Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

The moment Gu Zhiyan was officially announced as the winner, the entire internet, including casual viewers, film critics, and film bloggers, went wild. The praise was overwhelming and there was no controversy whatsoever. It can be called the most negative-reviewed Golden Rooster Award result in recent years.

"He's really broken through. Others spend their whole lives hoping for a Golden Rooster, but Gu Zhiyan directly achieved five Godhoods. His level of strength is incomparable."

"What's most commendable is that there's not a hint of ostentation; after listening to the remarks, one only feels a sense of calm and profoundness."

"All four opponents were very strong. The reason why I was able to break through was because of the sense of compassion in my character."

"The Best Actor category is the toughest this year! Four generations of actors are vying for the top spot. To stand out among Zhu Yilong, Yi Yangqianxi, Huang Xiaoming, and Da Peng is truly well-deserved."

"Finally, the awards aren't being balanced! The performance in 'Nanjing Photo Studio' is on a completely different level—restrained, compassionate, and principled—textbook-level."

"Gu Zhiyan's performance never needs shouting or emotional manipulation. His eyes hold mountains and rivers, and his silence contains a myriad of emotions. This is the realm of a top actor."

"From winning three Best Actor awards at the Magnolia Awards for television dramas to five Golden Rooster Awards for films, Gu Zhiyan has directly swept the top spots in both film and television, a feat unmatched in the Chinese entertainment industry!"

"His acceptance speech was so cultured, humble and insightful, showing both the integrity of an actor and the vision of a scholar."

"Brother Xiaoming's pre-match predictions were incredibly accurate! As expected, those in the know best understand who deserves the award."

……

Film critics offered professional commentary on Gu Zhiyan's award, and their opinions were remarkably consistent.

"The Best Actor award at this year's Golden Rooster Awards is undoubtedly the best choice. Zhu Yilong's tough guy performance, Yi Yangqianxi's immersive performance, Da Peng's portrayal of the common people, and Huang Xiaoming's breakthrough performance are all excellent enough. However, Gu Zhiyan's performance in 'Nanjing Photo Studio' is the highest level of acting – leaving room for interpretation and expressing compassion."

He didn't create heroes; he preserved the glimmer of humanity in ordinary people—a profound, restrained, and compassionate expression that transcends mere technique.

Gu Zhiyan's fans remained restrained throughout, refraining from controlling comments or engaging in any backstabbing or comparisons. They maintained their usual humility and quietly celebrated.

The hashtag instantly went viral, with fans posting uniformly gentle messages:

"Five years of Golden Rooster glory, one day to be remembered in film history."

"Be humble and composed, and stay true to your original aspirations."

"Congratulations to actress Gu Zhiyan. We've reached the top. The road ahead is long, but we will keep moving forward."

Fans flooded the hashtag "[Waiting for Gu Zhiyan to return to Hengdian with honors]", celebrating his legendary status while jokingly commenting, "After winning the award tonight, the Best Actor will return to the set tomorrow to continue playing Lord Xie Zheng obediently."

There were no fights or arguments; the atmosphere online was peaceful. Even casual observers remarked, "The fans are just like the idol—calm, insightful, and exuding a high-class aura."

Far away at the Hengdian filming base, Tian Xiwei, Kong Xueer, and Amy watched the entire live broadcast in front of their screens.

As the image of Gu Zhiyan bowing while holding the trophy faded from the screen, the group couldn't help but cheer.

Amy's eyes sparkled: "She really did it!"

Kong Xueer looked at the screen and sighed softly, "Xiao Yan has walked this path steadily, step by step."

Tian Xiwei smiled, took out her phone, and sent Gu Zhiyan a short congratulatory message.

Messages kept popping up in the crew's group chat, with staff and actors sending their blessings. The director even said that when Gu Zhiyan returned, the crew would prepare a simple dinner to celebrate, without any extravagance, just to welcome the male lead back with honors.

The online buzz continued to grow, with congratulations pouring in from all directions. After briefly entertaining the filmmakers who came to visit backstage and declining several invitations to celebrations, Gu Zhiyan immediately returned to the hotel.

He's going to celebrate with his older and younger sisters today.

The lights along the Xiamen coast were dazzling, marking the end of a grand event for the Golden Rooster Awards.

The entire event concluded with a single, unanimous assessment across the entire internet.

The 2025 Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor is a foregone conclusion, without controversy or behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Gu Zhiyan's five Golden Rooster Awards are not due to luck, but rather a well-deserved recognition of his acting skills, vision, foundation, and the depth of his works, which are overwhelmingly superior in every aspect.

The Xiamen Starlight Awards have come to an end, but a new chapter in film history has begun.

……

After saying goodbye to the older and younger sisters, Gu Zhiyan arrived at the Hengdian filming base for "Chasing Jade" at noon the next day.

As the car pulled into the film set and came to a stop, we could see a number of staff members waiting at the entrance.

The news spread throughout the film crew early this morning, and everyone waited here especially after learning that he was returning to the set today.

The car door opened, and Gu Zhiyan stepped out, dressed in simple and casual attire, his expression calm and composed.

Cheers immediately erupted, and the stagehands, makeup artists, and costume crew all came forward with smiles to greet them, offering congratulations one after another.

Tian Xiwei, Kong Xueer, and Ai Mi quickly stepped forward to greet them.

Amy's eyes lit up with excitement: "Welcome back, Brother Yan! Congratulations on your fifth Golden Rooster Award!"

Upon learning that Gu Zhiyan was returning today, she specially invited someone to wait for her at the "Chasing Jade" film set.

Kong Xueer looked at Gu Zhiyan, her eyes filled with genuine joy: "After watching the live broadcast last night, the whole set was happy for you."

Tian Xiwei nodded with a smile: "It's good that you're back. We've all been waiting for you."

A group of actors gathered around, offering their congratulations one after another, creating a lively and warm atmosphere on set.

Gu Zhiyan nodded in response to each of them, her attitude humble: "Thank you everyone. This award is just a form of recognition. I will need your help to finish filming this movie."

The director walked to the front of the crowd, clapped his hands, and announced loudly, "We're wrapping up two hours early today. I've arranged a celebration banquet tonight! Teacher Gu's award is a joyous occasion for our crew. Let's all put aside our work and celebrate together tonight."

The set erupted in cheers.

Filming continued as planned during the day. Gu Zhiyan quickly adjusted her state, changed into Xie Zheng's heavy ancient costume, headdress, and brocade robe, and quickly immersed herself in the role.

In front of the camera, he was once again the reserved and profound Marquis of Wu'an, burdened by a bloody past, keeping all the glory of last night's grand ceremony in his heart.

It's hard for outsiders to tell from his acting that he just set a new film record yesterday.

After finishing work in the evening, the whole group headed to a private room at a local restaurant that had been booked in advance.

The atmosphere at the celebration banquet was relaxed, without any deliberate flattery or pomp. The director raised his glass and gave a speech: "Gu Zhiyan's achievement in winning this honor is the result of his hard work. I hope that our entire crew will maintain the same down-to-earth attitude, polish the work of 'Chasing Jade', and deliver a result that will not disappoint the audience."

During the gathering, everyone chatted and laughed. Some people mentioned the red carpet and backstage anecdotes from the Golden Rooster Awards that night, while others talked about the touching scenes in "Nanjing Photo Studio".

During the banquet, someone suggested that they wanted to take a look at the Golden Rooster Award trophy, so Gu Zhiyan asked his assistant to bring it to the banquet. The metal cup gleamed warmly under the yellow lights, and everyone took turns getting close to look at it and gently touching it, showing great respect, without making a fuss.

Halfway through the banquet, Gu Zhiyan stood up and raised her glass in return to the audience: "This honor has never belonged to me alone. Being in the crew, my biggest wish is to work with everyone to finish filming 'Chasing Jade' steadily, and in the days to come, to work together to hone our characters and focus on filming."

As night deepened, the celebration banquet came to an end.

After everyone returned to their Hengdian residence, and the commotion subsided, Gu Zhiyan returned to her room. Not long after, Tian Xiwei and Kong Xueer arrived.

This is a joyous occasion, and we must celebrate it properly.

Party all night long!