CHAPTER 65

The filming location for Director Huo is in Bincheng.

This is also Xiang Xiaoyuan's first time going to a northern city for filming. She set off in mid-December, planning to spend this year's Spring Festival in Bincheng.

Tiantian and Cai Juan prepared many clothes for her that she had never worn before: thick down jackets, cashmere sweaters, hand warmers, thermos, thick socks, etc., filling two large suitcases.

After getting off the plane, Xiaoyuan experienced having fans greet her for the first time.

As she walked out, she was stunned when a group of girls rushed over, almost everyone holding a phone, with a few even holding cameras.

"Xiaoyuan, I saw the pictures you recently took, they're so beautiful! I downloaded them all. Look at my screensaver!"

"Wow, collaborating with Director Huo... so excited!"

"Can you give me an autograph?"

"Xiaoyuan, look over here..."

Xiang Xiaoyuan instinctively complied, stopping to sign a few autographs, take some photos, and even walk past several Douyin livestreams...

There were quite a lot of people, and the scene was too lively.

Cai Juan and Tiantian protected her on either side, with a bodyguard following behind. After leaving the airport and getting into the van, she finally began to process everything, dumbly saying, "Am I really famous now?"

Cai Juan and Tiantian exchanged glances and laughed in unison.

Tiantian handed her a phone; she opened Weibo and saw her own face appear on the screen.

Was Sina Weibo showing a trending topic?

"Those are the promotional materials for Lays chips we shot last month," Cai Juan giggled, opening her own Weibo and singing, "Look, look at your face!"

After having a team, Xiaoyuan met with Ruan Qing, and they talked for a full two hours. Now she was the boss of her own team, and everyone followed her lead.

Ruan Qing asked her what aspirations she had for her acting career. Did she want to be a popular star, or did she aspire to be a skilled actor?

Did she want to be more down-to-earth, have more contact with the public, or maintain a certain distance from the public and just focus on acting?

Did she prefer acting in TV dramas or movies?

Did she like appearing on variety shows?

Would she be open to appropriate publicity (rumors)?

Ruan Qing wanted to know her true thoughts to help plan her career. To help Xiaoyuan understand, she laid out several preliminary plans, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each in detail.

Xiaoyuan had a good impression of her, so she shared her thoughts openly. She said she was willing to film both movies and TV dramas, especially if the scripts were to her liking. She wasn't very fond of variety shows and hoped to avoid them as much as possible. She was willing to cooperate with promotional activities in ways that suited her, but she was firm that her personal relationships should not be used for publicity.

"Also, I hope that my relationships remain private." Xiao Yuan stated firmly. She wanted to make it clear upfront, saying, "I don't like exposing my personal life to the public, and I don't want to engage in publicity stunts with other celebrities."

Ruan Qing smiled at her and asked, "Is there anything I need to know?"

Xiaoyuan responded seriously, "That's my privacy."

Ruan Qing's smile widened. "Can I ask if it will affect...?"

Xiaoyuan's expression turned even more serious. "It won't."

Ruan Qing got her answer and nodded with a light smile, "Okay."

Xiaoyuan had no idea she had revealed anything, she simply thought Ruan Qing had agreed to her terms, so she obediently handed over her Weibo account.

Ruan Qing suggested that she could create a secondary account and advised her to avoid posting specific photos, locations, and events.

In the past few days, Xiaoyuan had been busy working on scripts and hadn't spent much time online. She only remembered taking a lot of photos over the past month and couldn't recall which were for promotional purposes and which were for new media magazines.

"What were those photos that girl mentioned earlier?" Xiaoyuan asked.

"Hahaha, those went trending last night, but you were already asleep, so I didn't tell you." Cai Juan replied, laughing as she opened her phone.

There were a total of nine photos, divided into three sets, with three photos in each set.

The first set featured a neighborly, Japanese style. She wore a brown sweater with a deep blue pinafore dress, paired with dark blue 1970s Converse low-top canvas shoes. With round black glasses and her hair in twin ponytails, she stood on the terrace, sunlight cascading over her. Her smile was clear and bright, exuding a fresh and sweet vibe.

In the second photo, she wore the same brown sweater, paired with a blue and white checkered skirt, and a light khaki trench coat, her hair in a high ponytail, carrying a white canvas bag. Xiaoyuan wasn't looking at the camera, her gaze was focused as she slightly bent down, preparing to put on her other shoe.

The shot was framed here, a close-up full-body picture, capturing the essence of a cultured, vibrant young woman preparing for her day, full of life.

The third photo again featured the brown sweater, but this time Xiaoyuan was curled up on a single leather couch. Her long, slightly wavy hair draped over her shoulders. With her right leg pulled in slightly and her left leg extended, she was barefoot, her feet delicately arched, her two snowy legs bathed in a layer of glistening sunlight.

She tilted her face slightly upward, her eyes filled with laughter, a hint of shyness, a touch of sweetness, her lips slightly pursed as if playfully asking for a kiss.

This set of photos was freely accessible, and within an hour of going online, the brown sweater from that brand sold out completely. By today, the same style was out of stock.

Cai Juan vividly recounted the comments from Weibo the night before:

[Ahhhh, so many ways to wear it, I've learned something!]

[I want to buy it too! I want to use it to seduce my boyfriend!!!]

[Looks so practical! Oh my, it's so beautiful, it's blowing up!]

.......

Tiantian, in a soft tone, added, "I bought one too, luckily managed to get one."

The second set of photos was also free and featured a cool and sweet style: smoky eye makeup, an embroidered two-piece skirt paired with black studded boots, a leather jacket over a long skirt, and a suit with shorts.

Xiaoyuan continued to pull it off beautifully.

The third set was paid content. It opened with two 15-second videos.

The first video showed Xiao Yuan wearing an all-white fluffy princess dress by an outdoor swimming pool, with bubbles floating everywhere. She held a transparent umbrella, twirling in her skirt or chasing a dog by the pool. In the last few seconds, she ran toward the camera, laughing.

The background music was a lively English song called "Swimming Pool."

The second video featured her in a fitted black mermaid gown, with bold makeup and red lips. The makeup artist had highlighted the beauty mark on her nose. Under the cool, close-up lighting, she held a cigarette, took a puff, and slowly exhaled. The smoke drifted toward the camera, creating a breathtaking allure, with no background music, just a few rhythmic beats.

At this point, the cover title finally appeared—"Xiang Xiaoyuan: The Many Facets of Charm."

New media magazines differ from traditional publications, although they may not have the same fame, they are products of the new era of the internet. They are electronic publications released online, allowing readers to browse and purchase, serving as a way for stars and artists to showcase their popularity.

These digital magazines typically focus on trending artists, making money from sponsorships of the branded clothing as well as subscription fees from offline fans.

This magazine shoot had outstanding results, and Xiao Yuan received unanimous praise for her expressiveness.

The endorsed clothing wasn't from luxury brands but rather designer labels, with an average price ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 yuan. The clothes included accessories, and once the photos were released, everything quickly sold out. The next set of videos required a purchase code to access, and the subscription numbers were quite impressive.

"Xiang Xiaoyuan: The Many Facets of Charm." trended as the number one hot search last night and remained in the top ten after 36 hours.

[Oh gosh, Sister ran toward me, and I'm smitten! this is the most worthy $5 I've spent, not only videos but also behind-the-scenes photos and official posters—such a great deal!]

[Kill me a hundred times, sister! I'd be willing to die a thousand times!]

"..."

As Xiaoyuan scrolled through the comments, she suddenly voiced a question, "I have one question: why do they always call me 'sister'?"

It was understandable for younger fans to call her that, but some who were clearly her age or even older did too, both guys and girls, which puzzled her.

Tiantian and Cai Juan exchanged amused looks and said to her, "That's because they like you."

Xiaoyuan blinked, a bit dumbfounded, "Oh."

Then she noticed that she retweeted the official account of this magazine and said, "Haha, this should be the first time the studio has spent money to trend me (doge)." ["Doge" is a funny internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog. The dog is shown with colorful text that represents its silly thoughts, often saying things like "such wow" or "very cool." It's used to be playful or humorous online. The meme also inspired a cryptocurrency called Dogecoin, which started as a joke but became popular.]

The post had over 20,000 comments, all praising her genuine personality and how cute she was.

Xiaoyuan asked, "Who posted this Weibo for me?"

Tiantian, in a soft voice, raised her hand, "It was me," she paused, then added, "I showed it to Manager Ruan first, and she agreed before I posted it."

Xiaoyuan was a bit surprised, that Weibo post was quite well done.

In October, before and after the premiere of "Zui Xiaoyao," she made several appearances on trending searches. Although it wasn't her intention, there was both positive and negative attention, but in the end, she benefited the most.

The magazine shoot went very well and sold well, which inevitably stirred some envy among others. Additionally, having a newly popular artist trending too often isn't necessarily a good thing, as it can lead to backlash and increased annoyance.

However, a Weibo post that was playful and a bit self-deprecating created a sense of "balance." Even those who were dissatisfied might just chuckle and move on after seeing it, and those who weren't upset wouldn't find a reason to criticize.

Tiantian usually appears shy and quiet, with few words, but unexpectedly, she seemed quite knowledgeable about self-media operations.

Xiaoyuan praised her several times, which made her blush. After a while, she handed her phone to Xiaoyuan to show her something, and the lock screen displayed a picture of herself wearing just a sweater.

Xiaoyuan smiled at her.

Tiantian blushed even more.

Cai Juan chuckled beside them, remarking that Xiaoyuan was becoming more and more adept at flirting with girls.

As they chatted in the car, time flew by quickly. When they arrived at their accommodation and got out of the car, the cold air hit them, causing Xiaoyuan to instinctively rub her hands together.

Finally, it was time to shoot the movie.

To be honest, she wasn't very enthusiastic about filming for magazines or advertisements, the film set was where her passion truly lay.

In her heart, she secretly admitted that she preferred others discussing her acting skills.

She hoped her new manager would truly look out for her.

Ruan Qing had made quite an impact since taking office, with only one more person left to deal with—the former boss, Yang Qiao.

Liang Yuesheng did not participate in the operation of Feiyi, he was just a major shareholder. Feiyi had transitioned from having one boss to two, and although it was a small but well-run company with no more than 40 employees, and a registered capital of only one million, it had gained some recognition in the industry within three years, thanks in part to Yang Qiao.

Ruan Qing wanted to have a harmonious relationship with Yang Qiao and didn't want her to feel like an outsider encroaching on her territory.

There's a saying: two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain, unless one is male and the other is female.

She felt that wasn't entirely true, two female tigers could coexist if they found the right rhythm.

She invited Yang Qiao to a spa, where they enjoyed facials and full-body massages. After the treatments, the therapist lit a calming incense and left them in a quiet space.

The two of them sipped wine.

Ruan Qing got straight to the point and asked Yang Qiao, "What do you think of Xiang Xiaoyuan?"

Yang Qiao patted her shoulder, looked at her directly, and replied, "I guess you want to develop her into the next 'Three Golden' He Chenying."

Ruan Qing clapped her hands with a smile, "You've caught on. Do you think it's possible?"

"I had been observing before. She has talent, but she still lacks opportunities. However, now that you're here, I think it's not impossible."

Ruan Qing looked at her, "Are you willing to team up with me?"

Yang Qiao shrugged, "Her current main agent is you, so I have no objections. But..." She raised an eyebrow, implying something, "You need to be honest with me. Is our other shareholder related to her...?"

Ruan Qing shook her head, "No, they probably haven't even met in person. Jim is settled in California, and his child is already several years old."

Ruan Qing shifted the topic, looking at her earnestly, her eyes shining, "Yang Qiao, let's work together.Let's grow Fei Yi, develop Xiang Xiaoyuan into our strong brand, don't let her become just a popular star for views. We still have some funds, and you can sign new talents separately, I'll support you."

Yang Qiao remained silent for a moment, seemingly resigned, "Got it, in the future, I won't let Xiaoyuan take on any more new media magazines for now, and let's avoid variety shows for a while... just let her focus on acting."

"After filming Director Huo's drama, we don't need to worry about her popularity. Our collaboration with the official promotion will be enough." Ruan Qing was pleased to reach a consensus with her.

"You've worked with Huo Bijun and He Chenying. Once people know you're managing Xiaoyuan, there will naturally be some discussions."

"That's all in the past." Ruan Qing smiled.

"Will He Chenying visit Huo Bijun's set?" After settling the serious matters, Yang Qiao couldn't help but gossip, "What's their situation now?"

"They're still friends, after all, they have a child. I'm not sure if she'll visits the set or not."

"Whenever they appear together, it becomes a hot topic. The Peacock Couple is always a hot search topic." Yang Qiao took a sip of her drink and nudged Ruan Qing, "Hey, tell me what it felt like when you discovered two of your artists were secretly dating?"

Ruan Qing's face stiffened, she pressed her forehead, shook her head with a wry smile, "Don't remind me, it gives me a headache."

She had long known about their relationship back then, He Chenying was more discreet, while Huo Bijun had announced it on Weibo without warning, catching her off guard.

"He's like a peacock, wanting the whole world to see him flaunt his feathers." Ruan Qing still felt annoyed at the memory, "You know, for years, he relied solely on his looks. Many young girls liked him, not because he lacked business acumen or acting skills, but there was still a big gap compared to Chenying..."

"Yeah, it was being with He Chenying that opened his eyes. Didn't he win two Best Actor awards later on?"

"That's right. When he went public, Chenying had already been married once and faced a lot of backlash. Fans from both sides were in an uproar, criticizing me, and later their fans attacked me together..." Ruan Qing closed her eyes, her expression reflecting how hard it was to look back, then smiled, "I've had it rough."

Yang Qiao also smiled, feeling sympathetic yet amused, comforting her, "Look on the bright side, history shouldn't repeat itself."

"Xiaoyuan is well-protected by her brother. Aside from acting, she doesn't care much about other things—she's quite obedient."

"Even if she's in a relationship, she'll keep you informed, but it might come as a surprise leak."

Ruan Qing pondered for a few seconds, then smiled, "Let's hope so. Cheers~"

The two clinked their glasses, the sound crisp and clear.

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