Clicking on the trending search entry, the pinned post was the latest update from the official Weibo account of the movie *Mist Enshrouded Mountain City*:
**@MovieMistEnshroudedMountainCity**: Every encounter is fate. The characters created by Teacher @Wu-Wu leap off the pages, and within the flow of light and shadow, half the story is already told. The initial drafts for certain scene designs are complete, and subsequent adjustments will be made based on everyone’s feedback. We respect every bit of passion and look forward to meeting you at the Mountain City!
Huang Zhihe suppressed her irritation and clicked on the nine thumbnail images. The pictures loaded quickly, and even on the small phone screen, their distinctive, melancholic beauty struck her immediately.
The first image showed the mountain city shrouded in endless rain. Flagstone paths glistened coldly under the downpour, while the upturned eaves of traditional stilt houses in the distance were half-hidden in thick fog, revealing only dark roof tiles. The damp, misty atmosphere felt almost tangible, as if it could seep through the screen. The second depicted the theater where the protagonists first met. Moss crawled over intricately carved window lattices, and a length of red silk in the center of the stage fluttered violently in the wind. Though a static image, it seemed to evoke the soft patter of rain on banana leaves and the lingering echo of traditional opera singing.
Upon closer inspection, the costumes of the male and female leads were also meticulously designed, with patterns and styles perfectly suited to the setting.
**[Ten-year fan crying!! This is exactly the *Mist Enshrouded Mountain City* I imagined! Damp, gloomy, and full of destiny. The art style is incredible!]**
**[The line from the book, ‘The rain in the mountain city never stops, like a dream one can never wake from’, was captured perfectly by the artist!]**
**[The director really cares! This is what respecting the source material looks like! They didn’t randomly change the scenes and hired a professional artist. My expectations are through the roof just looking at these concept art pieces!]**
Director Zhang Ping even personally replied: “This is just the first step. Future character designs will also be handled by Teacher @Wu-Wu. All designs will incorporate feedback from the author and fans. We will not let everyone down.”
**[The director is a genius! He knows we care most about faithfulness to the book!]**
**[What kind of god-tier artist is @Wu-Wu? I need to dig into their history!]**
**[Rushing to their profile immediately! A hidden gem like this must be followed!]**
Huang Zhihe stared at the screen filled with comments like “God-tier artist,” “Soul of the novel,” “Heavenly atmosphere,” and “Saluting the master,” feeling a tightness in her chest that made it hard to breathe.
Mixed with her resistance was an inexplicable curiosity, and she clicked on the ID mentioned in the official post: @Wu-Wu.
The artist’s profile picture was a simple ink-wash seal. The pinned post was from six months ago, written in a calm tone:
**[Pinned]** @Wu-Wu: Due to work commitments, updates on this platform will be temporarily slowed down. Thank you all for your continuous support and love. The world is small; until we meet again. ^-^
It was clearly not an active account and hadn’t been updated in a long time.
However, the traffic driven by the official Weibo was immense.
After the topic exploded, countless curious netizens, book fans, moviegoers, and art enthusiasts flooded in, frantically “digging for treasure” in the dormant account.
Browsing through the artist’s past works, there weren’t many posts, but the most striking one was an illustration of an ancient temple on a snowy night. Branches heavy with snow leaned over a half-open gate, where a single lamp flickered in the wind. The caption was simply two words: *Waiting for Spring*.
Further back, there were scenes of apricot blossoms and drizzle in the water towns of the south, desolate sunsets over the northwestern deserts, and the vibrant life of old alleyways… Every piece carried a strong sense of narrative, evoking a myriad of emotions.
Consequently, the comment section of @Wu-Wu’s profile was instantly overwhelmed with praise and pleas:
**[Found a treasure!! Every stroke tells a story! Please draw more!]**
**[Master Wu-Wu! Please come back! We are waiting!]**
**[Book fans are crying happy tears! The mist is thick, please notice us! This style is perfect! We are starving for more content!]**
Wu-Wu’s follower count skyrocketed, and the comments were filled with demands for updates and declarations of love.
This organic popularity, driven purely by quality, was far more persuasive than any marketing press release. Related hashtags like #HowIncredibleIsWusStyle and #BreathtakingConceptArt quickly rose to the top, pushing the trending topics related to Huang Zhihe out of the top ten.
Huang Zhihe bit her lower lip in frustration, staring at the screen.
She had spent so much money on internet trolls and bought trending spots, yet in less than a night, she had been effortlessly crushed by an artist who hadn’t even shown their face.
Meanwhile, the artist who had become the center of attention stood outside her brother’s bedroom door, sighing worriedly.
Her fingers hovered over the doorframe for a few seconds before she finally knocked gently.
“Yanzhou, I’m going out to meet a business partner,” she said softly, deliberately keeping her voice patient. “I should be back by evening. If you’re hungry, go eat with Li Bo and the others. Don’t just stay in your room all day.”
Silence greeted her from behind the door. No answer came.
Jiang Zhiwu was used to his silence these past two days, but it only deepened her worry.
Ever since the power went out yesterday, the boy seemed to have lost all his energy. He ate little, spoke even less, and had completely shut himself off. Passing his room earlier, she had glanced through the crack and seen him lying on the bed, facing away from the door, not having moved an inch.
She sighed, picked up her bag, and said, “I’m leaving then. Call me if you need anything.”
Still no response.
Suppressing the ache and anxiety in her heart, she knew that pushing him now would only make him retreat further.
She took one last look at the closed door and turned to leave.
Sitting in the car, Jiang Zhiwu unlocked her tablet.
The screen was still on the official page of *Mist Enshrouded Mountain City*. She had looked at the nine concept images over and over, memorizing every brushstroke.
This was her first commercial project under the pseudonym “Wu”. Today, she had to meet Director Zhang Ping in person to finalize the details for the character costumes.
In her mind, Director Zhang Ping was a veteran filmmaker with over twenty years of experience, known for his meticulous, weighty, and highly artistic works.
Photos online showed a steady, middle-aged man with deep eyes and the aura of a wise artist.
She had prepared herself for an in-depth artistic discussion with a serious, perhaps slightly stubborn, elder.
However, when she gently pushed open the door of the cafe, the sight that greeted her made her pause, causing a rare moment of cognitive dissonance.
A middle-aged man wearing an oversized striped polo shirt, with a receding hairline that left the top of his head quite bare, shot up from his chair like a cannonball.
The glare from his shiny scalp under the lights made her blink.
“Teacher Jiang! I’ve been waiting for you!”
Zhang Ping rushed over, his hands trembling slightly with excitement as he gripped hers firmly. “You have no idea! As soon as the concept art was posted yesterday, the whole internet went wild! Your designs… they’ve breathed life into this movie.”
Jiang Zhiwu was taken aback by his enthusiasm but smiled gently. “You flatter me, Director. I simply drew based on the original novel.”
“Flattery? This is pure skill!” Zhang Ping slapped his thigh enthusiastically as he led her inside. “When we first asked you to design the costumes, I was a bit worried, since you’d never done movie collaborations before. But when I saw your drafts…” He gestured excitedly, “Wow! They were perfect! Even the pickiest fans admit they look exactly right!”
Jiang Zhiwu shook her head with a smile and followed him into a private room. “Let’s look at the adjustments first. I’ve brought the revised patterns.”
Meanwhile, at the temporary villa rented by the variety show crew.
Huang Zhihe was carrying a plate of cut fruit prepared for Jiang Ting up to the second floor when she heard the front door close below. Glancing through the railing, she saw Jiang Zhiwu’s back as she got into a car and left.
She then noticed that Jiang Yanzhou’s door was slightly ajar. The room was dark, but she could vaguely see his figure lying on the bed.
Huang Zhihe immediately stopped and walked to his door, raising her voice deliberately. “Yanzhou, are you awake? I think I just saw Sister Jiang leaving. Where is she going?”
There was a pause before Jiang Yanzhou’s cold voice came from inside: “None of your business.”
Huang Zhihe’s smile didn’t falter. “Is Sister Jiang busy with work again? Truly a busy person, always having so much to handle.” She paused, then added, “You don’t seem to have much of an appetite today. She’s so busy, I bet she hasn’t even asked how you are. Poor thing.”
“You have no right to talk about my sister,” Jiang Yanzhou snapped, sitting up abruptly and glaring at her. “Are you that bored, or do you just enjoy stirring up trouble?”
Huang Zhihe bit her lip, annoyed at his hostility.
Who does he think he is? Just because his sister is the CEO of the Jiang Group.
She turned and went back to her room just as her manager, Sister Lin, called.
“Hello, Sister Lin,” Huang Zhihe said, her tone less than friendly.
“Zhihe, are you still at the show?” Sister Lin’s voice sounded grave.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“I have some bad news, try to stay calm,” Sister Lin said cautiously. “Regarding *Mist Enshrouded Mountain City*… it looks like your lead role might be in jeopardy.”
Huang Zhihe’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean? Didn’t we already confirm everything?”
“I just got word,” Sister Lin continued, sounding worried. “Someone spotted Jiang Zhiwu having coffee with Director Zhang Ping. They looked like they were discussing something serious. You know how high the stakes are for this movie now. With news like this popping up out of nowhere, people are going to talk.”
Huang Zhihe had secretly seen Jiang Zhiwu’s messages before and knew there was some connection.
She hesitated. “But Jiang Zhiwu is a CEO. She wouldn’t actually compete with me for the role, would she?”
Sister Lin sighed in frustration. “You’re still so naive! Weren’t you the one telling me how the Jiang siblings have it in for you? I’m worried they’ll use their influence and money to block you. If they don’t want you in the movie, it wouldn’t be hard for them to make it happen.”
Huang Zhihe bit her lip, saying nothing for a long time.
Sensing her silence, Sister Lin quickly warned: “Don’t do anything rash. Don’t think about drastic measures; it will only hurt your career. You’re on the rise right now, don’t ruin it over pride.”
Huang Zhihe smiled, trying to sound reassuring. “Don’t worry, Sister Lin, I’m not stupid. There are plenty of people who envy Jiang Yanzhou’s position. I don’t need to get my hands dirty.”
The next morning, the crew issued a new mission card.
Supplies in the villa’s kitchen needed restocking, so Jiang Zhiwu and Jiang Yanzhou were sent to the nearby supermarket.
As the siblings walked towards the store, a blurry photo suddenly appeared on the novel’s official forum.
The picture was taken from outside the cafe window, showing Jiang Zhiwu sitting by the window opposite an animated Zhang Ping. Papers were spread across the table, and they appeared to be in deep conversation.
The poster, named “AvidMountainCityFan”, wrote a caption designed to incite anger:
**[Deep Dive] The corporate forces behind Mist Enshrouded Mountain City! Director meets secretly with Jiang Group CEO; key roles rumored to be internally decided!**
The post analyzed the novel’s structure in detail:
“Anyone who’s read the book knows this isn’t a typical romance. It’s an ensemble drama set in the Republic era. Besides the main couple, there is a crucial supporting character named ‘A Qi’—he has significant screen time, a complex and beloved personality, and is a fan favorite. With the movie’s current popularity, this role is highly coveted!”
“Reliable sources say Jiang Yanzhou’s team is looking to expand into acting. Now we see the director meeting privately with his sister. Think about it—why would a singer with zero acting experience get to play one of our most beloved characters?”
The post used subtle language to fuel the fans’ anger.
Before genuine fans could react, anti-fans swarmed in, pretending to be readers and leaving comments:
**[OMG! Unacceptable! A Qi is my favorite character! Don’t let a pretty face ruin him!]**
**[Boycott corporate influence! Respect the original work! Give us the pure Mist Enshrouded Mountain City we deserve!]**
**[Zhang Ping, have you no shame? You promised faithfulness yesterday, today you’re meeting with capitalists? Do you respect the book or not?]**
Huang Zhihe’s fans seized the opportunity to promote their idol:
**[Our Zhihe is the best! Talented, well-liked, and no shady business or corporate scandals!]**
**[Hope the director sees real talent instead of being controlled by money.]**
This was too much for Jiang Yanzhou’s fans.
As a top star, he had his share of haters, but his fanbase was massive. However, they were known for being laid-back, preferring to simply admire his looks and talent without engaging in fandom wars.
But this time, they could no longer stay silent.
**[I can’t take it anymore! First they attacked Sister Jiang over that trending topic, now they’re making up stories based on a photo. Think they’re untouchable just because we’re quiet?]**
**[Is it really that easy to spread rumors? A few blurry photos and imagination are enough to convict someone?!]**
**[Protect Yanzhou! Protect President Jiang! All spreaders of lies get lost!]**
Feeling morally superior and organized, Huang Zhihe’s fans were not about to back down:
**[Oh? The corporate dogs are barking now? Hit a nerve?]**
**[Haha, blind fans are so ugly! The evidence is right there and you still deny it!]**
However, this time, the general public was reluctant to get involved.
Between Jiang Zhiwu’s positive reputation from donating to flood relief and the previous incident where a trending topic was exposed as fake, most people were tired of meaningless drama.
More importantly, the actual book fans reacted with surprising calmness. Instead of being manipulated, they quickly reached a consensus in their discussion groups:
**[Mod-MountainRain]: Everyone stay calm and don’t be led astray. We saw Director Zhang Ping’s sincerity yesterday. He has a twenty-year reputation; he won’t be easily swayed by money.]**
**[VeteranFan-BlueStone]: As long as the quality remains high and the actors fit the roles, does it matter if they’re trained or “rich kids”? Honestly, I think Jiang Yanzhou looks the part. Movies are visual art; we’ll judge the final result.]**
**[BookLover-OldDreams]: Agreed. Instead of being used by marketing accounts, let’s wait for the official cast announcement. We’ve waited ten years, we can wait a little longer. Don’t bring shame to the fandom.]**
Jiang Zhiwu paid no attention to the online storm.
She pushed the shopping cart down the aisles, seemingly focused on choosing laundry detergent, but her eyes kept drifting to the boy walking a few steps away.
Jiang Yanzhou had his hands in his pockets, head down, kicking at the seams on the floor. His long lashes cast shadows under his eyes.
Since leaving the house, he hadn’t said a word, deliberately keeping a distance like a sulky little animal radiating a “Stay Away” vibe.
Fine, you want to ignore me?
Jiang Zhiwu thought for a moment, then grabbed two large 5kg bags of fragrant rice and dropped them heavily into the cart. Next came two huge 5-liter jugs of cooking oil. Then boxes of milk, bags of flour, cases of mineral water, rows of canned goods…
Soon the cart was overflowing, items teetering on the edge.
Jiang Yanzhou’s frown had deepened ever since they entered the grocery section.
Watching the cart turn into a small mountain, his lips pressed into a thin line, glaring at his sister as if to say *What are you doing?*
Was this actually on the mission list?
It felt like Jiang Zhiwu was up to something.
But she acted completely oblivious, carefully comparing two brands of quinoa. “Hmm, this one has more fiber?” she muttered to herself.
Finally, the cart was at its limit. At the checkout, the sheer weight and volume surprised even the cashier. Dozens of bulging plastic bags were piled up outside the counter.
Jiang Zhiwu picked up her phone, gestured towards the mountain of groceries, and said casually, “All yours. Good job, little brother. Mission accomplished.”
Then, without looking back, she turned and walked straight towards the exit!
Jiang Yanzhou: “…”
He stared at the bags that could practically bury him, then at his sister’s unhesitating retreating figure. His chest heaved with anger.
She did this on purpose. There was no doubt about it!
In the end, under the curious gaze of passersby and the sheer weight of the “evidence”, Jiang Yanzhou gritted his teeth and wrestled with the bags.
With too many to hold, he had to clamp them under his arms and even use his chin to balance them.
As he stepped down the curb outside the supermarket, the two heavy bags of rice on top shifted and slid down suddenly. The unexpected weight pulled him off balance, and he nearly face-planted in public!