This celebrity became even more popular after being exposed of having multiple girlfriends
Chapter 538 - 379_2

Chapter 538: Chapter 379_2

The two companies need no explanation.

As for Director Tang and Director Xie?

Someone worthy of Yang Rongfa’s special mention must not be simple characters.

Wu Mu thought for a moment and immediately knew who it was.

It’s Tang Wei and Xie Chunfang.

They are directors on the same level as Lin Xueming.

All are accomplished and high-status veterans, enjoying fame in the industry.

So, all the big shots are over there.

He walked with Yang Rongfa towards the small lounge.

As they got closer, he could see the situation in the small lounge clearly.

Lin Xueming indeed was sitting in the central part on a sofa, holding a wine glass, seemingly speaking.

Quite a few people sat nearby, some who seemed to have a boss-like demeanor, and several middle-aged men stood by their artist subordinates.

Director Tang Wei, trying to hide his bald head under a cotton beret, but still failing to cover his baldness. And Director Xie Chunfang, towering over everyone there, despite his name carrying "Fang", which implies fragrance.

And...

Wu Mu paused in his steps.

A woman around her forties, dressed in a black fitted set and pearl necklace, elegantly whispering and laughing with a nearby person.

Lin Qingyue’s mother is here?

It was Wu Mu’s first time actually meeting Lin Qingyue’s mother in person; he had never run into her when visiting Lin Qingyue’s home before.

However, Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, was an old-generation actress in the industry. He recognized her from photos.

After pausing, Wu Mu continued walking forward.

He hadn’t walked far when he encountered another acquaintance.

In a more peripheral position of the small lounge, a man around thirty, standing upright with a plate in his hand, seemed to be listening intently to Lin Xueming.

It’s Geng Wei.

The boss from the Xiao Yi Company who initially wanted to sign him, but was rejected and retaliated by trying to blacklist him.

Wu Mu didn’t really care about this person, so he continued walking without stopping.

As he got closer, Lin Xueming’s voice became audible, "This year’s film market is undeniably alarming. The official data from the National Film Bureau has yet to be published, but I already asked Director Cao Guang for detailed information. This year’s total film market box office is 42.5 billion, reflecting a 21% decrease compared to last year’s level."

Lin Xueming paused seriously, noticing Wu Mu walking over.

Not only him, but others in the small lounge also saw him.

The faces of people in the lounge varied; a few artist subordinates trying to mix in appeared slightly surprised, seemingly questioning why he was here.

Those big shots like the two major company bosses and Director Tang and Director Xie barely glanced at him, indifferent.

Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, at first didn’t seem to react, staring at Wu Mu’s face for half a second before showing some realization.

And... Geng Wei.

Seeing Wu Mu, his expression visibly darkened, and when their eyes met, he forced a smile.

Unbothered by him, Wu Mu just glanced casually and moved on.

This indifference undeniably made Geng Wei’s face even gloomier.

"Total movie viewership also significantly declined this year. It’s 1.01 billion visits, compared to 1.299 billion last year—a drop of nearly 300 million. The situation is even worse compared to 2019 when the total box office was 64.2 billion, marking a 33.9% decline. In five years, our total film box office not only didn’t increase but has been declining annually."

Lin Xueming paused slightly but didn’t conclude his speech, gazing at Wu Mu, then continued.

Wu Mu was unperturbed, standing at the edge of the small lounge.

"To put it bluntly, this level is even lower than ten years ago in 2015 when the total box office was 44 billion. Our industry’s overall revenue has regressed to ten years ago’s level. Such alarming figures, I believe, are worth our reflection as filmmakers to understand the causes of this outcome."

Lin Xueming was discussing the shrinking film market.

This has indeed been a trend over the past few years; despite expectations of prosperity, the film market has regressed to a decade ago’s level.

The data is so obvious and exaggerated that over ten years showed not growth but regression, instantly making the closely involved in the industry feel a cold chill, wearing slight heaviness on their faces.

The decline of film box office is extremely unfavorable for both bosses and celebrities.

If this decline continues, how many more years can they still profit in the industry?

Director Tang took over after Lin Xueming’s speech, "The issue Lin mentioned is also what I often ponder this year—why the audience no longer enjoys watching movies, why people are disinclined to spend money going to the cinemas..."

Without haste, Wu Mu continued standing, listening.

However, Lin Qingyue’s mother didn’t let him wait for long, beckoning him over.

Wu Mu walked over softly from the edge.

Seated on the sofa, Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, lifted her gaze slightly, speaking calmly, "You must be Wu Mu?"

Wu Mu nodded, "Yes, hello Aunt Du."

"You know me?"

"Director Lin mentioned you to me." Wu Mu habitually called her Director Lin, and another Director Lin nearby glanced at him.

"Why didn’t she come?"

"She has to deal with some things related to her film crew and couldn’t leave."

Du Lan’s unexpectedly cordial attitude took Wu Mu by surprise.

They chatted like ordinary elders and juniors.

While they chatted briefly, a woman seated nearby interjected, "Alan, aren’t you going to introduce us?"

Du Lan smiled, "Does he need an introduction? His features are pretty distinct."

Despite saying this, she still introduced Wu Mu, "Wu Mu, this is Boss Ji from Light Shadow Media’s wife, Yao Ping."

"Hello, Mrs. Yao," Wu Mu greeted politely.

The woman named Yao Ping looked at Du Lan, teasing, "Why do you call Alan Aunt Lan, but me Mrs. Yao?"

Wu Mu adapted fluidly, "Aunt Yao."

Just then, Director Tang’s conversation concluded, so Du Lan went ahead to introduce Wu Mu to everyone.

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While Wu Mu prepared his second appearance, the Six-Seven gala aired half an hour late but eventually went live.

In Zhang Li’s small apartment, Zhang Li and Han Yan were undoubtedly waiting by the computer screen.

Originally, they weren’t interested in the Six-Seven gala. Even if they wanted to watch, they’d choose the guest-rich, bigger production CCTV Six-Seven, or the more engaging, youth-oriented Shacheng Six-Seven.

The middle-ground Beijing TV Station didn’t pique much interest.

However, with Wu Mu performing in the program, it was different.

As "black fans" of Wu Gou, they couldn’t possibly miss such a program, especially with drama involved.

Han Yan had the comments scroll open; as soon as the gala refreshed, people began flooding the comments with boycott Wu Mu waves.

Han Yan laughed at the comments, "Haha, they’re just relentless. Beijing TV Station is bluntly protecting themselves, and they still come over to contribute to viewership."

Zhang Li laughed too, "Well, since it’s started, they can’t just end it suddenly."

Indeed, the general public wouldn’t keep tracking this event, but Xiao Yi’s fans and Wu Mu’s "black fans" wouldn’t just let it end abruptly.

---------

Standing beneath the gray mountain and sea backdrops of the motherland, Xiao Yi sang with heightened emotion:

"That year, you were as young as me, as fresh as a naïve song."

"But to create the dreamlike new world, you swiftly turned to face the storm."

Hmm?

Du Xingguo subconsciously looked at his granddaughter.

This?

Even though he isn’t a professional, he could tell this person was nowhere near the previous singer, even after tuning had minimized pitch issues and sound effects; the voice still felt hollow, lacking Infectiousness.

How is this exciting?

Hu Qing couldn’t see what was great either.

Xu Zhichun continued the second segment: