Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, bringing a touch of early spring coolness.

The crew of "You Are the Apple of My Eye" is filming a campus scene, and Yang Mi and Zeng Jia have arrived at the perimeter of the set.

She was dressed casually. It wasn't that she didn't want to buy designer brands; she simply didn't have the money. The money she earned now couldn't support her purchasing various luxury items.

Zhang Yang's assistant, Sun Yu, had sharp eyes and spotted Yang Mi from afar. He immediately went to greet her, saying, "Sister Mi, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Yang Mi took off her sunglasses, revealing a bright smile: "I need to talk to Mr. Zhang about some work-related matters. Some things are better discussed in person."

Her gaze swept across the set and quickly locked onto Zhang Yang behind the monitor, as well as Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli reading the script in the rest area.

Zhang Yang didn't seem surprised to see Yang Mi. He put down the walkie-talkie and walked over with a seemingly gentle but actually somewhat mocking smile: "It's an honor to have Sister Xingchen here. I'm sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Don't give me that.

Yang Mi glared at him reproachfully, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to something held by a staff member behind Zhang Yang—a very antique-style oil-paper umbrella.

Zhang Yang followed her gaze, then slapped his forehead as if he had suddenly remembered something: "Oh, right, Mimi, you've come at the perfect time. Look at the sky, it might rain later. We happen to have an umbrella here. Speaking of which, I remember when you and Qianqian were being interviewed during the filming of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes,' you seemed to have held an umbrella for each other. Coincidentally, you're here for a cameo role, which is to hold an umbrella for the female lead, Shen Jiayi."

After saying that, Zhang Yang gestured to the staff to hand the oil-paper umbrella to Yang Mi.

Yang Mi's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. The famous scene of holding an umbrella in "The Return of the Condor Heroes"!

That was one of the more notorious things that happened to her in her early years, and of course, it was also one of the black marks that would become part of Boss Yang's future scandals. It was one thing for the online trolls to make fun of her, but for Zhang Yang to bring it up in this way and in this setting was tantamount to a public execution, which made Yang Mi's anger flare up.

Zhang Yang! You did this on purpose, didn't you?! Using this old story to make fun of me? Making me recreate the scene where I held an umbrella for Liu Yi? What do you take me for? A tool to generate buzz for your production? Or do you think it's funny to humiliate me like this?!

Although she was inwardly cursing, she suppressed her anger and took the oil-paper umbrella from the staff member with a dark face. At that moment, she really wanted to throw that broken umbrella at Zhang Yang's hateful smile.

Calm, calm, one must remain composed in the face of great events.

You can't lose your temper with Yang Mi. If you do, you'll be attacked online tomorrow. Negative news like "Yang Mi visits Zhang Yang on set and turns on him" and "Yang Mi acts like a diva" will flood the internet.

Besides, Yang Mi didn't want to appear so uncomposed in front of Liu Yifei.

In a flash, Yang Mi's face instantly switched to a helpless yet doting smile, as if she were looking at a naughty younger brother: "President Zhang, you're a director now, and you still love to play around. I'll recreate the scene you want right now."

She took the slightly heavy oil-paper umbrella with complete ease and walked gracefully toward Liu Yifei, who was sitting on a lounge chair.

"Sisi, look at Zhang Yang. He's a grown man, yet he still resorts to these nostalgic tropes."

Yang Mi spoke affectionately, with a teasing tone like an older sister. At the same time, she raised her wrist and, with a "whoosh," opened the oil-paper umbrella over Liu Yifei's head, perfectly shielding her from the sunlight.

Liu Yifei was clearly not expected to see this, and looked up in surprise at Yang Mi, who was standing next to her with a charming smile.

Sunlight streamed through the oil-paper umbrella, casting soft shadows on Liu Yifei's delicate face, while Yang Mi stood outside the umbrella, slightly turned to the side, her graceful figure and impeccable smile on her face.

This scene is extremely beautiful, with two top beauties in the same frame, one as aloof as an angel and the other as bright as fire. It has more dramatic tension than the original "Guo Xiang holding an umbrella". Although the ancient costume is beautiful, the modern costume is just as stunning.

A mischievous smile crept across Zhang Yang's lips. He grabbed a camera from the photographer beside him and shouted, "This is a great shot! Don't move! Let me take a picture! This is a historic moment for them both!"

"Snap!"

The shutter clicked.

Zhang Yang looked at the photos on the camera screen with a playful smile.

The smile on Yang Mi's face remained perfect the moment the shutter clicked, only the fingers gripping the umbrella handle turned slightly white from the force.

After accompanying Zhang Yang through the filming, Yang Mi exchanged a few pleasantries with Liu Xiaoli and Liu Yifei. A little while later, she came back to Zhang Yang's side, gave him a disapproving glare, and swayed away.

Most of the staff on set didn't notice Zhang Yang's wicked sense of humor; they just thought the two beautiful women together were pleasing to the eye and that the director was creative.

Only Zhang Yang, looking in the direction Yang Mi left, glanced down at the photo in his camera of "Yang Mi holding an umbrella for Liu Yifei," stroked his chin, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

.....

Rumors that "My Love from the Star" caused a ratings frenzy in Korea sparked a lot of discussion online. Initially, the comments section below the post was almost entirely filled with mockery.

"Are these marketing accounts up again? Do they really think Korea has no dramas to watch?"

"He brags without thinking, and his dreams contain anything."

"Zhang Yang's team has gone too far with this marketing campaign; be careful of a backlash."

However, the backlash came swiftly. Within hours, clips of "My Love from the Star" with Korean subtitles, viewership ratings charts from major Korean television stations, and even screenshots of the frenzied discussions among Korean netizens on social media were all brought back like snowflakes.

The evidence is irrefutable, the kind that leaves no room for doubt.

"Holy crap! It's real! This is unbelievable!"

"Hahaha, let those Korean bastards taste the power of our domestically produced idol dramas!"

"Professor Li is on fire! Zhang Yang is awesome!"

The phrase "My Love from the Star reverse output" has surged to the top of the trending topics list at an explosive speed.

At this moment, "My Love from the Star" is no longer just a successful drama; it has become a cultural phenomenon and a source of national pride for Chinese netizens.

Zhang Yang's name is inextricably linked to this rare honor.

.....

Huayi, Wang Xiaoer's office.

Bang! An expensive ceramic teacup was smashed to the ground, shards flying everywhere.

"Damn it! Why?!"

Wang Xiaoer's eyes were bloodshot, and his chest heaved violently.

"What makes Zhang Yang so special? A newcomer to the industry, with a role in a drama that was just a fluke, can he really make such a big splash?"

He felt an unprecedented sense of anxiety and powerlessness. Huayi, as a traditional giant, had been operating for many years, but its overseas distribution had been full of ups and downs. When had it ever had such a glorious reverse export?

Zhang Yang's move was tantamount to a slap in the face. What's even more terrifying is that once this "cultural export" facade is established, Zhang Yang's official status and reputation will rise sharply, making it virtually impossible to touch him again.