I'm Really a Superstar

Chapter 976: A new job?

Translator: Legge Editor: Legge

That afternoon.

Someone knocked on the door.

Dong Shanshan had come to visit and even brought some fruit and health supplements with her.

His mother beamed. “Hi, Shanshan, you’ve come?”

Dong Shanshan smiled and said, “Aunt, Uncle.”

“Come in, come in.” His father went to welcome her. “Why did you buy so many things again?”

His mother pretended to be unhappy and said, “I’ve told you before that you don’t need buy anything when you come visit. Child, why are you always so polite to us? Come, come on in.”

Dong Shanshan looked around, searching for someone. “Where’s Zhang Ye?”

A voice came from the bathroom. “I’m sitting on the throne.”

Dong Shanshan covered her nose and said, “Hurry up. I have something important to discuss with you.”

“OK,” came the reply from inside.

As the weather warmed, Dong Shanshan dressed prettier. She was wearing a long skirt today and had tied her hair back in a simple ponytail. Her black hair seemed to have been dyed, sporting brown highlights.

As the door was not closed, an old neighbor standing outside stuck her head in to have a look.

His mother blinked and said, “Third Sister?”

The woman said in pleasant surprise, “Aiyo, it’s really Dong Shanshan!”

Dong Shanshan turned around and smiled to her. “Hello.”

The woman came into the house uninvited. “I really like your show. Can I take a picture with you?” She took out her cell phone as she said this. “Old Zhang, take a picture for us.”

His father smiled and said, “Sure.”

Click! Click! The shutter sounded.

Zhang Ye came out of the bathroom and said in amusement, “Third Aunt, how come you haven’t asked to take a picture with me?”

The woman glanced at him. “I watched you grow up from a baby. So what’s the point of taking a picture with you? I won’t disturb you guys any longer. I’ll be off now.” She then clutched her cell phone and left in delight.

Dong Shanshan had gotten very popular now as more and more people knew about her, to the point that they could already identify her by name. Apparently, a big company had recently approached her for a major endorsement deal. Inside of one year, her value had increased severalfold. Although Zhang Ye was much more popular than her, his social ties were obviously not on the same level as hers. Dong Shanshan had a clean background with no scandals nor stains on her reputation. Every company would be willing to approach her, and she was the favorite of every television station that knew her, unlike Zhang Ye, whose reputation was stained and sullied and was an out-and-out troublemaker of the entertainment industry.

After chatting for a bit in the living room.

Zhang Ye led Dong Shanshan into his bedroom.

He closed the door and sat down on the chair, pulling out a chair for her as well. But Dong Shanshan did not sit down on it. She smoothed her skirt before sitting down on the end of the bed.

Zhang Ye asked, “You don’t have work today?”

Dong Shanshan shrugged. “Don’t you know that Do You Remember is going to be taken off the air soon?”

“Taken off the air?” Zhang Ye was stunned.

Dong Shanshan explained, “Last year, when The Voice came out, it propped up the market for singing shows. But the audience’s demands also became higher along with that. Although Do You Remember and The Voice do not fall under the same category, it was inevitable that it’d be affected. Last month’s viewership ratings of Do You Remember dropped again. Although it has maintained the standard of around 0.75% of the viewership ratings, the station still decided to stop broadcasting. Brother Hu and the program team staff also felt the same regarding the decision. Nobody wishes to be stagnant. They all hope to make a new show so that we may make a push. Who doesn’t wish to get the number 1 spot in the nationwide viewership ratings at least once in their lifetime?”

“Number 1 spot in the nationwide viewership ratings?” Zhang Ye laughed and said, “That’s no easy feat.”

Dong Shanshan bluntly said, “That’s why I’m looking for you.”

Zhang Ye gave a wry smile and said, “You really think highly of me?”

“That’s right.” Dong Shanshan considered him. “We don’t have the talent to achieve it, but you do. If you could even get the number 1 spot in the nationwide viewership ratings and trample on all the variety shows with a documentary, who else should we look for but you? I’m here to invite you to make a comeback and offer you a job as well.”

Zhang Ye narrowed his eyes. “Is this your station’s intention as well?”

Dong Shanshan smiled. “Yes, so will you take the offer?”

Zhang Ye said honestly, “But I don’t really feel like making another show.”

“Then what are you going to do?” Dong Shanshan said, “You still haven’t found a job yet, right? Can’t you tell the industry’s attitude toward you now? They’re all trying to keep as far away from you as possible. From what I know, no TV stations are brave enough to accept you, the ‘Mess,’ since they’re all afraid of trouble.”

Zhang Ye asked curiously, “Then why do you guys have the courage to ask me?”

Dong Shanshan smiled and said, “You know our Station Head, don’t you? The old lady said that when Beijing TV was faced with difficulties, it was you, Little Zhang, who buried the hatchet and came to turn things around. You stayed up day and night without sleep and came up with the Quit Smoking PSA. Now that you, Little Zhang, have met with some difficulties, there is no reason for us not to offer you some help—oh, those were her exact words.” Then she said, “The Station Head is a very good person. She has actually always been meaning to invite you back to join us.”

Zhang Ye went silent for a moment. “Thank her for me.”

“You should thank her yourself. I’m not qualified enough to speak directly with the Station Head since I’m not as important as you.” Dong Shanshan said, crossing her legs, “The management has said that if you agree to go back, you would be placed with the same old team of Brother Hu and the others to re-establish a program team for a singing show. But this time, we must make it a big affair. The funding will not be a problem, so long as you are handling it personally. They are willing to invest a lot of money into this. You’ll assigned as the executive director and executive producer. As for the hosts, we can have a man and a woman, so we can finally team up and appear onscreen together this time.”

Zhang Ye asked, “What if an order is issued for me to be banned?”

Dong Shanshan replied, “If you can’t be the host, we’ll invite you as our guest.”

“What if I can’t even be a guest?” Zhang Ye asked.

“We can give it a try first. If there’s really no way out, we can talk about it again when the issue has died down. The show can be pushed back for a month or two. The higher-ups can’t possibly keep their eyes on you forever, right? There’ll surely be a day when things pass.” Dong Shanshan then used the tip of her high heels to nudge Zhang Ye’s slipper. “So how about it? Give it some consideration.”

This was a huge help indeed. With no one in the industry daring to involve themselves in this, Beijing Television had actually stepped up and offered him a position? It was even a rather good position and they were willing to delay the show just to wait for him? Just from the intention of this alone, Zhang Ye had to accept it. This was undoubtedly a timely assistance for him and he knew that Beijing Television was definitely taking a huge risk on him!

However, it was difficult for Zhang Ye to change his mind once he had decided on something. He really did not want to be a host in the short term. However, if he was going to be the host or appear on camera, then it would be pointless for him to be the program’s executive director. A behind-the-scenes job was obviously not possible to support the minimal exposure required of an A-list celebrity.

He considered for a few minutes.

Zhang Ye said, “Shanshan, thank Brother Hu and the Station Head for me. I think I’d rather not cause any trouble for you guys.”

Dong Shanshan said, “You’re really not going to join us?”

“Let’s forget about me being the executive director and host. But I’m willing to help with the planning of the show.” Zhang Ye laughed and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll accept the job as the producer. For you, Brother Hu and the Station Head, I’ll definitely come up with a good show for everyone.”

“Why don’t you reconsider it?”

“There’s no need to.”

“You really do not want to team up with me as hosts?”

“That’s not what I mean. It’s just that I’m getting tired of being a host. I have to put on a cheery face every time I go onstage, and I don’t even get to say what I really want to say. It’s really getting meaningless, so I just want to have a change of scenery for a while.”

“Then what will you do?”

“I don’t know.”

“Alright then, inform me immediately when you have found a new job.”

“Why?”

“I would like to see who would be so bold as to employ you.”

“Damn, listen to the way you’re putting it.”

“What? Isn’t that so?”

Indeed.

Who would be so bold as to invite him to join them at such a time?

At present, it was very difficult for Zhang Ye to get an appearance onscreen as even any news related to him was being controlled and restricted. Though he was a big shot A-list celebrity, what was the point of hiring him if he was unable to appear onscreen?

Hai.

What should he do?

What could he do?