I'm Really a Superstar

At 8 AM.

It was time.

The Spring Festival Gala’s second approval session officially began.

Zhang Ye sat down and said, “Send in the singers.”

The first approval session was the preliminary selection round, while the second approval session was to confirm the acts. As such, the music and stage effects would all have to be ready. Even if the new stage was not fully ready yet, and the facilities of Broadcasting Studio 3 were not enough to bring out the effects to their fullest extent, they would still have to showcase it. Only then would those on the approval board be given a proper performance to assess it. Other than the absence of hosts, and the acts not being presented in order, it wouldn’t be too different from the actual Spring Festival Gala rehearsal.

The first group came out.

It was Chen Guang and Fan Wenli.

The music played and the couple began singing.

Ha Qiqi was nervously clenching her fists.

Zhang Zuo and Little Wang’s palms starting to sweat.

Come on!

You two can do it!

“Eh, this song is pretty good, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s quite nice.”

“Who wrote the song?”

“Uh, it was written by Director Zhang.”

Deputy Minister Zhou lightly nodded.

The second act came out.

A family of three appeared.

Deputy Minister Zhou asked curiously, “I’ve never seen this family before?”

A person next to him said, “Yes, they’re not exactly well-known.”

But when the family opened their mouths to sing, many people were startled.

“Eh?”

“This is quite an interesting song!”

“It’s pretty nice!”

“The arrangement is really good and its target audience is also quite different.”

The executives who had come to watch were unanimously praising it.

The executives of the Spring Festival Gala’s organizing committee were also extremely surprised!

This isn’t right!

It’s not supposed to be like this!

Deputy Minister Zhou looked at an executive on the organizing committee and asked, “Isn’t this pretty good?”

Director Yang dabbed at his sweat. “The main problems are in the acts following.”

Chief Zhao nodded. “The later ones are the problematic ones.”

Deputy Minister Zhou nodded. “Alright then, let’s keep on watching.”

…

The third act.

“This song is the best!”

“The dance is great!”

“This act must be included in the gala!”

“Agreed. This is something new!”

…

The eighth act.

“Who is this woman?”

“Yeah, she’s really pretty good at performing!”

“It’s not a woman! Th-This is a man!”

“Ah?”

“But that’s impossible!”

“Boss, it’s really a man.”

“What’s this performance about?”

“Director Zhang says it’s a cross-gender act.”

“It’s very good. This art form isn’t often seen by too many people. It should be brought onto this stage so that everyone can learn about it and understand how many talented people there are amongst the common folk. That’s right, Old Yang, Old Zhao, which are the problematic acts you were talking about?”

“Uh, they’re still further.”

“OK.”

…

The tenth act.

“Oh my God!”

“They’re—”

“They’re all deaf-mute?”

“How did they manage to dance like this? Th-This is amazing!”

“Shocking! This is so shocking!”

“All of the kids have done really well!”

…

The 15th act.

“This dance?”

“How!”

“How did they do it?”

“Why didn’t they fall over?”

“How did they keep standing upright like that without falling? What’s the method that’s keeping them upright?”

“It’s too beautiful!”

“Old Yang, Old Zhao, have the problematic acts appeared yet?”

“Ah, they’re later.”

“They’re still later?”

…

The 22nd act.

“Aiyo!”

“This magic show is absolutely perfect!”

“It’s absolutely amazing!”

“H-How did he manage to pull that off?”

“You’d have to ask Director Zhang about that. The magic trick was designed by him.”

“Old Yang, Old Zhao, are we getting to the problematic acts yet?”

“Ah, th-they’re still further.”

…

The 29th act.

“Hahahaha!”

“Aiyo, I’m dying of laughter!”

“Hahahahaha!”

“It’s so hilarious!”

“Aiyo, I can’t take it!”

…

The 32nd act.

“Hahahaha!”

“This writing, it’s marvelous!”

“The lines for this will definitely go viral!”

“It’s really good! This skit is really, really good!”

“Old Yang, Old Zhao?”

“Uh, later, we’re almost getting to them.”

“Yes, yes, we’re almost there.”

…

At the beginning, the approval board members were looking to nitpick on problems with each act. But the more it went on, the more surprised everyone became!

Some people started crying listening to the songs.

Some people laughed at the skits.

Some people marveled at the dance.

Some people were shocked by the magic show.

It was really good!

All of them were very enjoyable!

All of these acts were planned by Zhang Ye?

Nobody could believe it!

Ha Qiqi was dumbfounded!

Zhang Zuo stared with wide eyes!

Little Wang was stunned!

The production team members were so shocked that their jaws dropped!

It wasn’t like they hadn’t seen Zhang Ye’s program list before. In fact, they also took occasional glances at the performers’ practices too. Some of the props were even constructed by them. But to watch the act from the start until finish? None of them had gone through this entire process. Today was also their first time watching the entire program list’s rundown. Their emotions could only be summed up as shocked. These acts had completely surpassed their expectations!

And this was only Broadcasting Studio 3 they were in!

This was still not the new stage that they would be performing on!

If it were really transferred onto the new stage, the music, the lightings, the set design, all of those elements combined would make everything flawless. At that time, just how would these programs look like!?

They didn’t even dare to start thinking about that!

Wu Zeqing was smiling. Right from the start, she did not say a word.

At this time, Zhang Ye heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn’t too bad, although there were some acts that still needed tweaking. Some of the performing groups also made some minor mistakes, but all of those were still within acceptable limits. After all, the time given to them to prepare was too tight. So Zhang Ye was quite satisfied with how it had turned out. The remaining work was to keep letting them practice and refine their performances so that they could cut their mistakes down to a minimum. There was still a lot of room for improvement and practice.

Several of the skit actors who had just finished performing left the stage.

Many of the upper management who had come to observe the approval session were so amused that they couldn’t close their mouths.

Deputy Minister Zhou looked to the side. “Old Zhao? Old Yang? Where are the acts that you two said were problematic?”

Old Zhao wiped away his sweat. “Th-They’re coming later.”

Old Yang could only bite his tongue and say, “Yes, that’s right.”

Ha Qiqi face-smackingly said, “The skit just now was the last act.”

The venue fell silent.

Old Zhao, Old Yang, and a few other people turned green with anger!

There was nothing else?

All of the 40 acts finished up?

Deputy Minister Zhou stopped smiling and looked at the several of them. He slammed the table and stood up. “What are you all trying to achieve?! Just what are you trying to do!” He pointed at the stage and said, “It’s still l? Then where is it? They’ve already finished performing, so tell me where is it then? Were these the acts that you all complained to me that were problematic? Were these the acts that you told me were no good? Do you have any eyes to see with? Do you have any ears to listen with? Tell me, which of the acts were bad?! Huh? If these acts aren’t good enough, then what kinds of acts would be good enough for you people? Go and identify them for me! What kinds of acts?”

Both Old Yang and Old Zhao were on the verge of tears!

Wu Zeqing mediated, “Minister Zhou, let’s forget about it.”

Deputy Minister Zhou waved her off and said, “Chief Wu, don’t speak up for them. I’ve been infuriated today.” He looked at the executives on the Spring Festival Gala’s organizing committee and said, “Chief Wu’s husband worked so hard and professionally to make the acts work that even a blind person can see it. All of the acts were created with soul, as well as blood and sweat. Nobody can know if the audience can accept them until Lunar New Year’s Eve arrives. But at least to those of us here today, I don’t believe that anyone would say that the acts were bad, am I right? None of you will say that they aren’t good enough, isn’t that so? In that case, they’re definitely good acts! But what did you all do? Nothing at all! You all only know how to snitch on the production team and tell me that we have problems here and there every single day. Are you trying to create trouble?!”

Old Zhao hurriedly said, “Minister, we were in the wrong because we didn’t understand it clearly.”

Old Yang said, “We were derelict in our duty.” Turning around, he looked at Zhang Ye. “Director Zhang, we’re sorry.”

Zhang Ye waved it off. “It’s nothing that serious. Artistic works have neither good or bad points. Some people might like it, while others might dislike it. That’s very normal.”

Deputy Minister Zhou said regretfully, “Director Zhang, you’ve done a fantastic job.”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “We’re just serving the people.”

Deputy Minister Zhou said excitedly, “These acts are all really good. I really didn’t expect that the Spring Festival Gala could be produced so well after you took charge of it! It’s good! Very good!”

Zhang Ye said, “Minister, you’re too lavish with your praise. There are actually a lot more areas we can improve. Some of the acts had minor issues, so they weren’t presented to the best that it should have been. Right now, they’re still not good enough to be put onto the actual Spring Festival Gala. I still have to make further adjustments to them. I’ll do my best to rush them out in time so that we can put up the most perfect performance on Lunar New Year’s Eve.”

What?

It was still not perfect?

It could still be done better?

Deputy Minister Zhou was very excited. “Alright, just do as you deem fit. Don’t feel any pressure or feel burdened by the tasks. We’ll leave the Spring Festival Gala to you this year. We’re depending on you.”

Zhang Ye was flattered. “Don’t stand on ceremony with me. It should be expected of me.”

Deputy Minister Zhou looked at him and said in seriousness, “I’m not trying to be polite. The Spring Festival Gala is on the decline, and the viewership ratings have been dropping year after year. Looking at where it is headed, we were all panicking. Seeing how the Spring Festival Gala is doing worse by the year, we’ve been completely unable do anything about it. But it will be different this year. I feel that this year’s Spring Festival Gala will definitely not be like how it was in the past! Teacher Little Zhang, we’re really depending on you for the Spring Festival Gala. Please don’t let it…be ruined in the hands of our generation!”

Zhang Ye did not expect Deputy Minister Zhou to say that to him. For a moment, he also turned serious. “Alright! I dare not give you my word on any other thing, but I will carry out my duties to the best of my ability.”

The officials left.

The organizing committee left.

The Spring Festival Gala’s production team was overflowing with passion!

“This is so awesome!”

“We’ve made it through! All of the acts have passed!”

“Director Zhang, you’re amazing!”

“All of the acts were so godly!”

“Those skits were hilarious!”

“The dances were also very amazing!”

“I have a feeling that this year’s Spring Festival Gala is going to be super popular!”

“Let’s hope that it’ll really be different this year!”

“With Director Zhang around, it will definitely be different!”

Zhang Ye laughed and said, “Don’t speak too early. Times have changed. We still do not know if the audience might like it. Alright, everyone has worked hard in recent days, so hurry back home and get some rest. We still have a lot of work to do starting tomorrow. A lot of the acts still need working on. Some of the set designs will also have to be redone.” Turning to Ha Qiqi, he said, “Old Ha, go and tell the performers about the outcome, hur hur. They must be feeling very anxious too.”

“Alright, I’ll go let them know!”

Ha Qiqi, Zhang Zuo, and a few others walked backstage.

Soon after, endless cheering sounded from backstage!

“What?”

“We’ve passed?”

“All of us went through?”

“Th-Then that means, we’ve all been confirmed for the Spring Festival Gala?”

“Ahhhh!”

“I’m going on the Spring Festival Gala!”

“Oh my God!”

“I have to call my mom right now! I need to let her know about this!”

“Are you serious? Is this really happening?”

It was a scene of elation!

Qi Xiaomei was crying!

Hu Die was screaming!

Gao Xiliang stood there in shock, his mind blank!

This was really just like a dream!