Chapter 216: Existence Implies Reason
This particular Weibo post successfully garnered a string of question marks from Yuxiang Rousi fans.
What? When did Rong Yu get involved in a collaboration with "The Wandering Swordsman"? And he's already joined the crew?
It wasn't the fans' fault for being confused. Mainly, because the official account for "The Wandering Swordsman" hadn't announced Rong Yu's involvement yet, Sally's side had temporarily kept the news under wraps. After all, the buzz from the Linxiao Gala was still hot. Announcing the cast photos and buying trending spots now would likely be quickly overshadowed by Linxiao Gala topics, just like last night when, including Rong Yu's own trending topic, hashtags related to the Linxiao Gala basically dominated all the hot search lists.
Since there was no official announcement yet, where did these anti-fans get their information?
Big Fish Eats Little Fish V: We only recognize official announcements, thank you. Please do not spread rumors.
ry You Win V replied to Big Fish Eats Little Fish V: This really isn't a rumor. I don't get how you people are so out of touch, only seeing the tiny plot of land right in front of you, it's pitiful. The news about Young Master Deng deciding to enter the entertainment industry was already on the hot search list. Young Master Deng himself posted on Weibo, with a picture of him in wuxia attire.
Putting that aside, the male lead's costume in the original "The Wandering Swordsman" novel is quite distinctive. At least I haven't seen similar costume descriptions in other novels. Moreover, fans of the original work have already gone to claim that costume for the male lead. There's about a ninety percent certainty that Young Master Deng will be playing the male lead in "The Wandering Swordsman."
From this perspective, the picture Young Master Deng posted is basically equivalent to a costume still. And that hand resting on Young Master Deng's shoulder is, nine times out of ten, Rong Dog's.
Looking at that forearm in the black long sleeve, the cuff is embroidered with golden spider lily patterns, which is precisely the distinctive costume of the Demonic Cult Leader in the original "The Wandering Swordsman."
Which means, Rong Dog is not only going to play a role in "The Wandering Swordsman," he's playing the Demonic Cult Leader. This character seems to carry quite a lot of weight among the original fans, even more than the male and female leads. I wonder if the original fans will crash Rong Dog's Weibo if they find out he got this role.
ry You Win V: Oh, I almost forgot. I'm now barely considered a fan of Rong Dog. My tone wasn't quite right; let me rephrase.
ry You Win V: Brother, hang in there~ You're already a mature idol now. Being questioned by original fans and such, you can definitely handle it yourself~ Don't panic~ Go go go~ Mwah~
Sally, who witnessed the whole thing: "..." What kind of demons and monsters are these anti-fans?!
But she had to admit, that anti-fan's analysis was spot on. Even if Rong Yu's fans wanted to refute it, after going to Young Master Deng's Weibo, finding that picture, and examining the half-arm resting on his shoulder with a magnifying glass, they could only helplessly admit that was indeed Rong Yu's hand.
As if confirming this anti-fan's speculation, on the evening three days later, as the heat from the Linxiao Gala began to fade, "The Wandering Swordsman" indeed released the costume stills for the male and female leads.
The male lead, in white robes pure as snow.
The female lead, in blue robes fresh and refined.
The male lead was played by Deng Xiao. The female lead was played by Bai Mumei.
Bai Mumei debuted as a child star. Her first appearance in the public eye was playing the young version of the female lead in a wuxia drama.
At that time, Bai Mumei had a standard doll face, big bright eyes, and a little mouth like a red cherry. She looked sweet and lovely. She only acted in a few scenes on screen but left a deep impression, making people remember her fondly. Eventually, it turned into the whole internet waiting for her to grow up.
Afterward, Bai Mumei also played many teenage girl roles in various dramas. Her acting was good, her looks were on point, and she quickly amassed a large number of fans.
Later, Bai Mumei temporarily left the screen to focus on her studies. After she successfully graduated, she returned to the screen.
It could be said that "The Wandering Swordsman" was Bai Mumei's first drama since returning to the screen. It held significant meaning for both herself and her fans.
After "The Wandering Swordsman" released the costume stills, Bai Mumei's PR team immediately sprang into action. They released previously collected clips of Bai Mumei's childhood roles, diligently trying to evoke nostalgia among netizens.
This wave of promotion itself wasn't really problematic. It was beneficial for both "The Wandering Swordsman" and Bai Mumei herself, so the drama's PR team also helped with the promotion.
Until... among these nostalgic clips, one mixed in was of the little princess from "Decree of the Heavens" who only lived until the first episode.
Seeing this video clip, many people were shocked!
Was that little princess from "Decree of the Heavens," whom the entire internet was searching for back then, actually Bai Mumei?
Instantly, Bai Mumei's Weibo comment section exploded. Many people were asking Bai Mumei if she was really the little princess from "Decree of the Heavens," wanting a definitive answer.
Regarding this, neither Bai Mumei nor her PR team offered any explanation. They seemed to tacitly agree with this claim, allowing the topic's heat to continue rising. They even directly paired the hashtags #BaiMumei# and #DecreeoftheHeavensPrincess# together.
Yin Chengjue and Rong Yu had been wrapped up in each other's company all day. He woke to find it was evening once more. Since there weren't any fresh groceries at home, Yin Chengjue decided to take Rong Yu out for hot pot.
While waiting for their food, Yin Chengjue inadvertently scrolled upon this hashtag, which was already climbing to the front ranks of the hot search list.
Yin Chengjue recalled his previous speculation with Sally and remembered that Sally still hadn't managed to get childhood photos of Rong Yu, so they couldn't confirm whether the little princess from "Decree of the Heavens" was Rong Yu or not.
Thinking to give it a try, Yin Chengjue pretended to be casual and said, "Xiao Yu, you're so handsome now, you must have been really cute as a kid, right?"
Rong Yu, holding a spoon in one hand and chopsticks in the other, ready to devour his meal at any moment, answered without thinking, "No, actually. I was quite ugly when I was little. No one liked to play with me."
"Really?" Yin Chengjue shook his head with a smile. "I don't believe it. Pictures or it didn't happen."
Unexpectedly, Rong Yu, who usually complied with Yin Chengjue's every request, was unusually firm this time. "Hmph! Do you think I would give you my childhood ugly photos, giving you a chance to dislike me? My image in front of you, brother, must be flawless and perfect!"
Yin Chengjue: "..." I dare you not to stuff your mouth full like a hamster when you start eating later...
Yin Chengjue realized that Rong Yu’s idea of a "perfect image" was subtly different from most people’s.
"How could I ever dislike you?" Yin Chengjue pushed the dipping sauce he had prepared over to Rong Yu and said in a negotiating tone, "How about this? I'll show you my childhood photos too. We exchange, how about that?"
Rong Yu fell into an oddly silent pause.
After saying this, Yin Chengjue also remembered. In Rong Yu's home bedroom, plastered all over the walls were photos of him from childhood to adulthood. Rong Yu had already seen what he looked like as a kid...
This thought only flashed through his mind momentarily. Yin Chengjue continued pretending he knew nothing, looking at Rong Yu with an expectant expression.
"W-well... okay. But you have to promise me, after seeing my childhood photos, you can't laugh at me!"
"How could I laugh at you? I'd only adore you even more." Yin Chengjue actually didn't have his own childhood photos either. But he remembered that Sally had sent him some before. He was too lazy to look at them and didn't save them. Now he could only dig through his chat history with Sally.
Rong Yu also took out his phone and started browsing his own photo album.
Yin Chengjue was the first to find one of the childhood photos Sally had sent him before. "I can't find any solo photos of just me right now. Here's one with multiple people, taken at someone else's house. Guess which one is me?"
As he spoke, Yin Chengjue flipped his phone around and placed it in front of Rong Yu. When Rong Yu looked up and his eyes met the photo, his entire body suddenly stiffened.
"This... this picture," Rong Yu stammered, his expression turning complicated. "Where... where was it taken?"
Yin Chengjue: "Sally said it was taken at the Murong family's place. This photo was also sent to me by Sally. You know me, I'm not really into taking pictures of myself, and I don't usually keep photos of myself." Even now, Yin Chengjue's photo album was mostly filled with pictures of Rong Yu.
Seeing Rong Yu hesitate to answer, Yin Chengjue found it strange. "Can't guess? That shouldn't be." After all, Rong Yu's bedroom walls were covered with them.
"W-well, no. The one on the left is you, right, brother? Brother was indeed very cute as a child, like a little angel. Looking at you makes people want to pinch your cheeks." Rong Yu's expression quickly returned to normal.
Yin Chengjue nodded. "Correct guess."
Rong Yu's gaze remained fixed on the photo. "Brother, this little boy standing to your right, holding your hand... he is..."
"He's the third young master of the Murong family." Yin Chengjue answered truthfully. "I think we were playing at his house back then. Don't really remember the specifics, just remember he was a little dumpling."
"Then..."
"Oh, I remember that little dumpling was like made of water, always crying." Yin Chengjue hadn't looked at this photo carefully before either. Now, looking closely, he felt he remembered a bit more of those childhood fragments.
Rong Yu subtly rubbed his nose. "This... isn't that how most kids are?"
Hearing this, Yin Chengjue looked at Rong Yu curiously. "Saying that means you used to cry a lot too?"
"Not at all. I rarely cried. I was... sick back then. Different from normal people." As he said this, Rong Yu's tightly clenched hands trembled involuntarily.
Sharing these past experiences with Yin Chengjue had already taken his utmost courage. If possible, he actually wanted to pass it off lightly as a joke. But he had underestimated the impact these memories still had on him.
Yin Chengjue keenly sensed Rong Yu's discomfort and quickly said, "Xiao Yu, in my eyes, you are you. You don't need to judge yourself by other people's standards. Existence implies reason."
[Existence implies reason: anything that exists has a reason or explanation for its existence, often used to argue against dismissing things simply because they seem illogical or undesirable.]
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