Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 176 Changes in Listed Industries

The video platform Guangying Video surpassed 1500 million users in a month, with over 16% being paying users. This caused a sensation not only in the internet world but also in the entertainment industry.

Light Chaser has now filled all its gaps, from Light Chaser Pictures, which focuses on film and television development and production, to Light Chaser Digital, which is a world-class provider of special effects and lighting technology, to Light Chaser Cinemas, which provides the terminal, and Light Chaser Video, which is now the broadcasting platform. This company seems to have formed a closed loop in the film and television industry.

Many film and television companies and internet companies have realized this problem, but they never expected Jiang Yu to have grown to this level without them noticing. His thinking is so meticulous!

Now it's too late to catch up, mainly because film and television companies don't have that much money to burn, and internet companies don't understand production.

People in the industry knew a long time ago that Light Chaser had acquired Kuaibo last year, but there had been no news for a year, and no one knew what Light Chaser was going to do. Now, they have suddenly caught everyone off guard.

Just as everyone was marveling at Jiang Yu's cunning, another, even bigger news instantly overshadowed "Black Swan," with Huayi Brothers releasing it on October 10th.

The company successfully went public on the last Friday of the month.

October 30, 2009, Shenzhen Stock Exchange lobby.

At 9:25 a.m., five minutes before the market opened.

Wang Zhongjun straightened his dark blue suit and tie, his palms slightly sweaty.

His younger brother, Wang Zhonglei, stood beside him and whispered, "Brother, are you ready?"

"Ready."

Wang Zhongjun's gaze swept over the group of celebrity shareholders around him. Feng Xiaogang was unusually dressed in a neat suit, Huang Xiaoming's smile was as perfect as if he were shooting a magazine cover, Zhang Jizhong's beard was meticulously trimmed, and Li Binbin's red suit was particularly eye-catching.

Today, they have all transformed from actors and directors into "shareholders," and this change in status has brought an irrepressible excitement to everyone's faces.

Only Zhou Xun stood a little further away, wearing a black suit and simple pearl earrings, with a calm expression.

She had initially refused internal subscriptions, and now, looking at the upcoming listing of Zhongchui, her eyes held a complex expression.

At 9:30, the bell rang.

On the big screen, Huayi Brothers' stock code 300027 lit up.

The issue price was 28 yuan, and the opening price was 63.66 yuan, more than doubling!

Exclamations and applause erupted in the hall. Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei embraced each other excitedly, Feng Xiaogang pumped his fist, and Huang Xiaoming gave a thumbs-up to the camera.

But this is only the beginning.

The stock price soared like a rocket: 70 yuan, 75 yuan, 80 yuan—and broke through the 90 yuan mark at 10:40 a.m.

When the number 91.8 yuan appeared on the screen, the entire exchange hall erupted in cheers.

"It's broken 90! It's broken 90!" a reporter screamed.

Wang Zhonglei gripped his brother's arm, his voice trembling: "Brother, we—we did it."

Wang Zhongjun's eyes reddened, and he nodded vigorously.

At that moment, he recalled the days he and his brother spent in that small office in Xidan, Beijing, more than a decade ago, and the nights they drank themselves to death trying to attract investment.

Now, the answer is on the big screen: a market value of over 120 billion, the first stock on the ChiNext board, and the first stock in the Chinese mainland film and television industry!

"Dear viewers, we are now reporting live from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange!" The CCTV Finance Channel host spoke excitedly into the camera, "Huayi Brothers' stock price soared by over 200% on its first day of trading, with its market capitalization exceeding 120 billion yuan! This is a milestone moment for China's cultural industry!"

The camera panned across the excited faces of the celebrity shareholders, finally settling on the large screen displaying the shareholder list.

When the screen displayed "Fourth largest shareholder: Jiang Yu, holding 1200 million shares," many viewers of the live stream gasped.

Based on the share price of 91.8 yuan, these 1200 million shares are worth a full 11 billion yuan!

In the living room of Liu Yifei's villa in Shunyi District, Beijing, the atmosphere was even more enthusiastic than at the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

"91.8 yuan! Jiang Yu, look! 91.8 yuan!" Liu Yifei jumped barefoot on the soft carpet, holding up her iPad.

I almost got thrown out.

Jiang Yu sat on the sofa, looking at the almost vertically upward candlestick chart on the screen, a slight smile playing on his lips: "I saw it, Teacher Liu. Be careful not to drop the iPad; this thing just came out, and it's quite expensive to repair."

"Even if you break it, you can still afford it!" Liu Yifei pounced on him, crashing into his arms and planting a loud kiss on his cheek. "1200 million shares! 11 billion! You just—just like that, you made 11 billion while lying down!"

Jiang Yu caught her steadily, raised an eyebrow and corrected her: "Watch your wording, what do you mean by 'earning money while lying down'? That was in exchange for two supporting roles in 'Inception,' a fair trade, legal and compliant."

"That's an incredible profit!" Liu Yifei's eyes shone as if they contained the entire red of the stock exchange. "Inception hasn't even been released yet, and you've already exchanged two unrealized Hollywood slots for 11 billion yuan worth of stocks! That's some serious business—Teacher Jiang, do you take on apprentices? I'll pay any tuition fee!"

Jiang Yu was amused by her and leaned close to her ear, whispering, "As for tuition—you can pay in other ways."

His warm breath brushed against her ear, and Liu Yifei's face instantly turned bright red. She clenched her fist and gently punched his shoulder: "You're so indecent!"

"Where did I do anything inappropriate? I meant that we could use the profit-sharing rights from future projects to make the payment. What are you thinking, Teacher Liu?" Jiang Yu looked innocent, but his eyes were full of mischievous smiles.

"You!" Liu Yifei was both embarrassed and angry. Just as she was about to hit him again, she suddenly heard a slight cough coming from the direction of the kitchen.

The two turned their heads at the same time and saw Liu Xiaoli standing at the kitchen door with a fruit plate in her hand, a half-smile on her face. When she saw them looking over, she immediately turned around and pretended to tidy up the cabinets. Her slightly swaying shoulders betrayed her smile.

Liu Yifei gasped softly, jerking away from Jiang Yu's arms as if electrocuted. She frantically straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, her cheeks burning hot: "Mom—when did you come out—"

"I just came out and didn't see anything." Liu Xiaoli turned around, her expression perfectly controlled, and placed the fruit plate on the coffee table. "Xiao Jiang, have some fruit. These grapes are quite sweet."

"Thank you, Auntie." Jiang Yu smiled frankly, as if nothing had just happened.

Liu Xiaoli glanced at her daughter's flushed face, then looked at Jiang Yu, her smile deepening: "You two chat, I'm going to the balcony to water the flowers." With that, she actually took the watering can and walked towards the balcony.

Only after her mother's figure disappeared behind the glass door did Liu Yifei breathe a sigh of relief, glaring fiercely at Jiang Yu: "It's all your fault! My mom saw us!"

"So what if she saw it?" Jiang Yu pulled her back to sit down, peeled a grape and held it to her lips. "Auntie has already accepted me as her son-in-law. She's probably even counting down the days until we get our marriage certificate."

Liu Yifei opened her mouth and ate a grape, mumbling indistinctly, "Who wants to get a marriage certificate with you—"

"Never mind then." Jiang Yu made a move to get up. "I'll find someone else. Anyway, my net worth has increased by another 11 billion, so I should be quite sought after."

"You dare!" Liu Yifei immediately grabbed his sleeve, then realized she had overreacted, her face turning even redder. She added in a low voice, "What I mean is—you have to take responsibility for me."

Jiang Yu laughed and pulled the person back into his arms: "Take responsibility, of course I'll take responsibility. I'll take responsibility for life."

After joking around for a while, Liu Yifei picked up her iPad again and looked at the stock price, which had stabilized above 90 yuan, still somewhat incredulous: "Seriously, how did you come up with the idea of ​​exchanging a supporting role for stock? Huayi wasn't listed yet back then. What if it couldn't go public, or if it broke its issue price after listing? Wouldn't you have lost money?"

"I'm optimistic about the Chinese film and television industry," Jiang Yu said seriously. "Last year's financial crisis affected many industries, but the cultural industry actually has the potential to grow against the trend. As the current leader in the private sector, Huayi's listing is only a matter of time. Exchanging two supporting roles for shares in a future listed company is a worthwhile deal no matter how you look at it."

"And..." he paused, a sly glint in his eyes, "Inception is a Nolan project, so its quality is guaranteed. Huayi's actors will break into Hollywood through this project, which will greatly enhance Huayi's brand value. This, in turn, will boost the stock price. So, in this deal, Huayi won't lose out, and neither will I; it's a win-win situation."

Liu Yifei listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion. Looking at Jiang Yu's confident eyes, her slight worry vanished. This man always seemed to have a way of making complex business calculations simple and clear.

"Oh, right," she suddenly remembered something, "Should we go to Huayi's celebration party in Beijing tomorrow night?"

"Go. Not only do you have to go, but you also have to dress up nicely." Jiang Yu glanced at the time. "Now you can decide what to wear."

Liu Yifei immediately jumped up from the sofa, "I need to put on a face mask first, then pick out clothes, do my hair, and put on makeup—"

Oh no, we're running out of time!

Watching her hurried figure rushing upstairs, Jiang Yu shook his head with a smile.

Women, no matter how famous or famous they are, react remarkably in unison to these kinds of things.

7 PM, China World Trade Center Banquet Hall.

The scale of Huayi's listing celebration banquet was the highest in the film and television industry in 2009.

The champagne tower was three meters high, and fresh flowers flown in from France decorated every corner. The Michelin three-star chef personally designed the dinner menu.

More importantly, the guests present included almost half of the prominent figures in the entertainment and capital circles.

When Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei entered through the VIP entrance, the banquet hall was already bustling with noise.

The moment the two appeared, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"President Jiang is here!"

"Liu Yifei is here too! 'Black Swan' is incredibly popular right now—"

.

"Tsk tsk, they're such a perfect match. I heard Jiang Yu's shares in Huayi are worth over a billion yuan —"

Various hushed discussions spread among the crowd.

Jiang Yu remained calm, one hand in his suit trouser pocket, the other gently around Liu Yifei's waist, smiling and nodding to acquaintances.

Liu Yifei chose a champagne-colored strapless dress tonight. The style was simple but the cut was excellent, perfectly outlining her slender waist and smooth shoulder line.

Pearl earrings and matching high heels were her only accessories, yet they accentuated her snow-white skin, making her seem to glow under the dazzling crystal chandelier.

"Are you nervous?" Jiang Yu asked in a low voice.

"A little," Liu Yifei replied softly. "It feels like everyone is watching us."

"They're watching," Jiang Yu chuckled, "watching the Venice Film Festival Best Actress and her 'money-printing machine' boyfriend. You'll get used to it; there will be many more occasions like this in the future."

The two had only taken a few steps when the brothers Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei came to greet them.

"President Jiang! Yifei! Thank you for your support!" Wang Zhongjun was beaming, clearly still immersed in the excitement of the listing, and shook Jiang Yu's hand vigorously.

"Congratulations, Mr. Wang." Jiang Yu smiled. "Huayi's successful IPO is a great event for the industry."

"Congratulations, congratulations!" Wang Zhonglei laughed, his voice so loud it could be heard half the banquet hall. "President Jiang's 1200 million shares are now priceless! Speaking of which, we have to thank you for that transaction last year, which allowed us to ride the wave of 'Inception'!"

The moment those words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.

Countless gazes focused on them, some envious, some jealous, some inquisitive—all sorts of expressions.

Last year's deal was still being discussed privately by many in the industry, who felt that Jiang Yu had lost out by exchanging 1200 million shares and the movie "The Great Earthquake" for two Hollywood supporting roles.

Looking at it now, Jiang Yu exchanged two spots for a market value increase of 1 billion yuan. This is not a transaction, it's practically turning lead into gold!

"It's because Mr. Wang has a good eye," Jiang Yu said modestly, his tone calm. "I believe that after the release of 'Inception,' it will bring even more value to Huayi."

"That's right, that's right!" Wang Zhongjun nodded repeatedly, lowering his voice, "Teacher Ma will be here later, you two can have a good chat."

He keeps saying he wants to work with you.

Just then, a commotion arose at the door. Jack Ma had arrived.

Unlike the crowd of people dressed in suits and ties, Jack Ma was dressed casually as always.

Wearing a dark sweater and khaki pants, he smiled like a friendly uncle next door attending a friend's gathering.

But no one dared to underestimate him. When this founder of Alibaba appeared, even the Wang Zhongjun brothers rushed to greet him.

"Teacher Ma! Thank you for coming!" Wang Zhongjun shook hands warmly.

"Zhongjun, congratulations!" Jack Ma patted him on the shoulder forcefully. "Huayi's listing is a great thing for the cultural industry!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ma Yun turned his gaze to Jiang Yu, his eyes lighting up, and walked straight over: "Mr. Jiang! Long time no see!"

"Mr. Ma." Jiang Yu stepped forward and shook hands.

"Mr. Jiang, you're amazing!" Jack Ma's booming voice patted Jiang Yu on the shoulder. "You quietly created a light and shadow video that caught Youku and Tudou completely off guard. Truly a force to be reckoned with! Truly a force to be reckoned with!"

"Mr. Ma, you flatter me. It's all luck."

"Luck?" Jack Ma laughed. "Don't give me that. I've seen the data. Guangying Video has over 1500 million users in just one month, with a 16% paying user rate. If that's luck, then all the internet companies in China wouldn't need to work anymore; they could just buy lottery tickets every day."

People around him laughed. Jack Ma has always been direct in his speech, but these words also expressed the sentiments of many people.

Every move Jiang Yu makes seems like luck, but he always manages to accurately time the market, which can't be explained by luck alone.

Jack Ma leaned closer to Jiang Yu and lowered his voice: "Seriously, for Guangying Video's next round of financing, have you considered Alibaba? We can empower you with traffic, payment, and e-commerce."

Jiang Yu smiled: "I'll definitely consider it. But Mr. Ma, doesn't Alibaba have Taobao Video?"

"That's different." Jack Ma waved his hand. "Taobao Video is a supplement to e-commerce; you guys are in content creation. I understand the principle of professionals doing professional things."

As the two were talking, several bigwigs, including Han Sanping, Ren Zhonglun, Wang Changtian, and Yu Dong, gathered around.

For a time, Jiang Yu and Ma Yun became the absolute focus of the banquet.

"President Jiang, the way Guangying Video operates has truly opened our eyes," Han Sanping of China Film Group remarked.

"Mr. Han, you're too kind. China Film Group has a different positioning; it mainly serves the film industry. Guangying Video is a content platform for the general public, so our strategies are naturally different."

"Your closed loop is truly impressive," Wang Changtian of Enlight Media chimed in, his tone complex. "You have Light Chaser Animation for production, Light & Shadow Digital for special effects, Light Chaser Cinemas for distribution, and now you have Light & Shadow Video for broadcasting. Mr. Jiang, you're aiming to dominate the entire industry chain."

These words were spoken bluntly, and the surroundings instantly became quieter.

Everyone looked at Jiang Yu, wondering how he would respond to this pointed question.

Jiang Yu's expression remained unchanged, still bearing a gentle smile: "Mr. Wang, you flatter me. We simply want to do our best in every aspect to provide the audience with a better content experience. The Chinese film market is so large that it can accommodate many different models. Doing our own job well and working together with everyone to expand the market is the right path."

This statement was perfectly watertight, acknowledging both the project's strategic plan and the attitude of cooperation.

Yu Dong interjected, "President Jiang is right. With a bigger market, everyone has a chance. But to be honest, the scale of your Chasing Light team right now is putting a lot of pressure on us old guys."

"Mr. Yu, you flatter me." Jiang Yu raised his glass. "Bona's distribution capabilities are number one in the industry; we still have a lot to learn. Hopefully, we can have more opportunities to collaborate."

"Then it's settled!" Yu Dong clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

While the bigwigs were having a lively conversation, Liu Yifei was surrounded by a group of female celebrities.

Fan Binbin walked over with a glass of champagne and affectionately took Liu Yifei's arm: "Yifei, you look really beautiful today."

"Sister Binbin is the one, that red dress is so beautiful."

"What's so great about her? She can't compare to you, the newly crowned Best Actress." Fan Binbin laughed, lowering his voice. "To be honest, I've watched 'Black Swan' three times already, and I have new feelings every time I watch it. Your solo dance—it was absolutely amazing."

Li Binbin also came over: "Yifei, congratulations! Black Swan's global box office is almost 3.5 million US dollars, right?"

'

"Thank you, Sister Bingbing. It should be broken within the next few days."

"That's amazing!" Li Bingbing exclaimed. "Finally, some of our Chinese actresses have truly gone global."

7

Zhou Xun stood a little distance away, looking at Liu Yifei surrounded by the crowd, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

She took a sip of her drink, and finally walked over.

"Yifei".

"Sister Xun." Liu Yifei nodded politely.

"You acted very well," Zhou Xun said sincerely. "I watched it twice. Especially the bathroom scene, that feeling of gradually breaking down, that's very difficult to act."

"Thank you, Sister Xun." Liu Yifei was somewhat surprised.

Zhou Xun paused, smiled, and asked, "Hey, don't be so polite. But you're going to be under a lot of pressure from now on. When is 'Lucy' coming out?"

"Next summer."

"Prepare well." Zhou Xun looked at her. "Everyone is watching you now. You succeeded once, and everyone expects you to succeed every time. This industry—is that cruel."

These words were spoken directly, and Liu Yifei could hear the goodwill in them.

She nodded: "I understand. Thank you for reminding me, Sister Xun."

"Keep it up." Zhou Xun raised his glass, turned and left.

Fan Binbin watched her retreating figure and whispered to Liu Yifei, "That's just how Sister Xun is; she speaks her mind directly."

"I know," Liu Yifei smiled, "but pressure is what drives motivation, right?"

"You have a good attitude," Fan Binbin laughed. "No wonder President Jiang spoils you so much."

As they were chatting, male celebrities such as Huang Xiaoming and Deng Chao also came over.

The banquet hall was filled with the clinking of glasses and the glittering lights, and everyone wore a smile, whether genuine or not.

The celebration banquet didn't gradually end until after 10 p.m.

On the way back, Liu Yifei leaned on Jiang Yu's shoulder, finally taking off her perfect smile mask and letting out a long sigh: "I'm exhausted—my face is stiff from smiling."

Jiang Yu put his arm around her and gently massaged her temples with his fingers: "It's normal. In this kind of situation, three parts are genuine feelings and seven parts are acting."

You did a great job today.

.

"Really?" Liu Yifei looked up at him. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No. She was poised and elegant, befitting her title as the Venice Film Festival Best Actress." Jiang Yu smiled. "However, I could sense that many people were wary of us."

"Because of the closed loop of the light-tracking system?"

"That's right." Jiang Yu nodded. "We've got it all: production, special effects, theaters, and platforms. This was unimaginable before. Traditional film companies were worried that we would monopolize content, and internet companies were worried that we would monopolize distribution channels. Although I repeatedly emphasized that it was a collaboration, whether people believed me or not was another matter."

Liu Yifei frowned: "Then what should we do?"

"There's not much we can do." Jiang Yu said calmly, "Just do your own thing and let your work speak for itself. Once movies like Inception, Avatar, 2012, and Lucy are released, once Guangying Video's user base surpasses 5000 million, once our creator ecosystem matures—then it won't be about what they think, but about them having to accept reality."

The car entered the villa area, and the surroundings became quiet.

The early winter night sky in Beijing was clear, with sparse but bright stars.

After washing up and lying in bed, Liu Yifei couldn't fall asleep.

She turned to look at Jiang Yu's indistinct silhouette in the darkness and asked softly, "Jiang Yu, do you think more film and television companies will go public after Huayi Brothers goes public?"

"Yes. Enlight Media, Bona Film Group, Huace Media—they will all follow suit. It's an inevitable trend."

"What about Light Chaser Pictures? Will they participate?"

Jiang Yu was silent for a few seconds, then turned to face her: "Not for now. We need to be flexible. Going public can raise money, but it also puts us under the constraints of the capital market. We don't need money right now, so there's no need."

"But—if everyone goes public, won't we fall behind?"

"No." Jiang Yu reached out and stroked her cheek, his voice exceptionally clear in the darkness. "We're taking a different path. They go public to raise funds for development, while we already have a complete industrial chain and the ability to generate our own revenue. By the time they've raised enough money to catch up, we'll already be in the next stage."

Liu Yifei seemed to understand, but not quite. This man always seemed to know where to go.

"Oh, right," Jiang Yu suddenly remembered something, "the financing that President Ma mentioned today—"

"Will you say yes?"

"No," Jiang Yu said. "Jack Ma is a smart man; he knows what I mean."

Liu Yifei nodded and snuggled closer to him. His warm body temperature wafted through her pajamas, making her feel at ease.

In the days following Huayi's successful IPO, the film and television industry was like a lake tossed with a boulder, with ripples spreading everywhere.

The first to feel the change were actors' pay.

The myth of Huayi Brothers' IPO creating wealth made all actors realize that acting can not only earn them a salary, but also equity, and the appreciation rate of equity may far exceed that of salary.

"Sister, next time you sign a contract, you must insist on including an investment share," a top actress told her agent on the phone. "Look at Huang Xiaoming, his 3.6 million shares are worth over 100 million now! That's more than he made from making dozens of movies!"

"Understood. I'm in talks with the production company, but everyone's gotten smarter these days and isn't willing to give out shares easily."

"Then raise the salaries! Anyway, there's plenty of hot money right now, so we're not worried about a lack of funding."

The same thing happened in various talent agencies, where actors started talking about "bringing their own investment to the production", "box office profit sharing" and "equity incentives", as if they had all become investment experts overnight.

The directors and screenwriters were not to be outdone.

The news of Feng Xiaogang's net worth of 2 million yuan dominated the entertainment headlines for three consecutive days, stimulating the nerves of every creator.

"Old Zhang, we can't just sell the copyright for our script anymore," a veteran screenwriter told his partner. "We need to demand a share of the box office revenue, and ideally, we should also get shares in the project company."

"Will they agree?"

"If they don't agree, we'll find someone else. Capital is pouring into the film and television industry like crazy right now; good projects are a scarce resource. We need to have that kind of confidence!"

The production company, on the other hand, is caught in a sweet dilemma.

On the one hand, Huayi's listing proved the capital value of the film and television industry, with hot money pouring in continuously, and investments that were previously unattainable are now actively seeking them out.

On the other hand, the demands of actors, directors, and screenwriters have risen sharply, and production costs have increased dramatically.

"Mr. Wang, Huang Xiaoming has made an offer: 20 per episode, plus a 5% investment share."

"What?! Has he gone mad?!"

"His net worth is 2 million, this price is already a friendly price."

"Friendship my ass!"

Such dialogues are constantly taking place in major film and television companies. The enthusiasm of capital has raised the psychological expectations of everyone in the industry, and a bubble has begun to quietly grow.

The most anxious are those peers who haven't gone public yet.

In the president's office of Enlight Media, Wang Changtian stared at Huayi's stock price chart with a furrowed brow.

"Mr. Wang, Huayi's closing price today was 89.5 yuan, with a market value of 118 billion yuan," the assistant reported.

"Understood." Wang Changtian waved his hand, and only after his assistant left did he let out a long sigh.

Enlight Media's IPO plan has been in preparation for more than a year, and it was originally planned to submit the application next year.

Huayi has now seized the opportunity and become the "first listed film and television company," enjoying the highest level of attention and premium.

Will the market still be so enthusiastic when Enlight Media goes public?

More importantly, Huayi raised over 30 billion yuan through its IPO. With this money, Huayi can expand aggressively and seize market share.

With one side gaining and the other losing, the pressure on the light is considerable.

Yu Dong of Bona was equally anxious, pacing back and forth in his office, smoking one cigarette after another.

"President Yu, Huayi's IPO is a success. Should we accelerate our plans?" the vice president asked cautiously.

"Accelerate? How can we accelerate?" Yu Dong smiled wryly. "There are so many companies queuing up for listing on the A-share market, it's not something you can do quickly. Besides—Huayi has set the bar too high, even if we get listed, our valuation will hardly reach that level."

"What should we do then?"

"We need to take a two-pronged approach." Yu Dong stubbed out his cigarette. "On the one hand, we will continue to push for an A-share listing, and on the other hand, we will seek opportunities in the US or Hong Kong stock markets. We can't put all our eggs in one basket."

Huayi's IPO was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that changed the entire industry's ecosystem.

Capital, talent, and projects are beginning to flow again, and a new landscape is brewing.

On Sunday morning, the aroma of fried eggs wafted from the kitchen of the villa in Shunyi.

Liu Yifei, wearing a floral apron, was carefully flipping a fried egg.

Her cooking skills are average, but she can manage a simple breakfast.

"Do you need any help?" Jiang Yu, dressed in his pajamas, leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching his girlfriend's flustered movements with a smile in his eyes.

"No need, no need, go set the table." Liu Yifei said without turning her head. "Today I'll let you taste my cooking—ah! Oil's splattered!"

Jiang Yu quickly stepped forward and took the spatula from her hand: "Let me do it. Teacher Liu's hands are for holding Best Actress trophies, not for dealing with frying pans."

"Who do you think you are!" Liu Yifei retorted, but seeing the slightly burnt fried egg in the pan, she obediently gave up her spot.

Ten minutes later, a simple breakfast was served: fried eggs, toast, milk, and fruit salad.

The two sat facing each other at a small round table by the floor-to-ceiling window, where sunlight streamed in through the glass, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

"What's the plan for today?" Liu Yifei asked, taking a bite of bread and speaking indistinctly.

"I'm going to a meeting at the company this morning, and I'm free this afternoon." Jiang Yu looked at her. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to go to the supermarket!" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up. "Just a regular big supermarket, I can push a shopping cart around slowly, buy some groceries, and some snacks—"

Jiang Yu chuckled: "Teacher Liu, if you go to the supermarket now, you'll be surrounded by onlookers in no time."

"Please wear a mask and a hat," Liu Yifei pleaded. "I haven't gone shopping like a normal person in ages. The last time I went to the supermarket was before filming 'Black Swan'—"

Seeing the expectant look in her eyes, Jiang Yu softened: "Okay. But we have to agree on three rules: First, wear a mask and sunglasses; second, stay close to me; third, if you are recognized, leave immediately."

"make a deal!"

The morning meeting was short, mainly consisting of hearing the latest data report on light and shadow video.

One month and three days after its launch, the number of registered users exceeded 1600 million and the number of paid members exceeded 260 million, with all data continuing to grow rapidly.

"How did the competitors react?" Jiang Yu asked.

"Youku and Tudou have accelerated their efforts, and it's said they've already entered the substantive stage," an executive reported. "Youku Video announced an additional 10 billion yuan in content acquisition budget, and Sohu Video is following suit. The industry arms race has begun."

"As expected." Jiang Yu nodded. "Let's maintain our pace, focusing on the content ecosystem and user experience. In addition, we can further increase creator incentives and announce that the total prize money for the second season of the competition will be increased to 8000 million."

"8000 million? Mr. Jiang, this number—"

"8000 million," Jiang Yu said decisively. "We need to build a content barrier as quickly as possible. If we don't have enough money, we'll transfer it from the Light Chaser Holdings account."

After the meeting, Jiang Yu drove Liu Yifei to a large imported goods supermarket near her home.

Both of them wore simple disguises: baseball caps, masks, and non-prescription glasses, making them look like an ordinary couple.

Pushing her shopping cart between the shelves, Liu Yifei was as excited as a child: "Look at these potato chips, a new flavor! I'll buy some to try!"

"it is good."

Wow, cherries are in season now, they're so expensive—but I'll buy some anyway!

"purchase."

"Jiang Yu, look, this brand of pasta sauce is on sale—"

"Take two bottles."

Liu Yifei was picking and choosing in front, while Jiang Yu pushed the cart behind her. Watching her cheerful figure, a warm sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

This woman, who shines brightly on the red carpet in Venice, might be happy over a discounted bag of potato chips, or have her eyes light up when she tastes a sample of cheese.

This is life—real, ordinary, and warm life.

Of course, he was still recognized.

While choosing steaks in the fresh food section, a middle-aged woman stared at Liu Yifei for a long time, then suddenly exclaimed, "You are—Liu Yifei?!"

The surroundings fell silent instantly, and everyone turned to look.

Liu Yifei stiffened and instinctively moved closer to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu reacted quickly, putting one arm around her and pushing the shopping cart with the other: "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."

"Impossible! It's Liu Yifei! I've seen 'Black Swan'!" The aunt was very persistent, and her voice attracted more people.

Seeing that more and more people were gathering around, Jiang Yu made a quick decision, abandoned the shopping cart, and led Liu Yifei towards the exit.

The sounds of camera shutters and whispers came from behind: "It really is Liu Yifei!"

"Is that Jiang Yu next to you?"

"They're shopping at the supermarket? My God—"

The two jogged to the parking lot, got into the car, and closed the door in one smooth motion.

They looked at each other and burst out laughing at the same time.

"It failed," Liu Yifei sighed. "I was still recognized."

"As expected." Jiang Yu started the car. "But at least we walked around for half an hour, so it was quite enjoyable."

Back home, the two of them put away the things they had bought together.

Liu Yifei put on an apron and prepared to cook, while Jiang Yu assisted her by washing, chopping, and handing her seasonings.

"Jiang Yu".

"Um?"

"After we get married, we'll go grocery shopping together often and cook together."

"it is good."

"Even if I become more famous and busier in the future, I will still make time to live a normal life."

"it is good."

You can't lie to me.

"I'm not lying to you." Jiang Yu hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I promise, no matter what the future holds, I will go grocery shopping with you, cook with you, and spend every ordinary day with you."

Liu Yifei's eyes welled up slightly. She turned around, stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed his lips: "Pinky promise."

"Pinky promise."

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