This year, there are very few films and TV dramas featuring Qi Hao, with only one movie he acted in without investing, "Dragon Gate Armor," set for release at the end of the year.

This project is backed by Bern's investment.

Last year, Bern achieved an IPO on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, with an initial price of $8.5 USD.

On the first day after the IPO, the closing price was $6.58 USD, a decline of $1.92 USD, marking a drop of 22.6%.

By December this year, the first anniversary of Bern's listing, the stock price had already fallen from the initial $8.5 USD to $4.41 USD, a drop of 48%.

Currently, the market value is $270 million USD.

Yu Dong explained publicly that the main reason for Bern's stagnant stock price is poor liquidity—many long-term investors, even hedge funds holding stocks, choose to hold for the long term due to optimism about Chinese cinema.

No one is selling, hence the stock price isn't rising.

This explanation seems to make some sense.

Actually, Qi Hao doesn't understand why Yu Dong insists on stubbornly heading to Nasdaq.

Your company's headquarters and business income are all in Huaxia, with zero recognition in the US. The Americans simply don't care about you, so why would they buy your stock?

Zhonghao Entertainment is also seeking a listing.

But certainly not going to Nasdaq, it's either Hong Kong stocks or the main board in China, most likely the latter.

"Dragon Gate Armor" has a rather awkward situation.

The release schedule overlaps with "Lost on Journey 2" and "Jinling Thirteen Cai," creating a tripartite balance.

Zhang Yimou and Xu Ke are both super directors; back then, no one would compare Qi Hao with them.

It's a duel between giants, what's it got to do with a young guy like you?

However...

Qi Hao's fans are now shouting online:

You two can go head-to-head.

Where's Feng Xiaogang, wasn't there a showdown planned for the holiday season? Why did you back out?

I want to take on ten!

I'm not targeting anyone specifically, but I'm saying all of you here are trash!

But actually, "Lost on Journey 2" isn't directed by Qi Hao; his personal prestige is just too high, making people overlook that the director is someone else.

Just like Xu Ke isn't the director for "A Chinese Ghost Story" and "New Dragon Gate Inn."

Nonetheless, Qi Hao is the lead actor, screenwriter, and producer; saying this movie is his isn't too far off.

On the contrary, Feiyang Media's investment in "The Legend of Zhen Huan" isn't receiving the expected fervor, and Zheng Xiaolong's name seems to have lost its appeal.

The main reason is, first, there's "Palace Locked Jade," then "Journey to Love," both huge hit dramas still in their second and third rounds of viewership battle.

In this pot of viewership soup, it's difficult to get a share.

Moreover, while "Palace Locked Jade" and "Journey to Love" became popular, they also brought negative impacts.

The dramas are ridiculously out of line, severely contradicting history.

Like the prior "Princess," they're prone to misleading the public, creating intense fondness for that historical period.

Rumors abound about reducing the quota for costume dramas.

Television channels, heavily influenced by Zheng Ce, are hence leaning towards caution in procurement and distribution.

Thus, Zheng Xiaolong decided to first build a good reputation from ground channels.

The first round of broadcast was on Shaoxing News Comprehensive Channel.

Because it's a local channel, while the ratings are decent, its influence hasn't expanded at all.

Far less attention compared to its sibling "Lost on Journey 2."

Last year, Zhonghao Entertainment released many blockbuster movies with astonishing return on investment, with only the continuation of the "Lost on Journey" series.

Whether the sequel can surpass the first part reflects Zhonghao Entertainment's comprehensive strength.

Like Feng Xiaogang, with "If You Are the One" box office at 340 million and "If You Are the One 2" at 500 million, it appears very stable, ensuring viewers for any future sequels he makes.

"If You Are the One" might even have a third installment.

However, Qi Hao's most anticipated project is actually "Uncle 2."

The first-to-market advantage tends to create strong initial impressions.

Korea is currently remaking "Uncle," with Yuan Bin starring.

In Korea, Yuan Bin is considered a top-tier attractive man, yet even his own fans don't support Yuan Bin playing this role, seeing it as disrespecting Qi Hao's version of the Uncle.

It's utterly perplexing.

What's up with Korea, claiming to be the universe's number one, yet having this kind of argument?

It can only be said that Qi Hao's version of Uncle is profoundly etched in people's hearts.

However, "Uncle 2" won't be out anytime soon, as Qi Hao is busy creating a film that can win the best picture and another film demonstrating social responsibility, leaving no time for "Uncle 2."

"The Legend of Zhen Huan" is a self-invested drama; Qi Hao doesn't mind.

Just recently acquired Bilibili lacks work content.

Therefore, he acquired the network streaming rights to "The Legend of Zhen Huan" under Bilibili's name.

However, the price isn't the rumored one dollar.

Even though Bilibili is Qi Hao's and "The Legend of Zhen Huan" is his, this transaction resembles left hand to right hand, but the primary investor of "The Legend of Zhen Huan" is Feiyang Media, with Gao Fei having the major share.

Buying it for one dollar would be exploitation, even if Gao Fei agreed, Qi Hao wouldn't want to take advantage.

Moreover, if the streaming rights were sold for just one dollar, and it gets around cheaply, not only could it affect other sales of the drama, but also potentially harm its reputation.

So, Bilibili directly offered twenty million.

Poor Bilibili's general manager, who usually only makes a few hundred thousand a year. They've barely paid salaries and have been surviving on pirated anime. When have they ever fought such a wealthy battle?

The reason he sold Bilibili, besides Qi Hao offering so much, was also because the tide of copyright enforcement was so strong that not selling was no longer an option.

The government stepped in to lead the fight against various film and television piracy.

All video websites must pay real money for copyright.

The small workshop model of the past will be completely eliminated.

Only those who lean on big trees have the right to take shade.

"You Who Came from the Stars" is handled the same way; its online broadcast rights will be sold to Bilibili.

Once the second round of broadcasting ends, it will be available online.

And these are all network broadcast rights for everyone.

Bilibili can gain more significant advantages than other video websites just with the film and television dramas produced by Zhonghao Entertainment.

The online broadcast rights for "Dragon Gate Armor" are also under negotiation.

Bern doesn't have a video website, nor any closely connected ones, so they want to sell "Dragon Gate Armor's" online broadcast rights to Qi Hao.

They're asking for thirty million!

No choice, "Dragon Gate Armor" was a two-billion investment; to break even, it needs to make six hundred million at the box office.

With "Lost on Journey 2" and "Jinling Thirteen Cai" releasing at the same time, it's truly difficult to achieve six hundred million at the box office.

Yu Dong thought about looking for some return money elsewhere.

Qi Hao rejected him without hesitation.

Thirty million, why not go rob instead; the current online broadcast rights market maxes out at twenty million.

Even when I transfer money from my left hand to my right, I wouldn't dare ask for thirty million.

Where did you get the confidence?

You look like thirty million to me.

However, even if the deal didn't go through, there's still benevolence. Qi Hao, as the second male lead in "Dragon Gate Armor," attended all the promotional events he could.

Much more industrious than Li Lianjie.

"Jinling Thirteen Cai" and "Dragon Gate Armor" both premiered on December 15th in mainland China.

One shouts "international."

One shouts "3D."

The stance of fighting it out is very clear.

To go head-to-head, "Jinling Thirteen Cai" even moved its premiere date up from the original December 16th to December 15th.

It feels like both old men are getting a bit anxious.

The media described this battle as a "bare-knuckle fight."

Actually, it wasn't really that Xu Ke and Zhang Yimou wanted a life and death battle.

This was part of the "grudge" between Zhang Weiping and Yu Dong.

Back in 2006, Yu Dong's "Confession of Pain" was thwarted by Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower."

However, "Curse of the Golden Flower" was exposed for signing an exclusive one-month screening agreement with digital theaters, so Bern complained about "bullying," but Zhang Weiping denied the "agreement," leading to their grudge.

In 2009, their productions "Three Guns" and "October Fortress" clashed again in the holiday season.

Even though "Three Guns" wasn't as acclaimed as "October Fortress," "Three Guns" made more money.

In business terms, "Three Guns" still won.

For Yu Dong and Zhang Weiping, pitting their blockbusters against each other in the holiday season has become a "habit."

This time, they've crossed paths again.

As for "Lost on Journey 2," there was no animosity, even choosing to release on a Sunday.

The release date was December 18, 2011.

Ye Weimin chose this day because it was Qi Hao's birthday.

Jiang Wen had previously pulled the same stunt.

Ye Weimin copied that homework, so how could he fail?

For "Dragon Gate Armor" and "Jinling Thirteen Cai," Ye Weimin had no confidence, so he let it go.

Anyway, even if he lost, he'd lose no face.

If he won... then it would be a pleasant surprise.

Qi Hao attended the "Dragon Gate Armor" premiere; he and An Feng both acted in it, so of course they went together.

As the second male lead, if the film does well at the box office, it's beneficial for him too.

Zhang Yimou's "Jinling Thirteen Cai" held its premiere on the same day, creating a choice between attending Xu Ke's or Zhang Yimou's.

Overall, Xu Ke is still no match for Zhang Yimou in the mainland.

Over there, the premiere was bustling with many foreign stars, comparable to an international film festival.

But actually, "Dragon Gate Armor" wasn't weak either.

After all, it was a major show for Bern, featuring big stars like Li Lianjie, Zhou Xun, Qi Hao, An Feng, and others.

However, no matter how lively the premiere was, ultimately it still depended on the box office and reputation.

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