Chapter 105: I Am Proud of You

Chapter 105: You Make Me Proud

"You don't have that much influence at this stage. But after this drama airs, I hope fame and fortune won’t go to your head, and you can stay true to yourself," Jiang Ruotang said with a smile.

"Fame and fortune going to my head..." Ling Song didn’t seem to believe such a day would ever come for him.

"The current situation is just a game of interests among major platforms and production companies. Don’t overthink it. Some platforms are simply short on money—whether you’re the lead actor or not won’t stop them from being cheapskates."

The word "cheapskate" sounded oddly amusing coming from Jiang Ruotang’s mouth, making Ling Song chuckle.

Seeing how composed his boss was, Ling Song’s tension eased, and he returned to reviewing the scripts and roles sent to him. The one that intrigued him the most was *West Window Strange Tales*, though the role he wanted would likely be highly contested. He had no time to waste on online controversies—instead, he focused on studying the aloof scholar character, determined to secure it during auditions as a way to repay Jiang Ruotang’s trust and appreciation.

In the following days, Jiang Huaiyuan moped alone in his study.

Away from the set, he lost his usual decisiveness, sighing like a child too afraid to go home with a failing grade.

Then, Xiaotianguo officially held a meeting, and Zhao Yunshu received a call from Gao Cheng himself, informing her that Xiaotianguo was considering purchasing the exclusive online streaming rights for *Drunken Immortal Terrace*.

It felt like perfect timing—a lifeline in desperate times.

Still, Zhao Yunshu couldn’t help but ask, "President Gao, I just want to confirm—is Xiaotianguo buying *Drunken Immortal Terrace* because of our Ruotang? If so, there’s no need. The national broadcaster is still evaluating it, though the review process is lengthy and might miss the winter premiere window. But that’s not a big deal."

Gao Cheng laughed. "President Zhao, you’re overthinking it. Chairman Jiang has always been all business. We need *Drunken Immortal Terrace* as part of our rebranding strategy. We’ll start with comics and merchandise to build buzz and attract an audience. We’re well aware of Director Jiang’s influence in broadcast television. Even with policy constraints, a strong work will draw viewers regardless of airing slots. So we’re only seeking exclusive online rights—it won’t interfere with your broadcast plans. Please send us your offer."

Listening to this, Zhao Yunshu suddenly recalled how Jiang Ruotang had once urged her to acquire *Drunken Immortal Terrace*’s rights and produce it herself with her husband. Had he foreseen this day?

He had already been drawn to this unconventional xianxia story, seeing it as a stepping stone for Xiaotianguo’s transformation. But the production had to be top-notch—and who was more reliable than his father’s team?

As the call ended, Gao Cheng’s remark—"It takes family to win battles"—confirmed Zhao Yunshu’s suspicions. Her confusion vanished, replaced by relief.

Lowering her eyes, she shook her head in amusement. "That kid... he plans hundreds of steps ahead. Is he psychic or something?"

She walked to the study door and knocked. "Huaiyuan, I have something to tell you."

Jiang Huaiyuan looked up, his eyes filled with a loneliness that was almost pitiful—though Zhao Yunshu found it slightly amusing now.

"What rejection? It’s about an online platform. While Qilin Video and Yunfeng Video are still hesitating, another platform wants to buy our drama’s streaming rights. The terms are excellent—they’re just waiting for our offer."

"Another platform? Which one? Not Lexin, right? That’s a livestreaming site—either peddling merchandise or dance shows. Our drama won’t earn viewer donations!"

Zhao Yunshu bit back a laugh, teasing inwardly: *Have you been secretly tipping someone behind my back?*

"It’s Xiaotianguo."

"What?" Jiang Huaiyuan’s mouth hung open for several seconds. "Don’t they air cartoons?"

"They also have celebrity profiles—half the entertainment industry has accounts there for promotions and updates. They already have a built-in audience interested in dramas. They’re transitioning now, expanding into live-action content. Our show fits their needs perfectly."

Jiang Huaiyuan fell silent. "Let me look into this platform first."

"Sure, take all the time you need."

*Xiaotianguo is your son’s investment, and yet you, the director father, still think it only shows cartoons?*

That night, Jiang Huaiyuan did nothing but explore Xiaotianguo, studying its channels, interactive communities, and features. Searching for *Drunken Immortal Terrace* yielded a wealth of content—far from the simple cartoon site he remembered.

Moreover, Chen Qian, as Ling Song’s agent, had efficiently set up his profile page on Xiaotianguo, posting promotional stills from *Drunken Immortal Terrace*. Many casual browsers clicked and followed, praising the celestial aesthetic and expressing hope that the drama would deliver on its promise.

To Jiang Huaiyuan’s surprise, he even had his own profile page on Xiaotianguo—managed by a professional team, no less. Clips of him directing actors on set showcased his professionalism and skill, earning him over 200K followers—more than some actors.

Xiaotianguo’s reach and user engagement rivaled even Big Eyed Boy.

Comments praised him as "the most handsome director," "a true artisan in entertainment," and "the ultimate mentor of award-winning actors."

Jiang Huaiyuan couldn’t help but smile.

He brought his laptop to Zhao Yunshu. "Yunshu! Who’s managing my Xiaotianguo account?"

"Who else? Our own company’s team. You signed the authorization form—don’t you remember?" Zhao Yunshu replied, amused.

"Of course your son’s platform would feature you. What father wouldn’t support his child’s venture?"

"I don’t recall. You always tell me what to sign, and I just sign."

"So, what do you think? Should we work with Xiaotianguo, or wait for Qilin and Yunfeng?"

"Xiaotianguo! Our drama will thrive there! The story is high-concept and imaginative, and Xiaotianguo’s user base is already primed to appreciate it. Instead of waiting to be chosen, we should seize the opportunity!"

"What about the offer?"

Jiang Huaiyuan proposed a relatively low price, wanting to show goodwill.

Zhao Yunshu chuckled. "Think again—that’s too low. You have no idea how strong Xiaotianguo’s advertising revenue is. They’ve also invested in gaming, with profits beyond your imagination. Market analysts suggest their earnings rival Qilin Video’s. Don’t undervalue our work—they might take it as disrespect."

After reconsidering, Jiang Huaiyuan suggested a more reasonable figure.

"Good. I’ll send this offer."

"Isn’t Xiaotianguo’s chairman your senior colleague? Should we invite him and CEO Gao for a meal to express our appreciation?" Jiang Huaiyuan asked.

Zhao Yunshu paused. With Lin Chengdong imprisoned, she no longer feared Jiang Huaiyuan accidentally revealing Jiang Ruotang’s business ventures. Later, the Qin family had bought Lin’s shares at a premium, making Old Master Qin the chairman. Wanting to observe the Qins quietly, Jiang Ruotang hadn’t discussed this with his father—knowing Jiang Huaiyuan couldn’t keep secrets from Old Master Qin.

But now that father and son were collaborating, transparency was best.

She texted Jiang Ruotang: "[Young Jiang, should I brag about your empire to your dad?]"

Jiang Ruotang, naturally modest, found it awkward to share details about his investments to his father. If Zhao Yunshu could handle it, he’d gladly let her. And if Jiang Huaiyuan felt slighted, she could calm him down before he returned to make amends.

Jiang Ruotang: "[Yes, please. Thanks.]"

Reading his reply, Zhao Yunshu smirked and turned to Jiang Huaiyuan. "My senior Zheng Huasheng isn’t the real chairman—he’s just acting as proxy shareholder for someone else."

"Oh... I see... Then it might be improper..."

"Actually, you know the real owner. You watched him grow up." She dropped a hint, curious if he’d guess.

"Someone I watched grow up closely? Who?" Jiang Huaiyuan mentally ran through the younger generation—who had such business savvy?

Qin Zhanchao from the Qin family? No, he’d been studying overseas for years—hardly "watched grow up closely."

Among the children of other families, the most familiar one is undoubtedly Lin Lu... but this child was raised with a narrow perspective by Lin Chengdong and his wife, with a somewhat narrow mindset, incapable of achieving great things.

Seeing Jiang Huaiyuan's puzzled expression, Zhao Yunshu continued to drop hints, "This child's grandfather was a Nanyang Chinese merchant. After his passing, he left him an inheritance. With this inheritance, along with his own vision and courage, he invested in many remarkable projects."

"A Nanyang Chinese merchant..." Jiang Huaiyuan pondered thoughtfully.

He recalled that Ruo Tang's grandfather was also a Nanyang Chinese merchant.

"He has a father who's easily swayed and befriended someone not quite decent. This child didn’t dare let his father know about his soaring investments, afraid that the shady uncle would find out and try to empty his pockets just like he did with his dad, so he remained tight-lipped."

Jiang Huaiyuan suddenly thought of Lin Chengdong. Although he always said they couldn’t let Lin Chengdong stray from the right path, every time Lin Chengdong pleaded, Jiang Huaiyuan seemed powerless to resist.

"Not only is he skilled in investments, but he’s also a genius painter. Because the young master of Deyi Tianxia admired his paintings and his investment philosophy, he gave his parents a chance to invest in SoarTech, earning them a substantial profit."

At this point, with the three elements—genius painter, young master of Deyi Tianxia, and SoarTech—if Jiang Huaiyuan still couldn’t figure out who "this child" was, he’d truly be a fool.

He looked up dazedly, his heart surging with excitement, more thrilling than waiting for his son’s college entrance exam results.

"Is... is it Ruo Tang?" Jiang Huaiyuan’s tongue stiffened.

Zhao Yunshu lowered her eyes and nodded with a smile.

"My son is the chairman of Xiaotianguo?" Jiang Huaiyuan clutched his chest, wondering if he was dreaming.

Nowadays, the video streaming market is dominated by Qilin, Yunfeng, and Xiaotianguo, forming a three-way competition.

In less than a year, turning around Xiaotianguo—a video platform plagued by legal issues and debt—into a rapidly rising star? And that person is my son?

"Yes, yes." Zhao Yunshu nodded with a smile, confirming Jiang Huaiyuan’s guess.

"Hah... hahaha..." Jiang Huaiyuan burst into a dazed laugh on the spot.

Zhao Yunshu decided to hit him with another surprise.

"Your son is also a major shareholder of Xiaolan phones."

"Ah? What?"

Xiaolan is a leading brand in domestic smartphones.

Jiang Huaiyuan was astonished.

"Chengjiang District is developing an economic zone, right? Your son bought a lot of fish ponds and factories at low prices. He’s collaborating with Deyi Tianxia’s real estate company, and in about five years, there’ll be a commercial building there. Unless something changes, Xiaotianguo will relocate there."

"..."

Jiang Huaiyuan suddenly felt his own assets were insignificant compared to his son’s.

"Oh, I almost forgot—don’t the young employees in our company love playing *Dreamy Bubbles*?"

"Y-yeah..."

Jiang Huaiyuan was embarrassed to admit he was also addicted to playing it in the bathroom, often forgetting to come out.

"The game’s copyright belongs to Cai Ji, and the investors are your son and Mu Xianqing. This year’s projected revenue is expected to exceed $45 million." Zhao Yunshu added.

"He... he... how could he do this!"

Jiang Huaiyuan finally became angry.

"Do what?" Zhao Yunshu countered.

"Am I the last person in this family to know all this?"

"Come on, don’t be mad. Young people want to make their mark, without parental interference or reliance. He was also worried you’d scold him for not focusing on studies, so he kept his projects secret to surprise you." Zhao Yunshu opened her arms and hugged Jiang Huaiyuan. "Besides, you’re not the last to know. Zhang Feng, Xiao Gao, and Sister Juan don’t know either."

Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyuan felt slightly better.

Zhao Yunshu continued, "It’s good that the child is independent and capable. Even if he told you about his projects, you wouldn’t have the experience to guide or help him. Look at his friends—Mu Xianqing, Dai Ming, Gao Cheng—all trustworthy people. He’s learned more from them. Though we didn’t contribute to his success, our positive influence helped him grow. That’s enough."

Jiang Huaiyuan took a deep breath. He wasn’t truly angry and was actually relieved Jiang Ruotang hadn’t told him about the inheritance from Grandpa He.

Had he known, Lin Chengdong would’ve inevitably found out about it. Then, with his persuasive words—"What does a kid know about making money? Let me handle the investments"—he’d have wasted the inheritance on unreliable ventures. The thought of it being drained away made him shudder.

"As a father, I still lack courage." Jiang Huaiyuan sighed heavily.

"What does it matter? We’re all growing, each with our strengths and weaknesses. No one’s perfect. Maybe your mere existence as Ruo Tang’s father was the motivation behind his achievements today."

At this, Jiang Huaiyuan’s eyes teared up again.

"Suddenly, I feel so motivated! I’ll make more and better films! Next up is Sha Sha’s *West Window Strange Tales*, right?"

"Yep!"

"I’ll make a masterpiece!" Jiang Huaiyuan said determinedly to Zhao Yunshu. "Isn’t Xiaotianguo trying to rebrand and expand its market? If *Zui Xiantai* doesn’t work, then *West Window Strange Tales* will! I don’t believe that if I put in my full effort, audiences and users won’t support Xiaotianguo!"

Honestly, Jiang Ruotang was deeply worried at this moment, worried Jiang Huaiyuan might be upset about being kept in the dark.

Leaning on the balcony, he even fantasized about holding a cigarette between his fingers, wishing he could smoke.

Suddenly, his fingertips warmed as someone took his hand.

Jiang Ruotang looked up into Lu Guifan’s gentle eyes.

"The ones who cheer for your achievements without any ulterior motives are your parents," Lu Guifan said.

These words calmed Jiang Ruotang’s uneasy mind. Smiling, he asked Lu Guifan, "Then what’s your ulterior motive when you cheer for my achievements?"

Lu Guifan lightly bit Jiang Ruotang’s fingertip between his lips. "Maybe if you’re happier, you’ll like me a little more?"

Just then, his phone buzzed—a message from Jiang Huaiyuan: [Son, I’m proud of you! Dad will strive to be a driving force for you too!]

At that moment, Jiang Ruotang’s eyes grew hot and wet.

He sent a voice reply: "Dad, you’ve always been my motivation!"

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ruotang decided to be even more honest with Jiang Huaiyuan. Gazing into Lu Guifan’s eyes, he spoke into the phone, "Dad, one more piece of good news—I’ve won over Lu Guifan!"

Lu Guifan blinked, then burst out laughing, leaning closer. "Explain this clearly—who wooed whom?"

"Me wooing you, obviously," Jiang Ruotang said casually.

"Since when? I had no idea."

"Since the first time I asked you for help with a problem." Jiang Ruotang gave Lu Guifan an "are you dumb" look.

"Back then..." Lu Guifan was stunned. "I thought you were serious about studying. I always believed... I was the one who liked you first."

Jiang Ruotang grinned confidently. "Heh, on this point, I know best—I’ve liked you since our previous life!"

Lu Guifan looked at Jiang Ruotang with a smile, then suddenly hoisted him onto his shoulder and headed toward the bedroom.

"What are you doing? Put me down!"

"I’m suddenly overwhelmed—today, I’m trying again to see if we can dock."

Jiang Ruotang's face turned so red it might split. "No way! Unless you dismantle that giant ship into a tiny raft, there's absolutely no chance!"

"Factory original—no modifications!"

Meanwhile, when Jiang Huaiyuan saw the message, he was utterly shocked. He looked up at the sky and exclaimed, "My son is amazing! Not only is he successful in his career, but he even managed to land a heartthrob!"

The contract signing was lightning-fast.

That same day, Xiaotianguo immediately launched the comic adaptation of the *Drunken Immortal Terrace* IP, signing on the most renowned domestic studio and a popular manga artist as the lead illustrator. They hired numerous assistants to ensure the comic's production was both high-quality and efficient, even meticulously recreating the grand backgrounds without cutting corners.

The moment the comic went live, it dazzled users, skyrocketing in popularity. Every frame was wallpaper-worthy, and even Big Eyed Boy, a platform usually flooded with entertainment gossip, was suddenly filled with discussions about the comic.

Chen Qian quickly seized the opportunity to guide netizens and audiences, directing their attention to Ling Song's personal page on Xiaotianguo. As they scrolled through the drama stills and clips, their interest in the TV adaptation soared.

In the past, anime fans would vehemently oppose live-action adaptations, as few actors could match the charm and aura of animated characters, often ruining the aesthetic. But Ling Song, standing ethereal and untouchable in the clouds, glancing back with a calm smile, struck a chord with many anime fans—it was as if an anime heartthrob had stepped into reality.

As the comic serialization gained momentum, Xiaotianguo's backend received numerous user suggestions to introduce the TV version of *Drunken Immortal Terrace*.

With such feedback growing, Gao Cheng and the entire management team grew optimistic and eagerly anticipated the drama's release during the winter break.

As the holiday approached, Jiang Ruotang and his roommates went out together for sketching to complete their final projects.

On their way to a small village in the suburbs, Lv An suddenly shouted, "Oh my god, that top idol ALEN... he's really hit a new low!"

"ALEN? The K-pop idol?" Ding Bing leaned over. "My cousin is obsessed with him. What happened?"

"This ALEN, while attending the Warm Winter TV Festival, acted so arrogantly in the elevator that he had his bodyguards yank Old Mr. Feng out! Mr. Feng fell and fractured his hip! Never mind artistic achievements—doesn’t he even understand basic respect for elders?" Lv An scrolled through his phone as he spoke.

Shocked by the news, Jiang Ruotang immediately texted Zhao Yunshu to check if she knew how Old Mr. Feng was doing.

Zhao Yunshu replied: [He’s hospitalized with a fracture and won’t heal for at least two or three months. His stage play performances have been canceled. Don’t worry—your dad and I have visited him. If he needs anything, we’ll step in!]

Reading this, Jiang Ruotang exhaled in relief.

In his previous life, ALEN’s downfall came due to policy restrictions on K-entertainers. Since ALEN had been working extensively in China, losing his K-fanbase, the sudden policy shift wiped out all his gigs and endorsements overnight—essentially destroying his career.

He then ranted on social media, revealing his true colors—cursing fans, China’s entertainment industry, and even making outrageous remarks that sparked public outrage, landing him on the blacklist.

Jiang Ruotang never expected that in this life, ALEN, propped up too high by Qin Zhanchao and Han Ming, would strut into a domestic TV festival with such arrogance... What notable work did he even have? This was practically setting him up to crash and burn!

Sure enough, the inflated ALEN didn’t restrain himself at the festival.

When later interviewed, he claimed he didn’t know who Old Mr. Feng was, adding that elderly people shouldn’t attend public events like TV festivals—if they got hurt, it’d just burden society. He showed no remorse whatsoever.

When the reporter pressed him on when he’d visit and apologize to Old Mr. Feng, ALEN smirked with a scoff and said, "That’s not my problem," before turning to interact with fans, completely dodging the topic.

Qin Zhanchao watched the interview with a sinking feeling. He contacted ALEN’s team, demanding an immediate apology and a hospital visit, only to be outright refused—"No need to stoop to that level."

The elderly man had no fanbase, they reasoned, so the incident would blow over. Apologizing would only invite endless demands.

ALEN’s entire team was deluded by the illusion of his top-tier status, blind to the fact that no amount of popularity could outweigh arrogance and immorality.

Qin Zhanchao felt a bone-deep dread. Old Master Qin personally called him, ordering an immediate termination of all collaborations with ALEN and the fastest possible PR statement condemning his actions—to distance themselves before media backlash.

This move would cost them a fortune, with all investments in ALEN going up in smoke.

Fortunately, Old Master Qin acted decisively. The day after Universe Pictures released their statement, public outrage snowballed. Everyone rallied behind Old Mr. Feng, a revered artist, condemning ALEN as an uncultured, disrespectful nobody. Big Eyed Boy’s top ten trending topics were flooded by ALEN’s scandals—his "popularity" was unmatched, but in the worst way.

Han Ming was nearly driven mad, desperately purchasing fluff pieces and pulling down negative hashtags, until even marketing studios refused his requests to avoid public backlash.

Meanwhile, Geng Zhaotan, overseeing public opinion for the authorities, convened a meeting and officially labeled ALEN a "disgraced celebrity"—someone profiting in China while showing zero respect for its culture.

The announcement went viral, with netizens praising the entertainment regulators for finally doing something right, effectively ending ALEN’s career.

This also meant the pre-recorded *Idol, Step Forward* couldn’t air—an entire season! ALEN was a team mentor; he was all over it.

Qilin Video was in shambles. With winter break approaching—peak viewership—this bomb dropped. The massive pre-release marketing and production costs were flushed down the drain, and netizens even blamed Qilin Video for giving ALEN the spotlight.

Qilin Video demanded Qin Zhanchao and Han Ming fix this, threatening lawsuits if the show couldn’t air.

The two had no choice but to spend a fortune hiring another popular singer for re-filming, but the result was terrible, ratings plummeting beyond recovery.

Sitting in his office, Qin Zhanchao felt like his soaring ambitions had come crashing down. He couldn’t even meet Jiang Huaiyuan and Zhao Yunshu’s eyes at the board meeting—they’d opposed Universe Pictures’ massive ALEN marketing investment (nearly a drama’s budget), but he’d ignored them.

Several shareholders grumbled relentlessly, their complaints bordering on unstoppable, even bringing up Jiang Huaiyuan’s family, suggesting Qin Zhanchao should listen to veterans with real industry experience, not just chase shortcuts.

Qin Zhanchao’s face cycled between pale and flushed. Old Master Qin didn’t defend him—failure had to be faced.

But Zhao Yunshu, ever perceptive, spoke up: "Xiao Qin’s approach wasn’t wrong. Weren’t all shareholders in favor initially? Traffic is like water—it can carry or capsize a boat. When profits were high, everyone cheered. Now that it’s sunk, the blame game isn’t fair. When *Idol, Step Forward* paid dividends, you were all smiles. You can’t just take profits without sharing risks."

Her words silenced the grumbling shareholders.

Zhao Yunshu looked at Qin Zhanchao. "Huaiyuan and I don’t oppose your traffic-driven strategy. We just hope you’ll consider risks, not just chase trends. An artist who can’t control risks—or even refuses crisis management—shouldn’t be a Universe Pictures investment. Next time, do more research and cut losses early."

Her speech both halted the shareholders’ complaints and pointed out Qin Zhanchao’s mistakes, earning their respect.

Though Jiang Huaiyuan was no longer chairman, his influence remained. Shareholders now understood that his lack of power struggles didn’t mean incompetence—they’d think twice before ignoring his or Zhao Yunshu’s input.

After the meeting, as Jiang Huaiyuan and Zhao Yunshu headed to the elevator, Old Master Qin stopped them with his cane.

In his office, Old Master Qin brewed tea, with a sheepish Qin Zhanchao beside him.

"Let’s skip the formalities—thank you for defending Zhanchao today. He’s been too impatient, brushing off your advice. I hope you’ll keep guiding him, so he doesn’t stubbornly charge ahead blindly."

He sighed. "Truthfully, our Qin family hasn’t kept our word. I wanted to be a steadfast ally, supporting you, but in the end, for my children’s ambitions, I broke my promise to Old Jiang..."

Jiang Huaiyuan smiled faintly. "You wanted to be the Duke of Zhou, but I’d have to be King Cheng. Sadly, I’m more like Liu Shan—balancing shareholder interests exhausts me. I’m not cut out for that. I’d rather focus on making films my way, and I'm quite pleased with that."

Besides, he had his son—that was Jiang Huaiyuan’s real pride.

"How’s your son in the capital? Once he grows up and realizes what he’s lost, he might resent this ‘Grandpa Qin’ of his."

Old Master Qin’s logic was simple: just as Qin Zhanchao had taken Lin Chengdong’s shares to shift Universe Pictures’ power, Jiang Ruotang could do the same someday. What goes around comes around—such is life. His words were also a warning to Qin Zhanchao to drop his power trip.

But at the mention of Jiang Ruotang, Jiang Huaiyuan’s eyes shone with pride.

"Ruo Tang’s already grown up. He has his own vision, enjoys his success—the world is too vast for him to care about my shares. Meanwhile, *I* need to make better films, or I’ll be left in the dust by his world."

Old Master Qin chuckled.

"How’s *Drunken Immortal Terrace*? I hear TV stations are still waiting on acquisition slots. With Qilin Video’s *Idol, Step Forward* flopping, they’ll need new hits to attract users. You’ve always had a loyal fanbase and strong viewership—I’ll have Zhanchao push them to negotiate a fair price for a winter release."

This was the Qin family’s gesture of goodwill.

Jiang Huaiyuan exchanged a smile with Zhao Yunshu and said, "No need—it's already sold."

"Sold?" Qin Zhanchao straightened up in surprise. "Which one?"

"We're keeping it under wraps for now. Everyone will know by winter break."

As the couple left the chairman's office, Zhao Yunshu's phone rang. To her surprise, the general manager of Qilin Video’s procurement department was calling, suggesting they revisit negotiations for the online streaming rights of *Drunken Immortal Terrace*—this time at a higher price.

To put it bluntly, *Idol, Please Step Forward* had suffered a sharp decline in viewership due to the backlash against ALEN. The bigger the hype, the harder the audience bailed after his scandal. In their desperate push to salvage the show, Qilin Video had sidelined other content acquisitions, leaving them with no standout or buzzworthy TV projects in reserve. That’s when they remembered Jiang Huaiyuan’s *Drunken Immortal Terrace*—a big-name director’s work had staying power—unlike flash-in-the-pan trends.

This time, it was Zhao Yunshu’s turn to reply breezily, "Oh, it’s already sold."