Chu Yunsheng’s unconventional approach had finally piqued Yuan Meng’s interest.
During a break, Yuan Meng made a call to Zhang Feifan. Zhang Feifan, after seeing the “Sky Blue Murder” crew’s microblog with over 10,000 new followers overnight, was initially horrified, but it soon turned into satisfaction and pride. He exclaimed, “Old Chu is indeed a genius at marketing!”
Yuan Meng’s voice instantly became more animated: “You knew about it?”
Zhang Feifan replied, “Of course, old Chu talked to me about the live broadcast beforehand and asked if there were any restrictions. I told him there weren’t! Our crew doesn’t have any shady dealings or mistreat others, so we broadcasted in. Broadcasting doesn’t involve secrets, and it can help us gain more fans, it’s a cost-effective approach.”
The mention of “cost-effective” was somewhat embarrassing in his tone.
Yuan Meng said, “… Forget it, Director Zhang, please pass the phone to Old Chu.”
Zhang Feifan grinned and called Chu Yunsheng, who was practicing with Yin Zheng, in a corner.
Chu Yunsheng glanced at the screen, which displayed “Agent Yuan Meng,” took the phone calmly, and moved a couple of steps to the side.
“Old Yuan.”
Yuan Meng, struggling to keep his composure, asked, “Old Chu, what’s going on with your live broadcast? It’s like an unscheduled program on a legal channel, exposing everything. Didn’t you previously not accept live interviews? And what’s with the books you’ve been reading lately? ‘Gentle and Devoted Gong’? What do you mean by Yin Zheng should like you?”
“Old Chu, do you realize the impact of what you’ve said? You’ve been in this industry for so many years, why…”
Yuan Meng was experiencing a midlife crisis.
He rattled off like a machine gun and sighed for the 108th time that day, “I’m getting old, Old Chu. I’ve bought two boxes of Jiuxin Pills, and my wife is considering booking me for heart bypass surgery. Can you be more reliable…”
Chu Yunsheng patiently listened to Yuan Meng’s outpouring of frustration. After Yuan Meng’s emotional release, he calmly said, “Is there a high level of enthusiasm for me and the crew right now?”
“Yes.”
Yuan Meng hesitated, “But the impact…”
Chu Yunsheng interrupted him, “Aren’t the rumors and scandals about Yin Zheng and me on the internet mostly false, instigated by online trolls?”
While Yuan Meng didn’t fully grasp it, and agreed, “Yes, but you have to understand that the impact of your live broadcast is quite negative…”
“Don’t worry,” Chu Yunsheng reassured him, “I can handle these matters. You just need to focus on the tasks I’ve assigned. This month, your salary will be doubled, and you’ll receive a triple bonus.”
Yuan Meng’s eyes widened at the prospect of increased earnings. After a quick calculation of his monthly income, his aches and pains disappeared. However, he remained somewhat concerned and asked, “How do you plan to handle this without studio management?”
As an agent with many years of experience, this was the first time he felt compelled to leave the studio and the company when a situation arose.
Chu Yunsheng pondered the question and replied, “It’s hard to say.”
Yuan Meng pressed him, “In that case, please get to the point. As your manager, I can’t ignore everything. I currently don’t have much confidence in your decisions.”
Chu Yunsheng responded, “Technology is the primary productive force.”
Confused, Yuan Meng asked, “What do you mean?”
The props team was ready, and the drama manager signaled to Chu Yunsheng.
With no time to provide a detailed explanation, Chu Yunsheng asked, “Have you found any information regarding the investigation I tasked you with?”
Yuan Meng immediately shifted into work mode and said, “We’ve made some progress and obtained some evidence. It seems that the matter between Yin Zheng and Tao An is fabricated. The second male lead of the film wanted to stir up trouble for Tao An, possibly because he believed that Tao An had only obtained the male lead role due to Yin Zheng’s influence. He might have wanted to implicate both Yin Zheng and Tao An in a scandal. However, he didn’t anticipate Tao An’s genuine interest in Yin Zheng.”
Yuan Meng paused and added, “Old Chu, there are signs of Zhou’s involvement in these matters now. It’s not wise to confront them directly. You must support Yin Zheng.”
While he couldn’t believe Chu Yunsheng had concerns for Yin Zheng, Yuan Meng continued, “He deserves my support.”
Chu Yunsheng responded casually, “Let them make a fuss; it’s free promotion and heat. We shouldn’t miss such an opportunity. I’ve been facing some financial constraints recently, and our studio isn’t wealthy. I need to save some funds. Don’t worry about the future; I’m going to film now.”
Afterward, Chu Yunsheng promptly hung up the phone.
Yuan Meng sat in his office, staring at the phone for a while, realizing that his call had been in vain.
Chu Yunsheng’s strong-willed approach left Yuan Meng feeling extremely helpless. As an employee of Chu Yunsheng’s studio, he could only offer advice and hope that Chu Yunsheng was truly confident in his choices.
Yuan Meng wiped his face and sighed, “… All for the bonus!”
The world outside was filled with turmoil, and there was a constant stream of doubts and ridicule aimed at Chu Yunsheng’s unconventional live broadcast.
However, the crew of “Blue Sky Murder” continued to focus on their work. They went about their filming, meals, and daily activities, seemingly unaffected by the external chaos. Over the years of working under Zhang Feifan’s guidance, the crew had honed a skill: the ability to entertain themselves without relying on the internet. When they entered their filming mode, they became indifferent to the world outside. Surprisingly, neither the director nor the actors paid much attention to the external chatter, nor did they share it with anyone on set.
Yin Zheng, who had been the target of intense criticism, remained blissfully unaware of the commotion. Chu Yunsheng was content with this. While he himself paid little heed to public opinion, he didn’t want the negativity to disrupt Yin Zheng’s ongoing recovery.
Chu Yunsheng didn’t live stream every day. Instead, he dedicated two full days each week, Saturday and Sunday, to continuous live broadcasts, disappearing for the rest of the week. His live streaming style remained unconventional. At times, he would put his phone in his pocket, silencing the audience’s interaction, and would repeat the phrases “see you tomorrow” and “see you next week” throughout the broadcast. He rarely engaged with his fans.
Initially, both real and fake critics and online trolls flooded the live chat, questioning and attacking Chu Yunsheng. However, as time passed, people gradually became accustomed to Chu Yunsheng’s unique live streaming style.
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, fans in the live chat eagerly checked in and engaged in casual banter.
Chu Yunsheng maintained his routines, and when Yin Zheng woke up, he would hear familiar remarks like, “Brother Chu, you forgot to apply sunscreen!”
Fans playfully commented, “Ah, the cohabitation routine of the delicate boy and Uncle Pig?”
“Always looking out for Chu Yunsheng.”
“Daily roars and refinement, huh?”
“So fun, we love it!”
The fans exchanged light-hearted banter, unfazed by the world’s events.
In this calm live broadcast atmosphere, the once-hostile and impatient troll, Heizi, silently disappeared, and his offensive comments went ignored. Arguments had no place in this serene environment.
To everyone’s surprise, after watching Emperor Chu’s live broadcast for a while, it had become a habitual part of their lives.
Viewers didn’t remain glued to the live broadcast, constantly waiting for interactions and breaking news. Instead, they placed their phones on stands, occasionally checking in while they cooked or watched their favorite shows. They felt like they were observing the daily life of the person they admired and, to some extent, living vicariously through them.
Though separated by screens, they shared a similar life experience.
Many celebrities feared that their idol status would fade from public view. However, Chu Yunsheng didn’t carry that burden. He ate watermelon, sipped on iced cola, counted calories with Yin Zheng, ordered takeout, and sometimes, he was simply too exhausted and lazy to move. He didn’t bother with maintaining a glamorous image.
An idol who was both charismatic and down-to-earth could inspire genuine admiration and motivation in people.
This live broadcast continued throughout the filming of “Blue Sky Murder.”
While some had doubts about Chu Yunsheng and Yin Zheng’s relationship and Yin Zheng’s acting skills in the beginning, those doubts gradually faded.
The daily interactions between Chu Yunsheng and Yin Zheng, while somewhat intimate, seemed entirely natural. It was more akin to a close friendship between brothers.
Of course, had there been any insiders, they might have guessed that it was a committed couple model. Regrettably, nobody knew that the two were already in a relationship.
Elder brother Chu Yunsheng took excellent care of Yin Zheng, and Yin Zheng greatly appreciated his efforts. Recognizing Chu Yunsheng’s difficulty with sleep, Yin Zheng would make him a cup of milk no matter how late he returned home.
Yin Zheng’s acting skills displayed visible improvement, particularly when he performed alongside Chu Yunsheng. The live chat viewers observed his transformation from a somewhat stereotypical villain to a fully developed character – a warlord in turbulent times.
Yin Zheng’s dedication and improvements were evident to all. Even with lingering negative stories, it was becoming increasingly challenging for people to harbor any ill feelings towards him.
Moreover, after the extensive live broadcasts and Chu Yunsheng’s clarifications, doubts regarding Yin Zheng’s supposed harassment of Tao An began to surface.
In other words, those who followed the live broadcasts closely had witnessed Yin Zheng’s growth. They could discern his character and had developed a level of trust in him. The filming progressed rapidly.
As Yin Zheng completed his final scene, the live chat room erupted with gifts and messages of encouragement. One barrage seemed to capture the sentiments of the viewers.
“Seeing Yin Zheng now, I can’t help but feel like I’m witnessing my child’s transformation from a misfit to a top student, successfully getting into a prestigious university and graduating with honors.”
Other comments echoed the same sentiment.
“Yin Zheng has made remarkable progress.”
“Zhengzheng is a dedicated worker, even more demanding than the director. He meticulously perfects every scene and constantly worries that his performance isn’t up to par, potentially delaying the crew’s progress.”
“Does the poor crew continue to intend being poor?”
“Director Zhang and Brother Chu are phenomenal at training actors. I’m a film school student, and I attend their live broadcasts every week for educational purposes. My instructors praise my progress! I’ve shared Brother Chu’s live broadcast with my entire department!”
“Wait, once Zhengzheng is done filming ‘Blue Sky Murder’, will he stop live broadcasting?”
A group of comments soon realized the significance of this and started expressing sadness. Just two or three months ago, when Yin Zheng first appeared, he was met with disdain and mockery. At best, people ignored him and focused solely on Chu Yunsheng.
But today, people’s impression of Yin Zheng has changed, and suddenly they are a little bit reluctant to part with that delicate actor who could sing lullabies.
But soon, the audience in the live broadcast room knew that they were thinking too much.
