Promising future

"It's almost midnight, aren't you going to sleep?"

René, with an apple in his mouth, spoke.

They were at Lyman's house. When Eva didn't come back, Thomas and René would stay in the mansion. There were plenty of rooms, but if Eva were there, they would go to a hotel to sleep. Lyman didn't see the need for that.

"I can't sleep. I want to wait for the box office numbers of "Effervescent"," Lyman replied, sitting at the computer desk.

"Tomorrow you can check it. Actually."

"Tomorrow, yes, but I want to know earlier."

Even after making so many movies, he still felt a bit uncertain when they were released. After all, romantic films like "Effervescent" were rare in Hollywood. Lyman was worried that the audience might not readily accept a less intense, more realistic portrayal of love. Unlike the grand, all-consuming love stories like "Titanic", which seemed to be the mainstream.

On the contrary, he deliberately designed the film to have a less-than-perfect outcome, and he wasn't sure if it would be well-received. If things went south, it would be tough.

But he had no regrets. This unconventional aesthetic was his perspective on love. He had told the story he liked and put it on screen, leaving the rest to the market to decide.

"I'm going to bed. You can wait as long as you want," René said, leaving the room.

On the other side, in the office of Firefly Films, Blake Cole was also anxiously waiting. He occasionally glanced at the computer screen, hoping for a new email notification.

This film was the company's second independent production and was now facing its moment of truth. Although the marketing department had sent plenty of positive news from the frontlines before, everything was still an unknown until the box office numbers were calculated.

From filming to production, the company had invested over $20M. If the market response wasn't favorable and they couldn't recover the corresponding profit, it was something no one wanted to see. The company had just been acquired, and Blake didn't want to face unemployment again. One experience was enough.

But what if it succeeded? Although his position had been reduced to Deputy Head of the Marketing Department, his immediate supervisor, René, wasn't very hands-on, and the actual decision-making authority within the department still rested with him. While many matters required advance notice and René's approval, the salary was still good.

In middle age, the fear of losing one's job was ever-present. Not being laid off was already a blessing. Blake didn't want to ask for too much, he just hoped that Firefly Films could continue to remain stable.

Stability was what gave him hope, wasn't it? Like the position he had long wanted as the head of the production department, it wasn't impossible. With fewer people in the company now and even fewer in management, perhaps there was a chance to grasp that opportunity.

All these plans and goals were contingent on the company's success. As the clock reached 12:35 AM, the computer screen, which had remained still, started to show signs of activity.

Blake quickly grasped the mouse and clicked.

In just an instant, his eyes widened, and he was taken aback.

2562 theaters, 3220 screens, and yesterday's box office earnings were $36.42M.

The per-theater performance was close to ten thousand.

Blake stared dumbfounded at the data in the email, his breath slowly becoming rapid.

Damn, the box office for one day was higher than the annual revenue of the previous company.

Changing companies had been a wise move, and the future looked bright indeed.

Becoming a CEO, marrying a wealthy beauty, and reaching the pinnacle of life seemed like real possibilities.

Blake laughed foolishly and didn't forget to send an email to Lyman.

Seeing it, Lyman felt a sense of calm in his heart. He could finally get a good night's sleep.

...

Inside an apartment in Chicago.

After returning home from the cinema, Bella, as usual, began to contemplate her movie review.

The movie was excellent, but she hesitated on how to put it into words.

After a while, she began to write.

"I've seen many movies, and there have been plenty of romantic ones, but "Effervescent" gave me a different feeling. Most romantic movies are like the moon hanging high in the sky, something truly beyond reach, existing only in fantasies. But "Effervescent", if I had to describe it, felt quite grounded. The director explored love and humanity through two different stories."

"After all, in the eyes of most people, love means wanting to get married, have children, and live happily ever after. But the director doesn't like to write that ending. Instead, his focus is on the process—the process of getting to know each other and gradually developing feelings."

"I'm not here to give away spoilers, though the movie is genuinely worth recommending. What I want to discuss is something beyond the movie itself, like whether loving someone gives you the right to control their life and change their decisions?"

"I don't want to make a judgment; I'm just raising a question."

"From a certain perspective, "Effervescent" is more about the director conveying his viewpoint, that everyone has the power to choose their own path in life. So, what is love? This is a tricky question."

"In "Effervescent", love doesn't save anyone, and there's no mutual self-sacrifice. All there is, is a heart-fluttering encounter. The director even brutally points out a truth: some people, even if they meet and have mutual attraction, can't walk hand in hand."

"What stands between them is all too real—different worldviews, starkly different definitions of value in their respective lives. It's family, work, life—everything that blocks their path. Only those who can overcome these obstacles are qualified to proceed to the next stage."

"The director brutally strips away the romanticized notion of love. Though the latter part of the movie does a good job of making up for it."

"In the past, the prince would always fall in love with Cinderella, or the rich girl would fall for the poor guy."

"They transcended class and prejudices, making it very touching because such occurrences are rare in reality and, therefore, appear in movies."

"But if you watch the first half of this movie, your dreams will shatter. The latter part also portrays the love of ordinary people, though the male lead takes a brave step."

"In the vast sea of humanity, encounters are rare, not to mention fate."

"Perhaps before watching this movie, you might have had many fantasies, thinking that falling in love is a straightforward matter, that if you like someone, you'll be together."

"But after watching this movie, you might feel that love is difficult, that the right person may not necessarily stay by your side. But I think it's important to maintain a calm heart. The rest, let time bear witness, after all, those who are meant to be together will eventually find each other."