Chapter 19 Opening Day Box Office Exceeds Ten Million, Uncle Benshan: ?!
【”Lost on Journey” premiere attracts big-name celebrities; post-90s newcomer actress Zhang Tian’ai outshines international film queen Zhang Ziyi!】
【Jackie Cheng comments: “‘Lost on Journey’ is the best Mainland comedy I’ve ever seen!”】
【Zhang Yimou says: “‘Lost on Journey’ is hilariously funny! I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Zhao Benshan’s team on A Simple Noodle Story!】
【When asked whether he agrees that Zhang Tian’ai outshines Zhang Ziyi, Zhang Yimou responded that Zhang Tian’ai is a “Ming-girl”.】
【Qu Yiming and Daolang collaborate live for the first time at the premiere and perform passionately on stage.】
【Some viewers say: “‘Lost on Journey’ crushes director Ning Hao’s Crazy series of films.”】
【Another low-budget comedy: 21-year-old Qu Yiming vs. Ning Hao, who just became the youngest domestic director to hit the billion mark!】
【Uncle Benshan says: “If ‘Lost on Journey’ can just break even, that’d be good enough,” seemingly not hoping his apprentice would win the bet.】
【Director Qu Yiming revealed in an interview that he has plans to go solo, sparking rumors of a fallout with Zhao Benshan’s crew.】
【A Zhao Benshan team member claims Qu Yiming slandered his senior apprentice just to get on the Spring Festival Gala…】
After the premiere, all major media channels — newspapers, magazines, TV news, variety shows — were flooded with coverage of Lost on Journey.
Zhang Tian’ai, a supporting actress with not much screen time in the film, still got featured in several reports, making her the first post-90s actress to break into the public eye.
In 2009, many of the 1985-born actresses hadn’t even made their move yet. Zhang Tian’ai, born in October 1990 and only 18 years old this year, was already making waves. The media even dubbed her the first “Ming-girl” (a term referring to actresses discovered by Qu Yiming).
This indirectly showed that the media had high expectations for the success of Lost on Journey — predicting it would become Qu Yiming’s first cinematic masterpiece, despite him never having directed or acted in any film or TV show before.
Put this way, it was even more shocking. His first project hit the peak, just like how he stunned the entire nation a few months ago with his debut on the Spring Festival Gala. The hype exploded.
On May 1st, Labor Day and the first day of the holiday, audiences across the country flocked to cinemas early in the morning to buy tickets and watch the film.
“Didn’t we already see it yesterday?”
After watching the flag-raising ceremony in the square, Meng Ziyi dragged her mom to the cinema. Her mother, Sister Qian, didn’t quite understand.
Meng Ziyi earnestly said, “Yiming-ge signed a 50 million box office bet with the company. If he doesn’t win the bet, Yiming-ge will be in trouble!”
As for the poor Yiming-ge that fans were worried about, he was currently rehearsing for a show at the Liu Laogen Grand Stage.
Due to being busy promoting the movie in other cities recently, he hadn’t had time to rehearse any comedy sketches. Plus, his Er Ren Zhuan (a traditional Chinese duet performance) skills weren’t that great. So Qu Yiming chose the simplest performance format — singing.
“Where is the world filled with flowers?
If it truly exists, then I’ll definitely go.
I want to stand atop the highest mountain,
Even if it’s a sheer cliff…”
On stage, with the band accompanying him, Qu Yiming sang. Off stage, Zhang Tian’ai — who had no school due to the holiday — came to watch the rehearsal. She sat with her hands under her chin, eyes sparkling with admiration.
Sitting beside her, Xin Zhilei glanced at the love-struck Zhang Tian’ai, then at Qu Yiming, wondering how much Lost on Journey had grossed on its first day.
“To let your life shine, you must persevere to the end.
Rather than drag out a miserable existence, Better to burn bright with passion.
For the beauty in your heart, never compromise till old age!”
Qu Yiming bowed in thanks and walked offstage. The host came up next to start rehearsing his segment. Today’s rehearsal was meant to run through the entire show.
“You wrote that song? Not bad. Very powerful.”
Uncle Benshan, who was watching from below, gave a rare compliment once Qu Yiming returned to his seat.
“Thank you, Master,” Qu Yiming said.
Next to them, Xiao Shenyang chimed in, “Yiming’s really talented! Got any other new songs? Hook me up with one too!”
Lately, Xiao Shenyang had been “grounded” by Uncle Benshan — dragged to Liaoning TV to compete in a comedy contest and cut off from 80% of his commercial gigs — so he had gotten a lot more obedient.
Uncle Benshan: “You want a song? First get me that championship trophy from Comedy Star!”
The Liaoning TV comedy contest, co-produced with Benshan Media, was titled Comedy Star — a name Qu Yiming casually made up. Currently, Comedy Star had aired eight episodes and, in terms of ratings, was already in the top tier nationwide — leaving behind Benshan Happy Camp, another show by Benshan Media and HeiTV, by several blocks.
Uncle Benshan took this show very seriously. Tomorrow’s grand opening celebration would even feature Comedy Star contestants, including Guo Degang’s apprentice Cao Yunjin (Guo Degang himself wasn’t competing), plus Shen Teng, Ma Li from Kaixin Mahua, and Jia Ling from Feng Gong’s team.
Because of this, Liaoning TV would be livestreaming the entire Liu Laogen theater opening ceremony.
Qu Yiming thought for a moment, “How about this, senior brother — if you win the championship, I’ll write a movie script and have Song Xiaobao act with you.”
“Really!” Xiao Shenyang said in surprise.
“Really-really,” Qu Yiming laughed.
Speaking of movies, Uncle Benshan naturally thought of Lost on Journey.
He asked Qu Yiming, “Yiming, how much do you think Lost on Journey will gross on its first day?”
“At the very least, 10 million,” Qu Yiming replied calmly.
Xiao Shenyang gasped in awe.
Uncle Benshan thought for a bit.
“It just might be possible.”
The day hadn’t even ended yet. At around 8 p.m., while attending a banquet with Uncle Benshan, Qu Yiming got the news—Lost on Journey had officially surpassed 10 million RMB in opening day box office. Also at the dinner, Chairman Han received the same news.
“Old Zhao, your apprentice’s movie is a hit!” Chairman Han put down his phone and looked at Uncle Benshan.
Uncle Benshan, who had a bit too much to drink, was a little slow to react…