Is This How the Entertainment Industry Works? (GL) - Chapter 14

The next day, obeying his grandfather’s instructions, the eldest Zhao brother campaigned for Yan Zhen on Weibo.

However, he clearly looked reluctant. Fortunately, the minor celebrities he sponsored were efficient and helped forward the posts. Yan Zhen’s vote count quickly surged to fifth place.

Only fifth place.

Zhao Baoshang felt this rank was entirely unworthy of her fan. With a grand wave of her hand, she directly reposted her elder brother’s campaign post.

The haters suddenly discovered a new world: 【Zhao Baoshang is campaigning for her own ghostwriter/shill?】

【No wonder the whitewashing was so intense before; these two definitely have something going on.】

【REPORT!!!! Discovered Yan Zhen’s other identity—she’s the top scorer (Zhuangyuan) of the Gaokao from Qinglong Mountain. She openly expressed her obsession with Zhao Baoshang in an interview.】

【BREAKING NEWS!!!! This person was also a supporting actress in “The Most Beautiful Rural Teacher.” A photo surfaced recently showing she has a “thing” with Han Xiaomeng.】

…

Han Xiaomeng saw that comment and reposted it.

@HanXiaoMengMeng: That’s right, we do have a “thing.” During filming, there was a landslide, and it was Master Yan who saved me. If I could, I’d give both my legs to Master Yan. //@UnprofessionalHater: Breaking News!!!

This message was explosive. Because the roads on Qinglong Mountain were rugged and the filming location hidden, few reporters had followed the production. Now that they knew what happened during filming, everyone wanted to dig deeper. A swarm of reporters besieged Han Xiaomeng’s Weibo, but she ignored them all.

Following that, Lu Ming and Director Wang saw the posts and forwarded them as well. Yan Zhen’s popularity absolutely detonated.

Other contestants saw this and felt slighted. They entered Yan Zhen’s Weibo, took screenshots, and posted them from alternate accounts to “expose” her.

【This is just feudal superstition, isn’t it? [Mind-Refreshing Incantation.jpg] [Science Post.jpg]】

However, people quickly slapped back with facts.

【I actually had those symptoms recently. After drinking a bit of liquor as the poster suggested, I feel much more energized these past few days.】

【Don’t talk to me about superstition; I accept it. I’m a beneficiary. My face was turning sallow and I was lethargic, but after using the willow branch, I feel reborn.】

【Tested and proven! My mother was hospitalized in a coma during the time of the “Golden Clouds” the poster mentioned. I tried the method yesterday, and what the hospital couldn’t fix for 30,000 yuan was actually cured by a willow branch dipped in liquor. Attached: [Medical Records.jpg] [Mother jumping for joy.jpg]】

The comments on the science posts were almost one-sided. Even former haters of Zhao Baoshang joined in, claiming they had turned over a new leaf and dared not hate her anymore, turning into fans of Yan Zhen instead.

The rival contestant was so angry she nearly coughed blood, cursing: 【Shills! They’re all paid shills!】

Three days later.

Yan Zhen checked her votes online. They had surpassed ten thousand. She was startled. Thinking about it, her science posts couldn’t be that powerful; it must be Old Zhao’s doing. She thanked the old man silently—he was far too efficient… Once she won the championship, she would definitely let him win a few games of chess.

At 7:00 AM, the voting channel for the Supernova talent show closed. Within half an hour, the results were filtered. Yan Zhen ranked second, passing the auditions with an absolute advantage. She received an invitation to the skyscraper for the formal competition.

Yan Zhen packed her bags and headed to the skyscraper. When she arrived, the place was packed. All fifty contestants had arrived. The male-to-female ratio was roughly 2:8. Most of the girls were fair-skinned, beautiful, and slender. Yan Zhen was of average height, but her outfit was a bit “earthy,” making her stand out in the crowd.

People gathered in groups of three or five to chat. Yan Zhen looked for Xu Weiwei but couldn’t find her, so she sat on a bench alone.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted near her. A group of people laughed exaggeratedly, and a blonde girl covered her mouth while repeatedly glancing at Yan Zhen. Another black-haired girl whispered to the blonde, then shot Yan Zhen a provocative look.

Once the laughter died down, the black-haired girl walked over and said to Yan Zhen, “I really didn’t expect you’d be willing to spend fifty yuan to enter a competition. I thought you spent even five cents on an installment plan.”

More people laughed. Yan Zhen recognized her; this was the girl who had mocked her outside on the day of the Gaokao. She had ignored her then and didn’t care to respond now. The girl continued her mockery.

Behind the monitors, several people were smiling.

“Conflicts and drama before the competition even starts—looks like this season will be exciting.”

“Let’s see, one is No. 79, Fang Hexu, and the other is No. 83, Yan Zhen. Both from Qinglong Mountain.”

“Ah, fellow villagers. Seems the grudge runs deep.” The woman in the center, Yu Lian, wearing a red dress, lit a cigarette. She took a drag and stood up. “Alright sisters, it’s time for our entrance.”

The group stood up and walked toward the door. After a few steps, Yu Lian turned and asked, “Little Zhao, aren’t you coming?”

A cold voice drifted from the back: “No, I’ll just watch the monitors.”

Only then did the judges realize someone else was in the room. The person sitting furthest back was almost hidden in the shadows, the screen light giving her face a deep, jade-like luster.

A blonde judge gasped, “Are you Zhao Baoshang?!”

Zhao Baoshang looked up from her tea and gave a brief nod. “Hello.”

The blonde judge rushed over excitedly. “I-I-I am a huge fan of your visuals! Your posters are everywhere in my country. You are truly favored by the heavens—are you a judge for this too?”

Zhao Baoshang didn’t reply. She didn’t even know if she was a judge. Yu Lian had caught her helping with the votes and insisted she come watch the competition. But the moment she arrived, she saw her “little fan” being bullied into silence.

It was incredibly irritating.

Yu Lian pulled the blonde judge away. “Alright, time to go set the stage.”

As they walked down the hall, a Black judge asked, “Who was that?”

“What, you don’t recognize that treasure?” the blonde judge said in disbelief, before launching into a long list of praises and pulling out her phone to force the other judge to see.

Yu Lian coughed and said succinctly, “She is our investor.”

“Investor? And she’s here in person as a judge? Does she have nothing better to do?” the Black judge asked.

Yu Lian said, “You aren’t from China, so you wouldn’t know. She just has more money than she knows how to spend. Her biggest quirk is doing idiotic things, but this time she actually put her money in the right place. In short, remember: she is the biggest boss here.”

The judges arrived on stage. The movement of the crowd slowed. The noisy atmosphere went silent as everyone recognized Yu Lian’s group.

“Yu Lian? Is that Yu Lian?!”

“Oh my god, a living legend! She must be forty, why does she look so good!”

“The judge this season is Yu Lian? Who are the others? Heavens, they’re all legendary figures!”

Yu Lian, biting her cigarette and swaying her red dress, stepped up to the high platform. “Silence!”

Instantly, no one dared to speak. Yu Lian was a legend from the last century. Every one of her films was a classic. Though she held the title of a veteran artist, she was so well-maintained she looked to be in her early twenties. Her fan base might not be active, but the moment her name was mentioned, people’s minds flashed with breathtaking cinematic shots.

She smiled. “That’s right. This is where the future supernovas are.”

The contestants were a mix of shy and nervous. Passersby outside the hall took out their cameras. Yu Lian was pleased with the effect. She stubbed out her cigarette, her voice husky and sexy: “As you all know, at the site of Global Supernova, everyone will showcase their personality, appearance, physique, IQ, EQ, and culture—everything you possess, in its most essential form.”

As she spoke, the clock atop the skyscraper chimed. Yu Lian checked her watch; it was exactly 2:00 PM.

She announced: “Alright everyone, now, the competition—begins.”

Author’s Note:

Haters: What? Zhao Baoshang campaigned for her own shill?!

Zhao Baoshang (pulling out a marriage certificate): Say that again?

Haters: …SHOCK! Zhao Baoshang campaigned for her own wife?! It makes perfect sense and is completely legitimate!

…

Yan Zhen (opening the certificate): Isn’t this your parents’ marriage certificate? Why is it in our house?