Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years

Qi Hao and An Feng went hand in hand to watch "Tangshan Earthquake".

They already announced their relationship, so they felt no need to hide.

Even if someone took photos, it didn't matter.

However, with their low-profile hats, they managed to watch the movie without any issues.

I have to say, it's a very powerful film.

The young actors performed excellently, especially Zhang Zifeng. Her acting and image were great, similar to Zhao Jinmai, who signed with Qi Hao. It seems she has a promising future.

Qi Hao had read the original novel "Aftershock".

He could only say that the movie and the original are completely different things; the movie's message is far from the original.

Unlike the film, in the original, the mother and daughter do not reunite at the end.

The author also stated that the two characters would not reunite. The characters who experienced the earthquake in the story walked out of its shadow to varying degrees, but the trauma endured.

The film is a mature commercial piece, full of emotion with a happy ending, generating much discussion.

However, the sustained, decades-long aftershocks conveyed in the novel were overlooked by the movie.

As a director, Qi Hao could understand Feng Xiaogang.

Without such changes, it would be impossible to adapt the original.

From a professional perspective, as a commercial film with a clear purpose, "The Great Earthquake" doesn't focus on the earthquake event itself, but on the mother and daughter's 32-year-long human struggles and emotional entanglements after the quake, highlighting a dramatic story under the backdrop of the Tangshan Earthquake. Thus, "Tangshan Earthquake" is more a family drama than a disaster movie.

From this point of view, the original novel's title, "Aftershock", more closely aligns with the film's theme, while the gripping "Tangshan Earthquake" was likely chosen for commercial marketing purposes.

Some criticize Feng Xiaogang for capitalizing on the Tangshan Earthquake's notoriety, which isn't entirely unfounded.

However, some things Qi Hao could not quite understand.

Not the film itself, but the box office results.

"The Great Earthquake" had a spectacular box office; when Qi Hao went to the cinema, it had been out for over a week.

Its four-day opening week grossed 160 million RMB.

Although it couldn't compare to "Avatar's" mainland debut week of 40.2 million USD, approximately 270 million RMB, it stood out among domestic films.

Qi Hao's "First Love, This Little Thing" barely broke the 100 million mark in its opening week.

"The Great Earthquake" kept breaking records, and if it reached Feng Xiaogang's claimed 500 million box office, Mrs. Hua might earn up to 50 million RMB.

Such significant benefits didn't boost the stock price.

Mrs. Hua's stock price had been declining for four consecutive trading days, opening at 33.95 RMB, dropping to as low as 33.38 RMB, and closing at only 33.58 RMB at 3 PM yesterday.

It's worth noting that the overall market showed positive trends with the Shanghai index rising by 2.10% during the same period.

The general market was rising, but this one kept dropping.

Back in the day, on the first day of listing, the highest stock price reached 117.80 RMB per share. Qi Hao sold his shares at 113.8 RMB per share.

Many were optimistic about their stock price surpassing 120.

But it kept drifting further away.

Even producing a record-breaking movie didn't help.

If analyzing the reasons, one possibility is rampant piracy.

Clear copies of "The Great Earthquake" pirate DVDs appeared in Guangzhou markets, in D9 format high-definition, retailing for only 7 RMB, much cheaper than a 90 RMB movie ticket.

The high ticket prices are also why many opt for pirated versions.

"First Love" tickets cost less than 30 RMB.

"The Great Earthquake's" price was three times more than "First Love".

Some pirate DVD covers even stated "Only for sale in Xiangjiang and Macau", suggesting that the source likely leaked from Xiangjiang.

Selling audio-visual rights too soon can also lead to piracy.

Certainly, piracy wouldn't be stopped even without selling the rights.

Additionally, even if Feng Xiaogang achieved a 500 million box office with "The Great Earthquake", Mrs. Hua might not profit much.

Out of the 120 million investment for this film, Tangshan Radio and Television Media Co., Ltd. invested 60 million, Mrs. Hua invested 53 million, and China Film Group invested 7 million.

Therefore, if the box office reached 500 million, Mrs. Hua would earn close to 100 million in box office revenue shares.

After deducting costs, the net profit would be only 50 million, which doesn't surpass Feiyang Media's "First Love" and "Lost on Journey".

Both films were Qi Hao's investments.

Moreover, Mrs. Hua's mid-term performance forecast announced a significant decline in company performance for the first half of 2010.

Investors not being misled by "The Great Earthquake's" box office is quite reasonable.

Qi Hao didn't hold much animosity towards Mrs. Hua.

Even though you threatened me and tried to suppress my girlfriend...

But!

Without an opportunity, I would never kick you when you're down.

He could only say he was very fortunate to have sold Mrs. Hua early.

Otherwise, who knows how much that wealth would have shrunk.

Qi Hao began busying himself with moving.

He needed to move some of his belongings from the apartment to the courtyard house.

Of course, only a small portion.

Almost everything in the courtyard house was newly purchased.

The apartment was still his property, just temporarily lent to Old Tian.

In the future, Qi Hao could live in both places.

A smart rabbit has three burrows.

Old Tian's new house would be delivered in the latter half of the year.

It came directly with high-standard refined decoration.

Then, he would move to his new place.

After all, he's about to marry his foster sister soon.

Living in Qi Hao's house just wasn't right.

"I heard An Feng has a lot of cats and dogs..."

Old Tian helped Qi Hao pack things up.

He couldn't tell why, but there was a sense that Qi Hao had broken up with Old Tian, found a new girlfriend, and now the new girlfriend was helping him move out.

"What do you want to say?"

Qi Hao looked wary, always feeling this guy was up to no good.

"You're often on business trips, so why not let me take care of Ao Bai for you."

Old Tian, a dignified executive president, specially took the day off from work just to protect this cat, Ao Bai.

Taking Ao Bai to the office directly would be okay too.

But that would only be a temporary fix, eventually, there would still need to be a solution.

"Ah, not taking it away?"

An Feng, who was in the living room playing with Ao Bai with a cat teaser, was already prepared to scoop up the cat and run.

"No, I'm not taking it. This is Old Tian's lifeline."

Qi Hao shook his head, Old Tian had a point.

He's often out filming, sometimes for several months. Unless he takes the cat with him, he has to find someone to take care of it.

It's really too much trouble.

Qi Hao, unlike some, doesn't have seven or eight assistants following him.

He just has Tang Chuan and Li Xiaomeng with him, so it's really not appropriate to trouble them with his cat care.

Taking it to a hotel is also not suitable.

Cats are different from dogs; changing environments can stress them out, and many hotels prohibit pets.

"Qi Hao, you're really a good person!"

Old Tian thought it would take some persuasion, but Qi Hao agreed easily.

The pile of arguments he'd prepared turned out to be unnecessary.

"Doesn't your sister object to you keeping Ao Bai?"

Qi Hao asked, to avoid any future family conflict for Old Tian.

If there's any conflict.

Old Tian would probably be the one double-teamed by his parents.

Other men have their own parents around.

But his parents are in-laws.

"She came last time, and got along quite well with Ao Bai. I've already discussed it with her."

Old Tian was accustomed to Ao Bai.

Though he didn't have any company shares, Qi Hao gave him an annual salary of over ten million, along with bonuses.

With such income, what cat couldn't he have?

It's just that Old Tian is also a nostalgic person.

Choosing to marry his childhood foster sister also proves this.

"Let me make it clear, temporarily leaving Ao Bai with you, the ownership is still mine. If I have a break, I want to take it with me for a few days."

Qi Hao was actually a bit reluctant.

"Don't worry, I can sign a contract with you, I'll lease Ao Bai for ninety-nine years..."

Old Tian was very cooperative.

"Get lost..."

Qi Hao packed a few boxes, and he and Old Tian moved them to the car one by one.

There were very few things, so he didn't hire a moving company.

Where celebrities live, privacy is important.

Qi Hao can't guarantee that no one knows his home's location, but he'll minimize the number of people who do as much as possible.

An Feng helped with some smaller items.

As for the books most important to Qi Hao, he had memorized them all, so there was no need to take them.

A new set of books had been purchased for the study at the courtyard.

All arranged by Li Xiaomeng.

With her handling the liaison, no one knew that Qi Hao lived in that courtyard.

At the new place, Qi Hao invited Old Tian for a meal.

Qi Hao personally cooked a few dishes.

"The place is really nice, won't there be mosquitoes?"

Old Tian admired Qi Hao's courtyard.

It might not be that comfortable for long-term living, but to stay there occasionally, the ambiance is just perfect.

Especially when it rains, sitting in the pavilion watching the raindrops fall on the ground.

Or when it snows, brewing tea by the furnace.

Who hasn't dreamt of a courtyard of their own?

"I hired professionals; the plants have mosquito-repelling effects, and there are a few incense burners for custom-made mosquito-repellent incense."

Since Qi Hao decided to move there, he had naturally considered these issues.

The yard has trees, water features, naturally mosquitoes too. Reducing them is great, eliminating them might be too hopeful.

However, Qi Hao and An Feng had visited several times and never got bitten.

The mosquitoes, affected by the plants and incense, might have just lost their vigor.

"It's so pleasant, An Feng, I'm leaving Qi Hao in your care, don't mistreat him..."

Old Tian was filled with emotion.

Regarding Qi Hao having feelings for An Feng, he had noticed it long ago.

It just wasn't obvious back then, and since Qi Hao didn't seem to intend to act on it, Old Tian didn't interfere, fully respecting Qi Hao's privacy.

All men admire beautiful women, it's normal.

As long as no laws are broken.

"Why don't you take him and leave together, the two of you should just live together, I can be fine here alone."

An Feng couldn't bear to come between them.