I’m Really a Superstar

In the Name of the People had broadcast for several weeks now.

The entire Chinese market had been turned upside down because of one man and his TV series.

As the plot unfolded, the actors in the thriller also became more and more popular.

…

At a production company.

“We have to sign this big name of the theater industry no matter what.”

“Yeah, although he didn’t have too many parts in the series, the viewers were all very convinced his acting.

“The first three episodes were basically held together by him. Just look at how he ate that bowl of mincemeat noodles with soybean paste. He really brought the role to life.”

“And that scene where he leaned over the stack of money, he acted so well for that.”

“Give him an offer and see if he has any intention of developing a career in the television and film industry.”

…

Ning Lan’s former talent agency.

“Sister Ning acted as Gao Xiaoqin so well!”

“She brought the character to life. She’s such an amazing actress!”

“That’s a best actress winner we’re talking about!”

“Why did our company let Sister Ning go?!”

“God knows.”

“This time, Ning Lan will become popular again. No, I should say that she’s already become very popular again!”

…

On set at a film location.

“Old Jiang is still so good at acting?”

“Wasn’t he declining?”

“For this production of ours, Jiang Hanwei’s agent had originally approached us with his client’s requirements for the role. He was asking for very little at that time, but the director ended up not using him as the male lead.”

“I guess the director must really be regretting it now.”

“Jiang Hanwei’s asking pay must have doubled at the very least.”

“Be quiet, don’t let anyone hear you.”

…

On Moments.

There were traces of Yao Jiancai’s emotes ¹ everywhere.

Everyone was chatting in the group chats and sending emotes as they competed on who could do better.

“Yoyoyo.”

“What can I do? I’m in despair.”

“Professional scapegoat of 30 years.”

“Please start performing.”

“My eyes are slits I’m so happy.”

…

On Weibo.

The netizens were having a laugh.

“The two episodes last night were great fun.”

” Secretary Dakang ² was made the scapegoat again!”

“Hahahaha, Secretary Dakang’s narrowed eyes are too good!”

“Old Yao’s acting is superb!”

“I like Sister Ning as Gao Xiaoqin.”

I like Dong Shanshan as Lu Yi’ke.”

“Shu Han also acted very well in her role as Zhang Ye’s wife.”

“I think I’ve finally realized something. There isn’t really an absolute lead in this show. Zhang Ye’s role as the male lead is only to connect the entire plot and characters together. In actual fact, everyone is the lead in this drama. Every episode is a performance opportunity for these veteran actors. How cool!”

“Zhang Ye has made such painstaking efforts for his long-time friends.”

“That’s right, Zhang Ye is a very loyal friend indeed.”

“I like Zhang Ye so much! This fellow might be very hated, but he can be so charismatic as well. He can direct, act, and even do it with such efficiency. He finished filming such an astonishing blockbuster drama in just 10 days, so who dares to fucking say that Zhang Ye has become old? I can laugh at this joke for a year!”

“Pfft, I can laugh at it for two years!”

…

Shanghai Television.

Quite a few people looked listless.

“What is Heavens of the Gods’ viewership ratings like?”

“It’s already dropped to 0.8%.”

“Hai, what’s wrong with it! Why has this happened?”

“We can only blame ourselves for having bad enough luck to run into Zhang Ye’s drama.”

“Did you guys see how it’s going for Age of Kingdoms? They’re in an even worse state than us.”

“Zhang Ye’s drama is going to put the TV series industry at an impasse. Its highest viewership ratings so far have hit close to 6%. How are the other TV stations going to go on from here? What about the future of all the other production crews? How will the production companies survive in the future? There won’t be another TV drama that can surpass his drama for the next 10 years!”

“Surely it won’t be for that long, right?”

“Why wouldn’t it? Just looked at the variety shows these days, and the documentary films as well. Many of the viewership ratings records were set by Zhang Ye four to five years ago. He was locked up in jail for so many years, yet nobody was able to break his records. The only viewership rating record that was surpassed belongs to I Am a Singer. But even that show was created by Zhang Ye in the first place. It’s been five years now; what about in another five years’ time? Who would dare guarantee that they could break his records set in the variety show industry and the documentaries industry? It will be the same for TV series!”

“Fuck, it’s too scary now that I think of it!”

…

Within the industry.

At a meal gathering.

“The viewership ratings figures are too terrifying to look at.”

“I only have one wish.”

“Director Sun, what wish do you have?”

“I just hope that the viewership ratings for In the Name of the People will stop here. It had better not go any higher, or we will really be left with nothing to play for.”

“Yeah, 6% is already more than enough.”

“The grand finale will happen soon, so we don’t know how high it can still go.”

“Hai, may the Heavens bless us!”

“I hope that their ending sucks!”

“Right, hopefully, it will be a shitty ending!”

“Pfft, Director Xu, Director Zhou, aren’t you two being too ruthless? We’re industry peers, so please don’t speak like this.”

“Who’s an industry peer with that freak? This is just his first time shooting a TV series. In the past, I found it amusing whenever I saw him fighting and causing trouble in the literature world, the crosstalk world, the hosting world, and the variety world. Only now do I understand how this guy destroys an industry the moment he steps into it. It’s a viewership ratings figure of 6%; which industry can tolerate him causing trouble like that? It would be a wonder if his industry peers do not fight with him!”

“Hai, some people are unable to keep a low profile by nature.”

“Yeah, indeed. I would like to be as high profile as Zhang Ye too. But I really don’t have the skill to do so.”

…

On this day.

In the Name of the People finally ushered in its grand finale.

” Monkey ³ !”

“You, me, our feud is over!”

“I’ll repay Chen Hai’s life!”

“But no one in this world can judge me!”

“Fuck you, cursed Heavens!”

Bang!

The sound of a gunshot.

With this gunshot, the fate of many characters in the show were sealed.

Zhao Dehan.

Gao Xiaoqin.

Gao Yuliang.

All of them were tried in a court of law.

Chen Hai regained consciousness.

The old procurator-general passed on.

When the ending theme song played again at the end, some people were filled with emotions, some people burst into tears, and some people stared at the screen with their blood racing. This drama was a special one. There had never been a television series that could touch their hearts in this way.

The next day.

The viewership ratings for the grand finale of In the Name of the People was released.

Episode 42: Nationwide viewership ratings of 7.01%

The industry burst into an uproar!

The media burst into an uproar!

The people burst into an uproar!

…

Online.

“It broke 7%!”

“I’m so astonished that I don’t know what emote I should use!”

“I’m already numb.”

“It’s such a good show!”

“Is there going to be a sequel?”

…

Within the industry.

“Zhang Ye, your grandpa!”

“We’re done for! The motherfucker has surpassed 7%!”

“What drugs is this guy on!”

“How are we going to carry on filming dramas in the future?”

“There’s no fucking way that we can survive! This is 7% we’re talking about!”

“Why didn’t he screw up the ending? Why!”

…

At 12 AM sharp.

The Chinese Celebrity Rankings Index was refreshed.

Zhang Ye still did not appear on the charts as his ranking was currently inactive.

However, a lot of people’s names were now appearing at the forefront of the rankings.

Ning Lan returned to the A-list!

Shu Han was only a step away from making it into the A-list!

Jiang Hanwei jumped to the forefront of the B-list rankings!

Dong Shanshan made it onto the A-list rankings!

The most exaggerated improvement was for Yao Jiancai. Previously, he had dropped down to the C and D-list rankings. However, in the matter of just one night, he had now jumped up to the bottom of the A-list. His popularity right now was even higher than years ago!

Even they themselves were unable to believe it!

The media and the entertainment industry’s people couldn’t believe it either!

Ning Lan?

Jiang Hanwei?

Yao Jiancai?

Some of them were old.

Some of them had retired.

Some of them had given up on taking on the industry again.

But because of a drama, because of a former Heavenly King who had returned after a long time, a miracle had been created. It helped a bunch of “old people” no one was optimistic about regain a footing and shock the entire entertainment industry. This was a completely unprecedented event. The main cast members of a drama had been restored close to their former glory of years ago from the has-beens they had become? Some of them were even more popular than they were before?

This was too frightening!

This was truly too frightening!

Looking at those familiar names.

Looking at their names that had returned back to the forefront of the index.

At this moment, countless people could not help but be reminded of the song Zhang Ye had sung on the stage of I Am a Singer. Its lyrics were echoing in their minds!

Oh, fleeting time!

What can you do?

Oh, fate!

What can you do?