Entertainment from Divorce

In Beijing, the summer heat is gradually intensifying.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu's home in a warm golden glow.

Chen Tzu-yu, dressed in a loose cotton-linen dress, sat on the sofa in the living room with a thin blanket over her knees and a tablet computer in her hands, reviewing a quarterly report from the artist management department.

Although she had completed the handover of her work at the company and was officially staying home to rest during her pregnancy, she still had enough energy in the early stages of her pregnancy and couldn't help but help Tan Yue with some light work.

Most of the tasks involved document review and email replies, which didn't require her to travel around. They weren't tiring, but they also allowed her to stay informed about the company's activities.

"Don't focus too much. Get up and move around every half hour."

Tan Yue brought over a glass of warm milk and gently placed it on the coffee table next to her. He subconsciously touched her forehead with his fingers to make sure she didn't have a fever before sitting down with peace of mind.

"The doctor said that you should rest more in the early stages of pregnancy and not stare at the screen for a long time, as it will tire your eyes."

Chen Ziyu smiled, closed the tablet, picked up the milk, took a sip, and the mellow milk aroma spread in her mouth: "I know, Director Tan is more talkative than a doctor now."

She leaned back on the sofa, gently stroking her still-flat stomach, her eyes full of tenderness, and said, "I just looked at Wei Yu's overseas artist training plan. It's very detailed. The schedule and instructors have taken into account the newcomers' acceptance level. There's no need to make any adjustments."

"As long as you think it's okay."

Tan Yue held her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm at his fingertips.

“I’ll take care of things at the company, so you don’t need to worry about it. The most important thing is to focus on your pregnancy. If you’re really bored, read some parenting books or take a walk in the community garden with Mom. Don’t always think about work.”

As they were talking, Tan Yue's phone suddenly vibrated, and the name "Lin Qingye" appeared on the screen.

He got up and went to the balcony to answer the phone, trying to walk quietly so as not to disturb Chen Ziyu's rest.

"Mr. Tan, good afternoon! I'd like to give you an update on the filming progress of 'Time Ticks'."

Lin Qingye's voice came through the receiver, sounding somewhat tired but unable to hide his excitement.

"At the current pace, we should be able to wrap up filming in about a month! We just finished filming the pivotal scene yesterday where Master Zhao and young Lin Xiaoyu reconcile. Zhou Ming and Wang Hao's performances exceeded expectations, and we got it in one take. The crew couldn't help but applaud."

"Great, the progress is faster than I expected."

Tan Yue's tone was full of relief as he reminded her, "Don't rush things. Like I said, quality comes first. If you encounter any problems, such as with props, venues, or the actors' condition, just let me know. The company will fully support you."

"Thank you, Mr. Tan! Everything is going very smoothly now. The old clock parts that the props team added are very fitting for the era, and the lighting team is becoming more and more skilled, able to accurately capture the atmosphere I want."

Lin Qingye paused, his tone becoming more wistful.

"After filming for a while, I have come to a deep understanding of the difference between making movies and making TV series. TV series emphasize efficiency, requiring the completion of a large number of shots within a specified time, and focusing on the narrative rhythm."

"Films pay more attention to details. A look, a movement, a beam of light—everything must be polished repeatedly to pursue the ultimate quality."

"I used to hear that many TV drama directors failed when they tried to make movies, and I thought it was because they didn't work hard enough. Now I realize that they are two completely different creative logics."

He recalled the difficulties encountered during filming.

There was a scene that needed to show the morning light and shadow of an old watch shop. He repeatedly adjusted the lighting angles and filmed it eight times before he was satisfied. Such efficiency would be impossible in television drama production.

"Without your support, and by giving me enough time and money to polish my work, I might have ended up like those directors who failed to make a career change, stuck in the predicament of 'wanting to do well but being unable to.'"

Lin Qingye's voice was full of sincere gratitude.

"You not only gave me the opportunity to direct a film, but also gave me a lot of guidance in script polishing and shooting techniques. I will always remember this kindness."

"You're welcome. You're talented and hardworking, and you deserve our support."

Tan Yue smiled and continued, "Once filming wraps up, take a good rest. The company will take care of the post-production and distribution. Your task now is to shoot the remaining scenes well and give this movie a perfect ending."

"Don't worry, I will do my best!" Lin Qingye said firmly, then briefly reported on the subsequent filming plan before hanging up the phone.

When Tan Yue returned to the living room, Chen Ziyu was leaning against the sofa flipping through a parenting magazine. The sunlight fell on her face, making her look as soft as a painting.

"Was that Director Lin calling? Is the filming going smoothly?" she asked, looking up.

"Yeah, we'll wrap up filming in a month." Tan Yue sat down next to her, picked up the magazine she had placed on her lap, and flipped through a few pages.

"Director Lin is indeed very hardworking and talented," Chen Ziyu said with a smile. "I have seen some of the footage for 'Time Ticks'. The cinematography is very delicate and the emotional expression is very sincere. I believe it will be well received by the audience after its release."

The two chatted about company matters for a while, then Tan Yue got up to go to the study to handle some work.

Before leaving, he carefully covered Chen Ziyu with a light blanket and told her, "If you are tired, go back to your room and get some sleep. I will cook dinner, so you don't need to worry about it."

Upon entering the study, Tan Yue first turned on the computer to check the latest news about the Cannes International Film Festival.

The film festival has been officially open for three days, and Interstellar, as the only Asian film nominated for the main competition, has attracted a lot of attention from the media and audiences.

Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, feeling both anticipation and a sense of calm.

The decision to have the main creative team attend in my place was made partly because Chen Tzu-yu was pregnant and needed care, and partly because I felt that the honor of the film belonged to the entire team.

The screenwriters, actors, special effects artists, and cinematographers all poured their hearts and souls into Interstellar.

However, he couldn't help but look forward to the result. After all, the Palme d'Or is one of the highest honors in the international film industry. If he could win it, it would not only enhance his personal international influence, but also allow Brilliant Entertainment to gain a foothold in the world entertainment market.

After processing several urgent documents, Tan Yue opened the script document for "The Three-Body Problem" and continued to polish the character biographies.

Since Chen Ziyu became pregnant, his time has been fragmented between work and taking care of his wife, which has slowed down the progress of the script, but he is not in a hurry.

The adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem" is extremely difficult and requires a lot of patience and energy. Right now, the most important thing is to take care of the company's affairs and Chen Ziyu. Once everything is stable, I can devote myself to scriptwriting.

Around 4 p.m., Tan Yue's phone suddenly rang urgently, and the screen displayed the name of the director of the overseas distribution department.

A thought struck him, and he immediately answered the phone.

"Mr. Tan! Great news! Interstellar has won the Palme d'Or, the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival!"

The director's voice, brimming with barely suppressed excitement, was almost a shout: "The awards ceremony just concluded, and the chairman of the jury personally announced the results!" His voice trembled with emotion as he continued, "Just now, many overseas media outlets surrounded us for interviews, all asking about the creative process of 'Interstellar,' and quite a few executives from Hollywood film companies expressed their desire to collaborate with us!"

Tan Yue gripped his phone tightly, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force. A surge of joy welled up inside him, almost rendering him speechless.

He recalled the days and nights spent filming "Interstellar".

To polish the script, we discussed it more than twenty times with the screenwriting team; to recreate the true form of a black hole, we invited astrophysicists to conduct repeated verification.

In order to film scenes of weightlessness in space, he led his team to the International Space Station simulator.

During post-production, we worked late into the night with the special effects team to adjust the visuals, all to present the most perfect visual effects.

All the effort and perseverance paid off at this moment.

“That’s great…that’s really great…” Tan Yue took a deep breath, trying to calm his excited mood, and said, “You should immediately organize the team to cooperate with the overseas media interviews and properly convey the creative concept of ‘Interstellar’ and the company’s development plan.”

"Yes, Mr. Tan! I'll arrange it right away!" the director quickly agreed.

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue could still hear him excitedly rallying his team on the other end.

Tan Yue put down her phone, quickly walked out of the study, wanting to share the good news with Chen Ziyu as soon as possible.

In the living room, Chen Ziyu was chatting with his mother on the sofa. When they saw his flushed face and bright eyes, they couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" Chen Ziyu quickly got up and asked worriedly.

"Tzuyu! Mom! Interstellar won an award! It won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival!"

"Really?!" Chen Ziyu's eyes lit up instantly, and she excitedly grabbed Tan Yue's arm. "That's great! I knew this movie would be a hit!"

Chen's mother also stood up, her face full of a gratified smile: "What a wonderful thing! Xiao Yue, you're amazing!"

Tan Yue held Chen Ziyu's hand tightly, looking at the tears in her eyes, his heart filled with emotion.

He knew that this honor was inseparable from Chen Ziyu's support.

At the same time, domestic and international media outlets began frantically reporting the news that Interstellar had won the Palme d'Or.

"China Film News: Historic Breakthrough! Tan Yue's Interstellar wins the Palme d'Or at Cannes, Chinese Cinema Moves to the Center of the World Stage. This is an important milestone in the internationalization of Chinese cinema, marking that Chinese films have the strength to compete with the world's top films."

"Entertainment Weekly: Good stories know no borders. I hope that through film, the world can see the cultural charm and creative strength of China."

overseas.

"The Hollywood Reporter: The Palme d'Or goes to China for the first time! Interstellar conquers Cannes with its sci-fi story." Tan Yue's Interstellar breaks Hollywood's monopoly on sci-fi films, injecting new vitality into the genre with a unique Eastern perspective and profound humanistic reflections.

On social media, the hashtag #InterstellarCannesPalmofGold quickly climbed to the top of the trending lists on major platforms both at home and abroad.

Chinese netizens left messages of celebration:

"So proud! Chinese films have finally won the Palme d'Or! Director Tan is awesome!"

"I've watched Interstellar three times, and each time I'm moved by the father-daughter relationship. The award is well-deserved!"

"Brilliant Entertainment is amazing! From a second-rate entertainment company to winning international awards, their development speed is simply incredible!"

"We look forward to Director Tan making more excellent works in the future, so that Chinese films can have an increasingly greater influence in the world!"

Overseas netizens also expressed their love for the film and their approval of Tan Yue:
"Interstellar is the best movie I've seen this year! The special effects are stunning, and the emotions are genuine. Congratulations to director Tan Yue on winning the award!"

"The Palme d'Or was well-deserved for Interstellar! This film not only has a wonderful story, but also profound ideological content, and deserves all the awards!"

With continued media coverage, Tan Yue's international influence has increased dramatically.

Many overseas film companies and streaming platforms have extended olive branches to Brilliant Entertainment, hoping to collaborate with Tan Yue.

Many international film festivals have also extended invitations to him, hoping that he can serve as a judge or attend events.

As a result, Brilliant Entertainment's brand awareness has increased significantly. The number of visits to the company's official website increased tenfold in just one day, and the number of fans on overseas social media platforms exceeded one million.

Many overseas artists have proactively contacted the company, hoping to sign with Brilliant Entertainment.

New actors, screenwriters, and directors in China are also submitting their resumes, hoping to join this rising entertainment giant.

In the evening, Tan Yue's phone was flooded with congratulatory calls and messages.

Industry colleagues such as Ye Wen, Qian Tao, Zheng Tong, and Wei Yu, as well as company executives, actors, and screenwriters with whom they had previously collaborated, all called to express their congratulations.

Tan Yue answered each call, thanking everyone for their support with a humble tone.

Chen Ziyu sat beside him, watching his busy figure, a gentle smile always on her face.

She knew that winning the award for "Interstellar" was just the beginning, and Tan Yue's film dream still had a long way to go, and Brilliant Entertainment's international development would also usher in new opportunities.

All she could do was silently support him from behind, take good care of herself and the children, and let him have no worries.

Chen's mother went into the kitchen and began preparing dinner, humming a cheerful tune.

In the living room, Tan Yue was still receiving congratulatory calls, while Chen Ziyu leaned back on the sofa, gently stroking her lower abdomen, her heart filled with happiness and anticipation.

Tan Yue hung up the last congratulatory call, walked over to Chen Ziyu, sat down, and held her hand tightly.

"Thank you, Tzuyu," he said softly, his eyes filled with deep affection. "Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today, nor would this movie have been a success."

“We’re husband and wife, no need for these words.” Chen Ziyu smiled and shook her head. “The road ahead is long, and I will always be with you and support you in doing whatever you want.”

Tan Yue nodded, his heart filled with determination. (End of Chapter)