Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 675 Business blowback
"Youth" grossed over 100 million yuan in 20 hours after its release, sweeping away the gloom in Huayi Brothers' performance this year.

Its reputation has also been recognized.

With a gross of 3.16 million yuan in its opening weekend, it's fair to say that Feng Xiaogang's skill is still there. This art film about the youth of a performing arts troupe actually managed to gross over 3 million yuan in its opening weekend.

To be fair, "Youth" is indeed a very good work.

On the same day, "Pacific Rim 2," starring Liu Yifei, completed its 30-day run in mainland China but failed to obtain an extension key and was pulled from theaters as scheduled.

Universal Pictures China released an official poster announcing that "Pacific Rim 2" grossed 23.67 billion yuan in mainland China.

No matter how you calculate it, Pacific Rim 2 has achieved the most perfect victory in the country.

Compared to the lukewarm reception of the first film in North America, the sequel achieved better-than-expected success in North America due to positive word-of-mouth, grossing over $3.5 million to date. Meanwhile, its over $3 million domestic box office further proves to Hollywood that the Chinese film market is indeed on par with North America. To please domestic audiences, Hollywood must respect them, instead of trying to fool them with a special edition of garbage like *Iron Man 3*.

Liu Yifei posted a farewell message on Monday evening, bidding farewell to "Pacific Rim 2" and Grace.

Because there won't be a third installment.

At the wrap party for the second film, Toro publicly declared to the crew that he had lost interest in the story of Pacific Rim.

Since Toro isn't making the film, Liu Yifei naturally has no interest in making it either. Not to mention that Universal and Legendary aren't very interested in the story either, so it's good that things have come to a standstill.

She is already very satisfied with the results she has achieved.

"Who knows, in a couple of years, Universal might restart this project and ask you to come back and film the third one. Would you go?" Liu Yifei returned to Yanjing and took a walk in the neighborhood with her husband after dinner.

"It's not impossible," Li Qiutang added.

She actually started imagining that scenario, then said rather embarrassedly, "We'll see when the time comes." She also held onto a sliver of hope, thinking, "Maybe they're making a prequel, then I won't get a role."

Then the clever Liu Yifei started to cause trouble, asking Li Qiutang, "What if one day..."

“Don’t say ‘what if one day,’” Li Qiutang wouldn’t fall into the same trap twice. “You answer me first. I still hold a grudge from that last time, and I’m determined to get my revenge.”

“Okay, go ahead.” Liu Yifei still held her husband’s arm as she had last time. She refused to believe that she would lose to Li Qiutang in this kind of game. Women have an innate sensitivity to this kind of couple’s Q&A game.

"What if we get divorced someday?"

"Pah, we won't get a divorce." Liu Yifei interrupted the spellcasting.

"I mean if."

"Without this 'what if,' we wouldn't get divorced. I only love you, and I'll only ever be with you in this life." This gave Li Qiutang no room to maneuver.

"It's not interesting if you do this."

"I won't fall for that kind of trick." Liu Yifei smiled slyly. "Come on, it's my turn."

"If one day I'm gone, and you find someone new and she's gone too, and then you're gone too, who do you think you'd be buried with?"

"With you, definitely." This question was simple, and Li Qiutang felt there couldn't be any trap involved; she was sure she was right.

Liu Yifei chuckled, a sly laugh. To make her story more convincing, Li Qiutang emphasized again, "I'll definitely be buried with you."

Liu Yifei said, "I'll give you one more chance."

Li Qiutang's mind was a little foggy. She said, "If you're gone, she's gone, I'm gone, I'm gone, I'm gone, whether I'm alive or not, I'll be buried with you, for sure."

Liu Yifei said, "Ask me."

Li Qiutang was obedient enough to say, "If one day I'm gone, and then you're with someone else..."

"I'm not looking anymore," Liu Yifei said. Huh?!

“I’ll live alone without you. I won’t look for anyone else. You’re irreplaceable. I only love you,” Liu Yifei added.

"This is outrageous!" Li Qiutang protested, annoyed that he had fallen into the same trap twice.

Liu Yifei seized the opportunity to mock, "Women have a talent for playing this kind of thing, you should give up."

"Come on, treat me to a shopping trip, I want to buy some things."

"No." Shopping with his wife is every man's nightmare.

"Tsk, how many times a year do you go shopping with me?"

This trick isn't working anymore. Li Qiutang isn't buying it. She's about to take out her phone to call Liu Yifei's assistant and ask her to stand in for her.

"No, you're my husband, this is your responsibility. Let's go, I even brought my car keys." With that, he pulled Li Qiutang back.

The two hadn't been together for a long time, so Li Qiutang had no choice but to accompany her.

"I won't let you spend time with me for nothing, so I'll buy you something too."

After shopping all night, Liu Yifei bought Li Qiutang a new phone and bought herself seven pieces of clothing.

The two went home happily.

After filming "The Wandering Earth," Li Qiutang was indeed much more relaxed. Zhang Zhao usually handled the company's affairs, and unless it was something particularly important, he wouldn't be asked to deal with it.

But there are some things he still has to do himself.

Guo Fan came to him seeking alms, saying that "Mulan" needed a cameo actor, but he couldn't hire one and needed his help.

"If you can't afford to hire them, go to Disney."

"Even Disney would have a hard time getting this person to come."

So, Li Qiutang's appearance at the premiere of "Bleeding Steel" was quite shameless. The organizers hadn't intended to invite him; it was his assistant who contacted them, saying he wanted to come and see. Of course, the organizers agreed.

There was no screening at today's premiere, but that didn't stop director Li from blindly praising: "Jackie Chan is a veteran of science fiction films, and 'The Tuxedo' is one of my favorite science fiction action films." Let's just say it's mutual flattery, even if it's forced.

"So I'm really looking forward to 'Bleeding Steel,' and I want to see what kind of surprises my brother can bring us in the sci-fi action genre after more than ten years." But actually, Li Qiutang had never seen "Bleeding Steel" in either of his lives, and he really didn't know what the movie was.

“I just counted from the audience and found that my brother has already released three movies this year, and there will be two more coming up. It’s really rare for someone of his age to maintain such vigorous energy.”

Jackie Chan on stage laughed and said, "The way you're saying it makes me feel like every film I make is one less I'll ever make, and I won't have any more to make in the future."

He's 63 years old and he's making five movies a year; you won't find another like him anywhere else in the world.

Li Qiutang also revealed something to the audience: "As you may know, during the National Day holiday, I was following Pierce Brosnan on Weibo. The day after I posted on Weibo, Jackie Chan contacted me and said he had an autographed photo of Pierce that he could give me. I didn't expect that what he gave me was an original autographed poster of Pierce's first Bond film, 'GoldenEye,' from 95. It's very precious and very well preserved. I'm really grateful to Jackie Chan."

Jackie Chan seized the opportunity to speak up: "Was it true that you said on Weibo that there was a chance to collaborate? I've been waiting for you to contact me."

"Of course it's true. I just finished filming a movie a few days ago. When I write a script later, I will definitely write a role for you."

The interaction between the two on and off stage gave the reporter a story to write.

Once he had made the man happy, Li Qiutang could then make his request. Backstage after the premiere, Li Qiutang shamelessly asked, "Big brother, do you know about 'Mulan'?"

(End of this chapter)