CHAPTER 49
The next day, Xiang Xiaoyuan's hot search ranking rose from sixth to third place.
Many latecomer netizens were confused, "Who is Xiang Xiaoyuan?" "Which little celebrity is trying to boost their popularity again?"
Clicking into the search results, all they found were extremely unpleasant negative comments.
Although Zou Yirui and Fang Hao's fans seemed to have formed a temporary alliance, the attacks were real.
[Where did this D-list actress come from, to actually land the role of the second female lead in a major investment drama like 'Boyi'? I don't believe there's nothing fishy about it.]
[I heard that Boyi originally wanted someone else to play the second female lead, a popular flower, but Xiaoyuan snatched it away.]
[Whoa, that's pretty dark. But she does have a captivating face, it's quite alluring.]
[Hhhhh, everyone understands, she must be taking the private route.]
[Private connections, who could it be? The producer? The screenwriter?]
[I heard that this time the screenwriter Canghai Yisu could choose a specific actor, I'm not sure though, just what I heard (book fans, don't attack).]
......
Xiaoyuan had only a small number of lurking fans, accumulated from her films "Xiao Wen" and "Choice." These fans looked bewildered, unclear about the situation, and wouldn't speak up to support her immediately.
The attacks continued.
Tonghua's publicity department was observing the situation.
Li Feng from Boyi was secretly stoking the flames, as it benefited them with no harm. It could help Fang Hao stand out while maintaining the drama's heat. As for Xiaoyuan, she wasn't their own person nor a friendly collaborator, so they didn't care. Besides, bad publicity could still be beneficial, it might even help Xiaoyuan gain some attention.
By the second day, Xiaoyuan could no longer endure. She felt incredibly wronged. Despite being in the industry for several years without much fame, her focus had always been on acting. She had never engaged in heavy marketing or PR campaigns and had never faced such intense malicious speculation before. She lacked the resilience to handle this level of pressure.
With Xiang Zhishi and Cai Juan by her side, she managed not to collapse.
Cai Juan was comforting her while Xiang Zhishi and Feiyi discussed strategies.
At that moment, two big names couldn't sit idle any longer.
One of them, the screenwriter of "Zui Xiaoyao," Shi Hai (Canghai Yisu), posted on Weibo, directly addressing the suspicions about Xiang Xiaoyuan's alleged private relationship with the screenwriter, [Don't mess with me!]
Shortly after, the first and second replies quickly appeared, [Miss Xiaoyuan, who plays Ling Yao in 'Zui Xiaoyao,' is indeed my chosen one. As a fan, I've watched her collaborate with Director He in 'Xiao Wen' and with Teacher He Chenying in 'Choice.' I love her performance and believe her appearance is perfect for Ling Yao. As the screenwriter, I've seen the rough cut, and I guarantee in my name that her portrayal will be the best Ling Yao. Also, I'm already married, if you spread rumors, I'll sue you!]
Accompanying the post were snapshots of two signed scripts.
The other was Duo Miaojiang, a popular figure on Weibo and Bilibili with millions of followers. She was a film and television blogger, passionate about movies and editing. She had been a fan of Xiaoyuan since her first film, "Xiao Wen." She made several themed videos on Bilibili, analyzing the director, the actors' performances, and various shots.
She really likes Xiang Xiaoyuan, even went to visit the set, but has been holding back her own selfish desires and not daring to promote Xiang Xiaoyuan too much. On one hand, it's because Xiang Xiaoyuan has few works, and on the other hand, she's afraid that excessive promotion might alienate the public.
She deeply understands a harsh reality, that in the entertainment industry, one must rely on their work to speak for them.
Duo Miaojiang has already prepared a video in advance, editing key scenes from all of Xiang Xiaoyuan's movies to date, including the web dramas she's acted in. The video ends with scenes from the "Zui Xiaoyao" behind-the-scenes footage. She planned to start her promotion campaign when "Zui Xiaoyao" airs.
Unexpectedly, her 'beloved sister' was targeted first. It was truly an inauspicious start, and Duo Miaojiang was furious.
If Miss Xiang Xiaoyuan really relied on private relationships, would she need to act in so many web movies? It's obvious she doesn't have any connections or popularity, which is why she was suppressed in "Choice." Tonghua didn't even promote her. Despite so many interviews for the movie, she was never invited to attend.
After finally being personally selected by the screenwriter, she still had to endure being smeared and serve as a stepping stone for the male and female lead. It's absolutely enraging.
Duo Miaojiang had been waiting for the Shiyuan Studio or Xiaoyuan's Weibo to issue a statement or response, but both Weibo accounts were flooded with malicious, sarcastic comments. The sight of it was unbearable, yet both accounts remained silent.
She moved from anger to confusion to heartache. Indeed, whether to speak up or stay silent was a dilemma, her small number of fans wasn't enough to make a difference. Recalling her last visit to the set, where the other two actors had throngs of fans, Xiaoyuan had thought she had no fans at all and hadn't dared to show up.
Unable to bear it any longer, she let loose on Weibo, posting several messages directly: [Screw you and your connections! Just because you're not famous doesn't mean you have no rights, right? Xiaoyuan's debut film, 'Xiao Wen'! Directed by He, who holds a significant status in the industry—does anyone still doubt him? Is there anyone who questions his judgment?]
[And in 'Choice,' a key production from Tonghua, Xiaoyuan only appeared for a few minutes, yet apart from our great He Chenying, everyone is discussing her! Even our He Chenying praised her for her talent, when has 'Smiling tiger,' He Chenying ever complimented anyone? Who dares to question her judgment?]
[And our beloved Canghai, who has been writing and working as a screenwriter for so many years, when has he ever had any scandals? Boyi has bought four or five of his books, does he not even have the right to designate an actor? He is essentially Ling Yao's 'father' who knows better than him who can play his daughter?]
[Disgusting fans are truly revolting. These actors clearly have good relationships, yet you all are eager to sow discord, ruining the entertainment industry's atmosphere!]
Duo Miaojiang was careful not to directly name the actors, instead targeting the fans.
These two are both popular figures on Weibo, and after they expressed their opinions, it sparked even more discussions. In the past few days, some people have been enjoying the gossip while others find it annoying, especially since most of the followers of these two big names are book fans and film enthusiasts:
[Oh my gosh, besides you traffic fans, there are also us book fans and those of us who just want to watch the drama. Stop with those messy conspiracy theories!]
[I'm telling you, can't they find some quality actors? The male leads in Lao Cang's previous two works were serious actors, no need for these gimmicks. But this time, they've even dragged the original creator into the mess, to the point where he had to publicly show his marriage certificate.]
[Poor Lao Cang! He's been a clean writer for so many years, and suddenly this big scandal drops on him out of nowhere, it's the first time I've seen him in such a frenzy!"
[Hahaha calling himself 'old man' is just too funny! I support you!]
[I think the girl is pretty good. Miaojiang mentioned her, and it reminded me. I've watched 'Choice,' her acting is really great, and even in the trailer, she looks good!]
[He Chenying did indeed say that. It was the first time I heard her praise a young actress. But I haven't seen this girl in any other movies since then. I felt it was a pity, and now I see her as the second female lead—I'm definitely going to follow this drama.]
[Just a passerby [Casual viewer], her appearance is stunning and very charming. Although the clips are short, her expressions are great, and her lines seem pretty good too, assuming they're not dubbed.]
[It's her original voice, not dubbed. I've watched her previous movies, and her voice is like this. Her delivery of lines is very good, maybe not on par with veteran artists, but enough to outshine current young actors with ease.]
[To be fair, Miaojiang is right. I think Zou Yirui and Xiaoyuan have a good relationship. They even appeared together in a live stream last time, and this is their second collaboration.]
[I heard from the crew members that these two often have scenes together and have a good relationship.]
[Speaking of which, I looked it up, both Zou Yirui and Xiang Xiaoyuan have been in the industry for a long time, and haven't been involved in any major negative news. Why is it that when they collaborate with Fang Hao, things become uneasy? It's pretty clear where the problem lies, right? Except for Lu Jingnian from the same company, Fang Hao's fans have basically torn apart every actress he's worked with, right?]
[Isn't that tiring? Can't they focus on their own acting skills instead of turning every role into a block of wood?]
[Good-looking faces are everywhere, passersby will turn against them.]
......
Xiang Zhishi made a decisive call, directing Feiyi's promotional team to follow Duo Miaojiang's lead. Cai Juan immediately contacted Duo Miao Jiang.
By evening, Duo Miaojiang released her carefully prepared edited video—a montage of Xiaoyuan's roles, showcasing her as the rural punk girl with yellow hair and dark skin in "Xiao Wen," the gloomy and scheming sister in "Choice," the zombie with a white face and a big mole on her lip in "Zombie and the Charming Taoist," the trans man in a suit with a slicked-back hairstyle in "I Love You!", and finally in "Zui Xiaoyao," cracking a whip, teasing apart the green leaves, her beautiful eyes smiling.
Duo Miaojiang uploaded the video on both Weibo and Bilibili. Her videos typically received high traffic, and with her impressive editing skills, she included nearly all of Xiao Yuan's highlight moments.
Before long, the comments section below her video was overwhelmed.
[Is this the same person? Oh my gosh, what a multi-faceted actress!]
[Wow, that suit look is so cool! I'm dead!!!]
[She looks like Lin Qingxia [English Name: Brigitte Lin] in 'Peking Opera Blues,' although she lacks the heroic air of Sister Qingxia, that little freckle on the tip of her nose is so cute, so adorable!]
[I can't believe I'm interested in that movie 'Zombie and the Charming Taoist!']
[Only a great actor would dare to play ugly roles!]
[Such a beautiful person actually played so many ugly roles! My gosh! What a waste!]
[I watched 'Choice' with my boyfriend, it made me cry! I was so angry at that time, I felt so bad for the sister!]
[I remember 'Xiao Wen' even went to Cannes and made it into the main competition. Not to be mean, but this starting point leaves those two traffic stars [It refers to celebrities who gain popularity primarily through their online presence and social media following, rather than through significant acting talent or experience.] in the dust by a mile, right?]
Among the many comments, one stood out, quickly gaining a lot of likes and moving to the top.
[...Miaojiang, she also appeared in a movie called 'Hey! My Brother, My Bear.' Look at the pictures, that bear is her.]
[???? What's this? A teddy bear?]
[Oh my gosh, I just checked Douban, it's really Xiaoyuan!]
[???? A person playing a bear? Look at this name, it's even a male bear?]
[This movie has so few viewers that it doesn't even have a rating on Douban. But if you look at the short reviews (screenshot), several say they cried watching it!]
[Hahahaha and someone even thought it was CGI effects, who knew the director was so sincere, directly casting a beautiful lady to play a big teddy bear.]
[This is hilarious! With the budget for those web movies, how could they afford CGI effects!]
After a while, Duo Miaojiang retweeted it, with several crying emojis in a row, then said, [I don't deserve to be a fan of sister, I actually missed a movie. I'm going to reflect on my mistakes! I'm going to buy a block of tofu and knock myself out!]
[Miaojiang, come back!!! Edit another one before you go~]
[I'm intrigued, I'm going to watch it!]
[Thanks to Miaojiang for promoting this sister, I'm a fan now!]
[I and Miaojiang have always liked this young lady. So happy, the young lady is finally being seen!]
Duo Miaojiang retweeted this post, choked with emotion, [She is really excellent! She has always worked hard on her own! Those who wanted shortcuts took them early on. Who would be so foolish to go to Cannes and then act in internet movies!]
She then shared two video links, [These are the in-depth analyses I did of the two movies 'Xiao Wen' and 'Choice' that I worked on before. In the first video at 14:30 and in the second video at 17:09, there are original movie clips of Xiaoyuan. Anyone who doubts can take a look.]
[Although the drama hasn't aired yet, mark my words here, her acting skills will definitely shut the mouths of those who criticize her!]
Thanks to Duo Miaojiang's efforts, Feiyi's publicity team quietly made waves, and the director of 'Hey! My Brother, My Bear!' released behind-the-scenes footage from the set. The scene where she, dressed in a heavy teddy bear costume, jumps into the sea back and forth several times, and finally collapses from dehydration, garnered high click rates on the video and made it to the real-time hot topics.
That evening, Xiao Yuan directly topped the hot search list.
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