Chapter 281: 《749 Bureau》 Finally Takes The Stage, I’m Familiar With This, I’ll Go First
February 12th, New Year’s Eve.
Between the turning of years, fireworks illuminate a new chapter.
Jin Xia did not participate in this year’s Spring Festival Gala, unable to be as beautiful as last year’s 《Blue and White Porcelain》 in every household.
Chi Ye participated.
As early as half a year ago, he received an invitation from the Spring Festival Gala. Last year’s 《Blue and White Porcelain》 had such a great effect, so this year’s director group naturally favored him.
However, during that time, there were a series of incidents such as 《Influenza》 review, causing Chi Ye to miss several rehearsals during the final Spring Festival Gala rehearsal period.
If it were another artist, it might have caused very serious consequences.
But due to Chi Ye’s past “excellent” performance, plus his terrifying singing skill, the director group did not show too much dissatisfaction.
And Chi Ye was destined to be busy tonight, because not only did he need to sing at the Spring Festival Gala, but right after singing, he had to rush to the 《Influenza》 premiere ceremony, and after attending the premiere ceremony, he still had to accompany the Empress Dowager who didn’t go home for the New Year this year.
Hmm… For life, he is trying hard to stay alive…
With the same “treatment” as Chi Ye, there was also the Spring Festival Gala regular Shen Ma Combination. These two were also going to be busy all night, and besides having to go on a date with someone, they had exactly the same process as Chi Ye later.
At 9:30, after a song ended, Chi Ye hurriedly got off the stage and ran into Shen Bin and Ma Li who were still preparing.
“Yo, busy rushing to the next show?”
Shen Bin and Chi Ye weren’t that close; they had only met twice on variety shows before, but he was straightforward, and since he didn’t mix in those traditional old circles, he didn’t have much ill feeling toward Chi Ye.
After meeting, he even teased a couple of times.
“Yeah, headliner, more appearances.”
Chi Ye waved his hand and greeted Ma Li: “Teacher Ma.”
“Handsome guy.”
Ma Li subconsciously complimented him, then realized the tone sounded a bit like a senior encouraging a junior… Although Chi Ye was indeed their junior in age, the actual situation was…
“Look at you, how do you talk to our President Chi.”
Shen Bin unhappily patted Ma Li’s shoulder, then smiled and said: “You go first, we’ll come soon.”
“See you later, teachers.”
Chi Ye didn’t stay long, simply greeted them and hurriedly headed to the parking lot.
“…Did I offend him just now?”
Ma Li watched Chi Ye’s back disappear, then said with lingering fear: “He won’t hold a grudge against me, right?”
Shen Bin smacked his lips: “Not necessarily.”
“Chi Ye is famously vindictive in the circle. Look at those who offended him; they’ve all been messed with badly. You… hard to say, hard to say.”
Ma Li: “…Seeing you like this, I’m relieved. He probably wasn’t offended.”
Shen Bin: “…”
“Hey, who would have dared to imagine before? A traffic artist so young could reach this point.”
Ma Li sincerely sighed: “Not simple.”
“There’s even more not simple.”
Shen Bin took out his mobile phone and glanced: “《Influenza》 pre-sale has surpassed us, currently at 340 million. Feels like opening day can compete with 《Detective Chinatown》 for daily champion.”
“So fast?!”
“How long has it been?”
Ma Li was surprised: “I just saw it was 330 million.”
“This year’s market is really hot. Estimated just the top two opening days will add up to nearly a billion.”
Shen Bin shook his head: “How long since we’ve seen such a hot market?”
“…Indeed fierce.”
Ma Li nodded too, then still a bit uneasy asked: “I really didn’t offend him just now, right?”
“…”
…
“You’re quite ‘notorious’ now.”
On the other side of the parking lot, Chi Ye ran into Sister Qianzi who had just finished her previous performance… and Sister Shang who didn’t participate but came as an audience member.
As soon as they met, Qianzi couldn’t help praising Chi Ye for being “kind and amiable.”
Chi Ye glanced at her: “You seem fatter.”
“Huh? Fatter?!”
Shi Jinwei was stunned, then surprised and anxious, hurriedly looked down at herself: “Not fat, I’ve been controlling my diet…”
“Weiwei, he’s talking about me.”
Sister Shang automatically claimed it, looking down guiltily: “It’s the New Year, ate a bit more.”
Chi Ye looked at the two: “Are you specially waiting for me here?”
“Of course not…”
Shi Jinwei opened her mouth to speak, but Sister Shang cut in first: “Yes, yes, we were waiting for you.”
As she said it, she tugged hard at Shi Jinwei’s sleeve, and Sister Qianzi reluctantly turned her head away.
Chi Ye was a bit curious: “Waiting for me for what?”
“Isn’t it… isn’t your movie premiering in the mainland… As friends, we feel we should support your premiere ceremony.”
“I see.”
Chi Ye suddenly understood.
Because this time was urgent, plus it was the Spring Festival slot, many big stars participated in the Spring Festival Gala, and the 《Influenza》 premiere ceremony didn’t invite too many guests—they didn’t need to invite too many people this time either.
Unlike the previous 《Big Shot》《Girl》, 《Influenza》 played a heavenly hand and didn’t need much hype… Their momentum was already big enough now.
He nodded knowingly, his gaze casually sweeping over Sister Shang’s guilty expression: “You wouldn’t be constipated again, right?”
Sister Shang: “??!”
Shi Jinwei: “Again?! How do you know such a private thing about her?”
Sister Shang, after a moment of silence, pointed at Chi Ye: “You little rascal!”
“Come on, Weiwei, let’s not pay attention to him. I’ll take you to eat something delicious.”
She pulled Shi Jinwei and walked away, just wanting to quickly get this “outsider” Shi Jinwei away… How could a little fairy’s issue be called constipation?
It was just a meridian blockage.
“No time tonight, talk about cooperation another day.”
Chi Ye’s voice suddenly came from behind. Sister Shang waved her hand carelessly: “Got it, got it… Go do your thing.”
“Happy New Year.”
“Not happy now.”
Chi Ye watched Sister Shang’s “lonely” back, almost couldn’t hold it in, then looked at his watch and got into the car: “Let’s go, faster, a bit late.”
“Got it, President Chi.”
The driver responded and set off for the 《Influenza》 premiere ceremony site.
…
Outside the parking lot, Shi Jinwei and Sister Shang stopped, but her mood was clearly not high.
Sister Shang glanced at her: “Weiwei, why aren’t you happy?”
“What’s there to be happy about.”
Sister Qianzi thought to herself, he just said Happy New Year to you, that’s not right, what about me?
Thinking of this, she suspiciously glanced at Sister Shang, instinctively looked at her butt, and asked: “Sis, what riddle were you two playing just now?”
“Aiya.”
Sister Shang didn’t notice Shi Jinwei’s gaze and smugly said: “Still, I, Shang Youshu, am the best. See, as soon as I stepped in, without any effort, little Chi agreed to cooperate.”
“After all, the charm is too great.”
Shi Jinwei: “?”
Sister Shang looked at her: “This time I originally wanted to bring you along to talk about the new program with him, but unexpectedly… Should’ve just come myself, no need to trouble you, Weiwei, to make this trip.”
“…Sis, were you unspoken rules’d?”
Sister Qianzi couldn’t hold back and asked: “You two with this and that… Did he unspoken rules you?!”
“Ah?”
Sister Shang was stunned, then surprisingly calmly replied: “You wanna learn?”
Shi Jinwei: “…Can you stop teasing me all the time, sis.”
“Look, you started playing with me first… How could it be, how could there be unspoken rules.”
“That’s good.”
“If unspoken rules, it’d be me unspoken rules-ing him. Though I don’t seem as popular as him now, actually I’m not, but I can be his workhorse bringing newcomers. Isn’t that a top position too?”
Shi Jinwei’s mouth opened wide: “Ah?”
“Alright, alright.” Sister Shang saw Sister Qianzi get confused by her several times in seconds, finally lost the mood to tease, pushed her along: “I’ll treat you to a movie tonight, to repay your ‘kindness’ for coming with me just now.”
“…Sis, your crazy look scares me.”
“Scared is right, sis will pamper you all night tonight, hehe.”
“…You’re so greasy, can you stay away from me, don’t touch me randomly.”
“Perkier again, Weiwei, how exactly are you built, so extraordinarily gifted…”
“…”
…
11 PM.
《Influenza》 premiere ceremony site.
Chi Ye, travel-worn, bent over and walked in, seeing Sheng Ning on the side making a phone call.
“Mm… mm… I know, I’ll look later, thank you director, thank you for your recognition.”
“…Chi Ye is back, okay, I’ll hang up first, mm, bye.”
She noticed Chi Ye’s figure, hung up the phone, turned and asked: “You’re too late, we’ve all been waiting for you.”
Chi Ye walked past her directly, sat next to Jin Xia, and whispered: “Waited long?”
The Empress Dowager was secretly smug inside, but on the surface “coldly” nodded: “…Not bad.”
“Video called home?”
“No.”
“Why not call? Didn’t you say your grandfather’s health isn’t great this year?”
“After the premiere ceremony, call with me.”
Chi Ye paused slightly, nodded: “Okay.”
Jin Xia observed his expression, suddenly reached out her little hand to hold his: “Teacher Chi, don’t be afraid. If worst comes to worst, we elope.”
Chi Ye: “…”
“Really, I’ve made the plan. If grandfather doesn’t like you, I’ll take you back to steal the household register… If that doesn’t work, I’ll get pregnant, then he won’t be able to do anything even if he doesn’t like it.”
Chi Ye thought about it and said: “Really hope grandfather doesn’t like me.”
Jin Xia: “?”
Chi Ye seriously: “How don’t you understand the old man’s good intentions? Look for the reason in yourself.”
Jin Xia blinked, suddenly lowered her voice, leaned to his ear and muttered: “…Teacher Chi, if you really want, I can anytime.”
Chi Ye inexplicably got goosebumps, noticing Sheng Ning in front turning back staring at him, replied in an equally small voice: “Mind the impact, not good in front of elders.”
Sheng Ning: What are they gibbering about over there?!
Just like that, Chi Ye and Jin Xia chatted, time gradually approaching midnight.
At forty-five minutes, the 《Influenza》 main creator team went on stage for a simple little interview, then took seats one by one, with the hour and minute hands reaching 12:00 sharp.
New year, First Day of Lunar New Year, all thoughts warm, all paths smooth.
Fireworks sounded outside.
In the movie theater, the familiar “deng deng deng deng deng” Dragon Seal sound played, followed by the familiar “Chi Ye Studio” logo.
Sheng Ning and the Influenza main creators turned back to the packed audience seats, inexplicably feeling a bit nervous.
—This real premiere ceremony, the effect should be the same as Cannes, right?
Should be…
…
“Has 《Influenza》 box office surpassed us?”
Same time.
Inside a top cinema.
《Detective Chinatown 3》 premiere ceremony site.
Chen Sicheng looked at the picture of his painstakingly produced with huge investment, but his attention wasn’t on the film at all— he’d seen the finished 《Detective Chinatown 3》 countless times; what he cared about now was the box office situation.
With the New Year’s bell tolling, this year’s most terrifying Spring Festival slot had officially entered the race stage.
Before midnight, the latest box office data showed 《Detective Chinatown 3》 pre-sale still leading 《Influenza》, as high as 365 million.
Now officially in the Spring Festival slot opening day box office, not sure if the gap between the two has changed.
“We’re still first.”
Liu Haoran next to him glanced at his mobile phone and said excitedly: “Looks like many audiences on Spring Festival slot opening day still chose our movie as their first Spring Festival movie viewing experience.”
“What’s so surprising.”
Another friendly lead actor Zhang Bai nearby laughed: “Genre reason, for the first movie over New Year, watch comedy laugh and sleep, or watch a bloody zombie terror movie and feel depressed—young people online shout loud, but real bystanders buying tickets will choose.”
“Right, we have the first two series as foundation; it’d be strange to be surpassed now.”
The Wen family little flower nodded along.
The reason Spring Festival slot is the hottest market of the year, especially this year’s complete outbreak, the biggest reason is it’s a family reunion holiday; many comedy family entertainment movies will see their terrifying number of screenings.
Is 《Influenza》 family entertainment?
Obviously not, even the opposite. In fact, without Cannes, under normal release, 《Influenza》 pre-sale couldn’t catch up to the 《Detective Chinatown 3》 series.
And now even with Cannes hype, in opening day box office, it still hasn’t achieved premiering straight to the top.
“I was wondering about his release timing before… Honestly, now it seems I was overthinking… Let’s watch the movie, focus on feedback for other movies.”
“Mm.”
They mostly knew 《Influenza》 reputation now, but about 《749 Bureau》, and 《Iron Fist》, 《Flying Speed》 and other competitors, still no clue.
…
2:30 AM.
First round of Spring Festival slot movie viewing ended.
Capital City Wanda Cinema, 《749 Bureau》 premiere ceremony movie theater corridor.
Crowds of audiences and movie fans filed out from the movie theater exit, each like under a silence effect, all lowering heads frowning, silent.
Until walking out of the movie theater and smelling popcorn scent, one male audience slowly came to, sighed: “Dodged a thousand times, still couldn’t dodge, took a big bite.”
“Such a stinky pile of thesis defense.”
“Right, 749 Bureau… Where’s 749 Bureau? I actually believed the Douyin editing clips…”
“Director Lu has always been like this in production thesis defense.”
One audience laughed relieved, then took out his mobile phone, skillfully heading to the counter.
“What are you doing?”
“Refund ticket.”
“Ah? Can refund after watching?! Can’t, right?!”
“Other movies can’t, but Director Lu’s can. I watched 《Kunlun Mountains》, I’m familiar with this. I’ll go first.”
