He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, opened it, took one out, and put it in his mouth.

Seeing this, Xu Zhaoqing hurriedly took out his lighter and lit it for him.

After taking a puff, Xu Zhaorong said, "When we first set up the hyping and killing plan, I thought their box office would definitely not reach three hundred million."

"That way, by giving them a hyping and killing scheme, we could turn passivity into initiative."

"But in this half month, I've carefully studied their original work, production team, and the trailers and promotional materials they've released. The more I looked, the more alarmed I became."

"This movie might really become a classic."

"If it's a classic, then its box office will have no limit."

Xu Zhaorong squinted and took a drag on his cigarette, then slowly exhaled and said, "In that case, our hyping and killing plan might just end up being a wedding dress for them, boosting their box office."

"Even if their final box office doesn't reach six hundred million, but if it's around five hundred million, then our hyping and killing will become a laughingstock."

Xu Zhaoqing was a bit surprised and said, "Is it that scary?"

Xu Zhaorong shook his head, "Not only that." "Actually, I have implemented other plans over this half month."

"To suppress their momentum, I've added a lot of promotional expenses to 'Eavesdropping 3', hired plenty of troll accounts to create a stark contrast between the reputations of the two movies."

"Really, by doing this, I want to take a gamble. To put them in such a situation that they'd become utterly disorganized and expose their flaws."

"Like holding a test screening, or increasing their promotions like us, or blackening our name."

"No matter what path they take, I have many response plans that could directly affect their movie's reputation, and thereby affect their box office."

"The result... they actually managed to keep their composure."

"It seems that Song Chuang, Yang Rou, and even that Chen Yan are not simple characters."

Holding the cigarette in his hand and gazing out the window amid the curling smoke, Xu Zhaorong slowly said, "In the future, Chenlu Film Company is really going to be our formidable enemy."

Hearing his brother speak like this, Xu Zhaoqing still had a look of incomprehension on his face.

In his heart, he could not associate Lu Man, Chenlu Film Company and a classic movie no matter what.

From his point of view, he believed that everything his brother did was not wrong.

Including now, these plans were all proceeding normally.

Regarding the multi-pronged strategem his brother devised that had not worked, he believed it was only because... the enemy was too foolish and had not responded quickly enough.

Using the popular internet saying, it was like... his brother was clearly super strong, but excessively cautious.

He felt with his brother's hand – the trump card of "a film franchise with over three hundred million in box office," "hype and kill," and "troll accounts," how could Chenlu Film Company possibly turn the tables!

Perhaps seeing his younger brother wasn't taking it in, Xu Zhaorong couldn't help but smile.

He patted his younger brother on the shoulder and said, "Let's hope it's all just my wild imagination."

Xu Zhaoqing then comforted his older brother in return, "Right, I also think you're overthinking it. Don't worry. They're just grasshoppers after autumn, they won't be able to leap for long!"

...

November 11th.

Singles' Day, Friday.

On the day the movie was released, at 9 in the morning, Lu Man ran excitedly to the company, and unusually straight to Chenyu Game Company, sticking by Chen Yan's side.

Since the awkward encounter involving three of them that day, Lu Man had never been to the game company.

It was as if she had a tacit understanding with Yu Qiao Qiao.

One stayed in the film company, the other in the game company, without interfering with each other.

Therefore, this was also the first time in several months that Chen Yan saw Lu Man come to the game company.

The first thing Lu Man said upon arriving at the game company was, "Chen Yan, do you think the movie... will be successful?"

Chen Yan was still reviewing planning cases.

Hearing Lu Man's words, he looked up and countered with a question, "If the box office really breaks five hundred million, that apartment I promised you, do you really want it?"

Lu Man nodded forcefully, "Yes!"

Chen Yan uttered, "Oh," then said, "No problem. Just get your ID ready."

After speaking, Chen Yan looked back down at the documents.

While Chen Yan felt assured, Lu Man was far from feeling secure. She began pacing restlessly in the CEO's office.

She walked around for a while, sat for a while, and then once again approached Chen Yan to take a look at him.

Chen Yan, a bit annoyed by her presence, looked up and said, "What exactly... are you doing?"

Lu Man showed a pitiable expression and said with a touch of grievance, "I'm feeling uneasy. I'm afraid the box office won't do well."

Chen Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Take it easy. It's just a movie. Is it worth making such a fuss?"

Lu Man replied, "Of course! You know, this is my very first movie! And besides... there are so many people online who are skeptical of me."

Hearing Lu Man say this, Chen Yan once again looked at her more seriously.

This little fairy, it turned out, wasn't as carefree as she appeared. Even she could be worried about the audience's lack of faith and could doubt herself because of fans' skepticism.

Chen Yan had thought she would come right out with something like "The fans and audience of this generation are just not good enough!"

With that in mind, Chen Yan glanced at the document in his hand, closed it, and decided not to work that day. He would accompany the restless Lu Man instead.

Opening the real-time movie box office rankings, Chen Yan and Lu Man nestled on the couch and started following the box office returns.

There were three movies released that day, besides "Love Lost" and "Eavesdropping 3," there was also a niche film.

But just in the morning, this niche film was left far behind by the top two.

As of noon, "Eavesdropping 3" had an 8 million box office, while "Love Lost" had 5 million.

Lu Man's expression was a bit gloomy.

At noon, the two had lunch and continued to watch the box office.

"Eavesdropping 3" maintained its lead.

10 million, 6.5 million...

12 million, 8.9 million...

15 million, 12.6 million...

"Love Lost" seemed like it would never catch up...

After watching it all day, Lu Man was almost in despair.

Chen Yan also didn't know how to comfort her.

After all, although he knew the total box office, he didn't know the first-day box office, so all he could do was reassure Lu Man not to lose faith and to believe the movie would rise.

...

Singles' Day, 5 p.m.

Magic City, an online education company.

After a hard day of accounting, Duo Duo stretched and saw that many messages had come into her WeChat without her noticing.

When she checked, she found her girlfriends' group chat was in an uproar.

[Today being Singles' Day, and being so boring, how about we go watch a movie together?

[Which movie?]

["Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days"! Watching a movie about heartbreak on Singles' Day, it's so fitting. Anyway, Duo Duo is the only one in our group with a boyfriend.]

[Yeah, let's do it! I've got nothing else to do tonight anyway. Got all the deals I wanted.]

[Count me in.]

[+1. Who hasn't been heartbroken before.]

Seeing her friends' chat, Duo Duo hesitated for a moment. "Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days"? She did seem to have seen many ads for it lately.

And... if her girlfriends were all going and she didn't, she would seem like the odd one out.

So after thinking it over, she replied, [I'm in too. Add me.]

Once she spoke up, several girlfriends in the group teased her, [You with a boyfriend, coming to watch a movie about heartbreak?]

Duo Duo replied with a smile, [Just because I have a boyfriend doesn't mean I've never been heartbroken. I too want to see this timely movie.]

[Great! Then let's all go together!]

[Together! Girlfriends' activity!]

...

Meanwhile, in Tiandu.

"Did you see the trailer for 'Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days'?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go see it."

"Why would a bunch of big guys like us watch that?"

"It's the weekend, we need to find something to do. Plus, it's Singles' Day. It would be fitting to watch a 'single' film."

"Alright then..."

...

Spring City.

"Is there a movie today, dear?"

"There's 'Eavesdropping 3' and 'Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days'."

"Shall we go watch 'Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days'?"

"Why watch that? We're not heartbroken."

"I saw that the trailer says watching 'Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days' will make you cherish your loved one more."

"Oh... okay then."

...

Dali.

"Wah, I'm heartbroken, baby. I want to go to the movies."

"Don't cry, my dear. All those jerks can drop dead. I'll go with you to see 'Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days'."

...

It has to be said, the millions in promotional funds that Chen Yan spent were effective, and the release date Song Chuang picked was also very suitable.

Even with Lu Man's debuff, thanks to the good promotions and release date, quite a few people came to see the movie "Love Lost" on Singles' Day.

The only problem was that compared to the single or double moviegoers of "Eavesdropping 3," most of those who came to see "Love Lost" were friends, watching together.

At these times, daytime box office revenue was bound to be much lower.

So, in the evening,

The "Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days," which had not had a high seat occupancy during the day, saw an explosive increase in its box office.

Many people influenced by the promotional clips, trailers, friends, and various forums and websites flocked to see "Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days."

13 million, 15 million, 18 million...

The box office for "Love Lost in Twenty-Three Days" rocketed up like it was on fire.

And at 8 p.m., it successfully overtook "Eavesdropping 3."

At that moment, both movies reached a box office of 24 million...

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