WIIAD? ### Chapter 51: Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese people, no matter how tough life may be. On this day, everyone strives to be harmonious and joyful, even strangers meet with smiles on their faces.
Returning home, Qi Lin seemed unusually quiet, often sitting alone on the sofa, staring at a television that wasn't even turned on. His somewhat lost demeanor worried his parents, making them wonder if he might be suffering from some psychological issue. After all, didn't the internet often talk about celebrities getting depression? Now that their son had gained some fame, could he be experiencing depression too?
Fortunately, Qi Lin's state didn't last more than two days, easing his parents' concerns. The family of three spent a happy Chinese New Year together, and soon it was New Year's Day.
On this day, Qi Lin wrapped himself up tightly and took his family to the cinema because today was the premiere of "Fong Sai-yuk"! Speaking of which, the last time he watched a movie with his parents was back in middle school.
On New Year's Day, the cinema was crowded, and a large poster of the movie was prominently displayed in the lobby. Jia Dan, dressed in a white robe as Fong Sai-yuk, exuded an air of elegance. His father searched for a while before finally spotting Qi Lin's character, Ordo, in a corner of the poster. Just this small section of the poster was enough to make him excited, even calling Qi Lin's mother over to take a look.
At that moment, Qi Lin suddenly realized that he had truly grown up and had become a source of pride for his parents.
The family lined up to enter the theater and found their seats. The surrounding noise was filled with the joyful chatter of families, but it was a cheerful kind of noise. Soon, the lights dimmed, and the audience quieted down, waiting for the movie to begin. Qi Lin's parents were particularly excited because their son had mentioned that he had quite a bit of screen time.
The movie began! When Qi Lin appeared on screen in his Qing Dynasty official attire, his father's eyes widened in astonishment, unable to believe that the villain glaring at others was his own son. His mother, however, was more concerned about the fight scenes, feeling distressed watching Qi Lin get beaten by Fong Sai-yuk. Initially, she was fine when Qi Lin was fighting others, but as soon as Ordo started getting beaten, she kept muttering in Qi Lin's ear, complaining that despite Fong Sai-yuk's good looks, he didn't seem like a good person.
After the hour-long movie ended, the family left the theater, with Qi Lin's mother immediately suggesting that he should play fewer villain roles in the future, claiming that playing villains too often wouldn't help him find a wife. Qi Lin's father, on the other hand, scoffed at the idea, confident that their son, looking so much like himself, wouldn't have trouble finding a wife. "Have you heard of the heartthrob from the military arts school?" he asked.
Just as Wang Xiaohua had anticipated, Qi Lin's popularity soared after the release of "Fong Sai-yuk"! Especially on Douyin, many users were using his original lines to create transformation videos, particularly the line, "My master is called Qianlong!" Suddenly, the entire platform was filled with videos of people transforming into various Qing Dynasty officials. Occasionally, some comedic content creators would even transform into eunuchs to entertain everyone.
Qi Lin's growing fame also earned him a number of male fans for the first time. Previously, 90% of his fans were female, as he often played roles like domineering CEOs or Ma Wen-cai, which weren't typically admired by male audiences. However, Ordo's clean and swift action scenes and ruthless personality in the new film attracted quite a few male fans.
"Wow, the sword furnace fight was exhilarating! No wonder the choreography is by Yuan's team, the moves are incredible!"
"This actor is amazing! His moves are clean, and every punch hits hard!"
"Of course, do you know who he is? He's a professional!"
"Uh, can someone explain who this is?"
"Haha, just look him up. Trust me, his credentials will shock you!"
"Wow! A national-level athlete! Wuying rank! All-around champion in the National Games Wushu Routine Competition! All-around champion in the National College Student Competition! What an incredible actor!"
"Haha, my treasure boy is just that amazing!"
"This guy is great, totally different from those pretty boys! Although he’s still not as handsome as me."
"Hey, I told you not to leave the hospital. See, now you're talking nonsense again!"
Meanwhile, Jia Dan, watching the discussions about Qi Lin online, was a bit stunned. What was going on? Who was the lead actor here? He was Fong Sai-yuk, wasn't he? Hey, discuss me too, damn it! It was just a supporting role, why was it getting so much attention?
On the tenth day of the lunar new year, Wang Xiaohua brought a trunk full of gifts to Qi Lin's home to celebrate the new year. Qi Lin's family welcomed her warmly, preparing a sumptuous meal for her. Wang Xiaohua was equally unpretentious, enjoying the meal and the conversation. At the dining table, she repeatedly assured them that she would make Qi Lin the brightest new star.
On the twelfth day of the new year, Qi Lin's team assembled, and they set off for Hong Kong to shoot a new movie. On the plane, none of them could sleep. Except for Wang Xiaohua, none of the others had ever been to Hong Kong before, and they were all looking forward to seeing the legendary Pearl of the Orient.
Stretching, Wang Xiaohua asked, "How's the script coming along?"
"There are only a few lines, I've memorized them already. As for the action scenes, I'll have to learn from the martial arts director on set."
Li Yue, sitting beside them, asked excitedly, "Sister Hua, which big stars are in this movie?"
Wang Xiaohua smiled, "There are quite a few, including Principal Gu, Wu Zhanlang, Mr. Ren, and even an action star from Thailand, Tony!"
"Sister Hua, can you help me get an autograph from Principal Gu? I really love his Yang Guo character!"
With a slightly star-struck expression, Li Yue made Wang Xiaohua laugh, "Of course, no problem. I have some connections with Gu."
Qi Lin, on the other hand, was more interested in Wu Zhanlang and the Thai actor Tony. Speaking of Wu Zhanlang, he was Qi Lin's senior! Both of them graduated from Beijing Sport University, and Qi Lin had often heard about him during his studies. Qi Lin truly admired this senior, who had carved out a niche for himself by creating military action films, developing his unique style in a market dominated by veteran action stars. This was no small feat.
Back when Jackie Chan emerged, people often compared him to Bruce Lee because they were both Chinese and action stars. To step out of Bruce Lee's shadow and establish his own style, Jackie Chan took a completely different path. Where Bruce Lee was serious, Jackie Chan was playful. Where Bruce Lee was swift and direct, Jackie Chan was more reactive and improvised. Where Bruce Lee used only his hands, Jackie Chan used anything and everything as a weapon. It took a tremendous effort for him to create his unique kung fu style.
This illustrates just how challenging it is to carve out a unique path in the industry.