Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

Chapter 83 of The Pretender airs.

On the evening of September 19, 2015, "The Disguiser" officially premiered on Hunan TV's Golden Eagle Independent Broadcast Theater.

Two hours before the premiere, three of the top ten trending topics on Weibo were related to the drama.

At 8 p.m. sharp, as the opening theme song "Su Zhong Qing" began to play, countless families simultaneously entered the turbulent and unpredictable period of Shanghai's isolation on their television screens, computers, and mobile devices.

The premiere ratings were released the following morning: 1.57% rating and 4.89% market share, ranking first in its time slot.

This data was considered amazing at the time.

It not only easily surpassed all TV dramas airing at the same time, but even approached the viewership performance of some popular variety shows.

Even more astonishingly, this number continues to climb as the series airs.

On the third day, the viewership rating exceeded 2%.

On the seventh day, the viewership rating exceeded 2.5%.

As the plot progressed to episode 15, where Mingtai faced life-or-death challenges and completed his first important mission, the viewership rating steadily climbed to a high of 3%, and the market share exceeded 10%.

Online viewership also exploded. On exclusive streaming platforms, a single episode easily garnered over 100 million views within 24 hours, and the total viewership surpassed 3 billion by the halfway point of the series.

The screen was filled with comments, and whenever there was a key plot point or a highlight performance, the screen was filled with phrases such as "High energy ahead," "Explosive acting," and "Mingtai is so handsome."

But what's even more striking than the data is the almost unanimous and enthusiastic word-of-mouth.

The Douban rating soared to 8.9 within 24 hours of its release, and then stabilized above 9.0.

The short review section quickly accumulated tens of thousands of comments, with five-star reviews accounting for over 80%.

Viewers and critics alike showered the show with praise: "What an amazing drama 'The Disguiser' is! The plot is so gripping I didn't dare go to the bathroom! The entire cast delivered solid performances; not a single one was lacking!"

"I could watch a hundred episodes of the Ming family's daily life! The interactions between the three brothers and the eldest sister are so interesting, with a heartwarming yet tense spy-like feel, the balance is just perfect."

"I originally tuned in for Wang Kai and Jin Dong, but I became a complete fan of Chen Nianbei's Mingtai! This character is so nuanced!"

"From a spoiled young master to a tough special agent, Chen Nianbei brought Mingtai's growth to life!"

The tenacity he displayed in training camp, the breakdown after his first murder, the doting dependence on his older sister, the calm decisiveness during missions—each stage was distinct yet seamlessly integrated!

"Chen Nianbei's action scenes are truly beautiful! Her movements are clean and crisp, her eyes are expressive, and her training duel with Wang Tianfeng made my palms sweat!"

The storyline of "Mingtai and Manli's life-and-death partnership" was so heartbreaking! The poignant, tragic bond between them amidst the chaos of war was beautifully portrayed by Chen Nianbei and Song Yi.

"I have to praise Chen Nianbei's lines! Her voice is excellent, and her emotions are full and varied."

The authoritative tone when reprimanding subordinates, the soft and sweet way when acting cute with the older brother, the cold sarcasm when facing enemies—just listening to the voices is enough to imagine a whole scene.

"I was worried before that he wouldn't be able to get out of the shadow of Prince Jing, but now it seems that was completely unnecessary."

Chen Nianbei proved with Mingtai that he's not just a typecast actor; he's a true chameleon actor!

Reviews from professional film and television media outlets have also been published one after another, and their opinions are remarkably consistent:

The headline of the entertainment section of the Beijing News reads: "The Disguiser: Daylight Entertainment produces another phenomenal hit, Chen Nianbei completes a magnificent transformation."

The article states: "If Prince Jing in 'Nirvana in Fire' made the audience remember the name Chen Nianbei, then Mingtai in 'The Disguiser' officially announced the birth of a new generation leader who combines popularity and strength."

Chen Nianbei, with his astonishing acting skills, brought the highly complex character of Mingtai to life. Even more commendable is that, in scenes with veteran actors such as Wang Kai, Jin Dong, and Liu Yijun, he not only held his own but also displayed dazzling chemistry, creating many classic scenes in the drama.

Film and Television Commentary provides an in-depth analysis: "From Being Chosen to Having the Right to Choose: Chen Nianbei's Path to Becoming an Actor".

The article analyzes: "The success of 'The Disguiser' is a milestone for Chen Nianbei. It means that he is no longer just a young actor favored by Daylight Entertainment" or a beneficiary of a hit drama.

The resounding success of his role as Mingtai proves his ability to handle complex leading roles and deliver both high ratings and critical acclaim. Among the younger generation of male actors, this rare combination of solid acting skills and high popularity will likely earn him priority in top-tier production projects.

On social media, topics related to "Mingtai" consistently topped the charts. Chen Nianbei's Weibo followers surged by nearly 100,000 per day during the series' airing, quickly surpassing the 20 million mark.

Its super topic ranking has surged to the top three of the celebrity list, with its activity level far ahead of the competition.

The three administrators practically live on Weibo.

They organize the production of high-quality drama reviews, edit highlight clips, and create character promotion packages, while also dealing with the influx of new fans. They are extremely busy, but they enjoy it immensely.

The industry's reaction was more direct.

With the series halfway through its run, Chen Nianbei's studio was inundated with calls.

Film scripts, TV series offers, commercial endorsements, variety show invitations—the level has clearly improved. Old Zhao excitedly organized the documents, repeatedly exclaiming, "Nianbei, this is really a success! All of them are A-level or higher productions, and several of the film scripts are of very high quality!"

The co-stars also praised her publicly.

When asked about his experience working with Chen Nianbei during a group interview with the media, Wang Kai smiled and replied, "Nianbei is a very special young man. He is extremely focused on set and well-prepared, but he is not selfish." He is a good listener and absorbs information, and can also provide excellent feedback.

He handled many of our impromptu interactions perfectly, and even managed to throw them back at us. We figured out many details about the brotherhood between Mingtai and Minglou together. His future is limitless.

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Liu Yijun even stated in an interview: "Nianbei is the most surprising young actor I have worked with in recent years. He has an 'old soul' in his acting, but he does not lose the vigor of a young person."

When filming the training camp scenes, he really endured the fighting and gun training, practicing again and again, never uttering a sound even when his body was covered in bruises.

Later, when I watched the final cut, I realized that the intensity in his eyes wasn't acting; it was something he had honed through experience.

Jin Dong posted a group photo of the three Ming brothers on Weibo, with the caption: "Brothers in the play, and brothers in real life too. @Wang Kai @Chen Nianbei, next time we get together, all the drinks are welcome." This Weibo post received hundreds of thousands of likes.

Even director Li Xue privately remarked to Kong Sheng, "Old Kong, you have a really sharp eye. You've sculpted Chen Nianbei like a gem."

Kong Sheng himself remained calm, only saying casually in a phone call with Chen Nianbei: "Mingtai, it's done. But don't get carried away. You know in your heart that there's still a long way to go."

He paused, then added, "The script for that period drama has been almost completely revised by the screenwriter. I'll send you the character biographies to your email."

I'll watch it when I have time, no rush, wait until your "The Disguiser" promotional tour is over.

The increase in commercial value is even more obvious.

Several high-end luxury brands that were still in negotiations quickly finalized their cooperation and upgraded their titles.

Endorsement contracts with national-level consumer brands are pouring in, and endorsement fees are jumping to the top tier.

Fashion magazine cover invitations have shifted from "monthly personalities" to "anniversary issues" or the important "golden September and silver October" periods.

The media began to define him with new terms: "a leading figure among post-90s actors", "a rare resource with both popularity and strength", "the new generation favored by Daylight Entertainment", and "a double guarantee of ratings and word-of-mouth".

When "The Disguiser" had aired for two-thirds of its episodes, a reputable entertainment data agency released a quarterly commercial value ranking, with Chen Nianbei topping the list of new generation male actors, and his comprehensive index even approaching that of some top middle-aged actors.

However, Chen Nianbei, who was at the center of the storm, showed unusual calmness.

He continued to follow the established plan, cooperated with the drama's promotion, accepted necessary interviews, and participated in variety show recordings such as "Happy Camp." He interacted tacitly with the "Ming Family Brothers" on the show, and his jokes were natural, which further boosted the drama's popularity.

But privately, he turned down most of the celebratory banquets and social invitations.

The moment of "The Disguiser" was so dazzling, but he knew it was just a prominent milestone along the way.

An actor's journey always begins with the next role, the next scene, and the next time they fully immerse themselves in "disguise" and "becoming."

He closed the script page, logged into Weibo, and posted a still from the official "The Disguiser" series—Mingtai looking back in the darkness, half his face shrouded in shadow, his eyes complex and unfathomable. The caption was just two words: "Grateful. Moving forward."

Instantly, the comments exceeded ten thousand, and likes poured in.

Meanwhile, on this side of the screen, Chen Nianbei had already gotten up and walked towards the whiteboard in the study that was covered with character notes and performance insights.

New challenges are on the way. What he needs to do is prepare everything.

In early November 2015, on a breezy autumn afternoon, Chen Nianbei was summoned to the Noon Sunshine office by Kong Sheng after a phone call.

The office was filled with the aroma of tea.

Without much small talk, Kong Sheng pushed a heavy folder in front of Chen Nianbei. On the cover were four steady and powerful characters in calligraphy: "Like a Flowing River".

"Take a look," Kong Sheng said succinctly, pouring himself a cup of tea.

Chen Nianbei's heart skipped a beat.

"Like a Flowing River"?

He remembered this phenomenal period drama from his past life, which told the story of pioneers like Song Yunhui, Lei Dongbao, and Yang Xun as they explored and broke through the tides of the times during the early stages of reform and opening up. The drama was later hailed as a "panel of the times," winning numerous awards and receiving widespread acclaim.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and opened the script. The title page contained a project overview and introductions of the main characters. His gaze quickly swept over "Song Yunhui" and "Lei Dongbao," finally settling on the third key character—"Yang Xun."

Starting as a self-employed individual, he began by selling steamed buns and struggled to survive in the cracks of the market. With his quick wit, tenacious will, and even some "slippery" methods, he worked his way up and became one of the first successful private entrepreneurs after the reform and opening up.

This character spans from youth to middle age, has a complex life, and is full of worldly shrewdness, survivalist cunning, and a keen eye for opportunities. He also has a simple and sentimental side and is limited by the times. He is an extremely complex, three-dimensional, and vibrant character.

"Yang Xun?"

Chen Nianbei raised her head and looked at Kong Sheng, her eyes showing both surprise and a gleam of eager anticipation.

This role is completely different from any of his previous roles, whether in terms of background, temperament, or behavioral logic.

This is undoubtedly a huge challenge, but it is also an excellent opportunity for him to hone his acting skills again and completely shed the image of an "idol" or "young master".

Kong Sheng observed his expression and nodded: "Yes, Yang Xun."

We've been working on this script for a long time, striving for perfection in the background, characters, and details.

Of the three main characters, Song Yunhui and Lei Dongbao are "opposite", while Yang Xun is "the most lively" and "the most difficult" to portray.

He possesses a rough-and-tumble spirit, the survival wisdom of an ordinary person, and both the opportunities and flaws bestowed upon him by the great era.

A good performance brings dazzling glory; a bad performance, or a performance that becomes slick, is all over.

He took a sip of tea and continued, "You're the first person I thought of. Mingtai, you acted very well, proving that you can handle complex growth and inner conflicts."

But Yang Xun is a complexity of another dimension. He is more down-to-earth, even a bit rustic and vulgar. You need to completely shed the style of those previous roles and truly immerse yourself in the lives of ordinary people in that era.

Do you have the courage and the ability?

Chen Nianbei's fingers traced the rough cover of the script, feeling its heavy weight. His mind was already racing, figuring out how to capture Yang Xun's essence, how to design his appearance and state at different stages, and how to understand the mentality of individual business owners in that special era.

"Uncle Kong,"

Chen Nianbei raised her head, her gaze clear and firm. "I want to give it a try. I need time to prepare; I might need to experience life."

Seeing that he didn't hesitate or show any fear, but instead immediately entered the creative state of an actor, Kong Sheng's eyes flashed with a gratified smile: "I knew you'd dare to take it on. Take the script back and read it carefully, and come to me anytime if you have any questions."

Experiencing life is a must; the team will coordinate the specific arrangements. However, don't rush to agree; read on first.

This role requires a lot of hardship, and may even "ruin my image."

"I see."

Chen Nianbei solemnly hugged the script to his arms, "Thank you for your trust, Uncle Kong."

Leaving the building bathed in midday sun, the autumn sunlight was just right. Chen Nianbei got into the car but didn't leave immediately.

Instead, I opened the script for "Like a Flowing River" again and jumped directly to the section about Yang Xun's early days selling steamed buns in Northeast China, being bullied but cleverly dealing with the situation. The writing was vivid, bold, and full of the earthy flavor of the land.

In an instant, he was pulled from the spotlight of the recently concluded "The Disguiser" into a completely different, rough yet vibrant era.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Lao Zhao, reporting another top-tier endorsement offer and an audition invitation for a movie by a famous director.

Chen Nianbei quickly glanced at it and replied, "Put everything aside for now and wait for my decision. Also, please help me gather relevant information on individual businesses and township enterprises from the early 1980s, the more detailed the better."

He put down his phone and looked out the window at the bustling streets, his gaze seemingly traveling through time to see the "great river" that flowed ceaselessly through the cracks of the era, carrying both mud and sand.

The brilliance of "The Disguiser" has already been established, and praise and opportunities are pouring in like a tide.

But Chen Nianbei knows that a true actor is always on the road to saying goodbye to the previous success and trekking towards the next unknown and more challenging role.

"Yang Xun—" he murmured the name, a smile full of fighting spirit appearing on his lips.

A new journey has begun with a bang on the opening pages of the script.