Start by Spending One Billion [Entertainment Industry]-Chapter 72

No one could blame them for finding the scene surreal—after all, it wasn’t just the cluster of tents ahead.

Tall, sleek black mechanical dogs moved with imposing grace, their long limbs exuding both mechanical might and aesthetic beauty. They carried heavy loads of supplies on their backs, delivering them with unwavering stability.

Further ahead stood a massive red vehicle, roughly the size of a small truck. Its bold red hue made it impossible to miss, but what truly caught the eye were its futuristic, streamlined contours and the four elongated mechanical arms extending from its frame.

Thick, rugged black treaded wheels gave it a solid, heavy base, allowing its four arms to bear tremendous weight. In just half a minute, it had effortlessly cleared a vast stretch of "open ground."

Once the giant red vehicle finished its work, a smaller black vehicle—about a third of its size—followed behind. Equipped with only two mechanical arms, it worked in tandem: the front arm swept away remaining pebbles and dirt piles, while the rear arm evenly scattered fine soil.

After the black vehicle passed, three even smaller green vehicles appeared. Each had just one mechanical arm—a thick, extended steel plate. As they advanced, the green vehicles pressed the steel plates firmly into the fine soil, compacting it into smooth, even "ground."

And just like that, the perfect environment for tents and foldable shelters was ready.

The entire assembly-line operation left the newly arrived rescue workers, who had been assigned to rest here, utterly dumbfounded.

Individually, these functions were impressive, but not enough to be jaw-dropping. What truly stunned everyone was the sheer surrealism of these vehicles' designs.

The large ones were enormous, the small ones tiny—yet each boasted an incredibly sleek aesthetic. Their fluid lines, awe-inspiring yet oddly plausible exteriors, and glossy finishes that radiated futuristic vibes made them look like something out of a sci-fi movie.

For those seeing this spectacle for the first time, one thought inevitably sprang to mind:

Is this still Earth?

"Technically speaking, these products belong to Earth fifty years from now—that’s the setting of our film," explained Sheng Quan, introducing the "futuristic tech" as their owner.

"Their performance and utility are exaggerated for the movie. For example, these vehicles currently require manual operation, but in the film, we’ll portray them as autonomous."

A nearby official couldn’t help but glance repeatedly at the towering machines.

"Even with human control, they’re already mind-blowing. Is this how movies are usually made?"

She wasn’t familiar with the film industry, but even she doubted that most productions used real, functioning tech like this.

"Not usually," Sheng Quan clarified. "It’s because we’re collaborating with C University students on research projects. These are their achievements, which we’re repurposing for the film."

Truthfully, even she hadn’t expected so many students to produce tangible results in less than a year.

Whenever a new prototype emerged, no matter how busy she was, Sheng Quan made sure to be the first to see and test it.

And honestly? It felt amazing.

Another common trait among the student projects she funded was their practicality—and their stunning aesthetics.

This wasn’t just due to her own preference for good design. Since these "high-tech innovations" were destined for the big screen, artistic enhancement was a necessity.

So, whenever a student project neared completion, the dedicated R&D department (one she’d newly established) would immediately assign professional designers to refine its appearance.

The goal? To maximize visual appeal without compromising functionality, creating a sense of otherworldly futurism for moviegoers.

And the design teams had undeniably succeeded.

Even the official marveled, "They really don’t look like they belong in our era."

"The futuristic vibe is intentional—it’s meant to match audiences’ expectations of ‘future tech,’" Sheng Quan explained with a smile. "But despite their looks, they’re very much products of our time. These are just semi-finished prototypes for filming. The finalized versions should be ready within five years."

"These are only semi-finished?" The official stared in disbelief at the massive vehicles at work. "If this is what the prototypes can do, the final versions must be mind-boggling."

She’d seen the news about Sheng Quan’s investments in C University’s student projects—after all, even the central government had praised the initiative. At the time, the focus had been on how Sheng Quan was nurturing young talent and creating opportunities.

But back then, she’d never imagined these students would actually produce something so groundbreaking.

As an official, she could immediately envision the real-world applications of this technology. The mechanical dogs alone—capable of hauling heavy supplies through harsh conditions—had countless potential uses.

And these vehicles? Absolutely astonishing.

"Maybe they’re not ‘mature’ by finished-product standards, but for disaster relief, these innovations have been a godsend."

After praising them, though, she couldn’t help voicing a concern: "I don’t watch many movies, but aren’t film details usually kept under wraps? Won’t bringing these vehicles here for relief work spoil the movie’s impact?"

"Right now, that’s the last thing on our minds," Sheng Quan replied, unconcerned. "Besides, Star Wars has way more props than just these. We only brought the ones that could actually help here. The movie has far more jaw-dropping visuals."

The official: "…"

She looked up at the already awe-inspiring vehicles, then at the mechanical dogs steadily marching in the distance, struggling to imagine anything more impressive.

Normally, she avoided movies—especially sci-fi—but faced with these towering, futuristic machines, she suddenly felt that maybe science fiction wasn’t so bad after all.

At the very least, this Star Wars probably wouldn’t disappoint.

Silently, she resolved to take her family to see it when it premiered.

Partly out of curiosity.

But mostly out of respect for Sheng Quan, whose contributions to the relief efforts had been extraordinary.

After ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍years in disaster response, she could easily spot who genuinely cared—and Sheng Quan, who delivered exactly what was needed and personally oversaw operations on-site, stood out even among philanthropists.

Sure, other CEOs and celebrities had shown up before—snapped a few photos, "inspected" the area, and left. Some even brought their own media teams to hype their "heroic efforts" later.

To be honest, as a disaster relief worker, she wasn’t particularly bothered by such behavior. After all, the donors had genuinely contributed money, regardless of whether they were using the opportunity to boost their image. As long as help was provided, if they wanted recognition in return, the relief team was happy to oblige.

That said, just because she wasn’t bothered didn’t mean she respected them in her heart.

But Sheng Quan was completely different.

She didn’t personally visit the "front lines" or go to the flood sites. She was always accompanied by bodyguards and assistants, making her presence almost invisible amid the bustling relief efforts.

Yet, she and the other relief workers could see every decision she made and every substantial sum of money she contributed.

They knew just how much Sheng Quan had shouldered behind the scenes to make the relief operations run so smoothly.

After nearly three years in her position, this was the first time the team leader felt compelled to proactively call the media to properly highlight the contributions of this young entrepreneur.

She had already decided—when the media came for interviews, she would make sure to mention Sheng Quan and the film she was currently shooting, letting everyone know that behind this rescue effort, there was a film crew silently giving their all.

As it turned out, she wasn’t the only one thinking this way.

With the Lvcheng flood disaster gaining more attention and the rescue operations proceeding in an orderly manner, more and more on-site photos began circulating online.

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While people were concerned about the floods, they were also surprised to discover that this rescue effort featured an unprecedented number of advanced tools.

Helicopters weren’t unheard of in past disasters, but the sight of thirteen choppers soaring through the sky was nothing short of spectacular.

Then there were the rescue drones. As the frontline communication networks gradually recovered, someone uploaded a photo they had taken.

The photographer, who usually shared their work on public platforms with little traction, suddenly found this particular image going viral—adopted by multiple media outlets within just two hours of posting.

And for good reason—the photo was absolutely breathtaking.

The murky floodwaters, filled with debris from collapsed buildings, uprooted trees, and overturned vehicles, stretched endlessly into the distance, a terrifying sight. In the middle of it all, a dozen rescue boats looked pitifully small against the vast, watery ruins surrounding them.

Yet, despite the overwhelming yellow-brown floodwaters, the rescuers showed no fear.

And above them, countless drones blanketed the sky like an unshakable shield.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that every netizen who saw this photo was deeply moved.

Especially when, in the corner of the image, one could spot a damaged drone—its wing broken—slowly descending, while behind it, another drone rose to take its place.

It was awe-inspiring.

Heart-stirring.

This photo instantly became the crown jewel of all disaster images.

If the hashtag #ShengQuanDrones had previously been kept alive by a niche group of netizens, this photo changed everything. After being widely reposted by major media outlets, even those who rarely used Weibo saw the massive drone rescue operation unfold across other platforms.

Middle-aged audiences, in particular—many of whom had children and typically avoided trendy social media—found themselves unable to contain their excitement after seeing the photo. They were desperate to learn more about what had happened during this relief effort.

And so, they discovered the thirteen helicopters, the five hundred drones.

They learned about the thirty trucks delivering supplies, the film crew that had paused production to join the flood rescue.

Digging deeper, they found Sheng Quan’s investments in student research, her bold declaration that "they are creating the future," and her donation of 100 million through "The Voice of You," proving that entertainment and charity could go hand in hand.

And now, she had truly lived up to that ideal—when floods struck near her film set, she led her entire crew in a full-force disaster response.

The fact that she had accomplished so much at just over twenty years old left people in awe.

Countless households echoed the same sentiment:

"Look at Sheng Quan—see how socially responsible she is? She’s your age and already contributing to society. Meanwhile, all you do is eat and sleep. Read this article about her leading her crew in disaster relief and learn something!"

The baffled children on the receiving end of these lectures: "?? Mom, Dad, wake up! Who am I supposed to lead into a disaster zone? Our two cats?!"

"We’re telling you to learn from her spirit! Don’t you always buy movie tickets? Find out when this film is coming out—your dad and I are going to watch it. This kind of dedication deserves our support."

Suddenly, their kids snapped to attention:

"Wait—Sheng Quan? A film crew doing disaster relief? Where’s my phone? This has to be trending… Holy—five hundred drones?! Holy—that many helicopters?! Holy—thirty trucks of emergency supplies prepped in no time?! Holy—OW! Dad, stop hitting me, I’ll stop saying ‘holy’!"

Thanks to media coverage, #ShengQuanHardcoreRelief wasn’t just a topic among the younger generation anymore—it had spread to middle-aged and elderly audiences who usually only followed serious news.

Newspapers, pre-installed news apps, TV reports.

They didn’t use Weibo or video platforms, but when it came to influence, these older demographics—who mostly watched TV or used Feixin—were anything but weak.

And every single thing Sheng Quan had done resonated deeply with them.

The fact that she was so young only made her achievements even more admirable in their eyes.

While younger netizens were still spamming comments like "OMG LEGENDARY 666," the older generation was already voicing their admiration through every available channel.

But regardless of age, people were ready to show their support in tangible ways. Even if they couldn’t donate to disaster relief, could they at least follow Sheng Quan, shower her with praise, and spread the word?

Some planned to watch her movie when it released.

Others immediately started researching whether Sheng Quan had other businesses—only to find that her biggest venture was Starlight Entertainment.

So, Starlight’s TV dramas? Must-watch!

Starlight’s artist albums? Must-buy!

Starlight’s celebrities? Must-follow!

Especially for the currently filming "Battle of the Stars," one broke student even came up with a genius support strategy:

"Starting today, I’ll save 50 cents a day. A movie ticket costs around a few dozen yuan—if I keep this up, I’ll have enough in about three months! One ticket might not mean much, but I’ll keep saving just to support Sheng Quan!"

Honestly, what Sheng Quan had done was just too impressive.

Especially since people online were already calculating how much all those resources must have cost—though, truthfully, even without exact numbers, everyone could guess it was a staggering sum.

How could this not stir their hearts and make them want to show their support? Those with money had their ways of supporting, and those without money had theirs too.

In short, everyone wanted to contribute their share, to ensure Sheng Quan received the recognition she deserved—to let her see that they all stood by her.

And Sheng Quan did see it.

She was swamped with work and hadn’t had time to check online. At that moment, she was busy calculating the balance of her personal savings when her assistant in Shanghai called.

The news left Chairwoman Sheng utterly stunned: "What did you say? Are you sure?"

The assistant replied, "It’s true. Even I found it hard to believe at first."

"That luosifen factory under your ownership? It sold out completely in just two hours."

"Not a single bag left."