Chinese entertainment: Top stars have no holidays

An afternoon in Shanghai.

The sunlight was blocked by the studio's blackout curtains, while the fill lights inside were blindingly bright.

Jiang Bai is currently shooting the cover for "Cosmopolitan Youth Edition".

This is the second invitation he received from a second-tier mainstream magazine after his sudden rise to fame, and it is also the most prestigious one.

The magazine specially designed three outfits for him, from a refreshing and youthful white T-shirt and jeans to a simple and neat light gray suit, each perfectly matching his current popular persona and temperament.

"Very good, Jiang Bai, tilt your head slightly to the side, relax your eyes, yes, that's it, hold on!" The photographer held up his camera, his tone full of approval.

"Excellent! The presence is strong; it perfectly captures both youthful energy and a relaxed feel!"

Jiang Bai slightly adjusted his posture, a perfectly timed smile playing on his lips, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness yet concealing a touch of tenderness.

After the last cover photo was taken, the photographer put down his camera, smiled, and walked over: "Perfect! Jiang Bai, you're so photogenic."

"This set of photos will definitely be a bestseller. We had a great time working together, and we'll definitely work together again next time."

Jiang Bai nodded politely, accepted the water from the assistant, and replied softly, "Thank you, teacher. You've worked hard, and so has everyone else."

He had no airs of a celebrity and thanked the stylists, lighting technicians, and assistants on set one by one.

This gentle attitude drew praise from everyone present.

This was also Jiang Bai's little scheme.

During the rising popularity period when aiming for the top, maintain a humble and amiable persona.

This helps to gain a high reputation and positive reviews among staff in the industry.

These staff members working in or related to the entertainment industry should not be underestimated.

In reality, these are the key figures who influence a celebrity's reputation both inside and outside the industry.

After all, most of the so-called celebrity gossip comes from these people.

After changing out of her photoshoot outfit and into a casual black hoodie and sweatpants, Jiang Bai removed her elaborate makeup and returned to her usual clean and tidy appearance.

He carried the magazine samples packed by his assistant and got into the van waiting outside the studio.

There were only the driver, Brother Wang, and Jiang Bai in the car.

"Brother Wang, could you please go to the north gate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy?" Jiang Bai leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

Several days of magazine photoshoots and business appearances left him looking a little tired, but there was still a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

The van slowly drove away from the photography studio, weaving through the bustling streets of Shanghai, heading towards the Shanghai Theatre Academy.

A dozen minutes later, the car came to a steady stop under the shade of trees not far from the North Gate.

This is not the main gate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, but a small gate that students use daily. Many young people come and go, but most of them are in a hurry and are not easily noticed.

Jiang Bai took out his phone and glanced at the time. It was 4:30 PM, the peak time for students to get out of class.

He put down his phone, leaned back in his seat, and waited patiently, a slight smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.

After waiting for about ten minutes, a girl wearing a color-blocked dress, black sunglasses, a white mask, and a hat pulled low, sneaked out from the crowd at the school gate.

She looked around to make sure there were no acquaintances or suspicious people, then quickly ran to the van and gently pulled on the door.

Jiang Bai smiled and pressed the unlock button, and the car door opened with a "click".

The girl quickly slipped inside, closed the car door behind her, and glanced warily out the window.

They only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that no one was paying attention.

"Excuse me, is this the same Tian Xiaotian who's still arguing with haters at 3 AM, racking up a long list of hater victories?"

Looking at her nervous yet adorable appearance, Jiang Bai couldn't help but tease her, his tone full of laughter.

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiwei's face fell instantly. She reached out and took off her sunglasses and mask, revealing a delicate and sweet face.

With a hint of reproach in her eyes, she raised her hand and gently tapped Jiang Bai's shoulder.

The pressure was very light, more like a playful complaint: "You're still making fun of me, but it's all for your sake!"

Jiang Bai smiled and grabbed her wrist, his eyes full of tenderness: "I know, I know, thank you for your hard work, Xiao Tian."

Although he had warned Tian Xiwei in advance during the height of the controversy surrounding the added scenes in "Rush to the Dead Summer" not to get involved using his main account or confront the haters.

Most importantly, she cannot leave behind a dark history of online arguments with netizens, as this would affect her reputation after her official debut.

Jiang Bai had read plenty of Oda's infamous "delinquent girl" smear articles in his past life.

Among them are numerous screenshots of Oda engaging in online arguments and insults with netizens on Weibo early in her career, using her main account...

However, Jiang Bai later discovered by chance that Tian Xiwei had registered a secondary account with the nickname "Tian Xiaotian" and was patrolling Weibo every day.

Whenever someone criticizes Jiang Bai, they engage in a high-intensity online confrontation.

After Shuangzi posted a clarification on Weibo, public opinion did indeed shift in the overall direction, and the amount of abuse from fans decreased significantly.

However, there are still some anti-fans in the fandom who can't stand Jiang Bai's sudden popularity and can't stand that he got the most traffic as a second male lead. They spare no effort to slander and insult him on Weibo, even using foul language and fabricating all kinds of rumors.

It just can't form a major public opinion trend; it can only be considered a major point of attack for Jiang Zemin's haters.

No celebrity can be completely free of criticism, or rather, anyone who isn't criticized can't really be considered a celebrity.

So Jiang Bai got used to it and mostly chose to ignore it.

But Tian Xiwei couldn't stand it. Whenever she saw someone cursing Jiang Bai, she would immediately rush up to confront them.

His words were sharp and his logic was clear, leaving the haters speechless, and even Jiang Bai couldn't help but admire him.

This sweet and adorable girl can be surprisingly ruthless and methodical when she curses, a stark contrast to her usual image.

But Jiang Bai didn't dislike it at all; on the contrary, he found it exceptionally cute.

He knew that Tian Xiwei did all this for him, which was why she was confronting these haters.

There's no reason for them to disapprove of Xiaotian's behavior because of this; that would be like a dog biting Lü Dongbin (a Chinese idiom meaning to turn a blind eye to someone else's faults).

"Who told them to insult you?" Tian Xiwei pouted, complaining. "They have no idea how much effort you put into filming Lu Zhiang. All they do is blindly follow the trend and smear you. It makes me angry, and I can't vent my anger without yelling at them!"

As she spoke, she waved her little fist, looking indignant, like a cat with its fur standing on end.

Jiang Bai couldn't help but laugh at her adorable appearance, and gently ruffled her hair: "Alright, alright, don't be angry, it's not worth it."

"I don't care what those people say at all. What celebrity doesn't get criticized? You just get used to it."

Tian Xiwei looked up at him, her eyes filled with heartache: "But I care. I don't want to see you being scolded."

"You're becoming more and more popular now, and there will definitely be more people criticizing you in the future. I'll always be there for you and help you fight them."

Jiang Bai felt a warmth in his heart and gently patted the back of her hand: "Thank you, Xiwei."

"But don't stay up all night playing online games anymore. Staying up until 3 a.m. is bad for your health, you know?"

"Okay, okay."

Tian Xiwei nodded obediently, then her eyes lit up, and she grabbed Jiang Bai's arm and started chatting away.

Her little mouth kept opening and closing, talking about her funny stories at school, the dramas she had recently watched, and asking about Jiang Bai's recent filming and work. Her tone was full of longing.

Jiang Bai listened patiently, occasionally responding with a smile.

His popularity has skyrocketed, and paparazzi are stalking him everywhere. Even the slightest movement from him can make him a trending topic.

Therefore, he dared not meet Tian Xiwei in public at all, let alone take her back to his apartment.

That's the only way we can meet briefly and have a chat in a moving van.

The main reason is that Xiaotian keeps saying she hasn't seen him in a long time, so we need to ease Xiaotian's longing.

The car moved slowly under the shade of the trees, avoiding the crowds, and the two chatted and laughed, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere.

Before they knew it, they had been chatting for over an hour. Tian Xiwei had to go back to school, so she could only say goodbye to Jiang Bai with reluctance.

"You must take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself." Tian Xiwei held his hand, her eyes full of reluctance. "Next time we meet, I'll bring you some cookies I made."

"Okay." Jiang Bai nodded with a smile. "Take care of yourself, study hard, and be careful. I'll come see you again after I'm done with this busy period."

Tian Xiwei nodded, glanced out the window again warily, and after confirming it was safe, pushed open the car door and ran back to school quickly.

She ran a few steps, not forgetting to turn back and wave to Jiang Bai before her figure quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Even as she disappeared, the smile on Jiang Bai's face remained.

He took out his phone and sent Tian Xiwei a message: "Remember to let me know when you get to the dorm. Don't stay up late anymore."

Jiang Bai then had the driver take him to the airport.

All the work in Shanghai is now complete, and he needs to return to Beijing immediately to finish the last bit of filming for "City of Rock".

His assistant was already waiting for him at the airport with his luggage.

During this period, he was busy with business and magazine shoots in Shanghai while remotely monitoring the progress of the film crew.

The crew has now moved to Beijing, with only a few final scenes left. He must return to the team as soon as possible to ensure a smooth wrap-up of filming.

That evening, Jiang Bai arrived in Beijing.

He arrived at the filming location of "Sewing Machine Band" early the next morning. Director Dapeng and the crew greeted him warmly.

Jiang Bai's sudden popularity during this period has also led the crew to have more recognition and expectations for him.

As Brother Bo once said, once you become famous, you'll find that everyone in the industry is a good person.

However, before Jiang Bai became famous, the crew members she met were quite nice.

Who told him to have Huace's backing, and to debut in a drama produced by his own company?

Upon returning to the team, Jiang Bai quickly got into filming mode.

A few days later, with the final shot completed, director Da Peng loudly announced, "The filming of 'Sewing Machine Band' has officially wrapped!"

The crew erupted in cheers, and everyone hugged and celebrated.

Jiang Bai also hugged Qiao Shan, Nazha and others one by one, his face full of relief.

Although the filming in Ji'an and Beijing during this period was arduous, it was also very rewarding for him.

Not only did it improve my acting skills, but it also allowed me to experience the charm of filmmaking.

After the wrap-up ceremony, Jiang Bai did not rest.

Under Dai Lu's arrangement, he returned to Shanghai and went to a well-known recording studio in the city. I heard that he also collaborated with Xue Zhiqian.

As for why he came to the recording studio, it's because he was going to record the promotional song for "A Love So Beautiful," titled "How Much I Like You, You'll Know."

With the hit drama "Rush to the Dead Summer", Jiang Bai's popularity soared, and "A Love So Beautiful" also gained a lot of attention.

Tencent Video seized the opportunity and scheduled the show for July 11th, coinciding with the summer season, which is undoubtedly the most suitable time for a campus drama to air.

Dai Lu, who is most skilled in online marketing and promotion, naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass her by.

She had already planned the online marketing and pre-launch campaign for "A Love So Beautiful".

The first trailer has been edited and will be officially released in a few days.

Jiang Bai's promotional song will also be promoted in a very busy manner.

While Jiang Bai's popularity is still high, he will draw the attention of his newly gained fans and passersby to "A Love So Beautiful".

Inside the recording studio, Jiang Bai wore headphones, listening attentively to the accompaniment and familiarizing himself with the lyrics and melody.

This song is gentle and healing, with a light melody and delicate lyrics, which fits the youthful campus atmosphere of "A Little Thing Called First Love" and also suits Jiang Bai's voice.

Most importantly, it's very simple, with no difficult trills or high notes, and the vocal range isn't very wide.

"Ready? Let's begin." The sound engineer's voice came through the headphones.

Jiang Bai nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly began to speak as the accompaniment started.

His voice was clear and pure, with a touch of youthful gentleness, perfectly conveying the naivety and joy in the lyrics.

There are no special techniques involved; it's all thanks to the advantages of her own voice.

"I love your eyes, I love your eyelashes, I love the cute way you pout..."

The sound engineer sat at the control panel, his face full of surprise, nodding in approval from time to time.

Jiang Bai has a very good voice and it's very captivating.

Moreover, perhaps because of her strong command of the lyrics, she sang with full emotion and clear pronunciation, and made almost no mistakes.

It was already perfect after one take.

"Jiang Bai, that's fantastic!" After the first take, the sound engineer couldn't help but praise, "Your voice is such a perfect match for this song."

"The emotions were spot on, so it hardly needed any changes. Just one more take, check the details, and it's done."

Jiang Bai smiled and nodded, then put his headphones back on and began to sing earnestly.

To be honest, this sweet little song is really not difficult to sing.

In just one afternoon, Jiang Bai completed the recording of the entire song.

Looking at the final product, the sound engineer couldn't help but exclaim, "Jiang Bai, you are truly gifted! Not only are you a great actor, but you also sing so well. This song is sure to be a hit!"

Jiang Bai smiled and said modestly, "Thank you, teacher. This song is relatively easy to sing, and I'm also grateful for your guidance."

After the recording was finished, Dai Lu also rushed to the recording studio. After listening to the finished song, she showed a satisfied smile: "Perfect! This promotional song will definitely be a plus for 'A Little Thing Called First Love'."

"Next, we'll wait for the trailer to be released and simultaneously promote the promotional song."

"We aim to make 'A Love So Beautiful' a huge hit during the summer season, and help your popularity reach another peak."