Chapter 367 A new plan begins!

Xiao Chen got into the car, rubbed his temples, and remained calm.

"As long as the platform is effective, the rest is up to the audience."

That evening, as the city lights came on, television sets in every household were tuned to CCTV-1.

As Xiao Chen's first major work after returning to the small screen from the big screen, the outside world's expectations have long been extremely high.

In the opening scene of the first episode, Xiao Chen, who plays Emperor Yongzheng, appears in a dragon robe. His restrained, suspicious, and authoritative aura instantly shocks everyone.

At the same time, major internet forums were in an uproar.

In less than half an hour, the number of replies on a certain famous forum exceeded 50,000.

"Holy crap! Xiao Shen is playing an emperor this time? He's so handsome! The most handsome Yongzheng Emperor in history, no arguments!"

"Wake up, upstairs! This acting is absolutely superb! That look in his eyes makes me want to kneel down even through the screen."

"I came for Xiao Chen's good looks, but I got hooked on the plot. His delivery of lines is so good, no wonder he won a Grammy and an Oscar."

The plot is progressing very quickly, and after just three episodes, discussions on social media have reached a fever pitch.

On the entertainment section of Tianya Community, a post titled "Let's take a closer look at Xiao Chen, the detail-oriented character in 'Empresses in the Palace'" was trending red.

The original poster commented: "Did you guys notice? Xiao Chen's tea-drinking gestures in the drama perfectly match the etiquette described in ancient texts. His style is absolutely amazing!"

The comments below were numerous.

"I agree with the original poster! I was staring at his face the whole time. How can someone blend 'cold-heartedness' and 'deep affection' so well?"

"Although I love Harry Potter, I must say that Xiao Chen, who returned to China to film, is the best."

"I just finished watching the third episode, and the oppressive atmosphere of the palace almost drove me crazy. Xiao Chen's portrayal of the emperor is truly both lovable and hateful."

"Is no one talking about Liu Yifei? Her interactions with Xiao Chen are absolutely divine, their chemistry is off the charts!"

At the same time, Xiao Chen was sitting on the sofa at home when Ye Huimei came over with a plate of fruit.

"Chenchen, are you thirsty? Have some fruit."

Ye Huimei looked at her son on TV, then at the obedient child beside her, and couldn't make any connection between them.

"Mom, do you also think I acted too harshly?"

Xiao Chen forked a piece of apple and asked vaguely.

Ye Huimei smiled kindly.

"Mom doesn't understand those profound things. She just thinks my son is really handsome and can play any role convincingly."

Xiao Chen smiled. This simple praise from his mother warmed his heart more than any lengthy commentary from film critics.

My phone was vibrating incessantly on the coffee table; I knew it was Wang Jinhua without even looking.

"Sister Hua, the ratings are off the charts!"

Xiao Chen answered the phone, his tone so calm it didn't seem like someone directly involved.

On the other end of the phone, Wang Jinhua's breathing was noticeably rapid.

"Chenzi, he's gone mad! He's really gone mad! The real-time viewership ratings on CCTV have broken records for the past five years!"

"The servers of major video websites almost crashed, and now the entire internet is waiting for tomorrow's update."

Xiao Chen gazed at the myriad lights outside the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"Sister Hua, have the PR department keep an eye on things. Don't just focus on praising my face; direct the conversation more towards the plot and production."

"I understand, you're always so clear-headed, child."

Before hanging up the phone, Wang Jinhua couldn't help but add a sentence.

"By the way, Liu Yifei just sent me a text message asking if you're free tomorrow."

"I wanted to invite you to dinner to celebrate the wrap-up of filming and the premiere of 'Empresses in the Palace'."

Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow, recalling the bits and pieces of filming "My Love from the Star".

Liu Yifei, that girl, is actually quite naive in private.

"We'll see how it goes. Let's cancel the wrap party for tomorrow. I'm tired and want to spend more time with my mom."

Xiao Chen put down his phone and casually lay down on Ye Huimei's lap.

At this point, he was no longer the superstar with a net worth of hundreds of millions and global adoration.

He's just a kid who's tired of wandering around outside and comes home asking for candy.

The outside world has been turned upside down because of his drama, and the heated debates on various forums continue.

"If 'Empresses in the Palace' has a terrible ending, I'll send it razor blades!"

"With Xiao Chen involved, how could it possibly fizzle out? It's the pride of our nation!"

"Stop arguing, go look at Xiao Chen's Weibo post. He said tonight's episode is just an appetizer."

Xiao Chen turned off the screen, leaving only Ye Huimei's soft humming in his ears.

In this noisy entertainment industry, he always clearly knows that only this touch of everyday life is the reality he has longed for most in both his past and present lives.

Ye Huimei pushed the sliced ​​orange to Xiao Chen's side, her brows furrowed tightly, as if she were looking at some fragile work of art.

"Chenchen, don't go anywhere these next two days, just stay home and rest."

"Look how thin you are. You went to record a variety show, and your face looked sunken in."

Xiao Chen leaned back on the sofa, casually picked up a slice of orange and stuffed it into his mouth, his cheeks puffing out.

"Mom, I need to look good on camera."

"During filming, the director said that the emperor needed to have a melancholy air; being too fat wouldn't make him seem like a scheming person."

He spoke with a slightly nasal tone, sounding lazy, and coupled with his incredibly menacing face, no one could get angry at him.

Even though he's already twenty, in Ye Huimei's eyes, he's still that little kid who needed someone to protect him when he played Hong Wending and Harry Potter.

"That won't work either. Acting is a job, and your health is your most valuable asset."

"If you don't listen to me, I'll call Jinhua and have her cancel all the remaining contracts."

Xiao Chen quickly raised his hands in surrender, his eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you say. I'll just eat and sleep for the next two days and I promise I won't leave the house."

He silently added to himself, "Staying home is fine, but sleeping in is definitely not an option."

As Ye Huimei went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, Xiao Chen's smile faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

He walked to the full-length mirror, took off his oversized hoodie, and revealed a beautiful upper body, but it looked too thin.

A few years ago, when filming "Titanic" in Hollywood, he deliberately maintained this youthful and delicate appearance in order to fit the image of Jack, the poor painter.

But he's already twenty years old, and he can't rely on being a "pretty boy" for the rest of his life.

"I'm twenty now, time to change my way of life. I can't play the role of a pure and innocent ideal forever."

Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow at his reflection in the mirror.

That face was indeed flawless, with skin so white it was almost transparent, and features so exquisite they looked as if sculpted by God himself.

This kind of appearance is a gift from God, but it can also easily become a shackle.

If he wants to broaden his acting range and establish himself in tough and ruthless roles, his small frame is clearly not enough.

He was rapidly working out a muscle-building plan in his mind.

Heavy weight training must be put on the agenda, and the diet must be completely overhauled. Those carbohydrates that were rejected in order to maintain a photogenic image should be brought back.