During the summer vacation, those two months were basically a grand critique of "Magic City Fortress."

While "Medicine God" was reaping an abundance of praise and admiration, "Magic City Fortress" was bombarded with countless negative reviews.

Things like "the disgrace of national cinema."

"The door to domestic science fiction hadn't even opened before it was slammed shut."

"The Xu brothers 'proving' a movie of their own making."

And so on.

This negative criticism wasn't just because the quality of the movie was poor.

After all, if a movie is bad, the worst that could happen is that the audience ignores it.

But the main reason for this backlash was that the Xu brothers treated their audience as fools.

Despite the obviously poor quality of the film, they advertised it as a masterpiece, deceiving numerous moviegoers into watching it.

For such a bad movie to still rake in an astonishing box office of 690 million was outrageous.

It was as if they were taxing people's intelligence.

So the number of people berating them also grew.

However, in the face of such negative criticism, the Xu brothers didn't just sit idly by.

The younger of the Xu brothers, Xu Zhaoqing, in an attempt to salvage their image, publicly apologized on Weibo, claiming that their company was committed to the development of domestic films. That's why they attempted to make a sci-fi movie.

After their internal screening, they felt that although the movie wasn't top-notch, its quality was passable.

Considering it was the first sci-fi movie in the country, that's why they promoted it so heavily.

In response to disappointing the audience, he apologized once more on Weibo.

Following his urgent PR move, the Xu brothers also mobilized a large number of internet operatives and media to start whitewashing themselves.

The core of their whitewashing narrative was:

"The Xu brothers had good intentions, but their capabilities were inadequate."

"With so many sci-fi films abroad and none at home, the Xu brothers have already done enough by daring to make a sci-fi movie under so much pressure."

"We should be more tolerant towards domestic movies."

"After all, there is a certain gap between domestic movies and those from abroad. Without trying and making mistakes, there can never be progress."

Anyway, all this talk had nothing to do with the quality of the film or false advertising, focusing only on grand statements.

It was almost as if they were tying "patriotism" to themselves.

A posture as if criticizing this movie was unpatriotic.

This PR strategy was effective.

The netizens and audience in the country are actually quite kind-hearted, seeing some reason in their words, so gradually, some of the negative criticism began to dissipate.

Originally, none of this had anything to do with Chen Yan.

At most, he was just a bystander, spending his free time at the Charity Organization, holding a small phone, watching with Yu Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying how the Xu brothers were being mocked.

Who would have known that as things developed, they would come to affect him too?

Perhaps it was thought that dealing with things this way still left too much negative sentiment, or they wanted to turn their company's reputation around.

So after using "good intentions but lacking ability" as a means of whitewashing, the Xu brothers gradually began to progressively clear the name of their movie's quality.

They even resorted to a method that involved both promoting themselves and belittling others.

Thus, following the narrative of "insufficient capability but good intentions" spread by their internet operatives, soon there appeared more such comments online:

"Actually, the quality of 'Magic City Fortress' is not bad. It's just that it happened to clash with the release of 'Medicine God,' so it got overshadowed."

"After all, 'Medicine God' is truly a masterpiece. 'Magic City Fortress' can't compare in quality, and with two films released simultaneously, inevitable comparisons led to negative repercussions."

"If 'Medicine God' hadn't existed, maybe people would have had a higher opinion of 'Magic City Fortress.'"

And gradually, it evolved into statements like:

"In essence, sci-fi movies are indeed harder to make than dramas. Under the same capability of director and actors, the quality of a drama tends to be higher. If 'Magic City Fortress' had been a drama, maybe it could have reached seventy or eighty percent of 'Medicine God's' quality."

"The huge success of 'Medicine God' is largely due to it being a drama, and moreover, it's adapted from real events, which makes it easier for the audience to resonate with it. 'Magic City Fortress' is different—it's a science fiction film, which naturally is harder to produce."

"Our country isn't really adept at making sci-fi movies. It's a matter of cultural genes. Compared to Hollywood, we're better suited to making dramas. So, 'Magic City Fortress' losing to 'Medicine God' is no fault in combat."

In any case, this whitewashing had already become systematic, starting to stack layer upon layer. It seemed as if they were going to staunchly whitewash 'Magic City Fortress' from black to white, to salvage the Xu brothers' reputation...

.......

"This is just shameless! Do the Xu brothers have no sense of decency left?!"

"Honestly, they might as well just claim that 'Magic City Fortress' can make a 4 billion box office!"

In Chen Yan's office, the newly crowned 5 billion box office queen: Miss Lu Man, was throwing a fit, cursing and swearing.

She stomped around the office with her long legs, furious at the Xu brothers.

But because she had received a good upbringing since childhood, the extent of her profanity was limited to "shameless" and "so shameless!"

In the office, Chen Yan, Yang Rou, and Mei Li sat respectively on the executive chair, sofa, and chair, silently watching her rage.

After venting furiously and realizing that no one else was engaging with her, Lu Man felt somewhat aggrieved, pouted her lips, and then went over to Chen Yan, shaking his arm and saying, "Chen Yan, don't you think they're bullying people? It's just too much."

"I finally have a standout piece, and they've downplayed it to being almost worthless."

"Cough, cough." Mei Li coughed softly, gesturing for Lu Man to maintain her composure.

Lu Man rolled her eyes prettily, then let go of Chen Yan and straightened up.

Mei Li said, "Man Man, don't be so agitated. Even if you curse them a thousand times, it won't change anything."

"Besides... a movie that ranks third isn't really your signature piece."

Lu Man: .....

"I don't care."

"If a movie with a 4.5 billion box office count doesn't qualify as my signature piece, what does?"

Clearly, even with Lu Man's current status and her position in the film industry, she still needed a blockbuster ranked number one in historical box office performance to back her up.

Hearing her words, Chen Yan gently patted her arm, then said, "Don't be so worked up."

"It's just a 4.5 billion movie after all. Soon, you will have a second."

Upon hearing Chen Yan's words, Lu Man and the other two women in the room all turned their gazes toward him.

Chen Yan leaned back in his executive chair, looked at the three of them, and then said, "I've recently looked at the rough cut of 'Wandering Planet.' This film is going to be a masterpiece not inferior to 'Medicine God.'

"Reaching over 4.5 billion box office is no issue."

Hearing Chen Yan's words, Mei Li said, "President Chen. Although I trust your judgement, a film's box office success doesn't solely depend on quality."

"There are many factors that can impact box office results."

"And 'Medicine God' achieved such high box office because it had the perfect combination of timing, location, and people."

"Otherwise, it would be very difficult."

She continued, "There are many excellent and fantastic films whose box office results weren't great back in the day."

"While there are movies of mediocre quality that did very well in terms of box office, like the recent example we had."

"So..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone present understood her meaning.

She wasn't criticizing Chen Yan; she just felt that Chen Yan shouldn't have such high expectations, believing that every film of the same quality as 'Medicine God' would achieve similar box office success.

This could lead to decision-making mistakes.

However, Chen Yan did not take her words to heart.

He asked, "So what else do you think is needed for a movie to make over 4 billion at the box office, besides quality?"

Mei Li paused, then said, "It needs a good release period, it needs..."

She hadn't finished speaking when Chen Yan said, "The release period for 'Wandering Planet' is the Spring Festival slot, the best of the year."

Mei Li was surprised that Chen Yan was actually responding point by point; she paused, then reluctantly continued, "It needs to far surpass the quality of other films released in the same period. To an extent where there's no competition."

Chen Yan nodded, "'Wandering Planet' is definitely on par with 'Medicine God.' Moreover, due to its genre difference. It might even have a greater advantage."

Mei Li, "Promotion. High box office requires considerable promotion funds."

Chen Yan smiled, "Our movie's promotional investments are probably the highest."

Mei Li fell silent for a moment.

Because she realized that everything Chen Yan said was correct. So, if "Wandering Planet's" quality was indeed good, could it really achieve over 4 billion in box office?

Even though she rationally thought it was so, emotionally, she still found it hard to believe.

Because... up until now, "Medicine God" is the only domestic movie in history that has broken 4 billion in box office.

And other movies haven't even hit 2 billion.

So... the second movie to break 4 billion would still be produced by their own company?

This... seemed too far-fetched, right?

While Mei Li was contemplating this, Yang Rou spoke up indifferently, "Just pure promotion isn't enough."

"You need a gimmick, a talking point."

"Although the Xu brothers' statements are biased, some of their judgements are indeed correct. 'Medicine God's' success is closely related to the societal discussions it sparked."

Hearing Yang Rou's words, Chen Yan laughed, then picked up the phone on the desk and opened Weibo, posting a Weibo update.

[Lately, I've seen lots of news and discussions claiming that domestic movies don't have the genes for sci-fi and can only make dramas.]

[But I want to say, that's all nonsense.]

[Good movies and bad movies only relate to capability and attitude, not to genre.]

[Since everyone says our country can't make sci-fi movies, let me make a bet. By the end of the year, my new movie 'Wandering Planet' will be released. It will be the true first sci-fi movie of our nation.]

[It will also prove that our country can produce great sci-fi movies!]

[If its box office doesn't surpass 4 billion, I'll live-stream cooking myself in an iron pot!]

After posting the Weibo update, Chen Yan threw the phone on the table, then told the three women, "Now... there's your gimmick."

"The Xu brothers want to create hype, right?"

"Then let's just play along and use this gimmick."

"Since they say our country can't make good sci-fi movies, let's take the topic they stirred up and show the world whether we can make a good sci-fi movie or not!"

The three women stood up, gathered around, and were somewhat shocked by the content on the phone.

Yang Rou's expression was complex as she said, "President Chen, you're betting too big here."

Mei Li added, "Yeah... if 'Wandering Planet' doesn't reach this result. What will you do..."

Among them, only Lu Man, the amusing one, was the most excited.

After reading Chen Yan's Weibo, she danced with joy and said, "Chen Yan! You're so awesome! That's how it should be! Just like that, smack the Xu brothers in the face!"

"Let them bring us down! Let them say our country can't do it!"

"If they can't make it, why drag the whole industry, the whole country into it!"

"Hmph!"

After getting excited, Lu Man also calmed down, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as she adorably said, "But your bet is indeed a bit too big."

"A 4 billion box office. Can it really be achieved?"

"If it's not reached, you're going to be in trouble."

Chen Yan glanced at her, leaning back nonchalantly, and said, "Me in trouble? What trouble? I used your phone to post it."

"What?" Lu Man immediately grabbed the phone with a confused face, staring at the interface on Weibo....

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.