Quick Transmigration: Drama Queen's Daily Life Chapter 1331 - 1320: Siblings

From the moment Four Siblings Entertainment announced the start of filming for "Ascension," the internet buzz never faded, with everyone speculating about who the best actress would be for the lead role of Yang Xi.

Everyone thought that such a valuable resource would surely not be given to anyone outside Four Siblings Entertainment, so they started guessing among the company’s actresses.

First up was the company’s top actress Lin You, who won two domestic film festival best actress awards last year. It was unlikely she would take on a TV drama now, as she was probably focused on major productions targeting international awards.

Then there were Zhao Qingyun and Xie Ruran, both top actresses. Zhao Qingyun’s career started earlier than Xie Ruran’s, having starred in several hit dramas, but due to family scandals in recent years, her reputation had seen a downturn. She desperately needed a hit drama to regain her standing.

In comparison, Xie Ruran was currently more popular. Her campus romance drama from last year even gained traction abroad and she had a hit reality show, but she faced criticism for her relatively few dramas and somewhat immature acting skills. She too needed a hit drama to strengthen her top actress status.

Initially, these two seemed to have the biggest chance, so people started analyzing who was more suitable for the role of Yang Xi. In the novel, Yang Xi was born into a noble family, but as she reached the coming of age at fifteen and was about to be betrothed, her family faced sudden turmoil. Overnight, her family was charged, and only she, who was traveling secretly with her maid, escaped.

In her helpless and broken state, someone told her that her family wasn’t charged because her father committed a crime, but because her family possessed an artifact related to the Immortal Clan, leading the Emperor to act, orchestrated by someone else, and she wasn’t truly a Yan family child.

Thus, Yang Xi embarked on the immortal road to uncover the truth behind the scenes. Yet the truth was also cruel: the mastermind was none other than her biological father. The murder of her family wasn’t for any artifact but to force her to grow. Even the lover supporting her cultivation was arranged by her biological father, just to force her to practice the Heartless Path.

Finally, her father’s wish came true, but Yang Xi couldn’t accept it. She first killed her father, then banished her lover, who taught her like a master, to an icy hell, becoming a law enforcer devoid of emotion and desire.

The storyline’s span in the novel is undoubtedly vast, with the lead character evolving from naive girlhood to experiencing growth and betrayal, eventually transforming into a person she despises, demanding very high acting skills from actresses.

On analysis, neither Zhao Qingyun nor Xie Ruran seemed quite suitable. Though Zhao Qingyun, married with children, fits the latter half of the story, playing a young girl would seem jarring.

Xie Ruran was mentioned without much need for further consideration; her acting was a weakness, and while the early part of the role required innocence and cuteness, the latter demanded coldness and nobility, yet Xie Ruran’s image had always been dazzling and gorgeous, inconsistent with the character’s design.

"If I have to choose, I’d still go with Zhao Qingyun; although she’s older, her excellent acting in the latter part should make any discord less noticeable," commented a netizen.

"Forget it, no matter how good an older person’s acting is, they can’t capture the youthful spirit. I’m tired of seeing old actresses act young. Are there no young actresses in our entertainment industry?"

"Do you think Four Siblings Entertainment might bring in a newcomer for the role?"

"This drama has been delayed for a long time; if it was for promoting a newcomer, it would’ve happened long ago. Why wait until now?"

"Perhaps you forgot that this company just changed ownership. Speaking of which, Mr. Duan making such a big move right after taking charge—is there really someone he wants to promote?"

"Just a small comment, I actually think Yu Zhijing fits the role, though I don’t know if it’s possible."

"Don’t kid yourself with that idea. Yu Zhijing? Are you joking? Although her age matches, the fact is, Yu Zhijing constantly acts in trash dramas, demonstrating no acting skills. She might be popular, but why would other companies’ hit drama choose her as a lead? She’s unlikely to handle it."

"Speaking of Yu Zhijing, her career is indeed curious. She was a child star, and her parents were industry figures, but the opportunities she’s had over the years are perplexing. Logically, she shouldn’t have appeared in so many crappy dramas. Could it be her personal taste? Such good cards played this way—having popularity doesn’t amount to anything if it doesn’t last."

"Her shows over these years are indeed intolerable. If it weren’t for her looks, she’d have faded long ago."

"Isn’t this case just having beauty, wealth, and daring?"

Indeed, no one believed Yu Zhijing acted in so many trash dramas unwillingly. In netizens’ eyes, coming to fame early with a King father and an award-winning actress mother, wouldn’t she have had her pick of entertainment industry resources?

Yet in reality, those two had rough relations within the industry, never gave Yu Zhijing any good resources, instead constantly squeezed and even sold her directly to the company without any freedom.

As netizens debated who should play the role of Yang Xi, Four Siblings Entertainment announced the creative team.

The director responsible for three hit dramas and dubbed as having the greatest potential, Jiang Zhi, would direct. Director Jiang Zhi has a distinct style, shooting color and scenery in stunning beauty where each frame could easily become a desktop wallpaper and is particularly skilled at capturing beauty. He’s perfectly suited to direct an immortal world drama.

Next, the company chairman Duan Yunquan personally assumed the role of producer, while "Ascension" set the company’s budget record at a peak of three billion. He openly stated a commitment to quality, promising not to disappoint fans of the book and striving to recreate the immortal world.

With this statement, book fans and netizens rejoiced, ensuring the director and producer’s assurance; the next question was about the cast, whom Mr. Duan and Director Jiang chose.

At eight in the evening, at the height of online activity, Four Siblings Entertainment revealed the cast for the lead male and female roles.

The male lead was Hong Mo the Immortal Monarch, the protagonist’s lover and mentor, eventually cast into icy hell, played by Four Siblings Entertainment’s top actor Shi Feinan. Thirty-five-year-old Shi Feinan had been an awe-inspiring fresh face in his youth and now matured steadily, his looks uncompromised yet enhanced with elegance, perfect as the male lead, Immortal Lord Hong Mo, who initially assumes the role of a master guiding the female lead on her immortal journey.

Shi Feinan hadn’t acted in a TV drama for years, and upon this announcement, not only his fans but also curious netizens were ecstatic, proving his high national popularity.

Yet the main uproar amongst netizens exploded over the announcement of the female lead, with disbelief at the name and photo displayed.

Yu Zhijing? It turned out to be Yu Zhijing? Why? Has Mr. Duan gone mad? Choosing an artist from another company who is still surrounded by controversy for such a crucial role in his company? Would shareholders agree?

The entire internet was instantly ablaze, and though her age fits the part, nothing else does! Has Four Siblings Entertainment gone insane, making such a big joke?