The online buzz is just the beginning.
However, while everyone was jumping around and gossiping, some people already sensed that something was wrong.
"Everyone knew about Qin Lezhang's relationships with his exes afterward. Despite all his caution, nothing was ever truly hidden, was it? Besides, they weren't really poor; they couldn't be that stingy, unless—"
Liu Rulan crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the scenery rushing past outside the car window, and said calmly, "There must be something else hidden behind this."
Even Lao Qi, who was driving, had his own insights, though he was a man of few words: "Qin Lezhang's exes may know something, but they only told us the parts that were in their favor."
To put it bluntly, the reason they came out to criticize Qin Lezhang at this time wasn't out of revenge, but rather to rush out and kick their ex-boyfriend when he was no longer popular. Their main purpose was to use this opportunity to clear their own name and gain some attention.
“There are no videos or pictures online yet, which shows that they are still somewhat hesitant.” Xiao He also looked at his phone and analyzed seriously, “Perhaps they and Qin Lezhang are trying to hide the same thing, but because they want to separate themselves from Qin Lezhang and gain traffic, the information they have revealed so far is still relatively mild and has not caused any real harm.”
After all, it's already quite indecent for public figures to talk about a man and woman sharing a hotel room. But if you have to say that Qin Lezhang has any problems, it's not really a problem. At most, netizens will criticize him for being "pretentious" and also call him a "stingy man."
All of this is just moral condemnation; we can't really do anything to Qin Lezhang.
"Wow, your analysis is spot on."
Xiao Chen was dumbfounded, not expecting that others had already obtained such a crucial result from the information revealed so far.
"Just wait and see."
Liu Rulan chuckled, "There's more to the show—"
As the woman finished speaking, the van finally came to a slow stop.
Old Qi said in a deep voice, "We've arrived."
Xiao He put down his phone, shifting his gaze from the mixed reviews online to ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the ancient-style building in front of him. He took a deep breath: "This place—"
The ancient-style buildings in front of us are built against the mountain. The solemn and magnificent gate of the manor is adorned with a black wooden plaque that reads "Qianye Manor". The pair of copper rings on the gate are still gleaming with gold. The trees and vegetation on both sides surround the manor. We walk up the long staircase inside the manor and head up the mountain.
This mountain villa is built in a classical and grand style, like a martial arts family in a martial arts novel, a wealthy family in an ancient costume drama, or a hidden sect in a fantasy novel... In fact, as the most famous filming location, it has appeared in various film and television works countless times.
Here, almost every day of the year, different film crews shoot scenes and film. The bookings alone can be made one or two years in advance.
Of course, that applies to small film crews.
Large production teams like "The Legend of the Wind" naturally booked the entire location and carried out a certain degree of reconstruction.
This place alone took the crew a lot of time and effort, and what is presented to everyone now is the most impressive place in "The Legend of Chasing the Wind" - "Chiba Manor"!
In the story background of "The Legend of the Wind", Qianye Manor is a merchant family independent of the seven major martial arts families. They mainly do various businesses in the martial arts world, collect rare treasures, and obtain information about the martial arts world, but they do not participate in the conflicts of the martial arts world, so they are a very neutral entity.
At the same time, this is also the venue for the competition of each martial arts alliance leader.
As everyone knows, wherever there are people, there is a martial arts world; wherever there is a martial arts world, there is conflict. The leader of the martial arts alliance is the most prestigious and powerful master in the martial arts world, who can command a large following, eliminate evil, and judge right and wrong.
The competition for the title of leader of the martial arts alliance is a major event for many people in the martial arts world.
As a neutral entity, Chiba Manor serves as the venue for every martial arts alliance leader conference. They never participate in the struggle for the martial arts alliance leader, but only focus on making money and doing business through this opportunity.
After all, this is the time when the most people in the martial arts world gather.
Treasured treasures, forged swords, century-old medicinal herbs... It has to be said that the owner of this manor is truly a shrewd businessman. Just from each auction, he can make a fortune, and then use that money to recruit outstanding heroes and talents from the competition to serve the Thousand Leaf Manor and protect its property from harm.
In the story, the protagonist Song Chenye will visit this place many times, and even participate in the martial arts alliance leader competition at the end. Many of the characters' highlights and action scenes are basically filmed here.
Therefore, it is conceivable that Xiao He will stay in this place for a long time.
"Let's get off the bus first."
Liu Rulan reminded her.
Xiao He got out of the car, Xiao Chen carried the bag, and Lao Qi drove the car around to a nearby parking lot.
The group of people were just like novice martial artists entering the martial arts world for the first time. They arrived at the majestic gate of the manor, wondering whether they should knock on the door.
"That's strange, where are they?"
Xiao Chen was also looking around, curiously observing the tightly closed door.
This place looks very deserted; it doesn't seem like there's a film crew here.
"Teacher Xiao! Manager Liu!"
Just then, a voice came from the side.
They all looked over.
A young man wearing a khaki vest and not particularly striking in appearance jogged over.
"Phew, sorry to have kept you waiting."
The young man spoke breathlessly, then pulled out his work ID: "I'm a production assistant from the 'Chasing the Wind' crew. I'll take you to the entrance over there now."
"Isn't the entrance this way?"
Liu Rulan was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, we're still working on some details for the main gate, so we opened a small door on the side."
The young man explained while pointing everyone in a direction.
"Oh, I see. We drove past our destination—"
Xiao He followed the young man a few steps to the side and indeed saw an inconspicuous gray-painted door on the blue brick wall not far away. The door was wide open at the moment, and every now and then several staff members carried things out and walked in the opposite direction of the door, seemingly heading to the parking lot over there.
"This place has changed so much. I had no impression of it when I came here before," Liu Rulan said, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, the director made a lot of changes to make it possible to film the scenes at Chiba Manor here, and he paid a huge sum of compensation this time."
The stagehand whispered the news.
Xiao He asked curiously, "Is the director not satisfied with the current renovation of the villa?"
Although Xiao He had never actually visited this filming location, he had seen it on television.
As for how good the architecture and decoration of this ancient-style manor are, well, after watching so many period dramas these days, they're all pretty much the same, nothing special. The sets are always the same, and Xiao He is already getting tired of them.
Xiao He didn't really have high hopes when he heard that the director of the "Chasing the Wind" crew was going to redesign the set.
The production assistant smiled and said, "The director made the request, so we have no choice but to comply."
Upon entering the gate, all of Xiao He's doubts vanished.
—Without a doubt, this is Chiba Villa.
