Sister Chen was now in charge of the movie's publicity and had a good grasp of all aspects. "Since someone over there inquired, I took the opportunity to send the film over. I didn't tell you in advance because I was afraid that if there was no good news, it would disappoint you. So I didn't have time to mention it."
Sister Chen was meticulous in her work. Entrusting things to her was indeed the right choice.
"Oh, by the way, the domestic response has been very enthusiastic. I discussed it with Director Ying. We plan to resubmit the film to see if we can get through the domestic review process so that the movie can be released in China as soon as possible."
"When will it be released at the earliest?"
"I estimate it can still be released as a New - Year's film during the New Year schedule as originally planned. You know, that's when there are the most audiences, and the attendance rate and box office will be high."
As originally planned.
This series of arrangements was going so smoothly that Jiang Li couldn't believe it.
Sister Chen laughed and said, "Those old guys are also good at following the trend. Seeing that the movie was gaining momentum, they quickly made room for the schedule. The public review was even carried out overnight. They were afraid of missing out on any benefits."
She thought it would take at least a year, but the progress was as fast as if on a rocket.
After all the twists and turns and difficulties, the movie could still be released in China as originally planned.
She was so excited that her whole body trembled.
Jiang Li couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, her nose feeling sour. "Thank you, Sister Chen."
"Thank me for what? I'm just doing my job for the money." Sister Chen said cheerfully. "Shouldn't you thank the person beside you?"
Sister Chen was usually serious, and it was rare for her to tease Jiang Li. Jiang Li was stunned for a moment, and a blush involuntarily appeared on her cheeks.
Before Sister Chen could ask the whole sentence "When are you going to make your relationship public?", Jiang Li quickly hung up the phone.
Xiao Yanzhi was holding Jiang Li in his arms. He had heard every word on the phone clearly. He smiled slightly and said slowly, "Why didn't you answer? When are you planning to make it public?"
"Sister Chen is just joking. Why are you joining in the fun too?" Jiang Li was a bit at a loss. Her heart was beating fast, and her cheeks were even redder than before.
He was just joking with her casually and didn't really expect an answer from her.
Although the two of them were getting closer and closer, he knew better than anyone that it wasn't enough.
There were issues related to the Xiao family, the Sheng family, Jiang Li's career, and the impact on the public and fans...
Every hurdle was difficult.
Jiang Li leaned on Xiao Yanzhi's chest, smelling his familiar clean scent. Her voice was soft. "Tell me the truth. Did you plan all this in advance?"
First, they set Lyon, the birthplace of movies, as the premiere location. Then, Sister Chen was asked to actively submit the script for self - recommendation. After the negative news broke, the good news that the movie was shortlisted was immediately announced, turning the crisis into an opportunity and generating more positive publicity.
If all this was just a coincidence and luck, only a fool would believe it.
Xiao Yanzhi moved her head a bit to make her lie more comfortably and tidied up the stray hairs covering her eyes. "I only did a little. The rest was accomplished by you."
"But it's already perfect. There shouldn't be any mistakes."
Xiao Yanzhi laughed and said to her, "How could that be? Jiang Li, you're an actress. If the movie isn't good enough, even if we spend a lot of money to promote it, it will still be a useless and popular bad movie. Those judges aren't stupid."
"Although that's true..." Jiang Li tried to find some reasons. "But I'm the female lead of this movie. It's my responsibility to act well in this movie. Whether there are these follow - up things or not, it's my professional requirement."
"You're right." Xiao Yanzhi lowered his eyes and looked into hers. "You've done everything you should. Leave the rest to me."
When he said this, there was a kind of confident calmness.
"Li Li, I'm a businessman. I will pre - assess the risks and returns when doing something. It's my instinct. Of course, when making advance arrangements, I need a good chess piece. Otherwise, all efforts will be in vain."
"You're treating me as a chess piece." Jiang Li pouted and suddenly started to nitpick his words.
Xiao Yanzhi helplessly rubbed her lips. "You know I don't mean that. Don't make things difficult for me."
While coaxing her, he said, "I've never cared about gains or losses, success or failure when it comes to you. But this is the result of your hard work. I naturally won't let this movie be buried. It deserves to reach its due height."
He knew exactly how much effort she had put into this movie.
Even when her illness was at its worst, she never stopped filming. She gritted her teeth and finished shooting the movie.
For this, she even had a bipolar episode and almost drowned. One could imagine the significance of this movie to her.
If she was a kite soaring in the sky, he would surely be the wind that allowed her to fly steadily and far.
Jiang Li opened her lips. After listening to his words, which seemed like a statement and also a confession, her heart felt like it was being soaked in hot water. She rolled over and faced him. "You're so good to me. Should I also repay you somehow?"
She asked seriously. Xiao Yanzhi laughed, and his voice was filled with tenderness. "So, dear big star, what do you want to repay me with?"
Jiang Li swallowed and blinked her eyes. "Didn't you say that when I had time, I would go to see Mrs. Su? I should have time in the next few days."
She said it a bit awkwardly and even gave herself an excuse. "If it doesn't work, then I'll have to wait until after the New Year. Sister Chen said the movie will be released during the New Year, and I'll be very busy then..."
Her pretentiously aloof look was very cute.
Xiao Yanzhi lowered his eyes, lifted the corners of his lips, and without saying a word, just lowered his head to kiss her.
Every hurdle was difficult, but they had to overcome them.
She didn't let him deal with all the storms alone. Instead, she took the initiative to stand beside him, took his hand, and wanted to face everything with him.
The future was long and arduous.
But fortunately, they had each other by their sides.
---
Originally, Xiao Yanzhi wanted to choose the most central hotel in the northern city for this important meeting, but Jiang Li refused. She said it was inconvenient for Su Jialan to move around in a wheelchair, so it would be more appropriate to go directly to the Xiao family's residence.
Moreover, her first meeting with Su Jialan was also in the Xiao family's mansion.
Jiang Li thought that it should start and end in the same place.
Following Xiao Yanzhi through the familiar corridors and halls, Jiang Li was as nervous as if there was a drum beating in her heart.
Su Jialan was in the yard behind the mansion. All the flowers there had withered. The two trees were left with only bare branches. There were flower branches and withered leaves on the ground, and no one had had time to clean it up today.