Chapter 50: On Hype, the Uncrowned King
In an office on the Mango TV building.
“You’ve seen the pilot, right? Is what the newspaper says true or not?”
Looking at the Huaxia Daily that the boss slammed onto the desk.
The person in charge who had seen the pilot was completely bewildered.
He swore, “Director Lu, this is pure fabrication.”
“I can guarantee that the story told in dae jang geum absolutely conforms to mainstream values.”
“Just now, the provincial bureau’s leader called to ask.”
“I said the same thing; don’t you dare hold me back!”
The person in charge’s heart skipped a beat.
He knew that Director Lu was at a critical moment in his career ascent, and no mistakes could be made.
The person in charge at Mango TV who had seen the pilot announced to the media that day:
dae jang geum absolutely conforms to mainstream values.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this was Mango TV’s retort to Rongchen Film and Television’s remarks.
At the same time, the members of the review committee were already in a heated argument over the approval of the dae jang geum series.
painted skin was about to wrap up, and Li Chen handed over the filming of painted skin to Wu Ershan.
He returned to Beijing ahead of schedule to prepare for the press conference.
“Li Chen, what the hell are you up to? Did you authorize that interview with Yang Siwei?”
Han Sanping’s voice roared like thunder over the cell phone.
Li Chen placed the cell phone on the desk.
After a long while, he finally heard Han Sanping’s anger subside: “Hello! Li Chen, are you listening?”
Only then did Li Chen pick up the cell phone and say with a smile, “Han Dong, are you done speaking? Then may I say a few words?”
Han Sanping said angrily, “You’d better give me a reason!”
“This is no small matter; if it’s not handled well, it could lead to a lawsuit!”
“I won’t hide it from you, I just came out of Yang Dong’s office, and Yang Dong is on the cell phone with Director Wang!”
Li Chen remained unperturbed and said with a smile, “Han Dong, please don’t scare me. I’m just a student. You’re talking about Director Wang and Yang Dong.”
“With this kind of lineup, I don’t even dare to speak up!”
Han Sanping cursed inwardly, thinking, he’s pretending to be a student with me now!
“Stop messing around with me, hurry up and speak, Yang Dong is still waiting for me!”
“If you can’t give me a good explanation, then don’t hold the press conference!”
Han Sanping was furious; this kid was really a handful.
Li Chen said with a smile, “Han Dong, has dae jang geum already been reviewed?”
“And it’s likely to pass, right? After all, Mango TV spent a lot of money to buy it.”
Han Sanping said, “Don’t talk about useless things!”
Li Chen stopped smiling and said seriously, “Okay, then let’s talk about useful things!”
“I did indeed tell Yang Siwei to say that.”
“When I say this, I naturally have my basis.”
“Han Dong, I’ll just ask you one question: if I have solid evidence,”
“The experts on the review committee wouldn’t go against the world’s opinion and give dae jang geum the green light, would they?”
Han Sanping said, “Nonsense! If it’s really as you say, then the party that should be sued is the South Korean production company!”
Li Chen said, “Alright, your words are enough!”
“I won’t say anything more. You don’t need to attend the press conference either.”
“Whatever happens, Rongchen Film and Television can handle it!”
“I’m hanging up, Han Dong, see you back in Beijing!”
“Hello, hello, damn it, that brat dared to hang up on me!”
Han Sanping cursed inwardly, truly digging his own grave, and got up to go to Yang Dong’s office again.
Li Chen hung up the cell phone, and Yang Siwei looked at him with admiration: “Boss, you’re amazing!”
“And ‘see you back in Beijing,’ if Han Dong knew you were already back in Beijing, he’d definitely scold you again.”
Yang Siwei smiled, hiding the tumultuous waves in her heart.
Just now, Han Dong had been scolding the boss on the cell phone for a long time.
The boss just put the cell phone aside and ignored it.
Later, when he spoke to Han Dong, he was also full of confidence, showing no fear at all.
Yang Siwei gave a thumbs up: “Boss, I’m a fan of yours today! Boss is mighty!”
Li Chen ignored Yang Siwei and called Hou Hongliang.
He talked about the press conference.
Hou Hongliang laughed on the cell phone: “Li Chen, your moves are too big.”
“crossing the guandong is already popular before it even airs, haha.”
In the evening, Li Chen called Wang Changtian again: “Brother, the press conference is up to you.”
Wang Changtian laughed: “Even if you didn’t make this call, I would have given instructions.”
“The stir you’ve created this time is far beyond imagination. I’m afraid the media attending will fill the Political Consultative Conference Auditorium!”
Li Chen laughed: “Big is good, I’m just afraid it won’t be big enough!”
Cao Guowei arranged for Sina’s team to conduct a live online text and image broadcast.
For a time, a drama’s launch press conference unprecedentedly made headlines on the entertainment and culture sections of various portal websites.
The press conference hadn’t even started, but the internet was already in an uproar.
South Korean media heavily criticized Li Chen, calling him malicious defamation!
They also mocked the fragile self-esteem of the Chinese, saying that they couldn’t produce dramas that go abroad.
So they maliciously slandered dae jang geum.
There were also those who said he was deliberately using the popularity of dae jang geum to promote crossing the guandong!
Netizens were also divided into two factions.
On one side were the supporters of dae jang geum, many of whom were foreigners and Hong Kong compatriots.
Fortunately, dae jang geum had not yet been released in the mainland.
Although the number of mainland fans was not small, they couldn’t stand against the vast number of patriotic netizens.
Without any arrangement from Li Chen, the patriotic side swept the battlefield with overwhelming force.
“Everyone says Zhang Da Hu Zi is good at hyping things up; he hyped up the male and female leads of one Return of the Condor Heroes for a whole year.”
“But with Director Li’s crossing the guandong, I feel like Bearded Zhang is just a little brother.”
“There’s a Ximen Chuixue between Director Li and Bearded Zhang.”
“Last year, the no thief Shangri-La launch press conference cost 300,000 yuan, with celebrity endorsements and artistic performances.”
“But looking at Director Li, he’s completely overpowering, too unreasonable. Director Chen must be unhappy again, and Hong Jie will be busy again.”
“Director Li has always dared to speak the truth. Although I haven’t seen dae jang geum, I’ve seen no thief!”
“Although I’m in South Korea, I still unconditionally support Director Li.”
“Brothers, charge! Follow Director Li to conquer Hancheng!”
Li Chen looked at these comments online, feeling overwhelmed!
The last one was too disruptive to harmony!
The Return of the Condor Heroes crew was also discussing this matter. Although Bearded Zhang was teased by netizens,
Li Chen’s attack on dae jang geum was considered standing up for domestic dramas.
This was a time for common hatred against the enemy.
dae jang geum was considered a public enemy of domestic dramas.
He was happy to see Li Chen tear apart dae jang geum.
“Yifei, Director Li is really in the spotlight this time. I’m also very curious about what Director Li will say,” Huang Xiaoming said.
Liu Yifei smiled and said, “I asked him yesterday, and he told me to wait and see!”
Huang Xiaoming smiled and said, “Director Li is playing coy with you too?”
“What are you talking about, Brother Xiao Ming?” Liu Yifei said with a dismissive smile.
“Let me make it clear, I wasn’t following you. That day after leaving the airport, I happened to see Director Li picking you and Auntie up,”
Huang Xiaoming teased.
“Oh? You saw it?” Liu Yifei said with a smile.
“Brother Xiao Ming, you must keep it a secret. We’re just good friends now.”
“What secret? I didn’t say anything anyway, did I? What’s there to say about good friends picking each other up?” Huang Xiaoming feigned ignorance.
Back at the hotel, as soon as she entered the door,
Liu Yifei sent a message to Li Chen: “Go, Director Li, may you return in triumph!”
Li Chen saw Miss Liu’s message in the car.
He smiled and replied: “If I fail, please give me a consolation prize, Auntie. My request isn’t high, just copy and paste the last one on my right cheek.”
Miss Liu’s cheeks flushed, like the red glow in the sky.
Wishing all my readers a Happy New Year in advance, and may your families be healthy and happy.
