Chapter 38: 《Chinese Paladin》 Broadcast and Scandals

On January 24, *Chinese Paladin* officially aired in Taiwan, and the ratings were decent.

The premiere ratings broke 1, with a peak of 2.77; it could already be considered a very successful television series.

However, in terms of word-of-mouth, it was a bit hard to describe. The *Chinese Paladin* game fans in Taiwan launched a barrage of criticism at the production crew, scolding the several Taiwanese creators until they were almost depressed. Wei Jin, however, was quite calm; only with controversy is there heat, and only with heat are there ratings.

Sure enough, as soon as the ratings from Taiwan came in, in less than two days, the several television stations that had been in contact began to raise their prices. In the end, Modu TV and Mountain City Station offered the highest bids and jointly secured the premiere rights for Mainland China.

On January 31, *Chinese Paladin* officially premiered in Mainland China. On the day of the premiere, the ratings reached as high as 3.8, and they soared all the way up thereafter. There had been many people discussing *Chinese Paladin* online since it started filming, and after it officially aired, the volume of discussion exploded.

Most of it was scolding, which was normal; even if you filmed it exactly according to the game, it wouldn't work.

From forums to Tieba, a pile of posts complained about *Chinese Paladin*, criticizing everything from the plot and characters to the acting, with no blind spots in every aspect.

Hu Ge was criticized for having no acting skills, and Liu Yifei was criticized for not matching the original work; in short, the game fans were very dissatisfied.

Actually, the logic was very simple: the game was, after all, just about fighting monsters to level up and clearing stages. Adapting it into a television series naturally required adding a lot of plot and character settings, otherwise, the logic of the characters' actions could not be explained.

But game fans would not think there was a problem with the game; they would only feel that the television series was poorly adapted.

"They can scold all they want. Game fans are, after all, only a minority. Television series belong to mass media; there is no need to care about that small group of people."

Wei Jin comforted Miss Cai over the phone.

The main thing was that the scolding was too harsh; even the screenwriter of *Chinese Paladin* was forced to issue an open letter to all *Chinese Paladin* game fans.

Miss Cai felt a sense of trepidation, fearing that the reputation of Tangren would be ruined.

"But, didn't you say before that the first people we need to conquer are the game fans, and then we conquer the ordinary audience? Now that the game fans are dissatisfied, then..."

Wei Jin interrupted Miss Cai.

"Their verbal abuse online has instead brought heat to the television series. Haven't you seen that the premiere performance is excellent and the ratings are climbing step by step? Set your heart at ease. Believe me, in a few years, the harsher they scold now, the higher they will praise in the future."

Since the box office explosion of *Those Years*, Wei Jin had truly become a hot commodity, with female artists asking him out to eat every day.

And sure enough, someone came to ask him out today, and it was hard to refuse—Teacher Jiang had personally called to invite him.

Wei Jin arrived at the agreed location, a private kitchen restaurant, and upon walking into the private room, he saw the main guest, Xu.

"Miss Xu, hello. You could have just called me directly. We are alumni, there was no need to find Teacher Jiang to be the middleman."

Wei Jin said, feeling a bit puzzled.

"I heard you don't really like socializing, and we didn't know each other before, so I was afraid you would refuse. This matter was handled poorly by me; I will punish myself with a drink."

Xu looked quite sincere, and as she spoke, she picked up her wine glass and downed it in one gulp.

Since she had gone to such lengths, Wei Jin couldn't say anything more.

"Then I wonder, Miss Xu..."

"Look, you're still calling me Miss Xu. Call me Senior Sister."

Xu interrupted Wei Jin's overly polite form of address, attempting to use their alma mater to draw closer.

"Fine, Senior Sister. I wonder, Senior Sister, what is the matter for which you invited me today?"

Wei Jin went along with the flow; it was just a form of address, after all.

"Can't I invite you if there's nothing going on? Just kidding. I wanted to ask for your advice on how to film movies and how to grasp the preferences of the audience."

Xu did not stand on ceremony. The first question was one she wanted to ask herself, as she had always had a director's dream. The second question, however, was asked on behalf of a group of big shots in the Beijing Circle.

Ever since Wei Jin's movie exploded, many media outlets had been analyzing the reasons why *Those Years* could achieve such results, including a host of companies in the industry. However, everyone lacked a personal connection and they were competitors, so no one had been able to bring it up.

"Regarding filming movies, Senior Sister, you should go back to school for further studies. I am just a junior student, still on the road myself. It's unrealistic for you to ask me to explain the way of things to you.

Besides, regarding the question of audience preferences, it's actually very simple: go among the masses more. Many of our current film practitioners are too high and mighty, only caring about filming what they think looks good, never considering if this is what the audience wants to see and loves to see?"

Wei Jin was also blunt, because these theories had long existed; the key was to look at the person.

Seeming not to have expected Wei Jin to be so easy to talk to, more smiles appeared on Xu's face, and the look in her eyes toward Wei Jin was very affectionate. The atmosphere at the table also began to become familiar.

Xu was very interested in Wei Jin—about his novels, his songs, and his movies.

Over the course of the meal, it was basically Xu asking questions and Wei Jin politely answering. In short, it seemed that both host and guest were happy, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

After the meal, Xu invited Wei Jin to her home to taste tea, but Wei Jin politely declined. He got into his Assistant's car and headed to 501. In the days when Ceng Li was away, Wei Jin spent the night at 501 most of the time. "You're back. Why are you so late today, and smelling of alcohol?"

Just as he entered the door, he saw Gao Yuanyuan standing at the entrance like a young wife waiting for her husband to return home.

"Yeah, someone invited me to dinner. Have you eaten?"

Wei Jin didn't say it was dinner with Xu, after all, Gao Yuanyuan and she did not get along.

"I ate a little. I'm not very hungry, and I don't have much of an appetite."

Hearing this, Wei Jin walked over to Gao Yuanyuan, wrapped his arms around her waist, and stroked her.

"Look at you, you've lost weight recently. Come, eat a little more."

After saying that, he pulled Gao Yuanyuan to the dining table. Because the heater was on, the takeout on the table was still warm.

"Then feed me..."

Gao Yuanyuan acted like a young girl in love, acting spoiled.

"Alright, alright, I'll feed you. Eat more, so you'll have strength tonight..."

"Disgusting."

A night of passion goes without saying. Early the next morning, Gao Yuanyuan went downstairs early to buy breakfast for Wei Jin. She knew Wei Jin liked to eat porridge and steamed buns, and on the way back, she picked up a newspaper.

Wei Jin had just gotten up when he saw Gao Yuanyuan sitting on the sofa with a livid expression.

"What's wrong?" Wei Jin was a bit confused; weren't they happy last night?

"Were you with this woman last night? Are you two together?"

Gao Yuanyuan threw the newspaper at Wei Jin. Wei Jin took it and saw the headline: "Commercial Big-Shot Director Infatuated with Xu!"

It was even accompanied by a photo, which was exactly the photo of him saying goodbye to Xu at the entrance of the private kitchen last night.

In the photo, Xu was intimately adjusting Wei Jin's collar, looking like a couple in the heat of love.

In reality, it was just that Wei Jin was a bit cold when he first walked out, and Xu had taken the initiative to help him pull it up; Wei Jin couldn't just push her away directly.

However, the angle of the photo was chosen very trickily, and the timing was also very good. It was a qualified paparazzi. Wei Jin was a bit speechless about this and couldn't help but start to explain:

"What are you thinking? Do you think I could be interested in her? You actually believe the news from these gossip tabloids?"

"Anyway, I don't care, you stay away from that woman."

Gao Yuanyuan believed Wei Jin's explanation, but she was still somewhat annoyed.

"Fine, I'll listen to you; I'm not blind."

"Pfft."

Hearing this, Gao Yuanyuan laughed again, recalling the time Wei Jin called Zhang Wuji blind during their first late-night conversation.

Just as she thought of this, Gao Yuanyuan couldn't help but think of her current status; it seemed she had no standing to hold Wei Jin accountable, as from beginning to end, this man had never expressed his stance to her, so she couldn't help but feel self-pity, and her expression fell once more.

Watching Gao Yuanyuan cycle through three or four expressions in a dozen seconds, Wei Jin couldn't help but sigh; women really are born actors, tsk tsk.

After the scandal broke, Wei Jin returned to live at his own home, mainly for fear that more rumors about him and Gao Yuanyuan would spread.

He had thought the gossip wouldn't have any impact, but unexpectedly, Li Jie also called.

Although Ceng Li was far away in another region, she had heard about Wei Jin's scandal and wished she could return to Beijing immediately to build a wall For Love; fortunately, she had a good best friend, Hu Jing, who was in Beijing, so she entrusted Hu Jing to help keep an eye on him.

Hu Jing naturally stepped up to the plate, carrying out her mission with zeal; she went to Wei Jin's home in person for several days in a row, even tearing several pairs of black stockings, but she finally managed to keep other women away and did not fail Ceng Li's entrustment.

As a newbie author writing a book for the first time, I humbly beg for collections, follows, reading updates, and recommendations. Thank you all. As a newbie author writing a book for the first time, I humbly beg for collections, follows, reading updates, and recommendations. Thank you all.

(End of this chapter)