The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul
Chapter 572 - 571. Tang Shu didn’t come? (First update)

Chapter 572: 571. Tang Shu didn’t come? (First update)

Xiao Li was just stepping out to get some water when he heard the comment and slowly started talking.

"This kind of internal video, people claim it was leaked but that’s just an excuse, in this circle everyone understands the unspoken rules."

"...Huh?"

Which is to say—

"Mu Ziwei’s audition clip was intentionally released by the production crew?!"

So that big-shot Weibo V must be in cahoots with the production crew then!

Shen Yan was immediately flabbergasted. You can play like this? Wow, this industry of yours sure is something!

"Oh my goodness, the production crew is so tough, Looks like they’re trying to discipline Mu Ziwei, huh?"

Killing without bloodshed!

Striking at the heart!

Smart move!

Xiao Li snorted, "If she hadn’t been so dramatic, the production crew might not have gone out of their way not to show her respect."

When it comes down to it, it’s all self-inflicted.

Xiao Li, who saw through it all, put down his glass, waved his hand, and went back to his bedroom.

Meanwhile online, many night owls had already watched Mu Ziwei’s audition clip, and this time their reactions were surprisingly consistent.

"Damn, why does Mu Ziwei’s Lu Xiangtong seem just a bit awkward?"

"Especially in the second part with Tang Shu, even more awkward!"

"Mu Ziwei wasn’t lying, their understanding of the character really is different!"

"To be honest, if you watch Mu Ziwei’s audition first, you might not notice anything, but unfortunately we have already seen Tang Shu’s performance..."

The worst thing is to compare. Once there is a standard for comparison, it changes everything, especially since the audience’s appetite was already spoiled by Tang Shu during the day.

"I know the role of Lu Xiangtong. She is born into a prestigious family and was chosen by the Emperor to marry the Crown Prince, eventually getting involved in the Crown Prince’s downfall. There are only a few historical sentences about her."

"Corridor Pavilion" is based on true events, and though it has its dramatic flair, the general direction of the characters won’t change. Every TV drama will also adjust the characters’ personalities, and the same character might switch from protagonist to antagonist from one drama to another.

As viewers, netizens have the sharpest intuition.

"Tang Shu’s Lu Xiangtong is clearly a noble character. Even if you say she’s the protagonist, I wouldn’t find any fault. But Mu Ziwei’s Lu Xiangtong is totally a supporting female role, she looks like the antagonist in those period romance dramas."

This statement bluntly expressed the difference between the two.

Is there an issue with Mu Ziwei’s acting? Not really; it is purely personal interpretation of the character that differs.

"If this was another production, I would think that both interpretations are fine, and even feel that the supporting role should be like Mu Ziwei’s. But this is Director Li’s drama, and he always aims to create fully fleshed-out characters. Every antagonist he has shaped in the past is both lovable and detestable, and even a minor palace maid would act according to her personality. So with that said, Mu Ziwei’s performance is quite unsuitable."

At the end of the sponsored article, the big-shot Weibo V said just that.

That was putting it politely; if it had been someone more direct, they’d probably point at Mu Ziwei’s nose and say ’you’re not good enough’.

After finishing the article, netizens suddenly saw the light.

"So in the end, it’s all about Mu Ziwei not grasping the character well enough, right?"

"I agree with this loss, if it were me, I’d also choose Tang Shu."

"In the second scene, where she acts opposite the Empress, it’s clear that she’s at a disadvantage, while Tang Shu’s Lu Xiangtong just comes to life."

"Any judge would lean towards Tang Shu, no question about it!"

"I suddenly feel like the vote Tang Shu gave Mu Ziwei was out of friendship."

"Friendship vote, absolutely a friendship vote."

From then on, Mu Ziwei’s reputation plummeted, and there was a subtle downtrend in her fan base.

***

The buzz online kept soaring.

Even Du An, who had finished his research, saw the news alert on his phone.

If it had been before, this kind of entertainment news wouldn’t have piqued his interest, but this time he didn’t swipe it away immediately. Instead, he paused for a moment before his slender fingers tapped on the link.

When he exited the page, half an hour had passed.

"Ah An, what are you thinking about?"

His fiancée, all dressed up, pinched his arm in displeasure as he came to a daze.

Du An gathered his thoughts and offered Xu Qianyu a smile.

"Nothing, you look really beautiful tonight."

She smiled sweetly, her exquisite makeup even more striking under the lights, "I’ll take that as a sincere compliment, let’s go, they’re all waiting for us!"

Today was a celebration banquet held internally by the Xu Family, to celebrate a breakthrough in a project under Xu Qianyu’s direction.

Those who came to congratulate were only Xu Corporation’s shareholders, but it wasn’t a small crowd; there were nearly twenty people including shareholders and their families, and even a bunch of young heirs about Xu Qianyun’s age were there to join the excitement.

As the couple approached the hall, they immediately saw Xu Qianyun in the corner, laughing and talking with some classmates. The sixteen-year-old boy was already reaching 170 cm, looking quite dapper in a suit.

"Qianyun has grown up."

Du An remarked as his gaze settled on the group of boys enjoying each other’s company.

Xu Qianyu tightened her grip on his hand, her smile fading slightly.

"Indeed, he’s grown. He should be going into his senior year of high school this summer."

And next year, once he stepped into college, he would be eligible to take over the Xu family’s business.

Xu Qianyu shifted her gaze from her brother to her father, the real power holder of the Xu Corporation, who had absolute authority.

Du An, also donning a bespoke suit, was unaware of his fiancée’s slight unease. He looked around the hall, somewhat surprised.

"On such an important day, isn’t Tang... Aunt Lin’s daughter here?"

Today, the Xu family was extraordinarily lively, with each shareholder being a business magnate not just within Xu Corporation but also involved in other industries, including several CEOs with shares in entertainment companies.

With her status as Aunt Lin’s daughter, if she showed her face, shareholders would undoubtedly come over to chat.

It was a rare opportunity.

Xu Qianyu gave him an odd look at his words, "This is my celebration banquet, an internal event of the Xu Corporation. Why should she be here?"

As her words ended, she remembered Tang Shu’s occupation as an actress, her eyebrows knitting slightly as she glanced towards Lin Yunlan, who was chatting with some ladies in the crowd.

"It seems like Aunt Lin didn’t invite her, or perhaps... she chose not to come? Good sense on her part."

It was unclear if she was referring to Lin Yunlan or Tang Shu herself.

Du An paused for a moment and took a glass of red wine from a passing waiter, taking a sip.

"She has... potential in traditional Chinese medicine."

"I know, Aunt Lin has mentioned more than once that her grades are good, that she has been first twice."

Xu Qianyu took up the conversation but didn’t seem too concerned.

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