Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 13 A Warning from the Advisor

Just when everyone thought it would drop, it surged again the next day, reaching over 120 million.

A comedy film directed and starring newcomers broke domestic film records, and everyone instantly remembered Xia Luo and Yuan Hua.

With the release of Nayoung's "Meet in 1998" and other songs like "A Cut Plum Blossom," the popularity has soared even higher.

Most of these songs have a distinctly 19th-century style, and they quickly became widely known.

Of course, the most popular song wasn't "Just Once" that Xia Luo sang to Qiu Ya, but "A Plum Blossom." As soon as the music started, Yuan Hua's image immediately came to mind.

Singer Yoon Jung is now more popular than lead actor Shen Teng.

Even during the promotion, while others were introduced by the host, when Yoon Jung appeared, fans had already prepared background music and he made his entrance by playing "Yi Jian Mei" (a popular Chinese song).

The New Year's Day holiday lasted three days. On the third day, the box office exceeded 140 million yuan. Adding the previous three days, the total box office reached 500 million yuan. It broke 500 million yuan in six days, crushing all other films in the New Year's season. The previous best box office record in China was over 600 million yuan. It was originally thought that Huayi Brothers' disaster blockbuster would break the box office record.

It's no longer comparable now. Even if you 'book out' the entire theater, one thing is still unavoidable: the screening share of "Goodbye Mr. Loser" has increased from the initial 15% to 25%.

Theaters aren't stupid; they all see that the latter is more profitable, so why would they give other movies more screen time?

With 500 million yuan in box office revenue in six days, it may break the record in two more days and then head straight for 1 billion yuan.

The entire film and television industry was stunned. Even the production company did not expect it to be so popular. Xi'an Film Studio jumped up excitedly. It had been so long since they had seen such a scene.

However, the head of the production department was still scolded by his superiors.

Unfortunately, they didn't invest enough. If they had added another two million, they could have taken control, but it ended up in the hands of China Film Group.

Everyone was kicking themselves and beating their chests in frustration. Guangming and Wanda's eyes were red with regret, each of them lamenting that they hadn't invested enough.

Those companies that didn't participate were even more furious, especially those who knew that Chen Shouzhe had come to their company seeking investment but was kicked out. Not only were they transferred to other positions, but they were also transferred again, and some even wished they could be made to work as gatekeepers.

The worst off was Huayi Brothers, because when a reporter interviewed them at the press conference about their opinion on "Goodbye Mr. Loser," Mr. Wang said in front of the reporter that Huayi Brothers hadn't invested in the film, which indirectly showed that they didn't have high hopes for it.

Now, as history records it, Mr. Wang has been criticized quite a bit.

"Brother, do you want some?"

Inside Huayi's headquarters, Wang Zonglei stood in front of his brother Wang Zongjun. The two brothers looked rather grim. Although "No End of the World" had a good box office performance, it paled in comparison to "Goodbye Mr. Loser" in terms of both investment and box office.

The Lunar New Year film season they pioneered with comedy has now become someone else's prize. How can they not hate it and be envious?
Feeling like she had prepared a whole table of dishes, only to have them all eaten by others, her hatred for Chen Shouzhe deepened.

"It didn't affect our movie, did it?" Compared to his younger brother's impulsiveness, Wang Zongjun seemed much more composed.

"They're not on the same track, so it won't have much of an impact," Wang Zonglei said, shaking his head.

“Then don’t touch it. This movie is destined to break box office records. The higher-ups won’t agree to us doing that. Since it won’t have any impact, don’t touch it. That comedian is quite skilled. I heard he came to us?” Wang Zongjun said unhappily.

"Who would feel comfortable investing in a new director? That's why the investment department rejected him." Wang Zonglei shifted the blame to the investment department.

“Forget it, just be more careful next time. We might not trust him, but other companies can. If he really has a billion…” Wang Zongjun couldn’t finish his sentence, otherwise Huayi would become a laughing stock.

Blind to the truth?

Fortunately, there were several other companies with them, and they all failed to recognize their worth.

Chen Shou received an invitation and had to stop his on-the-ground promotion, rushing back to Kyoto with the main creative team.

At the horse farm, Mr. Yu Qian's phone kept ringing. He already had many friends, and now they were all coming to see him.

Because everyone already knows two things: first, Chen Shouzhe is his apprentice; second, Yu Qian's "Great World" is the second producer, investing the same amount as China Film Group, four million yuan, and now they can get forty million yuan in return, a tenfold return on investment. Moreover, if the box office continues to break one billion yuan, it's only a matter of time before the return is eighty million yuan, or even one hundred million yuan.

"Hey, how would I know? It was all his doing. I only invested a little money. Okay, sure, let's meet up next time."

Teacher Yu Qian hung up the phone with a smile, while his wife, who was standing next to him, kept smiling.

"You've risen in status because of your son, haven't you?"

"I didn't expect the phone to keep ringing non-stop. Look, it's here again." Yu Qian smiled, but before he could even take a sip of tea, the phone rang again. "Hey, Xun-ge, no problem. You can come over to my place in a few days. I have a lot of space here. I don't know much about this matter. That kid invited Na Ying and Wang Feng. Maybe you're too expensive to invite them. No problem, come whenever you have time. I have lots of things to do here."

"Who?"

“Zhou Xun, before, I took Shouzhe to Naying’s house. Besides me, Naying, Wang Feng and Zhou Xun were there. It turned out that Naying and Wang Feng both went to make cameo appearances in the movie, but she didn’t go. So she wanted to get to know Shouzhe.” Yu Qian said calmly.

“That child became famous overnight. As his teacher, you need to keep a close eye on him. I’m afraid he’ll be tempted by the outside world.”

"Yes, that's necessary. He's only in his early twenties, so we really need to guide him properly." Yu Qian took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, his smile gone.

"Master, Mistress!!"

Yu Qian and his wife thought they had misheard, but when they looked towards the door, it really was Chen Shouzhe.

"Why are you back? Weren't you busy?" The teacher's wife stood up in surprise.

"The movie channel invited me to do an interview, and I'm coming back with my team right away." Chen Shouzhe came in carrying a lot of things.

If it were a regular media outlet, Chen Shouzhe would probably have to wait a while to return. But given the Sixth Princess's order, he returned with his men without hesitation.

"What are all these things?" The master's wife looked at the huge pile of things. Behind her was Meng Hetang, who had also taken quite a lot. He followed Chen Shou.

“Every time my senior brother goes to a city, he buys things for you, including things for Master and his wife.” Meng Hetang swayed as he carried the things in.

"You silly child, you haven't even started earning money yet, and you already know how to waste it," the teacher's wife scolded with a smile.

"Come in here with me, you and I." Yu Qian called out to Chen Shouzhe without a smile.

Chen Shouzhe realized something was amiss. He glanced at his master's wife, who gestured for him to follow.

Chen Shou followed Yu Qian into the study, where Yu Qian was boiling water to make tea.

"Come!"

"I come!"

Chen Shou took the teacup with both hands and carefully placed it in front of him.

"What's wrong, Master?"

"You've become famous overnight, and now you're fawned over wherever you go, right?"

"Master, you're afraid I'll get arrogant, aren't you?" Chen Shouzhe immediately understood and said with a smile.

"You understand?" Yu Qian was slightly surprised; he had thought Chen Shouzhe wouldn't listen.

"I'm not a three-year-old anymore. I'm way past puberty. The glitz and glamour of the outside world have nothing to do with me. I just want to make movies and earn money. Besides, I've seen arrogant people before, but at least I haven't become arrogant yet. It's only a few hundred million in box office revenue. What's there to be arrogant about?" Chen Shou said with a smile.

"Then I'm relieved." Yu Qian couldn't help but laugh, picked up his fan and tapped Chen Shouzhe on the head. "It's only a few hundred million. You haven't gotten arrogant, but your ambition has. Here, take this. Your advisor gave it to me back then."

After speaking, he handed the fan in his hand to Chen Shouzhe, who took it with both hands. It was a fine fan; although it wasn't made of top-grade Xiangfei bamboo, it was still a rare and excellent fan.

Open the fan, and four large characters are written on the fan surface.

Don't expand.
"what?"

When Chen Shou saw these four large characters, he immediately laughed. He thought they were some famous sayings or proverbs, but they were just these four characters.

"Back when the Deyun Society was in such a mess, your grandmaster and your godfather's master, Uncle Yaowen, each gave us one. Mine is to keep my head down, and your godfather's is to stay humble and not get arrogant," Yu Qian said with emotion.

"Master, you're really something. I'll visit you at my home another day." Chen Shou happily put away the fan; it was a real treasure.

"Of course, your mentor also mentioned it to you; he's heard you're famous now," Yu Qian said with emotion.

When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Chen Shou's film has captivated countless people, and even his casual acquaintances have started coming to congratulate him.

(End of this chapter)