Global Film Emperor

Chapter 235 The Premiere Ends

The room was silent. Even though the movie had ended and the wall lights were on, there wasn't a sound. As everyone expected, that bastard Zhuang Yu really didn't give a good ending.

After the images on the screen disappeared, the names of the main creators, supporting actors, and behind-the-scenes staff did not immediately scroll across the screen. Instead, lines of text slowly appeared from below.

"As of now, there are more than four million leukemia patients in my country, and the number of patients is increasing by 30,000 to 40,000 people every year. Among them, more than two million patients are children aged two to seven. Leukemia has become the number one killer of children."

"With the continuous improvement and development of medical technology, leukemia is no longer an incurable disease, but the high cost of treatment is still enough to crush one family after another."

"At the same time, about 10,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every day in our country, an average of seven people are diagnosed every minute, and one cancer patient dies every five minutes."

"This film pays tribute to all those who are battling illness and wishes everyone a speedy recovery."

As the credits began to roll, the lights above the venue came on, but all the audience members remained numbly seated, their expressions blank and their faces streaked with tears.

An oppressive, even despairing atmosphere permeated the room. If this were an animated film, these people would have dark clouds hanging over their heads and their faces would be ashen.

"Hey, Lu'er, do you think they'll beat us up later?"

Wang Zhen glanced back, crouched down, and nudged Lu Ze's ribs with his elbow, asking in a low voice, "This is unlikely, but if someone with a bad temper were to be cursing down there, these people who are already feeling suppressed would probably join in. After all, emotions are contagious. Then this wouldn't be the premiere of 'To Live,' but rather the six major sects besieging Bright Peak."
"It can't be that bad. Look how quiet they are. They must be very good at maintaining their composure. They're all cultured people. It can't be."

The idea that the film's creators were beaten up at the premiere was pure nonsense. Lu Ze was just joking, and everyone understood. Even Zhuang Yu and Guo Mingde chuckled softly when they heard it, dispelling the gloom that the film had brought them.

Time waits for no one, and sitting idly by isn't a good idea. The people on stage returned to the stage, and the audience, in a daze, saw Lin Qin and Shen Mengxi walk onto the stage. And then... how could they possibly hold back their tears?
"it is good!!!"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. It was impossible for the roof to be lifted, but it certainly touched the hearts of the entire creative team. Seeing the audience below wiping their eyes, their faces flushed, and clapping enthusiastically, it was clear that all their hard work had paid off.

In fact, filming this movie was very difficult because illness can change body shape, so all the actors either lost or gained weight according to the script.

The plot about Lin Qin's impending death coincided with Lu Ze's struggle with schizophrenia. To match Lu Ze's physical changes, Wang Zhen began a self-destructive diet, eating an apple and a bag of milk every day to supplement her protein and vitamins, followed by a 10,000-meter run and 1,000 jump ropes.

The two then began to eat large amounts of food to regain their healthy physiques from the movie, but they could only eat meat, which caused their complexions to turn sallow, all to make their faces more realistic than makeup could.

What's even more heartbreaking is that the actors had to go to the hospital to observe terminally ill patients during their breaks, witnessing all the torment and devastation of their illnesses. Sixteen-year-old Er Mao was even frightened to tears several times, which made his mother very dissatisfied with the crew. But after all, they had signed a contract, and if they wanted to perform well, he couldn't not watch; he had to watch.

This is cruel for a teenager, but Lu Ze has to defend Zhuang Yu and Guo Mingde. The two did not ask "Er Mao" to go to the hospital to observe the patient, because they were afraid that the child would be traumatized.

But despite his family's objections and the crew's advice, the child resolutely followed the group into the hospital, which is why Lu Ze likes the child so much.

He didn't want "Er Mao" to go to the hospital, but since "Er Mao" did it, it was hard for Lu Ze not to admire him. This is not contradictory.

The applause lasted for three minutes, and cheers continued. Was this movie cruel? Of course. Was this movie meaningful? Of course.

"Now, please welcome Mr. Zhuang Yu to give a summary of the premiere."

No one stopped the audience from applauding until they got tired of clapping and sat down again. Only then did the emcee pick up the microphone and announce the start of the final proceedings of the premiere.

At that moment, Zhuang Yu picked up the microphone and walked onto the stage. He was wearing Martin boots, jeans, a gray plaid t-shirt, and a black vest. His hair was flattened by his hat. Compared to his literary and artistic style during the Mr. Tree era, he now looked more like a director, or perhaps he could be considered a true professional director.

Embarrassingly, not a single person in the audience applauded. It wasn't that they were tired of clapping; it was just that their applause was for the characters in the movie, not for the bastard who wrote such a depressing script to trick them into tears.

Zhuang Yu seemed to have anticipated this reaction from the audience. Looking down at the audience, he tapped the microphone lightly on his lap twice, gathered his thoughts, and then coughed once before turning on the microphone.

"This is my adapted version of my friend's life. I said before the movie started that I embellished the script. In reality, there is no Ping An Hotel, no Old Wang, no Old Zhou, Old Zhao, Er Mao, Shen Mengxi. These people do not exist. There is only one real person, 'Lin Qin.'" "I will not reveal his real name. The terminal illness hotel he stayed in was far from this cozy. Some people may say that terminally ill patients are all bedridden, so how could they help burn paper money and keep vigil for others? Yes, no patient has that energy, but I want to tell a story, not science."

"On the timeline, I put this story in the future. In fact, he fell ill around 2000. At that time, the Internet was not developed, and everything he experienced was not known to anyone. Perhaps only I know what he went through. He really believed in those gods and ghosts, and was swindled and robbed by scammers. There were many other things that were even more unacceptable. But times have changed, and these things have disappeared, so I will not mention them again. I just want to talk about some sordid things that still exist today."

"I don't have the ability to sound the alarm for people, nor do I consider myself to be so noble. The original intention of this film is simply to encourage everyone to lend a helping hand to these terminally ill patients, even if it's just a little bit. That way, it won't be in vain that I exposed the foolish things 'Lin Qin' did. As I said before, times are getting better and technology is advancing, so I sincerely hope that every patient can recover soon and overcome their illness. That's all I have to say. I've said what the host said. This press conference is now over!"

At the entrance of a cinema in Hangzhou.

"I wish I hadn't come to see this movie. I feel so awful."

Xia Fei led his girlfriend out of the movie theater. The girl wiped away her tears and kept muttering that she regretted it. After all, she had been crying ever since Lin Qin was diagnosed, and she estimated that she would lose two pounds by the time she weighed herself when she got home.

"I really regret not coming to see this movie."

Xia Fei's eyelids were also swollen, and he couldn't hold back his tears at several places where he was most prone to crying. Now he looked like he had lost his soul and walked forward with a pale face.

My eyelids are red and swollen because I cried while watching the movie, but my pale face is purely because I was scared by my parents who kept emitting Ultraman lasers behind me. Can you believe that when you bring your girlfriend to the movies, your parents bought the tickets right next to you?

The moment he made eye contact with his parents, he was so scared he almost threw up. Luckily, his parents saved him face and didn't beat him up in the movie theater. Otherwise, he would have jumped into the sewer and been flushed down to the garbage disposal plant to be disposed of.

"Xiao Fei".

"Hey! Mom!"

Hearing his mother's shout, Xia Fei was so frightened that he instinctively stood at attention and looked back to see his parents standing next to the car, opening the car door and looking at him.

"I'll take you home."

"Is this... Auntie?"

"Oh yes, no need, Mom, I'll just take a taxi and send her home."

"Why take a taxi when you have your own car? It's a waste of money, get in now!"

The young couple exchanged a glance. Xia Fei steeled himself and pulled the blushing girl into the back seat. Along the way, their parents only talked to them about the movie and didn't mention their relationship, which relieved Xia Fei.

The family of three didn't drive home until they dropped the girl off at the entrance of the residential complex.

"Study hard, you must, and so must Xiaoyi, do you hear me!"

"Hey! Hey!"

He nodded reluctantly, echoing his mother's words, but he couldn't see the heartwarming smiles on his parents' faces in the driver's and passenger's seats.

Actually, puppy love is still love, and love is always first love. How could parents at that age not understand? Perhaps before watching the movie, the two might have tried to stop Xia Fei for the sake of his studies, but now, they really don't have that thought anymore.

If you can live a life with fewer regrets, then so be it.

"."

(End of this chapter)