Chapter 50 – Within Three Years (2/2)

***

In these three years, Bai Lang’s investments also achieved a beautiful fruition.

Four years after the first book in the series was published, now already five books were out. There were six in total and only the big finale was left to be published. The sales from the publication of these books as well as associated merchandise had already achieved an unimaginable profit of over a billion yuan.

All of this money had been invested into online shopping platform “Full Circle”. During this period of growth, Full Circle also become the entire country’s biggest and most professional online shopping website. It was responsible for trade, logistics and associated commerce and finance, and was rapidly growing into a huge monster of a corporation. Behind the scenes, Bai Lang owned over ⅓ of its total stocks (if you added Qiu Qian it would be over ⅔), he was someone who could be said to be able to stamp his feet and cause the entire stock market to shake.

Thus the Bai Lang who had left the acting world for three years seemingly didn’t have any pressing need to return to his old job.

However Bai Lang continued to maintain that he didn’t know anything except acting. Also he really liked it. Although this road, just like in his old life, was fraught with many difficulties, however when Qiu Qian returned home to China three years later, Bai Lang finally said that he wanted to return to acting.

Qiu Qian didn’t have any problems with it.

Originally Bai Lang had sacrificed three of the best years of his acting career for him. So it was only natural that he wanted to compensate Bai Lang.

However when Qiu Qian proposed this, Bai Lang only smiled and rejected it. He said that right now, even without Qiu Qian’s power, he was already able to achieve the position of being able to act in whatever role he liked. As for what path he wanted to take, then he wanted to figure it out himself. Qiu Qian had better not disturb his fun.

Qiu Qian didn’t say anything however his expression was a bit strange.

The two of them had been together for many years so Bai Lang could naturally tell something was up.

After he questioned him, Qiu Qian admitted that three years ago, while Bai Lang was in no state to think about filming, he actually completely purchased out Chaos Street. At that time the production crew had waited for Bai Lang for several months and only when they really could not wait any longer, they finally made the painful decision to change actors. They also didn’t really want to accept that Bai Lang wouldn’t play this role any longer. After all Luo Zai’s role had been carefully and personally crafted by Bai Lang. If anyone else took over this role, even if they did their best, the character would still be ruined by 80%. Qiu Qian also knew that Bai Lang had put a lot of his heart into this role and when he heard that Bai Lang insisted on quitting acting, he decided to completely purchase the entire production. Thus they would earn their money even without broadcasting.

When Bai Lang heard this he didn’t know whether to get angry or to laugh. He asked, at that time weren’t you wearing an oxygen mask every day!?

Qiu Qian shrugged. He replied that Er Hong could still read his ugly writing ma. Then he scooped up Bai Lang who was wearing a disbelieving expression, kissed him and asked, “Do you want to continue that role?”

How could Bai Lang say no? It was Qiu Qian’s desire and it also was really one of the unsatisfied regrets in his heart.

Thus the filming of Chaos Street became Bai Lang’s first job after returning to the acting world.

***

But no matter what, there had been some big changes these three years in the entertainment circle.

Not only had Rong SiQi already won three major singing awards in three consecutive years, right now he was the most promising and most successful newcomer. He had already reached superstar level of being able to hold sold-out concerts at major venues.

In the past life, Rong SiQi’s rise hadn’t been so quick. This time, possibly because of exposing his Rong family background, everyone around him pushed him up and his music very quickly reached a wide audience. Rong SiQi also had a professional personality, he wouldn’t let the praise around him affect his dedication to seeking perfection in his work. With both of these factors working together, it would be strange if he didn’t progress quickly.

As for Zhu Kuan, in these three years he had shot two very well-received films.

After the box office of “Outside Gold and Jade” flew into the sky, Zhu Kuan was able to jump out of the ranks of new directors. The year that “Outside Gold and Jade” came out, because it was too focused on popularity and box office returns, Zhu Kuan was not nominated for best director. However his following two movies, leveraging off Gold’s results, did not lack funding and many large stars were interested in being involved. These two movies were both popular at the box office as well as being critically acclaimed. Lots of people said it was about time for Zhu Kuan to make a movie for the purposes of winning the Golden Emperor award. Just by saying this it meant that Zhu Kuan had already been recognized by his audience.

Bai Lang’s friends were all doing well. And those that weren’t his friends, were also doing well.

Fei Hong, who had given a warning before Qiu Qian had his accident, lost Qiu Kuo as her patron. However she didn’t slide down at all.

By contrast, she seemed to have found enlightenment. Her acting these few years had made progress. She no longer just played female leads but was willing to throw away her image and play female roles that were more controversial and villainous. After three years of working hard, many people said Fei Hong ought to be given the title of film empress for the second time and this time it should be genuine.

As for Kang Jian, who at this time had a target painted on his back by Qiu Qian, his progress was also very good.

After Kang Jian married Li Sha, he successfully used his status of Harmony Entertainment’s son-in-law and won a string of good opportunities to show himself.

First there was an adaptation of a popular wuxia novel. He played the original male lead’s senior disciple brother who had a sly and cunning outward image, but who internally was actually loyal and courageous. This role was very easy-to-please and this type of production, which was adapted from a popular story, would become popular easily. After that Kang Jian through various methods and tactics, pushed this role into being the male lead and started on his path of becoming famous.

When that drama was finished, the result was similar to when Bai Lang filmed “Partners” and Kang Jian’s name become something that everyone knew and was talked about on the streets. After that Kang Jian didn’t stop but continued to film a light-hearted and comedic city life drama. He continued to play a character who had an outwardly playboy appearance but whose inner heart was incredibly loyal. This continued the same meng feeling as the previous work when his outward and inner personality were contrasted, and left a even deeper impression in the hearts of the audience.

Both of the above dramas were long dramas which aired for a long time. They played one after the other and over these two years, Kang Jian’s popularity flew up into the sky.

Right now even if he just went by the company, he would be surrounded by fans waiting for him at the door and screaming his name.

However Kang Jian, who had only just started earning some good money, immediately took it and invested it in business unrelated to the entertainment world.

This was the same method that many artists used to earn money. They wanted their money to earn more money for them, it wasn’t unusual. But when Kang Jian used it, it was clear to insiders that the reason was probably because he didn’t want his father-in-law to continue controlling him any longer.

Thus when Bai Lang returned to the country and saw Kang Jian again for the first time, it wasn’t on a filming set.

Instead it was in the lobby of the “Full Circle”.

{T/N: For those that forget, Full Circle is the online shopping company that Bai Lang invested heavily in. Think Taobao or Amazon.}