With such immense influence, Laila wasn't just widely covered by local media—even American outlets were stunned by the magnitude of her impact.
Because of this, her travel schedule was significantly extended. Several new countries were added to the itinerary, especially those considered key box office markets, and within those countries, the number of cities visited increased as well.
They were truly going all out for the box office.
For the final stop of her Asia promotion tour, Laila naturally chose the East. This would be her longest stay, where she'd continue giving interviews and appearing on various shows. The accompanying cast members, meanwhile, followed the team's arrangements and headed to major cities to drum up more buzz for the film.
In recent years, the East has grown considerably wealthier. Places willing to pay big money to invite Hollywood stars for commercial appearances were too numerous to count. Laila certainly wouldn't stop her actors from making some extra income. She only asked that, while making money, they also take the chance to plug the movie.
Make money, promote the film, boost the profile of the hosting location, meet adorable fans—is there a better, more satisfying job for everyone involved? For the Hollywood stars, the close interaction with Eastern fans was a rare and cherished experience.
They understood well that Hollywood's gaze had shifted Eastward in recent years. Seeing how their director had long since built a huge business in the region made it clear that the future here would be pivotal. Getting in early and familiarizing themselves with local fans was not only wise but essential.
Laila had identified the East as the most crucial market from the very beginning—because whether or not she could surpass Avatar's record would ultimately depend on how far this region's box office could go.
Last year, the East had contributed an extra $300 million to Avatar's total, raising the bar Laila now had to beat by the same amount. While her own theaters had already earned her a fortune, the thought of having to challenge a record that had risen so high left her with mixed feelings.
She knew very well that while The Avengers appealed more to younger viewers, Avatar attracted a broader age range.
Teenagers, young adults, middle-aged folks—even the elderly—who haven't dreamed of aliens and otherworldly adventures? Avatar fulfilled the fantasy of countless people with its immersive world and story.
In contrast, her film likely didn't appeal much to the older generation. Its main audience consisted of students, couples, and comic book fans—young people were the driving force behind its success.
This age demographic naturally made it harder to surpass Avatar's record, which is why Laila chose to stay a few extra days here, hoping to expand her promotional reach to as many cities as possible.
But she did have one massive advantage over Avatar—she owned the region's largest cinema chain.
Her theaters had already spread through fourth-tier cities without leaving a gap, while major cities had two or three locations, some even up to four or five. Her original "open a cinema, buy the land" policy had allowed her to ride the wave of skyrocketing property values. Honestly, even if she stopped running cinemas and just sold the buildings, she could still walk away with a fortune.
Of course, she had no intention of selling. She knew full well how much further prices would rise. Fortunately, she had secured prime locations in the big cities before land prices went through the roof. Now those areas were practically unaffordable, making it impossible to expand like she once did. As a result, her cinema chain's recent focus had shifted toward fourth-tier and smaller cities.
But back to the point—Laila owned the biggest theater chain in the East, one that was incredibly popular with young people and had become a cultural trend in itself. She could easily commandeer every single screen in the chain to show her film if she wanted to. That was an edge Avatar never had.
Not that she'd ever actually do that.
Domestic films needed support. She also had to accommodate a few Hollywood movies whose teams had reached out to her. Yes, she got the most screens, the best auditoriums, and the prime time slots—but she didn't go so far as to crush everyone else. She'd eat the meat, sure, but others still got to sip the soup. Fair's fair.
Besides, even if she didn't own the theaters, The Avengers was so popular that it would've naturally earned preferential screening slots. Popular movies make money. Why waste screens on flops?
Beyond business, though, Laila had another important mission in the East: she was here to try on her wedding dress.
Her wedding gown had long been entrusted to Janet, who took on both the design and production. But Laila, at heart, still carried an Eastern soul. Compared to a Western-style white gown, she had a greater fondness for a traditional red Chinese wedding outfit.
It didn't have to be full-on phoenix crown and red robes, nor did it need to be embroidered with gold and silver thread or adorned with pearls and jade. She simply wanted something with a distinctly Eastern flavor—something that would let her honor her heritage and give her a wedding that truly resonated with her heart.
The place she chose was called Xuanji Embroidery House.
It had been recommended by a subordinate, who'd heard about it through a friend. Reportedly, the shop employed the finest embroiderers in the East. They rarely took on outside commissions and only worked for acquaintances. Even so, their workload was nonstop—many clients, even with cash in hand, had to wait endlessly for just one piece.
Gaining access to this place was largely thanks to Yao Yingxia, who had already made a name for herself.
It was because of Laila that Yao had risen so quickly—catching the attention of higher-ups, forging strong ties with Laila, and climbing the ranks in just a few short years. So, when she heard that Laila was looking for someone to make a Chinese-style wedding outfit, she immediately recommended Xuanji Embroidery House.
Before arriving, Laila had already chosen the design and patterns online in advance. All that was left was for her to come in and try the dress on. There would inevitably be adjustments, and those would take time, which is why Laila had scheduled ample time for her stay.
To outsiders, however, her extended visit was seen as proof of how much she valued the local box office. Media outlets ran special features covering her trip and all the fanfare that followed her.
When Laila saw those articles, she just shrugged and tossed them aside.
These media folks must be bored out of their minds—chasing her around the globe instead of reporting from places that actually needed coverage, like developing nations. But hey, they weren't wrong—she did value this market. She valued it a lot.
Xuanji Embroidery House was hidden in a secluded, luxurious courtyard houses—a traditional courtyard residence—not somewhere an average person could easily find.
When Yao Yingxia brought Laila to the location, just stepping into the courtyard made Laila feel like she could cry from the sheer beauty of it.