Zhong Yan's rise to fame was remarkably smooth.
The initial "scandals" quickly vanished after he became popular. While some attempted to use his father's murder conviction and his mother's gambling addiction against him, he had the main network behind him, which was far more powerful than the former 002. It was impossible for such news to appear online.
As these individuals found no avenue, they gradually gave up.
It was simply impossible to tarnish his reputation.
"Yin Yang Kaleidoscope" was a trial, and while its effect was indeed good, its breakout success was entirely due to the main network's clever maneuvering. "Ancient Records of Mythology" was entirely different.
It was a complete historical account of ancient Chinese mythology. Using the protagonist as a thread, it connected numerous mythological stories that had been passed down for thousands of years in China. From well-known tales like Hou Yi shooting the sun and Chang'e flying to the moon, and Jingwei filling the sea, to lesser-known ones like Xi He driving the sun, Chang Xi bathing the moon, and Hua Xu from Lei Ze, the compilation drew from hundreds of mythological history books passed down over millennia.
This television series, a veritable aesthetic feast, significantly promoted traditional Chinese culture. Every immortal who seemed detached from the mortal world, every eerie demon and monster, and the various beasts and divine beasts scattered across the four seas and eight realms as described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, were meticulously researched and depicted. This ultimately resulted in every frame of the series being a visual spectacle.
This was true breakout success.
This was true cultural promotion.
The television series was translated into over twenty languages and broadcast in more than half of the countries worldwide. Its ultimate aesthetic pleasure, mysterious and transcendent Eastern mythology, and the divine beings and creatures depicted based on historical texts, with their unique, mysterious, and elegant designs, made countless people yearn for it.
Xiba Nation, which had always been adept at petty theft and then denying it, experienced the shock of Chinese culture for the first time. For the first time, they understood what heaven and earth were, and what ephemeral beings were. China, with its millennia of inheritance and continuous flame, was heaven and earth. Their idol culture, developed over decades, relying on self-deception and stolen bits, was as insignificant as an ephemeral being.
Beyond its overwhelmingly beautiful, breakout appeal, Zhong Yan's performance in the series was also noteworthy. The beauty he exuded was in no way inferior to the beauty of the overall visuals.
Mythological stories like these would naturally involve many scenes of flying. All his flying sequences were so realistic that they gave the illusion that he could indeed fly.
While there had been actors who flew well in the industry before, compared to his flying, they instantly lacked something. Zhong Yan, single-handedly, raised the standard for male actors in wuxia and xianxia dramas.
Many even truly regarded him as an immortal.
His all-around flawlessness caused this television series to become a nationwide and international sensation.
As "Ancient Records of Mythology" swept numerous domestic and international awards, even prompting some film-only awards to make exceptions for it, the relationship between the two individuals was irrevocably revealed by a ring.
Two images. The first was a post by Zhou Lu over a year ago: "The wealthy end up together, the poor can only watch." The accompanying image showed a pair of rings.
The second was a photograph taken by a reporter showing identical rings on the hands of Zhu Lin and Zhong Yan.
More than a year later, Zhou Lu never expected her old Weibo post to become popular again.
"No way, no way. My brother was a nobody and didn't announce it, but now that he's popular, he's using it for hype. Yao Lin is a vampire, confirmed."
"If it's true, then they were together over a year ago. Why didn't they announce it then?"
"Yao Lin, you old woman, stay away from my brother, okay?"
"This hype is brilliant. As soon as he wins an award, someone comes to蹭 heat. Shouldn't Zhong Yan's company react? What about the agent?"
Someone quietly remarked, "This seems to be Zhong Yan's agent's account."
After some digging, many were stunned.
"Isn't this Yao Lin's agent? Why is she also Zhong Yan's agent?"
"They're from the same company."
"Just because they're from the same company, they can leech like this? Useless company, clarify it quickly. My brother would never like that old woman!"
"..."
Regardless of their arguments, the company, the agent, and the two individuals did not respond. It wasn't until a few hours later that the company's third artist, Qiao Yiyi, posted on Weibo.
Qiao Yiyi v: "Congratulations to the boss and senior brother on their hundred years of harmony and eternal love! [Image]."
There was only one image: a wedding invitation. The text was in gold foil, and from the invitation alone, one could gauge the wedding's extravagance. The protagonists of the wedding were the same two individuals who were currently trending.
What shocked the vast majority of netizens wasn't this, but that Qiao Yiyi's Weibo post had been made much earlier, but was only visible now. They checked the posting time, which was a little over a year ago.
Calculating the time, it was just a few days before "Ancient Records of Mythology" premiered.
Everyone was shocked.
Zhu Lin's fans and the CP fans of both began to mock in reverse.
"Stop clucking. They never admitted to having fans like you, little sisters."
"After shipping CPs for over a decade, this is the first time it's real. And they've been married for over a year. Damn! Could they even have kids already? Who would have thought!"
"I can't believe I'd stumble upon my own situation while just trying to gossip, and this gossip turned out to be real! The 'Ling Yan' CP is indeed 'Ling Yan' (effective), hahaha, Ling Yan yyds!"
"I've suspected they were married for a long time. The reason for not announcing it earlier might just be that Zhong Yan felt his fame wasn't big enough yet. Don't get worked up, those self-righteous fans. Zhong Yan doesn't lack your kind of fans, and he doesn't have endorsements, so he doesn't need your money, your support, or for you to pick him up at the airport or celebrate his birthday. He's not an idol, can't he get married and have children?"
"That's right. Following stars means acting like a fan. Haven't you heard of 'following stars without picking stars'? Just because you're his fan, does that mean he can't get married and have children? And dating has to be discussed and attacked? Are you his fans or his parents? His parents might not even manage him that broadly."
"Hahaha, well said, the person above. I hate those who constantly shout 'How can my brother like her?' 'How can my sister marry him?' the most. If they don't marry each other, they won't marry you either. What kind of daydreaming is that? This approach might work for other celebrities, but Zhong Yan isn't an idol; he's a talented actor. He hasn't taken your money, so why should he listen to you? Ling Yan yyds!"
"Am I the only one who noticed 'boss' and 'senior brother'? Zhu Lin is the boss of their company, so how rich must she be!"
"Someone calculated that 'Ancient Records of Mythology' has earned at least two billion for their company in the year since its premiere, and that's purely from broadcast revenue, not including other sources. I heard that she holds over 90% of the shares in this company, meaning Yao Lin's net worth is at least two billion."
"Open your perspective, people above. Look, 'Ancient Records of Mythology' is a huge hit. This company's stock has been hitting the daily limit for several consecutive months. If she were to cash out now, she'd make tens of billions. [Image]."
"Female CEO x Superstar. Let's ship it first!"
"..."