The screen was silent for a moment. The two palace maids fanning on either side lowered their heads in fear. The hurriedly arriving maid gently placed the tray on the floor, lifted the silk cloth covering it, and revealed a translucent jade token.
A faint ringing sound echoed.
A silver bell hanging under the curtain was triggered, and a pale, delicate hand emerged from the golden-red satin. The skin was smooth, the fingernails carefully trimmed into round shapes. The fingers curled gracefully, moving gently yet without any trace of femininity.
The voice that followed was laced with laziness and disdain. Even without seeing the speaker, the arrogance and aloofness in the two words conveyed the character’s utter disregard for others—
“Bring it here.”
The thunderous beat of drums echoed as the scene quickly changed. Night had fallen in the wilderness, and a woman dressed in simple clothes was desperately fleeing. The dim light of the night revealed deliberate smudges of dirt on her face, but her striking features could not be hidden. She looked terrified, but determination gleamed in her eyes as she took each step toward the unknown.
The sound of galloping hooves drew closer and closer, becoming more intense.
“Chase her!” “Hurry!” “She can’t run fast!” The shouts of the pursuers echoed through the dark, quiet night. Hearing the approaching voices, the fleeing woman stopped and turned back, her face showing an expression of near despair.
The camera shifted, showing the pursuers galloping away without realizing they had passed their target.
The branches rustled, and the leaves of the towering bamboo collided, producing a rustling sound. A figure gracefully descended, holding another person. After landing, the woman, who had narrowly escaped, quickly backed away in gratitude and unease, clutching her bundle, unsure of what to say to her savior.
The chivalrous warrior, dressed in tight-fitting gear, had a strikingly handsome face, his features sharply outlined in the night. Noticing the woman’s reluctance, he stood still, gazing at her for a moment, then turned and left.
The silence was suddenly broken by the heavy beat of drums, and in the distance, a deep, solemn military song began to rise, each note dragging out the next.
The screen faded to black, and as the song continued, a tiny point of light appeared in the darkness, exploding like fireworks.
Two large white characters suddenly burst onto the screen—
Wolong (Hidden/Crouching Dragon)
The mysterious Prince Guangling made a stunning first appearance, not fully revealed yet but commanding attention. Dressed in a red robe, he strode quickly along the palace walls. Against the backdrop of green bricks, blue tiles, and the dark sky, he was the most vivid and intense figure in the scene. As the camera zoomed in, gasps could be heard from the premiere audience.
This particular shot, which would later be hailed by movie fans as one of the most iconic moments of the entire film, perfectly captured Prince Guangling’s arrogant and commanding presence, symbolized by his billowing robe.
******
Luo Ding slouched on the couch, flipping through a film magazine that compiled various critics’ reviews of *Crouching Dragon*.
Critics exist to criticize, right? In his previous life, Luo Ding had endured countless harsh reviews. Everything from the plot to the editing to the actors’ performances—if something didn’t meet expectations, it was dismissed as trash. If it did meet expectations, it was called overdone. When *Crouching Dragon*’s first-week box office numbers were released, Luo Ding predicted they’d face a harsh wave of criticism. Topping the charts, surpassing several major domestic and international blockbusters, was sure to provoke resentment.
As expected, nearly every character in the film was singled out for critique—Yuan Bing’s performance lacked emotional depth, Duan Xiubo’s character design was criticized for being too ridiculous, and even though Yu Shengyan was a palace concubine, he was still rescued by the heroic warrior, damaging his reputation as a chivalrous man. Luo Ding, however, seemed to have escaped the harshest criticisms. Perhaps because he was still relatively new, or maybe because his role as the villainous Prince Guangling didn’t attract as much animosity, the negative comments about him were limited to a few phrases about his character’s “problematic moral compass.”
There were no claims that he couldn’t act or that he had failed to embody his character. Seeing the critics’ restraint, the anxiety Luo Ding had felt eased considerably.
After *Crouching Dragon*’s success with audiences, what concerned him most was how professional critics would evaluate him. With the film’s box office steadily climbing and many viewers recommending it after seeing it once, the film clearly resonated with modern audiences. The character designs—Prince Guangling’s devilish charm, Mu Gui’s heroism, and Yu Shengyan’s allure—coupled with the grand fight scenes, stunning editing, and soundtrack that upheld Huoxie’s standards, all hit the mark for today’s viewers.
Winning the Best Supporting Actor award at the Huaxia Film Festival was a significant milestone for Luo Ding. If critics claimed his performance was stiff and undeserving of the award, it would have deeply upset him. He had always cared about public opinion.
After some time, it became impossible to fully curb the spread of pirated versions online. The box office had already exceeded expectations, so the distributors eased up. In China, piracy was an uncomfortable topic for all creators, but *Crouching Dragon* managing to avoid leaked versions for so long had been surprising. Much of this was attributed to the higher personal standards of the film’s audience.
Once online streams became more accessible, discussions about *Crouching Dragon* exploded across social media.
The film’s plot, settings, fight scenes, and visually stunning moments were dissected and analyzed. Normally, spoilers could be detrimental to a film still in theaters, but in this case, the increasing buzz only boosted ticket sales.
Many were puzzled by this phenomenon, and after investigating, they found that the more deeply the film was discussed online, the more people realized that you had to see it in theaters to fully appreciate the breathtaking visuals.
This wasn’t a marketing ploy by Huoxie. While the plot of *Crouching Dragon* was nothing groundbreaking—court intrigue, martial arts heroes, damsels in distress, and a sadistic villain—it was the visual spectacle that captivated audiences.
The same roles, when played by different actors, made the difference between an ordinary film and a classic.
The shot of Prince Guangling striding through the palace corridor, the camera zooming in for a close-up, left many viewers gasping.
“OMG!!! My lord, punish me!!!”
Comments under the review section were flooded with fans swooning over the scene.
“Punish you? Is that enough? Do you think watching my lord on your screen even compares to seeing him on the big screen in a dark theater? You have no idea how suffocating it was when his magnified image looked straight at me! My friends and I hugged each other and cried!”
“OMG!!! Being a student is the worst!!!”
“Hey, tickets are half-price on Tuesdays, only 30 yuan!!!”
With that, hordes of students began eagerly preparing for the upcoming Tuesday.
The long-standing Duan-Luo fan club, after watching the film, was in high spirits and started spreading the word, encouraging other long-time members to brace themselves for an influx of new fans. The film was full of countless potential romantic pairings, and the fact that the story ended with the characters wandering together made it easy to interpret however fans wished. Before the premiere, fans of the “Jade Beauty” pairing of Yu Shengyan and Yu Concubine were delighted, as were those shipping Yu Shengyan and Mu Gui, as well as those enjoying the rivalry between Prince Guangling and Mu Gui.
In particular, the pairing of Mu Gui and Prince Guangling—strong, domineering yet beautiful—became a standout. The contrast between the stoic hero and the arrogant prince, the clash of two powerful figures, and the fact that their relationship ended tragically only heightened its emotional impact. This pairing quickly became the top choice for fans joining the community.
Some fans initially intended to support the film for just a few months, but the Duan-Luo fan club, well-prepared and cunning, unleashed a barrage of content from long-time fans, successfully turning many newcomers into loyal supporters.
Now, any news article with Luo Ding or Duan Xiubo’s name attached instantly saw its shares multiply. For the sake of clicks and views, many outlets began to intentionally mention Luo Ding, creating a positive feedback loop where Luo Ding’s popularity only grew.
Luo Ding had been famous for a while now, ever since *The Tang Dynasty Chronicles* began airing. That show had already set him on the path to stardom, but *Crouching Dragon* pushed him even further, rescuing him from being pigeonholed by his earlier roles. Those who had once speculated that his standout performance in *The Tang Dynasty Chronicles* was due to his natural fit for the role were now silenced by *Crouching Dragon*. Luo Ding’s portrayal of Prince Guangling was a slap in their faces.
His company had already begun preparing new music tracks for him, and his scenes in *Blade Warrior III* were nearing completion. When he initially accepted the role, he had hoped to take a month off after wrapping up filming, but that was looking less and less likely. Endorsements and advertisements were pouring in, with offers piling up, and his asking price only continued to rise, turning him into an undeniable cash cow.
Though they were close in private, Gu Yaxing was still cautious around him.
******
Luo Ding was sprawled over the coffee table, his laptop open to a screen filled with various fan pages. With a notebook in hand, he was methodically listing domain names.
He had a bit of vanity in him, and seeing his own popularity made him genuinely happy. The success of *Crouching Dragon* had elevated his status, and fan forums dedicated to him were becoming more active. Luo Ding often searched for mentions of himself online, browsing through fan comments. When he found something he liked, he would register an account and jot down the username and forum domain in his notebook.
He had kept this notebook for quite some time. It was a habit he had picked up in his previous life, and after being reborn, he had resumed it during his free time. Initially, he would write down the names of his fan clubs, like the “Support Luo Ding” club. Later, he added forums that seemed to have a favorable impression of him, such as Haijiao Forum and Hupu. Now, the notebook was filled with URLs of his official fan pages and forums, and a glance showed that he had already filled up almost half of it.
After jotting down four names in a row, he turned to the next page, ready to continue, but suddenly froze. Slowly, his gaze shifted back to the screen.
“The strong hands of Duan Xiubo tore apart Luo Ding’s delicate *enis…”
Wait.
Something about that top post’s keywords seemed off.
Luo Ding’s trembling fingers clicked on the post, and the words that greeted him made the corners of his mouth twitch.
With a sharp “clap,” Luo Ding slammed the laptop shut, collapsed onto the floor, and clutched his chest, forcing himself to calm down.
It’s fine, it’s fine. After all, he had filmed shirtless scenes before. What’s a little fantasy writing? Besides, his relationship with Duan Xiubo wasn’t fake—it was only a matter of time before it became public. This was just a preview of what was to come.
His heart raced as the shame of being mentally “voyeurized” lingered. Luo Ding raised his hand to cover his eyes, and just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—Duan Xiubo was calling. He hesitated and didn’t dare pick up.
The phone rang a few more times before going silent. Just as Luo Ding was about to call back, another call came through.
It was Gu Yaxing.
“Luo Ding, are you free? Are you at home? I have something I need to discuss with you.”
“I’m home,” Luo Ding replied as he stood up, drawing the curtains open. Sunlight streamed in, bringing life to the darkened room.
He shut down his laptop and hid the notebook.
When Gu Yaxing entered, he glanced around.
The apartment looked exactly as it had when they first moved in. The furniture placement and decor hadn’t changed at all. Even the position of the entryway had remained untouched. It was clear that Luo Ding had a rather dull personal life.
Luo Ding had been earning quite a bit lately, and if he liked the place, Gu Yaxing was considering buying the apartment for him. Knowing Luo Ding’s personality, he probably wouldn’t want to move anytime soon. Having visited a few times, Gu Yaxing realized that the apartment’s amenities and security were actually quite good. Despite Luo Ding’s growing fame, he hadn’t been photographed or bothered in his private life yet.
There had been reports of obsessive fans following him home after events, but the building’s security had managed to keep them away.
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