China Entertainment’s rescue plan is hard to come by

Chapter 874 Go back to the capital, someone wants to talk to you. [Two chapters combined]

As night fell, Sun Yi and Liu Yifei had just finished their promotional roadshow in Shanghai. After saying goodbye to Tom Cruise and the rest of the team, they got into the van arranged by the company.

Unlike the others who went to a hotel to rest, the two of them had a home in Shanghai, so of course they went home to rest.

"I'm so tired~" As soon as she got into the car, Liu Yifei let out a whimper like a kitten, and then she couldn't wait to sink into the leather seat. She even kicked off her high heels, completely losing the image of the big star she had just been out.

Sun Yi got into the car and, seeing her like this, could only shake his head helplessly.

It was just a normal promotional roadshow, but you insisted on adding a fan meeting at the last minute. Who would be more tired than you?

"I~ say~ I~ am~ tired~!"

Seeing that Sun Yi remained unmoved, Liu Yifei immediately pouted and emphasized it again, word by word.

Sun Yi chuckled, "Didn't Teacher Liu seem quite energetic during the roadshow just now? He even signed over 100 promotional posters."

"How can that be the same?" Liu Yifei raised her head, grabbed Sun Yi's hand, and pressed it on her shoulder. "Here, here, and here, they're all so sore. It's all your fault for insisting on adding some fan interaction."

"I?"

Sun Yi pointed to the tip of his nose, his eyes wide open.

Snow in June, they're more wronged than Dou E!

"It's you, who else could it be?"

Liu Yifei stiffened her neck and lied without batting an eye. Afterwards, she even placed her feet, which had been wearing stockings all afternoon, directly on Sun Yi's thigh.

That means, it goes without saying.

Comrade Sun, it's time for you to shine.

The driver was from Xingkong's Shanghai office. It was his first time hosting the company's big boss and his wife, and he was sweating profusely.

Is this how the boss and his wife are in private?
Have they forgotten that I'm a newbie? What if they kill me?!
Sitting in the passenger seat, the assistant, Zhang Xin, gave the driver a disdainful look.

Never seen the world.

Then, with an expression of complete nonchalance, he raised the partition in the driver's cab.

Both of them are people you can't afford to offend, so it's best to avoid seeing them and getting into trouble, in case they make things difficult for you.

Liu Yifei took in Zhang Xin's actions and was very satisfied.

Next time, add a chicken leg.

Sun Yi sighed helplessly, but still obediently pressed his hand down.

Start with the shoulders and neck.

He knew Xiao Ni's body all too well. She had injured her third cervical vertebra, which made her prone to stiffness, whether standing or sitting for a long time, let alone signing more than a hundred posters in a row.

"Mmm," Liu Yifei's eyes narrowed in pleasure, and she couldn't help but let out a soft moan. Her head tilted back involuntarily, her long, smooth hair brushing against Sun Yi's cheek as she hummed and whispered, "I want more when we get home."

Starting from the 10th, the two led the creative team of "Edge of Tomorrow" southwards, visiting one city per day on average, sometimes showing one show, sometimes two shows, without stopping for the past few days.

Sun Yi, a grown man, felt he couldn't take it anymore, but Liu Tianxian never complained once. She only asked him for this and that in a coquettish manner after the event.

Sun Yi knew she was really tired, but she stubbornly never said anything.

In the elevator of COFCO Ocean View One, Liu Yifei was practically clinging to Sun Yi, her nose brushing against his suit jacket. With their apartment just steps away, she cried out, "I want a bath, a massage, and your cooking!"

"Miss Liu, you're not a three-year-old anymore." Sun Yi said with a hint of disdain, but his arm steadily supported her waist.

"You're disgusted with me!" Liu Yifei, who had just been as happy as a child, immediately frowned. "You think I'm too old!"

What is all this nonsense?!
Sun Yi was taken aback by the girl's thought process and quickly shut up.

Can't be bothered, can't be bothered.

Women, you know, there are always a few days like that every month, just bear with it and it will pass.

Fortunately, the elevator arrived at the floor with a "ding," and Liu Yifei excitedly pressed the button on the door and ran inside.

After changing her clothes and giving herself a thorough bath, Liu Yifei, wearing only a nightgown, sprawled out on the sofa, her delicate hands patting incessantly, "Technician Sun, come quick, come quick~"

Sun Yi had just finished washing his hair and hadn't dried it yet, so he had to take care of his hair first.

But just as he sat down next to Liu Yifei and was about to start, his phone rang.

Sun Yi glanced down, a grin spreading across his face. "It's Brother Fan on the phone. This isn't my fault!"

Liu Yifei sat up abruptly, pouting angrily. She turned on the TV and deliberately turned the volume up as loud as possible to express her dissatisfaction.

Sun Yi smiled and shook his head. Sure enough, less than two seconds later, Liu Tianxian turned the volume back down.

Xiao Nizi also has her own special circumstances every month, but generally speaking, she is able to control her emotions and always knows how to prioritize.

"Brother Fan, what's wrong?"

"Xiao Yi, at this time, you and Yi Fei should have just finished your promotional tour, right? I hope I didn't disturb you?"

Before Sun Yi could reply, Liu Yifei mouthed a loud message, "Sorry to bother you~"

Sun Yi found it amusing, but replied aloud, "It's alright, Brother Fan, go ahead."

Liu Yifei pouted angrily, but then calmed down.

"That's right, Zhang Yan from Jin Yi just contacted me."

"Oh?" Sun Yi raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?"

"I won't go into the reasons and such, but in the end, his point was that he hoped both sides would compromise. The final revenue sharing between our production alliance and the theater chains was set at 44%, which is one percentage point."

"One point?" Sun Yi chuckled. "We went through all this trouble just for one point? How could that be? If I didn't have some concerns, I would have doubled it and raised it to four points at once."

"They can't hold on any longer. In these kinds of negotiations, whoever takes the initiative always loses. Just wait and see, they'll agree."

“But,” Yang Fan hesitated on the other end of the phone, “if this drags on any longer, we at Starry Sky won’t be in trouble, but I’m afraid Bona and the others won’t be able to hold on.”

At this moment, Liu Yifei, who had been obediently eavesdropping on the phone call, suddenly nudged Sun Yi and pointed at the television.

The TV was showing an interview with the general manager of Jiangzhe Times Cinema Circuit.

"This year's Lunar New Year film season should have been a year in which our film industry broke records again, but because some alliances did not follow the rules and proposed a redistribution of revenue, some films had insufficient screenings. Even when our theaters made concessions and took the initiative to seek more screenings, some companies actually chose to refuse."

“Completely disregarding the interests of the vast number of movie fans and abandoning the box office potential, I would say this is destructive to the Chinese film industry.”

The cinema chains have begun to mobilize the media and launch a public opinion counterattack.

"Brother Fan, they're getting anxious." Sun Yi said cheerfully, looking confident. "Don't worry about them, we'll just stick to the plan."

"What about tomorrow?"

"Yes, we'll announce it tomorrow and then start making arrangements."

"Okay then."

After hanging up the phone, Sun Yi was in a great mood, as if the dark clouds that had been hanging over his head for some time had completely disappeared, and he was full of confidence.

In negotiations that change the rules of the industry, whichever side takes the initiative first indicates that the other side will not be able to hold on. Judging from the current situation, the internal situation of the cinema chain is already unstable. Otherwise, Jinyi would not have contacted Starry Sky in private behind Wanda's back. It is clear that they already have ulterior motives.

At times like these, harboring ulterior motives signifies division, and once division occurs, utter defeat is inevitable.

In that case, we should press our advantage and continue our attack.

As the great man said, "We should press on with our remaining strength to defeat the enemy, not seek fame like Xiang Yu." Sun Yi snapped out of his reverie and saw Liu Tianxian gazing at him with tender eyes.

"What's the matter?"

“My husband is so handsome~” Liu Yifei tilted her pretty face up, tiptoed, and whispered in Sun Yi’s ear, “Especially when he says ‘Don’t worry about them.’”

Upon hearing this praise, Sun Yi immediately changed his tune, "Beautiful lady, come on, let's continue the massage~"

"No~" Liu Yifei quickly shrank back, deliberately pinching the hem of her skirt with her fingertips, feigning reluctance while revealing a large section of her fair and beautiful legs.

"How can we not do it?"

Faced with such a beautiful view, how could Sun Yi resist? He pounced on it immediately.

"No, that's enough!"

Unexpectedly, Liu Yifei pushed him away and ran away.

If we let her get away now, wouldn't that be a complete disaster?

Sun Yi reacted quickly, grabbing the girl's wrist and pulling her back into his arms.

Liu Yifei wasn't really going to run away, so she straddled Sun Yi's lap and poked his chest with her fingertips: "Are you sure you want to continue?"

"Of course!"

"Then come on."

Wow, there's even this kind of treatment?!
Sun Yi thought he would have to work hard, but things went so smoothly.

But a few minutes later, he was stunned. At the crucial moment, he saw the little angel.

"Hehehe~ Keep going, don't stop~"

"."

"Sissi, look."

I'm not watching!

"Can you?"

"I can't~"

"Ah~"

"Hmph~ Call me wife."

"Wife!!!"

The following morning at 10:00 AM, Starry Sky Image's official Weibo account released an announcement:

Due to popular demand from movie fans, our company has decided to temporarily adjust the film release schedule. The film "Edge of Tomorrow," produced by our company, directed by Sun Yi, and starring Liu Yifei and Tom Cruise, will begin preview screenings in 100 cities across the country starting tomorrow.

Below is a list of cinemas that have partnered with the film screening program.

There are nearly a hundred companies listed, which seems like a lot, basically covering major cities across the country, but a closer look reveals that...

These 100 cinemas only include 4 cinema chains.

Starry Sky International, Stellar Cinemas, Enlight Cinemas, and Bona Theater.

The announcement caused an uproar across the internet.

"What do you mean? Wanda can't watch it?"

"The nearest movie theater is a full 10 kilometers away from my house!"

"What kind of trouble are the cinema chains causing now? Why aren't Wanda and Jinyi cinemas included?"

"Is it because the theaters aren't scheduling screenings again?"

Meanwhile, in the conference room at Wanda Pictures' headquarters, Chen Hongtao slammed his tablet computer onto the table: "This is outrageous! What does 'Starry Sky' mean? 100 cinemas across the country, and this is supposed to be a preview screening?"

The secretary standing nearby reported nervously, "Mr. Chen, our cinema's occupancy rate has dropped by 20 basis points compared to other cinema chains."

Chen Hongtao's face turned ashen as he slammed his fist on the table. "This is unfair competition! They're engaging in unfair competition! I'm going to report them to the Film Bureau!"

Later that day, entertainment media controlled by the theater chains began to launch a barrage of criticism against the production alliance.

"What do you mean by not following the rules?" "Damaging the Chinese film industry." "A cancer in the industry." "Selfish and self-reliant"—all sorts of vicious remarks were thrown out like they were free.

However, Starry Sky's explanation to the public was only one sentence: "The specific release method of the film is chosen by the production company, and this is completely legal and compliant."

China Film Group, Bona Film Group, Enlight Media, Pegasus Media, and other members of the production alliance all seconded the motion, making the theaters extremely irritated.

The principle is very simple. Just like some clothing factories, I can sell my own products wherever I want. It doesn't matter whether I set up a street stall or a large shopping mall. I might even sell them on Taobao or JD.com.

Similarly, moviegoers also choose which theater to go to and which movie to watch based on their foot choices.

With the promotion by Sun Yi, Liu Yifei, and Tom Cruise, moviegoers' expectations for "Edge of Tomorrow" had already reached a high point.

Starry Sky International alone has already surpassed 5000 million yuan in pre-sale box office revenue.

With the start of advance screenings, movie fans flocked to the theaters.

On the first day of the film's official preview screenings, something unexpected happened.

More than fifty movie fans spontaneously gathered outside Wanda Cinema in Beijing's CBD. Holding signs that read "We want to see 'Edge of Tomorrow'!", they loudly questioned the cinema, "Why don't you have the movie we want to see?"

In an instant, it all became a public opinion event.

Consequently, the attendance rates of other films released in the same time slot also began to decline sharply.

At the same time, tickets for cinemas in Starry Sky International, Starlight, Bona, and Enlight Media were extremely difficult to obtain. Not only did all the cinema staff cancel their vacations, but they also had to send extra people to crack down on scalpers at the cinema entrance.

On the second day of the preview screenings, Hengdian Cinema was the first to issue a notice:

"Starting today, cinemas under this chain will be included in the film project of the movie 'Edge of Tomorrow'."

It's not Jinyi Cinema, nor Dadi Cinema, nor Jiangzhe Era Cinema, but Hengdian World Studios.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Hongtao was furious and immediately called the person in charge of Hengdian Cinema, but no one answered.

On the other side, Sun Yi was on the phone with Chairman Han.

"Third Master, the surprise you mentioned is Hengdian World Studios?"

"How was it? It's a bit late, but is it still a surprise?"

"Of course it counts, how could it not? The key to this kind of thing is finding a breakthrough point. Once we have that first one, things will be much easier."

Although Hengdian World Studios doesn't have a large market share within the cinema industry, it's a solid local player in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region, and even nationwide, it ranks among the top ten.

As expected, following the example of Hengdian World Studios, Jinyi Cinema and Dadi Film Studio approached the production alliance to renegotiate.

Seeing that the matter was hopeless, but unwilling to lose face, Wanda decisively approached the Film Bureau.

On the morning of the third day, Director Tong Gang called Sun Yi's mobile phone directly.

"Go back to the capital; someone wants to talk to you."

(End of this chapter)