Chapter 516: I Am for Everyone

Seeing Yan Zi's face suddenly change, everyone present couldn't help but freeze, growing alert—this was the rhythm of a falling-out.

Huang Jiaozhu also watched the two nervously, wanting to say something but still keeping his mouth shut for the moment.

Both of them were getting heated; jumping in rashly risked getting burned.

Liu Tianxian and Zhang Songwen, on the other hand, showed no expression.

"I won't make things hard for you, then we'll be leaving first." Fang Hong was very decisive, grabbing Liu Tianxian's hand and standing up.

Since she was unwilling to apologize to the great masses of the people, there was nothing more to discuss—appearing casual and free, as if he didn't care.

Huang Jiaozhu hurriedly stood up, wearing a smiling face to soothe: "Principal, don't be so unreasonable, we can talk things over, we can talk things over."

They hadn't even finished talking—if he left, who knew when they could arrange another meeting next time; arranging one wasn't easy.

"I want to talk things over properly, but look at her—does she look like she wants to talk properly? Asking her to apologize to the people and you say I'm making things hard for her—did I make things hard for her?" Fang Hong turned the tables, looking righteous, as if he were the wronged one.

Yan Zi's pretty face was cold as ice—she had never seen someone so shameless.

She had already apologized to the Principal, and apologized to Zhang Songwen too, nicely and politely, yet they still wouldn't let her go, still demanding she apologize to ants.

She couldn't figure out what benefits those ants had given the Principal.

"Oh, Yan Zi just didn't make herself clear in the moment. I think what she meant was, we don't need to hurt the harmony over those netizens—they're a very distant crowd. Principal, you're a big shot, just apologize to you, you represent them." Huang Jiaozhu's words were pure flattery.

He both flattered Fang Hong and elevated him, calling him a "representative of the people."

Yan Zi said nothing—as long as they didn't make her apologize to those ants, she was fine with anything. Apologizing to those ants—wasn't that a public slap in her face?

The kind that goes "smack smack smack"!

"You've all said I represent them, so I definitely have to do something for the masses. Now the masses' emotions can't be vented, the masses aren't convinced—shouldn't I make them convinced?"

Fang Hong said again: "Although the people are very distant, they're right by our side."

"Yes, yes, yes." Huang Jiaozhu nodded in agreement—this was insisting Yan Zi apologize publicly.

He couldn't help but glance awkwardly at Yan Zi, who took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her temper.

He glanced at Liu Tianxian again, who looked like it was none of her business—your own matter, settle it yourselves—appearing very relaxed.

"How about this—let Yan Zi compensate you for some losses as reparation?" Huang Jiaozhu proposed.

It could only be like this—paying money as apology!

This made Yan Zi tug at Huang Jiaozhu's sleeve. She'd been wronged, she'd apologized, and now she had to pay up—where was the sense in that?

She looked quite unwilling.

"Do I look like I'm short on money? I said, if you want this matter settled, Yan Zi must publicly apologize to the great masses of the people. Otherwise, this matter is far from over." Fang Hong didn't accept his proposal.

How much could paying money compensate—a few million, ten million at most. If it was about money, that would be beneath him.

He might have wanted money before, because he really was short on cash, but now he had long passed that stage of wanting money. It wasn't that he didn't like money, but ordinary numbers could no longer stir his emotions.

A few million, ten million—he didn't care for it. Tens or hundreds of billions—others couldn't afford it either. In any case, this matter had no solution: Fang Hong insisted on her public apology.

"Principal? You insist on me being like this?" Yan Zi's face flushed red with anger—unclear if from the alcohol or from rage.

"Yes, I insist on you being like this. Of course, you can also not be like this—I won't force you." Fang Hong's tone was flat, yet it carried an air of unquestionable authority and threat.

If she didn't comply, then he'd keep directing the narrative, keep spreading negative news.

"You're trampling my face into the mud." Yan Zi's tone was heavy.

Apologizing to those commoners—where would her face be then?

"I said, you don't have to force yourself either, up to you."

Fang Hong still kept that same tone, walking outward: "Once you've decided, just go public directly—no need to arrange with me, no need to notify me. Let me remind you, when you apologize publicly, your tone must be sincere."

Saying that, he and Liu Tianxian left the private room, not caring about Yan Zi's furious expression, not caring whether she agreed or not.

If she didn't agree, then he'd keep smearing her until the end of time!

Zhang Songwen also quickly followed—he'd been sitting here too long, uncomfortable all over; this was never a place he should have come to.

The three of them didn't even finish their meal—simply wasteful.

The moment they left, Yan Zi slammed the table with a "smack": "The Principal is simply too much of a bully."

"I think you should still apologize publicly—at least you can keep your dignity, and a public apology might even win back some public favor. When those netizens see it, won't they think you've had a change of heart?" Huang Jiaozhu advised.

This matter actually carried no psychological burden for him—he was a public figure to begin with, apologizing and admitting mistakes was normal, and could even gain some goodwill.

But Yan Zi was different now—she was running with Jack Ma, Beijing Four Young Masters Wang—figures like that.

People like that were born with a certain contempt for certain groups, and she had naturally absorbed that mindset.

Birds of a feather flock together, things group by kind!

"Why should I apologize? Isn't this an insult?" Yan Zi's tone was heavy.

"Oh, whether it's an insult or not depends on how you think about it. If you think of it as salvaging your image, there won't be so much psychological burden." Huang Jiaozhu counseled.

Yan Zi fell silent, eyes slightly narrowed, looking dangerous.

"If you don't do this, the Principal keeps spreading negative things about you and you'll feel bad too, won't you? He's targeting only you. Unless you can target all of Yutu's artists—but the price would be enormous." Huang Jiaozhu said again.

The Principal could always target Yan Zi alone, but Yan Zi would have to either pick one from Yutu to destroy, or pick them all.

But among Yutu's artists, aside from Zhang Songwen and Zhao Xiaodao who carried some weight, the others were somewhat lacking.

Even if she destroyed them, they were dispensable existences—couldn't hurt the Principal.

This was also why Yan Zi had no further moves—because she couldn't find an attack point against Yutu's artists, unless she went after Liu Tianxian.

But Liu Tianxian was already drowning in scandals, and she didn't have that kind of resilience—Liu Tianxian was now on the high-end film route.

Rumors like these didn't carry much sting anymore.

Liu Tianxian was different from Yan Zi—Yan Zi's main issue was things she'd done in the past that caused great emotional harm to netizens.

"Let me think about it." Yan Zi needed an internal struggle.

Fang Hong hadn't driven her to a dead end—she just felt she'd lost face herself.

On the other side, Zhang Songwen said to Fang Hong and Liu Tianxian: "Principal, Tianxian, thank you for this matter."

"No need, it's all just what I should be doing." Fang Hong waved his hand.

"Song Wen, don't overthink it, this matter is in the past." Liu Tianxian was afraid this person would be affected by the previous negative impact.

"I won't, I'll adjust my mindset." Zhang Songwen said.

"That's good then." Liu Tianxian nodded.

"Then I'll head off first, you all take it slow on the road too." Zhang Songwen had a car, he had driven himself here.

Seeing him leave in the distance, Fang Hong and Liu Tianxian also got into a business vehicle. Liu Tianxian placed her hand on his leg and asked: "Will Yan Zi agree to your request?"

"Don't know, this person just has to save face. Actually, even if she publicly apologizes, what of it? It won't cause her any harm, it just gives netizens a face to slap." Fang Hong said casually. "You say it easy, how many people are willing to let others slap their face in public."

Liu Tianxian touched her own face, then said: "If she doesn't agree and goes head-to-head with you again, what then?"

"Then head-to-head it is, who's afraid of who. Isn't it just a battle of public opinion, what can she even do to me." Fang Hong spoke very nonchalantly.

The higher-ups have already stated that no one is to be touched, and no politically colored participation is allowed. What waves can Yan Zi still make.

Only hearing Fang Hong say again: "But I don't think so. Going head-to-head with me means escalation, that's only when she has no retreat. A public apology isn't a dead end."

Liu Tianxian nodded lightly, indicating that was also true. Many celebrities who did wrong would issue a statement and apologize.

With a good mindset, one feels it doesn't matter; with a bad mindset, one feels face is damaged. But it's understandable, after all Yan Zi is different now.

"I think having her apologize in front of the whole nation seems like you're helping her. If she apologizes, I estimate many people's impression of her will change." Liu Tianxian said.

"Whether it's helping her, I don't know. I only know she needs to give people an apology, for what she did before." Fang Hong said.

"Why must you insist on Yan Zi apologizing to the people?" Liu Tianxian had always found this puzzling.

Read.

"In this incident, netizens also contributed greatly. Many indignant netizens had been scolding Yan Zi for having problematic values since years ago. Their patriotic enthusiasm—I can't let them down."

Fang Hong said again: "If I only look out for myself, use them up and then don't care anymore, then what's the difference between me and those who manipulate public opinion?"

"Didn't expect you to think so deeply." Liu Tianxian laughed.

"I for everyone, everyone for me."

"Hahaha!"

Liu Tianxian leaned close to his shoulder, with an ambiguous expression said: "Your place or mine?"

"Definitely my place, your mom's there, I'm not comfortable." Fang Hong took the opportunity to hold her waist.

"It's been so long, and you still hold reverence for my mom?" Liu Tianxian leaned closer.

"Not reverence, she's an elder." Fang Hong said.

"Alright then, your place."

During this period, The Nun has finished its overseas run, with a total box office of 366 million.

The Zhong family can get 91.5 million dollars, about 640 million. Previously, over seventy million dollars was taken to build the film and television base, leaving about twenty million dollars, which will continue to be used to acquire Bona scattered shares.

And Xinurufang, which had been screening for over a month, has also finished its run, with a total box office of 1.169 billion, another film exceeding one billion.

This is the third film this year to exceed one billion, the previous one was Leap, meaning both are Jade Rabbit's.

There's also Transformers 4, which has a box office of 1.8 billion, still holding the champion position on this year's box office chart.

Besides the film market, recently there's a variety show that's also super popular, called Keep Running!

This variety show went online on October 10th, which was the time period when Fang Hong had just started his fight with Yan Zi.

It's just that at the time Fang Hong was dealing with the opponent's attacks and didn't pay special attention to these matters.

Keep Running was originally a copyright that Jade Rabbit bought from South Korea, a variety show launched in cooperation with Zhejiang Satellite TV.

The first season of this variety show has a very good reputation. The game designs are creative and fun, whether it's the celebrities' nonsensical reactions or their funny performances facing the games, all make people laugh out loud.

Every viewing reveals new moments of joy!

It also features authentic displays of human nature. Behind the relaxed humor, the celebrities in the show reveal more genuine sides, and this sincerity moves people's hearts.

Additionally, there are unpredictable plot developments. Whether it's sudden situations in the games or accidents in team cooperation, they keep the audience anticipating the next surprise.

Of course it's copying others. Later when there's nothing left to copy, or the creative team runs out of ideas, this show will also fall apart.

Keep Running right now is still very capable, going online and instantly igniting the entire variety show market.

Currently broadcast to the fifth episode, with a viewership rating of 2.210%, first in its time slot.

The premiere viewership rating took the championship, and online views also broke 200 million within 24 hours. This view count is absolutely crushing wherever it's placed.

Chang'e Video harvested another big wave of traffic and ad revenue.

Views broke 200 million in a day, and topic reads are even more impressive. The total topic discussion reads across the entire web reached 19.5 billion, from which one can see Keep Running's popularity.

First on the Weibo overall chart, first on the Weibo variety show chart.

Nazha also relied on this variety show to make a comeback and become a top-tier traffic-darling actress, of course it also brought boundless scolding.

Saying she came from Meike, that she's dishonest in her speech, clearly having had a boyfriend yet insisting she hasn't.

Of course this girl has always had black spots, as if naturally attracting hate. Mainly her background isn't good, and her look is too aggressive, not endearing.

But those who like her really do like her, she's pretty after all.

Although Keep Running exploded in popularity, in terms of influence it still can't compare to Dad Where Are We Going. This variety show's second season had already wrapped up on October 3rd.

At its conclusion, the show not only held the Friday viewership championship for 16 consecutive episodes among all satellite channels, but also ranked first nationally in its time slot, with a viewership rating of 2.84%.

The official Weibo topic reads are about to break through the 20 billion mark, its influence can be called far-reaching.

Of course there are also many scoldings, saying children shouldn't be exploited and such, but since the higher-ups haven't banned it, they just keep filming.

It's that Dad Where Are We Going wrapped up, then Keep Running went on air, one could say seamless transition.

Chang'e Video's ad revenue was overflowing. Dad Where Are We Goings earned over 300 million, Keep Running earned 200 million.

That is to say, Jade Rabbit not only has a hit in films, but TV shows like Ancient Sword, Shanshan Is Coming, All Quiet in Peking etc. also exploded in popularity this year.

The Animation Department also has revenue now, having escaped the stage of only spending money without generating benefits. Of course when animation explodes, the profits are greater than any other sector.

One box office, one merchandise—nothing else can compare. Now the box office has broken 500 million US dollars.

The surrounding merchandise goes without saying — it remained a worldwide craze.

Fang Hong also kicked off his cinema acquisition plan, and just as he was planning to acquire those cinemas, Yan Zi finally made up her mind and issued a statement of apology.

"I once did many bad things, which provoked the anger and condemnation of the broad masses of netizens. For this I have reflected upon myself, and sincerely say sorry for the emotional harm I caused."

The moment her statement came out, Wangyi flooded into her Weibo comments.

"Refusing to admit it till death — does your face hurt? Smack, smack, smack."

"I'm just asking — does your face hurt?"

"Doesn't your face hurt?"

"Does your face hurt? Weren't you going to defend your personal dignity?"

The Wangyi were all coldly mocking and sarcastic — completely unlike the image-reversal she had imagined.

Yan Zi also read these comments, her face turning iron-green with rage. If it weren't for the Principal's threats, would she have apologized to these ants?

(End of Chapter)