Chapter Forty-Seven: Waiting to Watch the Fireworks

Director's Office.

Xu Ming and Director Song sat facing each other.

"I watched the TV series your side sent over. It's quite boisterous. At my age, it's hard for me to judge its quality, but the younger comrades do think it has potential."

"However, the content is overly youthful. If we broadcast it on Liaoning Television, I feel there's a certain amount of risk."

Director Song was discussing whether *Love Apartment* could secure a prime-time slot. Judging by his tone, he was still swaying between options.

"Youthfulness is the overarching trend. If I may say something sacrilegious, any television station that fails to embrace this trend will fall increasingly behind in the upcoming competition."

"Nowadays, everyone is fighting for a nationwide audience, and universality comes first. If we constantly focus on domestic trifles and rural themes, not to mention falling behind the times, let's talk practically: aren't sponsors more willing to invest in dramas that young people watch a lot?"

Director Song had initially dismissed Xu Ming's words as alarmist, but when the topic shifted to sponsors, he grew serious.

Advertisers were a major source of revenue for television stations, and boosting this sector would be a tangible achievement.

"Go on," Director Song said, raising a hand to signal Xu Ming to continue.

Seeing this development, Xu Ming knew the other man had taken his words to heart, so he proceeded.

"Take Mango TV as an example. In 2007, they aired *Ming Dynasty in 1566*, directed by Zhang Li, written by Liu Heping, and starring veteran actors like Chen Baoguo and Huang Zhizhong. It was an extremely refined drama, yet its ratings were only 0.5%."

"Also on Mango TV, in September 2008, they aired *UglyWudi*. I imagine you would find it boisterous too, yet its peak rating reached 3.56%. On January 12th this year, the second season aired, and its 4.5% market share ranked second in nationwide ratings for the same time slot."

Both dramas enjoyed considerable fame in the industry; the former was renowned for its high acclaim, while the latter was this year's breakout hit.

Normally not placed side by side, Director Song hadn't felt much of a contrast. But when Xu Ming compared them directly, the implications truly began to sink in.

"Am I to understand this as the entertainment-driven trend?" Director Song asked hesitatingly.

"Exactly. The era of entertaining to death has arrived, and you can see the signs from *Super Girl*," Xu Ming affirmed.

A silence filled the room.

As someone who had walked through the era of traditional filmmaking, Director Song found it somewhat difficult to accept this reality for a moment.

Xu Ming simply waited for the other man to quietly digest it.

This overarching trend was unstoppable; one either embraced it or was discarded by it.

"Bad money drives out good," Director Song sighed with emotion.

"True. Audiences have consumed too much refined grain. It's normal for them to get addicted upon first contact with this fast food. Once they've had their fill, they will gradually return to the right track," Xu Ming said.

The later explosive success of premium dramas like *In the Name of the People* and *A Lifelong Journey* all proved that the audience's palate was becoming increasingly discerning.

"Everything you say makes sense, but the cast of your drama is simply too mediocre. It's hard for me to convince the others at the station."

Director Song spread his hands. "After all, I don't make the final call on scheduling alone."

Besides, this drama wasn't even produced by Benshan Media; if not for Xu Ming's sake, it wouldn't have even reached his desk.

"If this drama performs poorly, I'll star in one to make it up to you later. How about that?" Xu Ming patted his chest in assurance.

He had gone to such great lengths to push *Love Apartment* not only because he held a thirty percent share and had signed the artists, but also for another crucial reason: to secure a triumphant opening for his own company.

With the success of the first drama, promoting their subsequent in-house productions would become much easier.

"It's a deal."

Director Song extended his hand. "Saturday at seven-thirty in the evening, prime time—it's yours."

He had been waiting for this exact promise from Xu Ming. Analyzing this and that was useful, but none of it was as reassuring as this commitment.

"Thank you for your trust."

Xu Ming shook his hand, secretly pondering that the next time he negotiated business, he might as well switch to a banquet.

Judging by this momentum, half a catty of liquor consumed beforehand was more effective than anything else.

...

"Online public opinion? I don't pay attention to that. I probably focus more on international and Hollywood affairs. I hope young mainland actors will pay more attention to their own growth rather than crooked paths."

On television, Chow Yun-fat offered a few casual, perfunctory remarks in response to a reporter's interview.

Though no names were explicitly mentioned, everyone knew who he was pointing at.

His voice sounded like a blowing horn.

"I know what you're going to ask. It's about that actor who acts all sissy. Let's talk when he's even qualified to appear at the Hong Kong Film Awards; I certainly didn't see him last month," Shawn Yue waved off.

"We're so happy today, let's not bring up those unhappy things. Hearing that name just ruins my mood," Nicholas Tse refused to answer the question.

He was in no mood to care about mainland rookie actors; even after a year had passed, those photographs still surfaced in his mind from time to time.

Outside Liaoning Television.

Having finished discussing the scheduling of *Love Apartment* with Director Su, Xu Ming visited his fellow martial brothers and stepped out of the building.

To his surprise, before he even reached the gates, he found a group of reporters waiting for him.

"Xu Ming, Chow Yun-fat gave an interview today expressing his hope that mainland young actors won't take crooked paths. Do you have any response?"

"Shawn Yue said that only when you reach the Hong Kong Film Awards will you be qualified to speak with him, and he mocked you as a sissy."

"Xu Ming, Nicholas Tse said hearing your name ruins his mood. Care to respond?"

Some of these reporters were outright speaking in Cantonese, showing that quite a few Hong Kong media outlets had rushed over.

Truly dedicated.

Listening to the commotion and the microphones thrust toward him, Xu Ming remained silent.

He didn't speak until he reached his car, where a bodyguard pulled open the door.

Only then did he stand still, facing the pairs of eyes eagerly awaiting a statement, and slowly raised his fist.

The reporters grew even more excited. Could this fellow have flown into a rage out of humiliation and planned to throw punches?

That would be precisely what they wanted.

They watched as Xu Ming's fist, held before his chest, moved upward and upward until it reached the top of his head, where the fist suddenly unfurled.

The crowd stared blankly at his actions, completely baffled.

What was the meaning of this?

"Wait for the fireworks."

Xu Ming chuckled softly, turned, and got into the car.

Smelling the exhaust fumes lingering in the air, the reporters were even more bewildered.

Fireworks?

Where on earth were the fireworks?

"Holy shit, 'Monday See' just updated their blog!"

An exclamation rang out from the crowd, and everyone scrambled forward in a flurry.

"What did they post?"

"Don't shove, I'll read it to you. The headline is shocking, with exclamation marks..."

"Nonsense, we all know that much. Hurry up!"

"*[Shocking! International movie star turns out to be box office poison: Discussing the true commercial value of Hong Kong and Taiwan filmmakers.]*"

Hah, the headline was as eye-catching as ever.

Particularly against the backdrop of Hong Kong and Taiwan filmmakers moving northward in droves, almost no one dared to stand up and sing a dissenting tune.

That was Hong Kong, the Hollywood of the East.

A place that could go toe-to-toe with filmmakers worldwide during its peak.

"What's below that?"

"It's gone."

"What? How is it gone?"

"My phone bill is overdue; I ran out of data."

"Damn it, top it up! Do you think we can't afford it? Hurry up!"