In just eight days, Fog broke the preview box office record of Doomsday Rescue, which was incredibly exciting news for the entire production team.
Since everyone was touring different cities for the roadshow, Shi Zhefing expressed his excitement by sending red envelopes in the group chat, celebrating the unexpected success of the film.
But that wasn’t the only good news.
After breaking the record, the box office momentum didn’t slow down. By the end of the preview period, the box office had doubled!
Audience enthusiasm for the film was off the charts. People rushed into theaters, and the internet was full of discussions about Fog.
“Finally got to see this! I was anxiously waiting after Doomsday Rescue. So satisfying such a great movie! Especially since Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu aren’t doing painful love this time, they’re like bickering partners, LOL.”
“I didn’t expect Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu to be so good at comedy! Their scenes solving clues together had me dying of laughter.”
“Yu Shiqing’s acting is incredible! If he weren’t so handsome, you’d forget it was even him. After watching Fog, I totally forgot how he looked in Doomsday Rescue.”
“I love Yu Shiqing!! His performance really pulls you in tense during the mystery-solving, hilarious when serious. And the plot was tight and logical throughout. I’m giving it full marks and highly recommend it!”
Ren Bai made time every day to refresh these reviews, then printed them out and stuck them on the wall by his bed so he could enjoy them anytime.
After the final roadshow ended and he returned home, he habitually checked the presale box office.
Seeing the dizzying numbers on his phone screen, he suddenly turned to Yu Shiqing and said, “You really saw this coming.”
His comment came out of nowhere.
Yu Shiqing asked, “Saw what coming?”
“Right,” Ren Bai said seriously. “You’ve never gone this long without a project. I sent you so many scripts and you didn’t accept a single one. I thought you were blinded by love.”
Realizing Jiang Yu was listening, he quickly corrected himself, “I thought maybe you were too in love to care about acting anymore. But now I see, you made the right choice.”
At those words, Jiang Yu looked at Yu Shiqing.
“Think about it!” Ren Bai continued, “First Doomsday Rescue, now Fog. You’ve gone from box office poison to a box office guarantee. Now we have way more options. From now on, you can pick and choose among top directors, and all the scripts sent your way will be top-notch!”
While Ren Bai was imagining the future, Jiang Yu walked over to Yu Shiqing. “What do you think?”
Yu Shiqing replied, “Hmm?”
“Now that Fog is out, more and more scripts will come to you,” Jiang Yu said, looking at him. “So you don’t need to write your own anymore, right?”
“Write? You mean screenplays?” Ren Bai looked confused. “Wait, Shiqing, are you writing a script yourself?”
Yu Shiqing glanced at Jiang Yu and said, “Yes.”
“But now it’s not necessary, is it?” Jiang Yu asked.
Ren Bai sensed something was off. He looked between the two of them but wisely stayed quiet.
Yu Shiqing said calmly, “Don’t overthink it.”
“Then tell me,” Jiang Yu asked, eyes fixed on him, “why are you moving behind the scenes? Is it because of me? If being with me means you have to give something up.”
“It’s not because of you,” Yu Shiqing interrupted, raising a hand to touch Jiang Yu’s neck gently. “During these years as an actor, I sometimes thought about trying something new. This isn’t a sacrifice it’s a choice.
Besides, I already told you: going behind the scenes is just an idea. If the right script comes along, I can still return to acting.”
Jiang Yu held his hand. “Are you telling the truth? You’re not lying to me?”
Yu Shiqing smiled. “Why would I lie to you? Don’t overthink things.”
“I just don’t want you to give up what you love most because of me.”
Jiang Yu stepped forward and hugged him tightly. In a low voice, he said, “Promise me if it ever comes down to it, I’d rather you reject me than give this up.”
Yu Shiqing slid his hand to the back of Jiang Yu’s head and laughed softly. “Okay. I promise.”
Only then did Jiang Yu’s tense heart relax a little.
Nearby, Ren Bai finally cleared his throat and changed the subject. “So, uh, Shiqing, what’s your next move?”
Yu Shiqing lightly patted the back of Jiang Yu’s neck, then stepped back to face Ren Bai. “Among the new batch of scripts, Director Pang’s new project looks promising.”
“Director Pang?” Ren Bai was surprised. “You mean Director Pang Hong?”
Yu Shiqing nodded.
There was no rush to move behind the scenes. He still needed experience. A strong production team with good funding and a quality script was the best option.
Jiang Yu grabbed his wrist again. “I didn’t mean you had to accept a new role right away. I just—”
“Want me to do what I enjoy?” Yu Shiqing gently tapped his cheek with his thumb and smiled. “Don’t worry. I know.”
Ren Bai glanced at them again and quickly walked away. “I’m calling Luo Shaoyuan right now to get Director Pang’s contact info.”
He really couldn’t watch any more or he’d end up with pinkeye.
But just a moment later, he returned and said to Yu Shiqing, “Oh, right. I forgot to tell you something.”
He rubbed his nose. “For this year’s Jinlan Awards, you and Jiang Yu are both nominated for Best Actor.”
Both of them nominated meant one would have to lose.
Yu Shiqing never cared about awards. Ren Bai had assumed Jiang Yu might have hopes, since he hadn’t won one in a while, so he felt a bit awkward saying it. After he finished, he lowered his head and tried to quietly leave the space for them.
But before he could turn away, Jiang Yu spoke.
“If you steal my trophy, how are you going to make it up to me?”
Ren Bai: ?
That was not the conversation he expected.
Yu Shiqing said, “The ceremony hasn’t even started yet.”
Jiang Yu replied, “But compensation can come early. I don’t mind.”
Yu Shiqing asked, “How do you know I’ll win your trophy?”
Jiang Yu smiled. “Then I’ll compensate you. What do you want? Just a reminder it can be anything.”
Ren Bai didn’t dare listen anymore. He quickly walked away.
Halfway out, he remembered something else. He turned back and said, “Oh, and Du Han he’s nominated too.”
To be eligible for the Jinlan Awards, films had to be publicly released before the ceremony. Dawn had its final release date on October 21st, so it met the criteria.
But just hearing Dawn and Du Han’s name annoyed Ren Bai, so he just mentioned it and immediately pulled out his phone to call Luo Shaoyuan and get Director Pang’s contact.
After that, all their meetings and appointments went smoothly.
But since filming hadn’t started yet, Ren Bai’s main focus was still Fog’s box office.
He worried constantly that Fog’s early success was just leftover hype from Doomsday Rescue, and didn’t relax for a second.
But even after a week, and then half a month, Fog’s projected box office kept climbing it never dropped.
Only on the 21st, the day Dawn was released, did Ren Bai’s heart start pounding again.
Fog and Dawn were the same genre. Whatever concerns Shi Zhefing had; Ren Bai shared them.
After all, Fog had already been in theaters for a while. It was possible audiences would shift their attention to the new film.
Ren Bai knew Huaze had been planning this all along using the buzz from Fog to boost Dawn’s ticket sales.
But he couldn’t control the audience. All he could do was wait.
In the end, Dawn only surpassed Fog on its premiere day due to presale tickets. After that, Fog remained on top every single day.
Relieved, Ren Bai could finally relax.
Winning the box office settled one worry. When it came time for the Jinlan Awards ceremony, he was in a great mood.
On the way there, he said to Yu Shiqing, “Too bad it looks like Dawn still made some money for Huaze. That helps them fill the hole Qitaihua left. If Dawn had flopped, Huaze could’ve gone bankrupt.”
Yu Shiqing was reading a script. “Dawn’s team had a solid base.”
Ren Bai pouted. “Hope it crashes anyway.”
When they arrived, Ren Bai followed Yu Shiqing backstage.
He saw Du Han and, for once, didn’t yell. Instead, he walked over with a big grin.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Teacher Du!”
Du Han’s fake smile almost cracked. His cheek twitched hard before he turned to face him. “Ren Bai.”
Ren Bai smiled. “Congrats on the Best Actor nomination, Teacher Du. It wasn’t easy, huh? All that scheming just to steal that role really paid off!”
Du Han clenched his teeth and turned away.
“Don’t go so soon, Teacher Du!” Ren Bai called after him. “We haven’t talked box office yet. I heard Dawn is doing well nearly half of Fog’s numbers every day. Must be your highest-grossing film ever! Impressive!”
He clapped as he spoke, his sarcasm so sharp it made Du Han’s face throb.
“Shut up!” Du Han shouted.
Everyone nearby turned to look.
Du Han instantly regretted it. Just as he was about to salvage the situation, Ren Bai dramatically threw up his hands and stepped far back.
“Alright, alright Teacher Du’s in a bad mood. I understand. I’ll leave.”
He turned and walked back to Yu Shiqing without looking back.
Du Han was left standing there, feeling like Ren Bai had just dumped a bucket of filth on him. He was fuming but couldn’t lash out in front of everyone.
So he had no choice but to keep his expression neutral and rejoin his team, all while dodging the curious looks of others.
Soon, the entry ceremony began.
Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu originally planned to walk the red carpet separately, with Fog and Doomsday Rescue. But for some unknown reason, the organizers seated them together.
Once everyone was seated, the host took the stage.
Sitting among a sea of celebrities, Du Han stared at Yu Shiqing’s back multiple times, gripping his seat tightly.
It didn’t matter. Box office meant nothing if he won the trophy.
That award Best Actor was the only thing he cared about.
As long as he beat Yu Shiqing and took that trophy, everyone would know: Du Han was the better actor.
