Chapter 421

Because *The Flowers of War* hasn't been released yet, Ni Ni does have some fame, but she hasn't gotten far.

Most of the audience marveled at her looks and figure; some even wondered who she was, how she came to attend together with Zhang Yimou.

On the other hand, the reporters, knowing she was the female lead of *The Flowers of War*, kept snapping photos nonstop, and Ni Ni cooperated fully, striking various POSS.

After Ni Ni passed by, the reporters still couldn't hide their excitement, discussing her outfit.

After many more guests had walked by, someone wondered aloud, "Why hasn't Yan Jingchen arrived yet? She can't be absent, can she?"

"No way, she's playing Chang'e!"

"Those who play Houyi have all arrived!"

"Is this the finale?"

"Holy crap, Director Jiang is coming over!"

The reporters found it increasingly strange—Jiang Heng had appeared, but Yan Jingchen hadn't; what was going on? But this wasn't the time to wonder; they hurried to take photos. Snap after snap, after being interviewed by the red‑carpet host for a couple of sentences, Jiang Heng also left, and the reporters grew even more puzzled.

Earlier, when *Huang Dao: Houyi Shoots the Suns* premiered to great acclaim, the biggest beneficiaries were the male lead Han Dong and the female lead Yan Jingchen—they exploded overnight and gained first‑tier celebrity status. But to solidify their standing, they need further resources and works; Yan Jingchen surely wouldn't be throwing her weight around now—that would be too foolish.

Moreover, judging from her past interviews, she doesn't seem like that kind of person!

Upon entering the venue, some people were still wondering about this.

Ni Ni, seated in the guest section, was also curious and asked Kelala beside her why she hadn't seen Yan Jingchen.

Kelala said in non‑standard Mandarin, "It seems there's a program, a very beautiful one!"

Ni Ni thought to herself, how beautiful could a live performance possibly be?

By this point, many people knew that in *Huang Dao: Houyi Shoots the Suns*, Jiang Heng had used special‑effects technology to beautify Yan Jingchen's portrayal of Chang'e, and the real person still fell short of the on‑screen image.

Ni Ni wasn't jealous, after all she is a signed artist of iQiyi and might someday receive the same treatment.

It was just a subconscious feeling that if Yan Jingchen performed poorly or the live show wasn't impressive, it would be a slap in the face.

As they were wondering, CCTV Movie Channel's beautiful host Tu Jingwei had already taken the stage, first citing the box‑office success of *Huang Dao: Houyi Shoots the Suns* in Neidi and worldwide markets, the various records it had broken, and the audience inside felt either exhilarated or shocked, with mixed emotions.

Tu Jingwei then asked, "May I ask, in the film *Huang Dao: Houyi Shoots the Suns*, which character do you all like the most?"

Many female spectators shouted "Houyi", while most of the males shouted "Chang'e"! Tu Jingwei laughed and said, "I also heard someone shout 'Golden Crow'—do they just like watching the sun?"

After the audience and guests burst into laughter, Tu Jingwei said, "Since everyone likes Houyi and Chang'e, shall we invite the actors who play them onto the stage?"

The crowd below shouted approval in unison, and Tu Jingwei then invited Han Dong and Yan Jingchen onto the stage.

The result was that only Han Dong went up, and the guests and audience grew even more curious.

Tu Jingwei asked, "How come only Houyi is here—where did Chang'e go?"

Han Dong took the microphone and said, "She's already gone to the moon!"

"Chang'e went to the moon?"

"Yes, so I'm the only one up here to greet everyone!"

"I don't believe it!"

"Really, these days she spends her time in the Moon Palace admiring flowers, walking the rabbit, dancing—she's living very freely!"

"No way!"

"If you don't believe me, just take a look at her life on the moon!" Having said that, the stage lights dimmed, and when they brightened again what was shown to the audience was the moon in the universe; the camera swiftly pushed forward through the clouds, revealing a sprawling palace complex, majestic and magnificent, with immortal energy swirling about.

"Whoa, this shot is amazing!" Old Guo in the guest seats couldn't help but exclaim.

He's quite fond of meddling in film, has also made a number of movies with decent reputation and box‑office returns, and he admires Jiang Heng's achievements in film to an extraordinary degree, basically showing up to support every premiere.

I originally thought the host would just come up, chat a bit, and then we'd watch the film, but I didn't expect they'd also put together a program.

What's even more unexpected is that the program before our eyes isn't being projected from the big screen; it seems to appear out of thin air, and moreover it's 3D stereoscopic—this is quite miraculous.

At the same time, the surrounding speakers began playing the music from "Yun Gong Xun Yin".

Before a great hall stepped out a Chang'e wearing wide‑sleeved flowing fairy robes; seeing her exquisite makeup and absolute beauty, many guests and audience members gasped, their hearts shaken to the core.

The only thought in their minds was, "What kind of technology is this?" Down below, Ni Ni was almost dumbstruck; she had seen Yan Jingchen before, but this vision of her was absurdly beautiful.

Behold the moon‑palace Chang'e, dancing gracefully in the mist‑wreathed midair—like a fairy, yet like a heavenly demon; every frown and smile stirred the heart.

Even many female guests and viewers were so entranced they felt no jealousy at all.

As for the men, basically they were all hooked!

Jiang Heng's sidekick Han Sanping was utterly shocked; he couldn't wait for the program to end before asking, "What is this technology?"

"3D holographic projection!"

"What projection?"

This technology has actually existed for a long time; it's just not used much domestically. A relatively famous example is Teacher Zhang's "Golden Monkey Welcomes Spring" from the 2016 Liaotai Spring Festival Gala—the effect speaks for itself; many people who saw it for the first time on computer or TV felt utterly stunned.

This was 2011, and it was a live viewing—enough to excite thousands of people.

Ni Ni's classmate in the back row was frantically sending messages on WeChat, saying she now liked Chang'e again and asking Ni Ni to be sure to get a photo with her and Yan Jingchen later.

But Ni Ni was now so shocked she had no time to look at her phone.

On stage, after the program ended, Yan Jingchen dressed as Chang'e remained in place.

Tu Jingwei stepped forward, beaming, "Too wonderful, too wonderful—Chang'e sister's 'Rainbow Robe Feather Clothes Melody' truly overturns all beings!"

Yan Jingchen hurriedly thanked her, and Tu Jingwei then asked, "How did she perform in the film? Did she really leave Houyi and go alone to the Moon Palace?" Yan Jingchen smiled and replied, "That's something the movie will have to tell everyone."

"All right, then let's all enjoy Director Jiang Heng's effects‑heavy epic—*Huang Dao Tian Ting Fu Mie*!"

After Tu Jingwei finished speaking, the lights in the hall went completely dark and the big screen lit up.

Only then did many people dare to believe that what they had just seen was indeed a new visual imaging technology, not something played on the big screen.

Consequently, many people couldn't help but mutter under their breath.

"That just now was also too shocking!"

"Yeah, Chang'e really is too beautiful!"

"Don't you feel that something's missing from that melody just now?"

What's missing?

We're missing a monkey, ah. If this were during the Spring Festival Gala, using this technique to conjure the Great Sage would be so shocking!

Hiss, indeed it could work, but we'd have to wait for the Year of the Monkey! (End of chapter)