After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 548 - 538: If You’re Brave Enough to Speak Up, Show Your Face

Chapter 548: Chapter 538: If You’re Brave Enough to Speak Up, Show Your Face

Jiang Lingxi had just figured out how to register an account and enter the live stream room when she received an invitation to join the live call with Wei Xiao, and she clicked in without thinking.

The next second, Wei Minmin’s voice came through her headphones, "Good evening, Sister Xi!"

"Good evening to you too, and good evening to the director."

"Good evening, Xixi." After greeting, Wei Xiao continued to busy himself with connecting others.

The audience in the live room also started entertaining themselves.

Not knowing in advance which actors would participate in the live call, now every time Director Wei prepared to connect someone, it was like opening a blind box. Quite a few people even started making guesses.

The live stream room could connect up to six people simultaneously, and soon, the six split screens around and the main screen in the middle were all filled.

After seeing the actors who had already appeared, the audience began to discuss the actors who couldn’t join the live stream.

[As expected, the Actress She is not here, it seems her facial issues are confirmed. Otherwise, for the first wave of promotion for "The Empress of Yuan Zhao," it’s impossible not to appear.]

[The actor playing Prime Minister Shen isn’t here either; maybe he won’t show up for the later promotions as well. We’ll only know when the drama officially airs!]

[The little Princess I was looking forward to didn’t come either; is she looking down on new young actors?]

...

Wei Xiao looked at the screen filled with comments and quickly explained.

"Actress She indeed has some minor health issues recently and went abroad for therapy, so she probably won’t participate in the later promotions either."

"As for the actor playing Prime Minister Shen," he paused briefly, glancing subtly at the split screen where Jiang Lingxi was, "this teacher is making a guest appearance out of friendship, and is really busy normally, so we’ll have to wait until the drama airs to meet everyone. But rest assured, his portrayal of Prime Minister Shen will definitely exceed your expectations; I was amazed even during filming!"

"As for the actress playing the little Princess, this girl indeed isn’t very convenient right now, but if she’s not in class, there’s a chance she’s watching the live stream with you all."

[A minor health issue, Director Wei is so tactful.]

[Can’t imagine how stunning Prime Minister Shen’s character will be, suggesting Director Wei let us see the real person.]

[I’m lying on my dorm bed watching the live stream and caught a keyword from Director Wei, if not in class, is it possible the little Princess is still a student? Then she should be in college, I’d like to know which school she’s in!]

[Oh, I actually didn’t notice, thanks for the reminder. Is the little Princess also watching the live stream now, can you pop up?]

"Alright, alright," Wei Xiao pretend to be angry, addressing the audience still making demands and suggestions: "We’re seven people already, isn’t that enough to chat with you all?"

[Hehe, isn’t it more fun to joke around!]

[Alright, please, Director Wei, answer: at what stage is the production of "The Empress of Yuan Zhao" now, is there a chance to air it during the New Year period?]

Rarely seeing a serious topic, Wei Xiao quickly responded: "Currently, we are rushing through the editing. The opening, ending, and insert songs are almost arranged. If nothing goes wrong, it can be aired during the Spring Festival."

[Then I’m relieved.]

"If anyone has anything they want to ask or know, as long as it’s reasonable, I and the core team will respond to you."

[I just want to hear what fun stories there were during filming?]

[Did Xixi feel any pressure portraying the Empress of Yuan Zhao?]

[The actress playing Qing Yuan feels familiar; is it you who played the classmate of the female lead in the recently aired "Family’s Three Treasures"?]

...

Wei Minmin said, "If we’re talking about fun stories, there are plenty. Don’t be fooled by the script showing that Sister Xi’s Empress of Yuan Zhao practically raises her little Princess sister hand by hand, teaching her to write and paint. In reality, off-camera, it’s completely reversed; the young actress playing the little Princess, An’an, is a genuine top student. She’s more like tutoring Sister Xi on homework. And also..."

[Key information: a top student... definitely worth screening in schools like Jing University or Hua University!]

[Being an actor, shouldn’t they attend a performance arts school?]

[What I’m curious about is why the little Princess is tutoring Xixi on her coursework?]

Wei Minmin paused, looking at Jiang Lingxi sitting in the adjacent split screen, "Sister Xi, can I say it?"

Jiang Lingxi nodded at her.

"Sister Xi is preparing to retake the college entrance exam."

The live room fell silent for a moment after this sentence.

[Suddenly recalled, Xixi took the college entrance exam back then, but due to a sudden family incident, she didn’t go to school and entered the entertainment industry instead.]

[Still planning to go to college? But learning more things is always good, supporting this decision wholeheartedly.]

...

Even though nowadays many young people are quick to say they want to lie flat or give up, they still hold favorable views towards those willing to strive forward.

The screen swiftly filled with comments like "support," "cheering on," and such.

Jiang Lingxi first thanked these encouraging words, then began to answer the most frequently asked question in the comments earlier.

"I don’t feel any pressure. Empress of Yuan Zhao is a character I really like. I’m very happy to portray her."

She naturally liked herself, so there was no fault in saying this.

However, the statement ’not feeling any pressure’ indeed sparked some discontent.

[Isn’t that a bit arrogant, considering the Empress of Yuan Zhao? Even an Actress would feel pressured playing her, right?]

[My expectation for the role of Empress of Yuan Zhao suddenly dropped; she’s such a powerful historical female figure. If she’s portrayed too weakly, it would ruin the character.]

[Just saying, could you be a bit more humble?]

Wei Xiao quickly coughed slightly, looking at the comments, "I can assure you, Xiao Xi wasn’t bragging. Her demeanor while filming is always very relaxed. As everyone knows, this character’s strength is well-known, so during the performance, I encouraged the actor to let go rather than hold back. Xiao Xi captured this very well. Moreover, I dare say, no one else could have done it better than her."

Other actors connected in the live call all nodded in agreement towards the camera, expressing strong concurrence with this conclusion.

Leaving the viewers watching can’t help but click their tongues in admiration.

The film crew isn’t a monolith; there have been online exposes about cast members acting intimately onscreen while fighting fiercely for billing positions offscreen.

For so many key actors and the director to unanimously recognize her, it could only mean Jiang Lingxi’s portrayal of the Empress of Yuan Zhao has won over the rest of the crew.

[Can’t wait to watch the series, but thinking there’s almost two months until New Year feels so long.]

[Director Wei, please release more behind-the-scenes footage to tide us over!]

...

When it was Pei Xinyuan’s turn to answer viewer questions, she nodded graciously, "I didn’t expect a viewer to recognize me from a character with just a few minutes on screen, thank you. To be honest, I was just an aspiring background actor in the entertainment industry before; I can’t even count how many times I’ve played dead bodies or background roles. Playing Qing Yuan in ’The Empress of Yuan Zhao’ is my first time having a role with an official character introduction, and also my first time participating in a live broadcast promotion with the director and teachers. I’m honored, and I hope my portrayal of Qing Yuan will be well-received."

[Represents effort and luck!]

[Pei Xinyuan, alright, remembered that name. I also worked as an extra at the film city for a while during summer vacation, it was tough. Your hard work has finally paid off; looking forward to better things from you, with more memorable roles.]

...

Time unknowingly slipped away amidst chatting and interaction.

Jiang Lingxi sipped her lips, which were a bit dry from speaking, and soon had a glass of water at just the right temperature and a small fruit platter she could take and eat.

Initially, no one paid attention to this, since having an assistant around during a live stream with actors is normal.

But some sharp-eyed viewers accidentally spotted a reflection of a figure by the window next to her.

[There’s a man, the one who handed over the water and fruit platter is a man!]

[Estimate he’s around six feet!]

[I remember Xixi’s assistant is a young girl about her age, and her manager is also female?]

[Then the question is, who is this man?]

Jiang Lingxi hadn’t had a chance to eat the fruit she just picked up, and upon seeing these suddenly appearing comments, couldn’t help casting a sidelong glance at the man who was about to leave.

But Shen Yunqing misread her intention, "Is the live stream over?"

Hearing this deep, charming voice suddenly appear in the live stream room, the comments abruptly cleared, and then went completely wild!

Some transformed into detectives.

[Actually, I wanted to say this from the beginning. In those home-shot photos previously posted under Jiang Lingxi’s account, although not much is visible of the background, the interior style is clearly warm and bright, but this live stream’s background clearly differs, looking understated and elegant. Such starkly different styles couldn’t possibly exist within the same house!]

Others turned into screeching fans.

[Who? Who is that man? You had the nerve to speak, have the nerve to show your face!]

Jiang Lingxi: "The live stream is still on!"

Shen Yunqing: "..."