the peak is still climbing, especially Zhang Hanyun's voting channel, where the number of visits and voting requests far exceeds those of the other three contestants. The server is under a lot of pressure, but we have expanded the capacity in advance, so we should be able to handle it."

Ouyang Changlin nodded, his gaze complex as he looked at Zhang Hanyun, the girl on stage who looked exceptionally pure and innocent in her white gauze dress.

……

The conference room of Star Era in Beijing.

Gao Yuanyuan did not go to the scene, but instead watched the live broadcast on a large-screen TV with the company's core team.

Gao Yuanyuan sat at the head of the conference table, facing the television.

On either side of the conference table, besides artist director Li Qing, there were several technical experts and public opinion analysts she had "borrowed" from the public relations and publicity departments of Shengying Group.

"Mr. Gao, current public opinion monitoring shows that Zhang Hanyun's online discussion is consistently ranked first, with a clear lead."

An analyst stared at his laptop screen and reported, "The topics we've been guiding on various forums, especially Tencent QQ groups, have been very effective. Labels like 'pure voice,' 'girl next door,' and 'youthful dreams' have been firmly attached to her."

Another technical expert added, "Regarding SMS voting, through Shengying's strategic partnerships with several large SPs (service providers), we optimized the push channel and response speed for Zhang Hanyun's exclusive voting code."

Meanwhile, utilizing some of the initial user data models from Maoyan Movies that we had access to, we conducted precise voting mobilization among user groups in specific age groups and regions… Although we couldn't directly influence the vote count, we ensured that her voting base and mobilization efficiency were at their highest levels.”

Gao Yuanyuan nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She knew, of course, that Wang Sheng disliked overt manipulation and understood that talent shows needed to maintain a semblance of fairness.

But what Gao Yuanyuan wanted was a result.

She invested resources and used her connections to personally plan Zhang Hanyun's competition song and styling, and used a slightly melancholic youth ballad from her manuscript, "That Summer," as her trump card in the crucial final round.

What she wants is to create an "Ace of Stars" that belongs to "Star Era," and to her, Gao Yuanyuan, as an "ace in the hole."

This doesn't involve a predetermined champion; it's a calculated strategy based on capital, resources, and forward-thinking tactics.

She wanted to create an atmosphere of inevitable trend, making Zhang Hanyun's victory seem natural and expected.

"Have the guest singers been arranged yet?" Gao Yuanyuan asked Li Qing.

"It's all arranged, Mr. Gao."

Li Qing immediately replied, "As you wish, we used our connections to invite Ms. Fan Xiaopang, who just gained global popularity with 'Twilight,' to be Zhang Hanyun's guest singer in the final round."

Ms. Fan has arrived in Changsha. She will be singing a duet of "Courage" with Zhang Hanyun. This is absolutely a game-changer for attracting attention.

Gao Yuanyuan nodded.

In order to persuade Fan Xiaopang to take charge, she gave him 20% of the company's shares.

Of course, Fan Xiaopang also invested ten million.

……

Star City, studio.

The match was in full swing.

The four finalists each displayed their unique abilities and showcased their best skills.

Whether it's belting out high notes, energetic singing and dancing, or heartfelt performances.

Zhang Hanyun had good luck in the draw; in the first round, she faced a contestant known for her singing and dancing.

She still held her guitar and quietly sang "Invisible Wings." Her clear voice and sincere emotions created a unique "purifying" effect on a stage full of dazzling skills, winning unanimous praise from the judges and enthusiastic applause from the audience.

She also won by a narrow margin in the media jury's voting.

When the host announced that her next guest singer would be Fan Xiaopang, the entire audience erupted in a deafening roar of screams and applause!

Under the spotlight, Fan Xiaopang, dressed in a gorgeous gown and with stunning beauty, made an elegant entrance, standing next to the slightly shy Zhang Hanyun, creating a strong visual impact.

"My God! It's Fan Xiaopang!"

"The female lead from 'Twilight'!" "What's Zhang Hanyun's background? How could she possibly get this international star to come?"

The audience below the stage was abuzz with discussion, while viewers in front of their televisions were utterly stunned.

At this moment, countless viewers who were not originally fans of Zhang Hanyun cast their votes for this lucky girl because of Fan Xiaopang's appearance.

As the melody of "Courage" began, Fan Xiaopang's mature and steady voice intertwined with Zhang Hanyun's clear and pure voice, creating an unexpectedly harmonious and beautiful sound.

This scene was transmitted across China via satellite signal.

At home in Beijing, Gao Yuanyuan watched the two perfectly matched figures on the screen, saw the glow sticks flashing wildly below the stage, and heard the approving expressions of the judges. She knew she had won.

The upcoming championship battle is almost a foregone conclusion.

Riding on the momentum of Fan Xiaopang's performance, Zhang Hanyun sang "That Summer" which Gao Yuanyuan had prepared for her.

The slightly melancholic melody and lyrics that resonate with youth, combined with her sincere performance, struck a chord with countless young men and women.

Finally, when the host announced in a trembling voice, "The national champion of the second 'Super Girl' competition is—Zhang Hanyun!", the entire studio erupted in cheers.

Golden ribbons descended from the sky, enveloping the fifteen-year-old girl on the stage, who was crying tears of joy and seemed to be still in a dream.

……

Beijing time, August 30, 2004, midnight.

Xingcheng, a suite in a five-star hotel.

Zhang Hanyun, dressed in her pajamas, sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, hugging her knees, gazing at the dazzling night view of Changsha outside, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

On the bedside table sat the heavy crystal championship trophy, a symbol of the highest honor.

It all felt like a dream.

Just a few hours ago, she was an ordinary middle school student with dreams of becoming a star; just a few hours later, she is the highly anticipated champion of "Super Girl," a soon-to-be artist signed with "Star Era" and having an album personally produced by Gao Yuanyuan.

Her phone had been ringing off the hook with calls from her parents, relatives, classmates, the production crew, and countless unknown numbers… So she simply turned it off, wanting only to enjoy this moment of peace.

The scenes from tonight kept replaying in my mind: Sister Fan Xiaopang's warm and encouraging gaze, the thunderous cheers from the audience, the heavy weight of the trophy when I held it up, and the steady and powerful voice of Boss Gao Yuanyuan in the congratulatory phone call from Beijing.

“Star Era…President Gao…” she murmured these words, her heart filled with anticipation for the future and a trace of indescribable fear.

She knew she had been pushed to this position by a tremendous force.

She was like a carefully chosen pebble thrown into a turbulent current, instantly propelled to the crest of the wave.

Can it stand firm? Can it live up to this "luck"?

The girl's heart was filled with immense joy and a vague sense of pressure, leaving her wide awake.

……

Meanwhile, in Athens, Greece, at the Olympic Stadium.

当地时间，2004年8月29日，晚上9点15分（京城时间8月30日凌晨2点15分）。

Unlike the hustle and bustle of Changsha, this place is immersed in a grand, magnificent, and slightly melancholic farewell atmosphere.

The closing ceremony of the 28th Summer Olympic Games has officially begun.

Wang Sheng sat in the VIP section of the observation group, wearing a light jacket to ward off the cool evening breeze of the Mediterranean summer night.

After more than ten days of fierce competition, the Olympic flame is about to be extinguished.

The closing ceremony was like a huge carnival party, full of Greek romance and spontaneity.

The performers, dressed in brightly colored costumes, sang and danced with abandon, depicting Greek mythology and folklore. The athletes from various countries were no longer as reserved as they had been at the opening ceremony. They waved their national flags, took photos with each other, exchanged souvenirs, and even danced impromptu to the music, their faces beaming with the ease and joy of friendship after the competition.

"This was a successful Olympics; Athens showcased its history and passion," said Vice Mayor Li, sitting next to Wang Sheng. "Now the pressure is on Beijing."

Wang Sheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the joyful crowd before landing on the blazing sacred flame.

He witnessed Liu Xiang's historic moment, and also saw the heroic figures of Chinese athletes sweating and striving for gold and silver medals on the field. The charm of sports lies in its purity and excellence, and in humanity's courage to constantly challenge its own limits.

This may seem different from the film industry he works in, but at its core they are similar—both are about creating dreams and showcasing the brilliance of the human spirit.

Midway through the closing ceremony, as is customary, a flag handover ceremony was held.

The Mayor of Athens handed the Olympic flag to IOC President Jacques Rogge, who then passed it on to the representative of the next host city – Beijing.

As the familiar "March of the Volunteers" resounded in the stadium and the bright five-star red flag slowly rose under the Athens night sky, Wang Sheng, like all the Chinese people present, felt their hearts surge with emotion.

He knew that from this moment on, the Olympics had officially entered "Beijing Time".

A larger, more complex event, carrying more expectations and challenges, will be presented to the world from his hometown in four years.

Then, a cultural performance lasting about eight minutes, carefully prepared by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, began.

Despite its short duration, the event showcased the charm and vitality of this ancient Eastern civilization to the world through traditional Chinese elements such as Peking Opera, martial arts, and song and dance, combined with modern technology.

Wang Sheng observed very carefully, seeing this as a window into understanding the ideas and capabilities of the next organizers.

At the end of the performance, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

“It’s very distinctive, but four years from now, on our own turf, we need to make it more grand, more modern, and more Chinese,” Wang Sheng whispered to Vice Mayor Li.

Vice Mayor Li nodded in deep agreement: "Yes, Chairman Wang, we will definitely need to rely on Shengying's experience in cultural creativity and large-scale event organization."

In the final stage, the Olympic flame was slowly extinguished.

(End of this chapter)