Chapter 42: Ji Xiuya Makes His Debut
While Lu Xu was busy filming The Path of Bones, Supreme quietly premiered on its scheduled date.
As soon as Supreme aired, the entire production team, from Director Jiang Wangshu to lead actors Zheng Xiao and Wei Yi, focused all their attention on the premiere ratings.
The genre of Supreme fell somewhere between idol dramas and xianxia (fantasy martial arts) dramas. It wasn’t overly serious but also wasn’t as uniquely eccentric as My Baby Prince. Therefore, when the show began airing, Jiang Wangshu set a target popularity score of 7,000.
While Son of Heaven had managed a comeback purely due to its compelling storyline, it was much harder for Supreme to take the same route.
Although Jiang Wangshu had high standards for acting, the characters and storyline of Supreme made it impossible to rely on a cast full of top-tier performers, as Son of Heaven had done.
“Everyone, let’s aim for 7,000+!”
…
When Lu Xu opened the group chat that morning, he saw a flurry of superstitious antics. Even Director Jiang Wangshu wasn’t an exception.
Lu Xu joined in and copied a message.
The moment he chimed in, Zheng Xiao and Wei Yi caught him.
[Don’t go! Let me rub some of your good luck!]
[I forgot to do it on the wrap-up day. Let me make up for it now!]
Lu Xu replied, […That’ll be 500 per rub.]
[Done, done! No need to be so formal!]
Among the Supreme cast, Lu Xu had the best performance metrics from previous dramas. Both My Baby Prince and Son of Heaven had delivered outstanding results—My Baby Prince had gone head-to-head with The Watchers, and Son of Heaven had risen from obscurity to the pinnacle of success. Calling it a miracle wasn’t an exaggeration.
Zheng Xiao and Wei Yi thought that while they didn’t expect astronomical ratings, they’d be thrilled to hit 7,000+ with their combined luck.
Lu Xu also reposted Supreme’s official trailer on his Weibo account early on. Watching the sudden spike in reposts, Lu Xu gradually realized that his popularity might be higher than he had imagined.
…
The next day arrived.
At 7 a.m., Jiang Wangshu was already awake, eagerly awaiting the release of the premiere ratings. While each platform had its own calculation methods, the industry benchmark relied on official, authoritative data.
Jiang Wangshu was tense and apprehensive, holding his breath as the figures refreshed.
The latest data revealed that among all the currently airing dramas across platforms, Supreme had achieved a popularity score exceeding 8,000, securing the second spot!
[Not bad at all!!!]
[We hit the target!]
The group chat erupted in cheers: [Are we really this amazing?]
Several new dramas had premiered during this season, and Supreme was by no means the most anticipated one. Although the production team had managed to generate some buzz before the premiere, it wasn’t enough to suggest the show could climb to second place.
The production team had set modest expectations: breaking into the top five for premiere ratings would already be a victory.
Jiang Wangshu was surprised and immediately began analyzing the unexpected surge in popularity. However, it didn’t take long for the reason to become clear—
First, the barrage of comments in Supreme’s live stream:
[Here from Son of Heaven! Can’t wait to see Lu Xu in historical costume!!]
[Ji Xiuya stans, reporting for duty. Waiting for our Demon Lord’s debut!]
[Camping out for Ji Xiuya. No regrets, Lu Puppy forever legendary!]
[Just two more episodes until Ji Xiuya shows up!!]
Supreme’s premiere heat broke 8,000, and contrary to external predictions, the ratings didn’t drop off in subsequent episodes. Objectively speaking, the drama had a decent plot, and the lead actors, Zheng Xiao and Wei Yi, delivered performances that were above average. Once viewers started with the first episode, the storyline was engaging enough to keep them hooked.
[Every time I watch a show with Lu Xu in it, I end up discovering some promising new actors.]
[+1 to that! Although Zheng Xiao and Wei Yi aren’t total newcomers. Have you seen the Decryption Game? Zheng Xiao was the guy with green hair in that!]
[?? That was Zheng Xiao? His acting has improved so much!]
Zheng Xiao, beaming with pride, took a screenshot of the comment praising his acting and sent it to his manager. [My hard work is finally being recognized!]
Working on the same set as Lu Xu had been a huge source of pressure for him.
During the later stages of production, when he and Wei Yi stayed behind to reshoot some scenes, Wei Yi seemed to have a sudden breakthrough. Her performances in the final scenes were nothing short of extraordinary, which only increased the pressure on Zheng Xiao. Determined not to fall behind and to avoid being the weak link in the Supreme cast, Zheng Xiao pushed himself to the limit.
After Supreme premiered, Zheng Xiao had been most worried about seeing comments comparing him unfavorably to Lu Xu. However, several episodes in, not a single such remark appeared. Instead, viewers praised his portrayal of He Ziqing as compelling and layered.
Like Jiang Wangshu, Zheng Xiao had also become aware of the incredible impact Ji Xiuya’s character was having on the show. When Ji Xiuya made his debut, the show’s popularity score surged past 9,500!
Breaking 10,000 was only a matter of time.
This Ji Xiuya was flamboyant and audacious, a villain by nature rather than by grievance. Unlike other antagonists who held grudges against the world, his true thoughts remained an enigma. Yet his immense power and chilling demeanor commanded both fear and awe.
In Supreme, Ji Xiuya’s reputation preceded him long before his actual appearance. He was known throughout the land as being more dazzling than the most beautiful man in the celestial realm, yet his actions were unpredictable, and his moods, mercurial. It was this very chaos that earned him the title of the ultimate demon lord.
Ji Xiuya’s first appearance came after He Ziqing and Yun Hui had just survived a grueling battle. Both were too drained to fend off even a low-level opponent. He Ziqing was gravely injured, and Yun Hui, using her internal energy to heal him, was almost completely spent.
It was at this moment that Ji Xiuya shattered space and arrived.
As if to emphasize the gravity of his presence, the instant Ji Xiuya showed up, the entire atmosphere of the show shifted, becoming something entirely different from before.
The figure standing in the shattered space exuded a languid demeanor. Though draped in a loose black robe, it did nothing to diminish the striking brilliance of his face.
He was a man, yet the word “dazzling” seemed perfectly fitting to describe him.
It wasn’t due to heavy makeup but rather the unique and extraordinary allure radiating from him. His slender, pale fingers moved with a casual flick, and his gaze, no matter where it landed, carried a glimmer that caught everyone’s attention.
[…My husband has arrived!!]
[It’s Ji Xiuya in motion! The gorgeous and captivating Demon Lord looks worlds apart from the timid crown prince. How does the same person play them both?]
[My husband is so stunning—no wonder he’s my husband!]
[Why can’t Lu Xu just model for menswear?]
[Forget menswear—Lu Xu hasn’t even graced a magazine cover!]
“I wondered what little mice dared scurry about, and it turns out to be you.” Ji Xiuya’s eyes first landed on the wounded He Ziqing lying on the ground. After a moment, they shifted to Yun Hui, holding an amused smile in their depths.
Then, with slow, deliberate steps, he began to approach. His pace was unhurried, his expression still carrying that faint smile, yet it inexplicably filled the air with a sense of oppression.
Both his title as the Demon Lord and his face, dazzling to the extreme, evoked fear in anyone who beheld him.
As Ji Xiuya drew nearer, Yun Hui instinctively rose to shield He Ziqing, as though afraid of the Demon Lord closing the distance any further.
“You fear me,” Ji Xiuya stated with certainty.
When he came even closer, Yun Hui heard He Ziqing let out a muffled groan. Blood began seeping through his clothes, and his already severe injuries seemed to worsen.
It was almost as if a pattern emerged—each time Ji Xiuya took a step, a fresh wound appeared on He Ziqing’s body. His white robes were now nearly soaked through with red.
“Not dead yet? You do have some resilience,” Ji Xiuya remarked as he finally stopped, acting as if he hadn’t done anything to He Ziqing at all.
“This leaves me in such a dilemma,” Ji Xiuya said, feigning a troubled expression. “If I spare you, I’d be breaking my own vows. But if I kill you, others might think I’m b*llying the weak.”
His face remained dazzlingly beautiful, as if he were carefully pondering the solution. Yet, the more innocent his expression appeared, the more terrifying he seemed.
“In that case, stay with me for a few days. If you survive, I’ll let you go.”
After saying this, Ji Xiuya waved his hand. Yun Hui’s face turned as white as a sheet, He Ziqing was already unconscious, and only Ji Xiuya looked entirely at ease. With a flick of his finger, he casually flung He Ziqing, bloodied and limp, through the shattered space.
[Legend has it that Ji Xiuya can be either a man or a woman.]
[Honestly, if I were He Ziqing, I might’ve already submitted.]
[Submitted +1. Just getting a hug wouldn’t be a loss.]
[Hey, you guys above, stop it! Dating Ji Xiuya is basically a death sentence, so I’ll do it instead.]
[Move aside. It’s my turn!]
When Ji Xiuya first appeared, the barrage of “AAAAHHHH” from his fans nearly covered him up entirely, prompting protests from other viewers. In response, his stans creatively reshaped the “AAAAHHHH” comments into a U-shape, conveniently framing his face for all to see.
Meanwhile, video creators quietly added Ji Xiuya to compilations of the most handsome men in costume dramas.
In Supreme, Ji Xiuya alternated between bare-faced appearances and flamboyantly vivid ones as the Demon Lord. This contrast made him an editor’s dream—whether he was dressed in white or draped in his signature black robes, he commanded every viewer’s attention.
[Ji Xiuya and Qin Zhao have such a huge contrast!]
[Sure, Ji Xiuya’s face is gorgeous, but when he walked toward the main couple, the oppressive vibe was so intense I genuinely thought He Ziqing was about to die.]
[??? That’s Qin Zhao? Someone please tell me, is this really Qin Zhao??]
Ji Xiuya’s debut not only boosted Supreme’s popularity but also took over the trending pages of major marketing accounts. The scene of Ji Xiuya intimidating He Ziqing and Yun Hui was being shared like wildfire.
Whether he raised an eyebrow or offered a faint smile, it was almost impossible to look away from his face.
[…Suddenly remembered, when Verse debuted, Lu Xu was the visual of the group. But somehow, the title later shifted to Gu Sinian.]
[Lu Xu isn’t visual material? With that face? He can’t be the visual?? Your boy group standards are way too strict.]
Meanwhile, Gu Sinian, inexplicably dragged into the trending topic #Gu Sinian vs. Lu Xu: Visual Comparison#: “…”
What’s wrong with people? He’d done absolutely nothing and still got caught in the crossfire.
Of course, Gu Sinian had conveniently forgotten that shortly after Verse disbanded, Lu Xu had trended on the hot search almost ten times a week, often being compared unfavorably to the other three former members.
Now, the tables had merely turned.
Supreme’s popularity continued to climb steadily and finally broke the 10,000 mark one day. Ji Xiuya wasn’t a run-of-the-mill villain, nor was he the kind of antagonist devoted solely to their “villainous career.” To put it precisely, he belonged to the category of lunatics.
The kind with an unstable mind.
Yet, as a villain, his presence was undeniable.
[I can’t even imagine—if Chen Ye had played this role, Ji Xiuya would probably just end up as one of those forgettable, generic villains, right?]
One casual comment from a netizen received thousands of likes.
That evening, Chen Ye, unusually active, posted a rare Weibo update:
[Please stop associating me with a certain character, okay? I don’t want to gain attention by selling meat.]
Half an hour later, Lu Xu logged in and simply replied: [Okay.]
[No skin was exposed, how is that ‘selling meat’?!]
Soon after, the following fake headlines appeared:
#Famous Actor Frustrated Over Lack of Shirtless Scenes#
#Renowned Actor Expresses Interest in N*de Shoots#
↑Fake news was born.
Just wanted to say I love the consistent updates to this.