Chapter 180: Making Things Difficult? Traps Everywhere, Bai Ling Drops All Pretenses

Photography went without saying.

During the booting ceremony, nobody stopped clicking their camera shutters.

Even though every single frame of Bai Ling looked like a desktop wallpaper, they still needed to find the most flattering angles.

When it came to the interview segment, everyone grew excited again.

Taking pictures was merely a part of gathering material.

The interview was the real key!

Only through the interview could they learn the specific details about the drama *Heavy Sweetness, Ash-like Frost*.

Things like the genre of the series, and whether the leading actor and actress were famous or not.

They could even invite various actors to share their thoughts on the script and their characters.

Questions regarding the production crew and the director were also on the table.

Naturally, all of these pertained to the show.

These were standard topics that any production crew would answer generously.

However, some media outlets played by no rules.

They might focus on the actors' personal lives, asking about scandals, or using verbal traps to trick the actors into saying inappropriate remarks that could stir up public controversy.

Do not assume such mischievous behavior was uncommon.

Far from it!

Given the current state of the entertainment industry, the vast majority of the media operated this way, and only a small fraction of conscientious media outlets followed the old traditions and asked standard questions about the television series step by step.

Of course, most media hid daggers behind smiles.

They would start by tossing out ordinary questions before landing an unexpected, catch-you-off-guard blow.

Therefore, prior to the press interviews, Bai Ling had already made things clear to the production staff and the other actors.

Feel free to speak boldly about what should be said; anything regarding the content of the show was fair game.

As for what shouldn't be said, they should obediently keep their mouths shut and avoid stirring up trouble.

Naturally, the others should be fine, including the actors playing the male lead and second male lead, Su Zhaolin and Lu Jianchao.

Their personal popularity and recognition were not high.

Even the fact that Su Zhaolin had withdrawn from *I Am an Actor* had not attracted much public attention.

They were relatively obscure, so the media reporters simply wouldn't waste too much effort on them.

Bai Ling, however, was different...

Guided by the host, Ouyang, Bai Ling, Su Zhaolin, and the others walked the red carpet in turn and arrived at the interview area.

The setup resembled a conference room. Bai Ling and the others took their seats one by one, waiting for all the media reporters to get ready.

"Alright, everyone, the interview may now begin."

"Please raise your hands in an orderly fashion to ask questions, and mind the venue's order."

As soon as the host finished speaking, everyone raised their hands.

The host casually picked someone.

That reporter immediately grew excited and said into the microphone, "I'd like to ask Bai Ling, how long did it take to prepare this drama? As far as we know, it hasn't been very long since your last hit series aired, and you've also been constantly appearing on variety shows. Don't you think this is all too rushed?"

The very first question was somewhat tricky.

How should one answer?

To say it wasn't rushed meant lacking self-awareness, implying the script was probably very crude.

To admit it was rushed yet still rush into filming meant the script was crude while lacking even the slightest sincerity.

It was difficult to formulate a good response.

After a moment of contemplation, Bai Ling replied, "I don't think it was rushed at all. Writing a script is just like writing a song; I complete them in my spare time."

"When the timing is right, you have to seize the moment and act. Otherwise, if you let the opportunity slip away, wouldn't that be a shame?"

Bai Ling simply dropped the act.

I write scripts just as fast as I write songs.

Do you media outlets dare claim that my songs lack sincerity, too?

The number one and number two spots on the hit song charts serve as a warning!

Anyway, now that she had works and confidence to back her up, why would Bai Ling need to hide anything from a bunch of reporters?

The reporter wanted to continue pressing, but the host had already told him to sit down and pointed at someone else.

"I'd still like to ask Bai Ling. Is the emergence of this drama something you prepared to prove yourself after the recent fallout on the variety show? If so, don't you think that's somewhat impulsive?"

"Will such a petty dispute affect the subsequent filming and creative process of your crew?"

Another quite dangerous question.

Ouyang, Bai Ling, and the others could already sense that something was wrong.

These questions were all hidden traps.

After a brief pause, Bai Ling said, "As for a petty dispute, I hardly think that aligns with my original intention for making this drama."

"The script was written before the unpleasantness on the variety show."

"If we must talk about petty disputes, perhaps the behind-the-back backstabbing by Director Wang fits the description much better."

"Word has it that he wants to blacklist me? What a pity, yet all of you still managed to come to our booting ceremony today."

The reporters froze.

Good grief, Bai Ling had zero intention of putting up a facade.

Although she didn't address the question directly, everyone understood her meaning.

Next!

The first two questions had already been somewhat perilous.

This third one was a heavyweight contender.

"My question is still for Bai Ling."

"The tacky style of *Go Princess Go* is still vivid in our memories, and now you've used the exact same production team. Are you planning to replicate *Go Princess Go*?"

"And if I'm not mistaken, the character Bai Ling is playing should also be designed as supremely gorgeous. Do you have a particular fondness for these kinds of roles?"

"How much help can such repetitive roles provide for your growth as an actor?"

One question contained three massive traps.

If Bai Ling actually stepped into them, she would be admitting to 'replicating the tacky style of *Go Princess Go*', 'thinking she is too gorgeous so she must only play beauties', and 'having a single-note role with no room for growth, making her future unpromising.'

Bai Ling's expression turned less than pleasant.

Most of these fellows were probably here to wreck the event.

Holding the microphone, she said, "In making this drama, what I want to replicate is the box office success of *Go Princess Go*, not its production methods."

"Besides, I've never heard of a rule stating a director can only direct works of a single style and cannot make any changes."

"Of course, I must admit that a certain unnamed comrade surnamed Wang seems quite enthusiastic about continuously remaking his own failed works."

"I suppose you and this nameless director get along quite well, reporter; perhaps you can go ask him for advice later."

"As for whether I am only willing to portray these gorgeous characters."

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press here today, let me ask you, am I truly incapable of playing a beauty and forced to only play ugly roles?"

"Could it be that this reporter's aesthetic standards differ from yours, and his standards surpass everyone else's?"

"If so, I truly apologize for being an eyesore and offending your precious vision."

In her past life, *Heavy Sweetness, Ash-like Frost* had a decent reputation, but it also received one major complaint.

That was the female lead's physical appearance.

That particular actress surnamed Yang possessed acting skills, but they were relatively formulaic; she had agility and could command her roles.

Yet she could hardly be considered a top-tier beauty, and had even been categorized among the 'plain-looking actresses'.

Although Bai Ling herself disagreed with labeling female stars in such a manner.

It seemed somewhat impolite...

Judging by this performance, however, it only demonstrated that the vast majority of audiences for ancient costume and immortal romance dramas placed a much higher value on the looks of the leading actors and actresses.