Chapter 716
Xi Mengze's Peach Blossom Curse
The filming of "Back to Youth" was quite convoluted.
The script was initially finalized, but during filming, the director discovered its shortcomings and made significant revisions, which forced the actors to adjust their performance styles on the spot.
The good thing is that, due to limitations in funding and location, the filming of long-running dramas often involves shooting many scenes in a single location.
If a scene requires this setting, then film the entire scene in that setting.
But short dramas are different.
Firstly, short dramas don't use many scenes, and the time limit also makes it impossible to provide many scenes.
In addition, short dramas are filmed quickly; even a high-quality horizontal short drama can be filmed in just over a month.
Therefore, the filming of this production team was not based on the number of scenes to be filmed, but rather on the plot of the script.
This also allows actors to better grasp the essence of their roles.
It was because they followed the script and found that some of the characters' roles were not appropriate that they thought about making some changes.
After the director discovered the problem, he made major changes.
For actors, these changes actually help them get closer to the character and perform more smoothly.
Qi Guanmingzhu said, "Let's follow the old pattern and first try displaying it in landscape mode to see if it runs smoothly."
If landscape mode is implemented successfully, the release date of vertical short dramas will be delayed. Landscape mode will attract viewers first, and once its performance is stable, vertical mode will then be released.
Jinli thought for a moment and nodded, "That's fine too. Let's go with landscape mode first, so we can help advertise for it."
Both of them are A-list celebrities, and since they invested in "Back to Youth," they naturally wanted to help promote it.
Anyway, this traffic is free.
They have that status, so they don't mind being associated with the works they invest in.
If we don't promote it, and there's a lack of exposure that causes the results to fall behind, then we'll lose a lot.
There's a barrier between celebrities and internet celebrities, and there's also a barrier between internet celebrities and live streamers.
Although good internet celebrities and live streamers can now earn almost as much as second-tier celebrities, there is still a significant gap between them and first-tier celebrities.
The difference lies in brand awareness and influence.
Internet celebrities and live streamers focus on a small group of people, while celebrities are different.
Celebrities face the public.
If two A-list celebrities were to promote a vertical short drama, their management company might not allow it, and fans would feel that it lowered their status.
However, if it's for promoting high-quality horizontal-screen short dramas, then that's fine; many well-known directors are also promoting them.
After discussing this matter, the two began to inquire about each other's love lives.
Qi Guanmingzhu thought of the gossip news she had recently seen and couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure you want to choose Gu Cheng?"
Jinli nodded. "Yes, he's very good to me."
Qi Guanmingzhu sighed: "I never expected that among us, you would be the first to establish a romantic relationship."
Jinli smiled and said, "Perhaps it's because I'm often sick that I cherish everything around me and the people who are by my side even more."
Once I've made up my mind, I won't refuse, because my future has no tomorrow, so I'm more inclined to go all out when I meet someone I like.
Even if tomorrow were the end of the world, I am happy and content today, and that's enough.
Qi Guanmingzhu said enviously, "I don't have your open-minded attitude."
She hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm always hesitant about starting a relationship."
I'm afraid of getting hurt, afraid the outcome won't be as good as I imagine, afraid of unforeseen changes in the future, and afraid that even the strongest feelings will be worn down by time.
"Am I being too timid?" Qi Guanmingzhu asked uncertainly.
Jinli shook her head. This is the normal behavior in a relationship. People are afraid of losing each other, which is why they are so anxious about losing each other.
Mingzhu's having this mindset proves that she is already in a relationship.
Although she was terrified of starting a relationship, she had unknowingly fallen deeply in love.
Jinli said, "Don't be afraid of the future, don't be afraid of starting, every experience is a part of the scenery in our lives."
Some people can't stay with you for long, but the experiences they bring you can become a part of your life.
Being too afraid of losing the relationship to even begin shows that you value it highly and don't want to lose it.
But have you thought about it? If you keep choosing not to have it, then this relationship is destined to end without a trace.
Even if you possess something, you might not achieve anything, but if you don't choose to begin, you don't even have the right to give up.
Jinli hugged Qiguan Mingzhu and whispered, "I hope we can both be happy."
Qi Guanmingzhu's eyes flickered slightly, a glint of tears flashing across them.
At that moment, she thought about many things, including fear and anxiety about the future.
But she found that she would regret giving up the relationship that was about to begin.
Regret never begins.
Qi Guanmingzhu took a deep breath. "You're right. Without a beginning, how can there be an end?"
The future may not be better than the present, but if we had never had it, then there would have been no future for the two of us.
Jinli thought for a moment and said, "Besides, maybe the person you choose has even stronger feelings for you than you do?"
Since being admitted to university, her divine power has been abundant, and the rate at which it is being lost has slowed down.
This also means that the abilities attached to her can last longer.
For example, the skill of physiognomy has always existed.
She carefully examined Qi Guanmingzhu's face and realized that this was the best chance she would experience for love in the next five years.
If she doesn't seize this opportunity, her future path to marriage will be fraught with difficulties, or she may even remain single for life.
Judging from her appearance, the person Hongluan is attracted to this time is her destined soulmate, and they will be together for a long time.
She recalled the scene from a few days ago when she was chatting with Gu Cheng, and Chen Lin deliberately snatched her phone to ask about her recent situation.
She had also seen Chen Lin's face back then, and it matched Qi Guan Mingzhu's current face; both of them were about to experience a stroke of good fortune.
Similarly, the person he falls for is also his destined partner.
The two did not appear in front of her at the same time, so she could not see the thread of fate connecting them.
However, one can discern something from their similar facial features.
It's basically confirmed that it's one of those two.
People often say that couples look alike because once they become husband and wife, their destinies and fortunes intertwine, so they tend to align in many details.
Qi Guan Mingzhu and Chen Lin look quite like a married couple.
But whether or not it would lead to their marriage, Jinli didn't really care.
She hopes that when Mingzhu is old and looks back on the past, she won't regret never having started this relationship.
The thoughts of the future self are different from those of the past self, including the self during childhood, at each stage.
There is greater tolerance towards the elderly, and their happiness index is also higher.
Those embarrassing things I used to do are now, in retrospect, precious memories.
What I fear is not embarrassing moments, but looking back and finding my life stagnant, filled with nothing but work and no lasting impressions.
The most regrettable thing is having nothing to say when the past is mentioned.
Jinli rarely played the role of a relationship guru. As she lay in bed that night, she was still thinking that if Pearl wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with her the next day, she could share her own experiences. After all, her relationship with Gu Cheng had developed naturally, without any dramatic events acting as catalysts; they had simply been quietly supporting and accompanying each other.
But to everyone's surprise, Pearl got up early the next day and left the apartment.
She left in a hurry. At that time, Jinli went out for a run and when she came back, she only found the note left by Pearl.
I have something to take care of, so I'll have to go now. Let's get together again next Chinese New Year.
Jinli thought to herself that Pearl was probably busy dealing with relationship issues, and she wondered if she would hear any other news about her next New Year.
I thought I could spend two more days leisurely, but not long after Pearl left, Xi Mengze also moved into her large apartment.
Unlike Pearl, Xi Mengze is here on vacation and will stay until after the New Year.
But like Pearl, Xi Mengze also has relationship problems.
Before she could say anything, Jinli was taken aback when she saw her face.
His brows and eyes held a fierce glint, yet his face was as gentle as a spring breeze, and his lips curved into a smile.
Good heavens, this is a Peach Blossom Curse.
Who did this person offend to generate such a heavy aura of malevolence?
Jinli asked, "What brings such a busy person like you here?"
Xi Mengze said with a grin, "Can't I just come here to hang out with you?"
Jinli: "It's possible, but definitely not now."
The period before the Lunar New Year is our busiest time. As the leading singer of Chenxi Entertainment, the company must have booked you for a lot of gala performances.
Instead of rushing to make money at the end of the year, you've come to me; you must have something else in mind.
Xi Mengze's lips twitched slightly, and his face fell.
"You can see right through anything. Okay, I came here to seek refuge, to escape a celebrity."
Jinli asked curiously, "Who is it?"
Xi Mengze uttered a name, and Jinli was taken aback.
She recognized the male celebrity because he had won the Best Actor award.
They are quite senior in the industry, but they are not much older than them, at most 5 years apart.
Because he debuted as a child star, he has a long career.
"You and Huo Sichen... one of you is a singer and the other is an actor, and you've never acted before, how did you end up together?"
Xi Mengze said helplessly, "A few months ago, I went to the TV station to record a program, and he happened to be recording a program there as well. Our studios were right next to each other."
Because the recording times were all around the same time, and we stayed at the same hotel, we would often run into each other when we went out.
After we bumped into each other a few times, he added me on WeChat and asked me out to dinner.
I figured the people going to dinner were all celebrities in the industry, including actors and singers, and it was just a casual gathering. So I agreed out of respect for them.
My performance at the time was rather mediocre; I didn't actively interact with others, I just ate quietly.
When Xi Mengze mentioned this, he couldn't help but frown, looking puzzled.
She really couldn't understand what Huo Sichen saw in her.
Her looks aren't top-tier in the industry; only her singing voice is passable.
But she's not outgoing; in fact, she's rather quiet and lazy, preferring to stay still as much as possible.
She likes to have fun and travel, and doesn't like to work.
But Hoss was different; he was a recognized workaholic in the industry.
Their personalities are completely opposite, so it's impossible for them to get along.
"Ever since that dinner party, he has frequently asked me out to eat. At first, it was a large gathering, but later it became a one-on-one dinner."
One time, I didn't realize it was a meal for two people alone until I got there, so I immediately made up an excuse to leave.
He continued to ask me out to dinner frequently after that, which annoyed me.
Xi Mengze has a pleasant voice; even her complaining tone sounds a bit like coquettishness.
"I've been finding excuses to refuse. As an adult, I've refused to this extent. You should understand what I mean by that."
But he just doesn't understand. He keeps following me around, going to whatever event I attend.
My schedules are clearly not publicly available, but he always manages to get them. I suspect someone in the industry is leaking them to him.
Xi Mengze was very distressed, "This time, when I participated in the New Year's Eve Gala, he followed me over, and our performances were even separated."
"Many people here know he's pursuing me, and they jokingly ask me how things are going between us. What progress? I just want to stay as far away from him as possible!"
Jinli: "So you skipped the Spring Festival Gala and took an early holiday to avoid him?"
Xi Mengze nodded, "Yes, yes, yes."
Jinli shook her head: "This is not a long-term solution. You can't avoid participating in announcements forever."
Moreover, you have very few announcements to begin with, while he has more announcements than you, but his influence is greater, and the companies that make the announcements are willing to give him face.
"As long as they know your schedule, it's easy for them to remove themselves from their schedule to participate with you."
Xi Mengze said speechlessly, "What can I do? I've run away to the point where I don't want to work anymore."
Jinli looked at her face and realized that this "peach blossom curse" was not caused by just one person.
The ability to generate malevolent energy indicates involvement with several individuals.
She asked, "You're not the only one pursuing you, are you?"
Xi Mengze was shocked. "You knew that? How did you figure it out?"
Jinli said leisurely, "The news that Actor Huo is pursuing you in the industry is all over the place. Isn't it normal for me to know some things about you?"
Xi Mengze thought about it and agreed, his shoulders slumping again. "Okay."
She raised her hand and swore to the heavens: "I really didn't flirt with those people, but I don't know why, they just had their eyes on me."
"Besides this troublesome Huo Sichen, several other celebrities have confessed their feelings for me on WeChat. I have no idea what's going on."
Sometimes I really want to find a fortune teller to tell me if I've been having an exceptionally strong luck with romance lately.
Jinli thought to herself, "It's not just thriving, it's so thriving that it can even generate malevolent energy."
If not handled properly, she might become a star whose career collapses because of a scandal.
"Have you thought of a solution?" Jinli asked.
Xi Mengze shook his head and looked at her expectantly: "I just don't know what to do, so I wanted to ask you."
Jinli pondered, "Does Sister Fang know about this?"
"She knew, but not completely. She only knew that Huo Sichen was pursuing me, but she didn't know that other celebrities were pursuing me."
Jinli slowly spoke: "I do have a method, but it's rather unorthodox, and using it could negatively impact your reputation."
Xi Mengze's eyes lit up: "Tell me quickly, what method is it?"
Jinli said meaningfully, "Since there are so many flies, why not find a real boyfriend to swatt them away?"
If you have a legal wife, those celebrities will have some reservations; they don't want to be criticized by netizens for liking to be a mistress. (End of Chapter)