Chapter 916: The Red Actress

In mid-April, the final edit of "The Beginning" was officially completed and immediately submitted for review.

The final release date was set for July 20 this year, and Huayue Film and Television and Chongran Culture both ramped up their promotional efforts.

Chongran Culture invested substantial resources into "The Beginning," accounting for one-third of the total investment.

Huayue Film and Television held sixty percent, while other private investors held roughly five million yuan.

That means, should "The Beginning" become a massive hit, one-third of the profits will go to Chongran Culture.

In fact, even before its release, the in-show soft advertising secured by Huayue Film and Television during pre-production had already generated nearly forty million yuan in revenue.

Add in the revenue from various in-video ads after its online debut, and just the advertising alone has nearly recouped the entire cost.

Not to mention the yet-unrealized income from broadcasting rights sales—that's the real big money.

"Online anticipation for this drama is still very high, especially since it features the original cast of 'Little Joy,' which has already locked in early buzz," Ying Zhicheng said to Li Luo. "Besides, your and Zhusheng's songs have helped too."

"Is everything progressing smoothly?" Li Luo asked. "Is Aunt Yuan preparing to rest?"

"I've noticed her—"

"Mm," Ying Zhicheng nodded lightly, glancing at Yuan Wanqing, who kept instinctively touching her belly, then whispered to Li Luo, "In a couple of days, I'll take her to a private hospital in Qiongzhou City for prenatal care."

"There's a specialized service provider there for celebrities, offering a full-cycle package from prenatal care through childbirth to postpartum recovery."

"Professionalism and confidentiality are guaranteed—hard to run into trouble."

Li Luo nodded in understanding, though he felt a slight pang of regret.

Originally, he had intended for Yuan Wanqing to sing the songs he'd given to Yan Zhusheng.

After all, with Yuan Wanqing's fame and influence, even if the quality were equal, the reach would far surpass Yan Zhusheng's.

But there was no choice.

Who could blame her husband for being careless?

Li Luo glanced helplessly at Ying Zhicheng beside him, then looked toward Yuan Wanqing, who was discussing villa layout and decor with Lin Xiuhong, and sighed.

On the other hand, it didn't really matter.

After all, Yan Zhusheng truly needed her own new album.

So far, the feedback has been quite good.

Since the two released their new albums in early April, roughly every ten days, a new song has been unlocked.

Yan Zhusheng uploaded songs like "The Only One," "Bird and Cicada," and "Light Falling Into Life."

Li Luo sang "Light Wrapped Around the Heart," "I Dare," "Luogang," and others.

Almost every song gained significant attention, especially on TikTok—within days of release, each became a trending background track for countless short videos.

At this rate, the performance of both new albums will surely be excellent.

But after listening to Yan Zhusheng's new songs, Yuan Wanqing's gaze toward Ying Zhicheng carried a faint hint of resentment.

Or perhaps it was just pregnancy syndrome.

At this moment, Yuan Wanqing walked with Lin Xiuhong and Cui Suling, discussing ideas for the townhouse renovation.

Butler Liu followed closely, carefully noting down their requests to later relay to the construction team.

Yuan Wanqing's emotions were still complex: though she felt a twinge of resentment after hearing Yan Zhusheng's new songs, she had no intention of not giving birth to the child in her womb.

Or rather, this was exactly what she had wanted all along.

Because becoming a superstar mattered far less than living a quiet, stable life.

Yuan Wanqing's daily expenses were modest; most of her money went into running her studio.

If she now shut down her studio entirely, quit work, and lived simply, the money she'd earned over the past few years would never run out.

Before this, after finally marrying Ying Zhicheng and gaining her daughter's understanding and approval, Yuan Wanqing had felt complete.

But only after confirming she was pregnant with Ying Zhicheng's child did she realize that true fulfillment had only just arrived.

She couldn't help but desperately want to give birth to this child.

So when discussing renovation, she kept imagining how her future baby would live in the house.

There must be a baby room, there a playroom for toys, the yard should have a small pool suitable for children, and swings, too.

It wasn't so much renovating a new home as designing a children's paradise.

Yan Zhusheng listened beside her, feeling no jealousy.

After all, she already had Li Luo—so long as her parents didn't keep interfering with their relationship, she was fine.

Ying Chanxi also offered suggestions, helping Yuan Wanqing plan the new home for her future brother or sister.

As for Lin Xiuhong and Cui Suling nearby, their ideas were simpler.

They had few demands; often, Butler Liu would present standard townhouse renovation plans, and they'd simply pick what they liked.

For instance, the indispensable mahjong room.

Though Li Luo's home already had one, it was better not to have to leave the house to play.

So they designated a mahjong room on the top floor of Lin Xiuhong's unit.

Everything else was left to personal preference.

Xu Rongsheng had no other requests, only insisting on a study with a balcony.

Li Guohong closely supervised the kitchen design—he'd been a chef for decades, running a breakfast shop, and now that he'd quit, he was itching to cook again.

So he wanted the kitchen designed well.

Ying Zhicheng installed a small home theater in the house, capable of seating over ten people lying down to watch movies.

After pondering all afternoon, Butler Liu had gathered everyone's input and planned to hand the designs over to the construction team another day.

Li Luo then led the group back to his own home after viewing the renovation plans.

The chef had already prepared the dishes; upon Butler Liu's advance notice, as Li Luo brought the whole family home, steaming hot meals were immediately served.

Ten people sat around the table and began their dinner together.

Oh no, if you count Yuan Wanqing's unborn baby, it's eleven people now.

This is the first time the three families have gathered since the New Year.

It was still February during the New Year, and now it's May—over two months have passed—and finally they're all back at the same table eating together; Li Luo's eyes couldn't help but soften with satisfaction.

As for the in-laws on both sides, each harbored a small regret.

After all, though they had promised Li Luo they wouldn't interfere with their daughter's choices, they still secretly held onto some hopes.

Hoping the other side's parents might refuse, so their own daughter would end up the one left standing.

In this regard, Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling held even greater expectations.

After all, the Ying family had two daughters—surely the odds were much harder?

But Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing thought: the Xu family was at least a scholarly household—maybe their elders would reject it?

And yet, lo and behold, neither side would let go—and in the end, this young man Li Luo still got the sweet end of it.

With things now settled, the elders said no more; they silently accepted the current situation.

But after that New Year dinner, gathering again for a meal now felt somewhat stiff and awkward.

Last time, during the argument over the children, Cui Suling had nearly come to blows with Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing.

Now seated at the same table, none knew what to say.

Fortunately, Li Luo deliberately raised simple topics, chatting with Ying Zhicheng about the promotion of "The Beginning," then asked Xu Rongsheng about the Research Center's progress.

The Research Center is still in its early stages; this semester is merely a pilot phase, not yet fully operational.

Xu Rongsheng still needs to meet with various teachers and professors to recruit them for research projects at the Center.

In this regard, Li Luo needn't worry—Xu Youyu's connections made it no real challenge.

The key is still producing tangible results.

After finishing these more formal topics at dinner, Li Luo shifted the conversation to Yuan Wanqing's belly, asking after her health.

When children became the subject, the women's talk flowed freely.

Especially with a shared topic, the earlier awkwardness instantly melted away.

Cui Suling shared plenty of her parenting insights, while Xu Youyu sat beside her, undermining her, advising Yuan Wanqing not to learn from her own mother.

The dinner, thus, transformed from initial stiffness to warm cheerfulness.

Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong watched the warm atmosphere at the table, smiling constantly, their hearts filled with comfort and pride.

Only now, at this moment, did the two finally confirm: they truly were about to have three such outstanding daughters-in-law.

"Come on, come on, it's rare we gather—let's go upstairs and play mahjong." After dinner, Lin Xiuhong said, "Wanqing, are you feeling well enough?"

"I'm fine, let's go," Yuan Wanqing laughed. "I'm not even showing yet—how delicate could I be?"

Saying this, the women headed upstairs.

The others followed, ascending to the fourth floor; Ying Chanxi joined the mahjong table, while Li Luo played cards with the three fathers.

Yan Zhusheng provided background music, while Xu Youyu wandered around as a commentator, mocking his parents' mahjong skills.

"By the way, isn't today Youth Day?" Yuan Wanqing suddenly remembered while playing mahjong, and asked Li Luo beside her, "I noticed you and Zhusheng both released new songs, and you collaborated with the Communist Youth League."

"Mm." Li Luo nodded. "Zhusheng's song was originally meant for Aunt Yuan, but now you need to rest and focus on your pregnancy, and besides, Zhusheng sang it well—the response so far has been excellent."

"Mom, don't ask anymore—the more you ask, the more it hurts," Yan Zhusheng said, holding the microphone. "Anyway, the new songs are mine now."

"I'm not going to steal them," Yuan Wanqing rolled her eyes. "Sing me a couple lines?"

"Sure," Yan Zhusheng nodded and hummed: "A hundred years of wind and rain passed~ devotion never wasted~ a hundred years of lantern light~ one heart illuminates the mountains and rivers~ a pure flood of love~ a boundless heart welcomes all guests~"

After listening, Yuan Wanqing nodded gently: "Your opera singing has improved—looks like music college wasn't a waste."

"I specifically took private lessons in this style," Yan Zhusheng blinked, earnestly.

To sing the album Li Luo wrote for her, Yan Zhusheng had put in real effort—not as carefree as she appeared.

In fact, this version of "The Red Actor" is the second, or rather, the new edition—specifically prepared for this Youth Day collaboration.

Yesterday, Yan Zhusheng had already released the original "The Red Actor."

Today, she and the Communist Youth League jointly released the new version; comparing the two, the impact and emotional power became even clearer.

Li Luo's side was no less impressive.

"How to describe tomorrow~ like me~"

"Carrying the spirit, already sharp~ with dreams, unyielding~"

Yan Zhusheng sang Li Luo's newly released song, fully immersed—clearly she loved it.

Listening to Yan Zhusheng's a cappella, Li Luo took advantage of Ying Zhicheng's bathroom break to pull out his phone and glance at the comments for "I Am Really Not a Star."

【Though I've seen this plot countless times, seeing Burn God weave his new album into the novel, I still have to say—damn impressive.】

【The first few songs last month were already great—each a masterpiece, all in my playlist—but today's two really hit me.】

【Alright, alright, you've secretly teamed up with the Communist Youth League, huh? Now you're writing songs for the authorities.】

【You've been doing this for ages—I remember Qing-jie was always the National Day go-to, and Spring Festival Gala too—weren't all those songs written by Burn God?】

【"The Red Actor" is perfect—the original tells of the era before the founding, the new version tells of today, echoing each other—brilliant. Watch it with the CYL video and you'll cry buckets.】

【Burn God, you bastard, always tricking me into tears—you really should die.】

【No wonder you release one song at a time—if you dropped them all at once, you couldn't even keep up with writing the novel, right? You've planned it all out.】

【How many songs are in this album total? You're not seriously planning to keep releasing them until "The Beginning" premieres, are you?】

【He's raised the bar for entertainment novels—this guy won't write "I Am Really Not a Star" for his whole life, will he?】

【At least ten million words guaranteed—if he keeps releasing new albums and TV dramas with this quality, I'd actually want him to write it forever.】

【Tomorrow's Sunday?】

【They're definitely together—this album title might as well have "dumping dog food" stamped on their foreheads.】

【I'm starting to wonder—is "I Am Really Not a Star" even his autobiography? ————）】