Chapter 694: Sister Run: I'm Quitting

Ning Dan, eyes slightly blurred with drink, watched Luo Mo pick up his phone and leave the wine room just like that.

She even felt for a moment that she was hallucinating.

At the same time, she had no idea what Luo Mo actually wanted to do.

It was just that for some reason, even though the words coming out of this young man's mouth sounded shocking, she felt inexplicably at ease.

This feeling of ease was something she had never experienced in all her years of struggling.

Ning Dan's principle for doing things had always been to rely on herself for everything.

This overwhelming sense of security made her feel a bit unaccustomed.

The Luo Mo of the past was merely a trainee worth her investing effort into.

But the Luo Mo of today was already a towering tree under which she could take shelter and lean on.

At this moment, Luo Mo had already arrived at the large balcony of the flat.

This balcony had been converted into an enclosed space, surrounded by one-way glass.

After arriving at the balcony, Luo Mo suddenly realized he had come to the wrong place.

After all... the balcony was a place for drying clothes.

It was very obvious that Ning Dan was a woman who was the same inside and out; the color scheme of her intimate apparel was also primarily black, purple, and the like, and the styles fully displayed a mature charm.

Luo Mo gave a light cough; fortunately, there was no one around, otherwise it would have been quite awkward.

"Woof!" A dog's bark came, and that Husky named 【Follow】 was wagging its tail at Luo Mo's feet.

Luo Mo squatted down and gently stroked its fur, unable to figure out for a moment whether it looked more like a Husky or a Corgi.

The call Luo Mo was making now was to someone he hadn't collaborated with for a while, but with whom he still exchanged greetings during holidays and festivals.

——The Station Head of Octopus TV, Xu Guan!

In recent years, Octopus TV had been much more glorious than before.

When the *Sword Fairy* series and *Nirvana in Fire* were hits, Octopus TV could be said to have suppressed the Four Great Satellite Channels; ratings repeatedly broke records, and advertising revenue also soared all the way.

Within the station, Xu Guan's prestige could be said to have surpassed that of his predecessors.

Everyone felt that Station Head Xu was wise and martial, with a keen eye for talent.

If it weren't for his insistence on collaborating with Luo Mo, how could Octopus TV have its current brilliance?

It was just a pity that Luo Mo hadn't filmed a satellite-broadcast drama for a long time.

After his deep collaboration with Penguin Video, the 【Mist Theater】 he produced—was that the kind of thing that could be broadcast on a TV station?

Later on, he started filming movies, and everyone had even fewer opportunities to collaborate.

But fortunately, why can a classic be called a classic?

It is because no matter how many times it is broadcast, there are always people who watch it with relish.

"Station Head, Station Head, ratings have been sliding recently, and the advertisers are very dissatisfied."

"Fine, let's have a marathon broadcast of the *Sword Fairy* series!"

"Station Head, Station Head, the new drama from Southeast Satellite Channel is coming on strong; the one we prepared is afraid it has no competitiveness at all."

"Don't panic! Put on *Nirvana in Fire*!"

The Four Great Satellite Channels didn't see eye to eye, but they were all very unified in looking down on Octopus TV.

"Besides Luo Mo's dramas, what else do you have?"

Xu Guan: "What? Not convinced?"

Some of your new dramas can't even beat old dramas, and I don't know where you get the face to clamor here.

They were anxious, they were anxious!

No matter how much others mocked them, saying Octopus TV lived off Luo Mo, Octopus TV didn't care at all.

Xu Guan only regretted that as Luo Mo climbed higher and higher and his career grew better and better, collaborating with him again became increasingly difficult.

"Can't find an opportunity!" Xu Guan was troubled.

At this time, Xu Guan had intended to go to the bathroom to wash up.

After the phone rang, he was still puzzled: "It's so late, is there any urgent matter?"

He thought it was someone from the station calling.

But when Xu Guan saw the caller was Luo Mo, he immediately answered the phone.

A dignified satellite station head was, at this moment, experiencing a racing heart, feeling both excited and nervous.

If his wife saw this complex facial expression of his, she would surely suspect that her husband had someone on the side.

Receiving a secret, illicit-sounding call at home in the middle of the night, how could he not be excited, nervous, and apprehensive?

"Hello, Station Head Xu. Calling so late, I hope I haven't disturbed you?" Luo Mo's voice came through the phone.

"Eh, Luo Mo! Not at all, not at all!" Xu Guan's tone couldn't have been more enthusiastic.

Luo Mo didn't get straight to the point, but exchanged a few pleasantries first.

Then, he asked: "Station Head Xu, how has our station's New Year's Eve Gala been doing these past few years?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Guan felt wild joy in his heart first.

"Our station! He said our station! Ours!"

Haha, hehehehe ha!

It was just that after the wild joy, Xu Guan gave a bitter laugh and said: "To tell the truth, it can only be considered okay; there is definitely a significant gap compared to the Four Great Satellite Channels."

After pondering for a moment, Luo Mo said: "Station Head Xu, then I won't beat around the bush. I called tonight just to ask, has the candidate for the General Director of our station's New Year's Eve Gala this year been decided?"

"That hasn't been yet; it's still early," Xu Guan said.

Local satellite channels are definitely different from CCTV.

CCTV decides early, and rehearsals are also early.

Local satellite channels wouldn't start preparations this far in advance, and stars from all walks of life wouldn't come to rehearse so many times like they do when collaborating with CCTV.

"Then can I recommend someone to the station head?" Luo Mo said.

If anyone else had said this, Xu Guan would definitely have—politely declined.

Why would an outsider interfere so much in the station's affairs? Who gave you the right to meddle?

But since it was Luo Mo—he had been saying "our station" all along!

Meddle, you go right ahead and meddle!

"Which director are you recommending?" Xu Guan asked.

"Ning Dan, Director Ning," Luo Mo said.

"Hmm?" This actually caught Xu Guan off guard.

Ning Dan had produced several holiday galas for CCTV, and the results were always exceptionally good.

Luo Mo certainly deserved the lion's share of the credit for that.

However, Ning Dan's personal ability was absolutely not to be ignored either.

She was indeed a very formidable woman, and her control over all aspects was very strong.

Logically speaking, Ning Dan should have been actively vying for the CCTV New Year's Eve Gala.

Even if she couldn't secure it, she wouldn't lower her status to produce a gala for Octopus TV.

Going to one of the Four Great Satellite Channels would be more like it.

Xu Guan keenly sensed that there must be some hidden story behind this.

But he wouldn't ask.

"If Director Ning is willing to come, then the position of General Director for this year's New Year's Eve Gala is reserved for her," Xu Guan said directly.

In Xu Guan's view, if Luo Mo and the others really wanted to participate in a gala, they would definitely go to CCTV.

Even if Ning Dan came this time, she wouldn't be bringing Luo Mo Studio and the Singers from New Yu to join in.

But that didn't matter.

Don't forget, this person was the 【Godmother of Talent Shows】, the god of variety shows in the entertainment industry!

If she was good at making variety shows, would she lack Connections or resources?

What's more, her ability was there for all to see.

—Winning big, winning big!

"Alright, Station Head Xu, then I'll go have a chat with Director Ning now," Luo Mo said.

Upon hearing this, Xu Guan immediately said: "How about this, after you talk to Director Ning about this matter, send me a WeChat, give me Director Ning's contact information, and I will call her myself to invite her, to show my sincerity."

"That works too," Luo Mo agreed with a smile.

Collaborating with Xu Guan, Luo Mo's biggest feeling was that it was quite comfortable.

He was quite direct in his words and actions, yet he handled everything very thoughtfully.

Xu Guan was very clear about the caliber of his television station's gala; it was not just a little bit worse than the Four Great Satellite Channels.

Someone of Ning Dan's Great God level could be said to be condescending to come here.

Furthermore, wouldn't this allow him to sell Luo Mo another favor and give him a bit more Face?

After finishing the call, Luo Mo returned to the lounge and chatted with Ning Dan.

"You want me to go to Octopus TV to produce a gala?" Ning Dan was slightly stunned.

Was this to indirectly demonstrate her own ability?

"Alright, I have confidence; the results won't be much worse than the Four Great Satellite Channels," Ning Dan agreed immediately.

"No, no, no, even if we win against the Four Great Satellite Channels, that has no meaning," Luo Mo waved his hand and said.

"Then you want to..." Ning Dan, having had some wine, looked at the young man with a smile on his face, her heartbeat accelerating slightly.

"Of course, it's to outshine CCTV!" Luo Mo said directly.

"However, ratings are definitely impossible, after all, the coverage is different; we will compare the data from the Live Broadcast online," Luo Mo said.

"As for Penguin Video, I will go talk to President Cheng..."

Ning Dan listened to him talk eloquently, her eyes becoming increasingly hazy.

Although Luo Mo didn't say it explicitly, she could understand the subtext.

Since that director is making things difficult for you, then I definitely won't go to their New Year's Eve Gala this year; I will bring people to your side.

Even though she had already understood this, for some reason, she still asked: "So, you plan to join Octopus TV for New Year's Eve this year?"

"Yeah!" Luo Mo said with a tone of course, "What else?"

He smiled and said: "Sister Dan, in our 'Creating Idols', isn't the popularity ranking called the 【Support Ranking】? The audience votes to increase the Support Value."

"Sister Dan, this time, let me support you."

………

………

Xu Guan's efficiency was very high; after Luo Mo sent him a WeChat, he called Ning Dan.

Luo Mo watched Ning Dan's expression from the side and could tell that on the phone, Xu Guan was heaping all sorts of praise on Ning Dan and welcoming her warmly.

In Station Head Xu's eyes, this was an opportunity.

It's just that he thought he had received a big gift package, but he didn't yet know that there was another big gift packed behind this one.

—Luo Mo would bring people to support the show!

On the phone, Xu Guan indicated that he would completely delegate power to Ning Dan; she could decide for herself who to invite to the New Year's Eve Gala.

Ning Dan smiled and said: "When the list is ready, I will definitely still let Station Head Xu take a look first."

—Give you a fright!

The biggest dream Xu Guan currently has is to rely on the intimate relationship between Ning Dan and Luo Mo to have him distribute some people from his studio and Xinyu to Octopus TV.

With just that, the luxury level of our Octopus TV's lineup this year would absolutely not lose to the Four Great Satellite Channels, haha, hahahaha!

After ending the call, Xu Guan made a phone call to his brother-in-law.

Because for the past few years, most of the holiday galas at Octopus TV were handled by his brother-in-law.

"Hello, brother-in-law, did something happen?" the brother-in-law asked.

He rarely received a call from his brother-in-law this late.

"You don't need to submit a proposal for this year's New Year's Eve Gala," Xu Guan said directly.

Brother-in-law: "???"

"Brother-in-law, is there some gossip at the station again? You were the one who said before that one should appoint people on their merits regardless of kinship."

"Although I wouldn't dare say I'm first-class among gala General Directors, you know what kind of crooked melons and cracked dates the other competitors are every year."

"They have no skills, they only know how to gossip behind people's backs. Could it be that just because I'm your brother-in-law, I'm a backdoor hire? Or do you want to divorce my sister just to satisfy them?"

The more Xu Guan heard, the more his head ached, and he said: "Say that again!"

"Cough cough, cough cough cough."

The brother-in-law used his final stubbornness and said: "Fine, brother-in-law, then tell me, who did the station choose in the end."

"Ning Dan," Xu Guan said.

"What kind of... Who? Which Ning Dan?" the brother-in-law was stunned.

"Which other Ning Dan could it be! Of course, it's the Ning Dan who made *Creating Idols* and *Classic of China*," Xu Guan said irritably: "Do you have any other opinions?"

"No, none," the brother-in-law swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Did the station get lucky this time?

It makes no sense, how could Ning Dan come to join Octopus TV.

Damn it, the scammers nowadays are too arrogant, they even dare to scam a dignified satellite TV station head!

Only hearing Xu Guan say: "Luo Mo was the one who called me today; he is the one acting as the go-between. As for you, just go and assist and cooperate, follow behind Director Ning and learn more, do you understand?"

Fuck! They even dare to impersonate Luo Mo to scam my brother-in-law!

Xu Guan continued: "I know you think our station got lucky this time, and you think everything is unbelievable; I actually think so too."

"But I suspect there is some hidden story behind this. I give you a Warning: don't go around asking questions, do you hear me?" Xu Guan warned.

The brother-in-law swallowed a mouthful of saliva; he rarely heard his brother-in-law speak to him in such a serious tone, but he still spoke rationally:

"Brother-in-law, if there really is something going on here, will inviting Ning Dan to direct have any bad follow-up effects on our station? Should we really not go and ask around?"

"What, are you teaching me now?" Xu Guan said.

Are you teaching me how to do my job?

The brother-in-law chose silence.

"There must be sacrifice to have gain," Xu Guan said: "And don't forget, it was Luo Mo who acted as the go-between, so he must take responsibility for this."

"Even if there really is something going on, being able to make Luo Mo owe a big favor is worth it."

"Alright, I understand," the brother-in-law nodded and said.

Back then, Octopus TV getting the copyright for *Sword Fairy* also relied on this boldness of Xu Guan's!

What's more, he is at least a satellite TV station head, isn't he?

After finishing the call with his brother-in-law, Xu Guan went to the bathroom to wash up, then lay on the bed to prepare for sleep.

Tonight, he was a little bit insomniac.

After finally falling asleep, he had a dream.

In the dream, he dreamed that Tong Shu, Li Junyi, and others brought new songs written by Luo Mo to participate in Octopus TV's New Year's Eve Gala this year.

At the gala venue, he was sitting off-stage, and the smile on his face never stopped.

Station Head Xu is a man of great vision.

It's just that he is too grounded; even his dreams seem a bit small-minded, not daring to dream too big.

………

………

The next day, CCTV.

Director Chen, who doesn't deserve to have his name mentioned, was arriving at the office in high spirits.

In fact, the candidate for the General Director of the CCTV New Year's Eve Gala had not yet been officially announced to the public.

The day of the official announcement was next week.

He had intentionally let some rumors out to manipulate Ning Dan.

This is a very common tactic; it's to make you anxious, to make you uncomfortable, but still leave enough time so you feel there is still a chance to operate behind the scenes.

Originally, he wasn't that obsessed with Ning Dan.

Many men are strange; when they are young, they are obsessed with mature and charming women—let alone those with a sister complex, there are many with an aunt complex too.

But as they grow older, they change again and start only liking young grass.

Ning Dan radiates the charm of a mature woman from head to toe; she was no longer his type at this stage.

But it just so happens that this woman maintains a sense of distance too well, and her unique temperament is too rich.

It's hard not to have one's desire for conquest ignited by her.

Honestly, Director Chen quite enjoys this kind of tug-of-war at this stage.

In his view, this process of conquest is even more wonderful than the intoxicating ambiguous phase.

This made him less impatient; if everything became easy, he would instead feel there was no fun.

If Ning Dan doesn't soften her stance this time, he will choose to let Director Li Dongliang direct the New Year's Eve Gala.

As previously mentioned, Director Li Dongliang had even campaigned to be the General Director of the Spring Festival Gala, and when it was his turn to speak, he had even recited an ancient poem from Blue Star with great emotion.

After being rejected, he began to take a roundabout approach, deciding to first do a good job with a New Year's Eve Gala, and then secure this year's Spring Festival Gala!

For this, he had put in no small amount of effort.

As the fifth person among the older generation's Four Great Directors, he was extremely eager to direct the Spring Festival Gala.

Because the older generation's Four Great Directors had all served as General Director of the Spring Festival Gala.

I, Li Dongliang, must also be one!

As long as I do everything the Four Great Directors have done, then, rounding it up, I am on par with the Four Great Directors, standing at the same level!

Therefore, he viewed this New Year's Eve Gala as a stepping stone, and he was determined to succeed.

Moreover, he had the confidence to make the gala a success.

It must include a few thought-provoking programs; it must be profound and meaningful, just like my movies.

Director Chen also expressed his optimism about him.

"Knock, knock, knock." At this moment, the door to Director Chen's office rang out.

"Come in," Director Chen said.

A middle-aged man wearing Glasses entered and said, "Director, Ning Dan's personal studio just contacted us."

"Hm?" Director Chen looked up.

Seeing how strong and stubborn she was, he hadn't expected her to yield so quickly.

This woman is inconsistent in her words and actions.

—— The "Anti-Contrast Bitch" series.

However, he soon felt that something was wrong.

Because it was the studio that made contact.

And it wasn't Ning Dan contacting him privately, wanting to establish a personal relationship with him.

"What did they say?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They said that Director Ning Dan's old ailment has flared up, her stomach condition is a bit serious, and she is afraid it will affect her work and delay progress, so she has decided to withdraw from the competition for director of this New Year's Eve Gala," the middle-aged man said.

(PS: Per the editor's Requirement, continuing to update the preview: this chapter was updated on August 21st at 16:52, the next chapter is expected before 8 PM tomorrow night.)

(End of chapter)