Chapter Thirty-Eight: Celebration and Appraisal

"6.9 million!"

The core creative team, led by Ning Hao, were all utterly stunned, their cries of astonishment echoing one after another.

Gu Zhi, however, showed little surprise; his heart, which had been tightly clenched, finally settled. From the completion of the film until now, he had always appeared calm on the surface, but in truth, he cared most about the box office results. After all, this was his first film project since being reborn—a stepping stone into the film industry. The unique tension and pressure he felt surpassed even the thrill of publishing his first book.

"The results are so good! Might 'The Butterfly Effect' really reach fifty million?"

It was Liu Ye who spoke. Having acted in two films already, he was familiar and sensitive to box office numbers.

"Unless something unexpected happens, breaking fifty million is all but certain. Most cinemas nationwide have decided to increase the screening rate for 'The Butterfly Effect,' maintaining at least thirty-two percent. This means 'A Sigh' and 'Mission Impossible 2' will definitely see their screening rates drop."

At this point, Han Sanping gave Ning Hao's shoulder a hearty slap, chuckled, and continued, "If my experience serves me right, we might even push to eighty million this time!"

His words silenced the room.

Ning Hao instinctively swallowed.

"Eighty million... Third Master, this..."

That was a box office number Ning Hao had never dared dream of. Not long ago, he could only serve as the executive director of a TV drama. When shooting that series, he realized it was doomed to obscurity, much like himself—unnoticed, quietly fading away.

Yet in just half a year, he had leapt to become a director whose film was a box office hit!

He had not only bested the renowned domestic director Feng, but even foreign blockbusters were overshadowed by his movie.

The classic tale of an underdog's rise—nothing more, nothing less.

It wasn't just Ning Hao whose heart surged with emotion; hearing "eighty million," Liu Ye and Tang Wei also felt a dizzying exhilaration. Top-tier celebrity status seemed almost within reach.

Even Yang Zi's eyes sparkled, her face lit up with a silly, excited grin.

As for Zhang Yishan... let this carefree little rascal go off and play!

"Stay calm, stay calm—just because night falls, doesn't mean you should start dreaming."

Excitement aside, it wasn't long before everyone reminded themselves not to indulge in fantasies of instant success. The higher they were lifted now, the harder the fall would be later. Soon, their moods settled, and clarity returned to their eyes.

Gu Zhi observed all of this, seeing them in a new light. No wonder they would later become leading figures in the film industry; this self-awareness and composure already surpassed most who dream of overnight fame.

Perhaps it was precisely their steady approach that led them to endure long periods of obscurity before finally achieving true success in their original world.

The entertainment industry is a vast dye vat. Without power or influence, it’s impossible to stand out without being tainted.

Han Sanping greatly appreciated these young people, especially Gu Zhi, who from start to finish never let overwhelming joy cloud his judgment. How could this be the level of a boy who had just dropped out of high school? Sometimes, when thinking of Gu Zhi, Han Sanping would even forget he was only seventeen.

"Gu, I didn't expect you to be right. Fifty million is a matter of time now. Seeing how relaxed you are, did you already guess this outcome?"

Gu Zhi quickly waved his hand in denial.

"Impossible! I was just talking big at the press conference to stir things up. I had no confidence at all."

"I'm not worried about the film's quality. Later, China Film spent a huge sum on interviews and TV appearances, making sure everyone knew about the movie. If, after all that, the box office still doesn't catch fire, then we really would have let Third Master and China Film down."

Gu Zhi’s words circled around, but ultimately credited Han Sanping and China Film.

He spoke the truth, though his focus was a bit narrow.

"You really know how to flatter. You’re putting all the credit on China Film. You creators are the real heroes—if you hadn't made a good movie, no amount of promotion would help."

Han Sanping’s banter praised nearly everyone present.

After his words, even Liu Qi proudly puffed out her unusually flat chest.

"Come on, let's all raise a glass! Tonight, let's celebrate our film’s great success—no one goes home sober!"

"Right, kids can’t drink—have some soda instead."

"Cheers!"

...

The following afternoon, Gu Zhi woke leisurely at home.

After a night of heavy drinking, his head still throbbed; he couldn’t even remember how he got back.

He washed up quickly, clearing his mind a bit. Next, he grabbed a red apple from the fridge, munching as he opened his computer to browse online reviews of "The Butterfly Effect."

"Southern News reports: Domestic films double defeat 'Mission Impossible 2.'"

"Feng Xiaodun's new film 'A Sigh,' Gu Zhi's debut 'The Butterfly Effect,' and the imported blockbuster 'Mission Impossible 2' joined the fray, transforming this week's box office landscape. Both domestic films exceeded four million in three days, forcing 'Mission Impossible 2' into third place."

"Bear in mind, they bested Tom Cruise and John Woo, whose film cost two hundred million dollars and topped global box offices, changing the long-standing dominance of imported and co-produced films. Quite noteworthy."

Gu Zhi chuckled upon reading the opening of this article—Feng Xiaogang's name had been misspelled as Feng Xiaodun...

Online news editors these days are so careless. Luckily, Director Feng rarely goes online; otherwise, he’d be furious.

He then opened a film forum, where many new reviews had appeared.

"Honestly, I should have strangled myself with my umbilical cord."

This was a pinned review, somewhat morbid, fitting the theme of "The Butterfly Effect."

Many responses urged him to cherish life, while others cursed him, telling him to die already.

Whether this person was merely seeking attention or truly suffering from depression, Gu Zhi had no way of knowing, nor could he help.

"I never imagined a domestic film could have such amazing creativity—using the mind as a cheat code, constantly mapping out realities, drifting further from the origin. The ending is equally shocking: strangling oneself with an umbilical cord to save others. An unprecedentedly wild concept! Highly recommended! Everyone should see it if they have time." A user named "Clockwork Orange" posted.

"Gu, I love you! I want to marry you! The movie was incredible!" wrote "Gu’s Wife" in a short review.

"I once dreamed of seeing a domestic sci-fi film in theaters, thought it would take thirty years, but it came so soon. Though 'The Butterfly Effect' isn’t hardcore sci-fi and lacks special effects, the script’s imagination explodes, refreshing and innovative—much better than the other two films showing now." commented "Alien Electrician" with enthusiasm.

Gu Zhi glanced over—most reviews of "The Butterfly Effect" were positive, with only a handful of negative ones.

"A story with no logic, relying entirely on structure. No soul at all—a total waste of my time."

"Liu Ye is very handsome and acts well; Tang Wei is elegant, a true beauty, though her acting is a bit raw and at times distracting, not as good as the two child leads. The film’s concept is great, but full of bugs—doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, with forced themes. If you like good looking actors but not logic, give it a try."

"It's basically a horror movie—the ending scared me to death. Not recommended!"

The few negative reviews could not sway the overall positive reputation of "The Butterfly Effect." Many, after reading the reviews, commented that they planned to see the movie—most of them young people.

Some of Gu Zhi’s fans even planned to go in groups to support him, which touched him so much his headache eased.

For a time, the online buzz and reputation of "The Butterfly Effect" far outpaced "A Sigh" and "Mission Impossible 2."

Eighty million, it seemed, was no longer just a dream.