133. Box Office Breakthrough

"It's hard to say. After all, she's a highly sought-after figure right now, and our film doesn't exactly have much fame..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Director Zhang hasn't given up yet, so let's not lose heart!"

The group lowered their voices, fearing they might disturb Zhang Yu, but their constant reflex of pulling out their phones to refresh Ji Fanxing's homepage betrayed their inner anxiety.

As time ticked by, Zhang Yu remained seated at his computer, motionless as a statue. He, too, was repeatedly refreshing Ji Fanxing's social media account, hoping she would post something promoting *My Home*. But with each disappointment, his eyes grew dim, and his once-straight back slumped slightly, like an old tree withered by wind and rain, filled with a sense of helplessness.

"Ding!"

Suddenly, a crisp email notification cut through the silence of the office. Zhang Yu frowned irritably, instinctively wanting to dismiss the alert, but the moment he saw the sender and the subject line, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He sprang to his feet!

Sender: Ji Fanxing
Subject: Interlude for the film *My Home*...

"‘Father’? ...Could this be...?"

Zhang Yu rubbed his eyes, doubting his own sight, and with trembling hands, opened the email. It was a brief message—no excessive pleasantries, just a single sentence and an attachment.

"Director Zhang, this is the interlude I wrote for *My Home*. I hope you like it."

The name of the attachment was indeed a music file titled *Father*. The others crowded around, and their eyes lit up as they saw the contents.

"My God! It really is a song written by Ji Fanxing!"
"She actually wrote an interlude for us in just a few hours."
"This is a song by the genius Ji Fanxing! I download her songs blindly now, and so do many others. The promotion for *My Home* is secure!"

The office erupted instantly. The previously stifling atmosphere was swept away, replaced by ecstasy and disbelief. Listening to the excited chatter around him, Zhang Yu’s initial thrill faded, replaced by a surge of unease. Could Ji Fanxing really have written a song that fit the film's theme in just a few hours? Although the title seemed perfectly aligned with the movie, he couldn't help but feel nervous.

With a heart full of trepidation, Zhang Yu clicked play with a trembling hand.

A soothing piano prelude began, like a gentle stream flowing into everyone's hearts. Then, Ji Fanxing’s deep, soulful voice emerged, tinged with a faint melancholy. The group was moved by her singing and gradually fell silent.

"I always took from you, yet never said thank you.
Only after growing up did I understand it wasn't easy for you~"

The lyrics of *Father* were simple and unadorned, yet filled with vivid imagery; the image of a father flickered in each of their minds. As Zhang Yu listened, his eyes grew moist, and scenes of his time with his own father flooded his thoughts.

"Am I your pride and joy? Are you still worried about me?
The child you cared for so much has grown up now~"

As the singing continued, Zhang Yu could no longer control his emotions, and tears streamed down his face. He remembered the arguments he had with his father in his youth over his dreams, the stubborn decision to leave home and struggle in a strange city. For years, he had been buried in work, rarely returning home or staying in touch. It wasn't until his father fell ill and was hospitalized that he realized how much he owed him. It was his lingering grief after his father's passing that had led him to write *My Home*.

"Time, time, slow down, don't let him grow old anymore.
I would give everything I have to let his years linger on~"

The emotion in the second chorus was even more intense. Ji Fanxing’s voice was filled with power, as if she were crying out, yet also pouring out her soul. Zhang Yu could no longer contain himself; he turned away, silently wiping his tears. Those around him were also deeply touched; many had red-rimmed eyes, and some were sobbing openly.

Five minutes later, the song ended, leaving the office in a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop. Everyone remained immersed in the emotion brought by the song, unable to pull themselves back to reality for a long time.

*My Home* told the story of an ordinary family. The protagonist, Zhang Qiang, grew up in the countryside; his father had worked away from home for years to pay for his education, laboring hard for most of his life. After graduating from college, Zhang Qiang stayed in the big city to pursue his dreams. It wasn't until he received news that his father was critically ill that he realized how much he had neglected his parents. He resigned from his job, returned to his hometown, and stayed by his father's side, trying to make up for his past regrets.

The film had no dramatic plot twists or flashy special effects, yet through the most authentic lens, it showcased the greatness of family bonds and the moving nature of the ordinary. Hearing Ji Fanxing’s *Father*, Zhang Yu understood her intention. If this song were placed in the scene where the protagonist's father is injured, its emotional weight would surely elevate the entire film! It injected a soul into the movie, allowing the audience to feel a resonance from the depths of their own hearts while watching.

"Good! A great song! Truly a great song!"

After a long while, Zhang Yu finally came to his senses, pounding the table in excitement as tears flowed down his cheeks.

"Ji Fanxing, thank you! Thank you for writing such a beautiful song for *My Home*!"

Still caught in the song’s emotional wake, Zhang Yu replied to her email, his voice choked with gratitude. He also made a new promise: once the film was released, he would give up the majority of his own share of the profits as compensation for the song. This time, Zhang Yu felt more confident; he knew that with this song, *My Home* would surely be a success.

The next morning, Feng Xinliu walked into the office, humming a tune and strutting with an air of unearned arrogance.

"Director Feng, good morning!" his assistant, Xiao Li, said, diligently handing him a cup of coffee.

"Hmm. How is Zhang Yu’s *My Home* doing? Have the pre-orders reached a thousand yet?" Feng Xinliu asked smugly, as if he could already see Zhang Yu kneeling before him to beg for mercy.

"Boss Feng, you’d better see for yourself..." Xiao Li’s face turned pale, and she handed over her phone, trembling, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Feng Xinliu took the phone nonchalantly. The next second, the smile on his face froze. On the screen, the number of pre-orders for *My Home* clearly read: 1,000,000+.

"This... how is this possible?!" Feng Xinliu’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, and the phone clattered onto the table.

"Boss Feng, don't worry, there must be a data error..." Xiao Li stammered in a panic.

"Bullshit! Can a data error be off by this much?!" Feng Xinliu roared in a rage, shoving Xiao Li aside and rushing to his computer. He clicked on the Weibo trending topics. The number one spot was "#Ji Fanxing - Father#," followed by a bright red "Explosive" tag. Clicking into it, he saw nothing but discussions about the *My Home* trailer. Countless netizens were praising the song, calling the film touching, and declaring they would head to the theaters to support it.

"Ji Fanxing... how did he get connected with Ji Fanxing?!" Feng Xinliu snarled, slamming his fist onto the desk.