I'm Really a Superstar

Later that morning.

His mother called him.

"Son, what are you up to?"

"Oh, I'm at Old Rao's place. How's your trip with Dad going?"

"It's quite nice and cozy here in Hainan. Oh right, I watched that new show of yours."

"Haha, so how was it?"

"It's fantastic! Your dad could not get enough and rewatched it."

"Which contestant do you like on the show?"

"I like Sunflower in the Starlight."

"Uh, what about dad?"

"Your dad likes Petal Shower."

"…"

"Son, what's the matter?"

"Ahem, nothing. Ai, enjoy your vacation."

After hanging up, Zhang Ye didn't know how to react. He initially thought that at least one of his parents would like The Clown. But as it turned out, neither of them mentioned him. He did not even have a chance to brag a little. What a failure! But that was just the first episode. Besides, his physical and voice conditions were not optimal during the recording of the episode. Zhang Ye was not worried at all since there were still plenty of opportunities to showcase himself in the future. As long as he did not get eliminated from the show, he would be able to bring out the songs he wanted to sing one by one.

Which song should he sing for the next episode?

An emotional song?

A happy song?

A song using his head voice?

Or something touching that would stir the hearts of the viewers?

He had to prepare two songs. What a headache that was!

Zhang Ye paced up and down Old Rao's living room as he started thinking and planning for the next round of competition. Now that he did not have any work or activities to keep him busy, he focused all his effort and time on the King of Masked Singers because this was his only way out after much brooding. He was left with no choice but to hide behind a mask and use a different method to roam the world with his pride.

Yang Shu looked at him and asked, "Senior Bro, are you feeling better?"

"I guess," Zhang Ye instinctively replied as he continued pacing.

At this moment, keys jangled from outside. Old Rao was back!

Yang Shu turned around and immediately opened the door. "Master Rao, Chenchen."

Rao Aimin grunted. "Where's Zhang Ye?"

Yang Shu said, "Senior Bro? Isn't he right here…" She turned around to point, but he was not there anymore. Zhang Ye was no longer pacing around the dining table.

"Eh? He's not up yet?" Rao Aimin looked to the sofa.

She saw Zhang Ye lying on the sofa, groaning and whining like he was about to die.

Zhang Ye pleaded, "Old Rao, get me a cup of water."

Rao Aimin said, "Fuck off."

"But I'm thirsty."

"Get it yourself!"

"Chenchen, get it for me. I can't move."

Yang Shu's jaw dropped!

...

Within the industry.

At a television station.

"If we had known—even if we had to pay 30 million RMB for the breach of contract back then—we should still have headhunted Zhang Ye from Central TV to join us! I'm sure that Central TV would've let him go for 30 million RMB!"

"Hai, it's useless to say anything now!"

"Zhang Ye's ideas are really creative!"

"Yeah, just him alone would be enough to sweep aside all of the production teams in the industry!"

"The King of Masked Singers is definitely gonna catch fire and will most likely subvert many of the things that we already know!"

"Yeah, just look at today's Top Chinese Music Chart. It's ludicrous. I have quite a few friends in the music industry and heard that there was an uproar there too. Songs performed on the show, which were broadcast just last night, actually charted on the Top Chinese Music Chart today? And many of the songs were covers too? They even occupied seven of the top ten spots on the chart? This is simply unbelievable. In the past, we had to go everywhere just to promote a new song. The companies would even have to throw money around in order to get an interview or get on a variety show. But now? They've achieved the same thing with just a TV show? And it even went further than that?"

"The ratings for 'Wild Rose' are too scary!"

"Who is this Clown person?"

"I don't know! Which big name in the music industry is he? He even managed to sing that well while sick?"

"'Wild Rose' has already stormed through the charts. It's already #1 on the daily Top Chinese Music Chart today. In a few more days, I suppose the monthly #1 spot is as good as theirs. How scary! This is insane!"

"What a subversive variety show!"

"Hai, Beijing TV has really gotten the most out of it this time!"

"There's no helping it. Zhang Ye is a Beijing local, after all! Dammit. With him there, who the hell can still vie with Beijing TV?"

"Has the viewership rating for their show been released yet?"

"Not yet, but it should be out sometime soon."

"Let's see what their viewership turns out to be first."

"Surely it won't be breaking another historical record, right?"

...

At an entertainment company.

"Little Xiao."

"Director Zhou."

"Did you watch the King of Masked Singers?"

"I did."

"What are your thoughts on it?"

"The contestants on the show are indeed very strong. I think that I may have identified one of them, but I'm not very sure. As for the others, I don't know since I really couldn't guess who they were."

"You're our company's highly prized newcomer. I have quite a good relationship with the King of Masked Singers' Executive Director Hu Fei and already communicated with him. You can go and try out for the show."

"Do you think I'm good enough?"

"You're also a professional singer, so you need to have confidence in yourself. This show will definitely become popular; rather, it has already become very popular. Many companies are eyeing for a slice of this pie right now and they're all vying to send their celebrities to the show. If we don't act quickly, we likely wouldn't have another chance."

"Alright, I'll do as you say."

...

At Beijing Television.

In the King of Masked Singers' program team office.

A lot of people from the other program teams came by to "visit."

"Old Hu, you guys were really impressive this time!"

"Hai, not really."

"Your show has already become so popular, yet you're still being so humble? Hurry up and treat us already. You must definitely do so. We won't show up if the restaurant is too low-class!"

"Hur hur, let's wait until the viewership ratings are out. It looks like the show is very popular, but we still don't know how the results will turn out."

"Come on, you. The online discussions are already so overwhelming, and everyone in the industry is talking about your show. If your viewership rating is bad, I'll twist my head off and give it to you."

"Then I'll be hoping you're right."

Previously, they were the program team for Do You Remember. Although that show was quite good too back then, but all it was was quite good. Hu Fei and the program team staff had never enjoyed such treatment before. A deputy station head and a station executive even made a visit to their office and sat around for a while before heading back to their own office for the day. Quite a few of their Beijing Television colleagues also came by to congratulate them, while a lot of media reporters bombarded the program team with calls.

Hou Ge said excitedly, "We're famous!"

Hou Di proclaimed, "I can't believe we got to see a day like this!"

"I feel like I'm living a dream." Xiao Lu was still getting used to this. "Did any of you receive any calls? I got two calls this morning from the other TV stations, looking to headhunt me. They offered me an annual package of 500,000 yuan! I was totally shocked! I've never even seen 500,000 yuan in my lifetime before!"

Dafei exclaimed, "Damn, why didn't anyone headhunt me?!"

Xiao Lu laughed and quipped, "'Cause you're ugly."

Dafei: "…"

Everyone laughed.

Hu Fei smiled and said, "Actually, we shouldn't be getting so carried away. For those of us who're involved, we know that this is all to the credit of Teacher Zhang."

Han Qi gave a wry smile and said, "Teacher Zhang is just too amazing."

Han Qi was a newcomer who had just transferred to the current program team. During the few times that Zhang Ye had come over, she had only seen him from a distance and did not have an opportunity to speak with him. At her level, she felt that she was not qualified to speak with him yet. This was Zhang Ye they were talking about, a big shot A-list celebrity and a very famous figure in the industry. As a result, she could only watch from afar even though she was a diehard Zhang Ye fan. However, Han Qi did not know that she had already interacted with Zhang Ye many times.

Suddenly, hasty footfalls came running!

One of the program team employees rushed into the office and shouted excitedly, "It's here! The viewership ratings are out!"

Hu Fei quickly said, "How did we do?"

Hou Ge immediately tensed up. "How much did we get?"

Xiao Lu said anxiously, "What's our nationwide ranking?"

When that person handed the viewership ratings chart to Hu Fei, everyone instantly gathered around him!

"Let me take a look!"

"Don't block me!"

"How much did we get?"

"Just how much is it?"

Then, the numbers on the form appeared before everyone's eyes!

When they saw the numbers, shock jumped onto the program team's faces!

The nationwide viewership ratings for the King of Masked Singers premiere episode was—2.51%!

They were the #1 show nationwide!

They led by double the #2 show's viewership rating!

The office fell silent.

One second.

Two seconds.

Suddenly, ear-piercing screams rang out!

"Ahhh!"

"Number one! We're number one nationwide!"

"Holy shit! 2.51%!"

"It's really become popular this time! Our show's really a hit!"

"Heavens!"

"This is ridiculous!"

"It's even higher than The Voice's premiere episode rating?"

"Oh my god!"

Han Qi jumped for joy!

Xiao Lu was shrieking with excitement!

Cries of joy!

Cheering!

The office devolved into chaos!

Hu Fei suddenly said, "Quick, inform Little Zhang about this!"

Dafei quickly replied, "Let me do it. I'll give Teacher Zhang a call!"

Beijing Television burst into an uproar!

The industry was shocked by the viewership ratings!

This was just the premiere broadcast!

The first episode of the show!

But this episode has already fucking achieved a viewership rating of 2.51%? What does this mean? Do you all intend to fucking break the 4% mark? How can it possibly be so high?!