Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

Zhang Yang didn't pay much attention to the movie, since his focus was entirely on Liu Yifei.

Unfortunately, although Liu Yifei was caught off guard by Zhang Yang's sneak attack, she still maintained her bottom line. At most, they could only lean on each other and hold hands.

Once the movie theater lights came on, Liu Yifei broke free from Zhang Yang's embrace, and then Zhang Yang took her back home.

It's not that Zhang Yang didn't have other ideas, but even if he did, he needed Liu Yifei's consent.

Zhang Yang didn't take Liu Yifei to her doorstep, but stopped near her house. He had experienced firsthand how formidable Liu Xiaoli was, and if she saw this, she would definitely explode.

"Go back and get some rest."

Upon hearing Zhang Yang's words, Liu Yifei hesitated to speak.

"Sissi..."

Liu Yifei suddenly stepped forward and approached Zhang Yang in surprise.

"Um?"

"Pop~"

"Hmm~"

Liu Yifei broke free from Zhang Yang's embrace and ran away without looking back.

Watching Liu Yifei's retreating figure, Zhang Yang said, "Qianqian, you'd better take responsibility for me."

Zhang Yang's words made Liu Yifei stumble and almost fall, inwardly cursing, "Shameless!!"

.....

"Mom, I'm home."

"Sissi? Why are you back so late? Does the magazine shoot have to go on this late?"

Upon hearing Liu Xiaoli's question, Liu Yifei chose to tell part of the story.

"The photoshoot for Time magazine went very smoothly today. After the shoot, Zhang Yang treated me to a meal."

Staring into Liu Yifei's eyes, Liu Xiaoli frowned deeply: "Is it really just about eating?"

"Um."

Knowing her own son best, Liu Xiaoli knew that Liu Yifei was definitely not telling the truth, so she earnestly said, "Qianqian, listen to your mother's advice, Zhang Yang is really not a good match. I only recently found out that Zhang Yang was a playboy when he was studying in the United States!"

"Mom, we're not in that kind of relationship."

After offering a brief explanation, Liu Yifei stopped arguing with her mother and ran into her room, choosing to bury her head in the sand to avoid her mother's questions.

......

On August 8, 2009, the second weekend of the release of "You Are the Apple of My Eye" saw its box office surpass 430 million yuan. At the same time, Time magazine also released its latest issue.

Zhang Yang isn't on the cover of the latest issue, but he has a huge insert on the center cover. He has one hand in his pocket and the other outside, with a somewhat serious expression. Although he's not as handsome as the stars, he has a unique charm.

The title on the insert is the same as the interview title: "Zhang Yang, an ordinary person who accidentally entered the entertainment industry."

"My entry into the entertainment industry was accidental, which brought me fame and fortune. In the quiet of the night, I asked myself why I entered the entertainment industry. It wasn't until I picked up the director's chair that I realized that what I was pursuing might not actually be fame and fortune. I hope to build a world according to my own ideas. This is me, Zhang Yang, an ordinary person who accidentally entered the entertainment industry."

That's a bit pretentious, like when a Malaysian teacher says he's not interested in money.

Just as Zhang Yang's fans were celebrating his appearance in Time magazine, a lot of negative information about Zhang Yang suddenly appeared online, especially about his time studying in the United States.

The source of the negative information was Hong Kong's "Rotten Apple Daily," which devoted an entire page to reporting on Zhang Yang, with a particularly sensational headline.

"The dark history of Zhang Yang, a top celebrity in the Chinese entertainment industry, during his studies in the United States: dating three girlfriends simultaneously, school bullying, racial discrimination, and possession of firearms!"

The report included several blurry photos: one that appeared to be a distant view of Zhang Yang with two women on either side at a party; another that was an old news clipping about a conflict on campus; and a partial view of a police file in which Zhang Yang's English name could be vaguely seen.

These "dirts" were carefully packaged and then uploaded to the internet, instantly sweeping across the entire network.

Time magazine had just given Zhang Yang a golden glow, but these "dark histories" created a stark contrast in his image, resulting in a sharp decline in his reputation.

"Refund! Boycott celebrities with bad records!"

"You appear youthful and radiant in public, but do all sorts of awful things behind closed doors! Disgusting!"

"You Are the Apple of My Eye made dirty money!"

"I feel so sorry for Liu Yifei, she was deceived by such a scumbag!"

"....."

All the insults and slander ultimately boiled down to one sentence: Zhang Yang, get out of the entertainment industry!!!

Just like that, the fan club, which had been celebrating its box office success, crumbled instantly. The cinema began receiving sporadic but increasingly loud refund requests.

Huayi, Wang Xiaoer's office

Looking at the overwhelming negative news on the screen, Wang Xiaoer almost burst out laughing. He opened an expensive bottle of champagne and raised his glass to the air:

"Zhang Yang, Zhang Yang, even God is on my side! Let's see how you turn things around this time!"

He took a sip of red wine and instructed his secretary, "Increase the online army! Flood the comment sections of all movie platforms with 'Boycott 'You Are the Apple of My Eye'! Contact our trusted media contacts and dig deep! Make sure it's confirmed!"

Meanwhile, at China Film Group Corporation, in Han Shanping's office.

With a loud crash, Han Shanping slammed his teacup onto the table, splashing tea everywhere.

"Outrageous!"

His face was ashen, his eyes bloodshot with rage: "Is this aimed at Zhang Yang? This is aimed at the reputation of our entire market!"

After all, the strong performance of "You Are the Apple of My Eye" gave Han Shanping hope that Chinese-language films could regain their momentum and reclaim the market share squeezed by Hollywood.

This bucket of dirty water was not only poured on Zhang Yang, but also on this hard-won momentum.

"Investigate! Find out the source! Contact all mainstream media outlets, suppress the issue for now, and wait for Zhang Yang's response!"

He knew full well that this kind of propaganda war involving foreign forces had to be hit hard in one strike, otherwise the consequences would be dire.

......

Zhang Yang's phone was practically ringing off the hook.

Zhang Yang received calls from his older brother Zhang Yi, older sister Zhang Lin, younger brother Zhang Miao, and his parents. He patiently reassured them. Then, concerned calls came from Fan Bingbing, Wang Jinghua, and others. Zhang Yang simply replied, "Don't worry, we're prepared."

Standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, Zhang Yang looked at the gloomy sky outside, his face showing no anger, only a cold sharpness.

He knew all along that the higher you climb, the more people will be watching you, and the more ruthless they will be.

I just didn't expect that the other party would directly target the past across the ocean, and that their methods would be so despicable, mixing fabrication with fact.

"Brother Yang, all the evidence is ready."

The lawyer and public relations director stood behind him, looking serious.

Zhang Yang turned around, his eyes sharp: "According to the plan, release it across the entire internet. Remember, our goal is not to convince the haters, but to show it to those who believe in us, to those who are wavering, and to give... the higher-ups an explanation."

An hour later, Zhang Yang's studio and personal Weibo account simultaneously released a long article and a package of evidence: "Clarification and Facts Regarding Online Rumors".