Chapter 50: Highly Sought-After
[Was Lu Xu always this gentle?]
[…His reply to Zhang Che really surprised me. My impression of Lu Xu has always been someone who confronts everything and everyone.]
[I’ve said it before, Lu Puppy is just Lu Puppy. How could a puppy have a bad temper? The bad ones are people.]
[If Lu Xu really had such a bad personality, the things he experienced at Verse wouldn’t have stayed hidden until now.]
[Isn’t it possible that others just didn’t work hard enough? Who says working hard guarantees an award? There are plenty of people in the entertainment industry who work hard but never make it big. Zhang Che is already lucky enough. Can this kind of thing be summarized so simply with ‘you didn’t work hard enough’?]
Zhang Che’s late-night comment might not have been aimed directly at Lu Xu, but fans weren’t new to idol culture. The same few tricks circulated within the industry, and the fans had seen through them all.
To be honest, the undertone of Zhang Che’s words… was hard to evaluate.
Did it mean Lu Xu didn’t work hard?
Before Lu Xu’s portrayal of Qin Zhao became a breakout role, things were much tougher for him compared to Zhang Che.
Yet, Lu Xu had never complained. He could face an army alone, wielding a longsword, but he would never guide his fans to fight battles on his behalf.
[He seems even more like a puppy now.]
[A puppy lets you hide indoors and sleep soundly while it barks at strangers on your behalf.]
Still, regardless of what Zhang Che truly thought, Lu Xu continued to encourage him.
The Qin Zhao that Lu Xu portrayed truly outshone Zhang Che’s award-contending role. Even though he was completely innocent, Lu Xu still ended up being cursed at by Zhang Che’s fans. To them, the usually sharp-tongued and aggressive Lu Xu suddenly revealed a softer side.
[Maybe it’s because he saw how hard Zhang Che was working. Lu Xu is always kind to those who put in effort.]
[Lu Puppy is such a good person!]
Fans quietly took stock of the situation and realized that Lu Xu encouraging Zhang Che wasn’t surprising at all. Yang Shu and Xia Xuewen, who had worked with Lu Xu on My Baby Prince, always stood by him unconditionally during controversies, even when the truth hadn’t come out and Lu Xu was the one getting criticized.
Many people claimed that Lu Xu overshadowed the male and female leads in Supreme, but Zheng Xiao and Wei Yi didn’t agree. Whenever interviews brought up questions like “Who is your favorite actor of the same age?” both of them consistently voted for Lu Xu.
The issue was that Lu Xu had a chiseled, nearly perfect face. In the entertainment industry, his intense and striking features often gave off a more aggressive impression, making people assume he was the dominant one in conflicts.
[…I’m not trying to stir things up, but this isn’t the first time Zhang Che has had an emo moment.]
[I was about to say the same thing. It really isn’t the first.]
Zhang Che’s tendency to be emo wasn’t just known to his fans—casual entertainment melon eaters were aware of it too.
Last year, Zhang Che had also aimed for the Stellar Awards but failed to secure a nomination. The competition for Best Supporting Actor that year was filled with tough contenders, so his fans didn’t dare stir up trouble. Instead, they redirected their efforts toward promoting the male lead from the drama Zhang Che had acted in.
That male actor was less famous and had a lower profile compared to Zhang Che, but his character in the drama wasn’t as well-written as Zhang Che’s supporting role. This was why Zhang Che had been cast as the supporting actor instead.
Though the male lead didn’t get a Stellar Awards nomination either, his reputation improved after the drama aired. Critics and promotional accounts praised him more, giving him credit for the drama’s high ratings.
Naturally, this left Zhang Che’s fans feeling particularly disgruntled.
In their view, the drama’s popularity was entirely due to Zhang Che, and the male lead was just riding on his coattails.
Before this incident, Zhang Che’s fans had already clashed with other co-stars. Once, while on set, Zhang Che suffered from acclimation issues and ended up with a bad stomach, looking weak and pitiful. However, the female lead of that drama was seen laughing and chatting with the second male lead, seemingly indifferent to Zhang Che’s discomfort.
Not long after, both the female lead and the second male lead were harshly criticized during a live stream, even apologizing profusely to calm the outrage. Meanwhile, Zhang Che had another late-night emo moment, posting a message asking fans not to misunderstand others’ intentions.
This time, Lu Xu became a target simply for sleeping soundly through the night without a care. While Zhang Che struggled with insomnia, Lu Xu hadn’t logged in at all during the night, and the stark contrast made Zhang Che’s fans feel even more pity for their idol.
“Well done,” Xu Wen said curiously, glancing at Lu Xu. “What made you suddenly figure things out?”
Lu Xu parked his bicycle and replied, “It’s just what I genuinely think.”
He truly believed Zhang Che’s attempt at securing an award wasn’t easy. In his past life, there had been countless actors who would go to extreme lengths to win accolades.
Some starved themselves thin, some gained excessive weight, others isolated themselves with wild animals to portray fear authentically, and a few became so immersed in their roles that they ended up with mental breakdowns.
In this industry, those who reach the top are the ones with both obsessive dedication and unwavering resolve.
However, even the most relentless efforts didn’t always guarantee success.
“Alright then.” Xu Wen patted Lu Xu on the shoulder. “I thought…”
Xu Wen hesitated but didn’t finish his sentence. He could only say that Zhang Che was a typical example of a certain type of celebrity in the entertainment industry. Ever since his debut, Zhang Che had been the subject of constant skepticism, which earned him a loyal following of fans who felt protective of him. Before anyone could even criticize Zhang Che, his fans already assumed the whole world was out to get him.
Targeting Lu Xu in this situation was wrong to begin with. Yet, since this drama had become tied to the Stellar Awards, Xu Wen worried that the conflict between Lu Xu and Zhang Che might influence the outcome of the judging process.
The Stellar Awards judges were known to dislike celebrities whose fans caused too much commotion.
Of course, this wasn’t the reason Zhang Che lost to Lu Xu.
Lu Xu’s nomination was earned entirely on the merit of his exceptional portrayal of Qin Zhao.
This time, Lu Xu’s honest and magnanimous response unintentionally highlighted Zhang Che’s pettiness.
Even if, at worst, Zhang Che’s comment was just a lament about the futility of hard work, why should Lu Xu have to endure the storm of his fans’ outrage?
For a celebrity to stand at the top, they must possess the composure befitting that position.
The more Zhang Che indulged in his emo tendencies, the more Lu Xu’s tolerance stood out. Zhang Che’s repeated failures to win the Stellar Award had initially garnered sympathy. However, now, he not only failed to secure the award but also lost his reputation.
Even Zhang Che’s agent silently marveled at the situation. They had always thought of Lu Xu as a straightforward “fighter,” but it turned out he was both sharp and refined.
…
That morning, a reporter interviewed Zhang Che, asking his thoughts on Lu Xu’s response.
Having slept poorly until 3 a.m., Zhang Che appeared visibly drained. Forced to smile wryly, he said he hoped to work with Lu Xu in the future.
Zhang Che probably hadn’t expected the phrase “How could you do this to Zhang Che?” to become a viral internet meme.
A photo of Lu Xu riding a bike made its way online, and the top comment read: [He hasn’t even slept well, and you’re out here riding a bike?]
In another image, Lu Xu was biting into a beef patty, still warm in his hands. The accompanying caption was: [How can you even eat a patty when Zhang Che hasn’t slept?]
Lu Xu, caught mid-bite, accidentally dropped the patty. The pained expression on his face made fans jokingly compare him to a crying puppy.
This began the wave of “Lu Xu Memes,” which soon morphed into “Universal Memes,” where fans humorously adapted the meme: [How dare you [do anything] when Zhang Che hasn’t slept well?]
Lu Xu: “…”
Sometimes, Lu Xu wondered if he had a unique talent for turning everything he touched into a meme. It seemed like any event connected to him would eventually morph into a viral joke.
Fortunately, his fans soon pieced together the reason for this particular round of jokes: the day he got criticized by Zhang Che’s fans, he just happened to be riding his little bike around town.
…
The Stellar Awards ceremony wouldn’t take place for another month. During that time, Lu Xu landed three new endorsements and established preliminary cooperation with G-brand.
G-brand’s move was described by marketing accounts as “precise and decisive.”
Though their partnership initially drew mockery from other luxury brands for piggybacking on Z-brand’s advertisement style, the deal was solidly sealed.
Luxury brands, known for their aloofness and lengthy evaluation periods, faced their own risks in choosing partners. Picking the right celebrity to align with the brand’s image while also ensuring their long-term prospects was akin to placing a strategic bet.
Typically, idols weren’t in the running because their careers had limited longevity. Moreover, the high exposure idols received often stripped them of the mystery that luxury brands valued.
However, during periods when brands faced challenges and prioritized immediate sales, idols’ massive fanbases could bring them into consideration.
Even so, brands sometimes made the wrong call.
Some celebrities burned brightly but briefly, disappearing from public attention before the brand could recoup its investment.
That’s why brands preferred celebrities with significant potential—such as those who had earned or been nominated for major awards.
For celebrities nominated for the Stellar Awards with sufficient public recognition, luxury brand collaborations were almost a given. However, if a brand exclusively used Stellar Award nominations as a benchmark, it might not find a viable candidate for years.
But this year, along came Lu Xu.
Young, talented, a natural on the runway, and now a Stellar Award nominee—Lu Xu checked all the boxes. The day G-brand’s shirts sold out, senior executives in the company proposed evaluating him as a potential collaborator.
However, moving too hastily might make G-brand appear overeager, undermining the prestige of a luxury label.
But once the Stellar Award nominations were announced, G-brand abandoned all pretense of patience. If they didn’t act fast, a competitor would undoubtedly snatch Lu Xu away!
As a brand, G-brand understood perfectly well that the shirts that sold out were just regular ready-to-wear pieces. The reason they looked so stunning was entirely due to Lu Xu’s presence as a model.
Stars who could effortlessly make clothes look exceptional were a rarity.
Beyond endorsements, Lu Xu also began receiving more offers for leading roles.
Most of these offers still revolved around archetypes like the “aloof prince” or “patient avenger” in period dramas. However, the variety was already broader than the scripts he had been offered previously.
While reviewing scripts, Lu Xu carefully considered what kind of role he wanted to take on next year.
He had a particular fondness for projects like Rising Sun, though scripts of that caliber were few and far between. They required screenwriters with both a deep understanding of history and a genuine passion for national stories.
If he couldn’t act in one, he’d be fine watching a drama.
At this thought, Lu Xu found himself momentarily embodying Mu Qian, joining the other party in berating Lin Ge Entertainment.
…
While Lu Xu was attentively listening to his agent explain the dos and don’ts for attending the Stellar Awards, his phone buzzed with a message from Kong Le.
Kong Le informed him that The Path of Bones was set to premiere after the Lunar New Year.
Shortly after, Lei Ai sent him the same update.
Originally, The Path of Bones had been slated for a mid-year release, targeting the summer season when young book fans would be on vacation, potentially boosting its popularity.
The production team had plans for the drama’s release, but unfortunately, the streaming platforms showed little enthusiasm. After the disastrous performance of the previous series, Undercover, no platform had the courage to acquire The Path of Bones despite its completion.
Lei Ai was already considering joining Kong Le to personally pitch the drama to potential buyers. After all, Kong Le was a well-known author with some clout in the directing community, maintaining decent relationships with various platforms. If they both put in the effort and the platforms softened their stance a little, the drama might eventually find a home.
Then, just at that moment, the news broke that Lu Xu had been nominated for the Stellar Awards.
Suddenly, the previously ignored The Path of Bones became a highly sought-after gem.
**TN
Wishing you love, joy, and all things festive this Christmas! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)