Who said this top flow is crazy! This top flow is awesome!

Chapter 275 was released simultaneously in 156 countries, it's a huge hit!

Half an hour after the "world premiere" of "Flu" ended.

Inside the official Cannes hotel.

"Haven't Bingbing and Ling Han returned yet?"

Director Lu sat on the sofa, raised his hand to check the time, and realized that at this point, "Flu" should have already finished its "premiere".

"not yet."

"Hey, Lao Lu, I'm not trying to be mean, but if you really care, go and see for yourself. You keep asking and asking, you've asked eight times in the last half hour, is it really necessary?"

Director Feng, standing nearby, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, exhaled a thick smoke ring, and grinned, revealing his large, yellow teeth: "What, still scared?"

Director Lu: "..."

He was a little unhappy: "Hey Xiaogang, it's easy for you to talk when you're not the one suffering. I noticed that you were like this last time when Lao Yang's movie flopped, acting like it was none of your business. Who am I doing this for? Who am I caring so much for?"

"Isn't it all for the sake of our industry?"

"If I'm not doing well, if the industry is in trouble, how can you be doing well?"

Director Feng was momentarily speechless, then his eyes darted around as he awkwardly waved his hand, "Hey, what are you saying... I was just joking with you, and besides... who said I don't care about you guys?"

"Besides, haven't we already discussed this several times? This 'Flu' film, no matter how well it's received, is useless if it can't be released in mainland China."

"That's true."

Director Lu's expression softened slightly. He wasn't really worried that "Flu" would steal his "market," because no matter how good "Flu" was abroad, it wouldn't affect him if he lost his domestic base.

only…

Perhaps because he had "clashed" with Ikeno several times, aside from the gains and losses in their careers, he personally wanted to see "Flu" fail, because if "Flu" failed, Ikeno's aura and status would suffer a huge blow.

At the same time, in terms of profits, Ikeno Studio will also suffer huge losses.

He's been waiting for this day for so long, how could he not be anxious?
Click.

Just then, the hotel room door opened, and the two sisters, Ling Bingbing and Ling Han, walked into the living room.

"came back."

"Bingbing".

Everyone in the living room was taken aback and quickly stood up.

Director Lu strode forward and shouted, "How was it? How was it?!"

"How about what?"

Ling Bingbing asked in confusion, "What's wrong now?"

"How was the audience's feedback at the premiere of 'Flu'?"

Director Lu's eyes were full of "expectation": "Is it really bad? Will anyone at Cannes buy into a mainland commercial film? Impossible."

"It's impossible."

Upon hearing this, Director Feng burst out laughing: "Haha, I told you, Lao Lu, look at you, you just can't keep your composure."

Ling Bingbing still finds it unbelievable, shaking her head: "How could the mainland produce a film like this? It's impossible."

Everyone: "?"

Ling Han exclaimed excitedly, "It's so good! Uncles, grandpas, and aunties, you're really missing out if you haven't seen it, 'Flu' is so good!"

Everyone: "Huh?"

At this moment, Peng Chen, who had been pretending to be invisible and dared not speak among the group of big shots, also came over and opened his mouth: "What...what's so good...the feedback from the audience for 'Flu' is very good?"

Seriously? Captain, Cannes is going to be okay?

"Very good?" Ling Han glanced at him and said with a grin, "What do you mean very good? It's exceptionally good. I made a special note of it. The applause lasted for about four minutes. What level is four minutes of applause after a Cannes film screening?"

Four minutes?!

Everyone was stunned once again.

Unlike Ikeno, they are all seasoned veterans of major film festivals. Four minutes of applause after the Cannes screening... wait, this doesn't sound like the treatment a mainland film should receive.
No, no… they're a little confused right now.

"Four minutes...this isn't an art film...and they actually managed to make something out of it?"

Director Lu asked in surprise and doubt: "Holy crap... what exactly is Chi Ye trying to do?"

……

"Four minutes? That's already broken the record for mainland Chinese films at Cannes, right?"

at the same time.

Another room.

Zhang Guoshi, as well as Li Qian's uncle and others, also learned of this news.

After returning from the scene, Teacher Zhang and the others remained silent, seemingly still in a daze.

"Ziyi, is it really four minutes long?"

Uncle Li Qian frowned and looked at Teacher Zhang after he heard the discussion quiet down a bit.

Teacher Zhang paused for a moment, then looked up and commented, "This doesn't seem like a film that we in mainland China could make."

Everyone: "..."

Such high praise.

"He and I were a perfect match anyway."

Uncle Li Qian shook his head, not caring about the question: "I mean, why is the response so good?"

"He's already capable of organizing a game on his own, especially one of this caliber."

Teacher Zhang ignored Uncle Li Qian and turned to Zhang Guoshi and the others: "You're getting stronger."

Everyone was silent.

Having the ability to organize events on one's own... This is quite obvious. In the past, Ikeno was still seen as an entertainer, at most, an all-around entertainer who was doing very well on his own and a king of popularity.

Whether in terms of age, seniority, or even personal status, he is still a level below the true top ceiling (capital + status) in the Chinese entertainment industry.

To put it simply, compared to Zhang Guoshi, Chen Sicheng, Feng Xiaogang, and even Xu Zheng, Ike no one felt like they were never competing on the same level or in terms of status.

But Ikeno himself has always maintained this level of demeanor.

Because of this, his various seemingly "reasonable" behaviors appear so "unreasonable" to many in the industry, even bordering on rudeness, arrogance, and disregard for others...

There's a saying that goes, "What kind of person is matched with what kind of horse." In the eyes of the people in the past, Ikeno was just an average horse, but he managed to make himself look like a top-class horse.

How could anyone possibly be happy about that?

However, the positive reception of "Flu" marks the release of Ikeno's first big-budget film with an investment of over 3 million yen. If the film performs well, it means that he is no longer just a simple entertainer, but a big shot who can "stand on equal footing" with the aforementioned group of people.

"Big shots" who disregard age and seniority.

"But without the support of mainland box office revenue, it wouldn't have amounted to anything."

Uncle Li Qian realized what was happening and commented as follows.

This time, Teacher Zhang didn't refute, but simply nodded silently.

"...How many of those 'distributors' at the Cannes four-minute event actually had contact with them?"

Having remained silent until now, Zhang Guoshi, who knew international film festivals like the back of his hand, suddenly asked, "What about NEON, XYZ Films High, and Octane's attitude? Did they go?"

Everyone was stunned.

"Asia has always been Ikeno's 'home turf'. Those film companies may have just been trying to make a quick buck as usual, but seeing the feedback after the screening of 'Flu' today... they will definitely be defeated."

"If NEON and other companies also succeed in their negotiations, then... 'Flu' will be a hit overseas."

Uncle Li Qian hesitated: "Mainland commercial films... I've never heard of any becoming a hit overseas. Isn't this a bit too exaggerated..."

"...There's always a first time."

Upon hearing this, the group exchanged glances.

There's always a first time.

NEON has never collaborated with mainland Chinese films before, but there's always a first time.

XYZ Films High's favorite genre is film. He doesn't have any mainland Chinese films that have become hits, but he's sure he'll do it at least once.

Octane... There's always a first time.

That evening, less than three hours after the screening of "Flu", Ikeno and the main creators of "Flu" received invitations from the three major international genre filmmakers. As for Asia, it goes without saying that various "oligarchs" came one after another.

Meanwhile, in China, various media outlets, film fans, and even state media, which were paying close attention to this year's Cannes Film Festival because of "Flu," learned of the "terrifying" reaction after the screening of "Flu" immediately.

For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded—even the official media were no exception.

In the history of the Chinese entertainment industry (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan), there has never been a film that has generated such a strong response at Cannes.

Not to mention, Flu is also a well-known commercial film.

Commercial films, industrialized commercial films—to this day, the Chinese entertainment industry is still following in Hollywood's footsteps…

If it were an art film, that would be fine, but a commercial film... how could it possibly get this kind of feedback?

"My God, is it true? Or is it fake news just to get more clicks?"

"Holy crap, four minutes of applause after the screening? This is obviously paid audience."

"Those who don't understand, don't come out and make a fool of yourself. Cannes premieres are usually attended by film distributors, guests, and media, with only a small number of real audience members."

"Yes, Flu is amazing. Ikeno is so rich that he can bribe all the film distributors and media guests in Europe and America at Cannes."

"This is a Cannes tradition, okay? Some haters shouldn't go too far."

"Coconut!! Does it have to be this amazing?! My fans are so excited they're practically fainting!"

"Am I the only one curious about the plot of 'Flu' right now? I really can't wait for it to be released in mainland China!"

"Releasing soon +1, daily dose of G-Dragon criticism!"

"@GD, come here, look carefully, who is the future of Chinese cinema?"

"..."

The film "Flu" went viral, trending on social media and dominating Douyin (TikTok), breaking all previous records for daily buzz and overshadowing the recent marketing campaign for "749 Bureau" and several other big-budget productions.

Of course, there was no shortage of complaints and criticisms of the domestic censorship system.

Many moviegoers who had been looking forward to "Flu" but were extremely disappointed by its cancellation and postponement made tagging official media accounts in almost every comment.

—They had almost forgotten about it, but when they saw the four-minute applause at the Cannes screening of "Flu" today—dude, this is a commercial film!

Just how good must this film be to elicit such a strong response from the Cannes Midnight Screenings section, which is used to seeing all sorts of great things?
It's not an art film, it's not an art film, it's a commercial film, a Chinese commercial blockbuster!
Say the important thing three times.

Saying that this kind of film "brings glory to the country" might be an exaggeration, but it has definitely played a benchmark role in the breakthrough and development of the mainland film industry.

So you "banned" it for all sorts of strange reasons?

What's more, this is a "co-production" film, which always has the most lenient standards.

"Hey... yeah, yeah, I know... Is it really that exaggerated? Okay... I understand, that's all for now, we'll talk later."

Inside a business club.

In the "Flu" incident, Ke Ying, who only said one sentence, hung up the phone after exchanging a few pleasantries, her expression somewhat surprised and uncertain.

"Brother, what's wrong?"

The follower next to him asked.

"...The flu has really made a splash abroad."

Ke Ying remained silent for a while, then muttered softly, "It seems that what Xiao Lu said before was right."

"They definitely want to grab the meat."

"Brother, are you okay?"

Ke Ying snapped out of her daze and laughed nonchalantly: "What could possibly happen? The sky won't fall down."

"That's good."

The follower nodded. He knew Ke Ying too well. He rarely spoke, but once he opened his mouth, there was very little he couldn't do.

Just as the follower was feeling "admiration," Ke Ying's phone rang again.

He took out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, raised an eyebrow, and answered, "Hello?"

"Hey?"

On the other end of the phone, Wen Lijuan's even more "carefree" laughter came through: "Ke Ying, Chi Ye is my god-nephew."

Ke Ying: "?"

Wen's mother said proudly, "NEON, XYZ Films High, and Octane have all been involved with 'Flu'."

Ke Ying: "..."

Wen Lijuan concluded by saying, "Just like before, you'll kneel down in three seconds this time."

Ke Ying's fair face flushed instantly, and she roared angrily, "Wen Lijuan! You're a grandmother now, how can you say such a thing..."

beep.

The phone has already gone dead.

Ke Ying, who was usually mild-mannered, flew into a rage: "I really... she still dares to talk back to me... this Wen Lijuan... I... I..."

"Brother, Wen Lijuan really went too far... She's still your ex-wife..."

Ke Ying suddenly stopped, looked at her follower, and remained expressionless.

The follower was taken aback.

Ke Ying said expressionlessly, "You know she's my ex-wife."

The follower opened his mouth.

"If I can talk about her, can you?"

"Which side did you come from to discuss cooperation... It doesn't matter, you can go back."

The follower looked completely bewildered.

I was thinking to myself, "Didn't you guys get divorced a long time ago... Besides, I'm from the Beijing elite circle, bro!"
But Ke Ying wouldn't listen to his "explanation" because the Heavenly Palace could act recklessly and capriciously.

Even at this age, they still maintain a "youthful spirit".

……

The next day.

The Cannes Film Festival.

How many copyright holders did you negotiate with?

Ikeno sat in the room and asked Coco, who had been in charge of receiving various film distributors for him since last night.

The rest of the main creators of "Flu" were in the room. Upon hearing the sound, they all looked at Coco, their eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.

Coco's expression at this moment was also very "strange," and to others, this strangeness was like a thunderclap.

It was indeed a "thunderclap".

She swallowed hard, looked at everyone, her gaze falling on Chi Ye, and slowly said, "156 countries."

"How many?!"

Ikeno's pupils contracted.

"156 countries and 20 regional copyrights... France set a record price, offering $900 million for the release alone."

Ikeno leaned back on the sofa, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest.

The surrounding people fell silent for a moment, then went completely berserk.

(End of this chapter)