I have a persona specifically for acting.

It was originally possible to love whoever.

Imagination can be very aloof, but reality is full of complexities.

While the edited version went viral, surprisingly, the original version saw a drop in shares the next day in an unexpected manner—

Generally speaking, a Weibo post that gets thousands of shares goes through a fermentation process. It rises to a peak, then those interested share it early, followed by a stagnation and gradual decline until it fades into obscurity—this is the norm on Weibo.

Unless someone stirs the pot.

And someone did.

“Zhang Wenshi’s Sharp Commentary: Tong Zhao is a Distorted Product of the Era’s Excessive Reverence for Unique Subconsciousness”

[On October 22, 20xx, a sensational xianxia film officially premiered in all of Huaxia. This film faced countless doubts from preparation to release, with criticisms that no one could fulfill the role of the female lead. Then, Tong Zhao, symbolizing the “correct answer,” fit in like the final puzzle piece of the film.]

Subsequently, the two biggest attention-seekers in all of Huaxia “collaborated” again, releasing a microfilm and a meticulously edited inspection video.

[In the era of instinctive cinema, unique subconsciousness is revered.]

[Shi Qianqiu is the most devoted follower of this genre. As a screenwriter, his actions are shameful; he indulges actors in straying from the path in the film and then calls it a masterpiece when they accidentally get it right? I cannot agree with that.]

[From Tong Zhao’s original inspection footage, it’s clear that her most unique subconscious trait is possessing numerous distinct “personalities,” rich enough for a holographic scanning system to model them in the palace of consciousness… I admit this is indeed special, but is it really worthy of praise?]

[Amidst all the admiration and accolades, I still have to say no.]

[Looking back, did Tong Zhao present different performances in “The Legend of Ming Emperor,” “Countdown 72 Hours,” and “Heartless Tribulation”? Is that truly excellent for instinctive cinema? Or is it an unstable hidden bomb? In the first three instances, she lucked out by showcasing the right side… Just think, if Tong Zhao from her concubine period were to star in a post-apocalyptic survival film, it would be a disaster!]

[The subconscious stability of seasoned instinctive actors only experiences a few fluctuations throughout their long careers due to real-life experiences, which is an understandable norm. From Tong Zhao’s films, it’s evident that she possesses far too much uncertainty; every performance is like rolling dice!]

[The vast majority of instinctive actors are quite stable, consistently playing similar roles and delivering outstanding performances. Tong Zhao relies on this characteristic to take chances in her films… I must admit, her luck is quite good; she always manages to roll the side she wants.]

[The emergence of this distorted unstable subconscious may be a responsibility we all share.]

[It is a tragedy of this era, and also a tragedy for the new generation of instinctive actors—]

[Just a friendly reminder, aside from Han Zhi, Tong Zhao has never used the same “personality” twice.]

……

This pointedly controversial post was shared by several entertainment accounts with millions of followers.

Fans and bystanders were a bit confused in the replies.

Since her debut, Tong Zhao has never done anything extreme or stirred up negative news; her public image is that of someone who works diligently.

However, after glancing a few times, bystanders found some validity in what this Zhang said.

Tong Zhao’s subconscious is indeed quite unique!

Mainstream voices pursuing distinct subconsciousness might be overhyping it, potentially giving rise to a new generation of “Tong Zhaos.” Clicking into the original post’s comments revealed a flood of similar sentiments, expressing concern that Tong Zhao’s unconventional acting style would ultimately lead to her downfall.

The retweets displayed a variety of opinions.

Some argued that he shouldn’t have criticized her by name, claiming it was overly provocative.

Others said he was just stirring the pot for attention, pointing out that Tong Zhao had never actually faltered in her performances.

Zhang Wenshi separately retweeted with: [I’m not targeting her; I’m targeting this kind of atmosphere.]

Some retweets wondered why the original post’s comments were so one-sided.

It turned out the blogger had enabled a feature that highlights selected comments, which is why all the visible responses agreed with her. Uninformed netizens saw the comments and developed a herd mentality.

[Tong Zhao, whose heart did you stab? Look how sour the original poster is.]

[Check the box office of “Heartless Tribulation,” then take a look at the industry… Turns out they aren’t jealous of Tong Zhao; they’re envious of Shi Qianqiu but don’t want to be too obvious, so they target Tong Zhao instead. After all, she is Shi Qianqiu’s most admired subconscious!]

[Witnessing the meltdown of a loser screenwriter.]

[Not every screenwriter gets to work with a subconscious as exceptional as Tong Zhao’s.]

[Am I the only one who thinks the original poster’s concerns are quite reasonable?]

—

Zhang Wenshi mentioning both Tong Zhao and Shi Qianqiu essentially included “Heartless Tribulation” in the conversation.

The number of retweets surprised even him.

After all, the film’s buzz had been extremely high lately—

How high?

Within three days of its release, the top trending topic on Zhihu was “How to evaluate the movie ‘Heartless Tribulation’?”

Following that were various related questions and articles. Not only serious titles like “In-Depth Analysis of ‘Heartless Tribulation’! The True Meaning Behind Mu Yingchen’s Quest for the Sword,” and “Who dares to say they understand Tong Zhao?” but also open-ended storytelling questions like “If you were Mu Yingchen, how would you break the deadlock?” had numerous responses.

The enthusiasm for the movie among netizens is clearly still high.

When you’re on the cutting edge, even pigs can fly.

“Heartless Tribulation” is a hot topic right now, and Zhang Wenshi has opened this conversation from an alternative angle.

Previous discussions mainly focused on the film itself.

His critical review shifted the audience’s attention from the movie to Tong Zhao’s subconscious traits.

—

Tong Zhao: “Who is this Zhang Wenshi?”

The article was sent to her by an outraged assistant, and discussions were also happening in the crew’s WeChat group. Tong Zhao couldn’t recall offending him and felt a bit confused.

But after a moment of bewilderment, she regained her composure.

Even a scathing piece like this could gain traction, indicating she’s riding the wave of popularity—something to be happy about.

Shi Qianqiu: “Yeah, who is it?”

As soon as he popped up, a prop master chimed in: “It’s your rival, Director Shi! He’s your counterpart!”

Director Shi was shocked: “I have a rival?”

Immediately, a more informed crew member jumped in to enlighten them about the situation.

He indeed has a rival.

In fact, the number of rivals he has might even exceed some popular figures in the industry.

Shi Qianqiu is straightforward and often acts arrogantly, which has drawn criticism from many within the industry.

He was very easygoing with his subordinates and staff. Teased as the last eunuch in China for his habit of digging holes and not filling them, he didn’t take offense when called “Old Thief Shi” or “Eunuch Shi.” Sometimes, if the jokes went on too long, he would cryptically remark, “Impotence is actually the key to unlocking the second gate of wisdom for men; it’s a blessing,” leaving people too stunned to continue murmuring about him.

With his peers, if someone wanted to discuss professional topics, he wouldn’t beat around the bush. He said exactly what he thought, often putting others in awkward positions. Yet, he had a divine talent for editing and directing, as if fate itself was feeding him.

At one dinner, the screenwriter Zhang Wenshi of “Non-Official Lover” learned that Shi Qianqiu had seen the preview of his film and insisted on getting his feedback. After being turned down twice, Zhang insisted on downing three drinks as a form of self-punishment, claiming that if Shi didn’t provide feedback, he should at least drink with him.

Shi wasn’t angry. Instead, he looked at Zhang with pity, thinking how poorly written it was, yet the writer was so eager to improve that he openly sought advice. It was truly a spirit of literary sacrifice.

“Alright, let’s help him out.”

“I did watch ‘Non-Official Lover.’ I was quite surprised to see someone deliberately avoiding all the popular answers for innovation. It’s easy to imagine the writer trying to break the mold and ending up with a hodgepodge of disconnected sketches. Since the story wasn’t told well and didn’t please the audience… My suggestion? The best advice is to stop treating the audience and mainstream as fools. If you don’t understand why certain tropes are popular, don’t try to break them. Show some respect for your audience.”

After encouraging drinking all evening, the previously tipsy screenwriter Zhang Wenshi instantly sobered up.

He couldn’t have been more awake.

The room fell silent, with the women he had forced to drink stifling laughter to the point of oxygen deprivation.

When “Non-Official Lover” was released, the box office indeed crashed, just as Shi Qianqiu predicted. A well-known critic, unaware of their feud, gave a similar review: “The screenwriter seems to misunderstand tropes. In the process of exploring innovation, constant attempts can overwhelm a film. If the skill isn’t sufficient, there shouldn’t be more than one or one-and-a-half innovative attempts in a single movie—films require guiding the audience. If the director is also uncertain, how can they lead?” He ended with recognition of the writer’s innovative spirit, giving him face.

Shi Qianqiu was right about everything.

But he was too harsh.

The consequence of being harsh is having no friends, spending every day digging holes at home. Shi willingly accepted this outcome, conveniently avoiding unnecessary social interactions. Some colleagues, struck by his critiques but unwilling to admit it, harbored grudges against him while trying to console themselves that he simply couldn’t give compliments.

Humans are strange creatures; when one discovers that someone is consistently critical, it softens the sting of their own criticisms.

This balance worked well—until the anomaly, Tong Zhao, appeared.

Shi praised her highly, proving that he could indeed speak kindly. His compliments and criticisms were genuine, which only made those he had criticized feel even worse about themselves.

Take the screenwriter Zhang Wenshi, for instance.

He was quite pleased when “Heartless Tribulation” was indefinitely shelved due to the inability to find a lead actress, secretly celebrating with champagne at home—how could Shi Qianqiu criticize him for having high expectations? At Shi’s standards for female leads, it could take ten more years to make this film!

However, before he could finish the discounted champagne, “Heartless Tribulation” officially announced its lead actress.

Zhang Wenshi: …damn it.

As he watched the film rise to great heights, breaking box office records, he…

Had nothing better to do than write little essays and shower praise on Tong Zhao, damn!

Zhang Wenshi’s mindset could have been balanced; it was Tong Zhao who ruined it for him.

He bought the viewing rights for “Heartless Tribulation” and watched it in a holographic cinema no less than three times. Given Shi Qianqiu’s negative reputation with him, along with the bias of his colleagues, he couldn’t understand why this film was so successful.

It was too cliché!

Wasn’t it just a typical female empowerment story?

Although Zhang Wenshi didn’t predict that Mu Yingchen would experience a rebirth through adversity, he did foresee the reversal. The later Goldfinger moments given to the female lead by Shi were plentiful—Tong Zhao delivered a performance worthy of the extravagant budget, delighting the audience and reflecting positively at the box office, leading to a significant profit.

Box office figures are straightforward data that can be checked online at any time.

Seeing the overwhelming praise for the two of them in the news, Zhang Wenshi felt a slight crack in his composure.

Initially, he simply disliked Shi Qianqiu.

He believed that “Heartless Tribulation” became successful due to the lead actress’s influence. If he could get Tong Zhao for his own project, he could also create a blockbuster!

Zhang Wenshi happened to be working on a film that still needed a lead actress. The director and producers agreed with his suggestion that Tong Zhao would be an excellent choice, so they sent the script to her agent, expressing their interest in inviting her.

Tong Zhao declined.

The film was titled “Chasing Immortals.”

Just hearing the title felt like a trend-chaser, and Tong Zhao didn’t want to repeat herself or slow her momentum; she needed to rest—so she turned it down casually, having rejected countless offers lately, and didn’t take this small matter to heart.

The director and producers of “Chasing Immortals” didn’t mind much either.

After all, Tong Zhao’s market value was soaring, with billions in box office earnings. If she agreed to star in another fantasy film, that would truly shock them!

Only Zhang Wenshi cared deeply.

Without Tong Zhao, it seemed he could never compete on the same stage as Shi Qianqiu…

This “harsh critique” was a product of his imbalanced mindset.

Zhang Wenshi originally just wanted to vent, but he didn’t expect many who envied “Heartless Tribulation” box office and resented Tong Zhao’s recent success to rally behind him, firing the first shot against her—

Calling it an attack felt more like a way to vent their frustrations.

Tong Zhao had only just debuted a little over a year ago, and at such a young age, what if it affected her mindset? In the era of instinctual filmmaking, mindset has a significant impact on the subconscious. Some young actors, in order to adjust their mentality, choose to take breaks during their peak times.

“This is a psychological tactic; Zhang Wenshi seems like a fool being used in the moment… Just look at his previous conflicts with Shi Qianqiu to see he isn’t very smart.”

Agent Chu analyzed this for Tong Zhao, hoping she wouldn’t be affected.

This is also a product of the instinctual filmmaking era, which focuses on actors’ mindsets, akin to how they used to sabotage singers’ voices.

“Don’t worry, my mindset is solid; I’m very stable,” Tong Zhao reassured her. “Think positively—I’m about to get popular again!”

Being comforted by an artist who could be her niece, Chu was a bit amused. She said, “You still have the energy to cheer me up! I’m fine; can there really be a problem? My biggest issue is that my throat hurts from all the calls I’ve been getting, all wanting to invite you to be the lead!”

“Isn’t that the case with every project?”

Tong Zhao didn’t react much.

“In the past, only similar types of projects would invite you. Now, well… I can’t say all, but among the scripts being produced daily in Huaxia, removing those who know they can’t afford you or those already designated with better options, most roles will first come to you. You’ll pick from what’s left, and only then will others get a chance to compete. Sigh, anyone who can call me has some skills; the rest just email me, which is making my eyesight worse.”

Sister Chu spoke with a tone that suggested regret yet was filled with genuine delight as she boasted.

After she finished, she glanced at Tong Zhao, waiting for her reaction.

Tong Zhao replied, “If your throat hurts, drink more warm water and make sure there’s plenty of light in the room.”

…Okay, her artist’s mindset should be fine now.

The discussion in the WeChat group was lively; after all, this was clearly aimed at undermining ‘Heartless Tribulation’ and its golden crown.

Modeling artist: “Will it affect the box office? It hasn’t even peaked yet.”

Supporting actor: “Come on, Shi, do something. Isn’t it time to buy him some help?”

Ding Jiao: “Should I speak up to support Zhao Zhao? That guy is turning Tong Zhao into someone who seems ready to collapse at any moment!”

Fu Xiaoheng: “Support Sister Zhao!”

The actress playing Qing Niang, Fu Xiaoheng, was eager to call him Master. She felt a strong connection and was even more outraged than Tong Zhao, who was being slandered; she had already retweeted and blasted Zhang Wenshi.

Shi Qianqiu: “Should I respond?”

The director wanted to set a good example for everyone.

However, the crowd immediately restrained him.

He was a public relations disaster who spoke too loudly.

Deputy Director Zeng understood and took on the responsibility, representing ‘Heartless Tribulation’ with a brief statement. He assured that the entire film’s production was legal and compliant, with no crew members experiencing psychological issues during filming. He emphasized that the team didn’t glorify anyone but simply aimed to make a good movie while trying some new approaches to entertain the audience.

He shared this statement with the group for review before posting, receiving unanimous praise like “Top-notch bureaucratic tone,” “That basically means nothing!” and “This definitely won’t be a problem now!” among other affirmations.

Deputy Director Zeng was relatively unknown, a non-entity in the film industry, with only a few thousand fans on Weibo—one-third bought, one-third given away.

His voice was reliable, but no one paid him any attention.

Deputy Director Zeng: “Hey, Shi, you should retweet and support this!”

Shi Qianqiu retweeted.

So he wanted him to back him up?

He was sincere, not cutting corners with fast-forward, and added, “Well said!” to show his support.

However, the comments and retweets below didn’t match Shi Qianqiu’s expectations—

[Deputy Director’s words seemed normal, but once Shi Old Thief retweeted, it took on a strange vibe.]

[Now it feels off.]

[Aren’t you going to say something else? We’re waiting for you to confront someone!]

Many were eager to see him clash with Zhang Wenshi.

Netizens were excitedly following the situation. Since Shi Qianqiu retweeted the crew’s stance, Tong Zhao should come out and say something too! They kept refreshing Tong Zhao’s Weibo page until finally, her response appeared—

@Tong Zhao V:

“Well said! //@Shi Qianqiu: Well said!”

[Deputy Director Zeng’s Weibo]

…

Originally, Deputy Director Zeng’s serious comments became amusing after being mixed up with the two big names.

Fans, who were initially angry, were amused by their sister’s tweet.

[Sister, don’t get led astray! /laughing and crying/ laughing and crying.]

[If it goes astray, so be it. Isn’t optimism better? Just don’t let it affect your mindset. What’s so special about subconsciousness? I love every version of Tong Zhao (especially Han Zhi).]

[Same here! It’s all Tong Zhao herself (especially love for Han Zhi).]

Some of the popular comments got sidetracked, while the rest understood the main points the subject wanted to express, organizing their agreement—returning to the film itself, Tong Zhao is healthy, gets along well with the crew, and doesn’t give off any sour vibes.

Tong Zhao’s fans understood the message.

Deputy Director Zeng opened with a solid start, but he never expected the two to take a sharp turn, leaving the supporting cast to go along with the humor, using the format “Well said!” to uniformly express their stance.

These catchy four words washed over the audience’s minds.

# “The Heartless Tribulation” Crew: Well said! #

The tension was diffused by humor. It was the weekend, and many workers connected to the holographic network, interested in the topic on Weibo, bought viewing rights.

“Heartless Tribulation” not only exploded in popularity but also had lasting momentum.

Previously, there was a chorus of praise, and many were curious enough to watch, with some managing to hold back. Now that there were questioning voices, those who had hesitated were even more curious—

Is it really that good?

Good enough to make peers jump in frustration?

When Zhang Wenshi saw this question, he nearly had a heart attack from anger.

[It really is that good! Mu Yingchen’s sword skills are exceptional.]

[I don’t like that Tong Zhao has so many facets… if only she were like Mu Yingchen in real life…]

Fans who got to know Tong Zhao through “Heartless Tribulation” felt unsettled.

In the age of instinctive cinema, characters and actors are inseparable. Fans who got hooked after watching the show wouldn’t unfollow due to a significant gap with the actors; instead, they’d feel reassured by the consistency between on-screen and off-screen personas! But Tong Zhao was an exception—liking her felt like traditional fandom, with a clear separation between the character and the actress.

Tong Zhao’s fans quickly jumped in to say they were used to it.

[Oh, what’s the big deal? Fans of Han Zhi’s girlfriend are the real zen ones.]

[I suggest you check out Tong Zhao’s other works; every version of her is quite charming!]

Fans who loved Tong Zhao’s ethereal, cold demeanor were still quite conflicted.

This group cared a lot about Zhang Wenshi’s article, where he pointed out that Tong Zhao’s performances would be fleeting, never to be seen again…

Never to be seen again? What should they do?

Just pay to watch it again!

Rewatching is basic; some even watched it three or four times.

However, besides core fans, most were drawn in by the big scenes.

A film good enough to warrant a rewatch certainly has lasting appeal.

No matter how jealous peers were, no matter how hard it was to accept, “Heartless Tribulation” still dominated the box office, creating a significant gap with the second and third-place films. Song Wanzhuo’s manager stopped mentioning Tong Zhao, instead praising his insight in booking a duet with the box office goddess.

Wanzhuo felt a bit discontent.

He understood “Heartless Tribulation” fans all too well.

Why couldn’t Tong Zhao be as enchanting as in “Emperor Ming”?

He felt the same way.

Perhaps it was the editing by Shi Qianqiu that triggered this reaction. Bilibili’s talented UP creators, unwilling to fall behind Shi, began to take action.

Other UP creators had to admire Shi Qianqiu; his angle of “Tong Zhao in different works—self-reliant yet vulnerable” generated the highest buzz. Collaborating with other male leads didn’t compare to this theme, and there were plenty of editing opportunities.

And since it has an ancient backdrop, the hottest pairing is…

Immortal Master X Imperial Concubine.