Rebirth 09: Starting from taking charge of Running Man on CCTV

Chapter 25 Taking Control of the Cheetah: Who's Knocking at the Door?

……

The next morning, at 9:40.

The CCTV main building has twelve floors.

The elevator doors opened.

Manager Fang was the first to come out, wearing a suit that was twice as presentable as yesterday's, with hair gelled and a smile on his face—a standard business look.

A young man followed behind him.

Twenty-three years old, short hair, handsome features, well-proportioned figure, wearing a fitted black jacket, standing upright.

Zheng Kai.

Huayi Brothers signed new talent in 2009.

A "little prince" in the gay community, and a "nobody" in the film and television industry.

He followed behind Manager Fang, a subtle expression on his face.

I wouldn't say I resisted it, but I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about it either.

It's more like a young person who thinks he has some talent being dragged by his agent to see a project that "might devalue him".

Then he saw the corridor.

The plaque reads "[Run, China! Program Team]".

The door was wide open.

People were coming and going inside.

A cameraman carrying equipment came out of the post-production room, holding a stack of P2 cards.

A director was discussing the flowchart of the game segments in front of a whiteboard, which was covered with arrows and boxes.

A production assistant was squatting on the ground, sorting through boxes of DV tapes, with labels neatly affixed.

In the open office area at the end of the corridor, most of the forty workstations were occupied, with the sounds of keyboards, telephones, and discussions all mixed together.

Zheng Kai slowed down.

He's filmed movies and worked on film sets, but he's never seen a variety show's preparation stage go to such lengths.

This doesn't look like a variety show at all.

This is like a war.

Manager Fang was also taken aback for a moment, but he was better at hiding his expression than Zheng Kai. He cleared his throat, turned around, and patted Zheng Kai on the shoulder.

"Let's go, don't just stand there."

Ma Li was waiting at the meeting room door.

"Brother Fang, Zheng Kai, this way please."

She led the two of them into a small conference room.

The projection screen has been pulled down, displaying the logo of the program "Run, China"—which Chen Xi made overnight.

Chen Yang sat at the head of the conference table.

There was a document and a cup of tea in front of him, nothing else.

When Zheng Kai walked in, Chen Yang looked up at him.

Just one glance.

Then my gaze returned to the documents.

"sit."

Zheng Kai and Manager Fang sat down opposite each other.

Just as Manager Fang was about to start exchanging pleasantries, Chen Yang pushed an A4 sheet of paper over to him.

"Zheng Kai is an artist signed by Huayi Brothers in 2009."

Chen Yang's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"The contract was signed less than six months ago, and the current ranking—if I'm not mistaken, you don't even know where you are ranked."

Zheng Kai opened his mouth slightly.

Manager Fang's expression changed slightly.

How many new artists did Huayi Brothers sign this year?

Chen Yang didn't wait for their reply.

"Your core resources are in Li Bingbing, Zhou Xun, Huang Xiaoming, and Deng Chao."

"Zheng Kai, what's your role at Huayi Brothers? 'GG Little Prince'? That's what everyone in the industry calls you."

He looked into Zheng Kai's eyes.

"But the audience doesn't know you."

"Grab any random person on the street and ask them who Zheng Kai is."

Nobody knows.

Zheng Kai's back stiffened slightly.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't.

Because what Chen Yang said was true.

Every single word is.

I'll give you an identity.

Chen Yang held up one finger.

"Little Cheetah"

"Speed."

"Viewers across the country will watch you run in front of the camera every Saturday night at 8 PM."

"It's not about playing a minor role; it's about performing for hundreds of millions of viewers."

"Every sprint, every counterattack, every time you show off at the finish line, was filmed simultaneously by seven cameras, from the front, the side, and the air, from every angle without any blind spots."

"After the broadcast, the audience across the country did not remember Huayi Brothers' newcomer Zheng Kai."

"It's the little cheetah from 'Run, China'."

Zheng Kai's Adam's apple bobbed.

His hands were on his knees, his fingertips unconsciously clenching his trouser legs.

"Director Chen."

His voice was half a octave lower than when he came in.

"What do you need me to do?"

Chen Yang withdrew his finger.

"Follow the arrangements made by the production team. During the recording, your image and your role will be designed by my writing team."

"You're in charge of running, and I'll make sure all of China sees you run."

"Is it possible?"

Zheng Kai stood up.

The chair leg scraped against the floor.

"Director Chen, I'll listen to whatever you say."

His arrogance had vanished without him noticing.

His eyes were so bright, it was as if someone had flipped a switch.

"As long as you let me go, I'll arrange it however you want."

Manager Fang watched this scene from the side, opened his mouth as if to interject, but then swallowed his words.

have to.

There's no need for him to talk about it.

They've completely controlled his artists.

The contract was negotiated very quickly.

Ma Li presented the letter of intent, and Manager Fang glanced through the terms, especially the section on remuneration...

The price is as cheap as cabbage.

Really dirt cheap.

Manager Fang glanced at Zheng Kai.

Zheng Kai nodded.

Manager Fang signed it.

No bargaining.

It's not that I don't want to pay it back.

No, I dare not.

There's no need for that.

Being a regular MC for a top-tier CCTV prime-time project—that title alone is worth a hundred yuan in salary.

……

After seeing Zheng Kai and Manager Fang off.

Ma Li sat in the conference room, flipping through the letters of intent in her hand, and clicked her tongue twice.

"Director Chen, do you know what Zheng Kai's price tag means when advertised elsewhere?"

"What does that mean?"

"That means it's too cheap!"

Chen Yang chuckled.

"Sister Li, are you able to get in touch with Shen Teng and Chen He today?"

"I've already gotten the phone number for the administration department of Happy Twist through someone. I'll call them this afternoon."

Ma Li turned the sticky note to a new page.

"Chen He is even simpler. Su Xiao said he was her junior brother, so she could contact him directly with just one phone call."

"These two people are currently completely invisible in the entertainment industry."

Ma Li shrugged.

"Shen Teng is somewhat famous in the theater circle, but outside of that circle, nobody knows who he is. Chen He is even less known; 'iPartment' hasn't even aired yet, and he's just a recent college graduate right now."

"If they were given the title of a regular MC on CCTV's prime time slot, they would be laughing in their sleep."

"Make a phone call first, let's get some fresh air."

Chen Yang opened the progress report.

"The details of the interview will be discussed later..."

There was a rapid knock on the conference room door from the outside.

"Please come in."

The door opened.

Xiao Wen from the script supervisor team leaned halfway in, her expression somewhat subtle.

"Director Chen, someone's here outside."

"Who?"

"A lady from Hong Kong said she was the owner of Fashion International, and her surname was Zhou."

Xiao Wen swallowed hard.