Chapter 28: The True Essence of Winning Without Doing Anything

Chapter 28: The True Essence of Winning Without Doing Anything

"Tang Teacher, how do you feel about this look? Do you need any adjustments?" The stylist and makeup artist had finished their work and stepped back, allowing Tang Fei to see herself in the vanity mirror.

A row of bright lights bordered the mirror, illuminating every detail of the person reflected within.

The person in the mirror was vastly different from the original Tang Fei due to the stylist's touch. With a natural, minimalistic makeup that appeared as if she wore no cosmetics at all, her delicate features were accentuated, giving off an innocent and pure aura. The makeup was so subtle that it would be impossible for an unobservant straight man to tell she was wearing any.

This was the work of a master!

As the lead actress, her stylist and makeup artist were the best in the production team, and the style and makeup they created for her were top-notch.

It was a far cry from the treatment she received when she played the sixth supporting role of a palace maid a few months ago.

In this industry, those who were popular or had connections had it all. Tang Fei couldn't help but reflect on her own journey, as she now counted as someone with a background of her own.

Li Xiuyun was a country girl. A simple bun adorned her head, with a light yellow ribbon wrapped around part of her hair before draping down to her waist. A few tender yellow felt flowers were scattered on the bun. She wore a long, ancient dress with a pale yellow underlayer, adorned with silver floral patterns and fine blue trimming.

The youthful charm of the girl radiated through the makeup, enveloping everyone around her.

Tang Fei stealthily transformed into a fresh and elegant appearance, her posture adjusting to exude a classic, refined aura that complemented her attire perfectly.

The makeup artist's eyebrows danced in delight; Tang Fei's makeup was his most outstanding work recently. His lips curled into an irrepressible smile, thrilled with the improvement of his skills.

Tang Fei was also content with her styling. The art designer's aesthetic at nine o'clock was on point. The fabric of the clothes felt exquisite, appearing modest under the lights while still providing comfort. The ensemble was visually pleasing without being overly lavish, allowing the character's inherent traits to shine through.

In the dressing room, the supporting actresses subtly shifted their steps, creating some distance from Tang Fei.

They observed that when standing beside Tang Fei, all attention was drawn to her, eclipsing everyone else effortlessly. Her aura, figure, and face outshone all.

Standing beside her, there was always the risk that someone might snap a photo of them together, and they would undoubtedly be overshadowed.

"Teacher Tang, can I take a picture with you?" A crew member, who was a fan of the novel Spiritual Surge, was stunned by Tang Fei's transformation. It was as if Li Xiuyun had stepped out of the pages of the book!

He had never really given Tang Fei a second look before. Sometimes, reputation could be intimidating, and now he was too nervous to look her in the eye. Her new look was too close to the goddess he had imagined in his mind, making him feel uneasy.

Just standing there, Tang Fei evoked scenes from the novel and filled in the blanks of the heroine's face in his imagination.

"Teacher Tang, I'm sorry, I got a little carried away..." He realized his boldness when Tang Fei didn't respond. Perhaps she wouldn't agree to a photo with a stranger who suddenly approached her.

"No problem at all. I'm happy to take a photo with you." Tang Fei's smile blossomed, like lotus flowers unfolding one after another in a pond, leaving many people in a trance. They were aware of Tang Fei's beauty, but they had never imagined it could be so captivating. The stylist was truly exceptional!

"It's been ages since anyone asked for a picture with me. I'm overjoyed!" For the first time since arriving, Tang Fei felt like a genuine celebrity.

The staff member eagerly scampered over, afraid that Tang Fei might change her mind any moment.

At the sound of "cheese," their joint portrait was captured.

The staff member fiddled with his phone, superimposing a pig's head over his own face in the photo before posting it on Weibo.

"A portrait with the goddess Xiuyun (crossed out) our wedding photo (crossed out), my fellow brothers, I owe you a debt of gratitude for your tact [fist bump]."

This Weibo post was unremarkable, attracting only a few acquaintances who came to tease.

Upon discovery by the public relations department of Time Culture, the matter was promptly reported to Zhou Weichuan.

Zhou Weichuan asked Zheng Haisheng for his Weibo handle and, posing as a book enthusiast, left a comment under San Liu Jiu's post: "@San Liu Jiu, Chapter 248, do you know that your Xiuyun has secretly gotten married?"

Upon seeing this comment, San Liu Jiu instantly grasped the underlying meaning, no further private hints from Zhou Weichuan were needed. Seizing the opportunity to hype up Tang Fei's promotional photos, he promptly retweeted the post: "I didn't even know my Xiuyun was getting married! Which unscrupulous ruffian is this? Drag him out and beat him to death for me!"

The once-united alliance of book fans, who were fiercely criticizing the blind author, crumbled after this tweet. They spontaneously divided into three factions: the male supporters, the female supporters, and the neutral group.

Male fans promptly set aside their previous complaints about poor acting and character, celebrating in the comments section as if it were a festival. This portrayal was exactly the character from the book!

They eagerly chimed in, "Leave Xiuyun alone, let me take care of her!"

"Please, a god among us, Photoshop me beside her."

"Cut out that pig's head and just give me a solo shot of the goddess."

"I'll answer the author's question from yesterday: Yes! This is my Xiuyun!"

"So many rivals, Su Yang here, sorry I'm late. Move aside, don't crowd around my wife."

"You shallow people, switching sides just because of looks! Not me, I've always supported Tang Fei! So what if she's a malicious beauty? I don't care if she's beautiful or not, I just love her wickedness!"

The female fans, however, were aghast, questioning the males, "Where is your integrity?"

"What happened to your values?!"

A male fan replied, "My integrity hasn't reincarnated yet."

"Out of the five elements, I lack integrity. I beg the veteran military doctor to save me."

"It's catastrophic! My values are running too fast, and I can't catch up."

A moderate, self-proclaimed rational fan said, "I think we need more evidence. A good appearance doesn't guarantee a good performance. If the character is ruined, it would be a disaster."

Many agreed, and the provocateurs among the marketing bots quickly jumped on the bandwagon, narrowly averting Tang Fei's photo from trending and spreading the notion that she was unsuitable for the role.

However, just as they rejoiced, Time Culture's PR team wasn't idle either. Would an entire company hinder one person's success? Previously, the boss had held back to let the issue ferment for more buzz. But now that the boss had sounded the counterattack, they were going all out! They bought the trending spot, and marketing accounts collaborating with Nine O'Clock posted articles.

The bots were stunned by this sudden blow.

The other side had also invested in public opinion, and with genuine content. Their fabricated arguments soon seemed out of place and were exposed, with their IDs being exposed.

"A list of bot accounts is below. Everyone, be vigilant."

"Protect Xiuyun!"

Years of effort building up her image was all for naught!

No way, Yao Hui had to pay more – they stood to lose big! They'd agreed that Tang Fei had no background, so how could there suddenly be a powerful rival?

After Tang Fei's photoshoot as the lead character surfaced, paired with Guan Yun's previous claim that she had rejected the script, the production team's desperate pleas for Guan Yun to take on the role now seemed utterly ridiculous. While she was boasting about being courted for the part, Tang Fei had already started filming!

Tsk tsk, Princess Yao Hui's behavior was simply unbecoming.

Upon hearing the news, Guan Yun, who was in the middle of recording a variety show, claimed illness and asked for leave, skipping the second half of the show.

"Second Brother, they've gone too far. Are they trying to step on me to get ahead? Help me think of a way to get Tang Fei kicked out. I don't want people talking about my failure to snatch the role or that I got returned by Nine O'Clock!"

"Last time when I avenged you on set and got Tang Fei hospitalized, Big Brother scolded me. He said you were being unserious and that I was assisting in wrongdoing," Guan Mo frowned. "If I use his influence again, he'll probably hang me by my toes."

"What am I supposed to do then?! Big Brother only cares about work and doesn't care about me at all." With teary eyes swollen like small walnuts, Guan Yun wailed, "I'm going to find Sister Song Li for help."

Everyone in the industry who had anonymously bet on spicy sticks forums that Nine O'Clock would grovel was in a state of shock.

"Oh dear, we all lost. The house takes it all."

"Has Guan Yun really been cut from the role?"

"Guan Yun has deleted all her retweets from San Liu Jiu's Weibo, as well as her previous book reviews. It's a definite no for her."

"Nine Heads is so determined, is she issuing a challenge to Yao Hui?"

"All the spicy tofu snacks are gone, let's just enjoy the drama. I think it's turning into a series, and it's not over yet."

After Tang Fei took a photo with someone, the previously negligible System suddenly made an appearance. The negative -1s in the Reputation column vanished, replaced by a stream of +1s.

"Mission: Clearing a Wrongful Name, Progress 6%"

"First Time Mission Progress Reward: Food Item, A Plate of Squirrel Mandarin Fish"

"Squirrel Mandarin Fish, one-time use item card, a delicacy from the Imperial Kitchen, awarded by the Emperor. When consumed by a Noble Lady, it increases Royal Favor +1 and Luck +1."

So this is what it means to win effortlessly?

Lying down, and good things just happen like that.

Tang Fei blinked, the euphoria of transforming from an eternal non-lucky person to a lucky one almost overwhelmed her.

With a tap on the Squirrel Mandarin Fish, a tangy and savory aroma filled her taste buds and stomach, followed by a contented burp.

With such effortless eating, no one would ever catch her sneaking snacks in the future.

While Tang Fei found the Squirrel Mandarin Fish delicious and convenient, public opinion about her took a sudden shift.

Those who had never cared about Tang Fei became curious and clicked on her news, only to be captivated by the visuals.

People who had once disliked her started to see that perhaps she wasn't so detestable after all.

The online trolls who were aggressively attacking Tang Fei suddenly lost their zeal. They thought, it's just a paycheck, why take hating someone so seriously? They put in minimal effort and collected their earnings.

Thus, their posts with inflammatory headlines now contained milder content.

Those who already leaned towards Tang Fei cheered even louder, declaring, "I've officially jumped ship for her!"

[Switching Loyalties] Suddenly became a fan of Tang Fei, finding her very appealing. How about this stock? Anyone else investing in her? [HOT] [Replies: 4872]

The episode with the group photo was now behind them, and Tang Fei was still oblivious to the impact her consumption of the dish would have on the outside world. She had already immersed herself in character contemplation.

She accompanied the film crew to the set construction site.

Su Yang's house had been built with a house and courtyard, surrounded by green screens. The rural surroundings and the bright summer sun would both be added later through special effects.

The style and structure of Su Yang's small courtyard were relatively simple - blue bricks, white walls, and black tiles. As an ordinary villager, his house was modest in size, with a vegetable garden enclosed by a fence and free-ranging chickens and ducks.

The props were meticulously crafted, each one deliberately weathered with scratches, folds, and uneven paint, giving them an authentic, worn appearance. The bamboo fence was discolored and withered, while large green stones were covered in moss. A real vegetable garden was planted within, and the chicks, ducklings, and hens were all full of vitality. Outside the fence, a farm dog named Ah Huang, a purebred Chinese native breed, lay lazily.

The agricultural tools showed signs of wear and tear, yet they were neatly arranged aside, indicating that the family was of average means but diligent and cleanliness-conscious.