Entertainment from Divorce

On the morning of New Year's Day, Ruishan Community was bathed in a peaceful morning light.

The sporadic sound of firecrackers drifted from afar, bringing the joy of the New Year and adding a touch of warmth to the cold winter.

In Tan Yue's dining room, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the dining table, giving the blue and white porcelain bowls and plates a warm luster. The air was filled with the aroma of soy milk, fried dough sticks, and fried eggs, creating a cozy and lively atmosphere.

Chen's mother was busy serving Chen Ziyu soy milk, carefully avoiding the foam.

"Ziyu, drink more soy milk to supplement protein, it's good for the baby."

She handed the bowl over and put a fried dough stick on Tan Yue's plate. "Xiao Yue, you have to rest well today. Don't think about work. New Year's Day is only once a year."

"Okay, Mom." Tan Yue smiled as she took the fried dough stick, took a big bite, and the crispy texture melted in her mouth.

Since the beginning of December, he has been working non-stop, handling company affairs, coordinating the filming of "The Three-Body Problem", and following up on the promotion of "Time Tick". He has hardly had a good night's sleep.

If Chen Ziyu hadn't forced him to cancel his work for New Year's Day a few days ago, he probably would have had to go to the company today.

Chen Ziyu leaned back in her chair, slowly sipping her soy milk, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Finally, you can rest for a day. Look at your dark circles, they're almost down to your chin. If you keep working like this, the baby won't even recognize you as its father after it's born."

"It's not that exaggerated." Tan Yue rubbed his eyes, his tone tinged with helplessness but full of affection. "It's mainly because there are a lot of things to do at the end of the year. 'Time Ticks' is being released today, and I'm a little worried about it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the phone on the table rang, and the screen lit up. It was a message from Engineer Wu.

Tan Yue picked up his phone, swiped his finger across the screen, and saw a real-time public opinion briefing:
"A summary of public opinion one hour after the release of 'Time Ticks'".

"The Weibo hashtag #TimeTicksTooth'sNewYearDayTheatricalRelease has garnered over 2 million views and more than 180 million discussions, ranking third on the trending topics list."

"Short videos related to Douyin (TikTok) have garnered 1.5 million views, with clips such as 'The Old Watchmaker Repairing a Watch' and 'The Granddaughter's Crying Scene After Reconciliation' trending."

Engineer Wu also attached a message.

"Mr. Tan, the online feedback is generally positive. We are monitoring it closely and will report any emergencies immediately."

Before Tan Yue could reply, her phone vibrated again; it was a WeChat voice message from Lin Qingye.

He clicked on it, and Lin Qingye's voice carried obvious tension, as well as a hint of barely suppressed excitement.

"Mr. Tan, 'Time Ticks' has officially premiered! I'm at Chaoyang Cinema right now, just sneaked in. The theater is almost full, and the audience response is pretty good. During the scene where the old watchmaker reminisces about his wife, I saw several people wiping away tears..."

The background noise from the cinema could be faintly heard in the audio, along with occasional sobs and hushed discussions from the audience.

As Tan Yue listened, a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips, and the weight that had been hanging over him eased slightly.

He replied, "Don't be too nervous, just follow your own pace. Pay attention to the audience's feedback; that's the best affirmation for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Tan!" Lin Qingye replied quickly. "I'll report the details to you after the event."

Chen Ziyu looked at the public opinion data on his phone screen and said with a smile, "It seems the response is good, so you can rest assured now?"

"Well, that's a good start." Tan Yue put down his phone, picked up his chopsticks and put a fried egg on Chen Ziyu's plate. "But in the end, it still depends on the box office and word-of-mouth. The competition during the New Year's Day period is too fierce, so we can't be careless."

"Don't worry, Lin Qingye put a lot of effort into the filming, and your script is solid too. It will definitely be well received by the audience." Chen Ziyu took a bite of her fried egg and said confidently, "How about we go to the cinema this afternoon when there are fewer people? I'd really like to see the story of the old watchmaker and his granddaughter."

“Okay.” Tan Yue nodded. “I’ll ask Chen Ye to help me book two tickets for the back row, so we won’t be recognized and bother other people.”

The family ate and chatted, their conversation ranging from movies to the baby's due date and their plans for the New Year, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere in the restaurant.

Tan Yue temporarily put aside the fatigue of work and immersed herself in this rare family time, feeling at ease and happy.

At the same time, in theater number three of a cinema in Beijing, "Time Ticks" was being shown.

On the screen, the old watchmaker sits under the dim light, his fingertips tracing the ancestral watch movement, his eyes filled with longing.

His granddaughter stood at the door, looking at her grandfather's hunched back, her eyes reddening.

This is one of the most tear-jerking scenes in the movie, where the old watchmaker finally confesses to his granddaughter that the reason he opposed her studying design was because he was worried that she would repeat the mistakes of his late husband.

The cinema was quiet, with only the lines on the screen and the background music playing.

Lin Qingye, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, quietly sat in the corner of the last row, his gaze not on the screen, but fixed on the backs of the audience.

He could see several girls in the front row secretly wiping away tears, a middle-aged couple holding hands tightly by the aisle, and an old man in the back row sighing softly, his eyes full of empathy.

Seeing these reactions, Lin Qingye's palms gradually became sweaty, but the tension in his heart dissipated little by little, replaced by an indescribable feeling of being moved.

He recalled the nervousness he felt three months ago when he first received the script for "Time Ticks".

Facing the entirely new field of film, he was filled with uncertainty, but Tan Yue's trust gave him courage.

Tan Yue said, "I believe your lens can capture the warmth in the story."

He encountered countless difficulties during filming.

The pressure during the promotional period is unimaginable.

Now, watching the audience being moved by the story, watching them shed tears and smile for the characters' fates, Lin Qingye suddenly felt that all the hard work was worthwhile.

He quietly took out his phone and sent a message to Tan Yue: "President Tan, the audience's reaction is better than I expected. Many people were moved by the family storyline. Just now, an aunt told me when she left the theater that it reminded her of her grandfather."

After sending the message, he took off his mask and took a deep breath.

The air conditioning in the movie theater was a bit cold, but his heart felt warm.

He watched as the old watchmaker and his granddaughter repaired their ancestral clock together on the screen. The moment the hour and minute hands aligned, sunlight streamed through the clock shop window, illuminating the smiles of the grandfather and granddaughter, and also illuminating the hope in his heart.

He knew that his film might not be perfect and might have many shortcomings.

But with the utmost sincerity, he told a story about family, regret, and redemption, and the audience felt that sincerity.

For him, that was the greatest success.

Inside the public relations office of Brilliant Entertainment, however, a bustling scene unfolded.

Although it was the New Year's Day holiday, all members of the team responsible for monitoring public opinion on "Time Tick" were on duty.

On each person's computer screen, multiple social media monitoring interfaces were open simultaneously, and the sound of keyboards clicking filled the air. Engineer Wu sat at the head of the office, a real-time updated public opinion report spread out in front of him, a thermos cup in his hand, but he didn't bother to take a sip.

His eyes were fixed on the data stream on the screen, his brows sometimes relaxing and sometimes furrowing slightly.

"Mr. Wu, the topic 'Time Ticks' has gone viral on Weibo, and it's been retweeted over 50 times in half an hour, already climbing to second place on the trending topics!"

"This is what staff member Xiao Li is shouting excitedly, pointing to the topic data on the screen!"

"Many netizens are sharing their family stories, and some have posted photos with their families, creating a wonderful atmosphere."

"Okay, have the copywriting team follow up immediately, compile the touching comments from netizens, make them into short videos, and release them on the official account to further amplify the emotional resonance," Wu instructed immediately. "In addition, contact a few influential figures in the emotional field and have them share the relevant topics to expand the reach."

"Received!" Xiao Li immediately buried himself in the operation.

Xiao Zhang, standing next to him, frowned: "Mr. Wu, there have been some negative comments."

“A film critic known as ‘Film and Television Critic’ posted a long review, saying that the movie was ‘slow-paced, the fantasy elements were superficial, and Lin Qingye still couldn’t get rid of the TV drama mentality.’ This comment has been liked more than 2000 times, and many netizens have echoed it.”

Mr. Wu took the tablet computer from Xiao Zhang and carefully read the long comment.

Film critics pointed out that the first half of the film was too long in its setup, and the fantasy setting of time travel was not fully developed, making it more like a "family drama disguised as a fantasy film".

They also compared "Time Tick-Tock" with other comedies released at the same time, arguing that "people want to watch lighthearted movies during the New Year's Day holiday, and this kind of slow-paced, heartwarming film is not appropriate."

"While this comment is sharp, it also has some merit and cannot be considered malicious slander." After a moment's thought, Engineer Wu made his decision.

"No need to rush to respond, and no need to suppress it. Tell the online trolls not to come out and refute, so as not to start a war of words."

"We can have several neutral film critics publish articles from the perspectives of the subtlety of emotional expression and the value of realistic themes, to balance public opinion and guide netizens to have rational discussions."

He paused, then added, "In addition, closely monitor the subsequent development of this comment. If the number of likes continues to surge, or if a competitor takes the opportunity to stir up trouble, then activate the contingency plan. The key now is to amplify positive word-of-mouth and not let a few negative comments disrupt our rhythm."

"Understood!" Xiao Zhang nodded and immediately contacted the relevant film critic.

The atmosphere in the office was tense yet orderly.

Everyone has their own responsibilities: some are responsible for monitoring public opinion, some for compiling positive comments, some for liaising with media and influential figures, and some for dealing with potential negative crises.

Although it was a holiday, everyone was full of energy and showed no signs of slacking off.

They knew that the word-of-mouth period for "Time Ticks" was crucial, and every detail could affect the film's final box office performance.

At 2 p.m., Tan Yue took Chen Ziyu to a movie theater not far from their home, as planned.

Chen Ye had already booked two tickets for the back row and specifically chose a show with relatively few people.

Tan Yue helped Chen Ziyu carefully into the cinema, trying to avoid the gaze of other audience members.

The cinema was indeed not as crowded as it was in the morning, but it was still about 70% full.

Tan Yue helped Chen Ziyu sit down in the back row. Just as they were settled, the movie started.

As the screen lights up, after the familiar dazzling entertainment intro, the story of "Time Ticks" slowly unfolds.

Unlike other viewers, Tan Yue didn't focus on the screen; instead, she kept glancing at Chen Ziyu beside her.

He saw her quietly wiping away tears as the old watchmaker reminisced about his late husband.

Seeing the relieved smile on her face when her granddaughter and grandfather reconciled.

When she saw the old watchmaker looking at the repaired clock at the end of the movie and saying, "Time can heal all regrets," she gently held her own hand.

As the movie ended, the audience gradually got up and left, with many still whispering about the plot.

"It's so touching, it reminds me of my grandpa, who used to fix my toys all the time," a young girl said to her friend.

"His acting was absolutely superb; he conveyed the old watchmaker's longing and guilt with just one look," a middle-aged man remarked.

"The pace is a bit slow, but the emotions are very genuine, making it suitable for watching at a slower pace," another viewer commented.

Tan Yue helped Chen Ziyu slowly walk out of the cinema. Chen Ziyu's eyes were still a little red: "This movie was really well made. The emotions were very delicate. Lin Qingye has indeed improved."

"Yes, he captured the warmth of the story in his film." Tan Yue nodded, feeling gratified.

He knew that Lin Qingye had successfully transformed his career this time, and that "Time Ticks" would most likely be able to gain a foothold during the New Year's Day period.

Just as Tan Yue stepped out of the cinema, his phone rang. It was Lin Qingye calling.

"President Tan!" Lin Qingye's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement. "After the movie, I chatted with a few audience members, and they all really enjoyed the film. Some even said they wanted to see it two or three times!"

"Congratulations!" Tan Yue said with a smile. "You deserve it. Your efforts have not been in vain."

"Thank you, Mr. Tan!" Lin Qingye's voice was choked with emotion.

"Without your trust and support, I would never have been able to complete this film. You gave me the courage to make a change, and you always encouraged me when I encountered difficulties. I will never forget this kindness."

"You're welcome." Tan Yue's tone was gentle but firm. "You are very talented. I just gave you an opportunity."

"I understand, Mr. Tan!" Lin Qingye quickly agreed.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ziyu looked at the smile on Tan Yue's face and said with a smile, "Are you relieved now? You can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Mmm." Tan Yue held her hand tightly and looked up at the sky.

The afternoon sun was exceptionally warm, shining through the clouds and illuminating every corner of the city.

He recalled a line from the movie "Time Ticks": "Time will not turn back, but love can overcome all regrets."

The two walked slowly home, the sunlight casting long shadows on them.

Inside the public relations department of Brilliant Entertainment, staff members were still busy monitoring the latest public opinion and box office data.

Inside the cinema, the story of "Time Ticks" continues to play, touching every audience member who enters the theater.

At the filming location of "The Three-Body Problem," Lu Chuan and the crew have given up their holidays and are working hard to film, striving to present the best possible results. (End of Chapter)