616: Chapter 616 Reaching for the Stars and Plucking the Moon is Within Reach (Final Chapter)

Judging solely from the perspective of a commercial film, "mr. & mrs. smith" is almost a perfect movie.

It possesses every exciting commercial element you can imagine; the story is brilliant and satisfying, and it even manages to explore the core of marriage without a trace of heaviness. What more could you ask for?

The box office for "mr. & mrs. smith" exploded, as expected.

It broke 400 million in box office for five consecutive days, and even exceeded 500 million for the following two days. In other words, it raked in 3 billion in its opening week.

Wu Yue tried his best to remain calm: "Xiao Yan, the situation... seems to be more optimistic than we thought."

"Are you talking about the box office?"

"Maoyan predicts the box office will surpass "ne zha"... Mainly because the other films in this year's Spring Festival Movie Season aren't up to par, and since we held our ground without fumbling, we perfectly caught this windfall of wealth."

"Whether it surpasses it or not doesn't matter; they're both our own films anyway... By the way, Emily and Sugiura Ran both called me to say the overseas box office is doing great too."

Wu Yue chuckled: "Lionsgate is probably going to raise the level of importance they place on you again."

It's not just Lionsgate; every capital group collaborating with Lin Chuyan will have to raise the level of importance they place on him—many people actually felt the success of "la la land" was unrepeatable. But the success of a commercial film like "mr. & mrs. smith" truly makes all the capital groups bow down to him.

Lin Chuyan proved his immeasurable value from a commercial dimension.

"Hahaha, Emily is indeed probing me, wanting to know about my next movie. But... I plan to take a good break. I feel like I've been working non-stop for the past two years."

"Hmm, anyway, all the company's businesses are on the right track now, so it's good for you to take a break. So, what are your plans for the next step?"

"I will definitely keep working, but I expect to put most of my energy into the 'mythology universe' side of things. Of course, more importantly, I'll be accompanying Xingxing to do things she wants to do more."

"Like what?"

"Like our Yanyu Foundation. I was too busy before, so just donating money was the end of it. These past few days, she said she wants to personally reach out and interact with the children being helped, so we can help them better in the future. Hmm, I think this is a great idea, so Xingxing and I will spend time really thinking through our charity work."

Lin Chuyan's original intention has never changed.

Back when he first started as an actor, he felt he couldn't become the kind of traffic-driven celebrity he despised in his past life, so he truly acted seriously.

Later, when he became a boss, he felt he couldn't become the kind of capitalist he hated in his past life, so he treated his employees well to the best of his ability.

Now, his thinking is about how the money should actually be spent?

In the past, he thought about just lying flat and collecting rent, but at his current height, what he considers is what he can do for everyone? Or rather, what can he leave behind?

He has really thought about this question seriously, and the final answer is two things: first, the entertainment industry, and second, charity work.

"That's pretty good. Teacher Ruan is really great, you kid better cherish her."

"That goes without saying."

Today is Valentine's Day, and "mr. & mrs. smith" has finally been released abroad, but Yanzi is busy being lovey-dovey with his wife.

Although the two had long agreed not to exchange gifts on holidays, he still bought flowers early in the morning. He didn't just pick any flowers; he carefully recalled the bouquet the florist had arranged for him when he first met Xingxing, and ultimately chose one that was basically the same.

As for the effect of giving the flowers, well, Xingxing loved them. Hmm, details touch the heart; marriage should be nurtured with effort.

Besides the blossoming box office everywhere, the film's reputation is also worth mentioning.

As the box office champion of the Spring Festival Movie Season, "mr. & mrs. smith" received tremendous attention. On the first day of its release abroad, its reputation had already traveled back home.

Countless marketing accounts were reposting it.

[An epic screen couple is born! Foreign media exclaim: The Yanyu couple combination has rewritten the rules of Hollywood romance films!]

["mr. & mrs. smith" breaks the opening day box office record for Hollywood romance films!]

[Lin Chuyan scores another victory! "mr. & mrs. smith" blasts open the doors to the North American box office with a rocket launcher!]

[The perfect fusion of action and romance: "mr. & mrs. smith" tops the list of "Must-Watch Date Movies"!]

One interesting point is that what this film is praised for most isn't the comedy, nor the action, and not even the romance.

It is Ruan Xingyu's sexiness.

Yes, Ruan Xingyu's current popularity is even higher than her husband's, and the whole world is praising her sexiness and beauty.

For example, every outfit she wears in the film is being copied by countless people.

For example, there are tons of makeup tutorials online for her look and style in the film.

For example, a famous foreign magazine just happened to be selecting the 100 most beautiful female artists in the world during this time, and unprecedentedly ranked Ruan Xingyu, an artist of Chinese descent, at the number one spot.

[With her breathtaking beauty and sexiness, Ruan Xingyu has redefined the image of a screen goddess; every frame is breathtaking.]

[Ruan Xingyu is the perfect fusion of sexiness and intelligence; whether in a tight-fitting combat suit or performing sharp action moves, she exudes a lethal attraction.]

[Ruan Xingyu's performance is stunning; with her charming appearance and superb acting skills, she has created a sexy bombshell who is both beautiful and dangerous.]

The sexy goddess from the East has thus captivated audiences worldwide with her charm.

More and more news keeps coming in, for instance, Chinese restaurants in Chinatowns abroad are writing the English name for "Fuqi Feipian" (Husband and Wife Lung Slices) as "mr. & mrs. smith"...

Needless to say, at home, Ruan Xingyu's charm is unstoppable.

A passage written online captures it well and essentially expresses everyone's inner thoughts.

[There are many beautiful women in the Chinese Entertainment Industry, and quite a few great beauties, generally it's a matter of personal taste. But good movies have this kind of magical power; after "la la land" and "mr. & mrs. smith", Ruan Xingyu is the undisputed number one beauty in the Chinese Entertainment Industry, and her screen image will be deeply imprinted in everyone's minds.]

Good news kept coming.

"mr. & mrs. smith" had been released for nearly two months, and its box office actually surpassed the 6 billion of "ne zha". In just a few months, a film under Lin Chuyan's banner once again topped the box office history of the Chinese mainland.

[Lin Chuyan, it's Lin Chuyan again, both films were invested by him... I've already started looking forward to the next one.]

[Not just that, it's got 6 billion abroad too, right? I want to know where it ranks on the global chart now? "la la land" was in the top 50, I think.]

[Top 10 is secured... Awesome, just ask, who else is there?]

[Back then Director Lin said it was a small goal, damn it, was it really just a small goal? And he actually achieved it?]

[Holy crap, I just realized the box office of "la la land" + "mr. & mrs. smith" has already exceeded 20 billion...]

[The only one who can defeat Lin Chuyan is himself, right? The question is: who knows how much money he made from these two movies?]

Lin Chuyan said nothing, just kept on making money.

"Did it hit the top 10, Brother Yue?"

"Checked, 12.6 billion, currently ninth. Should we extend the screening?" Wu Yue was getting a bit addicted to his tricky operations.

"Forget it, forget it. It's more than a billion behind eighth place, no need. I hope successors can achieve that. Also, you forgot that "crazy stone" is coming out too; they're all our own films, let's give others some room."

"Almost forgot, the Qingming Festival slot on April 5th, right?"

"Yes." Lin Chuyan laughed heartily, "Immediately after, "soldiers sortie" will also start airing. My 'Two Kings and One Queen' is finally going to show its power!"

"crazy stone" is a theatrical film, and "soldiers sortie" is a TV series; although they are both coming out around April, they don't conflict.

To be honest, audiences originally didn't hold any expectations for these two. I won't mention the reasons; it's hurtful to say them out loud.

In "crazy stone", it's said Lin Chuyan only made a cameo; "soldiers sortie" is even more outrageous—Lin Chuyan didn't appear at all, and the male lead is actually his artist Wang Yongqiang? What is this? Forcing popularity through capital?

But never did they expect that these two works, which were not favored at all, would once again prove that saying: Anything produced by Lin Chuyan is a masterpiece.

One, "crazy stone", had an incredibly intricate structure and a plot full of laughs, completely launching Director Li Hao and Wang Bo to fame; the other, "soldiers sortie", not only launched Wang Yongqiang to fame but also made everyone re-evaluate military dramas, and "Never discard, never give up" became a classic quote.

Consequently, everyone realized one thing.

It seems that starting from "ne zha" during last year's National Day slot, to "mr. & mrs. smith" during the Spring Festival, then to "crazy stone" during the Qingming slot, and finally to "soldiers sortie" which conquered the ratings of major TV stations...

It never stopped; could all of this actually be related to that man?

[I used to complain about the "Two Kings and One Queen" thing, but now I realize the clown was me all along...]

[Looking back now, Starfire is really awesome... Lin Chuyan's vision is too sharp.]

[You can always trust Lin Chuyan!]

Things are done through action, not through words.

Over the past few years, Lin Chuyan has said many things and done many things.

Netizens once doubted him, but now they have finally discovered that those things everyone thought Lin Chuyan could never accomplish, he has been steadily realizing one by one.

Yanzi's reputation had finally reached its peak.

Those Haters who once questioned him seemed to have vanished.

Even if one or two occasionally popped up, what they said was very strange.

"Lin Chuyan is easy to bash, too easy to bash. Why don't I bash him anymore? A man needs to save face. My identity as a Hater is already a thing of last year. Bringing it up now? It's embarrassing. I'm a child of China; first and foremost, I have to be worthy of my conscience. Just based on this, Haters, beat it!"

Everyone was a bit confused: "Wait, are you still considered a Hater? You've turned into a fan, right!"

And Lin Chuyan, after two and a half years, was once again invited to appear on the "dreamer" program hosted by CCTV's top anchor, Teacher Zeng Jie.

The same CCTV-1 General Channel, the same host and guest.

The difference was that Lin Chuyan's status had changed significantly.

Last time, "a moment of romance" hadn't been released yet, he had just released his blue album, won the Grand Slam for Best Newcomer at the three major music awards, and was also the Golden Maple Best Supporting Actor.

This time, he held countless works in his hands.

He was a Best Actor in television, Best Actor in film, an Oscar-winning director... Beyond that, he even had even more anticipated identities—he was the creator of the mythology universe and the architect of the Starfire project.

Lin Chuyan and Teacher Zeng Jie talked a lot.

They talked from the past to the present, and then looked forward to the future.

Finally, Teacher Zeng Jie asked a question: "Xiao Yan, let me ask on behalf of all the viewers, all the viewers who care about you and the future of the Chinese Entertainment Industry, are you really confident about the future you envision?"

"My confidence comes from this land that I love." Lin Chuyan did not hesitate and spoke from the heart, words that would be praised by countless people in the future: "Rooted in China, looking to the world. I know that no matter how much I do, there will always be people who question me; they say I'm delusional, talking nonsense. But that doesn't matter, I know I have the chance to achieve it. I also know that the answer is actually right in the question itself, and that is to be rooted in China. As long as we are rooted in China, Starfire will one day be able to feed back into the mythology universe. As long as we are rooted in China, the future I look forward to will eventually arrive."

The world needs a dreamer.

After all, if a person has no dreams, what is the difference between them and a salted fish?

Ruan Xingyu looked at her man, feeling an indescribable pride in her heart.

Watching Lin Chuyan walk toward her after the interview ended, she smiled like a flower: "I have some good news to tell you~"

Lin Chuyan took her hand: "Tell me~ There's been a bit too much good news lately, I can't keep up, don't let me down, hehe."

"I'm pregnant."

"Huh?" Yanzi's reaction was suddenly slow for a second.

Ruan Xingyu nodded vigorously: "Mm, yes, you're going to be a dad."

Lin Chuyan's voice trembled, his gaze moving downward to look at his wife's stomach: "W-w-what... I'm going to be a dad? Is it what I think it means?"

Ruan Xingyu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You're so silly, Lin Chuyan."

Lin Chuyan wasn't silly; he was already thinking about how to take care of a pregnant woman and a child: My Brother System seemed to have given me a "Special Skill Unlock Point" before, saying it could incorporate entertainment-related special skills into the system and make them "growable" skills. Then could I unlock something like a "maternity matron" skill some other day? I'll go for it; at worst, I'll just make a movie about a "male maternity matron" in the future!

Ruan Xingyu saw his thoughtful look and asked again: "Hubby, what are you thinking about?"

Lin Chuyan looked at his wife and this time really laughed like a fool: "I was thinking... For a washed-up idol like me to have a child with a diva, that's quite reasonable, right?!"

(End of the book)

————The following are the concluding remarks————

Thank you to all the dear readers who have read this far for your support!!!

I love you all!!!

Without you, I really couldn't have persisted until now!!!

Bow!!!

And my top donor, the big boss "Lian Gan Qie Bao Hu 66"! I am truly sorry to you! You donated so much, and I updated so slowly! Here, I wish you a huge harvest every time you go fishing...

And to the dear readers who would send me three or even six "Powering with Love" gifts every day even when I didn't update! The dear readers who often left me messages of encouragement! And the dear readers who tipped me with various gifts! Another bow!!!

I am so happy. From uploading the first chapter on July 1, 2024, to now, 10 months have passed, and I never thought I could finish a novel of nearly 1.5 million words. In fact, after finishing this novel, I feel I have improved a lot! I even want to write a second one! I'm really getting carried away!

I feel very happy. Because writing novels was a dream I started in high school, and I never expected to be able to pick it up again now, then seriously finish one, and also receive the love of many readers. I am so happy!

This novel naturally has many shortcomings.

For example, the system—because it wasn't set up well enough, it led many people to feel that the "system collapsed." I also felt there was a problem, so in the later stages, I simply let the system go invisible and stop appearing, trying my best not to let it become a so-called "poison point."

For example, the "songs are too terrible to listen to" that almost all negative reviews emphasized. Even saying things like "not a single familiar song, goodbye" or "purely disgusting."

Hahaha, to be fair, I really didn't intentionally write obscure songs. Who doesn't want traffic? To tell the truth, this is just my aesthetic; I want to recommend the songs I like to everyone! Zhou, Wang, Tao, Lin, Fang, Beyond, Elva Hsiao, Chang Chen-yue, Richie Jen, Stefanie Sun, Dave Wang, Eason Chan, George Lam, Tia Ray, Accusefive, Chen Jingfei, Nicholas Tse... I really carefully selected songs that fit the plot and the characters, and then wrote them into this novel. When I read other people's novels, if I encounter a song I'm not familiar with, I look it up to listen to it, and I don't get too serious about whether it sounds good or not. I really didn't know that many people need this kind of immersion. I'm really sorry; I know now.

I personally think the biggest shortcoming is that my outline was quite rough, and there was basically no detailed outline. This also led to me writing very slowly many times. The most ridiculous thing is that when I wasn't sitting in front of the computer, I didn't even know what content I was going to write in a moment...

After talking about the shortcomings, let me praise myself!

I really like the male and female protagonists I wrote. I like that Lin Chuyan dares to love and hate and loves life. He grew from someone doing system tasks into a good young man striving to realize his ideals. He has principles, a sense of responsibility, knows how to give, and is not ashamed to express his selfishness and desires.

At the end of chapter 545, I saw a paragraph comment where a reader said: "If there really were such a Lin Chuyan in this entertainment industry, I would love him very much." I think this is the best affirmation for the character of Lin Chuyan. Thank you!

I like that Ruan Xingyu also dares to love and hate and loves life. She is kind, brave, sensible, generous, and has very strong opinions. She is a woman who can often give ideas and suggestions to the male lead; she is never the male lead's accessory or "pendant." They respect each other and entrust themselves to each other. Their dedication to each other received positive responses from the other, which made their love even more solid.

Besides the protagonists, I also like the supporting characters in the book. For example, Brother Mosquito, Wawa, Wu Yue...

Besides these characters, I have many other feelings.

What left the deepest impression on me was that a reader said in the book circle that when Lin Chuyan sang "boundless oceans, vast skies" at the concert, it actually moved this 40-year-old middle-aged man to tears. I want to say, this is my honor!

There are many, many more book reviews praising me, and I have seen them all; I am really moved.

Next, let's talk about future plans.

First, there will be side stories. I will write them while resting.

Then, I will take the experience and lessons this novel has given me and seriously ponder how to write the next one better.

In addition, the next book will most likely change to a different theme (to be determined), and I will make the outline better and prepare more fully before meeting everyone again.

Finally.

If you still want to see my second novel, I hope you can go to the author's page and click follow, so that my second novel will most likely be pushed to you by the system when the time comes. Thank you!

If you haven't rated this book yet, I'm asking for a five-star review here. Bow! Thanks again!

I won't ask for gifts; I feel like I update too slowly, um... Thank you to my readers for not giving up on me!

Last but not least.

I hope this book can bring you emotion and joy, and I hope you like the story of Lin Chuyan and Ruan Xingyu.

I wish everyone peace and success! May our motherland be prosperous and flourishing!

See you in the next book!