Chapter 382: Childhood Friends

The film's release is in mid‑July, and Zheng Tan went with the Jiao Family.

Even though pets aren't allowed in theaters, the world has "connections."

In fact it wasn't the Jiao side who reached out; Fang Shaokang called himself.

Fang Shaokang has connections, and the matter of Zheng Tan appearing in the film couldn't be hidden from Fang San Ye, who already knew. Two days before the release, Fang San Ye, who was in the capital, called Jiao Ba directly and settled it. Fang Shaokang also said they'd bring Fang Mengmeng to watch the film and support it.

Er Mao and Wei Leng had Ye Hao's help; a group went together. Both Er Mao and Wei Leng brought their children and also prepared eye masks, ear muffs, and face masks—if the impact proved too great, they'd take the kids out.

The Jiao side had four households and one cat acting separately, not in the same theater as Wei Leng's group. As for Xiao Zhuo's side, Xiao Zhuo and some of Buddha Ye's students watched at a theater near the school.

What does it feel like to watch a movie you acted in?

Zheng Tan said he's nervous, and also a little embarrassed.

After all, this is a film with so many viewers, very different from watching a documentary at home.

The atmosphere is something that easily affects emotions.

Even with Fang Shaokang's call, necessary precautions are still needed.

Zheng Tan slipped his backpack back on. He only emerged when the screening began; sitting beside him was Xiao Youzi, on the right was Jiao Yuan, and Jiao Ba and Jiao Ma sat on either side. With people on both sides blocking the view, he wasn't afraid of being seen. As for the people in front, he didn't look back— even if they saw Zheng Tan it was fine, the front people were known to the venue, they'd greeted each other, so no fear of being discovered.

Zheng Tan didn't know how many people were actually seated in the theater, whether it was full; if few came, he'd surely be disappointed. This film is not only Zheng Tan's achievement but also directly tied to the size of his red envelope. The box office is poor. He estimates the red envelope from Yang Yi won't be much either.

However, judging by the sound, it seemed fairly full.

"Black Cat" is a comedy film with a humorous style, plus the element of Zheng Tan the cat. Laughter rose and fell throughout the theater. Jiao Ma and the others laughed too. But most of the audience was watching Zheng Tan's performance.

Some audience members in the back whispered.

"Did they use a real cat?"

"They definitely used a real cat. But those few shots just now were all computer‑generated. Haven't you heard? The film invested ten million US dollars! In RMB that's over a hundred million!"

Zheng Tan listened and thought to himself: "Bullshit. I was on the front line myself! I even deliberately flubbed a few times. Even so, Kong Han was quite happy back then."

The surrounding laughter calmed Zheng Tan's nerves considerably, and he also thought the film's performance should be decent, so Yang Yi would give him a big red envelope later.

If you can be cool, be cute, have good acting and know how to cooperate, such a great cat actor—where would Yang Kuan Ye find one?

While the Jiao family took Zheng Tan to watch the film, on the other side Er Mao and Wei Leng were also discussing, each from a different perspective.

"Senior brother, I must say, Hei Meitan's acting is pretty good now, better than when it did ads two years ago."

"Hmm, after all, with these years of experience, wasn't there a documentary before? The progress then was also quite big."

"But senior brother, you say it's so tumultuous, how much attention will it draw?"

Er Mao and Wei Leng know Zheng Tan; even if they're not experts on CGI, they know a bit. If the film becomes a hit and the real cost is revealed, the black cat hopping on the big screen would attract how many media spotlights? By then, going out for a walk would probably be impossible.

Wei Leng paused, then said, "There are people behind it supporting."

Er Mao thought the same. Though he didn't know how many were behind it, the pre‑release online debates showed few people focused on 'z'; someone must have deliberately steered attention, while also restraining insiders and limiting media exposure.

Just as Er Mao and Wei Leng thought, during the earlier disputes over production costs, only insiders knew the film's true situation, yet no one spoke up or dared to. Yang Yi had warned them early on. Still, even with NDAs, some couldn't resist external temptations and leaked information—indeed someone did, but the next day that person vanished from the company, no one saw them in the circle again, heard they quit and returned home. Whatever the truth, everyone knows: keep quiet, follow orders, and nothing will go wrong.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zhuo's group, amused by the film's jokes, when they showed the scene of Luo Na De drinking paw‑washing water, Zhuo Xiao Mao burst out laughing and kept laughing.

"Mom, he drank Hei Ge's foot‑washing water! Haha!" Zhuo Xiao Mao's laughter was tinged with schadenfreude.

Xiao Zhuo didn't retort, just laughed in response.

Xiao Zhuo's group didn't think Luo Na De actually drank the foot‑washing water; no star would really drink a cat's foot‑washing water, they must have swapped the cup during filming.

Zhuo Xiao Mao kept insisting Luo Na De drank Zheng Tan's paw‑washing water, laughing nonstop; Xiao Zhuo's junior brothers and sisters thought, kids are kids, they take everything seriously.

In fact, anyone who knows the inside story would laugh for half a day at this scene; Zhuo Xiao Mao doesn't know the truth, but he believes the scene is real.

After "Black Cat" premiered, various online reviews appeared quickly—both positive and negative. Some said the film was great, worthy of its multi‑million‑dollar budget; the CGI cat looked just like a real one, and China does have animal‑effects movies of this caliber! Thumbs up.

Of course, some said the plot lacked depth and the rookie actors' performances were poor, like a certain Luo.

Speaking of depth, few commercial blockbusters have it nowadays; some despise fast‑food culture, but existence is reasonable. After a hard day's work, watching something light and mind‑less is a form of relaxation.

"We're not cultural elites; we watch movies just for fun. If it were some art film, I might not even go!"

"The kids at home are happy watching it, and that's what matters; everything else is secondary."

Some netizen said so.

Yi Xing Culture seized the chance to keep promoting, fully using the internet, attracting many viewers.

Zheng Tan didn't closely follow those; his family has been around these days, and he doesn't like going online. But from Jiao Yuan and the others' accounts, the film's box office was good after a week, even surpassing another movie that had an Emperor and Empress of Film.

Everyone talked about how hot the film was during this period. They said it cost several tens of millions of dollars. Yet Yang Yi stayed silent, putting on a façade. Still, everyone took Yang Yi and Kong Han's silence as tacit, and various speculative reports came out, all sounding very certain.

In private, Yang Yi and Kong Han have celebrated countless times.

Professional VFX folks kept arguing—what minute of the film used effects, which shot employed CGI, the cat's mouth couldn't form that shape, a cat couldn't cooperate that way, and so on. While they quarreled, more people who hadn't seen the film and originally weren't interested in such plot movies went to the theater, then returned to join the debate.

In the cat‑and‑dog fan circles, the film was heavily promoted, becoming a recent hot topic.

A critic once joked, "Black Cat" is a cat movie, and all the actors inside were reduced to background.

Besides Luo Na De, several relatively important actors didn't care about being background or not; even Wei Wen and Shi Xiao Tian were indifferent. For them, the big boss's attitude mattered, everything else was secondary. Unfortunately, Yang Yi has been acting mysterious lately, and no one knows what the netizen‑called "Kuan Ye" is thinking now.

The box office has already passed one hundred million, still in run; Zheng Tan doesn't know the final total, he only cares about getting a big red envelope, and ignores everything else. As a cat, he wouldn't want to be a constant spotlight superstar; that would strip his freedom. A cat's already miserable life would become even more miserable—cats have no human rights. Fortunately, Yang Yi handled the aftermath, and Fang San Ye seemed to have contributed too; so far few people have taken the 'z' angle seriously.

This summer, the Jiao family didn't travel far.

As a cat with no summer homework, most of the year being vacation, and free to do anything except meal times, Zheng Tan says cat life is actually very boring.

What do felines usually do most of the time?

Some might say play with their tail, split personalities fighting themselves, or impulsively knock things over?

None of those—it's sleeping. Like Da Pang.

Sometimes Zheng Tan wants to tell that fat one, "Da Pang, go exercise, or you'll get old."

Anyone who sees Da Pang thinks it's a lazy cat; raised like that, can it not be lazy? Probably even mice can't outrun it, and at six years old, it can't catch anything.

But Zheng Tan knows that's not it. Yesterday the Jingzhang fought a cat from Xiqu Dayuan, and Da Pang went to help; the Jingzhang was already losing, but Da Pang arrived and instantly killed.

Zheng Tan watched the cat that let out a pitiful cry and fled, and lit a candle for it in his heart; for a long time afterward that cat will probably run away whenever it sees Da Pang.

Seeing the Saint Bernard Xiaohua being taken for a walk by Old Man Li, Zheng Tan thought for a moment, ran over, jumped onto Xiaohua's back, and rode the "dog carriage" for a stroll. Usually Old Man Li would wander to Xiqu Dayuan to chat with a few old friends, then return. Zheng Tan happened to

Little Flower has a good temper, often being bullied by Jingzhang and them, but doesn't get angry.

After Zheng Tan jumped up, it also didn't refuse; this weight is nothing for a 100‑kg Little Flower.

But soon, A Huang also jumped up.

Old Man Li watched, amused; his Little Flower has a good temperament, kind to children and other animals, yet despite its large size, it is always bullied by these few little cats.

Jingzhang curled his lips and came out, took a look, then also jumped up.

Old Man Li still wanted to say something, but upon looking up he saw a fat guy running over, and then he also followed and jumped up.

Little Flower looked aggrievedly at Old Man Li: "Wuu—"

Old Man Li: "……"

Actually, the four cats together aren't that heavy; Little Flower has even carried the kids from the big courtyard to play, and Zheng Tan and the four of them together weigh about the same as that kid. After Little Flower expressed its grievance, it still steadily carried the four cats walking.

Passersby seeing this scene couldn't help but say: "The bond between this dog and these cats is really good."

Zheng Tan thought: "This dog, they've watched it grow up—how rare, a childhood friend. But when they first arrived, as puppies, this dog and Niu Zhuangzhuang were just nameless little pups. Now, damn, it can carry four cats without even panting!" (To be continued...)