Chapter 276: Today, You Can

On the day of the movie's premiere, even though they'd have to keep running promotional tours the next day, there was no way they could sleep early.

You've got to wait and see the box office on the first day at least.

Otherwise, you wouldn't even sleep soundly.

Most movies' box office hinges mostly on the first week, so the opening day's numbers often reveal the trend.

Back at the hotel, during the brief moment Bai Liang was placing his order, Miss Jing Tian had already eagerly started scrolling through online audience reviews.

She looked at them and stayed silent.

After Bai Liang finished ordering, he saw her expression gloomy, as if she couldn't believe it.

"How could it still be like this?"

"What's wrong?"

"People are insulting us. The top few reviews are all negative, and they've got tons of likes."

"Huh?"

This made Bai Liang pause too; he took her phone and glanced—it was true.

"The most absurd thing in time-travel films: no matter how you choose, every conflict's origin, progression, and resolution always circles back to money—this might be one reason most domestic films feel awkward; people are complex contradictions, not flat, labeled caricatures; emotional ups and downs are as fake as five-cent special effects."

"What the hell did this movie even make? No plot, no special effects, and the final scene feels like it was shot on some generic street set—though Bai Liang's acting was decent~"

"A fantasy loser movie—no emotional transformation, just sudden love; once money's involved, it all feels off. Sure enough, Jing Tian's production, always trash!"

"."

Ah, while trashing the movie, they also lightly praised Bai Liang—though they didn't spare Jing Tian.

You could say the main fire was aimed squarely at her.

But honestly, Bai Liang thought Miss Jing Tian had acted quite well in this film—nothing near as ridiculous as they claimed.

Seeing her about to cry, he simply called Sister Yanzi to ask what was going on.

"Big Brother Dou Xiao Bai, don't worry—it's just troll armies clashing. The review section for 'Us, Later' is even worse, shredded to pieces."

Xu Zheng said much the same: once a movie releases, if no one's attacking it, it means no one cares—or it's just been dumped in a terrible slot.

'Time Traveling Together' is currently the most obvious target.

Plus, even non-simultaneous competitors don't want Bai Liang to keep soaring—they'd be crazy not to take a shot at him.

As for Jing Tian—there probably aren't any troll armies targeting her specifically; she's just too easy to hate. The phrase "unpromotable Big Tian Tian" isn't said for nothing.

So here's the question: is Bai Liang dragging Jing Tian down, or is Jing Tian dragging Bai Liang down?

"We're dragging each other down?" Miss Jing Tian, after learning the situation, couldn't help complaining.

She also felt a little guilty, thinking she'd held Bai Liang back.

So his biggest weakness turned out to be herself…

"Well, our movie's overall opening-day rating is still above eight out of ten—nothing that extreme."

In fact, after a while, the originally top-rated negative reviews were drowned out by newer, positive ones.

Who doesn't have some troll armies?

Plus, the fans are mobilizing—don't you know what a top streamer means?

Sister Yanzi said her Big Brother Dou Xiao Bai wasn't afraid of this stuff—after all, what are idol fans best at?

Doing data!

Bai Liang hadn't needed it much before, so he rarely organized fans to do this; most of them just posted on Weibo for visibility.

But there's a saying: not having a sword, and having a sword but refusing to use it, are two different things.

Sister Yanzi: Our side promises not to initiate magical counterattacks.

But if you really want to play this game, do you know which faction currently rules the "dark forces" of the fan circles, folks?

"Setting aside the ridiculous fantasy logic, the romance part is actually quite nice. Both actors are likable and comfortable, their sweetness feels natural—and I actually cried."

"I'm now confused whether Bai Liang is relying on acting or looks—when he smiles, it feels like the whole world brightens; worse still, he cries, and cries so heartbreakingly, it messes with my own heart. Jing Tian's performance is decent too—she's got a hint of 'Queen of the World' energy, but still a bit too passive."

"A highly polished commercial gem—fluid, well-balanced. Its values exceed the average for domestic films: choosing a middle path between dwelling on the past and hating the present, correcting and restarting. The actors' chemistry lifts the entire film's appeal."

"As a pure comedy, it's hilariously funny, though the time-travel logic gaps are still obvious."

"It's the best theater movie I've seen this year so far—logic doesn't matter; the key is it's just too sweet, too sweet!"

"People always say in love, 'If only the better version of me now met the you from then,' would it be better? But the shy, young me back then was already good enough. What's precious is right now. Predicted best Chinese commercial film of the year."

"Turned a story with little substance into something with flesh and blood."

"Jing Tian's beauty truly withstands the big screen test—she made me realize it's not Mary Sue characters people hate, it's the actors who play them."

"Beyond expectations—both a beautiful sci-fi and a beautiful romance, rare indeed. If I faced this, I probably wouldn't love the him from 19 years later, just as he probably wouldn't love the me from 19 years later. Aging and wealth are one thing, but the real issue is the countless choices in those 19 years—those countless forks in the road shaped each of us into the unique selves we are in every timeline."

"."

"Alright, you don't need to read every single review to me~"

"Don't want to hear?" Miss Jing Tian blinked, sounding slightly disappointed.

"Just read me the ones that praise you."

"What's that supposed to mean!" she complained aloud, but her unwillingly rising smile gave away her mood completely.

This emotional payoff? Must be savored~

There she went again, trailing behind Bai Liang like a little tail, swaying back and forth.

Today, she didn't use her signature backward step at all—she stuck to him.

After reading through a pile of praise, Miss Jing Tian sighed in relief—no matter the box office, at least the word-of-mouth was finally there.

One main goal achieved!

Next, she expressed to Bai Liang her "even better" hopes.

"Three hundred million would be great—then the movie turns a profit. Our budget's so low… if we hit five hundred million, that'd be even better!"

Hearing this, Bai Liang couldn't help but be "shocked," glancing at Jing Tian.

What exactly had this young lady been through, to be so cautious even about "wishing"?

"Three hundred million. Are you really this conservative?"

"Aren't we told the movie's production cost was only thirty million? Once box office hits one hundred million, we break even—three hundred million means huge profit."

Jing Tian's reasoning was perfectly sound.

But thirty million was merely the production cost, and even that was lowered because Bai Liang took no salary.

As for Jing Tian, she gave a friend's discount—almost half-price, half-gift.

Of course, precisely because of Bai Liang's joining, the actual cost had risen slightly—Xu Zheng had originally wanted to make this film for just over two hundred million.

Still, if you add in promotion costs, it's even more.

Just on Douyin, they spent over a hundred million on promotion.

All other miscellaneous expenses combined, promotion cost more than production.

If it were only about hitting three hundred million in box office, why spend so much effort?

But Jing Tian had been terrified of flopping.

Aside from The Great Wall and Kong: Skull Island, which had relatively high international box office, her other films' box office and reviews were simply heartbreaking.

Yet those two films' success had nothing to do with her—she still got blamed.

As for the rest, her highest-grossing was Police Story 2013, which surpassed five hundred million, but that film relied entirely on Jackie Chan's personal IP, while the overall reception was mediocre.

Special Identity earned 155 million, The Warring States earned 80 million—both reviews collapsed; Green Age Boys earned 30 million; Shadow Lover, Time Travel Rescue, and others also failed to break one hundred million, with almost zero market presence.

Oh right, she actually had another film this year—a manga adaptation called Fire God.

But its theater performance was terrible—it was pulled straight to online streaming.

So three hundred million in box office was truly a lot for Jing Tian, especially since she had so many scenes in Super Time Love.

The higher the "Tian" content, the lower the box office—that was Jing Tian's objective law. The more she spoke, the more pitiful this young lady seemed.

Earlier, backstage at the Spring Festival Gala, when she argued with Zha, thank goodness Zha didn't use "film achievements" to attack her.

Otherwise, Jing Tian probably would've burst into tears on the spot.

"Three hundred million is really great—I know you're amazing, but you've been carrying such a heavy load~"

Counting on her fingers, Jing Tian gave Bai Liang a full analysis, even using the phrase "carrying a heavy load," as if trying not to pressure him too much.

But Bai Liang had no pressure to begin with—he was currently betting with Jing Boren.

They were betting on opening day box office.

Both films had similar screen times and genres; although Bai Liang and Jing Boren's fans hadn't clashed online, that didn't stop them from privately making a bet.

Waiting always feels long, yet when a man and woman are under the same roof, time often flies.

This fast and slow probably canceled each other out.

"What time is it?"

"Past eleven—there should be one last screening left for opening day; the box office will be out soon."

No error! One send! One content! One look!

"Are you nervous?"

Bai Liang shook his head—he wanted to empathize with Jing Tian, but he truly couldn't feel nervous over this.

Should he lend her an arm to lean on?

Jing Tian: Then I won't be polite~

Because right now, she really needed it.

Step back, shift—step forward!

That night, the two ordered plenty of late-night snacks, but although Jing Tian said she was hungry, she barely ate a bite.

Yet she brought over several colorful drinks.

Each one had a straw stuck in it, and she took turns sipping them—very bold, like a woman of great wealth and luxury.

But this behavior was "dangerous"—it could easily lead to diabetes.

"But life needs a little sweetness, don't you think?"

Bai Liang was about to answer, but as he turned his head, he tasted sweetness.

The young lady cautiously probed; after receiving his response, she gradually grew bolder and continued.

A venomous snake flicks its tongue—no footprints left.

Kissing on camera was clearly different from kissing privately.

At least, on camera, Bai Liang definitely wouldn't slip his hand inside her clothes.

But the process of kissing was nearly identical—just like before, Jing Tian went limp again.

This time, however, she could gently lean against Bai Liang's chest, without needing to exert any effort, simply slightly lifting her head and parting her lips.

"Tian Tian."

"You have to call me sister~"

This time, instead of the usual whining, her voice was tender, like a cooing plea.

Before reuniting, Bai Liang naturally uttered that word that filled him with satisfaction: "sister."

But unless something unexpected happened, soon she'd probably call him "brother."

Just then, the phone rang.

"No, ignore it."

Seeing Bai Liang reach for his phone, Jing Tian opened her big eyes and let out a pleading sound.

She'd watched countless movies and TV dramas—when a call came at a moment like this, the "male lead" would inevitably have to leave for some ridiculous reason.

You can't!

Bai Liang could have refused to take the call, but before Miss Jing Tian could cling to him again, he said, "Sister Yanzi's call—the opening-day box office should be out. Don't you want to know?"

Those words hit Miss Jing Tian like a pressure point, freezing her on the spot.

In fact, while speaking, Bai Liang really had been pressing one.

The phone was still ringing, and only now did Miss Jing Tian suddenly realize that Bai Liang's ringtone was actually that duet of theirs, "Don't Forget Me."

Girls, after all, are always moved by little details like that.

"If the box office is bad, just find a way to push it all onto me."

Clearly, this was Miss Jing Tian's last ripple of resistance.

With those words out, there was no way Bai Liang could leave today, no matter what he said.

He could only devote himself wholeheartedly, till death and beyond~

Bai Liang smiled, kissed her on the cheek, and didn't answer.

He flipped the phone up and held it to his ear.

He was a sly one—didn't put it on speaker.

And Miss Jing Tian's face wore that adorable little expression of wanting to listen yet being too nervous to dare.

The call wasn't very long either—just ten seconds or so.

Sister Yanzi on the other end seemed to have only told Bai Liang the opening-day box office and some figures.

After the call ended, Miss Jing Tian was already in a tense "awaiting judgment" pose.

This made Bai Liang unable to resist teasing her a bit.

"What was the minimum box office you just said you wanted?"

"Three hundred million—three hundred million would be plenty!" Miss Jing Tian answered honestly.

Bai Liang nodded. "Then you can relax. We've got it."

"Wow! Then the opening day must have hit over fifty million?!" Miss Jing Tian exclaimed in delight, bouncing once in Bai Liang's arms—just like that fish that had slapped her earlier.

"Nope~"

"Huh? Not? But it must be close, right?"

Bai Liang's expression turned a little odd. He'd only meant to tease her a bit, but he hadn't expected her to still not have caught on.

"It's already hit three hundred million."

The opening-day box office was exactly three hundred million.

Truth be told, Miss Jing Tian's guess was actually pretty "accurate."

She just used the wrong unit.

"How much?!!"

After confirming with Bai Liang several times, and even taking another call from Xu Zheng and hearing the number again, Miss Jing Tian suddenly trembled twice before finally feeling the solid, real sensation of the ground beneath her feet.

At the same time she felt weak and limp, as if she had just been flying.

"Hey, stop pinching me!" she protested coquettishly.

Bai Liang looked a little apologetic. "You don't like it?"

Miss Jing Tian shook her head, bit her lip, stared at Bai Liang in a daze, and said only two words.

"**"

——

There will be one more update later tonight.

I've already left my hometown today; starting tomorrow I'll resume the furious-update mode from before.

Begging for monthly tickets.

(End of chapter)