Feature Shows Extravaganza - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Backfire

The filming of Explosive Boys had been going smoothly.

According to Meng Lang’s plan, the filming would end by early May, and with some post-production, the show could be released just in time for the summer vacation.

The promotion had started in early March.

The popping ball was a novel toy. If they released to the market without any strategy, the feedback of the toy market would lag behind the show, which was exactly what happened with Blazing Teens. Back then, the toy only became popular after the premiere broadcast of the show was over and the TV channels were already rerunning it.

In order to maximize profit, they couldn’t waste any summer vacation time. After all, each day of the vacation would mean another 24 hours of sales prime time for toys.

Hence, Pengda Pictures joined hands with Pengda Toy Factory, and they started promoting popping balls before the show aired.

Meng Lang logged into his Weibo account that he had abandoned for a while. After replying to some of the private messages asking him everything from when the new show was coming out to when he would come out of the closet. He created a new post and tagged the official account of Pengda Toys.

[The Rich Meng Boy]: “Good news! To celebrate my account reaching 2 million followers, I’m going to start a giveaway. Anyone commenting and forwarding this post will be eligible for it, and the reward is a random popping ball! [pic]

“Fans with children or if you’re a kid yourself, please don’t miss this great opportunity! 👏👏 @Pengda Toys @Pengda Pictures @Tao Mi Doesn’t Wash Rice @Yang Yuqing @Wang Bin @Lin Xue the Cutest…”

Within 3 minutes, over 100 users had left comments.

Violent Piggy: “I thought you had celebrated once already.”

Sister Run`: “Shut up! You’re not a real fan! Director Meng is rich and he can do what he wants! He has 2 million followers, so he gets to celebrate twice!”

Tao Mi Doesnt Wash Rice: “Go Director Meng! Popping balls are so much fun! I’m already hooked.”

Confused Core: “Mimi, don’t say that. It sounds like he paid you to say it! 😭”

Director Meng’s Tool: “I have to unfollow you! How can anyone be funny, smart, and charming all at once? You’ve got the talent, the money, and the good looks. Give everyone else a chance!”

What kind of followers were these people?

They clamored about unfollowing him all the time, but the number of his followers had stayed at the 2 million level.

Luckily, Tao Mi still sounded like a real person.

As soon as the giveaway started, Meng Lang saw a small increase in the number of his followers, which hadn’t happened for a while.

How amazing!

Giveaways could always draw people’s attention.

Although the ignorant followers had no idea what this so-called popping ball was, it didn’t stop them from entering the lucky draw.

Even if they couldn’t get picked themselves…

They could make sure that they would bring down the chance of winning!

Probably because of the role Prince Fun, Meng Lang wasn’t as unknown as he thought.

Although he didn’t use Weibo very often and would only post something new every two or three months, he had still managed to attract quite a lot of followers, most of which active ones.

The promotion strategy went well.

Meng Lang had made tens of thousands of people curious about popping balls at a minimal cost, and that was a big success.

…

“But why? Why?”

In the general manager’s office of Pengda Toy Factory, Mr. Old Meng racked his brain over a sales data report, utterly confused.

The best time of yo-yos was over, and those who wanted to buy them had already made their purchase.

Hence, the sales of yo-yos had been falling across the series all over the world. The latest Snowy Scale series was the only one that was selling well.

However…

Entering March, the sales of yo-yos had peaked again as if it was on a rocket ride.

“Haven’t all the kids bought their yo-yos already?”

“Is there some new trend now? Are they playing two yo-yos at a time now?”

Meng Minghui soon got the answer from his son.

That night when he returned home and told Meng Lang what had been bothering him the whole day, his son enlightened him.

“Because their old ones have been confiscated by their teachers!”

It was as simple as that!

Picking up a piece of fish, Meng Lang mumbled as he chewed. “Schools are the best friends of toy manufacturers. Any toy they ban will become very popular, if not the most popular!”

If he could, Meng Lang would have sent banners to all the schools that had banned yo-yos, commending them for being “the greatest help”.

Anything banned by the school would be supported by the kids!

It was all because of the confiscation!

But they could always buy new ones!

Taking away the toys would only make the customers make multiple purchases. The first school principal that decided to confiscate toys from their students had either failed to figure that out or were working undercover for toy manufacturers.

Without the ban, the kids might soon get tired of yo-yos after the initial addiction.

But once the schools started confiscating the toys, the element of secrecy only magnified the satisfaction of yo-yos, and it would be quite some time before the kids got tired of yo-yos.

Banning a toy would only make it more popular. That was a fact.

…

Li Shufen was a great cook. Her food might not get her on the Michelin Guide, but she was good enough to open a restaurant of her own if she wanted to.

The father and son ate happily.

This meal was much better than quick-frozen dumplings!

God knew what kind of a life the father and son had then Li Shufen was away.

The family of three were enjoying their dinner when Meng Lang’s phone began to ring.

The caller ID read: stupid producer.

Wang Kui?

Meng Lang wiped his hands clean before picking it up. “Hello? Old Wang, shouldn’t you be entertaining your wife? Why are you calling me?”

“Director Meng, we have a problem!”

Wang Kui sounded anxious. “I just received a message from Tao Mi’s manager. The kid has caught a cold and is having a fever…”

A cold and a fever?

Those were common symptoms at this time of the year. “Hasn’t anyone had that in early spring?”

But that was indeed a problem for the crew. The main actress was sick, and she wasn’t replaceable.

“Is it serious?” asked Meng Lang.

“Well… I didn’t ask! Director Meng, would you like to check up on her? She’s getting an IV at the affiliated hospital of the medical university…”

After hanging up, Meng Lang told his parents where he was going before heading for the hospital in Old Meng’s Mercedes.

Tao Mi had a cooling patch on her forehead and an IV needle on her left hand when Meng Lang arrived. She was chatting with Sister Yun, her manager.

“How do you feel?” Meng Lang asked.

Tao Mi smiled apologetically. “It’s nothing serious, Director Meng. Sister Yun has overreacted. I’m fine…”

“You have a fever of 39 degrees; that’s not fine.”

Sister Yun couldn’t help but vent her sarcasm. “You’re old enough to take care of yourself, so stop kicking your duvet away while you’re sleeping. Got it?”

“Yes…”

Tao Mi sounded dispirited.

Kicking away her duvet while she was sleeping?

“Does she wear any pajamas? If not…”

No wonder she caught a cold!