I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

Yang Zi spat and jumped out with her hands on her hips.

"Hey shorty, how dare you talk to my boss like that?"

"Boss?"

Zhang Yisan's voice cracked, "What boss? I'm the boss of this Yuanju Gang! I acted in 'Home with Kids'! I've acted in Han Sanye's movies!"

"That was before," Yang Zi rolled her eyes. "Now, my boss recommended me to the 'Swords of Legends' production team, and I auditioned for the role of Fuqu. I got the part. Do you know how awesome my brother Chen is on set?"

Seeing that Yang Zi had stolen his chance to shine, Li Xian was extremely anxious and went to get Jiang Chen another cup of coffee.

"Brother Chen, I hope you can put in a good word for me with Director Kong regarding the role of Ling Yue. I've been practicing my lines for half a month now, and even Teacher Hu from the physical training class said I've improved."

Jiang Chen hummed in agreement, his tone flat: "It depends on your performance."

"Understood!" Li Xian stood up straight. "I'll definitely do my best!"

"You two," Zhang Yisan finally spoke, his tone filled with heartache, "was it really that serious?"

Yang Zi rolled her eyes: "What do you mean by 'it's not that serious'?"

"Isn't he just a supporting actor in a movie?"

Zhang Yisan was filled with righteous indignation.

"Where's your face? I'm asking you, where's your face?"

"The kind of people I despise most in my life are you! Flatterers, suckers, spineless! I, Zhang Yisan, have been in this industry for so many years, what have I relied on? My strength! My acting skills! I never bow down to anyone..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Chen sat up from the beanbag chair and glanced at him.

"There is a character in 'Gu Jian' named Obsidian."

Zhang Yisan's voice abruptly stopped.

"He doesn't have many scenes, but his character is likable. He's a morally ambiguous character, and if played well, he can be very outstanding."

Zhang Yisan's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Director Kong asked me if I had any suitable people to recommend. I said yes."

There was a two-second silence in the living room.

Then Zhang Yisan bent his knees.

thump.

"Godfather!"

Yang Zi's mouth was wide open, big enough to fit a steamed bun.

Zhang Yisan knelt on the ground, looking up at Jiang Chen with eyes so sincere they could melt your heart.

"Godfather, please accept my bow."

Jiang Chen leaned back in his chair, looked down at him, and his lips twitched.

Yang Zi was dumbfounded: "Shorty, you just said that you despise sycophants and bootlickers the most in your life."

"That was because I was young and ignorant." Zhang Yisan knelt on the ground, not moving an inch. "Now I'm all grown up."

He got up from the ground, not forgetting to massage Jiang Chen's back: "Godfather, when would you like to take me to see Director Kong?"

"next week."

"Okay!"

Yang Zi, standing to the side, curled her lip and said, "Sycophant."

"Who are you calling a sycophant?" Zhang Yisan glared at her.

"I'm talking to you!"

"I am my godfather's biological son, and you are my godfather's..." Zhang Yisan paused, "Godfather, what is she to you?"

Jiang Chen lay back down and closed his eyes: "Maid."

"Hey!" Yang Zi jumped up.

"What are you doing?" Jiang Chen complained, "So rough!"

"...Yes, this servant knows her mistake."

Yang Zi gritted her teeth and squatted back down.

Li Xian then prepared another watermelon and interjected at the opportune moment, "Brother Chen, would you like some more watermelon?"

"Just put it there."

"Okay!"

The power struggle within the Yuanju Gang is just that simple and unpretentious...

……

On May 15, 2011, Tangren Film & Television, in conjunction with Softstar Entertainment, held a press conference in Hengdian to announce the start of filming for "Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky".

The press release was published on the homepages of Sina Entertainment and Sohu Entertainment that afternoon.

Cast: Hu Ge as Jian Chi/Yuwen Tuo, Jiang Jinfu as Chen Jingchou, Liu Shishi as Tuoba Yu'er, Tang Yan as Dugu Ningke, and Na Zha as Xiao Xue.

Sina Entertainment's headline is: "Hu Ge returns to period dramas after two years, Tangren Media battles fantasy dramas again."

The accompanying image is Hu Ge's official costume photo, dressed in black with his hair tied up, a golden mark on his forehead, and a cold and sharp gaze.

The entertainment and gossip section of Tianya Forum was particularly lively that day.

Breaking news! Filming for Xuan-Yuan Sword has started! I'm dead for Hu Ge's look!!!

The main post featured nine official photos, and the comments section was filled with enthusiastic celebration.

"It's been two years, and we've finally waited for Brother Hu to act in a period drama again."

"Tang Ren understands the Xianxia genre; it's directed by Li Guoli and comes from the original team behind the Legend of Sword and Fairy series."

"This lineup is amazing. Liu Shishi and Tang Yan are both here, along with Jiang Jinfu and the newcomer Na Zha."

"Who is that Nazha? She's quite pretty."

"No Hu Ge, no Legend of Sword and Fairy, that's no exaggeration."

The Chinese Paladin and Xuan-Yuan Sword forums on Baidu Tieba were simultaneously flooded with posts about the game.

"You can always trust Brother Hu in period dramas."

Some game fans are cautiously observing: "The Legend of Sword and Fairy: The Scar of the Sky is the most classic game in the Xuan-Yuan Sword series, please don't make any major changes."

But the overall atmosphere is one of anticipation; Hu Ge has a huge following among casual observers.

The following day, Tencent Video, in conjunction with Shandong Film & Television, simultaneously released the project approval announcement for the TV series "Gu Jian Qi Tan," along with the first batch of costume photos of the male and female leads.

Sina Entertainment's headline is: "The TV series 'Swords of Legends' has been officially approved, directed by Kong Sheng, and starring Yang Mi and Jiang Chen."

As of May 2011, the sales of the game "Gu Jian Qi Tan" had exceeded 700,000 copies, and the number of followers on the Baidu Tieba forum exceeded 150,000, making it one of the top three most popular Chinese single-player game forums.

Although its player base is smaller than that of the Legend of Sword and Fairy series, its loyalty is extremely high and its activity level is very high, making it a formidable competitor to Legend of Sword and Fairy in the single-player game community.

As soon as the news broke, the Gujian Qitan (Ancient Sword and Fairy) forum exploded.

The TV series adaptation is finally here! Directed by Kong Sheng, with Yang Mi playing Feng Qingxue! Tu Su's costume fitting photos are also included!

"Kong Sheng? The director of 'Crossing the Guandong'? This lineup is incredibly solid!"

"I'd love to see Yang Mi as Feng Qingxue! With 'Palace' just finished its run, top-tier actresses are guaranteed to boost ratings!"

"Wait a minute, who plays Baili Tusu? Jiang Chen? Never heard of him!"

Soon, someone dug up Jiang Chen's resume: the Fourteenth Prince in "Palace", a student in the 10 class of the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy, and apart from this supporting role, he has no other leading roles.

The comments section was immediately filled with skepticism.

"Can a newcomer playing a supporting role really carry the weight of Baili Tusu, the soul of the character?"

"Tu Su was seen as a monster from a young age, and his character is full of repressed and stoic traits. He's not someone any newcomer can just play by pretending to be cool!"

But when people clicked on the official photos in the post, the doubts inexplicably decreased.

In the photo, Jiang Chen is dressed in a dark-colored, patterned outfit, with his long hair tied up and a red cinnabar mark on his forehead. His eyes and brows are clear and cold like jade, with sword-like eyebrows, a straight nose, and a clean, sharp jawline.

His figure was as upright as a pine tree, with no superfluous expression. His eyes held a faint sense of aloofness and melancholy, which perfectly matched Baili Tusu's character of being lonely, unfortunate, and burdened with a murderous aura.

With delicate and well-proportioned features, a cool and distinctive temperament, and a perfect match for ancient costumes, she is in no way inferior to the newly announced costume photos of Hu Ge, the sword fanatic, for the neighboring "Xuan-Yuan Sword".

"...To be honest, his face and temperament are a perfect match for Baili Tusu."

"Holy crap, she's got some serious looks! Even next to Hu Ge's period drama photos, she's not completely overshadowed!"

"Just looking at the promotional photos, I'm actually starting to look forward to it. He looks like he could totally pull off a fantasy male lead role."

The doubts did not disappear, but many voices of change emerged.

"He's got the looks, but what about his acting skills? Hu Ge is a veteran of fantasy films and TV series; his portrayals of Li Xiaoyao and Jing Tian are already excellent examples. What can a newcomer compare to?"

"The official photos don't lie. The temperament is really right, but if the acting is bad, no matter how handsome you are, it's all for nothing."

The entertainment gossip section of Tianya Forum has started a new thread.

The official announcement of Jiang Chen as the male lead in "Gu Jian Qi Tan" has been released, and his character photos have been unveiled. What do you think?

Netizens are arguing fiercely.

"I looked it up and he only played the Fourteenth Prince. Isn't the capital rushing to promote him too much? But... this costume photo is really amazing, not much worse than Hu Ge's."

"Kong Sheng + Yang Mi + Shandong Film and Television + Tencent, a top-tier cast with a new male lead, whose only redeeming quality is his face."

"The male lead of the neighboring Xuan-Yuan Sword is Brother Hu, and the newcomer here may be on par in terms of looks, but his acting skills are worlds apart."

At this point, some people with ulterior motives began to step in and stir up trouble.

"No, you're all talking about Brother Hu, but I'd like to ask, why him?"

The poster's ID had the signature "Gu Xichao is my life's best friend".

"Zhong Hanliang's Gu Xichao, the top of the Four Beauties of the World, has been a legend in period dramas for years. Qiao Zhenyu's Ouyang Mingri, with a touch of cinnabar between his brows, is the epitome of a cold and aloof nobleman. Yan Kuan's Li Jiancheng, the Peony Prince, is the pinnacle of period dramas. Huo Jianhua's Xu Changqing, with his ethereal and otherworldly demeanor, is exactly what a male lead in a fantasy novel should look like."

"Aren't all these people better than a newcomer who only played the Fourteenth Prince? Why should capital bypass them and promote a newcomer who's never even been heard of?"

This reply was like pouring a ladle of water into a pot of boiling oil.

Tianya Forum was the leading online forum for public opinion in 2011.

The entertainment gossip section is the main battleground for fans across the internet to fight over billing order, criticize each other, and praise each other.

The "Four Beauties of Tianya" emerged from here.

The so-called "Four Beauties of Tianya" refers to four male characters in period dramas who were ultimately recognized as gods by Tianya netizens after several years and multiple rounds of voting.

Zhong Hanliang's Gu Xichao, Qiao Zhenyu's Ouyang Mingri, Yan Kuan's Peony Prince Li Jiancheng, and Huo Jianhua's Xu Changqing.

Each of the four actors achieved legendary status with a single role, becoming the pinnacle of handsome men in period dramas. Their fanbase is incredibly powerful, spanning three major online communities: Baidu Tieba, Tianya, and Weibo, leaving no stone unturned wherever they go.

At that moment, the fans of the four beauties arrived, drawn by the scent.

"Gu Xichao, a villain turned into a beloved figure. Zhong Hanliang could have made the entire Baili Tusu growth storyline shine even with his eyes closed. And they chose a newcomer? What are the investors thinking?"

"Ouyang Mingri has a cinnabar birthmark on his wheelchair. Jiang Chen also has a cinnabar dot between his eyebrows. Are you sure this isn't a staged accident?"

"Tang Ren knew to ask Brother Hu, so why didn't Shandong Film Studio ask Qiao Zhenyu? When it comes to the aloof and detached charm of period dramas, who can rival Qiao Zhenyu?"

"Li Jiancheng, the Peony Prince, a villain, managed to make it into the Four Beauties. When it comes to looks in period dramas alone, when has Yan Kuan ever lost?"

"Huo Jianhua already has Xu Changqing, so there's no need to compete. But to be honest, the aloof and detached type is too much for a newcomer to handle."

With several groups of fans joining forces, the post completely exploded.

"Which of the four beauties isn't a top-tier actress? Jiang Chen only had a supporting role in 'Palace,' so why is he so special?"

A storm is brewing...

……

(P.S.: Two chapters of 5000 words each today, please vote with your monthly tickets, my new book needs your support!)