“Doomsday Rescue” is still showing strong in theaters. In just half a month, its box office has climbed steadily from 1.5 billion to 2 billion, then to 3 billion. But it couldn’t keep up with its momentum: it has already passed the 4.5 billion mark. That’s rare! Many are feeling jealous.
Yu Shiqing’s commercial value has soared. Invitations are flooding in so many that the scripts from New Era are all turned down by him. Right now, Ren Bai is busy helping him choose his next roles, working nonstop every day. He’s finally feeling like a true agent for a top star.
Jiang Yu is benefiting more from the film’s success and has a whole team at his studio supporting him, so things are smoother for him.
Even before the movie left theaters, production companies were talking to Yan Hongyun about Doomsday Rescue 2. Yan Hongyun, delighted that his transition succeeded big, is being nagged daily by calls. He’s constantly coordinating with Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu, hoping to bring back the original cast for guaranteed success.
In showbiz, some are superstitious. The film was once called a flop script with a makeshift team. But once Jiang Yu agreed to star, everything fell into place, and now it’s breaking records. Of course, Yan wants Jiang Yu back on board.
What puzzled Ren Bai was how Yu Shiqing’s character already died in the first movie. So how could he return in a sequel? Yan explained: As an old saying goes, “You see the dead person.” In the movie, the character Ji Ming self-destructs, but we never saw his body. Resurrecting him takes just a line or two. As for how he comes back to life, that’s on the screenwriter not the director’s concern.
Ren Bai couldn’t hide his doubts: “Isn’t that playing on the audience’s tears?”
Meng Chen said: “I don’t mind it. If Ji Ming really died, the audience would truly mourn.”
Ren Bai asked Yu Shiqing: “Are you going back to act?”
Yu Shiqing replied: “Let me read the script first.” That was his answer to Yan Hongyun too.
They decided on a sequel on impulse, before the script was done. Pre-production takes time. Locking cast is the easy part.
Ren Bai then asked Jiang Yu: “And you?”
Jiang Yu is the movie’s top investor. Forty-five billion box office in two weeks it has paid off big. If there’s a sequel, he’ll certainly invest again. But he responded just like Yu Shiqing: “Let me read the script.”
Ren Bai glanced between them and smirked. “Have you two been living together too long? You’re starting to sound alike…”
“Really?” Jiang Yu’s gaze shifted to the window; expression unchanged.
Before Ren Bai could respond, the car stopped.
They had just passed the filming location for the reality show “A Trip at a Moment’s Notice.” Staff were rushing to prepare. The show goes live at 5:00 pm, and now it was already 4:43 pm.
Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu came straight from home, even catching a flight and road delays they were about an hour late.
Still, they arrived before go-live. Their drop-off point was just a few minutes’ walk away.
Staff recognized their car and led them into the green room, where the director and producers followed. The room was empty. The director explained: “Before the broadcast, everyone stays unseen. You will meet on camera better effect for the show.”
There were two nameplates by the door. Their rooms were separate so camera crews could manage. Since they came together, the show combined their rooms it was well known they are good friends, so no need to separate them.
Once the director left, Ren Bai and Meng Chen said they’d greet them and then leave they were staying at another hotel. Since this was Yu Shiqing’s first reality show, Ren Bai wanted to stay just in case; Meng Chen tagged along out of habit.
At that point, only Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu remained in the green room. The clock read 4:55 pm. It wasn’t until 5:10 pm that a crew member knocked on the door to signal the show was about to start.
Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu exchanged glances and walked out. Staff applied microphones and led them to the set.
On screen, the broadcast divided the frame into four quadrants. The top two showed three rookie artists and the famous host Wei Yuanju, who looked about 35. He hopped out of the taxi, waved, and said: “Is everyone here?”
The bottom two showed idol Ji Chen and drama actress Su Yayi. Ji Chen chatted with the cameraman, guitar in hand, sweating but handsome. Su Yayi struggled with her big suitcase and Ji Chen hurried to help her.
Then the split-screen disappeared and shifted to focus on Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu in the center. The live comments exploded:
“Jiang Yu! Finally, you’re here!!”
“Yu Shiqing yes yes yes! You’re here!”
“Did you see? Only these two came together!”
“Wait, they only brought one suitcase. Jiang Yu has no luggage?”
On camera, both still had empty hands. They’ve been sharing clothes all this time, so one suitcase was enough for two days. Their clothes were already mixed together.
“Are we almost there?” Jiang Yu glanced briefly at the cameras before turning to Yu Shiqing.
“Yeah,” Yu Shiqing replied.
The show set was a rented beach-view villa. The director described it as slightly remote but stunning.
They walked forward. Jiang Yu’s eyes brightened at the view: the sunset over the sea, golden light dancing on waves stunning.
“Well?” Jiang Yu asked.
“Nice,” Yu Shiqing replied.
They reached the villa’s entrance, and before they could step in, someone recognized them.
“They’re here! It’s Jiang Yu and Yu Shiqing!”
People stood to welcome them, even rushing to the door. First came one, then the rest all six from inside stepped out.
“Brother Jiang! Brother Yu!”
“I’ll help you guys!” they greeted as they entered the living room.
Wei Yuanju, as host, instinctively took control: “Now that everyone’s here, shall we read the note from production?”
Seeing no objections, he opened the note on the coffee table. It welcomed them to their new home: a villa with six rooms to share over two days. The letter listed local attractions, with the sea being the highlight. At the end, it reminded them that their starting trip funds were in the coffee table drawer.
Wei Yuanju opened the drawer and found red envelopes.
“There are eight, each with a name.”
“Thank you,” Yu Shiqing accepted his envelope it contained five 100-yuan bills 500 total. Jiang Yu’s was the same.
Su Yayi added: “500 each, so all together it’s 4,000 yuan.”
Wei Yuanju cheered: “Four days, about 4,000? We can make it if we control spending!”
They then divided rooms. Ji Chen suggested dinner: “No one has eaten yet, right? I found a local restaurant. Shall we go together?”
Everyone chatted, no one refused.
At dinner, Wei Yuanju said carefully: “Our funds are limited. Let’s order only enough to eat.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t care about the food; he stayed out of ordering. Jiang Yu beside him also showed little interest.
They paid 869 yuan. Rounded down. Wow, only 866 left. They still had 3,100 yuan.
Wei Yuanju laughed: “First meal okay, we can treat ourselves a bit.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t think much. 100 yuan per person for dinner wasn’t expensive. With 1,500 per day and cheap tickets for local sites, it was enough.
But when they returned to the villa, the hotel phone in the living room rang soon after.
Yu Shiqing, closest, answered it.
“Hello?”
“Hello,” the voice said, “I’m the landlord. Should you be paying the rent?”
Yu Shiqing was surprised: “Rent?”
Everyone froze. He put the call on speaker.
Wei Yuanju hurried over: “How much is it?”
The landlord said: “1,100 yuan per day. Two nights total: 2,200 yuan.”
Wei Yuanju’s face froze. The living room was dead silent. On live comments:
“LOL Wei Yuanju confidently said 4,000 was enough!”
“I knew they’d be too kind so we gotta pay rent? HAHA!”
“Someone calculate 3,100 minus 2,200 what’s left?”
“This is mean! But I like it. How will they survive with eight people?”
