The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

On the morning of May 8th, as the first rays of dawn illuminated the city of Beijing, the internet was already buzzing with excitement.

There was no deliberate official guidance, no overwhelming marketing rhetoric, and no mechanical copying and pasting by online trolls.

Yes, it is "tap water" in the true sense.

At 7:10 a.m., the Weibo operators, rubbing their sleepy eyes, were completely dumbfounded when they saw the real-time rankings.

Among the top twenty, several topics related to "The Journey of Flower" were prominently displayed, and their popularity was still rising at an astonishing rate.

[#The Journey of Flower's premiere surpasses 100 million views on both platforms#]

[#The Journey of Flower premiered with a 1.5% viewership rating]

[#XiaoGu is so cute#]

[#Bai Zihua's gaze is so expressive#]

[#The sense of destiny between Shen Mo and Li Yitong is amazing#]

[#It seems like there's hope for Chinese fantasy dramas#]

"Last night...I don't recall anyone using Twitter?"

One editor asked a colleague, bewildered, "Who pushed this up? No, wait, this kind of buzz can't be bought..."

The veteran employee glanced at the rapidly fluctuating search volume, original discussion count, and real user interaction data in the backend and gasped.

"This wasn't bought...it's pure tap water."

"A phenomenal discussion."

"So, we... got ripped off?"

The comment section has long been flooded with comments expressing strong approval and admiration.

"I am now a woman ruined by Shen Mo, thank you."

"I'm absolutely captivated by Yitong's smile!"

"Shen Mo turned around and looked back, and I was gone. The ceiling felt cold and shattered!"

"I was wrong. I said before that the fantasy genre was dead, but now 'The Journey of Flower' has dug up my grave and made me sit up and watch!"

"I always thought it was just marketing, but it turns out it's ridiculously good."

At 9 a.m., "The Journey of Flower" was released on Douban and, after more than 50,000 reviews, it has steadily maintained a score of 8.5.

This number is astonishing in recent years for domestically produced dramas.

Open the drama review section, and among the top ten most popular comments, eight are lengthy articles of over a thousand words.

It praises the script adaptation, character development, acting skills, costume and prop aesthetics, special effects, and even the soundtrack and atmosphere creation from all angles.

"Shen Mo's portrayal of Bai Zihua perfectly captures the aloofness and forbearance of a Xianxia master; his subtle expressions and eye acting are enough to make him a legend."

"Li Yitong is a very talented girl; she is the embodiment of Xiao Gu."

"The pacing is brisk, and the world-building and main storyline are laid out in the first episode without any dragging, respecting the audience's intelligence."

"The special effects are finally not cheap plastic lights anymore. The combination of real set construction and CG shows that money was spent and effort was put in."

"I was already hooked from the very first episode, what more could I ask for!"

The only highly upvoted "criticism" was: "The biggest flaw: Why?! Only two episodes! Even the donkeys in the production team wouldn't dare rest like that! How can you sleep?!"

Simultaneously with the online frenzy, the offline business world experienced a frenzied upheaval.

Before the employees of Mohen Media's business department even arrived at their workstations, their work phones and landlines were already ringing off the hook with calls.

The caller ID showed calls from various brands, GG distributors, merchandise development companies, and even previously ambiguous front-line magazines.

"We want Shen Mo and Li Yitong as our joint spokespersons! Budget is no problem as long as they team up!"

"We need to obtain authorization for the hairpins used in the show!"

Can Bai Zihua's sword be sold as merchandise?

"Could we arrange an interview? Just a casual chat, and maybe I can show you my character's look from the show!"

"We're launching new products next week, could you two teachers record an ID video? The price is negotiable!"

Chen Zhixi hurriedly walked into the company in her high heels. Before she could even put down her bag, she was surrounded by several business managers with bright eyes at the elevator entrance.

As she listened to the cacophony of reports, her eyes went from shock to bewilderment, and finally, only exhaustion remained.

"I know... I know it's blown up... Everyone, can I go upstairs for a drink of water and catch my breath? The contract won't grow legs and run away..."

This shockwave also radiated powerfully into the entertainment industry.

The morning meetings of several film and television companies have coincidentally turned into seminars on "The Journey of Flower".

"Let's take stock of the fantasy IPs we have!"

"We need to compile the contact information for the art and special effects teams of 'The Journey of Flower' so we can use it in our next project!"

"We need to reassess our existing Xianxia (fantasy/martial arts) projects, identifying which IP rights are suitable for adaptation!"

"Let's contact Mohen and sound them out—is there any possibility of co-developing or investing in our show?"

10:00 AM, Yu Zheng Studio.

The atmosphere inside the office was completely different from the bustling activity outside; it was heavy and oppressive.

Yu Zheng sat behind his large desk, the screen displaying the glaringly trending search list.

The name of "Legend of Lu Zhen" hangs alone outside the top 30, and its popularity is not even a fraction of that of "The Journey of Flower".

The assistant cautiously pushed the door open and came in, carrying several newly drafted promotional plans.

"Mr. Yu, what do you think...? Should we take advantage of this morning to release a set of high-definition stills from 'Lu Zhen,' or some behind-the-scenes footage of the main characters? That could generate some buzz..."

"hair?"

Yu Zheng's voice was dry and hoarse, carrying a suppressed anger.

"What's the point of posting now? Who would even see it? Posting it now wouldn't even make a ripple!"

He pointed at the screen, his fingers trembling slightly from the force.

"Keep quiet for now!"

"Gather the public relations department! Prepare for a meeting now!"

However, the cruelty of the market will not stop just because one side remains silent.

Starting at 10:30 a.m., several comparative articles with peculiar angles, seemingly "spontaneous" from the audience but actually with a clear direction, began to circulate on various entertainment forums and information platforms.

[Review of the First Battle Between Two Channels: Tomato's "The Journey of Flower" Explodes in Both Critical Acclaim and Popularity, Mango's "Legend of Lu Zhen" Remains Steady but Seems Somewhat Flat]

[Will 2013 mark a turning point for historical dramas? "The Journey of Flower" ushers in a new era of fantasy romance, while "Legend of Lu Zhen" holds firm to its historical legend roots]

One navigates the treacherous waters of the imperial court, each turn revealing a completely different world. The other is swept away by a love triangle that shakes the very foundations of life—which path of female growth do you admire more?

[My Love from the Star 2.0? A Second Collision of Yu Zheng Manufacturing and Ink Mark Mode]

These articles, seemingly objective analyses, are actually all about comparisons and denigration.

By comparing data, stills, and excerpts from audience comments, the show subtly creates a sense of "change between old and new" and "dimensional dominance."

They did not directly belittle "Legend of Lu Zhen," but highlighted "The Journey of Flower's" "innovation," "subversion," and "emotional impact" in every aspect.

It doesn't directly belittle the content produced by Yu Zheng Studio, but it reveals everywhere that Yu Zheng's productions have been declining and are not favored by the market.

Sitting in the conference room, Yu Zheng looked at the increasing number of "comparison posts" and his expression grew increasingly grim.

He could tell at a glance that this was Shen Mo's counterattack, a retaliation against his previous attack on "My Love from the Star".

I thought it was all in the past, and that he was a very magnanimous person. I never expected him to be so petty!

"You saw everything?"

He took off his glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with a cloth, a gesture that only made him appear more gloomy.

"The Journey of Flower achieved great success, and I should have generously congratulated them."

A mocking smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but his tone abruptly changed.

"But! Look at what's going on online these days!"

"The implication is that they're using our 'Lu Zhen' series as a stepping stone to climb higher!"

"They want to turn our months of hard work into 'outdated goods' and 'backdrop material' overnight!"

He suddenly stood up, slamming his hands on the edge of the heavy solid wood table with a "bang," his small eyes behind his glasses sweeping over the crowd like a hawk's.

"Are you going to admit defeat?"

"Let Shen Mo and his ink marks just swagger around on our necks like this, telling the whole industry, 'I, Yu Zheng, am finished, my methods are outdated?'"

Zhang Shi, the deputy director in charge of publicity, felt the pressure in those eyes and, gritting his teeth, was the first to speak.

"Mr. Yu, please don't get angry. These articles that are trying to put people down are clearly just the other side trying to ride the wave of public attention and create confusion."

"Since its premiere, 'Lu Zhen' has maintained a stable viewership rating of over 1.2%, received positive feedback from its core audience, and received a 7.8 rating on Douban, so its reputation has not collapsed."

"It's just that the buzz surrounding 'The Journey of Flower' has temporarily overshadowed it."

He paused, seemingly encouraging himself and everyone else present.

"We can also generate buzz."

"Besides, Shen Mo's influence in the capital circle is useless against us since we're not a listed company."

"Moreover, in the field of television broadcasting, retaining viewers ultimately depends on the quality of the series itself and the effectiveness of the promotion."

"In these two aspects, I don't think our 'Lu Zhen' is that bad."

Yu Zheng stared at Zhang Shi for a few seconds, his expression complex, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"After the meeting, you will personally oversee the situation," Yu Zheng said, looking at Zhang Shi.

"Prepare a batch of high-quality press releases immediately."

"Analyze Lu Zhen's journey from an ordinary person to a high position from the perspective of a woman's career success."

"The emphasis is on 'historical weight,' 'women's struggle for independence,' and 'political wisdom,' while subtly satirizing their 'petty love,' 'detachment from reality,' and 'nihilistic values.'"

"They're trending right now, so let's ride that wave of popularity, but don't name them directly."

"There's no need to spell it out too clearly; those who understand will understand."

"By the way, the popularity!" Yu Zheng turned his gaze to Li Si, another vice president in charge of brokerage business.

"Press releases alone are not enough. Li Si, go and do two things immediately."

"First, find the director and on-set producer to select those clips from Chen Xiao and Zhao Liying's interactions on set that show they have good chemistry, edit them appropriately, and release them!"

"The more sensational the title, the better!"

"Second, immediately contact Chen Xiao and Zhao Liying's teams to coordinate their schedules and arrange several rounds of exclusive interviews with key media outlets."

"At the same time, we immediately communicated with Hunan TV to try to get them to appear on an episode of Happy Camp as soon as possible."

"Be more intimate during interviews and variety show recordings."

"Get me started to generate buzz about the on-screen couple's relationship, extending beyond the screen."

Upon hearing this, Li Si looked troubled. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke in a low voice.

"Mr. Yu, well... I had a brief conversation with Zhao Liying's team before, and she and her team seem to be quite resistant to this kind of CP hype."

"Rejection?"

Yu Zheng was like a firecracker that had been lit. His suppressed anger and irritability found an outlet in an instant. He slammed his hand on the table, his voice suddenly rising in pitch, carrying an almost violent reprimand.

"What right does she have to be so picky?!"

"What right does she have to be so picky?!"

"At twenty-six, besides Qing'er in the new 'Princess Pearl,' what other memorable roles do you have?"

"For someone as insignificant as me to get the lead role in my film is an opportunity that countless people would kill for!"

"It's her duty to promote and market a TV series normally, contributing to its popularity!"

"She's 26 years old and has only played Qing'er in the new Huanzhu. What right does she have to be picky?"

He glared at Li Si, his words like icicles: "Tell her to think it through too. Don't want to cooperate? Fine."

"I, Yu Zheng, have been in this industry for so many years. I wouldn't dare boast about my other skills, but dealing with a small-time actress like her is no problem. Let her think twice!"

Li Si was startled by this sudden outburst, her face paled, and she cursed herself for being too talkative. She quickly lowered her head and replied.

"Yes, Mr. Yu, I understand. I will coordinate it right away and will definitely handle it well."

Zhao Liying, oh Zhao Liying, Li Si sighed inwardly. This time, it's probably not up to you. I hope you can be sensible.

"And another thing," Yu Zheng said, his emotions seemingly calming down slightly after venting, but his eyes grew even colder.

"Contact the other co-production companies, as well as the fan clubs of Chen Xiao, Zhao Liying, and other main actors, and have them focus their efforts on getting those positive trending topics we've prepared to the top!"

"These topics need to maintain their presence on the trending topics list for at least a week and generate a certain level of buzz, so they can't be completely drowned out by the other side."

"Tell the fans that this is a drama for their idol, and also for their idol's future popularity."