"You two alright?" A crowd rushed over—some handing out towels, others bringing warm clothes. The island wasn't exactly cold, but it wasn't hot either, and after being battered by icy river water for so long, it was easy to catch a chill.
Roy took the hot drink handed to him and downed it in one gulp. Warmth spread from his throat down to his stomach, radiating through his whole body—though the taste was… strange.
"What is this? So spicy!" He smacked his lips, brows knitting together.
If it hadn't been Laila handing it to him, he might have thought someone was trying to poison him.
Before Laila could answer, Sammo Hung burst out laughing. "Spicy is exactly right! Feel that warmth in your belly? This is our Eastern ginger tea. Once you drink it, you won't have to worry about catching a cold."
Off to the side, Leslie Cheung drank his cup without so much as a change in expression. He wasn't young anymore, and he never let his guard down when it came to protecting his health. The one thing he couldn't forgive was holding up the crew because of his carelessness.
Seeing the two men so drenched and worn out, Laila couldn't bring herself to keep shooting. "That's it for today. Go back and rest, and if you feel even a little unwell, speak up immediately."
"Got it." Both nodded. They were professionals—they wouldn't gamble with their health. Working sick might sound noble, but if the illness worsens, the consequences could be far worse. And here on an island, any medical emergency would be much harder to deal with.
Amid the busy days, Christmas arrived. This year, instead of going home, many people brought their families to the island for a giant holiday bash. Naturally, the travel costs came out of the boss's pocket, so everyone was happy to join the fun.
Photos from the party quickly found their way to Facebook, sparking another round of good-natured grumbling from outsiders. But what could they do? There was only one Laila—envy all you like, but you'd just have to hold it in.
Those lucky enough to attend were bursting with pride. Those who couldn't make it because of various circumstances still received a hefty bonus, compensating them for holding down the fort and missing the island getaway.
Louise had come too. She had a lot on her plate, and the last time she'd come to the island, it had been just to see the place for herself, making sure it wasn't as dangerous as she'd imagined before heading home. This time, she was escorting employees' family members to talk business with Laila.
"Have you decided on release dates for your two films?"
It was something she was keen to know. If Laila was aiming for a release next year, the promotional machinery needed to start rolling.
"Yes. If nothing unexpected happens, I want The Avengers in the summer slot." Laila had thought long and hard about this.
Both The Lord of the Rings and Cameron's Avatar chose Christmas releases and did extremely well, pulling in massive box office numbers. At first, she'd considered doing the same—but the summer slot was too tempting to give up.
Superhero fans were mostly young people, many of them students, high school or college, boys and girls alike, all drawn to hero stories.
The Christmas season drew more couples and families. Laila couldn't shake the feeling that a superhero blockbuster might feel a bit out of place in that time frame.
Louise had guessed she'd say that, and nodded. "How much production work is left? Can you finish in time for summer?" From what she knew, the special effects were only partially done—would the next few months be enough to complete all post-production?
"Shouldn't be a problem. The effects should be done by the end of March. By May at the latest, the film will be finished." Laila did some quick math. "Let's aim for mid-June."
"Mid-June?" Louise thought about the competition scheduled for that time. "That should work. You know, every time you release a film, the other studios scramble to avoid you. I've had several old friends call me already, trying to find out your dates."
She sounded like she was complaining, but her smile betrayed her true feelings.
Who wouldn't be pleased? The company had grown to the point where just holding back their release date made the rest of the industry uneasy. Ten years ago, she could never have imagined this day would come.
Laila grinned. "This time, they really should steer clear. After all, what we're about to drop is the most powerful nuclear bomb in history."
Louise felt a shiver at her words. "Laila, tell me honestly—do you think The Avengers can take the all-time number one box office spot? If not, I'd rather avoid mentioning it in the marketing. You know how important you are to the company. I can't let you be torn down by your own words."
She put it delicately, but the meaning was clear—she wanted to know if Laila's claim was just hype. Because if that boast exploded on release, the media would feast on it, painting Laila as arrogant and delusional.
Laila understood her concern. "Roy asked me the same thing before filming started. Back then, I told him I had a fifty-fifty chance of being the last one laughing."
Louise's heart skipped. Her voice tightened. "And now?"
Laila's smile widened slightly. "About sixty percent."
That was… an increase? Was it really that good? Louise knew Laila wasn't one to exaggerate—she was cautious by nature. So for her to say sixty percent might mean the reality was even better.
But even at ninety-nine percent, that tiny chance of failure was enough to make her nervous. The media wouldn't miss a chance to pounce, and if Laila fell short, they would savage her with the harshest words. Louise didn't even want to imagine what the fallout could do to the company.
"Laila, you know… your father, Reynolds, was once a man who loved cinema deeply. But one failure after another cooled that passion until it went out. He was talented—if he'd had some help, maybe he could have been a great director."
What she feared most was that Laila might collapse after a single failure. Someone who had never lost before would find it hardest to rise again. Louise had seen it too many times—one dazzling success story after another, and then the moment they fell, they never stood up again.
She refused to see Laila join them.