This director only directs blockbusters.

"Let me read a few." Han Duoduo opened the webpage, "'The trailer looks okay, but the full movie is definitely going to be a disaster. That's how domestic films are.' 'Yang Ning is too arrogant. His works don't match his ambition.'"

Yang Ning nodded: "Keep an eye on it. This ratio will definitely change after the mainland premiere."

After finishing the dumplings, we cleared the table.

Xu Qin stood up and stretched her shoulders: "Then I'll head back now. I have a few interviews to prepare for tomorrow."

"Then I'll take you," Old Xu said.

"No need, a taxi will do."

The two left.

Liu Yong and Han Duoduo also packed their things and prepared to leave.

Yang Ning was the only one left in the studio.

He walked to the window and lit a cigarette.

The alleyways of Beijing are very quiet at night. Occasionally, a bicycle bell can be heard.

My phone vibrated again.

This time it was WeChat. I opened it, and it was a message from Fan Binbin.

[Director Yang, I saw the news from Hong Kong. Congratulations.]

【Thanks.】

I'll be attending the Bridget Jones premiere. Is there anything I need to prepare in advance?

No need, just do it normally.

【it is good. 】

The conversation paused for a few seconds at this point.

Then she sent another message:

I'm a little nervous. More nervous than when I'm filming.

Yang Ning looked at the message, thought for a moment, and replied:

Being nervous is a good thing. It's troublesome if you're not nervous.

The other side replied with a smiley face emoji.

Yang Ning turned off WeChat and continued looking out the window.

I went over tomorrow's schedule in my mind: I'll go to the studio in the morning to finalize the materials, meet with Master Han in the afternoon, and probably have a meeting with the publicity company in the evening.

Then the day after tomorrow, there will be a media premiere.

Then, audiences across the country will be able to see this film.

He exhaled a puff of smoke.

At that moment, a thought suddenly popped into his mind:

What would happen if this movie flopped?

But this is something that shouldn't be thought about too much.

The more you think about it, the more likely you are to back down.

Yang Ning, Yang Ning, have some backbone! What are you worried about? Judging from the current situation, everything should be fine.

He stubbed out his cigarette sharply, turned off the lights, and locked the door.

Stepping outside, the alley was pitch black, with only a few streetlights on.

I walked onto the street, hailed a taxi, and went back to my place.

The driver was driving with the radio on, and music was playing. After one song finished, the host interjected:

"Hey, some news from the film industry. Yesterday in Hong Kong, mainland director Yang Ning's new film 'The Purple Cloud Era' held its premiere, and I heard the response has been phenomenal. The film will be released on the first day of the Lunar New Year..."

The driver turned up the volume: "Have you heard of this movie?"

"I've heard of it," Yang Ning said.

"Is it pretty?"

"I haven't seen it yet."

"My son said he wanted to see it, it's a special effects blockbuster," the driver said. "But the ticket price isn't cheap, it'll be sixty or seventy."

"It's expensive," Yang Ning said.

"Even if it's expensive, you have to consider it," the driver laughed. "It's Chinese New Year, it's all about having fun."

The car was parked at the entrance of the residential area. Yang Ning paid and got out of the car.

.........

There are still seven days until the first day of the Lunar New Year.

A large whiteboard hung on the studio wall, with a huge "7" written on it in red pen, and horizontal lines drawn all over the bottom. Every day, Liu Yong would cross one line off, like counting the days in prison.

Han Duoduo nestled on the sofa with her laptop, her fingers clicking rapidly.

"There's another argument on Weibo," she said without looking up. "Some people are saying our Hong Kong premiere was faked, and that the audience was all paid shills."

"Tuoer?" Liu Yong looked up from the pile of models. "Three hundred Tuoer? How much would that cost?"

"Argumentative people don't need logic." Han Duoduo curled her lip. "Anyway, they just don't believe that domestic films can be made like this. For these people who fawn over foreign things, their knees have already buckled."

Yang Ning sat behind his desk, with the calendar spread out in front of him.

Day by day, the grid was filled with words: media events, studio visits, interviews, poster placements... densely packed, making one dizzy.

My phone vibrated; it was Xu Qin.

"Yang Ning, the theaters just gave us some news." Her voice sounded a little tired. "Baidu Shanghai has allocated 35% of the screenings to us, and it will be lower in second- and third-tier cities, around 25%. For the first three days of the Spring Festival season, this number isn't bad."

"What about the Spring Festival?"

"Those few days during the Spring Festival..." Xu Qin paused, "...it depends on the attendance rate for the first three days. If it's a hit, theaters will add more screenings. If it flops..."

She didn't continue.

Yang Ning hummed in agreement: "I understand. It's normal. Others do need to make money, but this situation is impossible."

After hanging up the phone, Lao Xu brought in two large bowls of noodles and put them on the table.

"Let's eat."

Stir-fried green peppers with pork and eggs.

Yang Ning broke apart the chopsticks and picked at the noodles: "Noodles again?"

"Save money." Old Xu took a big sip. "Advertising costs are burning through cash like paper. Every little bit helps."

"I'm really impressed with you. Even if you're stressed, you can't be short of a little money!" Yang Ning frowned as he looked at Lao Xu. "Next time, let's get some better food. Everyone can come over for a meal and make do."

Han Duoduo closed her laptop and joined in to eat.

The three of them sat around the table, slurping their noodles. The only sounds in the room were the sounds of eating noodles and the occasional ringing of bicycle bells from the alley outside.

"Director Yang," Han Duoduo suddenly said, "I had a dream last night."

What did you dream about?

"I dreamt that the movie was released and did incredibly well at the box office, so we went to a celebration party." She bit her chopsticks. "But when we got there, we found the table was covered in noodles."

"Cough, cough."

Old Xu almost choked.

He knew Han Duoduo was joking, but to be honest, he hadn't done a good job, only thinking about saving a pittance every day.

Yang Ning chuckled, "That's not bad either, at least it'll fill you up."

After finishing their noodles, Lao Xu cleared the dishes. Yang Ning walked to the window and lit a cigarette.

The sky outside was heavily overcast, as if it were about to snow.

"Is the list for tomorrow's media event finalized?" he asked.

"It's settled." Han Duoduo wiped her mouth. "We've invited all the major media outlets in the country, selected thirty film critics, and a few film school professors."

"What about those nitpickers?"

"We invited them too," Han Duoduo said. "As you said, we won't hide. Whether it's good or bad, let them see for themselves."

Yang Ning nodded.

I was halfway through smoking when my phone vibrated again.

This time it's Huang Xiaoming.

"Director Yang, what should I wear to the premiere tomorrow? A suit or something casual?"

"Whatever, just don't wear slippers. With your looks, you can wear anything. Actually, it's up to you to decide. Are you still a little nervous? Just relax. You've seen the movie, and you know the reaction from Hong Kong, so what's there to worry about!"

"Okay, I do have a bit of an allergic reaction." Huang Xiaoming laughed. "By the way, my mom just called me and said she's organizing all the old ladies in her neighborhood to promote this movie, and she even said she wants to go see it as a group."

"That's great, please thank Mom for me."

"I also think it's a good thing." Huang Xiaoming paused, "but the pressure is a bit high. If I mess up the performance, I'll let these people down."