This director only directs blockbusters.

In winter, Houhai Lake is frozen over, and there are hardly any people around. Yang Ning found a bench, sat down, and lit a cigarette.

Xu Qin sat beside her without saying a word.

Several children were skating on the ice, their laughter ringing out.

"I remember this time last summer," Yang Ning suddenly said, "I was still worried about whether I could attract investment."

I couldn't sleep at night, so I came here to smoke. Thanks to your help, I was able to make this movie. Qin, thank you!

"I won't be modest about that, it's mainly because you're good in bed." Xu Qin looked at the spirited man in front of her with a blush on her face. "Alright, enough joking around."

While I share in your success, it's largely due to your own hard work and talent that led to today's 200 million box office.

"Yeah," Yang Ning exhaled a puff of smoke, "Two hundred million in box office..."

"What are your plans for next?"

"Take a few days off first," Yang Ning said. "Then...we'll talk about it later."

My phone vibrated again. It was Jiang Zhiqiang.

"Yang Ning, I just received the data." It was very noisy on Jiang Zhiqiang's end, like being on a street. "On the first day in Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea, the total box office was 21 million US dollars. That's over 170 million RMB."

Yang Ning's hand trembled, and cigarette ash fell onto his pants.

"How many?"

"Twenty-one million US dollars," Jiang Zhiqiang repeated. "North America accounted for more than eight million, Japan more than four million, South Korea more than three million, and Europe combined accounted for more than five million."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Yang Ning, this film is a global sensation."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Ning stared at the lake for a long time.

In 2003, it was nothing short of a miracle that Chinese films achieved such success in overseas markets.

This is more than just box office numbers; it's a calling card, proving to the world that Chinese films can also get a share of the global market.

The ice surface reflected the sunlight, a blinding white expanse.

"Let's go." He stood up. "Back to the studio."

Everyone was in the studio.

Old Xu was on the phone, his voice booming like it could lift the roof off: "Yes! Two hundred and five hundred! Not two hundred and fifty million, it's two hundred and five hundred! What? You don't believe me? Go check the data yourself!"

Liu Yong was haggling with the model company people: "The miniature model for the celebration banquet must be finished tonight! Money is no object!"

Han Duoduo, holding her laptop, typed furiously on the keyboard: "Overseas box office data updated! Twenty-one million US dollars! That's equivalent to 170 million RMB!"

Yang Ning walked in, and the room fell silent instantly.

Everyone was looking at him.

"What are you all standing there for?" he said. "Go do what you're supposed to be doing."

"Director Yang..." Old Xu put down the phone, "We...really got together?"

"It's done," Yang Ning said. "But don't get cocky. There's still a lot of work to be done."

He walked to the whiteboard and picked up a marker.

"First, the preparations for the celebration banquet. Liu Yong is in charge of the models and materials, Lao Xu is in charge of coordinating with the hotel and catering, and Xu Qin is in charge of the guest list and media."

"Secondly, follow up on overseas distribution. Han Duoduo monitors the data and updates it daily. Any abnormalities are reported immediately."

"Third..." he paused, "the preparations for the new project can begin."

The room fell silent again.

"A new project?" Liu Yong asked. "What new project?"

"I have an idea, but it's not perfect yet," Yang Ning said. "I'll talk about it after I've perfected it."

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Fan Binbin stood at the door, wearing a white down jacket, her hair casually tied up, and without makeup.

"Director Yang," she said, "may I come in?"

"Come in."

Fan Binbin walked in and closed the door. Everyone in the room looked at her—this actress, who had just risen to the ranks of A-list movie stars with "The Purple Cloud Era," looked like an ordinary college student at that moment.

"I just got back from Shanghai," she said. "I spent three days at the cinema and met with thousands of audience members."

"How are you feeling?" Yang Ning asked.

"It's really great!" Fan Binbin's eyes sparkled. "The audience calls me Lin Xue, and some people even asked me to sign their movie tickets."

There was this really funny older lady who grabbed my hand and said, "Girl, when you're flying in the movie, please don't fall!"

She walked up to Yang Ning and suddenly became serious: "Honestly, Director Yang, thank you. They used to call me a pretty face, but now someone is finally asking me to play a role with depth."

Yang Ning laughed: "Come on, if you're going to be a vase, you're from the Jingdezhen imperial kiln. But seriously, your acting skills have indeed improved a lot."

"Absolutely!" Fan Binbin proudly raised his chin. "But Director Yang, could you please not make me hang on the wires for so long next time? My old back is about to break."

"Alright, next time I'll let you play a refined lady, sitting and drinking tea all day."

"No, no, no, that's so boring! I still prefer action scenes, but... could you do fewer takes?"

The two exchanged a smile. Fan Binbin continued, "By the way, I heard the celebration banquet is at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse? I'd better dress up nicely; I can't embarrass the crew."

"Do whatever you want, just don't dress too extravagantly. With your looks, if you dress too formally, how are others supposed to live!"

"Really? I'm so beautiful in your eyes." Fan Binbin blinked. "Then why don't you take this beautiful Jingdezhen imperial kiln piece home and collect it? It's a potential stock with huge room for appreciation."

"Didn't I already put it away?" Yang Ning knew what she meant, but didn't want to respond in the way he intended.

"You know what I mean!" Fan Binbin stared at Yang Ning with her almond-shaped eyes. She knew what Yang Ning meant, but she still wanted to insist a little longer.

Fan Binbin left after all, without getting the answer she wanted.

Immediately afterwards, Huang Xiaoming called, Zhou Xun sent a text message, and the lead actors, including Peter Ho and Hu Ge, contacted him one by one, all saying the same thing: Thank you.

Yang Ning replied to each of them, saying the same thing: "You earned it yourselves."

As evening fell, the setting sun bathed the studio in gold.

No one had left, but the work was almost done. Old Xu opened a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and poured a few glasses.

"Come on, let's celebrate," he said. "Just one drink, it won't take long."

Everyone raised their glasses.

Yang Ning also raised her glass. The clear liquid sloshed inside.

"What did you say?" Old Xu asked.

Yang Ning thought for a moment.

"No need to say anything," he said. "It's all in the drink."

I drank it all in one gulp. It was spicy, burning from my throat to my stomach.

Outside the window, it was completely dark.

The sound of firecrackers could be heard in the distance—although it was already the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, the festive atmosphere had not yet dissipated.

The lights of Beijing came on one after another, forming a galaxy of stars.

Yang Ning stood by the window, watching all of this.

Two hundred million yuan in box office revenue. In 2003, when the average ticket price was only 20 yuan, this meant nearly ten million moviegoers.

Behind this number are millions of ordinary moviegoers who have gone to the cinema, a testament to the quiet awakening of the Chinese film market.

Released globally. In China, which has only recently joined the WTO, this is a signal that an era of Chinese culture going global is dawning.

The victory celebration banquet is just around the corner.

It all felt like a dream.

But he knew this was not a dream.

This is something he earned bit by bit over a year, with sweat, blood, and an indomitable spirit.