I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

“Sister Xiaoran is right, and Sister Zengli sees things very clearly.” Cheng Sheng nodded slowly, his tone firm: “In ‘Lust, Caution,’ the explicit scenes between Zhao and Tony Leung were indeed filmed in real life, without any camera tricks.”

Although he had not seen the version starring Zhao in this life, he clearly remembered the original version of "Lust, Caution" starring Tang Wei in another time and space. The plot, scale, and core were highly similar, and the sacrifices required for the characters were exactly the same.

"Will this movie be released in China later?" Da Tian Tian looked at Cheng Sheng curiously and couldn't help but ask.

"If we cut all the sensitive scenes, it will barely pass censorship and be released," Cheng Sheng analyzed calmly. "But even if it successfully hits theaters, it will most likely be pulled from theaters in the end."

The scenes from another time and space are still vivid in my mind. The original "Lust, Caution" was briefly shown in domestic theaters. After only one week of release, it caused huge controversy on the Internet due to its explicit scenes. Countless viewers complained and reported, and it was eventually forced to be taken off the screens and never had a regular theatrical release.

"That's such a pity. If there were a complete version, I would love to see it in the cinema," Da Tian Tian said softly with regret.

"You still want to see the full version?" Cheng Sheng glanced at her helplessly, truly speechless. He hadn't expected this little girl to be so curious about this kind of scene.

Da Tiantian's cheeks instantly turned red, and she quickly waved her hands to explain, her eyes darting away: "No, no... I'm just curious about Zhao, a top national star, why he would be willing to make such a big sacrifice to take on this role. It's definitely not because I want to see those scenes! Besides, I'd rather see you than see those. Your figure is much better than what you see on screen."

Seeing her flustered attempt to explain, the others couldn't help but chuckle.

Cheng Sheng waved his hand and said casually, "If you really want to watch it, there's no way. After a while, you'll definitely be able to find the full version online. Right now is the time when piracy is at its most rampant in China. Films shown at overseas film festivals can have preview versions released that very night. Before long, the uncut full version will spread all over the internet."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Sheng's heart stirred.

Although he did not approve of Zhao's style of doing things, he had to admit that, given her top-notch "national princess" image, it was indeed intriguing to see her take on such a groundbreaking role.

Although her looks and figure are not top-notch in the industry, her inherent aura of her roles and the national filter are enough to arouse the curiosity of countless viewers.

Just as the group was chatting, the live stream camera focused on the creative team of "Lust, Caution" as they went on stage to receive their award.

Jing Tian glanced at the screen and was immediately puzzled: "Huh? Where is Zhao? She's the female lead in 'Lust, Caution,' why isn't she here at this awards ceremony?"

On the screen, the main cast members, including Li An, Liang Chaowei, Wang Lihong, and Chen Cong, were all present, but Zhao, who was the female lead, was conspicuously absent, which seemed particularly out of place.

"Heh." Cheng Sheng smiled coldly at the sight of her. "It's normal that she didn't come. After all, everyone has some sense of shame."

She saw things very clearly.

Zhao must have already anticipated that the release of this film would unleash an unprecedented storm of public opinion, causing a devastating blow to the positive public image she had cultivated over the years.

Therefore, she deliberately missed the awards ceremony, deliberately avoided the camera and the focus of public opinion, in order to avoid the storm in advance and prevent all the criticism from hitting her.

But she ultimately underestimated the backlash that "Lust, Caution" would bring.

Memories from another time and space clearly surfaced in Cheng Sheng's mind.

Tang Wei achieved instant fame with "Lust, Caution," his acting skills were hailed as textbook-level in the international film industry, and he gained international recognition. However, the price was devastating.

Director Li An had foreseen this, bluntly warning Tang Wei during the casting process: "You'll be making the biggest sacrifice in this film. After its release, your career won't be easy. Whether you can have a normal relationship and establish yourself in the entertainment industry depends entirely on fate." Sure enough, after the film became a huge hit, Tang Wei received endless accolades but also bore the brunt of online criticism.

Conservative public opinion labeled her as "immoral and corrupt," and condemnation from all over the internet erupted.

Instead of receiving the resources she deserved, she faced a complete and invisible ban in mainland China, with all her commercial endorsements being terminated and all film and television offers disappearing, causing her career to come to an abrupt and precipitous halt.

Their circumstances were completely different.

The male lead, Leung Chiu-wai, was unharmed, and his wife, Lau Ka-ling, publicly supported him, causing the controversy to dissipate. Only Tang Wai was left alone, bearing all the public criticism and industry suppression.

What's even more heartbreaking is the emotional cost.

Before filming, Tang Wei had a stable relationship with her boyfriend Tian Yu, whom she had been dating for many years. He had been there for her through her years of obscurity and was her strongest support.

However, after the release of "Lust, Caution", the two broke up quickly. The core reason, which is generally accepted by the public, is that Tian Yu could not accept her explicit scenes. Their differences in values ​​were completely irreconcilable, and their years-long relationship was shattered in one fell swoop.

The film "Lust, Caution" propelled Tang Wei onto the international stage, but it also completely deprived her of the right to develop steadily and settle down safely.

She used extreme emotions and physical sacrifice to create the soul of the character, but in return, she suffered a blank in the mainland market for several years, emotional collapse, and ruined reputation. It took her several years to slowly repair her reputation.

Now, with Zhao, whose popularity far surpasses that of the newcomer Tang Wei back then, this media storm will only be more intense and longer-lasting.

Tang Wei was an unknown newcomer, yet he ended up in such a tragic situation. Meanwhile, Zhao, who was once a top star and national princess in the 1990s, has such a stark contrast in image that it is enough to trigger a tsunami of controversy across the internet.

No one can say for sure whether she will suffer the same fate as Tang Wei, being blacklisted by the industry for several years.

However, one thing is certain: after this incident, her public image and reputation in the domestic entertainment industry have basically collapsed, which will inevitably limit her future development and make it difficult for her to return to her peak.

This is the painful price she has to pay to break through her limitations and reach the top of the international film scene. It remains to be seen whether she, who has been pampered and had a smooth journey, can withstand this devastating backlash.

Cheng Sheng's eyes remained completely calm, showing not a trace of sympathy.

He deliberately pushed Zhao to replace Tang Wei for the role because he knew that Zhao was corrupt, impetuous, and unworthy of top-tier resources.

Now she is reaping the consequences of her own actions and paying the price for her ambition, and Cheng Sheng has no regrets whatsoever.

Cutting off her path to advancement, shattering her top-tier image, and preventing her from continuing to rake in money and fame in the entertainment industry is already a good thing for the entire Chinese entertainment industry.

The Best Cinematography award has been decided, with "Lust, Caution" taking home the first prize, and the live stream remains incredibly popular.

Immediately afterwards, the host changed the subject and began the competition for another major award in the main competition section—the Best Screenplay Award.

Ultimately, the Best Screenplay Award at this year's Venice Film Festival went to Paolo Lafferty's *The Free World*. (End of Chapter)