Rebirth Begins with Rejecting my Childhood Friend - Chapter 476

In the morning.

Xu Xiuwen held a meeting in the company’s conference room.

During the meeting, Xu Xiuwen first introduced Lu Xinyao’s return to the company.

When Lu Xinyao resigned back then, most employees found it hard to believe. Their company, while still small, offered decent benefits and had great development prospects. So, Lu Xinyao’s decision to give up her job was rather baffling.

Now, after resigning, Lu Xinyao had come back.

This left everyone feeling puzzled.

Some quick-thinking individuals started having vague suspicions, though they only dared to keep them to themselves and not voice them aloud.

The second topic of discussion was the company’s upcoming plans.

The company’s first drama, He Yi Sheng Xiao, had premiered on Anhui Satellite TV just a few days ago. The viewership ratings were now available.

The drama’s debut ratings directly broke the record for first-episode ratings on Anhui Satellite TV in recent years, reaching 3.07%.

Of course, this might not seem like much for CCTV, but for a provincial satellite channel, this was nothing short of remarkable.

And this was only the initial ratings. Typically, ratings would climb further as the drama’s plot progressed.

So, it was fair to say that He Yi Sheng Xiao had achieved a great start.

The staff at Anhui Satellite TV were overjoyed, especially Meng Dong, who was responsible for signing and acquiring the show. For the past few days, he had been brimming with confidence in the station.

Xu Xiuwen had been confident about the drama from the beginning.

In his previous life, He Yi Sheng Xiao was a hit, which gave him a solid basis for his belief in its success.

Of course, some doubted the skills of Hang Fei and his team, but those concerns were entirely unfounded.

Firstly, part of the production team had previous internship experience in various drama crews. Others had worked at major companies in the industry. They had even produced a drama before, so there was no need to worry about their experience.

Secondly, in terms of technical skills, Hang Fei might not have directed many dramas, but directing was a job that required talent.

Even under the difficult conditions of his first drama, he managed to create a decent-quality production.

Now, with the second drama, the team had become more experienced and professional.

This time, Hang Fei fully showcased his talent as a director.

Xu Xiuwen had already seen the original cut of this second drama. It was, without a doubt, as good as the version he remembered from his previous life—if not better.

Now, the debut ratings had proven this.

Even though the drama had only just started airing, to Xu Xiuwen, its success was already a foregone conclusion.

What concerned him more now was the company’s next steps.

Their second drama needed to be put on the agenda immediately.

A successful drama must consist of three essential components, with none to be overlooked:

1. A professional production team.

2. Suitable actors.

3. An excellent script.

Even with a combination of a renowned director and top-tier stars, a bad script would still ruin everything.

It’s easy to produce a flop that audiences reject, even with a big-name cast and director.

Such examples are all too common in the domestic market.

So, for a drama, the most crucial element is the quality of the script—at least, that’s how Xu Xiuwen sees it.

On this point, he has a unique advantage.

His mind holds an endless reservoir of scripts waiting to be tapped.

Moreover, the novels he has already published in Jinjiang could be adapted into dramas. These works have been tested by the market and are guaranteed to perform well.

The real question now was: what genre should they go for, and which story should they adapt? This required careful consideration.

Since Hang Fei wasn’t at the company, the discussion on this topic remained rather superficial.

As for why Hang Fei wasn’t in the office—it was because he was extremely busy lately.

Bai Yue’er and a few other key actors were also busy.

They were occupied with promoting the drama, attending various events, big and small.

This was also the first time Bai Yue’er had spent her winter break attending events instead of returning home.

The Bai Yue’er of today was no longer the simple, innocent girl fresh out of the countryside who had never seen the world.

Though her heart might still be pure, she had been exposed to a world that many people could never imagine encountering in their lifetime.

Xu Xiuwen wasn’t worried that Bai Yue’er might be corrupted by this dazzling world.

As the company’s signed artist and its leading star, Xu Xiuwen had arranged for her to have a personal assistant—a recent female college graduate.

This assistant accompanied Bai Yue’er everywhere and regularly reported back to Xu Xiuwen.

The reports covered everything: what events Bai Yue’er attended, who she met, and even who she had dinner with in the evening.

Xu Xiuwen had a thorough grasp of Bai Yue’er’s movements.

Of course, he wasn’t doing this with any ulterior motive.

He simply cared for her—as a friend.

At the end of the meeting, Lu Xinyao suddenly placed several newspapers in front of Xu Xiuwen.

Initially, Xu Xiuwen didn’t pay much attention and glanced at them casually.

But his expression quickly turned serious.

These were papers from a small tabloid.

On the cover were reports about He Yi Sheng Xiao and Xu Xiuwen’s company.

The content left Xu Xiuwen deeply dissatisfied.

Almost none of the reports were true. They were all baseless fabrications and slander.

One article even claimed that Bai Yue’er, the company’s leading star, was actually Xu Xiuwen’s mistress.

When Xu Xiuwen saw this, he was furious.

This was outright defamation!

He checked the other papers.

Although the details varied, most of the content was the same—deliberate smearing.

Xu Xiuwen immediately realized someone was intentionally targeting his company.

But for the moment, he couldn’t figure out who was behind it or their motive.

He thought for a few seconds.

Looking up, he noticed his employees’ serious expressions.

It was clear they were already aware of the situation.

Xu Xiuwen suddenly smiled and said, “It’s nothing. Don’t worry. On the path to fame, it’s normal to come across a few stumbling blocks.”

Hearing this, the staff relaxed. If even their boss wasn’t worried, there was no need for them to be.

After the meeting ended, Xu Xiuwen returned to his office.

As soon as he sat down, he asked, “Do we have any conflicts with these tabloids?”

Lu Xinyao shook her head and replied, “No, we’ve had no prior dealings with them at all.”

In Xu Xiuwen’s memory, there were no conflicts either.

Their company was a newly established small business. Even if they wanted to offend a newspaper, they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to cross paths with these tabloids.

“President Xu, should we contact the editors of these tabloids and ask them to stop spreading slander?”

“No need. Who even reads newspapers these days, let alone tabloids like these? It’s not worth paying attention to. Besides, they’ve already slapped us in the face. Are we supposed to offer the other cheek? I’m not that generous.”

Lu Xinyao still felt a bit uneasy. But after seeing Xu Xiuwen’s calm demeanor, she suddenly felt reassured.

He’s right. If the boss himself isn’t worried, why should she, a mere secretary, be concerned?

“Come here.”

Xu Xiuwen’s voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

“What?”

“Come here.”

His tone was commanding, leaving no room for refusal.

Feeling an undercurrent of mischief, Lu Xinyao bit her lip and said nervously, “What are you planning? This is the office!”

“I won’t repeat myself a third time.”

Hearing this, her body trembled slightly.

She lowered her head and hesitantly walked over.

Xu Xiuwen pulled her into his arms, his hand lightly brushing against her long, elegant legs.

“What are you nervous about? Are you afraid I’ll do something to you, or are you expecting me to?”

Sitting on his lap, Lu Xinyao was caught in a mix of tension and forced composure. When she heard his shameless words, she couldn’t help but glare at him.

“Heh…”

Xu Xiuwen chuckled softly before saying, “Alright, you can leave now.”

Like a startled kitten, Lu Xinyao quickly jumped out of his arms and escaped.

Once in the hallway outside the office, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

Pressing her right hand to her chest, she felt her heart pounding rapidly.

For a moment, she genuinely thought Xu Xiuwen was going to do something to her.

After all, it wouldn’t have been the first time he acted like this.

Although he ultimately did nothing, she still couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “Pervert!”

She straightened her wrinkled clothes, tucked her loose strands of hair behind her ears, and then, as if nothing had happened, turned and walked downstairs.

After returning to work, it felt as though everything was back on track.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The drama He Yi Sheng Xiao had already aired over ten episodes on Anhui Satellite TV.

With the early part of the plot concluded, the story was now building toward its climax. The evolving relationships between the characters became increasingly engaging, capturing the hearts of nearly every viewer.

As expected, by the time the tenth episode aired, the ratings surpassed 6%.

Even by CCTV standards, this was a commendable achievement.

For a provincial satellite channel, it was nothing short of extraordinary.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that He Yi Sheng Xiao had become a major hit in Anhui Province.

Its success was on par with Xu Xiuwen’s first drama.

The biggest beneficiary of this success was Bai Yue’er.

Offers for her came flooding in like waves, including invitations from well-known media outlets and TV programs.

For example, Happy Camp on Hunan Satellite TV and Super Winner on Anhui Satellite TV.

At this moment, Bai Yue’er’s only worry was her inability to be in multiple places at once.

Frequent public appearances had significantly boosted her fame.

Her sweet and pure image, combined with her natural charm, attracted a large number of fans who admired her looks. At the same time, her impressive acting skills drew in those who appreciated talent.

In just half a month, Bai Yue’er received countless praises.

Some media outlets and fans even began comparing her to Liu Xiaofei.

At this time, Liu Xiaofei was at the peak of her acting career.

Her portrayals of iconic characters such as Wang Yuyan in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Zhao Ling’er in Chinese Paladin, and Xiaolongnü in The Return of the Condor Heroes had brought her immense popularity and widespread recognition.

Now, Bai Yue’er had emerged seemingly out of nowhere. Her rapid rise made people see her as a potential “second Liu Xiaofei.”

This naturally stirred discontent among Liu Xiaofei’s fans.

Many fans of the “Fairy Sister” took to the internet, angrily declaring that Bai Yue’er should stop trying to compare herself to their idol.

However, some more open-minded fans, after learning about Bai Yue’er, were charmed by her sweet, pure demeanor and impressive acting abilities. They became fans of both Liu and Bai, dubbing themselves as “double supporters.”

The two fan bases clashed online, trading insults and refusing to back down, their constant bickering only serving to further increase Bai Yue’er’s fame.

Unlike some actresses who rise to fame quickly and disappear just as fast, Bai Yue’er’s strong acting abilities ensured that she was not just a pretty face.

With this solid foundation, many in the industry saw great potential in Bai Yue’er’s future.

As a result, some talent agencies began to discreetly attempt to poach her.

According to information from her personal assistant, no fewer than three agencies had already reached out to Bai Yue’er, including one prominent and well-known company.

In short, after this second drama, Bai Yue’er had firmly established her footing in the entertainment industry.

At the very least, most people in the circle now knew who Bai Yue’er was.

While the male lead, the second female lead, and the second male lead of the drama also gained considerable recognition, their fame clearly fell short of Bai Yue’er’s.

Still, their rising popularity brought invitations to various events and programs, further increasing revenue for the company.

The drama’s success came as no surprise to Xu Xiuwen.

With a script like He Yi Sheng Xiao, as long as it wasn’t poorly executed, success was almost guaranteed—whether it would be a modest hit or a massive one depended on the production quality.

Now, it had reached the “massive hit” stage.

For the company’s employees, the drama’s success bolstered their confidence in the company’s future, as well as their enthusiasm for the next project.

For Xu Xiuwen, however, his focus had already shifted away from the company.

On the morning of July 24th, Xu Xiuwen drove to Guangming Distillery.

As his secretary, Lu Xinyao did not accompany him.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go; rather, Xu Xiuwen temporarily preferred to keep her uninvolved in the distillery’s affairs.

When his car arrived at the distillery’s entrance, the on-duty guards quickly emerged from their booth, lined up at the gate, and stood at attention, their posture straight as a rod, anxious to avoid being perceived as slacking off.

Xu Xiuwen rolled down his car window and nodded to them.

Seeing this, the guards broke into smiles of relief.

Once inside the factory grounds, every employee who recognized his car quickened their pace, eager to make a good impression.

Upon entering the office building, Xu Xiuwen headed straight for the conference room.

By the time he arrived, the room was already packed.

Managers from every department, along with the factory director and other key personnel, were all present and waiting.

Only Xu Xiuwen’s arrival was missing.

As soon as Xu Xiuwen appeared, everyone in the room immediately stood up to greet him.

Smiling, Xu Xiuwen took his seat, and the meeting officially began.

Naturally, Xu Qian was also present at the meeting.

She handed Xu Xiuwen a document, which he began to review while simultaneously listening to the managers’ work reports.

Once the reports concluded, the discussion shifted to the next steps and plans for the distillery.

Over the past few months, Guangming Distillery’s new liquor had gained widespread acceptance in Langya City and its surrounding counties.

Whether at government banquets or high-end hotel dinners, Guangming’s new liquor had become a staple presence.

Its reputation as a premium, high-end spirit was becoming deeply entrenched.

However, outside Langya and its nearby areas, Guangming’s new liquor was struggling to gain recognition.

The sales numbers painted a clear picture.

The distillery’s sales team had visited almost every corner of the province, but few merchants were willing to stock their product.

Even those who did found it difficult to sell.

The reason was simple…