Huayu: From the Era of Ringtones to Becoming a Legend

The moment the exchange command was issued, a stream of information flooded into my mind.

The melody, rhythm, and even the intensity of each drumbeat are so clear that it's like listening to a live performance.

The two simple lines "I'm walking in the sun" in the chorus have a magical quality, playing on an automatic loop in his mind.

In a daze, many images flashed before Lu Jiuge's eyes:

Dust filled the air at the open-air skating rink in the county town, and a similar rhythm blared from the loudspeakers.

In the internet cafe, the blue light from the screens illuminated the brightly colored hair of the teenagers;

The roar of modified motorcycles carrying subwoofers echoes through the streets and alleys...

A strong sense of déjà vu struck Lu Jiuge!

"This song, which became a viral hit on Earth and a must-have anthem for the non-mainstream community, will work just as well in this parallel universe!"

Lu Jiuge quickly recalled the available resources in front of her.

Wu Ziming's path in the film and television industry is one where he can build his reputation, gain fame, and access resources.

And this cheesy, upbeat song in my hand can simultaneously bring a huge amount of both positive and negative faith value.

In Lu Jiuge's mind, the plan for dual-track development became clearer and clearer.

Accumulating connections and legitimate capital in the film and television industry, cultivating a non-mainstream persona to gain followers, and provoking retaliation from the mainstream music scene—it's a perfect closed loop!

Taking a deep breath, Lu Jiuge suppressed her turbulent thoughts, composed herself, opened the door, and returned to the private room.

Wu Ziming was still sitting there. When he saw him return, his tone was somewhat displeased:

"Why did the phone call take so long?"

"Excuse me, Director Wu, I just need to say a few words about home!"

Lu Jiuge sat down and earnestly gave her guarantee:

"Director Wu, regarding the script, give me three days. I'll definitely come up with a version that will pass censorship!"

"Three days?"

Wu Ziming sat up straight, his eyes sharp:

"Xiao Lu, this is no joke. I'm on tenterhooks every time I film a scene now, afraid it won't pass censorship and I'll have to start all over again!"

"I'll take your words seriously and plan the filming schedule accordingly!"

"Just three days!"

Lu Jiuge's tone was firm:

"If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't have taken this job as Director Wu's assistant. If the revised script doesn't pass censorship in three days, I'm packing my bags and leaving without taking a single penny!"

After a moment of silence, Wu Ziming stood up with a smile:

"Xiao Lu, I'm serious about that. I'll have my assistant bring you that high-end laptop from the production crew later. It'll be more efficient that way. Do you know how to use a computer?"

"While I might not be the best at handwriting, I'm unbeatable when it comes to typing on a computer using the Wubi input method!"

Wu Ziming did not doubt Lu Jiuge's words, picked up the briefcase on the table, and took out a stack of banknotes from it.

"Here's a thousand, your advance payment!"

He moistened his index finger with saliva, counted again, and handed the ten Smurf cards to Lu Jiuge:

"Three days! The crew and I are waiting for your good news!"

"Thank you for your trust, Director Wu!"

Lu Jiuge didn't stand on ceremony, took the money and put it in her pocket, and assured him again:

"Don't worry, Director Wu, I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"

Lu Jiuge hadn't expected Wu Ziming to prepay her wages. Reaching into her pocket, she felt a little more at ease with the thousand yuan inside.

After discussing the script details for a while, Lu Jiuge, seeing that Wu Ziming was in a good mood, carefully spoke:

"Director Wu, I have another small question for you. Do you have any recommendations for reliable recording studios in Hengdian?"

"A recording studio?"

Wu Ziming put down his chopsticks, glanced at Lu Jiuge, and asked:

"What, you're interested in music production too?"

Lu Jiuge smiled and answered, half-jokingly:

"I recently stumbled upon a melody that I found quite unique, so I decided to pay for a demo myself to enjoy it!"

Wu Ziming suddenly realized, but without thinking much of it, he pulled out a notepad from his bag and quickly wrote down an address and his name:

"Old Liu Recording Studio, owned by Liu Sixi, was a pillar of the provincial song and dance troupe before he went solo."

He's honest, technically skilled, and while his equipment is a bit old, it's more than enough to record a short demo for you. Mention my name, and he'll put in a bit more effort for you; the price is fair too!

"That's great, thank you Director Wu!"

Looking at Lu Jiuge's excited face, Wu Ziming waved his hand in confusion:

"What are you thanking me for? Just hurry up and finish getting the script approved. Saving me some money is more important than anything else!"

"That's a must!"

In response, Lu Jiuge noticed that Wu Ziming kept looking at his watch, so she took the initiative to stand up and end the meal.

Back on the set of "The Song of Zhenguan," Wu Ziming gathered the main crew members together and announced Lu Jiuge's identity on the spot:

"I have something to tell you. This is Lu Jiuge, our new assistant director. He's mainly responsible for script coordination and review. You can contact him for any script-related matters in the future."

The set fell silent instantly, as dozens of eyes turned to Lu Jiuge, some curious, some scrutinizing, and most puzzled.

A complete stranger suddenly becomes the director's assistant?

Wang Guangjun, standing at the edge of the crowd, stared wide-eyed, nearly dropping the prop sword in his hand.

Ignoring the reactions below, Wu Ziming pointed to a young stagehand wearing glasses:

"Xiao Li, take Assistant Lu to the hotel our crew booked and settle him in. Give him a complete copy of the script, and also bring the best laptop we have!"

"Director Wu, I'll go!"

Wang Guangjun jumped up, quickly raised his hand, squeezed through the crowd, and his face was full of smiles:

"I'm familiar with Ninth Brother. I can take him there and lend him a hand along the way!"

Wu Ziming glanced at him, then looked at Lu Jiuge.

"Okay, then take him there, settle him in, and come back to work as soon as possible."

Wu Ziming waved his hand, agreeing.

Wang Guangjun's face lit up with joy. He took the script and laptop from the stagehand and led Lu Jiuge outside.

Stepping outside the film set, Wang Guangjun, who had been holding back his shock and confusion for so long, could no longer contain himself and grabbed Lu Jiuge, pressing her for answers:

"Ninth Brother! Assistant Director? Three thousand a month? My God... What did you and Director Wu talk about? He's notoriously difficult!"

Lu Jiuge glanced at him and knew that Wang Guangjun was quick-witted and the most familiar and most likely helper she could win over in Hengdian.

Lu Jiuge will have to promote the song "Walking In The Sun" on her own, which will be very difficult without any help from others.

When Wang Guangjun asked this question, his eyes lit up, and he decided to bring the kid into the gang.

Lu Jiuge rolled her eyes and answered mysteriously:

"Have you forgotten what I do? With my ability to swear oaths of life and death, taking down Wu Ziming is a piece of cake!"

"You think you can predict life and death? I bet all you do is spout nonsense!"

Wang Guangjun curled his lip, his face full of disdain.

Lu Jiuge didn't care at all and continued to deceive:

"I've presented the facts, and you still don't believe me? No wonder you'll never get rich; you're destined to be an extra your whole life!"

Lu Jiuge spoke with great conviction, but Wang Guangjun was skeptical and looked him up and down:

"You're really good at calculations? Well, then, can you calculate mine too?"

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of anticipation:

"Ninth Brother, please tell me, when will I, Wang Guangjun, finally get a leading role and have some glory!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiuge stared intently at Wang Guangjun, clicking her tongue in disapproval.

"With your face, you're not destined to be a leading actor, but you have the luck to be a boss or manage a money-making agency. All you need now is a benefactor to help you!"

"A benefactor? Who is my benefactor?"

Wang Guangjun, influenced by Lu Jiuge, also began to feel anxious.

Lu Jiuge gave a thumbs-up and pointed back at herself:

"Though far away, I am right before your eyes! I am your benefactor."

"I'm going to enter the music industry next, and you'll be my underling. I guarantee you'll earn six figures within three months!"

Wang Guangjun froze, then raised his middle finger in disdain:

"You're just bragging! You really think you're something special just because you're an assistant director?"

Seeing his utterly disbelieving expression, Lu Jiuge felt a surge of amusement.

That's exactly what I want—for you to not believe me.

"I'll build connections in the film and television industry and make money from haters in the music industry. I'll pursue both paths simultaneously. Once my songs become hits, I'll sign a batch of new artists, create stars in bulk, and make the entire industry inseparable from me."