[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-becoming-a-goddess-in-tokyo":3,"chapter-becoming-a-goddess-in-tokyo-becoming-a-goddess-in-tokyo-chapter-966":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Becoming a Goddess in Tokyo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2339950,4573,"Chapter 966: 780. Broken, but Not Completely Broken","becoming-a-goddess-in-tokyo-chapter-966",966,"\u003Cp>780. Broken, but not completely broken\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS. It’s the beginning of the month, so I’m taking two days off as usual—don’t wait for an update tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you to the reader “Mercury’s Masked Superhero” for the book coins donation—thank you for your support!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Main text:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the premiere night, Leon attended the ceremony, mainly because his home wasn’t far—just a thirty-minute drive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the ceremony, Director Ming mentioned multiple times Leon’s contributions to the film’s production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond his superb acting, he corrected many factual errors in the script and taught everyone authentic British court etiquette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Director Ming had researched extensively to make the book’s characters appear elegant and upscale, it still couldn’t match the accuracy of Leon’s firsthand account.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon isn’t a prince, but he’s undoubtedly more beloved by elderly ladies than most princes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the old lady had to choose between Leon and her grandson who married an African-American woman, she’d pick Leon without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having grown up in Buckingham Palace, he remembered court etiquette with remarkable clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he deeply disliked these rigid formalities, they were skills he’d learned since childhood and had become impossible to forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Leon spotted Director Ming’s incorrect depiction of aristocratic etiquette in the script, he instinctively corrected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Ming readily accepted the corrections, thinking it was incredibly convenient to have a genuine nobleman teaching etiquette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, Leon told Director Ming what real wealth truly looked like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s wealthy generally fall into two categories: one is the old aristocracy, like Leon’s grandfather, who manage family businesses—often real industries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other is younger “nouveau riche,” who typically amass fortunes through virtual industries on the internet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Leon’s view, whether old aristocracy or nouveau riche, neither would ever deprive themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overseas often boast that some billionaire or internet tycoon wears only thirty-dollar shirts and flies economy class, praising their frugality and simplicity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one notices the multi-million-dollar watches on their wrists or the private jets parked in their hangars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called \"poor and pure\" is merely a marketing persona—no billionaire on any wealth list genuinely lives frugally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So most billionaires are flashy, just in different ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nouveau riche tend to be superficial—slapping on the latest luxury brands, arriving and departing in supercars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon admitted that in his youth, he once was exactly like that—until he realized that no amount of money could satisfy spiritual needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he moved to another level: diving into rap, adopting the local style—sunglasses, T-shirts, and gold chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this look was so tacky that his sister constantly teased him about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the nouveau riche type. As for old aristocracy, their attire is always extremely low-key—their clothes look no different from ordinary people’s, yet they’re still luxury brands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They subtly distance themselves from commoners without drawing attention—that’s the old aristocracy’s way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They don’t flaunt wealth like the nouveau riche, but everything they wear, say, or do constantly and discreetly signals: we are not like you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, then, was Leon’s analysis for Director Ming to make the film’s social portrayal more three-dimensional and realistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his analysis, he used himself, his father, his grandfather, his wife, his wife’s father, and his wife’s grandfather as examples—logical, well-supported, and convincing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for his beloved sister Luo Quan, in Leon’s eyes, she occupied an entirely different level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one of the wealthiest women in the world, his sister controlled hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite possessing such immense wealth, she lived with the same consumption habits as an ordinary person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t use Chanel, Dior, or Paris Hilton skincare—she used Da Bao, the same family-sized discounted version, year after year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, a single dab she scooped from Mia’s bottles was worth more than that stuff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had the privilege to wear Chanel anytime, her everyday home clothes were always the same few items—only replaced when worn out or no longer fitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone else had such privilege, they’d change outfits daily, never repeating a look in a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Leon had always struggled to understand his sister’s lifestyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t stingy at all—she always gave others the best food and goods, yet on herself, she cut every possible corner—utterly incomprehensible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But perhaps it was simply too high a level for a mere mortal like him to grasp, so Leon didn’t include his older sister in his analysis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, as a supporting character with limited screen time, Leon offered numerous guiding suggestions during the filming of “The Dawn Era,” making many unreasonable plot elements plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also helped Director Ming clearly define the appropriate way to display wealth in this film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A commercial film certainly couldn’t use the old aristocracy’s subtle style of flaunting wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loud, luxurious nouveau riche approach was the optimal solution—even if “nouveau riche” sounded unpleasant, it perfectly matched the character of Gu Li’s father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the main vehicle for wealth display in this film was Gu Li’s family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When talking about the details of filming, Director Ming became full of enthusiasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his third directorial work and his first with such a massive budget—he was filled with both anxiety and anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many in the entertainment industry were crossing over into directing—actors switching careers, singers switching careers, even writers becoming directors wasn’t new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of these career-switchers failed; only a handful succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Ming didn’t know if he’d succeed, but so far, things seemed promising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The premiere lasted until about 11:30 p.m.; after it ended, Leon declined Director Ming’s dinner invitation and got into a BYD parked by the roadside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done?” Luo Quan, who had been lying in the car scrolling on her phone, immediately raised her seat and started the car to head home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You came all the way to pick me up? I’m truly honored.” Leon sat in the front passenger seat, smiling broadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who came specially to pick you up?” Luo Quan laughed. “I was just buying groceries, and since you were nearby, I gave you a ride.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d gone out to buy cat and dog food—the household had two pets, but she’d never bought these essentials before, and prolonged absence might raise suspicion, so she’d picked up some food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, looks like I overestimated my importance.” Leon feigned sadness and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, didn’t you plan to buy a ticket to support your movie’s premiere?” Luo Quan asked, keeping her eyes on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to support it—I’m too lazy to go to the cinema. I’ll wait until it’s on my phone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon stretched out on the seat, yawning: “I think Director Ming has issues.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Quan smiled: “What issues? You think he’s short?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could that matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon immediately shook his head: “I mean, he’s been overly enthusiastic toward me and the other male actors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, all artistic men are like that—as long as they’re not effeminate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Luo Quan said this, she barely held back her laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Director Ming were effeminate, that’d be fine—but he wasn’t. There were plenty of rumors about him in the entertainment industry, though he’d never mentioned them to Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, logically, Director Ming wouldn’t dare do anything to Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with this rap superstar’s temper, if Director Ming dared exploit his position to make advances, he’d be exposed globally by tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Luo Quan had zero concern her brother would be taken advantage of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, I’d better stay cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon put on a look of lingering unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just because of Director Ming—he’d encountered similar people before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether male or female, anyone too beautiful naturally attracts affection—including from both genders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sister Luo Quan, the world’s most beautiful woman, was said to be universally adored by all ages and genders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon, the world’s most handsome man, was no less irresistible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, many men had harassed him online and in person when he first debuted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, in America’s environment, he couldn’t afford to lose his temper—he’d be accused of discrimination, of being “woke-incorrect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a straight, no-nonsense guy, Leon found such situations deeply disgusting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The good news: in recent years, such people had become far fewer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now he was in China, where he could freely criticize them without worrying about “woke correctness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he wouldn’t randomly lash out—unless they provoked him directly, he ignored them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Ming showed signs of that tendency, but his behavior was merely excessive enthusiasm toward the male actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was equally enthusiastic toward the female actors—even closer to them, almost like male best friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Leon was willing to stay on set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the siblings drove home, the long-awaited “The Dawn Era 1” finally premiered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undoubtedly, this would be a film remembered in cinematic history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though many unreasonable plot points and factual errors had been revised, it remained a messy, fragmented mess of a movie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But compared to classic films in cinematic history, yes—it was terrible. Compared to other recent flops, “The Dawn Era 1” suddenly looked impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a commercial film, at least it had some appeal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, the actors were all handsome and beautiful—unlike some ancient fantasy films, where they claim “the most beautiful in the three realms, the most handsome in heaven and earth,” yet cast actors with zero aesthetic appeal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad acting aside, they were ugly—purely unwatchable trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Dawn Era 1,” besides its stunningly beautiful cast, also nailed the audience’s desire for wealth display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of top-tier clothes, bags, and jewels; opulent, crystal-palace-like sets; and row upon row of supercars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These well-known luxury brands were displayed in the most naked, unapologetic way possible in “The Dawn Era 1.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The novel’s source material had been criticized for being full of materialism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Ming made no attempt to hide it—he embedded “materialism” into every frame of the film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, one of the heroines, Gu Li, opens the film by describing her luxurious lifestyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in Shanghai, the most economically developed city in the country, she felt allergic to areas with lower economic levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her family’s business was no longer the mere billion-yuan empire described in the novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Director Ming wrote the book in 2008, a few billion was already unimaginable wealth to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poverty had limited his imagination, but after Leon arrived, he told him not to be so restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just a movie—why not go all out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just set her sister’s net worth at half—that’s over sixty billion RMB.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a company of this scale deserves to be called a tycoon family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only with such wealth could Gu Li’s statement seem less absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these weren’t the most outrageous aspects of this film—its true budget explosion lay in Leon himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This newly minted Oscar-winning actor appeared in every frame driving a Lamborghini Veneno borrowed from his older sister, burning money with every second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew Leon’s salary, but China’s salary cap only applied to Chinese citizens and overseas Chinese, not foreigners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So online speculation guessed Leon’s fee had likely broken the hundred-million mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His total screen time in the film was only about five to six minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That works out to tens of thousands per second—truly the ultimate display of wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But expensive things have their reasons—Leon’s flawless looks triggered waves of screams from female audiences in theaters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many viewers posted on Weibo after watching, saying the movie was worth the ticket price just for Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, where there’s praise, there’s also criticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many viewers felt the film’s plot and character relationships were nonsensical, the pacing forced, the climax overly melodramatic, and the whole thing painfully awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that, its values were problematic—purely promoting money worship with zero positive energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such criticisms garnered considerable online approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the rating for “Xiao Era 1” came out—exactly at 6.0, just passing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon after, the rating dropped to 5.0, meaning mixed reviews.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One film critic offered this assessment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a light-hearted movie, “Xiao Era 1” failed to fulfill its purpose; as a bad film, it wasn’t thoroughly bad—at least in costume, makeup, and set design, the crew spared no expense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This led to a film that spent so much money yet turned out mediocre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The actors’ performances were all solid—you could get absorbed while watching, but afterward you realized the plot was nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My verdict: it’s bad, but not entirely bad.\u003C\u002Fp>",2043,"2026-06-20T22:54:06.151Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","09d550e531fd582f92f9f82d2d3556e1f35ef79611c6507d5acc243c7834f4e7","becoming-a-goddess-in-tokyo-chapter-967","becoming-a-goddess-in-tokyo-chapter-965",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecoming-a-goddess-in-tokyo-cover.jpg"]