Chapter 2: Earth Entertainment Alliance Association

“What?! An interview?!” Feng Jingyu’s eyes were bloodshot from burning the midnight oil over the new project, and she was already on edge. Now, hearing that Cen Lan had assigned her yet another task, the resentment she’d been holding back threatened to spill over completely.

Xiao He, tasked with delivering the message, silently took a step back. No wonder Cen Lan hadn’t come in person.

“Ms. Feng, these two are rather special cases. They come personally recommended by Wordweaver Star Anchor. You know, she was the first to speak out for us during the last public opinion battle. Out of both sentiment and propriety, we ought to show her some respect, which is why the Deputy Minister hopes you’ll meet them yourself,” Xiao He said, bracing himself.

Feng Jingyu ground her teeth. “What am I supposed to see? Do I have Mystic Eyes of Death Perception or something?”

Xiao He retreated another half-step. He didn’t really understand what “Mystic Eyes of Death Perception” meant, but he could sense that her resentment had grown even stronger.

Feng Jingyu didn’t want to make things difficult for Xiao He; her real grievance was with Cen Lan’s habit of making decisions without warning—especially knowing how swamped she was, yet still demanding she make time for interviews. This kind of exploitation was worse than what any capitalist would do.

“Fine. Go back and tell Sister Cen Lan: the interview will be at 3 p.m. the day after tomorrow. She can arrange the location.”

Xiao He looked as though he’d been granted amnesty.

“Understood, I’ll go report to the Deputy Minister right away.”

Feng Jingyu didn’t even look up, already back to wrestling with her DEMO.

·

The interview was set for the reception lounge at Youjian Entertainment. Cen Lan’s choice of venue was, as always, well considered: formal enough to show business was being done, yet respectful to the guests—just right.

Feng Jingyu was the sole interviewer, with Xiao He as her assistant, ready to provide professional support at any time.

At 2:55 p.m., word came from reception: the guests had arrived.

Feng Jingyu set her milk tea aside. “Let them in.”

Soon, there was a gentle double knock at the door, and two alien women entered.

One had skin with a faint purple hue and a pair of horns atop her head. Yet her appearance evoked neither evil nor fear; the tips of her horns glimmered with a subtle light, lending her an almost sacred aura.

The other’s hair flowed with shifting colors—it could be any color, yet was none of them. Her skin was pure white, covered in totem-like markings that extended up onto her face. These markings brightened and dimmed with her breath, as if they were slowly flowing.

“Hello, interviewer.” The horned woman spoke first. “I am Yuhui. Wordweaver Star Anchor is my teacher. This is Qing Lan, from the Painting Realm System.”

·

“Please, both of you, have a seat.” Xiao He guided them to their chairs and brought two cups of warm tea.

Feng Jingyu waited until they’d sipped their tea before speaking. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. Why don’t you tell me what you can bring to our company?”

Yuhui set down her cup and smiled, responding in fluent Huaxia. “Because of my teacher, I can travel freely between star systems and have met many high-level figures. I love to explore, and I’ve visited nearly every notable system in the Federation, so I’m familiar with many local customs. I believe I can offer the company practical and objective advice for future development.”

Feng Jingyu’s interest was piqued; she sat up straight. “So I can assume you’re intimately familiar with the likes and dislikes of the major star systems.”

“You can assume that,” Yuhui replied with a smile.

“It seems Ms. Yuhui has a wealth of experience,” Feng Jingyu said, then turned to Qing Lan. “Ms. Qing Lan, may I ask what your specialty is?”

Qing Lan produced a scroll from thin air, making Feng Jingyu’s eyes widen in astonishment.

Was this the legendary folded space? The technology of the great star systems truly was something else.

“Please, take a look.” Qing Lan unrolled the scroll on the table.

What met Xiao He and Feng Jingyu’s eyes was a reproduction of “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains.” The colors and brushwork were indistinguishable from the original; only the freshness of the pigments betrayed it as a new work. Feng Jingyu also noticed the painting was done on silk, just like the original, evidence of Qing Lan’s formidable skill.

Feng Jingyu was utterly won over. This was exactly the talent her new project needed.

“Welcome to Youjian Entertainment, both of you. I’ll have Xiao He take you to HR to complete the onboarding process. Can you start work tomorrow?” Feng Jingyu made no effort to hide her eagerness.

Yuhui and Qing Lan exchanged a smile.

“Of course.”

·

The personnel change at Youjian Entertainment was quickly noticed—after all, it was a company requiring political vetting, and hiring two aliens was bound to attract attention.

Members of the Earth Entertainment Alliance Association took note and immediately convened an online meeting.

This Alliance was a coalition of Earth’s major entertainment companies, created to discuss how best to export Earth’s culture.

Curiously, Youjian Entertainment was not on the membership list.

·

“What exactly is Youjian Entertainment working on? Why have they brought in an alien cultural consultant and a specially appointed alien artist?”

No participants in this online meeting showed their faces; only black screens appeared, and even the voices were altered, each using only a number as an alias.

The speaker now was Number 2.

“No way to find out. They’re too tight-lipped,” answered Number 3.

“Is Youjian Entertainment trying to hog all the benefits? We’ve been recruiting talent nonstop, but they’re so picky that only those left over even consider us. It’s outrageous,” said Number 4, whose agitation was clear even through the machine-processed voice.

“Number 1, you need to bring this up with the higher-ups. We can’t just keep picking up Youjian’s scraps,” said Number 5.

“Don’t worry, everyone. I’ve already escalated the matter. We’re all working for Earth’s future; the higher-ups won’t let Youjian Entertainment monopolize everything. Only with a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred schools of thought contending can Earth’s culture truly shine. Don’t be anxious—I expect news will come out soon,” Number 1’s words reassured the group.

“If Youjian Entertainment knows what’s good for them, they can always be invited to join the association in the future. No one’s denying their contributions, but times have changed—we all need to make a living,” said Number 6, prompting nods all around.

“Let’s hope that little Feng Jingyu knows her place.”

·

Xiao He entered Cen Lan’s office with a paper document, placing it on her desk.

“Deputy Minister, here’s a document that requires your personal review,” Xiao He said.

Cen Lan’s gaze fell on the document. The title read, “Public Notice and First Batch List of Special Incentives for Enterprises Meeting Interstellar Cultural Influence Standards.” She didn’t touch the file, but her brow furrowed slightly.

“What did the person delivering it say?”

“He said you don’t need to reply immediately—you have a few days to consider,” Xiao He relayed verbatim.

“I understand. Go on with your work.”

Xiao He quietly left.

Cen Lan picked up the file and opened it. The list allocated different subsidies according to company size, with the minimum requirement for inclusion being an alien recognition index of 10%. The calculation formula was attached.

Yet, the company that most deserved to be on the list—Youjian Entertainment—was nowhere to be found.

Cen Lan tossed the file aside, not angry but amused.

So it had come at last; this list was both a warning and a test.

She closed her eyes in thought for a moment, then left her office.

Xiao He hurried over as Cen Lan emerged.

“Deputy Minister, where are you going?”

“To find Jingyu.”

·

When Feng Jingyu was dragged from her workstation yet again, she was already at the breaking point.

“Sister Cen Lan, you’d better have real business with me, or I’ll call you a dozen times in the middle of the night just to harass you.” Feng Jingyu, bristling, looked like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on.

Cen Lan felt a bit guilty herself. She coughed a few times, then composed herself. “Recently, there have been a lot of fans on our StarNet homepage asking if we’ll start making film and TV dramas. What do you think? Any plans to set up a film and television department?”

“Film and TV dramas?!” Feng Jingyu exploded, transforming into a fire-breathing dragon. “Get lost! Keep live-action adaptations out of my world!!!”

Cen Lan hurried to appease her. “Okay, okay, we won’t do it. No film and television department.”

Only then did Feng Jingyu calm down. “Sister Cen Lan, you’re not allowed to set up a film and TV department. Anything else is up to you.”

Cen Lan promised repeatedly, “Don’t worry. We won’t do anything you dislike.”

“All right, I’m getting back to work.” Feng Jingyu slumped back into her exhausted state, returning to her unfinished business.

After a moment’s thought, Cen Lan sent a message to the head of public relations.

·

Two days later, a notice appeared on Youjian Entertainment’s StarNet homepage:

To all friends concerned with Youjian Entertainment:

Recently, we have received a great many inquiries regarding whether our company plans to develop film and television drama projects. We sincerely thank you for your ongoing love and anticipation.

Based on our current core strategy and resource planning, we have clearly defined our development priorities for the next three years: we will devote ourselves fully to the incubation and deep development of original IPs with cross-civilizational impact. Several key projects are already in critical creative phases, requiring the undivided attention of our team.

Therefore, after careful consideration, we have decided: for the foreseeable future, our company will not include live-action film and television development as a core business segment. We firmly believe that only by honing the soul of our stories and the foundation of our visuals can we truly carry and convey the cultural essence we wish to share.

Thank you again for your support and suggestions. Please continue to look forward to the unique works we are about to bring you.

Youjian Entertainment Company

With respect

Earth Date: June 1, 5203

·

A few days later, Cen Lan received another document, this time sent from the terminal. The file name was still “Public Notice and First Batch List of Special Incentives for Enterprises Meeting Interstellar Cultural Influence Standards,” but the absurd alien recognition index was gone, and Youjian Entertainment’s name had been added to the list.