Chinese entertainment starts with idols

Chapter 17: Fame Arises Overnight

Lin Feng has become famous. Some people are happy for him, while others are worried about him.

Lin's mother was particularly concerned about Lin Feng's love life, asking, "Xiao Feng, tell me, are you really with that Deng Shuang?"

"No, Mom, who told you that?"

"That's what everyone's saying online, and I've seen you two being quite close, so it can't be fake, right? Don't be shy, I actually really like this little girl, but isn't she a bit too young?"

"Mom, nothing of the sort. It's all just hype. Don't overthink it! And if I really had a girlfriend, I would definitely tell you first. Um, have any paparazzi or reporters been bothering you lately?"

When Lin Feng first became famous, many media reporters couldn't get interviews with him, so some unscrupulous reporters and paparazzi harassed his mother without prior notice.

When Lin's mother came to the interview, she thought it was a good thing and that she was helping Lin Feng promote his career. She answered as many questions as she could and talked about a lot of Lin Feng's worries.

"My son, Xiaofeng, has been beautiful since he was little. When I carried him shopping as a child, I didn't know he was a little girl!"

"Our Xiaofeng is young and doesn't know any better. If he does anything wrong or doesn't do something well in the future, please criticize him more!"

Then, there were just too many reporters and media outlets coming, one after another, all asking similar questions, and it started to disrupt Lin's mother's normal life.

The key issue is that many unscrupulous reporters and paparazzi, in pursuit of sensationalism, started to steer the conversation towards the fact that Lin's father was in a vegetative state after his car accident. This was not only a sore spot for Lin Feng, but also a thorn in Lin's mother's side. She had no choice but to call Lin Feng.

Without hesitation, Lin Feng immediately called his agent, Hu Shan, and declared, "I won't allow any reporters or paparazzi to harass my mother!"

Lin Feng is now the undisputed "top actor" at EE-Media, and Hu Shan also contacted relevant media outlets through EE-Media.

"No, at least they haven't come to harass us anymore. Besides, I'm just an old woman, there's nothing interesting for an interview with me. But Xiaofeng, if you find a suitable girl, don't let her go. I'm still young and can help you take care of your child!"

"Mom, you're overthinking it. Your only task right now is to take good care of Dad and yourself. How was that caregiver you were with last time?"

"You mean Sister Wang? She's quite capable, she's been a lot of help, she can carry your dad on her back all by herself. By the way, your dad can move his fingers much better now!"

"Mom, this is great news! I'm busy with work right now, so you need to take good care of yourself. Don't worry about spending money. Your son is a star now, he's made it big, so he'll definitely have plenty of money in the future. In a couple of years, I'll be able to get you a bigger house."

"Yes, I know. Take good care of yourself while you're out there all by yourself. Don't overwork yourself. You can't earn all the money in the world. Remember to eat breakfast, and if you see a girl you like, go after her."

Compared to her mother's constant nagging, Lin Xiao, the younger sister, was much more lively, cheerful, and full of laughter.

"Brother, I'm so happy! You did it! You're a real star now! I've watched every episode of 'Meteor Shower,' but my dad won't let me stay up late to watch it."

Brother, I have great news! Thanks to my promotion, all my classmates are now your fans. I've already promised to give each of them an autographed photo, as well as photos of Sister Deng Shuang, Brother Haoming, Brother Wei Chen, and Brother Zhang Han.

"Okay, I want all five of your autographed photos. Don't forget, brother, I already promised. Otherwise, my classmates will laugh at me when school starts."

"Okay, no problem, but your grades can't drop. If your grades are bad, you won't get anything. I'll send them to you in a couple of days. How many? Fifty should be enough, right?"

"Brother, there are at least 100. There are 50 in my class alone, and I have quite a few good friends in other classes too."

"Okay, okay! You have quite a wide circle of friends! You might as well work your brother to death!"

"hey-hey!"

...

Lin Feng has become famous. Some people are happy for him, some are worried for him, and some don't know what to feel.

The most unique person here is probably Lin Feng's ex-girlfriend, Kan Qingzi. Her feelings are the most complicated. On the one hand, she is happy for Lin Feng and sincerely wishes him to continue to be popular. Lin Feng has really changed a lot and has become more charming.

On the other hand, she felt a sense of loss, as if she had lost the most precious thing in her life, especially when she saw Lin Feng and Deng Shuang interacting so intimately; this feeling was even stronger then.

She was truly jealous. The spot beside him, which should have been hers, had been taken by someone else—and that someone else wasn't just anyone, but her best friend from her dorm, her former best friend.

How to describe this feeling? She felt betrayed. You know, when Deng Shuang returned to school a while ago, the two of them chatted intimately, and even talked about Lin Feng. At that time, Deng Shuang didn't say anything.

Now the two are showing affection on screen, and she doesn't know how to face Deng Shuang in the future, or how Deng Shuang will face her. She feels like she has lost two friends at the same time.

Kan Qingzi's feelings were too complicated, but she knew clearly that it was impossible for her and Lin Feng to be together again. She didn't even dare to send Lin Feng a message of blessing. This was the path she had chosen, and she could not turn back. She could only continue on this path!

Even if Kan Qingzi still wants to rekindle her relationship with Lin Feng, she has to become as famous as Lin Feng, otherwise their statuses won't match. Therefore, she has no choice but to continue down this path!

***

Of course, besides the soaring ratings during its broadcast, "Meteor Shower" was also filled with controversy and various criticisms.

For example, the first plot is ridiculous, and many viewers criticized it for being childish and poorly made;

In response, Tianyu Media's General Manager Long Danni stated, "The key to such high ratings lies in the plot. Ratings can't be boosted simply by being 'outrageous'. If people think it's terrible, then the sensational effect will only last for one or two episodes. To keep viewers engaged, the script must be convincing."

Whenever there are any issues regarding the shortcomings or flaws of "Meteor Shower," it's always the management company that steps in to respond; while Lin Feng and his team are only responsible for promoting Mei Mei. This is a normal division of labor in the entertainment industry.

Secondly, there are too many product placements, with product placements taking up 40% of the program's broadcast time (including regular product placements) and brand exposure achieved through plot integration;

In response, producer Yao Jia said, "This is an experiment. Actually, we don't have many product placements, only five: MG Motors, Metersbonwe, Xiangpiaopiao Milk Tea, Shulei, and OCT East in Shenzhen."

As for the other brands listed by netizens, Yao Jia said aggrievedly, "Those are all props, how can they be considered GG? If we count like that, there are at least dozens of brands in our portfolio, I'd go crazy. It's probably because the audience focuses on this aspect that they've formed this perception."

The third plot is a rip-off, borrowing heavily from "Meteor Garden," for example,

In "Meteor Shower," Murong Yunhai says, "When you face Murong Yunhai, apologizing becomes a very difficult thing."

Dao Ming Si from Meteor Garden: "If apologies were enough, what would we need the police for?"

Duanmu Lei from "Meteor Shower": "If you want to cry, go for a run. That way, all your tears will evaporate."

Hua Ze Lei from "Meteor Garden": "When you want to cry, just stand upside down, and the tears won't come out!"

Regarding this, Long Danni has a unique perspective on "copycats": "We put a lot of effort into localization in 'Meteor Shower,' and the four male leads weren't already a group of best buddies from the start."

Murong Yunhai and the other three were completely out of place. They became friends through a basketball game, and their hobbies, such as playing basketball and playing online games, were no different from those of ordinary students.

Of course, if others are more advanced than you, what reason do you have not to learn from them? When you want to create something original, you must learn; I don't see anything wrong with that.

Long Danni's "reasonable and well-founded" answer did not convince netizens. Because "Meteor Shower" and "Meteor Garden" have too many similarities, many media outlets have compared the two, especially the four male leads, to see which one has a better future in the entertainment industry.

Wei Chen vs. Wu Jianhao: Neither had many scenes, so it was a draw. However, Wei Chen's well-behaved image was more appealing to girls, and he was called "Little Darling" by fans, giving him a slight edge.

Zhang Han vs. Zhu Xiaotian: Marginal characters, equally matched, insignificant.

Yu Haoming vs. Zhou Yumin: Appearance: Zhou Yumin wins with his melancholic temperament and handsome looks; Acting skills: Zhou Yumin wins when he first debuts, but Yu Haoming wins in the future; Ultimately, Zhou Yumin wins.

Lin Feng vs Yan Chengxu

Appearance: Lin Feng is tall, handsome, and charming, with a Korean drama idol vibe. He has a variety of contradictory qualities, making him a complete winner!

Acting skills: Lin Feng's acting skills at this time could completely surpass Yan Chengxu's after he became famous.

Lin Feng won in the end.

This isn't just something fans have confirmed; many media commentators and netizens have also reacted strongly, all feeling that Lin Feng's future in the entertainment industry is bright!

......