Five years without pregnancy means you're too weak; I remarried a powerful man and had triplets

"Ah Zhe?"

Behind me came Su Manman's groggy voice, hoarse and soft as she had just woken up.

She peeked half her face out from under the covers, her long hair spread out on the pillow, and she was only covered by a thin blanket, revealing everything below her collarbone.

In the past, Xu Zhesheng would have pounced on him long ago.

But at this moment, his mind was filled with the glory of the movie's release and the sweetness of Shen Zhiyi's secret help, and he didn't even glance at her.

"What's making you so happy?" Su Manman rubbed her sleepy eyes and reached out to pull his arm.

Hsu Che-sheng stood up, looking for his clothes as he said without turning around, "The movie's been approved. Time to get ready for promotion!"

"Really?!" Su Manman sat up abruptly, not even caring that the thin blanket had slipped off, her eyes shining like two light bulbs.

This is her first leading role in a film.

After spending three years as an extra, playing countless minor roles without even a name, she finally got this opportunity after getting involved with Hsu Che-sheng.

Once the movie is released, she'll be considered someone with a representative work, and she'll be more confident when taking on roles in the future.

She threw herself into Xu Zhesheng's arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and rubbing her face against his back, her voice sweet and cloying: "Zhesheng, I told you you could do it! This movie is going to be a hit! Maybe you'll even win the Golden Duck Award this year!"

In the past, Xu Zhesheng would have been flattered by such compliments and would have easily pushed her back onto the bed for another round.

But now, he felt that everything she said was nonsense.

Would something he painstakingly produced be bad? Does a Golden Duck Award winner's work really need her approval?

He frowned, then shoved the person away from his embrace, his impatience barely concealed. "Of course. I'll go get ready; I have a meeting this afternoon."

After saying that, he walked straight into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

Su Manman stood frozen in place, her arms still wrapped around her body after being pushed away, before slowly lowering them after a long while.

She looked down at her naked body and clenched her teeth.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and Xu Zhesheng was whistling inside, in an extremely good mood.

Su Manman slowly lay back down, picked up her phone, and the screen light illuminated the dark and unfathomable coldness in her eyes.

2:30 PM, Peninsula Hotel, Beijing, Top Floor Business Suite.

When Xu Zhesheng pushed open the door, two people from the publicity department had already arrived.

The long table was set with fruit platters, tea and snacks, and a stack of beautifully bound business proposals, making the setup even more grand than a formal business negotiation.

"Director Xu! You're here!" The publicity director stood up, beaming with smiles, as if welcoming a long-lost brother. "Please, have a seat!"

Another young woman in charge of the liaison also stood up and poured him tea with a smile: "Director Xu, we've been waiting for you for quite a while. We specially ordered the Osmanthus Oolong that you can drink this season."

Xu Zhesheng was somewhat flattered by the show of force, but he still maintained the demeanor of a director, sat down reservedly, and cleared his throat: "You're too kind. I was stuck in traffic and arrived late."

"It's not too late, it's not too late!" The marketing director waved his hand repeatedly, opened the proposal, and spoke with the eagerness of someone selling insurance, "Director Xu, our team has been working overtime these past two days to prepare a proposal for you. Please take a look."

Xu Zhesheng took the proposal, and the words "Coming Home" in gold foil on the cover shone brightly under the lights.

He turned to the first page, and his smugness swelled even more.

"Director Xu, to be honest," the publicity director lowered his voice, leaning closer as if to speak frankly, "when we received the rough cut of the film, the whole crew was astonished. The texture, the cinematography—frankly, there are only a handful of directors in China who can produce this level of work right now."

The young girl beside her nodded vigorously, her eyes shining with admiration: "Yes, yes, yes! That long take, from the moment the male lead walked into the alley to the end, was executed flawlessly. I got goosebumps watching it! And the female lead's crying scene, without any background music, relied entirely on emotional music to drive the scene forward—it was so sophisticated!"

Xu Zhesheng couldn't help but smile.

That was his proudest performance.

At the time, Shen Zhiyi said that he handled this situation poorly and superficially, but now he doesn't know that others are praising him like this.

Yesterday I thought she was useful, but today I suddenly realized that without me, her edits would never have been seen.

Ultimately, it all comes down to his own ability!

But she did help him with the film's approval process, and Xu Zhesheng's heart softened again.

This woman, she talks about divorce, but she still helps him with his work. Considering how much she helps him, he'll definitely treat her well in the future.

"Director Xu, we've analyzed the target audience for your film," the marketing director said, flipping to the second page and pointing to the audience analysis chart. "The core audience is highly educated women aged 25 to 40. This group has strong purchasing power, a high willingness to spread the word, and also..."

He paused, then said with certainty, "They love the persona of a talented director from humble beginnings like you. Look, the youngest winner of the Golden Duck Award, you spared no expense for art, and it took you a year to polish this new work. The story itself is inherently newsworthy."

"Yes!" the young woman chimed in. "We suggest that the publicity focus on your comeback concept, combined with an emotional marketing campaign leveraging your personal brand. For example, we could release some behind-the-scenes footage showcasing your obsession with detail—audiences love that! The more obsessive, the more captivating!"

Xu Zhesheng felt lightheaded from the praise. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and waved his hand modestly, saying, "You flatter me. I just want to make good products and live up to the expectations of the audience."

"You flatter me!" The publicity director slammed his hand on the table. "Director Xu, you're too modest! Let me tell you, these days even the worst movies on the market can rake in hundreds of millions. With the quality of your film, I'd conservatively estimate it'll gross at least 500 million!"

"Five hundred million?" Hsu Che-sheng's heart skipped a beat.

"That's too conservative!" the young woman declared decisively. "If the marketing is done well, reaching 800 million isn't impossible! Just think, with the Golden Duck Award backing and positive word-of-mouth spreading, your fan base will be able to drive..."

Xu Zhesheng was thrilled, and his mind was already calculating how much box office revenue he could get.

He leaned back in his chair, his smile growing wider and wider, almost reaching his ears.

"Alright, let's go with your plan." He waved his hand with great confidence. "No need for approval of the publicity budget. Go for the highest standard and just submit it to the finance department of Jiangxing."

Anyway, Lu Zichuan said that all expenses would be covered by Jiang Xing.

The PR director and the young woman exchanged a glance, and a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile flashed in their eyes at the same time.

"Yes, Director Xu! Don't worry, we will definitely do our best in the publicity and distribution!" The publicity director stood up, extended his hand, and said, "It's a pleasure working with you!"

Xu Zhesheng grasped his hand and shook it vigorously, his face flushed.

When he walked out of the hotel, the sun was shining brightly, making him feel warm all over.

500 million box office, consecutive Golden Duck Awards, Shen Zhiyi changes her mind...

This is the pinnacle of life.