Chapter Forty-Five: Full of Gimmicks

Chapter Forty-Five: Full of Sensationalism

When trouble arises during filming, regardless of its cause, it is the program team’s responsibility to resolve it. Although they did intervene, the issue clearly wasn’t settled, ultimately escalating into a brawl in which Zhang Le was injured. The production team did step in, and one staff member was even more seriously hurt than Zhang Le. But in the end, the crew merely became spectators at the scene. The cameraman even filmed the entire incident, giving the impression that they were just there to watch the spectacle. In the midst of a mass brawl, why keep filming? Shouldn’t you be helping instead?

Whether to help is a matter of attitude; whether one’s help will be effective is a question of ability. Sometimes, attitude is paramount.

If this incident were to get out, it would certainly affect the reputation of the production team.

However, after the director reviewed the footage, a wild idea struck him: to broadcast this very clip in the program itself, which would surely create a sensation.

If a guest were beaten during shooting and the production team merely stood by or even intervened, such footage would never make it to air; in fact, the incident would probably be hushed up. But this time, even though Zhang Le and Yang Xiner were surrounded and attacked, they managed to take down over a dozen thugs. The sensationalism was simply off the charts.

Zhang Le was injured, but it was because he shielded Yang Xiner from a blade. The courage he showed, standing in front of his beloved without hesitation, perfectly matched the tone of the show.

Another reason was that Zhang Le had told the production team to let him handle it, which minimized their responsibility. Besides, the crew had already stepped forward earlier. Coupled with what Zhang Le had said, it was clear that the incident wasn’t caused by the crew’s negligence, but was rather centered on Zhang Le himself.

Taking all this into account, even if this footage was broadcast, the impact on the show’s reputation would be negligible. On the other hand, airing it would undoubtedly give the ratings an unparalleled boost.

Neither Zhang Le nor Yang Xiner had expected the incident to be shown on the program, nor that the entire process had been recorded. Even if they had suspected it, they would have expected the footage to be suppressed, not broadcasted. After all, the incident didn’t happen domestically, so minimizing its impact or burying the news entirely was more than possible.

Who would have thought the director would want to air it in the show!

Yang Xiner naturally hoped the incident would be made public, knowing it would benefit Zhang Le immensely. More people would come to appreciate him, and their relationship would gain broader acceptance, reducing the pressure they faced as a couple.

While Yang Xiner was pleasantly surprised, she was also anxious, fearing her hopes would come to nothing. After all, it wasn’t solely up to the director whether the footage could be broadcast. The producer and television executives would also have to agree.

“Is it really possible to air this in the program?” Zhang Le was just as surprised, and a bit excited. He could imagine that if this was broadcast, more people would accept his relationship with Xiner.

If he had a choice, he wouldn’t want to use this for publicity. But he understood that Yang Xiner bore immense public pressure over their romance. If airing this would ease her burden, then so be it. Besides, the incident was real—it wasn’t some fabricated drama that would cheapen their feelings.

Zhang Le didn’t like the media using his relationship with Yang Xiner for hype, but as a public figure, he had little control. After all, celebrity romances are fodder for the press.

“Of course! I’ve already spoken with the producer, and she’s working on convincing the network executives. I believe we’ll have an answer soon,” said Director Liu with a smile. “Plenty of media came today, and the story will likely hit the papers tomorrow. Sooner or later, it’ll reach back home. Instead of hiding it, we might as well broadcast it openly and avoid being put on the defensive later.”

“We have no objections,” Zhang Le replied after exchanging a glance with Yang Xiner. “But Director Liu, you should be aware of the details—if this is aired, there’s bound to be controversy, isn’t there? After all, Xiner and I mentioned Lin Xiaofan and Wanbang Group in there.”

“That can be handled in post-production. Your dialogue can be blurred out,” Director Liu responded immediately. “Even if we air it as is, it won’t matter. Lin Xiaofan has gone too far this time, and what he did counts as a crime. Whether it’s Lin Xiaofan or Wanbang Group, Yanjing Television isn’t afraid to offend them. We can discuss the specifics after we return home.”

“Very well,” Zhang Le nodded in agreement.

Not long after Director Liu left, word came that the Yanjing Television executives had approved airing the footage in the program. Whether and how it needed to be edited would be discussed after they viewed the video.

Zhang Le and Yang Xiner didn’t need any reshoots, and with this, filming wrapped up smoothly. The group made no unnecessary stops and flew home the next day.

While they were on their way back, several American newspapers reported on the incident. “Chinese couple bravely fights off over a dozen thugs; the attackers seriously injured, the couple sustaining only minor wounds as the man saved his partner.”

Although these reports caught some attention, they were little more than a curiosity, drawing exclamations about the prowess of Chinese martial arts and helping American Chinese martial arts schools attract more students.

The matter soon faded from memory. After all, Zhang Le and Yang Xiner were virtually unknown in America—even Yang Xiner’s face was unfamiliar there. An incident like this simply wasn’t enough to cause a major stir. In a couple of days, it would be forgotten, perhaps lingering only as a talking point among kung fu enthusiasts.

As for Zhang Le’s remark about bringing a movie to America for interviews, no one paid it any mind. In the reports, there wasn’t a single mention of any promises, nor did most even mention his or Yang Xiner’s identities; many didn’t even write their names in full.

The incident barely caused a ripple in the United States, but when the news reached home, it sparked a tremendous sensation.

In this era of information explosion, as Director Liu had said, it was impossible to keep such things under wraps. Once it hit foreign media, domestic outlets were sure to pick it up. Moreover, “With You All the Way” had already received extensive promotion, attracting countless eyes. Zhang Le and Yang Xiner had already become hot topics because of Zhang Le’s earlier fight at a club and the song “Song of the Pig.” Their trip to America to film the show naturally attracted a lot of media attention.

With the internet being what it is, and plenty of people traveling to America, the news spread instantly online.

Before the production team had even returned home, the story of Zhang Le and Yang Xiner being surrounded and attacked by over a dozen thugs during filming in America was already making waves, all thanks to the internet.

At first, people thought it was just a rumor, but the increasingly detailed accounts convinced more and more. Eventually, images from American newspapers reporting the incident appeared, some with photos of Zhang Le and Yang Xiner. With visual proof, the story became unstoppable.

When Zhang Le and his companions landed, they were met by a sea of media reporters and paparazzi outside.

No one had expected the news to spread so quickly, nor that so many journalists would track down their flight and lie in wait at the airport.

The production team was delighted, since they intended to use this incident to hype “With You All the Way.” The more media, the happier they were.

But Zhang Le and Yang Xiner couldn’t help but frown. They hadn’t brought any bodyguards, not even an assistant, so facing the mass of reporters and paparazzi, they had no choice but to face them directly. Inevitably, this meant being jostled and shoved, making it nearly impossible to leave without some physical contact. If someone tried to fake an injury and accuse them of assault, stirring up trouble, more problems would surely follow.

Of course, the main issue was simply that it would be very hard to get away!