After Zhao Lili posted the video on social media.
Her fans left messages of comfort below.
Seeing that things had gotten out of hand, she called the paparazzi she was on good terms with and sent them all the photos she had taken.
Soon after, photos of Huo Zimo greeting Huo Jinning and Zheng Ming appeared on social media.
The post included the caption: "I discovered something interesting today. It was supposed to be a big production, and everything was supposed to be fair and just, but... it turns out the role had already been decided beforehand. Haha, that's truly eye-opening."
This Weibo post quickly attracted the attention and heated discussion of netizens.
Some people speculated about who the "pre-selected" actress was, while others expressed sympathy for Zhao Lili's plight.
As Zhao Lili watched the number of comments and reposts increase, a smug smile appeared on her lips.
She knew that this storm had only just begun.
Fu Qinian learned about this immediately.
"Ningning, have you seen the news? Do you want me to help you?" Fu Qinian's concerned voice came from the other end of the phone.
"No need, let it ferment a little longer. Let's keep quiet for now and talk about it tomorrow," Huo Jinning said nonchalantly.
Huo Zimo also spoke with Zheng Ming, asking them to postpone the matter and, in a way, promote their new drama.
And so, attacks against Huo Zimo and Huo Jinning began online.
...To be honest, I used to like Huo Zimo quite a bit, but it's so hateful that he let other people's efforts go to waste for his sister's sake.
...That's how the entertainment industry works; capital decides everything.
...I still think that Brother Zimo isn't that kind of person; his sister might be a better actress.
...I also miss Huo Zimo. He has always been a very good person, passionate about public welfare, and respectful of actresses.
...You mindless fans, how could his sister, an ordinary person, possibly act better than Lili? Otherwise, why have they been silent all this time? Isn't it because they feel guilty?
...Yes, they're guilty. Three hours have passed, and they still haven't come out to say anything.
...I've decided to boycott "The Great Yu Dynasty." No matter how good their script is, with such a pre-selected actor, I simply won't watch it.
...Yes, everyone go to the official comments section of "The Great Yu Dynasty" and boycott Huo Jinning.
...
With numerous comments from netizens, the casting controversy surrounding "The Great Yu Dynasty" quickly dominated the top three trending topics.
This also made "The Great Yu Dynasty" a hit even before filming, albeit a controversial one.
Zhao Lili was quite satisfied with the result. She also became a minor internet sensation because of this incident. Netizens expressed their sympathy for her and praised her spirit of striving for a better life despite such difficulties.
At the same time, she also took this opportunity to show the public her strong and brave side, winning the hearts of many fans.
However, behind the scenes, Zhao Lili was secretly laughing to herself.
She knew that all of this was the result of her careful planning.
She made herself the biggest beneficiary by creating public pressure.
Moreover, she successfully portrayed a character who was hurt but powerless to resist and yet strived to improve herself, which will undoubtedly help her future development.
Meanwhile, her agent was also kept in the dark.
He thought Zhao Lili had really been bullied, so he actively tried to get more resources for her.
The agent believes that this incident will garner more attention and sympathy for Zhao Lili, thereby increasing her popularity and influence.
Therefore, he began to actively look for better scripts and roles for Zhao Lili, hoping to take this opportunity to help her reach new heights.
However, in this farce, it was Lu Ming and Yang Nianke who were truly anxious.
They knew the truth, but for various reasons, they were unable to clear Huo Jinning's name.
Their agents and agencies have prohibited them from making any statements on social media to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.
Although she couldn't publicly clarify things for Huo Jinning, Yang Nianke didn't give up.
She used her alternate account to speak out for Huo Jinning on various social media platforms, trying to uncover the truth of the matter.
However, her voice was insignificant among the many comments from netizens and was quickly drowned out.
However, Yang Nianke was not discouraged. She firmly believed that as long as someone was willing to listen, the truth would eventually come out.
I even spent an entire night fighting against those trolls.
Lu Ming realized that Huo Jinning had done it on purpose that night, so he didn't need to worry.
After all, so much time has passed, and neither Huo Zimo, Huo Jinning, nor anyone from the production crew has come out to clarify things, which means they're brewing something.
So I slept peacefully.
Only Yang Nianke stayed up all night, completely out of it.
After a night of fermentation, this matter has seriously affected the auditions for "The Great Yu Dynasty". Many artists have withdrawn from the role, and those who were originally cast have made excuses and not signed contracts.
The production team's phones were ringing off the hook. They had to deal with the media's questions while also reassuring the artists who were considering quitting the show.
This threw the entire production crew into chaos.
But when they posted Huo Jinning's audition video online, everyone shut up. Her acting skills were far superior to Zhao Lili's; it was a complete game-changer.
Even trolls have nowhere to vent their frustrations.
The caption reads: "Thank you for your attention to the casting of 'The Great Yu Dynasty.' Our production team adheres to the principle of selecting talent and treats all actors equally, all in order to create a better work."
They also apologized for the public resources wasted on this incident.
Huo Zimo later posted: I was just picking up my sister and saying hello to Director Zheng. I didn't expect to be misunderstood. I am very sorry and will be more careful with my words in the future.
Huo Jinning posted: I never thought that someone who is good-looking and has good acting skills could still be misunderstood.
...I think starting to like Huo Jinning today is too narcissistic, just like me.
Haha, my little sister is so cute.
...This is the first time I've ever seen such a narcissistic person, even though what he said is true.
...With my younger sister looking like this, she doesn't really need to work hard.
...I apologize for the words I used yesterday. Huo Jinning truly deserves the title.
...All I can say is that the entertainment industry is truly chaotic.
...I always said that Brother Zimo wasn't that kind of person.
...Yes, I also believe in Huo Zimo's character.
...And I only found out today that the director of "The Great Yu Dynasty" is Zheng Ming. He is known for his strictness and bows down to capital. He has rejected countless scripts because of this.
...I was so distracted yesterday that I didn't pay attention to the director's affairs.
...I hereby declare that Ningning is now my wife.
...You're talking nonsense, she's clearly my wife.
...Then I'm your sister-in-law, no arguments allowed.
The matter was resolved immediately.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
