Chapter 663

In the afternoon, she went to attend another roadshow.

Ye Weijie had clearly taken Jin Li's advice to heart; instead of avoiding the increasingly intense rumors online, he began to speak about them openly and honestly.

"Yes, there was a small accident during the filming, but it was resolved very quickly."

"This accident involved one of the villagers. We wanted to borrow a residence from a villager to film the interior scenes because that villager's house was very large and encompassed an important landscape feature of the village."

"However, that villager was extremely unwilling and strongly opposed the crew entering to film the scenery. The village chief went to his home many times to persuade him, but it was useless. Even higher-level leaders and city-level leaders came, but they couldn't make him change his mind."

"Because his resistance made some villagers feel something was wrong, they secretly snuck in at night and discovered that he had been using the village's public resources to commit some illegal acts."

Ye Weijie did not tell the whole truth; he had added some artistic embellishments.

And these words of his were also centered around the official announcement that had been released.

The netizens finally understood and praised the crew of "Ordinary Road" for knowing how to choose a filming location.

【Because of a sudden filming session, they ended up exposing a local bully hiding in the village. What a good deed this is!】

【Honestly, Ye Dao, why don't you come to my village for your next film? My village is in XX City, XX County. The scenery is beautiful, the environment is great, and there are many original, undeveloped landscapes. It's just that the public security is a bit worrying. We're just waiting for Ye Dao's crew to come and save us!】

【Could the person above be talking about XX Village? Wasn't it just exposed last year that someone went out for barbecue at night and was beaten up on the street just because they refused a drink offered by a stranger?】

【Ye Dao just wanted to seek wealth, why do I feel like you guys want him to risk his life? (Eating melon)】

Ye Weijie's response to the rumors also made it onto the relevant trending topics.

In the past, trending topics were always driven by Jin Li, but because Jin Li's personal style was too strong, the topics often focused on her personally, making it difficult to bring attention to the crew.

But this time, Ye Weijie's response made it onto the trending list, focusing netizens' attention on the "Ordinary Road" crew.

【You can even sweep away evil while filming a movie? I'm definitely watching this show!】

【The most crucial thing is, the crew really just wanted to film some scenery!】

【If it weren't for the local bully's repeated obstruction, I guess the local villagers wouldn't have discovered anything either.】

【So, is this show good?】

【Coming from the trailer, it feels pretty good. Jin Li plays a village official in this show. I think her acting has become much more solid and grounded, making the character more vivid.】

【With Jin Li's face, I thought it would be very distracting. I've never seen such a beautiful village official, but the more I watch, the more I feel that a village official should look like that.】

【There is a kind of clear and simple beauty!】

【There are also college graduates who come to my village to be village officials. To be honest, they dress much trendier than the village official in the show. They are often laughed at by the villagers for not wearing proper pants and insisting on wearing ripped ones.】

【Help... my mom has said that to me too. Not wearing proper pants, insisting on wearing ripped ones. And shoes, not wearing fresh ones, insisting on wearing those deliberately distressed ones!!】

【I used to think these were trendy fashions, but now I suddenly feel that I am so stupid -_-||】

The buzz for "Ordinary Road" was brought up just like that.

In the evening, the crew members gathered for a meal again.

Everyone took out their phones in unison to scroll through the latest hot news.

Out of 10 trending topics, 5 were about "Ordinary Road." Netizens were discussing the show enthusiastically, extending from topics outside the show to the plot within it.

Just from the trailer, one could tell whether the plot was realistic and grounded.

Wang Hongdou and Ma Mingqi were both very excited. In the show, one was the third female lead and the other was the second male lead; both had significant roles and their own highlight moments.

If the director didn't cut their scenes entirely, given the current buzz, they might just gain a wave of fans.

Ma Mingqi said in a low voice, "It's a good thing I signed with Chenxi Entertainment and have Sister Jin Li leading. Looking at the relationship between the director and Sister Jin Li, he shouldn't cut all my scenes, right?"

Wang Hongdou, who liked to argue with him, rarely argued this time and nodded heavily.

"Sister Jin Li is my guardian angel!"

On the other side, Xu Wenwen was also chatting with Jin Li.

Ye Weijie was not there; he was outside making a phone call.

Ever since Ye Weijie responded to the online rumors at the roadshow in the afternoon, he had been very busy, with people calling him non-stop.

He could turn down some calls, but there were some he couldn't.

Xu Wenwen poured a glass of fruit tea for Jin Li and said, "It's a good thing Ye Dao listened to you and responded this afternoon. Look, the buzz for the crew has picked up, saving a huge amount of promotional costs."

Jin Li's eyes curved as she smiled: "Even if Ye Dao hadn't responded to the online rumors, once 'Ordinary Road' started airing, as long as the plot was good, netizens would have discussed it all the same."

Xu Wenwen shook her head: "Even good wine fears a deep alley. Without buzz in the early stages, only a handful of people will watch. Even if it turns out brilliant later, it's hard to form large-scale discussions.

But now that the buzz is up, it's different. The early discussions are continuous. If the script and editing are good, our show might just take off in the later stages."

Xu Wenwen's eyes dimmed slightly, and she whispered, "I think our show might be able to go for awards."

Jin Li thought for a while and shook her head: "It should be quite difficult. This show doesn't have a plot that satirizes reality; it's just a very ordinary story.

It captures the development and dilemmas of every rural area, and of course, it also captures the rural desire for innovation and change."

Xu Wenwen smiled: "Ordinary—what a common word, yet how unattainable it is in film and television.

What many scripts lack now is that solid craftsmanship. In my opinion, 'Ordinary Road' is quite solid."

Jin Li: "That will have to wait until we see the results after the show airs, and whether Ye Dao registers for relevant awards."

Xu Wenwen said pointedly, "Personally, I think Ye Dao definitely won't miss an opportunity to go for awards."

Jin Li changed the subject: "By the way, how is your work lately? I just checked your blog and found that you haven't posted any schedule updates for nearly half a year."

To be precise, Xu Wenwen's blog was still stuck on the photos from the wrap-up of "Ordinary Road."

After the crew wrapped up, she had no further news.

She hadn't officially announced any endorsements, hadn't participated in any variety shows, and hadn't joined any new productions.

Xu Wenwen sighed softly: "I have some disagreements with the company, so I'm basically being soft-banned now. Whether I can gain a voice in the company depends on how 'Ordinary Road' performs."

Jin Li frowned: "You should be considered one of the better-developing artists in your company, right? The 'Dream Builder' you filmed two years ago had good results. You can film both movies and TV dramas, so your room for development should be very broad."

Xu Wenwen said: "My company is just a small one; they don't participate in film and television investment, so I can't get a say.

When they want to get me an important role in a movie, they are willing but unable. I can only rely on luck, picking up roles others drop at the last minute to save the day.

Among movie directors, I only have some personal friendship with Director Zhong Wentai, but his niece, Qiu Qiwen, is also an artist.

Any good movie roles are recommended to Qiu Qiwen first; only the roles Qiu Qiwen doesn't want are thrown to me."

She paused and said, "She doesn't like them, and I don't like them either, so naturally, there are no movie resources."

"As for TV drama resources, that's even more ridiculous. I clearly don't need to follow the traffic-star route and could go the strength-based route, but the company keeps urging me to take idol dramas and follow the idol route.

My face isn't suitable for being an idol, so I refused, which annoyed the company. They gave the resources to other, more obedient artists."

Mentioning "Qiu Qiwen," Jin Li felt a bit dazed.

She hadn't been in touch with Qiu Qiwen for a long time.

You know, she used to have a better relationship with Qiu Qiwen and actually felt quite average about Xu Wenwen.

It was just that the two had many intersections in work by chance, and seeing Xu Wenwen's dedicated work attitude, Jin Li gradually came to appreciate her.

Plus, their personalities were quite compatible, and they became friends who could talk about personal matters.

Human feelings are like water; only the one experiencing it knows if it's cold or warm.

The one you meet first isn't necessarily the one who can accompany you to the end.

The one you meet later isn't necessarily always going to be left behind.

Jin Li said: "No wonder you envy Wang Hongdou. You said you have two years left on your contract; do you want to prepare in advance? I can give you my manager's business card."

Xu Wenwen hesitated and shook her head: "No need, I have Sister Fang's card, I just haven't contacted her."

She sighed again: "The company is my talent scout, and the profit-sharing terms are very favorable. I know they want me to be more famous, but the only method they can think of is to have me follow the traffic route, which is also the easiest route to fame.

I want to follow the strength-based route, but it's too difficult for my company. There are many strong artists; everyone pays more attention to connections. Without connections, even with strength, it's hard to be promoted.

Conversely, following the traffic route can carve out a bloody path. I'm just a bit... forget it, let me think about it."

Arguing is arguing, making a scene is making a scene.

No matter how unhappy she was in the company, Xu Wenwen never thought about jumping ship.

She just hoped the company could see her value clearly and see which route she was more suitable for.

It doesn't matter if they can't give resources; she can fight for them herself.

If she can't get them no matter how she fights, then she'll accept it.

Xu Wenwen shrugged and said seemingly easily: "We'll see. Maybe if 'Ordinary Road' becomes a hit, I can make a beautiful comeback?"

"By the way, do you know Lian Baozhi?" She took the initiative to change the subject.

Jin Li nodded and asked with interest: "Why bring her up? Do you know her?"

Xu Wenwen smiled: "When you attended the 'Fashion Trends' event, I was there too, but you were too busy, so I didn't greet you.

Lian Baozhi was also at that event. I had a brief communication with her and felt she was okay, so we exchanged WeChat."

She asked with a gossiping mood: "But I looked up Lian Baozhi's information online and heard she offended you before. Is that true?"

Jin Li smiled and shook her head: "That was ages ago; I've long forgotten. Are you talking about when I participated in the talent show with her?"

Xu Wenwen: "Yes, yes, that's it. I heard she always stole your spotlight, and you fought back in the show."

Jin Li: "That's long past. Afterward, she specifically came to apologize to me. By the way, she also has my WeChat, but I've never chatted with her."

Jin Li asked curiously: "What did you talk about at the event?"

Xu Wenwen naturally wouldn't tell Jin Li that she and Lian Baozhi had teamed up to fight back against someone who spoke ill of her, but instead said:

"We just chatted casually and found her personality quite straightforward, so we added each other as friends."

Jin Li said: "She's had it quite tough. She's an artist who came out of LP and has a kind of resilience. In recent years, she's been clinging to Li Xunfang for hype; Li Xunfang is probably no match for her now."

Mentioning "LP," Xu Wenwen's expression became somewhat inscrutable.

"The investigation into LP should be finished by now, right? Why haven't the police announced anything?"

Jin Li said indifferently: "No rush, let the truth come out."

Jin Li spent three days on promotion and only returned to campus after "Ordinary Road" officially started airing.

When netizens learned that Jin Li was doing promotion, they were initially a bit worried.

They were worried that Jin Li's grades would fall behind.

After all, she didn't attend just any film school, not a place that trains artists, but a world-renowned university!

But fortunately, Jin Li had to livestream her studies every night, which put the fans' anxious hearts at ease a little.

After finishing the promotional work, Jin Li returned to campus and listened to lectures seriously.

Fans heard insider news saying that Jin Li was often called upon by professors in class and could keep up with the progress, so they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

In a gossip forum thread, another post about Jin Li's studies appeared.

【Rational discussion: Someone Li used getting into Qingbei as a selling point for promotion, but as soon as school started, she went to do promotion and didn't focus on class. Will she be expelled by the school because her grades aren't good enough?】

【Are you a hater of Jin Li? Why can't you stand to see others doing well?】

【School just started, how do you know her grades aren't good? Thinking for her so quickly? I really don't know if you're a hater or if you love her too deeply?】

【Haven't been to Jin Li's livestream room? If you just look at what books she's studying, you wouldn't think her grades are bad!】

【Jin Li's dirt is piled up high, but Gu Cheng's dirt is few. Are you so sure Gu Cheng can graduate smoothly? He's not bad either, right!】

【Off-topic. This thread is discussing Jin Li; if you want to discuss Gu Cheng, turn right. Interjecting: Gu Cheng's directing major is actually the easiest for artists to graduate from. He can finish his graduation project in minutes and can film, direct, and act in it himself!】

The public relations department of Chenxi Entertainment noticed this post and reported it to Sui Lingfang.

Sui Lingfang frowned slightly; studying was Jin Li's own business, and she didn't know if Jin Li could do well.

But if, by any chance, her grades weren't good...

They had to arrange a PR plan on their side.

Arrange it in advance, be prepared for a rainy day.

At school, Jin Li was attending classes steadily.

While attending her major's classes, she felt that flying, "cheat-mode" sensation again.