Tch, a cowardly man who dares to act but not take responsibility.
Xu Mei lowered her head, scheming.
Just let Yu Tianlin push Tianjiao’s new drama out like that?
No way, she couldn’t let Yu Tianlin get too smug!
If they weren’t on opposing sides, Xu Mei would’ve wanted to negotiate with Hunan Satellite TV on Tianjiao’s behalf.
Negotiations, after all, take a few rounds to settle. Xu Mei didn’t believe Tianjiao and the station would collapse after just one talk.
Taking advantage of Cao Bo’s guilt, Xu Mei mocked him coldly and sarcastically, quickly prying out the details of Yu Tianlin’s drama’s broadcasting rights contract with Hunan Satellite TV. Then, claiming she was in a bad mood, she sent Cao Bo away.
What could Cao Bo do?
He could only endure it!
He endured until his eyebrows twitched and his expression twisted.
Xu Mei’s temper was unpredictable, like sun one moment and rain the next. If he didn’t endure, what else could he do? Cao Bo didn’t want tomorrow’s papers screaming “Xu Mei heartbroken,” dragging him and his family through the mud again. He really shouldn’t have agreed to propose to Xu Mei back then. One wrong step led to endless mistakes, leaving him stuck in limbo.
As for why Cao Bo didn’t just “call off the engagement,” besides fearing the media would crucify him as a scumbag, it was about sunk costs.
Having been Xu Mei’s fiancé for so long, her fame rubbed off on him too.
Cao Bo still wanted to make waves in the entertainment industry, and this visibility was useful for hustling… oh, pulling in investments!
Plus, Xu Mei had just signed a performance contract with Producer Yang.
Cao Bo genuinely believed Xu Mei could make herself a star. Human nature leans toward chasing profit and avoiding harm, so he couldn’t break off the engagement now.
Weighing the pros and cons, Cao Bo’s agitation gradually calmed. He gave himself an out. “No need to kick me out, I was already heading to meet Mr. Guan. No time to waste talking to you!”
With the annoying tool out of the way, Xu Mei contacted someone in her phone’s address book. “Is the August slot really not an option? Airing later could still crush certain people’s faces.”
This time, the reply came fast. Even through the phone screen, Xu Mei could feel the resolute tone. “Of course not. Face-slapping should happen sooner, not later. Waiting an extra month means an extra month of frustration! Women who stay angry too long risk health issues, Xiao Xu. You’re still young, take care of yourself.”
Uh.
Xu Mei suspected they were shading her.
Whatever, even if they were, that was the old her. The new Xu Mei wouldn’t take it lying down.
Xu Mei wanted to help but was rebuffed. She grew curious about how Tianjiao planned to slap faces immediately.
Her assistant hadn’t gotten the details of Tianjiao’s talks with Hunan Satellite TV in time but brought back another piece of news. Xu Mei couldn’t hide her surprise. “You’re saying Tianjiao’s holding a copyright promotion event where?”
“You heard right. They’ve set the event at the Huatian Grand Hotel!”
The Huatian Grand Hotel, opened in 1988, was Hunan’s first five-star hotel. Xu Mei had certainly heard of it.
Tianjiao was really bold.
After one failed talk, they were holding a promotion event right under Hunan Satellite TV’s nose.
What would the station’s leaders think?
Some would probably look down on Tianjiao!
On the flip side, some would panic, like Director Fan.
Xu Mei couldn’t help but ponder Tianjiao’s intentions.
Were they genuinely planning to sell the rights to another station, or using this to pressure Hunan Satellite TV into backing down?
…
In Mr. Guan’s office, a small celebratory gathering was underway.
Attendees included Mr. Guan, Cao Bo, and, of course, Yu Tianlin.
The biggest investor, coal tycoon Mr. Jin, wasn’t there. He’d made money from the drama investment, but he had bigger business to handle and no time for this small party.
Even if Mr. Jin wanted to join, the three wouldn’t have welcomed him. They saw him as just the money guy, not someone to involve in specific affairs.
Mr. Guan brought out his prized liquor, and the three raised their glasses in cheer.
“Tianlin, you were spot on. You really know Yuan Fenghui well!”
Since Yuan Fenghui quit, she and Mr. Guan were on opposing sides. Every time Mr. Guan crossed paths with her, he came out worse.
Ratings got crushed.
His company’s artists weren’t as popular as Yuan Fenghui’s.
He couldn’t outbid her for endorsements.
Every success of Yuan Fenghui’s left Mr. Guan frustrated!
This time, finally stealing her slot, Mr. Guan was halfway drunk before finishing his glass.
Yu Tianlin gently swirled his cup. “I was trained by Sister Yuan, so of course I know her well. She’s genuinely capable, but too controlling, like a female tyrant at work.”
A female tyrant’s authority brooks no challenge.
If Yu Tianlin weren’t the male lead, Yuan Fenghui wouldn’t care so much about Hunan Satellite TV’s slot.
As long as the copyright fees were decent, July or August didn’t matter much, both being summer prime slots.
But with Yu Tianlin’s drama taking July, Yuan Fenghui couldn’t stomach it.
If word got out, it’d be said she couldn’t make it in Taiwan, and now, on the mainland, she was being overshadowed by an artist she once mentored. Losing face completely, she’d be looked down on in the mainland entertainment circle!
If Yuan Fenghui could swallow this and settle for August, Yu Tianlin had a backup plan.
Securing the slot was the surface tactic. The real goal was to sabotage Tianjiao’s relationship with Hunan Satellite TV.
Hunan Satellite TV had popular variety shows, hot talent competitions, and was the best platform for Chinese idol dramas, commanding a huge ratings share.
Even a mediocre drama aired on Hunan Satellite TV would get higher ratings than elsewhere. A decent drama would soar!
If Tianjiao kept working with Hunan Satellite TV, churning out hit after hit, they’d make piles of money and launch many stars. Yuan Fenghui’s industry clout would grow, directors would clamor to work with Tianjiao, top screenwriters would write for them, and new talents would fight to sign with them. Good resources would create a virtuous cycle, turning Yuan Fenghui not just into a tyrant-like figure but a true industry queen!
The Miracle Group, having betrayed Yuan Fenghui, didn’t want her dominating the mainland scene. Those with guilty consciences knew why. Yu Tianlin feared her retaliation.
He couldn’t bring Tianjiao down yet, but he wanted to slow their rise. Disrupting their partnership with Hunan Satellite TV was the most effective way.
And the facts proved Yu Tianlin succeeded!
Cao Bo didn’t have as much ill will toward Tianjiao, but teaming up with Yu Tianlin made him money. Yu Tianlin’s enemies weren’t his friends. He sidled up with his glass. “Director Fan’s always been close to Tianjiao. Could he convince Yuan Fenghui to settle for August?”
Tianjiao’s dramas brought Director Fan work achievements.
Among the station’s leaders, Director Fan was the most optimistic about and reliant on Tianjiao.
If Director Fan went easy and pushed for high copyright fees, Cao Bo worried Yuan Fenghui might change her mind.
Cao Bo was projecting. If it were him, he’d agree.
More money, who cares about the slot? Face isn’t as valuable as cash.
Cao Bo’s concern wasn’t baseless.
Yu Tianlin nodded. “That’s why we can’t give Tianjiao a second chance. I’m planning—”
Before he could finish, the office door swung open. Liang Dan walked in, phone in hand. “…I know about Tianjiao’s promotion event at the Huatian Grand Hotel. Alright, I’ll check it out, don’t worry!”
