I'm Really a Superstar

At Zhang Ye's maternal grandma's house.

Zhang Ye was answering call after call.

Many of those who received the news started calling up Zhang Ye in shock.

…

An executive from the Ministry of Culture.

"Director Zhang! Congratulations!"

"Likewise to you, Minister Zhou!"

"I'm really in awe of you this time!"

"Haha, I hadn't expected such a viewership ratings figure either."

"Yeah, this year's Spring Festival Gala was such a great success! Director Zhang, tomorrow, tomorrow afternoon, let me throw a celebratory feast for all of those on the organizing committee!"

…

Central TV's deputy station head.

"Director Zhang."

"Hey, Deputy Station Head Hong."

"Thank you!"

"You're too polite."

"If you ever wish to return to Central TV at any time, if anyone says no, I, Old Hong, will surely be the first one to take it up with them!"

"Station Head Hong, there's no need, there's no need."

…

The former Spring Festival Gala executive director, Li Ke.

"Director Li."

"Director Zhang, I'm calling to congratulate you."

"Hai, it was all to your credit for laying the foundation for me. Otherwise, it couldn't possibly have done so well."

"Come on, stop flattering me. What has this got to do with me? It was all due to your own skill. If I had been the one handling the Spring Festival Gala this year, it might not even achieve a viewership ratings figure of 20%."

…

He received over a dozen calls!

Everyone sounded really excited over the phone!

56.8%!

What kind of a concept was that?

This was nearly three times the viewership ratings of last year's Spring Festival Gala!

This was twenty times the average viewership ratings for the first season of The Voice!

This was over a dozen times the average viewership ratings of I Am a Singer!

It was too impressive!

It was too fucking impressive!

According to the various media outlets and the industry insiders' forecast, there was no doubt that the Spring Festival Gala would reach a viewership of 25%. But whether it could hit 30%, that was still pretty difficult to put a finger on. As for 35%? Or 40%? A lot of them didn't even dare to think that high. There was no inkling of such a figure. In their opinion, no matter how capable Zhang Ye might be, he couldn't possibly achieve a 40% viewership with the Spring Festival Gala that had such a weak reception for so many years!

However, the results left everyone nearly pissing their pants!

This viewership performance was actually two levels above the high that no one dared to imagine. It had exceeded that forecast figure by twice the amount!

56.8%!

It was a viewership that sent shockwaves all around!

The media was dumbfounded!

The industry was stunned!

The people pissed their pants!

The entire country was astonished!

"That's such an insurmountable fortress!"

"Zhang Ye has always been someone who's performed miracles!"

"He actually revived this hot potato that no one was willing to handle!"

"I have nothing I can say! This is what true skill is!"

"56.8! This has set a new bar for the Spring Festival Gala!"

"But what about next year? Whoever takes over the Spring Festival Gala next year will surely die!"

"Hahaha, that's true. This viewership is too heaven-defying. What is going to happen to those that come after this?"

"Is it that difficult? All they have to do is to appoint Zhang Ye again for next year's gala and the one after that!"

"Right! That guy might have a questionable character, but the Spring Festival Gala that he directed was so fucking fun to watch!"

"I'm someone who never used to watch the Spring Festival Gala, but I caught it this year. If Zhang Ye is invited to direct next year's event, I'll definitely watch it again! If they invite him to direct every year, I'll watch it every year!"

"Damn, although I've been scolding Zhang Ye for an entire day and night over the five deceptions, I still somehow got fucking pulled into his fandom after the broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala!"

"This fellow has always been loved and hated just as much!"

…

The news spread quickly as articles got published one after another.

"The Spring Festival Gala's viewership ratings are released!"

"The highest in 20 years: 56.8%!"

"A miraculous Spring Festival Gala!"

"Zhang Ye makes history once again!"

"Zhang Ye: A god-like director?"

"The Night of Miracles! The Spring Festival Gala's viewership ratings reaches 50% again after 23 years!"

"Is Zhang Ye the most deserved best director of the Spring Festival Gala?"

"The Spring Festival Gala's viewership ratings shock industry insiders!"

"Last night, Zhang Ye left a mark of his legend at Central TV's Broadcasting Studio 1!"

"This success belongs to Zhang Ye, please cheer for him!"

"Zhang Ye single-handedly helps the Spring Festival Gala back to the top!"

"It's finally safe to say: The Spring Festival Gala of the yesteryears has finally returned!"

They were reporting the news without holding back!

They did not skimp on the compliments!

The Chinese media outlets were singular with praise!

...

Overseas.

Meanwhile, the foreign media outlets were also reporting on the news.

The Japanese media: "The largest new year gala in China achieves great success!"

The Korean media: "The world's top Go player directs the Spring Festival Gala to a new record!"

The English Media: "A colorful life of a mathematician!"

The American media: "A Chinese gala sets the world record for viewership numbers!"

…

On the second day of the new year.

The Spring Festival Gala's celebratory feast was held.

In the previous years, a symbolic celebratory feast would always be thrown within a week after the Spring Festival Gala was held to thank everyone for their hard work and sacrifice. Of course, it was only symbolic in nature because if it was based on the results of the viewership ratings, none of the previous 10 years of the Spring Festival Gala would be qualified to have a celebratory feast thrown for it. So this celebratory feast became routine and was gradually turned into a superficial practice.

But it was different this year!

It was not a symbolic event for this year's Spring Festival Gala. They were really holding a celebratory feast!

This reputation!

These viewership ratings!

If this wasn't called a real celebratory feast, then what would?

By the time Zhang Ye arrived, he saw that many others had also arrived. A majority of them were familiar faces. There were the leaders at the Ministry of Culture and the SARFT, people from the production team, the staff from Central TV, and many of the participating performers of this year's Spring Festival Gala. A lot of celebrities were in attendance!

There were a total of 25 tables!

There were 200-300 people in total at the venue!

The entire three floors of the restaurant were booked for this event!

It could be said that the celebratory feast this time was of an unprecedented scale. There was a cheerful atmosphere in the entire restaurant!

"Zhang'er!" Zhang Xia waved.

Zhang Ye smiled and said, "Grandma Zhang."

Zhang Xia smiled widely and said, "You're surrounded by an air of glory."

Zhang Ye said, "Don't say that, don't say that."

Fan Wenli came over. "Director Zhang, congratulations."

Zhang Ye said, "And the same to you, Old Fan. Didn't both you and Old Chen's popularity go up again?"

Fan Wenli smiled and said, "It was only because of you that we managed that. With the exposure from this Spring Festival Gala, it has given us more than enough to take a year's break from work."

Zhang Ye said, "Yes, there should be a work-life balance, after all."

Yao Jiancai also came over. He said happily, "Yo, our star has arrived!"

Zhang Ye waved it off and said with a grin, "What star? Today's stars are the executives of the upper management. I'm just here as a supporting figure."

Eh?

A few people who didn't know Zhang Ye well were startled when they heard this. They all wondered if Director Zhang was always this good at talking. He was this humble?

But those who knew Zhang Ya well were all amused when they heard that. Like they didn't know what kind of a personality this fellow had. Who was he bluffing? If you cared so much about the higher-ups, would you have fought against them so many times over the years? Which department's executives have not been scolded by you before?

Very soon, everyone was here.

The 25 tables were filled.

The executives were seated at the main table. When Zhang Ye saw that the banquet was about to begin, he joined the table the production team's members were seated. As a result, the executives saw this and would not agree to such an arrangement.

"Director Zhang, where do you think you're going?"

"Ah?"

"You should be sitting over here."

"It's OK, I'm fine with sitting here."

"Heh, you're the star today, so quickly come over!"

"Sir, you don't have to be so courteous to me."

"That won't do, haha, come, come, come. We've already left a seat empty for you. If you don't come over, we won't start the banquet!"

"Well, alright then."

Zhang Ye went over.

In the end, he was cheerfully nudged by a few executives to sit together with Deputy Minister Zhou. This treatment would not be offered to anyone other than Zhang Ye. This wasn't just because Zhang Ye was Wu Zeqing's husband. Everyone knew that the reason why the Spring Festival Gala had done so well this year was due to Zhang Ye.

To say that this breakout the Spring Festival Gala had experienced this time was all down Zhang Ye's contributions alone would be overstating things a little.

But if they were to say that they had also contributed to the record-breaking viewership ratings of the Spring Festival Gala, it would surely be quite embarrassing to claim so. All of them really did not dare to accept any credit for this!

What had they done?

Thinking about it, it didn't feel like they had done anything at all!

Under the suggestion of the higher-ups, everyone raised their glasses for a toast.

Deputy Minister Zhou said loudly, "Everyone, you have all worked hard, especially Director Zhang. Turning the tide so spectacularly this time has completely convinced everyone. There's nothing that anyone can say to that. The Spring Festival Gala is not only the best New Year's gift to us, but it is also the best New Year's gift to the people!" He raised his glass. "I would like to take this chance to offer a toast to all of you on behalf of the leaders from the different departments. Let's not talk too much and just drink! Cheers to everyone!"

"You're too polite, minister."

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The celebratory feast was very boisterous and enjoyable!

Everyone was extremely happy and carefree!

This was the first time that the Spring Festival Gala's popularity had done so well!

A heaven-defying viewership ratings of 56.8%!

Each and every one of the 40 acts was on fire!

This was a day that would enter the annals of history, and all of their faces were glowing with pride!Each table generally seats 10 people.