The Movie Emperor Gets Too Deep into Character for Me

Cheng Zhiyu, the movie emperor hailed by career-focused fans as their eternal beacon, takes on a danmei adaptation, starring alongside Lian Feng, an obscure idol with barely any fame. The news sends shock waves through the entertainment industry. A respected director: Actors should protect their reputations. A marketing account: Witness the extinction of straight men in Chinese entertainment! Fans scrambling to save face: Our gege must have been forced by his company. There's nothing wrong with making money! Lian Feng, pretending to be a fan: The person above is right! Lian Feng, pretending to be a fan: Support! Lian Feng, pretending to be a fan: Art has no distinction between high and low! In his previous life, Lian Feng trusted a scumbag and ruined his life. Reborn, he sees this opportunity as a turning point in his fate. He tramples the scumbag underfoot, gets his hands on the script, and knows he doesn't deserve to act alongside Cheng Zhiyu. From the production's promotional campaign to filming and publicity, he throws himself into his work with everything he's got. He pretends to be a book fan supporting the adaptation and infiltrates Cheng Zhiyu's fanbase, while hiding in an inconspicuous corner each day to watch Cheng Zhiyu act and study his character. At a gathering one day, Lian Feng gathers his courage and approaches Cheng Zhiyu, his handsome brows furrowing slightly. “Teacher Cheng, how can I get into character faster?” Cheng Zhiyu's gaze darkens. He reaches out his hand. “First, get a little closer to me.” Their hands overlap, and Lian Feng's fingertips tremble. After the show airs, Cheng Zhiyu wins award after award, and Lian Feng becomes a rising star overnight. But when they promote the show again, Cheng Zhiyu treats him with indifference. The two keep their distance, and rumors that their fans are splitting into purer factions keep cropping up. Their fanbases wage daily wars on Weibo, eventually affecting both actors' work. Lian Feng: “Why aren't you being professional now?” Cheng Zhiyu: “Because I'm being professional, I need time to get out of character.” Theme: What you can't forget will surely find its way back to you