Huayu: From "Good Fortune Across the Sky" to becoming a top star

"Next, let's welcome—Jiang Xun, the popular creator who has healed millions with his smile over the past year!"

Jiang Xun stood up, straightened his clothes, waved to the surroundings, and slowly walked onto the stage.

The sound of camera shutters clicking and applause erupted from the audience, mixed with a few screams from the girls.

Stepping into the microphone, Jiang Xun spoke with a relaxed tone and his signature healing smile: "Actually, it all started by chance. I never expected so many people to like it. I'm also very grateful to Douyin (TikTok) for allowing more ordinary people to be seen. I will continue to create more content that everyone enjoys in the future."

After a few brief remarks, he interacted with the host, accepted the "Most Popular Talent of the Year" award from the organizer, made a relaxed gesture to the camera, and politely stepped off the stage after taking a group photo.

He didn't return to his seat, but went straight to the restroom.

When he got back, he sat down at Sun Yining's table.

Today she was wearing a strapless black mini dress, revealing her fair shoulders and slender waist. Her long legs were encased in black stockings, and she wore black pointed high heels with red soles.

Jiang Xun chose this table for no other reason than that other table had fewer people and was located in the corner of the last row. He was a person who liked quiet.

Seeing Jiang Xun sit down, Sun Yining paused for a moment, unsure of his meaning, but quickly greeted him politely.

She needs exposure now.

Currently, the most popular internet celebrities on Douyin are Jiang Xun (male) and Wen Wan (female), both of whom gained tens of millions of followers in just a few days. However, Jiang Xun's fanbase seems to be more solid.

Saying things like "I don't care about being famous" is something you can only say after you've become famous. It's used to cultivate a serene and unassuming image for your fans; otherwise, how would you make money?

"Hello, brother," Sun Yining said.

"Hello, brother," Jiang Xun replied in return.

"Congratulations." Sun Yining pointed with her chin to the crystal trophy Jiang Xun had placed on the table, which had his name printed on it.

"Oh, it's all just talk. You can have it if you like." Jiang Xun pushed the trophy forward.

Sun Yining raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised that Jiang Xun had such a good temper and wasn't intimidated at all. He didn't seem like someone who had always lived in the mountains and had just come out into the world.

"No need. Would you like to film a video together sometime?" Her tone was tentative; she didn't want to be embarrassed if she was rejected.

"Great! I have a lot of ideas for making videos, but I've always needed a model."

Sun Yining tilted her head, genuinely surprised that Jiang Xun would be so easy to talk to.

When are you free?

"How was tonight? I might have an audition in Yanjing tomorrow."

Because Jiang Xun's personality and appearance were both pleasant, Sun Yining automatically ignored his mention of "tonight" and instead asked, "Audition? Do you want to be an actor?"

"So, are you interested?"

"No. I'll be satisfied as long as I can do a good job with my self-media."

"Have you decided on your route yet?"

"What do you mean?" Sun Yining asked.

"Looks, humor, talent... and so on."

Sun Yining smiled, her expression somewhat like a self-promoting vendor: "Looks? Am I good enough for that?"

"Of course." Jiang Xun shrugged and took out a room key from his pocket. "Come find me after the event. Bring a few more outfits, stockings, high heels, and all that."

"what?"

"Didn't you want to go the looks route?"

"Okay, see you tonight."

There was a cocktail party after the event. Jiang Xun said goodbye to the person in charge of the event from Douyin and then left.

Soon, someone posted a video of Jiang Xun attending the event online, and it received a lot of positive reviews, mainly praising his aura and his good looks in a suit.

On the way back to the hotel, Jiang Xun specially bought a bottle of expensive red wine. He was a very professional person, and since he would be helping to film a video later, he felt that having a slight blush and being slightly tipsy would make him look better.

I opened the red wine and let it breathe for a while, when soon there was a knock on the door.

Jiang Xun opened the door. Sun Yining hadn't changed her clothes; she thought she looked great in her outfit.

She was carrying two bags, one containing clothes and stockings, and the other containing several pairs of high heels.

"Wouldn't it be alright if I didn't disturb you?"

"Please come in." Jiang Xun stepped aside to let her in.

After entering, Sun Yining looked around and the first thing she noticed was the red wine on the table.

She chose to ignore it and instead walked to the window.

Douyin is rolling in money; the hotel they booked for Jiang Xun was a five-star hotel with views of the Huangpu River and the Oriental Pearl Tower from the window.

"I'm so envious. It's so good to be famous. I paid for my own travel expenses to get here," she sighed, resting her hand on the window.

"Douyin is never short of miracles. Maybe your next video will go viral." Jiang Xun handed her one of the two glasses of red wine.

Sun Yining looked at Jiang Xun, who was wearing a suit and handing her a drink, and inexplicably thought of the domineering CEO scenes in idol dramas.

"Don't overthink it, I think a slight buzz is even better. It's okay if you don't drink."

Sun Yining took the wine glass, took a small sip, and left a red lipstick mark on the glass.

I drank a few more glasses, but not the kind where I was forced to drink.

Sun Yining's cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes became glazed over.

"Okay. How many outfits did you bring?"

"Three sets, is that enough?" Sun Yining sat down in one corner of the long sofa, swirling her wine glass with one hand and supporting her head with the other.

Jiang Xun flipped through the clothes: a black lace nightgown, a beige pure and seductive style dress, and a red slip dress.

"More or less." Jiang Xun said, standing up and looking around the room.

The hotel room has a wooden decorative fan, which serves more as an embellishment, but the blades are large enough to be used for shooting from above.

He moved a chair over, stood on it, and clipped the borrowed camera above the fan blades, adjusting it to an overhead view. He then connected his phone to the camera to confirm the composition of the shot.

The edges of the bed, the backdrop, and the fan blades were all fixed in place.

"You brought this too?" Sun Yining asked, somewhat surprised.

"I borrowed it from someone on Douyin when the show ended, and I have to return it later."

"Thank you," Sun Yining said earnestly.

Jiang Xun explained the key points of the movements to her.

Every time the fan completes a rotation, it changes its outfit, lies in the same spot, and strikes a different sexy pose.

If the camera position remains unchanged throughout the entire shoot, and footage of the fan rotating to the same angle is edited together in post-production, it will look like an instant costume change.

Sun Yining nodded and went to the bathroom to change into her first outfit, a black lace nightgown.

Following Jiang Xun's instructions, she lay down on the bed, her long legs, encased in black stockings, slightly crossed, one hand lazily resting on her forehead, the lace skirt lifting slightly with her movements, revealing a hint of her waistline.

"Make your eyes even more dreamy, imagine you've just woken up from a dream..."

Jiang Xun pressed the record button. The fan slowly turned, its blades brushing against the lens.

He held up his spare phone to capture a close-up shot. In the lens, her eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow under the light, and her red lips were slightly pursed, exuding a languid sexiness.

After filming the first take, he called for a stop and played back the footage to confirm.