The battle between fans of different film and television dramas had propelled Hank and Zhang Zhiwei's trending topics past the top ten, reaching ninth place on the list.
Following the intervention of film critics, the comment section of the trending topics had finally normalized.
Although a few comments continued to instigate conflict, most people were now discussing the potential collaboration.
【Mr. Hank met with Chairman Zhang Zhiwei of Global Pictures. What do you think is the probability of them collaborating?】
【I believe the chance of collaboration is only about thirty percent. After all, Global Pictures focuses on box office revenue, while Mr. Hank emphasizes film quality. There will definitely be friction between the two. I'm not optimistic about their collaboration.】
【But objectively speaking, the scripts Hank writes are always box office gold. Global Pictures has many famous directors, actors, and talented performers. I feel there's about a seventy percent chance of collaboration.】
【However, speaking of which, besides Global Pictures, other film and television companies are also meeting with Hank. Paramount International Pictures, Lingdong Film and Television, and other major companies have overall strength comparable to Global Pictures. In my opinion, the possibility of collaboration is at most ten percent.】
【We've been speculating about which company Hank will collaborate with, but haven't we forgotten someone? Hank famously called out to collaborate with Gao Fei at the Jiada Film Festival. I feel Hank is more likely to collaborate with Gao Fei.】
【I feel the same. The probability of collaboration between Hank and Gao Fei is ninety percent. Gao Fei even said in an interview that he would collaborate with Hank. Facing the official camera, how could Gao Fei dare to lie?】
【I agree, the collaboration between the two is the most likely.】
Mentioning Gao Fei and Hank, netizens couldn't help but recall the incident of the shout-out at the Jiada Film Festival.
Therefore, two-thirds of netizens believed that the collaboration between Gao Fei and Hank was a foregone conclusion.
【Wait, why do you all think the collaboration between Gao Fei and Hank is a done deal? What are you all guessing?】
【In my opinion, their collaboration is probably a joke. I admit that Gao Fei currently has the biggest traffic. But compared to companies like Global Pictures and Paramount International, what qualifications does Gao Fei have to undertake such a collaboration?】
【Hank arrived in Longguo, and Gao Fei didn't even show up. Collaboration? I think it's impossible.】
【It's one thing that Gao Fei didn't go to the airport to pick him up, but all the major film and television companies' official accounts reposted articles welcoming Hank. Yuanfei Studio hasn't made a sound, and Gao Fei's words about collaboration on TV were probably just for attention, a joke.】
【Let's wait and see. I estimate it will be difficult for Hank and Gao Fei to even meet in the coming days.】
Other netizens began to voice their opinions, expressing skepticism about the possibility of collaboration between Gao Fei and Hank.
Across the three major social platforms, well-known film and television companies, directors, and actors were all reposting articles welcoming Hank's visit to Longguo.
Yet, Yuanfei Studio remained silent, not even liking any articles.
Therefore, in the eyes of these skeptical netizens, Gao Fei, who enjoyed stirring up trouble, had chosen silence, implying that some unspeakable friction had occurred between him and Hank.
...
Feiteng Investment Company.
After watching the morning meeting at the cosmetics factory and arranging the subsequent work for Gaolan Cosmetics, Gao Fei drove back to the company alone.
With a cup of hot tea and a newspaper, he resumed his leisurely retirement life.
If Jin Qiqi hadn't reminded him that Hank and Zhang Zhiwei were trending, he wouldn't have bothered to check the evening's hot news.
Gao Fei had witnessed the battle between fans who preferred foreign films and those who supported domestic films. The comment praising "Black and White Edge" as a phenomenal work was posted by himself using a secondary account.
Now that the battle was over, netizens were once again discussing who Hank would collaborate with.
Looking at the comments in the topic community, Gao Fei couldn't help but laugh and cry.
As he read the comments, he said to Jin Qiqi, "The netizens who say I will collaborate with Hank definitely have brains. Those who speculate about private conflicts between me and Hank are absolutely conspiracy theorists."
"But you haven't made any moves, how can they not speculate? If I said you and Hank had a fight privately, I bet it would immediately become the number one trending topic. Since it's all about collaboration, why not see if there are other gossipy trending topics?"
Jin Qiqi teased him and exited the trending topic about Hank and Zhang Zhiwei, refreshing the trending list to check other hot news. Gao Fei, meanwhile, continued to monitor the topic community, interacting with netizens using his secondary account.
About three minutes later.
After refreshing the trending list and checking other hot news, Jin Qiqi was suddenly drawn to a keyword.
Upon seeing the keyword, her eyes widened, and she quickly said, "Boss, you should quickly check trending topic number twenty."
Gao Fei curiously glanced at her, exited the comment section, and refreshed the trending list. When he saw the trending topic Jin Qiqi pointed out, he couldn't help but pause, his gaze becoming strange.
The keyword for the twentieth trending topic was: Zero Degree Film and Television!
Gao Fei clicked into the trending topic. The first post was from the official account of Zero Degree Film and Television.
"We thank Mr. Hank for taking the time to meet with us at Zero Degree Film and Television."
The article title was simple, expressing gratitude to Hank for being the first to meet with Zero Degree Film and Television after disembarking.
Clicking into the article, it was still a mix of text and images. What was interesting was that the photos covered the entire process from Hank disembarking, meeting the high-level personnel from Zero Degree Film and Television who received him, their discussion at a club, and finally, a young man chasing Hank to the parking lot.
The article explained why the young man was chasing Hank. It was because one of the script outlines in Zero Degree Film and Television's synopsis plagiarized Gao Fei's film, which made Hank extremely dissatisfied, leading to an unpleasant parting. At this point, the current chairman of Zero Degree Film and Television, Qiao Zheng, was chasing Hank to the parking lot to beg for forgiveness.
After reading the article, Jin Qiqi slowly looked up and said with a raised eyebrow, "Boss, I don't quite understand Zero Degree Film and Television's strategy. If they had an unpleasant encounter with Hank, why would they still publish an article about it?"
"My sister Jin, have you been not using your brain for too long? Can't you see this little trick?" Gao Fei gave her a resigned look and continued to explain, "Zero Degree Film and Television's name is currently only known within the industry. They are now capitalizing on Hank's skyrocketing popularity by publishing an article that netizens will find offensive, all to gain traffic. Don't believe me, just refresh the comment section. The comments have definitely exceeded ten thousand."
With Gao Fei's intelligence, Jin Qiqi rarely had to analyze complicated entertainment industry matters anymore. She right-clicked and refreshed the webpage. The number of comments had indeed surpassed ten thousand, just as Gao Fei had predicted.
Opening the comment section, she was met with a barrage of criticism.
【Zero Degree Film and Television, you were the first to invite Mr. Hank, and you managed to anger him to the point of storming off, yet you still have the nerve to post an article?】
【Zero Degree Film and Television, you're a local company in Longguo. As the first company to invite Mr. Hank, you not only failed to host him properly but also drove him away. I'm truly impressed.】
【Damn, what is this trash company? I searched it up, and they don't even have a single production. You have no strength, yet you dare to have an unpleasant encounter with Mr. Hank. This is unbelievably ridiculous!】
【I've shifted from being Gao Fei's anti-fan to being your company's critic. You managed to anger a world-class ace screenwriter. You're truly brilliant. I wish Zero Degree Film and Television a complete collapse tomorrow, bankruptcy the day after, and liquidation by the court the following day.】
【The script outline given to Mr. Hank actually plagiarized Gao Fei's work. This is truly an eye-opener. You guys are too much!】
【I never expected the script outline to plagiarize Gao Fei's work. You dare to plagiarize a phenomenal and classic work. If they had filmed it, Gao Fei would have sued you to death.】
【As a nation of etiquette, even if we didn't host well, we wouldn't drive guests away. You've set a precedent.】
【All I can say is that Zero Degree Film and Television has reached the end of its road in the Longguo industry. You should disband immediately.】
The comment section of the article was filled with netizens' accusations and curses. In ten minutes, the comments exceeded fifty thousand.
Simultaneously, Zero Degree Film and Television's trending topic had climbed from twentieth place to fifteenth place. The heat was still increasing, and with a little more time, it would immediately break into the top ten.
Looking at the various scolding comments in the comment section, Jin Qiqi couldn't help but shake her head and laugh, "Boss, if it were in the past, you would have been the one getting the most criticism. Now that Zero Degree Film and Television has appeared and also caused Hank to leave in anger, Zero Degree Film and Television has indirectly taken the brunt of the netizens' firepower for you. But I'm a bit confused, why would Zero Degree Film and Television want to piggyback on such an unrewarding trend? It will surely affect their reputation in the industry later on."
Gao Fei scanned the accusatory comments on the screen, frowning, "Don't just talk about you, I also don't understand Zero Degree Film and Television's move. Publishing an article that directly admits their unpleasant parting with Hank is quite explosive on the internet."
As he spoke, a flash of inspiration struck him. He looked up, narrowed his eyes, and speculated, "Do you think there's a possibility that Zero Degree Film and Television is courting controversy and capitalizing on the trend? They might be planning something big behind the scenes, something that will shake the entire film and television industry."
Upon hearing the speculation, Jin Qiqi's eyes darted, and she nodded in strong agreement.
Just as they were talking, Gao Fei's assistant pushed open the office door, revealing a small head. "Boss, a foreigner named Leon wants to see you."
"Leon?" Gao Fei looked confused. He was completely unfamiliar with the name.
Jin Qiqi introduced him, "Leon is Mr. Hank's assistant and bodyguard. His sudden visit is definitely to convey a message from Hank."
"Invite him in!"
"Okay!" Gao Fei straightened his clothes, preparing to meet his assistant, Leon.
At the same time, Zero Degree Film and Television's trending topic, after climbing into the top ten, began to stir up trouble online again.