Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm-Chapter 426 - 425: The American High School Ecosystem [I AM BACK]

[I. AM. BACK. As for why? Simple—I ran out of money. So, I was thinking of finally creating a new Patreon and translating five new works. The works published on my Patreon will be heavily edited, with no Chinese nonsense like face-slapping or the MC being looked down upon.

Sigh... I want to retire and quit this whole thing, but there are still so many people waiting for me to update this novel, as well as others who want me to start a new project. I don't want to disappoint them, but honestly, one of the main reasons I came back is that I don't have enough money to buy disposable vapes. Tsk.]

April 12, 2003.

The premiere of Mean Girls was held at Lincoln Center in New York's Upper West Side.

Typically, low-budget films have modest premieres—just a formality, or sometimes, they skip the event altogether to save costs.

But Mean Girls was different.

This was a film personally written and financed by Martin for his girl.

To make sure the premiere was a grand spectacle, Martin leveraged his connections—

Bruce Willis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Nicole Kidman, Liv Tyler... The night was filled with star power.

Beyond the celebrities, executives from major film studios were also in attendance, paying due respect to Martin.

Kevin Johnson, the head of production at Universal, was among them.

He hadn't wanted to come. After all, it was because of the conflict between Lindsay and his daughter that Martin had spontaneously written Mean Girls on the spot. Showing up now was practically inviting a slap to the face.

But he had no choice—his superiors demanded he attend and personally apologize to Martin.

It wasn't just a suggestion; it was an ultimatum. If he couldn't secure Martin's forgiveness, his position as head of production was as good as gone.

In Hollywood, a Universal production chief was considered a big deal among ordinary actors. But to the true power players, he was just a pawn—a disposable piece sent forward to gauge Martin's attitude.

In the end, Kevin Johnson swallowed his pride and apologized. Whether Martin accepted it, he had no idea. And he didn't dare ask.

After his apology, Martin's only response was a cold "Mm." Nothing more.

Kevin Johnson's face burned with humiliation, his frustration surging. He silently prayed that the film he had championed—Hulk—would dominate the box office in June.

That way, he could at least regain some leverage against the insufferable studio board members.

And, as he had heard, Martin's musical film was also set for a June release.

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If Hulk could defeat Martin's movie and shatter his undefeated streak, that would be the ultimate satisfaction.

Leaving Kevin Johnson to stew in his thoughts—

Lindsay was overjoyed.

Her first leading role was finally premiering, and with so many celebrities and industry figures in attendance, her vanity was thoroughly indulged.

The media was equally excited.

For years, Lindsay had been seen as Martin's childhood sweetheart.

In their eyes, if anyone had the best shot at becoming Martin's official girlfriend, it had to be Lindsay Lohan.

Who could have predicted that Nicole's speech at the Oscars would suddenly catapult her—an Australian woman eighteen years Martin's senior—into the role, shattering expectations?

And now, at Lindsay Lohan's first movie premiere as a lead actress, Nicole Kidman had also shown up.

How could the press not be thrilled?

Reporters eagerly hoped for a dramatic showdown—Lindsay and Nicole in a heated argument, or better yet, a full-blown catfight with hair-pulling and torn dresses.

But to their disappointment, the "plot" didn't unfold as they had wished.

When Nicole and Lindsay met, both were cordial—even affectionate.

Nicole smiled and hugged Lindsay, wishing her film great success.

Lindsay, in return, kissed Nicole on the cheek.

The two women acted like friends.

It has to be an act, many reporters thought.

Some were even taken aback—Nicole was one thing, she was a Hollywood veteran. But for a young girl like Lindsay to play the game so well?

With no scandal to exploit, they had to settle for watching the film.

The lights in the theater dimmed row by row, and the big screen lit up.

To be honest, Mean Girls followed a highly conventional formula—it was a classic Hollywood "small-town girl in the big city" story, except in this case, the small town was swapped for the distant African continent.

This type of movie typically revolves around a few key moments—

The girl struggles to adjust to her new environment, leading to comedic mishaps. She undergoes a transformation, changing her image and surprising everyone. She falls for her rival's boyfriend (or in this case, ex-boyfriend). She fights back against the school's queen bee and her clique, ultimately triumphing.

Hollywood churns out countless films like this every year.

So why did Mean Girls stand out and become a box office hit?

One major factor was its emphasis on fashion.

In the original timeline, protagonist Cady had over 40 outfit changes, while Regina and her friends each had more than 30.

Martin took it a step further—he hired renowned New York fashion designer Tina Lee to create even more dazzling costumes and accessories for the girls. It was money well spent.

When the characters' transformation scenes began, gasps of admiration echoed throughout the theater.

Both from girls—and from boys.

Of course, their focus was entirely different.

Martin could already foresee the commercial impact—once the film hit wide release, the outfits and accessories designed for the movie would sell like hotcakes, generating another lucrative revenue stream.

But beyond fashion, Mean Girls carried a deeper theme—social hierarchy.

Social navigation is a critical survival skill for every American student.

In the U.S., most public school teachers and principals do little to curb bullying. As a result, social dominance—whether through intimidation or self-defense—becomes an essential lesson for kids.

At its core, public school operates on a principle of survival of the fittest—but unlike elite private schools, where the competition is academic, here it's about physical strength and social maneuvering.

(PS: Schools in Chinese-American communities tend to be better, while those in Black communities face the worst conditions.)

In most public schools, the most popular students are athletes—football players reign supreme, followed by basketball players.

Among girls, the ones at the top of the food chain are cheerleaders.

After all, cheerleaders often date football or basketball players.

In short, athletes rule American high school social structures.

Surviving in an average U.S. public school isn't much different from surviving in the wild.

As depicted in Mean Girls, Cady thought she had escaped the brutal African wilderness—only to find that the world of high school girls was just as full of hidden dangers and traps.

This struck a chord with American teenagers.

In this country, most students have experienced bullying in some form. Few dared to fight back, but nearly everyone had fantasized about it.

This movie brought those fantasies to life—letting them see someone stand up against the system, giving voice to feelings they had never been able to express.

And that was why it resonated so deeply with young audiences.