Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

The afternoon sun shone on the ancient-style film set, the snow reflecting a soft white light, and the set corridor was filled with warmth.

The props team was busy arranging books and teacups, as they were filming Xie Zheng's scenes as a teenager before he became deeply embroiled in power struggles.

Gu Zhiyan changed into a moon-white brocade robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, shedding the heavy and oppressive attire of the previous night. His brows and eyes relaxed, and a faint youthful spirit lingered on his lips, making him a completely different person from the lonely and sorrowful powerful minister in the wind and snow.

As Tian Xiwei adjusted the embroidery on her cuffs, she saw him approaching and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's amazing! Just by changing his clothes, Brother Yan has completely transformed his demeanor. Last night, he stood in the wind and snow, looking utterly weathered, but now, dressed in light-colored clothes, he clearly looks like a spirited young master from a prominent family."

Kong Xueer, holding the script, came over and said, "Many people online are still watching the snowy night scene on repeat. Everyone is curious about what Xie Zheng looked like in his youth. When the series airs, the contrast between his earlier and later appearances will definitely spark a lot of discussion."

Tian Xiwei chimed in, "Brother Xiaoyan, many film and television bloggers have started compiling mashups of your roles, putting together clips from 'Nanjing Photo Studio,' 'The Birth of All Things,' and Xie Zheng, marveling at the vast range of characters you've portrayed."

Gu Zhiyan smiled and said, "People from different eras and with different circumstances should have completely different temperaments. If all the characters have the same temperament, it is the actor's dereliction of duty."

The script supervisor struck the clapperboard, and filming of the scenes featuring the teenager officially began.

On screen, Xie Zheng, dressed in fine clothes, is a carefree young man, chatting and laughing. His eyes are free of the shadows of deep-seated hatred, and he is open-minded and full of hope. His light and lively demeanor contrasts sharply with the despair of being all alone in the snowy night in the deep palace.

The scene was filmed smoothly, and the director was very satisfied: "This contrast in the character's state before and after is exactly the effect the script wanted. The brighter the beginning, the more poignant the ending will be."

During a break, the crew continued to chat about the hot topics on the internet.

Some netizens dug up a humorous comment: "Just a few days ago I was watching the Best Actor walk the red carpet in Macau, and now I'm experiencing the extremes of hot and cold in Hengdian. While others are busy promoting their work, Gu Zhiyan is focused on filming on set."

Everyone smiled at each other, and the atmosphere on set became relaxed and lively.

Public opinion continues to surge, trending topics are constantly being updated, and countless media outlets and fans are paying close attention to Gu Zhiyan's movements.

But Gu Zhiyan always stayed on set, immersed in Xie Zheng's dramatic life.

Glamour and fame are fleeting, but vivid characters can remain in the hearts of the audience for a long time.

The night was deep, and filming was finished.

After removing their makeup, the actors went to the crew's canteen together.

The cafeteria was warmly lit and filled with the lively atmosphere of cooking.

The group chose their assigned seats by the window, set out a light meal, and while eating, they scrolled through the latest entertainment gossip that was trending online at the end of the year, from contract disputes and industry revelations to a flurry of relationship announcements, discussing all the hottest topics on the internet in one go.

The first thing we talked about was the Rashomon-like situation surrounding Ju Jingyi's multi-million-yuan contract with Siba Media, which had been dragging on for more than half a year.

Kong Xueer commented on the trending topic: "This is definitely the most tumultuous gossip this year. Siba is suing Ju Jingyi with a disputed supplementary agreement, demanding a contract extension until 2033 and huge damages for breach of contract. However, Ju Jingyi denies the authenticity of the signature throughout the process. The most outrageous thing is that two judicial appraisals could not provide solid evidence of the handwriting. The two sides are locked in a bitter battle, which has dragged on for too long."

Tian Xiwei sighed softly: "Idol contracts are really too restrictive. An artist's prime years are only a few years. Once they get caught up in a contract tug-of-war, all their commercials, filming, and external work are blocked. Even if there are good resources, they can't take them. It wastes their golden career period. Many newcomers in the industry are now extremely cautious about signing contracts."

Kong Xueer nodded in agreement: "The worst thing about cooperation is a falling out. When the mentor and apprentice company was starting out, it ended up in court. In the game of capital, it's really hard to maintain a dignified image."

Gu Zhiyan listened calmly and summarized softly: "A contract is written in black and white; it is the bottom line and the rule. Cooperation is about mutual benefit; one-sided binding and consumption will only result in mutual destruction in the end."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the top trending topic was refreshed again, with the hashtag "Zhu Xiaotian's public accusation against Believe Music" completely dominating the charts.

"Another bombshell has hit the industry!" Kong Xueer's eyes widened slightly. "Zhu Xiaotian has directly confronted them by name, accusing B'in Music of colluding with scalpers to inflate ticket prices, internally transferring revenue to evade taxes, and forcing artists to lip-sync. Each of these accusations is a heavy blow to the industry's gray areas!"

After carefully reading the details of the exposé, Tian Xiwei said, "This time, people in the industry have really turned the tables. Scalping at concerts, tax evasion, and lip-syncing assembly lines are all issues that audiences have been criticizing but have been difficult to prove. Now that industry insiders are stepping forward to provide evidence, it will likely force the industry to conduct a thorough investigation and make changes."

Kong Xueer said, "The most basic thing on stage is sincerity. The audience pays money to buy the sincerity of the performance. Lip-syncing and exploiting the audience only consume the goodwill of the general public and the reputation of the industry."

Gu Zhiyan said calmly, "Making a report under one's real name requires great courage. Only by having evidence and conducting investigations in accordance with regulations can we give the audience and law-abiding artists the fairest explanation."

After discussing the industry turmoil, the group moved on to celebrity romances, with a barrage of relationship scandals exploding on social media at the end of the year, each more explosive than the last.

The first thing we talked about was Zhao Yingzi's official announcement of her relationship with a man 12 years her junior.

Tian Xiwei was both amused and exasperated: "Zhao Yingzi's official announcement this time was so high-profile. She directly went live to publicly acknowledge her relationship, generously introducing her boyfriend who is 12 years younger than her and who is not in the entertainment industry. She also shared details of how he showered her with gifts, including a mink coat, to win her heart."

Kong Xueer added: "However, there is a lot of controversy online. Half of the netizens think that the relationship between the older woman and the younger man is sweet, brave and generous, while the other half of the netizens question whether it is a scripted live broadcast, a hype for traffic and sales, and even dig deep into the details of the man, which highly overlap with her past rumors, directly turning into a Rashomon-like controversy in public opinion."

After discussing Zhao Yingzi's relationship, the conversation turned to the recent online buzz about "Wang Ou's secret marriage and childbirth".

Kong Xueer said, "Paparazzi have repeatedly photographed Wang Ou taking young children out on multiple occasions. She takes good care of them and keeps a low profile, and her lifestyle is exactly like that of a stay-at-home mother. There have been rumors that she secretly married, but after this leak, the speculation about her secret marriage and having a daughter can no longer be suppressed."

"She hardly talks about her private life," Tian Xiwei said softly. "Many talented actresses in the industry choose to completely separate their lives from their work, not hype up their relationships or market their personas, and quietly manage their private lives. Most netizens offer their blessings, thinking that she is low-key, stable, and in good condition."

After a wave of dating gossip, the ultimate bombshell announcement has blown the entire internet: Lin Junjie has made his relationship public for the first time.

Kong Xueer immediately clicked on the family photo: "Lin Junjie's official announcement this time was particularly gentle and dignified! Taking advantage of his mother's birthday banquet, he directly posted a family photo with his girlfriend and parents, officially acknowledging their relationship, which can be considered a complete explanation for the years of rumors."

Tian Xiwei said with a smile, "He has been asked about his relationship status for so many years, but he has always kept a low profile and never responded. This time, he made an official announcement at a family occasion, which was both solemn and gentle. There was no hype or marketing, and his long-time fans are basically giving their sincere blessings. Of course, there are also people discussing the age difference and the woman's background, and there are many different opinions."

Gu Zhiyan responded, "An artist's work belongs to the public, but their life belongs to themselves. Daring to make an official announcement openly and honestly is a form of responsibility. There's no need for outsiders to speculate excessively; just offer your blessings."

At this point, Gu Zhiyan immediately changed the subject, saying it was better not to talk about this.

He began, "Tomorrow morning we have to film a crucial scene where Xie Zheng is under house arrest and secretly plotting something. I need to keep my emotions calm and consistent, so I should get some rest and stay focused."

Everyone responded enthusiastically.

The laughter in the cafeteria gradually subsided, but the online world remained noisy and bustling, with countless trending topics changing hands one after another.

The fleeting nature of glamorous news is short-lived; true dedication to honing one's craft is the long-term practice for an actor.