Chapter 130: Hidden Worries

The new film is in development, but Wu Xiang is currently facing a very thorny issue.

"The recent box office drop is abnormal! Have you found the reason yet?"

After the celebration party, Wu Xiang held a small meeting at Yu Dong’s Bona Film company. It was a summary meeting, and the atmosphere was heavy. Although "Emperor Wu of Han" had broken through the 100-million-yuan mark, the box office growth data clearly showed a decline; the initial momentum was gone.

This was normal to an extent—premiere figures are always strong—but this time it was different. The decline was too rapid, especially given that the number of screenings had actually increased. It was highly irregular.

After the seven-day holiday, "Emperor Wu of Han" had reached over 90 million, but it didn't cross the 100-million mark until the 11th. The daily box office for those few days was lower than even half a day’s performance previously, and the downward trend continued. While the end of the holiday was a factor, the drop-off was too steep.

"As for the reason," Yu Dong began, "we aren't entirely sure yet, but we suspect the end of the long holiday has had a significant impact."

Wu Xiang had considered this, but he had a nagging, ominous premonition. While he had never achieved anything based on gut feelings before, he felt deeply unsettled.

"We need to investigate thoroughly. Find the cause and see if there’s any remedy. Otherwise, given the strong start, I believe we could have hit 200 million."

Wu Xiang was ambitious. With less than two weeks since the release, 200 million wasn't an impossible goal. They agreed to investigate; after all, no one turns their back on money. The meeting ended there.

The celebration party could be seen as a countermeasure—if growth slows, boost the promotion. There wasn't much else to do, but they had to understand the root cause.

After the meeting, Wu Xiang headed home. He was still wearing his formal suit, which felt a bit conspicuous. He didn't own a car yet—partly due to being busy, and partly because he could always catch a ride with others. He didn't feel the rush.

He went to his studio, 307, to change. It was a small office space rented near the Third Ring Road. His plan was simple: it was a temporary setup. Once the funds were in place, he would buy a building. Property in Beijing was valuable, and while he wasn't interested in real estate speculation, he didn't want to be at the mercy of the market either.

After changing, Wu Xiang took the subway home. A famous director taking the subway might sound unbelievable, but that was his reality. He enjoyed it, provided it wasn't during rush hour. He wore sunglasses as a disguise, though he wasn't sure if anyone would actually recognize him.

The subway moved quickly, and soon he was outside the Fifth Ring Road. In those days, the area was still largely undeveloped, filled with construction sites and demolition zones, interspersed with small courtyards. One such courtyard was his destination.

Why was he there? On the road, Wu Xiang had spotted a graceful woman in jeans and a white top. Even from behind, her long legs were striking.

"Hey!" Wu Xiang caught up and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Ah!" She jumped, and when she turned to see the tall figure of Wu Xiang, she snapped, "You scared me to death! Why are you here?!"

The woman was Hai Qing.

"I recognized you!" Wu Xiang admitted; he had recognized those long legs.

"We agreed to pretend we didn't know each other!" Hai Qing whispered, sounding annoyed.

Wu Xiang laughed, "With this disguise, no one will recognize me. What are you worried about?" He was wearing sunglasses, and he was a director, not a massive pop star.

"What? You want to go back on our deal?" Hai Qing pouted.

"No, no, I wouldn't dare." Wu Xiang was speechless.

The "deal" was to keep their relationship a secret. Hai Qing didn't want to benefit from Wu Xiang’s reputation; she wanted to carve out her own path through her own acting ability. It was ambitious.

Initially, Wu Xiang couldn't understand it. His argument was that in the entertainment industry, success isn't defined by connections, but by the audience. Therefore, his influence didn't matter. He was good at using airtight logic that left no room for rebuttal, but Hai Qing had her own method.

"If you don't agree, I’m breaking up with you!"

It was unreasonable and stubborn, but that was her prerogative. Fortunately, she wasn't entirely cold-hearted; she had promised they could meet each other’s parents when they had time. Wu Xiang agreed immediately. It was better than nothing, and Hai Qing had promised that once she became famous, they would go public. Being a transmigrator, Wu Xiang knew she would eventually become a star, so he was willing to wait.

They were hiding out in a rented room within a small courtyard beyond the Fifth Ring Road. Although Wu Xiang had bought an apartment, it was a pre-sale property that the developers kept delaying. He had paid in full, so he had to wait. Hai Qing, being thrifty, preferred this cheaper, temporary arrangement, which also helped keep their relationship private.

The place was clean and tidy, thanks to Hai Qing. She had landed a role in "Jade Goddess of Mercy," but her scenes were limited, giving her plenty of free time.

"You have to be careful! Don't let anyone figure it out!" Hai Qing scolded him the moment they entered.

"Honey, what’s there to hide? Besides, it’s all old folks around here," Wu Xiang replied.

"Just be careful. If this hits the news, people will say I'm being kept by you!" Hai Qing blushed.

"Haha, if I were keeping you, we wouldn't be living here," Wu Xiang said, feeling happy. "Honey, my film has broken 100 million. Good days are coming."

"I know, you told me yesterday!" Hai Qing loved sharing in his success.

"About that..." Wu Xiang started, but Hai Qing interrupted.

"I have news too. I’ve been cast in 'A Family of Scholars.' I'm not the lead, but I have plenty of screen time!"

"That's great!" Wu Xiang was genuinely happy for her. "We have so much to celebrate. Should we do something special?"

"We should!"

"Then let's shower," Wu Xiang said, starting to undress.

"Why?" Hai Qing asked, though she knew exactly what he meant.

"I’ve learned a new move called the 'Half-Roasted Goose Leg.' We should try it out!"

"Go to hell!" Hai Qing wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

They didn't end up practicing his "new move" that night. They went out for hotpot instead—authentic charcoal-fired copper pot, tender lamb, and fresh pickled cabbage. The atmosphere was great, and Wu Xiang figured he’d have another chance later.

However, as they left the restaurant, they encountered a nuisance.

"Hey, buddy, want to buy a disc? The latest blockbuster, 'Emperor Wu of Han.' I’m telling you, no one else has it, only me!"

Wu Xiang was stunned. He had gone to great lengths to prevent piracy, yet here it was.

"Is the quality any good? We don't want a cam-recorded version!" Hai Qing asked, playing along.

"Don't you worry, miss. This is a brand new copy, definitely not a cam. If it's not good, come back and smash my stall, deal?"

The vendor sounded confident. Even if he was bluffing, Wu Xiang decided to buy one to check.

"How much? I'll take it."

"Eight yuan. Thanks, here's your two yuan change."