Chapter 898: Leaving No Opening for Haters

A little later, Liu Zefan also received an interview during his promotion and was asked why he forwarded Lu Yan He's interview draft without saying a word.

Liu Zefan thought silently for several seconds before saying: "Because I don't know how to speak, and I'm worried that if I say too much, I'll say something wrong, and be caught by some people with ulterior motives who will twist my meaning. Yan He is someone I am learning from in many aspects. Actually, regarding some recent voices, I have long wanted to respond, but I didn't have the ability to express it. It just so happened that I saw his interview, and how should I put it, I think it expressed my feelings 100%."

The media immediately followed up: "So, you think there is no competition between actors, is that right?"

Liu Zefan was silent for ten seconds this time before saying: "Look, I said, there are some questions I don't have the ability to answer, because as soon as I open my mouth, I'll be caught by the pigtail. I know you are setting a trap for me, but I don't have the ability to avoid it. I will answer you with a sentence Yan He said: mutual appreciation, mutual support."

This video interview of Liu Zefan was posted online and placed together with Lu Yan He's interview draft, sparking a great deal of heated discussion.

Liu Zefan's answer was called "great wisdom appearing as stupidity."

His fans are all playing with the meme, "Don't bully this fool anymore."

A little later, Lu Yan He posted a photo of himself with Liu Zefan on his Weibo.

It was a photo of them in a cinema, with the posters of the two films they starred in on either side of them.

The two were hugging each other's shoulders.

The text Lu Yan He added was: See you in the next movie.

Liu Zefan forwarded it: Fools have foolish luck.

A smiley face was also hung at the end.

Liu Zefan's comment section: Yan He wrote you a new script again, right?

Liu Zefan: 【Shh!】-

Qingming Festival.

On the first day, the box office of *The Boat* was only 31.25 million, while the film *Malice Born* starring Liu Zefan reached 62 million.

It was almost a twofold difference.

However, at midnight, the official Weibo of *The Boat* released the box office success report for *Malice Born*, while the official Weibo of *Malice Born* released the box office success report for *The Boat*.

Both were success reports.

The official Weibo of *Jump Up* replied in the comment section of *The Boat*'s success report: If I were a troublemaker now, I would ask you, *Malice Born*'s pre-sales were so hot, why didn't the first-day box office exceed 100 million? Did it misfire?

*The Boat*'s official Weibo replied: Qingming Festival slot, not a blockbuster, the first-day box office is already 60 million, and you call that a misfire? Do you have cannon eyes?

The official Weibo of *Jump Up* replied in the comment section of *Malice Born*'s success report: If I were a troublemaker now, I would ask you, the film *The Boat*, starring a top-tier star, only had a first-day box office of just over 30 million, and you still call it a success report? I'm afraid it's a flop, right?

*Malice Born*'s official Weibo replied: An art film where a top-tier star lowered his salary to act, and the production cost is far below the market average, the first-day box office can reach 30 million, significantly leading the first-day box office performance of art films. You don't call this a success report, you call it a flop? You are the one who is a flop.

The "self-directed and self-acted" drama of the two major film official Weibos combined with the media *Jump Up* triggered a huge public opinion response on the second day.

Many people joined in the meme-playing.

The way of playing with the meme was to stand from the perspective of a hater, bashing these two films, leaving the haters with nowhere to go.

Rarely, on the second day of the Qingming Festival slot, the overall box office was higher than the first day.

Both *Malice Born* and *The Boat* maintained the same box office performance as the first day, with a slight reverse growth.

The eight characters "mutual appreciation, mutual support" were once again on the hot search.

Xin Zixing posted on Weibo: Sometimes, don't blame why some people can become the backbone of the industry at a young age. Their prestige is not just accumulated by one work after another; as they go further, it all depends on character.

Film critic Guan Su Chen also said: I really hope that people in the industry have a higher and broader perspective. This is a huge market. In martial arts, there is no second place; in literature, there is no first place. Beyond competition, there is also cooperation. Cooperation can lead to a win-win situation.

Lu Yan He completed the release of *The Boat* and flew back to New York.

However, after experiencing the promotional bombardment of the first few days of release, the film *The Boat* began to exert its power as an art film—

An endless stream of discussions.

Almost the entire Chinese literary and artistic circle went to watch the film *The Boat*, and they are all discussing this film.

The film itself is legendary.

Its screenwriter and the background story of the script are all "strange tales" in the industry.

And this film won the Jury Prize at the Xitu'er International Film Festival, which makes it impossible for people in the literary and artistic circle not to watch it.

The performances of the several actors don't even need to be mentioned.

That is not the focus.

The film's structure, performance techniques, and final theme are the focus of everyone's discussion.

Including the final ending, how exactly did the father die?

About four to five days after the film's release, this topic became the hottest topic.

How exactly did the father in *The Boat* die?

Various analysis posts appeared.

He died of illness.

He was killed by the daughter played by Yu Mengling.

He was killed by the son played by Lu Yan He.

Various angles, various details.

Many people even watched it a second or third time because of such discussions, and after watching, wrote down their own discoveries.

One week after its release, the box office of *The Boat* reached 160 million, with a pleasing trend.

At this time, *My Sassy Girl* was brought out... I don't know what these people are thinking, suddenly starting to use *The Boat* to mock *My Sassy Girl*, a romantic comedy film that might end up with a lower box office than a dull and bitter art film.

Upon closer investigation, it was discovered that someone wanted to take the opportunity to pull down Li Yuefeng, who is currently very strong in momentum.

Li Yuefeng was so angry that he cursed loudly.

Zhang Yuezhen was scrolling through the information on her phone, a smile always maintained on her face.

"Sister, is there any good news?" Ning Yao asked upon seeing this.

Zhang Yuezhen: "What good news could there be? It's just watching a play."

Ning Yao nodded.

She is very sensible.

Since Zhang Yuezhen didn't explain in detail what play she was watching, she didn't ask.

Zhang Yuezhen suddenly remembered something and said: "The second season of *Seventeen Layers: Reboot* is going to start filming next month. How is your preparation for the fight scenes?"

"I have already mastered all the movements," Ning Yao said.

"That's good." Zhang Yuezhen nodded, and after finishing, she suddenly remembered something, "You didn't suffer any serious injuries, did you?"

Ning Yao shook her head, "It's okay, just routine bumps and bruises, just endure it and it will pass."

Zhang Yuezhen nodded, "Bitter after bitter, only then can one be a person above others. Among female stars now, there isn't one who can fight. If you can show your martial arts ability in this drama, it can actually carve out a new path for you in the future. Especially when going to film internationally in the future, look at the action elements in *Speed of Life and Death* that Lu Yan He wrote for Yan Liang, and *Men in Black* that he wrote for himself."

Ning Yao nodded.

"Okay, I will work hard to practice, Sister," she said. "Actually, I have always longed to play the role of a chivalrous woman."

Zhang Yuezhen: "A dream you had from watching martial arts movies when you were young?"

"Yes." Ning Yao smiled a little embarrassedly.

"That's good, I was the same as you when I was young," Zhang Yuezhen said. "Although I didn't become an actor later, Yaoyao, no matter what industry you are in, women must have the ability to grasp the initiative. You are young now and haven't fallen in love yet, but remember this: don't believe that others can support you for a lifetime, especially men."

Ning Yao nodded.

She felt a moment of nervousness in her heart, hesitating whether to tell Zhang Yuezhen about her dating Li Hailu.

But after hesitating for only a moment, she gave up this choice.

"But Sister supports me so much, I will remember it for a lifetime," she said gratefully.

Zhang Yuezhen waved her hand gently.

"I don't need you to remember it for a lifetime. Anyway, separations and reunions, gathering and parting, no matter what happens, we can definitely find common interests for win-win cooperation. Many things don't have only one solution. I believe there must be someone digging you now—it's okay, you don't need to tell me, this is a very normal thing. What I want to say is, you are now, at least within five years, I believe you are a smart girl and definitely won't leave. But in the future, you win Best Actress, become a film queen, or a top-tier star, these are all possible. I just hope you achieve this goal. By then, you might have your own ideas and want to leave, that's all fine. Just remember what Sister said today, everything can be sat down and talked about properly. Don't be instigated by some people with ulterior motives to force you to tear your face with me, there is no need for that."

Ning Yao shook her head.

"Sister, believe me, I know you are good to me, so no matter what happens in the future, I will not betray you. Even if one day I really want to go out and explore on my own, I will definitely discuss it with you and ask for your help. Whether it's my studio or my team, I will definitely still ask you to help me steer the helm."

Zhang Yuezhen looked at Ning Yao in surprise.

"Are you serious?"

Ning Yao said a little embarrassedly: "Sister, I actually have some secrets that I dare not tell you."

"Ah?" Zhang Yuezhen asked, "What? Forget it, if you really dare not tell me, you don't need to say it. You know my principles, as long as it's not a matter of principle, I will definitely be able to tolerate you."

"Hmm." Ning Yao nodded, "Actually, I have been secretly learning from Lu Yan He and the others. Look at them, no matter how successful their careers are, they will never leave the people who are truly good to them, and will not be bewitched by external interests. Therefore, some people were once popular but are now outdated, and some people once had more fans than Lu Yan He but have also disappeared. Celebrity artists cannot always be smooth-sailing and not encounter troughs and difficulties, but only the people who are truly good to them will pull them up at this time. I am in the rising stage now and see that I have a trend of being popular, so those people come to find me. But when I was nothing at the beginning, the person who was willing to give me a chance and push me was Sister. I have always been very clear about this in my heart, so I said I want to remember it for a lifetime, and I want to constantly remind myself."

Zhang Yuezhen's eyes trembled slightly.

She looked at Ning Yao in astonishment.

At this moment, she was truly surprised to the point of being at a loss.

She never thought that Ning Yao would say such a thing to her.

And, so sincerely.

Even, logically rigorous.

There was no reason for her not to believe it.

Zhang Yuezhen nodded.

"Yaoyao, since you said so, we won't say anything else, let's just work hard together."

Ning Yao nodded.

"Write more of Ning Yao's scenes? How is that possible, the script is already finalized! Meng Li won't allow the female supporting role to have too many scenes, any more and it would exceed her as the female lead."

At Jingtai, Jiang Lan said to the station head Shen Tailin.

Shen Tailin said: "Can't you just not crowd out Meng Li's scenes?"

Jiang Lan said: "If I don't crowd out Meng Li's scenes, should I crowd out Chen Pinhe's?"

Shen Tailin nodded, "That's fine, why not? Anyway, he is the male lead, with so many scenes, a few less won't hurt."

Jiang Lan was on one hand so angry she didn't know what to say, and on the other hand very confused.

What is the situation?

Ning Yao was able to get the role of the female supporting character because of Chen Pinhe's relationship.

Add scenes for her, reduce scenes for Chen Pinhe?

Really or fake? ===== CHAPTER 899 =====