I Became Famous in the Entertainment Industry with High Martial Arts Skills - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Crew’s Livestream

Saturday afternoon, in a supermarket next to a residential complex, workers busy all week were snatching a moment of leisure, pushing shopping carts and strolling past shelves to pick out their favorite items.

Seeing that the shopping cart was already in a state of “overflowing,” Xiao Yang gave a pleasing smile to his girlfriend in front of him: “Miaomiao, aren’t you in a hurry to go home and watch that Crossing something? If we keep browsing, we won’t make it in time.”

The girl called Miaomiao stopped her hand from grabbing potato chips and checked her phone. “Eek! How is it almost seven o’clock already!”

She immediately lost interest in picking more snacks and dragged her boyfriend toward the checkout counter. She was still waiting to watch this week’s two episodes of Han River Crossing she had already made an appointment with her fellow fans in the group!

At 7:30 PM, the third episode of Han River Crossing aired on time. As soon as the opening theme played, the netizens’ bullet comments covered three-quarters of the screen.

“Ahhh, I’m here to protect Wan Yuya!” “So did the second female lead really flirt with the concubine while the old Emperor was away on a private inspection tour?” “So stimulating… my nosebleed…” “I haven’t chased a drama in so long this year, but this one is truly gripping!” “Exactly! I can only say, as expected of Director Ming Yang, the end of every episode hits right at my heartstrings.”

“To be fair, the visuals of the leads in this drama are all so high. From the male lead to the third lead, their looks each have unique characteristics!” “Hehehe, actually I like the third male lead’s type looking a bit rebellious and arrogant.” “Yan Feng was a model, right? Based on the trailer clips I saw before, his acting is okay, not a drag.”

Among the swarm of bullet comments, those discussing the actors, those discussing the plot, and those purely admiring the visuals divided the screen into three territories, engaging in heated discussion.

As the plot slowly progressed, the second male lead was scolded and beaten by his eldest brother for bringing the male lead back to the manor. His calves were covered in bloodstains, with some spots even seeping bright red blood. Seeing this, the male lead who had just become a servant volunteered to apply medicine to Wan Yuya.

Inside Xie Ci’s fan viewing group:

Chili Sandwich: “Waaa, the second male lead has so little status at home; he doesn’t even have the right to bring a servant back.”

Group Admin Round Glasses replied: “Sigh, the second lead’s mother was a courtesan and passed away when Wan Yuya was just thirteen. If she hadn’t brought Zhu Qing back before she left, Wan Yuya probably would have been bullied to death by the people in the manor long ago.”

When Song Ling designed the script, she specifically laid out the backgrounds of the main characters in great detail. As for how much was actually filmed or how much was left to the imagination, it depended on the communication between the director and the actors. In the second episode, through the mouths of servants, the second lead’s background was glossed over in a few words. However, Round Glasses had watched the first two episodes three times, activating her “microscope drama-watching skill” to string all the clues together.

In the latter half of the third episode, the male lead Gu Huaizhou, facing the son of his enemy, didn’t control his strength well while helping Wan Yuya apply medicine, making Wan Yuya’s face turn even paler from the pain.

The cold sweat on his forehead here was an effect created by the crew’s makeup artist using a hydrating spray; once the fill light hit, the entire face looked drenched.

Hearing Wan Yuya let out a muffled groan through gritted teeth, Gu Huaizhou selfishly exerted a few more points of force, as if this were also a form of revenge against his enemy.

However, Wan Yuya’s personality surpassed the level of pure kindness. Not only was he not angry, but he also worried that the male lead would feel guilty for it. He endured it silently until he truly couldn’t stand the pain, then shifted a few times as if by accident.

The bullet comments instantly understood Zhu Qing’s mental state. Grieving that iron cannot become steel!

“I can’t take it! Is the second lead too kind? He can even endure this!” “+1! Feels like a people-pleasing personality.” “I think I kind of understand the second lead. After all, he has no status at all in the Wan manor and is used to enduring. If he truly had a young master’s temper, how could he be tolerated?” “Seconded. I remember in the second episode, the second lead’s concubine mother died of illness because she talked back to the First Madam once and the servants dragged their feet and wouldn’t give her medicine.”

The noise of the bullet comments didn’t affect the development of the plot. In the fourth episode, the male lead left the manor frequently, using the information given by his adoptive father to search for evidence that could bring down the Wan manor. After a few times, he really did find some clues. However, the male lead’s appearance far too outstanding for a servant caught the attention of several maids in the inner court and also drew many jealous gazes.

When the fourth episode ended, Miaomiao had just finished the kimchi-flavored potato chips in her hand. Just as she wanted to turn around to get another bag, she was startled by her boyfriend beside her.

“Aren’t you playing games? Why are you hiding back here secretly watching the drama?” Miaomiao asked teasingly.

Xiao Yang gave an embarrassed smile. He had actually lost a game in the next room and thought about coming over to his girlfriend’s side. Unexpectedly, this drama called Han River Crossing was quite good. He originally intended to glance at it for a moment but unconsciously became immersed. The martial arts scene where the male lead subdued the street thugs was too cool fists hitting flesh, it made his blood boil! However, that second male lead he was good-looking, but he looked like he couldn’t even truss a chicken, which didn’t quite fit his preference.

Xiao Yang flattered his girlfriend: “Good Miaomiao, I’ll watch the drama with you next time. You must remember to call me.”

After these two episodes of Han River Crossing aired, the established drama fans grew even more expectant of the subsequent plot. The episodes leading up were full of explosive points, let alone the preview for episode six where the Wan manor is raided, the male lead officially crosses paths with the royal family, and the second male lead is thrown into prison.

At a glance, it’s a bloodbath, a gathering storm—the visitor is not friendly!

Dramas aired this year have basically all been idol dramas. Finally, there’s a political drama with a non-watered-down plot; naturally, it received a lot of attention.

After filming the seventh episode, the crew’s schedule grew tighter and tighter. The leads were on standby at all times, with new lines to memorize every day. Xie Ci and the other two practically lived at the hotel, having no time at all to go home.

Xie Ci thought for a bit and sent a message to Ji Xiuheng: “Brother Ji, the filming cycle for the crew is tight later on; I might not have time to go to your classes anymore.”

When he sent it, Xie Ci felt a small sense of loss. In fact, he still really liked learning acting from Ji Xiuheng. In the past, when he learned things, he always studied alone. Aside from the master who picked him up into the sect, those he was closest to were the sword at his waist and the white horse that had accompanied him for years.

Ji Xiuheng replied very quickly: “Film well at the set. If there’s a chance, Brother Ji will go see you.”

“Xiuheng?” Sister Tian saw Ji Xiuheng smiling at his phone, a surge of horror in her heart.

For so many years, she had seen Ji Xiuheng show many expressions of mockery and indifference at his phone, but this was the first time she had seen him show this kind of “fluttering” smile.

Tsk tsk tsk, and he lied to her saying it was just a casual “Like.” She suspected that in the future, when he lures the person home, he’ll still say it was “just a casual lure.”

Ji Xiuheng was called by her, and his attention shifted from the chat interface, his face returning to its usual flat expression. Sister Tian had long since adjusted to his private personality and continued handing over the selected film and television investment projects, while Zhou Mo sat to the side silently helping to organize.

Filming for the Han River Crossing crew was in full swing. Aside from a half-day break every Saturday on broadcast day, nearly the entire crew was working non-stop. Ming Yang was also straightforward; as long as the filming task for the day was heavy, she gave the staff bonuses. Coupled with the fact that the leads were all holding a breath of ambition, wanting to use the heat of this drama to boost their popularity, the overall filming progress of the crew actually sped up.

By the time it was two days before episodes five and six were to air, the crew had already finished filming episode nine.

Since the crew members were all present these past few days, Ming Yang and Shen Fang discussed and came up with an idea: they would have several lead actors start a joint video connection tomorrow night to watch highlights of the previous episodes together in a livestream, while also interacting with the bullet comments in real-time.

Firstly, this would allow viewers to experience the feeling of chasing the drama together with the characters; secondly, it would help the crew and actors increase their topic discussion. The crew’s promotion staff were experienced, and within a short time, the official Weibo released a livestream preview.

As soon as the preview message came out, the number of people making appointments for the livestream skyrocketed, directly breaking ten million. Since the broadcast began, there have been new trending posts in the Han River Crossing forum every day, and the discussion level remains high.

#Construction: Han River Crossing Plot Discussion Thread

1L: Poster starts first. I’m a true fan of scriptwriter Song Ling. I saw Song Ling post on Weibo before saying that the character lines in the new script are all intertwined around the second male lead. 2L: Helping to bump this, waiting for the experts’ analysis. 5L: Same as the poster. I remember Song Ling loves writing about the grievances of several generations. The last script wrote about four generations, and the final twist made my scalp go numb. 11L: Song Ling is famous for writing this kind of drama, but to be fair, she really writes brilliantly.

Every time, it makes me scratch my head in anticipation. 26L: Combining the new stills released yesterday and the preview from last Saturday, I suspect that with the evidence and information given by his adoptive father, the male lead has found “hard goods” that can bring down the Wan family after leaving the manor. 34L: Replying to floor 26. In the second episode, didn’t the old Emperor take the Minister of Personnel and the Sixth Prince south with him? There should be a follow-up plot.

65L: The Microscope is here. When I watched the third episode for the second time, I saw a letter from the capital on the second lead’s father’s desk. After magnifying the traditional characters, it mentioned that the Minister of Personnel was just promoted apparently a “new official” who is very good at causing trouble.

This thread grew higher and higher, directly developing into a “thousand-floor thread,” and only settled down when the Friday livestream began.

At 6:00 PM, after the lead actors finished their scenes, they changed out of their costumes to avoid exposing subsequent plots in the livestream. It was now late November, and the weather was gradually turning cold. For tonight’s livestream, the crew had booked a professional livestream room in advance, fully equipped with facilities and more than enough space to accommodate everyone involved.

Xie Ci’s clothes for tonight’s livestream were coordinated by Xiao Ya: a raven-blue, loose chunky-knit sweater. His slightly long hair was also specially styled, making his whole being have a radiant, polished feel. Mo Li and Xiao Ya circled Xie Ci with satisfaction, nodding in approval.

The current Xie Ci, even if there was still a hint of greenness between his brows, already possessed the starlight of an actor. They had a feeling that after Han River Crossing finished airing, Xie Ci’s popularity would definitely double several times.

As Xie Ci’s visual fan and assistant, Xiao Ya had entered the livestream room early through the link Xie Ci reposted, and she also sent a shout-out in the fan group, reminding everyone not to forget to watch.

As soon as seven o’clock arrived and the crew began broadcasting, the actor fans and drama fans all rushed in, enthusiastically saying hello in the bullet comments.

“Hello, to all my husbands and wives, my mouth is going to favor all of your faces!” “Me too, me too!” “Mingyue, Mingyue, this Mommy fan has been converted into a Girlfriend fan by your new drama!” “Wan Yuya’s visuals are too high! A visual-controlled vertical fall into the pit!” “Li Zhaobai’s martial arts scenes have improved; Director Ming’s training wasn’t in vain.”

“Really want to know the next plot. Is the female lead going to be tricked by that old lady? I was so nervous watching last week.” “When is Xiao Xie switching to blackened mode? These few episodes almost made me faint from anger.”

The livestream host looked at the bullet comments with a smile. “Welcome to all our online viewers; everyone present has been submerged by your enthusiasm…”

The host introduced the lead actors one by one, and in a few words, the atmosphere was instantly heated. “Without further ado, let’s invite the audience and our guests to revisit the three drama segments with the most votes!”

A large screen was placed in the livestream room, playing in sync with the visuals seen by the online audience, while the bullet comments sent to the public screen were updated in real-time in the lower right corner.

The sound of pitter-patter raindrops rang out. The segment that received the most votes was exactly the famous scene of Wan Yuya played by Xie Ci appearing in the rain.

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