Rumor King is an completed Chinese manhua written and illustrated by Don Buxing. First released in 2021, it has been published by AC.QQ.
Synopsis[]
Duan Xingzhu, a promising young actor, contradicted Lin Si, a has-been who got involved in a contract problem. Their fans were fighting like cats and dogs on social media, while they announced that they were going to act in the same TV series. They two seem to have "discord". What will happen as they stay in the same shooting place? Does Duan Xingzhu really hate Lin Si? Or does he not show his true intention under the pretense of being inarticulate?
Characters[]
Duan Xingzhu[]
A new rising actor for ChengYe Entertainment, at 22 he wins the best new talent award for the Without a Trace film. In his acceptance speech, Xingzhu tells Si he hopes in the future they will have the chance to compete against each other. Having fallen asleep on his couch, Xingzhu is wide-eyed at seeing he has been mentioned by Si online. Struck further at seeing him in person, Xingzhu then turns his head away and stands in silence. Prodded to say hi, Xingzhu does so. In costume on set, Xingzhu thinks whether he should approach Si and say hello to him. Staring at him, at being noticed, Xingzhu nervously greets him hello. Alarmed at what else he could say, Xingzhu contemplates whether Si will get angry if he explains what he did before. In lieu of that, Xingzhu questions why is Si's hair loose like that. Confirming he has read his script, Xingzhu sees the characters as a master and apprentice. With Si drawing close, Xingzhu backs away. After he falls on him, Xingzhu wonders if this is the sound of his heartbeats as their hands touch.
Lin Si[]
Also known as Jinwu King, he is a celebrity that was signed with ChengYe Entertainment for many years. He was the youngest ever best leading actor for an awards ceremony. Where Lin was involved with a contract disagreement, he has not shown his face for a long time. Presenting an award to Xingzhu, he smiles in response to his announced desire for them to act together. Within the toilet, Si questions why he has been contacted by Qin. Declining his advice to quit and let them reconstruct the studio, Lin does not want to owe him anything. Further disinclined to, in his view, run away after being insulted by a brat like him, Si questions wouldn't that be way too embarrassing. Asked what he is planning to do, naturally Si will make this flame burn even more fiercely. While some people are stuck in the sand, assaulted by the oncoming waves, they still stand up tall, facing the storm, until they are drowned in the hatred, where Si considers himself exactly one of those people. Having accepted the role alongside Xingzhu, he posts on Weibo about it. Live streaming on a 191021 account, Si shares how it is his first broadcast. Speaking how he is not yet accustomed to it. Si details how he has agreed to play Chu Jing. To tell his viewers the truth, Si has his flight booked to head to a location to shoot his stills. Having managed to find time to have a chat while his assistant is driving on the way to his home, Si explains the specific date has to be kept a secret. As for why he wants to play the role, Si says he likes Chu Jing's story and his personality. Greeting Xingzhu, and assured by his assistant that he was just shy, Si speaks how he trusts her. Wishing for pleasant co-operation between them, Si politely tells her to just go on with her business. Glancing towards him and thinking even if he did not do it on purpose, Si considers Xingzhu may not like him. Noticing he is being watched, Si cannot believe Xingzhu would speak to him voluntarily and thinks someone must have told him to do so. Where Xingzhu has commented on his hair being loose, Si questions whether he thinks it is nice-looking. Considering how Xingzhu is unpredictable, Si turns to the matter of whether he has read his script and whether he knows about their relationship.
Announcer[]
Coughing to draw the audience's attention, he states they should still thank Si for giving out the award to Xingzhu. Directing them to take their seat, the best female lead is to be announced next.
Yu Hua[]
Seeing the activity online, Yu has called Si to inform him the moment at the awards ceremony is trending in the searches right now. Guessing Xingzhu used this as free publicity, Yu feels that is no longer important though. Speaking how the moment Xingzhu said the words that the media will quote and interpret them in a way they find eye-catching, Yu wonders if Si does not already know this. Advising him to make a choice, Yu tells him to give up on ChengYe, where he feels it is obvious they are suppressing Si. Bearing in mind that Qin will continue to go after Si, he adds even new actors will begin to walk all over him. Messaging Si within moments of Xingzhu turning away from him, Yu speaks how the news has spread quickly with many people in that dressing room. Sharing a video clip of the exchange, Yu states that guy is just too rude.
Qin Fengyu[]
Mentioned by Yu as someone targeting Si.
Xingzhu's Assistant[]
Informing Xingzhu that the make-up artists are ready, she mentions his pictures are expected to be posted online three days later. Detailing how Ms. Chen has also reminded them that they should remain modest in that crowded dressing room, she states their company exerted great efforts to deal with Xingzhu's previous dispute. Apologizing to Si, she states Xingzhu hardly speaks and to please not mind him. Tugging Xingzhu's jacket, she encourages him to say hello to Si. After taking Xingzhu to his chair, she approaches Si again to reiterate that he is too shy to speak, and to please not believe he was trying to embarrass him.
Chen[]
Messaging Xingzhu, she had told him to be polite to Si. Remarking how they have to co-operate for a long time, Chen advises he does not make his relationship too embarrassing, while the PR department will solve other problems.
Liu Hong[]
The director of the film that Xingzhu and Si are to star in. Entering the dressing room to question whether those gathered have started to help Xingzhu get dressed yet, Liu demands to know they on earth are they standing still. Calling to Si on set, Liu announces he is the old-timer so they will photograph him first.
Story[]
Duan Xingzhu and Lin Si are two actors from the same ChengYe Entertainment company, yet they are just like oil and water. A breaking news story reports a rising star with many awards versus the famous king of the film industry, where Xingzhu and Si were photographed speaking with one another. A TV series, Double King, with two male leads is announced. It is a question of whose acting skills are superior, and who will have the last laugh.[1]
It is mentioned how some people are just born luckier than others. The 38th Jinwu awards ceremony is being prepared. It is felt most people are born with amazing talent, paired with a perfect background. The winner of the best new talent award this year is Xingzhu, and he has it presented to him by Si. When Xingzhu declares on stage that he hopes Si can act with him in the future, audience members comment on his arrogance where he has only just won the best new talent award. Others raise how they are from the same company, and where Si did not get along with it, Xingzhu is said to have stolen many of his opportunities. When the announcer states they can head back to their seats, Xingzhu watches Si do that without another word.
Discussing the scenario with Yu Hua, that is trending online, Si feels insulted and rather than retire from acting, he means to remain. The media was just like a moth drawn to a flame, as soon as they catch wind of something, all of them rush over like a swarm of bees. Only when they get the sweet nectar of the scoop from a scandal will they be satisfied. Not caring whether anything is true or not, they could turn anything into a story, ignoring its context or legitimacy. Some people will buckle from the large waves, some will get washed ashore. Others are buried, lost without a trace. Where Si has endured, he signs his name for a contract dated 7/10/2020.
Checking his phone with the time of 0:23 on 07/11 Thursday, Xingzhu finds on Weibo that someone he is following has tagged him in a status. A trending post involves Lin asking Xingzhu to please take care of him.[2] Partially detailing an upcoming project over a live stream, Si mentions he is going to shoot his stills, where his flight is in the afternoon. Where he will be playing Chu Jing, the filming location will be on a snowy mountain.
Seated in a waiting room, Xingzhu hears from his assistant how the make-up artists are ready. Where a phone shows Si's live stream on October 29, Xingzhu reaches the dressing room where Si is located. After Si greets him, Xingzhu turns away without a word. After Xingzhu is guided to his chair, Si wonders whether he hates him. While Si is messaged by Yu who has viewed a video almost right away with a recording of the scenario, Xingzhu is contacted by Chen with the reminder for him to be polite. With Xingzhu's hair being tended to, his ears are red.[3]
In costume on set, Xingzhu wonders if he should go up to Si nearby and say hello. In discussing the script, Si is then called by the director Liu Hong to do his photographs first. Wearing a blindfold, Si trips and falls right on top of Xingzhu. Where they were touching hands, Xingzhu finds he is trembling, as Si wonders whether he is okay.[4]
Images[]
