***
Chapter 73 – Interaction
After the screening, the main creative team stepped onto the stage amidst enthusiastic applause.
The director stood at the center, with Jiang Liusui and Qin Yi flanking Pei Wen on either side, followed by other actors and the screenwriter. Camera flashes from media reporters flickered incessantly. Fans in the audience, having just emerged from the immersive experience of the film, erupted into excited screams at the sight of the lead actors.
The host selected journalists for a Q&A session. The first chosen female reporter smiled warmly and said sincerely, “It was truly an enjoyable two hours—time flew by unnoticed during the screening. May I ask Director Pei, how did you select actors who fit their roles so perfectly?”
“Bringing this film to everyone was actually quite challenging,” Pei Wen remarked, glancing at the people beside him. “I have to thank Qin Yi. We struggled to find the right actor for the role of Li Heng, so I practically dragged him in to save the day.”
“Without him, who knows when we would have started filming.”
Qin Yi was momentarily taken aback but then clasped his hands together and smiled humbly.
His modest and graceful response, coupled with the revelation of this behind-the-scenes story, elicited excited cheers from the audience. The female reporter nodded repeatedly.
“When Jiang Liusui came in for the audition, all of us were struck by his presence,” Pei Wen continued. “His appearance perfectly matched the role of ’Ling,’ and after his performance, we were almost certain he was the one.”
“Ling in the film is indeed beautiful, but when Jiang Liusui portrays him, you’ll find your attention naturally drawn to the character itself, without his looks overshadowing the role,” Pei Wen said, looking at Jiang Liusui. “He is an exceptionally talented actor.”
Jiang Liusui, rarely praised so openly by Pei Wen who had been strict throughout the filming of ⟪Eternal Bell⟫, felt a bit lightheaded at the compliment.
He first nodded in agreement with the director but eventually couldn’t hold back a bright, beaming smile.
This adorable reaction sent fans into a frenzy, and He Yujing, seated in the audience, also curved his lips into a smile.
Pei Wen went on to acknowledge the other actors one by one. After the media Q&A, it was time for the fan interaction segment.
The first fan selected was a long-time admirer of Qin Yi. She stood up somewhat excitedly and eagerly asked why he had chosen to play Li Heng.
“The roles I’ve taken on in the past were mostly grounded in reality, so this time I wanted to try something different,” Qin Yi explained, gesturing toward Pei Wen. “Besides, none of the scripts I’d received before had a character like this, so I was quite happy when Director Pei approached me.”
Subsequently, other audience members posed questions to the rest of the creative team. The last fan chosen, a young woman, took the microphone from the staff and burst out excitedly: “Suisui! Your performance was amazing! Every time Ling appeared on screen, I held my breath—that fragile aura came through so powerfully! The last ten minutes had my heart aching… I really, really like you!”
As she spoke, her emotions overwhelmed her, drawing laughter from the crowd. The host chuckled but reminded her, “Miss, this is the Q&A segment.”
Blushing, the fan suddenly realized she had been gushing instead of asking a question. Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but laugh as well, although his tone remained gentle. “It’s alright, take your time.”
The girl calmed down slightly and quickly asked the question she had been wanting to ask throughout the viewing: “How did you manage to portray Ling so well? How do you understand this character?”
Jiang Liusui thought for a moment before speaking: “To me, this character is full of contradictions. Ling is essentially an object, but at the same time, he possesses a radiant humanity. This gives him a vivid sense of life, but it also drives him toward destruction.”
“Time and again, he invests his emotions, and time and again, he forces himself to forget. Ling spends his entire life being manipulated, unable to control his own destiny.”
Noticing the slightly somber atmosphere in the room, Jiang Liusui paused briefly before saying with a smile, “I hope everyone avoids misfortune and always retains their own vibrant individuality.”
Applause filled the theater. The girl, deeply moved by his words, looked at him with sparkling eyes and nodded vigorously. The audience smiled along with her.
The final segment was a Q&A interaction with a special guest. The host hinted meaningfully:
“Next up is our special guest! I’ve noticed many people in the audience have been sneaking glances at him for a long time—and honestly, I’ve been looking forward to this too!”
As she spoke, a staff member hurriedly handed the microphone to He Yujing, who stood up confidently and gracefully.
He wore a simple, understated white outfit, with only a plain silver ring on his earlobe and fingers. He Yujing was completely bare-faced, yet his handsome features were impossible to ignore. Waves of screams erupted in the room, and the theater buzzed with excitement at his appearance.
Some had known in advance that he would attend this premiere, while others only realized he was present at that moment.
Fans in the back rows excitedly whispered among themselves: “Oh my god! Is that He Yujing?!”
“What does this mean! Why is he here?”
“Hahahaha, Sister, how long has it been since you’ve been online? Don’t you know about his relationship with Jiang Liusui?”
The host first calmed the excited audience before asking: “Teacher He, what are your thoughts after watching ⟪Eternal Bell⟫?”
“In the realm of films, I’m truly just an ordinary viewer,” He Yujing replied candidly, without resorting to pleasantries. “From my personal perspective, a movie that leaves me reflecting on it long after it ends is a good movie.”
The host agreed: “Teacher He and I are truly on the same wavelength—that’s exactly how I feel too!” Then, to stir up the atmosphere, she asked knowingly: “So, which of the main creators would Teacher He most like to ask a question?”
He Yujing smiled and looked directly at Jiang Liusui on the stage.
The entire crew was dressed in matching white cultural T-shirts. Jiang Liusui, with his slender figure, looked exceptionally beautiful even in a simple white T-shirt. Noticing He Yujing’s gaze, Jiang Liusui picked up his microphone first.
“I’d like to ask our Teacher Jiang,” He Yujing’s eyes deepened with a smile as he said softly, “Why do you like staying in the pear tree so much?”
“—Oh my god, he said ’our Teacher Jiang’!” A girl in the back covered her mouth, overwhelmed with excitement. “That tone is killing me! So indulgent!”
Jiang Liusui’s eyes sparkled as he looked at He Yujing: “Actually, it’s not that I like staying in the pear tree, but that I’m trapped in the pear tree.”
His answer took everyone by surprise. The previously excited crowd gradually quieted down, waiting for him to continue.
“Many might assume the Crown Prince’s residence and the Imperial Palace were cages that trapped Ling, but in my view, the pear tree was the true cage.” Jiang Liusui carefully articulated his interpretation. “Ling repeatedly invested emotions only to force himself to forget—this is the root of his tragedy. Yet Ling himself knew he could never truly blend with the Li family.
Perched in the tree, he watched people come and go, witnessing their births, aging, illnesses and deaths. He remained forever a weapon, never truly becoming anyone’s family. The pear tree isolated him from the human world, and over time… he can no longer come down.”
Jiang Liusui spoke at a measured pace, each word enunciated with clarity. The venue fell into profound silence, the audience deeply moved by his character insight.
The fan who had asked him a question earlier was in tears, holding up her phone to record every word from beginning to end.
With that, the premiere of ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ concluded successfully. The creative team posed for group photos with all guests and audience members. Jiang Liusui deliberately moved to stand beside He Yujing. Before the shot, their hands secretly pinched each other’s arms behind their backs while maintaining perfectly composed fronts.
The photographer called out loudly, “Ready!”
Pei Wen stood at the center, smiling at everyone. “I hope you all enjoyed this wonderful evening.”
That night, several of the lead actors posted on Weibo to promote the film.
Jiang Liusui reposted the official poster and shared the group photo with the audience and media from tonight’s premiere. In the photo, He Yujing stood next to him. Both were dressed in white, and at first glance, their outfits almost looked like matching couple outfits.
『 Jiang Liusui: Come watch our ⟪Eternal Bell⟫! Ding-ding-ling! 』
Shortly after, He Yujing reposted:
『 He Yujing: Alright then. // @Jiang Liusui: Come watch our ⟪Eternal Bell⟫! Ding-ding-ling! 』
They hadn’t appeared together in public for over half a year, and this single post was already a major reveal. Comments and likes surged exponentially beneath their posts, instantly dispelling rumors about relationship strains due to their rare joint appearances.
CP fans who’d been starved for six months surviving only on reruns of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ went wild. The excitement peaked when footage of He Yujing attending the premiere circulated. Their Weibo comments sections flooded with ecstatic screams, radiating New Year-like joy as related hashtags skyrocketed to top search rankings.
Soon, Chi Lianxi also posted promotional material:
『 Chi Lianxi: Come watch our ⟪Eternal Bell⟫! Hee-hee-hee! 』
【He Yujing: Who are you imitating?】
【Jiang Liusui: Thanks Teacher Chi!】
After a pause, Chi Lianxi replied: 【Your styles are completely mismatched. Next time, maybe send a unified representative?】
His comment section erupted in laughter. Other familiar celebrities joined the promotional efforts.
『 Xu Miao: Already bought tickets! But why wasn’t I invited to the premiere? Aren’t we one big ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ family?! 』
『 Mu Zhe Please support Qin-ge, Suisui and Qingzhi-jie’s new film! 』
Wei Zixiao’s promotional post clearly came from his staff:『 New role, new chapter. 』
In just one night, numerous popular celebrities posted promotional Weibo updates for ⟪Eternal Bell⟫. Moreover, Chi Lianxi’s segment was so hilarious that countless people flocked to join the fun, and the movie’s title also climbed to the top of the trending searches.
The ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ crew had a limited budget, with Pei Wen allocating most of the funds to filming and production, leaving little for promotion. Seeing the surge in popularity, the PR team seized the moment to release a batch of carefully selected behind-the-scenes photos.
The most discussed photo was one taken during Shang Qingzhi’s wrap-up scene. Covered in fake blood, she cheerfully flashed a “V” sign with both hands. Standing on either side of her were Jiang Liusui and Qin Yi, along with the director and other crew members, all smiling at the camera.
With sufficient buzz, combined with strong promotion by the media and fans who had attended the premiere, the movie officially released the next day, and theaters in major cities were nearly sold out.
When ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ was first greenlit, it was not expected to perform well. Tianguang Media didn’t dare schedule many screenings initially. However, after the first wave of viewers praised it overwhelmingly, people spontaneously promoted it across various platforms. Due to the limited screenings, audiences unable to buy tickets fervently demanded additional showtimes, prompting theaters to hastily add more screenings in response.
On the day additional screenings were added, the box office immediately surpassed 100 million yuan. ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ skyrocketed to become the hottest movie of the moment, potentially the dark horse of the year. Fan-created content related to the film continuously emerged, visible everywhere on video platforms and blogs.
After watching the movie, Xu Miao chatted nonstop in the group chat named “All Top Stars”:
Xu Miao: Qin-ge, you’re actually really handsome!… Honestly, I’d never seen any of your works before. That coronation scene left me speechless—it was so majestic! This is what they call a true Son of Heaven!
Qin Yi: …Thank you.
Xu Miao: When Ming Zhao died, I cried my eyes out. Wuwuwu, Li Heng is such an absolute scumbag!
Xu Miao: My friend is utterly ridiculous. She said Li Heng and Ling are a fascinating pair—what’s there to obsess over with such a toxic dynamic? It’s all because Director Pei filmed it too well, and all the actors brought their characters to life so intensely. In situations like this, I suggest snapping back to reality and taking a look at the premiere group photo. Our real couple is the one worth obsessing over!
Seeing the message, He Yujing directly sent her a red packet.
After claiming it, she offered sincere blessings:
Xu Miao: Thank you, Yu-ge. May you stay happily married for a hundred years.
Jiang Liusui made a grand entrance:
Sui: What kind of transaction is going on here?
Seeing Jiang Liusui pop up, she exclaimed enthusiastically:
Xu Miao: Suisui! It’s insane, you know? So many of my friends are planning a Ling-themed photoshoots. Since there are no pear blossoms around lately, everyone’s lining up to take pictures with fake pear trees.
Xu Miao: I’m going for a shoot next week too, hahahahahaha! The red outfit is so mesmerizing—I love it!
Sui: Go for it! After your shoot, you should change your name to Xu Ling.
Xu Miao burst into hysterical laughter.
After ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ became a smash hit, some people dug into its background and discovered how challenging its journey to completion had been.
Director Pei had gone through more than a dozen production companies seeking investment, but in the end, only Tianguang Media was willing to give it a try—and even then, the budget was extremely limited.
In ⟪Eternal Bell⟫, the second-billed role overshadowed the first. Although Ling’s screen time wasn’t as extensive as Li Heng’s, most of the film’s standout moments centered on Ling. Initially, very few actors were willing to take on the role of “Li Heng.” Unwilling to compromise, Pei Wen struggled to find the right candidate for a long time.
That’s why at the premiere, Pei Wen specifically thanked Qin Yi for being willing to play Li Heng, allowing the work to be completed without regrets.
Knowing the story behind it, everyone was deeply moved.
Qin Yi portrayed Li Heng’s depth, restraint, and decisiveness with remarkable precision. Since this role was completely different from the serious and rigid characters he had played before, he quickly gained a large number of captivated fans. The character Ling was even more outstanding, with the two most iconic outfits being the red and white robes in the pear tree. Imitation videos and photos were everywhere, and beauty bloggers were all studying Ling’s makeup style. Photo shoots with pear trees as the backdrop could be seen all over.
Jiang Liusui’s interview video from the premiere was dug up again. After watching the movie, everyone truly understood the meaning behind his words. He had a unique understanding of the character, and his answers were clear, precise, and highly engaging.
Although he was discussing a somewhat heavy topic, his delivery was gentle and endearing, allowing people to feel the actor’s control over the role. His personal charm remained undiminished off-screen.
Shen Sijia: Suisui, your interview video is trending on my homepage again!
Shen Sijia: How do you always manage to say the right things?!
Shen Sijia had already booked an entire theater to support Jiang Liusui when ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ was first released, watching the movie with a group of her girlfriends. He Yujing also generously booked dozens of screenings and posted the ticket stubs on his Moments.
He only posted pictures in his Moments, but everyone understood the underlying message.
【Yan Sheng: Heads up, folks, the young master is about to start showing off. Those in the know should immediately head to the cinema to support Xiao Jiang and wish the young master a long-lasting relationship.】
【Zheng You: Honestly, Xiao Jiang’s movie is really good. I just watched it with my girlfriend a few days ago.】
【Chi Lianxi: Bro, my movie is about to be released too. You’re the music producer—how many screenings are you going to book for your buddy?】
Jiang Liusui sat relaxed on the carpet, holding He Yujing’s phone as he scrolled through the hundreds of comments in his Moments.
Seeing everyone’s playful teasing, Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but laugh along. Not far away, He Yujing sat in front of the computer, wearing headphones as he adjusted the arrangement of his new song.
The home studio was cooled by ample air conditioning. He Yujing had revised the track several times but still wasn’t satisfied. Out of habit, he reached for his cigarette case but stopped when he remembered Jiang Liusui was nearby.
He turned around and saw Jiang Liusui looking at the phone screen, his fair arm lazily propped on his knee, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He Yujing decided to set aside his work for the moment. He walked over to Jiang Liusui, crouched behind him, and hooked an arm around his neck.
“What are you smiling at? So happy?”
“Reading the comments on your Moments,” Jiang Liusui tilted his head, gazing at the handsome profile beside him, and suddenly said, “You know, when I was filming, I spent a lot of time in the pear tree. Sometimes I wondered—”
“If it were you, would you stay under the tree and watch me the whole time?”
He Yujing thought for a moment. “I might watch for about ten days.”
Jiang Liusui put down the phone and pretended to hit him. “What do you mean, only ten days?”
“Then on the eleventh day, I’d have someone cut the tree down,” He Yujing said with a hint of mischief. He grabbed Jiang Liusui’s raised wrist, pulled him into his arms, and held him tightly.
“I don’t want to keep watching.” Slender fingers slipped between his palm, intertwining with Jiang Liusui’s in a tight clasp. “When you fall, I’ll catch you.”
Although “catch” might be an understatement—it was more like grabbing.
Feeling the warmth pressed against him, Jiang Liusui settled into a comfortable position in his embrace:
“Then remember to hold on tight,” he said.
— — — —
