Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

Hearing the two girls' words, Gu Zhiyan smiled and said, "Don't flatter me. The script is very important. Yitong is the core of this play."

As the series aired several episodes, the scenes between Shen Qingci and the female lead on screen gradually improved. The group discussed the plot while keeping an eye on the constantly updated real-time popularity charts.

Just then, the show aired a highlight scene featuring Song Yimeng, played by Li Yitong. The script completely reversed the usual clichéd scenes of tragic love and forced marriage in ancient costume dramas.

What should have been a classic, melodramatic scene of the male lead, female lead, and second male lead confronting each other with swords drawn and engaging in a tender emotional struggle was instead devoid of the scripted tearful and agonizing decision-making. Instead, Song Yimeng transformed into a stand-in for吐槽 (tu cao, meaning to criticize or complain), bluntly stating her inner thoughts to the camera: "It's that old cliché of going around in circles for love again. Has the screenwriter run out of ideas?"

The three were then forced to perform an absurd scene on a spinning wheel, gesturing at each other and spinning around in place. The contrast between their exaggerated and earnest performances was striking.

Amy burst into laughter. She had been captivated by Gu Zhiyan's handsome appearance in period costume, but was instantly drawn in by this comedic scene: "Sister Yitong is such a good comedian! Even though the scene was incredibly absurd, she acted so seriously, which made it even funnier!"

Xue nodded repeatedly, tapping the screen with her fingertips: "I always thought that Sister Yitong was more suited to gentle and ethereal roles, but I didn't expect her to control the comedic rhythm so precisely, with just the right amount of relaxation."

A new wave of trending topics appeared simultaneously on mobile phones, with "[A Dream of Books: A Reverse Routine That's Crazy]" and "[Li Yitong's Comedy Talent Amazes the Entire Internet]" quickly climbing to the top of the list, and the screen was flooded with comments.

"This is the first time I've seen a female lead in a historical romance drama publicly criticize her own script; it completely shattered the ceiling of typical historical romance drama tropes."

"Li Yitong perfectly captured the clear-headedness of modern working people, and the tone of her吐槽 (tu cao, meaning to criticize or complain) lines was so realistic."

"The more outrageous the plot, the more seriously she performs, creating a comedic contrast that is just the tip of the iceberg."

"The 'recurring novel setting' and the various 'disappearance' expressions each time are all very lively and expressive."

……

Da Tian Tian scrolled through netizens' reviews and said with a smile: "The most ingenious thing about this drama is that it subverts the usual tropes. It deconstructs the rampant tropes of ancient costume dramas on the market and uses the female lead's words to criticize the chaos in the industry. The freshness comes out immediately. Yi Tong has completely stepped out of her comfort zone this time. She has a perfect grasp of the comedic balance and there is no forced or awkward laughter."

Watching Li Yitong's performance on the screen, Gu Zhiyan said in a fair tone: "In private, she specifically referred to many classic comedy works to hone the rhythm of comedy, and deliberately put aside her idol image. This kind of performance logic of 'seriously performing absurdity' is precisely the most difficult thing to grasp in light comedy."

Dilraba was scrolling through re-edited clips on short video platforms, and many netizens were imitating Li Yitong's charming and sarcastic expressions in the drama, causing the popularity to soar: "Now the whole internet is imitating her lines, and the impact is comparable to the hit scenes of that year. This drama is not only eye-catching because of its good looks, but also because of the ingenious script and the acting skills of the entire cast."

Zhong Yating carefully memorized the details and secretly pondered the nuances of the performance.

Meanwhile, off-screen, the popularity of "A Dream of Books" skyrocketed after its premiere.

Within an hour of its premiere, the show garnered over 10,000 views on both Lighthouse and Guduo online platforms, directly topping the overall popularity charts for drama series across the entire network. The show's popularity on video platforms quickly surpassed 28000, breaking the platform's record for the first broadcast of a period drama this year.

According to data from Yunhe, the first-run episodes of the series achieved a market share of 18.7%, far ahead of all other new TV dramas released during the same period.

The show was simultaneously broadcast on Jiangsu Satellite TV, and its ratings continued to rise. The peak real-time ratings on Kuyun reached 0.712%, and the average ratings for the two episodes were 0.62%, making it the top-rated provincial satellite TV show in its time slot and achieving a double hit in terms of popularity and viewership.

The drama series has been trending on major social media platforms, with dozens of topics such as "Gu Zhiyan and Shen Qingci: Ancient Costume White Moonlight" and "A Dream of Books: Instant Hit Upon Premiere" topping the charts. On short video platforms, the drama-related topics have garnered over 12 billion views in a single day.

The comments from netizens were overwhelming.

"Gu Zhiyan has once again raised the bar for period dramas; Shen Qingci's charisma is irreplaceable!"

"Having just won his third Magnolia Award for Best Actor, his new drama premiered immediately and became an instant hit. He truly lives up to his reputation of being a guaranteed hit whenever he makes a move."

"The character portrayal is so nuanced; Fan Xian and Shen Qingci are like two completely different people, and the acting is incredibly moving."

"With its fast-paced plot and excellent costumes and props, it's a shoo-in for the dark horse of this summer's box office."

Many film critics have published articles analyzing that the series' immediate success upon its premiere is largely due to Gu Zhiyan's solid acting skills and strong national appeal, with the excellent actors and the high-quality script complementing each other.

Da Tian Tian scrolled through the real-time data on her phone, smiling and remarking, "Sure enough, any work you star in never disappoints in terms of results."

Zhong Yating exclaimed sincerely, "Brother Xiaoyan, you're amazing! Every move you make is explosive!"

Amy and Xue nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Gu Zhiyan.

As they chatted, Dilraba glanced at the time, closed her phone, and suggested with a smile, "Xiao Yan's new drama has a great start, which deserves a celebration. How about we go out for a late-night snack tonight and have a proper celebration?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of agreement immediately filled the room.

Da Tiantian's eyes lit up: "Great, great! It's perfect timing to get together since 'A Dream of Books' is so popular. We're all usually busy with our own film sets, so it's rare for us to get together."

Everyone's eyes instinctively turned to Gu Zhiyan.

Gu Zhiyan laughed and said, "Alright, let's go then!"

The older and younger women wanted to go, so how could he possibly disagree?

Seeing that Xiao Yan had agreed, Reba quickly said, "I know a Huaiyang cuisine restaurant with a lot of privacy. The food is also good. You don't have to worry about being surrounded by passersby, so you can chat in peace."

The group quickly packed their things and headed to the restaurant.

The private room was spacious and elegant, and dishes were served one after another. The conversation inevitably turned to the popular TV series "A Dream of Books".

Da Tiantian scrolled through the endless trending topics on her phone and said, "The online buzz is unstoppable. Dozens of topics are trending one after another, and the viewership ratings are still going up. In particular, the anti-cliché deconstruction of ancient costume dramas has prompted film critics to write articles analyzing it."

Zhong Yating looked on with envy: "When will I ever have a drama that popular?!"

Dilraba laughed and said, "Why would I envy others? Isn't that the movie you and Xiao Yan are filming right now?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yating's eyes lit up, and she slapped her forehead: "Haha, yeah, I was blind to my own shortcomings!"

When Xiao Yan makes a film, it's always a hit, and this one, "Grant Me Your Dazzling Light," will certainly be no exception.

Although she was only a supporting actress, she benefited greatly from the show's success.

After chatting about "A Dream in a Book", Dilraba talked about the hardships of filming "Kung Fu Women's Soccer", and Amy and Xue chimed in.

The long hours of physical training and repeated refinement of his performance on the field left everyone sighing with emotion.

They then brought up the recent Magnolia Awards ceremony, jokingly remarking on the tense atmosphere among the nominees, while Gu Zhiyan remained calm and composed, which drew laughter from everyone at the table.

"I watched that live stream several times, and the comparison footage has spread all over the internet," Dilraba said with a smile. "I guess this scene will be brought up repeatedly for a long time to come."

The atmosphere at the event was relaxed and comfortable. There were no cameras following them, no formality or distance like on a red carpet. Everyone talked about the script, the difficulties encountered during filming, their understanding of the characters, and shared interesting stories from different film crews.

On the screen, the Jiangnan region is shrouded in mist and rain, with books flowing leisurely; inside the room, laughter never ceases.

…………

Dilraba leaned close to Gu Zhiyan's ear and whispered, "Brother Yan, do you want Xueye and Amy to come keep you company tonight?"

Gu Zhiyan said irritably, "Don't mess around. How old are these two? No need."

"Xue's eighteen already, Amy..." Reba was speechless. "Haha, um, she's seventeen too."

Reba paused for a moment, then continued, "Snow is fine too, you have no idea how tiny those two girls are."

Gu Zhiyan shook his head helplessly: "Alright, you can't stay here for more than two days anyway, you should think about yourself first."

As a top-tier celebrity, Dilraba is still very busy.

Moreover, these two girls are indeed a bit too young, especially Amy.

After hearing what Xiao Yan said, Reba didn't say anything more. Amy and Xue were inseparable all day long, and they even shared a room at night. It wouldn't be good to leave one of them out.

After dinner, everyone returned to the hotel.

Dilraba, Da Tian Tian, ​​and Zhong Yating naturally went back to their room with Gu Zhiyan.

After spending another day on the set of "Give Me Your Light," Dilraba left with Xueye and Amy.

July arrived quickly, and the weather grew increasingly hot, but the filming of "Give Me Your Dazzling Light" proceeded smoothly.

Today's shoot is the most challenging and emotionally intense scene in the entire series—a famous scene depicting misunderstandings, suppressed emotions, and intertwined love and hate.

In the story, the female lead mistakenly believes that the male lead is scheming and using their relationship to achieve his career goals. Heartbroken, she confronts him and confronts him. The male lead, burdened with all his grievances, cannot speak out and can only watch helplessly as his lover misunderstands and leaves him, his deep affection hidden, suffering in silence.

Before filming began, Gu Zhiyan stood by the camera and whispered to Da Tiantian, patiently helping her to organize her emotions and rhythm.

"You don't need to cry in this scene," Gu Zhiyan said gently. "Your expression should be one of utter despair and resolute disappointment, with the hurt of being deceived. Keep your lines soft and cold, and the stronger the sense of alienation, the more it will highlight my loss of control."

Da Tiantian nodded seriously. She had complete trust in Xiao Yan's ability to control the situation on set; listening to him was definitely the right thing to do.

The script supervisor snaps the clapperboard, and the camera is in position.

The atmosphere changed abruptly the moment the computer was turned on.

The indoor lighting was cold, and the interplay of light and shadow between the two created an invisible barrier.

Da Tiantian was the first to get into character, a thin layer of coldness and brokenness instantly covering her eyes. Her voice trembled slightly but each word was firm: "Shen Haoming, from beginning to end, wasn't this all part of your plan? Your gentleness, your concessions, your favoritism—it was all fake, wasn't it?"

Her eyes were red, but she held back her tears, her back straight. It was a painful withdrawal after being filled with disappointment, restrained yet extremely powerful.

Gu Zhiyan across from him fell silent for a moment.

There was no fierce roaring, no deliberate rage.

He simply stared at her, his pupils slightly constricted, his Adam's apple bobbing violently, and his originally cool and composed aura crumbled layer by layer.

All the hidden, restrained, and unspeakable grievances, and the deep-seated reluctance to part, were suppressed in his eyes.

He leaned slightly closer, taking half a step, his breath heavy, his voice low and trembling slightly: "In your eyes, is all my sincerity just calculation?"

With the first word, the tension was instantly maximized.

Da Tian Tian looked up at him, her eyes finally welling up with tears, her voice choked with sobs: "Otherwise what? Tell me, how am I supposed to believe you?"

The two were very close, yet separated by the deepest misunderstanding.

On one side is heartbreak and resolute determination, on the other is suppressed suffering and collapse.

Gu Zhiyan's gaze was deep and intense, his eyes filled with extreme inner turmoil and pain.

He wanted to explain, but he couldn't defend himself; he wanted to reach out and hold her back, but he was afraid of trapping her again. His fingertips lifted slightly, but eventually froze in mid-air and fell limply.

That moment of hesitation, loneliness, and silent, intense pain perfectly captured the helplessness of adults caught in the entanglement of love and hate.

There wasn't a single superfluous line or exaggerated physical movements throughout the entire performance; all emotions were conveyed through eye contact, breath control, and micro-expressions.

The director behind the monitor held his breath, not daring to interrupt.

All the staff on set stood quietly, with only the cold background music from the drama playing in the background.

The two were locked in a tense standoff, one cold and the other in pain, one retreating and the other defending, creating an atmosphere of suffocation.

In just two minutes, the emotional conflicts that had been building up throughout the entire series were completely ignited.

Until the camera slowly panned down, the script supervisor yelled "Cut!"

In an instant, the oppressive and stagnant atmosphere dissipated.

Gu Zhiyan asked softly, "Were you too emotional just now? Were there any parts you couldn't handle?"

Da Tiantian let out a long sigh, her eyes still lingering with the bittersweet feeling from the performance, and exclaimed sincerely, "You're amazing! That look you gave me just now instantly drew me into the emotions. You didn't have to act at all; you just naturally felt wronged and sad."

The director couldn't help but praise, "Top-notch on-set charisma! This kind of sophisticated emotional tension is the hardest to film. Many actors can only rely on crying scenes to convey emotions, but you two were restrained and reserved throughout, which made it even more touching. The depth of your performance was amazing!"

After working with Gu Zhiyan for so many days, he has witnessed just how amazing Gu Zhiyan's acting skills are. This is the most comfortable and relaxed film he has ever made in his career. Gu Zhiyan not only delivers results that far exceed expectations, but also inspires the actresses.

A person's reputation is well-deserved!

I finally understand why Gu Zhiyan won the grand slam of the three major film and television awards, broke the decades-long curse of the Magnolia Award, and won the title of TV King three times.

True acting skills are never about grand gestures or flamboyant displays, but about moving people silently and demonstrating mastery through restraint.

After the filming of this challenging emotionally charged scene was completed, behind-the-scenes footage recorded privately by the crew was released briefly by the official account that evening. It was not heavily promoted; it was just a regular piece of on-set material.

No one expected that a mere two-minute clip would top the charts across the entire internet overnight.

There are no retouched filters or background music in the behind-the-scenes footage; only the most authentic on-site conditions.

The two actors, who had just finished filming an extremely heart-wrenching scene, were still not completely out of character.

Gu Zhiyan's eyes still held the restrained sorrow from the role, his brows furrowed slightly, and he subconsciously raised his hand to gently brush away the stray hairs from Jing Tian's temples. The movement was natural and gentle, carrying the lingering pity from his role.

Jing Tian looked up at him slightly, her eyes still slightly red, the lingering emotions still present. She paused for two seconds before gently curving her lips into a smile.

The contrasting emotions before and after, the contrasting atmospheres of coldness and gentleness, and the close eye contact create a tension that is both ambiguous and restrained, perfectly capturing the top-tier CP tug-of-war that audiences crave.