Huayu: This producer has no bottom line.

Chapter 13 No amount of money can buy her heart

"One more."

Dapeng landed back in his position, but whether intentionally or unintentionally, his body was still stiff.

Ms. Cang stood less than two fists away from him, looking up at him quietly.

This scene is the climax of the entire series, where the loser Wang Duoyu confesses his love to the goddess.

Ren Pingsheng's script was very simple, consisting of only three sentences.

But when Dapeng received the notebook, he was completely stunned.

"Really? How many people would criticize us if this aired?"

"Just scold them," Ren Pingsheng said without further explanation, handing the script to Ms. Aso so she could explain the scene to Ms. Cang.

Aso gestured for a long time, and after Ms. Aoi finished reading, she nodded without any reaction.

After all, the Japanese server has far more advanced versions, so it's nothing new to her.

"Get ready."

The camera's red light came on, and Kobayashi held up the clapperboard, his hands trembling.

Dapeng held his breath and looked at Ms. Cang.

"Action".

Da Peng opened his mouth, his voice hoarse, "Girl, I...I like you."

Ms. Cang lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes trembled, and then she raised her head and spoke in slightly broken Chinese.

"You are a good person."

"But what I want is a magnificent wedding procession in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, not a thatched hut and two bowls of clear soup."

After he finished speaking, the entire courtyard fell silent.

It wasn't because her acting was particularly good; Ms. Cang's Chinese was stiff, and her tone was even a bit comical.

But it's precisely this stiffness, combined with her face, that makes it so real it sends chills down your spine.

In an instant, Da Peng remembered how his parents-in-law looked at him with the same eyes when he first started dating his wife.

"I'm working so hard because I want to prove something to her..."

His voice lowered.

"I'm not just a poor person, I'm a poor person without any talent."

"I thought she didn't stay with me because of money, but it turns out she was only with someone else because of money."

"Card."

Ren Pingsheng didn't applaud; he simply watched the replay to confirm it.

Dapeng stood there for a while before he recovered.

He subconsciously tried to move his facial muscles and make a few funny faces to shake off his emotions, but he stopped halfway through.

Qiao San squatted by the wall, chewing on an ice pop, staring at Da Peng for a while before blurting out, "Brother Peng, your eyes were red just now."

"Sand fanatic."

"Where did this sand come from in this big yard?"

"Why the hell do you talk so much?"

Sister Zhao shoved Qiao San, telling him to shut up.

This guy is completely different from the first time. When the first few episodes aired, he sent Ren Pingsheng a long message on QQ to apologize and express his loyalty.

People who originally signed a one-day temporary contract proactively asked if there were any more roles available, even if they didn't need the money.

Ren Pingsheng ignored his argument and paid him the agreed-upon fee.

Two days later, filming for Ms. Cang's scenes wrapped up, and she spent another day completing all the voice-over work.

Da Peng had gotten used to this inhuman speaking speed and tone, and even started adding his own embellishments.

"I think this line could be delivered a little faster."

"No need, slow down this sentence."

Why?

"Because this is the first time Wang Duoyu has spoken the truth, if he speaks any faster the audience won't listen."

Dapeng didn't ask any more questions and did as instructed.

The dubbing was finished at 10 p.m., and Ren Pingsheng stayed at the company alone to edit the video.

When editing the final episode, he deliberately slowed down the pace.

The comedic elements are still there, but he didn't use any fancy techniques in the crucial emotional passages.

There's no absurdity, no speed-shifting, and no subtitle-style commentary.

It's just a man standing there giving a monologue.

These days, a satisfying ending like making dumplings is still quite appealing.

Ren Pingsheng looked at the finished product, satisfied, and went through the process, setting the release time.

The title was one he had already come up with—[Unexpectedly, the twisted tale of Tianlong: The Underdog's Rise to Power, Special Appearance: Aoi Sora]

The moment the words "Teacher Cang" appeared on the homepage of Sohu, the effect was even more explosive than Ren Pingsheng had anticipated.

"Wait, wait, wait, Ms. Aoi? That Ms. Aoi?? I'm not seeing things, am I??"

"I admit I clicked on this because of the title, but after reading it, I fell silent. The phrase 'poor people without talent' really hurt me."

"I laughed and then cried. Wang Duoyu is me. I hate this world."

"Doesn't anyone think that line at the end of the film is an insult?"

Tieba, Tianya, Mop, QQ Zone, the links spread in all directions.

The first to click in were male netizens who came because of those three words; they opened the video with a tacit expectation.

What they found was a man dressed in splendid clothes who, in an extremely calm tone, laid bare their lives.

Wang Duoyu expressed the inferiority, anger, and resentment that he dared not speak out in the dead of night in the most understated way.

As the end credits slowly rolled—[This episode is exclusively sponsored by Tian Long Ba Bu, where you can become stronger by spending money, but no matter how much money you spend, you can't buy her heart.]

Nobody found it funny anymore.

Or rather, after laughing, they didn't know what to say.

That evening, the top three trending shows on the homepage of Sohu Video were all "Unexpected".

Mr. Wang from Changyou called to inquire about the second season.

Dapeng sent him a message on QQ: "My wife asked me if you're having an affair with Ms. Cang. You need to clarify this for me."

Ren Pingsheng replied with two words: "Serves you right."

Then I closed QQ and got ready to go to sleep.

But things didn't allow him to sleep soundly.

The next morning, Ren Pingsheng turned on his computer and saw something he had anticipated, but which came unexpectedly soon.

Xinlang Homepage — [Sohu Video's collaboration with AV actresses to produce a web series sparks controversy; experts criticize: Is it innovation or vulgarity?]

NetEase Follow-up—[Aoi Sora's starring role in a domestic web series sparks heated debate: Is this cultural innovation or pollution?]

Even Renren.com posted a comment: "Where is the bottom line for content on internet video platforms?"

Ren Pingsheng read all three articles from beginning to end.

The most sinister piece by Xinlang, on the surface, discusses the boundaries of cultural innovation, but in reality, it stands on moral high ground and uses Souhu as a counter-example.

NetEase is just following the trend and poses no real threat.

What we really need to care about is what's on the People's Network, even though it's just a commentator's article and the tone is relatively restrained.

But the source is there, so the weight is completely different.

When the higher-ups give the order, those below have to take action.

Ren Pingsheng closed the page and leaned back in his chair.

He wasn't flustered. He had anticipated this wave of public opinion from the moment he decided to approach Ms. Cang; in fact, it could be said that it was part of his plan.

As long as it's not taken down, the more you criticize it, the better.

In 2009, there was no traffic restriction mechanism; the essence of public opinion was attention, and attention equals traffic.

But he couldn't let Sohu really break down; he still had to face the hurdle from above himself.

My phone vibrated; it was a text message from Gong Yu.

"Come to my office."