Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
It was a good day today.
It was a good day on both the Gregorian and Yellow 1 calendars.
At 5:30 AM, before the sun was up, before there were any people out on the streets, before the civil servants began their workday, Zhang Ye and Wu Zeqing, both dressed in low-key attire, arrived at the Xicheng District Civil Affairs Bureau. One of Old Wu's relatives was the head of this bureau and naturally gave the green light for everything. There were no outsiders present.
Inside the Civil Affairs Bureau.
The middle-aged man looked stern.
Zhang Ye and Old Wu were both standing next to him.
"Are you two ready?"
"We're ready."
"Then I'll get started."
"OK."
"I'm really going to begin."
"Third Uncle, can you hurry up?"
"You're obtaining the marriage certificate now. Little Zhang, please be more serious, what are you being so impatient about?"
"Alright."
"I'm very happy to be able to issue you two your marriage certificate. It is a sacred day today, so would the two of you answer my questions in all seriousness. Are you two getting married of your own accord?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"I now ask that the two of you face the national flag and emblem and read the marriage vows together."
"We join hands in marriage of our own accord. From this day forward, we will shoulder the responsibilities and obligations of marriage as one: filial piety, teaching our children, mutual love and respect, mutual trust and encouragement, and mutual understanding. We will share all that we have, laugh and cry together, and love each other forever. Henceforth, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, be it young or old, through thick and thin, sharing weal and woe, through the ups and downs, to love and to cherish, until death do us part. We promise to uphold our vows made today and will see that we stick firm to them!"
Ta!
Ta!
With the seals stamped, the marriage was legal!
They had finally received the little red book. From this moment on, Zhang Ye and Wu Zeqing were officially considered a lawfully wedded couple. They were really a family now!
Zhang Ye was feeling a little excited.
Wu Zeqing said with a smile, "Third Uncle, we'll be leaving now."
Her third uncle waved. "Go on, the morning staff will be arriving soon. Congratulations, Zeqing. Have a good life together." Then he turned to look at Zhang Ye, who was still busy flipping through the little red book, and curled his lips, saying, "In the future, you must treat our Zeqing well. I don't know how you did it, but you must have earned a lot of karma in your last life to be able to marry a good girl like her." Then he faced Wu Zeqing and said, "Zeqing, in the future—hai, just make do."
Zhang Ye tensed up. "What do you mean just make do, Third Uncle."
Wu Zeqing and her third uncle both laughed.
After exiting the Civil Affairs Bureau, Zhang Ye swaggered, putting his arm out and around Wu Zeqing's shoulders. This fellow was also getting pumped up. "Darling."
Old Wu asked, "Yes?"
Zhang Ye called out again, "Darling!"
Old Wu said, "What's the matter?"
"Ah, it's nothing, I just wanted to get used to calling you that."
Old Wu smiled. "Hmm, then say it as much as you like."
Zhang Ye rubbed his belly and said, "Alright, let's talk when we get home. My stomach is rumbling. It's time for us to have some breakfast."
The morning papers went on sale at this hour.
"Han Di sues for divorce!"
"Han Di takes Tianfang Entertainment to court to terminate his contract!"
"Han Di's wife could end up with nothing from the marriage!"
"Tianfang Entertainment's stock price collapses. The CSRC 2 to step in!"
"A farce triggered by a story!"
"Tianfang Entertainment's equity mortgage crisis!"
Wu Zeqing bought a few copies of the newspapers.
Zhang Ye took one and browsed through it. "Hey, this Han Di isn't dumb, after all. He even knows that he has to turn to the courts for a settlement."
Wu Zeqing said, "Since it has come to this, he definitely has to sue." She looked at the newspapers and said, "You've really given Tianfang Entertainment a big problem to deal with. I'm guessing they'll take action against you within the next two days."
Zhang Ye sneered and said, "Come at me then, I'll be waiting."
Ring, ring, ring.
His cell phone rang. It was from an unknown number.
When Zhang Ye answered the call, he got quite the surprise.
"Is this Teacher Zhang Ye?"
"Yes, this is he."
"I'm Han Di. I managed to get your number from a friend."
"Eh, it's you?"
"I've already filed a lawsuit with the courts."
"That's good. You should have done this earlier. If you have any trouble or anything that you need help with, you may ask me. You don't need to worry about being rude."
"Thank you."
"It's nothing."
"You—"
"Is there something else?"
"Have you watched my movies before?"
"Your movies? Nope."
"We've never even met before, so why did you help me?"
"Why? Because I'm someone who likes being a busybody."
"…Thank you."
"My pleasure."
After hanging up, Zhang Ye grinned as he looked at Old Wu. "How was my answer?"
Wu Zeqing smiled back. "Pretty good."
"Alright, let's go eat!" Zhang Ye pulled Old Wu along and strode off.
Being a busybody?
Tianfang Entertainment's stock price had almost been halved!
The entertainment industry was also plunged into chaos!
To be a busybody to such an earth-shattering extent, you could say that he was the first person dating back to the ancients to achieve something like that!
…
On the same morning.
Whatever was supposed to happen was finally happening!
At Tianfang Entertainment's headquarters.
Zhao Chipeng called for a emergency executives' meeting. "The stock price has finally been stabilized. The people who have been causing a disturbance for the past four or five days are finally stopping. Every issue comes to pass some day. Even if it still isn't totally peaceful, and we still have a court case against Han Di to fight, there's still one thing that we can do right now. We must get it done. If we don't vent, would our Tianfang Entertainment still have a place in the entertainment industry? Could I, Zhao Chipeng, still survive in this business? Whoever started it, whoever owes this debt, I'll fucking make him pay for it bit by bit! I'll make him learn just whose words matter the most in the entertainment industry!"
The higher-ups had long been waiting for this!
"Understood!"
"President Zhao, we've been waiting for your word!"
"Everyone knows what they have to do!"
"Zhang Ye can forget about continuing in this industry!"
"Anyone but him can be let off the hook!"
When they thought about how often they had been scared awake by those plaza dance tunes in their dreams, this group of people hated Zhang Ye to the bone. They and the rest of Tianfang Entertainment's staff from the other parts of the country had been conditioned to feel the presence of the plaza dance tunes even in the quietness of their own homes. They would often hallucinate and feel like the songs were playing around them even though no one came to cause any trouble!
These were the four darkest days of their lives!
These were four days they wouldn't want to remember ever again for the rest of their lives!
And the main culprit who had caused this trouble was Zhang Ye! After bearing with it for the past four days, they could finally fight back. Thinking about this, they could no longer restrain their excitement!
After the meeting, the higher-ups all got down to business!
Some people went out on business trips!
Some people went to make phone calls!
Zhao Chipeng also made eight or nine calls out to his media partner friends, and another dozen-odd calls to his friends and peers in the industry. After being in the business for many years, what Zhao Chipeng could bank on was his social network. Business partners? People he had given a hand to? People whom he had guided and supported? Coupled with the fact that there had been a myriad of changes in the way the industry was run, many of the entertainment companies were no longer rivals. Their existences were often mutually beneficial now, and there was close cooperation between them, even working together on certain projects. Zhao Chipeng was one of the biggest funders of the entertainment industry, so if he were to release word, it would be as good as an imperial decree!
The news spread like wildfire!
Tianfang Entertainment had ordered an industry-wide boycott against Zhang Ye!
Movies?
TV series?
Variety shows?
Music?
Commercial appearances?
Starting from today, whoever dared to accept Zhang Ye's projects would mean that they were going against Tianfang Entertainment!
Feiyu Entertainment quickly responded to the call!
Xiaohai Media followed close behind!
Xiangtian Records made their stance known!
One company!
Five companies!
Ten companies!
Many of the entertainment companies made their intentions to boycott Zhang Ye public!
The momentum was so great that nothing like it was seen before!
This was a collective boycott of Zhang Ye by the sponsors of the entertainment industry!