I have a persona specifically for acting.

Of course, Tong Zhao couldn’t really kill anyone.

She pacified Lu Xianzhang, then meditated and practiced for a while, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. Although the spiritual energy in this world was extremely thin and immortality through cultivation was impossible, spending the same time on it was at least more effective than applying a hydrating face mask.

During this time, the episodes of *The Chronicle of Emperor Ming* featuring Tong Zhao began airing.

*The Chronicle of Emperor Ming* maintained an average viewership rating at the tail end of the Diamond level, and online discussions were consistently high. For a newcomer, even a small guest role would be a coveted opportunity. The problem was that Song Wanxue’s reputation as a rigid, straight-laced man was well-known. Having him play an emperor enthralled by a favorite concubine? No problem; his majestic presence as the “Longevity Lord” was undeniable.

But having him portray an emperor who was lovesick and dazed by his favored concubine?

Fans could easily imagine him saying, “This is against the rules,” with his usual stern expression.

The romance between the Emperor and the Concubine was one of the few emotional storylines in the drama. Those who disliked Song Wanxue had been waiting for him to falter since the premiere, hoping for a glimmer of hope when the Concubine appeared.

Many were eagerly anticipating Song Wanxue’s downfall.

Marketing accounts quickly joined in to stir the pot, and even Song Wanxue’s agent bought some promotional support to reinforce his image as an emotionless, straight-laced emperor—since he was bound to fail, it was better to extract some residual value from the collapse!

In the world of instinctive acting, who hasn’t had a failure?

As long as there’s a hook, there’s hype.

Indeed, with the buzz around #SongWanxueEmotionalScenes#, the latest episode featuring Tong Zhao performed well in the pre-release.

*The Chronicle of Emperor Ming* aired at 6 PM, and the holographic viewing halls were already packed with people.

For those who couldn’t afford a holographic helmet or viewing pod, traditional viewing methods were also available. True drama fans subscribed to both options, first enjoying the director’s camera work and narrative from a distance, then immersing themselves in a 360-degree experience of the drama. Regardless of the visual method, audiences could watch while sending bullet comments or even tune in to live commentary and critiques from streamers who had set up separate rooms for fans.

Of course, some of the gifts and tips received had to be shared with the drama and the platform.

While the audience and onlookers eagerly awaited Song Wanxue’s performance, the attention given to Tong Zhao, the newcomer, was relatively low. After all, she lacked fame and had no agent or company backing her, operating purely independently. Her stepsister Xu Zhu would have been delighted to see her fail, so naturally, she wouldn’t help her out. Moreover, it was suspected that the high-spirited Tong Zhao wouldn’t ride on her stepsister’s coattails.

Tong Zhao indeed wasn’t inclined to do so.

She considered it unlucky.

Song Wanxue’s fans were also in high spirits.

In this lively atmosphere, the latest episode of *The Chronicle of Emperor Ming* began.

The story starts with the impatient Emperor Ming being summoned to the Empress’s palace. The Emperor and the Empress, who was obtained through political marriage, had a strained relationship. Viewers humorously claimed that Song Wanxue’s performance was true to character, portraying the distant and emotionally detached relationship between the Emperor and Empress so well that everyone believed there was no affection between them. The Emperor was even somewhat annoyed with her, resenting her excessive ambition and focus on securing benefits for her family.

Sure enough, when the Empress mentioned introducing her younger sister, Emperor Ming slammed his teacup down on the table with a dark face.

Audience members who had seen the plot summary knew that the Emperor was about to experience a dramatic change of heart.

[The more he despises her now, the more he will favor her later.]

[Waiting for Emperor Ming’s moment of true affection.]

[While you’re waiting for true affection, remember who’s playing the Emperor—it’s Song Wanxue! Does he really have the awareness of “cherishing and valuing” in his mind? Only the director’s forceful intervention will likely make him succeed in this role.]

This refers to an emergency measure rarely used on main characters because it can create irreparable problems. Some characters might feel like they’re possessed, leading to endless complications. Since it’s not an action genuinely motivated by the character, the scene can appear very awkward.

As the audience debated, a delicate white hand parted the curtain, and a young woman stepped out gracefully.

At this moment, she maintained the proper etiquette for a woman presenting herself to the Emperor, with her head bowed.

Even the audience could not see her face.

But the camera clearly conveyed the message:

She was a stunning beauty.

Moreover, Tong Zhao’s figure was also exceptional, successfully piquing the audience’s curiosity.

[Ahhh, I can’t see, camera, move down a bit!]

[Someone get the photographer and drag him out for execution!]

[I’m so frustrated, why can’t I afford a holographic chamber? I really want to bend down to see the beauty QAQ]

Fortunately, it didn’t take long. With Emperor Ming’s command, “Raise your head,” the audience finally got to see the appearance of the Empress’s younger sister.

She was incredibly beautiful.

Even under the close-up ultra-clear camera, no flaws could be found. She looked up at Emperor Ming, and guided by the camera, the audience felt as if everyone was being boldly gazed upon and flirted with by her, just like Emperor Ming.

The audience subconsciously held their breath.

There are many beautiful people in the entertainment industry, but those who become famous are often those whose beauty can take your breath away. If the first impression doesn’t shock the audience, they’ll have to rely on their talent to slowly build a fanbase. But with just one glance, some industry insiders could tell that this girl was exceptional.

Gazing at her with her enchanting eyes, hearts softened.

[………]

[…………I need all the information on this lady within three seconds!]

[Everyone shut up, I’m going to give a number now. In three minutes, I want to follow the Empress’s sister’s Weibo!]

It’s no wonder the audience was moved. For instinctive films, portraying certain character auras cannot rely on traditional acting alone; it requires relevant life experiences and emotional depth. What they were seeing at that moment was the real-life embodiment of Empress Chen, who had once laughed her way through palace intrigues and enjoyed enduring favor.

Unable to do anything else, but top in charming others.

The audience was first struck by the new character’s beauty, then quickly immersed themselves back into the story.

Then they saw the Emperor, who spoke with an unexpectedly gentle tone.

?

For a moment, the screen was filled with question marks.

Humans are creatures of double standards.

It was normal for the audience to be impressed, but seeing the Emperor’s genuine affection, especially in the scene of Song Wanxue’s transformation, the show’s effect was maximized.

[When we’re sending question marks, it’s not that we have a problem, but that the Emperor has a problem.]

[Is this really the serious, old-fashioned Song Wanxue? He’s breaking his character…]

[Damn, but the brother’s gentle expression is so handsome!]

Fortunately, instinctive films can’t be fake; they’re akin to a semi-reality show. Even though the audience was amazed, they knew Song Wanxue’s previous performances weren’t fake. It just seemed that this time, he had somehow surpassed himself and performed even better in the film.

It might be that having more experience with instinctive films has made him better adapted to his “true self.”

This was a common speculation.

Regardless, Song Wanxue’s improvement was a positive boost for the overall quality of “The Chronicle of Ming Emperor,” and the audience felt more confident in immersing themselves in the story. However, as they continued watching, they started to notice something strange.

Was it not that Song Wanxue had suddenly become more perceptive, but rather that this newcomer was incredibly charming?

The audience saw Tong Zhao acting cute and innocent in front of the Ming Emperor, always displaying naive beauty, and managing to make the Ming Emperor look like a lovesick fool.

Such a sweet girl!

No wonder the Ming Emperor liked her; who wouldn’t want to be an emperor when faced with such beauty?

The episode ended with the audience’s admiration.

The biggest beneficiaries were undoubtedly the actors playing the Ming Emperor and his cousin.

Riding the wave of Song Wanxue’s major transformation, Tong Zhao gained considerable attention. After this episode aired, her previously ignored actor’s profile suddenly received several signing offers. However, most of these were from small agencies and minor companies trying their luck. She glanced at them, found none of them appealing, and decided to consider her options further without rushing into signing a contract.

After Tong Zhao opened her verified actor’s Weibo account, the director noticed that she had no posts at all. He urged her to quickly post something so that when the official drama account promoted her, some fans might transfer their affection from the character to her.

This suggestion was also the director’s way of taking care of her.

Tong Zhao couldn’t immediately think of what to post.

After all, she was originally quite low-key and didn’t really use social media. Her skills were all developed during her fast-travel experiences and were managed by other personas. Posting on Weibo was something she could leave to Han Zhi, who had become a top celebrity.

Tong Zhao: [Zhi Ge, help me post a selfie on Weibo.]

[Sure.]

In no time, a clear and pleasant male voice echoed in her mind.

Perhaps because the system saw her mission completion rate as too high, ordinary roles were no longer challenging.

Han Zhi was the only time she had played a male character.

Han Zhi was exceptionally good at taking selfies. He had practiced it, knowing how to adjust angles and apply filters, and was more skilled than many girls. The results were outstanding. The person was still recognizable, but the appearance naturally looked even better.

After posting the selfie, Han Zhi went back to being low-profile.

@TongZhaoV:

The one who turned the Emperor into a lovesick fool is me [image]

The caption adopted the concubine’s persona, but the accompanying selfie was quite different.

Han Zhi wore a black suspender dress with a matching beret. She was slender, but her lines were not particularly soft. The shot from above highlighted her graceful jawline and collarbone, and the composition was impeccable. With a casual glance angled slightly upward, it electrified the viewers who stumbled upon it.

Damn.

In the drama, her eyes were like autumn waters, but off-screen, they were dazzlingly electric?

Typically, such an outstanding performance in the first role is often due to a genuine portrayal.

Viewers were prepared to see a sweet little fairy (fairy or enchantress) but instead saw a cool, androgynous beauty. She was beautiful and still the same person, but the feeling was different.

Fans witnessed the transformation of a small actress from O to A, from 0 to 1, and their curiosity was immediately piqued.

Unlike Xu Zhu, who flaunted her privileged background and actively promoted herself to fans, Tong Zhao posted her Weibo and then ignored the online buzz. She hadn’t signed with a company or had a manager, so the resulting heat and public opinion were entirely generated by the audience.

Director Xu Zijian was paying attention and increasingly convinced that the goddess’s daughter was indeed a promising talent.

He needed to find her a reliable manager soon…

At this moment, some were happy, and some were worried.

Xu Zhu, in her all-weather filming dormitory, decided to ignore her sister’s affairs, fearing that competitors might notice any signs. Since she had already done all she could in terms of mindset, and her sister was very good at pretending in public, she didn’t believe she could keep up the pretense in a role in a reality film.

She was confident, so she wasn’t the one worried.

The one worried was the Emperor.

In the drama, the Emperor only favored Consort Shen, visiting her palace every day, and even wished he could hold her while reviewing official documents.

Outside the drama, he couldn’t even see her, and he really missed her face.

He was obsessed.

He thought he was going to fall.

After all, he did like the type of woman that Consort Shen represented—delicate, graceful, and beautifully dependent on a man.

If he truly fell for her, he planned to pursue her once filming ended.

This thought persisted until he saw the actress playing Consort Shen lifting weights in the gym.

?

Why did the beloved have a barbell in her hand?