Chapter 120: Wrap, Zhou Xingxing Explodes in Popularity

"Final shot—wrap!" Wang Jing screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking.

The entire Clear Water Bay set instantly erupted. Zhou Xingxing collapsed onto the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face: "Finally... finally done..."

Ng Man-tat rushed over and hugged him tightly: "Xingzai! We did it!"

Xiang Fei stood by the monitor, watching these companions he had spent day and night with for three months, his mouth involuntarily curling upward. Assistant Director Xiao Li secretly pressed the shutter, freezing Director Jin Xiong's rare smile.

In the banquet hall of the Peninsula Hotel, a champagne tower stood three tiers high.

"Come, come, come," Xiang Sheng held up his wine glass, circling the room, "Everyone drink! Ever Sung is paying!"

Li Jiaxin took a small sip of champagne, leaning close to Zhou Huimin's ear: "Ah Min, what is Xiang Sheng filming next?"

Zhou Huimin smiled and shook her head: "Him? He said he wants to rest..."

Before she finished speaking, Xiang Fei was hoisted onto the stage by Wang Jing and Zhou Xingxing, one on each side.

"Everyone quiet!" Wang Jing, his face flushed red, shouted, "Please invite our Director Jin Xiong to say a few words!"

Xiang Fei stood under the spotlight, with the Golden Bear Award and the clapperboard for "God of Gamblers' Master" placed side by side before him.

"Thank you to everyone..." He had barely started speaking when whistles and applause erupted from the audience.

"To be honest," Xiang Fei showed a rare, weary smile, "making an art film then a comedy is like finishing a marathon and immediately starting a tap dance..."

In front of the Tsim Sha Tsui Ocean Theatre, a giant poster had already been hung up.

Beneath the large characters reading "Director Xiang Fei's Latest Masterpiece" was Zhou Xingxing's exaggerated "God of Gamblers' Master" pose.

In the Ever Sung publicity department office, the phones rang non-stop.

"The 100th cinema!" The publicity director wiped sweat from his brow, "All cinema chains in Hong Kong are adding screenings!"

Xiang Huasheng stared at the pre-sale report: "All seats sold out for the first day's screenings?"

"Not just that," the secretary said excitedly, "Even the 9 AM screenings are full!"

On the night of the premiere, fans screamed wildly on both sides of the red carpet.

"Xingzai! Look over here!"

"Director Xiang! May the Golden Bear bring good luck!"

Zhou Xingxing, wearing an ill-fitting suit, followed Xiang Fei with awkward, flailing limbs. Xiang Fei turned back and patted him: "Chest out, head high, you are a big star now."

Before the movie started, Xiang Fei quietly slipped to the very last row. When Zhou Xingxing's signature goofy grin appeared on the screen, the entire theater erupted in the first wave of laughter.

On the third day of release, inside the Ever Sung conference room.

"A record broken!" Xiang Tai's voice trembled, "First week 10 million!"

Xiang Qiang's cigar dropped to the floor: "How much?!"

"18 million!" Xiang Tai nearly screamed her voice hoarse,

Xiang Sheng suddenly stood up: "Quick! Print more copies! They're going crazy over there in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand!"

The front page headline of the Oriental Daily: "God of Gamblers' Master Sweeps 48 Million, Xiang Fei's Myth Continues"

A column in the Ming Pao wrote: "Only Xiang Fei himself can defeat Xiang Fei—he has redefined the possibilities of Chinese-language cinema."

In a TVB special program, the host asked a film critic: "Why can Xiang Fei balance both art and commerce simultaneously?"

The film critic pushed up his glasses: "Because he understands that a good movie must first have a good story."

On the streets of Causeway Bay, reporters randomly interviewed audience members.

"How many times have you seen it?" the reporter asked a middle school student.

"Three times!" the boy said excitedly, "Xingzai is so funny!"

Under the giant billboard of Zhou Xingxing, a street vendor sold pirated "God of Gamblers' Master" T-shirts while shouting: "Last few pieces! Same style as Director Xiang Fei's autograph!"

In Zhou Xingxing's apartment, the phone was ringing off the hook.

"Xingzai!" The agent rushed in, "Five more advertisements are looking for you!"

Zhou Xingxing sat on the bed hugging his knees, staring blankly at the "God of Gamblers' Master" poster on the wall: "Did I really act in this..."

On the other side, Ng Man-tat was surrounded by other actors on set: "Brother Da, introduce us to Director Xiang, will you?"

At a villa in Repulse Bay, Xiang Fei lay by the pool sunbathing.

Zhou Huimin walked over with a glass of juice: "Great Director, the outside world is going crazy, yet you are so leisurely."

Xiang Fei squinted: "Let them go crazy."

The mobile phone suddenly rang; Xiang Fei didn't even look: "If it's a work call, tell them I'm dead."

Zhou Huimin picked it up: "Hello? Factory Director Han Shanping..."