CH 94

「It's me, OP himself, my account wasn't hacked. Take advantage of the discounted advance screening tickets, brothers, and go watch it. The more benefits we can get from the capitalists, the better. My wife Wen Li truly deserves it.」

「Did you just start calling her your wife? OP, can't you have some dignity?」

「@Song Yan」

「As a man myself, I'm really disappointed in you, OP.」

Regardless of how the men in the thread mocked, the OP remained indifferent. Soon, the post was buried under the growing tower of comments due to the OP's sudden change of heart.

More and more people replied as the comments transitioned from mocking to sharp ridicule as they climbed up the thread.

「Oh, is Wen Li's team personally here to promote?」

「It's boring to play reverse fishing. I'm leaving the thread. Let's all disperse.」

「I haven't watched the movie yet, but I want to advise certain teams. You can post a hundred fishing threads on the forum to hype your artist, but the shame of forceful promotion remains a shame of forceful promotion.」

...

「Song Yan really lost his charm with this move. Even if you want to pamper your wife, you shouldn't do it like this. Does he not realize the true capabilities of his own wife, who is nothing more than a talentless actress?!」

「Didn't they say they were a contractual couple? This doesn't seem like pampering his wife. It feels more like an exchange of capital interests.」

「OP, stop pretending. Is it so hard to admit that you're a water army who received money? Go back to your fandom's headquarters and stop flaunting your intelligence on the forum, okay?」

The thread continued to grow and the OP had to come out and clarify once again.

「I'm not a water army, I haven't received any money, and I haven't sold any accounts. I have no interest in those fangirl circles filled with a bunch of young girls. I'm an old-timer on the forum. I won't request to delete this post, and I've remembered all the IDs of those who insulted my wife upstairs. I hope you can stick to your opinions. After watching the movie, don't contradict yourselves and admit that my wife is amazing. Of course, if you genuinely think she's amazing, I won't stop you. Just apologize to me and my wife in this thread. :)」

「As for the rumors about my wife and Song Yan being a contractual couple, if it's true, then it's absolutely amazing! I can take care of my wife! I might not be as handsome as Song Yan or as wealthy, but I have a heart that loves you more than he does!!!」

「Well, I checked the OP's profile, and it's pretty old profile. He's been on the forum since the 2000s and is indeed a veteran movie enthusiast. He has written reviews for many movies. If he really is a water army, I must say, I'm impressed. Lurking for over a decade just to reveal his true identity as a water army and help promote Wen Li...」

Thanks to this popular thread, there was a reversal of opinions on the film forum. Some movie enthusiasts who initially had no intention of watching [Ice City] due to the overwhelming promotion now couldn't resist their curiosity and bought tickets for the advance screenings.

After a week of advance screenings, the ratings on the film review platforms underwent a reversal, quickly neutralizing the negative reviews that [Ice City] had received due to conflicts of interest. The film's negative comments gradually disappeared.

On the day the official ticket sales opened on the official platform, the numbers matched the distributor's estimations. In the first hour, it broke the first-day presale box office record for all cinema films that quarter.

To sell a good movie, early promotion was essential, but to make a good movie sell well and receive praise, the quality of the film itself was crucial.

The biggest controversy surrounding [Ice City] was actually Wen Li. Many online comments criticizing the film were essentially directed at her.

The best way to break through these controversies was not through active public relations or ignoring them but by responding with the best work and performance.

During this time, Wen Li faithfully accompanied the production team, traveling to major cities for roadshows and promotional events. She had Lu Dan and the behind-the-scenes team to handle the criticisms online, such as being called a shameless promotion or being in a "contractual marriage" with Song Yan. She didn't let it distract her and focused on facing each roadshow, supported by her fans.

"It's an issue with Attorney Jin," said Lu Dan, "One of their law firm's interns took money from the production company's competitor. But Attorney Jin is very professional, he will handle it, so you don't need to worry."

Wen Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It turned out to be a capital dispute; she and Song Yan were just targets being used.

On the eve of the official release of the movie, as expected, Wen Li couldn't sleep.

She believed she had delivered her best performance in [Ice City]. From the three senior actors, including Song Yan, she learned a lot from every scene she shared with them, despite enduring the director's scolding.

During those months of shooting, she wasn't Wen Li but Song Yeyan.

Now, Song Yeyan was finally going to be on the big screen, facing the public's judgment. Good or bad, success or failure, disregarding the subjective praise and criticism based on personal preferences, she cared more about the fair evaluations.

That night, Wen Li tossed and turned in bed.

A calm and steady voice came from the man beside her, "Don't be nervous."

She was somewhat surprised, "You're not asleep either?"

Song Yan replied, "I can't sleep."

Wen Li murmured, "You can't sleep too?"

"Isn't that normal?" Song Yan smiled, "No matter how many good works you've done before, with each new project, it's a completely fresh start. Nervousness and worries are natural."

In fact, tonight it wasn't just her; everyone who had poured their heart and soul into [Ice City] found it difficult to sleep peacefully. Even the experienced director Qiu Ping, who had already gone through the process of releasing films in theaters, couldn't relax.

Seeing him also restless and unable to sleep, Wen Li's anxiety lessened. She secretly leaned over, clasping his fingers, and asked, "Will you be proud of me?"

Song Yan held her hand, whispering, "You have always been my pride."

——

On the day of the premiere of [Ice City], all the main cast members gathered at the Yancheng National Library to attend the premiere ceremony. In addition to the film crew, many directors and artists from the industry were also invited to liven up the event.

Sitting in the audience seats, all the main cast members, along with the audience, entered the story on the screen as the lights dimmed in the theater.

In the early 20th century, the millennia-old feudal imperial system was completely overthrown, and for the entire nation, new hardships were just beginning.

Amidst the devastation, the coveting of foreign powers, and the fruits of the revolutionary victory being stolen, the menacing Japanese invaders invaded the central plains, creating a new 'pseudo-empire' on this land with the three eastern provinces as its boundary.

Since then, the sky over the three eastern provinces has never been bright.

The leading actor, Liang Xianhua, and the leading actress, Mao Ling, played the role of Fu Jiming and his wife. They received a transfer notice and left the headquarters of the organization to go north to Bin City, where they came into contact with Wen Tingfeng, the son of a general who had just returned from studying abroad, through the organization's introduction.

Wen Tingfeng came from a privileged family, but his thoughts were bold and modern. His father was conservative and unenlightened, willing to collaborate with the Japanese invaders for money and power, attempting to plunge the nation, which had just awakened, back into the feudal vortex.

"It's ironic when I think about it. I spent years studying abroad, and those fair-haired and blue-eyed foreigners told me the value of freedom and human rights. And now, when I return to my own country, I see them depriving us of our freedom and human rights," Wen Tingfeng said, his mouth curling into a mocking smile, "Such hypocrisy."

Fu Jiming and his wife immediately confirmed the position of this general's son.

The film diverged into two storylines from this point, focusing on the perspectives of Fu Jiming and Wen Tingfeng, the two male leads.

Fu Jiming and his wife, Lu Qingling, met when they were young and were not only lovers who understood each other but also comrades-in-arms. In such a repressive environment, their love was like the rising sun on the horizon, hot and bright, bringing endless hope and strength.

In order to reflect different types of relationships in the same era, the screenwriter made a completely opposite arrangement for the romantic storyline of the other male lead.

The story of the young heir and the courtesan was enticing on the surface, as the young master fell in love at first sight with the courtesan and married her despite everyone's objections. But in reality, it was an illusory and oppressive relationship.

Song Yeyan was assigned by the organization to be Wen Tingfeng's fake wife, with Wen Tingfeng responsible for collecting information from his father, and Song Yeyan responsible for transmitting that information.

Compared to Fu Jiming and his wife, who were older and familiar with each other to the point of understanding what the other was thinking with just a glance, this young fake couple was unfamiliar and cautious.

They were guarded against each other but had to pretend to be a loving couple in public.

In one scene, there was a plot where a friend of the general's official came to visit their home, while Wen Tingfeng and Song Yeyan "messed around" in the room.

In reality, the two of them sat on the bed and a chair, far apart. Wen Tingfeng pushed the bed while the person on the chair pretended to moan.

The scene was awkward and carried a sense of dark humor, eliciting laughter from the audience.

When the official finally left, the room fell silent. Song Yeyan turned to say something to Wen Tingfeng but found him lying on the bed, facing away from her.

Confused, she asked, "Young master? What's wrong with you?"

The man on the bed spoke in a hoarse voice, "You should leave first."

Being a girl who grew up in a brothel, she understood from his tone and his slightly disheveled appearance as he turned away.

Her voice was mesmerizing, charming when she sang, even more enticing when she moaned.

"...Well, it's my responsibility," she murmured softly, "Why don't I help you relieve yourself?"

Wen Tingfeng suddenly opened his eyes and hesitantly bit his lip.

Laughter echoed from the audience seats.

Wen Li also laughed and mischievously poked the arm of the man sitting next to her.

Song Yan expressionlessly pushed away her hand.

"No need," Wen Tingfeng declined, "You're not a prostitute."

She chuckled, saying, "But I am."

"You're not," Wen Tingfeng insisted, "To me, you're not."

"...Actually, I really like reading. When I was a child, I attended school at a academy, and the teacher praised me for being smart, saying that I could learn anything quickly."

Here, the girl clenched her fingers, her voice becoming softer, "But later, the school was bombed, and I had nowhere to continue my studies."

The man on the bed suddenly said, "If you like reading, I'll teach you starting tomorrow."

She paused, her gaze flickering slightly, and softly thanked him.

That night, they slept back-to-back, neither of them falling asleep.

They both felt something in their hearts. The person beside them seemed different to both of them.

In the latter half of the film, with the groundwork laid in the first half, the plot took a dramatic turn. Fu Jiming and Song Yeyan's identities were exposed; Lu Qingling and Wen Tingfeng were taken away for investigation.

"Tingfeng, that woman is behind all this. You were just young and couldn't resist temptation, falling for a trap," General Wen's tone was serious, "To prove your innocence, you have to make a choice."

With his father's power and connections, he managed to secure a chance for him to survive.

In the harsh winter, several Japanese bandits emerged from the dungeon, pulling up their pants. Their faces showed lewd and disgusting smiles, and when they saw him, they even arrogantly raised their eyebrows.

His hand clenched into a fist at his side. Wen Tingfeng felt powerless and desolate. In his own country, these people were ruthlessly tormenting his compatriots, and as a compatriot, he couldn't do anything.

Lying on the cold and damp floor of the dungeon, she was only wearing a thin qipao, already tattered, the same one she was wearing when she was captured.

During the days of surveillance and investigation, Wen Tingfeng was kept in a dark and windowless room. Faced with endless interrogations and threats day after day, even in such circumstances, his mental state was on the verge of collapse. The torture she endured was a thousand times more painful than what he experienced. He couldn't even imagine how she managed to endure it.

How did she start, gritting her teeth, gradually breaking down and despairing, only to have her last bit of hope extinguished?

She shook her head at Tingfeng, her eyes filled with hopelessness, telling him that she couldn't wait for the day to be rescued anymore.

Kill me.

Not afraid of any torture, only afraid of such humiliation and torment.

Wen Tingfeng's jaw trembled, almost biting his lips until they bled.

His wife was dying, but he couldn't cry out loud for her.

She was covered in wounds, dying in humiliation and desolation, yet he couldn't even cover her body with a piece of clothing.

"... It doesn't hurt."

With a gentle tone tinged with deception, it was the only comfort he could give her.

She responded and obediently closed her eyes.

Wen Tingfeng lifted the gun his father had given him. In the presence of others outside the door, he personally offed her.

Later, the surrendered Tingfeng turned things around and assassinated those Japanese bandits, chopped off their fingers, castrated them, stripped them of their clothes, and threw their frozen corpses into the ice-bound moat.

After that, their nation stood up firmly in humiliation and tears, persisting in their struggle until the day the sky completely brightened, finally welcoming their victory and national freedom.

At the end of the movie, the filter of history disappeared, and the screen became bright again. On the day Fu Jiming passed away, his wife Lu Qingling met a long-lost friend.

Although Wen Tingfeng, now with white hair, had aged, he still stood tall and handsome. It was said that he moved to the harbor city and remained unmarried until now.

"I came back this time to pay tribute to Brother Jiming's memory and also for my wife's sake. One of my students is from Sucheng, and coincidentally, he knows a distant relative of hers who still has old photos of my wife from her youth."

The final shot of the film remained on the elderly Fu Jiming and Lu Qingling's photo, as well as a photoshopped picture of the youthful Wen Tingfeng and Song Yeyan.

Young Song Yeyan, in her student attire, wearing a blue shirt and black skirt, holding a book in her hands, with two braided pigtails, that was her cleanest and most beautiful age, her true self.

「Paying tribute to all the ancestors who fought with blood for freedom and liberation in the face of national survival.」

After the subtitles, the ending song played, and the screen displayed the credits of the cast and crew. The lights in the theater turned on, marking the complete end of the movie.

Sighs resounded, and except for the crew members who had watched the final cut of the film countless times and were not too emotionally moved, many people were wiping their tears with tissues.

On the premiere day, [Ice City] topped the box office.

Several professional film critics also posted their reviews of the movie on the same day.

「I watched [Ice City] because I had confidence in the production team and the cast. Indeed, the director and screenwriter lived up to my expectations, not disappointing me, but also not surprising me too much, because my expectations were already at the maximum. If I had to mention a surprise, the biggest surprise for me in this film was Wen Li.

If the entire crew is considered as Wen Li's teachers, then Wen Li, as a student, submitted a perfect answer sheet in my heart.

Sitting in the cinema for those two hours, I never saw her as Wen Li, but Song Yeyan.

I can't imagine anyone else as Song Yeyan besides her.」

There was quite a high praise, especially the last two lines.

For an actor, setting aside their established image and making the audience believe that they were the character they were portraying in the play, such praise was the affirmation that all actors who had poured their heart and soul into a role dreamed of receiving.

Of course, not everyone was without complaints about the script arrangement.

For example, those who entered the cinema with high expectations, ready to indulge in sweet candies.

On the premiere day, the super topic was filled with wails.

「At first, I thought Wen Tingfeng and Song Yeyan had a 'marriage before love' storyline in the Republican era, and I was laughing like an idiot with my best friend. I was still too naive!!」

「Everyone, I cried like crazy from the cinema all the way home, couldn't stop crying like I ate a candy. Wuwuwu.」

「Damn it! The first Salt Grain collaboration, and you give me BE?!」

「Wife!!! Please work a miracle, wife!! @Beauty x Sanli」

Most of the reactions from those who have watched it were like this, making those who haven't seen it yet shudder.

「BE? Then forget it, I won't go watch. 」

「Go watch it!! I've been tortured until my liver hurts, but I've still decided to watch it twice or thrice. There's no other reason, Salt Grain is worth it!! This movie is worth it!!」

「Other than the BE, this movie really has no flaws. BE was expected for a movie based in that era. Don't miss out on a good movie just because it's BE.」

「Beauty and Sanli really acted well!! Really!! Go watch it!! Cry if you want to cry!! Don't be afraid!! With so many sisters crying together, what are you afraid of!! If you're not crying then you are not a Salt Grain CP fan!!」

As the word-of-mouth took time to accumulate and ferment, the box office on the premiere day was quickly surpassed by the box office in the following days, breaking records.

The subsequent box office sales kept rising, resulting in [Ice City] winning the weekly box office championship, followed by winning the monthly box office championship.

After such great acclaim, all the negative reviews seemed insignificant.

Although the movie was depressive, the values it reflected were positive and uplifting.

However, even with such positivity and optimism, it couldn't conceal the fact that one of the two couples in the movie had a BE.

Perhaps to appease the audience and fans who were emotionally tormented, the well-known editing expert [Beauty x Sanli], after obtaining official authorization, quickly edited and released the first [Wen Tingfeng x Song Yeyan] video on the entire internet.

「[Salt Grain Couple's Past and Present Lives] [Wen Tingfeng x Song Yeyan] Young Master Who Studied Abroad x Elegant Lady of the Night」

Editor: Beauty x Sanli

BGM: Passionate Love

Video material: [Ice City] (Thanks to the film production for the authorization!)

Video description: International tradition, confessing love for our Salt Grain couple! I've watched [Ice City] three times already, it has a lot of momentum, it's really a great story. I hope that while enjoying the collaboration between Beauty and Sanli, everyone can also understand what the story of Wen Tingfeng and Song Yeyan in the movie wants to tell us.

Because there were already many scenes of them together in the movie footage, this time the editing expert finally didn't have to use any advanced techniques to forcefully make them appear together in the same frame.

When Wen Tingfeng first met Song Yeyan, her slender jade fingers held a cigarette, her red lips slightly parted, exhaling smoke, she was so beautiful and frivolous to the extreme.

But that wasn't her true appearance. Her prime years had long vanished in the midst of gunfire and bullets. From the moment she arrived by his side, she had already prepared herself for death.

Before her death, she pleaded with Wen Tingfeng to visit her hometown of Sucheng.

With her last bit of strength, she said to him, "If we win in the end, please go to Sucheng for me. My home is there, and my parents and siblings are buried there. If, by chance, my home still exists, please go to my chamber and find a photo of me. Burn it for me."

She didn't tell Wen Tingfeng that she also had selfish motives.

She wanted Wen Tingfeng to see her how she looked back then. If possible, she wanted him to forget about her current dirty and disheveled state and only remember her at that time because that was the cleanest and most beautiful period of her life.

Years later, Wen Tingfeng went to her hometown and obtained her photo from her distant relative.

He didn't fulfill the promise of burning it for her; instead, he kept the photo by his side.

Keeping that photo was like keeping her with him.

In reality, whether it was her innocent and pure self at sixteen or her graceful and charming self when she grew up, they were both the girl that Wen Tingfeng loved.

Love in that era didn't allow one to see if there was light ahead. Desiring basic necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt seemed like luxuries, while simplicity and happiness felt like unattainable ideals.

Wen Tingfeng and no one else dared to utter the word "love". In the end, they remained separated, unaware of each other's affection.

The plot of their previous life and the content of the movie were almost the same. As the video approached its end, the style changed.

It showed Song Yan and Wen Li on the red carpet, dressed in modern attire.

Subtitles appeared.

「Do you believe in past lives and present lives?」

Finally, a long statement from the editor.

「The Republic of China in that era was exquisitely tragic. Rouge and cheongsams adorned women's faces. There were nightly revelries in the concessions. Every wisp of light mesmerized people's gaze, making them unconsciously forget that beneath that elegant facade lay the blood and bones of this nation.

You can certainly love that era and cherish the enchantment of that era, but please never forget that era for us is a national shame that can never be forgotten or erased.

While we are young, decades ago on the same land, there were also a group of young girls. They were in the prime of their lives, just as vibrant and beautiful. They made sacrifices for us that we cannot fathom.

Respect to all the known and unknown predecessors.

Never forget our national shame, remember history, and we will continue to strive for a brighter future under the sun.」

The video concluded.

At this time, several main actors from [Ice City] also posted lengthy microblogs.

Song Yan, who rarely wrote original microblogs, had an almost negligible chance of posting a lengthy one.

Song Yan:「Ten years ago, there was a girl who told me she wanted to become a star. She was dazzling at that time, beyond my reach.

But I wanted to be worthy of her.

Later, I became an actor, and in pursuing her, I found my own personal value and gained the love of countless fans.

I love her and also love this profession of being an actor. Thanks to her and thanks to all the fans who have supported me.

Now I have finally realized my dream and stood under the spotlight with her.

To her and to my fans, I can't repay enough. I can only love her with my whole life and deliver better works to you in the future.

I'm glad that 'Ice City' has brought you some surprises, and this official announcement, which is two years late, can finally be openly shown to everyone.

I have fulfilled my dream with the girl I fell in love with at the age of eighteen. She is my junior and also my first love. Her name is Wen Li.

Song Yan.」

At the end of the lengthy microblog, there were two photos of Song Yan and Wen Li together. One was a photo of their student days, wearing school uniforms, and it was easy to tell it was photoshopped. It formed a strange connection with the Republic of China photo at the end of the movie. There was also a selfie of them together now, both smiling at the camera.

Wen Li, who was usually talkative, surprisingly kept her words to a minimum this time. She reposted Song Yan's microblog with a simple  emoji.

「Past lives and present lives!!!」

「To hell with your materialism! Beauty and Sanli are Wen Tingfeng and Song Yeyan's reincarnation! They have a happy ending!!!」

「I'm tired of this. I have nothing more to say. I just want to tell all the Salt Grain CP fans: Congratulations!!! You guys fucking lucked out with the Salt Grain Couple!!!!」

「Agreeing to a contract marriage, right? Fine! I hereby declare that the term of this contract for the Salt Grain Couple is ten thousand years!」

At this time, in the movie forum thread that indirectly boosted the preview of [Ice City], many thread starters coming back to apologize to the OP. The OP, however, asked a sorrowful question:

「Is it true that my wife and Song Yan didn't have a contract marriage? Does that mean I don't stand a chance anymore?」

「Brother, Song Yan pursued her for ten years before he finally succeeded. Just don't embarrass yourself, okay?」