Benshan’s beloved disciple, starting from the 2009 Spring Festival Gala
Chapter 28 - The Embodiment of Top-Tier Fame — Yang Mi Nearly Lost Control

Chapter 28  The Embodiment of Top-Tier Fame — Yang Mi Nearly Lost Control

【Director Qu Yiming’s new film Love Breakup 33 Days officially wrapped up filming in Beijing at midnight on August 10.】

【According to crew members, actress Zhang Tian’ai broke down crying multiple times on set, possibly due to Director Qu Yiming’s extreme method acting coaching.】

【On August 14, CCTV held the 2010 Spring Festival Gala director bid meeting.】

【Xinlang Weibo has entered into an in-depth collaboration with Director Qu Yiming. According to Xinlang’s official announcement, the first official trailer for Love Breakup 33 Days will debut on Xinlang Weibo.】

【At midnight on August 28, Xinlang Weibo entered its public beta. The Love Breakup 33 Days crew registered an official Weibo account and released the first trailer.】

…

Midnight, August 28.

A luxury residential complex in Beijing. This was a recently purchased home by Qu Yiming.

Inside the bedroom, Zhang Tian’ai, exhausted and motionless like a dead fish, struggled for a long time to pick up her laptop and open Xinlang Weibo to watch the trailer.

The trailer featured a scene where Huang Xiaoxian, drunk, chases her scummy ex. The background music was Zhang Tian’ai’s own song, “Letting Go.”

“But love has turned into a double-edged sword.

Knowing each other so well, we can cut deep with a single word. Speaking the most hurtful things without thinking if they can be taken back.

After speaking, there’s only more sorrow, more pain. So why do we do this to ourselves? Can we really let go when love turns into hate in an instant…”

The brutally honest lyrics, Zhang Tian’ai’s shattered beauty, and her flawless crying scene while chasing the car—At that very moment, every heartbroken viewer who watched the trailer couldn’t help but shed tears.

“What is the cure for heartbreak?”

A line appeared at the end of the trailer.

“Here’s your noodles.”

Qu Yiming brought over a bowl of instant noodles with an egg for the overworked Zhang Tian’ai.

With teary eyes, Zhang Tian’ai looked at him and asked, “Do you love me?”

“Stop being crazy. Eat your noodles and go shower. I’ll change the sheets,” Qu replied.

“Oh…”

She sat up, took a few bites, then looked at the comments under the trailer, and asked again, “Am I famous now?”

Changing the sheets, Qu Yiming replied, “Yeah, yeah, you’re more famous than Liu Tianxian now.”

Zhang Tian’ai giggled, “Heehee! I’m amazing! Less than a year since debut and I’ve already hit it big!”

“Psycho…”

“Hey! Hey! Forget the sheets for now…”

Zhang Tian’ai threw down her chopsticks and pounced on him.

…

【Lyrics and composition by Qu Yiming – “Letting Go”, Zhang Tian’ai’s debut solo single released】

【Zhang Tian’ai’s acting is god-tier! Totally outshines the post-’85 generation of actresses!】

【A sophisticated beauty on the big screen—outshining the post-’85 stars!】

【The first trailer of Love Breakup 33 Days causes a nationwide sensation—over a million views】

【Qu Yiming announces: Zhang Tian’ai will not accept endorsements or commercial performances for now, believing Love Breakup 33 Days will propel her to A-list status】

【August 31: CCTV officially announces the Spring Festival Gala will be directed by Jin Yue】

【This will be Jin Yue’s sixth time directing the gala】

【Audiences eagerly await another collaboration between “Uncle Ben” and Qu Xiaoming】

【Director Qu Yiming and his “Ming Girl” Zhang Tian’ai join Xinlang Weibo, sharing daily life updates】

…

In the final days of August, Zhang Tian’ai dominated national entertainment headlines. Qu Yiming didn’t spend a single cent on marketing—Xinlang Weibo covered it all.

Internet companies back then were truly willing to burn money to dominate the market. To attract Qu Yiming to the platform and boost traffic, Xinlang Weibo offered him a one-year exclusive contract worth 10 million yuan, plus full access to promotional resources and a deep partnership.

That price tag wasn’t even high for someone of Qu Yiming’s stature. If the term “traffic star” had existed in 2009, Qu Yiming would’ve been the top-tier male star in Chinese entertainment.

Zhang Tian’ai benefited too, receiving a five-million-yuan exclusive contract. On September 25, Xinlang Weibo officially opened public user registration.

Qu Yiming’s Weibo account surpassed one million followers within an hour, becoming the first user to hit that milestone since the platform’s launch. Xinlang immediately kicked off a full-scale promotion campaign.

Zhang Tian’ai, Xin Zhilei, Jin Chen, and Zhang Ruoyun—four artists under Yiming Media—each posted to celebrate. Zhang Tian’ai, the company’s top female star, quickly gained over a million followers on Weibo.

The other three, though less known, gained tens of thousands of fans just by being verified as Yiming Media artists. Interestingly, Yang Mi also posted congratulations.

Although Chinese Paladin 3 had aired and brought her attention, it had yet to hit satellite TV, so her popularity hadn’t yet exploded to national levels. The other two stars from The Great Tang Poetry, like Yang Mi, were in a similar situation.

Liu Tianxian was in a league of her own among the post-’85 actresses, but at the time she had gone to Hollywood to pursue her career. That evening, Qu Yiming posted a thank-you message to his fans after hitting five million followers, and his numbers were quickly approaching ten million. At this stage, there were no bots or fake followers—these were all real fans.

“Good evening everyone, I’m Qu Yiming. You can also call me by my stage name, Qu Xiaoming. Thank you for your love and support. I’ll continue bringing you great works. Please continue supporting me. Many thanks!”

After hitting send—Lying next to him, Zhang Tian’ai was the first to like and repost the message. She had become totally addicted to Weibo, basking in the attention and the feeling of fame. She did nothing all day except chat with fans on the platform.

Qu Yiming glanced at her, rolled his eyes, then turned around and followed Yang Mi’s account.

“Huh!”

Yang Mi, noticing a new follower in her mutual list, clicked in.

“What the—Qu Yiming?”

Overwhelmed with excitement, Yang Mi nearly lost control…