Chapter 8: The One Weak Link
“Lu Xu, now that the filming is done, what’s your plan?”
The filming of My Baby Prince wrapped up rather quickly. On the day Lu Xu was packing his luggage, Yang Shu cheerfully knocked on his door. “Ji Zhan and I are planning to go out for a couple of days. It’s too hot to stay home.”
“Don’t you need to promote the show?” Lu Xu asked.
Yang Shu looked at him with a surprised expression. “This show of ours… doesn’t really need it, does it?”
The broadcast platform, Chenxi Films and Television, hadn’t been doing well in recent years. Compared to first-tier companies like Grape Films and Television, it was far behind. Among the various online platforms, Chenxi Films was split off from Deyi Films and Television and had the fewest resources among them.
As a result, when online dramas started gaining popularity, Chenxi Films quickly shifted its focus to producing low-budget online series. While the returns were limited, it did significantly expand their library.
My Baby Prince wasn’t even close to being a heavyweight drama. It simply wasn’t worth the platform’s effort to promote it. To put it bluntly, Chenxi Films could release several dramas of My Baby Prince’s scale every month.
“Then I’ll just stay home and watch some movies,” Lu Xu said. “It’s too hot outside, and I don’t feel like going out.”
Yang Shu sighed in disappointment. “I was hoping to invite you to come with us.”
Yang Shu and Ji Zhan were around the same age as Lu Xu. When they first met, both politely called him “brother,” but after getting to know each other, they became more casual.
Because Lu Xu had followed both of them on Weibo, they had inexplicably been targeted by a few insults. However, they trusted the Lu Xu they knew in real life more than the rumors circulating online.
“Besides,” Yang Shu said, “no one even knew who I was before. At least now, people introduce me as the guy who acted in some small supporting role.”
Yang Shu was naturally cheerful. After graduating, he didn’t get many acting opportunities, so he diligently worked as a background actor in various crews.
Among his classmates, some had found fame, while others had returned to their hometowns after graduation. Yang Shu fell somewhere in between—not too successful, but not struggling too much either.
Yang Shu still rented an apartment, but whenever he received his pay for acting, he treated himself to a trip.
Although the pay for My Baby Prince wasn’t high, it was better than that of an average worker. Yang Shu was content. “The only trouble is figuring out my next role. My agent hasn’t contacted me in months.”
“I sometimes wonder if my agent even remembers signing me,” Ji Zhan sighed. “In our company, I’m just filling the ranks.”
“Still, we’re lucky enough to be signed by a company at all.”
Film academies only admit a few dozen students each year. Many are scouted and signed by various companies even before graduation. Whether or not they became famous afterward depended largely on themselves. If they were lucky enough to sign with a big company, they could at least secure minor roles in the company’s productions, ensuring they weren’t left with no work at all.
Both Yang Shu and Ji Zhan were signed to small companies with limited resources. Even when there were decent projects, it was unlikely that newcomers like them would be prioritized.
However, compared to classmates who weren’t signed by any company and had to fend for themselves after graduation, their path as actors was still relatively smooth.
In fact, Yang Shu’s role as the male lead in My Baby Prince had earned him the envy of many of their classmates.
Thanks to Lu Xu’s influence, My Baby Prince wasn’t entirely obscure. Even before its release, it had garnered some attention.
When the drama finally aired, regardless of how much criticism the plot received, anyone who wanted to watch it would have to turn to Chenxi Films. Yang Shu’s presence would naturally gain recognition.
“I really hope our drama becomes a hit,” Ji Zhan sighed wistfully. “But honestly, isn’t that as unlikely as winning the lottery?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s not entirely impossible,” Lu Xu suddenly said slowly as he closed his suitcase.
Yang Shu and Ji Zhan each occupied a chair in the corner. Hearing Lu Xu’s comment, their eyes lit up like lightbulbs and turned to him eagerly. “What do you mean?”
“Our drama does have its strengths.”
“Go on, elaborate.”
The two edged closer to Lu Xu step by step. “Honestly, it’s hard to pinpoint any strengths. Does having a handsome second male lead count as one?”
Lu Xu sighed. “…Don’t flatter me.”
Lu Xu had been acting for so long that it felt like a lifetime. In his previous life, most of the roles he played were in serious dramas like The Watchers. He had little experience with idol dramas and rarely touched sweet or feel-good series. Yet he was well aware that a drama’s popularity wasn’t necessarily tied to its quality.
Some shows that audiences ridiculed as “idiotic” often became even more famous precisely because of the criticism. The more people complained, the more it solidified the drama’s presence.
In general, such shows had little chance of fading into obscurity.
Lu Xu believed that My Baby Prince had one thing going for it: the characters’ arcs stayed consistent from beginning to end. The roles had their shining moments and never collapsed into incoherence.
Even serious dramas sometimes faltered in this regard. Audiences often criticized a cold, ruthless protagonist who suddenly became overly saintly or entered a shaky romantic subplot.
“This is just my impression,” Lu Xu added cautiously. “I might not be right.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“Exactly right,” Yang Shu chimed in with a laugh. “Not that I had high hopes to begin with.”
After working together on set for so long, Yang Shu and Ji Zhan had come to trust Lu Xu’s judgment. Both felt that Lu Xu seemed far more assured about the craft of acting than they were.
Even if Lu Xu was just trying to comfort them with his words, they would still be happy for a long time.
As actors, who didn’t want to become famous?
Sure, there were those who kept persevering despite staying under the radar, but fame meant more choices, more influence. It meant they could take on roles they genuinely wanted and improve their lives.
Even something as simple as going on vacation could be done without skimping on the budget, allowing them to travel freely and indulge in their dreams.
…
The filming location of My Baby Prince wasn’t far from Lu Xu’s home, so after the shoot wrapped up, he went back home to rest.
Previously, Lu Xu had auditioned for several productions, but most of them had rejected him. At the time, he had gained some sympathy due to Yao Yuan owing him money, which might have made the crews consider him. However, as The Watchers gained more attention and Gu Sinian became increasingly adored by fans, the criticism directed at Lu Xu only grew stronger.
For safety reasons, no production team was likely to approach him for work in the near future.
Suddenly finding himself with free time, Lu Xu felt out of place.
As an actor, he was used to leading a busy life.
Fortunately, Lu Xu was a naturally patient person. With nothing to do, he stayed home, watching movies and shows to familiarize himself with the classic works of this world. He also took the opportunity to refine his acting skills.
Meanwhile, his Weibo feed remained filled with hateful comments.
Both Xie Qingyang and Meng Qin from The Watchers had publicly supported Gu Sinian online, sparking outrage among fans who questioned why Lu Xu wasn’t doing the same. Ironically, they also claimed that if he did post a supportive message, it would bring bad luck.
Lu Xu: “…”
#MaybeTryToMakeUpYourMind#
With plenty of time at home, Lu Xu dedicated himself to working on his physical fitness. Since arriving in this world, he had always felt that his current body was somewhat weak.
If he wanted to continue as an actor, having a strong and healthy body was essential.
As the days passed, Lu Xu received a notification from the production team one day, just after finishing a movie. Three days later, My Baby Prince was set to premiere on Chenxi Films.
Unlike the overwhelming promotional campaign for The Watchers, the launch of My Baby Prince was extremely low-key.
Even so, the two dramas ended up being released on the same day. To be precise, The Watchers was scheduled for the prime-time slot at 8 PM, while My Baby Prince would air quietly at midnight.
The premiere time for The Watchers had already been set. Faced with such a colossal production, all major platforms chose to step back, unwilling to clash head-on with The Watchers. Chenxi Films was no exception; during The Watchers’ prime-time slot, the network countered with a modestly cast urban drama.
In terms of quality, budget, and cast, it didn’t matter when My Baby Prince was released. Yet, Chenxi Films deliberately chose to air it four hours after The Watchers’ premiere—a move that was clearly intentional.
Predictably, even though Chenxi Films’ official account only briefly mentioned My Baby Prince that day, Gu Sinian’s fans were infuriated.
[!! I knew Lu Xu would try to leech off Gu Sinian!]
[…It’s my fault for giving Lu Xu a look, but I really can’t stand this person anymore.]
[Is Chenxi Films crazy? Why insist on airing that trashy web drama on the same day as The Watchers? It’s such bad luck!]
Lu Xu: “…”
He had more or less anticipated this outcome.
Though My Baby Prince was low-budget, poorly cast, and featured a subpar storyline—essentially a conveyor-belt production from Chenxi Films—it was still an investment for the platform.
For the platform, any chance to recoup costs was one it wouldn’t miss.
Normally, a web drama like My Baby Prince would have gone unnoticed, airing quietly and fading into obscurity. But being tied to The Watchers gave it at least some level of visibility.
And so, My Baby Prince officially premiered.
…
On the day The Watchers aired, Weibo was abuzz with activity.
Before the show’s release, hashtags like “Verse Members Support Gu Sinian” and “The Pinnacle of Dual Male Leads” trended one after another. Once the drama began airing, the lead actors Yue Hui, Ren Ningyi, and Gu Sinian all shot to the top of the trending charts. Almost half the trending topics belonged to The Watchers.
Lu Xu also made a point to check out The Watchers.
Although he hadn’t been familiar with the cast before, thanks to the relentless explanations from Gu Sinian’s fans, Lu Xu now fully understood just how impressive the lineup was.
The Watchers was a crime drama centered on a group of individuals called “The Watchers” in the city, who silently pursued justice and fought against crime, becoming revered as champions of righteousness in the eyes of the public.
Yue Hui played one of The Watchers, while Ren Ningyi portrayed a police officer.
While The Watchers’ actions were undeniably virtuous, their interference disrupted the normal social order. Through a series of cases, the bond between the two protagonists deepened, and they gradually developed a mutual understanding.
From Lu Xu’s perspective, the first two episodes were undoubtedly solid. The pacing was brisk, the director had a sharp eye for cinematography, and the plot had no glaring holes. Both lead actors demonstrated exceptional control over their roles.
However, in a production that excelled in so many areas, any shortcomings became glaringly apparent.
In Lu Xu’s opinion, the one weak link in the first two episodes was Gu Sinian’s character.
Whenever Gu Sinian acted opposite Yue Hui or Ren Ningyi, his performance was utterly outclassed—so obviously outclassed that it couldn’t be ignored.
More importantly, the chemistry between the two veteran actors created seamless transitions in the plot, providing a comforting and engaging experience for the audience. But the moment Gu Sinian appeared, the flow of the show faltered. His presence introduced a jarring dissonance, and the more frequently he appeared, the stronger this discomfort grew.
Yet, searching for The Watchers online revealed a different narrative.
Mentions of Yue Hui and Ren Ningyi were surprisingly sparse.
Instead, the trending topics were dominated by Gu Sinian: “Gu Sinian Holds His Own Against Film Emperors”, “Gu Sinian’s God-Tier Acting”, and similar accolades. The comments section was flooded with unanimous praise from his fans.
Lu Xu frowned as he read through it all.
#AreYouEvenListeningToYourselves#
Hmm, it seems the fans eyes are too blindsided, lol.