Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

The spotlight shone on Gu Zhiyan, and the applause gradually subsided. He held the trophy lightly in his fingertips, his gaze calmly sweeping over the group of senior and peer actors in the audience. His voice was warm and steady, and every word was sincere and weighty.

"Respected judges, seniors, colleagues, and audience members, good evening."

It is an honor to stand on the Magnolia Award stage for the fourth time and receive this weighty recognition.

Looking back on my years in the industry, the Magnolia Award is more than just a trophy to me; it is a benchmark for our journey together.

The previous three awards I received were encouragement, but this time, winning the award for "The Tibetan Sea" is more of a heavy wake-up call.

Zang Hai in "The Legend of Zang Hai" is a man who rebuilds himself from ruins. He spends ten years hiding hatred in his bones and tempering his sharp edges into gentleness.

Aren't actors the same? We spend our lives searching for a balance between concealing and revealing.

Conceal your restlessness and reveal the soul of the character; conceal yourself and relinquish your identity to another life.

Acting is a long journey of self-cultivation; it's not about seeking applause from the outside, but about looking inward and examining one's true self.

During the months I played the role of Zang Hai, I thought about one sentence every day: "A wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act."

This ancient proverb is the essence of this character, and also my motto as an actor.

Acting is something you can't rush, and you can't fake it. You have to wait until the character truly enters your body; you have to hide it, hide all traces of acting, so that the audience only sees the character.

Performance is never about showing off skills in isolation, but about using oneself to depict the everyday life of the world and to carry the joys and sorrows of the story.

Winning the award four times is legendary to outsiders, but for me, it's just one stop on a long journey of self-cultivation.

With fame comes greater respect; one should always be in awe of the script, the camera, and the expectations of every audience member.

The veterans and colleagues competing on the same stage tonight are all seasoned veterans who have honed their skills over many years. They have honed their acting skills and stayed true to themselves in their respective works. This opportunity to compete on the same stage is far more precious than any honor itself.

The growth of Chinese dramas has never been about one person reaching the top, but rather about generations of filmmakers passing the torch and achieving success together.

I always remember my original aspiration when I first entered the industry: not to be swayed by traffic or to be impetuous for empty fame.

Going forward, I will continue to immerse myself in the script, shed my glamour, and become a character, honing my acting skills in the realities of life and refining myself over time.

These four honors are not only a summary of the past, but also a brand new starting point.

May we, year after year, uphold our original aspirations with craftsmanship, travel across mountains and seas with our roles, and live up to the high regard of the Magnolia Awards and the expectations of our audience.

Thank you everyone.

As soon as he finished speaking, applause erupted again and lasted for a long time.

As Shanghai shone brightly that night, the city dominated the trending topics and dominated social media.

As old and new forces alternate, the spirit of craftsmanship is passed down. Some realize their dreams without regret, some reflect and grow, and some continue to write their legends.

Gu Zhiyan graced the red carpet as the finale, and ascended to the throne at the ultimate awards ceremony, forging a unique four-time legend on the night of the 2026 Magnolia Awards.

……

As the awards ceremony concluded on the main stage, the lights came on one by one, and the clamor and applause lingered for a long time.

The actors gradually moved to the backstage rest area dedicated to the Magnolia Awards. Shedding the solemnity and restraint of the live broadcast, the backstage atmosphere instantly relaxed. There was no distance between them, no red carpet formality, only the lively atmosphere and genuine celebration of friends from the industry gathered together.

Gu Zhiyan still held the cold, heavy Magnolia Award trophy in his hand. His black suit accentuated his slender figure, and his eyes remained calm and gentle.

In just a few minutes, his legendary achievement of winning four Best Actor awards had spread throughout the backstage area. Actors, creators, and seniors passing by would stop and greet him with a smile.

The first to gather around were the older and younger women.

Da Mimi approached with a smile, gently patted his shoulder, her eyes full of joy: "Little Yan, congratulations on your fourth Best Actor award, well-deserved. Tonight you have truly rewritten history."

The fairy-like woman stood to the side, her eyes gentle and smiling: "Seeing you standing on the stage receiving the award makes me especially happy for you."

Song Yi and Mao Xiaotong surrounded him with smiles, sincerely expressing their admiration for his perfect summit tonight.

Yang Zi, who had just won the Best Actress award, still had slightly red eyes, but she smiled brightly and took the initiative to step forward to congratulate him: "We all had our dreams come true tonight. Congratulations, Brother Xiao Yan, you've achieved the title of 'God of Actors' four times. That's amazing."

Yan Ni and Tian Yu, who had just shared the stage to present an award, also came over.

Yan Ni joked with a smile, "I knew Xiao Gu was the most reliable, and he certainly lived up to expectations tonight."

Subsequently, a group of colleagues and seniors came forward to offer their congratulations.

Yu Hewei greeted Gu Zhiyan with a smile and a handshake, speaking frankly and sincerely: "Your performance tonight and the honor you received tonight are worthy of this historical record, and you truly deserve it."

Hu Ge's eyes were gentle and approving as she lightly patted Gu Zhiyan's arm: "Congratulations on your fourth appointment!"

Wu Yue, Bai Yu, Guo Jingfei, Mei Ting, Chi Peng, Dong Yong and other actors gathered one after another. There was no resentment of competition or alienation from ranking. Everyone's face was filled with pure congratulations and appreciation.

In an instant, the small backstage rest area was warm and cozy, bustling with people and filled with starlight.

The staff then suggested a group photo to capture this unprecedented night of deification.

Everyone spontaneously took their positions and accommodated each other. No one was vying for the center position, yet naturally, Gu Zhiyan, holding a miniature image of four Magnolia Awards, stood in the middle of the crowd.

Hu Ge, Yu Hewei and others stood beside him, while the "Fairy Sister" and Yang Zizi, along with a host of award-winning actresses and actors, stood side by side. Veteran and new actors, middle-aged and rising stars were closely packed together.

The lights came on, and everyone's smiles were bright.

The moment the camera freezes is the most touching scene of the passing down of the torch in Chinese dramas.

The predecessors worked tirelessly, while the successors broke boundaries and achieved legendary status. Some remained true to their original aspirations, while others made history.

The shutter clicked, capturing the grandest, warmest, and most perfect moment of the 2026 Magnolia Awards.

After the group photo was taken, the crowd gradually dispersed, with many people still turning back to laugh and joke.

"The biggest winner tonight is Gu Zhiyan."

"The only actor in the Chinese entertainment industry to win the Best Actor award four times; no one will ever be able to replicate that feat again."

The evening breeze blew into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the corridor, carrying the gentleness of a summer night in Shanghai.

Gu Zhiyan looked down at the clear, bright white magnolia trophy in her hand, her eyes calm and composed.

He was deified overnight and crowned by the masses.

But he always understood that the end of glory is just the beginning of a new chapter.

The 31st Magnolia Awards Ceremony concluded successfully.