Chapter 270: Jin Mu: Raised An Ancestor, 《influenza》 “global Release Date”
Peng Chen really “hates” him.
His jealousy toward Chi Ye doesn’t entirely stem from Chi Ye’s current achievements; it’s more from the shared experiences they once had, and the unwillingness since the Rise era when Chi Ye “relied on looks” to win.
Years later, he didn’t expect Chi Ye to stand up again by “relying on looks.”
Don’t talk about how outstanding Chi Ye’s personal ability is. Without that face, would Jin Xia look at you? Without Jin Xia, would you have today?
And now, he found that not only Jin Xia, but even Ling Han, the little princess of the Beijing Circle, had turned into Chi Ye’s brainless fan. He… he really wanted to progress. He didn’t want to be with old Baby forever, let alone support and see off old Baby in old age.
Chi Ye kept “stealing” his opportunities one after another. Lao Peng felt he had to do something.
Do something?
Starting from the 《Influenza》 “flopping.”
……
February 2nd.
On the eve of the Cannes Film Festival.
Inside the official hotel, representatives from film distributors worldwide participating this year, cinema chains from various regions and countries around the globe, and movie stars gathered here.
Among them, Chi Ye was actually quite inconspicuous, because this wasn’t even within the Southeast Asia scope, but a global film festival.
On a global scale, Chi Ye’s current fame and star power were obviously not as good as the post-00 little diva from 《Singer》, especially in the film circle that valued star power the most.
Of course, it wasn’t just him. The people from internal entertainment circle here weren’t “protagonists,” especially in recent years with the new and old replacements. Many new faces had hardly any connections and resources in Cannes at all; they were purely here to ride on popularity and accompany as runners.
—Teacher Zhang was the exception.
Teacher Zhang had always had a good relationship with the Northwest Circle. She had always taken the rare “international route” in internal entertainment. International Zhang, international Zhang—usually it was mostly teasing and mockery.
But only in this setting did they realize that the “international” in International Zhang, no matter how boasted, had more value than others.
So, at a time when internal entertainment was collectively “encountering coldness” in Cannes, Teacher Zhang was as effortless as ever, handling big shots from various countries with ease. Many people watched with envy, gaining a deeper cognition of International Zhang’s influence in the “international scope.”
It was believed that after this Cannes ended, Teacher Zhang’s star power and status in internal entertainment would rise another level.
“I heard you have two works selected this year. The lead actor of the other one is very popular in your country. What do you think?”
In the banquet lobby.
A person in charge from a European cinema chain clinked glasses with Teacher Zhang and suddenly mentioned 《Influenza》.
Teacher Zhang was stunned for a moment before smiling: “It’s okay. The lead actor of that movie is a very young actor… This is his first time taking on a big production with an investment over 200 million.”
“Yesterday someone approached me; they seemed to want to promote their movie.”
The blond, blue-eyed person in charge shook his head: “But I’ve never heard of him.”
“……He’s great at singing. 《Blue and White Porcelain》 and 《Full Firepower》 are both his works.”
Teacher Zhang tried to translate into English.
“He’s also a singer?”
Another copyright holder was surprised and looked around: “Look, another singer trying to squeeze into the actor pile. Oh, I have to say, I’m really fed up with these artists who can’t stay in their own lane and insist on straddling two boats!”
“I’ve heard of 《Blue and White Porcelain》 occasionally. Isn’t 《Full Firepower》 just a brainwashing song from short videos? Looks like we need to reject this singer gentleman?”
“……”
Teacher Zhang felt a mix of emotions inside.
To be fair, personally in this setting, she still wanted to recommend domestic actors and artists, because no matter what… they were all from the same circle, the same country.
But from a private perspective, she couldn’t really help Chi Ye…
Well, after the last Golden Eagle Festival, Chi Ye had offended not just the Beijing Circle. The Northwest Circle and other circles didn’t have much conflict with him, but after experiencing Chi Ye’s various “drama queen” incidents, they obviously didn’t have a good impression of him either.
So when she just heard a familiar cinema chain inquiring about Chi Ye, she subconsciously hedged a bit, wanting to say something helpful but holding back.
Now it was fine; she didn’t need to agonize. Because apart from Southeast Asia’s cinema chains and copyright holders, overseas others seemed uninterested in 《Influenza》.
In fact, that was the case. Internal entertainment hadn’t had a movie that sold big overseas for so long—decades of history like that. How could just any movie casually convince overseas distributors?
In the film circle’s contempt chain, internal entertainment had always been at the “bottom” internationally.
“Do you have any ideas?”
In another corner of the hotel.
Sheng Ning looked at Chi Ye, her phoenix eyes calm, but the faint dejection in her expression still revealed her current irritable and exhausted state of mind.
During this time, taking advantage of the global cinema chains’ distributors and copyright holders gathering, the 《Influenza》 main creators had tried a lot of networking, but without exception, almost no regional or national film distributors showed interest in Chinese industrial movies.
“Chinese industrial movie”—those six words seemed abstract to them in themselves.
They completely didn’t understand or get why the 《Influenza》 main creators thought they would take a liking to this movie.
Sheng Ning had witnessed almost all of it, so her slight hope gradually sank to the bottom these past few days, feeling an indescribable complexity.
Was it really time to “admit defeat” this time?
Chi Ye looked up, noticing the fatigue in her sharp eyes, thought for a moment, and said: “They haven’t even seen the movie content.”
“……Are you that confident 《Influenza》 can catch fire at Cannes?”
Chi Ye compared and felt that the current him, whether in reputation or popularity and star power, was no less than Train to Busan from the other world at the time of competition, even surpassing it in influence in the Southeast Asia region.
《Influenza》 was also a co-production involving Taiwan and Hong Kong.
So…
“I think it will.”
Sheng Ning stared at him for a long time: “This Spring Festival, we’ll spend it together.”
Chi Ye was stunned.
Sheng Ning turned her head sideways, her phoenix eyes looking toward the brightly lit banquet hall in the distance, her voice steady but slightly hoarse: “Have you ever blamed me?”
Chi Ye blinked: “You… are you okay?”
Sheng Ning turned back, gazing at Chi Ye: “I didn’t help you much before. Consider this ‘repaying a debt.'”
Chi Ye fell silent.
……
Domestic, Shanghai.
Inside the Jin Family Home villa.
“I don’t care, I don’t care. Teacher Chi’s movie has to be in the Spring Festival slot. Someone is deliberately targeting him. The movie content is fine. Back when filming, the script passed review first before we could shoot. This is deliberate targeting!”
Jin Xia whined coquettishly at her mother: “If you don’t help him, I’ll… I’ll stop eating.”
Jin Mu glanced at her sideways: “Then you’d better never eat.”
Seeing it had no effect, Jin Xia rolled her eyes, her little mouth instantly pouting: “Mommy…… Aunt and I invested in this movie too. If it loses money, I’ll lose a ton. You can’t just stand by and watch!”
Jin Mu shook her head: “Losing money is losing your money. What does it have to do with me?”
“……” Jin Xia was silent for two seconds, then suddenly shouted upstairs: “Grandfather, Grandfather…”
“Stop shouting. The old master went to Ji Province for vacation a couple days ago. You could shout your throat out and no one would hear.”
Jin Xia ground her teeth, staring at her mother, and suddenly said: “I’m with Teacher Chi.”
Jin Mu was stunned.
“I… I… I’m pregnant.”
Jin Mu’s face twitched, reacting in disbelief: “What? You’re… pregnant?”
The Empress Dowager guiltily lowered her head, mumbling: “Sort of pregnant, I guess.”
Hearing this, Jin Mu was instantly speechless: “What do you mean ‘sort of’? Jin Xia, are you crazy? Do you know what you’re saying? If your dad finds out, do you think you and Chi Ye will have a good outcome?”
“……Mommy, hear me out.”
The Empress Dowager also realized she’d gone too far, stammering: “I… I searched online. Everyone says pregnancy causes vomiting. I had a bad stomach yesterday and threw up several times… That counts as pregnancy, right?”
Jin Mu looked at her: “That’s acute gastroenteritis.”
Jin Xia: “……Anyway… anyway, I can get pregnant anytime I want. If you push me, next time I come back, I’ll be sporting a big belly!”
“You…”
Jin Mu’s temples started throbbing, her heart inexplicably stuffy. She pointed at Jin Xia: “You’ve really grown bold now. Believe me or not, I’ll lock you in the house for a year and not let you out!”
“Ms. Zeng, that’s not right. Are you breaking the law? As a D family member, are you going to ‘house arrest’ me?”
Jin Xia sensed something wrong, quickly stood up, and darted to the doorway: “I’m telling you, if you do that, I’ll never come back.”
“……Jin Xia, you’d better know right from wrong. Your dad can’t handle this kind of thing right now; the impact would be too bad. Your grandfather’s health worsens year by year. This whole big family is counting on your dad. And you’re doing this for your little matters…”
“It’s not ‘little matters.’ Teacher Chi is the child’s dad; that’s our family matter.”
The Empress Dowager corrected her mother’s wording, then saw Ms. Zeng already standing and heading to the kitchen. She got scared, turned, and ran out the door without looking back: “I’m leaving first. You have three days. If you can’t solve it, you’ll… lose your most beautiful and adorable daughter!”
“Jin Xia, stop right there! You’re not going anywhere!”
Hearing this, Jin Mu’s vision went black. Her dignified poise was completely abandoned as she prepared to give Jin Xia a good reminder of “childhood memories.”
The little drama queen didn’t stop, her figure nimble: “I’m going to Cannes. Reflect on yourself.”
“Me reflect… Reflect on how I raised a daughter for so many years and ended up with a drama-making thing like you. Stop! I really spoiled you rotten. Listen to what you just said…”
Ms. Zeng chased out angrily, but due to her status, this “angry” chase was just slightly faster steps. By the time she reached the doorway, her daughter’s figure was long gone.
“Aiyo… I’m so mad. This little rascal… really… really… Whose personality is this like?!”
Ms. Zeng stood with hands on hips, panting, both annoyed and baffled, feeling like Jin Xia might not be her biological daughter—this personality didn’t take after her at all.
Hmm…
Spoiled rotten. She used to scoff at “merciful mothers spoil their children,” but now she deeply realized Jin Xia’s personality was entirely her own doing.
“Uh… Sister Zeng, don’t be angry. Xia Xia actually knows her limits. Before coming home, she already tried contacting many uncles and aunts with good family relations… But no one joined her nonsense, so she had no choice but to come home.”
Beside her, Sister Mi, who hadn’t spoken or left with Jin Xia, paused. Seeing Jin Mu wasn’t really angry, she spoke weakly.
Ms. Zeng glanced at her, sighed, and smiled: “It’s right not to join her nonsense… This child was like a kid when little. I thought playing in the entertainment industry would mature her a bit, but unexpectedly, she’s still like a child now.”
“She’s spoiled by the family. She’s caused you trouble usually, right, Little Mi?”
“No, no, what are you saying? I’ve always treated Xia Xia like my own little sister. Her personality is actually pretty good usually…”
Sister Mi waved her hands hurriedly, flattered.
“Sigh.”
Ms. Zeng sighed again, her beautiful face thoughtful for a moment before suddenly asking: “How does Chi Ye usually treat Xia Xia?”
Pausing, she added: “Has he ever disliked Xia Xia’s personality?”
Sister Mi was stunned, her heartbeat speeding up. She thought seriously and said: “Chi Ye hasn’t disliked… He’s pretty good to Xia Xia…”
Ms. Zeng stared at her for a while. Sister Mi sweated on her forehead, lowering her head, not daring to meet her eyes.
“……”
Ms. Zeng withdrew her gaze, no longer discussing the topic, and instead pondered: “Ah… Tell me about the situation with his movie.”
Sister Mi suddenly looked up, surprised at Jin Mu.
Jin Mu shook her head with a smile, her tone indulgent: “This girl is in such a hurry this time. As her mom… it hurts my heart.”
Sister Mi was instantly speechless.
At this moment, she finally seemed to understand why Jin Xia had this personality…
Hmm, Ms. Zeng had strong self-awareness; it really was her who spoiled her.
“No need for others to step in for such a small matter… It wouldn’t look good after all. You tell me first; I’ll listen. If the content really isn’t up to par, we absolutely can’t break the rules.”
Sister Mi subconsciously asked: “If… it’s really deliberate targeting?”
“Then no one can block his review.”
Sister Mi instantly felt a shiver.
Sister Zeng was… a bit angry? Hmm, looks like Xia Xia really knew her own mom; this tantrum actually worked.
……
The next day.
Ten o’clock in the morning.
The Cannes Film Festival officially opened in the Cannes Grand Hotel garden.
The global film industry was watching; domestic news was flying everywhere too.
That day, Chi Ye and Sheng Ning, along with Sister Shang who came specially to join the fun, and the 《Influenza》 main creators, dressed up to attend the red carpet session of this Cannes Film Festival.
“What time is our movie premiere set for?”
“11:30.”
“That’s prime time slot. Nice, this is powerful?!”
