Against the Light - Chapter 75
Chapter 75: Rejecting a World for Two
Heart Entertainment's press conference was live-streamed across the entire web. The moment it began, the online crowd launched into a fervent discussion.
Upon learning that Liu Ping was the one who first smashed up the set, netizens erupted with curses, wishing they could drown him. But there were also more rational voices, pointing out that since Liu Ping dared to step forward and clear Bai Yilan's name, even at the cost of offending his old employer and burning his bridges, it at least showed his character wasn't entirely bad.
When they saw Fang Yi post the internal chat logs from Le Tao, the online onlookers were shocked. They marveled at how rich and powerful Le Tao was. Had their employees been brainwashed? How could anyone stand to work for a company like that?
Others started discussing Yang Xue and Zhang Xian. Many of Yang Xue's former fans spoke up, saying that Zhang Xian was indeed a ruthless person and that Yang Xue had been completely ruined by her. Back when Yang Xue's career tanked, it was her own team that kicked her the hardest while she was down. Truly inhuman!
Finally, when Gu Xinran took the stage to give her closing remarks, hoping everyone would support legitimate works and boycott piracy, the bullet comments on the stream went blank for a moment.
Then, immediately after, they exploded!
【Support legitimate works!】
【Support Little Fairy!! I'm going to buy a ticket to make up for it!!】
【I've already seen it twice, but I've decided to go for a third time today to contribute to the box office!!】
【Cheering wildly for Little Fairy! No, wait, wildly contributing to the box office! Let's go!!!】
【I'm sorry, I watched a pirated version. I really love this movie, the angst was almost too much to handle. I'm going to buy a ticket right now!】
【Everyone, stop spoiling it here! The right thing to do is to buy a ticket and get on board. If you want to know the plot, go to the cinema!】
When Gu Xinran saw these comments in the live stream, a warmth spread through her heart.
At the same time, hashtags like #PicturesqueRiversAndMountainsFakesBoxOffice, #FeelSorryForLeTaoEmployees, #ZhangXianApologize, and #OweNeverPartingAMovieTicket shot up the trending list. Le Tao instantly became infamous.
Qi Qiuyan posted a picture of her movie ticket and tagged Gu Xinran, saying the movie was excellent and that she hoped Gu Xinran would bring everyone more great films.
Following her lead, Ye Qihan, Qi Yuwei, and a host of other veteran actors also posted their tickets. In the directing circle, many directors who were on good terms with Bai Yilan and Yu Hua also helped promote the film. Almost half the entertainment industry was showing their support for Never Parting.
At Heart Entertainment Studio, the entire staff was anxiously gathered around their computers, waiting for that night's box office results.
"It's here, it's here." Fang Yi glanced at her watch. It was already 11:30 PM. She eagerly opened the software to check the box office numbers.
Everyone unconsciously crowded around, holding their breath as they stared at the computer screen.
When they saw the figure calculated on the screen, everyone was a bit stunned for a moment.
"? Are my eyes playing tricks on me?"
"1.7... hundred million!? Is that 170 million??"
"Holy crap! It's been less than ten hours since the press conference ended, and the box office has surged by 170 million!?"
"Ahhh, it really is 170 million!! Did we just break a box office record? Ahhhhh!!!"
Everyone looked at each other, taking a long moment to process the news before they started screaming with excitement!
Gu Xinran was also taken aback for a second before letting out a sigh of relief. She didn't shout like the others. Turning to look at Bai Yilan, the two shared a smile.
"Ahhhh, this is insane!! Yesterday's entire box office was just barely eighty million, and today we've made almost two hundred million in half a day? I can't even imagine what tomorrow will be like!"
"Sister Qi, our total box office has passed five hundred million now. Does this mean we won't be pulled from theaters??"
"Of course not. With our reputation being so good now, the cinema chains might even extend our run."
"Awooo, we're rich!!"
Seeing everyone so happy, Gu Xinran smiled along with them. "Sister Qi, let's arrange an overseas trip for everyone this year."
"!! Awooo, long live Sister Ran!!!"
"Since everyone's so happy, come on, I'll treat you all to a late-night snack." Qu Qi was very spontaneous. Once she said it, she was ready to go.
Two days later, Never Parting's seven-day box office made a comeback, breaking one billion! It surpassed Picturesque Rivers and Mountains.
Three weeks later, Never Parting's total box office successfully broke the three billion mark, and its theatrical run was extended for another week!
On this day, Gu Xinran arrived at the company early. Seeing every employee looking cheerful, as if they were on a caffeine high, made her happy too.
She headed straight for Qu Qi's office. As soon as she entered, she saw the other woman frowning deeply.
"Sister Qi? What's wrong?"
"It's strange, so strange." Qu Qi was still lost in her own thoughts. After a long moment, she finally looked up and noticed her. "Boss is here. Have a seat."
"What? What's strange?"
"Le Tao. It's been so long, yet there's been no movement from them. I've been waiting for them to counterattack."
Gu Xinran chuckled lightly. "There are people like you?"
"Tsk, think about it carefully. At the last press conference, we dragged Le Tao through the mud like that. They're one of the three biggest companies in the entertainment industry. How could they possibly swallow their pride and take it? I have a feeling they're planning a big move," Qu Qi said with a worried expression.
Hearing this, Gu Xinran frowned and followed her train of thought. It was true. When she first provoked Le Tao, she had also expected them to retaliate, but there had been nothing? Not even a ripple!
Honestly, even she wouldn't just sit back and wait for doom if she were in their shoes.
"Hey, now that our funds have returned, what are your plans for the future?" Qu Qi asked.
"First, Liu Ping's team can be cultivated. Yilan said he has a lot of room for growth, and we need our own team of directors."
"Tsk, isn't having the boss's wife enough?" Qu Qi pouted.
"You said it yourself, she's the boss's wife. Can I let your boss's wife work day and night, leading a team and rushing through filming?" Gu Xinran said righteously.
Qu Qi choked on the spot, as if she'd just been force-fed a huge mouthful of PDA.
"Second, Su Yu. Send her abroad to study fashion design. She has the mind and talent for it."
"Study fashion design??"
"Yes. I still haven't settled the score with Ye Ting."
"...You really hold a grudge. That's such old news."
Gu Xinran just smiled without saying a word. She could tolerate other things, but Ye Ting had defiled the dress Yilan had given her. That was something she could not tolerate!
"Got it. Anything else?"
"Sign contracts with literature websites. We need to get our hands on popular IP resources."
Qu Qi's eyes lit up at this. That was indeed a good path. The success of adapting a popular IP into a movie this time had already given her a taste of victory. This was bound to be the future trend.
At this thought, Qu Qi gave Gu Xinran a thumbs-up. A boss is a boss, after all. So farsighted.
"Anything else??"
"Cultivate our own teams of screenwriters, directors, and designers. We must become self-sufficient, in case we offend someone one day and get pushed into a corner again."
"Hiss... I don't think you want to run an entertainment company. You want to unify the entire entertainment industry, don't you?" Qu Qi looked astonished. This woman really shouldn't be allowed to have money; her ambition was truly immense!
"These are all long-term goals, no need to rush them. Next, I want to invest in a new movie and a variety show to promote our own newcomers."
"Mm, that's doable. What about your own plans? Are you just going to retire from acting like this? To focus on accompanying the boss's wife?"
"I plan to..." Gu Xinran paused, hesitating for a moment. "I'll think about it some more. By the way, do you know about the clothing brand 【Yi Ren】?"
"Yi Ren? Of course! The founder of this brand is a mysterious tycoon!"
"Hmm?"
"Yi Ren has branches all over the country, and they're only located in the most luxurious and expensive prime real estate in the city centers. And, most importantly, all the clothes displayed inside are for viewing only. Not for sale, no photos allowed, and no leaks."
"Think about it. Opening stores in prime locations in major cities—don't staff salaries cost money? Don't rent and utilities cost money? No sales, no custom orders, means no income. It's a pure loss! And they've been doing this for five years!"
"Someone online calculated it before. Just the rent for Yi Ren's stores results in a net loss of nearly ten million a year. No one knows who the boss behind it is, but they're definitely a tycoon."
"Someone once offered a fortune to buy a piece of clothing from Yi Ren, but the staff flatly refused. That incident caused quite a stir at the time. That's how I first learned about the Yi Ren brand."
"Then do you know who the designer for this brand is?" Gu Xinran asked.
The designs of those clothes had caught her attention. Of course, what concerned her more was Yilan's reaction after seeing that brand. She clearly had something on her mind but just wouldn't say what it was.
"This person is extremely mysterious. Everyone calls him... the Mysterious Person!" Qu Qi said, feigning mystery.
"..." Gu Xinran closed her eyes, fighting the urge to smack that silly look off her face. Thanks a lot!
"I really don't know. Well... should I have Fang Yi look into it for you?"
"Mm. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving. I'm going to be with Yilan for the next few days. Don't disturb me unless it's important."
"Tsk~" Qu Qi pouted and muttered under her breath, "Spending so much time together and still not remarrying..."
Gu Xinran chuckled lightly, stood up, and left.
Back in the car, Gu Xinran beamed at Bai Yilan.
"I've already told Qu Qi. I'm spending this time just with you. We can go anywhere, as long as it's a place you want to go."
Bai Yilan rested her cheek on her hand and thought for a moment. "I want to go to the film base."
"?"
"I want to go back to the set."
"??"
"I want to continue filming."
"???"
"Wait, we're on vacation right now. It's a rare chance to put work aside, go on a trip, and enjoy a world for two. Isn't that nice??" Gu Xinran was a bit dumbfounded. She had thought of countless travel destinations. For example, going back to Kema Mountain to see the little wooden house they had built; or going to the great grasslands to ride horses and herd sheep, to live a nomadic life; or perhaps, conquering a snow-capped mountain! Or going to a romantic beach...
She never, ever expected that Bai Yilan would still want to film.
"I don't want to go out with you. A 'world for two' with you is nothing but building houses and gathering wood. It's more tiring than filming. I can't handle that kind of old-person romance~" Bai Yilan shook her head. The mere thought of building that wooden house in the mountains made her whole body ache. Without giving Gu Xinran a chance to speak, she stepped on the gas and drove off.
"...???"
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