Chapter 178: Running with Pants in Hand

China Film Group International Cinema, above its entrance, hung a banner reading: "The Big Person – Global Premiere!"

On both sides of the cinema's entrance steps, invited reporters were snapping photos "click-click-click."

No red carpet—just walk in once you arrive.

Reporters were by invitation only; moviegoers were too, to keep out garbage and prevent them from asking nonsensical questions.

Fang Hong's reputation was already bad, the assault scandal hadn't died down, and he feared some idiot might throw a bottle at him or try to beat him up.

People today aren't very rational.

But Fang Hong had already arranged to destroy Ceng Aizi—he just waited to see how Ceng Aizi would respond.

Few stars showed up—only a few signed artists from Yutu: Zhang Songwen, Zhao Xiaodao, Chen Xiao, Zhu Yirong.

Also present was Pan Yueming, who had a cameo in The Big Person; along with two newcomers who collaborated with Yutu: Chen Sicheng and Xu Guangtou.

Chen Sicheng's girlfriend Yaya also appeared on-site; the two were currently dating and planned to announce it next year.

"Ah ah ah, Liu Tianxian!"

Amid the shouts, Liu Tianxian walked in, her long hair loose, dressed in a proper suit.

Amid the fans' enthusiastic cries, she wore a polite smile, waving to the crowd as she walked slowly into the cinema.

Her every movement was elegant and composed!

She still had the highest popularity; everyone else was half-famous at best, even Yaya.

Yaya watched with envy—when would she ever become famous? After all these years, she was still lukewarm.

The number of celebrity guests wasn't large, but the invited dignitaries and audience members were numerous, streaming in one after another.

Fang Hong didn't use this entrance—he walked with Chairman Xi Jie and Yindu's Vice Chairman through a side passage.

A big boss can't walk the same path as commoners.

"Chairman Li, Chairman Mao, thank you for coming," Fang Hong said as they walked.

"No need to be so formal—we're partners. We're just here to watch the movie. If your film's good, we won't regret coming," Mao Yu waved off.

He wore glasses and had a respectable appearance.

Li Meijing nodded; though she'd already seen it, she still played the role of an international guest to show support.

If the film does well in South Korea's box office, Fang Hong will go there to support it too—it's mutual.

Everyone entered the cinema; the audience was let in as well.

This premiere would be filmed, and the footage would be cut into clips and released.

Which clips to release? Yutu decided.

Of course, irrelevant footage shot by reporters didn't matter—no filming once inside the cinema.

Because the big screen had the movie! Entering the luxurious cinema, Fang Hong led Li Meijing and Mao Yu to their seats, then sat beside them.

The two sat two seats to Fang Hong's left; to his right sat Liu Tianxian.

"Another movie with Miss Liu—my apologies for the honor," Fang Hong extended his hand.

"Mr. Fang, you're too kind," Liu Tianxian took his hand, finding it amusing.

The two acted like old friends who hadn't seen each other in ages—natural, effortless.

But when Liu Tianxian tried to pull her hand away, Fang Hong held on tightly, refusing to let go.

Liu Tianxian didn't mind—she let him hold it.

Behind them sat actors and stars, too far away to see their actions.

"Good evening, media friends, film professionals, audience members!"

Chen Zhixi stepped to the front, microphone in hand, addressing the crowd: "Thank you all for attending the premiere of The Big Person."

Clearly, this is Yutu's transformational work—their first attempt at a major film production. It's also a film made by young people who love cinema, pure-hearted and full of dreams.

Once, Huayi was a small workshop; Boss Yu Pangzi still lived in his ex-wife's mortgaged house; Wang Zhangtian once went bankrupt.

Now, all three are titans in the film industry—stomp their feet, and the whole industry shakes.

Times progress, cinema evolves. Whose credit is this? The youth's. A new era is coming, and Yutu's mission is to chase after those old-timers and make them run with their pants down.

"Applause!"

"Hahaha!"

The speech sent the audience into roaring laughter and continuous applause.

In truth, this was an inspiring speech—youthful new forces chasing the old guard, aiming to surpass them.

If the old guard doesn't strive, they'll be eliminated—their underpants will be ripped off.

The imagery is beautiful, worth encouraging!

"Now, please spare half an hour to enjoy the film," Chen Zhixi concluded.

The cinema lights went "click" dark; silence fell.

The opening animation was unchanged—Chang'e still cradled the rabbit.

"Why haven't you fixed this opening animation yet?" Liu Tianxian whispered.

It used to look fine, but now it felt crude, mismatched with the film's quality. Back then, budgets were small; now the film's polished, and it looks out of place.

"I'm afraid of infringing on someone's likeness—they'd beat me up," Fang Hong feigned grievance.

"If I wanted to beat you, I'd have done it long ago—why wait till now?" Liu Tianxian said.

Fang Hong turned to her with a smiling gaze: "So you can't bear to?"

Liu Tianxian playfully raised her eyebrows, saying nothing.

Her likeness was implicitly granted to Fang Hong.

The film opened with a car chase through the city—the visuals, the rendering, rich and lifelike.

The imagery rivaled Hong Kong crime thrillers.

Here, the production quality of the Jade Rabbit had improved significantly.

However, the live audience, accustomed to Hollywood blockbusters, felt nothing for these scenes, as if they had become commonplace.

The film's visuals were only one aspect; what mattered was the content, the thrill—and this was pure, unadulterated thrills.

On the big screen, after establishing Zhang Songwen's character as a police officer, the scene shifted to Fang Hong portraying Young Master Zhao.

In the lavish party setting, decadence reached its peak, unfolding scene after scene that shattered moral boundaries, surpassing people's imagination of the lives of the rich second generation.

First, Young Master Zhao embraced Liu Tianxian, declaring she was his kept actress—wealthy and powerful.

Then he burned a muscular man with a cigarette butt, utterly unrestrained, treating people like pigs and dogs.

Afterward, Zhang Songwen's police officer said only one line: "I thought rich second-generation kids like you would play something more original."

Young Master Zhao shoved ice cubes into Liu Tianxian's chest, smeared cake all over her face, and said calmly: "Sorry, we rich second-generation kids only know how to play like this."

The taunting tone and arrogant posture shattered the audience's perception of this group.

A little fairy whispered to her companion: "Rich second-generation kids are so hateful—I'll never marry one."

Clearly, she was immersed in the film.

Liu Tianxian was fine—she had lived through it, and now watching, she felt nothing.

Besides, she had only been a guest actor then; now, watching the full film as an observer, she felt Fang Hong's acting was quite good.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Before the audience could recover from Young Master Zhao's decadence, the screen shifted: Young Master Zhao ordered his men to beat a migrant worker bloody right in front of his son.

Punch after punch after punch—the blood sprayed so violently that female audience members couldn't bear to watch.

The live audience sat with open mouths and wide eyes; this scene truly broke their limits of human decency.

It shocked their "flower-like" hearts!

Someone, seeing the migrant worker's tragic fall from a building, closed his eyes: "Is this even human?" someone couldn't help muttering. To Fang Hong, this scene meant nothing—Chinese audiences had been protected too well.

He glanced at Liu Tianxian beside him: "What have you been up to lately?"

"Shh!"

Liu Tianxian pinched his hand, signaling him not to speak—she wanted to watch the movie; their hands were clasped together.

The film felt unremarkable while shooting, but watching it, one became deeply immersed.

"Crack!"

On screen, Young Master Zhao directly snapped a man's leg—literally, bone-breaking, the sound crisp and clear.

"Absolutely not human!" was the audience's silent verdict on Young Master Zhao.

The film turned: the police closed in on Young Master Zhao, finally gathering evidence to arrest him.

"Tonight's bill is on Young Master Zhao!"

In a bar, the DJ shouted this famous line, followed by Young Master Zhao injecting Liu Tianxian with a needle.

"Monster!" someone couldn't help cursing.

This man was a beast—even worse than a beast.

Yet professionals felt the villain was well-portrayed, precisely because he stirred the audience's emotions, making them grit their teeth—that was success.

Finally, in a series of car chases and fights, Young Master Zhao was brought to justice, and the sense of catharsis surged instantly.

But there was a detail, unnoticed by the careless: Young Master Zhao was brought to justice surrounded by the masses.

The final scene was set in the riot zone, where Zhang Songwen's police officer was unable to defeat Fang Hong's Young Master Zhao.

Just as Young Master Zhao was about to knock down the police and leave, he was surrounded by onlookers, buying time for the arrival of a large police force.

Unlike the original ending, where the masses were indifferent, watching like spectators, and retreated fearfully at Young Master Zhao's shout,

in the original, the police protected the people.

Here, it was completely changed: "Licking" the masses, police and people cooperating.

The more oppressive and suffocating the earlier scenes, the greater the catharsis later—and the people felt involved.

This was one of the key reasons for the South Korea version's success!

(End of Chapter)