Translator: _Min
The staff had also set up the promotional board, upon which the title âCrossing the Demon Realmâ and the auspicious words âWishing a Smooth Startâ were prominently displayed.
Actors and actresses were handed incense sticks as part of the ceremony.
Meng Xue and Lin Wansu found themselves frozen in place, only moving towards the promotional board after a nudge from the staff, their steps hesitant and unsure.
As usual, Meng Xue instinctively moved towards the center.
âHey! What are you doing?â the assistant director noticed and frowned deeply.
âThe center position is reserved for the female lead. Do you think this is a fashion runway where you can just claim the spotlight?â
All eyes turned towards them, scrutinizing.
Meng Xueâs face flushed red immediately. She quickly apologized and moved to the back.
This was but a minor incident, yet it didnât escape the attention of those around her.
Meng Xue felt as though all eyes were still on her, making her feel as if she was being pricked by needles.
Even the sunlight seemed too glaring, her complexion turning alarmingly pale.
Another minor actor offered her support, âAre you alright?â
Meng Xue managed a weak smile, âIâm fineâ¦â
âRight, youâre playing Su He, arenât you?â the minor actor said. âYour character has a lot of scenes, constantly following around the female lead and serving her. â
Director Tang Haiqiuâs reputation for strictness meant no stand-ins were allowed.
Meng Xue would have to perform all her scenes personally.
The thought alone made Meng Xueâs complexion worsen.
Ifit were for Gu Zhinan, she would have willingly accepted.
But to serve Si Fuqing?!
Meng Xue felt a gnawing pain inside, as if ants were eating her from within.
She looked at Si Fuqing, standing proudly at the center and forefront, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
Meng Xue was aware of the smear campaign against       on Weibo before
the start of âCrossing the Demon Realm.â
And now, Si Fuqing was the female lead, and she was a servant to the female lead.
Her body swayed, already anticipating the ridicule she would face online.
Throughout the ceremony, Meng Xue was distracted.
The conclusion of the opening ceremony signified the official commencement of âCrossing the Demon Realm.â
âEveryone, head to the makeup room. Weâll start with the makeup photos,â the assistant director announced. âTeacher Si has several outfits to try, there are four sets to capture, so itâll be a bit of work.â
Si Fuqing nodded in agreement, âNo worries, itâs my duty.â
Sang Yanqing and Yuejian followed.
Si Fuqingâs natural beauty made the makeup artistâs job easy, and the styling was quickly completed.
âToday really feels like a triumph,â Sang Yanqing and Yuejian laughed and chatted, bursting with joy. âYueyue, did you see Meng Xue and Lin Wansu? They looked absolutely green with envy. They deserved it for trying to smear
Qingqing.â
Yuejian nodded, âIs this common in the entertainment industry?â
âNot really, it depends on the teamâs approach,â Sang Yanqing shook her head. âSome rely on smearing others to climb up. Real talent like Qingqingâs is rare, and public opinion can be lethal.â
âWhat a hassle,â Yuejian mused, a cold smile playing on his lips. âIt would be simpler to just deal with them directly.â
Sang Yanqing was taken aback, âDeal with them?â
âI mean, we should handle this properly,â Yuejian clarified. âWe should crush them with our abilities.â
âExactly,â Sang Yanqing agreed. âTrue strength speaks louder than words.â Overhearing their conversation, Si Fuqing thought to herself.
Sang Yanqing might not realize that Yuejianâs idea ofstrength was more physical than metaphorical.
Evolved beings tend to be quite violent.
âSister Sang, youâre truly impressive,â Si Fuqing sincerely complimented, giving a thumbs up. âYouâre the most mentally resilient person Iâve met.â
Sang Yanqing responded with a hint of irritation, âI have to be, to manage you. Otherwise, I would have been scared to death long ago.â
After the makeup photos were taken, they were sent to the promotional team.
Soon, the official account of âCrossing the Demon Realmâ released the cast photos, starting with the supporting roles.
The fans were eagerly waiting.
[Whereâs Qingqing? Whereâs Qingqing? Hurry up and release my wifeâs makeup photo!]
[Why hasnât Qingqingâs photo been released yet?]
After the account posted the makeup photo of MO Yishan, there was still no sign of Si Fuqing.
Meng Xueâs fans began to gloat.
After they had suppressed their feelings for so many days, it was finally time to unleash them.
[Looks like some supporting characters donât even get a makeup photo. Whatâs there to look forward to?]
[Meng Xue is the fifth female lead. Whereâs your bias? Canât find her anywhere, can you?]
[Only the female lead left, and Si Fuqing doesnât have a makeup photo. Stop looking. ]
Finally, the makeup photo of the female lead was released.
[@CrossingtheDemonRealmOfficialV: A mortal against the gods! She is Sui
Yan, unyielding and resilient! @SiFuqingV]
Accompanied by four images.
The first image was Sui Yan at the start, naive and innocent.
The second image captured her as she crawls through the demonâs lair.
The third portrayed her wandering the mortal world, a paragon of chivalry, her white robes billowing in the breeze.
In the final picture, she was clad in silver armor, gripping a heavy sword, her gaze icy and piercing, as she pointed towards the celestial palace.
From a mere mortal to a remnant soul, and finally stepping into the celestial realm as a warrior goddess, her entire journey unfolded across these four images.
The post exploded with comments.
[What the�]
[Am I blind? Someone, please pinch me awake.]
[Who said being a fan of Si Fuqingâs career has no future? I DISAGREE! Look at this career! Who can compare?]
[Ahhh, my wife is so successful! A true female lead!]
Transitioning from a pop idol to an actor was usually fraught with difficulties, but Si Fuqingâs first role was as the female lead!
Meng Xueâs fans were left speechless.
Seconds later, they began frantically deleting their comments.
[Donât bother deleting, Iâve already taken screenshots. Letâs see if your faces are swollen yet.]
[Ah, our bias isnât just any supporting character. Sheâs the female lead. Heard someoneâs playing the servant?]
[Iâve never heard of Si Fuqing, but these makeup photos look promising. Iâm looking forward to it.]
[I give up. Why cast an idol with no acting skills as the lead? Donât they know these idols canât act?]
At the same time, Gu Zhinan and her team caught sight of the official cast list released for âCrossing the Demon Realmâ.
âI thought Director Tang would choose someone experienced, but it turns out to be a newcomer,â her agent expressed in disbelief. âShe hasnât even acted before. What made Director Tang choose her over you?â
Gu Zhinan pursed her lips, feeling a sting in her heart, âSheâs pretty.â
âDirector Tang is definitely not someone swayed by appearances, and moreover, the character Sui Yan comes from a mortal background, not even possessing exceptional beauty,â her agent scoffed with a cold laugh. âI wonder what kind of backing she has, daring to snatch your role.â
Ifit had been an actor of the same status as Gu Zhinan, it might have been acceptable.
But Si Fuqing?
A Best Actress winner losing a role to a popular idol? That was intolerable.
Gu Zhinanâs social media and fan groups were in an uproar.
The topic #SiFuqingSnatchesGuZhinanRole# quickly trended.
In terms of national popularity and the general publicâs perception, Gu Zhinan, the award-winning actress, was far ahead, and her acting skills were widely recognized as superior.
[I really want to know whoâs backing Si Fuqing. Which tycoon managed to sway even the upright Tang Haiqiu? Donât tell me she doesnât have a powerful backer. Iâll never believe it. Without one, thereâs no way she could have parted ways with Tianle Media so smoothly.]
[The ones I dislike the most are those who replace genuinely talented actors by relying on their wealthy backers.]
[I just want to ask, on what basis did Si Fuqing get the lead role?!]
[Iâm not watching it anymore. Itâs fine for a pop idol to play a supporting role, but the lead? Thatâs just laughable.]
[Serial drama fan here, who is           Is she also a Best Actress?]
[The one asking before, does she deserve to be Best Actress? Just stick to singing and dancing.]
âI knew it would come to this. I didnât want to get involved with them,â Sang Yan said with a cold laugh. âSince theyâve come knocking, they canât blame me for stepping on them.â
With a slam of her hand on the table, she declared, âRelease Qingqingâs audition tape. Buy the top spot on the trending searches.â
It was time to shock a few more people!