Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

Chapter 209 Wait for my news

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Yang was woken up by his phone vibrating.

It wasn't a single message, but a string of text messages and missed call notifications, popping up like firecrackers.

He squinted as he reached for his phone, and the moment the screen lit up, he was almost blinded by the dense clusters of red dots.

Jing Tian: "Zhang Yang, Happy New Year! It's Valentine's Day today, have you missed me?"

Yang Xue: "Director Zhang, Happy New Year!"

Gao Yuanyuan: "Director Zhang, Happy New Year!"

Xin Zhilei: "Director Zhang, Happy New Year!"

Yang Ying: "Director Zhang, Happy New Year."

Zhang Yang stared at the row of messages, his head buzzing.

Thankfully, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Otherwise, how busy would he be this Valentine's Day?

He rubbed his temples and began to reply one by one.

I replied to Jing Tian with "Happy New Year, love you".

He replied to Gao Yuanyuan with "I have to spend time with my family tonight, I'll treat you to dinner another day," and Gao Yuanyuan replied immediately with "Okay, I'll wait for you," without pressing him further.

He replied to messages from Xin Zhilei, Yang Ying, and Yang Xue. After sending messages to everyone, he let out a long sigh and leaned against the headboard.

The faint sound of firecrackers could be heard outside the window; the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year was exceptionally lively.

After washing up and going downstairs, I found my mother, Yang Jinhua, already busy in the kitchen, while my father sat in the living room watching the news, with videos of festive celebrations across the country on TV.

"woke up?"

Yang Jinhua poked her head out: "Go and call your younger brother and older brother to get up and eat!"

Zhang Yang went upstairs to call Zhang Miao and happened to run into Zhang Lin and Zhang Yi who were coming downstairs.

Before long, the whole family gathered at the dining table on the first floor to eat dumplings together.

The dumplings were made last night, and there was a lot of money inside them.

Speaking of money, Zhang Yang recalled that when he was a child, he would always cheat in order to get money in his dumplings. He would break the dumplings open and refuse to eat them if he saw there was no money in them. He was beaten a lot for this.

Zhang Yang didn't get to eat dumplings, but instead ate a date, which symbolizes having a son soon. This made Yang Jinhua extremely happy, and she felt that Zhang Yang might be settling down and getting married.

After dinner, Zhang Yi and Zhang Lin both went out, while Zhang Yang lay alone on the sofa.

Buzz!

The phone on the coffee table vibrated.

Zhang Yang picked it up and saw that it was a text message sent by Sun Yu.

"Mr. Zhang, we've got news from Dolphin TV: the finale of 'Swords of Legends' achieved a 9.1 rating!"

Zhang Yang looked at the words and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

9.1.

It almost broke 10, but it was already a miraculous number. The leaders of Dolphin TV are probably grinning from ear to ear right now.

Sun Yu's message continued: "Their station director called personally to say he wanted to thank you properly. He also said that Dolphin TV's doors will always be open to Star Entertainment."

Zhang Yang replied, "Understood!"

After playing a game of chess with his father, Zhang Dahai, Zhang Yang returned to his study and turned on his computer.

Today is the day "Chinese Paladin 3" premieres on satellite TV, at 7:30 PM on Jiangsu and Zhejiang Satellite TV during prime time.

He logged into Xinlang Weibo, thought for a moment, and edited a post: "Tonight at 7:30 PM, Jiangsu and Zhejiang TV will premiere 'Chinese Paladin 3.' After Li Xiaoyao, Jing Tian is here! Wishing for a huge ratings success!"

The accompanying image is an official poster for "Chinese Paladin 3," featuring Hu Ge, Yang Mi, Tang Yan, Liu Shishi, and Huo Jianhua standing together with bright smiles.

Less than a minute after it was posted, the comment section exploded.

"Finally! I've waited a whole year!"

"Jing Tian, ​​I'm here! Zi Xuan, I'm here!"

Happy New Year, Professor Li! Go, Legend of Sword and Fairy 3!

"I'm not leaving tonight, I'm glued to the TV!"

Immediately afterwards, Hu Ge reposted: "Jing Tian is here, see you tonight."

Yang Mi reposted: "Feng Qingxue is gone, Tang Xuejian has arrived."

Tang Yan reposted: "Zi Xuan is waiting for you."

Liu Shishi reposted: "Longkui is here too." and tagged Tang Yan: "This time, I'm not a descendant of Nuwa."

The comments section on the Weibo posts of several people was buzzing with activity as fans interacted wildly.

Looking at these reposts, Zhang Yang suddenly had a strange feeling.

Just a few months ago, these people were still troubled by various things. Yang Mi was busy dealing with various scandals, Tang Yan was still worried about contract issues, Liu Shishi was as indifferent as ever, and Brother Hu was worried about the ratings of "The Myth".

Now, they're all here, enthusiastically promoting the same play.

Good.

He opened Yang Mi's Weibo and saw that under the promotional post she made, fans were shouting "Xuejian is the most beautiful" and "Go Mimi!"

When you click on Tang Yan's profile, fans are spamming "Sister Zixuan" and "Tangtang, go for it!"

Zhang Yang smiled and closed the page.

He knew that after tonight, these people's popularity would rise to another level, especially Yang Mi. "Swords of Legends" could be said to have ridden on Zhang Yang's popularity. Now that Brother Hu is being criticized because of "The Myth", if the ratings of "Chinese Paladin 3" are still a huge hit, then Yang Mi's fans can charge forward.

Speaking of which, the drama "Chinese Paladin 3" is really quite interesting. Not only did everyone in the cast appear on screen, but none of them suffered any major setbacks. In contrast, many of the so-called blockbuster dramas in later years had their main actors suffer major scandals.

Therefore, Zhang Yang believes that actors before the era of internet traffic still had some integrity. Apart from a few who became arrogant, almost everyone who climbed to the top of the pyramid would not fall from grace.

Look at Huang Xiaoming, Deng Chao, Shen Teng, and so on. These actors have all sorts of flaws, but when it comes to being a good person, they are impeccable. Otherwise, if they had any real scandals, they would have been exposed long ago.

In the afternoon, Zhang Yang received several more phone calls. Jing Tian called to whine that she missed him, Yang Mi called to invite him to dinner, and Gulnazar called to report on her schedule, saying that she had already started preparing for the audition for "Scarlet Heart" and was looking at the contestants' information every day.

Zhang Yang dealt with each call one by one, hung up the phone, leaned back on the sofa, and let out a long sigh of relief.

These days are busy, but fulfilling.

In the evening, his mother, Yang Jinhua, called him to have the New Year's Eve dinner—no, it was the reunion dinner on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

At the dinner table, the father, Zhang Dahai, was unusually talkative, reminiscing about the past of Xuewei Beer, his words filled with emotion.

Zhang Yang could only listen to this. After all, Xuewei Beer was about to be sold, and Zhang Yang decided to find something for his father to do and let him start his second business. Lei Jun had said that people in their fifties are in the prime of their lives, and his father, Zhang Dahai, was only 60 years old. He could still stake all his reputation on starting a business again.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Yang returned to his room, turned on the TV, and tuned it to Jiangsu TV.

The screen is currently displaying "GG," indicating that there are still ten minutes until the premiere of "Chinese Paladin 3."

He leaned against the headboard, took out his tablet, and browsed Weibo again.

The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3 premieres tonight and has already topped the trending topics list. Clicking in reveals nothing but fans' anticipation and expressions of love.

Yang Mi's fans, in particular, are incredibly enthusiastic.

Thanks to the popularity of "Swords of Legends", Yang Mi has gained over 5 million followers on Weibo in Xinlang, making her a Weibo celebrity. Her fans shower her with compliments on her Weibo posts promoting "Chinese Paladin 3".

It was exactly 7:30.

When the opening theme song "Love Through Lifetimes" from "Chinese Paladin 3" plays, it truly evokes a sense of destiny.

Zhang Yang put down the tablet and looked at the screen.

In the scene, Jing Tian and Xue Jian chase each other through the streets, Zi Xuan stands on the edge of a cliff with her clothes fluttering, Long Kui looks back in front of the Demon Locking Tower, and Chang Qing stands holding a sword.

Those familiar scenes, those familiar people, those stories of love and hate unfolded before my eyes, bit by bit.

Zhang Yang knew that these people's lives would be completely different starting tonight.

Yang Mi will become a true ratings queen, Tang Yan will shed her dark past, Liu Shishi will be seen by more people, and Hu Ge will transform from Xiaoyao Gege into Jing Tian, ​​and then into many more memorable characters.

They will become famous, they will become popular, and they will become the most dazzling group of people in this industry.

Zhang Yang got up and walked to the window.

In the night sky, the last firework is fading away, leaving behind a trail of brilliant embers.

He remembered Zhou Shanhe's pale face, Ye Weiming's gritted teeth, and those who were hiding in the shadows waiting for him to fall.

They probably have no idea what he's holding in his hands right now.

The night of the first day of the Lunar New Year is destined to be a sleepless night.

Within half an hour of its premiere, "Chinese Paladin 3" dominated the trending topics on Weibo.

Jing Tian and Xue Jian, Zi Xuan and Chang Qing, Long Kui jumping into the well, Hu Ge and Yang Mi—each topic is filled with comments from fans.

"Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, Jing Tian is so handsome!"

"Xuejian is so cute! Yang Mi is amazing!"

"Zi Xuan is so beautiful, I'm crying! Tang Yan's look is absolutely stunning!"

"I cried during the scene where Longkui jumps into the well. Liu Shishi's acting has improved so much, so much better than during her Mu Nianci period!"

Zhang Yang scrolled through these comments, a smile constantly playing on his lips.

At this moment, Director Chen, who is in charge of the "Chinese Paladin 3" project at Litchi TV, is sitting in his office, staring at the real-time ratings curve, his hands trembling so much that he can't even hold his teacup steady.

Within half an hour of its premiere, the show's ratings peaked at over 1%.

Breaking 2 in one hour.

Two hours later, it broke 3.

It's broken 3!

Director Chen took a deep breath and pinched his thigh. It really hurt, so this wasn't a dream.

Admittedly, the viewership ratings for "Chinese Paladin 3" weren't as high as those for "Swords of Legends," but they were still comparable to those for "The Myth."

I just hope that "Chinese Paladin 3" won't be like "The Myth" – a promising start followed by a disappointing finish.

Director Chen jumped up from his chair, spun around the office three times, then plopped back down, staring at the numbers still climbing on the screen and grinning foolishly.

When the station held a meeting to discuss whether to take on "Chinese Paladin 3", he was a strong supporter. Not for any other reason than that the TV dramas produced by Sugarman had a good reputation over the years, and he was betting on the Sugarman brand.

In hindsight, he won his gamble.

And he won even more decisively than he had imagined.

My phone rang; it was the station manager.

"Little Chen..."

The station director's voice was tinged with amusement: "Well done. You'll give a report at the department meeting after the New Year."

Director Chen agreed, hung up the phone, and looked at the dazzling night view outside the window. Suddenly, a saying came to mind: "If you bet right, you're a god."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and although the tea had gone cold, he found it more fragrant than ever before.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Yang was once again awakened by a series of urgent cell phone rings.

He squinted and reached for his phone. Liu He's name flashed on the screen. It was only eight in the morning; Liu He rarely called this early, unless...

"Mr. Zhang, something's happened."

Liu He's voice was very low, but the tension in his tone was impossible to hide.

Zhang Yang instantly snapped to attention: "Speak."

"A batch of posts suddenly appeared online, saying that 'Chinese Paladin 3' is suspected of plagiarizing the Japanese game 'Grandia 2', and that Chinese dramas can only copy Japanese games."

At this point, Liu He paused for a moment, then continued, "The posts were published in a very rhythmic manner, starting at four in the morning, and now it has become a hot topic online."

Zhang Yang sat up, turned on speakerphone, and simultaneously opened his tablet computer to log into Xinlang Weibo.

The topic of plagiarism against "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3" has spread explosively across various websites. Clicking on any news article reveals countless comparison images posted by marketing accounts, juxtaposing elements from "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3" with screenshots from the Japanese game "Grandia 2," all accompanied by the same caption: "Shocking! It turns out 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3' is plagiarized!"

The comments section is already in an uproar.

"I knew it! There's no original content in Chinese dramas, they're all plagiarized."

"Hilarious, this is a game, what does it have to do with 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3'?"

"Stop criticizing it; this is called a tribute, you know?"

"Stop trying to defend it, plagiarism is plagiarism."

However, some fans argued: "The Legend of Sword and Fairy series is an original IP, okay? When Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 came out, Japanese games weren't even popular yet!"

"You accuse us of plagiarism based on a few screenshots? Why don't you say Japan copied us?"

"It's obvious someone's stirring up trouble; the timing is too perfect."

Zhang Yang flipped through a few pages, his brows furrowing slightly.

This technique is all too familiar.

The post was published at 4 AM, spread rapidly, and used consistent wording. The presence of trolls in the comments section was immediately recognizable as malicious. This wasn't a spontaneous discussion among ordinary netizens; it was an organized and premeditated smear campaign.

"Check the IP address."

As soon as Zhang Yang finished speaking, Liu He's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Zhang, we're already investigating. Our initial assessment is that it's the same group of online trolls who attacked us before, and the source..."

He paused, then continued, "About Ye Weiming."

Zhang Yang sneered.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, while everyone was celebrating, Ye Weiming suddenly pulled this stunt, trying to catch him off guard.

"Mr. Zhang, how should we respond? Issue a statement to clarify? Or should we have Brother Hu and the others post on Weibo in support?"

Zhang Yang thought for a moment: "Don't send it yet. Have the legal department prepare the materials, but don't rush into action. Also, contact Softstar Entertainment."

"Daewoo?"

"Let the copyright holders of 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy' issue a statement confirming that 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy' is an original IP. This statement is more effective than any amount of talk from us."

Upon hearing this, Liu He's eyes lit up: "Understood! I'll get on it right away!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yang leaned against the headboard and looked at the rising sun outside the window.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting golden dappled patterns on the floor.

What a beautiful day!

Unfortunately, some people don't want him to have a good New Year.

My phone vibrated again; this time it was Yang Mi.

"Director Zhang! I saw what happened online! It's infuriating! Should I post on Weibo to speak up for you guys?"

Zhang Yang replied, "Don't move yet, wait for my notification."

Yang Mi replied instantly: "Okay! I'll hold off for now!"

Next, Tang Yan asked, "Director Zhang, is there anything I can do?"

Zhang Yang replied, "No need, have a good New Year. I'll let you know if there's any news."

Then came messages from Brother Hu, Liu Shishi, Cai Yinong, and others, which Zhang Yang replied to one by one.