14: This is a wonderful occasion, let's celebrate!

"You knew there would be this much all along?" Yang Mi asked, somewhat unable to believe it.

"Pretty much. I expected a little less, but it's not far off," Chen Le replied calmly.

"Then how much do you think 'nightclub's' final box office will be?" Yang Mi stared intently at Chen Le as she asked.

"I previously thought eight or nine million was a sure thing. Looking at it now, ten to twelve million isn't impossible either," Chen Le answered truthfully.

Just as they continued checking the box office data, their phones rang simultaneously.

Yang Mi answered the call; it was from Liu Shishi.

"Mi Mi, have you seen the box office data?" Liu Shishi's first words were to ask Yang Mi if she had seen the movie's box office numbers.

"Yes, I've seen it," Yang Mi replied.

"Mi Mi, congratulations! I really didn't expect the movie to have over 1.4 million on its first day. I remember you saying the investment was only around two million," Liu Shishi's voice was brimming with excitement.

For a movie with a two-million investment to achieve such box office on its first day was truly impressive.

"Haha, Shishi, I didn't expect this much either. At first, I thought it would only be four or five hundred thousand. This situation has far exceeded my expectations," Yang Mi shared excitedly with Liu Shishi.

"Mi Mi, I never expected your boyfriend's movie to be this good, almost recouping its costs on the first day. All your daily promotion for him wasn't in vain," Tang Yan's voice suddenly came through the phone.

Hearing Tang Yan's words, Yang Mi replied proudly, "Of course, just look at whose boyfriend he is!"

Yang Mi chatted with Tang Yan and Liu Shishi.

Similarly,

Chen Le also received a call from Dean Wang.

He walked out to the balcony.

"Old Wang, why are you calling so late? Trying to keep up with us young folks pulling all-nighters?" Chen Le teased Dean Wang the moment he opened his mouth.

"Don't you get smart with me, kid. Have you seen the box office data?" Dean Wang's voice came through the phone again.

"I have. I stayed up this late specifically to check the box office data," Chen Le set aside his joking tone and replied seriously.

"Sigh, listening to your tone, kid, it sounds like you're not excited at all," Dean Wang was somewhat surprised by Chen Le's calm demeanor.

When he saw the 1.43 million box office, he was shocked.

Because this was a small-budget film with a cost of only two million, and it didn't even have promotional funds. Even with Yang Mi's help promoting it, achieving such results was extremely difficult.

Now, hearing Chen Le's tone, which seemed neither excited nor surprised, he found it a bit strange.

"Haha, Old Wang, it's because I already guessed it would be around this much. Of course, the prerequisite was not clashing with movies from Stephen Chow and the others."

Chen Le chuckled and said.

"You actually predicted it long ago?" Dean Wang was somewhat astonished that Chen Le claimed to have foreseen the movie's box office.

Even the most capable directors wouldn't dare claim to predict box office, as too many factors influence it. Before the final data is out, no one dares to boast.

"Mm-hmm," Chen Le affirmed again.

"Looking at this opening day box office, you've hit the jackpot this time, making a splash right out of the gate," Dean Wang remarked with emotion.

With such a return rate on his first film, Chen Le's reputation was sure to spread throughout the director's circle.

"It's all thanks to your help, Old Wang. Without your assistance, I'd probably still be struggling with theater chain issues," Chen Le said with a laugh.

"This old man can only help with these small things. It's the era of you young people now," Dean Wang sighed again.

"Alright, it's getting late. This old man can't keep up with you youngsters; I can't stay up any longer." With that, Dean Wang hung up the phone.

At that moment, Yang Mi was still chatting with Liu Shishi and the others.

After chatting for over ten minutes, she finally hung up.

"Mi Mi, whose call was that?" Chen Le asked with a smile.

"Shishi and Tang Yan's call," Yang Mi put away her phone and replied.

"They called to ask about the box office. The opening day box office for 'nightclub' stunned them, haha." Yang Mi was very happy; after all, she had invested in the movie, so it felt like she made it too.

"Was that Dean Wang's call you just took? I heard you call him 'Old Wang.'"

Chen Le nodded, "Yes, Old Wang, just like Liu Shishi and them, called to ask about the box office."

Chen Le was also in a good mood.

"Haha, this is a great joy; of course they'd want to ask," Yang Mi said with a laugh.

"Since it's a great joy, shouldn't the two of us celebrate?" Chen Le raised an eyebrow, smiling as he looked at Yang Mi.

"It's so late now? Where would we go to celebrate? How about waiting until tomorrow?" Yang Mi asked, puzzled.

"No need to wait until tomorrow; we can do it now," Chen Le said with a mischievous grin.

"What do you mean we can do it now?" Yang Mi didn't catch on.

Then, the lights went out... Meanwhile, elsewhere.

In an internet cafe.

There was also a person staring at a computer screen, waiting for the box office to refresh.

And this person was Wang Baoqiang.

Because his phone was just a knockoff brand and couldn't access the internet.

In order to see 'nightclub's' box office, he specifically came to the internet cafe, paid for an all-night session, and waited for the box office to refresh.

When he saw that 'nightclub's' opening day box office was 1.43 million, his eyes widened in disbelief, thinking he had misread it.

Then he rubbed his eyes and refreshed the page several times before accepting the fact.

Seeing this number, Wang Baoqiang was both shocked and overjoyed.

Shocked that 'nightclub's' box office was so high, and overjoyed that Director Chen was so capable.

He had heard Director Chen say last night that the filming budget for 'nightclub' was only two million. Now, with an opening day box office of 1.43 million, didn't that mean it would recoup its costs in two days?

Thinking this, Wang Baoqiang felt somewhat excited.

Of course, his thinking was incorrect; he didn't understand how box office worked.

Generally speaking, a movie's box office needs to be three times its investment to break even, not simply looking at the raw box office number.

After all, the box office revenue isn't all for the production side; taxes must be paid, and it's split with the theater chains. Only after that division does the production side get their share.

After this division, to get two million back, a box office three times that amount is necessary.

Below this multiple, it's easy to lose money, resulting in wasted effort.

But even so, countless people are still drawn to filmmaking.

Because this industry is just too profitable.

People make pots of money and enjoy glamorous, dazzling lives.

Wang Baoqiang thought the same way. Having toiled for so many years, always playing extras, yet persisting, all for that chance to become a breakout star, even if that chance was extremely slim.

Now, he had encountered that opportunity.

So he was extremely excited, because this might change his entire life.