Chapter 644: A Surprise Arrival. After the list of nominees was announced, "The Forest Without Flowers" was also scheduled for theatrical release in Taiwan.

"The Forest Without Flowers" is scheduled for release on December 5th, with almost no promotion.

Luo Yao is very self-aware. Such a bittersweet film can't possibly make money at the box office through traditional means. He can only try to ride the coattails of the Film Awards.

The hype surrounding the film online only lasted a few days. Luo Yao, seizing the opportunity, kept a tight rein on the details of "The Forest Without Flowers," refusing to divulge any information. Only after the Film Awards nominations were announced did he immediately release the release date news.

Ye Chu's second nomination for the Ying Shi Award, and this time sharing the Best Actress nomination with a relatively unknown actress, is enough to attract a large number of curious viewers to the cinema. If Ye Chu or Yang Huanyi wins the Ying Shi Award, the film's popularity will naturally skyrocket, and box office success will be guaranteed.

Extraordinary films require extraordinary methods.

This matter had already been discussed and agreed upon with Shang Yechu and Yang Huanyi. Incidentally, Luo Yao was the first member of the "Anna Doriya" crew, besides Yechu and Yang themselves, to know about the breakup.

Upon learning of this, Luo Yao couldn't help but recall the time Shang Yechu sought her advice on relationship issues during filming. At that time, she had jokingly predicted that the two would break up within three months. Unexpectedly, her words came true; this unlikely pair indeed broke up in February—exactly three months after Luo Yao's prediction.

Luo Yao seriously reflected on her jinxed words at the time and finally concluded that the problem clearly lay with the two of them, and had nothing to do with her, the great director Luo.

The worst fears have come true, making the promotion of "The Forest Without Flowers" an immense challenge.

The idea that art films don't need box office success is just a face-saving excuse. Aside from a few directors who receive their salaries through special channels, every director in the world dreams of both box office and critical acclaim. Directors who don't care about box office returns are like spotless idols—they exist only in the fantasies of marketing and fans.

Luo Yao was the same. Although she didn't compromise for the market by stuffing some questionable scenes into "The Forest Without Flowers," deep down, she still hoped her film would be more profitable.

Lesbianism, tragedy, no special effects, no grand scenes. These four words combined practically guarantee a box office flop. The only marketing angle the entire film can rely on is the popular actress Ye Chu.

Shang Yechu certainly didn't want to work with Yang Huanyi. They had already broken up, and working as a couple with an ex-girlfriend—wasn't that entertaining? The more innocent and genuine a couple's actions are, the more money they generate. Two people with guilty consciences standing together, unsure of what to do, forced to sweetly deceive the audience, was pure torture. Besides, "The Forest Without Flowers" could only be shown in Taiwan, Cao Shi's home turf. What would Shang Yechu call him if they ran into Cao Shi during a promotional event? Ex-husband, brother-in-law, or buddy?

Besides, Ye Ya would tear her apart alive.

Through persistent efforts, Shang Yechu recently managed to infiltrate the group of fans who had insulted and stalked her using a secondary account. Upon joining, she was immediately alarmed. Many influential and obsessive fans possessed information about Shang Yechu's romantic relationships, a fact known to the company. The company had already invested considerable effort in deploying professional fans to maintain order.

But Shang Yechu never expected that these trolls and big fans would know so much!

The current stability of Ye Ya's fandom is largely thanks to the fans' doting affection for Shang Ye Chu. However, even the deepest doting has its limits. Ye Chu's joint nomination with Yang Huanyi has already pushed the patience of informed fans to its limit; if she continues to sell products with Yang Huanyi without regard for the world, it might truly trigger a riot.

Coincidentally, filming for "Ice and Iron" was scheduled to begin in December. Shang Yechu naturally used filming as an excuse to decline Luo Yao's business invitation. It's said that Yang Huanyi also declined, citing childcare as her reason.