On July 3, “Galaxy and You” premiered on Eastern TV.
On July 5, it began airing on Zhejiang Satellite TV.
On July 7, it started broadcasting on Shandong Satellite TV.
Eastern TV, the fastest to air, had already finished its eighth episode, while Shandong Satellite TV, the third channel, was just starting. Some viewers who hadn’t paid attention to the drama suddenly noticed it was on every channel they flipped to, sparking curiosity. Many tuned in casually but got hooked, joining the legion of fans chasing the show.
Soon, discussions about “Galaxy and You” surged online and in real life, while “Love Cruise” saw its buzz steadily fade.
How addictive was the plot of “Galaxy and You”?
Just ask Cao Bo, the notorious tool of the rival camp.
After watching the first two episodes, Cao Bo couldn’t stop. He told himself it was for spying on the enemy, but he was secretly hooked.
This sneaky binge-watching brought him a joy he hadn’t felt in ages.
Long ago, perhaps in primary school, before his family struck it rich, Cao Bo wasn’t a spoiled rich kid. His parents were strict, insisting he finish homework before watching TV.
Cao Bo wasn’t that obedient. He’d outsmart his parents, sneaking in TV time before they got home.
His childish cover-ups were transparent to adults, and he got scolded plenty for it.
Yet, he kept watching despite the punishments. To a kid, the TV was irresistible.
When did TV lose its charm?
Cao Bo couldn’t pinpoint it.
But now, it had regained its allure.
Cao Bo’s secret obsession with “Galaxy and You” was caught by Xu Mei. Though he quickly switched back to Hunan Satellite TV, Xu Mei saw through his flimsy cover.
“Even you’re watching ‘Galaxy and You’. No wonder ‘Love Cruise’ ratings are dropping again!”
Was that sinking ship really going down?
Thinking of Yu Tianlin’s foolish choices, ruining much of his commercial value, Xu Mei felt like singing with glee.
And Liang Dan, betting on the wrong drama, would surely face accountability at Hunan Satellite TV.
These people were practically self-destructing without Xu Mei lifting a finger, truly an eye-opener.
Happy as she was, Xu Mei never missed a chance to jab at Cao Bo.
Cao Bo insisted he was spying on the enemy. When Xu Mei asked what he’d uncovered, he turned serious. “I’ll assume you’re just used to that mocking tone, but you’d better watch it. Manager Guan’s a pushover, but Liang Dan’s no fool. If she finds out you’re disloyal, what do you think she’ll do to you?”
Xu Mei’s expression didn’t change. “Disloyal? What’s wrong with your head?”
Cao Bo dropped it. Caught red-handed, he boldly watched “Galaxy and You” openly.
Before, Cao Bo had looked down on Xu Mei. Dreams? He didn’t believe a word of it. Which girl entering the entertainment industry wasn’t chasing vanity?
So, Cao Bo dated around in the industry, quickly tiring of his girlfriends without cherishing them, feeling no guilt since it was mutual gain.
Same with Xu Mei.
By his usual pattern, he should’ve ended things with her long ago, but Xu Mei’s unconventional “engagement” had tied them together.
Watching “Galaxy and You” made Cao Bo feel a bit brainwashed.
Sometimes, he thought the word “dream” might actually exist in this industry.
Seeing Li Mengjiao in a yogurt ad, Cao Bo had once had impure thoughts. But watching her in “Galaxy and You”, those thoughts vanished, replaced by a sense of inferiority. So, Xu Mei had entered this industry with “dreams” too, right?
Did Xu Mei still have those “dreams”?
If he hadn’t meddled in her relationship with her first love, would she be different now?
Cao Bo’s self-reflection lasted less than three seconds.
A girl with no background and little wit entering the entertainment industry, wanting to succeed without paying a price? He was already one of the better ones. Plenty of others would use Xu Mei and make no promises at all!
As Cao Bo refocused on his drama, Xu Mei slammed the door shut.
In front of Cao Bo, she was calm, but turning away, her expression changed.
What did Cao Bo mean? Had Liang Dan grown suspicious?
If so, she needed to speed up her exit from the company.
She’d planned to finish the new drama by the Taiwan romance queen before jumping ship, thinking a project would boost her clout at a new company. But with things looking risky, it was better to leave now. As Cao Bo said, Manager Guan was a pushover, but Liang Dan wasn’t. If Liang Dan held a grudge, Xu Mei could be shelved indefinitely!
Xu Mei quickly messaged her ally in Chengdu: “You mentioned helping with connections last time. Is now a good time?”
…
Yuan Fenghui was a bit tied up.
Xie Qian’s warning had opened Wen Ying’s mind, and when Wen Ying shared it with Yuan Fenghui, she claimed not to be scared but mulled it over for a long time.
At that moment, Zhang Guangzhen came to Yuan Fenghui with more work.
Zhang Guangzhen had been bashing “Love Cruise” daily on his blog. At first, netizens didn’t get why he denied being the writer of a hit drama. Yu Tianlin’s fans went wild, hurling insults, and some Taiwan fans even doxxed his family’s address, harassing his relatives.
Zhang Guangzhen, stubborn as ever, refused to back down. The crazier Yu Tianlin’s fans got, the more he stood his ground. He had his Taiwan family report the harassment to the police and posted the doxxing as evidence on his blog, continuing to slam the “Love Cruise” team and calling Yu Tianlin’s fans idiots.
With that stubborn grit, Zhang Guangzhen weathered the worst of the online storm until “Galaxy and You” overtook “Love Cruise” in ratings. As “Love Cruise” aired more episodes, its reputation tanked, and Zhang Guangzhen finally turned the tide, singing his victory song.
Before, netizens called him “Ironhead Zhang” or “Dumbass Zhang”.
Now, they dubbed him “Prophet Zhang” or “Sober Zhang”.
“Teacher Zhang is a true prophet. He sensed how bad ‘Love Cruise’ would be without even watching the final cut, refusing to admit it was his script. Facts proved him right; ‘Love Cruise’ is awful!”
“The first episode already hinted at a flop. I wasn’t sober enough and got fooled by Yu Tianlin’s persona. By the third episode, his CEO role felt so greasy, especially compared to Yun Chen!”
“So Teacher Zhang is the清醒 one.”
Sober Zhang survived the cyberbullying and gained even more fame.
But he didn’t let it go to his head. Despite many work offers, he hadn’t forgotten Tianjiao’s support when Yu Tianlin’s team pressured him to revise his script, nor the industry’s dangers just because of some online flattery.
Faced with numerous offers, Zhang Guangzhen needed Yuan Fenghui’s advice.
Which jobs to take, which to avoid—she’d know!
Yuan Fenghui did check. Some companies offering Zhang Guangzhen jobs had poor reputations, often shortchanging writers, just looking to ride his fame.
Those companies were to be shut down outright, no chance for mischief.
The first to approach Zhang Guangzhen, Shanghai Jiaxin Film Company, had a solid legacy. Though it hadn’t produced hits recently, it had no bad rumors either.
Industry friends told Yuan Fenghui, “Jiaxin’s got a new boss aiming to revive it, making bold reforms!”
Yuan Fenghui, always thinking three steps ahead, looked into Jiaxin’s new boss… and got a pleasant surprise.
She’d invited Xie Qian to Tianjiao multiple times, but he never budged.
Turns out, Xie Qian wasn’t uninterested in the entertainment industry—he just didn’t want to work for others!
Quietly, Xie Qian had become the boss of a veteran film company.
Wen Ying probably didn’t even know, did she?
Yuan Fenghui’s first thought was whether Xie Qian would poach Wen Ying from Tianjiao.
Guessing was tiresome, so she decided to ask directly.
When she called Xie Qian, her laugh was as hearty as ever. “Little Boss Xie, how’s business in Shanghai? Any chance for us to collaborate?”
When Xie Qian sent Gong Sheng to contact Zhang Guangzhen, he was ready for exposure.
He couldn’t tell Wen Ying yet, but Yuan Fenghui was fine—she could keep a secret.
Li Mengjiao had many protectors; Tianjiao was built for her to become a star.
Wen Ying needed protection too.
In a way, what Xie Qian was doing now was what Li Zhentao once did for his daughter, Li Mengjiao.
No matter how strong someone is, there are always gaps. Xie Qian wasn’t against working with Tianjiao. Since Yuan Fenghui asked, he took the chance to seek her advice on his deal with Eastern TV: “Producer Xu has agreed to my proposal.”
Yuan Fenghui cut to the chase. “But you’re still uneasy. The drama hasn’t even been shot, and there are already variables. You’re borrowing a writer, so you probably don’t trust many in your company. Money can hire talent, but it’s not as reliable as people you’ve groomed yourself. Without a trusted team, even a big company is just a hollow shell.”
Yuan Fenghui had faced plenty of betrayals.
Being Miracle Group’s agent meant nothing; agents have influence, not control. So, their betrayal cost her little.
Same with Huang Yongjuan’s recent contract breach.
These lessons taught Yuan Fenghui to build her own team from scratch!
Her advice aligned with Xie Qian’s thoughts.
“I understand, thank you, Teacher Yuan.”
Right after bonding with Xie Qian, Yuan Fenghui got Xu Mei’s message, smiled after a moment’s thought, and called Xie Qian again. “Speaking of grooming talent, I’ve got a candidate. Interested?”
Xie Qian hadn’t expected Yuan Fenghui to recommend Xu Mei.
Yuan Fenghui saw great potential in her.
Not for awards, but for making Jiaxin a lot of money!
Worried Xie Qian might be biased against Xu Mei, she advised earnestly, “Xu Mei’s not who she used to be. Clear-headed people don’t act rashly. She wants to jump ship, and you need artists. I’m just recommending; it’s your call. But if you’re building a film company, don’t be too idealistic. Look at the big picture. Personal preferences don’t matter. A boss can’t afford to be at odds with money, right, Xie Qian?”
