Entertainment from Divorce

In late December, the chill in Beijing had seeped into the bone.

The biting north wind swirled the remaining snow, leaving fine watermarks on the glass curtain wall of the dazzling entertainment office building, while inside, a bustling scene unfolded.

As the year draws to a close, the various departments have a mountain of wrap-up work to do. Coupled with the promotional sprint for "Time Ticks", the filming of "The Three-Body Problem" is progressing, and the coordination of artists for the New Year's Eve gala, the entire company is shrouded in a high-intensity work atmosphere.

In the CEO's office on the eighth floor, Tan Yue sat behind a large mahogany desk, with a mountain of documents piled up in front of him.

He was wearing a dark gray cashmere sweater with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his strong wrists, and his eyes were focused but tired.

The coffee on the corner of the table had gone cold, and the water droplets that had condensed on the cup slid down the cup and spread a small water stain on the table, but he didn't care.

"Knock knock knock—" A soft knock sounded on the door. Chen Ziyu, supporting her waist, carefully pushed the door open and walked in.

Staying at home all day is boring, so Chen Ziyu came to the company with Tan Yue today.

She was wearing a loose, off-white maternity dress, her belly was already quite prominent, and she needed to support her waist to move slowly while walking, but she had a gentle smile on her face.

"You've been busy until now and haven't had a break yet? I asked Mom to make some white fungus soup and brought you a bowl."

Tan Yue immediately put down his pen, got up and walked quickly to her side. He carefully took her arm and led her to sit down on the sofa.

"Why did you come up here? Didn't I tell you to stay in the downstairs lounge? What if you fell?"

His tone carried a hint of reproach, but even more so, it was filled with heartache.

“I was bored downstairs, so I came up to see you.” Chen Ziyu leaned back on the sofa and pointed to the documents on the table. “Still working on these? I’ve seen you staying up very late these past few days. How about I take a look for you? I can still do some simple document sorting and signing.”

She knew that Tan Yue had been working exceptionally hard this year.

In previous years, she would help with the screening and classification of many administrative documents, as well as the initial coordination of overseas cooperation at this time.

This year, she is pregnant and staying at home, so most of the work has fallen on Tan Yue's shoulders.

Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, she couldn't bear it.

Tan Yue picked up the white fungus soup on the table, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and then brought it to her lips.

"Try it quickly, it's stewed by Mom, with red dates and goji berries, it's good for replenishing qi and blood."

After she swallowed, Tan Yue smiled and shook his head: "I don't need your help, I can handle these tasks. Your task now is to rest well, take good care of yourself and the baby, and don't distract me."

"It's the end of the year, and these are all crucial tasks. I don't trust others to handle them," Tan Yue sighed, his tone helpless yet firm.

"Just a few more days and it'll be fine. Once 'Time Ticks' is released and the filming of 'The Three-Body Problem' enters a stable period, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Then I'll stay home with you and rest properly, and I won't have to worry about any work."

At this moment, Chen's mother walked in carrying a plate of fruit.

Chen's mother was worried about Chen Ziyu, so she came along too.

"Ziyu, let's not disturb Xiaoyue's work here. Let's go downstairs and let him handle things in peace. Xiaoyue, don't overwork yourself. Drink the white fungus soup while it's hot. The fruit is here, remember to eat some to tide you over."

“Okay, Mom.” Tan Yue nodded, helped Chen Ziyu slowly stand up, and watched them leave before sitting back down at her desk and picking up the documents on it.

This is the publicity summary report for "Time Ticks By" that Wu Gong just submitted.

He opened the report, and the first thing that caught his eye was a set of striking data: to date, the total number of views on movie-related topics has exceeded 15 billion, the number of discussions has exceeded 1200 million, and the percentage of positive reviews has increased to 75%.
"The publicity effect is indeed quite good," Tan Yue muttered to himself, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.

However, he also knew that good pre-sale results did not necessarily mean good final box office results. The competition during the New Year's Day period was fierce, with comedies having a wide audience and an atmosphere that fit the holiday, while action films had a strong visual impact.

As a heartwarming story, "Time Ticks" still needs word-of-mouth to stand out.

He wrote the following annotation on the report: "Continue to increase word-of-mouth marketing, focusing on pushing genuine audience reviews and professional interpretations from film critics; coordinate with theaters to increase screenings during prime time, conduct post-release public opinion monitoring, and respond promptly to emergencies."

I had just put down Engineer Wu's report when my phone rang. It was Lu Chuan calling.

Tan Yue pressed the answer button. Lu Chuan's voice was a mix of excitement and embarrassment: "Mr. Tan, I'm sorry to bother you. I'd like to give you an update on the filming of 'The Three-Body Problem'."

"It's alright, go ahead," Tan Yue said, leaning back in his chair with a gentle tone.

"Today we're filming a major scene at the Red Coast Base, the part where Ye Wenjie reveals the Three-Body Civilization to Wang Miao for the first time. Teacher Zhang Lan and Teacher Ma Guoliang did an excellent job, we nailed it in one take!" Lu Chuan's voice was full of excitement.

"However, we encountered a small problem during filming: the special effects team had a disagreement on the presentation of the 'Three-Body Civilization Holographic Projection'."

"One side wanted it to be more sci-fi and cool, while the other side wanted it to be more in line with the concise descriptions of the original work. We discussed it for a long time, but in the end we decided to stick to the original work. The problem has been solved."

“You did the right thing. The original work is the foundation, and no adaptation can deviate from the core of the original work.” Tan Yue affirmed. “When problems arise, communicate and resolve them in a timely manner. You don’t need to ask me about everything. You are the director and have the final decision-making power.”

"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Tan!" Lu Chuan's voice was more confident now.

"There's something else I'd like to tell you. During location shooting, we filmed some empty shots of the Gobi Desert starry sky. The director of photography said the effect was particularly good and wanted to incorporate more of these shots into the series, both to showcase the vastness of the universe and to echo the theme of the Trisolaran civilization. What do you think?"

“Of course,” Tan Yue said with a smile. “As long as it doesn’t affect the pacing of the plot, more shots like this can actually enhance the quality of the series. But we need to be careful about how they connect with the plot so they don’t seem abrupt.”

“Okay, I understand!” Lu Chuan quickly agreed. “Then, Mr. Tan, you’re busy. I won’t bother you any longer. I’ll report back to you if there are any further developments.”

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue rubbed his temples.

As a new director, Lu Chuan may encounter some minor problems, but he is willing to think, dare to make decisions, and can communicate in a timely manner, making him progress very quickly, which makes me feel very reassured.

He picked up another stack of documents on the table, which were the latest filming progress and budget reports for "The Three-Body Problem". After carefully checking them and confirming that there were no problems, he signed his name.

Over the next hour, Tan Yue processed several more documents.

The artist schedule confirmation form submitted by the artist department for the New Year's Eve gala needs his signature and approval.

He carefully checked every expense in the finance department's year-end budget adjustment plan.

Overseas Distribution Department
After finishing processing these documents, Tan Yue glanced at his watch. It was already 2:50 PM, and he had ten minutes left before starting a video conference with Universal Entertainment, an overseas company.

The other party is interested in purchasing the overseas distribution rights to "The Three-Body Problem" and wants to discuss the details of the cooperation with him.

He stood up and walked to the window to stretch his stiff body.

The north wind was still howling outside the window, and the sky was gray, but the office buildings in the distance were still brightly lit, like steadfast landmarks.

Tan Yue took a deep breath of the cold air, trying to dispel his fatigue, but he couldn't help thinking about this time of year in previous years.

"Mr. Tan, the video conference with Universal Entertainment is ready. This is their letter of intent and key issues for discussion, which I've compiled." Chen Ye knocked and entered, carrying a tablet and a stack of documents. He continued, "Their CEO and Director of Overseas Distribution will be attending. The meeting will be in English. Do you need me to arrange for a translator?"

"No need, I can do it myself." Tan Yue took the documents and quickly flipped through them.

“I have read the letter of intent for cooperation before. The key points are the scope of authorization for overseas distribution, the revenue sharing ratio, and their proposed joint promotion plan. I have prepared all of these.”

Chen Ye placed the tablet on the table and adjusted the camera and microphone: "Then I'll wait outside. Call me anytime if you need anything."

"Okay." Tan Yue nodded, and after watching Chen Ye leave, he sat down in front of the computer and opened the video conferencing software.

The video conference started promptly at 3:00 PM.

For the next hour and a half, Tan Yue and the other party had in-depth communication about the details of the cooperation.

Tan Yue breathed a sigh of relief after turning off the video software; his back was already soaked with sweat.

Conducting intensive business negotiations in English is also exhausting for him, especially after working a full day.

He picked up the water glass on the table, took a big gulp of warm water, and only then did his throat feel a little better.

Chen Ye knocked on the door and came in: "President Tan, how did the meeting go?"

"It went quite smoothly. We reached a preliminary consensus on cooperation. We just need to wait for the other party to send the formal agreement." Tan Yue rubbed his temples. "By the way, compile this cooperation intention into a briefing and send it to the overseas distribution department so they can follow up on the follow-up matters."

“Okay.” Chen Ye nodded, and seeing Tan Yue’s tired appearance, he couldn’t help but say, “Mr. Tan, would you like to rest for half an hour? There’s no urgent work to do after this.”

"No need, I still have a few documents to process. I'll rest after I finish them." Tan Yue shook his head and picked up the documents on the table again.

He knew that he couldn't let his guard down now; every document and every communication was related to the company's development and the future of "The Three-Body Problem" and "Time Tick".

Over the next few hours, Tan Yue took care of some finishing touches.

The additional budget request from the special effects team for "The Three-Body Problem" was approved.

Tan Yue replied to the email from Ye Wen, Director of the State Administration of Culture, who inquired about the filming progress and content focus of "The Three-Body Problem." Tan Yue simply replied that filming was going smoothly and that a detailed synopsis would be submitted later.

I also called Lin Qingye to inquire about the last stop of the roadshow and reminded him to get some rest and adjust his condition before the film's release.

By the time all the work was finished, it was completely dark outside the window.

Tan Yue raised his hand and glanced at his watch; it was 9:15 PM.

He stood up, feeling his bones screaming with exhaustion, his shoulders and neck incredibly stiff.

He walked to the window and looked down at the dazzling lights. The city's night scene was bustling and lively, with cars flowing like luminous rivers on the streets.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Chen Ziyu: "I'm done with work, I'll be home right away."

Knowing that Tan Yue was busy with work, Chen Ziyu left the company and went home after a short time.

Soon, Chen Ziyu replied to the message: "Don't worry, be careful on the road. Mom and I have saved dinner for you. We'll heat it up for you when you get back."

Upon seeing the message, Tan Yue felt a warmth in her heart, as if all her fatigue had been dispelled by those simple words.

He tidied up the documents on his desk, turned off his computer, picked up his coat from the back of his chair, and strode out of the office.

In the elevator, he encountered Engineer Wu, who was still working overtime, and several employees from the public relations department.

"Mr. Tan, you're still at get off work?" Engineer Wu greeted him with a smile.

"I just finished, you should all go back and rest early too." Tan Yue nodded, his tone gentle. "Thank you for your hard work in promoting 'Time Tick-Tock'. Keep up the good work after the film is released."

"Thank you, Mr. Tan, we will!" everyone responded.

Tan Yue wrapped his coat tighter around himself and strode towards the parking lot.

The car drove away from the company and merged into the evening rush hour traffic.

On the way, he turned on the radio, which played a soothing piece of music, and his tired nerves gradually relaxed.

He recalled all the work he had done that day.

Although it was hard work, he felt a great sense of accomplishment as he watched his efforts gradually bear fruit and Brilliant Entertainment grow stronger step by step.

What makes him even happier is that he has family waiting for him at home, warm meals, and a baby who is about to be born.

All of this is what motivates him to work hard and what is his warmest haven when he is tired.

As soon as Tan Yue parked the car in the residential area, he saw warm yellow lights shining from the windows of his home.

He strode to the door, and just as he took out his key, the door opened. Chen Ziyu stood in the doorway, supporting her back, with a gentle smile on her face: "You're back? Come in quickly, it's cold outside."

As Tan Yue entered the house, the aroma of food wafted towards him.

Chen's mother came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of reheated food: "You're back just in time. The food is freshly reheated. Eat quickly."

On the dining table, braised pork, steamed fish, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables are all dishes that Tan Yue loves to eat.

He sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and ate his meal with gusto, feeling a sense of peace and warmth in his heart.

Chen Ziyu sat next to him, occasionally putting food on his plate and telling him to eat slowly.

"How did today's cooperation talks go?" Chen Ziyu asked curiously.

"It went very smoothly. We reached a preliminary agreement on cooperation, and the overseas distribution of 'The Three-Body Problem' is settled." Tan Yue swallowed the food in his mouth and said with a smile, "After the movie is released and 'The Three-Body Problem' is finished, our works will be able to reach more countries and regions."

"Great!" Chen Ziyu's eyes lit up. "I knew you could do it."

Chen's mother also smiled and said, "Xiao Yue, you're working too hard. You need to take care of your health. Ziyu is pregnant now. If you collapse from exhaustion, who will take care of you?"

"I know, Mom. I'll definitely get some rest once this busy period is over." Tan Yue nodded, her heart filled with gratitude.

He knew that his ability to work so hard without any worries was inseparable from the support and understanding of his family. (End of Chapter)