Lin Chudong's utterly bewildered expression immediately amused the audience.
"Big Fei, answer the question! Why are you looking at me? Is the answer on my face?"
"The law requires supporting your elders, not your parents."
"You've completely stumped Big Fei! Haha, Sister Deng is truly Sister Deng."
Tian Yingxiong and the others burst into laughter, the scene proving to be a hit.
While eating, Tian Yingxiong asked, "Old Lin, do you regret being single for all four years of college?"
Lin Chudong shot him a sideways glance. "I think you should regret going to university in the first place. You should have gone to a vocational college—then you'd have been single for only three years."
*Pfft...*
Cheng Huanhuan immediately sputtered out her drink, her ladylike image vanishing in an instant. The entire table erupted in laughter.
Just sitting around the dinner table and chatting among this group was more entertaining than most variety shows.
Tian Yingxiong said, "Thank goodness I'm not single anymore, Sister Deng. Can you play your new song for us? This one, 'Madly in Love,' fits my mood perfectly right now."
The crowd immediately started cheering, and everyone burst into applause.
"Sister Deng, play us a song!"
Lin Chudong grabbed the guitar hanging on the wall and sat down next to Deng Siqing.
"Sister Deng, don't be shy—play us a song."
Deng Siqing nodded bashfully, and her gentle voice rose with Lin Chudong's guitar accompaniment:
"I came from spring, you said goodbye in autumn..."
Tian Yingxiong started tapping a rhythm on the table, keeping the beat.
The chorus erupted in a collective singalong:
"I want to ask if you dare, to love me like you said you would."
"I want to ask if you dare, to be madly in love like me."
"I want to ask if you dare, to love me like you said you would."
"If I'm madly in love like this, what would you really think..."
***
"New Queen, new Queen! Sister Deng's singing is truly invincible!"
"Zhang Yiran can step aside now—Sister Deng has surpassed her!"
"If you haven't voted yet, hurry up and do it! If Sister Deng loses to Zhang Yiran, it's your fault."
"I love Sister Deng so much! In my next life, I'm going to be a man and marry her."
"Sister Deng is so madly in love... I wonder who she's so infatuated with!"
"Fun fact: Big Fei wrote this song."
"Isn't Big Fei close to becoming a Heavenly King now?"
"He's still a bit far from Heavenly King status. Compared to Heavenly King Zhao, Big Fei lacks the seniority."
"True, he's not quite a Heavenly King yet, but he's close to being a Queen. Sister Deng's recent songs absolutely crush all of Zhang Yiran's."
"..."
The show ended, followed immediately by *Bright Sword*. Now, their paid time off to watch variety shows was getting longer.
Lin Chudong opened his phone to check the Goddess Ranking. Deng Siqing had already surpassed Zhang Yiran and was now ranked first.
Deng Siqing's total votes were nearing 800,000. Zhang Yiran was in second place with 600,000 votes, and surprisingly, Lin Qiqi had climbed to third place with 550,000 votes.
Deng Siqing had already pulled far ahead, both in terms of her song's quality and her own immense popularity.
Combined with the hype from *Longing for Rural Life*, this wave of popularity propelled Deng Siqing straight to the top.
**Lin Chudong:** Sister Deng, you're number one!
**Deng Siqing:** Isn't that thanks to you?
**Lin Chudong:** Zhang Yiran's song is also good, but you win on looks and popularity.
**Deng Siqing:** Are you complimenting me?
**Lin Chudong:** Of course.
**Deng Siqing:** That compliment was terrible. Try again.
**Lin Chudong:** *No beauty lasts a thousand years, but the most pleasing sight is the most beautiful person.*
**Deng Siqing:** Passable.
Cheng Huanhuan, sitting nearby, rolled her eyes at the two. "You two are so sappy. Can't Brother Dafei help me break into the music scene? I want to be on the Goddess Ranking too."
Deng Siqing rolled her eyes. "With your tone-deafness, you want to sing? I suggest you give up on that dream now, Queen of Skits."
Cheng Huanhuan pouted. "Just underestimate me. One day, I'll make my mark in the music industry."
***
Zhang Yiran's face was ashen.
In the blink of an eye, Deng Siqing had actually overtaken her.
*Just because she appeared on some stupid variety show, she's become this popular?*
Zhang Yiran was a legendary diva of the music world. After investing so heavily in this promotion, if she still lost to Deng Siqing, where would her reputation even go?
The worst part was that it wasn't just about Deng Siqing anymore. Lin Qiqi's popularity was also skyrocketing.
The gap between them was only 50,000 votes—there was even a chance Lin Qiqi could surpass her.
If a legendary diva like her ranked third on the Music Goddess Chart, with the top two spots occupied by crossover artists, it would be utterly humiliating.
Zhang Yina, noticing the situation, said, "We could spend more to boost the rankings, but we've already invested a lot. If we spend more, we might end up losing money."
If they spent another ten or twenty million and still didn't reach first place, the sponsors would pay based on the lower rankings, and their investment might not even be recouped.
"Make Shen Jianbin contribute some money," Zhang Yiran said.
Zhang Yina hesitated. "Alright."
Shen Jianbin was now in the same boat as them, with no way to retreat.
He'd initially thought of latching onto Zhang Yiran's coattails, but never expected her support to be so unreliable.
If they'd profited, he might have thrived alongside her. But since Zhang Yiran's last variety show flopped, she'd been losing money ever since.
How could Shen Jianbin possibly extricate himself unscathed now?
***
That evening, Tian Yingxiong suddenly sent me a message:
"Get me a SouTu Video membership account, I want to watch *Bright Sword*."
Lin Chudong: "Are you seriously this cheap? You can't spare thirty bucks?"
Tian Yingxiong: "Every penny saved is a penny earned. Send me thirty yuan as a red envelope, and I'll get a membership. You'll get fifty, right? A blood profit."
Lin Chudong: "You're truly the king of stinginess."
*Transferred 30 yuan, pending receipt*
Tian Yingxiong: *Transfer received* "So you'll give me thirty just because I asked? You're a real dog."
Lin Chudong: "Stop whining. You're worth exactly thirty."
Tian Yingxiong: "Did you see Teacher Xiao's review of your song online? A teacher contacted me, wants to invite us back to school for a class reunion."
Lin Chudong: "Not interested."
Tian Yingxiong: "It's said that returning home without sharing your success is like wearing silk in the dark. Ever heard that?"
Lin Chudong: "You go back alone. And don't forget—your success all comes from your partner."
Tian Yingxiong: Don't be so harsh... You're looking to hire people, right? Why not recruit some university students?
Lin Chudong: You know, that's actually a good idea. Alright, you handle the arrangements. I'll come if there's a gathering later.
Lin Chudong wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the idea of a class reunion.
Aside from Tian Yingxiong, he didn't have many close friends from school. Zhang Yao and Li Dan had retired from the industry, so they probably wouldn't attend either.
During his school days, he'd been quite low-key and had never been interested in class reunions.
However, he was quite interested in the younger students. Perhaps he could recruit some talented individuals.
Tian Yingxiong: Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you. My uncle asked me not to inform you.
Lin Chudong: Oh?
Tian Yingxiong: My uncle has filmed two movies in the past six months, and both flopped. His film company is on the verge of bankruptcy and is now looking for a buyer.
Lin Chudong: Got it. I'll talk to him.
***
Ten o'clock in the evening.
Lin Chudong and Liang Yin returned to Wang Danian's film and television company.
Lin Chudong knocked on the door. Wang Danian's voice came from inside, slightly hoarse: "Come in."
Lin Chudong pushed the door open and was immediately choked by the thick cigarette smoke.
Seeing Lin Chudong, Wang Danian's expression stiffened. "How did you get here? Did that kid Tian Yingxiong tell you something?"
"With something this big, how could you not say anything, Uncle?" Lin Chudong asked.
Wang Danian reached for a cigarette, glanced at Liang Yin, and put it back down. "The market's tough. My judgment was off."
"I do regret it now. If I'd invested in you back then, I might be rich by now."
Wang Danian had been closely following the industry. He knew about the massive success of *Beginning* and was well aware of *Bright Sword*'s performance. The fact that a single TV series could make a video platform like SouTu Video so popular spoke volumes about its impact.
Lin Chudong said, "Let's not dwell on the past. I only lacked funds for my first project. For the second, I didn't take anyone's investment or even accept sponsorships."
Wang Danian nodded. He had noticed this himself—*Bright Sword* had no product placements at all.
"I'd say you're a bold one, kid. Investing your own money and running the show yourself, bearing all the profits and losses—you're a natural born entrepreneur."
"Uncle, you're too kind. I heard you're looking to sell?"
Wang Danian nodded. "I can't afford to be my own boss anymore. Time to go back to working for someone else. I know why you're here—my company has about twenty employees and a ton of equipment."
"I've got stakes in a few TV dramas, but they all bombed. Didn't make a single cent."
"If you want to buy it, ten million."
Wang Danian had resigned himself to his fate. Someone had to buy it eventually, and working for Big Fei seemed better than working for anyone else.
Though he felt a bit embarrassed, who would turn down a good deal as a businessman?
Lin Chudong said, "Let me see the equipment list."
He wasn't here out of sympathy. He'd been planning to establish a film and television department anyway, and acquiring an existing company was the most convenient way to do it.
Wang Danian's company was one he'd investigated and found to be well-established. Acquiring it would be safer—at least he wouldn't be swindled. The world of film equipment is full of pitfalls, and while Big Fei was a skilled director, he didn't know much about the gear.
Wang Danian handed over the company's equipment inventory. In addition to the equipment, the office, spanning over a thousand square meters, had less than four months left on its lease, and there was also a considerable amount of computer hardware.
When bundled with the copyrights to several TV shows and movies, the price of ten million yuan seemed reasonable.
"I've acquired your company. Want to work for me?" Wang Danian asked. "If you want me, I'll be your manager. If not, I'll just hire someone else. I'm not even fifty yet, I've got a few more good years left in me."
Lin Chudong replied, "It's best if you continue leading these employees. Come over to my company. I'll offer you market-leading compensation. With Tian Yingxiong's connection, I trust you completely."
Wang Danian nodded with a wry smile. "Then I'll be counting on your support, Mr. Lin."
Lin Chudong smiled and extended his hand.
"Welcome to Liangyin Media, Uncle."
Wang Danian set down his lighter and shook Lin Chudong's hand. In that moment, he felt a sudden sense of relief.
After signing the contract and leaving the office, Liang Yin felt as if she had traveled through time.
"I still remember the last time we came here, he just gave us five hundred thousand and sent us to his cafeteria to try the food. He didn't even treat us to a meal."
"Who would have thought that this time, I'd be the one owning the company."
Lin Chudong smiled. "Who knows, Boss Liang, you might end up on the Forbes list as a female powerhouse one day!"
Liang Yin's eyes widened. "I wouldn't even dare to think that. You're too audacious."
"It's just a thought. No one knows what's in my head anyway. What's there to fear?"
Liang Yin leaned closer, a teasing grin on her face. "Do you always fantasize about things in your head too?"
Lin Chudong instinctively glanced at certain... impressive areas, then swallowed hard.
Liang Yin looked down, her cheeks flushing crimson. She playfully punched Lin Chudong.
"You're hopeless."
Watching the boss's retreating figure, Lin Chudong clutched his chest.
He had no idea how strong she really was.
That punch had definitely caused internal injuries.
***
That evening, Lin Chudong lay down in his dorm room.
The dorm had now become a luxurious two-person mansion for Lin Chudong and Wang Zhi.
The landlady had originally planned to convert it into a deluxe suite for Lin Chudong.
However, Lin Chudong was accustomed to the dorm and enjoyed joking around with Wang Zhi all day. He felt it would be a bit lonely living alone.
So, everyone else moved out, leaving only Wang Zhi behind.
Wang Zhi naturally embraced his role as the subordinate, keeping the room spotlessly clean and tidy.
With 15 million yuan already deposited in his account, he was about to lie down and open ten treasure chests when his phone rang.
"Da Fei, I've received my transfer order. I'm returning to CCTV."
Lin Chudong was taken aback. "Congratulations, Brother Sun."
"Thanks. This time, it's partly thanks to you for handing *Longing for Rural Life* over to another producer. I heard they have some ideas about sponsors, so you'll have to negotiate with them directly."
"If you can't reach an agreement, come straight to the Capital and find me. We'll do another one together."
"I had a drink with my superiors tonight. I'll be the producer, and you'll be the director. As long as the production budget stays under 100 million yuan, it's all good."
Lin Chudong smiled. "Brother Sun is quite generous now. With a 100 million yuan production budget, I can finally go all out."
Sun Xuan replied, "Of course. I spoke with the leadership about your compensation. Given the success of *Longing for Rural Life*, they're willing to offer you a substantial salary."
"I've negotiated a base salary of one million yuan for you, plus 15% of the advertising revenue. What do you think?"
"That's perfect, no problem at all," Lin Chudong said. "That's a generous offer. I'll head to the Capital as soon as I'm finished with my current work."
"Great. I'll await your news."
After hanging up, Lin Chudong pulled out his phone and searched for housing prices in the Capital.
It seemed the Capital truly offered more opportunities for expansion. It was time to relocate the company there.
He'd need to discuss this with Liang Yin later to figure out the next steps.
Lin Chudong took a refreshing shower, emerging fragrant and refreshed. He got back into bed, pulled the covers up, and locked the door.
With everything in place, he took a deep breath and prepared to open the treasure chest!
15 million yuan deducted. Platinum Treasure Chest opened.
**Advanced Card**
**Memory Search Card** x3
**Fishing Master**
**Excavator Master**
**Random Upgrade Card** x2
**Advanced Animation Production**
**Movie Emperor Aura** (Consumes 10,000 per minute; allows experiencing Movie Emperor-level acting)
Movie Emperor!!
Seeing these two words, Lin Chudong was ecstatic.
Finally, an acting-related skill!
Could this be the hundredth treasure chest?
He couldn't see how many chests were left and had lost count.
But upon closer inspection, he realized something was off with this item.
Previously, skills had been directly integrated into his mind, becoming a part of his body—permanent skills.
Yet this time, he'd pulled out the **Movie Emperor Aura**?
And it was a trial version?!
Spending 10,000 per minute to experience Movie Emperor acting? That was damn highway robbery!
Opening treasure chests with real money was already a scam, and now the items inside were trying to squeeze more money out of him?
Doesn't he know how hard it is to earn money?
Lin Chudong's emotions were mixed. Still, getting an acting skill was a good thing.
Even though it was expensive, there was a reason for its price.
The Movie Emperor-level performance, with its skills maxed out, was something Lin Chudong could be satisfied with.
After all, problems that could be solved with money weren't really problems.
Unfortunately, the one remaining Advanced Card he had was now useless. The Movie Emperor Aura couldn't be upgraded with an Advanced Card. It was like an equipment item; once equipped, it began consuming money to provide the Movie Emperor experience.
Lin Chudong needed to carefully plan his next project.
Before, he had spent money on a per-episode basis. Now, it was per minute.
If a TV series was 40 minutes long, at least 20 minutes would be the male lead's scenes.
Filming those 20 minutes would take at least an hour and a half.
Even a Movie Emperor couldn't guarantee every take would pass. There were also other actors to coordinate with, and mistakes were inevitable.
Even in the best-case scenario, where there were no retakes, each shot required at least three angles.
So, 20 minutes of screen time would take at least an hour to film.
This meant each episode would cost at least 600,000 yuan, and that was just the money Lin Chudong himself would spend.
Initially, he'd thought that once he had the money, he'd use his acting skills to produce a blockbuster.
But now it seemed more practical to stick to smaller productions.
He'd helped make many people famous; now it was finally time to promote himself, so he needed to think carefully.
He'd always played bit parts and cameos before.
If he was going to take on a lead role this time, it had to be the male lead—he wasn't willing to play second fiddle to anyone else.
A twenty-episode series should keep the costs manageable.
Or... what about playing a villain?
-----------------------
Completed English PDF of this fan-fic on my Patreon shop if you want to support and own the full fan-fic in one go. Just grab the PDF and binge the entire story from start to finish!
Guys, I've uploaded some High Quality english translated fanfic on my Patreon shop! Feel free to check it out-if you're interested, you can grab a copy and support me there.
Here are a few titles of recently uploaded fanfics:
New Addition:
" The Clueless Girl Gets Fu**ed Every Day (18+) "
" Threatening Heroine at Start—Now the Male Lead Is Wearing the Green Hat (18+) "
" The Succubus Who Just Wants to Slack Off NPH (18+) "
" A Goddess Celebrity Brings Kids My Door, Working Construction Carrying (18+) "
" Houtarou Oreki in the Classroom of the Elite 18+ "
" My Harem of Beauties "
" High School DxD: Endless Plunder "
" Demon King Priest (18+) "
" I Became a Village Chief in the Primitive Age "
" Fantasy: I Claimed a Million Saintesses "
" After Rebirth, I Became the Obsessive Tycoon's Addiction "
" Starting with Catching Ghosts in the Girls' Dorm "
" Smut: Haughty "Husband" (18+) "
" The Prosperous Dynasty (18+) "
Your support means a lot-thanks in advance, legends!
many more are available 80+
patreon.com/RoyalStories
(End of Chapter)