Deeply Satisfying

Major media outlets, especially the entertainment sections of sharp-scented portal websites, rushed to report on the launch ceremony.

[Beijing Film Academy Maverick Stuns the Crowd: A Weak Nation Has No Art—Abandon Art for Commerce to Save Film!]

[Shen Shanden Blasts the European Big Three: If Hollywood Wants It, Give It to Them!]

[Wu Jing Bets Everything in Support! Shen Shanden's New Film The Grand Director Launches, Puts Forward "Strong Nation Art Theory"]

["Art Alone Cannot Save Chinese Cinema!"—An Unconventional Declaration from a Genius of the Beijing Film Academy Management Department]

There was no shortage of eye-catching headlines.

[Online Singer Shen Shanden Splashes Out Twenty Million, Joins Hands with Wu Jing for a Wuxia Film!]

[From Superfluous Explanation to The Grand Director: Can Shen Shanden's Road to "Redemption" Succeed?]

[The Directing Dream of an Online King: Can Shen Shanden Succeed in Crossing Fields?]

[A Brilliant Transformation by a Beijing Film Academy Management Department Graduate Student: Tearing Off the "Online Singer" Label]

There were also in-depth reports revealing the project's specific details.

[Wu Jing Returns from Hong Kong Island! Betting Everything to Support Shen Shanden? The Brotherhood and High-Stakes Gamble Behind The Grand Director]

[China Film Group Backs a Newcomer! A Director Han Sanping Thinks Highly Of?]

[Twenty-Million Costume Action Film The Grand Director Launches—Can Shen Shanden Handle It?]

Da Mimi happily pulled Shen Shanden along as they browsed the websites.

In those days, Weibo had yet to appear.

It was the age of portal sites like Sina and Sohu.

The launch ceremony for The Grand Director had novelty where it needed novelty, controversy where it needed controversy, and plenty of hot-blooded passion as well.

It swiftly flooded the major portal sites and forums, drawing netizens from all walks of life into the discussion.

Some Wu Jing fans offered their blessings, while others voiced concern. He was taking on multiple roles without accepting a cent, and they feared he might truly lose everything.

Some Shen Shanden fans joked below that they hoped the film would lose money, so he could go bankrupt and write songs again.

Da Mimi chimed in from time to time.

Shen Shanden initially found it interesting, but after watching for a while, he could no longer sit still.

"I've got something to do."

Girls seemed to have endless energy when it came to shopping and scrolling through gossip.

Da Mimi grabbed him and refused to let him leave. "No! We just agreed—you can't pull up your pants and deny everything."

Shen Shanden sighed. "It'd be great if you had that much energy in other places too."

Da Mimi pretended not to understand.

She browsed the Tieba forum bearing her name. The discussions about her and Shen Shanden sometimes made her giggle inexplicably, while at other times they left her with black lines all over her head. Occasionally, she would get so angry that she shut it before even finishing.

Among veteran fans, the relationship between the two was no secret.

Da Mimi would also use an alt account to feast on gossip about herself, hiding behind a mask to say things she could not say in person.

"Look, everyone's saying you should write a song for me. When you cast the female lead, you have to consider me first."

Da Mimi hinted wildly.

Shen Shanden suddenly turned grave. "Mimi, have you noticed?"

When he once again failed to take the bait, Da Mimi was furious.

Then she realized Shen Shanden did not seem to be pretending.

"What is it?"

"Everyone's resentment toward the bad films of the past has been ignited. My remarks have made netizens feel a breath of fresh air that is incredibly satisfying."

As the buzz grew, a discussion on the direction of Chinese cinema, the relationship between art and commerce, and the path toward becoming a strong film nation began fermenting online.

"Finally, someone's speaking human language! Well said!"

"I'm sick of all that fake grandiosity and incomprehensible nonsense!"

"The logic of The Promise's 'The Bloody Case That Started from a Steamed Bun,' the lavish emptiness of A Night to Remember, and the chaotic patchwork of A Chinese Tall Story are still fresh in my memory. These films often wave banners like art, epic, and fantasy, with marketing everywhere you look, yet they can't tell a story clearly. Their plots are riddled with holes, and their emotions are fake and contrived. Audiences spend their money, swallow a bellyful of rage, and feel as though they're being played for fools."

"Shen Shanden isn't belittling art itself. He's viciously slapping the faces of those directors and producers who use art as a fig leaf to make bad films!"

"Exactly! If you can't even tell a story, can't make convincing special effects, and your actors are cringe-worthy, what bullshit art are you talking about?"

"First make a film that looks like an actual film. Let ordinary people understand it and feel their ticket was worth the price, then talk!"

"Even China Film Group invested money. That proves he's got real ability!"

"Stop obsessing over winning foreign awards to fool domestic audiences. Serve us properly first!"

"Shen Shanden's tiger-and-wolf words about Hollywood and the European Big Three—this guy's words may be rough, but his reasoning isn't! No matter how lacking in depth Hollywood blockbusters may be, at least they're satisfying to watch! Better than those pretentious money-grabbing scams!"

"'Abandon art for commerce' was put so well. 'Art alone cannot save Chinese cinema' means he's promising to make films 'for the audience,' films that 'consider the audience's feelings' and 'pursue entertainment value and profits,' rather than self-admiring artworks by certain directors who are moved only by themselves."

"Cut the empty nonsense and make something good!"

"What's wrong with an internet singer? I love listening to his songs. Aren't Zhou, Wang, Tao, and Lin all making bubblegum songs? I think he's far more down-to-earth than those Big Directors!"

"He's not one of their circle!"

After Shen Shanden's guidance, Da Mimi had noticed this as well.

To ordinary viewers, the launch of The Grand Director and Shen Shanden's sudden rise were not merely entertainment news—they were a chance to vent their pent-up fury.

Da Mimi had been acting since childhood and knew the atmosphere in the industry inside out. Worried, she said, "Before, it was at most a clash of ideas. Now you're directly smashing into the established order. If you don't handle this well, it'll be hard for you to get by in the industry."

But Shen Shanden saw it differently. At a moment like this, personal ties had to give way!

"This is a strong dose of medicine. I've ruthlessly poked through the emperor's new clothes worn by domestic blockbusters back then, shouted out the dissatisfaction audiences have bottled up for so long, and ignited a powerful hope."

"For The Grand Director, this is a very good thing."

"Half the battle is won!"

Shen Shanden thought.

And with the slot vacated by Paperclip, failure was practically impossible!

Of course, he paid attention to human relations and worldly ways, but The Grand Director was his core interest.

As long as his films succeeded, everyone was a friend.

If his films kept succeeding, everyone would remain friends, and all the people around him would be good people.

By then, it would be others worrying about whether they could afford to offend him.

Shen Shanden knew perfectly well when to mind personal ties and when to seize an opportunity.

"Youde, have you seen the online discourse?"

Shen Shanden called Ma Youde directly.

"Boss, I'm here."

Ma Youde reported the latest developments.

Today was the project launch event for The Grand Director, and also the day its first impression on the internet would take shape.

Not only had Ma Youde arranged round-the-clock shifts, he had moved into the company.

He was fighting on the front lines personally.

The online discussion had begun as normal commentary, but gradually, more and more sarcastic sniping appeared.

Most of it was not predicting the project's failure, but focusing on personal attacks against Shen Shanden.

They dredged up old matters again, criticizing his "bubblegum songs" and "lack of class," questioning his professional ability—what did someone who studied civil engineering and started out as a singer know about movies?

Gouziwen had appeared on Tianya as well, giving Shen Shanden the nicknames "Shen the Cannon" and "Weak Nation Bro."

For the blatantly personal attacks, Ma Youde struck the moment they surfaced, burying them under waves of reports. If reporting could not take them down, alt accounts went in to blast them apart.

They had gradually figured out the enemy's channels. Most came from fans of Hong Kong and Taiwanese singers, along with some artsy pretenders.

Having dug deep into the internet's front lines, Ma Youde knew very well that tonight was not the critical point.

The relevant parties needed time to react.

It would be one or two days later that they would need to be especially vigilant.

The boss's remarks—"A weak nation has no art," "A strong nation also has no art," "Abandon art for commerce," and "Art alone cannot save Chinese cinema"—were things certain forces could not tolerate.

Therefore, he would guard the boss's internet image!