This celebrity became even more popular after being exposed of having multiple girlfriends
Chapter 634 - 429: Before Departing for Cannes

Chapter 634: Chapter 429: Before Departing for Cannes

The blogger really can’t understand.

"The leap is just too fast! Last year, Wu Mu was still widely recognized as having a deadpan acting style, the freshest of the fresh meat. Even if there was a ’Disappeared’ that made people see him in a new light, directly getting into Cannes is just too exaggerated!"

"Could he not let things settle for two years, get nominated for some domestic awards, or win some smaller ones first?"

"And considering his movie performances, isn’t he basically an all-around star in domestic and foreign, film, television, and music shows? Can a breakup really bring about such a big change?"

"The value of his backing is still increasing!"

The blogger was shocked.

The impression Wu Mu gives to everyone is mainly as an idol.

Even if he’s great at singing, even if his acting in dramas has improved, it’s still hard for the public to associate him with something like a Cannes Best Actor.

Isn’t a Cannes Best Actor supposed to be someone who’s dedicated to honing their acting skills, and passionate about acting, like a veteran actor?

How does Wu Mu resemble that?

He’s exploding with popularity every day, getting into other people’s faces along with companies and other peers, lies flat playing games in life, goes out to eat and have fun, and even critiques businesses online...

He doesn’t look like someone who’s passionate about acting... Such a person doesn’t fit as an actor at all!

Everyone thinks the jump is too much to handle. Let alone a lofty term like Cannes Best Actor, even associating domestic Golden Statue or Golden Horse awards or even a Rooster Best Actor with Wu Mu feels out of place.

You can sense this shock not just from the blogger, but from the comments section as well.

Wu Mu scrolled through the video, curious and clicked to check the comments section.

This video has over 800,000 likes, making it a minor hit, and the comments section is even more explosive, with over 40,000 comments.

"Wu Gou got into Cannes?? Just two days without Wu Gou updates, he’s secretly doing big things again?"

"Cannes is as watered down as this? Even Wu Gou can get in?"

"Go over all the past Cannes Best Actors from our country in your head, then compare them to Wu Gou... it’s so incongruous! It feels like they’re not even on the same page."

"Isn’t Sun Yueqing still far from Cannes Best Actor too? Don’t even mention Cannes Best Actor, Sun Yueqing hasn’t even won a Golden Statue or Golden Horse yet, and Wu Gou got in first? Wu Gou isn’t just overshadowing Mo Mo, now he’s overshadowing Sun Yueqing too?"

All are full of doubts, some even malicious speculation.

"Everyone is overreacting, isn’t it obvious? His girlfriend elevated him, her film got into the main competition at Cannes, then she gilded the lily for her boyfriend, applying for Best Actor."

"Yes, Director Lin is really skilled, getting into Cannes is no surprise, she just conveniently brought Wu Gou along."

"Ah Gou is eating soft rice again!"

"It’s really just getting in, nothing to brag about, something that’s clearly impossible."

What’s all this supposed to mean?

Wu Mu mumbled as he looked at the comments section’s tone.

What’s wrong with aiming for Best Actor, doesn’t Wu Mu’s evolution mean anything to them?

He understood the comments section’s tone, no one is optimistic, thinking he’s just there for the ride.

Wu Mu finished the video, and instead of closing Douyin directly, he curiously searched with Lin Qingyue as a keyword.

Hmm, is the public optimistic about his girlfriend?

The overall sentiment is mainly not hopeful.

Every year, the Cannes Film Festival still attracts a lot of attention, especially from bloggers who create movie-related content, and this year Wu Mu is an additional big topic.

So when he searched, many in-depth analysis videos on the topic popped up.

He randomly selected a few snippets.

For example, a video by a host named [Movie Commentary Aguan].

"Everyone knows, I’ve always been a fan of Director Lin, I’ve previously made several videos about Director Lin, if you’ve watched my earlier videos you’d know, I’ve said long ago that Director Lin has the necessary qualities to become a renowned director— a distinct personal style.

"A director’s personal style is like the very existence of each person’s character and soul. Through each person’s directing style, you can glimpse their soul.

"Lin Xueming’s films have strong philosophical narratives, he loves drawing material from historical events, with a rich sense of culture; Zhang Chao enjoys creating comedies with strong dramatic conflict, playing with black humor; Xie Chunfang is full of chivalric spirit, even in realistic Chapters there’s an air of ancient chivalry.

"As for Director Lin, her personal style is even more pronounced. She’s the type where you can immediately guess her style just by looking at the camera work— clean shots, loves shooting landscapes, and using scenery to set an atmosphere and mood. Just like many jokes online, Director Lin’s films can be paused at any point yielding wallpaper full of ambiance; her main occupation is shooting wallpapers, with filmmaking as a side job.

"Director Lin is extremely skilled at using such shots to build the emotions she wants to convey. I think this is a particularly advanced skill, many have said that movies are a soul exchange between the director and the audience, and in Director Lin’s films, you can clearly feel this."

This host highly praises Lin Qingyue’s films, spending a few minutes explaining her film style.

But despite saying so much, he actually isn’t optimistic either, quickly pivoting.

"But objectively speaking, I don’t think Director Lin has much hope of winning the Cannes Golden Award this time. Because while her strengths are prominent, her weaknesses are also obvious, with her stories being very weak. Don’t even mention various brilliant reversals, full of human contradictions and struggles in design and layout, even just a normal, complete story is hard to achieve. People who can’t understand Director Lin’s shot concepts often feel like she’s shooting a scenery film, baffling."

"Especially since Wu Mu is the leading actor, with her as the female lead. I always thought Director Lin was an independent, sensible, calm persona akin to a major heroine, but recently watching captured videos of her interactions with Wu Gou online, Director Lin seems a bit love-struck... maybe Wu Gou is too alluring?"

Hmm, the overall sentiment is that Lin Qingyue’s style may not be well-received over at Cannes, she may need to patch up the shortcomings in her storytelling, with a good fitting script, to stand a chance.

Then there’s some concern over Wu Mu as the leading actor, and the slightly emerging love-struck aura between him and Director Lin.

Wu Mu was quite amused after watching.

The eyes of the masses are indeed sharp.

The online audience holds no particular expectations for Wu Mu and Lin Qingyue achieving anything at Cannes.

And slowly, the official date of the Cannes Film Festival was drawing nearer.

...

February 10th.

The day before the team departs, the team from Huaguo Film Report arrives first.

"Hello, Wu Mu. Can we do a follow-up filming with you this afternoon?"

Li Man, one of the hosts of Huaguo Film Report, politely asked.

Huaguo Film Report’s team dispatched their follow-up filming crew as planned. Although Li Man’s group had the least number of people and the least experience, it wasn’t exaggerated to the point of sending an intern.

Li Man is also one of the official hosts of the program, just slightly less significant.

While speaking, Li Man was sneakily observing Wu Mu.

Although this person’s popularity has skyrocketed in the past half year, she, as an industry insider, was actually meeting Wu Mu in person for the first time.

There’s no choice; this person doesn’t participate in industry socializing at all. All sorts of industry parties and various movie premiere celebrations, where insiders gather, you can’t see him at all.

Even though his popularity is soaring now, trending online every few days, there’s still a mysterious feeling for someone like her who supports the industry.

Now, meeting him offline, the first thing that stands out is naturally this person’s appearance, even more dazzling than what you see on screen.

His features are flawless, strikingly capturing one’s gaze and making them stare, feeling especially appealing not to mention suiting her aesthetic preferences.

And his overall state; obviously, he’s not wearing makeup, yet his face is cleaner and whiter than if he had foundation on.

"Isn’t it said that this person often stays up late playing games? How come his face isn’t breaking out or oily?" Li Man enviously mused inwardly.

Then, beyond appearance, it’s this person’s personality.

It’s also particularly evident.

Wu Mu opened the door, curiously looking at them, "My girlfriend mentioned you guys would be following during this period, but aren’t you supposed to follow the film crew? Do you even follow individual actors?"

Well, normally, it’s indeed following the film crew’s main creators, but for this film, not filming Wu Mu seems almost unjustifiable.

Li Man complimented, showing emotional intelligence, "We already filmed Director Lin this morning. Director Lin said you, Wu Mu, are the absolute core of the crew; an interview without you would be incomplete."

Wu Mu chuckled, "You guys believe her praise?"

"Come in, everyone. No need to take off your shoes."

Wu Mu welcomed everyone into his home, curious, "Does following need me to do anything? Any interviews?"

"No need, just go about your normal activities. If there’s anything, we’ll ask you."

"Then won’t you miss the shots you want?"

Hmm?

Li Man felt a bit puzzled by Wu Mu’s words.

What does missing the shots you want mean?

Until... she saw Wu Mu taking a black gaming console and sprawling on the living room sofa.

Li Man: "..."

Li Man was silent for two seconds, "Don’t you need to prepare for going to Cannes tomorrow, Wu Mu?"

Wu Mu was quite puzzled, "Prepare what?"

Li Man said "Uh" with a sound, "On the day of the opening ceremony, aren’t you walking the red carpet, Wu Mu? Don’t you need to prepare your outfit and makeup for the day?"

The Cannes red carpet is a must-try part of the Cannes Film Festival. Numerous domestic and international media will focus on the opening ceremony’s red carpet, reporting on celebrities walking the carpet.

Domestically, countless celebrities envy this kind of popularity and exposure every year. Even if they don’t have films in the festival, they try everything to get an invitation from familiar brands to join in.

According to Li Man and the team’s plan before they came, this afternoon’s shooting should be a very tense and busy process. Countless fashion designers and stylists would crowd around Wu Mu, discussing the appearance for the event, while the company team would confirm all major brands’ on-screen requirements, implementing the festival’s various details...

But this person just flops here!?

After hearing, Wu Mu casually said, "It’s all settled already. I’ll just wear the tuxedo I usually wear to banquets, and as for the brand, I don’t sign with brands that have additional promotion requirements."

Ah?

No, are these brands just getting ripped off?

How come they agree to such outrageous conditions like not doing extra promotion?

Li Man felt speechless inside. She has heard industry rumors that Wu Mu’s endorsement fees are rising to the absolute first tier, and he carries quite a few endorsements too.

And Wu Mu still has such absurd demands?

No extra promotion, no participation in various promotional events, isn’t it just like paying for a portrait?

Including maybe just a single Weibo announcement?

Is that worth forty or fifty million?

Li Man didn’t quite understand, and deciding to wear previous outfits is okay?

Is the Cannes red carpet, which others go out of their way to join, so unimpressive to this person?

This is far too relaxed, isn’t it? This is the chance for the Cannes Best Actor nomination.

Li Man mused inwardly; if the surrounding environment wasn’t extremely real, she would suspect Wu Mu was intentionally creating an image.

(And more)