Chapter 56

Director Li Lei’s New Drama Mountain Path—A Hit Before It Even Airs?!

The drama wasn’t even finished editing for review yet, but its filming location had already secured a 6-billion-yuan investment in the tourism industry!

This news left both entertainment insiders and casual gossipers alike completely stunned.

According to rumors, the drama had caught the attention of CCTV Channel One. If nothing unexpected happened, it would be scheduled for a prime-time slot in the first quarter of next year, becoming CCTV’s grand opening drama of the year!

What kind of luckiest duck in the world was this?!

Newcomers in the industry were green with envy.

Some had debuted even earlier than Wei Sheng—especially trainees who had suffered through years of hardship before their debut, barely scraping by in the industry like “entertainment industry welfare recipients.”

“No wonder Wei Sheng went to get a government job first. Even if it’s just a contract position, having an official identity really makes a difference.”

“Exactly! I heard that J Province TV Station treats Wei Sheng like their own son. They haven’t even started next year’s sponsorship season yet, but supposedly, all the variety shows and drama projects funded by the station next year will be offered to Wei Sheng first. Only after he makes his picks will the leftovers be available to others…”

“Ugh! Down with resource hogs!”

Meanwhile, Wei Sheng—who was being “boycotted” by anti-fans—really wanted to ask from afar: Would you guys take this luck if it were handed to you?

At this moment, the so-called “insider with too many choices” was actually sitting in a TV station conference room, enduring the scrutinizing gazes of a room full of executives while Zhou Mingxing passionately debated his work arrangements for the next year.

Wei Sheng’s popularity had skyrocketed so much that every department at the station wanted him involved in their events.

After all, he was an internal employee. Inviting Wei Sheng to participate meant his appearance fee would be significantly lower than hiring an external celebrity of the same level—huge cost savings!

Even if he didn’t perform, just showing up at an opening ceremony would allow them to leverage his star power.

“No way! Overexposure will severely diminish Xiao Wei’s commercial value!” Zhou Mingxing was never one to compromise on principles. He immediately threw the issue back at them—

“Let’s not even talk about anything else—just the appearance fee. Xiao Wei’s participation in station events is calculated based on performance assessment, right? I ran the numbers: for one event, his appearance fee is less than 1,000 yuan.”

“If he keeps doing events for 1,000 yuan each, dear leaders, how am I supposed to price his commercial performances next year?”

The room fell silent.

Sensing the moment, Zhou Mingxing softened his stance and offered a solution—

“Of course, as a member of the station, Xiao Wei will naturally participate in major official events. We still have a sense of collective honor.”

“How about this? For all major station celebrations and events where you need Xiao Wei, we’ll do our best to accommodate the schedule. But as you all know, public holidays are when outside commercial offers skyrocket…”

His implication was clear—if Wei Sheng had to work overtime for the station during peak commercial seasons, the financial loss could be significant.

The executives were stunned.

They always knew Zhou Mingxing was a money-minded manager, but this was next-level—this guy wasn’t just greedy, he was practically a fortune-hoarding pixiu!

Just a moment ago, he was talking about collective honor, but the second an outside company offered more money, that honor mysteriously disappeared?!

“Xiao Wei, what do you think? Let’s hear your thoughts.” The station director smiled at Wei Sheng, exuding an air of seniority and warmth.

If this had been the Wei Sheng from a year ago, he would have foolishly said he was young and inexperienced, happy to follow the station’s arrangements.

But now?

Now, he finally understood why Zhou Mingxing always brought him along to business negotiations—because there was so much to learn.

Take this exact situation: he and Zhou Mingxing were like two plump little lambs surrounded by a pack of wolves. Show the slightest weakness, and they’d be picked clean down to the bone.

And yet, anti-fans online were calling him a “resource hog”?

Pfft!

If he didn’t have genuine commercial value, what company would go out of their way to favor a mere contract employee? What kind of contract employee got one-on-one negotiation meetings with station executives? Wake up!

The so-called “privileged resources” that others envied were, in reality, Wei Sheng’s own time and commercial value being drained—just as Zhou Mingxing had said.

This wasn’t about arrogance or looking down on the station’s projects. It was about understanding market value.

Wei Sheng looked up at the station director. His smile was still a little shy, but his words were clear and unwavering—

“I agree with President Zhou. The station separated its entertainment division into an independent company to generate revenue, didn’t it?”

“Here’s how I see it: if I participate in a station event and save the station 300,000 yuan in guest star fees, but if I take an external gig that pays 600,000 yuan, then in the grand scheme of things, the station actually earns more by letting me work externally.”

“As you all know, traditional media’s advertising revenue has been declining every year. I checked last year’s financial report—nearly 65% of the station’s total revenue came from subsidiary companies.”

“As a member of a subsidiary company, I believe my focus should be on maximizing revenue for the station.”

“Besides,” Wei Sheng flashed an easygoing smile, “the station is my home. If I happen to be around when an event takes place, do you think I’d ignore it? Unless… the other departments don’t want me there?”

At this, the previously displeased executives broke into smiles.

Oh, right!

Wei Sheng wasn’t like other celebrities—he didn’t need to be booked in advance!

When he wasn’t working on external projects, he still had to report to work at the station.

If an event coincided with his workdays, they could just tag him in the group chat—would he really turn down a direct request from the higher-ups?

Zhou Mingxing silently gave Wei Sheng a big thumbs-up in his heart.

Although his earlier words somewhat embarrassed the leadership, he managed to smooth things over later.

Saying things like “traditional media advertising revenue has dropped sharply” is like stabbing the leadership right in the lungs—no need to bring that up in meetings!

Save it for when you’re arguing with someone.

After the meeting, Zhou Mingxing was about to take Wei Sheng back to the company when Pu Xiangdong stopped them.

“I heard Xiao Wei is pretty good at square dancing? Perfect timing—tomorrow night, the station is hosting an early New Year’s dinner for some retired cadres. Let Xiao Wei come with me.”

What the hell?!

Wei Sheng almost took off his shoe to throw at him!

Selling out your own mistress is one thing, but now you’ve got your eyes on me too? Are you even human?

To his shock, Zhou Mingxing actually agreed to this engagement on his behalf.

“President Zhou, I need a reasonable explanation!”

At work, he couldn’t show attitude to his boss, but the moment they got in the car, Wei Sheng couldn’t hold back his temper anymore.

“What are you thinking? This is a legitimate, high-end, government-affiliated dinner, not some shady sugar mommy gathering!” Zhou Mingxing knew he would overthink it and explained with a smirk. “You’re new, so you don’t know—our station has a tradition of hosting reunion dinners for retired cadres every year.”

“Relax. Our dear Deputy Director can barely keep his own position right now. He’s eager to get on good terms with everyone at the station, especially the influential retirees. Bringing you along is probably his way of making peace with you—so you won’t hold a grudge over what he did before.”

“Come on, I’m just a rookie!” Wei Sheng said in surprise.

“A rookie? On the national TV station? A rookie who got hand-picked by Li Lei as the male lead on his debut?” Zhou Mingxing shot him a teasing glance. “Enjoy your newbie days while they last! Your fans are still mad about that unfiltered airport photo last time—they’re already planning to welcome you at your next event just to get better pictures, haha!”

By now, Zhou Mingxing couldn’t take the phrase “airport photo” seriously anymore.

It was practically a PR disaster!

Once he had fans meeting him at the airport and photographers taking retouched candid shots, this kid would realize how sweet life as a newbie had been.

As their car pulled out of the underground garage, Zhou Mingxing checked the time and said apologetically, “You don’t mind if I swing by the school first, do you? Yinuo is about to get out.”

Wei Sheng nodded. “Of course not—I even brought her a gift.”

He reached into his backpack and pulled out a beautifully embroidered Miao-style crossbody bag, with a small pouch tucked inside.

“I heard a lot of schools have ‘Hanfu Day’ now. I was filming in a rural area recently and saw these in a local artisan’s home, so I got one for Yinuo.”

“Thanks!” A soft warmth flickered in Zhou Mingxing’s eyes.

Liang Yue’s condition had deteriorated too quickly—she passed away half a month ago.

Before she died, whether out of lingering attachment to her daughter or a late-blooming conscience, she left most of the fortune she made in showbiz to Yinuo.

The Liang family had tried to contest it, but it was useless. Liang Yue had notarized her will before her passing, placing most of her wealth into a trust fund for Yinuo. Even the properties were all transferred to her daughter’s name.

The tragic demise of a legendary actress left countless fans heartbroken.

In the end, Zhou Mingxing couldn’t bring himself to expose Liang Yue’s abuse of their daughter.

He sympathized with Liang Yue’s fate, but their relationship had long since ended. His decision not to reveal the truth wasn’t for her sake—it was to protect Yinuo.

After so many years in the industry, he knew all too well how ruthless certain media outlets could be.

He had no doubt that if the news of “Liang Yue suspected of abusing her own daughter” got out, the tabloids would swarm Yinuo. They’d hound her at every turn, forcing her to relive those painful memories, asking if she still remembered how her mother had mistreated her.

Liang Yue’s fans, unaware of the truth, could forgive her for secretly having a child.

But Zhou Mingxing could never forgive his ex-wife for the harm she had inflicted on their daughter.

When they reached the school, the line of cars picking up students was backed up all the way to the intersection—it was impossible to drive any closer.

Zhou Mingxing had the driver inch forward while he got out to pick up Yinuo.

“President Zhou, I’ll come with you! I can say hi to my mom too.”

Wei Sheng hopped out as well.

And just like that—game over!

Most of the people picking up kids were grandparents. The moment they spotted Wei Sheng’s face, the whole scene erupted into chaos.

“Hey! Isn’t that the celebrity who teaches square dancing live? What’s his name again?”

“Wei Sheng! I know him—he lives in my neighborhood!”

“Xiao Wei! You’re back from filming? Come take a video with me—I need more followers!”

A group of elderly folks, moving like a swarm of demon spiders, instantly dragged Wei Sheng into their web.

After much effort, they finally made it through the crowd. The first-graders had already been dismissed, and the teacher on duty was holding up a class sign, waiting for parents to “claim” their little ones.

Wei Sheng was stuck taking selfies and signing autographs, so Zhou Mingxing couldn’t just leave him behind. He called the driver and told him to find a spot nearby to park and wait.

Looking around, he noticed that the shop Wei Sheng had set up for his mother had apparently opened. Holding Yinuo, he squeezed through the crowd.

“Daddy! Chicks! So many chicks!” Yinuo excitedly tugged at his coat, her big, shiny eyes glued to a basket by the store entrance.

Hu Qianqian’s specialty store mainly sold authentic farm produce. And don’t think a school entrance is a bad place to sell these things—it’s actually the perfect spot! Just think, how many young parents come to pick up their kids?

At 3:30 in the afternoon, most young adults are still at work—it’s mostly grandparents picking up the children.

Elderly folks love buying these rural specialty products that are hard to find in the city, especially free-range chickens and eggs. During the store’s opening days, Hu Qianqian even arranged for people to make small skewers of sugar-coated hawthorns—bright red and wrapped in candy paper. Every customer who spent over 38 yuan got a free skewer.

Who could resist?

Grandkids were already clamoring for sugar-coated hawthorns, so why not go in and buy something? They’d save money on the hawthorns, too!

Having spent most of her life in an old residential community, Hu Qianqian understood perfectly well that elderly customers loved free gifts. And just like that, business started booming.

Lately, parents had been asking around about where to buy chicks. Apparently, the schools had assigned a hands-on labor project, requiring kids to learn how to raise poultry. Seeing an opportunity, Hu Qianqian had a basket of baby chicks and another of ducklings brought in from a rural farm.

Who would have thought they’d become an instant hit?

Parents were beyond grateful—not only did she keep the prices fair, but for just 30 yuan, they got two chicks or ducklings in a ventilated paper box, plus a complimentary bag of feed. That was a much better deal than driving dozens of kilometers to a rural market, where the gas money alone would cost more than that.

With this, Hu Family Specialty Store’s business flourished even more.

Kids eagerly picked out chicks while parents casually bought free-range eggs, cured meats, smoked fish, dried vegetables, and other goods. At checkout, anyone who spent over 88 yuan would receive an extra pack of Ding Ding Candy from the cheerful and beautiful store owner.

Seeing this nostalgic childhood treat, many parents born in the 80s couldn’t help but smile.

Whether you grew up in the city or the countryside, didn’t everyone as a kid carefully collect scrap materials, waiting for the bicycle peddler to come by so they could trade them for Ding Ding Candy?

Ding Ding Candy was just maltose syrup hardened into a rock-like consistency. Vendors would use a special metal plate and a small hammer to break the solid sugar into pieces, producing the signature “ding ding” sound—hence the name.

A few days ago, as Hu Qianqian was closing up shop, she noticed an elderly man squatting by the bus stop near the school. It was pouring rain, and the white-haired old man was pushing a bicycle with a large cart full of unsold Ding Ding Candy.

When she got closer, she saw that the back of his bike also had a huge sign—

He was searching for his son, who had been abducted 28 years ago.

Hu Qianqian teared up on the spot.

After that, she made an arrangement with the old man—he would deliver maltose candy to her shop twice a week. Ding Ding Candy was, after all, a type of traditional specialty treat. She put some on the shelves for sale and packed some into small bags to give out as freebies. It wasn’t a big expense, and who knows? If people liked it, they might come back to buy more.

As Hu Qianqian bustled about, sweating, Zhou Mingxing had his assistant hold onto Zhou Yinuo and help her pick out a few chicks to raise at home. Since they lived in a standalone villa with high walls, as long as they didn’t raise a loud rooster, no one would bother complaining.

Meanwhile, Zhou Mingxing took off his suit jacket, went behind the checkout counter, and started helping customers bag their purchases.

“Huh? President Zhou? You—how can I let you do this?” Hu Qianqian was startled by his sudden appearance.

“Why not? You handle the payments, leave this to me. After all those bowls of braised pig trotters I’ve eaten at your place, helping with some manual labor is nothing.”

With his long arms and legs, Zhou Mingxing bagged items much faster than the petite Hu Qianqian.

Since the store was packed, Hu Qianqian didn’t argue and quickly turned to the register.

Not long after, once he’d finished taking photos with his elderly fan club, Wei Sheng ran in, sweating.

The moment he stepped inside, he went straight to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and downed half of it in one go.

After hydrating, he joined in to help. Since he was good-looking, kids naturally liked him, so Hu Qianqian had him help pack the chicks the children had picked out.

By 5:30 p.m., as the school’s evening rush died down, everyone was utterly exhausted.

“Mom! The store is so busy—why don’t you hire an employee?”

Hu Qianqian shot him a look. “Do you think this shop makes that much money? I’m barely making enough to support myself. If I hire someone, I might as well work for them instead!”

Wei Sheng scratched his nose, trying to butter her up. “But Mom, the shop just opened. Once business stabilizes and profits go up, you really should hire someone. I wanted you to open this store to pass the time, not to wear yourself out.”

As the mother and son bickered, Zhou Mingxing, now free, checked his phone and suddenly lit up.

“Wei Sheng! Mountain Path has been scheduled! The production team just contacted us—official announcement at 8 p.m. tonight. There’ll be a trailer link and even your solo teaser link. Make sure to share it on time.”

“What? I get my own teaser?” Wei Sheng was thrilled.

Zhou Mingxing gave him a look. “Did you think they didn’t take solo costume photos of you?”

Wei Sheng: “…”

How was I supposed to know they’d actually release them? I thought they were just being polite!

At first, the Mountain Path production team was indeed just being polite. In the original script, Yang Fan was merely an important supporting role. But after Wei Sheng joined the cast, his strong logic skills “brainwashed” the director and screenwriters. As the script kept evolving, he went from a supporting role to the male lead.

Of course, only a few insiders knew about this for now. Li Lei had ordered the crew to keep it under wraps to avoid stirring up gossip about Wei Sheng “buying his way into the role” or “tampering with the script” before the drama even aired.

“This is amazing! So we’ll be able to see Wei Sheng on TV after the New Year, right?” Hu Qianqian was overjoyed.

Ever since her son joined the cast, their family had sold their old TV and upgraded to a large ultra-HD screen—just so they could watch his drama the moment it aired.

Emma~ Her son was truly something else!

“Hmm, the tentative premiere date is March 10 next year, at 8:08 PM, on National Channel One’s prime-time slot!”

Even Zhou Mingxing couldn’t hide his excitement. With Mountain Path officially scheduled, the biggest winner on paper was their company. After all, they had only recommended two people to the production, and both ended up landing lead roles—one as the female lead and the other as the male lead. A complete victory!

Once the drama was set for broadcast, even before it aired, both Shen Yi and Wei Sheng’s market value would rise. More importantly, getting a prime-time slot on National Channel One wasn’t just a commercial boost for the actors; it was an affirmation of their public image.

At the very least, those messy, low-quality scripts wouldn’t dare be sent their way anymore.

“This is a huge celebration for our family! President Zhou, you guys haven’t had dinner yet, right? Let’s go, tonight’s on me! We’ll book a feast at Tonghui Tower!” Hu Qianqian cheerfully called her father, giving Zhou Mingxing no chance to refuse. She locked up the store, grabbed her bag, and hopped straight into their business car.

Her straightforward, fiery nature was completely different from his ex-wife, Liang Yue, who had always been a deep-thinking, melancholic literary goddess.

Zhou Mingxing, used to navigating social situations with diplomacy, found himself slightly unprepared for Ms. Hu’s direct approach. By the time he processed what was happening, he was already seated in a private dining room at Tonghui Tower.

As they waited for food, the drama’s production team started rolling out individual teaser links for key actors like Shen Yi and Wei Sheng. Wei Sheng not only shared his own teaser but also thoughtfully retweeted his senior sister’s.

Zhou Mingxing saw this and smiled without commenting.

He had already figured out that while Wei Sheng seemed easygoing and easy to push around, he actually had an exceptionally high emotional intelligence. He was a natural fit for the entertainment industry, handling things instinctively without needing much guidance from his manager.

Sure enough, the one who extends an olive branch first usually receives goodwill in return.

Not long after, Shen Yi also shared Wei Sheng’s solo teaser link.

(End of Chapter)