As for all the noise and commotion outside, Chi Ying herself didn’t pay much attention to it. To her, being able to make movies was what mattered most.
But the attention Wedding Wedding attracted was nothing short of seismic.
Within the film industry, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the movie that had managed to rake in 30 million yuan at the box office. Outside the industry, Wedding Wedding had also become one of the hottest topics in entertainment.
As a result, not only was everyone on the mainland talking about it, but even the entertainment circles in Hong Kong and Taiwan had heard that the mainland had recently produced a blockbuster film that was making waves everywhere.
People like Ma Yuanchao and the President Wu backing him believed they had at least some prior connection with Chi Ying, so they were generally happy to see the young woman’s film become a box office sensation.
But as the numbers climbed higher and higher, eventually surpassing the box office record set by Ma Yuanchao’s New Year release the previous year, even President Wu could no longer sit still.
Chi Ying, a complete newcomer who had only just graduated from film school, had every aspect of her background investigated from top to bottom.
The frustrating thing was that the young woman kept an exceptionally low profile and had very few desires. There simply wasn’t any angle from which people could approach her.
After accepting Director Han’s kindness and taking three days off, Chi Ying returned to work feeling refreshed, only to discover that the Script Planning Center had completely changed.
The floor was filled with unfamiliar faces. People streamed through the corridors nonstop, coming and going until the place felt as bustling as a marketplace.
Most of these men, who were presumably her colleagues, either gave her a perfunctory nod or acted as though they hadn’t seen her at all. In short, none of them seemed particularly friendly.
Director Han’s office was especially lively, so Chi Ying quietly returned to her own office. She had barely settled into her chair when Sister Zhang from Human Resources and Sister Su from Finance came over.
“Xiao Chi, you’re back from your vacation? You really needed the rest. Those few days honestly scared all of us. You look so much better now,” Sister Zhang greeted her warmly.
“Yes, I really feel recovered after a few days off. Those roadshows were exhausting…” Chi Ying replied. “But when did our center become so lively? Are all these people our colleagues? If they are, this is the first time I’ve actually met everyone who works here.”
“To be honest, it’s my first time seeing so many colleagues gathered together too!” Sister Su from Finance nudged Sister Zhang and said meaningfully, “Isn’t it the same for you, Sister Zhang?”
The two women burst into laughter, making Chi Ying laugh along with them.
The two older women hadn’t come empty-handed. They brought snacks with them, closed the office door, and the three of them happily slacked off while chatting.
“Isn’t it all because everyone heard about the 30 million?” Sister Zhang said while cracking sunflower seeds. “Now everybody suddenly thinks they’re a hidden genius who can launch a missile too. They all figure the center ought to support them properly, otherwise their talents would just be wasted.”
She clicked her tongue in disdain.
“If we managed to make 30 million, who’s to say they couldn’t make 40 or even 50 million?”
Chi Ying was stunned.
In her previous life, because she’d always regretted leaving, she’d continued following developments at her old workplace. Yet she had never heard of the Planning Center producing any truly explosive box office hits.
Su Juan continued, “Since our film sold so well, I heard the group is giving us a special bonus. Is everyone getting it, or just those of us who actually worked on the project?”
As someone in Finance, her information naturally wasn’t as reliable as Sister Zhang’s. After all, Sister Zhang had worked within the system for many years.
“Only the people who actually participated. We made them so much money that the group was almost embarrassed. They only gave us 1.5 million yuan, but we earned twenty times that for them.”
The three of them giggled.
“So our year-end bonus is finally secured!”
“More than secured.” Sister Zhang lowered her voice. “Director Han told me everyone will get this much.”
She held up a hand and spread five fingers.
Su Juan’s eyes lit up.
“Fifty thousand?”
“What are you dreaming about? We’re a government work unit. It’ll be around five thousand yuan per person.”
“That’s already great,” Chi Ying quickly chimed in. “That’s several months’ salary for me. Besides, this is only the beginning. Now that we’ve got experience, things will only get better from here.”
Su Juan nodded in agreement.
“But we should still bring it up with Director Han. People who do more work should earn more, right? We worked so hard. Just look at Xiao Chi. She lost so much weight. Xiao Sun was busy handling everything inside and outside the production too. We need a proper system in place so everyone will stay motivated.”
“I agree.” Sister Zhang nodded before suddenly remembering another piece of good news.
“You know, my daughter is in middle school. She used to look down on middle-aged women working in government offices like me. She never wanted to tell me anything.”
“The other day she came home and was telling her father about this incredibly popular movie called Wedding Wedding, going on and on about it.”
“So I told her, ‘I was the one who prepared the project proposal for that film and obtained its production permit. If you watch the credits, my name is the very first one in the staff list.'”
Thinking back to the astonished expression on her normally rebellious daughter’s face made her grin from ear to ear.
“Oh really?” Su Juan laughed. “Was your daughter especially interested in Tan Yi?”
“Not at all. I told her who our director was, a girl who had only just graduated.”
She turned to Chi Ying.
“Xiao Chi, my daughter absolutely worships you now. One day I’ll bring her over to meet you. I told her, ‘Sister Chi graduated from the Film Academy, and her college entrance exam scores were high enough to get into one of the country’s top universities! Could you do that?'”
As the person in charge of personnel, Sister Zhang knew Chi Ying’s background inside and out.
Back then, university admission rates were extremely low, and universities were broadly divided into ordinary institutions and key universities. Chi Ying’s academic scores had been good enough for a top university, yet she’d chosen the path of an arts student instead. Most families would never have accepted such a decision.
Fortunately, Chi Ying had always been strong-willed. More than anything, she had chosen that path because she truly loved film.
Su Juan joined in with another piece of gossip.
“The other day when I picked up my son from kindergarten, even his teachers were asking me about this movie. They knew I worked in this kind of government unit, so they thought I might know some inside information.”
“I told them the film was produced by our center, and they got so excited. They even asked me if I could get Tan Yi’s autograph.”
She looked at Chi Ying.
“Next time Tan Yi comes to see you, make sure he signs a few for us.”
Chi Ying laughed.
“That won’t be a problem. No need to wait until he comes here. Just let me know in advance. One day I’ll bring him with me to pick up your son, and we’ll have him sign autographs for every teacher in the kindergarten.”
Everyone burst into laughter again.
Perhaps they had laughed a little too loudly, because someone next door suddenly slapped the wall with a loud bang, clearly expressing their displeasure.
The three women immediately lowered their voices and continued chatting.
While they were relaxed and carefree over here, Director Han was having a miserable time.
Ever since Wedding Wedding became such a huge success, all those people from the planning offices who were normally impossible to find had suddenly emerged.
They crowded into her office one after another, each beginning with, “I’ve got a story…” or “I want to make a movie…”
And then they immediately started asking for funding and support.
Director Han had initially been delighted to see everyone so enthusiastic. After all, the Planning Center only had value if it could continue producing good films, and those achievements would also reflect well on her own work.
The problem was that every one of them wanted to make a movie.
“Fine,” she thought. “But at least give me a screenplay so we have something to discuss.”
The moment she said that, they replied, “Isn’t writing the screenplay the screenwriter’s job? We’re the Script Planning Center. We plan screenplays…”
Then they circled right back to where they started.
“I’ve got a story…”
Director Han was no longer an outsider.
After working on Wedding Wedding, she had followed every step of the process from beginning to end.
At the very least, she now understood how a film went from an initial idea all the way to theatrical release.
Yet these people came to her empty-handed, asking for money and support without even producing a single sheet of paper. What kind of proposal was that?
Unfortunately, they simply wouldn’t take the hint.
She sent one group away only for another to arrive. Then another.
Eventually, Director Han was too exhausted to keep dealing with them.
Just then, the phone on her desk rang.
She seized the opportunity and promptly ushered everyone out.
After answering the call, her expression turned somewhat serious.
She thought for a moment before dialing another number.
The extension on Chi Ying’s desk rang.
“Xiao Chi, you’re in?”
“Director, I’m back at work today. I was just checking in with Sister Zhang after my leave. All right, I’ll come over right away.”
As soon as Chi Ying entered, Director Han poured her a glass of water.
“Director, you’re too kind.”
She hurriedly accepted it.
“You’re the center’s greatest contributor. It’s only right.”
Director Han smiled.
“Lately, whenever I go over to the bureau, everyone from top to bottom treats me with exceptional courtesy. I know exactly why.”
Chi Ying simply smiled.
“Xiao Chi, how about we get the center to issue you a mobile phone? We’ll reimburse your monthly phone bill. Quite a few people have complained that they can’t get in touch with you.”
“Huh?”
Chi Ying looked genuinely surprised.
“Director, have you ever had trouble reaching me?”
She quickly pulled out her pager and glanced at it.
The battery was dead.
Only then did she remember that while she had been on vacation, she’d completely forgotten to recharge it.
“I’m sorry, Director. I probably missed your pages.”
“No, no. I never paged you.” Director Han shook her head. “I know exactly where to find you. If you’re not at the office, you’re in your dormitory.”
She deliberately emphasized the next words.
“It’s certain people who want to contact you.”
Chi Ying immediately understood.
“Director, I think I’d rather not have a mobile phone.”
She paused before continuing.
“The thing is, once you have one, people can find you no matter where you are. Sometimes, having too much outside communication actually gets in the way of getting real work done. Right now, I just want to focus on making films. There are certain things I don’t want to think about yet.”
Director Han understood.
She took it as Chi Ying expressing her loyalty.
But in truth, Chi Ying genuinely meant every word.
In her previous life, mobile phones had been a constant burden. Her bosses had practically expected everyone to be on call twenty-four hours a day. There was no clear boundary between work and personal life. Even at nine or ten o’clock at night, she’d still be replying to messages, constantly being tagged in group chats.
Things were much better now.
If she didn’t want to answer, she simply wouldn’t.
After all, there wasn’t even a telephone in her dormitory.
Besides, leaders in this era were different. They still had lives of their own and didn’t expect to summon their subordinates at any hour of the day.
After hearing her answer, Director Han finally relaxed.
She hadn’t really been too worried, but Lei Dongming had mentioned a few things to her, leaving her slightly uneasy. She had only wanted to test the waters.
“Xiao Chi, while we’re talking about you, I’d like to officially transfer Sun Yanyan over here. From now on, the two of you can work together as partners. What do you think?”
Chi Ying nodded immediately.
She was so pleased she could practically have raised both hands and both feet in agreement.
Director Han smiled.
“You’re both excellent comrades, wholeheartedly devoted to your careers. That’s exactly how it should be. We’re women of the new era. Whatever we do, we must be able to stand on our own.”
Chi Ying nodded obediently, indicating that she would keep her leader’s guidance firmly in mind.
“Now then,” Director Han asked, “have you had any ideas lately for a new film?”
…
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