[Chapter 316: Vivian Chow's Stunning Breakthrough]
Nobody really knew how Linton had dealt with Madonna and Nicole Kidman upstairs, but when the three of them came down two hours later for dinner, Kate Winslet and Amy could tell the two women were already as close as best friends.
Actually, Kate and Amy couldn't help their curiosity. They secretly slipped back into the main house, hoping to eavesdrop and figure out exactly how Linton had punished Madonna and Nicole.
Just as they entered the lobby, they heard excited yet pained cries from upstairs, mixed with thumping sounds...
But just as they were about to head upstairs, Linton's sharp rebuke was heard: "What's going on with you two? Trying to get punished together?"
Guilty and caught off guard, their faces turned pale, and they quickly made a run for it.
Before dinner, Linton made Madonna and Nicole apologize to each other in front of Kate and Amy, saying everyone was a sister and promising to move forward together to create a better future for their circle. After the apologies, the two women each kissed Linton on one cheek and then sat closely next to him in a friendly manner.
Kate and Amy were baffled but also more in awe of Linton's influence. Their gossip flames burned even brighter.
They simply didn't believe that two women who had just been at each other's throats could so easily become friends without something big happening. Quietly, they resolved to find out details from Madonna and Nicole separately when Linton was not around.
To welcome their new sister Nicole Kidman, the estate prepared a sumptuous dinner. Linton even opened two bottles of 1982 Lafite to celebrate.
Madonna and Nicole joined Linton in a bonding toast, sharing their hardships and joys. Kate naturally joined in, following their lead.
...
After the indulgent dinner, Linton arranged for Nicole to have the same benefits as other members of the group -- bodyguards, car, and a quartz pendant. However, rooms in the estate were not available yet until the expansion was complete; as for buying a villa outside, she didn't need one since she already owned a luxurious mansion on the neighboring Mulholland Drive.
Later during a four-player game, Kate noticed how well Madonna and Nicole worked together. During heated moments, they even kissed each other to keep up the energy. That explained why they became fast friends, and Kate quietly assimilated into their circle.
...
Meanwhile, Vivian Chow's single Faded officially dropped on September 23.
Thanks to Universal Music's strong publicity power and a $1.5 million promotional campaign, all marketing channels were fully engaged. The media coverage was overwhelming, with rave reviews everywhere. Even Linton took time to give interviews to several Universal-affiliated outlets, rallying support for Vivian Chow.
On September 24, Vivian Chow began a two-week promotional tour organized by Universal Music.
With all the promotional push and the song's undeniable quality, the single's metrics rose steadily.
In its first week, Faded entered the Billboard Hot 100 top 50, ranking 46th, and sold 160,000 copies.
The second week saw further progress, reaching 18th on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling 270,000 copies.
Vivian Chow quickly became a rising star at Universal Music, who decided to increase her tour cities from 15 to 20.
Universal predicted the single would sell over a million copies in North America alone.
Additionally, the plan was to push the single into overseas markets. Given Vivian Chow's existing popularity in Asia, Universal arranged for her to conduct an Asian promotional tour after finishing in North America.
Naturally, Vivian Chow was ecstatic but knew who deserved the credit. After every concert, she would take time to call Linton to share her excitement and gratitude. She wished she could fly back to Los Angeles immediately to celebrate and share passionate moments with him.
...
After two months of screenings, The Fault in Our Stars officially left North American theaters.
The movie, about two teenagers battling cancer, dealing with love, life, and death, was an emotional bomb that moved audiences of all ages to tears.
Not only did viewers cry in the theater, but they also actively recommended the movie to friends and family, driving more people to the cinemas to experience the heartfelt story.
From day one, the movie showed strong box office power.
On its opening weekend, it grossed $31.25 million, topping other movies.
By the end of its first week, it raked in $50.71 million, leading the charts.
When it finally left theaters, the North American box office reached an astounding $124.27 million.
The overseas box office surged as well, crossing $130 million by the end of September, surpassing North America.
Universal Pictures predicted that the global box office for The Fault in Our Stars might break $300 million.
Meanwhile, the novel of the same name also saw a huge boost, with North American sales exceeding 1.1 million copies and overseas sales reaching 950,000, creating a synergistic effect between the book and film.
Thus, Linton added another title to his aura -- bestselling author, with royalties from this book alone exceeding $6 million, and the book's sales continuing long-term.
Lead stars Freddy Prinze Jr. and Charlize Theron both became hot new talents.
With two consecutive blockbuster hits over $100 million in North America, director Anne became a highly sought-after star filmmaker, gaining invitations from major studios.
...
After returning from an overseas promotional tour, Charlize barely got a night of intense passion with Linton before being busy with agency arrangements -- flying across the U.S. for various media interviews, appearances, and endorsements to consolidate her massive popularity.
Brand endorsement offers poured in like a blizzard, leaving her and the agency happily overwhelmed.
Whenever she had time, she called Linton to share her excitement and joy. Though he was usually busy, whenever he answered her call, she would turn on the charm.
Finally, remembering their beautiful moments and her peak popularity, Linton agreed to spend three days and nights passionately with her once she returned to Los Angeles.
*****
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