Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore

Chapter 675: "Corner Also" Celebration Banquet, Director Zhuang Talks Projects

At the celebration banquet, when Yuan Sitong dragged Xiao He to look at the comments, he was completely dazed.

Right now was the celebration banquet for "Corner Also" Season Two. After a few rounds of drinks, everyone started chatting about other things. The main producers and investors at the head table were having a heated discussion with Director Zhuang Hongyi and the two directors of "Corner Also," while the actors sat together casually chatting.

Coincidentally, Xiao He's film "Let the Mistake Slide" had been under intense marketing recently, and everyone had noticed the situation. As they talked, the conversation naturally shifted to Xiao He.

Then Yuan Sitong became what she was now - laughing uncontrollably.

"Hahaha, come on, come on, look at this one - 'If I could wake up to Xiao He's face every day, all my bad temper would disappear...' Gahaha, they're so adorable! I think next time we have an event, we should play Truth or Dare, and everyone has to read their fans' comments out loud."

Yuan Sitong couldn't help suggesting while looking at her phone.

Guo Xinya, who was eating nearby, looked up with interest. "We could consider that for the next production event. We could even film some behind-the-scenes footage as promotion for Season Three."

Although Director Zhuang hadn't given them any news about Season Three yet, everyone knew they would definitely meet again for it.

"Hehe, yes, yes, that works." Yuan Sitong seemed to have thought of another fun idea, winking at Guo Xinya. "Then I'll make Director Yan read the death-threat DMs fans sent him urging him to update. Sister Xinya, you read the messages Director Yan left you. And that guy over there - we won't bully you - you just recite a Chinese tongue twister—"

Yuan Sitong rattled off a bunch of arrangements, neatly assigning tasks to everyone at the table.

Guo Xinya opened her mouth but said nothing. Li Haoxuan directly rolled his eyes. Xiao He was speechless. "Hey hey, you haven't even started the game yet, and you're already making wishes."

And this girl hadn't assigned herself any dare!

Wow. Just wow.

"No, no, that's not the point."

Yuan Sitong wiped away the tears from laughing, then gently swiped her finger. The phone screen instantly jumped to a familiar Bilibili page for Xiao He.

"Hey hey, have you seen this Tiger Brother's channel?"

Yuan Sitong redirected the conversation. "Did you watch his video roasting Ren Yibai? He's so articulate. I laugh every time I watch it. I originally really disliked Zhao Qinyuan, but since I heard he's going head-to-head with Ren Yibai now, I'm actually on his side..."

"Hehe, yes, yes, that works." Yuan Sitong seemed to have thought of another fun idea, winking at Guo Xinya. "Then I'll make Director Yan read the death-threat update-reminder DMs fans sent him. Sister Xinya, you read the messages Director Yan left you. And that guy over there - we won't bully you - you just recite a Chinese tongue twister—"

He thought most people in the industry circle wouldn't watch roasting bloggers' roast videos.

Hearing Xiao He's question, Yuan Sitong immediately and righteously said, "I do! Except for the episode about me, I watch everything else."

This little hobby couldn't be taken away so easily.

Xiao He chuckled.

Great. He had nothing to say.

"Xiao He—"

Just then, Director Zhuang Hongyi called out to him.

"Sorry, I need to excuse myself."

Xiao He immediately stood up and went over to Director Zhuang's table.

The big shots at this table were still in a heated discussion. When they saw the new arrival, Xiao He, they didn't stop the topic but still greeted him one by one.

Many of them he had met before, so Xiao He familiarly responded to each one and sat down next to Director Zhuang.

"But this project still carries high risk. Let's discuss it later."

One of them crushed his cigarette into the ashtray, shaking his head slightly. Though the words were phrased tactfully, it was essentially a rejection.

"This kind of thing, I think it's better to avoid it if possible. Director Zhuang, you need to be cautious."

Another person also put down his lit cigarette, shaking his head with some helplessness, looking at Director Zhuang as if he were a suddenly reckless junior.

But that was normal. These people's cooperation with Director Zhuang was first and foremost about the money. If a project investment carried profit risks, they would lean toward a neutral stance.

Only Director Zhuang maintained his smile, raising his glass with an embarrassed expression. "Actually, I've already contacted people from Hong Kong before this. Although the project isn't fully negotiated yet, their requirements aren't high. I should be able to take it on all at once. But when it comes time to transfer it back to domestic theaters, I might need all you bosses' help. I hope you'll give me some opportunities."

"Ha, I was wondering why this kid suddenly brought this up. Turns out he's already negotiated with others."

The middle-aged man sitting in the main seat laughed heartily, and the others joined in.

Xiao He naturally wouldn't join in teasing Director Zhuang. He just held back a smile and sat quietly, listening to everyone's conversation.

After another round of drinks, he roughly understood the situation.

Director Zhuang's next project was exactly what Sister Liu had guessed - a rather complex new project. The investors here weren't very optimistic about it, so Director Zhuang had already found cooperation partners in Hong Kong early on and came to the big shots in Beijing in advance to arrange future release issues.

Normally, for a film to be released normally in Beijing or even domestically, there was no need to go through such trouble or discuss it this far in advance. The process would be: complete the project review, follow standard procedures during filming, and finally discuss release reviews and theater arrangements.

But from the looks of Director Zhuang's situation, it seemed he wanted to solve the release issue first?

Wasn't that putting the cart before the horse?

Xiao He thought for a moment, then suddenly understood.

—This wasn't about the release issue at all. The real message hidden between the lines was hinting at the project approval issue!

After all, Director Zhuang had said he was negotiating with Hong Kong but hadn't fully secured the deal yet. Why? Naturally, because of the project approval problem he was raising now!

The project's subject matter must be somewhat sensitive, involving certain issues that made domestic release difficult. This hesitation from the Hong Kong side forced Director Zhuang to come back and beg the Beijing big shots to help him think of a way, pull some strings.

So on the surface, what he said earlier was about release, but what he was actually asking for was project approval.

After Xiao He figured this out, he immediately started thinking about another question - what exactly was Director Zhuang's new project going to be?

Earlier, he thought Director Zhuang wanted to collaborate with Hong Kong to make a big crime-action film, complete with intense gun battles and explosions. But looking at it now, it didn't seem to match his imagination... No matter how pessimistic the big shots were, they shouldn't have backed out so easily. After all, even if crime-action films were hard to approve, they could still get through.

But beyond that, what else could Hong Kong produce?

Vague ideas for several themes flashed through Xiao He's mind, but he rejected them all.

No, that's not right. With Director Zhuang's businessman mentality and capitalist nature, he should still be preparing to shoot commercial films that would earn more at the box office.

So action films? Suspense films?

It couldn't be Hong Kong-style comedies, could it?

...But what Xiao He didn't know was that people sometimes get trapped by preconceptions.

Zhuang Hongyi was not just a businessman, a capitalist, a director.

He was also a man with some chuunibyou hot-bloodedness.

—When his blood got pumping, he really did want to shoot something different.