I'm not mentally ill, I'm a master of a thousand faces!

Chapter 521, The World of The Three-Body Problem

Shanghai, China, 8 PM.

What are your thoughts on Westworld?

"How can I see? I'll just use my eyes. What else can I use to see?"

At this moment, Ni Haishao and Pan Donghai, two members of the Science Fiction Association, were discussing their viewing experience of "Westworld," and the topic was also being discussed in their own small QQ group.

They said it looked pretty good.

Ni Haishao also gave it a "not bad" rating.

The advance screenings and previews of "Westworld" have received rave reviews.

This work already seems to have a considerable following.

In other words.

Even the most ordinary people can easily understand the highlights of this TV series.

Westworld has achieved something that is difficult for ordinary science fiction to do: it caters to both general audiences and "high-end audiences" led by science fiction enthusiasts of the Science Fiction Society.

The solution is also very simple.

The budget, the sheer volume of visual spectacle, and the ability for ordinary viewers to immerse themselves in the story, along with the novel AI concept—at least for domestic audiences—make it quite novel.

For Ni Haishao and Pan Donghai,

The human entanglement between AI and humans is a rather interesting point, involving emotions and "awakening" between robots and humans.

These are all highlights.

These are all interesting places.

At least, they all saw some bright spots.

"No wonder this thing is considered a masterpiece in the Western world. It's not just hype; it's truly something special," Pan Donghai joked.

At least his first day watching the movie was very interesting.

He had read the original Westworld, so he had no questions about the plot and knew exactly how it would unfold.

Even knowing the original plot, being able to have this kind of viewing experience is interesting enough.

Pan Donghai prefers reading to watching TV dramas.

Unfortunately, he prefers hard science fiction works like interstellar travel and galactic universes, rather than the work in front of him.

It lies somewhere between soft and hard.

It's alright.

It's really great to have such a work to watch during this Lunar New Year holiday.

Today, the domestically produced science fiction series "Wesley" also aired, which falls into the true category of soft science fiction.

Although many people in the Science Fiction Association are sycophantic.

Praise beyond words is overflowing.

However, none of them gave Wesley a rating in public, nor did they publish any articles in the name of the Science Fiction Association.

Ni Haishao was even somewhat relieved that these guys didn't say things against their conscience just to flatter him.

This is quite interesting.

He was genuinely afraid that these guys, because of his uncle, would fawn over some stinky people and do these sycophantic things.

That's really boring.

Objective and rational.

Those who consider themselves high-level talents should possess these qualities: to view works with rationality and objectivity.

This is how their science fiction association can exist for a long time.

It possesses enduring value.

Of course, Ni Haishao was not stingy with verbal praise; in fact, the more the merrier. He just needed to remain rational and objective in formal settings.

And at this moment, after watching the comparison between these two dramas...

Objectively speaking, Wesley's appeal is not as strong as Westworld's, although it can be considered excellent among domestic works, especially since it incorporates some science fiction elements belonging to traditional Chinese culture, and has its own unique characteristics.

But that's all there is to it.

That's all there is to it.

The most dissatisfied person was actually Pan Donghai, who is a true hard science fiction enthusiast.

Perhaps in the realm of science fiction, you can't have your cake and eat it too. The viewing threshold and the plot threshold absolutely cannot be too high, after all, those in the industry really do rely on viewership ratings for their livelihood.

The barrier to entry for watching movies has been lowered.

What a contradiction!

If we're talking about hard science fiction, then this issue, strictly speaking, only refers to "The Three-Body Problem."

But with that said, no one within the Science Fiction Association was optimistic about this "hard science fiction" work.

Or, to put it another way, if Li Yun's works are soft science fiction disguised as humanities and folklore, then they might be somewhat interesting.

As a TV series, it's probably not bad, but as "hard science fiction," nobody seems to want to watch it.

After all, he's not good at this, nor should he be good at it.

Wesley is a blend of folklore and science fiction, or soft science fiction, and it is indeed quite popular.

At least in China, quite a few people actually buy into this kind of thing, and the initial viewership rating wasn't too low, hovering around 5.9, which is considered art "rooted in the masses."

Even on the very first day of its broadcast, the biggest discussion was whether the show could be called a "science fiction" work.

This is actually the point that makes people a little conflicted.

They're debating whether it can be called "science fiction".

However, it achieved good results as a 'work'.

The series begins with the "Furnace" arc.

At this point, after receiving feedback, Liu Shanhe probably also felt that "Wesley" was actually a pretty good work.

At least, the audience approves.

While the show has received recognition and positive reviews, given the limited time available, choosing "Westworld" remains the preferred option for most viewers.

First of all, the visual spectacle is an unparalleled advantage. Being able to see such movie-level special effects on television is an absolutely thrilling experience.

"I guess I did my best. These three directors fully utilized their strengths, and combined them perfectly with the excellent original script. They should have been quite impressive. But as you can see, the result is still a bit lacking compared to 'Westworld'," Liu Shanhe sighed.

"The budget difference is almost tenfold, so the result is not bad. Let's leave it at that."

Lu Zhengguang then said, "Besides, it still managed to boost some viewership, so it's not too bad."

While Wesley doesn't boast spectacular visuals, it does offer suspense and character development. Plus, the wind machine by Zhang Da Huzi occasionally creates a chilling atmosphere, which is a perfect complement to the subject matter.

There are still people who fall for this.

I'd rather watch stories with a "small scale" than shows like "Westworld" that explore themes of "rebellion" and "self-awareness" on a grand scale.

This topic is too broad; most people can't handle it, and most works can't bear it.

As expected of domestic works, it excels at using "small-scale" stories to tell delicate emotions.

At this moment, Lu Zhengguang was thinking about stories he was good at telling about "small scale".

Li Yun

He sighed again after thinking about it.

如果

If Li Yun were to tell a story about "small-scale" matters and compete with Wesley on the same stage, it would truly be a wonderful feast.

Pity.

Born at the wrong time.

Encountering such a culturally invading product.

At this time, the ratings for both *Westworld* and *Wesley* were also in. *Westworld* outperformed *Wesley* by a significant margin, and the second episode of *Westworld* saw its ratings rise rather than fall, with viewer loyalty reaching almost 100%.

Wang Chen thought that opening a champagne at this moment shouldn't be a problem.

York Fry, the head of the creative team for Westworld, was also concerned about the ratings—however, he was probably concerned about the overseas ratings, not the domestic ones.

Wang Chen was a little confused as to why he was still in China. However, since he was here, he was being treated as an honored guest and couldn't be delayed in the slightest.

"When can I meet with this Li Yun?"

"Do you absolutely have to see him?"

"It's not that I want to see him, it's Russell Wilson who wants to see him. I'm just passing on his message."

Russell Wilson? The Russell from Marvel.

At this moment, Wang Chen squinted his eyes and smiled slightly.

"This Li Yun has a strange temper; he's not easy to get along with."

"Oh," Frey didn't care; he was just a messenger after all.

When will the TV series "The Three-Body Problem" be broadcast?

"Tonight at 7 PM, the Frey brothers, you've seen plenty of science fiction, how about watching a piece written by some kid just to scam subsidies?"

In Wang Chen's view, "The Three-Body Problem" is an "experimental" work. If Li Yun fills the core of the story with the small scale that he is good at, it will be fine. But if he really wants to go for "hard science fiction", it will probably die even more miserably than "Wesley".

Yes, in his eyes, Wesley was already a dead man.

The first episode was just okay, not very appealing to Westworld, and being an episodic series, its ratings will fluctuate greatly. It might even bore viewers when the episodes are disjointed.

It's easy to lose track of the show.

This is the ending for a small-scale, episodic drama.

Although Wang Chen didn't know why Frey wanted to see Li Yun, he still needed to do something for his partner, such as contacting Li Yun.

The person Li Yun was most familiar with at Huaying was Xie Qingya, and at this moment he came to Xie Qingya's side.

At this moment, her emotions were more stable than she had imagined.

I heard that Xie Qingya also invested in "The Three-Body Problem"?

Wang Chen's lips curled up slightly, and he couldn't help but instinctively reveal a victorious expression.

"Mr. Xie, it's me. I have something I'd like to trouble you with."

"Oh? What is it?"

Wang Chen sat opposite Xie Qingya and said.

"Help me make an appointment with Li Yun."

"What, you want to keep your promise?" Xie Qingya teased.

Wang Chen ignored Xie Qingya's sarcasm.

"An important partner in our company needs to see him."

"It's kind of you to come and deliver this message personally. You're quite loyal to your partner." Although Xie Qingya said this, she still helped with the search. After all, nominally, that Frey was Huaying's partner and also Xie Qingya's 'guest,' so she couldn't be too negligent.

"snort"

Wang Chen squinted at the woman in front of him.

He was carefully searching for something.

mood.

People reveal their emotions when they are angry, and Xie Qingya at this time is one of the investors in "The Three-Body Problem".

You can't see any fear, anxiety, or hesitation in her; you can't see any negative emotions at all.

Even though Westworld has gained a significant advantage in terms of public opinion and viewership, she remains undeterred.

That's a kind of self-confidence.

A kind of infuriating confidence ignited Wang Chen's nameless rage.

Xie Qingya, right?

Just wait and see, you're nothing more than a grasshopper in autumn, and we'll see you fail.

What kind of expression will it have?

They'll come crawling back to me then, shameless and eager to please.

I can't wait any longer.

"Finally, it's your turn for 'The Three-Body Problem,' prime-time."

"Wesley" is a prime time slot during midday.

"The Three-Body Problem" is shown during prime time at 8 PM.

Both were prime-time slots; "Wesley" aired on CCTV-8, and "The Three-Body Problem" aired on Jiangsu and Zhejiang TV.

Jiang Wen was thoroughly enjoying himself at that moment, as the previous films, "Westworld" and "Wesley," had given him an ultimate viewing experience.

One is a small-scale exploration of humanities and folk customs, somewhat related to science fiction, but only marginally.

One is a science fiction story with a grand scope, somewhere between hard and soft fiction.

Finally, we've arrived at the story of "The Three-Body Problem".

Currently, "The Three-Body Problem" has lost its first-mover advantage, and as the last "top-tier" work to appear in this January release period.

That is, the last one who can fight.

Just how strong is he?

What kind of results can be achieved?

All of this is something to look forward to, and Li Yun is also sitting in front of the TV watching his Three-Body Problem series about to air.

My memories suddenly began to blur and flicker.

This is a unique viewing experience; when watching my own work, I immerse myself completely in it.

The immersive experience of entering this world, the sheer climax—it's something no budget-conscious person can match. No matter how high your budget, it can't compare to my ability to truly "live" in this world, to experience it in panoramic, 5D.

This is also why Li Yun is so passionate and dedicated to filming each and every project. It sounds like a more serious symptom of his illness, but Li Yun is happy to do it and is fascinated by this unique viewing experience.

Completely immersed in a world.

Although you can't control how things develop, you can see his journey from beginning to end from the most genuine and authentic perspective.

To be or not to be, to be born or to die.

You are able to observe and wait with complete control.

Arrived.

Li Yun's eyes closed and opened.

The body was chilled to the bone, yet there was also the initial warmth of the sun shining on it. The air smelled of machine oil and rust, typical of large equipment, but also carried the natural scent of the high mountains.

Arrived.

The Three-Body Problem.

At this moment, Li Yun was at the Red Coast Base.

This research institution, designed in the style of the 80s, stands atop a towering mountain amidst a blanket of snow.

The researchers walking with their heads down were of all kinds.

At this very moment, Li Yun was in this place, looking at everything around him: radar, mysterious equipment, the halo of the sun on the horizon, the crimson sun shining brightly. Li Yun was looking at the researcher in front of him, Ye Wenjie, who belonged to the Red Coast Base. She resolutely activated some of the equipment.

Without any hesitation, without any confusion.

Or perhaps she has overcome her confusion, and now she is making her own rational, sensory answers and choices.

As Ye Wenjie pressed a certain device, the story of The Three-Body Problem officially began.

(End of this chapter)