As the situation escalated, fans of each performer became increasingly combative, with one heated debate after another trending on social media.
The lead actors scrambled to placate their fans, though their approaches differed.
Rising stars' teams issued well-reasoned statements.
One claimed the screenplay was personally penned by the original author and adapted by a renowned writing team.
Another said working with such talented co-stars, regardless of role, was a valuable learning experience, and they were grateful for the director and producer's trust, and so on.
In contrast, established superstars took a more blunt approach.
"At my age, it's just another role, whether I get it or not," said one veteran. "What's there to pick over? Besides, I got my start playing Mary Sues back in the day."
[Ruo's fans]: ...Fair point, but--
[Why should my idol play second fiddle to that other idol?]
A Ruo fan watching the drama unfold: ??
Thankfully, Ji Ruochu, who had been gracefully silent until then, finally spoke up with some elegant words that immediately soothed the disgruntled fandoms.
[Ruo: I'm honored to work with such esteemed seniors. If given the chance, I hope to collaborate with them again.
For this drama, whether senior actors or myself, we're simply committed to portraying our respective roles well, to better serve the story. There's no notion of upstaging one another.
Please don't bash others. Thank you.]
This post instantly invigorated netizens like a shot of adrenaline.
Partly because of Ji Ruochu's "maturity" - whether heartfelt or not, it significantly defused tensions among rival fandoms.
But also because she finally ended her long silence, hinting at self-promotion, to fans' delight.
Most crucially, Ji Ruochu had never posted or commented before.
Previously, fans could only leave messages under Ji Mochen or Director Shang's posts while desperately @-ing her.
Now, not only did netizens have their own space to voice opinions, but [Ruo's fans] also had a place to go wild... or rather, to fervently discuss and comment.
Within seconds, comments on Ji Ruochu's post skyrocketed.
[Ruo's fans] swarmed in, even ditching their beloved Mary Sue novels to drag along bemused mothers who had been discussing plots with them.
[Ahhhhh! Baby! My baby! You've finally deigned to appear! Do you know how miserable us poor souls have been all these years?! (Screeching) (Shrieking) (Convulsing) (Slithering)]
[Wahhhh... Baby, I understand, but why does it have to be a Mary Sue drama? We used to mock others, but now the tables have turned on us, how sad~]
[Well said! No more arguing over who's supporting whom - with great acting, even supporting roles can outshine leads.]
[True, though [Ruo's fans] are nutters, their idol is quite sensible.]
[Oh sweetie, you take care now. Auntie has lots of pocket money saved up to buy merch and support you through my daughter!]
[Huh? Did some weirdos infiltrate this comments section?]
[You think I'd admit to adding a grand to my fandom fund just because Baby landed this role?]
...
And so the comment section descended into bizarreness. What most excited them was that after posting, Ji Ruochu didn't disappear, but started replying to comments.
To the top gloomy fan-fic comment, she replied: [*pats head* Go wild at home next time~]
To the fan lamenting mockery from other fandoms, she replied:
[It's okay, we all get our comeuppance eventually. Have a like, no more crying~]
And she actually gave that comment a like.
The fan: [Ahhhh! Mom, I made it! Baby's first ever like is mine!]
Not a hint of previous melancholy, overjoyed as if celebrating the new year.
Besides consoling fans, the comments featured salty trolls.
[Tsk, how convenient for a rich girl to have so many supporting her.]
Ji Ruochu: [I can tell you're sour, but don't be - my resources will only get better going forward.]
[Spill it, how much did the Ji family invest this time? People join showbiz for fame and fortune, but Ji Ruochu is practically running a charity case, needing family funds for every role despite being a Peking U prodigy!]
Ji Ruochu: [Yes yes yes, I'm a freeloader, can't get roles without my family splurging money. So what? It's our hard-earned honest income, and we choose to spoil our kid, got a problem with that?]
After roasting the trolls, Ji Ruochu replied to the fan offering to get her kid to buy merch:
[No need Auntie, just watch on TV. Don't spend money supporting me, I'm a great freeloader after all.]
Netizens below: 6
You know, with just those few replies, netizens suddenly felt they had gotten so much closer to a genius.
The funniest was one netizen's question:
[So Baby, were you just building up strength all that silence?]
Well well, from her previous statue-like stillness to a sudden uproar.
To which Ji Ruochu honestly replied:
[Not really, I was just busy keeping the peace - two fans almost came to blows over whose photo of me to use as their new profile pic. (*^_^*)]
Keeping the peace? Photos? Blows?
As netizens puzzled over this, Ji Ruochu's new profile picture finally got approved, so they rushed to check it out.
Unsurprisingly, it showed Ji Ruochu herself - but not a recent photo, rather an adorable childhood picture.
In it, the little cherub tilted her chubby face up, tiny feet bare as she clutched a little cup, drinking from it with puffed-out cheeks and the most precious expression.
