Huayu 2002, I'm going to dominate the music scene!

Jin Zhuo did not delay the filming of "Run Away".

Hainan has now also begun to implement strict controls, so even if they wanted to leave Hainan, they couldn't.

Since he couldn't go out, he had no choice but to work. Jin Zhuo spent all his time filming the music video for "Run Away". Anyway, he was staying in a hotel and had the equipment, so he had nothing else to do.

In this MV for "Run Away", Liu Yifei did not appear on screen with her face shown, but she contributed a back view of her running hand in hand with Song Mo.

That scene was filmed over a dozen times, and Jin Zhuo frowned. "What are you guys doing? Taking a walk? You'd think it was some kind of morning exercise routine!"

Liu Yifei got angry at his words, and this time when she ran, she grabbed Song Mo's wrist and rushed forward with her head down, running until her hair was completely disheveled and she even lost one of her shoes.

Jin Zhuo slapped his thigh behind the monitor: "This is the one! If it's about eloping, we should be resolute and risk everything!"

Liu Yifei was so tired from running around that she could only stand there with her hands on her hips, looking at Song Mo.

Song Mo bent down, picked up the shoe she had thrown off, and placed it beside her feet.

She bent down to put on her clothes, and suddenly said, "Your song is actually quite nice."

Song Mo was taken aback: "Didn't you already hear about this?"

"I wasn't listening carefully before." Liu Yifei turned her face away, her voice muffled. "I thought you could only write something like 'Mice Love Rice'."

Song Mo laughed: "So what if it's like that? It's pretty popular, isn't it?"

Liu Yifei didn't reply, but the corner of her mouth curled up slightly.

These past few days, she's been filming the music video for "Runaway," and she's been listening to the song seriously. She has to admit to herself that this guy is indeed quite talented.

The previous song "Summer" was already very good, but this song "Run Away" is even better.

For the past few days, she's been secretly humming these two songs in the hotel. Every time she finishes humming them, she feels pathetic, but she can't help but hum them again next time.

Time quietly passed to March 12th.

That evening, "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" premiered.

With nothing else to do, Song Mo simply dragged An Ming and Liu Yifei over to watch together, all as a way of supporting Gao Yuanyuan.

This TV series premiered in Taiwan some time ago, and it was initially heavily criticized by Taiwanese viewers because of its drastic changes to the plot.

As the plot unfolded, its ratings soared, reaching a peak of 6.34%. In an AC Nielsen survey of viewers aged 15-44, "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" also rose to become the number one show in the island's ratings.

This achievement is comparable to that of TV dramas like "Meteor Garden" and "Princess Pearl" on the island.

Therefore, Jia Jingwen and Gao Yuanyuan became very popular on the island some time ago.

However, because Taiwan prohibits mainlanders from participating in the event, Gao Yuanyuan did not benefit from this surge in popularity. On the contrary, Jia Jingwen became a sensation on the island, appearing on several popular variety shows, and even being considered by a TV station to host the event.

Gao Yuanyuan naturally attaches great importance to the drama's premiere in mainland China. If it can replicate its success in Taiwan, then her rise to fame will be a natural progression.

Soon, familiar faces flashed across the screen: Su Youpeng as Zhang Wuji, Jia Jingwen as Zhao Min, and Gao Yuanyuan as Zhou Zhiruo.

After watching for a while, Song Mo suddenly felt a pang of emotion. He had seen many clips of this show on Douyin in his previous life.

But watching the premiere in the spring of 2003 felt completely different.

"Gao Yuanyuan playing Zhou Zhiruo?" An Ming watched for a while and suddenly said, "Her appearance is good, completely different from her usual style."

Song Mo nodded: "Indeed."

On screen, Zhou Zhiruo is dressed in plain clothes, with a hint of fragility and stubbornness in her eyes, completely different from Gao Yuanyuan, who usually wears a white T-shirt and jeans and has a smiling, crescent-shaped eye.

Liu Yifei stood to the side without saying a word, but watched very attentively.

She and Gao Yuanyuan were already friends, and she had just sent Gao Yuanyuan a message to express her support. Seeing an acquaintance on TV now felt quite strange.

After the broadcast of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber", the expected applause did not come. Instead, it was met with criticism, just like it had been in Taiwan at the beginning.

However, after "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" aired, the expected wave of applause did not arrive. Instead, it was met with the same kind of criticism as when it first aired in Taiwan.

The next day, comments flooded newspapers and websites.

"This is a drastic departure from the original novel. Zhao Min appears too early, the martial arts settings are chaotic, and the plot is melodramatic. This isn't a martial arts story at all; it's a romance drama disguised as one!"

"Gao Yuanyuan's acting skills are immature. Her expressions are always bitter and resentful or frowning, lacking the vividness of the characters."

"She portrayed Zhou Zhiruo as a resentful woman."

The online forum Tianya was in complete chaos, with some criticizing the screenwriter, others the director, and still others the actors.

Gao Yuanyuan's acting skills have been repeatedly criticized. Some say she has nothing to offer except her face, some say she reads her lines like she's reciting a textbook, and others say that male models shouldn't be acting.

Song Mo frowned as he scrolled through the posts.

He picked up his phone and dialed Gao Yuanyuan's number.

It rang several times before I answered.

"Feed?" Gao Yuanyuan's voice was muffled, with a slight nasal tone, as if she had just been crying.

"Have you read the comments online?" Song Mo asked.

"Hmm," she responded, paused for a few seconds, and then said, "They're right, I really didn't act well."

Song Mo leaned against the headboard, thought for a moment, and said, "Have you forgotten what happened when this show aired in Taiwan? At first, the ratings were bad, and people were criticizing it relentlessly. But later, it climbed to the top of the ratings. Didn't you say back then that many media outlets in Taiwan were praising you? You need to have confidence in yourself and in this show."

Listening to Song Mo's methodical analysis, Gao Yuanyuan suddenly felt less sad and worried for some reason.

This is her first time playing the second female lead in a drama, and she is genuinely worried that it will be a failure.

Hearing the breathing slow down on the other end, Song Mo added, "Besides, don't you have a secret weapon?"

"What?" Gao Yuanyuan asked, puzzled.

"Looks, just with your looks, Sister Yuanyuan, you'd be enough to stun all those viewers," Song Mo said, feigning exaggeration.

Hearing this, Gao Yuanyuan couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, stop trying to sweet-talk me. I understand."

Hearing her laugh, Song Mo felt relieved. In the end, he couldn't help but say, "Sister Yuanyuan, just wait patiently. In another week, the wind will change. You should be prepared to become famous."

As expected, things unfolded exactly as Song Mo had anticipated.

As "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" aired its second week, the criticisms continued, but the ratings had already started to rise.

In the third week, after the scene where Zhou Zhiruo was abandoned by Zhang Wuji at the wedding aired, public opinion underwent a subtle shift.

"Zhou Zhiruo is so pitiful, Zhang Wuji, you scumbag!"

"Gao Yuanyuan acted so well in this scene. Her eyes conveyed both hatred and pain, and it broke my heart to watch it."

At first, I thought she only knew how to frown, but now I realize she looks good even when she frowns...

On Tianya (a Chinese online forum), some people started speaking up for Gao Yuanyuan. Some said she became more and more attractive the more you watched her, some said she perfectly portrayed Zhou Zhiruo's forbearance and outburst, and some even dug up her high viewership ratings in Taiwan, saying that criticism is one thing, but watching is another.

When the scenes depicting Zhou Zhiruo's transformation into a villain aired, the tide turned completely.

Dressed in pink, with sharp eyes and ruthless moves.

The once gentle and weak Zhou Zhiruo has transformed into a dark goddess who is both loved and feared.

"Gao Yuanyuan's contrast is amazing!"

"A white rabbit in the beginning, a venomous snake in the end—that's the real Zhou Zhiruo!"

"I admit I was too quick to criticize her; she really is capable."