Chapter 862: New Year's Eve (7000-word update!)

Lin Yu took off her scarf, took off her glasses, wiped the lenses covered with a layer of white mist, and put them back on.

"Sister Lin Yu, it's New Year's Eve tonight. We are all planning to be together. Are you coming?"

Colleagues in the editorial department of *Jump Up* asked with a smile.

Probably because it was New Year's Eve, the atmosphere in the office today was more relaxed and casual than usual.

However, the editorial department of *Jump Up* had never had a serious atmosphere.

Lin Yu shook her head and said: "You guys gather. I already have an appointment tonight."

Upon hearing this, the colleague's expression immediately became ambiguous.

"Are you going to spend a world for two with Brother Qin tonight?"

Lin Yu smiled but didn't deny it. She walked toward the office. Halfway there, she suddenly remembered something and asked: "Has Siqi already set off?"

"Yes, her flight at noon. She came to the office in the morning and set off," the colleague said.

Lin Yu nodded.

"If there's nothing to do today, you guys go off work early too," Lin Yu said with a smile.

"We'll spend New Year's Eve here."

"Ah?" Lin Yu was stunned and asked: "Why? I thought you were going to the city."

"There are too many people in the city. We decided to cook, play games, and then spend New Year's Eve together tonight."

"That's also quite good," Lin Yu nodded. "By the way, I still have a few bottles of red wine and champagne in my office. I'll take them out later. If you want to drink tonight, just open them."

"Ah ah ah, great! Then we won't be polite!"

Lin Yu came to the office and sat down.

There were still several emails in the mailbox that needed to be replied to.

As the person in charge of the film and television version of *Jump Up* magazine, she had many customer relationships to maintain.

Now the film and television version of *Jump Up* magazine already had a dedicated self-media account, which was an independent media account that updated every day. Except for the annual International Film Critics Film Festival, their workload was not small.

Basically, there was a deep interview article about a filmmaker every week, the kind with 10,000 words. For filmmakers, such deep interviews had now become a very scarce resource—

In the era of short, flat, and fast, many media had undergone transformation. However, in the seemingly lively and hot self-media era, if you really want to leave something in the hearts of the public, such deep interview articles are indispensable. To understand an actor three-dimensionally, multi-faceted, and richly, interviews are often the most concise and direct way.

Lin Yu came over at this time because there was an interview draft prepared to be launched tomorrow, and there were still some problems that needed to be communicated and confirmed with this person's team.

It was finally handled well, and it was already 4:30 in the afternoon.

The sky was already dim and about to turn black.

Lin Yu had been sitting for a long time, her neck was a bit tired, so she stood up and loosened her muscles and bones.

Suddenly, at this time, someone knocked on the door.

Lin Yu was a bit surprised and said "come in."

It was Xu Xiaolu who knocked on the door.

Xu Xiaolu was an editor of the film and television version of *Jump Up*. She hadn't been at *Jump Up* for long, but her work ability was very outstanding.

Lin Yu felt a headache because of her somewhat sharp temper and personality, but she also recognized her work ability very much.

"Xiaolu, what's the matter with you looking for me now?" Lin Yu asked.

Xu Xiaolu nodded and said: "Sister Lin Yu, can I have a chat with you?"

Lin Yu looked at the time and said: "I'm setting off at five. Is twenty minutes enough?"

Xu Xiaolu nodded and said: "Enough."

"Is it about work?" Lin Yu sat down again and signaled Xu Xiaolu to sit.

Xu Xiaolu sat down, nodded, and said: "I want to chat with you about whether I can get a promotion and a raise next year."

Lin Yu was stunned.

Xu Xiaolu said seriously: "Since joining *Jump Up*, I have been working hard. I believe my work value has also created great value for the film and television version of *Jump Up*, but I am currently only an intermediate editor."

Lin Yu said in an unhurried tone: "You work very hard. Everyone sees this, so your speed from junior editor to intermediate editor is also the fastest in the entire *Jump Up* editorial department."

"Then can I be promoted to senior editor next year?" Xu Xiaolu asked.

Lin Yu shook her head and said: "This is not something I can answer you now. We haven't considered this matter yet."

Xu Xiaolu bit her lip.

"Sister Lin Yu, to tell you the truth, someone outside is poaching me. They offered me an annual salary of 500,000 and invited me to be the text editor-in-chief of their platform's film and television version," Xu Xiaolu said. "Currently, my annual salary as an intermediate editor is only 280,000. Even if I am promoted to senior editor, my annual salary can only reach 350,000. However, I like *Jump Up* magazine, and I can learn a lot here. I have deeper feelings for this place, but people bend for five pecks of rice. If I miss such an opportunity, I don't know if I will encounter it again in the future."

When Lin Yu heard Xu Xiaolu say this, she suddenly realized, but she didn't appear "moved" because of this. She just thought silently for two seconds before saying: "Xiaolu, I understand what you said. However, what I can reply to you now is that we haven't considered the matter of senior editor next year for the time being. Of course, I am very happy that you are willing to tell me these things openly and honestly, and you can trust me so much."

Xu Xiaolu pursed the corners of her mouth.

"Actually, I thought for a long time before I dared to knock on the door to find you."

"I understand," Lin Yu nodded. "It's like this. You don't need to say more, you also understand. I have always appreciated you, whether it is your writing or your ability to handle things, they are all outstanding. I will consider this matter of yours today, and I will also discuss it with Editor-in-Chief Chen later. Before the end of January, I will give you a formal reply. You can make a decision then, how about it?"

Xu Xiaolu nodded, looking like she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Sister Lin Yu."

"You're welcome," Lin Yu smiled slightly. "Just now I was speaking to you from the perspective of a work position. Next, as your friend, I also want to remind you a few more words, because you haven't worked for many years and lack experience. I won't ask you what kind of place is offering you a price, but I want to remind you what kind of company they are, whether the platform recruiting you can further improve you, and although they offered you an annual salary of 500,000, Xiaolu, I believe you also understand without me saying it. As a young editor who has worked for less than three years after graduation, you certainly have first-class talent and ability, but this price is still rare in the market. You have to figure out whether they have the strength to fulfill or say long-term fulfillment, or whether they are opening a blank check that requires you to use KPI to redeem the treatment later."

Xu Xiaolu nodded.

"I know, Sister Lin Yu, I will figure it out carefully."

"Good," Lin Yu smiled again. "Have fun tonight. I'm also setting off. See you next year."

"See you next year, Sister Lin Yu."

"There have been too many movements in the industry recently, and many places are poaching people."

On the way to drive, Lin Yu couldn't contact Chen Siqi for the time being, so she called Xin Zixing.

"Almost all the editors under me have been thrown olive branches. Sister Zixing, have you heard any wind?"

Xin Zixing said: "On the side of Ye Mai Network, there are also many text editors being contacted by headhunting companies. I thought it was just me encountering such a situation. After all, Ye Mai Network has indeed attracted people's attention recently."

"I don't know what's going on. In recent years, text editors have become more and more of a sweet pastry in the market," Lin Yu was a bit puzzled.

Xin Zixing said: "It's mainly because the entire cultural and entertainment industry has been in an upward period in recent years. The position of text editor in the cultural and entertainment industry is like the mathematics major in various science disciplines. They are all basic sweet pastries, and they can turn anywhere."

Lin Yu: "Why are you specifically staring at us to pluck wool? The turnover rate of our text editors even reached 25% last year. It's too exaggerated."

Xin Zixing said: "The market has been hyped up."

Lin Yu: "The problem is that the output value of the entire industry hasn't actually gone up. The salary of our *Jump Up* already exceeds the market standard by a large margin. However, those who come to poach the wall offer even more exaggerated salaries. How long can such bubble salaries last?"

"There is capital willing to burn money for them, so what else is there to say," Xin Zixing was also helpless. "Our Ye Mai Network has already restricted the salary of editors. Before, we could offer a price two or three times higher than the market to poach an editor. Now it's absolutely impossible. The investment of Shijin in Ye Mai Network has also been adjusted."

"Um?" Lin Yu was a bit surprised. "Why? Ye Mai Network has done so outstandingly in the past two years."

Xin Zixing said: "Because the profit method has never been combined with Shijin's big cultural and entertainment layout. I estimate that Shijin wants to replace me. I have always insisted on maintaining the independence of Ye Mai Network, including the reputation image in the entire industry. This is actually Ye Mai Network's most important implicit asset now, but this little profit is not worth mentioning to Shijin, and it is not put in their eyes at all."

Lin Yu was astonished.

"They, will they really replace you?"

Xin Zixing: "Who knows. Anyway, the contract I signed with them is about to expire. Whether it will be renewed depends on the specific situation."

Lin Yu fell silent.

Her original intention was just to chat with Xin Zixing about editors being poached, but she didn't expect to suddenly hear Xin Zixing's new trend.

After Lin Yu hung up the phone, she hesitated for a moment and left a message for Chen Siqi, telling her about this matter.

After Lu Yan He finished his work, he specially went to the supermarket with Zou Dong, Wang Biao, and the others to buy a lot of things. In the next few days, Chen Siqi would come over and stay with him for a few days.

New Year's Day.

The US side has also entered the holiday mode.

Lu Yan He received several party invitations, including Hua Ruzhen who also invited Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi to go to Germany for New Year's Day.

Lu Yan He declined them all.

For this side, this is a holiday worth celebrating. But for Lu Yan He, this is just a holiday. After being busy for so long, it was not easy to have a breathing time. Lu Yan He originally planned to go to a place with few people to rent a vacation villa, and everyone would rest together.

However, in the end, they found that it was better to continue living in this house in the city. It has two floors and a small courtyard. Lu Yan He and the team members who came over totaled seven people, and the rooms were more than enough for everyone to live in.

However, they won't stay here this time. Lu Yan He gave them a holiday and gave them a holiday allowance so that they could go around by themselves. Several people went.

Only Zou Dong stayed.

He was not interested in going out to play, and he always believed that it was always better to have him in case something happened.

Lu Yan He couldn't laugh or cry. Zou Dong was always worried that someone would break in with a gun and rob—

The problem was that Zou Dong himself didn't have a gun.

Zou Dong said: "Darren has configured security personnel for you, nearby. As long as a signal is sent, they can arrive within three minutes."

Lu Yan He asked in surprise: "Are there any now?"

He had always thought that only when he had public activities would there be these security personnel.

Zou Dong said: "From the moment you stepped on this land, the security personnel around you have not been broken. Before, Wang Biao and I were connecting and contacting them. You might only know a few of us who are close. Even Darren said that the current public security is very chaotic, and others know you are very rich. It is not surprising that some vicious people will emerge to kidnap you."

Lu Yan He: "..."

He thought of what Chen Siqi had said before.

Every time Chen Siqi came over, Hua Ruzhen had to find "local snakes" to greet them locally.

Is it possible that every time he came over, Darren Wilson also needed to do this kind of thing?

Perhaps Schmidt Laoli had done it.

To them, he is now a golden bun.

Lu Yan He said: "Siqi will land in five hours. Then shall we go to the airport to pick her up together later? I told her I would pick her up."

Zou Dong said okay.

"Brother Dong, is Xiao Yu about to take the high school entrance exam?" Lu Yan He asked.

Zou Dong nodded.

"Preparing to take which one?"

Zou Dong said: "Still want to be admitted to the high school department of No. 13 Middle School as much as possible. He has always said he wanted to be admitted to the high school department before, but his grades are a bit hanging, relatively dangerous. I don't know if he can be admitted." It's not possible to spend money to buy points if he can't be admitted now. Of course, there is another way, which is to hang the student status in another school, and then spend money to study at No. 13 Middle School to enjoy the teaching resources of No. 13 Middle School. Although this is a bit complicated, there is still an operational path.

Lu Yan He asked: "If the high school department of No. 13 Middle School is a bit short, I have a senior from Zhenhua who is responsible for the enrollment of a private high school in Yuming. It is Yuming International Private High School, and the teaching staff is also very good. The grades are even better than No. 13 Middle School. If you need it, I will contact it."

Zou Dong nodded and said thank you.

Lu Yan He has known Zou Dong for so many years and is already very familiar with him. Zou Dong's own needs are actually very few, and the most important and concerned is his son.

Lu Yan He even thought that Zou Dong was actually still very young, why didn't he consider finding another partner? Of course, such a question was relatively presumptuous, and he hadn't asked it.

He watched Zou Dong all these years, basically spending all his time on this job. The rest of the time, he either accompanied Zou Yu, or stayed at home alone.

Of course, Lu Yan He appreciated Zou Dong from the bottom of his heart. His concern and responsibility for his son are 100%. Parents' love for children is natural and unconditional, but in fact, not every parent's love for children is 100%.

Lu Yan He said with a smile: "Is Xiao Yu in the rebellious period now?"

A look of helplessness appeared on Zou Dong's face.

"Every time I call, I can't say two sentences to him, and he is impatient, always feeling that I am teaching him a lesson," Zou Dong sighed.

"Too normal," Lu Yan He said. "This age is like this. Brother Dong, when you were in your teens, you weren't a good boy either, right?"

Zou Dong smiled embarrassedly.

"Basically didn't go home, mixed outside every day."

Lu Yan He also smiled.

Zou Dong said: "He is indeed much better than me when I was young, at most playing games a bit too much."

Lu Yan He is not considered proficient in cooking, but he can still make people eat.

He specially stewed a chicken soup—of course, it was also because it was easy to do.

In this way, if it is stewed in advance, Chen Siqi can drink it directly after she comes later.

After Lu Yan He turned on the fire, he looked at the flight information to confirm the latest arrival time, so as not to be late.

Fortunately, it looks relatively smooth so far, and there is no delay in landing time.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Zou Dong got up to open the door.

It was the pizza takeaway Lu Yan He ordered.

"Why was it delivered so fast?" Lu Yan He was a bit surprised. "Didn't I set the delivery time to be four hours later?"

The delivery person said that the store was about to close, so it was delivered in advance.

Lu Yan He: "..."

That's fine, heat it up in the microwave later.

Lu Yan He said: "Brother Dong, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something first?"

Zou Dong shook his head and said: "I'm not hungry."

Lu Yan He: "Delivered so early, heat it up again later, the taste is not as good as it is now, it's a pity."

Zou Dong said: "Then do you want me to digest two pieces now?"

"If you can't eat, don't force yourself."

"If I want to eat, I can eat," Zou Dong said.

Lu Yan He smiled, "Then you eat. I want to eat but dare not eat too much. I have to accompany Siqi to eat later. If I eat too much, I can't be on camera."

Zou Dong nodded.

Snow was falling in flakes.

On this New Year's Eve, Zhou Ping'an couldn't rest.

His three artists, Meng Li, Cheng Hai, and Ma Zhiyuan, were going to participate in the live broadcast of three different New Year's Eve galas.

As the company's artist director, although he didn't need to stare at the scene, this time node was the key period for KPI.

Especially since these three artists were brought to Shijin by Zhou Ping'an from outside.

Shijin's artists haven't had any promising or emerging ones in the past two years. Instead, Ma Zhiyuan turned red, which made Shijin not particularly satisfied, but Zhou Ping'an was not in a hurry.

If it takes one or two years to cultivate an artist, it's too "fast." There are no artists who can be cultivated so quickly, unless it's "overnight popularity." And this depends on gambling, on luck. Shijin has no way to encounter such artists.

Zhou Ping'an still focuses on Meng Li and Cheng Hai.

They are both first-tier in the circle now. After two years of precipitation, Cheng Hai has also stood firm on the track of the male lead. Zhou Ping'an feels that since this is the case, why not focus on these people who have already rushed out?

At least cultivate a real top artist first, and then consider the construction of the echelon, right?

Otherwise, no matter how many newcomers are cultivated, it's in vain.

Now the environment of the entire film and television circle has changed. Projects that can go out of the circle and become famous in one film are becoming fewer and fewer. In the past, many plays could achieve the effect of "national pursuit," but now they are becoming fewer and fewer, which also means that there are fewer and fewer projects that can support actors.

On the contrary, it has truly become a project led by the head, which can slightly guarantee the basic disk. Otherwise, projects with a large group of famous stars can also be ruined by you. This also makes projects increasingly dependent on top stars, and first-tier ones are not enough to look at.

On the contrary, it has truly become a situation where only projects led by top-tier stars can guarantee a basic baseline. Otherwise, a project with a whole bunch of famous stars can still flop so hard that even their own mothers wouldn't recognize them. This has made projects increasingly reliant on top-tier stars; even first-tier ones are barely enough.

At least she was a big star who could support a crew with a name, but now she is as depressed as this industry.

Zhou Ping'an waited for the shows of these few artists to end, confirmed that there was no bad public opinion trend on the internet, and then prepared to leave the company.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

Zhou Ping'an frowned instantly.

He subconsciously felt that it must be someone who had public opinion, otherwise who would call him at this time?

However, the person who called was beyond his expectation.

"Lang Xia?" Zhou Ping'an was a bit surprised.

"Brother Ping'an, didn't I disturb you? It's New Year's Eve tonight, and I don't know if it's convenient for you," Lang Xia said in a clear voice.

However, no matter how clear the voice was, it couldn't stop Zhou Ping'an from complaining in his heart.

Don't you still make a phone call even if you don't know if it's convenient?

"It's easy to say, calling so late, is there anything?" Zhou Ping'an asked.

Lang Xia said: "Do you have time in the next few days? I want to meet you and chat. My contract is about to expire."

Zhou Ping'an was stunned.

Huh?!

Chen Ziyan got off the car and saw He Yingzi sitting in this 24-hour self-service late-night bookstore through the floor-to-ceiling window, with a cup of hot milk on the table.

She raised her eyebrows slightly surprised.

Chen Ziyan walked into this late-night bookstore.

"You made an appointment with me to meet at this time, what are you doing?"

The bookstore is very small, and there is no one else at this time, just the two of them.

＿￠o

Seeing Chen Ziyan coming, He Yingzi showed her a rare smile.

Seeing this, Chen Ziyan felt more uneasy in her heart.

She had fought with He Yingzi for many years. Especially when she entered the industry, she fought very fiercely. Chen Ziyan didn't expect that one day, He Yingzi would take the initiative to make an appointment with her privately.

He Yingzi said: "We have known each other for so many years, and we have never sat down and chatted well."

Chen Ziyan: "So, everyone is celebrating New Year's Eve, you made an appointment to meet me here, just to recall the past?"

He Yingzi was silent for a moment, smiled, and said: "Some time ago, I went for a physical examination, and the examination results showed that there was a problem with my body."

Chen Ziyan was stunned.

? ￠o

She, who had been tense and in a defensive state, suddenly softened in a certain place in her heart.

"What's the problem?"

"It's not a problem that I'm going to die immediately, so don't have a look of sorrow as if I have cancer," He Yingzi said lightly. "However, I can't continue to work at such high intensity as I am now."

"Are you leaving?"

"I'm going to resign," He Yingzi said.

Chen Ziyan looked at He Yingzi silently, and didn't speak for a long time.

He Yingzi looked at her intently and said: "Many years ago, I regarded you as my only competitor. Even though you have been riding the dust for the past few years and left all of us behind, I still believe that thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, let's wait and see who laughs last. However, now, it's a pity, my heart is more than enough, I can only leave the field first."

Chen Ziyan stared at He Yingzi, silent.

"I invited you out today because I want to ask you for a favor."

Chen Ziyan frowned.

"What favor?"

"Lang Xia, this child, I want him to sign under your hand," He Yingzi said. "I am more at ease if you bring him."

Chen Ziyan should have refused at the first time, but looking at He Yingzi's face, she didn't open her mouth for a while.

He Yingzi: "I know, before, Lang Xia and you and Lu Yan He had many competitions, leading to many contradictions, but in this circle, it is a life-and-death competition itself, especially those of us who came out of that era, you know better, where is the blooming of a hundred flowers that is advocated now, slaughter is the only way."

"Lang Xia is the son of Lang Kequn. He naturally has deep human resources to pave the way for his son. Except for you, he may not trust me more."

"But I trust you more," He Yingzi said. "Lang Xia's career has been stagnant for the past few years. If he wants to go further, he has to rely on you."

"But I trust you more," He Yingzi said. "Lang Xia's career has been stagnant for the past few years; if he wants to take a step forward, he has to rely on you."

Chen Ziyan looked at her in confusion and asked, "He Yingzi, you've managed Lang Xia for these years and built him into a first-tier star; you've already done your duty. Why bother paving the way for him at a time like this?"

He Yingzi just smiled without a word.

Chen Ziyan seemed to suddenly think of something. "Did Lang Kequn ask you to do this?"

He Yingzi lowered her eyes. "This is the first time in my life I've asked you for a favor."

"It seems the rumors about you and Lang Kequn back then were true."

"I owe him, and I can only make up for it through his son," He Yingzi said calmly.

Chen Ziyan asked, "Does Lang Xia know?"

"He must have heard some whispers here and there; in this circle, there are no real secrets," He Yingzi said. "However, he has never shown it in front of me. He is a smart man."

"I can't help you with this favor." Chen Ziyan shook her head. After refusing, she looked at He Yingzi. Chen Ziyan was silent for two seconds; after so many years of entanglement, tonight, at this very moment, it finally turned into a bit of reluctance. "Zhou Ping'an is more suitable than I am to manage Lang Xia."