Chapter 556: Exposing Luo Mo

The June night was already stiflingly hot.

Tian Ou sat on a high stool indoors, blowing in the cool breeze, talking eloquently while facing several media outlets.

Interviewer: "Director Tian, could you briefly describe what kind of story your new film, *Car King 2*, tells?"

Tian Ou: "*Car King 2* is the sequel to my debut work, *Car King*. Many people might be curious: didn't the male lead die at the end of the first one? How could there be a sequel? I'll keep you in suspense for now."

"In short, this film will continue the style of *Car King 1*, bringing everyone the thrill of high-speed driving. There will be a large number of car chase scenes, and you will also see grand spectacles filled with luxury cars. I personally feel the overall visual impact far exceeds the first one."

Yes, the work Tian Ou brought this time was indeed the second installment of *Car King*.

Back then, he had relied on *Car King* to become the newcomer director with the highest-grossing debut.

If not for the appearance of Luo Mo and the birth of the phenomenal hit *Monkey King: Hero is Back*, this record could have been maintained to this day.

In fact, when filming *Car King*, no one had expected the final box office results to be so explosive.

Although the film fell into a so-called "Fusion Plot" controversy after its release, in Tian Ou's view, making money was the ultimate truth.

Back then, who had even thought about filming a sequel?

That was why, in the grand finale, the male lead had simply crashed his car into the villain to save everyone, and the car had exploded directly.

However, money is truly sweet.

Not filming a *Car King 2* just felt like too much of a pity.

Moreover, Tian Ou had great ambition this time; he wanted the box office to surpass the first one.

The interviewers from the three media outlets took turns asking questions. After finishing the questions related to the film, the topic turned to the highly anticipated "Hundred Billion Box Office Plan."

Interviewer: "Director Tian, in the 'Hundred Billion Box Office Plan,' you set a box office goal of 800 million for yourself. Why did you set such a number?"

Tian Ou smiled confidently and said, "This actually isn't a box office goal; it's the minimum expectation every director sets for themselves."

Interviewer: "Oh? So Director Tian means that your box office expectation for *Car King 2* is at least 800 million?"

"Pretty much," said Tian Ou.

As he spoke, he added, "The total investment for *Car King 2* is huge. In order to bring everyone the most stunning visual effects, a lot, a lot of money was poured into it. 800 million in box office is just breaking even; if the box office is lower than 800 million, then it's a loss."

This statement could be said to be frantically emphasizing: "This is a big production! You have to go to the cinema to properly experience it!"

These days, there are indeed some viewers who only go to the cinema to watch big productions.

For some people, watching certain films on a computer or a mobile phone is the same.

Going to the cinema is for better audiovisual enjoyment; low-budget films aren't worth it, as you're just watching for the drama.

So these days, the three words "big production" still have a promotional effect.

After asking these, the interviewers began to get mischievous.

Interviewer: "But, Director Fang Jie and Director Hua Longgang's previous films did not reach the box office expectations they publicly announced. How does Director Tian view this?"

Tian Ou smiled and said, "There isn't a single director who dares to say that every one of their films can meet expectations; this is a very normal thing. Director Fang Jie and Director Hua Longgang are both veterans who have produced a large number of classic works."

"And I have watched both of those films. In my view, they both have their highlights and are good films."

The interviewer nodded and didn't continue to make things difficult in this regard, but instead changed the subject and said, "But, will the fact that Director Fang Jie and Director Hua Longgang's box office didn't meet expectations put pressure on you other directors?"

Tian Ou shook his head and said, "That won't happen. After all, a total of 11 people are participating in the 'Hundred Billion Box Office Plan.' As long as the new films of a few directors have a high enough box office, there is still a great probability of breaking the 10 billion mark."

The interviewer nodded again, then started with the word "but" again, saying, "But, we tallied the total box office expectations of the 11 directors, and added together, it's only 8 billion, which is still 2 billion short of 10 billion."

Upon hearing this, Tian Ou's mind suddenly became active.

He remembered those so-called "jokes" Luo Mo made when they were having a meeting at the Review Department.

He understood the current media too well. After the interview ended, in order to attract attention, they would definitely create some content that took things out of context and some headlines that didn't match the article's content.

Therefore, Tian Ou said, "This is, after all, the minimum box office; 8 billion is already quite a lot."

"As for me, I do recall an interesting anecdote from when we held the meeting."

"Oh? Please tell us, Director Tian." The media's eyes immediately lit up.

"At that time, Director Luo Mo was the last one to report his box office number." Tian Ou squeezed a friendly smile onto his face, as if he were teasing a good friend.

"Before him, the numbers of the 10 directors added up to 7.2 billion."

"Director Luo even smiled and said: Then how about I do 2.8 billion?"

"Haha, hahahaha, Director Luo is young and quite humorous. The meeting atmosphere also became a bit more lively at that time," Tian Ou said with a laugh.

The group of media personnel looked at each other, and there were only two words in their hearts: "Worth it!"

The previous interview content instantly became less important.

Luo Mo, the true strongest Top Traffic in the entertainment industry.

Just this joke of his is enough for us to write an article!

"So, Luo Mo's true psychological expectation is 2.8 billion!"

"Regardless of whether he was joking, these words were said by him, right?"

"We aren't making things up out of thin air, are we?"

"Even if it is made up, it's Tian Ou doing the making up, what does it have to do with us?"

"2.8 billion, what a shocking number, how eye-catching."

"And 2.8 billion plus 7.2 billion is exactly 10 billion. What kind of attitude is this, what kind of posture is this?"

"Isn't this clearly saying: You guys do whatever, I'll cover the rest!"

"Hahaha, this heat is going to explode!"

The group of media personnel revealed satisfied smiles.

Tian Ou looked at everyone and also smiled with satisfaction.

………

………

That night, several media outlets released interview reports as if they were racing against time.

Many marketing accounts caught the scent and rushed over, then began frantically spreading the information across the internet.

In an instant, several new entries were Air Dropped onto the Hot Search list.

For example, "Car King 2", for example, the Hundred Billion Box Office Plan, and for example... 2.8 billion!

In an instant, the onlookers were dumbfounded.

"2.8 billion? Luo Mo said the target he set was 2.8 billion?"

"But in the previous reports, his number was 800 million."

"A joke, do you understand what it means to be joking? Maybe he was just saying it for fun."

"If it were someone else, I would really think it was just big talk, but if it's Luo Mo..."

"A fan of many years, here without being invited! Luo Mo definitely has some serious intent!"

Tsk, it can only be said that Luo Mo's past deeds are truly too numerous; it always feels like this fits his style of doing things.

When fans of other people encounter such things, their first reaction is: "Wash him clean!"

We will whitewash our brother!

The format is basically like this: "Do not believe rumors, do not spread rumors, take the person's own words as the standard, why don't we all look forward to 'Dying to Survive' together."

But as for Luo Mo's fans, many are still just watching the show.

Each and every one of them is on the front line of eating melons, even shouting: "Idol behavior, idol pays the bill, do not involve the fans."

Honestly, after this news spread, there were indeed people cursing under the marketing accounts.

"What kind of nonsense is this? First time shooting a live-action movie, and he dares to say 2.8 billion?"

"Heh, I'll go take a look, 2.8 billion could even rank fourth in film history box office!"

"What fourth? The guy said at least 2.8 billion, his ambition is to get at least top three with his first movie! Why are you looking down on people!"

There were also some Professional Haters who stood directly on the moral high ground and began to attack his character.

"Other seniors only say five, six, seven, or eight hundred million, but you, a Newcomer, are something else, spouting wild words, straight to 2.8 billion. Do you know how to respect people?"

"Laughing to death, he doesn't put other directors in his eyes at all."

"I think this is not putting all the directors of Huaxia in his eyes."

"Yeah, after all, he wants to challenge the top three in film history, haha!"

As for the inside of the film circle, there was even a scene of public outrage.

Don't forget, when the list for the Hundred Billion Box Office Plan was exposed earlier, many directors were already unhappy that Luo Mo could be on it.

He is a Newcomer, by what right?

If he had been selected based on "Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child", we would have nothing to say, after all, the Myth-level box office created by "Monkey King: Hero is Back" is right before our eyes.

But, by what right "Dying to Survive"?

Now it's fine, this person has even become arrogant.

Yes, these words do sound like they were said in the form of a joke.

After all, the final number is based on the standard announced by the Review Department; no one would challenge the authority of the Review Department.

If it says Luo Mo is 800 million, then it is 800 million, not 2.8 billion.

But, who the hell are you, do you have the qualifications to make this kind of joke?

Don't you weigh yourself? A person who has almost nothing to do with the film industry, taking a number like 2.8 billion—which everyone wouldn't even dare to dream of—to make a joke?

Young man, can you use your brain before you speak or act?

Quite a few people in the film circle felt that Luo Mo had become inflated.

In the music scene, he slaughtered everyone.

In filming dramas, he also slaughtered everyone.

Therefore, he thinks that if he makes a movie, he will definitely be able to slaughter everyone too.

It has been said many times before that film stands at the high point of the entertainment industry's contempt chain.

Many film people are very arrogant, feeling that film is a superior art.

Therefore, it is not strange that it caused public outrage.

However, Luo Mo's "popularity" in all walks of life has indeed always been very average.

The people who hate him are often numerous to death.

Luo Mo: Used to it.

Time moved forward another two days.

"Forensic Qin Ming" updated two episodes, and the heat continued to rise.

Luo Mo, on the other hand, was not affected by the outside world, continuing to be busy with the post-production work of "Dying to Survive", as well as his shameless cohabitation life with the Heavenly Queen.

Today, he even specifically went to the Xinyu Building to record a song for Li Junyi.

As mentioned before, besides the song "Only Ordinary", "Dying to Survive" also has "Life Like Summer Flowers" covered by the main cast.

Luo Mo directly dug out Pu Shu's original version and let Li Junyi sing it as the promotional theme song for the movie.

During the break from recording, all the members of Aurora Girls specifically came to "visit the set".

They were buying milk tea for Director Luo and massaging his shoulders.

It was only because Luo Mo hadn't written songs for them for a long time, causing the heat of this so-called number one domestic girl group to decline recently.

And, they only have those few representative works written by Luo Mo; wherever they go, the organizers make them sing these few songs, and they are almost sick of singing them.

Luo Mo, having so many debts he doesn't feel the weight, directly agreed while surrounded by fragrance, saying he would find time to write them a single.

This made five pairs of long white legs jump with excitement, only one Leg Fairy, hindered by various things in the past, remained reserved and ashamed to be grouped with these five.

At night, Luo Mo had originally intended to give himself a night off, sitting on the sofa with Xu Chujing, watching *Forensic Qin Ming*.

He held an apple in his left hand and had his right arm around Jing's slender waist, but his phone rang; the caller was Wang Rong.

"Hello, Brother Rong," Luo Mo said.

"Check your WeChat, I sent you a link. That woman Fang Jie is stirring up trouble!" Wang Rong said irritably.

Luo Mo frowned slightly, opened the link, and saw that Fang Jie had also accepted a media interview.

The content of the interview earlier was relatively normal.

It was nothing more than summarizing the shortcomings of her film *Puberty* and the regret that the box office did not meet expectations.

She felt incredibly honored to be able to participate in the 【Hundred Billion Box Office Plan】.

However, she was very sorry to have let everyone down.

The box office results for the first few days of *Puberty* were very good, which had made her feel like she was floating.

After the word-of-mouth collapsed, there was a clear drop in her mood.

This was the most torturous part!

People, once they have expectations, also have troubles.

Facing the media, Fang Jie also said, "I, actually, most want to say sorry to the other directors in the 【Hundred Billion Box Office Plan】. After all, everyone is working together now, and the goal is for the combined box office to break one hundred billion. I have held everyone else back."

Up until this point, her attitude was still sincere.

For a woman of her age to say these things was quite moving.

This made many people briefly forget how twisted the view of Romance was in the movie this old hag had made.

After saying this, Fang Jie suddenly changed the subject.

"【Hundred Billion Box Office Plan】 is actually quite a stressful thing. After all, for the current Huaxia film market, this is a huge challenge."

"At the beginning, when I learned that I was participating in this plan, the total number of participants was 10. If this were to be divided equally, that would be 1 billion in box office per person."

Fang Jie continued to speak to herself, but the interviewer could no longer take it in at all.

What did I just hear!?

The 【Hundred Billion Box Office Plan】, the originally scheduled number of participants was 10?

But it is clearly 11 people now.

Then, who is the extra one!?

(PS: Begging for double monthly tickets!

Also, there is only one chapter today, because according to the Qidian activity Requirement, I still have to write an extra chapter temporarily today. It will be released in a few days, and I don't know what kind of extra content you all Want to Watch.)

(End of this chapter)