Huayu: This top star doesn't play by the rules.

"I look up at the starry sky you once saw, and we meet again after a hundred years; I understand the smile you gave before you turned away." This lyric directly touched the hearts of countless people.

Overnight, Chen Chao's adaptation of "Misplaced Time and Space (May Fourth Special Edition)" spread throughout the streets and alleys, and the melody of the song could be heard in schools, factories, buses and other places.

Many young people who were moved by this song left messages online.

"I cried! This is the kind of song we young people should be listening to!"

"Paying tribute to our predecessors! We should remember those who bore the burden for us."

"I have no regrets about being born Chinese in this life, and I will still be Chinese in the next!"

"Chen Chao is so talented! He can write love songs and also songs with positive energy like this!"

........

The following morning, CCTV News' official Weibo account reposted "Misplaced Time and Space (May Fourth Special Edition)," adding the caption: "A century-long journey, magnificent and turbulent. With our youthful selves, we build a youthful nation. A tribute to everyone who has fought for the country and the nation!"

Following closely, official media outlets such as People's Daily, the Communist Youth League, and Xinhua News Agency also reposted and praised the post on their Weibo accounts.

For a time, "Misplaced Time and Space (May Fourth Special Edition)" not only topped the charts on various music lists, but was also selected by many schools across the country as a choral piece for the May Fourth Youth Day.

As a result, Chen Chao's popularity among the public has greatly increased, transforming him from a mere entertainment star into a positive role model recognized by official media.

Many industry insiders are saying that Chen Chao made a brilliant move, not only winning over a wave of casual fans but also paving a smooth road for his acting career.

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March 5th, at the Chedun Film and Television Base in Songjiang District, Shanghai, today is the press conference for the start of filming of the TV series "Guardian". The press conference is held at a hotel in the film and television base.

Although the press conference wasn't as grand as those for "Princess Agents" and "Duckweed," there were still quite a few media reporters and many of Chen Chao's fans present.

Although Bai Yu, one of the male leads, doesn't have much fame or presence, Chen Chao, who is also a male lead, has been generating a lot of buzz lately, and most of the media reporters present today are there because of him.

After all, Chen Chao is now the second male lead in a 1.5 billion yuan box office film, and his first album broke the record for newcomers in recent years.

Add to that the song "Misplaced Time and Space (May Fourth Special Edition)" that was repeatedly reposted by official media and spread throughout the country a few days ago, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's incredibly popular.

After director Zhou Yuanzhou said a few words, Chen Chao, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt that Meng Ziyi had bought for him, paired with a white baseball cap and blue jeans, walked up from backstage, looking very youthful.

"Chen Chao! Chen Chao, look here!"

"Chen Chao, best of luck with filming!"

"Chen Chao, I like you so much!"

As soon as Chen Chao appeared, screams erupted. The fans, who had been relatively orderly, instinctively surged forward, startling the security personnel who quickly reached out to stop them.

Walking briskly to the host's side, Chen Chao smiled and waved to the fans, bringing the microphone to his mouth, "Everyone be careful, don't crowd."

His action and words elicited an even louder scream, causing the few fans among Chen Chao's fans who were holding Bai Yu's support signs to secretly take out their phones to take pictures of him.

"This popularity is ridiculously high." Peeking at the scene unfolding in front of him, Bai Yu, who was standing next to director Xie Yihang and waiting to go on stage, couldn't help but click his tongue.

Although he has also played the male lead in several dramas, his popularity is far inferior to Chen Chao, who has amassed 1.5 billion yuan in box office revenue, had a hugely successful album, and received attention from official media.

"Otherwise, how could I say that Lao Zhou has struck gold?" Xie Yihang smiled so much that his eyes narrowed into slits. Ever since Chen Chao was officially announced to play the male lead Shen Wei, "Guardian," which had previously received little attention, suddenly became the focus of attention in the industry, and its business development also became much smoother.

"During the interview later, remember to cooperate with him. Whether our show becomes a hit or not depends half on him."

Upon hearing Xie Yihang's words, Bai Yu simply nodded, without any resentment. He was by nature indifferent and didn't particularly like to compete, and Chen Chao's strength was undeniable.

Whether it's Ouyang Ke in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," Xu Zhengtai in "Duckweed," or the Yan Xun clips from "Princess Agents" circulating online, all of these are enough to demonstrate Chen Chao's acting skills.

For Bai Yu, working with someone who has such acting skills and popularity is only beneficial and has no drawbacks.

After completing the rituals of worship, unveiling, and group photo, it was time for the interview segment that the media reporters were most looking forward to.

"Chen Chao, hello. I've heard that you've received many offers for TV dramas and movies. Why did you turn down those offers and choose to act in a web series?" The first reporter called on by the host immediately threw out a rather pointed question. "Many people say you're lowering your standards. What's your opinion on that?"

Raising the microphone, Chen Chao still wore a gentle smile and said calmly, "I never use the scale of production or the broadcasting platform to define the quality of a work."

"I really like the script for 'Guardian,' and the challenge of playing three different roles in one person also intrigued me. For me, encountering a good role is more important than anything else."

"Are you confident in playing Shen Wei well? Many fans of the original work have high expectations for this role, and many people question whether you are too young and do not have the sense of vicissitudes that Shen Wei has experienced over ten thousand years."

"Whether you're confident or not, you won't believe me even if I tell you. You'll all know when the show airs," Chen Chao said with a smile, raising an eyebrow.

"But I can guarantee that I will do my best to live up to the expectations of my fans, as well as the trust of the director and the crew."

Chen Chao answered the following questions flawlessly, neither arrogant nor humble, which made many of the reporters who came to interview him today nod in approval.

After the interview, Chen Chao had just returned to the rest area with the crew and was about to get some water when Bai Yu came over, smiling, and handed him a bottle of mineral water. "Hello, Chen Chao, I'm Bai Yu."

"Hello, Brother Bai Yu." Chen Chao took the bottled water Bai Yu handed him and returned a sincere smile. "I've seen you in 'The Young Marshal,' Feng Yong's acting was particularly good."

"Haha, those were just minor characters." Hearing Chen Chao's praise, Bai Yu scratched his head a little embarrassedly. "I'm the one who should learn from you. Both Ouyang Ke and Xu Zhengtai left a deep impression on me."