Clarifying, This Isn't a Rumor

"Should I issue a statement to explain?" Li Xun asked, looking away from the computer screen at Dai Ying.

Dai Ying turned to look out the window and said, "Does anyone care if you issue a statement?"

Li Xun felt a bit awkward.

Dai Ying rested her hands on the windowsill and said slowly, "You don't need to worry about this matter. Your task is to hurry up and finish writing the script for the second unit. Penguin Video's PR team has already taken over this issue, and we've also unified our talking points with Chen Minghao's PR team. This afternoon, Chen Minghao's studio will release a statement."

Just then, the Weibo hot search list on the computer refreshed again. A trending topic, highly likely related to this matter – "Chen Minghao Accepts Interview" – shot up to 6th place on the hot search list.

Li Xun clicked on the hot search. The top result was Chen Minghao's officially verified account, followed by an interview from an entertainment weekly. The title read: "Regarding the Wrap-Up Party Video Last Night, Netizens, Please Remain Calm. Uncle Ming's Exclusive Response Video Is Here."

Below was a video.

At this point, Dai Ying said with her back to Li Xun, "The main point of the response is that no one ever said Young Bao Qingtian would definitely surpass The Coroner. Our screenwriter said that Young Bao Qingtian is not worse than The Coroner, not that it's better than The Coroner. The former is self-encouragement, while the latter is putting others down to lift oneself up."

"It was our crew members who lacked confidence in their own project, which is why our screenwriter analyzed the project's advantages for the staff to help them build confidence."

"Young Bao Qingtian's investment is not lower than The Coroner's, its directing team is no worse than The Coroner's, and its actors are no weaker than The Coroner's. Our conditions are not bad, so the crew members don't need to rush to deny themselves."

"As for Uncle Ming praising the screenwriter as a genius, the most talented screenwriter he's met in twenty years, this is actually Uncle Ming encouraging a newcomer. Although the screenwriter of Young Bao Qingtian has been boosting the morale of everyone else on the crew, he's actually the one with the least confidence. This is because the Young Bao Qingtian crew consists entirely of big stars, the directing team has countless awards, and two major productions have made them famous; the investment is 2.4 million per episode, a solid A-level production; the male lead is at the pinnacle of the younger generation, the female lead is one of the 'Four Flower Dan' post-85 actresses, and Uncle Ming himself has been famous for over 20 years. In such a star-studded crew, the screenwriter is a complete newcomer. Therefore, the screenwriter also feels inferior, anxious, and lacks confidence."

"The screenwriter of Young Bao Qingtian is spiritual and talented. Uncle Ming, seeing his potential, worried that feelings of inferiority would hinder this new screenwriter's ability to showcase his talent. That's why Uncle Ming said this new screenwriter is the most talented he's met in twenty years, fully demonstrating Uncle Ming's heartfelt care and desire to nurture new talent."

"When did I feel inferior? -- Didn't Uncle Ming issue a statement? Or did he accept an interview?!" Li Xun suddenly interjected.

Dai Ying walked back from the windowsill to the computer. Li Xun turned his head, and they stood shoulder to shoulder. Li Xun clicked the play button.

Reporter: "We heard that at the wrap-up party, the screenwriter of Young Bao Qingtian severely criticized The Coroner, even boasting that Young Bao Qingtian's success would surpass The Coroner's to become a brand new phenomenal masterpiece, because Young Bao Qingtian, in terms of investment, actors, director, and screenwriter, has far surpassed the The Coroner crew. You were also present at the wrap-up party that night. What's the truth of the matter?"

Chen Minghao: "This is a rumor. As far as I know, no one has ever said that the Young Bao Qingtian crew's various aspects far exceed The Coroner crew's. We said that the Young Bao Qingtian crew is not worse than The Coroner crew. We are encouraging ourselves, not elevating ourselves by stepping on others."

Reporter: "There are widespread rumors online that Penguin Video offered an astronomical salary, which is why you took on Young Bao Qingtian after a two-year break. Actor Huang Zhou was also reportedly offered an astronomical salary for this, even pushing aside director Zhao Guocheng's new project. Is the truth of the matter indeed so?"

Chen Minghao: "This is also a rumor. In reality, the salary I received for Young Bao Qingtian is not higher than the salary for my previous drama two years ago; it's even slightly lower."

Chen Minghao paused here.

The bullet comments on the video suddenly erupted.

"High energy ahead!"

"Gossip, gossip!"

"Shocking, so this is the truth?"

In the video, Chen Minghao suddenly took out a contract from beside him, opened it, and held it up to the camera, saying, "When I filmed Military Soul two years ago, I received 450,000 per episode. For Young Bao Qingtian this time, my salary is 400,000 per episode. So, the claim that Penguin Video broke my bottom line with a sky-high price is completely baseless. As far as I know, Huang Zhou's salary is also 400,000 per episode. Our salaries are indeed not low, but they are definitely not as some unscrupulous self-media claim, where we've been swayed by astronomical sums. The reason I took on Young Bao Qingtian is entirely because the story attracted me."

At this moment, Li Xun sat on his chair, and Dai Ying stood beside him. The hot breath from his beautiful superior's breathing made his ears feel warm. He shifted uncomfortably, and Dai Ying, sensing his discomfort, quietly took a step back, her ears also turning slightly red.

Dai Ying, her ears red but her face expressionless, said, "You said you'd issue a statement, why are you suddenly accepting an interview?"

The video continued.

Reporter: "Actually, I also watched the video released last night. In that video, you said the screenwriter of Young Bao Qingtian is a genius, the most talented young person you've met in many years, and that Young Bao Qingtian is the most amazing script you've seen in twenty years, which is why Young Bao Qingtian will definitely become a phenomenal TV series. Do you have any clarifications or explanations regarding this?"

Chen Minghao: "Regarding this video, I need to clarify--"

Actually, regarding the incident that fermented from last night to today, the first three points were very easy to clarify. It was merely self-encouragement from the crew, nothing major. Magnifying it might not necessarily be a bad thing; at least many people who didn't know about the start and wrap-up of Young Bao Qingtian at all learned about this upcoming drama through this incident, which served as an indirect form of advertising.

Only Uncle Ming's words, especially when he directly called the Young Bao Qingtian screenwriter a genius, the most talented screenwriter he'd met in many years, were indeed a bit too effusive and clashed with Uncle Ming's usual style.

This statement, indirectly, offended almost the entire screenwriting circle. Those who disliked Uncle Ming would think he was bought off by money and spoke against his conscience. Those who liked Uncle Ming would have their expectations for Young Bao Qingtian set too high, and if the show didn't meet their psychological expectations after its release, disappointment would be inevitable.

But it wasn't entirely without explanation.

Everyone now knew how formidable the Young Bao Qingtian crew was – whether it was the investment, the actors, or the director, it was truly a gathering of big names. The only one who was unknown was the screenwriter, one of the three main creative members.

The pressure on the screenwriter was immense, as one could imagine.

So, was it wrong for Uncle Ming to say a few encouraging words to boost the screenwriter's confidence?

As a poor student, didn't you, as a child, hear your teacher say that you were smart and talented, and that if you worked hard, you wouldn't be worse than the top students, a well-intentioned lie?

Uncle Ming meant the same thing!

Many of Chen Minghao's fans spontaneously left messages on Uncle Ming's Weibo backend, suggesting strategies and hoping he would see them and respond accordingly. For the sake of their idol's reputation, the fans went to great lengths.

"This is also a rumor--"

Before Uncle Ming could answer, such bullet comments filled the screen.

Everyone thought Uncle Ming's first sentence would be exactly this.

In the video, Chen Minghao paused for a moment, then said with a serious expression: "Regarding this video, what I need to clarify is--this is not a rumor, nor is it encouragement. This is the truth! The absolute truth! The script for Young Bao Qingtian is the most amazing script I've seen in twenty years. The screenwriter of Young Bao Qingtian is the most talented screenwriter I've met in many years, without exception!"

As soon as Uncle Ming said this, the beautiful reporter's small mouth parted slightly, and her bright eyes widened – this wasn't the interview script they had agreed upon!

The video finished playing, and Li Xun turned to look at Dai Ying.

Dai Ying stared blankly for a moment, then took out her phone. A moment later, the call connected.

"Hello, Uncle Ming, didn't we agree that the screenwriter was feeling inferior, and you thought he had some talent and were worried his inferiority complex would hinder his future, so you offered some encouragement?"

Li Xun muttered: "I'm not inferior!"

A hearty laugh came from the other end of the phone: "We did agree, but Huang Zhou and I discussed it, and we decided to tell the truth. The screenwriter of Young Bao Qingtian is a genius, and the script for Young Bao Qingtian is a genius script that I've never seen in my 20-year acting career. There's no need to hide something like this."

"But doesn't this make the hype a bit too strong? You know, many TV dramas that are hyped up so highly right after filming starts or finishes often fall drastically later. Our Young Bao Qingtian is already starting to feel that way."

The person on the other end of the line chuckled, "President Dai, are those TV shows that get hyped up so much right after filming starts or wraps, only to crash and burn later, crashing and burning because of good early publicity?"

Dai Ying fell silent.

"Don't worry, President Dai, a good script can overcome anything!"

After hanging up, Dai Ying suddenly thought of a question—discussing it with Huang Zhou first?!

Li Xun refreshed the webpage again. The trending search list had changed.

Trending Search List, #2: Huang Zhou's Exclusive Response: The Screenwriter Is Indeed a Genius!

Trending Search List, #1: Who is the mysterious screenwriter who conquered Uncle Ming and Huang Zhou?