Huayu: Starting with Hextech

A week after the premiere of "Chinese Paladin 3", Lin Xiao personally experienced the sweet troubles that come with "overnight fame".

The phone rang from morning till night.

On the set of "Go Lala Go!", he could temporarily immerse himself in Wang Wei's world, but once he left the camera's view and returned to the hotel, or even just took a short break between takes, his phone became a hotline.

It started with the media.

Entertainment reporters and program directors, who somehow got his number, called one after another, earnestly requesting interviews, articles, or simply to "chat for a few minutes."

Lin Xiao had to repeat himself again and again: "I'm sorry, we're currently filming on set, and time is tight, so I can't make arrangements at the moment."

Then came various invitations to events.

Opening ceremonies, brand launches, fashion galas… no invitations, just direct phone calls, starting with, “Mr. Lin, we greatly admire your performance in ‘Chinese Paladin 3’ and sincerely invite you to attend…”

The offer was subtly mentioned, and it was very tempting.

Lin Xiao could only politely but firmly refuse.

The most outrageous calls even came from people claiming to be "senior producers" or "investors," peddling projects that sounded incredibly appealing or implying that they could provide "special treatment."

Lin Xiao always hung up, saying, "Sorry, I'm focused on finishing my current work."

His original rhythm of life was completely disrupted.

The phone must be kept on silent for extended periods and can only be checked periodically.

My inbox was overflowing with missed calls and text messages.

He even began to seriously consider whether he should immediately hire an assistant to at least help filter these harassing calls and make initial contact.

But right now, filming for "Go Lala Go!" is in full swing, and he's so tired after work every day that he just wants to collapse and sleep. He simply doesn't have the energy to interview or work with newcomers.

I can only grit my teeth and deal with it on my own for now, thinking that the first thing I'll do after filming wraps up is to solve this problem.

Of all the invitations that came his way, the ones that he found most difficult to handle were those that were interested in collaborating with the "Lou Xuan CP" (Lou Xuan and his partner) because of their popularity.

An influential fashion magazine contacted him through an intermediary, proposing to create a special issue on him and Tang Yan as a couple, with the theme closely related to "fantasy romance," promising to give them important space and high-standard visual presentation.

Lin Xiao did not immediately refuse.

That evening, he called Tang Yan and told her about the magazine's proposal and his concerns.

"Tangtang, what do you think?" he asked.

On the other end of the phone, Tang Yan remained silent for longer than usual.

Lin Xiao could imagine how she felt at that moment.

They crave recognition, want to openly share their sweet moments with their lovers, and also hope to leverage this wave of popularity to take their careers to the next level.

This was too tempting for her, who lacked a sense of security.

"...Lin Xiao, what do you think?" She finally threw the question back at him, her voice hesitant.

"I think what we need now is for our works to speak for themselves," Lin Xiao said frankly.

"Overly pairing us up with other actors might attract a lot of attention in the short term, but in the long run, it could limit our diversity as actors and subject our relationship to unnecessary scrutiny and pressure. Neither of us is, nor do we want to be, people who rely on hype to gain attention."

He didn't say "we," but emphasized "as actors."

This angle allowed Tang Yan to detach herself slightly from her emotional impulse.

"...You're right." Her voice lowered, but it sounded like she accepted it. "Then... let's decline it. We'll prove ourselves with better roles in the future."

Lin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief after receiving Tang Yan's understanding.

He personally called the editor back, politely but clearly declining the cooperation.

The other party was clearly very disappointed, and their words even carried a hint of "not knowing how to appreciate it," but Lin Xiao remained unmoved.

Beyond media and events, the more tangible allure comes from commercial endorsements.

Inquiries from various brands began to appear, ranging from online games to daily necessities, with prices that were quite attractive to newcomers.

Lin Xiao didn't have an agent to help him select brands, so he had to spend his own time researching the background, reputation, and past cases of these brands.

He rejected most of them.

Either the brand image is mismatched, or the quality and reputation are questionable, or it's simply a "quick money" trap that does nothing to improve long-term image.

Ultimately, he kept only one option: the domestic sportswear brand "Ruide".

This brand has a solid reputation and focuses on youth, professionalism, and health. Its previous spokespeople all had very positive images.

The title of "Ambassador of Youthful Vitality" and the one-year cooperation period proposed by the other party are also in line with his current "steady accumulation" approach.

He communicated his initial intentions with the other party via email, but the specific contract negotiations and finalization of details obviously require the involvement of professionals.

This further solidified his idea of ​​assembling a team as soon as possible.

However, what truly put pressure on him was not the superficial fame and fortune, but the presence of the "giant" who reappeared with an even stronger presence as his popularity soared.

The first person to call was Cai Yinong.

"Lin Xiao is enjoying immense success lately."

Cai Yinong's voice came through the receiver, revealing little emotion: "You've brought the character of Chonglou to life; he's even more successful than I expected."

"Thank you, Sister Cai," Lin Xiao replied cautiously.

"Success is good, but the choices you make next are more important."

Cai Yinong abruptly changed the subject, getting straight to the point: "Tangren's major production next year, 'Scarlet Heart,' is all set, except for the male lead. We can optimize the conditions from last time. If you agree, the role is yours. In addition, I can make an extra promise to get you involved in a company-invested film within two years, at least in a significant supporting role."

The male lead of "Scarlet Heart" plus movie resources.

The price offered by Cai Yinong this time has almost completely eliminated Lin Xiao's room for refusal on the grounds of "lack of opportunities".

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, his mind intertwining the scenes from "Scarlet Heart" with reality.

He steadied himself, his tone still carrying respect and regret: "Sister Cai, thank you so much for your kindness and such sincere terms. I have no doubt about the charm of 'Scarlet Heart' and the character of the Fourth Prince. It's just…"

Personally, I hope to spend more time immersing myself in roles of different types and eras, and I don't want to return to period dramas so soon. Thank you again, and I'm truly sorry.

The reasons seem to be the same as before, but to Cai Yinong at this moment, they might sound more like a confident and tactful refusal.

There was a longer silence on the other end of the phone.

In the end, Cai Yinong simply said, "Okay, I understand. Lin Xiao, take care of yourself," and hung up the phone.

There was no anger, no advice, only the meaningful phrase, "Take care of yourself."

Cai Yinong's phone call was like a prelude.

The next day, an unfamiliar number with a Beijing origin dialed in.

Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment, but still accepted the call.

"Lin Xiao, this is Wang Jinhua." A crisp and efficient female voice came from the other end of the phone, without any pleasantries.