Chapter 230

On the Hong Kong side, Hung Jinbao, Zhou Xingxing and others came to show their support.

Translation: "As for Xianggang, it was Hong Jinbao, Zhou Xingxing and others who came to show support."

We need to keep punctuation? Probably fine.

He has had little work in recent years, mainly because he's older and his health isn't what it used to be, spending most of his time resting.

Translation: "The former has had little work these past few years, mainly because he's older and his health isn't what it used to be, spending more time resting."

Zhou Xingxing was busy with post‑production on CJ7, because the special effects order went to Beautiful Times Special Effects Company, and he had been staying in the capital, so he came over.

Translation: "Zhou Xingxing has been busy with the post-production of CJ7, because the special effects order was given to Meigaoshi Special Effects Company, and he's been in Jingcheng this whole time, so he came over."

Note: 'Beautiful Times Special Effects Company' is the meaning; we'll translate it.

Seeing Jiang Heng approach, he stood up and shook hands, saying, 'Congratulations, another big film is coming out; I saw in the newspaper that it's expected to win this year's global box office championship.'

Translation: "Seeing Jiang Heng come over, he stood up and shook hands, saying, 'Congratulations, another big film is released; I saw in the newspaper that it's hoped to win this year's global box office championship?'"

Jiang Heng laughed, 'As of now, it's indeed promising; the exact box office performance will only be known after the film releases.'

Translation: "Jiang Heng laughed, 'For now, it does look promising; the specific box office performance will only be known after the film is released.'"

In history, the highest‑grossing film of the global market in 2005 was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, with a worldwide box office of $8.96 billion.

Translation: "In history, the highest-grossing film of the global movie market in 2005 was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, with a global box office of $896 million."

If Pacific Rim 2 surpasses its predecessor, it will naturally become this year's global box office champion, so Jiang Heng is genuinely looking forward to it.

Translation: "If Pacific Rim 2 can surpass its predecessor, it will naturally be this year's global annual box office champion, so Jiang Heng is genuinely looking forward to it."

Although the domestic market's box office will keep growing, due to the subject matter global box office performance is hard to predict; right now this is the greatest hope.

Translation: "Although the mainland market's box office will keep growing in the future, due to the subject matter, global box office performance is hard to predict; right now, this is truly the greatest hope."

After greeting the guests present, Jiang Heng took his seat.

Translation: "After greeting the guests present, Jiang Heng took his seat."

Jing Xiu in the back row, full of curiosity, leaned over and said, 'Brother, will this film have a third installment?'

Translation: "Jing Tian in the back row, full of curiosity, leaned over and said, 'Brother, does this film have a third installment?'"

Jiang Heng blinked, then said, 'Normally, there will be one.'

Translation: "Jiang Heng blinked, 'Normally speaking, there will be one!'"

For commercial film series, as long as there's room to develop the story and the reputation and box office haven't collapsed, a sequel is certain.

Translation: "For commercial franchise films, as long as the plot still has room to develop, and the reputation and box office haven't tanked, a sequel is definitely forthcoming."

In my previous life, the Matrix trilogy clearly had its story fully told.

Translation: "In my previous life, the Matrix trilogy clearly had already finished its story."

But because the reputation and box office were good, they forced out a fourth installment, which flopped critically and commercially, finally ending the series.

Translation: "But because its reputation and box office were decent, they forced out a fourth installment, which tanked in reputation and box office, only then was it truly concluded."

The Transformers series kept making money, so they went all the way to the seventh film.

Translation: "The Transformers series, because it kept making money, has gone all the way to the seventh installment."

To be honest, later on the robots all tangled together, making it hard for viewers to tell who was fighting whom; consequently, the reputation kept dropping.

Translation: "Frankly, in the later films, all those robots tangled together make the audience dizzy; if you're not careful you can't tell who's fighting whom, so the reputation naturally keeps falling."

But capital is about making money, no shame!

Translation: "But hey, capital's all about making money—no shame!"

The Pacific Rim series has only just reached its second installment; at the very least, they'll aim for a trilogy.

Translation: "The Pacific Rim series has only just reached its second installment; at the very least, they'll want to make a trilogy."

Upon hearing there might be a sequel, Jing Xiu leaned in closer and whispered to Jiang Heng's ear, 'Then let me take part, okay?'

Translation: "Upon hearing there would be a sequel, Jing Tian leaned ever closer, whispering in Jiang Heng's ear, 'Then let me take part, okay?'"

Jiang Heng felt a breath on his ear, a ticklish sensation, and for some reason agreed, 'Okay!'

Translation: "Jiang Heng felt a breath brush his ear, a ticklish sensation in his heart, and for some reason he agreed, 'Okay!'"

'Brother, you're really great!'

Translation: "'Brother, you're so good!'"

Da Tian Tian was overjoyed, leaned back, and sat down happily.

Translation: "Da Tian Tian was overjoyed, leaned back, and sat down happily."

Yang Mi nearby heard it clearly and was envious.

Translation: "Yang Mi beside them heard it clearly and was filled with envy."

But she didn't have the courage to say that to Jiang Heng.

Translation: "But she lacked the courage to say that to Jiang Heng."

Jing Xiu's acting aside, she can pull out real cash as capital. If she had those resources, she wouldn't be stuck spinning in TV dramas.

Translation: "Jing Tian's acting chops aside, she can pull out real capital; if she had those resources, why would she still be spinning her wheels in the TV drama circle?"

Thinking of that, he said to Jing Xiu softly, 'Congratulations, you're in another big film!'

Translation: "Thinking of that, he said softly to Jing Tian, 'Congratulations, you're in another big film!'"

Da Tian Tian gave a silly smile, turned to Yang Mi and whispered, 'Actually I'm not interested in acting; I mainly like listening to Director Jiang talk about films.'

Translation: "Da Tian Tian gave a silly smile, turned her head toward Yang Mi and whispered, 'Actually I'm not that interested in acting; I mainly like listening to Director Jiang talk about acting.'"

Upon hearing that, Yang Mi felt as if struck by a blow, truly feeling that people compare themselves to others and feel dead.

Translation: "Upon hearing that, Yang Mi felt like she'd been hit by a crit—really, people comparing themselves just makes others die of embarrassment!"

He gave an embarrassed smile, 'You might as well ask Director Jiang if he's interested in starting an acting training class where you can pay more.'

Translation: "She gave an embarrassed laugh, 'Then you might as well ask Director Jiang if he's interested in opening an acting training class—you could pay more tuition!'"

Da Tian Tian's eyes lit up at the words, she murmured, 'That's a great idea, Mi Mi, you're really nice!'

Translation: "Da Tian Tian's eyes lit up at the words, she murmured, 'This idea is great, Mi Mi, you're so nice!'"

After saying that, she even kissed Yang Mi on the face.

Translation: "After saying that, she even kissed Yang Mi on the face."

The latter was dumbfounded; she was clearly joking, yet this person took it seriously.

Translation: "The latter was dumbfounded; she was obviously joking, how did this person take it seriously?"

She then said, 'So, for any future supporting roles, remember to fight for them for me.'

Translation: "She then said, 'Well, for any future supporting roles, remember to help me get them.'"

'No problem, I've got it covered!'

Translation: "'No problem, I've got it covered!'"

While the two girls chatted, the premiere finally began.

Translation: "During the conversation between the two girls, the premiere ceremony finally began."

As before, CCTV Channel 6 host Tu Jingwei took the stage, first reviewing the huge impact that the release of Pacific Rim 1 had on the global film market.

Translation: "As before, the host from CCTV Channel 6, Tu Jingwei, took the stage and first reviewed the huge impact that the premiere of Pacific Rim 1 had on the global film market."

As the world's first mecha blockbuster, its shock to audiences then was no less than that of Jurassic Park in 1993.

Translation: "As the world's first mecha blockbuster, the shock it gave contemporary audiences was no less than that of Jurassic Park in 1993."

Although several years have passed and similar‑type films like Transformers have been released, global audiences still fondly remember Pacific Rim 1 and look forward to its sequel.

Translation: "Although a few years have passed and there are similar films like Transformers now showing, global movie audiences still deeply miss Pacific Rim 1 and look forward to its sequel."

The guests and audience at the premiere were all eagerly waiting to see the film as soon as possible.

Translation: "The guests and audience at the premiere were even more eagerly awaiting the first chance to see the main feature."

Thus, whether it was Tu Jingwei or Jiang Heng, their speaking times were short, and then it moved on to the film screening segment.

Translation: "So whether it was Tu Jingwei or Jiang Heng, their speaking times were brief, and then it moved on to the film screening segment."

After the dragon logo appeared on the big screen, the opening animations of iQiyi Pictures, China Film, and Columbia Company played in sequence, then the screen went dark.

Translation: "After the dragon logo appeared on the big screen, the opening animations of Love Outstanding Rising Film Company, China Film, and Columbia Company played in sequence, then the screen went dark again."

The venue's sound system played the sound of ocean waves.

Translation: "From the venue's sound system came the sound of ocean waves."

On the big screen, specks of light first appeared; as the camera zoomed in, it became clear that it was a seaside town.

Translation: "On the big screen, specks of light first lit up; only when the camera zoomed in did one realize it was a seaside town."

On the street, passersby hurried along, and the shops on either side bore Japanese writing, yet it was a Japanese coastal town.

Translation: "On the street, passersby hurried along, and the shops on either side bore Japanese writing, yet it was a Japanese seaside town."

'Is the monster coming?'

Translation: "'Is the monster coming?'"

'Looks like it, huh!'

Translation: "'Looks like it, judging by this momentum!'"

'This girl is pretty!'

Translation: "'This girl is pretty!'"

On the big screen, a girl in a school uniform walked briskly down the street, looking quite pleased.

Translation: "On the big screen, a girl in a Japanese school uniform walked briskly down the street, her expression looking quite pleased."

The role is played by Japanese actress Aya Se Yao, who is only 20 this year, has appeared in just a few TV dramas, isn't very famous, and doesn't command a high salary.

Translation: "The role is played by Japanese actress Ayase Yao, who is only twenty this year, has appeared in just a few TV dramas, isn't very famous, and doesn't command a high salary."

In our timeline, she once appeared in My Robot Girlfriend, where she gave a decent performance.

Translation: "In history, she once appeared in My Robot Girlfriend, giving a decent performance in it."

In this film, Aya Se Yao is merely a background extra.

Translation: "In this film, Ayase Yao can only be considered a pure extra."

All we see is her passing by a coastal highway when she suddenly stops, looks puzzled at the distant sea, where a huge black mass is approaching the shore.

Translation: "Just then, as she passed a stretch of BinHai DaDao, she suddenly stopped, looking puzzled at the distant sea, where a huge black mass was approaching the shore."

Not long after, its true form is revealed: a pitch‑black, gigantic monster over a hundred meters tall.

Translation: "Not long after, its true form was revealed: a pitch-black, colossal monster over a hundred meters tall."

Compared to the monster, Aya Se Yao is tiny, like an insect.

Translation: "Compared to the monster, Ayase Yao was tiny as an insect."

The girl initially seemed frozen with fright, then let out a sharp scream and turned to run.

Translation: "The girl initially seemed stunned by fright, then let out a sharp scream and turned to run."

A nearby clueless man was drawn by Aya Se Yao's scream, ran over to see what was happening, and immediately felt the ground shake.

Translation: "A nearby simpleton of a man was drawn by Ayase Yao's scream, actually came over to see what was happening, and immediately felt the ground shake."

When he turned his head, he saw a pair of claws over ten meters long and more than three meters wide descending from the sky, which crushed him to death.

Translation: "As he turned his head, he saw a pair of beastly claws over ten meters long and more than three meters wide plummeting from the sky, which crushed him to death."

'Wow, that's a nasty death!' Guo Degang, who also came to the premiere, couldn't help but say.

Note: The original line was 'Wow, that's a nasty death!' said by Guo Degang, who also attended the premiere; the phrase 'couldn't help but say' was meant, despite a typo.

Teacher Yu Qian said, 'It's also the waves' doing!'

Translation: "Teacher Yu Qian said: 'It's also the tide's fault!'"

On the big screen, the monsters have gone berserk killing.

Over a hundred meters tall, about as high as a thirty-plus-story building.

This coastal small town has no skyscrapers; a dozen floors is considered high.

So the monster, with a swipe of its claw, a bump of its body, a sweep of its tail, knocks down large sections of buildings.

The city's people scatter and flee, running away from the seaside, while the government contacts the army and the mecha base.

Soon, the first to arrive were the military.

Unfortunately, their weapons could only tickle the monster, causing no damage at all, instead letting the monster kill many people.

Next came Japan's mecha 'Tango Wolf II', also a giant mecha over a hundred meters tall, which fought the monster.

Unexpectedly, the monster had an ambush; suddenly from the dark came an even taller and larger one, which with a single slap knocked over the 'Tango Wolf II'.

The monster that came out first went forward to finish off, stomping hard with a foot on the cockpit of the 'Tango Wolf II' mecha, directly crushing it.

Japanese mecha, done!

(End of chapter)