Chapter 280: Chi Ye’s Conscience Awakens
Yue Na, ever since the last time it was badly “screwed over” by Chi Ye, the losses can no longer be described as heavy, but has directly gone from being a well-known major group in the industry to an enterprise on the verge of seizure.
Just the losses in this recent period, added up, might be ten times the total of what they previously screwed Chi Ye over.
And this is still just the losses so far. Great President Liu has recently been mobilizing all his connections and contacts to get through this hurdle. If the situation and investigation continue to develop unchecked, Yue Na might have no choice but to “cut off a limb to survive” and go through a wave of bankruptcy restructuring.
—Cinema chain business is a field that Yue Na was actively laying out even before the incident, for which they had gone to great lengths to cozy up to a series of company groups like the Beijing Circle and Hua Yi.
The effect was very significant. After all, Yue Na itself is one of the local tyrants in internal entertainment circle. Although they weren’t previously involved in the film industry, they excelled in the drama circle and variety shows, which dominate the mainstream of internal entertainment circle.
And behind them is the juggernaut Penguin.
But the more significant the effect was back then, the more painful it is now to be targeted.
—Cinema chains are now one of the most important directions for Yue Na to save itself indirectly. Currently, Yue Na as a whole is in a semi-stalled state, and its major artists have been implicated by the previous tax issues—some have had their personas collapse, others have been cut ties with.
Even the attitude of the big brother Penguin behind them has become ambiguous.
At this moment, the cinema chains they laid out back then have become their last “lifeline.”
The drama circle and variety shows have now stalled, but they can use the obviously heating up market, taking this scorching trend as the entry point to overtake on a curve and smoothly support through this “national extermination disaster,” getting past this hurdle.
But now… they haven’t even started operating, and Chi Ye’s side has already blatantly raised the butcher’s knife.
《Influenza》 refuses all cinema chains related to Yue Na.
Although without 《Influenza》, relying on Great President Liu’s connections, Yue Na has already obtained the copyrights for other blockbusters in this Spring Festival slot, but… 《Influenza》 is currently under the spotlight, with countless domestic movie fans eagerly awaiting it, and more importantly—it’s disgusting!
If Chi Ye doesn’t go to the few small cinema chains that Yue Na just acquired, both sides will make less money. The difference is that Chi Ye has the global market, plus all domestic ones except Yue Na, and doesn’t lack this bit at all.
While Yue Na will lose the most core thing because of this—and go into the first battle of its confident comeback only to swallow a fly.
Imagine, many movie fans excitedly wanting to watch 《Influenza》, this blockbuster that’s already caused a sensation, during Spring Festival, only to search and find that the nearest Yue Na cinema to their home doesn’t have any scheduling for 《Influenza》…
In terms of brand operations, no matter how Yue Na explains it, they’ve already lost the first round.
It hasn’t even started, and they’ve already lost.
“Chi Ye… this guy is really vicious to the extreme. This time he wants to take advantage of this opportunity to continue messing with us…”
“President Liu, he also said… he said that if anyone in the drama circle cooperates with Yue Na, he won’t take their plays or investments in the future… Platforms are the same.”
Great President Liu: “?!”
“Ha.”
Great President Liu directly laughed: “Who does he think he is? He’s just a traffic star… Does anyone listen to him? This obvious two-choice play pretend game, threatening others—would anyone listen?”
“…” The person on the phone was silent for a moment before saying: “Some are listening, and some are ignoring it.”
Great President Liu’s face froze, and after a few seconds of silence, he let out a heavy sigh: “Sigh… he’s indeed not just an artist anymore.”
“…… Mainly because Kiwifruit’s attitude is proactive. Because this time we’ve already had several traffic stars collapse anyway, temporarily only Xiao Zhan can be promoted, but now they obviously favor Chi Ye more… Right, they got the exclusive streaming rights for 《Ghost》.”
The person on the phone comforted: “But Penguin Video and Ku Ying don’t care about this…”
Great President Liu directly asked: “What about the music department? Variety shows and TV stations?”
These few, except music, are all major markets that were Yue Na’s home turf before.
The person on the other end paused, hesitating: “…… Music and Mango TV both… seem… to have withdrawn previous cooperations… But… but I feel it’s only temporary.”
Great President Liu: “……”
He stared at the ceiling, his temples graying against the handsome face of his younger days, his slightly presbyopic eyes suddenly aching a bit.
“It doesn’t matter who listened… It doesn’t matter how many really chose… What’s important is that this choice shouldn’t exist at all. When did Yue Na fall to this level?”
“That group in the group ruined Yue Na.”
……
What’s important isn’t this targeting, but that this targeting shouldn’t have appeared at all—its appearance makes people feel it’s justified, even some made choices, some hesitated…
Hesitation itself is a kind of “failure.”
Chi Ye really isn’t the same as back then. Great President Liu profoundly realized this at this moment, but by the time he realized it, it might already be too late.
This time 《Influenza》 not going to Yue Na’s cinema chains might not deliver a fatal blow to Yue Na, but when this trend appears, it means Yue Na is no longer the Yue Na it once was.
In their once most familiar TV series and variety show fields, they will all suffer “suppression” from various competitors.
Chi Ye doesn’t pay attention to these. To be precise, he has too many things now, targeting Yue Na is just a daily must-do, and finishing off Yue Na is only a matter of time.
After 《Influenza》 officially set for secondary release in the Spring Festival slot, he and part of the 《Influenza》 main creator team became completely busy.
Because the time is too short, there’s no time for pre-release promotion and marketing… But it seems 《Influenza》 doesn’t need it now. From withdrawal to secondary release, all the events that happened in between are themselves the biggest marketing for 《Influenza》.
He just picked a top cinema in the capital city, then started briefly busying himself with the final premiere work, and “market research.”
“The Spring Festival slot pre-sales are very hot right now. Currently ranking first is still 《Detective Chinatown 3》, with pre-sale box office already over 300 million, now at 350 million, with very fierce momentum.”
In the backstage of some activity.
Keke reported with a tablet: “Second is Shen Bin and Ma Li’s 《Iron Fist》, with nearly 300 million in pre-sales.”
“Finally, Han Han’s 《Flying Speed》 and 《749 Bureau》. These two have similar shares. 《Flying Speed》’s current pre-sale box office is at 250 million, 《749 Bureau》 is just over 200 million, and…”
This year’s Spring Festival slot movies are indeed unprecedentedly competitive. After 《Influenza》 withdrew, the scheduling battles between parties became even more intense. And by the time 《Influenza》 rescheduled, the current Spring Festival slot almost includes the biggest teams and circles in the internal entertainment circle film market in the past decade.
There’s Chen Sicheng, the money-making monster who rose to fame with the 《Detective Chinatown》 series.
There’s also the evergreen tree of Chinese film industry, Shen Ma Combination.
Plus the 《Flying Speed》 series from the previous few with explosive box office.
Add to that the Beijing Circle’s biggest investment 《749 Bureau》, and the newly scheduled Chi Ye Team…
“Hundred schools of thought contend.”
“So what’s our current pre-sale box office?”
Chi Ye looked up and asked. Sheng Ning was sitting right next to him, staring dazedly at the Maoyan box office data on her phone.
Keke smiled: “It’s already nearly 200 million now.”
“This much?”
Chi Ye was very surprised, because 《Influenza》’s release scheduling was very tight, only five days before the Spring Festival slot opened. And notably, because they needed to “fight” for scheduling with various parties, their actual pre-sale start time was even shorter.
From yesterday to now, just one night plus one morning, and it already pre-sold 200 million in box office?
Then in the next few days before the Spring Festival slot officially opens, doesn’t 《Influenza》 have hope to surpass Shen Ma and wrestle with the first-place 《Detective Chinatown》?
Oh my god.
“This is still because we scheduled too late, and scheduling has been pulling shares with the other few. Otherwise, it should be higher.”
Keke explained: “After all, 《Influenza》 has too much attention now… Our scheduling in Taiwan and Hong Kong is around 80%, a disparity lead over other local movies and those few released internal entertainment circle movies.”
“I’m not clear on overseas yet, no accurate data, but all added together, 《Influenza》’s global pre-sale should already be over 300 million, surpassing the Mahua team… It should also surpass 《Detective Chinatown》.”
Chi Ye was dazed—this is effective “global premiere”?
Wow.
Sheng Ning only lifted her head after hearing these words, her phoenix eyes showing some indescribable complexity and throb.
Mainland under 24 hours pre-sale over 200 million, first day very likely to reach 250 million, sweeping Hong Kong and Taiwan regions. Besides that, overseas also in pre-sale…
《Influenza》 will very likely surpass 《Detective Chinatown》 《Flying Speed》 《Iron Fist》 and other series of internal entertainment circle top big stars’ box office from half a month or even a month of pre-sale marketing, in just the short five days after release…
This is my work?
Sister Ning was a bit dazed. She, Sheng Ning, in the film circle, would actually have such a day one day?!
Right now, I really want to see Xu Yingying and that Beijing Circle group’s facial expressions…
Still remember how Xu Yingying and the Beijing Circle tried every way to force her to “trick” Chi Ye over to scam for money. She didn’t agree, and in the end, they “tore faces” in the lounge private room.
This was also the beginning of her conflict with the Beijing Circle and being soft banned in the movie circle.
But unexpectedly…
Sheng Ning’s gaze fell on Chi Ye, who was continuing to seriously discuss with Keke, her phoenix eyes flickering uncertainly.
—Little brother, you’re not just changed to the point of being unfamiliar to me now, it’s like you’ve become a different person.
Adversity and desperation really do change a person… “Chi Ye” is a living example.
“Alright, that’s it for now… Now just wait for release. On release day, we’ll assign tasks… Push the announcement for the day after the premiere for me. I promised to accompany someone.”
“Ah?”
Keke was stunned and subconsciously asked: “Accompany someone?”
“Yeah, developed a new business.”
Chi Ye nodded low-key: “Planning to accompany big sister, earn some living expenses.”
Sheng Ning came back to her senses and sneered: “Watch your body, don’t die of exhaustion in bed.”
Chi Ye: “?”
He glanced at Sheng Ning: “Thanks, it is a bit tiring indeed.”
Sheng Ning: “……”
“Alright, that’s it.”
Chi Ye didn’t say more to Sheng Ning, waved his hand, handled the follow-up for this activity, then slipped away back to the studio.
—Because he’s been busy with 《Influenza》 matters this period, he didn’t accompany Empress Dowager well last time in Cannes… Honestly, Chi Ye feels he’s become a bit of a workaholic, neglecting the young girl instead.
Thinking of how Empress Dowager always bares her heart to him, Chi Ye feels he should still act like a person.
“Teacher Chi, why are you back?”
In the studio.
Jin Xia didn’t participate in activities or Spring Festival Gala this year—all pushed off, because she was afraid Chi Ye couldn’t handle 《Influenza》 issues alone, so she stayed waiting, ready anytime.
At this moment, nearing evening, Empress Dowager was nestled in the studio, tinkering with something together with Shi Daifu.
Seeing Chi Ye suddenly appear, she was very surprised: “Stuck by review again? Why not go busy with the movie?”
“Wanted to see chest… missed you.”
Jin Xia slanted a glance at him, then secretly glanced at Teacher Shi who seemed to have heard nothing, lowered her voice to “scold”: “Watch your resin.”
“…… What are you doing?”
Chi Ye curiously came over, only to find the two were actually cooking…
To be precise, Empress Dowager was making trouble, Teacher Shi was cooking.
“Oh, Sister Shi Shi is teaching me to cook.”
Mentioning this, Jin Xia immediately perked up, proudly raising her chin: “I did very well.”
“Poison to death how many people?”
Chi Ye curiously: “Compared to Teacher Huang, who is stronger?”
“Teacher Chi, if you KTV me again, I’ll get angry oh.”
Chi Ye said nothing, just looked at Teacher Shi.
Teacher Shi was silent for a moment, then said: “I’m teaching Xia Xia to cook… recipes you like.”
“Ah.”
Chi Ye suddenly realized, his gaze scanning back and forth between the two, then landing on Jin Xia: “Turned over a new leaf?”
“Hmph hmph.”
Empress Dowager discontentedly hummed, then lowered her head again to carefully wipe the eggs clean, starting to find the most beautiful angle to place them: “Sister Shi Shi says I have potential to be a kitchen god, just wait and see.”
“Need me to help spray some perfume on the eggshells?”
Chi Ye said while turning back dissatisfied: “Teacher Shi, how can you insult people?”
“Hm?”
Shi Daifu was stunned, first staring puzzled at Chi Ye for a few seconds, then reacting and hurriedly explaining: “No… I didn’t say Xia Xia is… meaning…”
Jin Xia said delightedly: “I’ve already sprayed… and more.”
She turned to stare at Chi Ye: “Teacher Chi, you’re really out.”
Chi Ye: “???”
“What are you doing here instead of busying with the premiere?”
“This premiere doesn’t delay me accompanying you.”
“…… Fine, looks like you’re not that out.”
Chi Ye: “…… Learn something good, if you say that again I’ll get angry okay.”
Jin Xia pretended not to hear him, turned around to study her “beauty eggs” again.
Chi Ye watching this scene suddenly felt maybe he shouldn’t have come this time, feeling his piece of true heart was all “wasted.”
……
February 12.
The day before the Spring Festival slot approaches, all players in this year’s market are ready.
One day later, in the evening, the storm descends.
