When shooting Spy, Zhong Ruanxing was still a little-known actress with scandals. Now that Spy is released, she has firmly established herself as a second-tier starlet, just one representative work away from becoming a first-tier starlet.
And this representative work is coming soon - the highly anticipated Summer Murmurs that will be released during summer vacation. Originally, because the female lead suddenly got embroiled in a drug scandal, Zhong Ruanxing lucked out and got to play both roles, with Song Jingxing playing the first half and Zhong Ruanxing playing the second half, delivering a perfect portrayal as if they were two different people.
Of course, the audience doesn't know they really are two different people. They can only marvel at Zhong Ruanxing's superb acting skills. I heard when they were reviewing the film, the reviewers were so engrossed they didn't want to take breaks, pulling several all-nighters to watch the entire show and leaving rave "guaranteed summer blockbuster" reviews.
But for now, with Summer Murmurs not released yet and Letters to You not finished shooting, let's go watch Spy first to pass time!
Spy movies generally don't have huge box offices, but initial screenings received great online reception. Many reviewers praised Spy as a top quality spy film with refined production and fantastic acting by the cast, driving tons of pre-sales to bring Spy's pre-sales to 100 million yuan before official release.
On the May 1st Golden Week holiday, Spy officially premiered.
Song Jingxing also took time off Letters to You to join the Spy crew on their roadshow promotion tour. The crew gathering after over a year apart, everyone had changed tremendously.
Kou An'an was still steadily seated as a popular actress, successfully transitioning from TV to big screen through Spy. Guan Yuanzhou also grew from a rookie idol contestant into an actor with his own iconic work. But of course, the one who changed the most was Zhong Ruanxing.
In his life, Song Jingxing never had any friends, always a loner whether as a child or adult. But as Zhong Ruanxing, he experienced what it felt like to be cared for by so-called friends.
Despite not meeting for over a year, Kou An'an and Guan Yuanzhou were still very warm to him, their joy at reuniting with a long lost friend also infecting him. After gaining love and family, friendship finally left its first faint imprint in his barren emotional world.
At this time, he especially missed his little star.
And his little star was currently accompanying Granny Song and Song Shaling to buy out the cinema for her "sister-in-law's" first movie to show support!
As a result, Song Group's employees were mysteriously given a huge movie gift pack on a regular work day, containing not just two Spy movie tickets, but also large popcorn and soda vouchers.
Although Song Group employees were used to getting benefits from the company, they were still extremely excited to suddenly receive such a big gift pack on an ordinary work day. What's more, the company thoughtfully gave two tickets per person, so they could bring a friend or family member, worrying they'd feel lonely watching alone!
Many employees posted about the movie gift pack on social media, once again praising their company for caring about employees, saying they will work loyally for Song Group for life!
Online spectators who were always jealous of Song Group employee benefits turned green with envy once again.
- Asking daily for when will Song Group expand nationwide to recruit me! Such a conscience company, I hope they earn big money!
- Looking at Song Group then looking at my own shit company, I spit on the leadership's desk!
- Wow, Spy movie tickets! Do Song Group's leaders also like watching Spy? The crew will earn big this time!
...
No one guessed that Song Group was mixing personal with company business, using employee benefits as an excuse to secretly help the CEO's girlfriend draw crowds!
Apart from Song Group employees, the Song family was also unable to escape Granny Song's forceful ticket sending to support her grandson's wife by watching her movie.
Second branch felt a bit awkward but still went with the whole family under Song Lecheng's urging. Fourth branch was delighted and bought tickets themselves without Granny Song's prompting, with Song Siru and Song Wenyin even posting about it on social media.
Aside from Song Jiawei throwing a tantrum, the rest of main branch were also very cooperative with Granny Song, even helping Grandpa Song go watch together. On the way they were spotted by acquaintances, spreading the story of three generations harmoniously watching a movie together.
With everyone's effort, after a week of screening, Spy's box office was nearing 500 million yuan. Marketing accounts estimated Spy's final box office could reach 1 billion yuan. Of course, Zhong Ruanxing who had initially invested 80 million yuan in the crew by competing in a fight with Song Lecheng also earned big from this.
Letters to You was still filming. Song Jingxing could only join the crew's roadshow tour in a few big cities before having to return to continue shooting. Before leaving, he treated the crew to a lavish farewell banquet and gave parting gifts to each main cast member.
He was starting to learn these social niceties, no longer feeling out of place in this society.
In one week, Letters to You finished shooting their scenes at the filming studio, just waiting for the female lead to return before A Team starts moving to the next location. The outdoor scenes were located on a mountain 300km away from the studio, sets already completed there. Just due to terrain and weather conditions, signal had always been poor.
After Song Jingxing entered the mountain, his cell signal became intermittent. As the crew went deeper in, after he barely managed to send Zhong Ruanxing a message that he arrived safely, his signal completely dropped.
Zhong Ruanxing replied to his message and waited a while without a response, guessing he probably wouldn't be able to contact him these next few days while filming in the mountains, so she didn't think much of it.
Recently, due to the movie gift pack mixing personal and company matters, Song Group's employees were working exceptionally hard, as if storing up effort to repay the company's benefits, allowing projects in progress to advance remarkably ahead of schedule.
Zhong Ruanxing was forced to work overtime because the employees were too hardworking.
She really wanted to yell, Comrades, rest up! Don't work the company mule to death! You're going to work your boss to death like this!
But she had no choice, the company gave too much! Today, I, a Song Group employee, would rather die than not die at my workplace!
After being forced to work consecutive overtime for a week, Zhong Ruanxing couldn't take it anymore. She notified Fu Ling to issue a notice that everyone must clock off on time today, anyone still working overtime will be fired!
Employees: QAQ Boss Song is so considerate of us! Colleagues, let's bring our work computers home!
Unaware of the employees' intentions, Zhong Ruanxing saw the floor go completely dark at 6pm sharp and revealed a satisfied smile.
She tidied up and stretched lazily, also preparing to clock off.
She had already planned that tonight, she would properly exercise for a few hours to maintain her boyfriend's abs, benefiting her future self. Taking advantage of her boyfriend being uncontactable for video calls, she would pamper herself with a milk bath using his body, and apply a face mask! Tonight, be a precious piggy boy!
The office door was suddenly knocked on.
Tong Ling led a masked man inside: "Boss Song, Mr Zou is here to see you."
Zhong Ruanxing's fantasies were interrupted. She looked puzzlingly at the unfamiliar man following behind Tong Ling. Usually an experienced secretary like Tong Ling wouldn't easily bring just anyone into the CEO's office.
Yet no matter how hard Zhong Ruanxing wracked her brain, she couldn't recall anything related to a Mr Zou that Song Jingxing had told her before.
Who was this person? How did he get brought in so easily by Tong Ling to meet her?
Zhong Ruanxing didn't speak. Mr Zou walked two steps forward, his voice somewhat hoarse but tone very polite: "Mr Song, I haven't been able to contact you at the number you gave me, it's been out of signal range. Unable to reach you, I could only come see you in person."
Zhong Ruanxing saw a pair of bright eyes. This man exuded an aura unlike ordinary people.
She was silent for a moment, then lightly waved her hand at Tong Ling: "You can clock off first."
