Entertainment: A whirlwind marriage with a fairy-like mother at the start!

The premiere ended amidst laughter and tears.

When the show ended, the audience walked very slowly.

Everyone seems to be still immersed in the dream called "youth" and unwilling to wake up.

People were taking photos in front of the posters at the cinema entrance.

Several high school students in school uniforms, imitating the pose of Ko Ching-teng and Shen Chia-yi in the poster, sat back to back on the steps, laughing carefree.

"Hey, do you think we'll end up like them someday?"

"Pah! You jinx! I'll definitely win you over!"

"Who asked you to chase after me, you big idiot!"

……

That night.

The internet is down.

Although the internet in 2003 was not as developed as it is today, platforms like BBS, Baidu Tieba, and blogs still spread information at a very fast pace.

Almost immediately after the premiere ended, posts about "You Are the Apple of My Eye" sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

Tianya Forum, Film and Television Section.

A post titled "Just finished watching You Are the Apple of My Eye, I cried like a baby, come and talk about your Shen Jiayi" quickly became a trending topic within an hour, with over a thousand replies.

[OP: I initially thought it was one of those cheap, cash-grab movies, but... it's amazing! Ning Hao is awesome! Liu Yifei is absolutely gorgeous! That final kiss, I was completely blown away! This is definitely the best domestic film of the year, no arguments allowed!]

[Second Floor: I agree with the comment above! I watched it too! That parallel universe montage editing was absolutely brilliant! It gave me goosebumps! And that theme song, what was it called again? Xue something-qian? He sang it so beautifully!]

[Third floor: I brought my girlfriend there, but I cried even more than she did when we came out. It reminded me of my high school deskmate; back then, I used to poke her back with a ballpoint pen… Sadly, she got married, and the groom wasn't me.]

[Fourth floor: Hey bro, bottoms up! Whose youth isn't filled with regrets?]

[Fifth Floor: Am I the only one who thinks Hu Ge acted well? The switching between naivety and deep emotion was so natural! Especially the scene in the rain, it broke my heart.]

[Sixth Floor: Liu Yifei is absolutely amazing! I used to think she was just a pretty face, only good at playing ethereal, otherworldly fairies. I never expected her to be so captivating as a girl next door! That ponytail hairstyle, I'm dying for it!]

.....

The speed at which word-of-mouth spread exceeded everyone's expectations.

There were no online trolls or comment control.

It's all tap water.

Everyone was talking about their youth, about the girl they missed, and about the heavy rain they missed.

This is the power of resonance.

At a time when SARS had just passed and people were in dire need of emotional release, "You Are the Apple of My Eye" was like a fire, igniting the restlessness of the entire summer.

Shanghai, Tangren Media Headquarters.

In the general manager's office, Cai Yinong hummed a tune that was out of tune, holding a newly printed entertainment newspaper in her hand.

The front page headline prominently featured the news of "You Are the Apple of My Eye" achieving both box office and critical success.

In the accompanying photo of this report, besides the breathtakingly beautiful Liu Yifei, the big boy in a school uniform standing next to her with a wrinkled smile is none other than Hu Ge, an artist under her management.

"I've struck gold! It's like stepping in dog poop and finding a huge treasure!"

Cai Yinong slammed the newspaper on the table and picked up the calculator, rapidly pressing the keys.

Hugo's market value has skyrocketed, mainly because Tangren Media paid almost no cost for him.

No publicity or public relations expenses were paid; even the meals for the crew were covered by Xianyu Entertainment.

This isn't cooperation; it's practically freeloading!

"Yu Le, oh Yu Le, you really are my money-spending angel."

Cai Yinong picked up her coffee and took a sip, feeling so happy she wanted to go to the Huangpu River to do some square dancing.

Originally, I thought Yu Le was just a rich second-generation coal mine owner with money to burn, or a "doting father" who spared no expense to promote Liu Yifei.

I never expected this person to have such a sharp eye.

He turned a low-budget youth film into a phenomenal blockbuster.

"Ring ring—"

The red landline on the table suddenly rang, startling Cai Yinong so much that she almost spilled her coffee on her Hermès scarf.

She took a tissue to wipe her hands and glanced at the caller ID.

Long-distance bus from Beijing.

That familiar number.

Cai Yinong raised an eyebrow, and a professional, enthusiastic smile instantly appeared on her lips. Even through the telephone line, this warmth could be felt through the signal.

"Oh my, isn't this our great wealth god Yu?"

Cai Yinong answered the phone, her voice incredibly sweet: "What brings you to call me? Do you want to know Hu Ge's recent performance fees? Let me tell you, businesses wanting Hu Ge as a spokesperson are lining up all the way to France!"

Beijing, Salted Fish Entertainment.

Yu Le held the phone a little further away and rubbed his ears, which were numb from the vibration.

This woman is obsessed with money.

"Mr. Cai, congratulations on your fortune!"

Yu Le, legs crossed, gazed at the bustling traffic of the CBD outside the window and said lazily, "Hu Ge's famous now, you're probably counting money until your hands cramp up, right?"

"Congratulations, congratulations! It's all thanks to President Yu."

Cai Yinong grinned from ear to ear: "In the future, Mr. Yu, you'd better think of my husband, Lao Hu, for these kinds of good opportunities. As long as it's a film or TV series for Mr. Yu, the pay is negotiable, even a discount is fine!"

That's natural.

Only a fool would refuse such a good opportunity to both ride the wave of popularity and make money.

"Perfect timing, I actually have a new project here."

Yu Le didn't beat around the bush and directly threw out the bait: "I still want to cast Hu Ge as the male lead."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.

Immediately following were the sounds of chairs being moved and people standing up.

Cai Yinong was so excited that she almost broke the telephone line.

Not again?!

It's only been a few days? "You Are the Apple of My Eye" was just released and a new project is already here?

Is Yu Le the production team's donkey? Doesn't it need rest?

"Accept! We must accept!"

Cai Yinong spoke decisively, afraid that Yu Le might change his mind if she spoke too late: "What is Mr. Yu planning to shoot this time? Is it a youth film again? Or a romance film? What kind of cooperation do you need from us? Just say the word, and we'll provide the manpower and the schedule!"

In her view, Yu Le must have tasted the success of the film and was preparing to press his advantage.

If Hu Ge could make another film like "You Are the Apple of My Eye," he would be able to firmly establish himself in the film industry and become a "movie star."

The difference in their intrinsic value is enormous.

"It's not a movie."

Yu Le slowly uttered four words, like a bucket of cold water, precisely poured onto Cai Yinong's burning heart.

"what?"

Cai Yinong froze, her excitement instantly vanishing: "Not a movie? What is it then?"

"TV drama."

Yu Le fiddled with the lighter in his hand, the metal cap opening and closing with a crisp "click": "An ancient costume fantasy drama."

TV drama?

Cai Yinong plopped back into the boss's chair, her brows furrowed into a deep frown.

The difference is... quite significant.

These days, movies are at the top of the social hierarchy.

Moviemakers look down on TV producers, and TV producers look down on those who make movies.

Hu Ge just became famous with a movie, and it's the perfect time for him to make his mark on the big screen. So, is it a bit... a devaluation for him to go back to making TV dramas now?