Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

The entire scene was filmed in one continuous shot.

There were no retakes, no pauses, and no reshoots throughout the entire process.

Until the very last word of the dialogue was spoken, and the last trace of emotion settled.

After a few seconds of deathly silence, the director's voice, trembling slightly, rang out:

"Perfect! Pass!"

The sound of the clapperboard fell.

All the staff breathed a sigh of relief, but no one immediately made a sound to disturb them.

Gu Zhiyan stood quietly in the wind and snow for two seconds, then slowly closed her eyes and exhaled softly.

When I opened my eyes again, the sorrow, desolation, and brokenness that had been surging in my eyes had all faded away, and I instantly returned to my clear-headed and gentle self.

He raised his hand and gently brushed the snow off his shoulder, instantly detaching himself from the character, clean and efficient, without dragging down the emotions of the role.

Many of the actors who had only recently joined the crew and had never seen Gu Zhiyan filming up close were completely stunned.

They had seen Gu Zhiyan radiant on the red carpet, and Gu Zhiyan composed and self-possessed on the awards stage, but this was the first time they had witnessed the top-tier actor's qualities of immersing himself deeply in his role and returning to tranquility once he stepped out of it.

Tian Xiwei walked over quickly, her eyes still carrying the lingering melancholy from the play: "Brother Xiaoyan, that was amazing... When you were standing in the wind and snow just now, for a moment I really felt that Xie Zheng was the kind of person who would be lonely all his life."

Gu Zhiyan smiled and said, "The real snow scene perfectly matches the character's state of mind. The timing, location, and situation are all just right, which makes this scene complete."

Beside the monitor, the director repeatedly replayed the footage, becoming more and more excited with each viewing: "This scene is definitely the signature scene of the entire drama 'Chasing Jade.' It perfectly captures the coldness, isolation, forbearance, brokenness, the end of power struggles, and the emptiness of life—not a bit more, not a bit less."

The night was deep, and the snowstorm had not yet subsided.

At this moment, the online world is still frantically flooded with posts about Gu Zhiyan's glory at the Macau gala, his five Golden Rooster Awards, and his aura on the closing red carpet.

It's trending on social media, attracting millions of followers, and shining like a star.

But at this moment, on the Hengdian film set, the wind is biting and the snow is falling silently.

No one mentioned the awards, no one mentioned trending topics, and no one mentioned the glamour of the ceremony.

The glory of the Best Actor lingered in Macau for one night, but the actor's original aspirations took root in the snow and wind of Hengdian.

That night, snow fell for miles around Hengdian.

It captured the loneliest, most broken, and most legendary moment in Xie Zheng's life.

Despite the ongoing snowstorm, crew members casually snapped a few unedited photos and a few seconds of silent behind-the-scenes video, which they then posted as behind-the-scenes footage on the production company's official website.

The entire internet is still immersed in the glory of last night's Macau Scream Night, and everyone is still repeatedly reposting the god-like images of Gu Zhiyan closing the show in a suit, accepting the award with composure, and exuding noble temperament.

As a result, a set of photos of ancient costumes in the snow in Hengdian suddenly became a trending topic, completely overturning the perception of the entire internet.

The night was deep and cold, and snow was falling heavily.

In the scene, Gu Zhiyan is dressed in a dark-colored official robe of a marquis's mansion, with a cold and aloof jade crown, standing on a high platform in the deep palace.

He stood alone, the wind and snow pressing down on him, his face desolate and broken, his whole being exuding a sense of desolation and sorrow from having seen the world's vicissitudes.

On one side, Macau is ablaze with lights, where people are dressed in elegant suits, attracting worldwide attention and becoming the top celebrities of the year.

On one side, there's the swirling snow in Hengdian, a solitary figure standing alone, utterly lonely, and tragically destined.

Two temperaments, two extremes, yet the same person, seamlessly switching between them.

[Xie Zheng's shattered ceiling in the snow]

Gu Zhiyan's acting skills are considered divine.

[Just won a major award at a prestigious ceremony, now filming in the snow]

[The contrast between the top actors in the Chinese entertainment industry]

[Leaked photos of the famous snow scene of Zhu Yu]

Gu Zhiyan can switch between being in and out of character in a second.

Ten trending topics instantly dominated the charts, with the top five terms causing a frenzy and server lag several times, sparking heated discussions among netizens.

"I was truly speechless with shock! Yesterday he was a composed and charismatic Best Actor on the red carpet, dominating the entire event, and tonight he's a lonely marquis facing a life of hardship in the snow. This speed of transformation, this versatility, this emotional range—it's simply beyond the capabilities of ordinary actors."

"While others celebrate their awards for half a year, he braves the wind and snow to film the very next day after winning an award. He is the most clear-headed, stable, and respectful top star in the Chinese entertainment industry, bar none."

"Xie Zheng went berserk in the snow! No need for crying, no need for tragic makeup, no need for abusive action scenes, just standing in the wind and snow he exuded a sense of tragic destiny, and the feeling of brokenness was directly overflowing from the screen."

"This is the real chameleon actor! The gentle and reserved little man in 'Nanjing Photo Studio,' the five-time Golden Rooster Award winner himself, and Xie Zheng, the scheming and lonely minister in 'Chasing Jade,' are three completely different characters with completely different auras. You can't tell they are the same person at all."

"A top-tier contrast in style within the Chinese entertainment industry! He's at the pinnacle of his craft in a suit, and a solitary figure in period costume; he effortlessly embodies both of these peak qualities."

"Now I understand why he won five Golden Rooster Awards! It's because he always puts the characters first and puts popularity and glamour last."

Film and television bloggers in the industry produced a long article overnight, praising it highly in every word.

"Gu Zhiyan embodies the ultimate role model for actors by the end of 2025."

Composure on the red carpet is a sign of good manners;

Humility in accepting awards demonstrates character.

Returning to the team in a hurry is a sign of professionalism;

To be able to immerse oneself in the wind and snow is a natural talent.

The ability to switch between character emotions in a second is a testament to top-tier professional skill.

These behind-the-scenes photos of Xie Zheng in the snow show no filters, no retouching, and no atmospheric enhancements. The sense of destiny in the entire drama is carried purely by the actor's own aura, emotions, and bone structure.

"The Jade Chaser" has already secured its place as the year's hottest historical drama based on just one leaked clip.

Many directors and producers also shared the post with their feelings.

"What young actors lack most now is this kind of composure, calmness, and the ability to remain true to their roles without being swayed by superficiality."

A young actor who achieved stardom yet remains grounded, holding film records while still dedicated to filming in harsh winters—this is the benchmark that a new generation of actors should set.

Fans of the novel and the TV series "Chasing Jade" have been completely captivated.

"In the original novel, Xie Zheng was a man who spent half his life scheming and a lifetime of loneliness. After seeing this behind-the-scenes footage, I immediately deify him and acknowledge his divine status!"

He is the Marquis of Wu'an who has stepped out of my heart!

Wind and snow were his destiny, loneliness his life, and heartbreak his end.

Countless book fans and drama fans are urging the production team: Hurry up and air it! We can't wait to see the whole life of Xie Zheng!

The next day, Gu Zhiyan still arrived on set on time to continue filming the series.

The clapperboard clicked, and a new round of filming officially began.

Thousands of miles away, major film and television forums and short video platforms continue to amplify the Reuters leaks from last night.

Some people have compiled Gu Zhiyan's filmography, from his early minor supporting roles to the rural characters in "The Birth of All Things," to winning five Golden Rooster Awards for Best Actor for "Nanjing Photo Studio," and now Xie Zheng in "Chasing Jade" is unlocking a brand new screen image.

New comments continued to flood the comment section.

"A true chameleon actor, able to embody any role, not bound by past characters or his status as a Best Actor winner."

"I've seen too many actors get stuck with awards, acting with an air of being a 'Best Actor,' but Gu Zhiyan is completely different."

"Last night's starlight, this morning's wind and snow, he always knew what he wanted."

The clamor surged through the screen, but it couldn't reach the Hengdian film set.

The snowstorm subsided, the sun shone brightly, and a new scene began to be filmed.