Top Dupe CH 070 The Rhythm Of Fame Part 1

No, no, no, impossible. Gu Xiaowei's personal makeup artist is Brother Yan. Ye Shengyi said he's the only makeup artist for the person he's following, so he's not following Gu Xiaowei, but Luo Yu?

Sister Lan let out a sigh of relief, glad it wasn't Gu Xiaowei.  

But then she felt a tinge of envy. Luo Yu had the support of Yinchuan Culture and already had two TV dramas waiting to air. This morning, the production team of “Beast and Rose” officially announced that Wen Yuchi had been cast as the second male lead, and the official character photos would be released soon.  

At that time, Ye Shengyi would likely be the one responsible for Wen Yuchi's makeup.  

Sister Lan wondered if she'd ever get the chance to do makeup for a film character in her lifetime.  

As they got into the car, Ye Shengyi leaned back lazily. Brother Yan was playing rock music, and Xiao Qin excitedly talked about the upcoming party, while Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu sat side by side behind him.  

They were all here for him.  

"This is absolutely the highlight of my life—" Ye Shengyi closed his eyes and spread his arms as if he were about to soar inside the car.  

"You seem to have quite a few highlights in life," Luo Yu said, amused.  

As the car drove forward, everyone was enjoying the features and comfort of the nanny van, and Ye Shengyi was overjoyed.  

"When I followed Ai Cheng, I rarely had the chance to ride in the same nanny van with her... I usually had to take another car! Brother Luo, this time, I finally feel vindicated!"  

Hearing this, Luo Yu felt even more that Gu Xiaowei was right—having the nanny van pick up Xiao Ye made him more confident and gave him a greater sense of belonging.  

Their car stopped at the crosswalk of Yingguang Plaza, waiting for the traffic light. The LED billboard above the city's busiest subway exit was playing a high-definition trailer for “Counterattack”.  

Pedestrians and passengers, who had long grown numb to the LED content, were surprisingly drawn to the trailer.  

Ye Shengyi, with his sharp eyes, excitedly tapped on the window, shouting, "Look! It's the ‘Counterattack’ trailer! It's been scheduled! It's been scheduled!"  

Luo Yu looked at him like he was a child, while Gu Xiaowei remained calm, saying, "Yes, about the time you join ‘Beast and Rose’ crew, the show will start airing."  

Ye Shengyi pleaded, "Please, let me finish watching the trailer!"  

Luo Yu patted his head and coaxed, "You can watch it on your phone."  

"It's not the same! Watching here, I get to share your brilliance with the whole world! How amazing is that?"  

"I also want to see Brother Gu and Brother Luo on the big screen!" Xiao Qin chimed in, pouting.  

"Then pull over and let them watch," Gu Xiaowei said, nodding toward Brother Yan.  

Brother Yan's face lit up with a smile. "What can I do? We have to spoil our own! Besides, I want to watch too!"  

When the main character, Yan Ye, appeared on screen in a black shirt with an open collar, biting a cigarette while leaning against the alley with a teasing smile, his roguish look carried an underlying menace. In a quick cut, he was shown fiercely fighting, blood splattering in his eyes, all to get closer to Bai Ying. Then came a flash of scenes where he lifted Bai Ying out of the water with great effort. The music’s rhythm was intense, every frame gripping the viewer's heart.  

"I don't know if there's an end to this endless darkness. I once had faith in justice, but now I must don a different shell and fight like a wolf to survive—"  

Until Yan Ye suddenly turned his head, covered in blood, coldly growling, "Who—"  

Several girls watching couldn't help but praise, "Is that Gu Xiaowei? So wild!"  

"He's completely different from how he acts in interviews and his previous roles!"  

The next shot showed a man with slightly long hair looking up with a subtle smile. His cold, elegant eyes on the massive LED screen seemed particularly icy, and when his eyelids lifted, a barely noticeable smile tugged at his lips, as if he were opening the gates to hell.  

He watched coldly as those around him fought like trapped animals for profit. His expression was indifferent as he watched his betrayed subordinate drown. He stubbed a cigarette out on the lapel of Uncle He, his father's trusted aide. Arrogant and reckless, but when he smiled, it was as though the world was tinted with decaying yet vivid colors.  

But after killing Uncle He, he nonchalantly told Yan Ye, "Next time, make it cleaner." The fight with assassin Ah Bao was so sharp and swift, like a dagger stabbing straight into the audience's heart. He would then look up at the sky with a wistful expression, as if longing for someone to tear it apart, so he could glimpse the color beyond.  

Scene after scene flashed by quickly, each one making the audience want to grasp onto his image, trying to get a clearer look at him.  

"I am Bai Ying. My fate was sealed from the day I was born. So, Yan Ye, as long as you win in the end, we won't count as losing!"  

"Who's this actor? So intense!"  

"I know! It's Luo Yu! You can find his audition video for Bai Ying online! It's really amazing!"  

"Luo Yu? He’s completely transformed!"  

The trailer was short, but the screen time given to Bai Ying rivaled that of the male and female leads. His character had a powerful and multifaceted presence.  

Just this brief trailer was enough to make passersby stop and watch every time it played.  

Ye Shengyi leaned against the car window, watching it five times before he was willing to leave. If Luo Yu hadn't reminded him that their reserved private room would soon be given away, the kid probably would have kept watching forever.  

That day, #CounterattackScheduled# trended on social media. Gu Xiaowei's #YanYe# trended high, and even #BaiYing# made it into the top ten.  

At dinner, Ye Shengyi was so excited about the trending topic that he almost choked on a chicken bone.  

"Did Sister Cui buy this trending spot?" Luo Yu scratched his chin, thinking about telling Sister Cui not to waste money on such things.  

But Gu Xiaowei calmly replied, "It wasn’t Sister Cui. She knows your personality and wouldn’t buy a trending spot."  

"Then was it Boss Jiang?" Luo Yu opened Jiang Yinchuan's WeChat, about to ask him.  

Gu Xiaowei, still with certainty in his voice, said, "It wasn't Jiang Yinchuan either—if he did it, he'd have bought you the top spot."  

Luo Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly deleted everything in the chat window, afraid that if he sent the message, Jiang Yinchuan might really do it.  

"Brother Luo! Just believe this trending topic is real! So many people are already collecting wallpapers of Bai Ying’s smile! Look, I've set Bai Ying as my phone background!" Ye Shengyi turned his phone around for Luo Yu to see.  

Luo Yu blinked, not expecting such a positive reception to that moment. Lin Yue's dramas didn't use filters, so that was his most authentic appearance in the show.  

"You didn't see it—so many people are asking for Bai Ying wallpapers!" Ye Shengyi was thrilled.  

Brother Yan and Xiao Qin immediately chimed in.  

"Let me find a Yan Ye wallpaper!"  

"Yes! I want to set Yan Ye as mine too!"  

Gu Xiaowei tapped his fingers on Ye Shengyi's table. "Add me on WeChat."  

"Huh?" Ye Shengyi froze, wondering if he had misheard. Was Gu Xiaowei actually asking to add him on WeChat?  

"Send me the Bai Ying wallpaper," Gu Xiaowei said.  

"Oh, oh! Sure! Right away!" Ye Shengyi jumped up to scan Gu Xiaowei's QR code.  

"Why do you want a Bai Ying wallpaper?" Luo Yu asked, curious.  

"As my phone background."  

"What? Why would you set my character as your background? You should..."  

You should set your own character as your background!  

Gu Xiaowei turned his phone around to show Luo Yu. "This one's perfect."  

Luo Yu took a closer look and, fortunately, it was a shot of Yan Ye and Bai Ying side by side, smoking after crawling out of the water.  

Tired, indolent, yet mutually dependent.  

"I like that one too. I'll set it as my background as well." Luo Yu nudged Gu Xiaowei with his elbow. "Send it to me too."  

That night, “Counterattack” shot to the top of the "Most Anticipated Upcoming Dramas" list. According to the rankings based on audience interest, Gu Xiaowei took first place, with Luo Yu in third, trailing the female lead by just over three thousand votes. 

Some content creators have edited Bai Ying’s scenes separately, pairing them with various styles of music—some with strong rhythms, some with an alluring vibe, and some with a sharp and crisp feel. These videos have garnered an extremely high number of views, with the comment sections flooded by messages like "Ahhh, I'm swooning" filling the screen.

Industry insiders, after watching the trailer, are generally optimistic about the ratings, and Bai Ying is receiving a lot of buzz. 

He Mu watched it on his phone. Even he couldn't help but watch it three or four times. The more he watched, the more he understood that Bai Ying's exceptional qualities were not just about his facial features, but also his expressions, movements, and even the subtle emotions in his speech. These elements, rich with charm, came together to form the Bai Ying seen in the trailer.

And yet, he himself completely lacked the ability to present such a Bai Ying. It was also the first time he gained a direct understanding of Luo Yu's acting skills.

At that moment, He Mu suddenly felt like a luxurious ocean liner—everything seemed joyful and carefree onboard, but it was hollow inside. A large wave would be enough to sink him into the sea.

Luo Yu was that wave.

He looked at the trending topics, thinking Luo Yu would buy his way into the top three with #BaiYing#, but to his surprise, the ranking remained low.

He had initially wanted to mock Luo Yu for being stingy with his money, but after clicking on the shares and comments, He Mu suddenly realized that it wasn’t that Luo Yu didn’t want to spend money—it was that he hadn’t even considered marketing at all.

Because all of these fans were real, there was no fake engagement. Their discussions and recommendations were genuine.

He Mu felt envious of Luo Yu, but there was no way to attack him.

The frustration in his heart was overwhelming.

Even Ou Juntao, when his car passed by an LED advertisement, signaled the driver to stop. He leaned against the window, waiting for Bai Ying to appear—this character actually bore a deep resemblance to Luo Yu deep down, full of charm and stirring up a desire to conquer and possess in others.

However, in reality, Luo Yu had already broken free from his shackles and was soaring into the sky, so much so that he didn’t even spare him another glance. Ou Juntao smiled bitterly and rubbed his eyes. He realized that he could have been someone like Jiang Yinchuan, a pillar of support for Luo Yu. But he had squandered his good hand at the very start.

Ai Cheng, too, was glued to her phone, constantly replaying the trailer, one moment gushing over "Gu Xiaowei is so cool," and the next professing "Bai Ying is my favorite" or "Bai Ying's smile pierces my heart." She even used an alternate account to join Bai Ying’s fan club, repeatedly slamming her head on the metaphorical wall for not maintaining good relations with Ye Shengyi.

Her agent was growing worried, afraid her alternate account would be exposed. Ai Cheng sent a picture of her Bai Ying wallpaper to her agent, successfully pulling her into the ranks of Bai Ying’s fanbase.

Makeup artist Sister Lan also silently watched the trailer several times. Based on her experience, Luo Yu's portrayal of Bai Ying was likely to become wildly popular across the entertainment industry, and she knew they would see a lot more of Luo Yu at various events. By then, Ye Shengyi would stand proudly by his side...

That same evening, President Wang of Pinnacle Sports called Cui Zhuxin to confirm that they were firmly choosing Luo Yu as their spokesperson.

Producer Liang from M Channel, after watching the fight scenes in the trailer, became even more optimistic about Luo Yu. He contacted Sister Cui to confirm when filming for "Beast and Rose" would end, asking if Luo Yu could undergo a period of fencing training. He also mentioned that Xiang Chao himself had seen the trailer for “Counterattack” and thought Luo Yu was incredibly handsome, praising the intensity of his performance and expressing satisfaction with his acting skills. Sister Cui also placed great importance on the drama from M Channel, promising that once filming was done, Luo Yu would immediately begin fencing lessons.

As soon as Producer Liang's call ended, Producer Han scheduled a dinner meeting. All of a sudden, Sister Cui was so busy her phone was practically on fire.

Several fashion magazines sent invitations for photoshoots, and variety shows were also clamoring for his participation.

After the welcome party with Xiao Yezi, it was time for the two-week pre-filming training period.

Gu Xiaowei continued learning to paint oil paintings in the studio, while Luo Yu followed the teachers hired by the crew to study forensic knowledge and dissection techniques.

That weekend, just before they finished their training, “Burn, Little Cosmos” aired.

At 8 p.m. that evening, Luo Yu was wearing a mask, holding a scalpel, simulating a Y-incision on a dummy, when the first trending topic shot to the top—#ThanksBigBrother#.

At first, netizens didn’t know what it meant, but when they clicked in, they saw that it was a VCR recorded by Xie Chang for Luo Yu.

In the video, Xie Chang wore a white dress and had styled her bangs in a student-like fashion. As soon as she appeared, viewers were transported back to their school days.

“I recorded this VCR because I wanted to thank a big brother. Without this big brother, I might not be where I am today,” Xie Chang's voice was shy yet sweet.

She told the audience the story of how she almost missed out on her first role in life.

The audience was touched by Xie Chang's sincerity, imagining a helpless and dejected young lady.

"Thank you, Big Brother. He fought for an opportunity for me with the crew, helped me with my makeup, braided my hair, and encouraged me to be brave and optimistic, teaching me to conquer the audience with a smile. That role was the start of my acting career!”

Xie Chang smiled brightly like a sunflower, with a hint of tears in her eyes. Her heartfelt gratitude moved all who saw it.

Everyone started guessing who this big brother was, wondering if he was someone in the industry.

It wasn’t until the end of the VCR that Xie Chang smiled and said, "This big brother of mine may not have been well-known before, but I believe his performances in ‘Counterattack’ and ‘Storm’ will blow everyone away! More people will recognize his talent and see his light! I’m Xie Chang, and I’m here to cheer for Luo Yu!"

[So Chang Chang’s big brother is Luo Yu!]

[Thank you, Luo Yu, for protecting our Chang Chang’s dream of becoming an actress!]

[From now on, Rainbow Feathers will protect Chang Chang’s big brother too!] (TN: fan name derived from Xie Chang's name which comes from ní cháng, meaning rainbow colored clothes worn by the Eight Immortals)

…

Many people even pulled out “Plum Blossom Rain” for a rewatch, and the moment Luo Yu appeared, his gentle and radiant aura made it impossible to find anyone else quite like him.

The program’s producer and director, Xu Mu, watched the online discussions and rising ratings and remarked, "After struggling with low ratings for so long, we can finally hold our heads high again."

Xie Chang’s VCR was just the warm-up. When Cheng Fei appeared in the VCR, the audience was in for another surprise.

[Cheng Fei actually recorded a VCR for Luo Yu? What’s he going to say?]

[Looking forward to some straight-talking, no-nonsense compliments from Brother Cheng!]

[Brother Cheng, take it easy—don’t ruin Luo Yu’s chances on all future variety shows with your words!]

...

On screen, Cheng Fei’s ears were indeed a little red. He coughed once, then sat up straight in front of the camera.

“Hello everyone, I’m actor Cheng Fei. I recorded this VCR because my good brother Luo Yu is going to participate in an outdoor variety show called… ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’! As his buddy, I have to give him my full support!”

Many viewers familiar with Cheng Fei couldn’t help but laugh.

It wasn’t uncommon for Cheng Fei to think of someone as his buddy, only to be treated merely as a colleague because of his blunt way of speaking. Even though he claimed to be Gu Xiaowei’s close friend, he had never received an official acknowledgment.

[Does Luo Yu know he’s your buddy?]

[Brother Cheng, you don’t even remember the name of the variety show, do you? Blink if you’ve been kidnapped!]

[Brother Cheng, just remember, you’re supposed to support him, not tear him down!]