Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

Accepting the heavy, crystal-like trophy, Gu Zhiyan stood in front of the microphone, her voice calm and steady.

"Thank you iQiyi for this recognition. As an actor, I am fortunate to experience all kinds of human joys and sorrows through different roles."

Whether on the big screen or in television dramas, I firmly believe that sincerity is the foundation of acting. Honors belong to the past; going forward, I will continue to focus on refining my work. I also look forward to "Chasing Jade" meeting everyone soon. Thank you to every audience member here today.

The brief but impactful remarks concluded with thunderous applause from the audience.

Back in their seats, the evening continued.

A trailer for the upcoming drama was released midway through the show. "Chasing Jade" released a brand new extended trailer, with dark and cold ancient costume scenes filling the big screen. Several highlights of Xie Zheng's suppressed pain were shown, and the whole audience gasped in amazement.

As the gala drew to a close, the backstage area was already packed with artists coming to say goodbye and take photos.

Gu Zhiyan was surrounded by many colleagues who wanted to take photos with her, and it took her a lot of effort to deal with them all.

The entire ceremony was completed, and it was already late at night outside.

Back at the hotel, Gu Zhiyan and her friends continued another round of revelry.

Less than half an hour after the Scream Night ended, online public opinion completely dominated the trending topics. Fourteen out of the top twenty trending topics were on the hot search list. Topics such as the goddess battle on the red carpet, Gu Zhiyan's legendary closing performance, the goddesses' appearances together inside the venue, the explosive trailer for "Chasing Jade", and the five-time Golden Rooster Award winner taking home another annual award continued to dominate the screen. Casual netizens flooded the screen with posts, fans went wild, industry insiders commented, and memes and popular comments fermented in layers, keeping the popularity high throughout the night.

"This year's top-tier looks in the Chinese entertainment industry! Liu Yifei in her ethereal white gown, Yang Mi in her gilded queenly dress, and Meng Jie dazzlingly beautiful—each actress's style was unique and meticulously chosen, showcasing a full range of looks from cool and aloof to vibrant and elegant, and even edgy and cool. This is the kind of grand spectacle a year-end gala should have!"

"While others rose to fame on the red carpet, Gu Zhiyan made a grand entrance as the finale. With a host of female stars vying for attention, it seemed like a stage for a riot of beauties, but he made a stunning entrance in a minimalist black suit, his charisma truly standing out from the crowd."

"Tonight's red carpet ranking: a group of female stars are all the rage, Gu Zhiyan dominates the whole event as the grand finale."

"Ten diligent people: We bring popularity to variety shows; a group of female stars: We bring popularity to looks; Gu Zhiyan: I bring popularity to awards and works."

"He Haonan's agricultural machinery certificate joke was a recurring theme throughout the year, Gu Zhiyan's 'certificate ceiling' joke was a recurring theme throughout the year, and their year-end collaboration was absolutely hilarious!"

"Yang Mi: Drama Queen of the Year in hand; Liu Yifei: Goddess-like beauty in hand; Gu Zhiyan: Ceiling-level acting skills in hand—a winner-takes-all situation!"

"Yang Mi, Liu Yifei, and Gu Zhiyan chatting together – this scene is like a top-tier, divine gathering in the film and television industry."

"Looking forward to the political intrigue drama 'Chasing Jade'! Looking forward to the complete story of Xie Zheng's lifelong forbearance and his triumphant comeback!"

"The new generation of actresses are all stunningly beautiful. Tian Xiwei, Wang Churan, Zhang Ruonan, and Zhao Jinmai each have their own unique charm, truly showcasing the beauty of the new generation in the Chinese entertainment industry!"

……

Some rush to the spotlight to shine and amaze, while others immerse themselves in self-reflection and cultivate their works. After the dazzling night, all the noise subsides, and only the works themselves remain to be anticipated.

The following afternoon, Gu Zhiyan, Tian Xiwei, and Wang Churan returned to Hengdian.

The next day, the temperature in Hengdian plummeted, and the biting wind brought the predicted cold wave to the scene. The first snow of winter fell quietly in Hengdian, with fine white snowflakes drifting in the wind and covering the entire filming area.

The internet is still buzzing about the iconic moments from the Scream Night, with trending topics firmly dominating the top of the charts. Fans are still celebrating all night, reminiscing about the best photos from the red carpet, the group photos inside, and the award-winning moments. Unbeknownst to everyone, the group of artists who dazzled Macau last night have already shed their glamorous gowns and haute couture, donned simple period costumes, and plunged headfirst into the cold winter film set.

Daytime filming consisted of routine scenes, and everything proceeded smoothly. Everyone on set tacitly avoided mentioning the glory of the awards ceremony; the only focus was on the professional rhythm of dialogue delivery, blocking, lighting, and clapperboard work.

As dusk settled and night fell, the snow in Hengdian fell heavier and heavier.

The scattered snowflakes transformed into a vast expanse of heavy snow, falling softly and covering the palace walls, eaves, and long stone steps, blanketing the entire ancient costume filming location. The snow-covered landscape, the deep twilight, and the cold wind whistling through the snow created an atmosphere that was truly immersive.

Seeing the snow falling all around, the director immediately decided to shoot the night scene on location, starting filming Xie Zheng's final, devastating scene overnight.

This scene is a key iconic moment in "Chasing Jade".

Marquis Xie Zheng of Wu'an held immense power in the court and was burdened with a deep-seated blood feud. Throughout his life, he endured hardship, plotted, and planned every step carefully. Yet, on a snowy night, he stood alone on the empty palace steps, looking back on his life of ups and downs. Love and hate were hidden in the wind and snow. He was lonely, helpless, and full of vicissitudes.

The entire crew worked urgently to set up the set. The snow didn't need to be artificially created; the natural snowscape was vast and solemn, perfectly matching the atmosphere of the story.

Gu Zhiyan shed all the glamour of the grand ceremony, changed into Xie Zheng's heavy, dark-colored official robes, tied his hair with a jade crown, and his brows and eyes were cold and sharp.

The makeup artist subtly deepened the dark color under the eyes, stripping away the gentle composure on the red carpet and leaving only the repression, loneliness, and brokenness in the character's bones.

In just a few minutes, the composed and dazzling Best Actor of the Year on the Macau red carpet disappeared completely, replaced by Xie Zheng, the Marquis of Wu'an, who was bound by fate, hatred, and whose life was not his own.

Tian Xiwei arrived early, dressed in a plain palace dress, standing on the other side of the snowstorm, waiting for filming to begin.

The night was deep, snow was falling heavily, and the clapperboard clattered: "Scene 37 of 'Chasing Jade,' one take, action!"

The cold wind howled, and snowflakes fell softly onto shoulders, hair ornaments, and clothes.

On the empty, desolate palace steps, Gu Zhiyan stood alone, his back straight, yet exuding a deep-seated weariness and loneliness.

He didn't scream exaggeratedly, nor did he deliberately shed tears.

He simply lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the vast expanse of white snow, his eyes churning with a myriad of emotions: a lifetime of forbearance, a deep-seated hatred, unfulfilled desires, and irreparable regret.

The wind and snow whipped the wide hem of his court robes, making a loud rustling sound. His magnificent official attire only accentuated his solitary figure.

He spoke softly, his voice low and hoarse, carried by the howling wind, restrained yet incredibly penetrating: "I've planned half my life, every step a chess piece, every scheme meticulously calculated, but in the end, only this endless snowstorm keeps me company, all alone."

Every word is heavy and desolate, fully expressing Xie Zheng's tragic fate throughout his life.

Snowflakes kept falling on his eyebrows, eyes, and shoulders, leaving a slight chill in an instant. He remained motionless throughout, his emotions as calm as still water, yet his eyes held a turbulent undercurrent, concealing the character's lifelong struggles, loneliness, and forbearance in silence.

The camera pans, tilts, and zooms, creating an immersive, real-life shooting experience throughout.

The director, watching from behind the monitor, was trembling and remained silent for a long time.

The snow, the night, the lone minister, and fate combine to create an atmosphere and emotional tension that reaches its peak.

Across from him, Tian Xixi's eyes were filled with sorrow, her body slightly stiff. They faced each other from afar amidst the heavy snow, exuding a strong sense of tension and destiny.

One continuous shot.