Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: My Childhood Sweetheart is Boss Yang

"Mr. Gu."

Ning Hao looked at the young man in front of him, who was several years younger than him, with a complicated expression.

Gu Heng turned around upon hearing this: "What's wrong? Are you hungry? There's a nice braised pork restaurant up ahead."

Ning Hao took a deep breath, threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out, his eyes filled with an unprecedented determination.

"If 'Stone' becomes a hit this time..."

Ning Hao paused, as if making a major decision, "From now on, I'll entrust these hundred-plus pounds of my flesh to you."

This is somewhat like a江湖草莽 (jianghu caomang, meaning a wandering outlaw or outlaw) offering a pledge of allegiance.

Gu Heng looked at him with a half-smile: "What do you mean by 'can explode'? What if it doesn't explode?"

Ning Hao gave a wry smile and scratched his messy hair: "If it doesn't explode, it means I, Ning Hao, am just a good-for-nothing with high aspirations but low abilities. How could I have the face to stay here with you? I'll just go back to my hometown in Shanxi and open a wedding photography shop, and never touch movies again in my life."

Gu Heng was amused.

This does fit Ning Hao's stubborn nature.

Gu Heng shook his head and opened the car door that Wang had just driven over.

"Get in the car, you can't go mining coal now. We need to save our energy for counting the money."

They have gained another great general.

This deal is a good one.

……

The next morning, Ma Jie's message reached Gu Heng's phone.

On the first day, Chongqing accounted for 10% of screenings, while Sichuan accounted for 8%.

But this was followed by a curt note: "According to standard cinema practice, if the occupancy rate on the first day is below 20%, the number of screenings on the second day will be halved."

Chen Kai frowned as he looked at the text message: "President Gu, this is too harsh. In today's film market, apart from blockbusters, what film can guarantee a 20% occupancy rate on its opening day? Isn't this forcing us to buy tickets?"

Buying box office receipts?

Gu Heng curled his lip in disdain.

That's dirty stuff for later. Today's audiences are so naive; if a film is good, it's good.

"Reply with two words: Received." Gu Heng tossed his phone back onto the table.

In his eyes, this was just nonsense.

Low occupancy rate?

What a joke.

Liu Yifei, Huang Xiaoming, and the pioneer of Chinese black comedy!

In an era of extreme entertainment scarcity, throwing this film into a latrine was like throwing a detonator into a dry latrine—it was bound to explode.

Moreover, it's currently mid-November.

Gu Heng knew very well what would happen next.

Chen Kaige's "The Promise" is currently being heavily promoted, raising audience expectations to the highest level. Then, on the day of its release, audiences will find themselves watching a beautifully presented... steamed bun.

That huge sense of disparity will make the audience desperately need an outlet for their emotions.

And "Stone" is the most perfect alternative.

Once word gets around, these theater managers will be begging us to add more screenings.

"I don't even know how I'm going to lose this round." Gu Heng leaned back in his boss's chair, looking out the window at the Beijing Film Academy's sports field, thinking to himself with a sense of satisfaction.

Even if you only win by half a point, it's still a victory over fate.

The thought had barely formed in his mind when Gu Heng suddenly sat up straight, a chill running down his spine.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"

"My apologies, my apologies, opening champagne at halftime is a major taboo."

May all the gods protect us, may the poisonous milk be banished, may the poisonous milk be banished.

"Amen, Amitabha Buddha, Infinite Heavenly Venerable."

Chen Kai watched in stunned silence.

Is our CEO, Mr. Gu, driven mad by business pressure?

……

Publicity and promotion can sometimes be more tiring than making a movie.

Although China Film Group handled the publicity and distribution, it was through conventional channels and the investment wasn't substantial. They simply released a few posters and press releases—it was all just a formality. To truly make a splash in that era of nascent internet, they had to rely on unconventional methods.

In the office of Vision Entertainment, Gu Heng had two newly written blank slips of paper in front of him.

Party A: Gu Heng.

Party B: Huang Xiaoming and Liu Yifei.

Content: Assist in promoting "Crazy Stone", the reward is three meals of hot pot at Donglaishun (no upper limit, drinks not included).

"Is this your core marketing strategy?"

Su Qing stared at the two handwritten IOUs that looked like a joke, her nail-painted fingertips tapping lightly on the table. Her lips twitched quite a bit. "President Gu, these are a top-tier actor and a goddess-like beauty, and you're just going to send them away with a few plates of mutton slices?"

"President Su, you don't understand."

"For people who aren't short of money, talking about money hurts feelings, talking about food... that's what builds relationships, understand?"

Su Qing rolled her eyes.

Only a boss could describe being stingy in such a refined and elegant way.

But as it turns out, the power of hot pot is boundless, or rather, the camaraderie among those who share hot pot experiences can withstand the test of time.

That evening, Huang Xiaoming and Liu Yifei updated their blogs simultaneously.

Huang Xiaoming posted a still from the movie, showing his greasy, nouveau riche look, with the caption: "Who can recognize me? Gu Heng is such a jerk. For this hotpot, I even abandoned my idol image. December 1st, 'Crazy Stone,' I'll eat my hat if you don't laugh your abs off."

Liu Yifei is even more stunning.

She posted a photo of herself and Yang Mi on set. In the photo, the two of them are each holding a skewer of grilled meat, eating with their mouths full of oil, completely disregarding their image.

The caption was simple: "Gu Heng said that if this movie isn't good, he'll rent out the whole theater and treat everyone to hot pot for a year. To bankrupt him, everyone hurry to the cinema and find fault with it! (smiley face)"

As soon as these two blog posts were published, the fans couldn't sit still.

In 2005, the online environment didn't have as many zombie fans; the comment sections were full of real people.

"Holy crap! Is that Huang Xiaoming? My illusions are shattered!"

"This style of the fairy sister is off! But I really want to see it!"

"Who is Gu Heng? Who could possibly make these two so enthusiastic about promoting him?"

"The person upstairs has rural internet access? That super-achiever from the Beijing Film Academy, I heard he's an investor in this movie!"

Meanwhile, another covert operation by Vision Entertainment was also quietly unfolding.

Zhang Xuan, Jing Chao, Wang Renjun, and dozens of students recruited from various departments, each guarding a computer, holding a Red Bull sponsored by Gu Heng, their fingers flying across the keyboard.

Their target was clear: Tianya, Mop, and BBS forums of major universities in Sichuan and Chongqing.

Suddenly, all sorts of sensationalist headlines appeared out of nowhere.

"I'll laugh my head off! A movie made in Chongqing dialect?! This film is a real source of pride for people from Sichuan and Chongqing!"

Warning! A Shanxi director claims he made a perfect Sichuan-Chongqing film, leaving locals speechless after watching it…

Exclusive Reveal: Liu Yifei's Screen Debut Was Actually Dedicated to a Film Crew That Only Swears?

"Those two people showing off at the entrance of Luohan Temple are actually the top student at Beijing Film Academy and his campus beauty girlfriend?"

These posts spread like wildfire, quickly becoming top-ranked and trending on various forums. Curiosity grew like wildfire online, whetting everyone's appetite.