Chapter Twenty-Nine: Age Brings Wisdom

"Of course, that goes without saying—they feel guilty," Yang Wancheng replied, his tone utterly certain. "To put it simply, the tradition in our country is one big web of personal connections. Add to that the ever-shifting winds of public opinion, and anyone with even a shred of conscience will choose to atone for their earlier reckless accusations, made in ignorance, by buying a ticket."

"So, what we're doing right now—proactively inviting the relevant authorities to review and approve everything—is necessary?" Liang Jiahui asked.

"It's more than necessary; it's the most brilliant stroke of our entire plan! This way, not only do we secure irrefutable evidence for any future counterattacks, but we also clearly distinguish our commercial actions from the rampant rumors about unscrupulous dealings, deceit, and trickery. That leaves only one possible outcome."

"A box office hit!" Liu Qingshan and Liang Jiahui said in unison.

Yang Wancheng's smile grew even warmer. "That's the only possible result. That's why I say this promotional strategy is not just feasible—it's absolutely essential!"

"But eventually someone will see through it. Haven't you considered that?" Liu Qingshan cautioned.

He laughed heartily. "They can say whatever they want! In my eyes, turning ten million into an extra hundred million in box office revenue is a windfall no matter how you look at it. Besides, I believe industry insiders won't just refrain from criticizing us—they'll actually praise us for it!"

"But won't ordinary people feel cheated?"

"Even if they suspect something, we'll never admit it. And what can doubters do? Besides, that ten-million compensation is real and verifiable—no amount of auditing can challenge that!"

With the argument laid out so thoroughly, even Liu Qingshan, the original proponent, found himself nodding repeatedly in agreement.

"Qingshan, if this succeeds, no one will forget your role as the mastermind behind it all."

"Honestly, before I came up with this idea, I just wanted to return Brother Chen Long's favor. And besides, you already gave me three million in compensation! But I do have a question—films that break the hundred-million mark are still rare in our country. Are you saying this promotion alone can add that much?"

"Just the publicity wouldn't be enough. But there's also the video of you saving that person. That's a real, unedited recording—no special effects, just the raw event. Not only will it create a sensation here, it might make waves worldwide!"

"Should we give it a little push from behind the scenes? Some of the stunts Qingshan pulled off are so difficult, ordinary people can’t even imagine them," Liang Jiahui mused, his imagination running wild.

"Absolutely. I’ve already arranged for professionals to handle that. We’ll invite foreign stunt actors, acrobats, and competitive athletes to analyze the difficulty from various perspectives."

Liu Qingshan was amazed. In just a single day, Jinghuang Studios had already begun executing such a complex, subtle maneuver.

Anyone who had seen that brief video would realize its immense value. Not only did it faithfully document an act of selfless heroism, but the positive impact of such a deed—publicized as it deserved—would be celebrated in any society.

Moreover, the fact that it happened during the filming of an already attention-grabbing movie only amplified its dramatic effect, ensuring it would dominate headlines the moment it came to light. Coupled with expert commentary on the event’s extraordinary difficulty, carefully orchestrated by Yang Wancheng, the rescue would take on an almost superhuman mystique.

The fame and fortune Liu Qingshan stood to gain were just the surface. The negative fallout from the previous incident had primed the public, and now, with "Legend" poised to ride a tidal wave of audience fervor, success would follow as naturally as water flows downhill.

This footage, it seemed, would only be officially released after the narrative had shifted in their favor. By then, with a touch of the uncanny, it would become a legend that no ordinary person could hope to match—justifying Yang Wancheng’s claim of a hundred-million box office bonus.

"They say wisdom comes with age, but compared to this intricate sequence of maneuvers, our earlier promotional strategies look like child’s play," Liang Jiahui remarked with heartfelt sincerity, though his choice of words was a little off.

Liu Qingshan nodded in deep agreement. "To be selfish for a moment—if all goes as planned, I'll be the greatest beneficiary."

Their shared sighs seemed to please Yang Wancheng immensely, who now spoke with a humble smile. "To speak frankly, as soon as the incident occurred—before we even had the full video—I was already considering how to turn disadvantage into opportunity. That’s when Jerry called. Once I received the footage, I decided to come to Chang’an and meet your team because this approach perfectly filled the gap in my own plans."

Only now did Liu Qingshan and his companions truly realize that Yang Wancheng had been quietly preparing his response all along.

Perhaps even without their suggestion, a similar strategy would have emerged sooner or later, for it was the most rational solution. At the very least, during the height of the controversy, there would be no visible trace of manipulation in their campaign.

Liang Jiahui’s admiration remained undimmed. "By the time anyone suspects something, 'Legend' will already have completed its theatrical run! I never expected the plan’s two halves—before and after—to fit together so seamlessly, with no sense of artificial patchwork."

Yang Wancheng laughed heartily. "Great minds think alike. When everyone’s working toward the same end, it’s no wonder such wonderful results follow!"

Liu Qingshan keenly sensed that both men had deliberately avoided his earlier remark. If they were doing so intentionally, there could only be one reason: to avoid drawing too much attention to his personal gains. The purpose was clear—to minimize any internal jealousy by downplaying his individual role.

Moved by this, Liu Qingshan wisely decided not to dwell on himself any further.

"So far, only the three of us know the full plan. When the rest join us, there’s no need to hide the promotional aspect from Chen Long, but the second part must remain secret—just repeat the official line about the publicity."

Yang Wancheng’s instructions met with clear approval from the other two.

"You’ve been waiting nearly two hours for me, and you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ve already arranged lunch at the fifth-floor restaurant. Let’s talk as we eat."

Yang Wancheng had made his decision only yesterday and traveled here overnight. Since there was no direct flight from Chang’an to Hong Kong, he had to transfer in Shanghai, hurrying all the way.