Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 97: Shito's release date announcement and Oda's decision to stay at Eno's house.

On the morning of July 18, Jing Tian updated his Weibo with a photo right on time.

She didn't show her face, only her back as she stood on the mossy stone steps. The hem of her moon-white cheongsam was lifted by the wind, and the silver threads along the edge of her dark green shawl shimmered in the morning light. Vines at her feet seemed to have spread from nowhere and wrapped around her heels.

The caption was only one sentence.

"Wisteria grows deep in the mountains, and she lives among us. See you in August."

The comment section instantly exploded.

"This cheongsam is absolutely stunning! The waist-to-hip ratio is incredible!"

"Da Tian Tian? This figure looks like her from behind, but the style is completely different..."

"What does 'vines' mean? Is the new drama a fantasy genre?"
"I know, I know, is it Sito who's done filming?"

In less than two hours, thanks to the team's efforts, the hashtag #WhoIsTheMysteriousWomanInTheCheongsam# climbed to 12th place on the trending topics list, with the topic garnering over 6000 million views.

Some people pointed out that the subtle pattern on the cheongsam collar was a vine, some guessed it was a period drama set in the Republican era, and others dug up photos of Jiang Ye filming in Yunnan recently, piecing together a plot of "fantasy + Republican era".

The promotion of Jiang Ye's new drama thus began with suspense.

Three days later, a 30-second behind-the-scenes video was simultaneously released on Weibo and the homepage of Tencent Video.

In the footage, the morning mist of Shangri-La drifts through the forest, while in Dali, under the blue tiles and white walls, staff members are wrapping an ancient tree with artificial vines.

Jiang Ye's voice-over is tinged with laughter: "We traveled to five cities just so that her cheongsam could be touched by the real mountain breeze."

The ending shot focuses on a dark red cheongsam hanging on a clothes rack. As the camera zooms out, the faint characters "Si Teng" are revealed on a stone tablet next to the rack.

Wow, is filming for "Sito" finished yet? I've been waiting for so long!

"Shot on location! That alone makes it a hundred times better than green-screen dramas!"

"Can you show more of Jing Tian's cheongsam looks? I'm getting impatient just seeing her from behind!"

On Weibo, the short film garnered over 5000 million views in three days, with countless netizens urging for more close-up shots in the comments section.

The number of searches for "Yunnan Tourism" on Baidu increased by 30% month-on-month. Some travel agencies even launched overnight tours to explore the filming locations of "Sito". The comments section was full of messages saying "I want to see the forest that Sito walked through".

In late July, Harper's Bazaar's digital edition suddenly released a set of photos themed "The Language of the Republic of China".

Jing Tian appeared on the cover wearing three different cheongsams from the drama. In one, she wore a moon-white cheongsam with a silver hairpin with a rattan pattern while standing under an ancient tree. In another, she wore a dark red cheongsam with morning dew on it while leaning against a stone tablet. The accompanying text read:

"She came from the Republic of China era, growing with vines."

In the interview inside the magazine, Jiang Ye revealed for the first time: "Every cheongsam by Si Teng has a hidden meaning. Moon white is the purity of awakening, dark green is the sharpness of entering the world, and dark red is the explosion of grudges."

This series of photos was widely shared by fashion bloggers, and the hashtag #JingTianMingQipaoPhotoshoot# quickly became a trending topic, with the digital version of the magazine also exceeding one million views in a single day.

On August 1st, Tencent Video officially announced the release date.

"Sito" will be exclusively launched online on August 18.

What followed was Jing Tian and Jiang Ye's "Qipao Blind Box" live stream on the Tencent Live platform.

In front of the camera, Jing Tian first put on a moon-white cheongsam, raised her hand and twirled around, the silver threads of her shawl rustling: "This is what Si Teng wore when she first woke up. The director said she had to portray an air of nobility that was cold to the bone."

Then she changed into a dark green embroidered version, her fingertips tracing the vine pattern on the neckline: "This is the one she wore in the city. The embroidery should be dense to give it a sense of strength."

When she finally changed into the dark red cheongsam, she deliberately turned to the side, her eyes filled with the coldness of her character: "This one... is for a grand occasion."

The live stream chat was flooded with comments like a waterfall, scrolling so fast that the words were almost impossible to read.

"My sister is killing me! The moment she twirled in that cheongsam was breathtakingly beautiful!"

"Jing Tian actually did a live stream? This is the first time I've seen her so down-to-earth, even talking about filming details!"

Wow, Director Jiang seems to have gotten even more handsome?

"Director Jiang, when will you be starring in one of your own films?"

"I agree with the comment above, it's great and I love watching it!"

"Finally, we can see her face! Her aura is amazing, completely different from her previous sweet style!"

"I want the same one! This cheongsam is so beautiful!"

The peak number of online viewers exceeded one million. After the live broadcast ended, the hashtag #JingTianNewDramaQipaoStyle# exploded on Weibo, reaching third place on the trending topics in less than three hours, with over 8000 million discussions.

On Taobao, several time-honored qipao shops launched pre-sales of the same style worn by Si Teng overnight. The product details page described it as a moon-white Suzhou embroidery qipao, which recreated the cool and aloof feeling in the drama. In just one day, thousands of pieces were sold.

Offline promotions were equally enthusiastic.

Starting August 5th, the "Vine Language Exhibition" was set up in Wanda Golden Street in Beijing and Shanghai.

Artificial vines entwine the stone tablet, and ten qipaos from the drama hang in a temperature-controlled glass cabinet. Light shines from the side, casting dappled shadows on the wall from the embroidery patterns.

The signboard displayed Si Teng's line: "After all these decades, finally someone dares to touch my things."

The organizers also set up a "cheongsam experience area," providing retro cheongsams for passersby to try on and take photos. Long lines of girls wearing cheongsams lined up to take pictures, and social media was filled with nine-grid photos of people "pretending to be Si Teng." The hashtag #SiTengPopMomentIsSoRealistic# became a frequent trending topic in the city, and even elderly people passing by couldn't help but stop and watch.
"Are they giving out eggs here? It's so lively!"

On August 10, the final trailer for "Sito" was released.

Unlike the previous ink-wash style, this time a large number of clips from the main film have been added: vines sprout from the ground as Si Teng waves his sleeves, Qin Fang turns around in fright in the rainstorm, and old photos from the Republic of China era are interspersed with scenes of modern cities.

In the final scene, Jing Tian, ​​dressed in a dark red cheongsam, stands on a rooftop, overlooking the city's night view, her voice hoarse and cold: "It's time for reckoning."

After the trailer was released, the number of reservations on Tencent Video increased by another 500,000 in a single day, and the number of people in the "Sito Group" on Douban exceeded 50,000. Someone started a thread to "predict the rating of the broadcast", and the comments below were full of "I want to give it five stars just by watching the trailer".

A week before the premiere, Jiang Ye and several lead actors participated in the recording of "Happy Camp".

During the show, the group played a game of "Qipao knowledge quiz". Jing Tian said with a smile, "The biggest gain from filming this drama is learning how to walk in a qipao. If the slit is too high, you will expose yourself if you take big steps."

Jiang Ye revealed: "In one scene, vines wrapped around the ankles. Actually, we used wires to suspend heavy objects. Jing Tian was afraid of hurting the other actors, so he repeatedly told us to loosen it a little."

This behind-the-scenes footage was edited into a short video after the show aired, and it was forwarded over 100,000 times on Weibo. Many passersby commented, "So Jing Tian is this serious about filming."

On the eve of its premiere on August 18, the homepage of Tencent Video was covered with posters featuring a woman in a white cheongsam, and the number of pre-registrations ultimately reached 487 million.

On Weibo, the hashtag #Sito premieres tomorrow# has already reached the top of the trending searches, with netizens counting down in the comments section: "Finally, we're going to see Sister Teng online!"

This "vine" that began to spread in July is finally about to bloom, much to the delight of the audience.

……

G102 train on August 18

At 7:15 a.m., the high-speed train passed through the morning mist. Tian Xi leaned against the window, her fingers flying across the screen of her phone.

She wore a high ponytail, and her light blue denim overalls made her skin look fair and delicate. The Shiba Inu print on her white T-shirt swayed with her movements, making her look like a vibrant little sun.

"Xiaoman! Look, look!"

She suddenly held up her phone and shoved it in front of Lin Xiaoman. "I've made a three-page guide to Beijing! We have to try the sugar paintings in Nanluoguxiang, the pea flour cakes in Huguosi, and that fried noodles place in the alley that supposedly has a two-hour wait!"

Lin Xiaoman, with a lollipop in her mouth and her double buns bobbing gently with the swaying of the high-speed train, lazily raised her eyes upon hearing this: "Eating comes second. The main thing is how to trick my brother. This time in Yanjing, I have to make him bleed a lot."

Tian Xiwei immediately sat up straight, her little brows furrowing into a puff of furrowed brows: "How are you going to rip me off? Jiang Ye works so hard to earn money..."

"Pshaw, isn't he making money so I can spend it?"

Lin Xiaoman waved her paw and smiled like a little fox, "I've got it all figured out, accommodation has to be arranged! How about a five-star hotel? If not, I'll have my brother book a presidential suite, the kind with a jacuzzi!"

"No way!" Tian Xiwei raised her voice instantly, her cheeks flushed with anxiety, and reached out to cover her mouth. "Lin Xiaoman, how can you be so wasteful of money! The presidential suite is so expensive! Does your brother's money grow on trees?" A flight attendant pushed a food cart past, and the two quickly lowered their voices. Tian Xiwei even secretly stuck out her tongue.

Lin Xiaoman pried her hands off and muttered, "Then how about a five-star hotel instead of a presidential suite? You can't expect us to stay in a cheap motel, can you?"

"Stay at Eno's house!"

Tian Xiwei blinked matter-of-factly and poked her arm with her finger. "Your brother is studying in Yanjing, doesn't he rent a place? His family must have a guest room, right? It's so convenient to stay at home, and it saves money!"

"Stay at my brother's house?" Lin Xiaoman raised an eyebrow and grinned mischievously, leaning close to her ear and saying, "Then if you try to sneak into his room tonight... don't say it was my idea, okay?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Tian Xiwei instantly exploded. "Lin Xiaoman, what's going on in your head? Have you forgotten our plan?"

"I remember, didn't you not want to break up?"

"I'm willing now!"

"Then I'll help you!"

"Yes, there's still a year left. My three-year agreement with your brother will be up soon!"

"What's the matter?"

"A three-year promise! You didn't know that, did you? Your brother hasn't dated for three years, waiting for me to get into the Beijing Film Academy!"

"That's so romantic? What if you don't pass the exam?"

Tian Xiwei: "???"

"Lin Xiaoman, why don't you just die!"

……

At noon, the two stood downstairs at the Film Creation Building, looking up at the towering glass curtain wall building.

Lin Xiaoman spread her arms wide exaggeratedly: "Wow! My company is so big!"

Tian Xiwei immediately corrected, "What do you mean 'your company'! This is Jiang Ye's company! What does it have to do with you!"

Lin Xiaoman shook her head smugly: "How can it not be related? Jiang Ye is my brother, what's his is mine!"

Tian Xiwei put her hands on her hips and said, "Nonsense! After Jiang Ye and I get married, this company will be mine!"

Lin Xiaoman: "Oh my, you're even talking about getting married in the future? Has my brother even acknowledged it?"

Tian Xiwei pouted angrily: "How dare he deny it!"

The two girls bickered all the way into the building and headed straight for the front desk.

The receptionist was busy organizing documents when she looked up and saw two young women with backpacks. She immediately gave them her standard smile: "Hello, do you have an appointment?"

Just as Lin Xiaoman was about to give her brother's name, a head suddenly popped out from the side.

Bai Lu was sitting at the front desk, carrying a large bag of snacks. He was wearing a casual T-shirt and jeans, with his baseball cap pulled low, and a potato chip dangling from his mouth.

Who are you looking for?

She asked vaguely while chewing on potato chips, her eyes darting between the two of them before landing on Lin Xiaoman's double buns. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Huh? I think I've seen you on President Jiang's phone before... Are you Director Jiang's sister?"

Lin Xiaoman's eyes lit up: "You know my brother?"

"How could you look at Jiang Ye's phone?"

The two of them have completely different concerns...

“It’s more than just knowing each other,” Bai Lu swallowed a potato chip and glanced at Tian Xiwei with a strange look. “I’m Bai Lu from the company’s artist department, and I’m also President Jiang’s assistant!”

She smiled and gestured slightly with her chin towards Tian Xi, "Is this your friend?"

"Her name is Tian Xiwei, and she's my best friend!" Lin Xiaoman put her arm around Tian Xiwei's shoulder and deliberately raised her voice, "She came all the way from our hometown to check on my brother's work!"

Tian Xiwei's face flushed red, and she quickly waved her hands, "No! I just... I just came to have fun!"

"You're Tian Xiwei?"

Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up, and two blushes immediately appeared on her cheeks: "Sister knows me?"

The document in Bai Lu's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and the corner of her mouth twitched uncontrollably twice.

Know? More than just know! This girl is practically driving their boss crazy...

It all started with that damned delivery last month.

That day, Bailu was busy organizing reports when the receptionist suddenly asked her to sign for a package.

Upon opening the package: bright red, strangely flavored broad beans, glistening oily shredded beef, and a packet of Hechuan peach slices labeled "Symbol of Wisdom".

The sender's name was clearly written as "Tian Xiwei," and the remarks section even specially noted: Jiang Ye's special brain-boosting package.

"Boss! Your love package has arrived~" Bai Lu tossed the package to Jiang Ye with a grin.

Jiang Ye was busy with the post-production of "Sito" at the time, and his eyes lit up when he saw the local specialties from his hometown.

They immediately opened the peach slices and distributed them to the whole group; even the cleaning lady received two slices.

Bai Lu remembers it very clearly: the eldest brother, chewing on shredded beef, mumbled, "This little girl is quite thoughtful."

The next morning, Jiang Ye's WeChat exploded with messages.

Tian Tianquan: Brother Jiangye~ Is the local specialty delicious? ()
Tian Tianquan: That broad bean was bought from a time-honored brand in Ciqikou, Chongqing, after queuing for two hours.

Tian's Donuts: The Lantern Shadow Beef is a limited edition of Zhang Fei Beef.

Tian's Sweet Cubes: Peach slices are one of the three delicacies of Hechuan.

Jiang Ye: Hmm, it's pretty good.

Tian Tianquan: Then... how about reimbursing me? (ω)
Tian's Donuts: Total 3136 yuan, WeChat or Alipay?
"Holy crap?!" Jiang Ye's shout startled everyone in the editing room next door.

Bai Lu watched as her boss held his phone, his expression shifting from shock to distorted disbelief, and finally to utter despair.

Most importantly, those brain-boosting packages have already been snapped up, and even the packaging bags were sold as scrap by the cleaning lady!
Jiang Ye typed through gritted teeth: "You call this a local specialty? This is gold, isn't it?"

Tian's Donuts: (；′⌒`) They're all bought by queuing up.
Tian Donut: If you're not going to pay me, give my things back... The address is...

Jiangye's clam shell is sealed!

The food was eaten and couldn't be returned; the money wasn't much to him, but how could he possibly give it back...?

Don't you even bother to find out if he's ever spent money on a girl in all this time you've been out there?
nonexistent……

For the next two weeks, he received a greeting on WeChat every day without fail:
"Good morning, Brother Jiangye~ Can I get reimbursed today?"

"Has Jiangye-gege had lunch yet? Remember my number 3136~"

Goodnight~ Remember to send me money in your dreams~

"Sister?" Tian Xi tilted her head slightly, pulling Bai Lu back to reality.

Bai Lu took a deep breath and gave a professional fake smile: "Miss Tian, ​​right? President Jiang is in a meeting, would you like to wait a moment?"

"Ok!"

(End of this chapter)