Reborn, my online friend is the real me.

At 9:00 AM on May 2nd, China Film Group announced the opening day box office figures for "Our Times" on its official website.

312 million.

When Wang Boxue rushed into the dormitory with his computer, Su Yu was hanging socks to dry on the balcony.

Wang Boxue slammed the computer in front of him, his voice booming like thunder: "312 million! 312 million! Su Yu, did you see that? 312 million!"

Su Yu clipped the socks to the clothes rack, took the computer, and glanced at it.

He calculated that the production and promotion costs were less than seven million. If he could maintain this level every day, he could break even in a week.

He returned the computer to Wang Boxue and continued hanging up the socks.

Standing on the balcony, looking at his calm demeanor, Wang Boxue couldn't help but say, "Is this all you're going to do?"

Su Yu clipped the last sock together, clapped her hands, turned to look at him, and slowly grinned. "What else? Shall we dance?"

Wang Boxue was stunned for a moment, then rushed over to hug him, but Su Yu laughed and dodged away. The two of them started fooling around on the balcony.

When the results of the first day came out, those companies that had previously refused to invest were kicking themselves.

Su Yu's manager, surnamed Wang, heard from China Film Group that several film and television company bosses had called Han Sanping to ask if the overseas rights to "Our Times" would be sold, if a sequel would be made, and if the director would invest in his next film.

Han Sanping chuckled and made a few perfunctory remarks on the phone. After hanging up, he told his secretary, "When I approached them for investment, they all said there was no market for youth films. Now they're asking? It's too late."

Shiguang Pictures, Qingying Film Studio, and China Film Group—the three investors—were all grinning from ear to ear.

Su Yu didn't know how the Qingying Film Studio reacted, but Mu Deyuan called him, his tone as indifferent as ever: "The film is good. Keep up the good work."

Su Yu said, "Thank you, Teacher Mu," and Mu Deyuan hummed in response before hanging up.

Su Yu stood there holding his phone for several seconds, thinking: If Teacher Mu said "not bad," then it really is very good.

.......

Theater managers from various regions have been requesting China Film Group to increase the number of copies of the film. The distribution director of China Film Group for "Our Times" is surnamed Zhao, who is in his forties and has been in the industry for twenty years, having experienced the distribution of countless films.

He said this was the most outrageous request for additional screenings he had ever seen; it wasn't China Film Group asking theaters to show more films, but rather theaters asking China Film Group to provide more copies.

Director Zhao's phone rang from morning till night, ringing off the hook like a hotline with calls from film companies and cinema managers from various provinces.

Some people call him "General Manager Zhao", some call him "Old Zhao", and some say as soon as they open their mouths, "Brother, you're my real brother, give me ten more copies".

Su Yu was having lunch in the company office when he heard this joke from Wang Boxue.

The 312 million on the first day was just the beginning; on May 3rd, the second day's box office reached 422 million.

May 4th, the third day, 417 million.

On May 5th, the fourth day of the holiday, the number of visitors reached a peak of 576 million.

The seven-day May Day holiday has ended, with a cumulative box office of 3277 million yuan.

Su Yu was in a meeting at the company when this number came out.

Lin Hao walked into the conference room carrying a freshly printed box office report, placed it in front of Su Yu, and said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Su, thirty-two million seven hundred thousand!"

The meeting room fell silent for a moment, then erupted.

Wang Boxue was the first to stand up, his chair tipping back and crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

He didn't care, raised his hands and shouted "Awesome!"

The girls in the publicity department slapped the table and laughed. Senior Sister Zhou took off her headphones and slowly said, "I told you long ago, this film will be good." Then her eyes reddened.

Su Yu sat at the head of the conference table, looking at the report, his eyes lightly sweeping over the four numbers "3277 million".

Su Yu looked up, glanced around at the people in the conference room, cleared his throat, and said, "Alright, stop crying. The film hasn't finished its run yet, so get the publicity going."

Then he stood up, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and said, "This month, everyone's bonus will be doubled."

The cheers nearly shook the ceiling lights off.

..........

I broke even in a week and even made a profit.

The production and marketing cost less than 7 million, but the box office revenue in seven days was 32.77 million, and after revenue sharing, the net income was about 12 million.

After deducting costs, the net profit was over five million.

This is only the first week; the movie will remain in theaters for at least another month.

China Film Group has given a new estimate: total box office revenue of 60 million to 80 million yuan.

When Han Sanping called, Su Yu was hunched over his desk writing a movie script outline.

The phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and answered it.

Han Sanping's voice came through the receiver, but his tone was different from before. It was no longer the kind of order from a superior to a subordinate, but more like a conversation between peers.

"Director Su, have you seen the box office figures?"

Su Yu was taken aback. Han Sanping called him "Director Su." Not "Little Su," not "Su Yu," but "Director Su."

He leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face: "I've seen it, Mr. Han."

Han Sanping chuckled on the other end of the phone, a hearty laugh. "Sixty million is the minimum, eighty million is within reach. Your film has the highest return on investment among all the projects China Film Group has invested in this year."

Su Yu didn't respond, but said, "I also have to thank President Han for his support. Without China Film's copies and distribution, I wouldn't have been able to distribute three thousand copies on my own."

Han Sanping laughed again: "You know how to talk, kid."

......

That evening, Su Yu left the company very late.

He turned off the office lights, stood by the window, and looked at the traffic on Xueyuan South Road below.

The streetlights cast a dim yellow glow as cars drove by one after another, their taillights forming a red line.

He took his phone out of his pocket, opened QQ, and found Liu Yifei's profile picture.

His profile picture was lit up, and he typed: "3277 million in the first week, not bad."

Liu Yifei replied instantly: "What do you mean 'good'? You're really good. Haven't you seen the news? Everyone's saying you're a dark horse."

Su Yu leaned against the cool windowpane, shrinking his neck slightly. "And you? You're even more famous now. Everyone knows you wherever you go, right?"

Liu Yifei posted a helpless emoji: "I went to the supermarket to buy snacks today and someone recognized me. I was wearing a mask and a hat, but the person still recognized me. She said, 'Are you Liu Yifei? I've seen your movie, it was very good.' I said she had mistaken me for someone else. She said, 'No, I recognize your eyes.'"

Su Yu looked at the line of text, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"What was your answer?"

Liu Yifei: "I said thank you, and then I ran away. I didn't even buy any snacks."

Su Yu sent a long string of "hahaha".

Liu Yifei sent an angry emoji, "You're still laughing! I've been starving all night."

Su Yu suppressed his laughter and typed: "I'll treat you to dinner when you get back from your promotional trip, at the Hunan restaurant downstairs from the company."

Liu Yifei didn't reply immediately this time. After about ten seconds, she sent a single word: "Okay."

Su Yu looked at the word "good," put his phone in his pocket, picked up the keys on the table, and turned off the office lights.

As he reached the elevator, he ran into Su Ting. Su Ting was holding a cup of coffee and was about to go downstairs.

"You haven't gone home yet?" Su Yu asked.

Su Ting leaned against the elevator wall and took a sip of coffee: "Waiting for you. Mom called to ask about the movie."

"Did you tell her about the box office figures?"

"I told you, I said it's enough for her to buy a whole street in Jingzhou."

Su Yu smiled. The elevator arrived, the doors opened, and the two stepped inside. The elevator doors closed and slowly descended.

Looking at their reflections in the elevator, Su Ting suddenly said, "Xiao Yu, you're a director with tens of millions in box office revenue now."

Su Yu looked at his reflection. His hair was a little messy, and he had faint dark circles under his eyes. "Hmm, I feel alright."

Su Ting nudged him with her elbow: "Pretending."