Watching Lin Anjin’s distant, downcast figure, Ren Bai turned to the side. Jiang Yu was walking over to Yu Shiqing. He reached for Yu Shiqing’s hand hanging at his side, and slowly interlaced their fingers. A warm smile stayed on his face. “My love?”
Yu Shiqing let him. “Satisfied?”
Jiang Yu honestly replied, “Satisfied.”
Yu Shiqing chuckled.
“Ooh!” Before they could continue, Ren Bai stepped in and broke them apart, standing between them and lowering his voice. “May I remind you this is a public area. Please be mindful of how you act.”
The whole crew was around anyone could be watching. Seeing Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu so openly affectionate, he decided to stay between them, never letting them step apart in public.
Fortunately, the first preview screening was ending soon, and the crew would soon head to the main venue.
Before going on stage, Shi Zhefing accepted the microphone and exhaled deeply. He lowered his head and smiled, “Maybe you’re all so excellent, I’m a bit nervous.”
Yu Shiqing understood his tension. Fog and Dawn are similar films, opening at the same time inevitable comparisons. After Shi Zhefing turned down Huaze’s big-budget Dawn, he independently filmed Fog, which sparked media discussion. If Fog underperformed Dawn, Shi Zhefing would face consequences.
This was public knowledge. Cast members comforted him:
“Don’t worry, Director Shi. Fog will surely succeed!”
“Right! It’s already so popular at this preview. The box office will be fantastic!”
Shi Zhefing gripped the mic and looked at Yu Shiqing. Aside from Huaze’s weak scripts, both films Yu Shiqing starred in had been big hits. Whether out of respect or superstition, he wanted Yu Shiqing’s presence to bless this third film. Too embarrassed to say it publicly, he clenched his fist and said, “Okay! Let’s go!”
As he appeared onstage, applause thundered. Seeing such enthusiasm, his smile landed naturally. Once all sat, applause eventually quieted.
Reporters quickly noticed Jiang Yu seated next to Yu Shiqing. After standard questions, a brave one asked:
“Recently, Mr. Jiang, your romance was revealed in the Sudden Trip livestream, can you say something about that?”
Silence fell. Ren Bai watched the stage from backstage nervously. The reporter continued: “…Could you answer some questions about it?”
Jiang Yu’s answer was simple: “No.”
The press room fell even quieter, emphasizing his refusal. But the host quickly redirected attention. No one mentioned romance again. Like with Doomsday Rescue, the audience was interested in Fog. Jiang Yu’s refusal shut down gossip and allowed focus to stay on the film.
With the Q&A done, the crowd left warmly. Shi Zhefing led his team offstage, applauded again from the audience. But there was little rest they rushed to the next stop.
As the lead, Yu Shiqing had a very tight schedule, eating meals in the car. On the way, he glanced at the script Ren Bai had prepared and saw Jiang Yu writing in his notebook on his lap.
“You can wait at the hotel,” Yu Shiqing offered.
Jiang Yu, who had been preparing a new album and declined interviews except this roadshow, surprised him by saying, “I want to come with you. Wherever you go.”
Ren Bai sat waiting at a red light, staring ahead with empty eyes.
Fortunately, the busy roadshow schedule tired everyone out, leaving no time for small talk. Days passed. As they flew to the next city without enough rest, Fog’s reputation exploded online. Ren Bai checked the box office every day.
When today’s numbers came in, a notification rang. He quickly set down his chopsticks, opened the app and his eyes lit up. He leaped up from his seat. “It broke the record!!”
“Yu Shiqing!” He exclaimed, holding his phone for him. “Fog just surpassed Doomsday Rescue preview box office!!”
He had never hoped for Fog to match Doomsday Rescue, even half, but now it had come true. His hands trembled, and tears formed. “Shiqing…”
This was Yu Shiqing’s first main role film after leaving Huaze and it achieved great success. Even the harshest critics couldn’t fault him now. It proved his talent and what should have been showcased long ago.
Yu Shiqing took Ren Bai’s phone and stared in surprise.
Fog was a detective story with comedic elements not what he considered mainstream but the audience’s appetite and tolerance were greater than he underestimated.
“A high preview performance will help for future screenings!” Ren Bai said proudly. “When Fog officially releases, let’s see what Dawn can do!”
The next day, Huaze Media announced a delay for Dawn, pushing it to late October due to technical reasons.
Ren Bai laughed when telling Yu Shiqing.
“‘Technical reasons’? The real reason is they’re scared to compete with us. Huaze is so weak they backed out before release.”
Yu Shiqing replied calmly, “That’s good.” Without Dawn in theaters, Fog could maximize its screenings and profits.
Ren Bai smiled wide. “Huaze was afraid of Fog’s preview trend. They postponed rather than face us.”
Yu Shiqing said nothing.
Ren Bai continued, “You think Du Han is happy? I bet he’s furious but he can only endure it. He’s just not as good as you! Haha.”
Meanwhile at Huaze Media:
Du Han rode the elevator upstairs, face dark. Nobody told him about the delay. He only learned through Qi Taihua when the public announcement was released.
The elevator stopped. He saw artists and put on a forced smile, greeting before briskly walking to Liu Mingguang’s office, whose door stood open.
“Manager Liu—why—” began Du Han, then saw Qi Heping sitting with Liu Mingguang. His expression changed, but he forced calm and added, “Director Qi is here too.”
Qi Heping waved, “Xiao Du, come sit.”
But Du Han couldn’t hide his anxiety. He asked, “Manager Liu, what’s going on with the Dawn delay?”
Liu Mingguang replied: “We had no choice. With Fog’s popularity rising, how could we compete for screenings? If we delay to late October, and Fog cools off, we can use their momentum to our advantage.”
Du Han clenched his teeth. Liu portrayed it as a win-win but Du Han knew public opinion already mocked Dawn as too afraid to compete. It painted him as inferior to Yu Shiqing.
He asked Qi Heping if he agreed.
Qi nodded: “It was my idea.”
Liu grew impatient. “Do you have a problem with that?”
Du Han inhaled deeply, trying to stay calm. “Manager Liu, I didn’t hear about this in advance?”
Liu snorted contemptuously his bitterness growing over Huaze’s misfortunes. “Du Han, what right do you have to demand notice?” His tone was mocking and disdainful in front of Qi Heping. Du Han’s face reddened, as if he’d suddenly become Qi Taihua’s role a straining dog under leash.
Leaving Liu’s office, he felt dizzy, he barely recalled getting to the car or home.
He opened his door; Qi Taihua came from the living room.
“Du-ge, what did Manager Liu say? Will the delay be canceled?”
Du Han replied coldly, “Stop bothering me,” and continued to his bedroom.
Qi Taihua studied his expression: “Maybe they don’t trust you that’s why they delayed Dawn.”
Du Han turned to face him. “What do you mean?”
Qi said, “Fog passed 200 million.”
Du Han gasped, “Impossible!”
Two hundred million? Only 8 days since release, and the preview box office broke Doomsday Rescue? That was just previews!
Qi produced his phone. “Here’s the official Fog poster. Just released.”
Du Han forcefully pushed it away and stepped forward, breathing heavily. He didn’t want to see anything about Fog. Yu Shiqing just struck at the right moment. Huaze had no good films lately, so audiences chose Fog by default. And Doomsday Rescue still in cinemas helped carry it. Fog’s success was built on borrowed interest. It wouldn’t last.
Du Han clenched his fists until his fingernails dug into his palms.
So, Yu Shiqing can celebrate for a few days. When the audience’s curiosity fades, the hype will die down on its own.
But he refused to believe that Doomsday Rescue’s success would happen again for Yu Shiqing.
