Chapter 188: 《xing Ni》 Premiere
【Has it started? Has it started?】
【Everyone listen to my unified command. You must download Penguin Video and recharge for yearly membership only after Uncrossable Ferry goes online. This will boost Yan Ge’s new user list data. Remember, absolutely do not download it in advance.】
【If you have the Penguin Video APP on your mobile phone now, uninstall it immediately and download it again after the drama airs.】
【……】
【Yan Ge is so handsome! My bro is so amazing!】
【Qing Qing is also so beautiful. It’s the best modern idol drama I’ve seen this year. Yan Ge’s face acting in modern idol drama is really a dimensional strike!】
【The first episode isn’t good? No problem, keep watching. It gets good starting from the third episode.】
【……】
New user acquisition, recharges, APP data downloads, organizing controlled comments and bullet comments, N mobile phones and tablets brushing playback volume, cloud package to attract bystanders…
If ordinary traffic young male star fans have to do all of the above when their main idol drama airs, then Yu Yan’s fans have to do ten times as much, and even more “professional, serious, and hyped up.”
Because they are the “founding masters” of this set of data farming.
No one understands better than them how to turn their idol into an “unrivaled top streamer,” into the shiniest star in the eyes of the industry and outsiders.
That night, as soon as Uncrossable Ferry premiered, it was almost the above “grand occasion.”
One hour after Uncrossable Ferry aired, it topped NO1 in various data traffic… except for the most valuable popularity list and ratings, which didn’t reach the top.
—Because those are the charts that only truly good works can climb.
Of course, because it was the opening day premiere, Penguin Video threw in massive resources with S+++ recommendation treatment, plus fan traffic, Uncrossable Ferry’s publicity and distribution momentum and popularity definitely wouldn’t be bad at the start.
By the end of the two episodes that night, Uncrossable Ferry’s premiere day peak in-site popularity reached 29800, just 200 short of breaking 30000, higher than the trajectory of Meng Xi Yuan back then.
On the TV station side, since Uncrossable Ferry aired on the leading satellite TV Mango TV, borrowing Mango TV’s terrifying user base, Uncrossable Ferry’s first-day ratings reached as high as 0.9801%.
Also just a tiny bit short of breaking 1 in ratings—in this era of the three major platforms where breaking 1% on satellite TV ratings gets hyped as a “small hit,” it’s still an extremely favorable performance.
Yu Yan’s team was very satisfied, Yue Na was very satisfied, Penguin Video and Mango TV were equally satisfied.
“This trajectory on the first day, as expected of Yu Yan. His fans are too strong.”
“But the reputation side… seems not very friendly.”
At Penguin Video, a top leader in distribution raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: “Reputation? Reputation is bullshit. What we earn is the money recharged by Yu Yan’s fans, the data. That way the financial report looks good, and the higher-ups will be satisfied.”
“You don’t think Yu Yan can act his way to best actor, do you? Rely on bystanders to foot the bill? Bystanders hate traffic stars. How is that possible.”
The assistant who raised the concern: “…”
“The ratings side is also very friendly, proving audiences still eat this up. Mango TV loves idol dramas the most.”
“Let’s watch for a few more days. We can ramp up marketing efforts, have Yu Yan and Cen Qing, and the Uncrossable Ferry film producer side prepare to do business.”
“Okay.”
…
That night, the “big hit drama” Uncrossable Ferry burst onto the scene. The array of data made countless Yu Yan fans scream, with pride and the posture of “looking down on internal entertainment circle traffic” leaping off the page.
But by the second day, the situation showed some slight changes.
First, after Uncrossable Ferry’s first-day recharge wave passed, the second-day new user list dipped slightly, and the audience “tricked” by Mango TV last night came to their senses. Hardly anyone fell for it again the next day.
Popularity and ratings could only rise slowly through massive marketing, failing to meet the expectations of Uncrossable Ferry’s various investors and film producer.
But no big problem. This performance data was still the strongest in this year’s winter vacation slot.
—Until Folding Bright Moon appeared.
The grand female lead ancient idol drama starring Sheng Ning and Peng Chen, the first super big production after Lao Peng’s “double hit” ascension.
Not to mention anything else, Sheng Ning and Peng Chen both have acting skills. And compared to an idol-origin like Yu Yan, Sheng Ning is someone who truly grinded it out step by step through acting to reach this star power.
So, she is famously known in the industry for picking scripts well.
Folding Bright Moon’s team and production are handled by an industry-renowned team.
Therefore, after Folding Bright Moon premiered three episodes on the 3rd, it instantly snatched most of the hot search space. Though its popularity was still a tiny bit behind Uncrossable Ferry, its reputation was a whole dimension higher.
Sheng Ning made her move, still with the style of the top of the four little flowers. Her momentum surpassed even Meng Xi Yuan back then.
Lao Peng was thrilled, following behind Sister Ning to enjoy the good life. But Sister Ning kept guarding against him this time, not letting him get within three meters, and even occasionally preparing to cover her nose, which hurt Peng Chen a lot.
But no matter. As long as Folding Bright Moon’s performance is good, he was already preparing for another star power upgrade and ascension.
“When does that new drama of Chi Ye and Jin Xia air?”
At the Douyin activity site, Sheng Ning who had just finished an interview lit a cigarette and thought of this.
“The 5th, right after us. Very soon.”
Peng Chen sat obediently three meters away, responding with a “shout.”
Sheng Ning glanced at him with phoenix eyes: “Has he released his album? How’s the situation?”
“…?”
Though he didn’t understand why Sheng Ning cared about this, Peng Chen told the truth: “Just released today… Pretty good. Overall sales are quite high.”
“How does it compare to Yu Yan’s?”
“…A whole half less.”
Sheng Ning nodded in satisfaction, squinting comfortably: “That’s good.”
…
That’s good.
Chi Ye’s album Jiangnan and Yu Yan’s new album were officially released today.
Jiangnan includes ten songs, Yu Yan has twelve, priced a bit higher than Chi Ye’s, but not by much—that’s not the reason it couldn’t beat Yu Yan in sales.
Yes, after the last “failure,” not only did Yu Yan fans continue to wildly spend money buying Meteor afterward, pushing Meteor’s sales to over 200 million, completely breaking Yu Yan’s previous personal record.
On the full album sales, it was full firepower. As of now, sales have reached 80 million, while Chi Ye’s album has just barely broken 40 million.
Additionally, See You still hasn’t broken 100 million in sales because after that day, pirated single tracks of See You were everywhere. Besides fans, ordinary bystanders would listen if they wanted, so why would they continue to wildly spend for Chi Ye?
So currently, Chi Ye’s singles and album are both a full half behind Yu Yan.
And this gap, if nothing unexpected, will continue to widen indefinitely.
This is the norm for an unrivaled top streamer against someone like Chi Ye, this is his true “strength.”
Insiders thought so. Things had finally returned to the “world” everyone knew. But… why was Chi Ye’s side so quiet this time? Not seizing the chance to peng ci and ride on popularity?
This isn’t normal at all.
Could it be that seeing the gap too big, they gave up on their own?
—No.
On the 5th, the day Xing Ni aired.
Chi Ye didn’t ride on popularity this time because he felt he’d done what he needed to. Now he just needed to wait, relax, and properly enjoy the last “wannabe” days.
While researching next year’s career plan and looking at the various notebooks handed over.
“Teacher Chi, this script’s title is a bit weird. Did you write it?”
Evening, 7:20.
Jin Xia stared at the blank-titled script in Chi Ye’s hand and the name he had just written on the paper, puzzled: “Did you write this?”
“No, it’s the script from the special effects team outsourced for Xing Ni’s post-production. I’m helping revise it.”
Chi Ye spoke while turning on the TV and switching to Tomato TV: “You interested?”
“Yeah… this title is a bit weird, Train to Busan?” Jin Xia was puzzled: “Isn’t that a city name from South Korea?”
“I wrote it randomly.” Chi Ye casually set down the script and gestured: “First episode is about to air.”
“Really? Quick quick quick, turn up the volume!”
Jin Xia perked up, sat straight with anticipation, looking at the Oriental Theater that had started ads: “Starlight dazzling, love eternal! Oriental Theater presents the blockbuster From the Stars You, a deep affection spanning 1700 years, lighting up your heart-moving night in the golden hour!”
Xing Ni’s first episode went online.
…
“Deep affection spanning a thousand seven hundred years… what an exaggerated ad.”
Xiangnan, some residential building.
Liu Xiaoxiao got off work, simply ordered spicy hot pot takeout, went downstairs to buy cola, and just sat back in her chair when she heard the ad spiel from the already-on TV, unable to help but chuckle.
She was no longer a fan of Hua Yichen now. Um… sort of half a casual fan of Chi Ye. Half a month ago, she even bought Chi Ye’s single See You.
And the reason it’s half is because in the short term, she still couldn’t “get over” that hurdle in her heart.
Xing Ni’s publicity and distribution was very aggressive, so she had been following this drama. She went home early after work today to “try the poison.”
But this genre and ad made it hard for her to imagine what kind of drama it was.
Hearing “1700 years of deep affection” just felt a bit rotten…
Liu Xiaoxiao muttered inwardly but didn’t change channels, because the TV was now playing a familiar OST—See You.
And Xing Ni’s opening—
Eastern Jin 403 AD.
Wild winds ravaged the mountains and forests, trees bending east and west.
Professor Chi in ancient costume, tall and straight posture, cold and stern face, eyes revealing alienation not of this world.
He looked up at the night sky, his deep eyes reflecting an unidentified flying object descending like a dream.
Azure light streaked across the sky, as if carrying a mission, beginning his 1700 years of long years on Earth.
With Chi Ye’s familiar voice, the OST played on, and the picture switched rapidly like a fast-forward historical scroll.
City landscapes constantly changed, from ancient Eastern Jin streets to emerging modern architecture, to bustling modern Jiangnan urban scenes.
Professor Chi always traversed among them, his appearance unchanged, while the world around him changed day by day.
On traffic-filled streets, he was solitary; among skyscrapers, he stood alone. The fleeting bystanders and vehicles highlighted his alienation as an alien on Earth.
“Huh, this is so cool?!”
Liu Xiaoxiao stopped opening her takeout, staring at the opening in surprise and astonishment. Paired with this OST, the picture had an unexpectedly “cool” feel.
Also… Chi Ye’s ancient costume was too damn good-looking?!
And this filter, lighting, music, even costumes and makeup… so pretty, so beautiful. Simply a whole level above other modern idol dramas.
While Liu Xiaoxiao was delighted, the opening shifted to young Xu Xiaxia—the eldest daughter of an Eastern Jin aristocratic family.
She was fragile and helpless, her sedan swaying precariously in the wild wind.
Professor Chi unleashed his superpower, instantly appearing by her side, steadily holding the sedan. In the moment their eyes met, the threads of fate quietly entwined.
This scene was brief yet profound. Then the picture changed again: modern Qian Songyi appeared, in gorgeous attire on a dazzling stage, radiant, with fans below screaming wildly.
In the urban skyscraper jungle, Professor Chi and Qian Songyi’s figures crossed inadvertently, yet missed each other time and again.
Subway whooshed by, crowds bustled. Professor Chi moved quietly through the throng, while Qian Songyi was surrounded by team members hurrying along.
Until that fateful moment, elevator doors slowly opened, and their gazes finally met in the confined space.
Professor Chi remained expressionless, while Qian Songyi brought her signature antics and curiosity.
The picture froze there, with a cute blue title on screen—”Episode 1: Alien and Big Star.”
“…Kinda interesting.”
Liu Xiaoxiao forgot to open the packaging, because she was filled with strong curiosity and expectation—this drama, its plot… and everything seemed different from domestic modern idol dramas.
…
At the same time.
In the hotel.
“Xia Xia is too beautiful… My god, how did this director film this? Making these two look so good?!”
Sister Shang was initially marveling at Director Liu and the South Korean team’s “skill.” As an insider, she fell for this “top atmosphere shooting technique” at first sight. Um… as the biggest fan leader of #Chi Pan Xia Yu#, she had been waiting early for Xing Ni to air.
And Xing Ni indeed didn’t disappoint her, even… giving her an unbelievable “surprise.”
Yes, surprise, too much of a surprise.
How could it be so damn good-looking?!
At first, Sister Shang was exclaiming over Xing Ni’s exquisite production, Chi Ye and Jin Xia’s appearance eye candy. But later, she was completely drawn in by Xing Ni’s first episode plot.
Good dramas are like that—they don’t need to tell everyone “stick through the first few episodes, it gets good at episode X.”
Good dramas grab your eyeballs from the start.
Like a spring stream lapping at your ankles—first just a cool touch, paying no mind, but by the time you notice, the rippling water has passed your knees, carrying sparkling waves and tiny ripples, pulling you into the boundless river of story.
Deeply immersed, unable to extricate yourself.
Xing Ni’s pacing, narrative, and visuals were almost all dimensional strike-level existences.
As the ceiling of modern idol drama masterpieces, before it appeared, no one thought idol dramas had a ceiling.
Once it appeared, modern idol dramas had a ceiling.
That’s all.
Sister Shang fell.
Xing Ni’s episode length differed from domestic dramas; it had a full hour, yet didn’t feel draggy or slow-paced.
The simple first episode covered Professor Chi and Xu Xiaxia’s “past life first encounter” 1700 years ago, the leads becoming “most familiar strangers” in modern society, various emotional entanglements, character relationships, first meetings, second encounters… and suspense.
The outwardly stern but actually a bit sharp-tongued ascetic “alien” with not just money power but real superpowers—Professor Chi.
The outwardly composed and pretentious, publicly disliked big star who secretly loves “gutter oil” and “spicy hot pot,” hiding cola in her thermos cup—super first-tier big star Qian Songyi.
Their interactions were hilariously full, with a touch of sweetness.
Elevator encounter, mistaking fan stalking, hiding snacks, caught on the spot, classic reminder not to eat flavorful food in public.
Qian Songyi was exasperated. At home, she sang in her cloying voice, sounding awful. Professor Chi couldn’t stand it and knocked to tell her to keep it down.
Also… Qian Songyi shared daily life snippets online, exposing her lack of common sense, got slammed by haters, and to salvage her image, went to university to “take a class,” only to find Professor Chi was her lecturer.
Then second male and female leads appeared, clarifying all character relationships.
At the end of the first episode, Professor Chi and Qian Songyi each fell into memories.
Professor Chi recalled saving Xu Xiaxia 1700 years ago, while Qian Songyi remembered the uncle who saved her in a crisis over a decade ago.
Though the two hadn’t yet realized their myriad connections, the wheels of fate had begun to turn.
The hour-long plot was almost entirely without bathroom breaks, maxing out the leads’ fun character backgrounds, past and present lives, suspense, and “science fiction feel.”
—End.
Sister Shang snapped back only when the progress bar jumped to the first episode of some old drama, dumbfounded: “Wait… that’s it?!”
“Premiere only one episode?! Chi Ye, don’t be so outrageous!”
She fumed, wanting to call Chi Ye, but realized it would be pointless.
And…
How could this Xing Ni be so good-looking?!
These lead character setups were simply over the top!
Simply… just like Chi Ye and Xia Xia in real life, exactly the same!
Um… Professor Chi only matched in sharp tongue, face, and figure; the rest not so much. But Jin Xia…
Qian Songyi was practically written based on Xia Xia!
“So it really was a script written specially for her…”
Sister Shang muttered blankly, now feeling itchy and restless—no, something’s wrong with this drama…
Wait.
She suddenly reacted.
—Even she, an insider, was like this after watching Xing Ni’s first episode. Then ordinary audiences…
Huh, this drama might explode.
Realizing something, she hurriedly opened Weibo, and sure enough, Weibo was already flooded with Xing Ni at that moment.
