Chapter 84: The Path Nangong Ying Chose
Work on the set became busy again. Nangong Ying seemed to work harder and more desperately than before. Her time on set was even later than the director’s. Every day, she was always the first to arrive and the last to leave. This had become a common sight on the set. It was clear she was working very hard and was very dedicated. Although her screen time wasn’t as much as the male lead’s, she still treated it seriously.
But who knew that the reason she worked so desperately wasn’t because she was very dedicated, but because she wanted to forget something through work?
Nangong’s role in this movie wasn’t particularly large, accounting for about one-third, as most of the content still revolved around the male protagonist’s story. However, the female lead played by Nangong Ying was the female character who interacted most with the male lead, and there were also martial arts scenes. As a martial arts film, it had all the necessary entertainment elements. As long as it was filmed well, the box office wouldn’t be bad.
“Nangong, wrap! You’ve worked hard!”
After filming the final scene today, Nangong Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief, picking up a towel to wipe off sweat. She had filmed too many martial arts scenes, and the sweat had ruined her makeup.
The wrapping of her scenes was only part of the end for her; she still had many things to face. She planned to fulfill her contract with Orange River properly in the next two years, filming four movies for them. Now that one part of the contract was completed, the remaining three would be filmed in installments.
Also, she should go back to school. Although she basically had no contact with Yu Linna now, she still had to return to school. Because she was a third-year high school student, she probably wouldn’t take on any more roles for the next six months. Before the college entrance exam results came out, she wouldn’t accept any work. She had to prepare for the upcoming school exams, preparing to apply to art schools in Beijing.
From now on, she would drift further and further away from Yu Linna, but this was the path she chose; she had to walk it even on her knees.
This year in the film circle was destined to be extraordinary. As the year drew to a close, just before the new year arrived, movies produced by Orange River still firmly occupied the top spot on the annual box office chart. What was most terrifying was that Orange River’s movies took up seven spots in the top ten, an incredibly scary ranking. Also this year, Nangong Ying signed with Orange River, entered Orange River, and officially debuted as an actress. And Yu Linna also terminated her contract with Orange River this year, completely withdrawing from the entertainment industry.
Winter arrived, and history turned a new page. At the same time, the entertainment industry was also undergoing turmoil. First, actor Jia Mingtao, who had a good-man image in the hearts of film fans, had an affair. His image plummeted, hitting negative news. The company he was signed with immediately halted his movie project.
Around December, towards the end of the year, shortly after Yu Linna terminated her contract, action star Li Yangzhong retired from the entertainment industry due to illness. This was another sensation. You know, this star had worked in the film industry for forty years. His peak movies were even exported to the United States, achieving box office success abroad. And this star was already over fifty years old. He stated that long-term filming brought him illness; he could no longer fight.
And this year, a movie co-produced by Hollywood and a domestic film company was released both domestically and overseas, but embarrassingly only grossed two hundred million US dollars at the box office. Compared to the 300 million investment, it was a huge loss. Cooperation between Hollywood and domestic companies entered a winter period.
If there was any domestic development industry worth mentioning, it was probably novels.
Currently, the highest annual income for a published author in China reached 200 million yuan. This terrifying royalty figure was truly staggering. At the same time, many novels had been greenlit for adaptation into film, television, and animation. Broadcasts on television received good reviews, and there were even plans for export overseas. Compared to this, the status of movies was somewhat awkward.
But there were exceptions.
At the end of this year, the major movie “Storm Seal Chronicle,” starring newcomer actress Nangong Ying, was officially released. This martial arts film, claimed to have fantasy elements, didn’t attract many people at its initial release due to its name issue. The opening day box office was only 20 million, far below Orange River’s usual standards.
However, three days after its release, the movie’s word-of-mouth rebounded, once reaching a high score of 9.0. The audience entering cinemas was predominantly female; after all, it was a strong female lead drama. Some girls even cried watching this movie. A week later, male audiences were attracted, captivated by the dance-like movements of the female lead, Nangong Ying. In the eyes of male audiences, the romance plot seemed less important; they focused more on the female lead’s scenes.
Opening weekend box office: 300 million.
Second weekend box office: 1.4 billion.
Third weekend box office: 1.6 billion.
By the fourth weekend, the box office reached 1.7 billion.
This movie, with an investment of just over one hundred million, unexpectedly had such strong staying power, becoming a box office harvester. When it finally closed, the box office settled at 1.842 billion. This was Orange River’s most profitable venture.
And this movie also ranked 5th on the annual box office chart. No one could believe that such a major female-led drama film, with few stars, mainly newcomers and veteran actors, could achieve such high box office results. What was most stunning was Nangong Ying’s performance. This newcomer, initially unremarkable upon debut, at most just good-looking. But her later action scenes were truly stunning. She changed the previous fist-to-flesh fighting style of action stars and the exaggerated movements in martial arts films. Her movements were as elegant as dance, each move and style like a poetic realm. Coupled with her performance in the play, it moved countless film fans.
“This actress named Nangong Ying performed really well! Hard to believe she’s a newcomer!”
“Sister Nangong is so cool! If she were a boy, I’d definitely have his babies!”
“Nangong is so cool!”
“Oh my god, first time seeing a female actress fight so beautifully. Her movements are much better looking than the flashy, deliberately comical styles of other actors on the market. Don’t you feel a sense of artistic conception! The director is truly talented, actually discovering such an actress!”
“The female lead actually died in the end! Clearly in love but couldn’t be together, sacrificed for the future of the country, forever frozen. No wonder it’s called ‘Storm Seal’!”
“I cried at the end, my heart aches for the female lead!”
Online reviews were basically overwhelmingly positive, which was also the situation Orange River most wanted to see. Commercially, they had already succeeded.
However, Orange River themselves didn’t expect this movie to be so profitable. They originally thought this movie looked like a flop, wouldn’t get high box office, but unexpectedly it made Nangong Ying famous. It instantly boosted her fame. Now Nangong Ying could be said to have become popular.
Nangong Ying’s expression packs from the movie had already appeared online, spreading everywhere, known by almost everyone. This new generation actress finally became popular through her own strength. And at the same time, her band, Four Leaf Clover, whose music was featured in this movie, also became popular, already having plans to release an album.
“Really didn’t expect the bitterness to turn sweet. The band’s efforts weren’t in vain after all. Right, Xiao Ying?”
Li Yuexin patted her shoulder and smiled. The other two members of Four Leaf Clover also smiled happily. Because of the success of this movie, their band’s fame opened up. Although not hugely popular, they at least gained recognition. They were about to celebrate properly.
Achieving such results, Nangong Ying was naturally very happy. Watching the box office numbers of the movie she starred in rise every day, she was always very happy. Her efforts finally paid off. She was still a newcomer, yet achieved such high box office in her first movie. You know, the salary she earned for this movie was only 500,000. But the final box office figure for this movie was 1.8 billion.
Her choice was correct. Letting this movie be released smoothly, gaining the audience’s love, and opening up everyone’s fame, including her own, was a good thing.
So, she didn’t do anything wrong.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Ying? You don’t seem that happy.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Your brows are furrowed.”
“…”
Nangong Ying pulled her scarf, looking at the cold northern weather outside. Snowflakes were falling, the cold wind hitting her face. Was her heart still warm? She probably had to ask herself.
Sometimes she would wonder if her choice was really correct. But now, she told herself, she was right.
Career is always first.
Nothing is more important than career.
One day, she, Nangong Ying, would become the highest-paid star in the country, and she would make her name famous worldwide. Even one day, she could go to Hollywood as a Chinese actress.
Hollywood is the place yearned for by stars worldwide. To develop here and leave one’s mark on the Walk of Fame would be a lifetime honor. Nangong Ying had also dreamed, dreamed that one day she could leave her name there.
“Sister Yuexin, you don’t need to worry about me. I will continue working. One day, I will make myself fly higher and farther.”
“You fly far away, who will pick you up when you return? So let’s fly together.”
Li Yuexin patted her head and smiled.
The cold wind blew past. A snowflake landed on their flushed cheeks, but they were both smiling.
The dream was only partially realized. The road ahead would be even longer.
Nangong Ying’s dream was realized.
But what about Yu Linna?
She had now moved into Ye Zhiyun’s home, well-fed and well-provided for. Since being taken home by Ye Zhiyun, she, who was all alone, received her care. Besides housework, Ye Zhiyun asked nothing of her, nor did she charge her rent.
And Ye Zhiyun had her schedule every day. Attending class when she had class, and when she didn’t, she would call the driver to go discuss business. The movie she invested in recently seemed to have made money, and she had new plans. But the 80 million given for Yu Linna before consumed too much; it couldn’t be replenished in the short term. Ye Zhiyun had even asked her father for this money.
Yu Linna expressed she didn’t want to live for free, so she took over the household cleaning and cooking. Ye Zhiyun originally wanted to refuse, but later found Yu Linna’s cooking tasted better than hers, so she gave up. Anyway, having an extra cook wasn’t bad.
And Yu Linna finally returned to her normal school life, continuing her third-year high school studies. And December was ending, only about a week left.
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