Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

Leaked footage from the press conference quickly spread online, went viral, and sparked heated discussions among netizens.

"Hahaha, Kong Xueer turned into a fangirl the moment she saw Gu Zhiyan, her eyes couldn't hide a bit of admiration."

"The story of 'Chasing Jade' sounds so exciting! A battle between a butcher's knife and a court intrigue!"

"Tian Xiwei has been confirmed as a middleman, responsible for introducing her friends to seniors."

"Gu Zhiyan appears at the start of filming for 'Chasing Jade'—what a dream scenario! I'm looking forward to seeing if they'll have any scenes together later!"

"The character Yu Qianqian sounds so tragic, I look forward to Kong Xueer's performance."

"The launch event was amazing, I'm already looking forward to the full episodes."

With the sounding of cannons at the opening ceremony and the unveiling of the red cloth, filming of "Chasing Jade" officially commenced.

Having just finished filming a deeply emotional scene where Yu Qianqian is verbally coerced by Qi Min, Kong Xueer was still immersed in the role after filming, her eyes red and her emotions unable to calm down for a long time.

While the rest of the crew was busy moving to another location and setting up the next scene, Tian Xiwei was touching up her makeup when she saw Kong Xueer sitting on a bench in the corner, clutching the script in her hand, looking conflicted.

Not far away, Gu Zhiyan had just finished filming her scenes and removed some of her makeup. She was looking down at her phone when Kong Xueer hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and slowly walked over with her script in her arms.

"Brother Xiaoyan, do you have a moment? I'd like to ask you about the character Yu Qianqian."

Gu Zhiyan looked up and saw the lingering redness in Kong Xueer's eyes, and gestured for her to sit down next to him.

"I watched the replay of that scene on the monitor. I did have the emotional outburst, but I always felt like I couldn't quite grasp Yu Qianqian's core," Kong Xueer said, spreading out the script, which was covered with lines and annotations. "She's not a purely weak and innocent girl. After her family fell into ruin, she was imprisoned by Qi Min. She was terrified of him, yet she still harbored a sliver of illusion that she was cherished. The hatred was real, but so was that faint fantasy in her heart. These two emotions were intertwined, and I often found my performance disjointed."

Sometimes I end up portraying a character as constantly pitiful and wronged, but when I reread the script, I realized that Yu Qianqian has an inherent pride, and the dignity of a woman from a noble family is still ingrained in her. It's just that her circumstances have trapped her, and I can never quite get the balance right.

Gu Zhiyan gently tapped the character biography of Yu Qianqian on the script with his fingertip, speaking calmly as he slowly helped her break it down.

"Don't focus solely on her crying scenes when she struggles."

"Her tragedy lies not in her blind fear of the villain, but in her conscious descent into depravity. She understands Qi Min's obsession and ruthlessness, yet during her long years of imprisonment, Qi Min is the only person who remains in her world. This bond is not love, but an illusion born of desperation. Pride is hidden in her bones; she doesn't shout and scream all the time, but rather restrains herself most of the time."

"Many scenes don't require loud crying. Suppressing tears, with resentment in the eyes, that sense of powerlessness of seeing through everything yet being unable to break free from the cage of fate, that is Yu Qianqian. The more desperate the situation, the less the dignity nurtured by the aristocratic family will be completely torn apart."

Gu Zhiyan paused for a moment, then continued, "You can handle it in two layers. When facing Qi Min, be outwardly compliant, but leave a hint of aloofness and wariness in your eyes; when you're alone, release her pain, resentment, and longing for freedom. The contrast between her inner and outer self will make the character more compelling."

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 202ᴋᴋs.ᴄᴏᴍ]

Kong Xueer listened very attentively, her pen flying across the script as she jotted down key points. She nodded repeatedly, suddenly understanding: "So that's how it is. I always thought about venting all my pain before, which made the character seem less nuanced."

"There's no standard answer to acting. You can try following this line of thought and find your own Yu Qianqian," Gu Zhiyan smiled. "Your appearance fits the character very well. Try to understand the character's sense of helplessness and destiny."

Just then, Tian Xiwei came over after touching up her makeup and happened to witness this scene. She joked, "Goodness, you've found another opportunity to learn from Brother Xiaoyan."

Kong Xueer blushed slightly and closed the script: "It's a rare opportunity, so I definitely need to learn more."

Why does Tian Xiwei look so lewd?

Journey to the West?

Not long after, the production assistant called for a reshoot of the scene they had just filmed. Kong Xueer returned to her position, adjusted her breathing, and incorporated the advice she had just heard into her performance.

When the camera started up again, under the lens, facing Qi Min's relentless pressure, she did not break down and cry. Her eyebrows and eyes were demure and she looked obedient and compliant, but her eyelashes trembled slightly, and there was an inescapable coldness and resentment hidden deep in her eyes. That kind of clear-headed despair was overwhelming.

The director behind the monitor's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in a low voice, "That's it! That's the feeling!"

During a break in filming, crew members secretly filmed this behind-the-scenes clip of a conversation where the crew members were asking each other questions. The short video was leaked and sparked discussion on social media.

"Kong Xueer is so serious about her role; she's so dedicated, her script is full of notes."

"Gu Zhiyan's explanations of acting are very insightful; he can pinpoint the core of a character in just a few words."

"Now I understand why Yu Qianqian is so heartbreaking. She's consciously trapped in this quagmire. It's too cruel."

"Looking forward to Kong Xueer's portrayal of Yu Qianqian, hoping this tragic character can be seen."

"I really like this atmosphere where seniors in the industry mentor juniors."

"They're about the same age, so why are they called senior and junior?"

"Haha, Gu Zhiyan's achievements are so dazzling that I habitually regard him as a senior."

……

"Xue'er, it's not right for you to ask for acting advice like that."

During a break in filming, Tian Xiwei spoke to Kong Xueer with a serious expression.

"What's wrong? Is something wrong?" Kong Xueer asked, puzzled.

"The location is wrong," Tian Xiwei said with a smile.

"Is this the wrong place?"

Kong Xueer was even more puzzled. If he was filming, where was he if he wasn't on set asking for acting advice?

"Idiot, you should go to Xiao Yan's room tonight and ask him for advice." Tian Xiwei looked at him with a disappointed expression.

"This..." Kong Xueer blushed instantly.

This proposal is so appealing!