Chapter 973: Return Journey; The Ambition of *The Mermaid 2*

"Wang Zong, it has been handled cleanly. On all major portal websites, you basically can't see that video anymore."

"Um, I know, but it's best to keep an eye on it for another day or two, to avoid any fish slipping through the net."

After hanging up the PR call, Wang Zhonglei rubbed his eyebrows tiredly. He felt unlucky from the bottom of his heart because he had to clean up Feng Xiaogang's mess during the New Year and deal with this kind of negative public opinion.

"What did Director Feng say?" After a moment, Wang Zhonglei looked up at the secretary.

"He didn't say anything clearly, but looking at his state and temper these two days, it is highly likely that he holds a grudge against this 'Feng Girl'."

"Privately remind her that the incense of *Youth* ends here, and we will be strangers from now on.

Also tell Director Feng, just say it's what I said, don't settle scores after the autumn, doing too much is not good, and it's easy to have gossip outside."

Wang Zhonglei nodded and thought, instructing with a cold face. In his view, she is just an actress, without vision, unable to recognize reality, so if she is ruined, she is ruined.

But to retaliate against a third-line actress for such a small matter, eventually falling into the tongues of others, and being calculated by people in the circle... that is really not worth the loss, not worth it.

After all, there is never a shortage of actresses in this circle, especially young and beautiful actresses and female artists!

"Okay, Wang Zong."

As the secretary turned to leave the office, Wang Zhonglei suddenly frowned again.

He felt inexplicably familiar with the last thought he just had in his heart? It seems like he muttered it a long time ago?! When despising someone or something?!

Lin Nan pulled his suitcase and walked out of Tianhe Airport fully armed.

Compared to last year, Wuhan in the first month of this year is a bit cold, with only eight or nine degrees during the day and hovering between one or two degrees at night.

Not long after, a Mercedes-Benz car slowly stopped in front of Lin Nan.

The car window lowered halfway, and an exquisite face appeared in his field of vision.

She shook her head gently at Lin Dao and urged with a giggle: "Lin Dao, put your luggage away and get in the car obediently. I won't get down, it's too cold."

While talking, the trunk opened slowly; Lin Nan finished it in three or two strokes and sat in the passenger seat with a smile.

"Let's go, driver." One hand patted the firm thigh of the female driver wrapped in high-waisted jeans, Lin "Pervert" Nan began to direct the direction; he remembered the way.

"Lin Nan, to entertain you, there are 10 dishes at noon today." Miss Liu raised her eyebrows at the owner of a certain salty pig hand, and then suddenly stepped on the accelerator.

"Damn!" Lin Nan was caught off guard and was startled.

"Hmph, little guy! Haha..."

*Operation Red Sea* and *Detective Chinatown 2* are being released in full swing, and Lin Nan, as the boss of the production and controlling party of the two films, his whereabouts are naturally nowhere to hide.

In the afternoon, Bad Monkey Pictures.

Ning Hao was busy with the film's post-production while asking Xing Aina: "What day was Lin Nan's flight? He didn't return to the capital, but flew to Wuhan."

"I heard Yifei mention it before, it's 4 days later, the morning of the seventh day of the first lunar month. They should be back tomorrow, after all, Yifei has to start training the day after tomorrow."

"Then book me on that flight on the morning of the seventh. I didn't stop working on New Year's Eve and Spring Festival, even if I delay a few days in the middle, it won't affect the post-production progress. Before mid-March, I will definitely be able to finish."

Speaking of this, Ning Hao suddenly paused and turned to look at Xing Aina with a smile, "Really not together?"

Screenwriter Xing rolled her eyes coldly, "You don't have to be hypocritical. If I really said I would go to South Korea with you, some people might immediately have resistance, thinking it's not free."

"You say that, it's purely slander and libel, haha."

"Sigh, if I say I'm not going, I'm not going. You forgot, I still have to represent our family at Huanxi for a few days of meetings."

Hearing Xing Aina's rather serious second half of the sentence, the flattering smile on Ning Hao's face disappeared instantly, becoming somewhat solemn and serious.

Huanxi has invested in many films in the past two years, most of which are small and medium-cost projects. From the paper data alone, they are almost all in a state of loss in the end.

It is because Huanxi is a listed company that these losses can be transferred, and shareholders can still make money... but in the long run, it is definitely not a way.

So, Dong Ping is now waiting for Zhang Yimou and LeTV's contract to expire, to officially hold a shareholder signing ceremony for Zhang Yimou and publicly establish the project *One Second*.

Starting this year, Huanxi's big director projects will also be fully launched.

If everything goes well, shareholders will follow the establishment, filming, and release of each big director film... prepare in advance in the stock market, waiting to cut leeks.

And the first wave of benefits this year is basically destined, it will be brought to everyone by Director Zhang Yimou!

"Good, then this most important thing is left to you, the housekeeper. I will follow Lin Nan and go carefree."

Ning Hao nodded and said with a flattering smile, and what responded to him was a cold sneer:

"Hehe."

On the morning of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, several films in the Spring Festival slot handed in the first box office answer sheet to the industry and the entire internet.

"As of last night, the first weekend of the Spring Festival film slot ended:

The navy main melody commercial blockbuster *Operation Red Sea* took 3 days, with a total box office of 1.101 billion; the comedy film *Detective Chinatown 2* followed closely behind, with 989 million.

The costume, action, and fantasy blockbuster *Monster Hunt 2* ranked third in the total Spring Festival box office list with a box office of 554 million.

Among the films, the Deyun Society film *The Ancestors* was high-profile at the bottom, with only 38.47 million in revenue. Many theater chain managers stated that the film is destined to lose money, with no possibility of recouping costs!"

"Reprinted from Hollywood film news: Director Ang Lee's new sci-fi film *Gemini Man* officially started filming in Los Angeles early this morning, domestic time.

The person in charge of Paramount Pictures accepted an interview with the media and stated that *Gemini Man* has been included in the export film memorandum; the film will also land in the world's second-largest film market, the Chinese film market!"

"In the morning, jointly produced by Daylight Entertainment and Lin Nan Film, produced by Hou Hongliang, directed by Kong Sheng and Huang Wei, the contemporary drama *Like a Flowing River* grandly started filming..."

Still the same old saying, the film and television industry has never had any statutory holidays; the grander the festival, the more prosperous and busy the film and television industry will be, because that represents the market and money.

This is not it, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei had been in the Red Star Dock car for less than ten minutes, and the call about work came in. It is also to blame for the high efficiency of the paparazzi, and the speed of dissemination on Weibo is too fast.

"The leaders of Haizheng have organized a dinner, the time is noon on the seventh day, you see how many people you can bring over besides Guo Fan and Lu Yang? Anyway, you must..."

"Don't be certain, only Guo Fan and Lu Yang can go. I already promised the Organizing Committee before the year, I have to fly to the neighbor Bangzi on the seventh!"

"Oh my, I forgot about this." On the phone, Han Sanping obviously slapped his forehead, "Then there are only the two of them on your company's side. No, there is also Yifei?"

"I don't have time, I have to train." Liu Qianqian, who was napping on Lin Nan's shoulder, immediately responded.

"Rest for a day, go with me?" Han Jia's daughter's voice suddenly inserted, in a seductive tone.

"How about you take a day off? Representing as the boss's wife of Lin Nan Film, and also representing you and me, go together?" Lin Nan lowered his head slightly and smiled at Liu Yifei.

"Ah?" There was inquiry in Liu Qianqian's eyes, obviously moved.

"Go, it's not the Lantern Festival yet, no rush to train to death."

"Then, then I will reluctantly give you face, hehe. No, it's giving Chairman Han and Director Han face!"

China Film, inside the large conference room.

A meeting that can be held on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year must be an important matter.

This is not it, all the producers and main creators of the entire *The Mermaid 2* film project are in this list: La Peikang, Stephen Chow, Wang Zhonglei, Shanghai New Culture... Wu Yifan, Lin Yun, Ai Lun, Lam Tze-chung...

"Director Zhou, you can tell everyone about the specific arrangements." Chairman La looked at Stephen Chow.

The latter nodded upon hearing this. Then, biting into a stumbling Mandarin, he introduced at a rather slow speed:

"All preparations for *The Mermaid 2* have been completed, and the crew and I plan to officially start filming on March 3rd. That day is also the first day after the Spring Festival is completely over, the day before is the Lantern Festival."

"In order to ensure the confidentiality of the entire filming process of the film, this time we are not going to hold a start-up ceremony and media press conference, and we will also prevent all media reporters from visiting the set and stealing shots..."

"It is forbidden for all crew members to disclose any information related to the film content to the outside world. Once this rule is violated, then I'm sorry, please leave the crew..."

Stephen Chow said his strict requirements in a board-like manner, during which he specifically looked at Wu Yifan and Lin Yun and other main actors a few times. These people were all nodding busily.

"To be honest, I am looking forward to *The Mermaid 2* more and more now."

"*The Mermaid 1* is the first 3 billion box office club film in Chinese film history, so what about the second one?"

Look outside, let alone before, just say this Spring Festival slot, there are two films that have the trend and high probability of sprinting to the 3 billion box office mark...

Then when *The Mermaid 2* is released? Can we fully look forward to launching an impact on the box office record of *Wolf Warrior 2*? Or even higher?"

Wang Zhonglei smiled and mobilized the ready-made atmosphere, which was also his most real thought.

Looking at the others in the conference room, almost everyone had a smile on their faces. Because from the current cards, it is exactly what Wang Zhonglei said—the situation is excellent!

"That's how it is said, but if you look into it carefully, there are also some loopholes. *Wolf Warrior 2* can have that kind of pioneering box office achievement, the bad external environment factors accounted for at least half of the credit."

"However, *The Mermaid 2* doesn't need too much pressure. Even if it doesn't reach the achievement of *Wolf Warrior 2*, it is not difficult to impact the 4 billion box office mark with the box office foundation of *The Mermaid 1* as the bottom and starting point."

"And it seems that this gear, currently no Chinese film occupies it, right? Of course, it depends on whether these two films in the Spring Festival slot have hope. Thinking about it, it should still be very promising! Haha..."

Chairman La took over the conversation and laughed heartily.

In all fairness, it has been a long time since any film has given him such great confidence. And it is still a film controlled by China Film, as the largest investor!

Near noon, the start-up preparation meeting for *The Mermaid 2* ended. Except for Wang Zhonglei, everyone left China Film one after another.

"Chairman La, I don't know what stage that tribute film is at now?"

"Why? I remember Huayi clearly stated before that they were not interested in this kind of project?"

"Huayi is indeed not very interested in these tribute film projects. After all, this is originally a state-owned enterprise project, and for private enterprises, it is a thankless task."

"However, we still want to help some actors with good relationships. Although Huayi no longer has artist brokerage business, there are always more actors with good relationships in the industry, and most of them are powerful..."

Looking at Wang Zhonglei's public relations smile, Chairman La suddenly felt very nauseated, and his tone was unquestionable:

"Even if this tribute film is about to start casting, China Film will screen actors according to the requirements of whether they are suitable or not. For those who have a good relationship with Huayi, you can let them come to audition, everything is based on the tribute film, and there will be no special care."

Wang Zhonglei naturally heard the meaning in these words, which was quite decisive and resistant. He could only accompany with a smile and agree, then stood up and said goodbye.

"Thankless task? Heh, being able to say such things, it's no wonder the leaders are becoming more and more disgusted with you!" Looking at the empty conference room door, Chairman La scolded with a cold smile.

"After the bureau goes to work, you can send someone to submit the extension key application for *Detective Chinatown 2* that morning. As for *Operation Red Sea*, we don't need to worry about this, Haizheng will dock it."

In the afternoon, Lin Nan lay on the sofa at home, talking to Yue Jun on the phone about serious matters.

"Understood, I will have people prepare the materials in advance. Lin Dao, I heard that the bureau is in March?"

Lin Nan naturally knew what Yue Jun was asking. Next month, the Film Bureau will be stripped away, and it will be renamed and listed by April at the latest.

In other words, in terms of film business, Lin Nan Film will no longer deal with Director Zhang in the future.

And in all other film and television industry businesses besides film, such as TV dramas, variety shows, etc., Director Zhang is still the competent leader in the industry.

"Um, it's next month. So the extension key for *Detective Chinatown 2* must be early, it is best to be approved by the end of this month."

"Then I estimate it should be no problem! No matter what, it is our leader for so many years, and the function is about to be unloaded, so take care of our own people one last time, haha..."

... ===== CHAPTER 974 =====