Chapter 506: New Year's Eve Video

Chapter 506: The New Year's Eve Video

"The River Crossing Pawn" was originally scheduled for a much earlier release, initially slated for the National Day holiday, but due to various complications, it had been delayed. It was subsequently submitted to film festivals in Europe, and because of the specific requirements regarding festival films, it had to wait until the conclusion of the festivals to debut during the New Year's Day slot.

As for Meng Caiwei, she once again secured the Best Actress award at the film festival for her performance in this movie, earning her the title of Film Queen. This marked her fifth such crown at European film festivals and her second among the Big Three. In terms of cinematic achievements, Meng Caiwei had already secured her place in the top echelon of Chinese actors, with only age separating her from the ultimate T0 tier.

Of course, despite "The River Crossing Pawn" returning with numerous honors from European festivals, its box office performance remained merely passable, entirely pale in comparison to those accolades. Among the movies released during this year's New Year period, it failed to break into the top three, let alone the top six, managing only to stay slightly above rock bottom.

In truth, this was quite normal, whether at home or abroad. The difficulty for an art film to find commercial success at the box office was immense; this held true not just for winners of the Big Three European awards, but also for Oscar-winning art films, which rarely achieved high box office revenues.

There was a saying in the industry that what belonged to the box office stayed at the box office, and what belonged to awards stayed with awards; anyone aiming for festival recognition essentially surrendered commercial prospects, while those seeking a high gross had to put awards aside. It could not be said that no one ever managed to have both, but the probability was vanishingly low.

Meng Fan’s choice to advertise during the New Year’s Eve gala was, truthfully, not done with any high hopes of generating significant revenue for the film, but rather to fulfill the task assigned to him by Meng Caiwei. Naturally, this advertisement had been coordinated with Mango TV in advance; Meng Fan was not so arrogant as to just spring it on them, and since it was merely a matter of a few spoken words, Mango TV would not have refused him.

After delivering the advertisement, Meng Fan bowed and left the stage. Shi Shiwu, who had already finished his performance, had just changed clothes and was waiting for him; on a night this long in a foreign city, only an all-night gaming session could truly count as celebrating the New Year.

Meng Fan refused decisively: "Not going!"

Shi Shiwu sneered: "Your mouth says no, but your body will be honest when the time comes."

He was, of course, referring to how Meng Fan had claimed he wasn't going the previous night, yet ended up joining anyway.

Having spoken his piece, Shi Shiwu tossed a slip of paper and walked away with casual flair.

Written on the paper was the address of the internet cafe.

Meng Fan was speechless. Had the man turned into a drama queen? They had been in this town for a mere three days and he had already visited that internet cafe twice; did he really need an address?

Meng Fan truly did not go, nor did he attend the after-party following the gala. After changing his clothes, he returned to the hotel, took a shower, and lay on the bed before initiating a video call to Wu Tong. Before it connected, he put on the hat that caused his presence to vanish.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Are you an idiot?"

"..."

"Shall we countdown together?"

"No."

"Then I'll count, and you just listen."

"Okay."

"Five!"

"Four!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

"What is your wish for the New Year?"

"Hmm, I don't have one."

"None. I have ideas and goals, but none count as wishes, so there's no need to ask you for a favor."

"Is there really not even a single one?"

"If I must say one, it would be hoping that you... stay healthy and safe, and don't stir up any trouble."

"Stir up trouble? Wait, did you say you want a son? Wouldn't a daughter be fine too?"

"...Don't talk big. If you've got the guts, don't wear protection next time!"

"...Tongtong, will you marry me?"

"You bastard! Who proposes over a phone call!"

Snap!

Wu Tong ended the video call.

Meng Fan dialed back, and it was only after being rejected three consecutive times that the call finally connected.

It was a New Year's Eve video, and for Meng Fan, it was a very strange kind of call and a unique way to welcome the new year; at this very moment, in the entire world, only Wu Tong still remembered his existence!

Netizens scrolling through Weibo felt that something was inexplicably off, as if a piece was missing, such as a few trending search topics.

Shi Shiwu, having just finished his gaming high with two streamers, also felt that something was strange, a bit empty inside. Could this be the post-high sage mode?

"Get up!"

"Damn it!"

Having just returned from his all-night session, Shi Shiwu was once again hauled out of bed by Meng Fan to eat breakfast. He was completely collapsing inside; he remembered very clearly checking several times before sleeping to make sure the door was deadbolted from the inside, so how on earth did this guy still get in!

What was wrong with this hotel!

An establishment that hosted all kinds of celebrities throughout the year, yet it couldn't even manage this level of security measures. Was there no privacy left!

Ah ah ah ah!

Shi Shiwu devoured everything wildly, finishing his breakfast with incredible speed.

"I've finished eating, I'm going to sleep, please leave, thank you!"

"That won't do! How can you lie down right after eating? Get up quickly and come to the gym with me!"

"Are you a psychopath! I'm sleeping for a bit and then heading back to Lion City, what gym are we going to!"

"Then you need to go even more. After working out, you'll sleep better on the plane!"

"We're through! We are breaking off our friendship! We are done, so you don't need to look after me anymore!"

"Breaking off? What kind of position is that?"

"...Just kill me! Anyway, I can't move!"

"Can't move? Then I'll move!"

With that, Meng Fan hoisted Shi Shiwu onto his shoulder and carried him toward the hotel gym.

"Brother, I was wrong! Starting from today, I will never invite you to stay up all night again, nor will I ask you to play games, alright? Put me down!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Are you sure?"

"Sure!"

"Alright then! But since we're already here, let's talk after we finish today's workout!"

Puff!

When a person possessed immense physical strength, the kind that was absolute enough to squeeze you to death, and used the excuse of doing it for your own good to brutally ravage you without reason, the absolute worst part was that after the torment, your entire body actually felt comfortable and relaxed. This bizarre sensation was something Shi Shiwu had truly had more than enough of.

Shi Shiwu already had ten thousand regrets about ever meeting Meng Fan!

But there was no medicine for regret in this world!

There is, but I won't eat!

Shi Shiwu returned to Lion City for two days and then went to Hangzhou City, not to seek abuse, of course, but to record a program for Blue Whale TV, and also made a trip to the Hangzhou Olympic Center. There was no helping it; as a member of Meng Fan's concert team and also serving as music director, he always had to be on site to help with rehearsals and such.

Busy until midnight, after eating a late-night snack... it's already this late, might as well pull an all-nighter!

Anyway, after this all-nighter, I'll go sleep in the apartment I rented in Hangzhou; Meng Fan absolutely cannot sneak in, so I can test the waters on the edge of danger.

Meng Fan certainly didn't go, but still showed up at Shi Shiwu's bedside early the next morning to drag him out for a morning run. Well, actually, that night Shi Shiwu didn't go for an all-night gaming session either—how could he really grind every day?

And not to mention, in the following days plus the previous period, Shi Shiwu was abused by Meng Fan every day, and the more he was abused, the better his physical condition became. After all, even when Shi Shiwu had just pulled an all-nighter, Meng Fan's abuse was still very scientific; without an all-nighter, the abuse was even more vigorous and scientific—at least five times the effect of Shi Shiwu's usual gym workouts.

(End of this chapter)