Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 205: Chapter 173: Rising Phase: 09

”Zhou Yun, long time no see!” Zhou Benyuan popped out of nowhere, with a radiant smile on his face, waving his hand, ”You’re really famous now! I can hear your name everywhere I go!”

”Cut it out.” Zhou Yun waved his hand dismissively.

”Brother Chi is still shooting, isn’t he? He hasn’t shown up.” Zhou Benyuan asked curiously.

”He hasn’t wrapped up yet. As the lead actor, he has a lot of scenes to shoot.” Zhou Yun shrugged his shoulders.

Zhou Benyuan said, ”I’m really looking forward to your drama. When will it be broadcasted?”

”I’m not sure about that, probably the end of next year.” Zhou Yun said, ”But it’s not certain, ’Heart Inquiry’ is going to be broadcast on satellite, we have to wait for the schedule.”

The two were chatting when suddenly there was an exclamation from nearby.

Zhou Yun and Zhou Benyuan both looked towards the sound.

Turned out it was a male actor who had gotten drunk and was dancing on a chair.

People around burst into laughter.

Just then, Zhou Lan came over with a woman with short hair, around the age of forty, and introduced her to Zhou Yun: ”Xiao Yun, this is the chief director of tonight’s New Year’s Eve gala, Wei Zhili, Director Wei.”

Zhou Yun immediately smiled, reached out proactively and said, ”Director Wei, hello, I’m Zhou Yun.”

Zhou Yun had previously been in touch with a specific director responsible for coordination, and the two times she had rehearsals, Wei Zhili happened not to be there, so this was the first time Zhou Yun and Wei Zhili were meeting face to face.

Female directors working in TV stations generally have a decisive and quick-disposal temperament, but Wei Zhili emanated a calm and composed air.

”Hello Xiao Yun.” Wei Zhili smiled, her lean face showed a genial expression, ”Thank you for coming to support our New Year’s Eve gala.”

Zhou Yun replied, ”I should be thanking you for giving me such a great stage to perform.”

Wei Zhili had worked at Hongcheng TV Station for many years, dealt with innumerable celebrities and artists, and least appreciated those who were arrogant and condescending. Though Zhou Yun had rocketed to fame, she didn’t have such an air, which made Wei Zhili’s smile even gentler.

She said, ”Are you interested in participating in our Lantern Festival gala?”

Zhou Yun was taken aback.

Wei Zhili said, ”Your performance today got really good real-time ratings, I think the station’s leaders would be very happy too.”

The Lantern Festival gala is different from the New Year’s Eve gala in nature.

Zhou Yun looked towards Zhou Lan.

Zhou Lan smiled and put an arm around Wei Zhili’s shoulder, shook it affectionately and said, ”Sister Wei, let’s check this later and see if the schedule fits. I can’t really remember what the arrangements are for that day.”

Wei Zhili said, ”Okay, by the way, Xiao Yun, you’re an actor, let me introduce you to the head of Hongcheng TV Station’s screenplay purchase center.”

The heads of purchase centers for big platforms are like big shots in the entertainment industry, highly courted.

Whether they’ll buy your show, and how much they’ll pay for it, ninety-nine percent of the decision is in the hands of these big shots.

Actors often dine with heads or deputy heads of different platform purchase centers, to put it simply, platforms are the sponsors for TV dramas, and purchase centers are their buyers.

Wei Zhili taking the initiative to introduce Zhou Yun to the head of Hongcheng TV Station’s purchase center is both a return favor for Zhou Yun participating in the New Year’s Eve gala, as well as a good first impression of Zhou Yun. Now being a popular actress, cooperating with Hongcheng TV Station is mutually beneficial.

Wei Zhili was quite willing to build a good relationship with Zhou Yun.

The head of Hongcheng TV station’s screenplay purchase center, Xiong Weihe, was just over fifty, neither thin nor fat, but sturdy, apparently maintaining regular exercise.

At this banquet, naturally many people were surrounding Xiong Weihe, whether they were producers, directors, agents, or artists.

Connections can be both useful and useless, but often, the more intangible such things are, the more you can’t afford to overlook them.

Who would spend tens of millions or even hundreds of millions to buy your show just because of these so-called connections? People aren’t foolish and certainly won’t jeopardize their own livelihoods.

But with so many dramas to choose from, and when several are roughly the same, the gears begin to turn.

Zhou Yun was introduced to Xiong Weihe by Wei Zhili.

”Director Xiong, Xiao Yun, you know each other, right?” Wei Zhili pointed at Zhou Yun and asked.

Xiong Weihe was polite, nodding his head, with a friendly smile appearing as his eyes curved, ”Of course I know, Sister Wei is impressive, many satellite stations are vying for Zhou Yun, and you’ve nabbed her.”

Such praise made Wei Zhili feel quite pleased, yet she modestly said, ”It’s okay. I heard the young lady is quite a good actress. She just played in ’Heart Inquiry’ directed by Director Kang Xin and starring Song Chi, as the second female lead.”

Xiong Weihe smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showing.

”I know, of course, I know. I even want to buy ’Heart Inquiry’ to broadcast on our station, it’s a potential hit drama.”

Zhou Yun accompanied with a smile.

Wei Zhili said, ”You’re familiar with many film and television companies, aren’t you? If there’s a good opportunity, recommend it to the young lady.”

Regardless of what Xiong Weihe was thinking, he naturally went with the flow in response, saying, ”Sure, no problem.”

”Director Xiong, may I add you on WeChat?” Zhou Lan timely asked with a smile, ”Zhou Lan, Zhou Yun’s agent.”

Being Zhou Yun’s agent, of course, Xiong Weihe wouldn’t refuse.

After all, the film and television market are still celebrity-centric. Aside from a few well-known directors, most TV dramas rely on stars to sell advertising.

”By the way, didn’t our station also buy another one of Zhou Yun’s dramas?” Xiong Weihe suddenly said.

Zhou Yun and Zhou Lan looked at each other in confusion.

She had only shot three dramas in total; the first one is not worth mentioning, totally a minor role, and Xiong Weihe certainly wasn’t referring to that.

It couldn’t be ’Heart Inquiry,’ so it must be ’Eighth Heartbeat.’

Zhou Yun had not heard that ’Eighth Heartbeat’ was bought by Hongcheng TV Station.

”It’s bought, but not for the first-round broadcast.” Wei Zhili said. ”It seems planned for daytime broadcasting.”

Xiong Weihe nodded, recalling, ”Seems like it.”

It was news to Zhou Yun.

”I heard ’Eighth Heartbeat’ is very popular online, a young lady under me highly recommended it, asking us to buy a broadcast right.” Xiong Weihe said with a grin, ”She must be your fan.”

Zhou Yun was somewhat flattered and said, ”Thank you.”

Zhou Yun also added Xiong Weihe on WeChat, exchanging contacts.

After a few words, a low exclamation suddenly came from nearby.

”Wei Ru Xue is here.”

”Why is she so late? I thought she wasn’t coming today.”

...

People around were whispering quietly.

Hearing this familiar name, Zhou Yun was stunned, only then realizing that Wei Ru Xue was also attending tonight’s New Year’s Eve gala.