Chapter 18: Director Zhou's Surprise

The position of Deputy Director of the Television Station's Acquisition Department is truly one that holds significant power despite its seemingly modest title.

After chatting a while longer with Mr. Li Bin, Chen Mo bid him farewell. He immediately dialed the number on the business card he had been given. The person on the other end didn't sound particularly old. Initially, his tone was formal and bureaucratic, but the moment he heard that Mr. Li Bin was the one who had made the introduction, his attitude shifted to one of instant warmth. From this change alone, Chen Mo realized that Mr. Li’s influence ran deeper than he had imagined.

After agreeing on a time and hanging up, Chen Mo booked his flight. The following morning, carrying a USB drive containing the master copy of *Meteor Shower*, he flew to Hangzhou.

He took a taxi to the Blueberry TV Broadcasting Building in Hangzhou and gave Zhou Qizhong a call. After waiting for two or three minutes, he saw a middle-aged man emerge from the elevator. Chen Mo had no idea what Zhou Qizhong looked like, but the man recognized him instantly.

"Chen Mo?" Zhou Qizhong asked, walking over with a smile.

"Yes, hello, Director Zhou!" Chen Mo reached out to shake his hand.

"You brought the footage, right?" The man skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"I have it right here!" Chen Mo replied quickly.

"Let’s go to the screening room. We can talk on the way." Zhou Qizhong struck Chen Mo as a man of decisive action. He gestured for Chen Mo to follow and began leading the way. As they walked, he asked, "I've heard of you, but I didn't expect an actor to suddenly transform into a director. Are you Mr. Li’s student?"

"Yes, Mr. Li is my homeroom teacher," Chen Mo nodded.

"Then you must have a close relationship. I’ve known old Li for a long time, and this is the first time he’s ever called me to ask for a favor," Zhou Qizhong said with a laugh.

They entered the elevator, and Zhou Qizhong swiped his card and pressed a floor button. Chen Mo responded, "I am honored by Mr. Li's kindness."

"No need for modesty. I know about your situation—that first-ever internet defamation case. Tsk, tsk, you’ve got guts!" Zhou Qizhong turned to look at Chen Mo with a grin.

"You’re too kind, Director Zhou. The other party simply went too far; I was forced into a corner," Chen Mo replied with a helpless expression.

"That’s true enough. Here we are!" The elevator doors opened as Zhou Qizhong spoke.

They soon arrived at a door marked "Screening Room." Zhou Qizhong knocked, and a young man opened it. Seeing them, he greeted, "Director Zhou."

"Mm," Zhou Qizhong nodded, ushering Chen Mo inside. "Let’s start with your show," he instructed.

Chen Mo handed over the USB drive, and Zhou Qizhong passed it to the young man. As the staffer began setting up, Chen Mo followed Zhou into the room. The screening room was modest—about forty square meters—with two rows of chairs facing a large LCD screen. It was a far cry from the atmosphere of a film screening.

"Sit wherever you like," Zhou Qizhong said.

As they sat down, the young man finished plugging in the drive. "Start the playback," Zhou Qizhong commanded. Chen Mo was slightly surprised to find that Zhou would be watching it alone.

Soon, the title appeared on the screen. Zhou Qizhong paused the playback with the remote, looking at Chen Mo with a suspicious expression.

"*Meteor Shower*? Do you have a grudge against Yu Youde?" Zhou Qizhong asked.

"Well, I suppose you could say we have some history," Chen Mo did not hide it.

"Your show’s title only differs by one character from his. That’s not a coincidence, is it?" Zhou asked with a frown.

"No, it isn't. Director Zhou, have a look at this first." Chen Mo didn't beat around the bush. He knew that if Li Bin could guess the significance of the title, a veteran like Zhou Qizhong—who lived and breathed the television industry—would understand even more clearly.

Zhou Qizhong skeptically took the documents Chen Mo handed him. After scanning them, his expression shifted into something quite strange. He returned the authorization papers and looked at Chen Mo with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"Even though I have a good relationship with old Li, if you’re just trying to spite Yu Youde, I’m afraid I can’t help you," Zhou Qizhong said. It was clear he suspected there was more to the conflict than just a petty grudge, but if the show was purely meant to be a nuisance, it wouldn't be worth his time. Despite his respect for Li Bin, he wasn't about to accept trash just for a favor.

"Director Zhou, why don't we look at the quality of the show first? Otherwise, I’m afraid you won't believe a word I say," Chen Mo replied with composed confidence.

Zhou Qizhong seemed even more intrigued. He pressed a button on the remote. "Fine, let’s take a look!"

Although he remained deeply skeptical—and perhaps because his expectations were so low—he was genuinely stunned the moment the cast appeared on screen. As a Deputy Director of Acquisitions, he had watched countless shows, and idol dramas were the most popular genre of the day.

For a brief moment, he felt that the production quality of this show might just outclass every other idol drama he had ever seen. The visual style was impeccable. Because Chen Mo had spent his previous life shooting films—high-quality web films, at that—he had high standards for cinematography. Moreover, he had Ning Hao, a genuine film director, serving as the assistant director, and a crew that had worked on feature films.

Chen Mo’s only instruction for the visuals had been: "Make it beautiful! Make it look good!"

He didn't mean the plot; he meant everything visible to the eye. The plot itself was standard fare—*Hana Yori Dango* had swept Asia, and its influence was visible in almost every modern idol drama. While not the progenitor of the genre, it was certainly one of the most influential.

While the story wasn't particularly innovative, Zhou Qizhong found the show to be a breath of fresh air. It was beautiful, stylish, and luxurious, conveying a sense of high-end quality. That was his immediate impression.

The "beauty" and "style" referred to the lead characters, specifically the grooming and fashion of the F4 group and the heroine. The four members of F4 each had distinct styles, yet all shared one common trait: they were undeniably handsome, covering four different archetypes of charm. As for the heroine, while her entrance gave off a "naive" vibe, her backward glance was enough to make even a man of his age feel a flutter of excitement.

And this was only the first episode! Zhou Qizhong didn't say a word throughout the viewing, watching with growing fascination. Different people watch shows for different reasons; Zhou didn't care much for the plot because he was already familiar with the source material from his college days. Instead, he was comparing. Compared to the original and other currently airing idol dramas—including the one currently running on his own station—Chen Mo’s show was clearly superior in every conceivable way.

Zhou Qizhong felt a surge of excitement. As a Deputy Director of Acquisitions, he had KPIs to meet, and the success of the shows he acquired directly impacted his career. He had initially only given Chen Mo this opportunity as a favor to Li Bin, knowing it was a remake and that it shared a title with the new project by Yu Youde, a famous director with close ties to their rival, Mango TV.

He never expected Chen Mo to bring him such a massive surprise.

He possessed enough tact to keep his face impassive, but his actions betrayed him. He continued watching episode after episode without pause; if he hadn't been satisfied, he would have stopped long ago.

Chen Mo felt confident that he had succeeded. As for the final price, that remained to be seen, but as long as it wasn't a bargain-bin deal, he would be satisfied.