Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 99: Si Teng's Influence and the Finally Famous Da Tian Tian

The first episode unfolds gradually.

To fulfill his father's dying wish, Qin Fang took An Man to the place to pay homage to their ancestral benefactor.

Upon arrival, they found that the house they were looking for was no longer inhabited, so they went to a guesthouse to stay.

At this moment, a middle-aged man who called himself Boss Ma appeared. When An Man saw him, her face turned pale instantly, and she looked nervous.

That night, An Man tricked Qin Fang into drinking water laced with sleeping pills, and then went to Boss Ma's room alone.

It turns out that Boss Ma's real name is Zhao Jianglong, and he is An Man's old flame. An Man was once his lover.

Now An Man has fallen in love with Qin Fang and wants to get rid of Zhao Jianglong, but Zhao Jianglong is unwilling to let go, and the two have a fierce conflict.

In the chaos, An Man accidentally stabbed Zhao Jianglong. Panicked, she rushed back to the guesthouse, took the unconscious Qin Fang, and drove away.

However, Zhao Jianglong's men had already set their sights on them. On the mountain road, An Man's car was hit, and the car body was hanging on the edge of a cliff.

The kidnappers dragged An Man out and interrogated her about Zhao Jianglong's goods and the whereabouts of the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead. An Man claimed to know nothing about it.

The kidnappers threatened Qin Fang's life, and An Man had no choice but to lie to them, saying that the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead was in her cabinet. The kidnappers didn't believe her at all and pushed Qin Fang and the car off the cliff.

At this point, the climax of the first episode occurs.

Qin Fang was thrown out of the car, his chest pierced by a sharp wooden splinter. Blood gushed out along the splinter, splashing fine dust on the dry ground, each drop seeping into the bottomless darkness.

Just then, the stone tablet of the Nebula Pavilion on Cangcheng Mountain suddenly trembled violently, cracks spreading like a spider web, emitting a muffled hum. Meanwhile, in the soil below the cliff, Qin Fang's blood was seeping wildly through the roots.

The next second, the ground suddenly bulged up, and countless fluorescent green vines carrying withered leaves and dust burst out of the soil!

"Wow!" the three girls exclaimed in unison.

The vines flowed like liquid jade, with thick main vines rising from the ground. Tender green buds stretched in the night breeze, and fluorescent effects shimmered with a mysterious glow in the twilight, eventually coalescing into the outline of a woman.

Su Qing leaned closer to the screen: "These special effects are amazing!"

"Are all online dramas this competitive now?"

"Could you turn the TV volume down a bit?"

As the last vine gathered into the knotted button of the cheongsam, Jing Tian slowly opened his eyes.

She wore a pearl-white silk satin cheongsam, her hair was as smooth as new, and the dark pattern on the cheongsam was dark green vines, which were exactly the same as the vines breaking through the soil. The silver thread embroidery shone with a cold light in the twilight, like a queen who had just awakened from her slumber.

She raised her hand to brush away the fallen leaves from her shoulder. As her fingertips brushed against the vines, the fluorescent light flowed along her fingertips. Her eyes were as cold as a deep pool, carrying the languor of someone just awakened and an innate domineering aura. She slowly raised her eyes to look at Qin Fang.

"My sister's killing me! That look in her eyes is so cool!"

"Jing Tian looks so good in a cheongsam! The white color makes her look even more fair-skinned and elegant."

"I always felt something was off when I saw her play naive and innocent characters before, but this time her aloofness is amazing, completely different!"

Si Teng walked towards Qin Fang step by step, her high heels making a crisp sound on the cracked ground, and green fluorescence lit up under her feet with each step.

She raised her hand and waved it lightly, and the vines that were binding Qin Fang automatically pulled out the wooden strips, and the fluorescent sap instantly healed his wounds.

Qin Fang retreated in fear, but Si Teng tilted his head slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable pressure: "You are the one who awakened me, and from now on I am your master."

? ? ? ? ?

Su Qing clutched her chest: "Those lines! That aura! I felt sorry for her when she was stabbed to death, but now I just want to call her 'Your Majesty'!"

"It feels so good..."

Zhang Li had already grabbed her phone and started frantically taking screenshots: "This scene has to be posted on WeChat Moments! Jing Tian's appearance in that cheongsam completely erased all my previous complaints!"

……

At one o'clock in the morning, Jiang Ye's phone was still vibrating incessantly.

He was leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, leisurely sipping his coffee.

The lights of Yanjing City outside the window were still on, and a deep red "hot" character followed the trending topic #Sito's first broadcast# on Weibo.

"Boss!" Bai Lu rushed in with light steps, clutching a tablet tightly in her hand, her excitement barely contained. "Just five hours after the premiere, the number of views has already exceeded 7000 million! The comments are practically crashing the server!"

She handed the tablet to Jiang Ye, where the real-time data was still rapidly increasing: "Tencent Video just sent a message saying that at this rate, 100 million views in 24 hours is definitely a sure thing! This popularity is almost double what we predicted!"

Jiang Ye took a sip of coffee and glanced at the densely packed trending search terms on the tablet.

#Jingtian Cheongsam Styling#
#Si Teng Vine Effects#
#Director Jiang Ye's Aesthetics#
How has the audience feedback been?

"It's all praise!" Bai Lu scrolled through the comments section, speaking rapidly. "They said Jing Tian's cheongsam was amazing, the special effects of the vine awakening scene were hailed as the pinnacle of domestic fantasy, and some people even compared the shots of your filming of 'Princess Promotion' last year, saying that your aesthetic sense has evolved into a human camera this year!"

She paused, then suddenly leaned closer and lowered her voice: "The platform just called and asked if they could get priority for the sequel rights to 'Sito,' and they even said... they'd negotiate even if the budget doubled."

Jiang Ye put down his coffee cup, swiped his finger across his phone screen, and happened to see the WeChat Moments post that Da Tian Tian had just made.

The girl was clearly excited...

A selfie in a cheongsam, captioned: Tonight, be your own queen.

Jiang Ye gave her a thumbs up, then turned to Bai Lu and said, "Go order some late-night snacks, add a chicken leg, and celebrate the success of the special effects and costume teams."

The night breeze outside the window carried the city's hustle and bustle in, the phone continued to vibrate, and the discussion about "Sito" was just beginning to heat up.

……

Yunnan Pudacuo National Park

At six o'clock in the morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, a long queue stretching for a kilometer had already formed at the entrance of Pudacuo National Park.

The morning dew dampened the stone steps, but it did not dampen the excitement of the crowd. The rising and falling discussions, mixed with the clicking of camera shutters, made the quiet mountain forest lively and bustling.

Security guard Lao Li, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, shook his head as he looked at the massive crowd in front of him.

He spat into his palm, rubbed his frozen hands vigorously, and complained to his colleague Lao Zhang, who was registering tourist information next to him, "How many batches is this? Ever since that 'Sito' started airing, it's been like a bustling market here, busy from dawn till dusk every day."

He pointed to the front of the line, where several girls in moon-white cheongsams were adjusting each other's skirts. Their calves, exposed by the slits in their cheongsams, were red from the cold, yet they were still tiptoeing and peering into the park.

“Look at these young girls, all dressed up like they’re from a painting, just to take a picture in front of that Blood Sacrifice Tree. Yesterday, one girl even got her high heel stuck in a crevice and cried out for Si Teng to save her. It made me laugh so hard.”

Without looking up, Old Zhang ticked off the registration form: "The leaders even specially moved that old vine tree from the back mountain to the viewing platform, built a wooden walkway, and installed spotlights overnight, saying that they wanted to recreate the famous scene of Si Teng waking up. They didn't seem to mind the trouble!"

"What do you know?" Old Li took a drag of his cigarette, his eyes squinting through the swirling smoke. "Not moving them out? Do you think these girls in cheongsams can climb up that path on the back mountain? Besides..."

He gestured towards the depths of the park, "Yesterday, the people from the Culture and Tourism Bureau came to do the statistics, and this week's ticket revenue alone is equivalent to half a year's last year. This tree is now our cash cow!"

Not far away, a girl with her hair in a bun excitedly grabbed her best friend's hand: "Look, look! It's that tree! Qin Fang's blood dripped here in the drama!"

She pointed to an ancient tree protected by a fence in front of her, her eyes shining.

My best friend, holding a selfie stick, exclaimed, "My God, how can you even tell this is a tree anymore? It's been touched so much the bark is practically rubbed off!" She continued, "I can't even tell it's a tree anymore! It's been touched so much the bark is almost bald!"

She sighed helplessly, "But I'll do my best to get this posted on WeChat Moments!"

The staff at the scenic area were extremely busy, and the number of tourists queuing at the ticket windows continued to increase.

The tour guide, waving a small flag, shouted at the top of his lungs, "Tourists on a day trip to the filming location of 'Sito,' please follow me!"

Before he finished speaking, dozens of young people swarmed around him.

The atmosphere in the conference room of the Huacheng Culture and Tourism Bureau was both excited and tense.

“The data is out,” the deputy director tapped the projector, and the latest statistical charts appeared on the screen. “One week after the premiere of ‘Sito,’ the number of tourists to Pudacuo National Park increased by 280% year-on-year, the occupancy rate of surrounding hotels reached 98%, and some guesthouses have even been booked up for three months in advance.”

The director rubbed his temples, feeling both relieved and troubled: "This surge in popularity came too suddenly; our reception capacity is almost insufficient to keep up."

He turned to the head of the publicity department and said, "Quickly contact the production team to see if we can collaborate on a Fujii-themed tourist route."

The head of the publicity department shook his head with a wry smile: "We've already contacted them, but Director Jiang Ye said they're fully focused on preparing for the second season and can't spare any manpower for the time being."

"Then let's do it ourselves!" The director slammed his hand on the table and made a decisive decision. "Find a few professional cosplayers to recreate the looks of Si Teng and Qin Fang. Also, get some custom-made vine props to recreate some classic scenes from the show."

He paused, then added, "By the way, that Blood Sacrifice Tree needs a sturdier railing installed, and we need to assign someone to guard it, so that tourists don't actually touch it until it's bald!" Everyone in the meeting room nodded in agreement, and someone whispered, "That's great, Yunnan tourism is going to be a hit again."

……

Deep in the alleys of Suzhou's ancient city, an old house with a wooden sign that reads "Suzhou Embroidery Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base" is deserted year-round.

Sixty-eight-year-old inheritor Chen Yufang is used to this tranquility. Every day, she sits in front of her embroidery frame all day long, taking advantage of the daylight.

"Master, we've only taken three orders this month."

The young apprentice always looked somewhat worried when he handed over the account book.

Chen Yufang just smiled, her fingertips tracing the unfinished intertwined branches pattern on the embroidery frame: "What's the rush? The craftsmanship of our ancestors must be preserved by someone."

The turning point occurred one morning during the filming of "Sito".

Just as Chen Yufang set up her embroidery frame, the wooden door was pounded on.

A young man, covered in sweat, stood outside the door: "Teacher Chen! I'm from the 'Rattan' production team. Director Jiang asked me to ask if you can replicate the rattan embroidery on the costumes."

The days that followed felt like a dream.

First, the production crew sent over moon-white satin fabric and costume designs, and later the TV station came with cameras to film a documentary.

What surprised Chen Yufang the most was that one Sunday morning, a long queue formed at her studio.

"Teacher Chen! I saw the vine pattern you embroidered in the drama!" The girl in Hanfu gestured excitedly. "It's the silver thread on the collar when Si Teng turns around in the bamboo forest."

Only then did Chen Yufang realize that the vine pattern she had been embroidering for fifty years was now being displayed on the screens of millions of viewers.

She took out her reading glasses and replayed the video more than a dozen times in front of the camera.

It is indeed her original "silk embroidery," with vines outlined using eight shades of silver thread, which changes luster with the light under the lens.

"Sir, our order book is full until next Mid-Autumn Festival!"

The young apprentice held the thick registration book, his voice trembling.

The courtyard was packed with customers waiting to have their measurements taken; some even brought their bedding and said they would queue overnight.

As Chen Yufang gazed at the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, she suddenly remembered her master's dying words: "Yufang, the soul of Suzhou embroidery lies in the word 'slow'."

Now that this slow-paced skill has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight, she feels somewhat lost.

“Tell the new guests,” she finally locked the most precious silk thread into the camphor wood box, “that machine-embroidered items can be picked up in a week, while hand-embroidered ones…” She paused, “must be done according to the old rules, stitch by stitch.”

As dusk fell, the bluestone slabs of the old street reflected the setting sun.

On Chen Yufang's embroidery frame, newly emerging vine patterns are spreading along the warp and weft.

Among the crowd queuing outside, someone placed a bunch of white magnolias, and their fragrance, mixed with the chatter of the crowd, drifted in through the window.

"I heard this takes three months to embroider?"

"Just wait, good things come to those who wait."

"But I won't have time to wear it for my wedding!"

"You're not getting married once, maybe next time!"

"?????"

……

The Great Wall crew

Jing Tian had just finished filming an action scene, and before he had even taken off his wire harness, beads of sweat were sliding down his face.

She took the water her assistant handed her, sipped it slowly, and felt a burning pain in her throat.

This scene has already been reshot seven times; Director Zhang's requirements for the precision of the movements are almost demanding.

"Sweet!"

Zhao Shanshan strode over in her high heels, holding a stack of documents in her hand, her face beaming with undisguised excitement.

Jing Tian looked up, somewhat surprised: "Sister Shanshan? What brings you here?"

Zhao Shanshan didn't rush to answer. Instead, she looked around the set to make sure no one was paying attention before lowering her voice and asking, "Do you know how many followers you've gained on Weibo?"

Jing Tian was taken aback: "...How much?"

"1100 million!" Zhao Shanshan's eyes lit up. "Just this week! 'Si Teng' has only aired 8 episodes!"

"Sito" airs one episode daily, and two episodes on Saturdays.

This broadcasting method is also a way for the platform to extend the lifespan of a drama series.

Jing Tian's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the water bottle, water droplets sliding down the bottle and wetting the cuffs of his costume.

1100 million!
Just a week ago, she had 800 million followers.

In just seven days, it increased by 300 million.

More importantly, these 8 million followers are the result of nine years of hard work since her debut in 2006, and some of them were even purchased...

“It’s not just Weibo,” Zhao Shanshan said, flipping through the documents in her hand, “Dior, Lancôme, Bulgari… they’re all asking about my availability, and my endorsement fee has tripled.”

She paused, then added, "I also have three cover offers from top-tier magazines, all for solo appearances."

Jing Tian didn't speak, but just looked down at his hands.

These hands have acted in many films, wielded many swords, and endured much criticism.

She once thought that she might never get a truly recognized work.

She's been in the industry for nine years!

Starting with their first EP, "Who Are You," released in 2006, the songs were written by Zhang Yadong and the music videos were directed by Ning Hao.

I bet a lot of people have heard of it...

Then he made his first film, *Anaconda*, which received a 3.3 rating on Douban…

Later, when he filmed the movie "The Warring States", he was criticized as a "resource-backed actor" and for his "disastrous acting skills"...

Along the way, all I've encountered is ridicule and denial.

But now, "Sito" has become a hit.

The first time she saw a screen full of comments wasn't "Jing Tian, ​​get out of the entertainment industry," but rather "Queen, kill me!" and "Lord Si Teng, please step on me!"

"Sweetie?" Zhao Shanshan gently touched her shoulder when she saw her lost in thought. "Are you alright?"

Jing Tian raised his head, a slight smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were red-rimmed: "Sister Shan, I think... I'm really red?"

Zhao Shanshan laughed, and this time she didn't lower her voice: "It's not just a guess, it's definitely true."

In the distance, Director Zhang was calling out, "Get ready for the next scene!"

Jing Tian took a deep breath, handed the water bottle to his assistant, and stood up to straighten his costume.

She suddenly remembered that a few years ago, when she was filming "The Warring States", a reporter asked her, "Why do you think the audience doesn't like your movies?"

She couldn't answer at the time.

Now, it seems she finally has an answer.

It's not that the audience doesn't like her, but that she has finally found a role that truly suits her.

And a director who understands her!

Jiang Ye, how can I thank you enough?
(End of this chapter)