Chapter 706: International Zhang Prepares to Descend; LeTV Takes Its Leave

"At nine in the morning, the costume historical palace drama *Legend of Ruyi* held a large-scale media launch event at Hall 1 of the Magic City International Film Festival;

the president of New Classics Media appeared alongside director Wang Jun, screenwriter Wu Xuelan, and other behind-the-scenes creative team members. The drama has a massive investment and is New Classics' big production of the year…"

"The core lead cast of *Legend of Ruyi* was officially revealed to the public for the first time. The former 'Princess Taiping' of the glorious Tang dynasty enters a Qing dynasty palace for the first time in fifteen years…

Top-tier big flower dan Zhou Xun will partner with Huo Huo Jianhua, Zhang Junning, Tong Yao, Dong Zhou Jie, Xin Xin Zhilei, Li Chun, and a host of other powerhouse actors to compose the journey of a true female lead."

"According to on-site media reports, although *Legend of Ruyi* has not yet started filming, it has already achieved enormous profits:

the drama plans to shoot 90 episodes, and the first-round broadcast rights have already been purchased by Jiangsu Satellite TV and Dragon TV at a price of three million yuan per episode."

"According to a Sina reporter learned from industry insiders, the exclusive online broadcast rights of *Legend of Ruyi* have broken the domestic record for online broadcast copyright transactions. Recently, Tudou snapped them up at a high price of nine million yuan per episode."

"First-round broadcast rights, exclusive online broadcast rights, plus second and third rounds and overseas copyright sales — the final sales of *Legend of Ruyi* are expected to exceed 1.5 billion yuan."

……

To be honest, the TV drama market developing into this perverted state is truly something the vast majority of industry insiders never anticipated, and never dared to imagine before.

But the fact is the fact — the film and television industry has already bolted like a runaway horse, galloping wildly, impossible to rein in.

Of course, a TV drama that can reach this scale must be a true, network-wide sensation of a big production!

And *Legend of Ruyi* is standing on the shoulders of *Legend of Zhen Huan*, and only achieved these sales thanks to its incomparably lavish cast and production team.

But one also has to admit that the pre-sales of *Legend of Ruyi* are really a bit terrifyingly over the top. It has brought the TV drama market to a new height, and the industry can only cheer.

Lin Nan had indeed heard Liu Liu Yifei and Zhou Xun mention it before, but he hadn't paid much attention at the time, so he hadn't asked what drama it was.

Only now, after seeing the entertainment news, did he realize — it was Zhou Xun's first Qing dynasty palace drama!

Which meant that once filming began, Zhou Xun's status on set would likely tower above everyone else, because her star rank was the biggest, far surpassing the others and even the director!

Besides, Lin Nan himself was a little impressed — Tudou's moves really were getting bigger and bigger;

but then again, that was also a symbol of confidence and strength. And for Tudou, spending a fortune to buy the exclusive online broadcast rights of *Legend of Ruyi* was absolutely all gain and no loss.

The news of Zhou Xun starring in a Qing palace drama for the first time swept through the entire film and television industry in an instant, like a hurricane passing through.

The big flower dan most concerned about this was neither Fan Li Bingbing nor Li Li Bingbing, but Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi, who had just finished attending the *Erta of Romance* promotional press conference in Magic City.

"Zhang Ziyi, the TV drama market has truly prospered to the extreme now. Pay, popularity, buzz — none of them are remotely comparable to what most films can offer.

And your star rank on the film side has already reached its peak. If you want to make a comeback, broaden out, or break through the shackles and take another step forward… why don't we try the TV drama route?"

The agent and assistant were once again lobbying Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi. They could tell that the matter of Zhou Xun leading the cast of the big-female-lead mega-IP *Legend of Ruyi* had shaken Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi deeply.

"There are only a handful of top directors, and finding a suitable female lead in their films that we can actually compete for… that really is too, too difficult.

And Zhang Ziyi, look — aren't Zhou Xun, Fan Li Bingbing all running on both the film and TV drama tracks?

Liu Liu Yifei also started out in TV dramas. After a few TV dramas she accumulated unparalleled national recognition, and only then, with Lin Dao's help, did she step by step all the way to Hollywood…"

"Yes, the popularity from TV dramas can feed you for many, many years. I lack grassroots audience affinity… TV dramas build the grassroots market, films establish star rank and height."

Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi's voice abruptly cut off the agent's words. The latter and the assistant immediately gave a start — had she been won over?

"Zhang Ziyi?"

"Sister Zhang Ziyi?"

"The scripts that the industry has sent over to the studio, I've roughly skimmed through them a few times — none of them work.

I can't give up on the film side, keep looking for resources. My foundation is in film, I was born to act in films — that's what Director Zhang, Director Li, and the others have said.

Also… for TV dramas, search the entire industry. I want an absolute female-lead type, absolute female-lead perspective — a true big female lead!

If there's no suitable script, then dig one out from among them. We can even invest ourselves, produce ourselves, start from the script… tailor-made!"

Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi closed her eyes and made her decision.

"Alright, alright, we'll start screening as soon as we're done here."

The agent and assistant were undoubtedly the most thrilled and excited — "International Zhang" descending to act in a TV drama, what a colossal gimmick!

"Keep it low-key, confidential. Before it's settled, I don't want the whole world to know."

"No problem, don't worry, Zhang Ziyi (Sister Zhang Ziyi)."

……

Near noon, Liu Liu Yifei and Watching Shu Chang finally returned from their show of support.

And Lin Nan hadn't joined up with them — he was attending the "International Film Market Exchange Conference" hosted by the Film Bureau, and there was a luncheon after the exchange session.

"Isn't it weird? Zhang Zhao of LeTV was there in the first half, but after the intermission, in the second half he just vanished without a trace? Even his scheduled speaking segment was cancelled!"

Wang Wang Changtian came over to Lin Nan carrying a plate. The latter was in the middle of messaging Liu Liu Yifei. The women had gone off to eat seafood — they sure knew how to enjoy themselves.

"Not there? I didn't notice." Lin Nan instinctively scanned the luncheon venue — too many people, hard to find anyone.

"You were zoning out browsing news the entire meeting — it'd be strange if you had noticed. Just now people from Universal Pictures were asking Dong, saying they hadn't seen Zhang Zhao."

LeTV's seats were next to Enlight's, so Wang Wang Changtian was naturally the first to notice Zhang Zhao's mid-event departure.

"Maybe he had something important to deal with. Why are you worrying about this for no reason?" Lin Nan ended his chat with Liu Liu Yifei, not wanting to disturb her and the others' "battle" with the seafood.

"Something important? What important matter could make every single executive LeTV brought to the Magic City International Film Festival all leave together? And they only gave Dong a heads-up, didn't even say why!"

Wang Wang Changtian lowered his voice, his gossipy tone laced with a hint of "excitement." They were all big capital in the industry — none of them had dull noses.

"What?"

Hearing this, Lin Nan also realized the problem — LeTV's problem.

"Wang Dong, curiosity killed the cat. Maybe the two of us are seeing things — LeTV didn't actually send anyone to the exchange today?" Lin of the Yanji Sect, online.

"Huh? Huh, must be my mistake. Next to me were Zhang Zhang Qiang of Alibaba Pictures and Wang Wang Zhonglei of Huayi."

Wang Wang Changtian, the old fox, immediately grasped the meaning behind Lin Nan's words and nodded in agreement. Only he still muttered one last, even quieter line: "Probably no small matter, eh?"

……

On the morning of the 16th, a large batch of stars who had come for the Magic City International Film Festival all rose extra early — their enthusiasm rivaled that of walking the red carpet.

Because Disney had sent out invitations to the entire film and television circle and even quite a few European and American stars, inviting everyone to attend the Magic City Disneyland grand opening celebration and the first day of sightseeing.

Liu Liu Yifei, Watching Shu Chang, Han Jianü, Zhou Xun, Tang Yan, Shen Shen Jiani — in short, these women had planned from early morning to go have fun.

Besides, judging by the looks of it, quite a few mainland actresses had come to show their support.

Because Lin Dao Da, Luo Jin, and Zhu Zhu Yawen, who were in charge of carrying bags and keeping them company, had only been in the park a short while before running into plenty of familiar faces — the scene turned awkward for a while.

Looking at Huang Huang Xiaoming again, one got the feeling his eyes never once left Yang Ying, as if afraid she might bump into something or get hurt — simply a perfect Chinese husband.

"The way you lot travel around, no one in the circle can hold a candle to you."

Huang Jiaozhu said with a knowing smile, his gaze drifting, as if by accident, toward the camera hanging on Lin Nan's chest.

"This kind of treatment is something only their family's Producer Liu can enjoy — the best we can do is snag a photo together." Zhou Xun, wearing a sun hat and big sunglasses, quipped from the side.

"Now that you know, shall we split up here? Each do our own thing and meet up at the themed hotel at noon for a group meal?"

Lin Nan, holding Miss Liu's hand, suggested to the bunch of "third wheels."

"Fine, I know you have to accompany your family's 'Princess Liu Qianqian' to the castle, we won't disturb you, alright?" Han Jiayu rolled her eyes and complained.

"Aiya, such a huge place — going together would just be a waste of time. Once we regroup at noon, let's share what we each got up to, bye-bye~~"

Liu Liu Yifei smiled playfully and, pulling Lin Nan's hand, headed off in one direction.

The group immediately scattered — well, Han Jiayu and Shu Chang led their assistants off to Disney Town.

"Why do I get the feeling you just had something you wanted to say to Lin Dao?"

Yang Ying, in her suspender denim skirt, shook Huang Huang Xiaoming's hand as she asked. Their assistants and bodyguards dutifully followed along at the side.

Huang Huang Xiaoming didn't deny it, but smiled and nodded, explaining:

"'Bu Bu Qingge' wraps by the middle of next month, and isn't Noon Sunshine about to kick off the 'Nirvana in Fire 2' project? I have some ideas about this drama."

"'Nirvana in Fire' is a massive hit IP — the second part is definitely a good project, I'm all for it!" Hearing this, Yang Ying's eyes lit up in an instant.

"Mm, I'll reach out to Noon Sunshine's side later. Given my credentials, Producer Hou shouldn't have any objections over there. Just now I only wanted to give Lin Dao a heads-up in advance, just in case.

Alright, today I'll keep you company for a proper look around. Once the film festival is over, you hurry back to the crew. Can't be too, you know, 'that' — let the crew have something to gossip about."

"Who'd dare have an opinion? I'm Mrs. Huang, after all, haha…"

……

At the hotel where Huayi was staying, inside the room.

Wang Wang Zhongjun, Wang Wang Zhonglei, Feng Feng Xiaogang and others were all there, along with Wu Wu Yifan, who has been plagued by "negative news" lately — his mother was also present.

"Tonight, we'll all go and show our support. You don't need to worry about anything, it's all small stuff."

"Right, all small stuff." Wang Wang Zhonglei picked up Wang Wang Zhongjun's thread and laughed.

"Thank you so much, Chairman Wang, President Wang, and Director Feng — what about that side though?" Wu Xiuqin hurriedly thanked them, then asked with some worry.

"Since they signed, that side must already have made preparations. Tonight Jackie Chan will probably also make a statement."

Feng Feng Xiaogang nodded and said with great confidence.