The Spring Festival of 2008.
After "Lightyear" Marketing innovation and the development and expansion of other channels such as transitioning theaters into cinemas, the sci-fi movie "Before Death" finally hit major theaters.
But in the first few days after its release, besides the newly opened "Light and Shadow Star Movie" cinema which had a lot of showings, other cinemas had only around 100 screenings combined.
Many suburban cinemas had even fewer showings, with only one screening a day, leaving many audiences with little chance to see the movie.
Tian Tian, a young urban professional, was single during the Spring Festival, enduring relentless pressure from her relatives at home urging her to get married, which left her terribly frustrated.
One day, she finally sneaked out from the house full of relatives, planning with her best friend to go to the cinema to relieve her inner frustration. However, as soon as she entered the cinema, her friend sent a message saying that she was going on a date and couldn’t accompany her.
It couldn’t get any more frustrating!
What made her even more upset was that when she went to the cinema counter to buy a ticket, the cashier told her that the tickets for the movie she wanted to see were sold out for the day.
"Should I say it or not?!"
Tian Tian almost burst into tears from anger.
She was frustrated by herself for a while and then thought, going out during the Spring Festival was not easy, and now that she was already at the cinema, she didn’t want to return home immediately, where two tables of mahjong games awaited. If she went back at this time...
Wasn’t that just like asking for trouble?
Speaking of asking for trouble, Tian Tian inadvertently turned her head at the cinema counter and happened to see an advertisement board showing a movie called "Before Death," scheduled to start in fifteen minutes.
"Damn, how appropriate!"
The film title!
It was practically tailor-made for the distress of Tian Tian, the lovely maiden!
Tian Tian became curious and quickly browsed through the movie’s details, including the cast, director, producer, and production company information...
"What the heck?"
"How come she didn’t recognize anyone?"
It’s worth noting that she’s a fangirl who loves watching movies and is familiar with some of the personalities in today’s entertainment circle...
Whatever, never mind, never mind, she’s going to watch this film because of its title even if she gets conned today; it can’t get any worse anyhow.
However, thirty minutes later...
Tian Tian was sitting in the slightly empty cinema hall, together with other audience members, crying her eyes out with several tissues soaked.
"It’s so freakin’ touching!!!"
The two-hour movie concluded.
Tian Tian’s round eyes were red like a rabbit’s, but she was extraordinarily excited, eager to find a seat and immediately texted her best friend at the cinema door:
"Girl, let me tell you, I forgive you!!! But if you plan to watch a movie on your date tonight, make sure it’s ’Before Death.’ It’s worth it, trust me! I need to rush home to write a review, talk to you tomorrow in detail after you watch it. Love you, muah~"
"Before Death? What is that?" Tian Tian’s best friend was at a hotpot restaurant with a gentle-looking boy, feeling puzzled upon receiving the message.
When Tian Tian got home, all the relatives had already left.
Her dad was mopping the floor in the living room, and her mom was boiling soup in the kitchen.
"I’m back." Tian Tian hummed a tune, changed into fluffy slippers at the door, and hung her furry coat in the nearby cabinet.
"Our daughter went on a date, why so happy?" Tian Tian’s dad asked with a smile seeing his daughter happily walk in.
"What date? I went to see a movie." Tian Tian happily picked up a fruit platter on the living room table.
"Still went to see a movie, isn’t that like going on a date?" Tian Tian’s mom heard their conversation and came out from the kitchen.
"A date can’t be as fun as watching a movie! I’m going to my room; I don’t feel like eating dinner tonight." Tian Tian walked quickly to her room.
She couldn’t wait to turn on the computer and write a movie review, la la la...
"How can a date not be more fun than a movie? Now I finally understand why this kid hasn’t found a boyfriend..." Tian Tian’s mom’s interest faded instantly.
Tian Tian’s previously gloomy mood was already healed by a good movie, and she didn’t want to hear her mom’s nagging at all.
After quickly entering her room, she slammed the door shut.
Leaving her dad and mom looking at each other in the living room.
After a moment, Tian Tian’s dad said, "The child’s mood just got better, don’t mention boyfriends and such. You know she doesn’t like to hear it."
Didn’t Tian Tian’s mom know this?
She just hoped that her daughter would find a good boyfriend to take care of her. Otherwise, Tian Tian would be working alone outside, with no one to take care of her, and as parents who aren’t around, they feel worried.
"So you care about our daughter while I just make her unhappy, is that better?" Tian Tian’s mom said feeling wronged and exasperated, rolling her eyes at Tian Tian’s dad.
Still, she walked to Tian Tian’s door and shouted inside, "Don’t eat too much fruit, it’s cold. I made some soup, come out and drink two bowls later."
"Got it."
The sound of Tian Tian booting up the computer came from inside.
The next day, the weather was quite nice.
Tian Tian woke up to the sound of clattering pots and pans from her parents cooking in the kitchen, and the first thing she did was throw off her quilt, get up and turn on her laptop.
Then she screamed.
"Ah..."
She found out that her latest movie review, which she posted overnight on Douban, had already received 1,400 likes, been reposted 103 times, and had 499 replies.
After screaming excitedly in her room, she gave her laptop a big kiss.
Tian Tian’s mom and dad were startled by their daughter’s scream, dropping the bowls and spatulas they were holding and rushing to knock on their daughter’s door.
"Mom, Dad?" Tian Tian asked, puzzled.
"What are you doing?" Tian Tian’s mom and dad peeked their heads into her room.
"Nothing." Tian Tian answered, "Mom and Dad, my movie review exploded! Let me treat you to a movie after breakfast. The movie is super good!"
She had planned to go for a second watch of "Before Death" at the cinema last night.
"What is a movie review?" Tian Tian’s parents didn’t know how to use the internet and didn’t understand what a movie review was.
"I’ll change my clothes first, then I’ll explain during breakfast." Tian Tian closed her room door and couldn’t wait to start preparing for watching the movie.
She didn’t want to waste any time.
She had researched last night, realizing that the cinema she went to yesterday didn’t have any showtimes today, but the "Light and Shadow Star Movie" cinema near her home had two morning screenings suitable for taking her parents to watch.1314