When the team heard they were moving to Beijing, a ripple of excitement went through them.
Since they couldn't afford to buy property in Magic City anyway, working anywhere was the same. Rent in Magic City was expensive, and the company was offering subsidies for housing in Beijing—a definite perk.
Liang Yin, her face alight with anticipation, pulled Lin Chudong and Wang Zhi into the office to discuss the matter.
"Big Fei, is the next project ready? Should we start casting actors?"
Lin Chudong nodded. "Yeah, if Director Sun doesn't ask for my help with the show recently, we'll start filming the drama."
"I'll write an outline later. You two help me screen the other main cast members, and I'll interview the three young actors personally."
Liang Yin nodded. "How much is the budget for this drama?"
Lin Chudong frowned slightly. He wasn't sure about the budget yet, mainly because he wasn't sure how much the Emperor of Acting Halo would cost.
If it were just the drama itself, the cost would be around twenty million yuan. With a few sponsors, they might even recoup the initial investment before filming began.
But how much could the Emperor of Acting Halo cost? A few million, or tens of millions?
If the filming progressed quickly, it shouldn't cost too much.
Fortunately, the film and television department was entirely staffed by his own people, so Lin Chudong could make arrangements as he pleased.
Previously, the focus had been on ensuring every shot was perfect.
This time, the priority was to complete the filming as quickly as possible, while still ensuring Lin Chudong's performance was flawless.
"Around 30 to 40 million, I'd say," Lin Chudong replied. "We'll look for sponsors later. Let's hold off on approaching President Wu for now."
Since Wu Siping hadn't contacted him proactively, there was no point in chasing him for money.
Even if sponsorships went well, they couldn't rely on them endlessly.
Major companies have limited annual advertising budgets and can't sponsor every project Big Fei throws at them.
This new project Lin Chudong was preparing could accommodate product placement, and adding a couple more sponsors wouldn't hurt, as long as the story was compelling.
If the cost of the Emperor of Acting Halo didn't exceed ten million after this production, he could open another round of treasure chests.
Listening to the two discuss the company's upcoming projects, Wang Zhi found it hard to interject. Having recently joined the leadership team, he still felt a bit out of place.
Before, he had always followed Brother Fei's directives. Now, he had to participate in the company's high-level decisions.
Wang Zhi subconsciously straightened his back. He had to adapt to his new role, or he wouldn't be worthy of the title Vice President Wang.
After some discussion, they tentatively decided on the project.
Looking at the script Big Fei had written, Liang Yin suddenly felt a surge of excitement.
"I don't know why, but I'm more excited to see your film debut than my own."
Lin Chudong smiled. "If I mess up, it'll be a disaster."
As the male lead with the most scenes, any misstep from Lin Chudong could tank the show's ratings.
Liang Yin puffed out her chest, her face radiating confidence.
"I believe in you. You'll nail it."
She picked up the script, and a beam of sunlight struck the cover, making the title shine brightly:
The Hidden Corner
***
On its third day of release, *Damn, I'm Surrounded by Beautiful Women* topped the sales charts in China and ranked third worldwide.
The game's explosive popularity sparked heated online debate:
"What's behind this game's meteoric rise?"
"Its success proves that men in China desperately need some affection."
"It shows that women in reality can't provide men with emotional value."
"I used to look down on girls who played otome games, but now I kind of get it."
"Question them, understand them, become them."
"A 2027 sci-fi masterpiece! They should give this game the Hugo Award that *The Three-Body Problem* won."
"I even had to wash my hair before playing this game."
"When will they release *Damn, I'm Surrounded by Handsome Men*?"
"You'll never understand how heartbreaking it is when Little Lu says she'll help you pay your rent and begs you not to leave."
"..."
Reading the game's reviews, Zhao Meizhu turned to Sun Xuan.
"Lao Sun, when are you going to find Big Fei? Are you even working on your show anymore?"
Sun Xuan replied, "It's not settled yet. What's the rush?"
Zhao Meizhu snapped, "Of course I'm worried! If you don't find him soon, he'll probably start filming again. How will he have time for your show then?"
Sun Xuan relented, "Alright, alright. I'll call him right now and see if he's free."
Sun Xuan called Lin Chudong, who immediately agreed. He booked a flight for that evening, ready to head straight to Beijing.
It wasn't just for Sun Xuan's sake. He hadn't seen Sister Deng in a while and missed her.
***
Upon arriving in Beijing, Cheng Huanhuan picked him up at the airport.
Driving Deng Siqing's car, Cheng Huanhuan grumbled, "I've become your personal chauffeur. When you're not here, I drive for Sister Deng. The moment you show up, I'm back to driving for you."
Lin Chudong replied, "Thanks for the trouble, Sister Huan. I'm so honored to be picked up by the queen of skits herself."
Cheng Huanhuan rolled her eyes. "Cut the flattery. You're a capital big shot now—I have to cling to your coattails, don't I? What kind of show are you here to discuss with Director Sun this time?"
Lin Chudong shrugged. "I don't know yet. It depends on Brother Sun's budget and requirements."
"If there's anything I can help with, remember me," Cheng Huanhuan said. "Your Sister Deng never lacks opportunities, but I could use some. Think of me..."
"Alright, alright, I won't forget."
One thing was for sure: Sister Huan was still ambitious.
At dinner time, Sun Xuan and Deng Siqing also left the station. The four of them met at a Western restaurant for a casual gathering.
Sun Xuan said, "Let's try somewhere new today. I'm sick of Peking duck."
"Hey, Brother Sun, long time no see. How have you been?"
Sun Xuan replied, "Not bad. The show's been in development, so I've been pretty idle lately. Just clocking in and out." He added, "Your game's been a huge hit. When are you shooting the next one?"
Lin Chudong said, "I've been waiting for you to start."
Sun Xuan patted his shoulder. "You're a good kid."
"I've run into some trouble. I'm currently the Production Director at Ninth Channel, and I was on track to become Deputy Director, but I need to show some results."
"You know Ninth Channel—it's the documentary channel. This year, we only have one slot for a variety show, and another director, Luo, snatched it. Now I'm stuck making documentaries."
Sun Xuan sighed, frustrated. "I created the hit show *Longing for Pastoral Life*, yet the station leadership still gave the variety show slot to that Luo guy. It's ridiculous."
Lin Chudong frowned slightly. "Documentaries? Do you have any ideas?"
"Not yet," Sun Xuan said. "I'm still trying to win over the leadership. I really want to make a variety show."
"With your help, the variety show is sure to be a hit."
"Besides, I'm competing with Lao Luo for the Deputy Director position. If I compare my documentary's ratings to his variety show, it's obvious the leadership is biased."
Sun Xuan had assumed that with the success of the hit show *The Longing*, his promotion at CCTV would be smooth sailing. But the station was a murky place, and advancement wasn't that easy.
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Chudong said,
"Actually, a documentary could work too, Brother Sun. What's the budget the station is offering you?"
Sun Xuan gave a wry smile. "For the variety show, the leadership promised me a hundred million yuan. But for the documentary, they'll only give me ten million at most. That wouldn't even cover the cost of a celebrity, and celebrities don't really help documentaries anyway."
Besides, he'd have to pay Big Fei for his help. Friends were friends, but Sun Xuan couldn't ask Lin Chudong to work for free.
Lin Chudong considered this. "Ten million isn't bad. With some sponsorship, we could probably get it up to twenty million."
Sun Xuan sighed.
"The money is enough for a documentary, but their ratings are usually very low. If the goal is just to meet performance targets, it's fine."
"The problem is, someone's after the Deputy Director position. Lao Luo must have connections upstairs. If my ratings don't surpass his, he'll easily use that against me."
Deng Siqing suddenly said, "Brother Sun, I support you."
Sun Xuan was taken aback. "Thanks, but your support alone won't cut it. Last year, the best-performing documentary on CCTV only got a 0.15 rating. Meanwhile, even the worst variety shows pull in around 0.4. How can I possibly compete with him?"
Lin Chudong replied, "Brother Sun, it's not that simple. When it comes to documentaries, I have a great idea. Want to hear it?"
"Tell me more?" Sun Xuan was naturally interested. He'd come to Big Fei in the first place for ideas.
Lin Chudong cut off a bloody piece of beef from the steak and held it up.
"The finest ingredients often require the simplest preparation."
"Food is the most important thing for the people. Variety shows might be good with a meal, but the best meal accompaniment doesn't have to be a variety show."
***
After listening to Lin Chudong's ideas, Sun Xuan frowned slightly.
"Big Fei, it's a good idea, but... can it really boost the ratings? Documentaries have never performed well in terms of viewership."
Lin Chudong replied, "I'm confident. I'll give you my word—it will break 1%!"
Lin Chudong's prediction was actually quite conservative.
He planned to help Sun Xuan film *A Bite of China*. In his memory, this documentary had been incredibly popular, yet its production costs were surprisingly low.
He recalled that the first season had only cost a few million yuan but had received rave reviews and gone viral across the internet.
This time, with a budget of ten million yuan and advertising sponsorship, success was practically guaranteed.
A 1% rating was merely the most conservative estimate.
The market had changed, and the final product would undoubtedly differ, but fortunately, Lin Chudong possessed the *Cooking Skill (Intermediate)*.
Though only at an intermediate level, his deep understanding of food combined with his *Director (Advanced)* skill made him perfectly capable of producing this documentary.
Sun Xuan nodded. "Since you're so confident, come with me to the station tomorrow. We'll discuss it with the Deputy Director. If the plan works, we'll start immediately. Documentaries are quick to shoot—we could probably finish in about a week."
***
That evening, Sun Xuan returned home and discussed the matter with Zhao Meizhu.
Still somewhat worried, he asked, "Do you think this can work?"
Zhao Meizhu pondered for a moment before nodding. "I think it will. You need to trust Big Fei."
Sun Xuan chuckled. "You used to distrust Big Fei the most. How can you be so blindly confident in him now?"
"Just look at everything Big Fei has accomplished so far," Zhao Meizhu replied. "Not a single failure."
"He's the chosen one. Blind faith in him is the only way to go."
Sun Xuan nodded. He trusted Big Fei too, but he couldn't shake his concerns. A food-related program might struggle with ratings.
Fortunately, after hearing Big Fei's plan, he realized the costs were low, the production timeline short, and the risk of failure minimal.
By the time Lao Luo finished two episodes of his variety show, Big Fei might have already completed the entire series.
Even if it failed, there would still be opportunities.
This time, they would have to rely on Big Fei.
***
The next morning, Lin Chudong, Deng Siqing, and Cheng Huanhuan headed to work together.
As they went downstairs, Cheng Huanhuan leaned in and whispered in Deng Siqing's ear, "Sister Deng, did I ruin your good time again?"
Deng Siqing rolled her eyes, thinking, *You still know?*
She and Lin Chudong had already stayed together several times. The last time, if it hadn't been for her physical condition, things would have naturally progressed.
This time, Cheng Huanhuan was the intrusive third wheel, shining like a beacon.
"There's plenty of time," Cheng Huanhuan murmured. "You should find a day off. Did you see Big Fei on the show? His back is so strong. Can your little chick handle that?"
"Get lost!" Deng Siqing glared at her, annoyed. *This woman says anything that comes to mind without a shred of shame!*
When they arrived at CCTV, Lin Chudong went to check on Huang Wei first.
As soon as he entered Channel 8, everyone's faces lit up with smiles, and they greeted him with enthusiastic warmth.
"Oh, Big Fei's here!"
He didn't recognize some of the staff, but they still greeted him warmly, and he nodded and smiled at each of them in turn.
Big Fei's *Bright Sword* had been a massive hit for Channel 8, setting a new ratings record. Now, aside from the single copy they kept, their eight copies had attracted the most advertising sponsors by far, naturally leading to a pay raise for everyone.
As soon as Lin Chudong arrived, they immediately served him premium cigarettes and tea.
Even Chen Deming himself came out to greet him. "Big Fei, the ratings for *Bright Sword* have been remarkably stable. We expect another surge when the finale airs."
"So, have you thought about your next project?"
Lin Chudong replied, "Director Chen, I'm planning to produce a web series and act in it myself."
Chen Deming was taken aback. "Oh, you're going to self-direct and star? Why a web series? Channel 8 would always welcome you back."
Lin Chudong smiled. "It's a small-scale project. I want to test the waters online first. I'll come back to you later."
"Alright, then. You can discuss it with Xiao Huang. Let me know if you need anything."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chen Deming returned to his office, leaving Huang Wei and Lin Chudong to chat alone.
After all, Huang Wei was the one who had brought Big Fei in. To keep him, they would have to rely on her.
Huang Wei was beaming, looking radiant and successful, clearly thriving at CCTV.
Big Fei had brought the annual hit drama *Bright Sword* right from the start. With such a success, in a few more years, he'd have a good chance of being promoted to Deputy Director.
"Big Fei, are you going to act in the next one yourself? What platform have you secured?"
Lin Chudong replied, "The Search Rabbit Platform. They're offering me a good deal. Since it's my first drama, I want to test the waters there first."
Huang Wei nodded. "Search Rabbit Video has been booming lately. I saw their download numbers hit eight hundred million. *Bright Sword*'s influence is huge. After the finale, they'll probably attract another wave of traffic—maybe even break a billion."
"After *Bright Sword* ends, will it be rebroadcast?" Lin Chudong asked.
"Definitely," Huang Wei confirmed. "But it won't be in the prime time slot anymore. There will be a gap of at least twenty days."
"What about the ad revenue share?"
Huang Wei explained, "I've asked the leadership about this. We'll settle it with you after the finale. The ad revenue share isn't huge—probably around ten million. But getting ad revenue from CCTV is something most productions can't achieve. Consider it a special perk for you."
***
After a brief chat with Huang Wei, I arrived at the Ninth Channel.
The moment I entered the office, I saw Sun Xuan engaged in a passive-aggressive conversation with a middle-aged man.
"Sun Xuan, our channel has sponsors. You can pick at most one. How can you justify needing so many sponsors for a single documentary?"
The man speaking was Luo Rui, the rival Sun Xuan had mentioned earlier.
Sun Xuan narrowed his eyes. "Lao Luo, I've explained this clearly. I'm producing a food documentary. One sponsor is for seasonings, the other for pickles. Don't you think they're perfect for my show?"
Luo Rui scoffed. "I'll admit the seasoning brand is a good fit, but what about the pickles? Mine is a mealtime variety show. People watch while they eat, so the ad impact will be great."
"If you disagree, talk to the brands yourself. See which one they're willing to sponsor."
Seeing the two men arguing, Ninth Channel Director Dai Yaohua looked troubled.
Dai Yaohua turned to Sun Xuan. "Didn't you say you were calling Big Fei over today? Where is he?"
Hearing this, Lin Chudong hurried to the doorway.
"Leaders, I'm here."
Sun Xuan stood up and welcomed Big Fei into the office.
"This is our Ninth Channel Director, Dai, and this is Director Luo."
Lin Chudong greeted the two leaders.
Director Dai said, "Big Fei, President Chen and I are good friends. He's always mentioning you. *Bright Sword* turned out really well."
"Thank you for the compliment, Director Dai."
"Sun Xuan invited you here for this project. What are your plans?"
Lin Chudong outlined his proposal. A few minutes later, Luo Rui scoffed.
"Director Dai, you heard him. It's just about filming some food, finding a restaurant, and setting up some lights and cameras. What's the need for ten million?"
"What good are so many sponsors?"
Sun Xuan sneered, "Lao Luo, I'm making a quality documentary, not some half-baked project. Don't try to pin your work ethic on me."
Luo Rui glared. "Who are you calling half-baked?"
Dai Yaohua slammed his hand on the table. "Enough! Stop arguing! Have you no shame?"
"You each get one of these sponsors. Sun Xuan gets the seasoning sponsor. If you can secure another one yourself, that's your own skill."
Sun Xuan sighed. Although Big Fei said ten million was enough, he still wanted to push for more. After all, he'd be splitting the revenue with Big Fei as the director. He couldn't let Big Fei end up with too little.
Unfortunately, Director Dai wasn't optimistic about their food documentary either.
Luo Rui eyed Big Fei and said sarcastically, "You're a singer, but you're also acting in TV shows, developing games, and now doing a program on CCTV. Can you even handle all that?"
Lin Chudong replied, "What's it to you?"
-----------------------
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