Alongside, Qian Yuling frowned as she looked at the box office figures coming in. These were calculated based on the approximate number of viewers for each screening. In the platform's streaming room, a dedicated headcounter indicated how many people were watching the movie together, adding commentary to the chat room.
Tang Wu had previously cut off Zhao An's offline streaming channels, but this had forced him to focus entirely on online streaming, effectively opening up those channels. The number of viewers had now surpassed three million. Even more would be expected by evening, and many were watching the movie twice or three times. These were all real money!
"Over 15 million in a single day? Humph, not great, not terrible either." Qian Yuling snorted. She also invested in films. She was the driving force behind "City Voice," a fact unknown to everyone, not even Zhao An. Hidden behind the scenes, Qian Yuling controlled vast resources. She certainly didn't appear to be handing over everything to her son, pretending to step back.
It's difficult for newcomers to make a name for themselves in filmmaking, let alone one based on a comic book. Beyond borrowing some character relationships, this is practically a completely new creation. And Zhao An single-handedly handled most of the work: directing, casting, post-production, and so on.
The gorgeous special effects are also refreshing. Avatar hadn't even appeared in this era, and it was Zhao An who pioneered 3D special effects. He perfectly adapted the original work, introducing new elements, and ultimately creating a flawless version!
Dong, dong, dong! Qian Yuling's jade fingers drummed on the table. Her elegant demeanor, mature and charming, combined with a mysterious, graceful elegance and the aura of a strong woman. Qian Yuling perfectly blended these complex and contradictory qualities, creating her own unique aura. A woman of this determination couldn't be conquered through vaginal penetration; satisfying her only soothed her inner restlessness. To conquer such a strong woman, a unique technique was required.
Qian Yuling narrowed her beautiful eyes as she stared at the numbers on her computer. She picked up the phone, called another person, explained a few things, and then hung up. "Hmph, little one, I hope you won't disappoint me." Her red lips curled slightly, genuinely anticipating the sight of her taking a man's cock.
Even then, Tang Wu had just gotten out of bed, crawling off his mistress's bed, when he opened his phone to the devastating news. He'd mobilized all his connections, made significant concessions, and finally managed to shut down Zhao An's film. It had been released quietly, but it had still been blocked.
Now, despite blocking the offline cinema market, the online market hadn't been. He'd never imagined Zhao An had actually made a decent film. Even by mainland standards, it would have easily won an award at the Hundred Flowers and Golden Rooster Awards!
"Fuck you! He's turned the tables!" Tang Wu cursed in anger. To outsiders, he was a refined gentleman, a righteous second-generation rich kid with a decent reputation. But in private, he was a brutal, ruthless individual capable of anything, hiding it well and thoroughly, his disguise almost like that of Liu Bei.
The mistress leaned over and soothed, "Honey, don't be angry, you're the best!"
"Damn, bitch!" Tang Wu angrily beat his mistress. This was a third-tier celebrity he'd been supporting. So-called celebrities were just sperm urinals. After several attempts at promotion, she still hadn't caught on. She might as well just be a meat urinal.
The mistress silently shielded her head and allowed Tang Wu to beat her. She was used to it, used to Tang Wu's violence. He was always rough, treating her like a complete non-human, and this kind of roughness wasn't something she appreciated. But for the sake of money and power, she endured it. Just like the female anchors at Future Company, who knew they were Zhao An's playthings and sex slaves, yet they still threw themselves at him recklessly, just to get better treatment and a better life.
So, having money could make these gold-diggers kneel down and sing "Conquer"—nothing difficult at all.
After beating her for five minutes, Tang Wu roughly pinned her down, using his pitiful slug to play with a woman. He ejaculated in less than three minutes, demonstrating the depth of his kidney deficiency.
A flicker of disdain flashed through Xiao San's mind, but she dared not show it, fearing another beating. She simply endured it silently.
The film's success didn't attract much attention, but it did send a signal, a very important one.
This signal was that Zhao An was a genius, or at least a money-making genius. Partnering with him would guarantee a smooth return!
No matter how much the film cost, even if it was 300 million yuan, it would at least reach 600 million yuan in a month, effectively breaking even. This was already astonishing. Receiving 10 million yuan at the box office without any promotional effort, relying solely on the platform, was truly astonishing.
Although it was a drop in the bucket compared to live streaming, the film itself was a vehicle for profit and rapid fame.
Compared to internet celebrities, this new industry allows anyone to be a streamer. This invisibly lowers the profile, so it's perfectly normal, perfectly normal. It's just much lower than a celebrity's profile, but at least it's nothing special. Earning money is one thing, but achieving social recognition is another.
Zhang Qiaorong, hugging her girlfriend, Li Qian, was smoking in the office. After reading the latest intelligence, her eyes lit up. At least Zhao An had given her enough of a surprise and confidence to continue the partnership.
Not only Zhang Qiaorong, but also his partners Liu Jin, Lu Meifang, and his secret partner, Tang Bing, all silently gave Zhao An a thumbs-up. There was nothing this man couldn't accomplish.
This was Zhao An's deliberate move. After all, according to their takeaway partnership, the cost of their group takeaway would be at least three billion yuan. Although Zhao An would cover the cost, their shares would be squeezed endlessly. Labor was the least valuable, while money was the most stable. This was the benefit of having money!