The Movie Queen's Beloved Crybaby Alpha - Chapter 79

October 1st, the premiere day of Ten-Day Operation.

Early in the morning, Ye Qinglan was picked up by Ke Ying and her team to prepare for the premiere ceremony, while Ning Yunshu was escorted to the venue by Qin Yun.

At the premiere, aside from the majority of media and film critics, the audience consisted mostly of die-hard fans of the movie and its lead actors. When Ning Yunshu appeared, everyone tacitly assumed which group she belonged to.

Some of Ye Qinglan’s fan club even greeted her warmly.

Ning Yunshu responded with smiles, showing no airs at all. She quickly collected some fan merchandise and was seated by the staff.

The venue was packed, with every seat in the screening hall filled. As the film began, the hall fell into complete silence.

The audience was completely immersed in the film’s atmosphere, gasping or sobbing along with the twists and turns of the plot. Only when Captain Song finally dismantled the transnational human trafficking ring did everyone collectively exhale in relief.

Even Ning Yunshu found her heart pounding with tension. It wasn’t until the film ended and the actors took the stage for the red carpet that she snapped out of it, looking up to meet Ye Qinglan’s radiant smile.

After signing the poster, Ye Qinglan, dressed in her police uniform from the film, took the microphone under the host’s introduction and said, “Hello everyone, I’m Ye Qinglan, playing Captain Song Yan in Ten-Day Operation. I’m thrilled you could join us today.”

The venue erupted in deafening cheers, and even Ning Yunshu was swept up in the excitement, shouting along.

Ye Qinglan immediately looked up at her, her smile deepening.

Each actor introduced themselves, and the half-hour premiere ceremony proceeded under the host’s guidance.

After the event concluded and the cast and crew left under staff arrangements, the audience began to disperse. Along the way, Ning Yunshu overheard nothing but praise for the film, with some even wanting to stay for another screening to relive the experience.

Though Ning Yunshu felt the same, her priority now was to congratulate Ye Qinglan on her success.

Sure enough, as she stepped out of the screening hall, her phone buzzed with a message from Ye Qinglan.

[Ye Qinglan]: I’m at Parking B2, Spot A36.

With this, Ning Yunshu immediately changed course, bypassing the crowd and taking an elevator straight to the underground parking lot.

Following Ye Qinglan’s directions, she easily found the car and slid inside without hesitation.

From the front seats, Zhou Tiantian and Ke Ying greeted her, and Ke Ying signaled Zhou Tiantian to drive.

Ye Qinglan exhaled and remarked, “There were so many people today even more than at Dawn.”

Ke Ying replied, “That’s expected. Director Xu’s films always draw crowds eager to attend premieres. A packed house also means the reviews are unlikely to be bad.”

Ye Qinglan leaned casually into Ning Yunshu’s arms. “Whatever. It’s not my problem anymore.”

Ke Ying couldn’t bear to look. She averted her gaze from the rearview mirror and turned to the tablet in her hands, speaking coldly, “Next week is the costume test shoot for your new film. After that, you’ll be preparing to join the production team.”

“Ah?” Ye Qinglan groaned. “Why is the break always so short?”

Ke Ying remained expressionless. “Don’t even think about it.”

Ye Qinglan muttered something under her breath but ultimately didn’t say anything more.

Ning Yunshu chuckled softly and gently squeezed Ye Qinglan’s fingers.

Ke Ying clicked her tongue and raised the partition, preferring not to see what was happening.

With the partition up, Ye Qinglan shamelessly snuggled into Ning Yunshu’s arms.

“I’m so tired. I’ll take a nap. Wake me when we arrive,” Ye Qinglan said.

Ning Yunshu brushed away the stray hairs on her eyelashes and smiled. “Alright, sleep well, sister.”

Ye Qinglan drifted off peacefully on Ning Yunshu’s lap.

When the car stopped, Ning Yunshu woke her up, and after saying goodbye to Ke Ying and Zhou Tiantian, they headed upstairs.

Surprisingly, Ten-Day Operation became a hit faster than anyone expected. By the end of its opening day, the box office had already reached over a billion, and its rating on Douban soared to an unbelievable 9.5.

Xu Su even called personally to inform Ye Qinglan that once the peak season passed, they could start planning a celebration party. Given the current momentum, the film’s box office growth would only continue to rise, eliminating any concerns about its performance.

Naturally, Ye Qinglan was thrilled. As the lead actress, she was delighted to see the film’s overwhelming success.

After hanging up with Xu Su, she hummed cheerfully, fluttering around like a butterfly.

Noticing her joy, Ning Yunshu smiled. “Looks like we can open a celebratory bottle of champagne tonight.”

Ye Qinglan tilted her head. “Wouldn’t that be counting our chickens before they hatch?”

Ning Yunshu laughed. “That phrase applies when the results aren’t out yet. But the opening day numbers are already in, how is that premature?”

Ye Qinglan pondered for a moment before nodding. “You’re right.”

Ning Yunshu chuckled and stood up. “Then I’ll open the bottle.”

She selected a top-tier champagne from the wine cabinet, poured two glasses, and handed one to Ye Qinglan. “To the film’s success?”

“Cheers!”

Ten-Day Operation was undeniably a triumph, leading the box office by a wide margin, even doubling the earnings of other films in the same period. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, and any negative voices online quickly faded into obscurity.

At the celebration party, everyone was in high spirits. Xu Su, flushed with excitement, toasted with everyone multiple times. If not for Ye Qinglan’s costume shoot the next day, Zhou Tiantian would have had to help her out the door.

Back home, after washing up with Ning Yunshu’s help, she went to bed early. The next morning, Zhou Tiantian picked her up for the costume shoot.

She had three sets of photos to take: one in humble attire before entering the palace, another in royal robes after becoming a princess, and the last in imperial regalia after ascending the throne.

Three distinct sets of costumes with strikingly different styles marked her gradual ascent to that supreme position above all others.

The photographer couldn’t stop praising her poise, saying she effortlessly embodied and expressed the essence of each outfit.

Even the director nodded repeatedly in approval.

After the shoot, he even had his assistant personally escort her out.

When the official promotional stills were released, the hype from Ten-Day Operation hadn’t yet faded. Riding on this momentum, the production team reaped massive benefits, and Ye Qinglan’s fan count skyrocketed.

For those few days, even Ke Ying found Ye Qinglan much more agreeable nothing about her seemed irritating anymore.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wenjin officially renamed the company: Yaoxing Media Co., Ltd.

He also signed Wei Youning and Xu Youyou under its banner.

When their official announcements about joining Yaoxing were made, netizens couldn’t help but marvel at how the company seemed poised for major growth.

Xiao Wenjin’s “golden koi luck” also came into play, Yaoxing’s stocks soared, allowing it to compete with some established film studios. Wei Youning soon landed a script from a top-tier director, thrilling him so much he felt his career had entered a second golden age.

As for Xu Youyou, the company enrolled her in additional classes. On top of her schoolwork, she had to study acting and theater, leaving her as busy as a spinning top.

Xiao Wenjin was rather smug about all this.

“See? I told you I’ve got golden koi luck.”

“Yeah, yeah, little golden koi,” Ye Qinglan could only humor him.

After all, Xiao Wenjin had practically sailed to this point without a single hardship.

Time flew by, and before long, it was time for Ye Qinglan to join the new film set.

This time, Ning Yunshu hadn’t invested in the project, so she no longer had the privilege of visiting whenever she pleased.

When seeing Ye Qinglan off, Ning Yunshu wore a pitiful, dejected expression.

“I should’ve invested earlier. But by the time I tried, Old Sun told me they already had enough backers, no room for me.”

The sheer, almost tangible resentment made Ye Qinglan laugh.

This time, right in front of Zhou Tiantian, she leaned in and kissed the corner of Ning Yunshu’s lips.

“Be good, it’s fine. Family members can still visit the set,” Ye Qinglan said with a smile.

At those words, Ning Yunshu’s previously drooping cybernetic ears and tail immediately perked up, the latter wagging uncontrollably.

“Then do your best, sis! I’ll visit as soon as I can!”

Ye Qinglan laughed again.

“Alright, but don’t cause any trouble for the crew.”

“Don’t worry, sis. I know my limits.”

Meanwhile, Zhou Tiantian stood there, jaw practically on the floor, feeling like she’d been force-fed an entire meal of dog food.

Delicious, yes but overwhelmingly filling.

Burp.

Dog food aside, she still had to dutifully accompany Ye Qinglan to the film’s shooting location.

After landing, the two checked into the hotel the crew had arranged, preparing for the next day’s opening ceremony.

Once in her room, Ye Qinglan pulled out her phone to find a flood of messages from Ning Yunshu.

[Ning Yunshu]: Sis, have you arrived? Remember to eat something first.

[Ning Yunshu]: A whole day without you. I miss you so much.

[Ning Yunshu]: Sis, sis, are you there? I miss you. Without you, I can’t even focus on work.

Over a dozen messages left Ye Qinglan both amused and exasperated. Instead of replying via text, she opted to make a call instead.

Ning Yunshu picked up almost the instant the line connected.

“Sis, sis, have you gotten to the hotel yet?”

Hearing that familiar, coquettish voice, Ye Qinglan’s gaze softened like a springtime brook gentle and shimmering.

“Ning Yunshu, I miss you.”

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