Chapter 131

"Wu Dao, I heard you just finished filming a new movie, *One Fine Spring Day*. Is it a romance film? Or is it a family drama like *My Brothers and Sisters*?"

"Wu Dao, why didn't you collaborate with Wang Zuxian again for your new project?"

"Wu Dao, there are rumors that you're making moves in Hollywood. Could you reveal a bit about that to everyone?"

"Wu Dao..."

Beijing Television had bought *Burning Years*, so they were naturally putting effort into the promotion. Right now, a group of media personnel invited by *Burning Years* were constantly asking questions, but they were all about various aspects of Wu Yuchen.

There was no helping it; Wu Yuchen was the biggest star in the crew. Having credited himself as producer and screenwriter, he had an obligation to come over and support the promotion.

Wu Yuchen picked a few questions to answer, satisfying the curiosity of some reporters, before saying:

"Friends in the press, today is the promotional event for *Burning Years*. Please, let's focus our attention on that. We can chat about other questions another time, alright?"

Having already obtained some answers from Wu Yuchen and satisfied their appetites, the reporters followed suit and began to focus their interviews specifically on *Burning Years*. Although there were still quite a few questions centered on Wu Yuchen—such as why he wanted to be a producer for this TV series, or whether he felt it lowered his status or was a waste of energy.

Wu Yuchen naturally showered it with praise, explaining that he was willing to spend energy on this series simply because it was excellent enough. As long as something interested him, he didn't mind whether the filming format was a TV series or a movie; he only hoped to bring good works to the audience.

Then, under Wu Yuchen's guidance, they also began to take turns asking the director and the lead actors questions about various aspects of the production.

This interview lasted all morning and didn't break up until it was time for lunch. Cai Yinong invited everyone to eat together and, following the customs of Hong Kong, gave each reporter in attendance a 'tea fee' envelope. Everyone left with smiles, promising to speak well of *Burning Years* when they returned.

Wu Yuchen didn't go along to join the bustle. Just as he and Li Xiaoran were about to leave, he heard someone approach respectfully with a smiling face:

"Wu Dao, hello. We are from *Fashion COSMO* magazine. We would like to take photos of you for our cover. I wonder what you think?"

Wu Yuchen turned his head to look. It was a young woman in her twenties with average looks, but what caught the eye was her bright and stylish attire: small curls, crisp trousers, high heels, and she was carrying an LV bag. Looking at this outfit, she truly lived up to being from a fashion magazine.

Wu Yuchen smiled and shook his head: "No need, I have no interest in fashion."

"Wu Dao, you truly have the temperament of a fashion pioneer. You have an international vibe all over you; you are the model of an excellent Chinese man..." The woman chattered away, praising Wu Yuchen, desperately wanting to take his picture.

Wu Yuchen waved his hand: "I'm not an on-screen star, so it's really not necessary."

Seeing this, the woman didn't dare to push further. In truth, she had come to find Wu Yuchen with a 'try it and see' mentality. If it worked, that would be best; if not, she wasn't overly disappointed.

Her real target was actually Li Xiaoran, who was beside Wu Yuchen:

"Ms. Li, would you like to consider it? Our *Fashion COSMO* magazine is a collaboration with the American fashion magazine; it is absolutely the most professional and cutting-edge fashion magazine in the country!"

Li Xiaoran's fame internationally for *Run Lola Run* was quite significant, and the independent female image she displayed in it was also highly favored, so it was no surprise that the fashion industry wanted to collaborate with her.

Wu Yuchen's heart stirred. He didn't need it himself, but Li Xiaoran was a star and couldn't do without the promotion of fashion magazines. If the other party was truly reliable, it was indeed possible to let Li Xiaoran collaborate.

Wu Yuchen asked: "What is your name? How long has your magazine been in publication? How are the sales?"

Upon hearing this, the woman's face showed joy: "Wu Dao, my name is Su Mang. Our *Fashion COSMO* is a collaboration with America's COSMOPOLITAN this year; it was just launched this year..."

Wu Yuchen raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Without listening to the rest of the introduction, was the woman in front of him that Su Mang from *Harper's Bazaar*?

In a private room, Su Mang kept asking about the tastes of Wu Yuchen and Li Xiaoran, then kept ordering dishes from the waiter.

Seeing that there were already nearly ten dishes on the table and Su Mang was still ordering, Wu Yuchen waved his hand: "Little Su, that's enough. A few people can't finish it, and it's a waste."

Su Mang hurriedly put on a fawning smile: "I'm just afraid of not hosting you well. If our editor-in-chief finds out, she'll definitely scold me!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and asked: "Little Su, how much do you usually spend on a meal?"

Su Mang thought this great director Wu was saying she was wasteful and immediately said: "Wu Dao, I can only eat this sumptuously today because I'm with you. Usually, a meal is just a three or five-yuan boxed lunch!"

Wu Yuchen revealed an inexplicable smile upon hearing this and said: "I thought you spent 650 yuan on a meal~"

Su Mang immediately accompanied him with a smile: "Wu Dao, you are truly too humorous. 650 yuan is more than enough for my food expenses for two months!"

Tsk tsk tsk, that's not what you said on the variety show 20 years later!

Wu Yuchen recalled that in his past life, on the variety show *Fifty Kilometers Peach Blossom Dock*, Su Mang suggested that the guests "pay their food expenses first every day," and subsequently, Song Dandan stated that everyone should pay 650 yuan.

Su Mang immediately shouted with an exaggerated expression: "650 is really not enough. Don't you drink milk in the morning? Don't you eat eggs in the morning? We have to eat better! I can't eat such poor food!"

650 yuan not being enough for one meal immediately caused a heated discussion online. What kind of eggs and milk are so precious? Grandpa Yuan Longping really raised your appetites too pickily!

After the meal, Wu Yuchen took Li Xiaoran for a walk to head back.

Li Xiaoran asked: "I feel like you don't seem to think much of this Su Mang?"

She knew Wu Yuchen very well. During the meal, although Wu Yuchen didn't say anything excessive, he had the demeanor of someone looking at a clown.

Wu Yuchen chuckled:

"It's fine for you to shoot the cover; their magazine is legitimate. Collaborating with the American side will definitely make it successful. There is a huge gap in the fashion sector domestically, so they can indeed get a good piece of the pie. But as for her as a person, you don't need to associate deeply with her. This woman is the type who fawns over the powerful and tramples on the weak; the type who gets arrogant once they achieve a little success."

In his past life, at the *Harper's Bazaar* night, Su Mang caused all sorts of trouble, displaying her tendency to judge people by their status to the fullest, and she didn't have much professionalism either. But because she was the editor-in-chief of *Harper's Bazaar*, a bunch of stars just endured it.

However, she could only put on airs in front of some stars; she had to fawn over Feng Xiaogang. Wu Yuchen wouldn't be afraid of her at all. As long as you are stronger than her, this type of person will keep fawning over you. Just use her when you need to.

"Great director Wu Yuchen produces the TV series *Burning Years*, hitting hard!"

"Wu Yuchen's first TV series, *Burning Years*, strikes the soul!"

"Watch *Burning Years*, relive the glorious traditions of our predecessors!"

"*Burning Years*, composing a musical movement of life with simplicity and truth!"

In the classroom, Yin Xiaotian held a stack of newspapers he had bought, handing one to everyone he saw, then said loudly:

"It starts airing on Beijing Satellite TV tonight. Please, everyone, do me a favor and support it!"

"Yin Xiaotian, we all live at school, what support are we going to give! I think you're deliberately showing off!" Xiao Taohong smiled and retorted at Yin Xiaotian.

Yin Xiaotian chuckled: "If you can't watch it, let your parents watch it! It wasn't filmed for you to watch anyway. Wu Dao said that our parents' generation will definitely love this show!"

"Yo, Xiaotian is impressive, now he's talking about Wu Dao right off the bat~" Gong Beibi also teased with a smile.

"I can't compare to you, Sister Baby. You've already collaborated with Wu Dao; I still have to work harder!" Yin Xiaotian said, patting his chest.

Gong Beibi had previously participated in *Comet*, so she had indeed collaborated with Wu Yuchen, and that had brought her quite a few acting opportunities afterward.

"Xiaotian, if you want us to mobilize our relatives and friends, shouldn't you treat us to a meal!"

"Treat, I'll definitely treat!"

Beijing Television was a bit awkward 20 years later. Clearly occupying the name of the capital, it was surpassed by a host of television stations like Mango TV, Dragon TV, and Zhejiang TV. It had no star-studded programs and even occasionally fell out of the top five.

But that was 20 years later. In the 90s, if Beijing Television claimed to be the second-best local station, no one dared to claim to be the first!

In the early 90s, Beijing Television successively produced a batch of acclaimed and popular film and television dramas such as *Yearnings*, *Stories from the Editorial Board*, *Beijingers in New York*, *Don't Pass Your Life in Vain*, and *Prime Minister Liu Luoguo*. At its peak, Beijing Television could even challenge CCTV in ratings.

Although it hadn't produced any big blockbusters in the last two years, it still reigned supreme among local television stations due to its foundation.

*Burning Years* had undergone a massive amount of promotion over the past half-month. With the appeal of a great director like Wu Yuchen producing a TV series, coupled with Beijing Television's foundation, it naturally attracted quite a few viewers.

The next day, Deputy Station Chief Gong walked into the office swaying, sat down, and after taking a sip of the tea he had brewed, thought of *Burning Years* which aired yesterday, and immediately called his subordinate:

"Little Li, how was the broadcast situation of *Burning Years* yesterday?"

Little Li had been prepared for this and immediately said with a smile: "The effect is very good. It had a 26% rating as soon as it started, and by the time it ended, it had already risen to 29%."

This rating naturally refers to regional ratings. National rating statistics are not only troublesome but also not very accurate for them; regional ratings can most directly reflect the broadcast effect.

Deputy Station Chief Gong showed a look of surprise upon hearing this: "Our great Wu Dao's name is really effective. It can reach 26% as soon as it starts!"

Usually, a TV series starts at around 20%, and if it's a bit worse, maybe 17%. But this time, *Burning Years* could reach 26% at the start, which undoubtedly showed that the promotion and Wu Yuchen's name were working.

And being able to rise to 29% by the end meant that not only were viewers retained, but new viewers were constantly coming in. This made Deputy Station Chief Gong very happy; this show had the potential to be a hit!

Little Li flattered him at this time: "It's still your sharp eyes, Station Chief Gong, that spotted it at a glance!"

Deputy Station Chief Gong laughed out loud upon hearing this. The TV series he strongly advocated for had achieved a good start, and these words hit home for him. He thought for a moment and said to Little Li:

"Go tell the people below to contact those newspapers and media again and let them promote *Burning Years* more!"

Little Li nodded hurriedly upon hearing this and walked out quickly.

On the third day, Deputy Station Chief Gong looked at the ratings in his hand: 30.5%. That was also fine; it was slowly rising.

On the fourth day, the rating was 32.8%. Deputy Station Chief Gong nodded. This result had already reached his target. As long as the ratings didn't drop later, this deal wouldn't be a loss.

On the fifth day, Deputy Station Chief Gong picked up the rating report in his hand and glanced at it, then hurriedly rubbed his eyes: 37.5%!

What was going on? It rose by nearly 5 points compared to yesterday!

He hurriedly called his subordinate: "Little Li, why did it rise so much yesterday?"

Little Li said excitedly: "Station Chief Gong, yesterday it reached the Korean War plot. The ratings went directly to 35% as soon as it started, and reached a high of 39.3% when it ended! After the show ended, our station received many calls from viewers, all asking about the rival couple Shi Guangrong and Xie Feng!"

Deputy Station Chief Gong suddenly understood. Yesterday's plot was about the protagonist's rival, Xie Feng, giving up on the heroine in the competition with the protagonist, and then heroically sacrificing himself after going to the battlefield. This counted as a small climax of the plot, so the ratings went up all at once.

"39%, a high of 39%!"

Deputy Station Chief Gong was also muttering excitedly at this time. He had a premonition that this *Burning Years* was very likely to be a huge hit!

"Little Li, go tell them to increase the promotional efforts..."

He had just said half of it when he stood up directly. He was going to command it himself!

"Hey, have you watched that *Burning Years* on Beijing Television?"

"Watched it, watched it. Shi Guangrong and Chu Qin arguing is especially funny. It made me laugh so hard I couldn't stop~"

"Me too, but don't say it, I'm the same when I argue with my partner at home. His temper is also smelly and hard..."

"Shi Guangrong is too cruel to his son. He didn't let him take the college entrance exam and sent him to the border to exercise in such a bitter place. If it were me, I'd have to argue with him until I died."

"If you don't grind, you won't become a tool. Everyone in the army has this temper..."

Two middle-aged women were chatting about *Burning Years*, very engrossed.

On the other side, at school, several students were also chatting:

"Hey, have you guys watched the TV series on Beijing Television recently?"

"Watched it. My parents are watching it very enthusiastically, and I follow along every day."

"Shi Jing in it is really beautiful, especially when she's riding a horse in her military uniform. She's both beautiful and dashing!"

At this time, the girl in front also turned her head:

"Hey hey hey, I also especially like Shi Jing. I think Shi Jing seems to have fallen for Hu Dakai. Will they be together?"

"Eight or nine out of ten. They've already caught each other's eyes, haven't you seen one singing and one dancing?"

More and more people joined the chat, making those who hadn't watched it before feel itchy, planning to go back tonight to watch this *Burning Years*.

Under these circumstances, the ratings of *Burning Years* climbed steadily: 41%, 43%, 44%...

After reaching the next plot climax, it leaped onto the 50% threshold!

Without a doubt, *Burning Years* had become a hit. Neighbors would chat enthusiastically when they met, exchanging situations about raising children; colleagues at work would also chat, talking about the love of the older generation and the generation gap with parents; students would also chat, with boys exchanging thoughts on war and their yearning for the army and soldiers, while girls chatted about Shi Jing's love life, which still had no result and was hard to guess...

With the common people discussing and paying attention, the media, which is more sensitive to this, naturally wouldn't miss it. Especially the media and newspapers in Beijing, without Beijing Television needing to contact them, all began to spontaneously discuss *Burning Years*, about war, marriage, family, military life, love, revolutionary idealism...

As long as it was related to *Burning Years*, they all began comprehensive discussions and analyses.

For a time, discussing *Burning Years* seemed to have become a trend and a social phenomenon. When a TV series brings about such a social trend, it is a well-deserved phenomenal divine drama!