Sharing some fun online interactions among the cast of cdrama The Vendetta of An (长安二十四计; lit. Chang An's Twenty-Four Stratagems) via their weibo posts and comments as they promote the drama during its broadcast!
Note: Each post shared will be credited and linked respectively, feel free to check them out by clicking the hyperlinks. Some GIFs are self-translated, while the posts are translated by Google. I do not own any of these, please refer the relevant sources credited.
Xie Huai An's "Gratitude"
Source: Weibo
The Xiao Royal Brothers
Source: Weibo
Gu Yu Warned, "Come Closer"
Source: Weibo
Li San Geng's Garbage Management
Source: Weibo
Wang Pu's Dumplings (Modern Day Ver.)
Source: Weibo
Hiding A Knife Smile ✅️
Source: Weibo
Wu Mei Emoticons
Source: Weibo
A Tiemo's Journey
Source: Weibo
Give The Emperor His Eyes
Source: Weibo
The Assassin and The Embroiderer
Source: Weibo
Indebted Duo
Source: Weibo
Finale Support from Gu Yu
Source: Weibo
Interesting off-screen interactions among the actors, it's a delight to witness them 👌
The one thing that is living in my head rent free is that Zhao Lu voiced one character each from the 4 gacha games I play. Like he's Kamisato Ayato, he's Luocha, he's Almond Cookie on cn server, he's fucking Artem Wing. Like I can't escape him, they're all my favs too, like it's some kind of spell.
Voice Actor Interview – Zhao Lu: Artem is a straight line
this is an interview with artem's s-cn voice actor from july 2020, when the game first came out (almost three years ago!!). happy birthday artem!
my usual translation disclaimers apply. please note there are also some edits for clarity. do not repost without explicit permission.
check my masterlist for more translations.
[as Artem]: "This is both your decision, and mine. So I will take full responsibility for it."
Hello everyone, I'm Zhao Lu. "Zhao" like in "Zhao Lu", "Lu" like in "Zhao Lu". I voice the elite lawyer Artem Wing in "Tears of Themis".
[T/N: Because each syllable can be written many different ways, in a self-introduction Chinese people will often specify the characters in their name by using common words or phrases as a reference. Zhao Lu just uses his own name as a reference which obviously clarifies nothing, so it's a joke.]
(0:29) Q1: Can you tell us your own impression of the character?
The great lawyer Artem, he's... See, so many of the characters I voice are similar to me. I'm kidding. Don't laugh!
When it comes to Artem, everyone’s first impression of him may be that he's cold, aloof, even a bit harsh or unreasonable. Of course, the premise is that he's a very kind, very upright, even a very straightforward male character. But as everyone gradually tries out the game, during that process they'll discover that he's actually quite approachable and easy to get along with. I also think he's a very – not warm, not gentle or mild either, but I think he's a very careful person.
First of all, because he's a lawyer, he inherently has a very meticulous, very careful form of logic and thought process. In addition, he’s very careful when doing things, including when interacting with others. Exactly how he's careful is something I know, but everyone else might have to gradually open up his careful side through playing the game. Later on, as everyone gets to know Artem better, they may even think he has a bit of gap moe. Everyone knows him as such an outstanding and elite lawyer, such a perfect character, that it's surprising to see that he has no experience when it comes to love. So I think that aspect is pretty interesting.
Besides that, his sports were also pretty unexpected to me. I feel like people with this kind of image usually play squash. Among my friends who are lawyers, there are a lot of them who play squash, or tennis. But I didn't expect Mr. Wing's favorite sport to be an Olympic event that started in the 1900 Olympics, Olympic trap, and he's apparently pretty good. He also spends some free time fishing. Ah, I'm so jealous of his life.
[T/N: Double Trap is the specific kind of shooting that Artem competed in during Focus Fire SR, and it has an entry in the Big Data Lab.]
(2:29) Q2: When playing the character, what do you think is the most charming part about Artem?
I think the most charming part about him has to be how straightforward he is. How he deals with things, including how meticulous he is with cases, his impeccable attention to detail... Basically, I think he's a straight line. In every aspect, whether in life or work or even emotionally, he's a straight line. He doesn't have times where he deviates like this [Zhao Lu moves his hand side-to-side]. The only time when he might deviate a little would have to be when the MC is involved. That's right, those things might make him consider and waver a bit in his judgement. That's being driven by his emotions after all, that's for sure.
(3:14) Q3: How are you and Artem most similar? And most different?
He's an upright, mature, steady person... we're no different. Who says that we're different! [laughs] Even I'm embarrassed [about that joke]. I think, how should I say this, I think my personality also has a relatively steady part to it. Yes, so when I voice Artem, I think that part fits. But I'm nowhere near as strict as Mr. Wing. I'm not saying that I'm mischievous, just that I'm not as strict. You could say that I'm more flexible, and Artem, as we said, is a straight line. I think his logical analyses, his judgements and viewpoints, including his ideologies, are all very firm, yes. But of course he also knows when to make adjustments, he's not unchangeable.
(4:06) Q4: Mr. Zhao, how did you feel when singing "Husband and Wife Returning Home"?
When singing "Husband and Wife Returning Home", I felt... very... joyful. Don't laugh. Right. I think that singing in the game, including performing things like rhymes or Chinese opera, is good experience for the actor. But the requirements for Artem were… Well, he's a rather straightforward person. His personality isn't completely open, which we've all seen in his and Celestine’s day-to-day talks. When you put him in a public setting like this and make him sing, you have to show him going from kind of resistant at first, to gradually accepting reality. It was a bit challenging to play this process of gradually cheering up and loosening up, but I still felt pretty happy. If possible, I'd like to say to the writers, "Don't write me any more opera songs to sing. Thank you."
(5:13) Q5: In one sentence, promote “Tears of Themis”!
I think "Tears of Themis" has great gameplay, including many details about investigation or finding clues, that is worth exploring. To be honest, through the process of solving each case, including the final moment of conclusion, people might think, "Wow, this is different from what I expected." It can even reveal certain social phenomena or comment on some general knowledge. I don't think it's just a game, I think some details and aspects of it can be really moving for the players. So I really recommend that everyone try this game.
Choose Artem. Marius, Vyn [Zhao Lu shakes his head, waves hand in dismissal, says quietly], don't choose them.
[T/N: Zhao Lu's (continued) description that "Artem is a straight line" is a well-known meme in Chinese fandom. Everyone (including other cast) knows to expect him to bring it up when describing Artem's personality, it was one of the most common nicknames that fans gave Artem in their (in-game) phone, and it even was referenced in his Revisiting Youth invitation.]
Tears of Themis Offical Artbook - Voice Actor Interview: Zhao Lu (Artem Wing)
Do note that this is a fan translation and I am not in any way affiliated with Mihoyo/Hoyoverse. I'm just translating out of love and support for the game and Zhao Lu. Please do NOT repost my translations anywhere, and do correct me nicely if I've made any mistakes! Do remember to read the footnote for translator notes too :) Enjoy!
Zhao Lu's Voice Actor Interview
There are actually some differences between the Artem that I initially met and the current Artem. “Tears of Themis” is a plot-focused game, where within many small details, everyone can sense Artem’s growth. During the process of “Artem’s” growth, the voice actor also goes through constant growth as well. During recording, I will revise my tone of voice and state (of voice), trying to figure out Artem’s speaking habits, breathing rhythm, way of thinking… using all these details to show that “this is Artem”. This isn’t just me, there is also the joint effort of all the staff who gradually pieced together “a straight line” [1], and this straight line refers to the word “Artem”. Actually, during the creative process, we actually thought of trying to give everyone something different. In order to fit the different sides of Artem, I’ve also made some adjustments to my interpretation style. For example, the Artem in “飞雪落红尘” (Gufeng event), the story was required to give Artem a huge character contrast, at that time during creation I came up with two versions. In one version, the discrepancy was still something one could expect within Artem’s core character, the other version transcended Artem’s normal core character. The choice that was presented to everyone was actually the latter version, which was the version that had the bigger difference in Artem’s core character.
Since the first encounter, besides his professional and capable side at work, his emotionally delicate side is also becoming more and more felt. For example, in the second chapter of the personal story (Sweet Chapter), Artem and MC had their first argument. Perhaps due to MC’s sense of justice as a lawyer, she overlooked certain potential dangers. Artem, who was always concerned about MC in his heart, thought about MC’s safety, and therefore argued with MC, but this type of argument stems from good intentions, and also allows both parties to understand each other, the process of becoming even more connected with each other. In terms of work, Artem is a top student, but when it comes to emotions, Artrem actually has an inexperienced side. When I interpret the way he conveys his emotions, I will also add some thought, some prudence, some cautiousness. He previously took some “detour” [2] when showing MC his feelings towards her, for example, “Introduction to the Psychology of Love and Attraction”, “I am not a good person” [3]... However, these actually clearly showed Artem’s simplicity, kind-heartedness, and uprightness.
For Artem, his love for MC changed from “you’re someone who I can encounter but not seek for” to “you are the theme of my life”, the most important change is the word “distance”. From “‘Por Una Cabeza” (“One Step Away”, Xmas Partyland SSR), the Artem who was always one step away waiting to show appreciation (towards MC), to “Two Hearts as One” (1st year birthday SSR) where “we’re partners, so the both of us will always be two hearts as one” [4], and again with “Eternal Yearning” (1st anniversary confession SSR) where Artem confessed his love for MC in a public space with many people around. This kind of subtle change in “distance” allows for these feelings to be even more wonderful.
Artem is “a straight line” in every aspect only because he is such a simple and pure person, such that everyone can admire and like him. However, as the saying goes, “water which is too clean has few fish, and one who is too severe has no friends” [5], so the question arises, for such a limpid person, when something goes against his values, how would he choose? Not only me, I believe that everyone is really looking forward to what happens from now on in the story, when Artem encounters a dilemma, would he hesitate, be at a loss, struggle, how should he make his choice?
Finally, what I want to say to everyone is still the same line as before, choose Artem (serious face)! [6] I’m really grateful to everyone for being able to meet in this big family of Themis City, everyone’s concern, opinions and even criticism, are all embodiment of “love” towards this world (of themis), this is also all of our non stop motivation for us to keep improving.
Zhao Lu
Translator Notes
[1] He says “一条直线” here which literally translates into “ a straight line”. Zhao Lu often describes Artem as a straight line in many of his ToT related interviews and events as Artem doesn’t deviate in his actions, thoughts, and decisions in all aspects of his life before meeting MC. You can find Zhao Lu’s interview subbed here.
[2] The word he used here is “弯路” which literally means detour or roundabout route, but it can also figuratively mean the wrong way of doing something.
[3] Reference to Artem’s personal story chapter 1 (Blossom Chapter) episode 3-01. In the EN version, they translated this line as “I’m a bad guy…duh”.
[4] The line said here was “身为搭档，永远要两心无间” where “两心无间” is the name of this card. This directly translates to “as partners, we must always have no distance between our hearts”, where “两心无间” means no gap between two hearts. I referenced the official English version since I didn't know how to translate this line smoothly.
[5] The sentence he quoted here is “水至清则无鱼, 人至察则无徒” which is an idiom literally translates to “the water is too clear there is no fish, one is too strict won’t have a partner”. It can indicate that one should not be too demanding.
[6] He ended his ToT VA interview asking people to choose Artem over the other male leads, which can be viewed here, and here if you need subs. Ever since this has been a recurring line that keeps being brought up (by both him and players).
