Huayu Entertainment Starts with Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu

On May 5th, "Legend of Lu Zhen" officially premiered.

Hunan TV + Yu Zheng's drama = traffic secret, and this time is no exception.

The premiere of "Legend of Lu Zhen" was a huge hit, becoming the hottest drama of the year, and everyone was talking about Lu Zhen.

What's most remarkable is that it actually helped the girl turn her reputation around.

Starting with "Palace", Yu Zheng's dramas have always been both popular and criticized.

Despite its popularity, its vulgar plot and aesthetics have always been the target of criticism from both industry peers and audiences, with only a group of young viewers who have never experienced the finer things in life enthusiastically following it.

But "Legend of Lu Zhen" is different.

After the show aired, although the costumes, makeup and props still couldn't shake off the gaudy and garish style that Yaya always uses, the plot was highly praised.

"Legend of Lu Zhen" is positioned as a "female inspirational drama about career success and triumph".

With Jiang Yang's intervention, his character Shen Jiayan, who is an admirer of the female lead Lu Zhen, replaces the original second male lead, making the plot focus more on Lu Zhen.

At that time, Jiang Yang and Zhao Liying's discussion about the plot also abandoned more palace intrigue elements and retained its "inspirational" core.

Viewers realized that "Legend of Lu Zhen" wasn't written by the writer, but rather by the producer, not the screenwriter.

No wonder, what good stuff could he possibly write?

That's right, you can confidently give it a good review. "Legend of Lu Zhen" is a double hit in terms of popularity and word-of-mouth!

The title of "Legend of Lu Zhen" itself reveals who the key character is.

Zhao Liying tasted the sweetness of fame for the first time.

Her round, chubby face instantly became synonymous with endearing charm, making her a benchmark for cute girls in the entertainment industry.

After several years in the industry, I've acted in countless pointless and unremarkable roles. Finally, I've made it through the tough times!

Thinking about it that way, it's actually quite inspiring.

Zhao Liying was almost moved to tears by her own words, and she cherished this hard-won opportunity all the more.

Yu Zheng is a veteran player of online traffic. With "Legend of Lu Zhen" being so popular now, of course he has to strike while the iron is hot and make the most of this wave of popularity.

How to eat it?

The best way to promote idol dramas is to create on-screen couples!

But this plan encountered obstacles from the very beginning...

"I won't do it; let whoever wants to do it do it."

Chen Xiao coldly refused.

He did have feelings for Zhao Liying, but because of those feelings, things have now broken up, leaving only a knot in his heart, preventing him from acting as if nothing had happened.

Ex-lovers are not strangers, they are enemies!

Chen Xiao's personality is just that awkward. He didn't show it before because he wasn't famous enough.

Oh, I was just a nobody before, and I had no choice but to bow and scrape and let people take advantage of me. Now that I've finally become famous, I still have to keep smiling and behaving like this?

Then wouldn't I be guilty for nothing?

Don't let the fact that that brat is Chen Xiao's boss fool you; if she says she doesn't want to, she doesn't want to, and you can't force her.

What can you do about it?

Your artist just became popular, and you've already sidelined him?

Do you have a grudge against money?

Yu Zheng isn't the type to hold a grudge. Not only will he not be sidelined, but he'll be given important responsibilities, with plans to cast him as Yang Guo in "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

The ideal arrangement would have been to have the newly popular Chen Xiao and Zhao Liying pairing up again.

That's definitely wishful thinking.

Chen Xiao was happy to create a CP (couple pairing) with Zhao Liying, but he made the latter very embarrassed.

When the two attend an event together, as the male and female leads of the same drama, you can say that holding hands is a basic courtesy, and there's nothing excessive about it, right?

Chen Xiao: No.

In the end, Zhao Liying took the initiative to reach out, but Chen Xiao coldly turned her away, showing her no respect whatsoever.

???

Not to mention Zhao Liying herself, even passersby were stunned.

With fame comes controversy. These two were at the height of their popularity during the airing of "Legend of Lu Zhen," and this public incident immediately sparked a flurry of rumors.

Chen Xiao's fans immediately called Zhao Liying a scheming woman, saying she was like a toad trying to eat swan meat.

It is said that she had always coveted Chen Xiao and took advantage of the popularity of "Legend of Lu Zhen" to try to get close to him. Chen Xiao, unable to bear the harassment, disregarded propriety and forcibly kept his distance.

They even went so far as to fabricate a story about how Zhao Liying seduced Chen Xiao on set, as if they had witnessed it themselves…

Did I seduce him?

Can you guys get this straight?

When Zhao Liying saw these words, she was so angry that she almost threw her phone.

Are you blind?!

Of course, Zhao Baozi is quite popular now, so how could he be bullied by others so easily?

Her fans immediately jumped to her defense, arguing that it was Chen Xiao who had no manners and embarrassed her partner in public, and implying that the latter was angry because her advances were rejected.

In these kinds of situations, everyone has their own version of the truth.

Unless the two parties involved personally intervene, outsiders have no way of knowing the details.

In short, it's obvious that the relationship between the male and female leads is terrible.

This unexpected move stunned its peers. The usual practice for the male and female leads of a popular drama is to first create hype for their on-screen couple relationship, and then consider dissolving the pairing once the hype dies down, allowing the fans to settle down.

You two are so unreliable! "Legend of Lu Zhen" is still airing, and you're not even willing to act in it?

How popular are you two that you're acting so arrogantly?!

The fact that the two actors are having a falling out off-screen can indeed affect some viewers' interest in watching the show.

How did I even get into shipping this couple?

Zhao Liying was speechless: I was willing to act, but he wasn't.

She cursed Chen Xiao countless times in her heart. This name was really well-chosen. Petty and narrow-minded. Is he a three-year-old child who throws such a tantrum?

Do I have to coax you again?

Sister Zhao was also a tough woman and resolutely refused to reconcile with him, so the two remained deadlocked.

Then, the "famous scene" arrived.

The crew recorded an episode of "Men on the Left, Women on the Right" before "Legend of Lu Zhen" became a hit, and it was only then that it aired.

Yuan Shanshan certainly lost all face, but she happened to run into Chen Xiao and Zhao Liying's "public discord," making the love triangle even more complicated.

Chen Xiao's fans said that Zhao Liying stopping Yuan Shanshan was out of jealousy and was evidence that Yuan Shanshan was trying to seduce Chen Xiao.

Zhao Liying was so angry she laughed. "Flirting with your sister!"

I didn't even look at him properly!

I was absolutely right to dump him, and I'm so glad I did every single day!

Overall, this online controversy did not interrupt the popularity of "Legend of Lu Zhen," and Zhao Liying soared to become a rising star.

Oh right, in 2013, the "85 Flowers" were still considered "little flowers" (young actresses born in 1985).

She experienced the sweetness of fame and fortune for the first time, but she also had to bear the consequences.

Chen Xiao has a temper, but Zhao Liying doesn't?

The more I think about it, the angrier I get. You don't want to give me a handbag as if I care so much. I have plenty here!

During the airing of "Legend of Lu Zhen", besides Chen Xiao, the person she had the most contact with was naturally the second male lead, Jiang Yang, so the latter was also chosen by Sister Zhao.

This time, however, Jiang Yang did not give in easily.

"Sister Zhao, I'm glad you asked me to come and help you relieve stress when you're feeling down."

"But frankly, I really dislike your attitude of coming and going as you please. Are you ordering male models?"

"I do not offer this service."

"Those male models are paid to do their jobs, so how much do you think I should be worth?"

"You won't even use the word 'please' on me!"

Zhao Liying's strength is definitely not enough; she's far from being able to force Jiang Yang.

Thinking about it calmly, I realize I didn't really respect Jiang Yang.

She straightened her attitude.

"please."

"Ah, that's right."

Jiang Yang smiled playfully, lifted her chin, and saw that her small face was indeed both cute and stubborn.

"Please explain what you're asking for. Be clear."