North of Tianqiao in Beijing, in the Jinghong Community, Fan Youdong arrived home and collapsed onto the sofa.
Without Big Fei's crosstalk show today, he felt a profound emptiness.
He was the head chef at a restaurant. A few days ago, while watching Big Fei's show, he'd repeatedly shouted for a refund, and it had been utterly exhilarating.
Even though the actors were on stage, he, the audience member, felt the most satisfaction.
When Big Fei left, he didn't even go to see the last show. Today, he'd finished work early, leaving him feeling slightly hollow.
Back home, he sat on the sofa, the TV still showing *Big Dog and Second Dog*. Soon, a middle-aged woman emerged from the bedroom.
"Is the child asleep?"
The woman nodded. "Didn't you go to the crosstalk show today?"
"No, I came back to keep you company."
"Hmph, just saying what sounds good. Why didn't you take me to the show if you enjoyed it so much?"
"But you had to watch the child and help with homework!"
The woman rolled her eyes impatiently. "Alright, enough excuses. Just watch TV with me for a while."
They leaned back on the sofa. The woman picked up the remote, about to change the channel.
After *Big Dog and Second Dog* ended, the words *Sword-Bright* suddenly appeared on the screen.
"Wait a minute!"
The title *Sword-Bright* itself held no appeal for him, nor did the opening poster.
What caught his eye were four large, bold characters beneath it:
*Director Da Fei*.
Fan Youdong had never been interested in Big Fei before. He was just an ordinary person who didn't care about music. Who had time to follow pop stars?
But Big Fei's recent *xiangsheng* performances had sparked his curiosity about the man.
"So this is actually a TV series directed by Big Fei? Let's watch a bit of this, shall we?"
The woman frowned. "No, I want to watch Li Zhilin's show. I finished the last one."
Without a second thought, she changed the channel. Fan Youdong didn't dare protest.
When they switched channels, they found the second episode had already been airing for a while.
"Since you missed the first episode, let's watch the rerun tomorrow," Fan Youdong suggested. "If you watch *Sword-Bright* now, you can start from the beginning."
The woman nodded reluctantly. "Fine. You promised to keep me company while I watched TV, but now I'm the one keeping you company."
The couple switched the TV back to CCTV-8, the channel where their child used to watch cartoons. Now, they continued watching it.
*Sword-Bright* was just beginning, with a tense background score kicking in, followed by the deep, steady voice of Big Fei narrating.
"July 7, 1937..."
"Under the command of Commander Li Yunlong, the Eighth Route Army's New First Regiment repeatedly launched counterattacks against the Japanese forces, in battles of extreme ferocity..."
As the opening scene unfolded with several large-scale explosions, the woman pursed her lips.
"This show looks like it won't be as good as *True Colors of the Anti-Japanese War*."
Fan Youdong replied, "I've seen *True Colors of the Anti-Japanese War*. It's too fake—only women like that kind of thing. I'm sick of these ridiculous anti-Japanese war dramas, each one more absurd than the last. Let's see how this one is."
The opening scene featured two Japanese officers in conversation. Their makeup and costumes were strikingly realistic, and the explosion scenes were well-executed.
Fan Youdong said, "Finally, a war drama that has the Japanese speaking Japanese! Look at this—this is what you call authenticity. Why would Japanese soldiers ever speak Chinese with each other?"
The woman remained defiant. "That's to make sure the audience can hear clearly! You still need subtitles for this one."
Despite her stubbornness, she clearly found the format appealing, as it at least made sense.
Next, Li Hongbin appeared on screen.
The woman lost interest. "This is the male lead? He's too old! Everyone's into young idols now. Who watches this kind of stuff anymore?"
Fan Youdong countered, "Think about it—the male lead in a war drama can't be a mere soldier. Anyone above the rank of regimental commander must be older, right? A twenty-five or twenty-six-year-old regimental commander? Does that make any sense?"
The woman nodded. "You've got a point there."
On the TV, Li Yunlong was talking with Zhang Dabiao, the commander of the first battalion.
"Commander," Zhang Dabiao said, "the Sakata Brigade is known as the Japanese army's elite..."
Li Yunlong glared. "What the hell is 'elite'? I don't believe in that crap! I'm here to crush the elite! Pass the order: bayonets fixed, prepare to attack!"
***
"Commander, we only have two shells left..."
Li Yunlong: "What did you say? Damn it, you spendthrift! Why didn't you conserve them?"
"Commander, you should speak with a clear conscience! You were the one shouting the loudest during the enemy's attack. Zhu Zi, blow up that heavy machine gun! Now you're reneging on your word and blaming me for wasting resources!"
Li Yunlong: "You little punk, you dare complain? Watch it, or I'll beat you!"
Less than two seconds later, he grinned. "Heh heh, once this battle is over, I'll reward you with two pounds of sweet potato liquor. But you'd better figure out how to destroy the enemy command post with those two shells."
"Let me be clear: if you miss, not only will you forfeit the liquor, but I'll have you shot!"
"Yes, Commander!"
***
The woman smiled knowingly. "This guy's performance is hilarious. He's full of crude language—what kind of leader is like that?"
Fan Youdong was equally engrossed, watching with rapt attention.
"This is what war should be like. It's a war, not a poetry recital. Only Li Zhilin could film something so ridiculous."
The woman rolled her eyes. "This one's good, but you don't need to keep comparing it to Li Zhilin. No need to praise one by putting the other down."
"Can you blame me?" Fan Youdong retorted. "Two similar dramas are airing at the same time. Of course I'm going to compare them. This Li Yunlong is really something—I'm hooked on this series."
The woman didn't reply, having given up on changing the channel. After watching for a few minutes, she also wanted to keep watching.
The first episode ended quickly, leaving them both wanting more, but the commercials had already started.
The woman quickly stood up. "I'm going to the bathroom."
Fan Youdong burst out laughing. "Didn't you say it was bad earlier? So you were holding it in to watch?"
"Shut up! Get me some snacks. I'll be eating while I watch the next episode."
***
Lin Chudong and Deng Siqing were watching a drama in their hotel room. Deng Siqing was completely engrossed, only shifting her neck when a commercial break came on.
"Big Fei, this show is so good! It's really interesting, and Li Yunlong is just brilliant."
Lin Chudong nodded. The drama's greatest strength was Li Yunlong's character, perfectly portrayed by Teacher Li Hongbin, who was undoubtedly the soul of the entire production.
Of course, other aspects were also excellent, supporting the drama's overall quality.
But most viewers were drawn to Li Yunlong, and Deng Siqing was no exception.
The room's lighting was intimate, and Lin Chudong, lying on the bed, felt a stirring of desire.
He still cherished the memory of Sister Deng kissing him in that warehouse last time.
Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around Deng Siqing's waist. Her cheeks flushed, and she shyly leaned against him.
Though they had stayed together many times at home, the feeling of being in a hotel room together was different.
They had come to Yunnan early for the program's recording. With so many people around, she couldn't share a room with Director Da Fei.
Lin Chudong gently lifted Deng Siqing's chin and kissed her lips. The feeling he had cherished for so long finally returned.
Suddenly, the drama's opening theme music began.
Deng Siqing immediately pushed him away. "Wait! I want to watch the show first."
Lin Chudong: ...
Damn that Li Yunlong!
***
Demoted to factory director for disobeying orders, Li Yunlong was now being offered his old position back. As he worked at the sewing machine, he declared righteously,
"I'm not going! This whole thing needs to be sorted out. Why was I removed as commander of the main regiment in the first place?"
"Commander Li, this is the Commander-in-Chief's personal order."
Li Yunlong slammed his fist on the table. "Even the Old Man of Heaven deserves a fair hearing, doesn't he? What did I do wrong? I didn't follow orders to break through? Is that a crime? Everything needs to be done properly! I deserve to be cleared and rehabilitated, not left in this mess! I'm not going!"
The Brigade Commander burst through the door, roaring, "Li Yunlong!"
***
"This show is amazing! I can't stop watching. Li Yunlong is so badass, I love his personality."
"I've already analyzed the power levels in this show: Li Yunlong > Old Man of Heaven, and Brigade Commander > Li Yunlong. So, the Brigade Commander is the top-ranked character in terms of combat power."
"Haha, the Old Man of Heaven really has no status."
"Li Yunlong is awesome! In the first episode, he went from regiment commander to factory manager, and in the second, he was back as regiment commander of the Independent Regiment. That's how fast things change."
"Yamamoto Ichiki is quite handsome. He's the special forces villain."
"Pay attention: all the Japanese soldiers are speaking Japanese, and their lip movements match perfectly. It's not dubbed."
"The production team is so professional! Anti-Japanese dramas should be made like this. What else would the Japanese soldiers say when they gather together?"
"Did anyone notice the opening credits? The Japanese dialogue coach for this show is Big Fei..."
"Holy shit! Big Fei knows Japanese?"
"What's so surprising? I've watched enough shows to know Japanese too."
"You only know a few phrases, right?"
"I love Wei Monk too. He looks so straightforward and funny. Paired with Li Yunlong, they're a golden duo."
"The character development in this show is phenomenal—it's on another level compared to the one next door."
"Don't even mention *True Colors of the Anti-Japanese War*. Each season is worse than the last. I was watching earlier and saw a scene where a Japanese soldier was drinking lemon-lime soda! It completely broke the immersion."
"Can't help it, product placement, hahaha! They even had soda during the Anti-Japanese War—talk about being ahead of the curve."
"..."
After the two episodes finished airing, Huang Wei immediately sent Lin Chudong a WeChat message.
"Average viewership: 2.2. Peak viewership: 2.9. Average market share: 13%."
"These numbers are fantastic! They might even go higher tomorrow!"
It was clear Huang Wei was thrilled.
She was so excited she could barely sit still in her office.
*Big Fei is truly a genius!* *The first season of *The Beginning* already gave her SSS-level ratings. Now, *Sword-Bright* might just be another miracle!*
Huang Wei walked into Director Chen's office. "Boss, you're still here?"
Chen Deming said, "Judging by that smile, you're here to take credit, aren't you?"
Huang Wei smiled. "Not at all. It's just a minor achievement, nothing to brag about."
Chen Deming said, "On its first day, the show hit a peak rating of 2.9. You call that a minor achievement? Huang Wei, in a few years, this position might be yours."
Huang Wei said, "Please don't praise me to death. When you get promoted, don't forget to give me a hand."
Chen Deming said, "As expected, *Bright Sword* is a hit. The quality is undeniable."
Huang Wei said, "Then, considering that, could we adjust the broadcast schedule?"
While the difference between 8 PM and 9 PM might seem small, it was significant.
8 PM was considered the "golden hour" because it was the peak viewing time. If *Bright Sword* were moved to that slot, it could potentially reach even greater heights, with ratings soaring further.
Chen Deming frowned. "I'll look into it tomorrow. If the ratings reach 3 and the market share exceeds 20%, I'll adjust the schedule."
Even though he was doing this as a favor, he couldn't pass up such a promising show. Chen Deming had been planning to challenge Channel 13 anyway, and he couldn't let an animated series derail his plans.
"Little Huang, go next door and gather data on *True Colors of the Anti-Japanese War 2*."
Huang Wei nodded and went to Channel 13.
Qiu Chengdong was still working late in his office. When they met, Huang Wei greeted him politely.
"Brother Qiu, I'm Huang Wei, Production Director at Eighth Channel."
Qiu Chengdong paused, surprised. "Little Huang, I've heard of you. You were the one who brought *Beginning* to the screen, right? Did you arrange Da Fei's new drama too?"
Huang Wei nodded. "I did."
Qiu Chengdong gave a thumbs-up. "Impressive. I watched *Bright Sword*—it was good."
"Director Qiu, you're the one who's impressive," Huang Wei replied. "*I Am a Comedian* is a phenomenon this year. I've been hooked on every episode."
After exchanging pleasantries, Huang Wei asked, "How were the ratings for *True Colors of the Anti-Japanese War 2* yesterday?"
Qiu Chengdong glanced at his office before lowering his voice. "They were just okay. I heard the peak was only 1.2, and that was at the premiere."
TV drama ratings usually climb as the show progresses, starting low and rising over time. But Li Zhilin's drama was actually declining. This showed the plot wasn't holding viewers' attention. The initial audience had come for Li Zhilin's star power, but as the show dragged on, they lost interest, and the ratings naturally fell.
With this information, Huang Wei nodded and left.
Li Zhilin's drama couldn't compare to Da Fei's *Bright Sword*. One had a superstar lead, the other a grassroots production. The gap might have been small at first, but as the plots intensified, the ratings would likely diverge sharply.
***
Xiao Zhi Entertainment.
Li Zhilin sat in his office, his face grim. He'd just been severely reprimanded by his boss.
Though he wasn't the director of the drama, he was the lead actor and one of the investors. He'd assembled the entire creative team himself and invested over a hundred million. Was this the result he'd get?
His expression darkening, Li Zhilin said to Guan Lu, "Play Da Fei's drama for me. I want to see it."
Previously, Li Zhilin had staunchly resisted Da Fei's works. He still hadn't watched Beginning.
But now was different. With two dramas competing head-to-head, he had to understand the market.
He turned on the TV and checked the time. The rerun was about to start.
They waited patiently. Guan Lu massaged his shoulders, trying to calm him down.
After watching two episodes, Li Zhilin's brow remained furrowed.
Reluctantly, he had to admit: Da Fei's drama was undeniably brilliant.
Guan Lu was equally stunned. "Zhilin, this script is amazing! Even without big-name actors, the actor playing Li Yunlong is just incredible."
Li Zhilin nodded. He'd seen the actor on set. At the time, Da Fei's cast had seemed like a ragtag bunch, but they turned out to be seasoned veterans, each with such refined acting skills.
And those college students actually acted so well! It looked hilarious online at first, but when the show aired, their performances were absolutely explosive.
Especially those few Japanese soldiers who spoke Japanese—their lip-syncing was perfect. It was clearly not post-dubbed; they genuinely knew the language.
In his own dramas, the Japanese characters always spoke broken Chinese.
At first, the audience didn't think much of it. But when *Bright Sword* came out, the contrast was immediate.
Because of this, *True Colors of the Anti-Japanese War 2* was heavily criticized.
Guan Lu looked worried. "Zhilin, what do we do now?"
Li Zhilin said, "Let's talk to Tianxun Video and the others first. We'll ask them not to buy the rights to *Bright Sword*. That way, I can lower the revenue-sharing percentage."
Guan Lu asked, "Do you think that will work?"
Li Zhilin replied, "We'll try. His show hasn't become a hit yet, and those video platforms don't have the TV ratings data. They're all eager to sign me. If I make this demand, no one should refuse."
Guan Lu nodded. *Zhilin is still the most cunning.*
If all the major video platforms refuse to sign *Bright Sword*, then the show will have to air on TV or be picked up by smaller platforms.
No matter how many times Da Fei's shows were broadcast on television, they wouldn't generate significant revenue—at best, they'd only increase his visibility. Making a quick profit would be the best they could hope for. As for smaller platforms, their limited reach and user base made them irrelevant.
To make a real killing, he'd need to secure distribution on major video platforms, where he could earn a cut of the profits. But Li Zhilin had already blocked his path, ensuring his project would fail.
Li Zhilin immediately contacted the directors of four major video platforms to discuss the matter.
For a low-budget operation like Lin Chudong's, a single failed project would deter them from greenlighting another.
Even if his previous hit, *Beginning*, had earned substantial profits, they were likely all invested in this new project. If it tanked, it would effectively banish him from the TV drama arena.
Meanwhile, Lin Chudong began filming *Longing For* and didn't answer his phone for a full day.
That evening, after filming wrapped, he finally checked his phone in the Mushroom House.
Several missed calls and WeChat messages awaited him.
One was from Yan Chaoxu, Director of Youmei Video.
Yan Chaoxu had been the first director Lin Chudong approached when pitching *Beginning*. But they'd dismissed the project, and to curry favor with Li Zhilin, they'd passed on it.
Later, when *Beginning* became a massive hit, Yan Chaoxu was kicking himself. He had let an SSS-tier blockbuster slip through his fingers.
Yesterday, *Bright Sword* premiered, and Yan Chaoxu had high hopes for it. After watching the rerun today, he liked it even more. He immediately called Lin Chudong, but missed him.
Lin Chudong called back, knowing Yan Chaoxu must want to discuss licensing.
Although they would have to wait until the TV broadcast ended to grant the license, they could start negotiations now.
"Director Yan? Sorry, I didn't have my phone with me while recording today."
"Heh, no worries. You're quite the hot commodity these days. It's normal to be swamped with work."
"What did you want to discuss, Director Yan?"
Yan Chaoxu hesitated. "I originally wanted to talk about *Bright Sword*'s distribution, but it's no longer necessary."
"Oh?" Lin Chudong replied. "We can still discuss it. I haven't signed with anyone else yet."
This time, Lin Chudong wasn't planning to sign an exclusive deal. Even if the terms were slightly less favorable, he preferred to avoid exclusivity. As Sister Huang put it, it was safer not to put all his eggs in one basket.
"Never mind," Yan Chaoxu said. "I've used up my quota for this month. You should try someone else."
"Oh, okay then."
After hanging up, Lin Chudong was bewildered.
What was Yan Chaoxu's problem? He didn't even want to negotiate?
Could "used up his quota" really be a valid excuse?
He was a director, not some junior editor. How could he possibly not have a slot? That excuse was too flimsy.
And he was the one who called first. What was going on?
Lin Chudong didn't take it too seriously. He hadn't been able to collaborate with Yan Chaoxu last time, and Yan was clearly closer to Li Zhilin's team. It didn't matter if they didn't collaborate this time either; *Bright Sword* had only aired two episodes anyway.
He then checked his phone and called Liang Yin back.
"Boss Lady, what's up?"
Liang Yin replied, "Something really strange happened. When *Bright Sword* was re-airing this morning, all four video platforms called me to discuss collaboration. I told them to contact you directly. But this afternoon, they all called back to say they'd changed their minds and didn't want to collaborate anymore."
Lin Chudong frowned slightly. "Four platforms? Tianxun, Youmei, Qiyi Guo, and Mango?"
"That's right," Liang Yin confirmed. "All four called this morning to discuss collaboration, but then they all called back this afternoon to say they didn't want to. It's too weird."
"I agree," Lin Chudong said. "Even if they didn't want to collaborate, why would they specifically call to say so? I'll look into this."
After hanging up, Lin Chudong called Huang Wei.
After explaining the situation, Huang Wei immediately offered to help investigate.
Soon, she called back.
"I asked my colleagues at Tianxun Video, and it was Vice President Mei who signed the agreement with Li Zhilin's company. *True Colors of the Anti-Japanese War 2* will be released simultaneously on Tianxun Video, without a membership requirement and with a revenue share of just six yuan per view. However, there's a condition: we can't sign with *Bright Sword*, the reason being to avoid competition between similar dramas."
Lin Chudong's expression darkened. As expected, this was Li Zhilin's doing.
"Sister Huang, is Li Zhilin really that influential? Can he really sway all four platforms?"
Huang Wei sighed. "It can't be helped. Li Zhilin brings his own traffic and still has considerable influence. More importantly, your drama has only aired two episodes. While it has potential, the platforms have no data to work with. They signed the contract in a haze, and Li Zhilin took advantage of that."
"When this drama becomes a hit and the station releases the data, these platforms will regret this decision."
"Li Zhilin is cutting off his nose to spite his face. He'd rather earn less himself to secure the platforms and block your revenue streams, hoping to ruin you."
Upon hearing this, Huang Wei understood Li Zhilin's strategy.
If she were still at Tianxun Video, she would never have agreed to such terms.
But now she had no say. Moreover, the directors were clueless about *Bright Sword*'s potential, which led them to sign the contract.
Lin Chudong let out a cold laugh.
*You fools! You have no idea of *Bright Sword*'s power!*
-----------------------
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