Huayu: Everyone's been reborn, who's still going to be an actor?

The meal was short, but it was very enjoyable.

The food was delicious, but who I ate with was the main reason.

"Let's go to the movies? I haven't had a chance to see your movie yet."

After dinner, Liu Yifei invited Cheng Yuan to see a movie, specifically "The Distinguished Citizen".

Will Cheng Yuan refuse?

will not.

Even if I've seen that movie many times.

Aren't you afraid of being recognized?

Cheng Yuan looked at Liu Yifei and couldn't help but ask.

She has a very high level of popularity among the people.

Although "The Return of the Condor Heroes" will not air until the middle of this month, she has already accumulated a high level of popularity from her previous TV series.

Cheng Yuan has a high profile and considerable fame, but his popularity among the general public is extremely limited, and the chances of him being recognized on the street are very low.

Many people may have heard of director Cheng Yuan, but they might not recognize him if they stood in front of him.

"Just wear a mask," Liu Yifei said. "Besides, so what if they recognize us?"

"Even with a mask on, you can't hide your beauty," Cheng Yuan said. "Beautiful women always attract attention. But we'll arrive at the theater right on time and won't linger after the movie, so it should be fine. However, if we're recognized and rumors spread, you'll handle the PR yourself; I'll just stay silent."

What does silence mean?

Liu Yifei asked with a smile. She was used to people praising her eyebrows, but she still felt very happy when Cheng Yuan praised them like this.

"default."

"We're not dating."

"But it's easy for a man and a woman to go out for dinner or a movie alone to cause misunderstandings."

"Can't we be friends?"

"Are we just friends?"

"you guess?"

"Guess if I'll guess?"

"childish."

"I'm 22 years old, old enough to get a marriage certificate. What right do you, an 18-year-old girl, have to talk to me like that?"

"Whether someone is childish or not has nothing to do with age."

......

The two chatted and laughed as they went to the movie theater.

Today is Saturday, and there are many more people at the cinema than usual.

There were no suitable tickets available for the next showing of the movie, so I had to buy tickets for the next showing, although the time interval wasn't too far.

"Your movie is really popular," Liu Yifei said. "There were no tickets for the last showing, and the attendance rate for this one is just as amazing."

People gradually entered, and the theater was almost full.

"It wasn't that there weren't tickets for the last show, it was that there weren't any suitable tickets," Cheng Yuan said. "It's just a movie, and you want to leave me."

"What do you mean 'separate'? We're just sitting separately," Liu Yifei said. "You're a writer, how can you not explain this clearly?"

"Who sits separately when watching a movie together?" Cheng Yuan said. "You agree, right?"

The movie started soon afterward, and the two stopped talking, gradually quieting down in the theater.

"Why do I feel a little awkward?"

At the beginning of the film, the protagonist gives his acceptance speech, and the scene is silent for a moment before applause breaks out.

"As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed."

Cheng Yuan said to Liu Yifei with a smile.

"Is this what the scene means?"

Liu Yifei frowned. She did have some discernment, but she felt that Cheng Yuan was definitely not trying to express this through this scene.

"Once you succeed, whatever you say will be right," Cheng Yuan said. "After you succeed, great scholars will naturally debate with you."

Liu Yifei seemed thoughtful, as if she understood but not quite.

"That last smile... Li Xuejian's acting was truly superb."

"The movie ended," Liu Yifei said.

If it weren't for that smile, many people might have thought the writer's ordeal was real.

Is it really fake? Or is it just fictional content from a novel by that author?

The movie obviously doesn't provide an answer, but everyone has their own answer after watching it.

As for the writer's wounds?

That doesn't prove anything.

After the movie ended, Cheng Yuan and his companion left the theater.

"Thank you for today. This has been the happiest birthday I've ever had."

Cheng Yuan drove Liu Yifei home, and she thanked him as she got out of the car.

Liu Yifei didn't say anything, she just waved with a bright smile.

She was very happy today.

The next day, the box office figures for "The Distinguished Citizen" came out on its third day of release.

989 million!

It almost broke 10 million, more than the opening day's box office.

The box office totaled over 28 million yuan in three days.

"Can it break 100 million?"

Hou Hongliang couldn't help but ask.

It's unimaginable that a low-budget film can gross over 100 million yuan.

"Crazy Stone" has already been hailed by the media as a model of low-budget, high-grossing films, but now it seems that "The Distinguished Citizen" is even better.

The key point is that the latter sold its overseas copyright for a high price.

As for the overseas rights to "Crazy Stone"?

Not to mention.

"It's probably going to be difficult," Cheng Yuan shook his head and said, "unless there's no piracy. Many people go to the theater out of curiosity because of that rumor. Besides, I guess many people don't want to see this movie break 100 million."

What rumor?

It was a mockery of the fifth and sixth generation of directors.

Cheng Yuan certainly has some box office appeal, but his target audience is actually quite small.

This is related to his previous works.

Nearly 30 million in three days, clearly indicating a potential investment exceeding 100 million.

Hou Hongliang didn't say anything.

Many people don't want to see this movie surpass 100 million, and many others don't want to see a movie directed by Cheng Yuan surpass 100 million.

Even before the movie was released, there were already many critics, and now there are even more.

Of course, Cheng Yuan felt that breaking 100 million was difficult, not because there were many people criticizing him and the movie, but because of the movie itself.

Although it differs from the dullness of typical art films, it is ultimately not a commercial blockbuster.

The audience isn't that large, so the reason the box office was so high in the first three days was largely due to the buzz surrounding the topic.

Once that group of moviegoers has seen it, how many more will go to the theater?

The impact was especially huge when piracy emerged.

However, the box office success of "The Distinguished Citizen" has still attracted the attention of many movie fans.

The herd mentality is very evident among movie fans.

"Three days and nearly 3,500 yuan, and it's just a low-budget art film. How is it so popular? With the film's current momentum, it's probably going to break 100 million yuan," Wang Zhonglei said. "Is that kid going to join the 100 million yuan club? No way, we can't let him join."

Currently, there are only three mainland directors in the "100 Million Yuan Club": Zhang Yimou, Chen Shiren, and Feng Xiaogang.

If Cheng Yuan is allowed to enter, it will be even more difficult to contain him.

That reputation is too prestigious.

Haven't you seen Zhang Yimou carry Xinhua News Agency, or Feng Xiaogang carry Huayi Brothers?

The key point is that this kid can even win awards abroad.

If his film grosses over 100 million, he, the head director of Huayi Brothers, might be squeezed out of the ranks of the top three directors.

They, Huayi, need that title.

"You want to do that?" Wang Zhongjun said, "Find someone to smear him, smear his movie 'The Distinguished Citizen'? Do you think you can do that? He won two Silver Bears. What you're doing isn't smearing him, it's just creating buzz and hype for his movie!"

"What can we do then? Just watch?" Wang Zhonglei said. "That kid's momentum is too strong. How long has his Remote Film & Television company been established?"

"Suppress public opinion, suppress the hype," Wang Zhongjun said calmly. "However, we should handle this discreetly, or have someone else handle it. After all, his film has investments from China Film Group and Qingdao Film Studio. Also, try to mend our relationship with him. That kid's film is making so much money; if Huayi could get involved..."