While entertainment media across Hollywood and Asia continued flooding headlines with reports about the explosive premiere of Saw, Luo Zheng himself had no time to enjoy the praise.
Because for him, the premiere was only the beginning.
The true battlefield had started the moment the film officially entered theaters.
At nine in the evening, inside Marvel Headquarters, lights still shone brightly from the executive conference room.
The atmosphere was tense.
Very tense.
Around the large conference table sat nearly all of Marvel's top management. Even Lionsgate President Jones Jason had personally rushed over. Everyone's eyes repeatedly drifted toward Kevin Feige.
The reason was simple.
Tonight, the opening day box office numbers for Saw would finally arrive.
No one could remain calm.
Not after all the money spent.
Not after the massive promotion campaign.
Not after Luo Zheng publicly declared war against Warner Bros. during the premiere.
At this moment, only one person appeared completely unaffected.
Luo Zheng sat in the chairman's seat with one leg crossed over the other, looking relaxed as if he had merely come for tea.
Old Karl finally couldn't bear it anymore.
He looked at Kevin and asked impatiently:
"Kevin, are the numbers out yet?"
Kevin glanced at his phone and shook his head.
"The theaters are still gathering final data. We need a little more time."
Silence.
The room immediately quieted.
Some executives tapped their fingers nervously.
Others crossed and uncrossed their legs repeatedly.
Jones Jason looked even more restless.
After all, Lionsgate had placed a huge bet this time.
Marvel had money.
Marvel had future projects.
But Lionsgate?
If Saw failed...
it would genuinely hurt.
Meanwhile, everyone occasionally looked toward Luo Zheng.
Seeing his calm expression somehow eased their panic.
Strangely enough, as long as their chairman sat there, it felt as if failure simply wasn't possible.
A few minutes later—
Kevin's phone suddenly rang.
Instantly—
everyone froze.
The conference room became so quiet that breathing itself sounded loud.
Kevin looked at the screen.
The call came from theater distribution.
His heartbeat accelerated.
He immediately answered.
"Hello?"
"Are the opening numbers finished?"
A few seconds later his eyes widened.
Then widened even further.
"...Okay."
"...Understood."
"...Thank you."
He hung up.
For a moment, Kevin stood there silently.
Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.
An enormous smile.
Everyone stared.
No one dared speak.
Finally someone couldn't take it anymore.
"Kevin!"
"Say something!"
Kevin looked toward Luo Zheng.
Then inhaled deeply.
"Boss..."
"Saw..."
"...has exploded."
He paused dramatically.
Then shouted:
"Opening day box office—11 million dollars!"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
chairs scraped violently.
Everyone except Luo Zheng stood up instantly.
The room exploded.
"Oh my God!!"
"Eleven million?!"
"In one day?!"
Jones nearly jumped from his seat.
The executives beside him screamed loudly.
"Marvel is flying!"
"We're rich!"
"The chairman is a genius!"
"No—he's a god!"
One executive almost cried.
Another directly hugged the person beside him.
Lionsgate President Jones stared toward Luo Zheng with disbelief.
Eleven million.
With a production cost of only 1.2 million.
That meant—
the movie had practically earned back its cost in a single day.
No...
far beyond that.
This was a miracle.
At the center of the chaos, Luo Zheng slowly stood up.
He pressed both hands downward.
Instantly—
silence returned.
No one dared continue shouting.
Luo Zheng looked around the room.
Very satisfied.
Very, very satisfied.
"Everyone."
"Don't celebrate too early."
His tone remained calm.
"Saw has only had an excellent beginning."
"We still have competition."
As he spoke, he glanced toward everyone.
"Warner's Eight Legged Freaks is still watching us."
However before he finished, Kevin suddenly raised his hand.
A strange smile appeared.
"Boss..."
"I think you're worrying too much."
Everyone turned.
Kevin waved his phone.
"I just received theater information."
"Eight Legged Freaks only made two million on opening day."
Silence.
Then—
wild laughter erupted.
Luo Zheng himself looked surprised.
Two million?
That bad?
He remembered Scarlett Johansson being in that movie.
In his previous life, he had specifically watched it.
Honestly speaking, it wasn't terrible.
With an eleven-million budget, it eventually earned over forty million worldwide.
Not amazing.
But profitable.
Yet now...
directly colliding with Saw had practically crushed it.
Two million opening day?
Forget profit.
Breaking even itself would become difficult.
Warner had truly smashed an egg against a rock.
Afterward, Marvel held a small celebration.
Champagne was opened.
People toasted endlessly.
Yet Luo Zheng didn't stay long.
Because on the way home, he had something more important to do.
Inside the car, he took out his phone.
Then started sending messages.
Lots of messages.
Fan Bingbing.
Gao Yuanyuan.
Ah Sa.
Ah Jiao.
And several others.
Anyone connected to him received one.
The content was simple:
"Saw succeeded."
Soon replies flooded in nonstop.
Congratulations.
Excitement.
Pride.
Some acted happy.
Some acted emotional.
Some almost looked happier than him.
The phone vibrated endlessly.
Luo Zheng smiled while replying.
Across from him Angelina Jolie narrowed her eyes.
"...Busy?"
Luo Zheng immediately put away the phone.
"Work."
Jolie looked unconvinced.
Very unconvinced.
But before she could continue, Luo Zheng had already leaned closer.
Actions often worked better than explanations.
Very quickly—
the conversation ended.
The next morning media reports arrived exactly as expected.
Headlines exploded everywhere.
[Nuclear-Level Return! Saw Earns 11 Million Opening Day, Creating a Hollywood Miracle]
[Fear Is The World's Most Profitable Business! Luo Zheng's Saw Slaughters The Box Office]
[Warner Ambushes Marvel—Gets Destroyed Instead]
Luo Zheng simply smiled after reading them.
This?
This was only the beginning.
The real storm had yet to arrive.
Five days later.
Early morning sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Luo Zheng slowly opened his eyes.
Immediately he felt weight pressing against both sides.
One arm.
One leg.
Two soft bodies practically wrapped around him like octopuses.
After some struggle he finally reached his phone.
Kevin's name flashed.
Luo Zheng answered lazily.
"Hello?"
Kevin's voice sounded excited beyond control.
"Boss."
"Weekend numbers are out."
Luo Zheng sat upright instantly.
"How much?"
Silence.
Then—
"Sixty-five point one three million dollars."
"..."
Luo Zheng froze.
Even he inhaled sharply.
Over sixty-five million opening weekend.
Ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
This was no longer success.
This was slaughter.
Kevin continued excitedly:
"I already informed everyone."
"The executives want a celebration party."
"They're waiting."
Luo Zheng immediately interrupted.
"Cancel it."
Kevin blinked.
"...Boss?"
"Change venues."
"Tomorrow night."
"We're hosting a grand celebration banquet."
Kevin nodded.
"How large?"
Luo Zheng smiled.
"Invite everyone."
"Hollywood studio presidents."
"Actors."
"Directors."
"Everyone."
Kevin became stunned.
Then excitement exploded across his face.
He understood.
Marvel wasn't celebrating.
Marvel was declaring war.
No—
announcing its arrival.
Soon media reports spread again.
Hollywood exploded.
[A New God Descends: Saw Opens To 65 Million]
[Marvel Changes Hollywood Rules Overnight]
[ROI Over Five Thousand Percent]
Even China became chaotic.
Entertainment circles erupted.
Stars who once looked down on Luo Zheng now searched desperately for contact information.
Meanwhile China Film and Huayi immediately began promoting Getting Home and A World Without Thieves.
Anything associated with Luo Zheng now attracted attention.
Anything.
That evening.
Roosevelt Hotel.
Blue Room.
As one of Hollywood's most historic hotels, elegance and old-world luxury filled every corner.
Kevin had chosen well.
Very well.
Luo Zheng arrived early.
As host, he personally greeted guests.
One after another they came.
Then another surprise arrived.
Warner President Barry Meyer.
Sony President Burns Coleman.
Even Roy Disney.
Three major Hollywood giants appearing together instantly changed the atmosphere.
News spread immediately.
Soon celebrities who had originally hesitated all rushed over.
But Luo Zheng had little interest in greeting middle-aged executives all night.
Because suddenly—
he saw someone.
In the crowd stood a beautiful young woman in a black dress.
Blonde-red hair.
Fair skin.
Delicate features.
A familiar face.
Scarlett Johansson.
Young.
Very young.
Not yet the future Black Widow who would shake the world.
But already astonishingly beautiful.
Luo Zheng smiled.
Without hesitation, he walked over.
Then stopped beside her.
"Hello."
Scarlett turned.
Those beautiful eyes widened slightly.
Luo Zheng smiled.
"Beautiful lady..."
"May I buy you a drink?"