It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 267 Surpassing Mozart? Overdrawing three hundred years of Northeast China's gentleness... (Seeking monthly votes)
"Lv, as of now, '300' has been released in the global film market for 70 days, with a cumulative box office of $3.07 million in North America and $3.85 million overseas, for a cumulative global box office of $6.92 million..."

Upon arriving in Hollywood and at Ruixing Film Studio, Lü Rui was immediately greeted by Peter's work report.

Jason Brom was also with them.

During the release of "300," the House of Brom also secured the opportunity to participate in the film's distribution, successfully expanding its share of overseas markets.

Both of them had undisguised excitement on their faces.

After Peter finished speaking, Brom added, "Compared to 'I Am Legend,' '300' has a wider audience, especially in terms of female viewership, which has seen a remarkably significant increase..."

Lu Rui sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, and succinctly summarized: "That's the charm of 'borderline marketing'."

Imagine seeing so many muscular men showing off their muscles on screen, how could female viewers in Europe and America not be tempted?
The most obvious example is that Gerard Butler, the male lead, was not well-known before, but just because he showed off his muscles and played a tough guy, he is now known to half of the female audience in the world.

Fans affectionately gave him a nickname: "Big Muscle God"!
Blum nodded repeatedly: "Lv, you're absolutely right! We've done audience research, and the percentage of female viewers for this movie is 23% higher than for similar action movies. Many people are there because of the actors' physiques."

Lu Rui smiled slightly, having already anticipated this situation.

In fact, it's the same both domestically and internationally. As soon as people start talking about "Huangse," they forget about their family backgrounds, race, and ethnicity, and everyone focuses on discussing how to get new resources.

This phenomenon is not limited to the film and television industry; it is particularly evident in other sectors such as automobiles, cycling, and camping.

There's a saying that goes: Top players might discriminate against you for having bad gear, but they'll never discriminate against you for having bad resources!

Looking back at the success of "300," it was essentially due to its precise grasp of the audience's visual needs.

With so many muscular men showing off their muscles, in the open atmosphere of Europe and America, it's almost like a brothel calling out all its top courtesans to entertain customers, and at a low price.

Very well, if we don't seize the opportunity now, when will we?
"By the way, Lv, the internet marketing plan you recommended before has also been very effective." Jason Blum changed the subject, his tone full of admiration.

Previously, in order to boost the film's box office, Lü Rui specifically arranged for the publicity team to share various behind-the-scenes videos online.

In particular, the actors' fitness and sculpting process was compiled into a highlight reel and posted online, and the hashtag "Spartan Fitness Challenge" was launched.

This move not only generated a buzz on social media but also directly boosted box office revenue.

The data clearly shows that 18% of viewers went to the cinema because they saw behind-the-scenes videos.

"As long as it works, that's fine."

Lü Rui attaches great importance to online promotion because it is the best way to overtake competitors.

Large companies have an almost absolute monopoly on traditional media.

However, there is a significant gap in the internet sector, which, if used properly, can often produce excellent results.

"Oh, right, you must pay attention to legal issues."

Lu Rui wasn't very familiar with the relevant laws abroad, so he could only offer a reminder and couldn't provide any practical advice or details.

After all, online trolls often operate on the fringes of the law and can easily cross the line.

“Don’t worry about that,” Jason Brom immediately assured. “All our operations are in accordance with the law, and the American internet has always championed freedom of speech. We are simply guiding the conversation in a reasonable way and have not violated any regulations.”

Lü Rui nodded in satisfaction: "That's good. Let's move on to the other tasks."

The Brom House currently handles quite a few businesses. In addition to acquiring low-budget films for distribution and generating revenue, they are also responsible for the pre-release promotion of the films "Twilight" and "Life of Pi".

Mainly Twilight.

The film is currently in the final stages of post-production and is scheduled for release during the summer vacation.

It's worth noting that this is a film solely produced by Ruixing Pictures. Although the investment was only $3000 million, the market doesn't have a high opinion of this type of subject matter, so the subsequent box office pressure is considerable.

Many even believe that this film may become Ruixing Film Studio's first major failure.

What's so interesting about a bunch of high school students who are also vampires and werewolves?
As for "Life of Pi," it is currently in the final stages of filming, so its release is still a long way off.

Moreover, with 20th Century Fox leading the publicity for this film, the pressure will be relatively less.

Lu Rui only requested that the progress be synchronized periodically.

Jason Blum accepted the order and left to continue with his own work.

Peter wasn't in a hurry to leave, and instead asked Lü Rui how to proceed with the other two newly acquired copyrights.
After all, the company paid a considerable amount of money to acquire the copyright, so they can't just leave it in the copyright library and ignore it, can they?
"No need to rush with 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' let's put it aside for now."

Lü Rui has already translated this project into Chinese; we'll discuss it further once the domestic version is released.

"As for Sherlock Holmes, I will start the script adaptation work soon. Once the funding for 300 is recovered, the project can be officially launched."

In fact, Ruixing Film Industry did not lack funds at this time, because the copyright fees for several films were still arriving in the account.

However, Lü Rui had his own considerations.

In his view, now is not a good time for large-scale investment.

The stock market, in particular, is about to experience another stock market crash, and rushing into the market will only result in losing everything.

He plans to accumulate liquid funds first, and then enter the market to buy at the bottom when the stock market crashes and the market is depressed.

At that time, while other companies go bankrupt, he alone will have cash in hand, which will definitely allow him to seize more resources!

Peter understood what he meant, nodded, and left.

Lü Rui then took out the original novel of "Sherlock Holmes," carefully read it through, and then turned on his computer to start brainstorming script ideas.

At the same time, he kept a close eye on the production progress of "Pacific Rim" to ensure that the special effects production proceeded as planned.

However, to his surprise, Christopher Meledandri, whom he had spent a lot of money to recruit to Ruixing Film Studio to be in charge of animation, brought him a big surprise!

Since "Kung Fu Panda" is currently filming in China, with Xu Cheng keeping an eye on things, there's no need for Meledandri to personally accompany the crew.

So, bored at work, he actually started a new animation project.

On April 1st, Meldandley knocked on Lü Rui's office door and said mysteriously:

“Lv, I’ve recently made a new discovery after watching many different types of movies.”

"What discovery?" Lu Rui asked him curiously.

"I've noticed that what audiences like most aren't actually the positive characters, but rather the distinctive antagonists..."

Meledandri gave him a long list of examples with great interest.

For example, the Joker in "Batman," Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs," and T-100 in "The Terminator"... all of these villains are far more popular than the protagonists.

Lu Rui pressed on with interest, "So, do you have some ideas?"

"That's right, I want to make a movie where the villain is the protagonist!"

As Meledandri spoke, he opened his bag and took out a stack of drawings:
"This is my latest animated character design, inspired by classic IPs such as 007, the Pink Panther, and Mr. Bean..."

Lu Rui took the sketch and his eyes were immediately drawn to it.

The character in the painting has a strong and robust upper body, slender legs, a bald head and a large, pointed nose, which gives him both the ferocity of a villain and a touch of endearing clumsiness.

What's even more eye-catching is that behind the character is a group of short, stout yellow figures with rounded shapes that are highly recognizable.

A surge of emotions welled up within him.

Based on this one picture alone, he could tell that this was the animated film "Despicable Me" that would become a worldwide sensation!
Meledandri, the "father of the Minions," even though he failed to found Illumination Entertainment under the influence of Lu Rui, still created the Minions.

It's worth noting that in its previous life, the Despicable Me series grossed over $60 billion in just a few years after its release, easily surpassing the Pirates of the Caribbean, Transformers, and Toy Story series.

Meanwhile, the Minions, as an important element of the series, became one of the most commercially valuable animated characters at the time.

Thinking about this, Lü Rui could hardly contain his excitement!
However, his years of industry experience have allowed him to calmly handle unexpected surprises.

Pointing to the sketch, he commented, "This villain character is designed to be very memorable, especially the 'contrast'—his fierce appearance hides a cute side, and this contradiction really makes the character more three-dimensional."

The yellow supporting character is also cleverly designed; it serves both to highlight the main character and as an independent source of charm. I feel it has great potential for future development.

Meledandri's eyes lit up, as if he had found a kindred spirit, and he immediately began to explain his plot ideas in detail:
"The protagonist is a supervillain who wants to steal the moon, but after adopting three little girls, he is gradually changed by warmth..."

Lü Rui was increasingly pleased as he listened, praising the story repeatedly: "The story framework is excellent, with both comedic elements and an emotional core, which will surely resonate with audiences of all ages..."

"Meller, go for it! I'll fully support you with funding and the team. I believe your brilliant idea will definitely shake up the entire animation industry!"

"Lv, thank you for your support."

Meledandri, pleased with the affirmation, left the office with a smile like a child who had just received a favorite toy.

For a creator, nothing is more exhilarating than having their ideas recognized.

He never imagined that, at nearly 50 years old, he would find a stage and passion to showcase his talents again at Ruixing Film Studio!
At this moment, after watching him leave, Lü Rui could no longer suppress his joy, and his face beamed with an undisguised smile.

Following Kung Fu Panda, the creation of Despicable Me will undoubtedly add another heavyweight to Ruixing Pictures' animation portfolio!

That afternoon, in a good mood, Lü Rui temporarily put down her work and prepared to relax.

So he drove to Hans Zimmer's studio, ready to listen to the music that the Hollywood dubbing master had composed for Pacific Rim.

In a great sci-fi blockbuster, the soundtrack is just as important as the visual effects.

Because music can directly evoke the audience's emotions, making the battle between mechs and monsters more impactful, this is crucial.

In the studio, Hans Zimmer had already set up the equipment.

After Lü Rui arrived and the two exchanged pleasantries, they went to the audition room.

Hans Zimmer closed the door and confidently pressed play: "Lv, listen to this, it's a piece written for the 'Battle of Shanghai' segment."

Lü Rui put on his headphones and listened attentively.

The moment the melody began, deep drumbeats, like the footsteps of a giant beast, surged from the speakers.

Then, the strings gradually intensified, carrying a tense and oppressive feeling, as if the mecha was struggling to move forward through the ruins.

When the plot reached the point where the mechs and monsters were locked in close combat, the brass instruments suddenly erupted, and the soaring melody was full of power. Every note was like a heavy punch thrown by the mechs, hitting people hard!

But when the mecha is in trouble and on the verge of collapse, the melody suddenly slows down.

The single notes of the piano are like shattered hope, making people's hearts clench, until finally the mecha restarts and launches a counterattack, all the instruments play together again, forming a magnificent climax that makes people's blood boil!

It must be said that the master composer's skills are indeed profound.

Hans Zimmer precisely captured the rhythm and emotional fluctuations of the battle through music, allowing Lü Rui to imagine the fierce and shocking clash between the mechs and monsters even without seeing the visuals.

However, he also felt that although the piece was wonderful, it was far from reaching Hans Zimmer's top level!
So he bluntly said, "The music is indeed quite wonderful, but it feels like it lacks a bit of 'soul.' It's more like a mass-produced movie soundtrack, without any uniqueness that makes people remember it."

Hans Zimmer's smile faltered slightly.

He had expected to receive positive feedback, but he hadn't anticipated that Lü Rui's evaluation would be so strict.

Before he could speak, Lü Rui took out a USB flash drive from his bag and plugged it into the device: "This is a piece of music written by a music master in our country. You can listen to it."

As the USB drive finished reading, a melody blending the sounds of the guzheng, erhu, and chime bells flowed out.

The opening guzheng music is melodious and gentle, carrying an oriental sense of mystery, as if telling an oriental story behind the mecha.

Then the erhu joins in, and the melody becomes more exciting, with both the carefree spirit of a knight-errant and the perseverance of a warrior.

The addition of chime bells adds a sense of weight and gives the music an epic feel.

What's even more ingenious is that Xu Jingqing incorporated electronic sound effects into traditional musical instruments, which not only preserved the charm of Chinese style but also matched the science fiction theme of "Pacific Rim." The collision of the two styles created a wonderful chemical reaction.

Good music knows no borders.

Hans Zimmer's confident expression gradually froze as the melody progressed.

The smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by shock and solemnity.

He began to savor the details of the piece repeatedly.

How does the vibrato of the guzheng express emotional fluctuations? How does the glissando of the erhu convey the character's resilience? How does the rhythm of the chime bells echo the mecha's movements? In contrast, his score, while technically skillful, seems too formulaic, lacking this unique cultural depth and emotional resonance, and even has many flaws.

What made him even more uneasy was that Lü Rui was sitting right next to him, looking at him calmly, his eyes seeming to say, "Is this the result of your month of hard work?"

Hans Zimmerden felt ashamed!
As a representative of Hollywood blockbuster soundtracks, I was completely outshone by the work of a Chinese composer!

If word gets out, what will become of his reputation?
The next second, he abruptly reached out and snatched back the sheet music that was about to be handed in on the table, saying in a somewhat stiff tone:
"Lv, this is only the first version, and there are still many things that need to be adjusted. I will polish the work based on your feedback later."

Lu Rui pretended not to notice his stubbornness and embarrassment, and stood up with a smile: "I look forward to your finished product, Hans. I hope you can write a piece that is even better than Mozart's."

"I must..."

Hans Zimmer nodded subconsciously in agreement, and only after watching Lü Rui leave did he suddenly realize what was happening!
To write music better than Mozart?
Are you kidding me?
Is he joking about himself, or does he really have such high expectations for him?
He rubbed his temples, wondering if he had misheard. But what still echoed in his mind was Xu Jingqing's melody full of oriental charm, and Lü Rui's seemingly joking but expectant words.

That evening, he locked himself in his studio, started working overtime, and rethinked the soundtrack for Pacific Rim.

This time, he decided to break away from his previous creative habits and try to incorporate elements of Eastern musical instruments into Western symphonic music.

We must retain the grandeur of mecha battles while imbuing the music with a unique cultural soul; we absolutely cannot let ourselves lose to that composer from the far East!
After leaving Hans Zimmer's studio, Lü Rui did not return to Ruixing Pictures, but instead went to Warner Bros. Pictures.

He needs to come over and confirm a portion of the post-production revenue for "300".

However, to his surprise, just as he pushed open the Warner door, the figure that came towards him made him stop in his tracks.

Zhang Ziyi was seen walking out arm in arm with a white man. The two were behaving intimately, clearly indicating a close relationship.

Zhang Ziyi recognized Lü Rui instantly.

The moment their eyes met, they both froze for a second.

Immediately afterwards, she quickly released the man's hand, stepped forward, and smiled appropriately: "Director Lü, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to discuss some business," Lu Rui explained casually, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the man next to Zhang Ziyi.

He hadn't paid much attention before, but now he recognized it.

This man is Ivy Nevo, a famous Hollywood film and television investor, the largest individual shareholder of Time Warner, the largest private investor in Goldman Sachs, and the godfather of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's eldest grandson...

Known in the business world as the "media magician," he was even dubbed "the ace spy" by Vanity Fair magazine.

More importantly, he is Zhang Ziyi's current publicly acknowledged boyfriend!

After photos of the two kissing intimately at a football match were leaked, domestic media began frantically digging into the background of Zhang Ziyi's new boyfriend.

Since his identity was revealed, the heated discussions in the Chinese entertainment industry have not stopped.

Lu Rui looked at the two of them and sighed inwardly.

Zhang Ziyi's ambition and scheming are indeed extraordinary. Since entering the industry, every boyfriend she has had has been either rich or powerful, and they have always been able to provide key support for her career. No wonder she has been able to go so high and so far in the film industry at home and abroad.

"Lv, I've long admired your name."

Ivy Nevo extended her hand in greeting, her smile gentle yet carrying a hint of scrutiny.

As a Warner shareholder, he was naturally very familiar with Lü Rui.

Ruixing Pictures' collaborations with Warner Bros. have yielded numerous successes, and Lü Rui's abilities and market acumen have long been recognized by Hollywood capital.

Lu Rui extended his hand and shook it lightly, responding politely, "Hello, Mr. Ivy Nevo, it's a pleasure to meet you."

After a brief greeting, he stepped aside from the two men and walked straight into Warner.

For him, Zhang Ziyi's network of connections and Ivy Nevo's financial strength were irrelevant to him.

He doesn't need to rely on currying favor with Hollywood elites to obtain resources, like they do.

Ruixing Pictures' project strength and its directors' reputation are the best source of confidence.

Instead of wasting time on irrelevant people, we should hurry up and check the post-production team to see if the battle scenes in Pacific Rim have achieved the desired effect.

However, as she watched Lü Rui walk away, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed across Zhang Ziyi's eyes.

She had originally planned to take advantage of this chance encounter to ask Lü Rui if he had any plans for a new project.

After all, although Chen Kaige's "Mei Lanfang" is a high-quality art film that can enhance the reputation of his acting skills, its boost to the actors' status is ultimately not as direct as that of high-grossing commercial films.

In contrast, the blockbuster films directed by Lü Rui are more likely to help actors gain international recognition, which is exactly the resource she needs most right now.

"Ziyi, you seem to be quite interested in him?"

Ivy Nevo, standing beside her, keenly noticed the change in his girlfriend's eyes and spoke with a hint of inquiry in her tone.

As a seasoned businessman who has been navigating the business world for many years, his insight into human relationships far surpasses that of ordinary people, and he can naturally see that his girlfriend seems to have a lot of ulterior motives at this moment.

Zhang Ziyi quickly looked away, a polite smile returning to her face, and explained softly, "He is a very excellent director. I have always hoped to work with him, but unfortunately, there has never been a suitable opportunity."

These words expressed approval of Lü Rui while subtly concealing a desire for resources, striking the perfect balance.

Upon hearing this, a knowing glint flashed in Ivy Nevo's eyes.

He then put his arm around Zhang Ziyi's waist and said firmly, "Don't worry, there will be opportunities. If he continues to work with Warner on new projects, I will help you get the lead role."

For him, securing a role for his girlfriend was not difficult.

As Warner's largest individual shareholder, he has considerable say in project collaborations.

As long as Lü Rui has new collaborations with Warner, he is fully capable of paving the way for Zhang Ziyi.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ziyi instantly became excited, and her previous disappointment vanished.

She stood on tiptoe and planted a passionate kiss on her boyfriend's cheek: "Thank you, darling! You're amazing!"

At this moment, her heart was filled with anticipation.

With Ivy Nevo's help, I might really have a chance to get on board with Lu Rui's blockbuster film and achieve another breakthrough in my career!
Ivy Nevo watched his girlfriend's excited expression, a faint smile playing on his lips, but a subtle, calculating glint lurked in his eyes.

He helped Zhang Ziyi not only because he was her boyfriend, but also because he valued her influence in the Chinese-speaking market.

If a deeper cooperative relationship can be established between Zhang Ziyi and Lü Rui, it will greatly benefit his capital layout in Hollywood and even globally!
……

Before we knew it, it was already mid-April.

Hans Zimmer was full of fighting spirit and during this period he polished several versions of the Pacific Rim soundtrack, each version more exquisite than the last.

The melody combines the grandeur of Western symphonic music with the unique charm of Eastern instruments, and it seems to be on the verge of achieving Lü Rui's expected goals.

Meanwhile, "300," which had been in theaters for more than 80 days, was officially pulled from theaters due to the exhaustion of its box office potential.

Peter rushed into Lü Rui's office immediately with the financial statements, his voice brimming with excitement:
"Lv, the global box office finally settled at $7.17 million. After deducting theater revenue share, distributor commissions and $1.5 million in publicly disclosed production costs, the project's total net profit was $3.02 million."

Ruixing Pictures' share is 45%, so through this film, we can get $1.36 million in after-tax net box office revenue..."

Lu Rui continued reading the report, adding with a smile, "Don't forget, we also have to add the hidden profits of $7000 million."

The film's publicly stated cost was $1.5 million, but it actually only cost $8000 million.

The remaining $7000 million was distributed across the company's various business channels through compliant financial operations.

This means that Ruixingye actually made a profit of up to $2.06 million on the "300" project alone!
Another huge sum of money is about to be deposited into the account!
Peter rubbed his hands excitedly: "The real 'money tree' is the subsequent DVDs, online and offline copyrights, and IP derivative development. These revenues will flow into the company's account continuously for at least several years!"

Lu Rui nodded, his eyes revealing composure: "Keep these funds for now; I need them for something important later."

"it is good."

Peter understood and immediately nodded in agreement.

As if the law of "good things come in pairs" had come into effect, the good news of the profits of "300" had just passed when "Twilight" and "Life of Pi" followed one after another with good news.

"Twilight, produced solely by Ruixing Pictures with an investment of $3000 million, has successfully passed censorship and has been rated PG (Parental Guidance Advisory) by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America)..."

"The fantasy/adventure blockbuster 'Life of Pi,' directed by Hollywood A-list director James Wan and with a budget of $2 million, has officially wrapped up filming today."

PG (Parental Guidance Rating) means that the film can reach a wider audience, laying a solid foundation for its subsequent release.

As soon as the news broke, numerous film and television companies across the United States began to pay close attention.

After the consecutive box office successes of "I Am Legend" and "300", Ruixing Pictures is no longer the Hollywood upstart it once was, but has become a dark horse that can influence the market landscape!

Many companies have even begun to secretly adjust the release schedules of their subsequent films, fearing that they might clash with Ruixing Films' projects and become box office cannon fodder.

300 is the best example; all the Hollywood movies released at the same time were completely overshadowed.

When this news reached China, it sparked countless heated discussions.

Industry insiders are amazed by Lü Rui's achievements in Hollywood!
From an outsider whom no one believed in to a series of box office hits, he actually managed to carve out a niche for himself in Hollywood in just a few years!

Meanwhile, Lü Rui received messages from the project teams of "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil".

The casting for the main characters in both films has been completed, and now we're just waiting for the official announcement.

However, he instructed with interest: "Wait a minute, don't rush to announce it. The Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony is coming up soon. We can make an official announcement after the results are out there."

He had another bad idea brewing in his mind.

Previously, the Hong Kong entertainment industry wanted to exchange a Hong Kong Film Award for a role, but he firmly refused.

With the Hong Kong Film Awards just around the corner, "New World," despite being nominated, has a high probability of winning nothing.

He will wait until the awards ceremony results are announced before releasing the cast list for "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil".

He wanted to show the Hong Kong entertainment industry that even without their cooperation, the Vision project could still progress steadily.

The leading roles they so desperately wanted ultimately had nothing to do with Hong Kong stars!

……

Lu Rui has several blockbuster projects in hand, and the situation is very promising.

Meanwhile, Wu Yu, far away in China, was embroiled in a series of messy issues surrounding "Red Cliff".

With the original start date drawing ever closer, the production team suddenly announced a last-minute casting change.

Then, something even more outrageous happened!
What was originally a complete movie was inexplicably split into two parts.

The news caused an uproar among the actors.

When filming one movie becomes two, the workload doubles, and naturally, the pay can't be calculated according to the original contract, so everyone is demanding a price increase.

Among them, Tony Leung's side had the most resolute attitude, and news directly spread that he wanted to double his salary.

The original fee for one film was $150 million, but now that it's split into two parts, the fee will increase to $300 million!
It's worth noting that the total investment cost of "Red Cliff" is currently announced to be 6 million RMB, which is approximately 7500 million USD.

This wave of actor price hikes could cause production costs to surge, potentially exceeding $1 million!
Looking at the news coming from China, Lü Rui's face was full of disdain: "Tsk tsk, they've only just started filming and they're already thinking about ripping people off?"

In his view, the Hong Kong entertainment circle is a small place with a lot of evil spirits and shallow waters with many turtles!

Even the smallest gain can cause a huge uproar.

As for Wu Yu's claim to the media that he was "forced to do so," Lü Rui simply did not believe it.

Perhaps he deliberately stirred up this whole thing by splitting the show into two parts and raising the actors' fees.

After all, splitting a movie into two parts not only allows them to earn more box office revenue, but they can also manipulate production costs to reap even greater profits...

This kind of operation is no secret in Hong Kong's entertainment circle. It's just that everyone used to turn a blind eye. As long as it made money, they didn't bother to care.

However, Hong Kong's entertainment industry is already lacking in resources, and to repeatedly engage in such capital calculations will only deter more investors and ultimately lead to its own demise!
What Lu Rui finds even more despicable is that there are some people in the industry who, for their own selfish interests, treat actors as "experiments" and recklessly exploit them!
Just like that scumbag director who, in the name of "artistic expression," forced actors to push their physical and mental limits, even sacrificing their health to fit the role, ultimately resulting in a host of injuries.

A peerless beauty emerged from the very essence of Northeast China's gentleness over three hundred years, only to be met with late-stage breast cancer—a cruel reality that is hard to accept.

(End of this chapter)