Chapter 1028: Chapter 275: Looking Back at Three People, Unexpected Guests

"I can’t help it. If the handsome uncle goes up there, he’ll overshadow Nicholas and the others. How would they dare to work with me again? So, I have to keep a low profile. Be good and watch the movie, I’ll find you after it ends."

After replying to the text, Li Yan continued watching the movie quietly, without looking around anymore.

Unfortunately, he didn’t stay quiet for long, as his phone vibrated again—another text message!

This time, though, it wasn’t from Wen Qianyi or Yu Xiaodi, but from someone even more unexpected—Nian Yufei!

Well, she’s also in the theater and saw me. She must have thought I was looking for her just now!

Li Yan felt a bit helpless, not expecting his glance around to lead to so many chain reactions.

Sure enough, Nian Yufei’s text read: "Li Yan, did you know I was coming? I originally planned to show my support when it premiered on Cloud Island, but since I was free today and guessed you wouldn’t be going to Cloud Island, I came to the premiere today especially. Don’t worry, I know you’re busy and won’t disturb you."

Not disturb... isn’t she already disturbing?

Li Yan muttered to himself but understood that if not for frequently turning his head, which led to her misunderstanding, she might have just silently watched from a distance without contacting him.

"Thank you. Thanks for your piano performance, and also thank your friend for me."

After sending it, Nian Yufei quickly replied: "You’re welcome, I will."

Li Yan didn’t reply anymore, even considering whether to switch off his phone, otherwise, he might spend the whole movie typing messages.

Luckily, no one else texted him after that.

...

After the movie, perhaps because there were many fans, the response was quite enthusiastic, and the audience’s reactions and reviews were quite positive.

The celebrities left separately, as did the media. The Heavenly Film staff all found Li Yan to report on the real situation they felt among the audience. Some staff members were not at the premiere but mixed in with other showings in the theater to gauge the true attendance and audience reaction, which differed significantly from the premiere. Overall, compared to other movies currently showing, it was considered pretty good.

Due to financial constraints, Qiao Pan could only arrange a premiere and media meeting, with no celebration party in the evening. The celebrities didn’t care about eating or drinking since it was just contractual work. In fact, with so many social engagements, they preferred fewer of them. But today it was held at this theater, and the cinema chain that invested was also present.

Before leaving, Qiao Pan found Li Yan and delicately expressed his intention. At the very least, they should treat them to dinner or karaoke. After all, for the cinema chain, their investment was only five percent; no matter how good the box office was, the profit they could share would be limited. Before the box office split, they could tweak it a little to gain much more than that. Even just this theater, having a few more or fewer showings a day, was all decided here, and these situations required some "hospitality."

Seeing him a bit troubled, Li Yan knew that the promotional funds from the investment were almost depleted in his hands. This extra expense could only come out of the boss’s pocket. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

He thought for a moment and agreed: "Of course, not just them, but the people working with you on the promotion and distribution, and also a few from our company. Let’s all go together! Put the cost as our company’s entertainment expense, but don’t overcharge me."

"No way, you’re so accommodating, Li, I can’t thank you enough." After getting Li Yan’s permission, Qiao Pan was relieved.

"I have other things to do, so I won’t go, but I’ll inform Xueyin to settle the bill later. As for how to arrange it, discuss it with Chu Yi. You guys have more experience than I do in these matters. And also entertain Mo Yan, haha..."

Li Yan didn’t know whether Wen Qianyi had left yet. He needed to check. Even if she had left, Yu Xiaodi was surely still waiting for him, so it wasn’t convenient to bring her along. Thus, he declined first.

"No problem, you don’t need to host. With Miss Jiang and other colleagues, it’s already impressive enough." Qiao Pan now looked at Li Yan differently. Initially, he was Wen Qianyi’s assistant; who could have imagined such rapid growth?

Before leaving, Li Yan found Jiang Xueyin and privately informed her about the arrangement. He asked her to settle the tab and supervise the expenses, indicating that only reasonable costs for dining and karaoke should be covered, and not to be extravagant, as many tickets would be needed to recoup it.

Jiang Xueyin was a bit reluctant, "Why should we pay? If it’s for the movie, Qiao Pan should settle the bill, and if it goes overboard, a report can allow everyone to share the extras proportionally."

Li Yan was speechless, "How much money are we talking about? One thousand bucks, okay? Can it be split into just a few thousand? Do you want to count heads, calculating how many of our company went and how many others? Focus on the big picture, not the small stuff! A film investment is big money, and we must seize it, not allow the director to squander it. But if we can’t afford this little hospitality, how can we expect others to believe we can invest in billion-dollar blockbusters?"

"Isn’t it just boasting..." Jiang Xueyin muttered, feeling that he spent money without care because it wasn’t his money anyway.