Chapter 52 Prelude to Explosive Success

What started as a short drama with little fanfare began to spread like a virus as netizens clicked on the link one after another.

The first reaction of netizens who clicked on the short drama was: This... is a short drama?

The visual quality is incredibly high-end; it's not some cheaply made film that criticizes anyone or anything. Every frame is a powerful display of cinematic language.

When filming the scene of An Yao playing the stepmother Chen Man, Ling Wei used an angle that involved shooting through a fish tank and through a perforated screen.

The distorted shadows of goldfish are cast on her face, and the patterns on the screen cut across her body, silently telling the audience: this seemingly glamorous woman lives in a cage of constant scrutiny, and she herself is also a beautiful ornamental fish.

In the luxurious study of the Lin family, the interplay of light and shadow was full of metaphors.

When the father, played by Shen Yicheng, scolds Lin Wan, his massive figure completely envelops her in shadow, like a mountain; but when Zhou Yue tries to please him, he always sits under the lamp, letting her bask in the warm light.

The distribution of light and shadow is a map of power and love within this family.

Holy crap! This production quality! You're telling me this is a short drama?!

[Help! This transition is cinematic, right? That scene where the real and fake heiresses look at each other in the mirror gave me goosebumps!]

[Who am I? Where am I? I only planned to watch five minutes, how did I end up watching ten episodes in one go?!]

As the first batch of viewers spontaneously became "self-promoters," enthusiastically recommending the product on Weibo, Douban, and WeChat Moments, the data began to quietly climb.

The real turning point came when Yaojiang TV's official Weibo account, the official Weibo account of "The Pursuit Order," and several regular guests collectively reposted and recommended the show.

This powerful wave of traffic attracted a large number of skeptical netizens.

Many people initially clicked to take a look because of the guest's presence, but once they opened the page, it was as if they had been frozen in place.

Beyond the stunning cinematography, what makes "Double Mirror" even more captivating is that it breaks away from the cliché of real and fake heiresses fighting, presenting a complex relationship that evolves from initial exploration to symbiosis under the twists of fate.

When they finally saw through their father Lin Jianguo's hypocritical paternal love—he merely watched coldly from the sidelines, treating them as parasites to be sold—the breakup and reunion occurred simultaneously.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, so out of place with the luxurious surroundings, Lin Wan, the true heiress, ran her fingers across the smooth surface of the mirror, her gaze shifting from confusion to a resolute determination.

The fake heiress, Zhou Yue, stared at her reflection in the mirror, which was wrapped in gorgeous clothes but looked like a puppet on a string. She raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching her own fingertips in the mirror, as if she wanted to pierce through that delicate illusion.

The next second, the camera shifts, and the two of them walk towards the door at the same time, their hands simultaneously touching the doorknob.

When they met in the silent corridor, their eyes met, and without a word, they reached a silent consensus: they were not thieves of each other's fate, but prisoners trapped together in this magnificent cage.

Why not join forces and smash this cage?

After deciding to join forces, the excitement of the plot suddenly skyrocketed.

They began to act in tacit agreement for Lin Jianguo's benefit. On the surface, they still competed for their father's favor and the attention of the outside world, but in secret they shared information. One used her familiarity with the rules of the wealthy family to maneuver and investigate, while the other relied on her resilience and wisdom from her struggles at the bottom to find loopholes.

The most exhilarating scene is when Lin Jianguo intends to arrange a business marriage, allowing the women to showcase their charm at a banquet for the other's family to choose from.

That night, Lin Wan abandoned her timidity and spoke sharply, pointing directly to the potential risks of the partner's project; while Zhou Yue put aside all her docility and showed a calmness and insight far beyond her years, exposing the unreliable background of the other party's young master.

The camera finally freezes on Lin Jianguo's face, contorted with shock and anger in the foreground. As the camera zooms out, two girls pass each other, their glasses lightly clinking, sparks of victory flying.

This is also the moment when the barrage of comments explodes:

[Holy crap! They've teamed up! This is the kind of leadership a leading lady should have!]

[Good job tearing it apart! Tear it apart louder! No... good job teaming up! Let's kill that hypocritical father!]

[Ahhh, this toast! I'm dead! Long live girls' friendship!]

Ling Wei and the others were also watching this scene, and behind them...

I can't watch it anymore, I need to become a member.

Ling Wei sighed and said, "Wait a minute, let me borrow it from my colleague."

Qi Mo took out his phone: "I'll buy one."

"No need, no need!" Ling Wei stopped her: "Our station's own dramas have internal free accounts."

Xiang Wanxing nodded repeatedly: "Yes, sister, we should save money wherever we can."

Qi Mo: "......"

These two people in front of me: one is the chief director of a TV series, but he receives a fixed salary from the TV station, and his family's debts were only paid off this year;

The other one comes from a poor family and started working on film sets at a very young age, struggling to make ends meet. To this day, he only plays minor roles, and having a chicken leg in his lunchbox is considered a feast.

She was actually the richest of the three.

While people were waiting for the account to be opened, those who saw the final result first had already caused an uproar online.

[Is this camera lens some kind of supernatural ability?! Every frame could be a wallpaper!]

The director seems to have a bit of a "camera-obsessed" attitude!

I'm bowing down to the cinematographer and director; the audiovisual language is award-winning!

There has also been more discussion about the actors:

[Holy crap, that's the real heiress, Lin Wan! The way she looked at herself in the mirror, from fear to steely resolve, gave me goosebumps!]

[The fake heiress Zhou Yue is amazing! She's a delicate doll on the surface, but her eyes are full of struggle. Is this how a newcomer's acting is?!]

[I checked the cast list, and I've memorized the names Xiang Wanxing and Qi Mo... they have a bright future ahead of them!]

Of course, Shen Yicheng and An Yao's performances were repeatedly appreciated.

[The father, played by Teacher Shen, always sends chills down my spine every time he speaks with a smile; he's a true wolf in sheep's clothing!]

[An Yao's stepmother is stunningly beautiful! How did she manage to portray that fragile yet calculating beauty?!]

However, what truly propelled the discussion to its peak was the scene featuring Chen Man, played by An Yao, in the finale.

Her meticulously planned scheme was finally exposed. Late at night, she sat alone in the empty villa, her gorgeous clothes still on, but her makeup ruined.

She lit a slender cigarette, not bursting into tears, but letting them fall silently.

As she cried, she looked at the cigarette between her fingers and chuckled softly. When the police car lights shone through the window onto her face, she stopped looking at the light and instead focused on the cigarette that was about to burn out, gently extinguishing it.

When the last glimmer of light extinguished at her fingertips, she felt as if she had gained complete freedom. She slowly stood up and walked towards the inevitable end.

This one-minute-long shot, without a single line of dialogue, has shocked viewers across the internet.

[An Yao has become a legend! I'll remember this scene of her crying, smoking, and laughing for ten years!]

Chen Man is wicked, but she's also pitiful. At this moment, I can't even bring myself to hate her...

Ling Wei's phone had already started ringing. She glanced at the contact and answered with a smile.