Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

"Six articles."

"Ninety thousand."

"I won!"

Several young women were playing mahjong, while Gu Zhiyan was scrolling through short videos on the side.

The reason I mention "several young ladies" is because Sister Meng, Cheng Xiao, and Zhang Tianai came to visit the set near the end of the year.

How did the three of them end up together?

It's a long story, but the "We're a Loving Family" group has gained a new member.

During the last Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, Chen Yao was added to a group chat, and then she added Cheng Xiao to it.

Zhang Tianai and Sister Meng were already acquaintances. In the first half of last year, when they were filming "The Captain" together, Sister Meng also added her to the group chat.

Although Zhang Tianai and Jin Cheng don't get along, it doesn't affect her friendship with the other girls.

After all, we're all family. How can we really fight to the death over family matters?

Just a few days ago, considering that Gu Zhiyan couldn't go home for the Chinese New Year, he must be very lonely being away from home.

Meng Jie, who didn't have many engagements during the Spring Festival, planned to visit Gu Zhiyan on set in Harbin. So she posted a message in the group chat, asking for her female friends to come along.

Everyone else was busy with work and couldn't come, so Zhang Tianai and Cheng Xiao were available. The three young ladies came to the "Cliff Walkers" crew as a group.

As a result, they arrived in good health, but could never return!

Because "masks" have arrived.

Although the young ladies were worried about the "masks," the thought of being able to spend a few more days with Xiaoyan immediately eased their anxiety.

The young ladies, with nothing to do, spend their days playing mahjong to kill time.

Well, it's not that they don't want to go back, it's that they simply can't!

Besides, the film and television industry has come to a complete standstill, so even if you go back, there's nothing to do.

The "mask" has made matters worse for the already struggling film and television industry.

In the early stages of the "mask" crisis, film crews across the country suspended production, resulting in a large backlog of projects.

According to media reports, a film crew loses an average of 50 yuan per day.

At one point, more than 30 film crews and over 5600 people were stranded in large film and television bases like Hengdian.

Offline cinemas suffered an even greater blow, with cinemas across the country closing down and all films scheduled for the Spring Festival being withdrawn. The film industry has been hit with an unprecedented and comprehensive setback.

Masks have caused heavy losses to some industries, but have had a positive impact on others.

For example, the rise of streaming media!

The number of users and time spent on platforms such as iQiyi, Youku, Tencent Video, Mango TV, and Douyin has surged, and the number of online movies, short dramas, and revenue-sharing dramas has expanded rapidly.

Amidst the economic downturn, Xu Zheng quickly shifted his strategy with "Lost in Russia," opting for an online premiere, with a well-known online platform paying for the film so that the entire nation could watch it for free on New Year's Eve.

The production company reaped immediate profits, the online streaming platform saw increased traffic, and viewers got to see the blockbuster for free—a win-win situation for all parties. Xu Zheng's move was truly brilliant.

But some people are happy while others are resentful. Yes, it's "resentful"—some people are unhappy.

Uncle Li was very angry, and the consequences were severe—not just others, but most of the cinemas across the country were unhappy.

As many as 23 cinema chains jointly signed a petition to the State Film Administration to stop the online premiere of "Lost in Russia," and tens of thousands of industry personnel jointly signed a petition to condemn Xu Zheng.

With the development of the internet and technology, cinemas have been impacted, but as long as a film is released in theaters, the theaters can maintain control through the window period.

"Lost in Russia" was originally intended for theatrical release, but due to special circumstances, it was changed to a live online premiere, which seriously threatened the theatrical window.

If more and more films premiere online, the impact on cinemas will be devastating, and the entire film industry's media model will face a revolution.

This is what the cinema chains are worried about, and this is why they are collectively attacking Xu Zheng.

Therefore, cinemas across the country used "Lost in Russia" as an excuse to make an example of it and warn others, while also putting pressure on the Film Bureau to consolidate their interests through adjustments to relevant policies.

Thanks to Xu Zheng, Gu Zhiyan was able to watch "Lost in Russia" for free, a movie he hadn't seen in his previous life.

However, Gu Zhiyan was greatly disappointed after reading it; it was a mediocre work that barely passed the mark.

The jokes are forced and awkward, far less dense and natural than the first two films in the Lost in the World series. Many scenes are funny for the sake of being funny.

The plot is unrealistic, relies on forced emotional manipulation, and has obvious logical flaws.

Well, it's free anyway, so I can't ask for too much. It's fine for killing time.

Gu Zhiyan wasn't too worried about the "masks." She figured the film crews that had been suspended would gradually resume work in as little as half a month or as long as a month.

To Gu Zhiyan's dismay, he was back to having to endure the daily struggle of having something stuck in his throat.

However, what makes him feel a little better is that he can do nucleic acid tests for the young ladies in the evening.

It's all thanks to Sister Meng and the others that they came; otherwise, Liu Haochun definitely wouldn't have been able to hold on by herself.

You know, when people are well-fed and clothed, they think of…

With nothing to do all day, all you do is eat and sleep, and then eat and sleep some more. You need to find a way to release all that extra energy!

On her way to get a nucleic acid test every day, Gu Zhiyan sees worried crowds everywhere.

On one hand, I'm genuinely afraid; on the other hand, I'm worried about my job prospects.

Especially the senior executives of Zhang Yimou's film crew, they were sighing all day long, and they looked visibly haggard.

Every day of work stoppage means money is flowing out of our pockets!

Liu Haochun was initially a little upset about the arrival of Sister Meng and the other two. Why is it better to enjoy something alone than to enjoy it with others?

However, within a few days, she became close friends with the other three girls.

Sister Meng is truly gifted at making friends, and she is closest to Liu Haochun.

Zhou Ye: So, love will disappear, right?

Although Cheng Xiao is a bit slow to warm up, she is also straightforward and frank.

Zhang Tianai has an outgoing and easygoing personality, and in addition, she is trying to unite all available forces to fight against her old rival, Jin Cheng.

Although she has a good relationship with Sister Meng, Li Yitong and other young ladies, Jin Cheng is obviously closer to them.

Therefore, Liu Haochun, who currently has little interaction with Jin Cheng, and Cheng Xiao have become her key targets for befriending.

In addition, the four of them spent all their time playing mahjong together, and their relationship quickly became familiar.

Liu Haochun sometimes felt fortunate that Sister Meng and the others had come; otherwise, she didn't know how difficult the days would have been.

Playing mahjong has become the main form of entertainment for the four young ladies, and Gu Zhiyan's room is now practically a mahjong room.

Besides playing games and watching short videos every day, Gu Zhiyan has also started live streaming.

The live streaming equipment was prepared beforehand by "Mask," and Douyin specially arranged for someone to deliver and install it.

Many celebrities now do live streams whenever they have free time.

Some people go there to get closer to their fans and netizens, while others go purely to make money.

Most of these celebrities who are in it for the money are doing live-streaming e-commerce.

One of the best among them is Jia Nailiang, known as the "Iron Hat King," whose live-streaming e-commerce business has been booming since the "hair-doing" incident.

It's true, an unhappy marriage can lead to a successful career.

Of course, there have also been many cases of celebrities' product endorsements backfiring, the most famous of which is the later "Pan Ga Friendship".

Douyin had invited Gu Zhiyan long ago; which platform wouldn't be envious of his popularity?

But he was so busy before, he didn't have time to do any live streaming.

It's a perfect opportunity to do this during this special period. It'll kill time and make money at the same time, so why not!

That's right, Douyin pays him for each live stream.

Besides, celebrities can't just be "high and mighty," they also need to be down-to-earth!