Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 315 The cast of "New Three Kingdoms" is basically in place, the uncrowned male god
In June, Yan Li, who had participated in some activities in the southwest, returned to Beijing and convened an internal meeting of the "New Three Kingdoms" production team.

Currently, the casting process for the drama has been going on for several months, and filming is not far off. The roles that need to be cast must be finalized before preparations can begin.

This meeting has also captured the attention of many.

Prior to this, some roles had already been basically filled by specific candidates, but whether or not they could be finalized still required Yan Li's personal approval.

Last month, due to special circumstances, Yan Li didn't have time to deal with this matter at all, so he dragged it out to this meeting and decided on the spot.

Considering the scale of the "New Three Kingdoms" project and its importance to certain actors, it can be said that this was a meeting that determined the fate of many people.

Northeast, Fushi

When Yu and Wei, who had returned to their hometown for some business, spoke with their sister, they seemed somewhat distracted, their minds preoccupied with Yi'an's meeting.

Yu and Wei's experiences are quite interesting. They are from Northeast China, graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and were assigned to the Jinling Military Region. They acted in stage plays and later took on some TV series roles, but they were not very successful.

In 2003, he was recommended to director Gao Xixi by the screenwriter of "The Sky of History" and played the villain Wan Gubei in the drama.

This character was very distinctive, and he acted very well, which made him famous and led him to start his career in the entertainment industry.

For actors to succeed in the industry, talent and luck are one aspect, but they also need mentors and support.

Either own a company, or you need to befriend a powerful figure!
Yu Hewei's elder brother is Gao Xixi. He starred in many TV series, including "The Sky of History", "True Feelings Era", "Wrong Car", "Men's Bottom Line", and "Glorious Years", all of which were directed by Gao Xixi. He can be considered Gao's go-to actor.

This audition for "New Three Kingdoms" was also recommended by Gao Xixi.

One of the investors in "New Three Kingdoms" is Xiaoma Benteng, the company of Gao Xixi. Although Gao didn't become a director, he can still recommend a few people.

Yu Hewei wanted to play Cao Cao because he felt the role was more outstanding, and the first TV series he acted in was "Cao Cao," in which he played Xun Yu.

Therefore, Yu and Wei have a certain obsession with the character of Cao Cao.

However, Gao felt that he was more suitable to play Liu Bei, so he suggested that he audition for the role.

Yu and Wei dared not disobey their elder brother, but they were still unwilling to give up, so they boldly applied for both roles during the audition.

This is common in auditions. When actors are creating roles, and their appearances are similar, it's impossible to say which one is more suitable. It's understandable to try out several.

Because of a recommendation, the production team of "New Three Kingdoms" didn't find him annoying and let him try out Liu Bei and then Cao Cao.

The result of this test was significant: Liu Bei, who was the main applicant, was rejected, while Cao Cao was listed as a backup candidate.

He even defeated several opponents along the way and was reported to President Yan as the first choice.

Yu and Wei were excited, yet also uneasy.

He has some fame now, but only a little. He basically still relies on Gao Xixi for his livelihood and has not played the male lead many times. To the outside world, he can only be said to be barely familiar, and not many people recognize his name.

It's hard to say who the lead actor will be in the new Three Kingdoms series, but Cao Cao is definitely a strong contender.

Moreover, unlike the stereotypical portrayal of Cao Cao in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," Cao Cao is depicted as a ruthless and ambitious figure, with many memorable moments.

If Yu Hewei plays this role, it will definitely be a milestone in his career. I dare not say he will become a superstar, but it will greatly enhance his fame and help him gain a foothold in the industry.

Yu and Wei are approaching forty this year, and they feel that this might be their only chance in their lives.

If I miss this opportunity, I might only be able to remain a struggling actor in the industry.

"Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother..."

Yu Hewei, who was getting increasingly distracted, was nudged by his older sister. He was the ninth child in his family, with eight older brothers and sisters.

"what?"

My sister pointed to the phone on the coffee table: "Oh, the phone rang."

Yu and Wei picked up their phones, and the ringtone was from the producer of "New Three Kingdoms," with whom they had dealt several times before.

He panicked a little and hesitated for a moment before answering.

Yu and Wei hoped to hear the good news they had been dreaming of, but they were also afraid of receiving a devastating shock.

In the end, he managed to answer the phone before it stopped ringing. His sister, who was next to him, realized what was happening, shut her mouth, and looked at her brother nervously.

"Hey Lao Yu, this is Liu Qing'an. Is it convenient for you over there?"

"Brother Liu, I'm here. Please speak."

Before auditioning, Yu and Wei were trying to befriend the people from "New Three Kingdoms," and they had invited producer Liu to dinner a few times, so their relationship was fairly good.

"Cao Cao hasn't been decided yet, but you need to come to the company right now; President Yan wants to see you."

Liu Qing'an said a few words, and Yu and Wei were overjoyed.

He's not stupid. If he loses the election, President Yan would have nothing better to do than see him. Even if the matter isn't settled, there's a good chance this will happen.

"I'm currently at my hometown in Northeast China. I'll book a ticket back to Beijing right away, and I should arrive around this afternoon."

"Okay, hurry up and try to see him today. Don't keep the boss waiting."

After ending the call, Yu and Wei quickly packed their things and called friends to help book tickets. It would be best to fly, but if that wasn't possible, they would have to drive, as trains were too slow.

He was lucky enough to buy a ticket at the last minute and rushed to Yi'an before the end of the workday.

The person Liu Qing'an came to pick up was Yu Hewei, who was close to him and could be considered half of his confidant.

If he succeeds in taking the throne, he will have a lot of influence in "New Three Kingdoms," so he is quite concerned about it.

"President Yan is busy right now, please wait in the lounge."

Yu and Wei were a little nervous. They had met Yan Li before, but this was their first time meeting him alone, especially since it involved a major event concerning their own fate. It was quite remarkable that they didn't tremble.

"Brother Liu, could you please give President Yan some pointers if she has any taboos or anything?"

Yu and Wei sought help from Liu Qing'an, who was slightly embarrassed: "To be honest, I haven't really met with President Yan in private much."

Liu is not an old man from Yi'an; he only joined the company a couple of years ago and has been working on non-key projects.

Because of his good performance, he was appreciated by his superiors, and because the "New Three Kingdoms" project needed a lot of people, he became a producer for "New Three Kingdoms".

However, there were several producers for "New Three Kingdoms," and he was at the bottom of the list; otherwise, he wouldn't have been dealing with Yu and Wei, who were both candidates.

Therefore, although Liu Qing'an had held many meetings with Yan Li, he had no experience in dealing with him alone.

However, he was, after all, a man of Yi'an. He had seen pigs run even though he hadn't eaten pork, so he had some understanding of them, which was of some help to He Wei.

Yu and Wei were still nervous, so they chatted about other things to distract him.

"Was the role of Liu Bei already decided before you arrived?"

"who."

"You've met him before, Xin Baiqing from the National Theatre of China."

Yu and Wei had an impression of him; he was also one of Liu Bei's top choices, and he seemed to be a very gentle person.

It is said that the production team initially wanted to cast some popular big names, such as Chen Daoming and Zhang Fengyi, but later felt they were too old, and the production team also wanted to bring in some freshness.

Yu and Xin both benefited from this, gaining some fame, though not a huge one. They were considered relatively unknown, but possessed considerable acting experience and ability.

"Where are Guan Yu and Zhang Fei?"

"We've basically decided on Hu Jun for Guan Yu. Actually, Director Yan and the directors are a bit dissatisfied, but we just can't find anyone suitable."

Yu and Wei nodded, because Cao Cao and Guan Yu had scenes together, and they had specifically observed the Guan Yu group beforehand.

Indeed, each candidate has their advantages and disadvantages. There is only one Lu Shuming, so we can only choose the best among the worst. Hu Jun is a recognized tough guy, famous and a good actor, so at least he can guarantee a minimum standard.

"Zhang Fei's original cast members were all eliminated. Director Kong went to the opera academy to find an actor to play the painted-face role. He was a complete newcomer who had never acted before."

Yu and Wei were somewhat surprised, as they knew the production team was struggling with the casting of Zhang Fei.

No matter what happens to Guan Yu, Hu Jun can cover for him and he'll get less criticism.

Because of his image limitations, the actors chosen to portray Zhang Fei either made him seem mindless or unhappy. In Yan Li's words, he wanted Zhang Henghou, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, not some village idiot or mountain bandit.

I thought they would just make do with the actors in the end, but the production team got desperate and insisted on using newcomers despite the risks.

"That man is Yue Qi. You'll see when you meet him. Don't underestimate him. He's never acted before, but he's been practicing since childhood and has been singing on stage for twenty or thirty years. He's quite skilled."

Yu and Wei thought about it and agreed; newcomers are not all the same.

Traditional opera is also a form of performance. Many traditional opera actors have switched to acting, and many good actors have emerged from this field. Art schools like Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama also prefer to recruit those with a background in dance and traditional opera.

Liu Qing'an continued to gossip with Yu and Wei, saying that this Zhang Fei was definitely the most legendary character among the casting choices for "New Three Kingdoms".

If there isn't a suitable actor, look for one in traditional opera.

This inspiration came from the production team of "The Dream of Red Mansions," and they used some opera actors.

The director team's original target was Guan Yu, because Guan Yu plays have always been a popular genre in traditional opera, and they thought they might be able to find someone who could "surpass Guan Yu".

After searching around, I couldn't find any. There were only a couple that seemed interesting, but they were all too old, even older than Liu Bei's father.

However, a mistake can happen. They didn't find an actor to play Guan Yu, but they did find a "living Zhang Fei" who had a good physique and imposing presence. Most importantly, after removing the beard and facial makeup, he looked somewhat like the character.

He was also the first major role decided at today's meeting. Yan Li only looked at his face and watched two scenes of him in makeup before deciding on him at the meeting.

Yu and Wei were both a little envious; these kinds of actors with special characteristics have a huge advantage in this regard.

Where is Zhuge Liang?

"Not decided yet."

Liu Qing'an shook his head: "Sun Quan has cast Deng Chao, Zhou Yu has cast Yan Kuan. If your casting is finalized, the only major role that hasn't been cast is Zhuge Liang. However, this role can't be filmed for the time being, there's still time."

Yu and Wei remained silent. Previously, when casting the role of Zhuge Liang, Huang Xiaoming was the most popular choice.

There is this opinion online, and some people within the company also support it.

But Huang Xiaoming is with Huayi Brothers, and this probably involves a clash between big companies. As a small-time figure, he should stay out of it.

"By the way, Brother Liu, who is Yuan Shao?"

Yu and Wei asked a question: In the script, Yuan Shao and he had many scenes and confrontations, and he was also paying attention to this character.

"Ma Yue, Li Shimin in The Long Ballad of Zhenguan. He originally auditioned for Liu Bei, but failed. After that, Director Yan felt that he had a noble air and could play Yuan Shao."

Another great actor!

Yu and Wei felt a lot of pressure. Xin Baiqing is one of the pillars of the National Theatre of China, Hu Jun is a popular star, and Yuan Shao is Ma Yue, who brought Li Shimin to life.

The list of Cao Cao's ministers and generals had been released one after another. He had read their information and some of their representative works, and none of them were easy to deal with.

Even if he gets the role, if he doesn't act well, he might be replaced or suppressed by various parties, becoming the worst version of Cao Cao.

Just as he was thinking this to himself, there was a knock on the door of the lounge. A girl knocked on the door.

"Mr. Yu and Mr. Wei, Mr. Yan would like to invite them."

Yu and Wei got up, and Liu Qing'an helped them straighten their clothes. Somewhat reserved, they followed the girl to Yan Li's office.

Upon knocking and entering, Yu and Wei were taken aback by the luxurious office. They had visited Yi'an several times, but this was their first time in Yan Li's office.

As expected of an entertainment mogul, Yu and Wei, who were already reserved, became even more cautious due to the luxurious office environment.

This is also why some bosses build headquarters buildings, as well as luxurious offices and office areas.

Besides enjoyment and vanity, there's also the intention to use the environment to enhance the company's and personal image, intimidate, suppress, or deceive those who come to the office, making it easier for them to do their work.

However, Yu and Wei are not of a high enough caliber for Yan Li to resort to this tactic.

When Yan Li saw him come in, he invited him to sit down: "Want a smoke?"

Yu and Wei wanted to cover it up, but they were afraid of being exposed later, so they nodded. Yan Li took out two cigarettes from the cigarette box and gave one to Yu and Wei. Yu and Wei grabbed the lighter first and lit it for Yan Li.

Offering cigarettes during business discussions is a form of small talk and a way to build rapport and relax the atmosphere.

As he puffed out a cloud of smoke, Yan Li looked at Yu Hewei and said, "The role of Cao Cao is very difficult. To be honest, many people in the crew don't have much confidence in you."

Yu and Wei were about to speak when Yan Li raised his hand to stop them: "But I saw your audition and was impressed. There are also people in the crew who support you, so I thought about it and decided to give you a chance."

"Let me be frank from the start: if you don't perform well, the production team will consider replacing you. This isn't just your case; several actors have received the same treatment."

"In short, I've given you an opportunity; whether you seize it or not is up to you."

Yan Li pointed to a document on the table: "This is a contract. After signing it, you can get the role of Cao Cao, but if you don't perform well, the production team can terminate the contract with you unconditionally. You won't get a penny, and your time will be wasted..."

"I sign."

Before Yan Li could finish speaking, Yu and Wei directly expressed their agreement.

More than a decade after graduating from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, he finally got his chance, and no matter what, he was willing to take the gamble.

Moreover, it's just a delay, which is not much of a cost to him, but the returns are amazing. He would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn't take the gamble.

"Ambitious."

Yan Li praised, "Don't worry, if you're confirmed to be the lead, there will be a normal contract, and your salary will be paid in full."

Yu and Wei said gratefully, "Thank you, President Yan."

"Playing Cao Cao well, so that our crew gets more praise and less criticism, is the greatest gratitude I can ask for."

Yan Li said something and pushed a business card over: "This is Mr. Bao Guoan's phone number. The production team has already contacted him. You can interview him and ask him for advice later. By the way, do you have a Weibo account?"

"Yes, I registered on Weibo as soon as it launched." "That's good. When you visit, take lots of photos to express your gratitude to Teacher Bao. Having Teacher Bao endorse you will benefit both you and our production team."

Yan Li insists on associating himself with the CCTV version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," trying various ways to piggyback on its popularity, pay homage to it, and avoid its pitfalls.

Not only did they invite actors from the CCTV version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to participate in "New Three Kingdoms," they also had actors from "New Three Kingdoms" come to them for advice.

This passing down of tradition from generation to generation not only creates a friendly atmosphere and highlights the orderly inheritance, but also brings a surge of traffic to Weibo.

Yu and Wei agreed. Even if Yan Li's arrangement wasn't beneficial to them, they still had to find a way to comply with the boss's orders.

Yan Li had a good impression of him, and after thinking for a moment, asked, "Have you signed with a company?"

Yu and Wei were taken aback, and quickly replied, "I was with Director Gao at Xiaoma Benteng."

Yan Li nodded and said nothing more. Yu and Wei were itching to talk more, but they didn't dare, so they could only keep their thoughts to themselves.

Afterwards, Yan Li chatted with him for a while, probably urging him to thoroughly understand the character of Cao Cao, and then let Yu and Wei leave.

The whole process took no more than ten minutes, but it felt like several days had passed when Yu and Wei came out of the office.

Besides the luxurious office and Yan Li's powerful aura, the most crucial factor was that this conversation concerned the fate of his career.

I actually got the role of Cao Cao?!

With their feet on the floor, Yu and Wei felt dizzy and still somewhat unreal.

Liu Qing'an had been waiting for him in the lounge. When he saw the contract in Yu and Wei's hands, he was overjoyed and went up to congratulate them.

"Congratulations, Lao Yu."

Yu and Wei came to their senses, still unable to hide their excitement: "Brother Liu, thanks to your help, I will definitely repay you in the future."

He came in a hurry from his hometown and didn't bring much with him. He'll have to give Liu Qing'an a red envelope later as a small token of his appreciation.

On the one hand, people really did speak up for him and run errands for him; on the other hand, he was still hoping Liu Qing'an would take care of him when he returned for the new Three Kingdoms series.

Moreover, the producer of Yi An's big production team has a bright future. One day, when he takes the lead in a project, there might be opportunities for collaboration.

If you want to climb the ladder in the industry, it's incredibly difficult without having connections with several directors and producers to help you.

We can think about the red envelope later, but I have to treat everyone to a meal today.

Liu Qing'an readily agreed, and at the same time added, "You were able to rise to the top this time not only because of President Yan's appreciation and my support, but also because of another contributor."

"Who?"

"The executive director, Zhang Yongxin, is from the same hometown as President Yan and is highly regarded. During the meeting, he was the one who strongly supported and recommended you, and he even persuaded Director Kong Sheng. If you're going to treat us to a meal, don't forget him."

Yu and Wei were very grateful upon hearing this, but they were not very familiar with Zhang, so Liu had to come and invite them.

Liu Qing'an was very straightforward. He wasn't being nice or deliberately asking for favors on Zhang Yongxin's behalf; rather, he was optimistic about Zhang's future.

Boss Yan values ​​his fellow townsmen, and Zhang Yongxin has shown outstanding performance, gaining increasing influence and becoming, in a way, the most influential person after the three directors of "New Three Kingdoms".

Judging from this trend, if Zhang Yongxin stays in Yi'an, his future prospects will likely be bright.

Liu Qing'an naturally wanted to befriend this promising individual.

Yu and Wei are just a starting point. Zhang's strong support must mean he has a good impression of Yu. Let's have a meal together, get to know each other, and maybe in the future we can help each other out in "New Three Kingdoms" or even in the company.

Sure enough, upon hearing that Yu and Wei were treating him to a meal to express their gratitude, Zhang Yongxin hesitated only briefly before accepting the invitation, and the three of them chatted happily.

The next day, Yu Hewei, who played Cao Cao, was announced by the official Weibo account of "New Three Kingdoms", which sparked a lot of discussion.

After a long period of build-up and hype, "New Three Kingdoms" is now very popular, even surpassing "New Dream of the Red Chamber" which started filming earlier.

After all, there are different levels of quality among the Four Great Classical Novels.

In terms of literary merit, *Dream of the Red Chamber* is indeed remarkable. In terms of national popularity, only the four classic novels of *Journey to the West* can rival *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

With the added fuel of Yi An and Weibo, the casting of "New Three Kingdoms" has long been a hot topic, with all sorts of arguments about who should play the roles.

Every time a production team officially announces a popular character or new actor, it can generate a surge in online traffic.

As one of the core characters in "New Three Kingdoms", Cao Cao naturally receives a lot of attention.

Yu and Wei eagerly opened Weibo, wanting to see what everyone thought about this matter.

Then I found my inbox was about to explode and my followers were increasing dramatically!
He previously had over 1500 followers thanks to his fame and official verification. It was a small number, but most of them were active fans.

While Weibo data may contain some inflated figures, it's not excessive, and the more followers a platform has, the more inflated its figures tend to be.

For accounts like Yu and Wei's with over a thousand followers, as long as they operate normally, about 80% of them are real people, or at least real accounts.

Now, Yu and Wei's fan base is approaching 10,000, a surge of several times.

It's understandable. The official Weibo account of "New Three Kingdoms" mentions him, and other accounts then repost and mention him. Many people follow him by clicking on his Weibo, but even more simply leave comments or mention him.

Yu and Wei, who were just overjoyed by the increase in followers, felt a bucket of cold water poured over them when they looked at the comments and @mentions in their comment section.

Unsurprisingly, upon learning that an unknown actor was playing such an important role as Cao Cao, most people's first reaction was to question him, while some more irritable ones questioned and scolded him.

There may have been some expectations and support, but they were all drowned out by these negative voices.

Yu and Wei wanted to delete those comments, but were afraid of being discovered and further criticized, so they simply stopped looking at those comments for the time being and started writing character biographies with the script.

The best way to dispel doubts is not through self-defense and explanation, but through facts.

Others thought he couldn't portray Cao Cao well, so he played the role well to silence those voices.

...

Yu and Wei chose to work hard, but Yan Li was even more decisive, closing his Weibo comments early on.

There's no way around it; he's a controversial figure, so he's bound to get criticized.

Having experience with works like "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" and "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," Yan Li already knew his fate when "New Three Kingdoms" was first conceived.

As the producer and executive producer of the "New Three Kingdoms" project, Yan Li is more famous than several directors, and many people know that he is the person in charge of the project.

If there's anything wrong with "New Three Kingdoms", the first person to be criticized is the actor, and the second person to be criticized is him.

Sometimes, Yan Li gets scolded even more harshly than the actors. It's been like this before, and he's used to it.

However, in the past, people would criticize him in other places, but this time they came to his Weibo comment section to criticize him to his face.

This is also the advanced feature of Weibo: strong interaction (gritting teeth)!
Actually, just being scolded, even by going to Weibo to hurl insults, wouldn't have broken Yan Li's spirits.

The investment in "New Three Kingdoms" exceeded 100 million yuan, and the TV station offered a high price. The total cost was nine figures. What does it matter if they get a few criticisms? Earning money comes with the cost of being criticized.

What truly led Yan Li to close the comment section was that many people knew he was the owner of Weibo, so they would tag him or leave various messages on Weibo seeking feedback or help from him.

For example, if someone's child gets sick and they can't afford treatment, they might ask Yan Li to donate some money. As a well-known wealthy man in China, Yan Li can't just sit idly by.

But who knows if a piece of information online is true or false?
Even if it were true, what if you save one person and then others come asking for help? Yan Li is not a savior. There are so many people suffering, and even if he gave away all his wealth, it would only be a drop in the ocean.

Besides, who dares to say that those who come seeking help are all unfortunate people? There are plenty of people who are just trying to get rich and freeload off others.

By helping those in distress, Yan Li could at least gain peace of mind and good karma; but being cheated out of money was much more painful.

With so much information, neither Weibo nor the system could distinguish it. What could Yan Li do?

This is just a plea for help; some people also hope that Weibo will report and publicize some sensitive social news, or that Yan Li himself will stand up and denounce it.

These news stories sometimes cover a wide range of topics, and you absolutely can't touch them on Weibo, or you might just be in for a major shock.

Therefore, as the owner of Weibo, Yan Li represents Weibo to a certain extent. He may be able to manipulate things behind the scenes, but he really cannot easily step forward and make a statement.

Taking a stance is bad, but not taking a stance is also bad. It makes one vulnerable to being manipulated and labeled, which can also damage one's personal image and the image of Weibo.

So Yan Li resorted to the desperate measure of closing the comment section on his personal Weibo account.

If you can't see it, you don't know it; if you don't know it, you naturally can't express your opinion!
Regardless, first clear himself up, and then Weibo should handle the matter according to company procedures.

The comments section was closed before, but due to special circumstances in May, it was opened for a while and then closed again at the beginning of June. Unexpectedly, this mistake helped us avoid the disaster caused by "New Three Kingdoms".

Of course, there is still a lot of criticism and abuse on Weibo, but at least Yan Li is in peace for now.

The casting for "New Three Kingdoms" was not released all at once, but rather one at a time every few days, which kept the buzz going until filming began.

Besides "New Three Kingdoms", Weibo is also making the most of its time to prepare for the Olympics and Weibo male idols.

The Weibo male god project started even earlier, in late June, and officially began in early July.

According to the usual practice of Weibo Goddess, it would take at least a month, but because August coincides with the Olympics, in order to avoid traffic sharing, the plan is to determine the first Weibo Goddess before the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Yan Li made a special trip to check it out, because with the experience of the Weibo goddess, he was better prepared and had more ways to play.

Previously, a Weibo goddess account could only cast one vote per day, but could get an extra vote by bringing in a new user.

In addition to the first two basic requirements, Weibo male idols can also claim an extra card through the [Daily Tasks].

This task involves posting a few Weibo posts, reposting a few Weibo posts, commenting a few times, and liking a few times each day to increase user activity on Weibo.

Ordinary casual users would find it too much trouble, so this feature is basically geared towards fans.

Therefore, popularity and fans are very important in this Weibo male god selection.

Weibo also made some targeted predictions and selected some highly popular contestants.

Huang Xiaoming is currently a leading man in mainland Chinese TV dramas and among young actors. Unless he's unlucky enough to encounter a strong competitor early on, his fame will not be too bad.

Chou Chieh-lun, the Asian superstar, needs no introduction. Among the new generation of singers, no one can rival her in terms of fans.

Andy Lau is a popular figure, and many of the female celebrities on Weibo are veteran Hong Kong stars, so naturally, the same applies to the selection of male gods.

Moreover, compared to the older generation of actresses who have mostly retired, many male stars are still active, and some are even rising stars in the film industry.

While Andy Lau's fans may not have the same advantage in voting as younger generations due to their age composition, their sheer number and immense popularity among the general public make them formidable.

Within Weibo, many people are also very optimistic about Andy Lau, who is currently at his peak, and believe that he is a strong contender for the championship.

Although Nicholas Tse was affected by the photo scandal, he was, after all, a victim, so the impact on his fans was not significant, and he could even gain some sympathy. Considering his popularity, he should not be underestimated.

Also worth mentioning are Yao Ming and Liu Xiang.

The Weibo male god competition is not limited to entertainment stars; anyone of Chinese nationality or of Chinese descent, including sports stars, can participate.

Their fame and influence are undeniable, especially given the backdrop of the Beijing Olympics, which gave them an even greater advantage.

Therefore, Weibo did not restrict the two from participating in the competition; on the contrary, it seemed to welcome it.

The two male celebrities on Weibo are closely associated with the Olympics, and if they are actually selected, the event will benefit from their good fortune.

Besides the aforementioned individuals, the other members of the "Four Kings" (a group of top male stars), Chen Kun, Lu Yi, Hu Ge, and other popular young actors, Hu Jun (a tough guy representative), a group of big-name male stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and popular singers like Wang Leehom and JJ Lin are all considered promising candidates on Weibo.

"Is Teacher Chen here too?"

Yan Li saw a name that had recently left the entertainment industry and raised questions about it.

A Weibo representative explained that even if someone retires from the entertainment industry, they are still a celebrity, and retiring doesn't mean they can't participate in the Weibo Male God selection.

More importantly, Teacher Chen has a lot of online traffic, and a particularly large amount of it.

To be honest, male celebrities on Weibo don't have the same hype as female celebrities, so they need to find some topics to generate buzz.

Yan Li thought it made sense, but still reminded everyone to be careful with Weibo, lest they end up thanking Teacher Chen for sharing with the brothers and the fun-loving people and helping them win the championship.

Last time, Zhang Baizhi made it to the semi-finals, which gave him a real scare. Now, Teacher Chen is hated by everyone and has become a Weibo heartthrob. Don't hold the next one.

"Don't worry, Mr. Yan, we've made preparations. Even if he manages to break into the top 32, he'll face the most formidable opponent, and we'll be behind him causing trouble."

Yan Li nodded and looked at the last name—Yan Li (a guaranteed top 8 finisher, a top 4 favorite, and a potential finalist).

"Isn't this expectation a bit too high?"

Yan Li's goal is to reach the top 32 without cheating; he never thought about the top four or the championship.

"Mr. Yan, you are too modest. You have underestimated your current influence and popularity."

"That's right, one of the role models of the post-80s generation, a successful example. Countless people regard you as their idol and goal. Your previous advertisement gained countless fans and is now popular in Asia and Europe."

"In terms of fame, wealth, fans, and personal charm, you are one of the best candidates overall. If it weren't for our own event, you certainly wouldn't want to win the championship and face criticism. I think you would have won the championship easily."

"..."

Yan Li said with some disdain, "If you people had a knack for flattery, I wouldn't have to worry about anything at work."

The employee shook his head: "These are our honest opinions."

Yan Li ignored them and skipped the matter, continuing his questioning. When he finished and was about to leave,

"Everyone has worked hard during this period. Today, I'll have your boss arrange a team building activity. It will cost 500 yuan per person, and I'll reimburse you."

"Long live President Yan!"

"What are you saying? Long live our uncrowned male god!"

"..."

Yan Li listened attentively to the flattery, then left with his hands behind his back, expressionless…

(End of this chapter)