Chapter 540: He wants to act (7,000-word update!)

"Our program for today ends here. Thanks to the *Friends* crew. Let's see you in the next episode—"

After the host announced the end of this episode's recording with high spirits, everyone on stage danced along with the music.

By this time, it was already 11:00 PM.

Of course, for a program whose official recording time starts at 6:00 PM, completing the recording in five hours already belongs to a very fast speed.

Wang Biao took Lu Yan He's phone and walked up to Lu Yan He, whispering: "Little Brother Lu, Zhong Benshuo just called twice."

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised. He took the phone and saw that the first call was at 8:20, and the second call was at 9:00.

But apart from these two calls, Zhong Benshuo didn't send him any messages.

Lu Yan He replied to Zhong Benshuo: Just finished recording the program, got my phone, it's already very late. If there's nothing urgent, let's contact tomorrow.

Almost within a minute, Zhong Benshuo's call came through.

Lu Yan He hadn't even walked out of the studio yet.

He regretted it; he should have replied later.

"Hi, are you still at the program recording site? It sounds quite lively over there."

Zhong Benshuo's voice sounded like a deliberately mobilized passion, as if it were a morning that should have been full of vitality—while in reality, it was just a morning that had just stayed up all night, and could only use golden sunlight to cover up the fact that his eyes were dark.

"Yes, calling me so late, it wouldn't be anything urgent, would it?"

Lu Yan He admitted that at this moment he even hoped it was something real that made Zhong Benshuo insist on calling him so late.

Zhong Benshuo said: "Yan He, do you know how many people watched the first episode of *Friends* when it went online on Maxine?"

His tone was full of an irrepressible and suppressed excitement.

It was almost as if he was saying—guess high! Guess high!

Lu Yan He slapped his forehead with his hand.

"I don't know, don't keep me in suspense, just tell me directly."

Zhong Benshuo: "One hour after going online, the number of viewers exceeded 2 million! Now it has reached 3.19 million!"

Don't look at this number being only two million, three million... compared to the tens of millions in China, it seems very low, very few. On one hand, China has a large population, and this is the home field; to exaggerate, the market can almost carry half of the world's level. On the other hand, this also has to do with different statistical methods.

On a streaming media platform like Maxine, the number of viewers is calculated according to the number of IDs. If the same ID watches it five or six times, it only counts as one person. Person-times is another statistical data, which will also be counted, but it's not as meaningful as the number of viewers—because overseas streaming media values the number of members most, as well as the members' love for the show.

What level does such data belong to?

On Maxine, when the annual list is released, unless a global phenomenal hit appears, the number of viewers for a big hit is usually between 50 million and 80 million. If you put it into the statistical data of one hour after airing, that kind of top-tier show led by global superstars might only be at the level of about 10 million.

For a show like *Friends*, one hour after airing, the number of viewers exceeded 2 million, which is equivalent to achieving in one hour the results that *Gold Rush* achieved in one month.

No wonder Zhong Benshuo insisted on calling him at the first opportunity.

"Then should I congratulate you, congratulate you on getting another such excellent show for Maxine?" Lu Yan He asked with a smile.

"Of course, but Yan He, I must tell you, although many unpleasant things have happened between us, please believe me, my trust in you cannot be affected by anything, and you have seen it—as long as it's you, I will never be stingy in showing my sincerity."

Zhong Benshuo said: "This time for *Friends*, we paid nearly 20 million US dollars in copyright fees, and we can only play it for three years."

"Believe me, the next season won't be this number. If you don't double it, you'll be sorry for the show's performance," Lu Yan He laughed.

"I know, I know, of course," Zhong Benshuo took a deep breath. "Hey, Yan He, why not cooperate with us directly and develop another show together? You know, as long as you agree, I will provide you with a very generous contract."

Lu Yan He said with a smile: "God, haven't I cooperated with you enough now?"

"That's not cooperating directly with you. My meaning is, between us, without the Beijing Station, without the Yuehu Station, without Northern Lights Video... just us," Zhong Benshuo said. "The price is very easy to talk about, Yan He. As long as you are willing, I will bring a contract to find you first thing tomorrow morning."

"Don't, I've been too busy recently. You know, while filming *Friends*, I also have to cooperate well with the promotion, and I don't have enough rest time," Lu Yan He said. "President Zhong, of course I am willing to cooperate with Maxine, but there is no suitable project. You know the projects I have in progress."

"I heard you have already started writing an English script?"

"That's a movie."

"Why can't a movie work? We Maxine produce many movies every year."

"I hope the movie can be released in theaters, rather than disappearing after being online on a video platform for a week."

"Movies produced by Maxine are also released globally," Zhong Benshuo said. "For a creator like you, you only need to put forward your requirements, and we will cooperate."

"You are really too exaggerated when you speak now," Lu Yan He had to point this out.

Zhong Benshuo's tone was full of lively laughter.

"If you are willing, I can be even more exaggerated."

"You'd better spare me, really, I'm too tired. Now is not the time to discuss this matter, I need to go back and rest."

"Okay, you rest early, but when you wake up tomorrow morning, please be sure to seriously consider what I said to you."

Lu Yan He hung up the phone.

He yawned with a sense of loss.

Wang Biao hesitated and asked: "Little Brother Lu, would you like to drink two more sips of coffee?"

"Ah? Now? I'm going to sleep when I get back."

Wang Biao sighed, "I'm sorry, you have another itinerary later."

"What the hell?" Lu Yan He was stunned, looking at Wang Biao in disbelief.

Wang Biao said: "We are going to record the *Little Wild Girl* podcast program. We communicated about it before. Did you forget?"

"Ah... right, I forgot," Lu Yan He sighed as if resigned to his fate. "Okay."

Little Wild Girl is a very popular book blogger whom he met at a book fair before, and later, with the help of Jiang Yin Publishing House, they cooperated twice. She is also one of the very few podcast bloggers on the internet now with millions of listeners.

When Lu Yan He received the invitation, he agreed to go on her program.

This is also to promote *Friends*.

Wang Biao said again: "The ratings for the second episode today have broken 2 per episode."

Lu Yan He: "Did it not drop?"

"No, not at all," Wang Biao said with a smile. "However, the plot of Wen Fan suddenly becoming a father has triggered a lot of discussion, and the topic has exploded."

Lu Yan He nodded, "I can imagine."

"Yan He, we are going to have a late-night snack later, are you coming?" Zhan Yun met him in the hallway and asked. "The host of *Saturday Wonderful Night* organized it. They will probably come to ask you soon."

"I have to record a podcast program later," Lu Yan He shook his head. "You guys go."

"You still have an announcement?" Zhan Yun looked at Lu Yan He in surprise, as if she hadn't expected Lu Yan He's schedule to be so busy.

"Yeah."

"Okay," Zhan Yun said. "This makes me feel a bit guilty."

"Don't, no need," Lu Yan He said. "You don't know how much I want to go back and rest now. If it wasn't because the recording time for this podcast program has always been late at night, this announcement definitely wouldn't have been arranged at this time."

"Oh? Only recorded late at night? Are you going to record *Little Wild Girl*'s podcast?" Zhan Yun asked.

"Right, do you know?"

"I am a loyal listener of her program," Zhan Yun said. "I really like listening to her program. Following her program, I read a lot of books. To be honest, I didn't love reading so much before; it was she who reignited my interest in reading."

"I will pass this sentence on to her," Lu Yan He said with a smile.

Zhan Yun nodded with a smile.

Such days lasted for about a month.

The super high ratings of *Friends* and the audience's love for the show swept through December like a tornado.

Everyone guessed that *Friends* would air very well, but no one expected that this show would air so well.

So much so that by the third week, many articles criticizing the show's values appeared.

Basically, a show won't have articles criticizing its values unless it's popular to a certain extent.

There were even some famous people writing them.

Lu Yan He read some of the articles, and besides curling his lips, he had nothing to say.

They were all nonsense.

In this world, the easiest things to attack others on are ideology and values. Because no one is perfect, one will always be taken out of context and caught in places where one can make an issue.

In fact, those who have really watched this show know what's going on.

And such popularity also made the weekend time for the main creators of *Friends* a schedule that major events scrambled for.

To compete for their schedule, they even had to pay many extra conditions.

For example, a fashion media promised to help Yan Liang connect with an Asia-Pacific spokesperson for a first-tier big brand in order to compete for Yan Liang to attend their annual ceremony. For Yan Liang, this is a real benefit.

Not to mention Lu Yan He.

He and Chen Siqi's celebrity couple status has always been the target of major events.

There are many celebrity couples, but there is only one that has reached the level of Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi.

In the past, some people would say that Chen Siqi relied on Lu Yan He's help to get everything she had.

Now such voices are almost gone.

For Lu Yan He's fans, Chen Siqi has already helped Lu Yan He and his works achieve miraculous results through her powerful media circle connections and several textbook-like legendary marketing campaigns, leaving Lu Yan He's fans with nothing to say—whether it was the art film *Late Spring* harvesting 500 million at the box office, or the desperate, back-to-the-wall promotion method of *Six People*, the ability Chen Siqi showed proved that not only does she need Lu Yan He, but Lu Yan He also needs her.

And for the general public, especially young women, Chen Siqi is like an ICON, a true life idol. Managing a magazine at a young age, then expanding it into a media group—in just over four and a half years, she and her team have stood firm, and they have never stopped, still actively expanding.

From the overseas version of *Jump Up* to the International Film Critics Film Festival activities currently being prepared, her posture of never stopping perfectly fits the modern woman's yearning to control her own life.

To some extent, the spirit shown by Chen Siqi even gave her more female fans than Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He's female fans are mostly still in the relationship between fans and idol artists.

Chen Siqi's fans have almost reached the mentality of "followers."

Such a celebrity couple, in this era, can almost be said to be the combination that best fits the mainstream and can be liked by the public.

"Maxine got an interview on the American CBN TV morning news column, fifteen minutes."

Chen Ziyan said: "That program is watched by about 8 million households in the United States, and its influence is very large."

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised and asked: "Do I have time to participate in the interview for that program?"

"Yes," Chen Ziyan smiled slightly at him. "Their program is in a live format, and your interview will take place between 7:45 and 8:00 AM. Well, you can finish your work here at 8:00."

Lu Yan He took a deep breath, shrugged, and said: "Okay, then it seems I have to get up early."

"Yes," Chen Ziyan smiled. "I'm glad I prepared a lot of words to persuade you, and I don't need to say them out anymore."

"Great influence, and I have time to participate—have I ever refused work that meets these two conditions?" Lu Yan He shook his head. "Sister Ziyan, you don't trust me too much."

"I don't know if you can still accept it after such a high-intensity work rhythm for a month."

"Okay, I'm really a bit tired recently," Lu Yan He said. "I really need a day off where I don't have to see anyone or answer any phone calls."

"Just hold on a bit longer. After *Friends* is finished filming, you will have such a day off," Chen Ziyan said with a smile.

Just at this moment, the news of Yin Xincheng's relationship was photographed by a paparazzi and exposed.

"Oh, it doesn't matter if it's photographed; it's photographed. This is nothing," Lu Yan He said to Yin Xincheng. "Not being exposed has its benefits, but being exposed also has its benefits. From now on, you don't have to hide it, and you don't have to hide from paparazzi when you go out."

Yin Xincheng, however, was very nervous.

"I might sound a bit cowardly saying this, but I'm very afraid that this exposure will affect my work."

Lu Yan He: "Believe me, it won't. Don't worry about these things."

Yin Xincheng said: "My previous agent told me that the vast majority of my fan base are girlfriend fans. Once my relationship is exposed, many people will unfollow me."

"Isn't this nonsense?" Lu Yan He asked. "If the vast majority of your fan base are girlfriend fans, why did they let you go on the love variety show before? Isn't this self-contradictory?"

Yin Xincheng was stunned.

"You were just fooled by them."

"Holy crap!" Yin Xincheng reacted, showing a look of disbelief.

The exposure of an actor's relationship really doesn't have much impact.

At least it doesn't have much impact on Yin Xincheng.

He himself is not an actor on the idol track, although he is also a handsome young man.

Lu Yan He said to him: "Is there anyone accompanying your girlfriend right now?"

Yin Xincheng shook his head, "I just talked to her on the phone; she is still at work at the company."

Lu Yan He: "She must really need you right now."

Yin Xincheng was stunned. After coming back to his senses, he said oh, picked up his phone, and said: "I, I have to go first."

Lu Yan He nodded, "Don't forget, at 3:00 PM, we have to continue rehearsing."

"I know, I will be back in time!"

Yin Xincheng took his phone and left in a hurry.

Lu Yan He turned around with a smile to find Wang Biao.

"Little Brother Lu, your phone is still constantly receiving calls. I have to keep charging your phone, otherwise, the phone you have now would definitely have less than 20% battery."

"Thanks," Lu Yan He smiled at Wang Biao. "Is there anyone whose call I must return immediately?"

"Very lucky today, no," Wang Biao smiled.

Lu Yan He breathed a sigh of relief as he took the phone.

Wang Biao asked: "Little Brother Lu, will the exposure of Yin Xincheng's relationship affect *Friends*?"

"Of course not. Why would you think that?"

"Because I just heard some people discussing it," Wang Biao said.

Lu Yan He asked in surprise: "Here?"

"Yes," Wang Biao nodded. "Here."

Lu Yan He: "I thought the show's results were enough to make everyone believe that we don't need to worry about such things."

Wang Biao: "Probably precisely because this show is so good now, good beyond everyone's expectations, so everyone actually has a bit of an unrealistic feeling, and is even more afraid that this result will suddenly slide."

Lu Yan He: "That doesn't seem wrong."

Of course, Lu Yan He just thought it wasn't wrong for people in the crew to think so.

He still firmly believed that the exposure of Yin Xincheng's relationship would not have any impact on *Friends*.

This is no longer the era it used to be.

Similarly, for a show with such high national popularity, a little news about an actor, while seemingly big, is actually irrelevant to the impact on the show.

Under the news of Yin Xincheng's relationship exposure, the welcome event held by Star Entertainment for Meng Li's signing seemed a bit deserted and didn't attract much attention.

However, a piece of news was announced at the event: Star Entertainment will present a welcome gift to Meng Li. The first-tier director Mo Ru, who directed the hit Xianxia drama *Through the Ages* that made Liu Zefan popular, will develop a new S-level show, and the female lead will be played by Meng Li.

After Lu Yan He saw this news, he was a bit curious and took a screenshot to ask Chen Ziyan what show this was.

Chen Ziyan replied: A romantic comedy with a modern fantasy background.

Lu Yan He: Ah? Why are there so many romantic comedies starting filming recently?

Chen Ziyan: Because major platforms are reducing costs and increasing efficiency, and budgets are limited, so they can only develop some shows with not-so-high production costs. You can't feel it; your shows are all top-tier configurations, not short of money, not short of investors. However, other people's projects are not so smooth. Even now, many investors specifically name that they want to invest in your shows, while for other people's shows, investments are stuck very tightly.

Lu Yan He: I always thought our TV drama situation was better than movies.

He knew that the movie market is really hard to find investment for, really because the movie market is too distorted now. Out of ten movies, only one can make a profit, and the other nine basically lose money. Capital's confidence in the movie market is getting lower and lower.

But the TV drama market has always been quite prosperous.

Chen Ziyan said: No way, short videos have occupied a significant market share of long videos, and advertisers have moved a large part of their budgets over. Now long videos have to change their profit strategies, increasingly focusing on new member acquisition, which makes them dare not be like the crazy burning money period in the past, creating a bunch of rotten shows for those confused capital parties to buy. Now they have to pay for it themselves.

Lu Yan He: How ironic.

Chen Ziyan: Yeah, however, the advertising revenue of *Friends* still broke the history of video websites in this situation. This news has made every video website jealous. They are all trying every means to inquire about your next project from various channels, inquiring about the possibility of participating.

Lu Yan He: There are so many excellent creators in the entertainment industry, and it's not like only the projects I do can make money. Even if I film 24 hours a day without stopping, it's impossible to satisfy all their needs.

Chen Ziyan: That's why they have to scramble.

Lu Yan He: By the way, Sister Ziyan, how is the script *Rouge* at Icefield Video? I heard they have already started organizing auditions?

Chen Ziyan: Yes, they have sent audition invitations to many actors, but not many actors have agreed to come for auditions... You said it's better for mature, famous actors to act in this show, and they obviously trust your advice very much, so they are looking for actors in this range. However, you know, actors in this range don't really accept the requirement that they have to audition.

Lu Yan He: Mm, okay, what about Li Yuefeng?

Chen Ziyan said: He went for an audition. In fact, Icefield Video is quite inclined to let him act. Among the actors who came for auditions, he has the best market, so if there is no better choice, it is very likely that he will be the Twelve Young Master in the end.

Lu Yan He: Uh, fine.

Chen Ziyan: Do you want me to relay your opinion to Icefield Video?

Lu Yan He: Forget it. If I really do that, wouldn't it be clear that I don't want Li Yuefeng to act? And, my judgment isn't necessarily right. Maybe Li Yuefeng really has his own style when he acts in this role.

Chen Ziyan: Forget it, Li Yuefeng acting as Twelve Young Master? I also think it's unreliable.

Lu Yan He: Are we interfering too much? Will this be a problem?

Chen Ziyan: If we clearly find that someone is not suitable but don't point it out, that is the biggest problem.

Lu Yan He: Sigh, if I had known, I wouldn't have gotten so close to Li Yuefeng. Now that I think about having to reject him, I feel a bit uneasy.

Chen Ziyan: Think about it, if it were Li Zhibai, would you be uneasy? Would you reject him?

Lu Yan He: Of course I would tell Li Zhibai directly that it wouldn't work, but my relationship with Li Yuefeng hasn't reached the level of mutual trust.

Chen Ziyan: You don't actually have to think too much, Yan He. Since both of us can see that he is not suitable for Twelve Young Master, whether it's the people at Icefield or the team around him, they must be able to see it too. And, Li Yuefeng knows your attitude, Yan He. Don't be soft-hearted when you should be firm.

Lu Yan He took a deep breath: Okay, Sister Ziyan, then you tell Icefield our opinion.

He thought for a while and sighed: I have to give Li Yuefeng another call.

Chen Ziyan: I believe you can handle it well, Yan He. Don't be afraid to tell the truth. To tell the truth, the truth will only make people feel uncomfortable for a short time, but from a long-term perspective, it must be better for a person than hypocritical lies or silence.

Lu Yan He: I will follow your teachings, I know.

Sometimes, Lu Yan He really feels that being a person is quite difficult.

Being a person is a great learning.

And he is only a beginner scholar of this learning.

However, his position in the entertainment industry and his current situation have made him face the hellish difficulty of this learning.

Lu Yan He took a deep breath and could only cheer himself up.

"Brother Feng."

"You big celebrity, why did you suddenly call me?" Li Yuefeng asked with a smile. "Congratulations, I heard that the number of viewers for *Friends* on Maxine has also broken the record for Chinese-language dramas."

"Thank you," Lu Yan He smiled. "Welcome to make a cameo later, if you have time."

"Okay, is your show being filmed while airing? If you have a suitable role for me to cameo later, give me a call. I'm not in the group recently, so it should be no problem."

Li Yuefeng agreed so readily, making it even harder for Lu Yan He to say what he wanted to say next.

He took a deep breath.

"Hey, you called, it shouldn't be just to chat with me, right?" Li Yuefeng said. "Hurry up and say it, what do you want to tell me?"

Lu Yan He said uh, "It's like this, it's about your audition for *Rouge*. I know you really want to take this role, take this show."

"Of course, I really want to," Li Yuefeng said. "I have never acted in such a high-art show. Actually, I really want to try a more difficult role, just like the roles you are acting in. Of course, you think I'm not suitable for this role. Actually, when I was auditioning, I also felt it. It wasn't so handy to act. This will be a big challenge."

Lu Yan He took a deep breath.

"Yes."

"Now I'm a bit worried that I will mess up your show," Li Yuefeng said. "But I still don't want to give up. You absolutely don't know, I am full of expectations for this show now. I really want to get the role of Twelve Young Master."

Lu Yan He took a deep breath. At this moment, he really couldn't say what he wanted to say no matter what.

"Don't worry, Yan He, if the audition really doesn't pass in the end, I won't come to bother you," Li Yuefeng said with a smile. "I know what you mean by saying actors must audition more. Just one audition, and I saw the gap between me and this role, really. But I believe I can make up for it."

Li Yuefeng's tone and attitude made Lu Yan He suddenly realize that what he was doing was really a bit wrong. ===== CHAPTER 541 =====